UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): September 16, 2021
Hercules Capital, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Maryland | 814-00702 | 74-3113410 | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File No.) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
400 Hamilton Ave., Suite 310 Palo Alto, CA |
94301 | |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
Registrants telephone number, including area code: (650) 289-3060
Not Applicable
(Former name or address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
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Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
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Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class |
Trading Symbol(s) |
Name of each exchange on which registered |
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Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share | HTGC | New York Stock Exchange | ||
5.25% Notes due 2025 | HCXZ | New York Stock Exchange | ||
6.25% Notes due 2033 | HCXY | New York Stock Exchange |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter)
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 1.01. |
Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement. |
On September 16, 2021, in connection with a previously announced public offering, Hercules Capital, Inc. (the Company) and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the Trustee), entered into a Seventh Supplemental Indenture (the Seventh Supplemental Indenture) to that certain indenture, dated March 6, 2012, between the Company and the Trustee (together with the Seventh Supplemental Indenture, the Indenture). The Seventh Supplemental Indenture relates to the Companys issuance, offer and sale of $325.0 million in aggregate principal amount of its 2.625% Notes due 2026 (the Notes).
The Notes will mature on September 16, 2026, unless previously redeemed or repurchased in accordance with their terms. The interest rate of the Notes is 2.625% per year and will be paid semiannually in arrears on March 16 and September 16 of each year, commencing March 16, 2022. The Notes are the Companys unsecured obligations that rank senior in right of payment to all of the Companys existing and future indebtedness that is expressly subordinated, or junior, in right of payment to the Notes. The Notes will not be guaranteed by any of the Companys current or future subsidiaries. The Notes will rank pari passu, or equally, in right of payment with all of the Companys existing and future liabilities that are not so subordinated, or junior. The Notes will effectively rank subordinated, or junior, to any of the Companys secured indebtedness (including unsecured indebtedness that the Company later secures) to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness. The Notes will rank structurally subordinated, or junior, to all existing and future indebtedness (including trade payables) incurred by the Companys subsidiaries, financing vehicles or similar facilities.
The Notes may be redeemed in whole or in part at any time or from time to time at the Companys option at par, plus a make whole premium, if applicable.
The Indenture contains certain covenants, including covenants requiring the Company to comply with Section 18(a)(1)(A) as modified by Section 61(a)(1) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act), or any successor provisions, giving effect to any exemptive relief granted to the Company by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) (even if the Company is no longer subject to the 1940 Act), and to provide certain financial information to the holders of the Notes and the Trustee if the Company should no longer be subject to the reporting requirements of Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, to file any periodic reports with the SEC. These covenants are subject to important limitations and exceptions that are set forth in the Indenture.
The Notes were offered and sold in an offering registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant to the Companys registration statement on Form N-2 (Registration No. 333-231089) previously filed with the SEC on April 29, 2019, as amended on April 30, 2019 and May 6, 2019 and as supplemented by a preliminary prospectus supplement dated September 13, 2021 and a final prospectus supplement dated September 13, 2021. This Current Report on Form 8-K shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction. The transaction closed on September 16, 2021.
The Company expects to use the net proceeds from this offering (i) to repurchase or redeem all or a portion of the Companys asset-backed notes (the Asset Backed Notes, comprising the Companys 4.605% asset-backed notes due 2027 and 4.703% asset-backed notes due 2028), (ii) to fund investments in debt and equity securities in accordance with the Companys investment objective, and (iii) for other general corporate purposes.
The foregoing descriptions of the Seventh Supplemental Indenture and the Notes do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Seventh Supplemental Indenture and the form of global note representing the Notes, respectively, each filed or incorporated by reference as exhibits hereto and incorporated by reference herein. This Report does not constitute a notice of redemption with respect to any of the Asset-Backed Notes.
Item 2.03. |
Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation Under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant |
The information set forth under Item 1.01 of this Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01. |
Financial Statements and Exhibits |
(d) Exhibits.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
HERCULES CAPITAL, INC. | ||||||
September 16, 2021 | ||||||
By: |
/s/ Melanie Grace |
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Melanie Grace | ||||||
General Counsel |
Exhibit 4.2
SEVENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
between
HERCULES CAPITAL, INC.
and
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee
Dated as of September 16, 2021
SEVENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
THIS SEVENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this Seventh Supplemental Indenture), dated as of September 16, 2021, is between Hercules Capital, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the Company), and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the Trustee). All capitalized terms used herein shall have the meaning set forth in the Base Indenture (as defined below).
RECITALS OF THE COMPANY
The Company and the Trustee executed and delivered an Indenture, dated as of March 6, 2012 (the Base Indenture and, as amended and supplemented by this Seventh Supplemental Indenture, the Indenture), to provide for the issuance by the Company from time to time of the Companys unsecured debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (the Securities), to be issued in one or more series as provided in the Indenture.
