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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
_______________________________________________________________________
FORM 10-K
_______________________________________________________________________
(Mark One)
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019
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 814-01299
_______________________________________________________________________
Blackstone / GSO Secured Lending Fund
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)
_______________________________________________________________________
Delaware   82-7020632
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
345 Park Avenue, 31st Floor
New York, New York
  10154
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (212) 503-2100
_______________________________________________________________________

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class   Trading
Symbol(s)
  Name of each exchange
on which registered
None               None               None            
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.001
Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.      YES  ☐   NO  ☒
Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.    YES  ☐   NO  ☒
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  ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant has submitted electronically  every Interactive Data File required to be submitted  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  such files).    YES  ☒   NO  ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definition of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act:
Large accelerated filer   Accelerated filer
Non-accelerated filer   Smaller reporting company
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. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).   YES  ☐   NO  ☒
As of December 31, 2019, there was no established public market for the registrant’s common stock.
The number of shares of Registrant’s Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share, outstanding as of February 21, 2020 was 81,234,495.



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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This report contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors and undue reliance should not be placed thereon. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts, but rather are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about Blackstone / GSO Secured Lending Fund (together, with its consolidated subsidiaries, the “Company,” “we” or “our”), our current and prospective portfolio investments, our industry, our beliefs and opinions, and our assumptions. Words such as “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “will,” “may,” “continue,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “targets,” “projects,” “outlook,” “potential,” “predicts” and variations of these words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond our control and difficult to predict and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in the forward-looking statements, including without limitation:
our future operating results;
our business prospects and the prospects of the companies in which we may invest;
the impact of the investments that we expect to make;
the ability of our portfolio companies to achieve their objectives;
our current and expected financing arrangements and investments;
changes in the general interest rate environment;
the adequacy of our cash resources, financing sources and working capital;
the timing and amount of cash flows, distributions and dividends, if any, from our portfolio companies;
our contractual arrangements and relationships with third parties;
actual and potential conflicts of interest with GSO Asset Management LLC (the “Adviser”) or any of its affiliates;
the dependence of our future success on the general economy and its effect on the industries in which we may invest;
our use of financial leverage;
the ability of the Adviser to source suitable investments for us and to monitor and administer our investments;
the ability of the Adviser or its affiliates to attract and retain highly talented professionals;
our ability to maintain our qualification as a regulated investment company and as a business development company (“BDC”);
the impact on our business of U.S. and international financial reform legislation, rules and regulations;
the effect of changes to tax legislation and our tax position; and
the tax status of the enterprises in which we may invest.
Although we believe that the assumptions on which these forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, any of those assumptions could prove to be inaccurate, and as a result, the forward-looking statements based on those assumptions also could be inaccurate. In light of these and other uncertainties, the inclusion of a projection or forward-looking statement in this report should not be regarded as a representation by us that our plans and objectives will be achieved. These risks and uncertainties include those described or identified in the section entitled “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this report. These forward-looking statements apply only as of the date of this report. Moreover, we assume no duty and do not undertake to update the forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable law. Because we are an investment company, the forward-looking statements and projections contained in this report are excluded from the safe harbor protection provided by Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Act, as amended (the “1934 Act”).
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PART I
Item 1. Business.
Our Company
Blackstone / GSO Secured Lending Fund was formed on March 26, 2018 as a Delaware statutory trust structured as a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company that has elected to be regulated as a BDC under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (together with the  rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the “1940 Act”). In addition, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, we have elected to be treated as a regulated investment company (a “RIC”) under the Internal Revenue Code of  1986, as amended (together with the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the “Code”). We are managed by our Adviser. GSO Capital Partners LP (the “Administrator” and, collectively with its affiliates in the credit-focused business of The Blackstone Group Inc., “GSO,” which, for the avoidance of doubt, excludes Harvest Fund Advisors LLC and Blackstone Insurance Solutions) provides the administrative services necessary for us to operate.
Our investment objectives are to generate current income and, to a lesser extent, long-term capital appreciation.  
Under normal market conditions, we generally expect to invest at least 80% of our total assets (net assets plus borrowings for investment purposes) in secured debt investments (including investments that are secured by equity interests). Our portfolio is composed primarily of first lien senior secured and unitranche loans (including first out/last out loans), generally with total investment sizes less than $300 million, which criteria may change from time to time. To a lesser extent, we have and may continue to also invest in second lien, third lien, unsecured or subordinated loans, generally with total investment sizes less than $100 million, which criteria may change from time to time, and other debt and equity securities. We do not currently expect to focus on investments in issuers that are distressed or in need of rescue financing. Subject to the limitations of the 1940 Act, we may invest in loans or other securities, the proceeds of which may refinance or otherwise repay debt or securities of companies whose debt is owned by other GSO funds.  As of December 31, 2019, based on fair value, our portfolio consisted of 98.50% first lien senior secured investments and unitranche loans, 1.05% second lien debt investments and 0.45% equity investments. All of our debt investments as of December 31, 2019 are floating rate in nature, all of which are subject to an interest rate floor. As of December 31, 2019 we had investments in 56 portfolio companies, with a weighted average debt investment size in each of our portfolio companies of approximately $55.0 million based on fair value.
  We generally intend to distribute substantially all of our available earnings annually by making quarterly cash distributions. We use leverage and intend to continue to use leverage for our investment activities. We use and intend to continue to use leverage, which is permitted up to the maximum amount allowed by the 1940 Act (currently limited to a debt-to-equity ratio of 2:1), to enhance potential returns. See “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources—Borrowings.”
Our Investment Adviser
Our investment activities are managed by our Adviser, a subsidiary of GSO Capital Partners LP, the primary investment manager for GSO. The principal executive offices of our Adviser are located at 345 Park Avenue, 31st Floor New York, NY, 10154. Our Adviser is responsible for originating prospective investments, conducting research and due diligence investigations on potential investments, analyzing investment opportunities, negotiating and structuring our investments and monitoring our investments and portfolio companies on an ongoing basis.
In conducting our investment activities, we believe that we benefit from the significant scale and resources of GSO, including our Adviser and its affiliates, subject to the policies and procedures of The Blackstone Group Inc. (collectively with its affiliates as the context requires, “Blackstone”) regarding the management of conflicts of interest. In order to source transactions, the Adviser utilizes its significant access to transaction flow, along with its trading platform. The Adviser seeks to generate investment opportunities through direct origination channels as well as through syndicate and club deals. With respect to GSO’s origination channel, the global presence of GSO generates access to a substantial amount of directly originated transactions with what we believe to be attractive investment characteristics. With respect to syndicate and club deals (i.e., where a limited number of investors participate in a loan transaction), GSO has built a network of relationships with commercial and investment banks, finance companies and other investment funds as a result of the long track record of its investment professionals in the leveraged finance marketplace. GSO employs a rigorous investment process and defensive investment approach to evaluate all potential opportunities with a focus on long-term credit performance and principal protection. The investment professionals employed by GSO have spent their careers developing the resources necessary to invest in private companies. Before undertaking an investment, the Adviser’s transaction team conducts a thorough and rigorous due diligence review of the opportunity to ensure the company fits our investment strategy.
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Our Adviser’s investment committee (the “Investment Committee”) is responsible for reviewing and approving our investment opportunities. The Adviser’s Investment Committee review process is consensus-driven, multi-step and iterative, and occurs in parallel with the diligence and structuring of investments. Others who participate in the Investment Committee process include the team responsible for conducting due diligence, others on the investing team and other senior members of GSO.  There are no representatives from other business groups of Blackstone involved in the Adviser’s Investment Committee process.
We pay our Adviser a management fee at an annual rate of (i) prior to an Exchange Listing (defined below), 0.75%, and (ii) following an Exchange Listing, 1.0%, in each case of the average value of our gross assets at the end of the two most recently completed calendar quarters. We also pay the Adviser incentive fees based on income and capital gains. See “—Investment Advisory Agreement.”
The members of the senior management and Investment Team of the Adviser serve or may serve as officers, directors or principals of entities that operate in the same or a related line of business as we do, or of investment funds managed by the same personnel. As a result, the Adviser, its officers and employees and certain of its affiliates will have conflicts of interest in allocating their time between us and other activities in which they are or may become involved, including the management of its affiliated equipment funds. See “—Allocation of Investment Opportunities and Potential Conflicts of Interests” and “Item 1A. Risk Factors—Risks Related to the Adviser and Its Affiliates; Conflicts of Interest.”
Our Administrator
GSO Capital Partners LP, a Delaware limited partnership, serves as our Administrator. The principal executive offices of GSO Capital Partners LP are located at 345 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10154. We reimburse the Administrator for its costs, expenses and allocable overhead (including compensation of personnel performing administrative duties) in connection with administrative services performed for us. See “—Administration Agreement.”
GSO
GSO is part of Blackstone’s credit-focused platform and is the primary part of its credit reporting segment. Blackstone’s asset management businesses include investment vehicles focused on real estate, private equity, public debt and equity, growth equity, opportunistic, non-investment grade credit, real assets and secondary funds, all on a global basis.
Blackstone’s four business segments are real estate, private equity, hedge fund solutions and credit. Through its different investment businesses, as of December 31, 2019, Blackstone had total assets under management of approximately $571 billion. As of December 31, 2019, GSO’s asset management operation had aggregate assets under management of approximately $124 billion across multiple strategies within the leveraged finance marketplace, including loans, high yield bonds, distressed and mezzanine debt and private equity, including hedge funds. GSO, through its affiliates, employed approximately 404 people in New York, London, Houston and Dublin as of January 1, 2020. As of January 1, 2020, GSO had a 76 person U.S. Direct Lending team (excluding Dwight Scott, Global Head of GSO) focused on the sourcing, structuring, execution management and realization of performing credit investments (which includes those professionals who focus primarily on direct lending investments).  GSO believes that the depth and breadth of its team provides it with a significant competitive advantage in sourcing product on a global basis, structuring transactions and actively managing investments in the portfolio.  
Market Opportunity
We believe that there are and will continue to be significant investment opportunities in the targeted asset classes discussed below.
Attractive Opportunities in Senior Secured Loans
We believe that opportunities in senior secured loans are significant because of the variable rate structure of most senior secured debt issues and because of the strong defensive characteristics of this investment class. Given current market conditions, we believe that debt issues with variable interest rates may offer a superior return profile to fixed-rate securities, since variable interest rate structures are generally less susceptible to declines in value experienced by fixed-rate securities in a rising interest rate environment.
Senior secured debt provides strong defensive characteristics. Because this debt has priority in payment among an issuer’s security holders (i.e., holders are due to receive payment before junior creditors and equity holders), they carry the least
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potential risk among investments in the issuer’s capital structure. Further, these investments are secured by the issuer’s assets, which may be seized in the event of a default, if necessary. They generally also carry restrictive covenants aimed at ensuring repayment before junior creditors, such as most types of unsecured bondholders, and other security holders and preserving collateral to protect against credit deterioration.
Opportunity in Middle Market Private Companies
In addition to investing in senior secured loans generally, we believe that the market for lending to private companies, particularly middle market private companies within the United States, is underserved and presents a compelling investment opportunity. We believe that the following characteristics support our belief:
Large Target Market. Middle market companies represent a large and growing portion of the U.S. economy. According to the National Center for the Middle Market, there were nearly 200,000 middle market companies in the United States with annual revenues between $10 million and $1 billion, as of December 31, 2019. As of December 31, 2019, these middle market companies represented $7.0 trillion of the U.S. gross domestic product and employed approximately 25% of the nation’s workforce, compared to less than 20% in 2011 (see Middle Market Power Index, Dun & Bradstreet (Jan. 2018); National Center for The Middle Market – 4Q 2019, and the International Monetary Fund as of December 2019.). Further, these middle market companies represent, we believe, a significant portion of the growth segment of the U.S. economy, with 7.5% of revenue growth in the past twelve months as of December 31, 2019 compared to 4.3% for S&P 500 companies, according to the National Center of the Middle Market, and often require substantial capital investment to grow their businesses. Middle market companies have generated a significant number of investment opportunities for investment programs advised by GSO and its affiliates over the past several years, and we believe that this market segment will continue to produce significant investment opportunities for us.
Limited Investment Competition. Despite the size of the market, we believe that regulatory changes and other factors have diminished the role of traditional financial institutions and certain other capital providers in providing financing to middle market companies. As tracked by S&P Capital IQ LCD, U.S. banks’ share of senior secured loans has declined from 33.1% in 1995 to 8.9% for the year ended December 2019. In addition, due to bank consolidation, the number of banks has also rapidly declined, furthering the lack of supply in middle market lending. As of March 2019, there were approximately 4,605 banks in the U.S., which was only one-third of the number of banks in 1984, according to Federal Reserve Economic Data.
We also believe that lending and originating new loans to middle market companies, which are often private, generally requires a greater dedication of the lender’s time and resources compared to lending to larger companies, due in part to the smaller size of each investment and the often fragmented nature of information available from these companies. Further, we believe that many investment firms lack the breadth and scale necessary to identify investment opportunities, particularly in regards to directly originated investments in middle market companies, and thus attractive investment opportunities are often overlooked. In addition, middle market companies may require more active monitoring and participation on the lender’s part. We believe that many large financial organizations, which often have relatively high cost structures, are not suited to deal with these factors and instead emphasize services and transactions to larger corporate clients with a consequent reduction in the availability of financing to middle market companies.