The Company previously entered into the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April 17, 2012 (the First Supplemental Indenture), the Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 24, 2012 (the Second Supplemental Indenture), the Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of July 14, 2014, the Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 23, 2017, the Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April 26, 2018 and the Sixth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 24, 2018, each of which amended and supplemented the Base Indenture. The First Supplemental Indenture, the Second Supplemental Indenture, the Third Supplemental Indenture, the Fourth Supplemental Indenture, the Fifth Supplemental Indenture and the Sixth Supplemental Indenture are not applicable to the Notes (as defined below).
The Company desires to issue and sell $325,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of the Companys 2.625% Notes due 2026 (the Notes).
Sections 9.01(iv) and 9.01(vi) of the Base Indenture provide that without the consent of Holders of the Securities of any series issued under the Indenture, the Company, when authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental to the Base Indenture to (i) change or eliminate any of the provisions of the Indenture when there is no Security Outstanding of any series created prior to the execution of the supplemental indenture that is entitled to the benefit of such provision and (ii) establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Section 2.01 and Section 3.01 of the Base Indenture.
The Company desires to establish the form and terms of the Notes and to modify, alter, supplement and change certain provisions of the Base Indenture for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes (except as may be provided in a future supplemental indenture to the Indenture (a Future Supplemental Indenture)).
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The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Seventh Supplemental Indenture to provide for the issuance of the Notes and amendment of certain provisions of the Base Indenture as herein provided and all acts and things necessary to make this Seventh Supplemental Indenture a valid, binding, and legal obligation of the Company and to constitute a valid agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done and performed.
NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Notes by the Holders thereof, it is mutually agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Notes, as follows:
ARTICLE I
TERMS OF THE NOTES
Section 1.01 Terms of the Notes. The following terms relating to the Notes are hereby established:
(a) The Notes shall constitute a series of Senior Securities having the title 2.625% Notes due 2026. The Notes shall bear a CUSIP number of 427096 AH5 and an ISIN number of US427096AH50.
(b) The aggregate principal amount of the Notes that may be initially authenticated and delivered under the Indenture (except for Notes authenticated and delivered upon registration of, transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Notes pursuant to Sections 3.04, 3.05, 3.06, 9.06, 11.07 or 13.05 of the Base Indenture, and except for any Securities that, pursuant to Section 3.03 of the Base Indenture, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered under the Indenture) shall be $325,000,000. Under a Board Resolution, Officers Certificate pursuant to Board Resolutions or an indenture supplement, the Company may from time to time, without the consent of the Holders of Notes, issue additional Notes (in any such case Additional Notes) having the same ranking and the same interest rate, maturity and other terms as the Notes. Any Additional Notes and the existing Notes will constitute a single series under the Indenture and all references to the relevant Notes herein shall include the Additional Notes unless the context otherwise requires.
(c) The entire outstanding principal of the Notes shall be payable on September 16, 2026, unless earlier redeemed or repurchased in accordance with the provisions of this Seventh Supplemental Indenture.
(d) The rate at which the Notes shall bear interest shall be 2.625% per annum (the Applicable Interest Rate). The date from which interest shall accrue on the Notes shall be September 16, 2021, or the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or provided for; the Interest Payment Dates for the Notes shall be March 16 and September 16 of each year, commencing March 16, 2022 (if an Interest Payment Date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, then the applicable interest payment will be made on the next succeeding Business Day and no additional interest will accrue as a result of such delayed payment); the initial interest period will be the period from and including September 16, 2021, to, but excluding, the initial Interest Payment Date, and the subsequent interest periods will be the periods from and including an Interest Payment Date to, but excluding, the next Interest Payment Date or the Stated Maturity, as the case may be; the interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date, will be paid to the Person in whose name the Note (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be March 1 or September 1 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date. Payment of principal of (and premium, if any, on) and any such interest on the Notes will be made at the office of the Trustee located at 100 Wall Street, Suite 1600, New York, New York, 10005, Attention: Hercules Capital, Inc. (2.625% Notes Due 2026) and at such other address as designated by the Trustee, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that at the option of the Company payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register; provided, further, however, that so long as the Notes are registered to Cede & Co., such payment will be made by wire transfer in accordance with the procedures established by The Depository Trust Company and the Trustee. Interest on the Notes will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
(e) The Notes shall be initially issuable in global form (each such Note, a Global Note). The Global Notes and the Trustees certificate of authentication thereon shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A to this Seventh Supplemental Indenture. Each Global Note shall represent the outstanding Notes as shall be specified therein and each shall provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of outstanding Notes from time to time
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endorsed thereon and that the aggregate amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges and redemptions. Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee or the Security Registrar, in accordance with Sections 2.03 and 3.05 of the Base Indenture.
(f) The depositary for such Global Notes (the Depositary) shall be The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York. The Security Registrar with respect to the Global Notes shall be the Trustee.
(g) The Notes shall be defeasible pursuant to Section 14.02 or Section 14.03 of the Base Indenture. Covenant defeasance contained in Section 14.03 of the Base Indenture shall apply to the covenants contained in Sections 10.06, 10.08 and 10.09 of the Indenture.
(h) The Notes shall be redeemable pursuant to Section 11.01 of the Base Indenture and as follows:
(i) The Notes will be redeemable, in whole or in part, at any time, or from time to time, at the option of the Company, at a Redemption Price equal to the greater of the following amounts, plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest to the Redemption Date:
(1) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, or
(2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest (exclusive of accrued and unpaid interest to the Redemption Date) on the Notes to be redeemed, discounted to the Redemption Date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) using the applicable Treasury Rate plus 30 basis points;
provided, however, that if the Company redeems any Notes on or after August 16, 2026, the Redemption Price for the Notes will be equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the Redemption Date.
For purposes of calculating the Redemption Price in connection with the redemption of the Notes, on any Redemption Date, the following terms have the meanings set forth below:
Treasury Rate means, with respect to any Redemption Date, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield-to-maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue (computed as of the third Business Day immediately preceding the redemption), assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such Redemption Date. The Redemption Price and the Treasury Rate will be determined by the Company.
Comparable Treasury Issue means the United States Treasury security selected by the Reference Treasury Dealer as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Notes to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financing practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of the Notes being redeemed.
Comparable Treasury Price means (1) the average of the remaining Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for the Redemption Date, after excluding the highest and lowest Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (2) if the Quotation Agent obtains fewer than four such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations.
Quotation Agent means a Reference Treasury Dealer selected by the Company.
Reference Treasury Dealer means each of (1) Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC or (2) a primary U.S. government securities dealer selected by SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc., or their respective affiliates which are primary U.S. government securities dealers and their respective successors; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing or their affiliates shall cease to be a primary U.S. government securities dealer in the United States (a Primary Treasury Dealer), we shall select another Primary Treasury Dealer.
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Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the average, as determined by the Quotation Agent, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Quotation Agent by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 3:30 p.m. New York time on the third Business Day preceding such Redemption Date.
All determinations made by any Reference Treasury Dealer, including the Quotation Agent, with respect to determining the Redemption Price will be final and binding absent manifest error.
(ii) Notice of redemption shall be given in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid or by overnight courier guaranteeing next-day delivery, to each Holder of the Notes to be redeemed, not less than thirty (30) nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the Redemption Date, at the Holders address appearing in the Security Register. All notices of redemption shall contain the information set forth in Section 11.04 of the Base Indenture.
(iii) Any exercise of the Companys option to redeem the Notes will be done in compliance with the Indenture and the Investment Company Act, to the extent applicable.
(iv) If the Company elects to redeem only a portion of the Notes, the particular Notes to be redeemed will be selected in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Trustee and, so long as the Notes are registered to the Depositary or its nominee, the Depositary; provided, however, that no such partial redemption shall reduce the portion of the principal amount of a Note not redeemed to less than $2,000.
(v) Unless the Company defaults in payment of the Redemption Price, on and after the Redemption Date, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes called for redemption hereunder.
(i) The Notes shall not be subject to any sinking fund pursuant to Section 12.01 of the Base Indenture.
(j) The Notes shall be issuable in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.
(k) Holders of the Notes will not have the option to have the Notes repaid prior to the Stated Maturity other than in accordance with Article Thirteen of the Indenture.
(l) The Notes are hereby designated as Senior Securities under the Indenture.
ARTICLE II
DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION
Section 2.01 Except as may be provided in a Future Supplemental Indenture, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes but no other series of Securities under the Indenture, whether now or hereafter issued and Outstanding, Article One of the Base Indenture shall be amended by adding the following defined terms to Section 1.01 in appropriate alphabetical sequence, as follows:
Below Investment Grade Rating Event means the Notes are downgraded below Investment Grade by (i) one Rating Agency if the Notes are rated by less than two Rating Agencies, (ii) both Rating Agencies if the Notes are rated by two Rating Agencies or (iii) at least a majority of such Rating Agencies if the Notes are rated by three or more Rating Agencies on any date from the date of the public notice of an arrangement that results in a Change of Control until the end of the 60-day period following public notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control (which period shall be extended so long as the rating of the Notes is under publicly announced consideration for possible downgrade by any of the Rating Agencies); provided that a Below Investment Grade Rating Event otherwise arising by virtue of a particular reduction in rating shall not be deemed to have occurred in respect of a particular Change of Control (and thus shall not be deemed a Below Investment Grade Rating Event for purposes of the definition of Change of Control Repurchase Event hereunder) if the Rating Agencies making the reduction in rating to which this definition would otherwise apply do not announce or publicly confirm or inform the Trustee in writing at its request that the reduction was the result, in whole or in part, of any event or circumstance comprised of or arising as a result of, or in respect of, the applicable Change of Control (whether or not the applicable Change of Control shall have occurred at the time of the Below Investment Grade Rating Event).