Attractive Market Segment. We believe that the underserved nature of such a large segment of the market can at times create a significant opportunity for investment. In many environments, we believe that middle market companies are more likely to offer attractive economics in terms of transaction pricing, up-front and ongoing fees, prepayment penalties and security features in the form of stricter covenants and quality collateral than loans to larger companies. In addition, as compared to larger companies, middle market companies sometimes have simpler capital structures and carry less leverage, thus aiding the structuring and negotiation process and allowing us greater flexibility in structuring favorable transactions. We believe that these factors will result in advantageous conditions in which to pursue our investment objectives of generating current income and, to a lesser extent, long-term capital appreciation.
Competitive Strengths
GSO is a key player in the middle and upper-middle market direct lending space. GSO has experience scaling funds across its platform that invest throughout all parts of the capital structure. GSO strives to focus on transactions where it can differentiate itself from other providers of capital, targeting larger transactions and those where GSO can bring its expertise and experience in negotiating and structuring. We believe that GSO is one of the few investment management firms with the scale and platform to effectively manage a U.S. direct lending investment strategy, offering investors the following potential competitive strengths:

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Scale of GSO Platform
We believe that the breadth and scale of GSO’s approximately $124 billion platform, as of December 31, 2019, gives GSO a distinct competitive advantage in sourcing proprietary investment opportunities and provides GSO with a differentiated capability to invest in large, complex opportunities. GSO covers approximately 930 corporate credits globally and has focused primarily on the non-investment grade corporate credit market since its inception in 2005. GSO expects that in the current environment, in which committed capital from banks remains scarce (as tracked by S&P Capital IQ LCD, U.S. banks’ share of senior secured debt to middle market companies represented 12% of the overall middle market loan volume in 2019, down from nearly 20% in 2011), the ability to provide flexible, well-structured capital commitments in appropriate sizes will enable GSO to command more favorable terms for its investments. GSO believes that it occupies a differentiated position in the leveraged finance market, with investment activities that span a broad array of public and private market strategies. We believe this presence enables GSO to identify opportunities early and select those investments that GSO believes offer the most attractive risk-adjusted return profile. In addition, when banks are facing difficulties in syndicating new issues, GSO’s ability to serve as a large “anchor” investor can help facilitate the successful completion of a transaction. We believe the depth of the experience of GSO’s senior management team, together with the wider resources of GSO’s team of investment professionals (the “Investment Team”), which is dedicated to sourcing, structuring, executing, monitoring and harvesting a broad range of private investments, will provide us with a significant competitive advantage in sourcing and analyzing what we believe to be attractive investment opportunities.
Sourcing and Origination Capabilities
As of January 1, 2020, GSO had a 76 person U.S. Direct Lending team (excluding Dwight Scott, Global Head of GSO) focused on the sourcing, structuring, execution, management and realization of performing credit investments (which includes those professionals who focus primarily on direct lending investments). We believe that GSO’s strong reputation and longstanding relationships with corporate boards, management teams, leveraged buyout sponsors, financial advisors, and intermediaries position GSO as a partner and counterparty of choice and provides us with superior sourcing capabilities. In GSO’s experience, these relationships help drive substantial proprietary deal flow and insight into investment opportunities.
GSO has a broad and diversified origination platform that we believe allows GSO to drive deal flow through various market cycles while maintaining quality control. In particular, we believe that GSO’s dedicated energy team provides a distinct competitive advantage. Furthermore, GSO has established a reputation for providing creative, value-added solutions to address portfolio companies’ financing requirements and believes that the ability to “solve a problem” for a company can lead to attractive investment opportunities.
GSO seeks to generate investment opportunities through its direct origination channels and through syndicate and club deals (generally, investments made by a small group of investment firms). With respect to GSO’s origination channel, we seek to leverage the global presence of GSO to generate access to a substantial amount of directly originated transactions with attractive investment characteristics. We believe that the broad network of GSO provides a significant pipeline of investment opportunities for us. With respect to syndicate and club deals, GSO has built a network of relationships with commercial and investment banks, finance companies and other investment funds as a result of the long track record of its investment professionals in the leveraged finance marketplace. GSO also has a significant trading platform, which, we believe, allows us access to the secondary market for investment opportunities.
Flexible Investment Approach
GSO believes that the ability to invest opportunistically throughout a capital structure provides a meaningful competitive advantage in sourcing transactions and enables the Company to seek investments that provide the best risk/return proposition in any given transaction.  GSO’s creativity and flexibility with regard to deal-structuring distinguishes it from other financing sources, including traditional mezzanine providers, whose investment mandates are typically more restrictive.  Over time, GSO has demonstrated the ability to negotiate more favorable terms for its investments by providing creative structures that add value for an issuer.  GSO will continue to seek to use this flexible investment approach to focus on principal preservation, while generating attractive returns throughout different economic and market cycles.
Long-Term Investment Horizon
Our long-term investment horizon gives us greater flexibility, which we believe allows us to maximize returns on our investments. Unlike most private equity and venture capital funds, as well as many private debt funds, we will not be required to return capital to our shareholders once we exit a portfolio investment. We believe that freedom from such capital return requirements, which allows us to invest using a longer-term focus, provides us with a better opportunity to increase total returns on invested capital compared to other private company investment vehicles.
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Disciplined Investment Process and Income-Oriented Investment Philosophy
GSO employs a rigorous investment process and defensive investment approach to evaluate all potential opportunities with a focus on long-term credit performance and principal protection. We believe GSO has generated attractive risk-adjusted returns in its investing activities throughout many economic and credit cycles by (i) maintaining its investment discipline; (ii) performing intensive credit work; (iii) carefully structuring transactions; and (iv) actively managing its portfolios. GSO’s investment approach involves a multi-stage selection process for each investment opportunity, as well as ongoing monitoring of each investment made, with particular emphasis on early detection of deteriorating credit conditions at portfolio companies which would result in adverse portfolio developments. This strategy is designed to maximize current income and minimize the risk of capital loss while maintaining the potential for long-term capital appreciation. Additionally, GSO’s senior investment professionals have dedicated their careers to the leveraged finance and private equity sectors and we believe that their experience in due diligence, credit analysis and ongoing management of investments is invaluable to the success of the U.S. direct lending investment strategy that we will employ. GSO targets businesses with leading market share positions, sustainable barriers to entry, high free cash flow generation, strong asset values, liquidity to withstand market cycles, favorable underlying industry trends, strong internal controls and high-quality management teams.
Ability to Leverage Blackstone’s Group Purchasing Organization
Blackstone’s Group Purchasing Organization (“GPO”) is a collective purchasing platform that leverages the scale and buying power of the $5 billion of average annual spending of Blackstone’s portfolio companies with strategic partners and vendors measured over the past ten years. Blackstone and GSO portfolio companies have generated significant cost savings through their use of the GPO, ranging from 3% to 40%, often from existing suppliers, on maintenance, repair, operations, back office, information technology, hardware, software, telecommunications, business insurance and human resources, among others. The benefits of working with Blackstone’s GPO can include improved pricing and terms, differentiated service, and ongoing service that may benefit the applicable portfolio company’s performance.
Investment Strategy
Our investment objectives are to generate current income and, to a lesser extent, long-term capital appreciation. We seek to meet our investment objectives by:
utilizing the experience and expertise of the management team of the Adviser, along with the broader resources of GSO, which include its access to the relationships and human capital of GSO’s parent, Blackstone, in sourcing, evaluating and structuring transactions, subject to Blackstone’s policies and procedures regarding the management of conflicts of interest;
employing a defensive investment approach focused on long-term credit performance and principal protection, generally lending on a basis of 3.5 times to 5.5 times the borrower’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) (which is generally measured on a forward basis using estimated projections of the Adviser and may include certain adjustments) and at loan-to-value ratios of 50%-65% (with value being the Adviser’s estimate of enterprise value of the borrower) and also seeking favorable financial covenant protections.  The methodology for calculating enterprise value can vary by company and industry, but would typically be based on (i) observable market prices for the company’s debt and equity securities (when available), (ii) comparable company analysis, or (iii) discounted cash flow analysis;
focusing primarily on loans and securities of private U.S. companies, including syndicated loans, specifically small and middle market companies, which we define as companies with annual revenue of $50 million to $2.5 billion, at the time of investment. Specifically, for our originated investments, we target companies with $25 million to $75 million of EBITDA. In many market environments, we believe such a focus offers an opportunity for superior risk-adjusted returns;
investing primarily in established, stable enterprises with positive cash flows; and
maintaining rigorous portfolio monitoring in an attempt to anticipate and pre-empt negative credit events within our portfolio.
Under normal market conditions, we generally invest at least 80% of our total assets (net assets plus borrowings for investment purposes) in secured debt investments (including investments that are secured by equity interests). Our portfolio is
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composed primarily of first lien senior secured and unitranche loans (including first out/last out loans), generally with total investment sizes less than $300 million, which criteria may change from time to time. To a lesser extent, we have and may continue to also invest in second lien, third lien, unsecured or subordinated loans, generally with total investment sizes less than $100 million, which criteria may change from time to time, and other debt and equity securities. We do not currently focus on investments in issuers that are distressed or in need of rescue financing.  Subject to the limitations of the 1940 Act, we may invest in loans or other securities the proceeds of which may refinance or otherwise repay debt or securities of companies whose debt is owned by other GSO funds.
Although we do not expect a significant portion of our portfolio to be composed of second lien, third lien, unsecured or subordinated loans, there is no limit on the amount of such loans in which we may invest, subject to compliance with our 80% policy. We may purchase interests in loans or make other debt investments, including investments in senior secured bonds, through secondary market transactions in the “over-the-counter” market or directly from our target companies as primary market, directly originated or syndicated investments. In connection with our debt investments, we may on occasion receive equity interests such as warrants or options as additional consideration. We have and may continue to also purchase or otherwise acquire minority interests in the form of common or preferred equity or equity-related securities, such as rights and warrants that may be converted into or exchanged for our common shares of beneficial interest or other equity or the cash value of shares or other equity, in our target companies, generally in conjunction with one of our debt investments or through a co-investment with a financial sponsor, such as an institutional investor or private equity firm, or a finance company transaction (such as a joint venture). In addition, a portion of our portfolio may be composed of unsecured bonds, CLOs, other debt securities and derivatives, including total return swaps and credit default swaps. Depending on market conditions, we may increase or decrease our exposure to less senior portions of the capital structure or otherwise make opportunistic investments.
Investment Selection
When identifying prospective investment opportunities, the Adviser currently intends to rely on fundamental credit analysis in order to minimize the loss of the Company’s capital. The Adviser expects to invest in companies possessing the following attributes, which it believes will help achieve our investment objective:
Leading, Defensible Market Positions. The Adviser intends to invest in companies that it believes have developed strong positions within their respective markets and exhibit the potential to maintain sufficient cash flows and profitability to service their obligations in a range of economic environments. The Adviser will seek companies that it believes possess advantages in scale, scope, customer loyalty, product pricing, or product quality versus their competitors, thereby minimizing business risk and protecting profitability.
Stable Companies with Positive Cash Flows. The Adviser intends to invest in established, stable companies which have demonstrated a record of profitability and cash flows over several economic cycles. The Adviser believes such companies are well-positioned to maintain consistent cash flow to service and repay their obligations and maintain growth in their businesses or market share. The Adviser does not intend to invest in start-up companies, companies in turnaround situations or companies with speculative business plans.
Proven Management Teams. The Adviser intends to focus on investments in which the target company has an experienced and high-quality management team with an established track record of success. The Adviser will typically require companies to have in place proper incentives to align management’s goals with the Company’s goals.
Private Equity Sponsorship. Often the Adviser will seek to participate in transactions sponsored by what it believes to be high-quality private equity firms. The Adviser believes that a private equity sponsor’s willingness to invest significant sums of equity capital into a company is an implicit endorsement of the quality of the investment. Further, private equity sponsors of companies with significant investments at risk generally have the ability and a strong incentive to contribute additional capital in difficult economic times should operational issues arise, which could provide additional protections for our investments.
Diversification. The Adviser seeks to invest broadly among companies and industries, thereby potentially reducing the risk of a downturn in any one company or industry having a disproportionate impact on the value of the Company’s portfolio.
Viable Exit Strategy. In addition to payments of principal and interest, we expect the primary methods for the strategy to realize returns on our investments include refinancings, sales of portfolio companies, and in some cases initial public offerings and secondary offerings. While many debt securities in which we will invest have stated maturities of five to eight years, based on GSO’s past experience, we believe most of these securities will be redeemed or sold prior to maturity.  These securities often have call protection that requires an issuer to pay a premium if it redeems in the early years of an investment. The Investment Team regularly reviews investments and related market conditions in order to determine if an opportunity exists
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to realize returns on a particular investment.  We believe the Adviser’s ability to utilize the entire resources of GSO, including the public market traders and research analysts, allows the Adviser to gain access to current market information where the opportunity may exist to sell positions into the market at attractive prices.
Investment Process
Our investment activities are managed by our Adviser. The Adviser is responsible for originating prospective investments, conducting research and due diligence investigations on potential investments, analyzing investment opportunities, negotiating and structuring our investments and monitoring our investments and portfolio companies on an ongoing basis.
The investment professionals employed by GSO have spent their careers developing the resources necessary to invest in private companies. Our transaction process is highlighted below.
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Sourcing and Origination
In order to source transactions, the Adviser utilizes its significant access to transaction flow, along with its trading platform. The Adviser seeks to generate investment opportunities primarily through direct origination channels, and also through syndicate and club deals. With respect to GSO’s origination channel, the global presence of GSO generates access to a substantial amount of directly originated transactions with what we believe to be attractive investment characteristics. With respect to syndicate and club deals, GSO has built a network of relationships with commercial and investment banks, finance companies and other investment funds as a result of the long track record of its investment professionals in the leveraged finance marketplace. We believe that GSO’s strong reputation and longstanding relationships with its broad network will help drive substantial proprietary deal flow and provide a significant pipeline of investment opportunities for us.
Evaluation
Initial Review.  The Investment Team examines information furnished by the target company and external sources, including banks, advisors and rating agencies, if applicable, to determine whether the investment meets our basic investment criteria within the context of proper allocation of our portfolio among various issuers and industries, and offers an acceptable probability of attractive returns with identifiable downside risk. In the case of directly originated transactions, GSO conducts detailed due diligence investigations. For the majority of securities available on the secondary market, a comprehensive analysis is conducted and continuously maintained by a dedicated GSO research analyst, the results of which are available for the transaction team to review.
Credit Analysis/Due Diligence. Before undertaking an investment, the Investment Team conducts a thorough and rigorous due diligence review of the opportunity to ensure the company fits our investment strategy, which may include: 
a full operational analysis to identify the key risks and opportunities of the target’s business, including a detailed review of historical and projected financial results;
a detailed analysis of industry and customer dynamics, competitive position, regulatory, tax and legal matters;
on-site visits and customer and supplier reference calls, if deemed necessary;
background checks to further evaluate management and other key personnel;
a review by legal and accounting professionals, environmental or other industry consultants, if necessary;
financial sponsor due diligence, including portfolio company and lender reference checks, if necessary; and
a review of management’s experience and track record.
Third parties are often involved in the Adviser’s due diligence process, whether they are hired by the Adviser or by the lead sponsor in a transaction. Utilizing consultants to help evaluate a business and test an investment thesis is typically very
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beneficial. When possible, the Adviser seeks to structure transactions in such a way that our target companies are required to bear the costs of due diligence, including those costs related to any outside consulting work we may require.
The foregoing initial assessment is then followed by extensive credit analysis, including asset valuation, financial analysis, cash flow analysis and scenario analysis, legal and accounting review, and comparable credit and equity analyses. A thorough assessment of structure and leverage of a transaction and how the particular investment fits into the overall investment strategy of the portfolio is conducted. GSO’s typical diligence process for an originated investment opportunity spans two to six months, from the initial screen through final approval and funding.  Depending on the deal, each deal team typically consists of three to four investment professionals, consisting of a portfolio manager, managing director, principal or vice president and associate and/or analyst.
Investment Committee Process. The Investment Committee review process is multi-step and iterative, and occurs in parallel with the diligence and structuring of investments.  The initial investment screening process involves an Investment Committee “Heads-Up” review presentation by the portfolio manager and members of the deal team. The Heads-Up review involves the production of a short memo with a focus on the following diligence items: an early diligence review of the underlying business fundamentals; expected return potential; expected investment size; assessment of key risks; and an appropriate initial diligence plan. At this point in the decision-making process, the Investment Committee will decide whether or not the Investment Team should proceed with deeper diligence on the investment opportunity.
Once in-depth diligence has begun, the deal team presents updates at regularly-held Investment Committee meetings. The senior team reviews all activity for the prior meeting, with a focus on detailed updates of ongoing situations and in-depth review of all new investment opportunities. The type of diligence materials reviewed at these meetings for each company may include, but are not limited to:
Detailed historical financial performance
Financial models with detailed revenue drivers 
This includes the construction of a base case, a downside case and specifically tailored cases.  This process includes probability-weighted analysis and a range of outcomes analysis.
Quarterly liquidity analyses
Industry analysis incorporating internal and external work from research analysts and industry consultants
Competitive position and market share analysis
Customer analysis, including revenue, profitability and concentration risk
Pricing and volume analyses
Detailed fixed vs. variable cost analysis, and line item analysis of cost of goods sold as well as selling, general and administrative expenses
Public and private credit and equity comparable analysis
Accounting quality of earnings analysis
Legal due diligence
The ultimate results and findings of the investment analysis are compiled in comprehensive investment memoranda that are used as the basis to support the investment thesis and are utilized by the Investment Committee for final investment review and approval.  Each investment requires the consent of the Investment Committee, which may emphasize the following key criteria (among others) in making a decision:
Company Analysis:  Does the company meet the investment criteria defined by the “GSO Scorecard”?:
Leading market share position
Sustainable barriers to entry that drive pricing power
High-quality management team
Stable financials: strong free cash flow generation, high EBIT margins
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Conservative capital structure with underlying equity value
Liquidity to withstand market cycles
Industry Analysis: Is there a favorable industry structure with respect to customers, suppliers and regulation?
Due Diligence: Have we fully diligence each of the investment criteria specified by the GSO Scorecard? Have we completely vetted each of the risk factors identified throughout the diligence and Investment Committee process?
Valuation:  What is the intrinsic value of the business?  How has the business historically generated returns on capital?  Will these returns continue in the future?  What growth opportunities does the business have, if any?  Is there substantial equity value to support the capital structure?
Risk of Principal Loss & Risk/Reward:  What is the expected recovery in a severe downside case?  Does the expected upside appropriately compensate for risk of loss?
Return Hurdles:  Is the investment expected to generate a rate of return that meets the Company’s objectives?
Exit Plan: Do we expect refinancings, a sale of the company, or other exit opportunities?
Monitoring
Portfolio Monitoring. Active management of our investments is performed by the team responsible for making the initial investment.  The Adviser believes that actively managing an investment allows the Investment Team to identify problems early and work with companies to develop constructive solutions when necessary. The Adviser will monitor our portfolio with a focus toward anticipating negative credit events. In seeking to maintain portfolio company performance and help to ensure a successful exit, the Adviser will work closely with, as applicable, the lead equity sponsor, loan syndicator, portfolio company management, consultants, advisers and other security holders to discuss financial position, compliance with covenants, financial requirements and execution of the company’s business plan. In addition, depending on the size, nature and performance of the transaction, we may occupy a seat or serve as an observer on a portfolio company’s board of directors or similar governing body.
Exit
In addition to payments of principal and interest, we expect the primary methods for the strategy to realize returns on its investments include refinancings, sales of portfolio companies, and in some cases initial public offerings and secondary offerings. While many debt securities in which we will invest have stated maturities of five to eight years, based on GSO’s past experience, we believe most of these securities will be redeemed or sold prior to maturity.  These securities often have call protection that requires an issuer to pay a premium if it redeems in the early years of an investment. However, there is no assurance that our investments will achieve realization events as a result of refinancings, sales of portfolio companies or public offerings and these realization events will become more unlikely when conditions in the loan and capital markets have deteriorated.
The Investment Team regularly reviews investments and related market conditions in order to determine if an opportunity exists to realize returns on a particular investment.  We believe the Adviser’s ability to utilize the entire resources of GSO, including the public market traders and research analysts, allows the Adviser to gain access to current market information where the opportunity may exist to sell positions into the market at attractive prices.
Allocation of Investment Opportunities and Potential Conflicts of Interest
GSO, including the Adviser, provides investment management services to other registered investment companies, investment funds, client accounts and proprietary accounts that GSO may establish (other than the Company) (collectively the “Other GSO Clients”). In addition, Blackstone provides investment management services to other registered investment companies, investment funds, client accounts and proprietary accounts that Blackstone may establish (together with the Other GSO Clients, the “Other Clients”).  See “Item 1A. Risk FactorsRisks Related to the Adviser and Its Affiliates; Conflicts of InterestThere may be conflicts of interest related to obligations that the Adviser’s senior management and Investment Team have to other clients.”
Co-Investment Relief
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We have in the past co-invested, and in the future may co-invest, with certain affiliates of the Adviser. We have received an exemptive order from the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) that permits us, among other things, to co-invest with certain other persons, including certain affiliates of the Adviser and certain funds managed and controlled by the Adviser and its affiliates, subject to certain terms and conditions. Pursuant to such order, the board of trustees of the Company (the “Board”) has established objective criteria (“Board Criteria”) clearly defining co-investment opportunities in which the Company will have the opportunity to participate with one or more listed or private GSO-managed BDCs (including the Company, the “GSO BDCs”), and other public or private GSO funds that target similar assets. If an investment falls within the Board Criteria, GSO must offer an opportunity for the GSO BDCs to participate.  The GSO BDCs may determine to participate or not to participate, depending on whether GSO determines that the investment is appropriate for the GSO BDCs (e.g., based on investment strategy).  The co-investment would generally be allocated to us, any other GSO BDCs and the other GSO funds that target similar assets pro rata based on available capital in the applicable asset class.  If the Adviser determines that such investment is not appropriate for us, the investment will not be allocated to us, but the Adviser will be required to report such investment and the rationale for its determination for us to not participate in the investment to the Board at the next quarterly board meeting.
Investments
As of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the fair value of our investments was approximately $3,092.4 million and $545.3 million, respectively in 56 and 61 portfolio companies, respectively.
The composition of our investment portfolio at cost and fair value is as follows (dollar amounts in thousands):

December 31, 2019 December 31, 2018
Cost Fair Value % of Total
Investments at
Fair Value
Cost Fair Value % of Total
Investments at
Fair Value
First lien debt $ 3,021,498    $ 3,046,101    98.50  % $ 542,395    $ 538,983    98.84  %
Second lien debt 32,782    32,419    1.05    6,358    6,342    1.16   
Equity Investments 13,487    13,920    0.45    —    —    —   
Total $ 3,067,767    $ 3,092,440    100.00  % $ 548,753    $ 545,325    100.00  %















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The industry composition of our investments at fair value is as follows:
December 31, 2019 December 31, 2018
Aerospace & Defense —  % 1.27  %
Air Freight & Logistics 11.00    —   
Building Products 12.23    9.46   
Capital Markets —    0.45   
Chemicals 3.79    3.29   
Commercial Services & Supplies 8.55    4.17   
Construction & Engineering 4.44    2.13   
Containers & Packaging —    0.34   
Distributors 18.51    4.64   
Diversified Consumer Services —    1.98   
Diversified Financial Services 2.51    1.38   
Diversified Telecommunication Services —    0.88   
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components 0.46    —   
Energy Equipment & Services 2.60    3.96   
Health Care Equipment & Supplies 1.78    7.29   
Health Care Providers & Services 4.75    17.97   
Health Care Technology 0.08    0.53   
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure 1.52    16.98   
Industrial Conglomerates 1.01    —   
Insurance —    0.18   
Interactive Media & Services 1.51    —   
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail 1.35    —   
IT Services 3.66    2.59   
Machinery 1.63    0.88   
Media 0.95    2.88   
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels 4.81    0.35   
Professional Services 1.76    1.31   
Real Estate Management & Development —    0.90   
Software 3.03    6.24   
Specialty Retail 6.07    1.66   
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals 1.06    —   
Trading Companies & Distributors 0.21    2.18   
Transportation Infrastructure 0.73    4.11   
Total 100.00  % 100.00  %







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The geographic composition of our investments at cost and fair value is as follows (dollar amounts in thousands):

December 31, 2019
Cost Fair Value % of Total Investments at Fair Value Fair Value as % of Net Assets
United States $ 2,675,743    $ 2,698,272    87.25  % 161.27  %
Canada 261,911    263,704    8.53    15.76   
Luxembourg 130,113    130,464    4.22    7.80   
Total $ 3,067,767    $ 3,092,440    100.00  % 184.83  %

December 31, 2018
Cost Fair Value % of Total
Investments at
Fair Value
Fair Value
as % of Net
Assets
United States $ 542,891    $ 539,541    98.94  % 228.26  %
United Kingdom 5,862    5,784    1.06    2.45   
Total $ 548,753    $ 545,325    100.00  % 230.71  %
See the Consolidated Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018  in our consolidated financial statements in “Item 8. Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Consolidated Schedule of Investments” for more information on these investments.
As of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, we had outstanding commitments to fund delayed draw term loans totaling $179.4 million and $54.7 million, respectively. 
Capital Resources and Borrowings
As a RIC, we intend to distribute substantially all of our net income to our stockholders. We anticipate generating cash in the future from the issuance of shares and cash flows from operations, including interest received on our debt investments.
Additionally, we are permitted, under specified conditions, to issue multiple classes of indebtedness and one class of shares senior to our shares if our asset coverage, as defined in the 1940 Act, is at least equal to 150% immediately after each such issuance. As of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, our asset coverage was 215.1% and 227.8%, respectively.