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Change of Control means the occurrence of any of the following:
(1) the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation) in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Controlled Subsidiaries taken as a whole to any person or group (as those terms are used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), other than to any Permitted Holders; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, a pledge of assets pursuant to any secured debt instrument of the Company or its Controlled Subsidiaries shall not be deemed to be any such sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or disposition;
(2) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any person or group (as those terms are used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) (other than any Permitted Holders) becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the outstanding Voting Stock of the Company, measured by voting power rather than number of shares; or
(3) the approval by the Companys stockholders of any plan or proposal relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
Change of Control Repurchase Event means the occurrence of a Change of Control and a Below Investment Grade Rating Event.
Controlled Subsidiary means any Subsidiary of the Company, 50% or more of the outstanding equity interests of which are owned by the Company and its direct or indirect Subsidiaries and of which the Company possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies, whether through the ownership of voting equity interests, by agreement or otherwise.
Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any statute successor thereto.
Fitch means Fitch, Inc. or any successor thereto.
GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the opinions and pronouncements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and the statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession in the United States, which are in effect from time to time.
Investment Company Act means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules, regulations and interpretations promulgated thereunder, to the extent applicable, and any statute successor thereto.
Investment Grade means a rating of Baa3 or better by Moodys or a rating of BBB or better by KBRA (or the equivalent rating under any successor rating categories of Moodys or KBRA) or the equivalent of any other Rating Agency, as applicable, or in each case, the equivalent under any successor category of such Rating Agency.
KBRA means Kroll Bond Rating Agency, LLC, or any successor thereto.
Moodys means Moodys Investors Services, Inc. or any successor thereto.
Permitted Holders means (i) the Company or (ii) one or more of the Companys Controlled Subsidiaries
Rating Agency means (1) Moodys; (2) KBRA; and (3) Fitch or S&P if either of them rates the Notes.
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S&P means Standard & Poors Ratings Services, a Standard & Poors Financial Services LLC business, or any successor thereto.
Significant Subsidiary means any Subsidiary that would be a significant subsidiary as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X under the Exchange Act, as such regulation is in effect on the date of this Indenture (but excluding any Subsidiary which is (a) a non-recourse or limited recourse Subsidiary, (b) a bankruptcy remote special purpose vehicle or (c) is not consolidated with the Company for purposes of GAAP).
Voting Stock as applied to stock of any Person, means shares, interests, participations or other equivalents in the equity interest (however designated) in such Person having ordinary voting power for the election of a majority of the directors (or the equivalent) of such Person, other than shares, interests, participations or other equivalents having such power only by reason of the occurrence of a contingency.
ARTICLE III
SECURITIES FORMS
Section 3.01 Except as may be provided in a Future Supplemental Indenture, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes but no other series of Securities under the Indenture, whether now or hereafter issued and Outstanding, Article Two of the Base Indenture shall be amended by adding the following new Section 2.04 thereto, as set forth below:
Section 2.04. Certificated Notes. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Indenture, Notes in physical, certificated form will be issued and delivered to each person that the Depositary identifies as a beneficial owner of the related Notes only if:
(a) |
the Depositary notifies the Company at any time that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for the Notes in global form and a successor depositary is not appointed within 90 days; |
(b) |
the Depositary ceases to be registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act and a successor depositary is not appointed within 90 days; or |
(c) |
an Event of Default with respect to the Notes has occurred and is continuing and such beneficial owner requests that its Notes be issued in physical, certificated form. |
ARTICLE IV
EXECUTION OF SECURITIES
Section 4.01 Except as may be provided in a Future Supplemental Indenture, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes but no other series of Securities under the Indenture, whether now or hereafter issued and Outstanding, Section 3.03 of the Base Indenture shall be amended by replacing the first paragraph thereof with the following:
The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by any one of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer or one of its Co-Presidents and attested by its Secretary. The signature of any of these officers on the Securities may be manual or facsimile signatures of the present or any future such authorized officer and may be imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Securities.
ARTICLE V
REMEDIES
Section 5.01 Except as may be provided in a Future Supplemental Indenture, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes but no other series of Securities under the Indenture, whether now or hereafter issued and Outstanding, Section 5.01 of the Base Indenture shall be amended by replacing clauses (ii) and (iv) thereof with the following:
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(ii) default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Note when it becomes due and payable at its Maturity, including upon any Redemption Date or required repurchase date; or
(iv) the Companys failure for 60 consecutive days after written notice from the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Notes then Outstanding has been received to comply with any of the Companys other agreements contained in the Notes or this Indenture; or
Section 5.02 Except as may be provided in a Future Supplemental Indenture, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes but no other series of Securities under the Indenture, whether now or hereafter issued and Outstanding, Section 5.01 of the Base Indenture shall be amended by adding the following language as clause (ix):
default by the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries, with respect to any mortgage, agreement or other instrument under which there may be outstanding, or by which there may be secured or evidenced, any indebtedness for money borrowed in excess of $50 million in the aggregate of the Company and/or any such Significant Subsidiary, whether such indebtedness now exists or shall hereafter be created (i) resulting in such indebtedness becoming or being declared due and payable or (ii) constituting a failure to pay the principal or interest of any such debt when due and payable at its stated maturity, upon required repurchase, upon declaration of acceleration or otherwise, unless, in either case, such indebtedness is discharged, or such acceleration is rescinded, stayed or annulled, within a period of 30 calendar days after written notice of such failure is given to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then Outstanding.