Furthermore, while any indebtedness and senior securities remain outstanding, we must take provisions to prohibit any distribution to our shareholders (which may cause us to fail to distribute amounts necessary to avoid entity-level taxation under the Code), or the repurchase of such securities or shares unless we meet the applicable asset coverage ratios at the time of the distribution or repurchase. In addition, we must also comply with positive and negative covenants customary for these types of facilities.
Our contractual obligations consisted of the following as of December 31, 2019 (dollar amounts in thousands):
  Payments Due by Period
  Total Less than
1 year
1-3 years 3-5 years After 5 years
Subscription Facility $ 119,752    $ 119,752    $ —    $ —    $ —   
Jackson Hole Funding Facility 514,151    —    —    514,151    —   
Breckenridge Funding Facility 820,311    —    —    820,311    —   
Big Sky Funding Facility —    —    —    —    —   
Total Contractual Obligations $ 1,454,214    $ 119,752    $ —    $ 1,334,462    $ —   
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See “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources.
Warehousing Transactions
We entered into two warehousing transactions whereby we agreed, subject to certain conditions, to purchase certain assets from parties unaffiliated with the Adviser. Such warehousing transactions were designed to assist us in deploying capital upon receipt of drawdown proceeds. One of these warehousing transactions related primarily to originated or anchor investments in middle market loans (the “Middle Market Warehouse”).  The other warehouse related primarily to broadly syndicated loans (the “Syndicated Warehouse” and, together with the Middle Market Warehouse, the “Warehousing Transactions”) prior to the acquisition of the equity interests of the Syndicated Warehouse by us and merger of the Syndicated Warehouse with our wholly-owned subsidiary, as described below. Both the Middle Market Warehouse and the Syndicated Warehouse have been terminated.
Investment Advisory Agreement
The Adviser provides management services to us pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement. The Investment Advisory Agreement has been approved by the Board.  Under the terms of the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Adviser is responsible for the following:
determining the composition of our portfolio, the nature and timing of the changes to our portfolio and the manner of implementing such changes in accordance with our investment objective, policies and restrictions;
identifying investment opportunities and making investment decisions for us, including negotiating the terms of investments in, and dispositions of, portfolio securities and other instruments on our behalf;
monitoring our investments;
performing due diligence on prospective portfolio companies;
exercising voting rights in respect of portfolio securities and other investments for us;
serving on, and exercising observer rights for, boards of directors and similar committees of our portfolio companies;
negotiating, obtaining and managing financing facilities and other forms of leverage; and
providing us with such other investment advisory and related services as we may, from time to time, reasonably require for the investment of capital.
The Adviser’s services under the Investment Advisory Agreement are not exclusive, and it is free to furnish similar services to other entities, and it intends to do so, so long as its services to us are not impaired.
Pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement, we pay our Adviser a fee for investment advisory and management services consisting of two components—a management fee and an incentive fee.
Management Fee
The management fee is payable quarterly in arrears at an annual rate of (i) prior to an Exchange Listing, 0.75%, and (ii) following an Exchange Listing, 1.0%, in each case of the average value of our gross assets at the end of the two most recently completed calendar quarters. For the first calendar quarter in which the Company had operations, gross assets were measured as the average of gross assets at the Initial Drawdown Date (as defined below) and at the end of such first calendar quarter. For purposes of the Investment Advisory Agreement, "gross assets" means our total assets determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”), excluding undrawn commitments but including assets purchased with borrowed amounts. If an Exchange Listing occurs on a date other than the first day of a calendar quarter, the management fee shall be calculated for such calendar quarter at a weighted rate calculated based on the fee rates applicable before and after the Exchange Listing based on the number of days in such calendar quarter before and after the Exchange Listing.
Incentive Fee
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The incentive fee consists of two components that are independent of each other, with the result that one component may be payable even if the other is not. A portion of the incentive fee is based on a percentage of our income and a portion is based on a percentage of our capital gains, each as described below.
(i) Incentive Fee on Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income
The portion based on our income is based on Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income Returns. “Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income Returns” means, as the context requires, either the dollar value of, or percentage rate of return on the value of our net assets at the end of the immediately preceding quarter from, interest income, dividend income and any other income (including any other fees (other than fees for providing managerial assistance), such as commitment, origination, structuring, diligence and consulting fees or other fees that we receive from portfolio companies) accrued during the calendar quarter, minus our operating expenses accrued for the quarter (including the management fee, expenses payable under the administration agreement entered into between us and the Administrator (the “Administration Agreement”), and any interest expense or fees on any credit facilities or outstanding debt and dividends paid on any issued and outstanding preferred shares, but excluding the incentive fee).
Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income Returns include, in the case of investments with a deferred interest feature (such as original issue discount, debt instruments with pay-in-kind (“PIK”) interest and zero coupon securities), accrued income that we have not yet received in cash. Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income Returns do not include any realized capital gains, realized capital losses or unrealized capital appreciation or depreciation.
Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income Returns, expressed as a rate of return on the value of our net assets at the end of the immediately preceding quarter, is compared to a “hurdle rate” of return of 1.5% per quarter (6.0% annualized).
Prior to an Exchange Listing, we pay the Adviser an incentive fee quarterly in arrears with respect to our Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income Returns in each calendar quarter as follows:
no incentive fee based on Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income Returns in any calendar quarter in which our Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income Returns do not exceed the hurdle rate of 1.5%;
100% of the dollar amount of our Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income Returns with respect to that portion of such Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income Returns, if any, that exceeds the hurdle rate but is less than a rate of return of 1.76% (7.06% annualized). We refer to this portion of our Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income Returns (which exceeds the hurdle rate but is less than 1.76%) as the “catch-up.” The “catch-up” is meant to provide the Adviser with approximately 15% of our Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income Returns as if a hurdle rate did not apply if this net investment income exceeds 1.76% in any calendar quarter; and
15% of the dollar amount of our Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income Returns, if any, that exceed a rate of return of 1.76% (7.06% annualized). This reflects that once the hurdle rate is reached and the catch-up is achieved, 15% of all Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income Returns thereafter are allocated to the Adviser.
Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income Returns Prior to an Exchange Listing
(expressed as a percentage of the value of net assets)
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Percentage of Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income
Allocated to Quarterly Incentive Fee
Following an Exchange Listing, we will pay the Adviser an incentive fee quarterly in arrears with respect to our Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income Returns in each calendar quarter as follows:
no incentive fee based on Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income Returns in any calendar quarter in which our Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income Returns do not exceed the hurdle rate of 1.5%;
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100% of the dollar amount of our Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income Returns with respect to that portion of such Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income Returns, if any, that exceeds the hurdle rate but is less than a rate of return of 1.82% (7.27% annualized). The “catch-up” is meant to provide the Adviser with approximately 17.5% of our Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income Returns as if a hurdle rate did not apply if this net investment income exceeds 1.82% in any calendar quarter; and
17.5% of the dollar amount of our Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income Returns, if any, that exceed a rate of return of 1.82% (7.27% annualized). This reflects that once the hurdle rate is reached and the catch-up is achieved, 17.5% of all Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income Returns thereafter are allocated to the Adviser.
Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income Returns Following an Exchange Listing
(expressed as a percentage of the value of net assets)
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Percentage of Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income
Allocated to Quarterly Incentive Fee
These calculations are prorated for any period of less than three months and adjusted for any share issuances or repurchases during the relevant quarter. A rise in the general level of interest rates can be expected to lead to higher interest rates applicable to our debt investments. Accordingly, an increase in interest rates would make it easier for us to meet or exceed the incentive fee hurdle rate and may result in a substantial increase of the amount of incentive fees payable to the Adviser with respect to Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income Returns. Because of the structure of the incentive fee, it is possible that we may pay an incentive fee in a calendar quarter in which we incur an overall loss taking into account capital account losses. For example, if we receive Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income Returns in excess of the quarterly hurdle rate, we will pay the applicable incentive fee even if we have incurred a loss in that calendar quarter due to realized and unrealized capital losses. If an Exchange Listing occurs on a date other than the first day of a calendar quarter, the incentive fee shall be calculated for such calendar quarter at a weighted rate calculated based on the fee rates applicable before and after the Exchange Listing based on the number of days in such calendar quarter before and after the Exchange Listing.
(ii) Incentive Fee on Capital Gains
The second component of the incentive fee, the capital gains incentive fee, is payable at the end of each calendar year (or at the time of an Exchange Listing) in arrears.
Prior to an Exchange Listing, the amount payable equals:
15% of cumulative realized capital gains from inception through the end of such calendar year (or upon an Exchange Listing), computed net of all realized capital losses and unrealized capital depreciation on a cumulative basis, less the aggregate amount of any previously paid incentive fee on capital gains as calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
Following an Exchange Listing, the amount payable equals:
17.5% of cumulative realized capital gains from inception through the end of such calendar year, computed net of all realized capital losses and unrealized capital depreciation on a cumulative basis, less the aggregate amount of any previously paid incentive fee on capital gains as calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
If an Exchange Listing occurs on a date other than the first day of a fiscal year, a capital gains incentive fee shall be calculated as of the day before the Exchange Listing, with such capital gains incentive fee paid to the Adviser following the end of the fiscal year in which the Exchange Listing occurred. For the avoidance of doubt, such capital gains incentive fee shall be equal to 15% of our realized capital gains on a cumulative basis from inception through the day before the Exchange Listing, computed net of all realized capital losses and unrealized capital depreciation on a cumulative basis, less the aggregate amount of any previously paid capital gains incentive fees. Solely for purposes of calculating the capital gains incentive fee after an
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Exchange Listing, the Company will be deemed to have previously paid capital gains incentive fees prior to an Exchange Listing equal to the product obtained by multiplying (a) the actual aggregate amount of previously paid capital gains incentive fees for all periods prior to an Exchange Listing by (b) the percentage obtained by dividing (x) 17.5% by (y) 15%.
Each year, the fee paid for the capital gains incentive fee is net of the aggregate amount of any previously paid capital gains incentive fee for all prior periods. We will accrue, but will not pay, a capital gains incentive fee with respect to unrealized appreciation because a capital gains incentive fee would be owed to the Adviser if we were to sell the relevant investment and realize a capital gain. In no event will the capital gains incentive fee payable pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement be in excess of the amount permitted by the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”), including Section 205 thereof.
The fees that are payable under the Investment Advisory Agreement for any partial period are appropriately prorated.
Administration Agreement
Under the terms of the Administration Agreement, the Administrator will provide, or oversee the performance of, administrative and compliance services, including, but not limited to, maintaining financial records, overseeing the calculation of net asset value (“NAV”), compliance monitoring (including diligence and oversight of our other service providers),  preparing reports to shareholders and reports filed with the SEC, preparing materials and coordinating meetings of our Board, managing the payment of expenses and the performance of administrative and professional services rendered by others and providing office space, equipment and office services. We will reimburse the Administrator for its costs, expenses and allocable portion of overhead (including compensation of personnel performing administrative duties) in connection with the services performed for us pursuant to the terms of the Administration Agreement. In addition, pursuant to the terms of the Administration Agreement, the Administrator may delegate its obligations under the Administration Agreement to an affiliate or to a third party and we will reimburse the Administrator for any services performed for us by such affiliate or third party. The Administrator has hired a sub-administrator to assist in the provision of administrative services. The sub-administrator receives compensation for its provision of sub-administrative services under a sub-administration agreement.
Certain Terms of the Investment Advisory Agreement and Administration Agreement
Each of the Investment Advisory Agreement and the Administration Agreement has been approved by the Board.  Unless earlier terminated as described below, each of the Investment Advisory Agreement and the Administration Agreement will remain in effect for a period of two years from the date it first became effective and will remain in effect from year-to-year thereafter if approved annually by a majority of the Board or by the holders of a majority of our outstanding voting securities and, in each case, a majority of the independent trustees. We may terminate the Investment Advisory Agreement or the Administration Agreement, without payment of any penalty, upon 60 days’ written notice.  The decision to terminate either agreement may be made by a majority of the Board or the shareholders holding a majority outstanding voting securities, which means the lesser of (1) 67% or more of such company’s voting securities present at a meeting if more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of such company are present or represented by proxy, or (b) more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of such company.  In addition, the Adviser may terminate the Investment Advisory Agreement or the Administrator may terminate the Administration Agreement, without payment of any penalty, upon 60 days’ written notice.  The Investment Advisory Agreement will automatically terminate within the meaning of the 1940 Act and related SEC guidance and interpretations in the event of its assignment.
The Adviser and the Administrator shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any act or omission or any loss suffered by the Company in connection with the matters to which the Investment Advisory Agreement  and Administration Agreement, respectively, relate, provided that the Adviser and Administrator shall not be protected against any liability to the Company or its shareholders to which the Adviser or Administrator would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on its part in the performance of its duties or by reason of the reckless disregard of its duties and obligations (“disabling conduct”). Each of the Investment Advisory Agreement and the Administration Agreement provides that, absent disabling conduct, each of our Adviser and our Administrator, as applicable, and its officers, managers, partners, agents, employees, controlling persons, members and any other person or entity affiliated with it are entitled to indemnification from us for any damages, liabilities, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and amounts reasonably paid in settlement) arising from the rendering of our Adviser’s services under the Investment Advisory Agreement and our Administrator’s services under the Administration Agreement or otherwise as adviser or administrator for us. The Adviser and the Administrator shall not be liable under their respective agreements with us or otherwise for any loss due to the mistake, action, inaction, negligence, dishonesty, fraud or bad faith of any broker or other agent; provided, that such broker or other agent shall have been selected, engaged or retained and monitored by the Adviser or
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the Administrator in good faith, unless such action or inaction was made by reason of disabling conduct, or in the case of a criminal action or proceeding, where the Adviser or Administrator had reasonable cause to believe its conduct was unlawful.
Expense Support
On December 12, 2018, we entered into an expense support and conditional reimbursement agreement (the “Expense Support Agreement”) with the Adviser.  The Expense Support Agreement provides that, at such times as the Adviser determines, the Adviser may pay certain expenses of the Company, provided that no portion of the payment will be used to pay any of our interest expense (each, an “Expense Payment”). Such Expense Payment must be made in any combination of cash or other immediately available funds no later than forty-five days after a written commitment from the Adviser to pay such expense, and/or by an offset against amounts due from us to the Adviser or its affiliates. Following any calendar quarter in which Available Operating Funds (as defined in the Expense Support Agreement) exceed the cumulative distributions accrued to our shareholders based on distributions declared with respect to record dates occurring in such calendar quarter (such amount referred to as the “Excess Operating Funds”), we shall pay such Excess Operating Funds, or a portion thereof (each, a “Reimbursement Payment”), to the Adviser until such time as all Expense Payments made by the Adviser to us within three years prior to the last business day of such calendar quarter have been reimbursed. The amount of the Reimbursement Payment for any calendar quarter shall equal the lesser of (i) the Excess Operating Funds in such quarter and (ii) the aggregate amount of all Expense Payments made by the Adviser to us within three years prior to the last business day of such calendar quarter that have not been previously reimbursed by us to the Adviser. The Expense Support Agreement provides additional restrictions on the amount of each Reimbursement Payment for any calendar quarter. The Adviser may waive its right to receive all or a portion of any Reimbursement Payment in any particular calendar quarter, so that such Reimbursement Payment may be reimbursable in a future calendar quarter.
Distributions
We generally intend to distribute substantially all of our available earnings annually by paying distributions on a quarterly basis, as determined by the Board in its discretion. We cannot assure investors that we will achieve investment results that will allow us to make a specified level of cash distributions (particularly during the early stages of our operations) or year-to-year increases in cash distributions. We anticipate that our distributions will generally be paid from post-offering taxable earnings, including interest and capital gains generated by our investment portfolio, and any other income, including any other fees (other than fees for providing managerial assistance), such as commitment, origination, structuring, diligence and consulting fees or other fees, that we receive from portfolio companies. However, if we do not generate sufficient taxable earnings during a year, all or part of a distribution may constitute a return of capital. The specific tax characteristics of our dividends and other distributions are reported to shareholders after the end of each calendar year.
Dividend Reinvestment Plan
We have adopted a dividend reinvestment plan, pursuant to which we reinvest all cash dividends declared by the Board on behalf of our shareholders who do not elect to receive their dividends in cash as provided below. As a result, if the Board authorizes, and we declare, a cash dividend or other distribution, then our shareholders who have not opted out of our dividend reinvestment plan will have their cash distributions automatically reinvested in additional shares as described below, rather than receiving the cash dividend or other distribution. Distributions on fractional shares will be credited to each participating shareholder’s account to three decimal places.
Prior to an Exchange Listing, a participating shareholder will receive an amount of shares equal to the amount of the distribution on that participant’s shares divided by the most recent fiscal quarter-end NAV per share that is available on the date such distribution was paid (unless the Board determines to use the NAV per share as of another time).
Following an Exchange Listing, a participating shareholder will receive an amount of shares equal to the amount of the distribution on that participant’s shares divided by the market price per share at the close of regular trading on the applicable stock exchange on the date of such distribution, subject to certain adjustments described in the Company’s dividend reinvestment plan.
We intend to use newly issued shares to implement the plan. Shares issued under the dividend reinvestment plan will not reduce outstanding Capital Commitments.
No action is required on the part of a registered shareholder to have his, her or its cash dividend or other distribution reinvested in our shares. Shareholders can elect to “opt out” of the Company’s dividend reinvestment plan in their Subscription Agreements.  A shareholder may elect to receive its entire dividend in cash at any time by notifying the Company’s transfer
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agent in writing. If, however, a shareholder requests to change its election within 95 days prior to a distribution, the request will be effective only with respect to distributions after the 95-day period.
There are no brokerage charges or other charges to shareholders who participate in the plan.
The Board may amend or supplement the terms of the dividend reinvestment plan at any time without shareholder approval.  The plan may be terminated by the Company at any time upon notice in writing mailed to each shareholder of record.
Our Private Offering
We are conducting a private offering (the “Private Offering”) of shares (i) to accredited investors (as defined in Regulation D under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”)) and (ii) in the case of shares sold outside the United States, to persons that are not “U.S. persons” (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act), in reliance on exemptions from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act. Shares will be offered for subscription continuously throughout the period during which the Private Offering remains open.  Shares will be offered for subscription continuously throughout the Initial Closing Period (as defined below) and may be offered from time to time thereafter.  At each closing of the Private Offering, each investor participating in that closing will make a capital commitment (a “Capital Commitment”) to purchase our shares pursuant to a subscription agreement relating to the shares (the “Subscription Agreement”). Investors will be required to fund drawdowns to purchase our shares up to the amount of their respective Capital Commitments on an as-needed basis each time we deliver a notice to the investors.

We expect closings of the Private Offering will occur, from time to time, in the Adviser’s sole discretion, during the two-year period following the initial closing of Capital Commitments (which initial closing took place on October 31, 2018) (the “Initial Closing Period”), but the Adviser may modify the Initial Closing Period if approved by the Board, which could extend the Initial Closing Period up to an additional year. We may accept and draw down Capital Commitments from investors throughout the Initial Closing Period.
After the Initial Closing Period, we may permit one or more additional closings (“Subsequent Closings”) as additional Capital Commitments are obtained.  We currently do not expect to draw any Capital Commitments from Subsequent Closings (“Subsequent Capital Commitments”) until 100% of the Capital Commitments from the Initial Closing Period (“Initial Capital Commitments”) have been drawn down, unless otherwise determined by our Board.
We commenced our loan origination and investment activities contemporaneously with the receipt of the initial drawdown from investors in the Private Offering (the “Initial Drawdown”) on November 20, 2018.  The proceeds from the Initial Drawdown and borrowings from our credit facilities provided us with the necessary capital to commence operations.  See “—Credit Facilities.” We anticipate raising additional equity capital for investment purposes through additional closings under the Private Offering.
We have entered, and expect to continue to enter, into separate Subscription Agreements with a number of investors providing for the private placement of shares pursuant to the Private Offering and may enter into additional Subscription Agreements from time to time. We deliver drawdown requests at least ten business days prior to the required funding date. For Initial Capital Commitments, purchases of our shares are generally made first by holders with the largest percentage of their Initial Capital Commitments undrawn and then, once all holders have the same percentage of undrawn Initial Capital Commitments outstanding, pro rata in accordance with remaining Initial Capital Commitments of all investors.
The offering price per share at the Initial Drawdown Date was $25. Following the Initial Drawdown Date, shares have been and will be offered on a private placement basis at a price based on our NAV per share, which is approved by our Board and at all times consistent with U.S. GAAP. Each offering has been and will be subject to the limitations of Section 23(b) under the 1940 Act (which generally prohibits us from issuing shares at a price below the then-current NAV of the shares as determined within 48 hours, excluding Sundays and holidays, of such issuance (taking into account any investment valuation adjustments from the latest quarterly valuation date in accordance with the Company’s valuation policy), subject to certain exceptions). In order to more fairly allocate organizational and offering expenses among all shareholders, investors subscribing after the Initial Drawdown Date will be required to bear a pro rata portion of such expenses at the time of their first investment in the Company.
The “Initial Drawdown Period” began when Initial Capital Commitments were made and will continue until the earlier of (i) an Exchange Listing (as defined below) and (ii) the two-year anniversary of the end of the Initial Closing Period. During the Initial Drawdown Period and any drawdown period applicable to Subsequent Capital Commitments, the Adviser
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may issue capital calls for any permitted Company purpose. Subject to the share repurchase program described herein, the Company generally does not intend to return any drawn capital.
Key Person Event
A “Key Person Event” will occur if, during the Initial Drawdown Period, fewer than five of Bennett Goodman, Dwight Scott, Brad Marshall, Louis Salvatore, Rob Petrini, Dan Smith and Robert Zable, or their respective Qualified Replacements (as defined below) (such persons collectively, the “Key Persons”), are actively involved in and devoting sufficient time to the business and affairs of the Company as deemed reasonably necessary by the Adviser. Upon the occurrence of a Key Person Event, the Company will send written notice of the Key Person Event to the shareholders within ten business days of such occurrence.
If during the forty-five day period following the sending of such written notice (the “Notice Period”) the Key Persons (who are the subject of such Key Person Event) have not been replaced by the Adviser with a Qualified Replacement (as defined below), the Company shall convene a meeting of the Company’s independent trustees to be held no later than thirty days following the expiration of the Notice Period for the purpose of determining whether the Initial Drawdown Period shall be continued (the “Key Person Meeting”).
If a majority of the independent trustees vote in favor of the proposal, the Initial Drawdown Period will be continued and shareholders will be obligated to fund drawdowns as if a Key Person Event had never occurred. Otherwise, the Initial Drawdown Period shall be deemed to have terminated as of the date of the Key Person Meeting, except that further drawdowns may be made to fund any proposed investment (including any follow-on investment and investments pursuant to an investment commitment) for which the Adviser has, on behalf of the Company, made a commitment, placed a bid (whether binding or not) in a competitive bidding situation or entered into a letter of intent, term sheet, memorandum of understanding or other similar document (whether or not such document created a legally binding obligation to proceed with such investment) or a definitive agreement to proceed with such transaction (collectively, “Actively Pursued Potential Investments”) if such Actively Pursued Potential Investment was being actively pursued as of such Key Person Event.
Qualified Replacement” shall mean a senior investment professional selected by the Adviser; provided that such replacement has been approved by either (i) a majority of the independent trustees or (ii) the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Company, and upon either such approval, such nominee shall constitute a Qualified Replacement.
While we expect most Subscription Agreements to reflect the terms and conditions summarized in the preceding paragraph, we reserve the right to enter into Subscription Agreements or other agreements that contain terms and conditions not found in the Subscription Agreements or other agreements entered into with other investors, subject to applicable law.
Term
We currently expect to consummate an Exchange Listing by the four-year anniversary of the end of the Initial Closing Period, subject to market conditions. If we have not consummated an Exchange Listing by the earlier of (i) the five-year anniversary of the end of the Initial Drawdown Period, as may be extended for up to an additional one-year period pursuant to the Adviser’s recommendation with the approval of the Board and (ii) the ten year anniversary following the date of the initial closing, then, the Board (subject to market conditions and any necessary shareholder approvals and applicable requirements of the 1940 Act) will use its commercially reasonable efforts to wind down, sell and/or liquidate and dissolve the Company in an orderly manner.
An “Exchange Listing” is a quotation or listing of the Company’s securities on a national securities exchange (including through an initial public offering) or a sale of all or substantially all of our assets to, or a merger or other liquidity transaction with, an entity in which the Company’s shareholders receive shares of a publicly-traded company which continues to be managed by the Adviser or an affiliate thereof.
Prior to an Exchange Listing, if the Board determines that there has been a significant adverse change in the regulatory or tax treatment of the Company or our shareholders that in its judgment makes it inadvisable for the Company to continue in its present form, then the Board will endeavor to restructure or change the form of the Company to preserve (insofar as possible) the overall benefits previously enjoyed by our shareholders as a whole or, if the Board determines it appropriate (and subject to any necessary shareholders approvals and applicable requirements of the 1940 Act), (i) cause the Company to change its form and/or jurisdiction of organization or (ii) wind down and/or liquidate and dissolve the Company. The Board may also seek to change our form and/or jurisdiction of organization for other reasons. The Board may, at any time and in its discretion,
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cause us to merge with another BDC, private fund, separately managed account or another investment vehicle without shareholder approval, subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act.
In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, each share would be entitled to share ratably in all of our assets that are legally available for distribution after we paid or otherwise provide for all debts and other liabilities and subject to any preferential rights of holders of our preferred shares, if any preferred shares are outstanding at such time. For the purposes of this paragraph, a merger or consolidation of the Company with or into any other corporation or other entity, or a sale or conveyance of all or any part of our property or assets will not be deemed to be a dissolution, liquidation or winding up, voluntary or involuntary.
Emerging Growth Company
We are and we will remain an “emerging growth company” as defined in the JOBS Act until the earlier of (a) the last day of the fiscal year (i) following the fifth anniversary of the completion of an Exchange Listing, (ii) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion, or (iii) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our shares that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the date of our most recently completed second fiscal quarter, and (b) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt during the prior three-year period. For so long as we remain an “emerging growth company” we may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies” including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“Sarbanes-Oxley Act”). We cannot predict if investors will find our shares less attractive because we may rely on some or all of these exemptions. If some investors find our shares less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our shares and our share price may be more volatile.