Section 5.03 Except as may be provided in a Future Supplemental Indenture, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes but no other series of Securities under the Indenture, whether now or hereafter issued and Outstanding, Section 5.02 of the Base Indenture shall be amended by replacing the first paragraph of Section 5.02 with the following:
If an Event of Default with respect to the Notes occurs and is continuing, then and in every such case (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 5.01(v) or 5.01(vi)), the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes may declare the principal of all the Outstanding Notes to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by the Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal shall become immediately due and payable; provided that 100% of the principal of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, the Notes will automatically become due and payable in the case of an Event of Default specified in Section 5.01(v) or 5.01(vi) hereof.
Section 5.04 Except as may be provided in a Future Supplemental Indenture, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes but no other series of Securities under the Indenture, whether now or hereafter issued and Outstanding, Section 5.12 of the Base Indenture shall be amended by replacing clause (iii) thereof with the following:
the Trustee need not take any action that it determines in good faith may involve it in personal liability or be unjustly prejudicial to the Holders of Notes not consenting.
ARTICLE VI
COVENANTS
Section 6.01 Except as may be provided in a Future Supplemental Indenture, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes but no other series of Securities under the Indenture, whether now or hereafter issued and Outstanding, Article Ten of the Base Indenture shall be amended by adding the following new Sections 10.08 and 10.09 thereto, each as set forth below:
Section 10.08 Section 18(a)(1)(A) of the Investment Company Act.
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The Company hereby agrees that for the period of time during which Notes are Outstanding, the Company will not violate (whether or not it is subject to) Section 18(a)(1)(A) as modified by Section 61(a)(1) of the Investment Company Act or any successor provisions thereto of the Investment Company Act, giving effect to any exemptive relief granted to the Company by the Commission (even if the Company is no longer subject to such provisions of the Investment Company Act).
Section 10.09 Commission Reports and Reports to Holders.
If, at any time, the Company is not subject to the reporting requirements of Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act to file any periodic reports with the Commission, the Company agrees to furnish to the Holders of Notes and the Trustee for the period of time during which the Notes are Outstanding: (i) within 90 days after the end of the each fiscal year of the Company, audited annual consolidated financial statements of the Company and (ii) within 45 days after the end of each fiscal quarter of the Company (other than the Companys fourth fiscal quarter), unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of the Company. All such financial statements shall be prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with GAAP, as applicable.
ARTICLE VII
OFFER TO REPURCHASE UPON A CHANGE OF CONTROL REPURCHASE EVENT
Section 7.01 Except as may be provided in a Future Supplemental Indenture, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes but no other series of Securities under the Indenture, whether now or hereafter issued and Outstanding, Article Thirteen of the Base Indenture shall be amended by replacing Sections 13.01 to 13.05 with the following:
Section 13.01 Change of Control.
If a Change of Control Repurchase Event occurs, unless the Company shall have exercised its right to redeem the Notes in full, the Company shall make an offer to each Holder of the Notes to repurchase all or any part (in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof) of that Holders Notes at a repurchase price in cash equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes repurchased plus any accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes repurchased to, but not including, the date of purchase. Within 30 days following any Change of Control Repurchase Event or, at the Companys option, prior to any Change of Control, but after the public announcement of the Change of Control, the Company will mail a notice to each Holder describing the transaction or transactions that constitute or may constitute the Change of Control Repurchase Event and offering to repurchase Notes on the payment date specified in the notice, which date will be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed. The notice shall, if mailed prior to the date of consummation of the Change of Control, state that the offer to purchase is conditioned on the Change of Control Repurchase Event occurring on or prior to the payment date specified in the notice. The Company shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes as a result of a Change of Control Repurchase Event.
To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with this Section 13.01, the Company shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section 13.01 by virtue of such conflict.
On the Change of Control Repurchase Event payment date, subject to extension if necessary to comply with the provisions of the Investment Company Act, the Company shall, to the extent lawful:
(1) |
accept for payment all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered pursuant to its offer; |
(2) |
deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the aggregate purchase price in respect of all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered; and |
(3) |
deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes properly accepted, together with an Officers Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes being purchased by the Company. |
8
The Paying Agent will promptly remit to each Holder of Notes properly tendered the purchase price for the Notes, and the Trustee will promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book-entry) to each Holder a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of any Notes surrendered; provided that each new Note will be in a minimum principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.
If any Repayment Date upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event falls on a day that is not a Business Day, then the required payment will be made on the next succeeding Business Day and no additional interest will accrue as a result of such delayed payment.
The Company will not be required to make an offer to repurchase the Notes upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event if a third party makes an offer in respect of the Notes in the manner, at the time and otherwise in compliance with the requirements for an offer made by the Company and such third party purchases all Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under its offer.
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 8.01 This Seventh Supplemental Indenture and the Notes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of New York, without regard to principles of conflicts of laws. This Seventh Supplemental Indenture is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of the Indenture and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions. If any provision of the Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by Section 318(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, the imposed duties will control.