In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act also provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the 1933 Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an “emerging growth company” can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We currently are and intend to continue taking advantage of such extended transition periods.
Competition
We compete for investments with other BDCs and investment funds (including private equity funds, mezzanine funds and CLO funds), as well as traditional financial services companies such as commercial banks and other sources of funding. Moreover, alternative investment vehicles, such as hedge funds, have begun to invest in areas in which they have not traditionally invested, including making investments in middle market private U.S. companies. As a result of these new entrants, competition for investment opportunities in middle market private U.S. companies may intensify. Many of our competitors are substantially larger and have considerably greater financial, technical and marketing resources than we do. For example, some competitors may have a lower cost of capital and access to funding sources that are not available to us. In addition, some of our competitors may have higher risk tolerances or different risk assessments than we have. These characteristics could allow our competitors to consider a wider variety of investments, establish more relationships and offer better pricing and more flexible structuring than we are able to do. We may lose investment opportunities if we do not match our competitors’ pricing, terms and structure. If we are forced to match our competitors’ pricing, terms and structure, we may not be able to achieve acceptable returns on our investments or may bear substantial risk of capital loss. A significant part of our competitive advantage stems from the fact that the market for investments in middle market private U.S. companies is underserved by traditional commercial banks and other financial sources. A significant increase in the number and/or the size of our competitors in this target market could force us to accept less attractive investment terms. Furthermore, many of our competitors are not subject to the regulatory restrictions that the 1940 Act imposes on us as a BDC.
For additional information concerning the competitive risks we face, see “Item 1A.—Risk Factors—Risks Related To Our Business And Structure.”
Employees
We do not currently have any employees and do not expect to have any employees. Services necessary for our business are provided by individuals who are employees of the Adviser or its affiliates pursuant to the terms of the Investment Advisory Agreement and the Administrator or its affiliates pursuant to the Administration Agreement. Each of our executive officers described herein is employed by the Adviser or its affiliates. Our day-to-day investment operations are managed by the Adviser. The services necessary for sourcing and administration of our investment portfolio will be provided by investment
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professionals employed by the Adviser or its affiliates. The Investment Team will focus on origination, non-originated investments and transaction development and the ongoing monitoring of our investments.
Repurchase Program
Beginning from the end of the Initial Drawdown Period, until an Exchange Listing, we intend to commence tender offers to allow shareholders to tender their shares on a quarterly basis at a price per share expected to reflect NAV per share. Any such share repurchase offer will be at the discretion of the Board to conduct, amend, suspend or terminate such share repurchase offer and subject to applicable law. We will conduct any repurchase offers in accordance with Section 23(c) of the 1940 Act and Rule 13e-4 under the 1934 Act. We intend that the NAV per share as of the last day of the applicable calendar quarter would be used for determining what amount tendering shareholders would receive in such repurchases. We intend to limit the number of shares repurchased pursuant to any such repurchase offers to 2.5% of outstanding shares, with the exact amount to be set by the Board. To the extent that the number of shares put to us for repurchase exceeds the number of shares that we are able to purchase, we will repurchase shares on a pro rata basis (based on the number of shares put to us for repurchase), not on a first-come, first-served basis. Unless shareholders tender their shares, shareholders must generally maintain a minimum balance of $5,000 subsequent to submitting a portion of their shares for repurchase by us, which such minimum balance the Adviser may waive in its sole discretion.
There is no assurance that the Board will adopt such a repurchase program and the Board may amend, suspend or terminate any such share repurchase program in its discretion. shareholders may not be able to sell their shares at all in the event our Board amends, suspends or terminates the share repurchase program, absent a liquidity event. We will notify shareholders of such developments in our quarterly reports or other filings. The share repurchase program has many limitations and should not be relied upon as a method to sell shares promptly or at a desired price.
Valuation Procedures
We conduct the valuation of our portfolio companies, pursuant to which our NAV shall be determined, at all times consistent with U.S. GAAP and the 1940 Act. Our Board, with the assistance of the Adviser, the Audit Committee and independent third-party valuation firm(s), will determine the fair value of our assets on at least a quarterly basis.
Investments for which market quotations are readily available will typically be valued at those market quotations.  To validate market quotations, we will utilize a number of factors to determine if the quotations are representative of fair value, including the source and number of the quotations.  Debt and equity securities that are not publicly-traded or whose market prices are not readily available, as is expected to be the case for substantially all of our investments, will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith pursuant to procedures adopted by, and under the oversight of, the Board, based on, among other things, the input of the Adviser, the Audit Committee and independent third-party valuation firm(s) engaged at the direction of the Board to review our investments.
With respect to investments for which market quotations are not readily available, the Company uses a multi-step valuation process, which includes, among other procedures, the following:
The valuation process begins with each investment being preliminarily valued by the Adviser’s valuation team in conjunction with the Adviser’s investment professionals responsible for each portfolio investment;
In addition, independent valuation firms engaged by the Board prepare valuations of all the Company’s investments over a de minimis threshold.  The independent valuation firms provide a final range of values on such investments to the Board and the Adviser.  The independent valuation firms also provide analyses to support their valuation methodology and calculations;
The Adviser's Valuation Committee reviews each valuation recommendation to confirm they have been calculated in accordance with the valuation policy and compares such valuations to the independent valuation firms’ valuation ranges to ensure the Adviser’s valuations are reasonable;
The Valuation Committee makes valuation recommendations to the Audit Committee;
The Audit Committee reviews the valuation recommendations made by the Adviser's Valuation Committee, including the independent valuation firms' valuations, and once approved, recommends them for approval by the Board; and
The Board reviews the valuation recommendations of the Audit Committee and determines the fair value of each investment in the portfolio in good faith based on the input of the Audit Committee, the Adviser's Valuation Committee and, where applicable, the independent valuation firms.
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Valuation of each of our investments will generally be made as described above as of the end of each fiscal quarter. In cases where we determine our NAV at times other than a quarter end, we intend to update the value of securities with market quotations to the most recent market quotation. For securities without market quotations, non-quarterly valuations will generally be the most recent quarterly valuation unless a material event has occurred since the most recent quarter end with respect to the investment. Independent valuation firms are generally not used for non-quarterly valuations.
As part of the valuation process, the Board, or its delegates under this valuation policy, takes into account relevant factors in determining the fair value of its investments, many of which are loans, including and in combination, as relevant, of: (i) the estimated enterprise value of a portfolio company, (ii) the nature and realizable value of any collateral, (iii) the portfolio company’s ability to make payments based on its earnings and cash flow, (iv) the markets in which the portfolio company does business, (v) a comparison of the portfolio company’s securities to any similar publicly traded securities, and (vi) overall changes in the interest rate environment and the credit markets that may affect the price at which similar investments may be made in the future. When an external event such as a purchase transaction, public offering or subsequent equity or debt sale occurs, the Board or its delegates consider whether the pricing indicated by the external event corroborates its valuation. See Item 8. Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 5. Fair Value Measurements.”

The Board has and will continue to engage independent valuation firms to provide assistance regarding the determination of the fair value of the Company’s portfolio securities for which market quotations are not readily available or are readily available but deemed not reflective of the fair value of the investment each quarter, and the Board may reasonably rely on that assistance. However, the Board is responsible for the ultimate valuation of the portfolio investments at fair value as determined in good faith pursuant to the Company’s valuation policy and a consistently applied valuation process.
Regulation as a Business Development Company
The following discussion is a general summary of the material prohibitions and descriptions governing BDCs generally. It does not purport to be a complete description of all of the laws and regulations affecting BDCs.
Qualifying Assets. Under the 1940 Act, a BDC may not acquire any asset other than assets of the type listed in Section 55(a) of the 1940 Act, which are referred to as “Qualifying Assets,” unless, at the time the acquisition is made, Qualifying Assets represent at least 70% of the company’s total assets. The principal categories of Qualifying Assets relevant to our business are any of the following:
(1)Securities purchased in transactions not involving any public offering from the issuer of such securities, which issuer (subject to certain limited exceptions) is an Eligible Portfolio Company (as defined below), or from any person who is, or has been during the preceding 13 months, an affiliated person of an Eligible Portfolio Company, or from any other person, subject to such rules as may be prescribed by the SEC. An “Eligible Portfolio Company” is defined in the 1940 Act as any issuer which:
(a)is organized under the laws of, and has its principal place of business in, the United States;
(b)is not an investment company (other than a small business investment company wholly owned by the BDC) or a company that would be an investment company but for certain exclusions under the 1940 Act; and
(c)satisfies any of the following:
(i)does not have any class of securities that is traded on a national securities exchange;
(ii)has a class of securities listed on a national securities exchange, but has an aggregate market value of outstanding voting and non-voting common equity of less than $250 million;
(iii)is controlled by a BDC or a group of companies including a BDC and the BDC has an affiliated person who is a director of the Eligible Portfolio Company; or
(iv)is a small and solvent company having total assets of not more than $4 million and capital and surplus of not less than $2 million.
(2)Securities of any Eligible Portfolio Company controlled by the BDC.
(3)Securities purchased in a private transaction from a U.S. issuer that is not an investment company or from an affiliated person of the issuer, or in transactions incident thereto, if the issuer is in bankruptcy and subject to reorganization or if the issuer, immediately prior to the purchase of its securities was unable to meet its
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obligations as they came due without material assistance other than conventional lending or financing arrangements.
(4)Securities of an Eligible Portfolio Company purchased from any person in a private transaction if there is no ready market for such securities and the BDC already owns 60% of the outstanding equity of the Eligible Portfolio Company.
(5)Securities received in exchange for or distributed on or with respect to securities described in (1) through (4) above, or pursuant to the exercise of warrants or rights relating to such securities.
(6)Cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government securities or high-quality debt securities maturing in one year or less from the time of investment.
In addition, a BDC must be operated for the purpose of making investments in the types of securities described in (1), (2) or (3) above.
Significant Managerial Assistance. A BDC must have been organized and have its principal place of business in the United States and must be operated for the purpose of making investments in the types of securities described above. However, in order to count portfolio securities as Qualifying Assets for the purpose of the 70% test, the BDC must either control the issuer of the securities or must offer to make available to the issuer of the securities (other than small and solvent companies described above) significant managerial assistance; except that, where the BDC purchases such securities in conjunction with one or more other persons acting together, one of the other persons in the group may make available such managerial assistance. Making available significant managerial assistance means, among other things, any arrangement whereby the BDC, through its trustees, officers or employees, offers to provide and, if accepted, does so provide, significant guidance and counsel concerning the management, operations or business objectives and policies of a portfolio company through monitoring of portfolio company operations, selective participation in board and management meetings, consulting with and advising a portfolio company’s officers or other organizational or financial guidance.
Temporary Investments. Pending investment in other types of Qualifying Assets, as described above, our investments can consist of cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government securities or high-quality debt securities maturing in one year or less from the time of investment, which are referred to herein, collectively, as temporary investments, so that 70% of our assets would be Qualifying Assets.
Warrants. Under the 1940 Act, a BDC is subject to restrictions on the issuance, terms and amount of warrants, options or rights to purchase shares that it may have outstanding at any time. In particular, the amount of shares that would result from the conversion or exercise of all outstanding warrants, options or rights to purchase shares cannot exceed 25% of the BDC’s total outstanding shares.
Leverage and Senior Securities; Coverage Ratio. We are permitted, under specified conditions, to issue multiple classes of indebtedness and one class of stock senior to our shares if our asset coverage, as defined in the 1940 Act, would at least equal 150% immediately after each such issuance. On September 25, 2018, our sole shareholder approved the adoption of this 150% threshold pursuant to Section 61(a)(2) of the 1940 Act and such election became effective the following day. In addition, while any senior securities remain outstanding, we are required to make provisions to prohibit any dividend distribution to our shareholders or the repurchase of such securities or shares unless we meet the applicable asset coverage ratios at the time of the dividend distribution or repurchase. We are also permitted to borrow amounts up to 5% of the value of our total assets for temporary or emergency purposes, which borrowings would not be considered senior securities.
We have established asset based credit facilities and a subscription facility and may establish future facilities or enter into other financing arrangements to facilitate investments and the timely payment of our expenses. Our existing financing facilities bear, and it is anticipated that any future credit facilities will bear interest at floating rates at to be determined spreads over LIBOR. Shareholders indirectly bear the costs associated with any borrowings under a credit facility or otherwise, including increased management fees payable to the Adviser as a result of such borrowings. Our current credit facilities require us, and future lenders may require us to pledge assets, commitments and/or drawdowns (and the ability to enforce the payment thereof) and to comply with positive or negative covenants that could have an effect on our operations. In addition, from time to time, our losses on leveraged investments may result in the liquidation of other investments held by us and may result in additional drawdowns to repay such amounts.