Section 8.02 In case any provision in this Seventh Supplemental Indenture or in the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
Section 8.03 This Seventh Supplemental Indenture may be executed in counterparts, each of which will be an original, but such counterparts will together constitute but one and the same Seventh Supplemental Indenture. The exchange of copies of this Seventh Supplemental Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile, .pdf transmission, email or other electronic means shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Seventh Supplemental Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile, .pdf transmission, email or other electronic means shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.
Section 8.04 The Base Indenture, as supplemented and amended by this Seventh Supplemental Indenture, is in all respects ratified and confirmed, and the Base Indenture and this Seventh Supplemental Indenture shall be read, taken and construed as one and the same instrument with respect to the Notes. All provisions included in this Seventh Supplemental Indenture supersede any conflicting provisions included in the Base Indenture with respect to the Notes, unless not permitted by law. The Trustee accepts the trusts created by the Base Indenture, as supplemented by this Seventh Supplemental Indenture, and agrees to perform the same upon the terms and conditions of the Base Indenture, as supplemented by this Seventh Supplemental Indenture.
Section 8.05 The provisions of this Seventh Supplemental Indenture shall become effective as of the date hereof.
Section 8.06 Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary herein, the terms and provisions of this Seventh Supplemental Indenture shall apply only to the Notes and shall not apply to any other series of Securities under the Indenture and this Seventh Supplemental Indenture shall not and does not otherwise affect, modify, alter, supplement or change the terms and provisions of any other series of Securities under the Indenture, whether now or hereafter issued and Outstanding.
Section 8.07 The recitals contained herein and in the Notes shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Seventh Supplemental Indenture, the Notes or any Additional Notes, except that the Trustee represents that it is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Seventh Supplemental Indenture, authenticate the Notes and any Additional Notes and perform its obligations hereunder. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of the Notes or any Additional Notes or the proceeds thereof.
9
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Seventh Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
HERCULES CAPITAL, INC. | ||
By: |
/s/ Seth H. Meyer |
|
Name: | Seth H. Meyer | |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer | |
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee | ||
By: |
/s/ Karen R. Beard |
|
Name: | Karen R. Beard | |
Title: | Vice President |
[Signature page to Seventh Supplemental Indenture]
Exhibit A Form of Global Note
This Security is a Global Note within the meaning of the Indenture hereinafter referred to and is registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company or a nominee thereof. This Security may not be exchanged in whole or in part for a Security registered, and no transfer of this Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name of any Person other than The Depository Trust Company or a nominee thereof, except in the limited circumstances described in the Indenture.
Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company to the issuer or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment and such certificate issued in exchange for this certificate is registered in the name of Cede & Co., or such other name as requested by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company, any transfer, pledge or other use hereof for value or otherwise by or to any person is wrongful, as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.
Hercules Capital, Inc.
No. |
$ | |||
CUSIP No. 427096 AH5 | ||||
ISIN No. US427096AH50 |
2.625% Notes due 2026
Hercules Capital, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of Maryland (herein called the Company, which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co., or registered assigns, the principal sum of U.S. DOLLARS (U.S.$ ) on September 16, 2026, and to pay interest thereon from September 16, 2021 or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, on March 16 and September 16 in each year, commencing March 16, 2022, at the rate of 2.625% per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be March 1 and September 1 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities of this series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture. This Security may be issued as part of a series.
Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and any such interest on this Security will be made at the office of the Trustee located at 100 Wall Street, Suite 1600, New York, New York, 10005, Attention: Hercules Capital, Inc. (2.625% Notes Due 2026) and at such other address as designated by the Trustee, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that at the option of the Company payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register; provided, further, however, that so long as this Security is registered to Cede & Co., such payment will be made by wire transfer in accordance with the procedures established by The Depository Trust Company and the Trustee.
Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.
Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.
Dated:
HERCULES CAPITAL, INC. | ||
By: |
|
|
Name: | ||
Title: |
Attest | ||
By: |
|
|
Name: | ||
Title: |
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
Dated:
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION | ||
as Trustee | ||
By: |
|
|
Authorized Signatory |
2
Hercules Capital, Inc.
2.625% Notes due 2026
This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of Senior Securities of the Company (herein called the Securities), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of March 6, 2012 (herein called the Base Indenture, which term shall have the meaning assigned to it in such instrument), between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee (herein called the Trustee, which term includes any successor trustee under the Base Indenture), and reference is hereby made to the Base Indenture for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee, and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered, as amended and supplemented by the Seventh Supplemental Indenture relating to the Securities, dated as of September 16, 2021, by and between the Company and the Trustee (herein called the Seventh Supplemental Indenture; and together with the Base Indenture, the Indenture). In the event of any conflict between the Base Indenture and the Seventh Supplemental Indenture, the Seventh Supplemental Indenture shall govern and control.
This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof, which series is initially limited in aggregate principal amount to $325,000,000. Under a Board Resolution, Officers Certificate pursuant to Board Resolutions or an indenture supplement, the Company may from time to time, without the consent of the Holders of Securities, issue additional Securities of this series (in any such case Additional Securities) having the same ranking and the same interest rate, maturity and other terms as the Securities. Any Additional Securities and the existing Securities will constitute a single series under the Indenture and all references to the relevant Securities herein shall include the Additional Securities unless the context otherwise requires. The aggregate amount of outstanding Securities represented hereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges and redemptions.
The Securities of this series are subject to redemption in whole or in part at any time or from time to time, at the option of the Company, at a Redemption Price equal to the greater of the following amounts, plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest to the Redemption Date:
(a) |
100% of the principal amount of the Securities to be redeemed, or |
(b) |
the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest (exclusive of accrued and unpaid interest to the Redemption Date) on the Securities to be redeemed, discounted to the Redemption Date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) using the applicable Treasury Rate plus 30 basis points; |
provided, however, that if the Company redeems any Securities on or after August 16, 2026, the Redemption Price for the Securities will be equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Securities to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the Redemption Date.
For purposes of calculating the Redemption Price in connection with the redemption of the Securities, on any Redemption Date, the following terms have the meanings set forth below:
Treasury Rate means, with respect to any Redemption Date, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield-to-maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue (computed as of the third Business Day immediately preceding the redemption), assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such Redemption Date. The Redemption Price and the Treasury Rate will be determined by the Company.
Comparable Treasury Issue means the United States Treasury security selected by the Reference Treasury Dealer as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Securities to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financing practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of the Securities being redeemed.
3
Comparable Treasury Price means (1) the average of the remaining Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for the Redemption Date, after excluding the highest and lowest Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (2) if the Quotation Agent obtains fewer than four such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations.
Quotation Agent means a Reference Treasury Dealer selected by the Company.
Reference Treasury Dealer means each of (1) Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC or (2) a primary U.S. government securities dealer selected by SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc., or their respective affiliates which are primary U.S. government securities dealers and their respective successors; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing or their affiliates shall cease to be a primary U.S. government securities dealer in the United States (a Primary Treasury Dealer), the Company shall select another Primary Treasury Dealer.
Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the average, as determined by the Quotation Agent, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Quotation Agent by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 3:30 p.m. New York time on the third Business Day preceding such Redemption Date.
All determinations made by any Reference Treasury Dealer, including the Quotation Agent, with respect to determining the Redemption Price will be final and binding absent manifest error.
Notice of redemption shall be given in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid or by overnight courier guaranteeing next-day delivery, to each Holder of the Securities to be redeemed, not less than thirty (30) nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the Redemption Date, at the Holders address appearing in the Security Register. All notices of redemption shall contain the information set forth in Section 11.04 of the Base Indenture.
Any exercise of the Companys option to redeem the Securities will be done in compliance with the Indenture and the Investment Company Act, to the extent applicable.
If the Company elects to redeem only a portion of the Securities, the Trustee or, with respect to Global Notes, the Depositary will determine the method for selecting the particular Securities to be redeemed, in accordance with the Indenture and the Investment Company Act, to the extent applicable. In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities of this series and of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof; provided, however, that no such partial redemption shall reduce the portion of the principal amount of a Security not redeemed to less than $2,000.
Unless the Company defaults in payment of the Redemption Price, on and after the Redemption Date, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes called for redemption.
Holders will have the right to require the Company to repurchase their Securities upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Repurchase Event as set forth in the Indenture.
The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of the entire indebtedness of this Security or certain restrictive covenants and Events of Default with respect to this Security, in each case upon compliance with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.
If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing (other than Events of Default related to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization as set forth in the Indenture), the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. In the case of certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization described in the Indenture, 100% of the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on the Securities will automatically become due and payable.
The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected. The Indenture
4
also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.
As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this Security shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Securities of this series at the time Outstanding shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request, and the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of Securities of this series at the time Outstanding a direction inconsistent with such request, and shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for sixty (60) days after receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Security for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any premium or interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.
No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.
As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.
The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.
No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company or Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
To the extent any provision of this Security conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling.
The Indenture and this Security shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to principles of conflicts of laws.
5
Exhibit 5.1
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1095 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10036-6797 +1 212 698 3500 Main +1 212 698 3599 Fax www.dechert.com
|
September 16, 2021
Hercules Capital, Inc.
400 Hamilton Avenue, Suite 310
Palo Alto, CA 94301
Re: Registration Statement on Form N-2
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Hercules Capital, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the Company), in connection with the preparation and filing of a Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-231089), originally filed on April 29, 2019 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) under the Securities Act of 1933 (as amended, the Securities Act) and as subsequently amended on April 30, 2019 and May 6, 2019 (as amended, and including the documents incorporated by reference therein, the Registration Statement) and the final prospectus supplement, dated September 13, 2021 (including the base prospectus filed therewith and the documents incorporated by reference therein, the Prospectus Supplement), filed with the Commission on September 15, 2021 pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, relating to the proposed issuance by the Company of $325.0 million aggregate principal amount of 2.625% notes due 2026 (the Notes), to be sold to underwriters pursuant to an underwriting agreement substantially in the form filed with the Commission on September 15, 2021 on Form 8-K (the Underwriting Agreement). This opinion letter is being furnished to the Company in accordance with the requirements of Item 25 of Form N-2 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and we express no opinion herein as to any matter other than as to the legality of the Indenture (as defined below) and the Notes.