We may enter into a total return swap (“TRS”) agreement. A TRS is a contract in which one party agrees to make periodic payments to another party based on the change in the market value of the assets underlying the TRS, which may include a specified security, basket of securities or securities indices during a specified period, in return for periodic payments
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based on a fixed or variable interest rate. A TRS effectively adds leverage to a portfolio by providing investment exposure to a security or market without owning or taking physical custody of such security or investing directly in such market. Because of the unique structure of a TRS, a TRS often offers lower financing costs than are offered through more traditional borrowing arrangements. The Company would typically have to post collateral to cover this potential obligation. To the extent the Company segregates liquid assets with a value equal (on a daily mark-to-market basis) to its obligations under TRS transactions, enters into offsetting transactions or otherwise covers such TRS transactions in accordance with applicable SEC guidance, the leverage incurred through TRS will not be considered a borrowing for purposes of the Company’s overall leverage limitation.
We may also create leverage by securitizing our assets (including in CLOs) and retaining the equity portion of the securitized vehicle. Debt securitizations (including in CLOs) are a form of secured financing, which would generally be consolidated on our financial statements and subject to our overall asset coverage requirement. There can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain a CLO debt securitization on favorable terms or at all or that any such financing will benefit our investment performance. We may also from time to time make secured loans of our marginable securities to brokers, dealers and other financial institutions.
Code of Ethics. We and the Adviser have adopted a code of ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act and Rule 204A-1 under the Advisers Act, respectively, that establishes procedures for personal investments and restricts certain personal securities transactions. Personnel subject to the code are permitted to invest in securities for their personal investment accounts, including securities that may be purchased or held by us, so long as such investments are made in accordance with the code’s requirements.
Affiliated Transactions. We may be prohibited under the 1940 Act from conducting certain transactions with our affiliates without the prior approval of our trustees who are not interested persons and, in some cases, the prior approval of the SEC. We have received an exemptive order from the SEC that permits us, among other things, to co-invest with certain other persons, including certain affiliates of the Adviser and certain funds managed and controlled by the Adviser and its affiliates, subject to certain terms and conditions.
Other. We will be periodically examined by the SEC for compliance with the 1940 Act, and be subject to the periodic reporting and related requirements of the 1934 Act.
We are also required to provide and maintain a bond issued by a reputable fidelity insurance company to protect against larceny and embezzlement. Furthermore, as a BDC, we are prohibited from protecting any trustee or officer against any liability to our shareholders arising from willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such person’s office.
We are also required to designate a chief compliance officer and to adopt and implement written policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent violation of the federal securities laws and to review these policies and procedures annually for their adequacy and the effectiveness of their implementation.
We are not permitted to change the nature of our business so as to cease to be, or to withdraw our election as, a BDC unless approved by a majority of our outstanding voting securities. A majority of the outstanding voting securities of a company is defined under the 1940 Act as the lesser of: (i) 67% or more of such company’s shares present at a meeting if more than 50% of the outstanding shares of such company are present or represented by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of such company.
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures
Shareholders have delegated our proxy voting responsibility to the Adviser. The Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures of the Adviser are set forth below. The guidelines are reviewed periodically by the Adviser, and, accordingly, are subject to change.
As an investment adviser registered under the Advisers Act, the Adviser has a duty to monitor corporate events and to vote proxies, as well as a duty to cast votes in the best interest of clients and not subrogate client interests to its own interests. Rule 206(4)-6 under the Advisers Act places specific requirements on registered investment advisers with proxy voting authority.
Proxy Policies
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The Adviser’s policies and procedures are reasonably designed to ensure that the Adviser votes proxies in the best interest of the Company and addresses how it will resolve any conflict of interest that may arise when voting proxies and, in so doing, to maximize the value of the investments made by the Company, taking into consideration the Company’s investment horizons and other relevant factors. It will review on a case-by-case basis each proposal submitted for a shareholder vote to determine its impact on the portfolio securities held by its clients. Although the Adviser will generally vote against proposals that may have a negative impact on its clients’ portfolio securities, it may vote for such a proposal if there exists compelling long-term reasons to do so.
Decisions on how to vote a proxy generally are made by the Adviser. The Investment Committee and the members of the Investment Team covering the applicable security often have the most intimate knowledge of both a company’s operations and the potential impact of a proxy vote’s outcome. Decisions are based on a number of factors which may vary depending on a proxy’s subject matter, but are guided by the general policies described in the proxy policy. In addition, the Adviser may determine not to vote a proxy after consideration of the vote’s expected benefit to clients and the cost of voting the proxy. To ensure that its vote is not the product of a conflict of interest, the Adviser will require the members of the Investment Committee to disclose any personal conflicts of interest they may have with respect to overseeing a Company’s investment in a particular company.
Proxy Voting Records
You may obtain information, without charge, regarding how we voted proxies with respect to our portfolio securities by making a written request for proxy voting information to: Chief Compliance Officer, GSO Asset Management LLC, 345 Park Avenue, 31st Floor, New York, NY 10154.
Reporting Obligations and Available Information
We furnish our shareholders with annual reports containing audited financial statements, quarterly reports, and such other periodic reports as we determine to be appropriate or as may be required by law. We are required to comply with all periodic reporting, proxy solicitation and other applicable requirements under the 1934 Act.
We file annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, and our directors, officers and 10% beneficial owners file reports on Forms 3, 4 and 5 pursuant to section 13(a), 15(d) or 16(a) of the 1934 Act. The SEC maintains a website (www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information. We have made available free of charge on our website (www.bgsl.com) our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, our current reports on Form 8-K and our governing documents.
Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations
The following discussion is a general summary of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the Company. This discussion does not purport to be complete or to deal with all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to the Company. This discussion is based upon present provisions of the Code, the regulations promulgated thereunder, and judicial and administrative ruling authorities, all of which are subject to change, or differing interpretations (possibly with retroactive effect). Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors with regard to the U.S. federal tax consequences of the purchase, ownership, or disposition of our shares, as well as the tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, foreign country or other taxing jurisdiction.
The Company has elected to be treated, and intends to qualify each taxable year, as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code.
To qualify for the favorable tax treatment accorded to RICs under Subchapter M of the Code, the Company must, among other things: (1) have an election in effect to be treated as a BDC under the 1940 Act at all times during each taxable year; (2) have filed with its return for the taxable year an election to be a RIC or have made such election for a previous taxable year; (3) derive in each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income from (a) dividends, interest, payments with respect to certain securities loans, and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock or securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including but not limited to gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities, or currencies; and (b) net income derived from an interest in certain publicly traded partnerships that are treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes and that derive less than 90% of their gross income from the items described in (a) above (each, a “Qualified Publicly Traded Partnership”); and (4) diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of each taxable year of the Company (a) at least 50% of the value of the Company’s total assets is represented by cash and cash items (including receivables), U.S. government securities and securities of other RICs, and other securities for
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purposes of this calculation limited, in respect of any one issuer to an amount not greater in value than 5% of the value of the Company’s total assets and to not more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (b) not more than 25% of the value of the Company’s total assets is invested in the securities (other than U.S. government securities or securities of other RICs) of (I) any one issuer, (II) any two or more issuers which the Company controls and which are determined to be engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses or related trades or businesses or (III) any one or more Qualified Publicly Traded Partnerships (described in 3b above).
As a RIC, the Company generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on its investment company taxable income (as that term is defined in the Code, determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid) and net capital gain (the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss), if any, that it distributes in each taxable year to its shareholders, provided that it distributes at least 90% of the sum of its investment company taxable income and its net tax-exempt income for such taxable year. The Company intends to distribute to its shareholders, at least annually, substantially all of its investment company taxable income and net capital gain.
Amounts not distributed on a timely basis in accordance with a calendar year distribution requirement are subject to a nondeductible 4% U.S. federal excise tax. To prevent imposition of the excise tax, the Company must distribute during each calendar year an amount at least equal to the sum of (i) 98% of its ordinary income (not taking into account any capital gains or losses) for the calendar year, (ii) 98.2% of its capital gains in excess of its capital losses (adjusted for certain ordinary losses) for the one-year period ending October 31 of the calendar year, and (iii) any ordinary income and capital gains for previous years that were not distributed during those years. For these purposes, the Company will be deemed to have distributed any income or gains on which it paid U.S. federal income tax.
A distribution will be treated as paid on December 31 of any calendar year if it is declared by the Company in October, November or December with a record date in such a month and paid by the Company during January of the following calendar year. Such distributions will be taxable to shareholders in the calendar year in which the distributions are declared, rather than the calendar year in which the distributions are received.
If the Company fails to qualify as a RIC or fails to satisfy the 90% distribution requirement in any taxable year, the Company would be subject to U.S. federal income tax at regular corporate rates on its taxable income (including distributions of net capital gain), even if such income were distributed to its shareholders, and all distributions out of earnings and profits would be taxed to shareholders as ordinary dividend income. Such distributions generally would be eligible (i) to be treated as “qualified dividend income” in the case of individual and other noncorporate shareholders and (ii) for the dividends received deduction in the case of corporate shareholders. In addition, the Company could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay taxes and make distributions (which could be subject to interest charges) before requalifying for taxation as a RIC.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
Investing in our shares involves a number of significant risks. In addition to the other information contained in this annual report, shareholders should consider carefully the following information before making an investment in our shares. The risks set forth below are not the only risks we face, and we may face other risks that we have not yet identified, which we do not currently deem material or which are not yet predictable. If any of the following events occur, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. In such case, the NAV of our shares could decline, and shareholders may lose all or part of their investment.
A.Risks Related to Our Business and Structure
We are a relatively new company and have limited operating history.
The Company is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company that has elected to be regulated as a BDC with limited operating history. As a result, prospective investors have a limited track record or history on which to base their investment decision. We are subject to the business risks and uncertainties associated with recently formed businesses, including the risk that we will not achieve our investment objective and the value of a shareholder’s investment could decline substantially or become worthless. While we believe that the past professional experiences, including investment and financial experience of the Adviser’s senior management, will increase the likelihood that the Adviser will be able to manage the Company successfully, there can be no assurance that this will be the case.
Our Board may change our operating policies and strategies without prior notice or shareholder approval, the effects of which may be adverse to our results of operations and financial condition.
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Our Board has the authority to modify or waive our current operating policies, investment criteria and strategies without prior notice and without shareholder approval. We cannot predict the effect any changes to our current operating policies, investment criteria and strategies would have on our business, NAV, operating results and value of our shares. However, the effects might be adverse, which could negatively impact our ability to pay shareholders distributions and cause shareholders to lose all or part of their investment. Moreover, we have significant flexibility in investing the net proceeds from our continuous offering and may use the net proceeds from our continuous offering in ways with which investors may not agree or for purposes other than those contemplated in this annual report.
Our Board may amend our Declaration of Trust without prior shareholder approval.
Our Board may, without shareholder vote, subject to certain exceptions, amend or otherwise supplement the Declaration of Trust by making an amendment, a Declaration of Trust supplemental thereto or an amended and restated Declaration of Trust, including without limitation to classify the Board, to impose advance notice bylaw provisions for Trustee nominations or for shareholder proposals, to require super-majority approval of transactions with significant shareholders or other provisions that may be characterized as anti-takeover in nature.  
Price declines in the medium- and large-sized U.S. corporate debt market may adversely affect the fair value of our portfolio, reducing our NAV through increased net unrealized depreciation.
Conditions in the medium- and large-sized U.S. corporate debt market may deteriorate, as seen during the recent financial crisis, which may cause pricing levels to similarly decline or be volatile. During the financial crisis, many institutions were forced to raise cash by selling their interests in performing assets in order to satisfy margin requirements or the equivalent of margin requirements imposed by their lenders and/or, in the case of hedge funds and other investment vehicles, to satisfy widespread redemption requests. This resulted in a forced deleveraging cycle of price declines, compulsory sales, and further price declines, with falling underlying credit values, and other constraints resulting from the credit crisis generating further selling pressure. If similar events occurred in the medium- and large-sized U.S. corporate debt market, our NAV could decline through an increase in unrealized depreciation and incurrence of realized losses in connection with the sale of our investments, which could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our ability to achieve our investment objective depends on the ability of the Adviser to manage and support our investment process. If the Adviser or GSO were to lose any members of their respective senior management teams, our ability to achieve our investment objective could be significantly harmed.
Since we have no employees, we depend on the investment expertise, skill and network of business contacts of the broader networks of the Adviser and its affiliates. The Adviser evaluates, negotiates, structures, executes, monitors and services our investments. Our future success depends to a significant extent on the continued service and coordination of GSO and its senior management team. The departure of any members of the GSO’s senior management team could have a material adverse effect on our ability to achieve our investment objective.
Our ability to achieve our investment objective depends on the Adviser’s ability to identify and analyze, and to invest in, finance and monitor companies that meet our investment criteria. The Adviser’s capabilities in structuring the investment process, providing competent, attentive and efficient services to us, and facilitating access to financing on acceptable terms depend on the employment of investment professionals in an adequate number and of adequate sophistication to match the corresponding flow of transactions. To achieve our investment objective, the Adviser may need to hire, train, supervise and manage new investment professionals to participate in our investment selection and monitoring process. The Adviser may not be able to find investment professionals in a timely manner or at all. Failure to support our investment process could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The Investment Advisory Agreement has been approved pursuant to Section 15 of the 1940 Act. In addition, the Investment Advisory Agreement has termination provisions that allow the parties to terminate the agreement. The Investment Advisory Agreement may be terminated at any time, without penalty, by us or by the Adviser, upon 60 days’ notice. If the Investment Advisory Agreement is terminated, it may adversely affect the quality of our investment opportunities. In addition, in the event the Investment Advisory Agreement is terminated, it may be difficult for us to replace the Adviser. Moreover, it will be an event of default under the Subscription Facility (defined below) if our Adviser or an affiliate of our Adviser ceases to manage us, which could result in the immediate acceleration of the amounts due under our credit facilities.