The Notes are to be issued pursuant to the indenture dated as of March 6, 2012 (the Base Indenture), between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the Trustee), as supplemented by the seventh supplemental indenture, dated as of September 16, 2021 (the Seventh Supplemental Indenture and together with the Base Indenture, the Indenture), between the Company and the Trustee.
In rendering the opinions expressed below, we have examined and relied on originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such documents, corporate records and other instruments and such agreements, certificates and receipts of public officials, certificates of officers or other representatives of the Company and others, and such other documents as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions set forth below, including the following documents:
(i) |
the Registration Statement; |
(ii) |
the Prospectus Supplement; |
(iii) |
the Underwriting Agreement; |
(iv) |
the Indenture; |
(v) |
a specimen copy of the form of the Notes to be issued pursuant to the Indenture; |
(vi) |
the Articles of Amendment and Restatement of the Company, dated as of June 8, 2005 (the Articles of Amendment and Restatement); |
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Hercules Capital, Inc. September 16, 2021 Page 2 |
(vii) |
the Articles of Amendment of the Company dated as of March 6, 2007 (Amendment 1); |
(viii) |
the Articles of Amendment of the Company dated as of April 5, 2011 (Amendment 2); |
(ix) |
the Articles of Amendment of the Company dated as of April 3, 2015 (Amendment 3); |
(x) |
the Articles of Amendment of the Company dated as of February 23, 2016 (Amendment 4, collectively, with Amendment 1, Amendment 2, Amendment 3 and the Articles of Amendment and Restatement, the Articles); |
(xi) |
the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company dated as of February 25, 2016; |
(xii) |
a certificate of good standing with respect to the Company issued by the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland as of a recent date; and |
(xiii) |
resolutions approved by the Companys board of directors (the Board) as of September 3, 2021 and resolutions approved by the pricing committee of the Board dated September 13, 2021. |
As to the facts upon which this opinion is based, we have relied, to the extent we deem proper, upon certificates of public officials and certificates and written statements of agents, officers, directors, employees and representatives of the Company without having independently verified such factual matters.
In our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as original documents, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies, the legal capacity of natural persons who are signatories to the documents examined by us and the legal power and authority of all persons signing on behalf of the parties to such documents.
On the basis of the foregoing and subject to the assumptions, qualifications and limitations set forth in this letter, we are of the opinion that:
1. |
The Base Indenture is duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes the valid and legally binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms. |
2. |
The Seventh Supplemental Indenture is duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes the valid and legally binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms. |
3. |
When authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and delivered to the underwriters against payment therefor in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, the Notes will constitute the legal and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms. |
The opinions set forth herein are subject to the following assumptions, qualifications, limitations and exceptions being true and correct at or before the issuance of the Notes:
(i) |
the Company is duly incorporated and validly existing in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland; |
(ii) |
the Indenture and the Notes have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each party thereto (other than the Company); |
(iii) |
the terms of the Notes as established comply with the applicable requirements of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; and |
(iv) |
the Notes have been authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the purchasers thereof. |
The opinions set forth herein as to enforceability of obligations of the Company are subject to: (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or similar laws now or hereinafter in effect affecting the enforcement of creditors rights generally, and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law) and the discretion of the court or other body before which any proceeding may be brought; (ii) the unenforceability under certain circumstances under law or court decisions of
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Hercules Capital, Inc. September 16, 2021 Page 3 |
provisions providing for the indemnification of, or contribution to, a party with respect to a liability where such indemnification or contribution is contrary to public policy; (iii) provisions of law which may require that a judgment for money damages rendered by a court in the United States be expressed only in U.S. dollars; (iv) requirements that a claim with respect to any debt securities denominated other than in U.S. dollars (or a judgment denominated other than in U.S. dollars in respect of such claim) be converted into U.S. dollars at a rate of exchange prevailing on a date determined pursuant to applicable law; and (v) governmental authority to limit, delay or prohibit the making of payments outside the United States or in foreign currency or composite currency.
We express no opinion as to the validity, legally binding effect or enforceability of any provision in any agreement or instrument that (i) requires or relates to payment of any interest at a rate or in an amount which a court may determine in the circumstances under applicable law to be commercially unreasonable or a penalty or forfeiture or (ii) relates to governing law and submission by the parties to the jurisdiction of one or more particular courts.
The opinions expressed herein are limited to the federal laws of the United States of America and the laws of the State of New York. We are members of the bar of the State of New York.
We assume no obligation to advise you of any changes in the foregoing subsequent to the date of this opinion.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to this firm under the caption Legal Matters in the prospectus that forms a part of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus Supplement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Dechert LLP