Because our business model depends to a significant extent upon relationships with private equity sponsors, investment banks and commercial banks, the inability of the Adviser to maintain or develop these relationships, or the failure of these relationships to generate investment opportunities, could adversely affect our business.
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The Adviser depends on its broader organization’s relationships with private equity sponsors, investment banks and commercial banks, and we rely to a significant extent upon these relationships to provide us with potential investment opportunities. If the Adviser or its organizations fail to maintain their existing relationships or develop new relationships with other sponsors or sources of investment opportunities, we may not be able to grow our investment portfolio. In addition, individuals with whom the Adviser or its broader organizations have relationships are not obligated to provide us with investment opportunities, and, therefore, there is no assurance that such relationships will generate investment opportunities for us.
We may face increasing competition for investment opportunities, which could delay deployment of our capital, reduce returns and result in losses.
We compete for investments with other BDCs and investment funds (including private equity funds, mezzanine funds, performing and other credit funds, and funds that invest in CLOs, structured notes, derivatives and other types of collateralized securities and structured products), as well as traditional financial services companies such as commercial banks and other sources of funding. Moreover, alternative investment vehicles, such as hedge funds, have begun to invest in areas in which they have not traditionally invested, including making investments in small to mid-sized private U.S. companies. As a result of these new entrants, competition for investment opportunities in small and middle market private U.S. companies may intensify. Many of our competitors are substantially larger and have considerably greater financial, technical and marketing resources than we do. For example, some competitors may have a lower cost of capital and access to funding sources that are not available to us. In addition, some of our competitors may have higher risk tolerances or different risk assessments than we have. These characteristics could allow our competitors to consider a wider variety of investments, establish more relationships and offer better pricing and more flexible structuring than we are able to do. We may lose investment opportunities if we do not match our competitors’ pricing, terms or structure. If we are forced to match our competitors’ pricing, terms or structure, we may not be able to achieve acceptable returns on our investments or may bear substantial risk of capital loss. A significant part of our competitive advantage stems from the fact that the market for investments in small and middle market private U.S. companies is underserved by traditional commercial banks and other financial sources. A significant increase in the number and/or the size of our competitors in this target market could force us to accept less attractive investment terms. Furthermore, many of our competitors have greater experience operating under, or are not subject to, the regulatory restrictions that the 1940 Act imposes on us as a BDC.
We may have difficulty sourcing investment opportunities.
We cannot assure investors that we will be able to locate a sufficient number of suitable investment opportunities to allow us to deploy all Capital Commitments successfully. In addition, privately-negotiated investments in loans and illiquid securities of private middle market companies require substantial due diligence and structuring, and we cannot assure investors that we will achieve our anticipated investment pace. As a result, investors will be unable to evaluate any future portfolio company investments prior to purchasing our shares. Our shareholders will have no input with respect to investment decisions. These factors increase the uncertainty, and thus the risk, of investing in our shares. To the extent we are unable to deploy all Capital Commitments, our investment income and, in turn, our results of operations, will likely be materially adversely affected.  There is no assurance that we will be able to consummate investment transactions or that such transactions will be successful.  GSO, the Company and their affiliates may also face certain conflicts of interests in connection with any transaction, including any warehousing transaction involving an affiliate.
We generally expect to call capital for investment purposes only at the time we have identified investment opportunities, but we may call capital even if we do not have investments identified for some or all of the capital being called. Until such time as we invest the proceeds of such capital calls in portfolio companies, we may use these amounts to repay indebtedness or pay distributions and we may also invest these amounts in cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government securities and high-quality debt investments that mature in one year or less from the date of investment. We expect these temporary investments to earn yields substantially lower than the income that we expect to receive in respect of investments in secured debt (including senior secured, unitranche and second lien debt) and unsecured debt (including senior unsecured and subordinated debt), as well as related equity securities.
As required by the 1940 Act, a significant portion of our investment portfolio is and will be recorded at fair value as determined in good faith by our Board and, as a result, there is and will be uncertainty as to the value of our portfolio investments.
Under the 1940 Act, we are required to carry our portfolio investments at market value or, if there is no readily available market value, at fair value as determined pursuant to policies adopted by, and subject to the oversight of, by our Board. There is not a public market for the securities of the privately-held companies in which we invest. Many of our
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investments are not be publicly-traded or actively traded on a secondary market. As a result, we value these securities quarterly at fair value as determined in good faith by our Board as required by the 1940 Act. In connection with striking a NAV as of a date other than quarter end for share issuances and repurchases, the Company will consider whether there has been a material change to such investments as to affect their fair value, but such analysis will be more limited than the quarter end process.
Certain factors that may be considered in determining the fair value of our investments include investment dealer quotes for securities traded on the secondary market for institutional investors, the nature and realizable value of any collateral, the portfolio company’s earnings and its ability to make payments on its indebtedness, the markets in which the portfolio company does business, comparison to comparable publicly-traded companies, discounted cash flow and other relevant factors. As a result, our determinations of fair value may differ materially from the values that would have been used if a ready market for these non-traded securities existed. Due to this uncertainty, our fair value determinations may cause our NAV on a given date to materially differ from the value that we may ultimately realize upon the sale of one or more of our investments.
There is a risk that investors in our shares may not receive distributions or that our distributions may decrease over time.
We may not achieve investment results that will allow us to make a specified or stable level of cash distributions and our distributions may decrease over time. In addition, due to the asset coverage test applicable to us as a BDC, we may be limited in our ability to make distributions.
The amount of any distributions we may make is uncertain. Our distributions may exceed our earnings, particularly during the period before we have substantially invested the net proceeds from our Private Offering. Therefore, portions of the distributions that we make may represent a return of capital to a shareholder that will lower such shareholder’s tax basis in its shares and reduce the amount of funds we have for investment in targeted assets.
We may fund our cash distributions to shareholders from any sources of funds available to us, including offering proceeds, borrowings, net investment income from operations, capital gains proceeds from the sale of assets, non-capital gains proceeds from the sale of assets, dividends or other distributions paid to us on account of preferred and common equity investments in portfolio companies and fee and expense reimbursement waivers from the Adviser or the Administrator. Our ability to pay distributions might be adversely affected by, among other things, the impact of one or more of the risk factors described in this annual report. In addition, the inability to satisfy the asset coverage test applicable to us as a BDC may limit our ability to pay distributions. All distributions are and will be paid at the discretion of our Board and will depend on our earnings, our financial condition, maintenance of our RIC status, compliance with applicable BDC regulations and such other factors as our Board may deem relevant from time to time. We cannot assure shareholders that we will continue to pay distributions to our shareholders in the future. In the event that we encounter delays in locating suitable investment opportunities, we may pay all or a substantial portion of our distributions from the proceeds of our Private Offering or from borrowings in anticipation of future cash flow, which may constitute a return of shareholders’ capital. A return of capital is a return of a shareholder’s investment, rather than a return of earnings or gains derived from our investment activities. A shareholder will not be subject to immediate taxation on the amount of any distribution treated as a return of capital to the extent of the shareholder’s basis in its shares; however, the shareholder’s basis in its shares will be reduced (but not below zero) by the amount of the return of capital, which will result in the shareholder recognizing additional gain (or a lower loss) when the shares are sold. To the extent that the amount of the return of capital exceeds the shareholder’s basis in its shares, such excess amount will be treated as gain from the sale of the shareholder’s shares. Distributions from the proceeds of our Private Offering or from borrowings also could reduce the amount of capital we ultimately invest in our portfolio companies.
We have not established any limit on the amount of funds we may use from available sources, such as borrowings, if any, or proceeds from our Private Offering, to fund distributions (which may reduce the amount of capital we ultimately invest in assets).
Shareholders should understand that any distributions made from sources other than cash flow from operations or that are relying on fee or expense reimbursement waivers from the Adviser or the Administrator are not based on our investment performance, and can only be sustained if we achieve positive investment performance in future periods and/or the Adviser or the Administrator continues to make such expense reimbursements. Shareholders should also understand that our future repayments to the Adviser will reduce the distributions that they would otherwise receive. There can be no assurance that we will achieve such performance in order to sustain these distributions, or be able to pay distributions at all. The Adviser and the Administrator have no obligation to waive fees or receipt of expense reimbursements.
Beginning from the end of the Initial Drawdown Period, until an Exchange Listing, we intend to offer to repurchase shares on a quarterly basis. As a result, shareholders will have limited opportunities to sell shares and, to the extent shareholders
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are able to sell shares under the program, shareholders may not be able to recover the amount of their investment in our shares.
Beginning from the end of the Initial Drawdown Period, until an Exchange Listing, we intend to commence tender offers to allow shareholders to tender their shares on a quarterly basis at a price equal to NAV per share. The share repurchase program includes restrictions that limit shareholders ability to sell their shares. We intend to limit the number of shares repurchased pursuant to any such repurchase offers to 2.5% of outstanding shares each quarter, with the exact amount to be set by the Board. To the extent that the number of shares put to us for repurchase exceeds the number of shares that we are able to purchase, we will repurchase shares on a pro rata basis (based on the number of shares put to us for repurchase), not on a first-come, first-served basis. Unless shareholders tender all of their shares, they must generally maintain a minimum balance of $5,000 subsequent to submitting a portion of their shares for repurchase by us, which such minimum balance the Adviser may waive in its sole discretion.
Although we expect to adopt a share repurchase program, we have discretion to not repurchase shares, to suspend the program, and to cease repurchases.
Our Board may not adopt a share repurchase program, and if such a program is adopted, may amend, suspend or terminate the share repurchase program at any time in its discretion. Shareholders may not be able to sell their shares at all in the event our Board amends, suspends or terminates the share repurchase program, absent a liquidity event. We will notify shareholders of such developments in our quarterly reports or other filings. The share repurchase program has many limitations and should not be relied upon as a method to sell shares promptly or at a desired price.
The timing of our repurchase offers pursuant to our share repurchase program may be at a time that is disadvantageous to our shareholders.
In the event a shareholder chooses to participate in our share repurchase program, the shareholder will be required to provide us with notice of intent to participate prior to knowing what the NAV per share will be on the repurchase date. Although a shareholder will have the ability to withdraw a repurchase request prior to the repurchase date, to the extent a shareholder seeks to sell shares to us as part of our periodic share repurchase program, the shareholder will be required to do so without knowledge of what the repurchase price of our shares will be on the repurchase date.
Changes in laws or regulations governing our operations may adversely affect our business or cause us to alter our business strategy.
We, our portfolio companies and other counterparties are subject to regulation at the local, state and federal level. New legislation may be enacted or new interpretations, rulings or regulations could be adopted, including those governing the types of investments we are permitted to make, any of which could harm us and our shareholders, potentially with retroactive effect.
Additionally, any changes to the laws and regulations governing our operations relating to permitted investments may cause us to alter our investment strategy to avail ourselves of new or different opportunities. Such changes could result in material differences to our strategies and plans as set forth in this annual report and may result in our investment focus shifting from the areas of expertise of the Adviser to other types of investments in which the Adviser may have less expertise or little or no experience. Thus, any such changes, if they occur, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations and the value of a shareholder’s investment.
The impact of financial reform legislation on us is uncertain.
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In light of recent conditions in the U.S. and global financial markets and the U.S. and global economy, legislators, the presidential administration and regulators have increased their focus on the regulation of the financial services industry. The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, or the “Dodd-Frank Act,” institutes a wide range of reforms that will have an impact on all financial institutions. Some of the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act have been enacted, while others have extended implementation periods and delayed effective dates and will require extensive rulemaking by regulatory authorities. Given the uncertainty associated with the manner in which the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act will be implemented by the various regulatory agencies and through regulations, the full impact such requirements will have on our business, results of operations or financial condition is unclear. The changes resulting from the Dodd-Frank Act may require us to invest significant management attention and resources to evaluate and make necessary changes in order to comply with new statutory and regulatory requirements. Failure to comply with any such laws, regulations or principles, or changes thereto, may negatively impact our business, results of operations and financial condition. While we cannot predict what effect any changes in the laws or regulations or their interpretations would have on us as a result of the Dodd-Frank Act, these changes could be materially adverse to us and our shareholders.
We may experience fluctuations in our quarterly results.
We could experience fluctuations in our quarterly operating results due to a number of factors, including our ability or inability to make investments in companies that meet our investment criteria, the interest rate payable on the loans or other debt securities we originate or acquire, the level of our expenses (including our borrowing costs), variations in and the timing of the recognition of realized and unrealized gains or losses, the degree to which we encounter competition in our markets and general economic conditions. As a result of these factors, results for any previous period should not be relied upon as being indicative of performance in future periods.
We are an “emerging growth company” under the JOBS Act, and we cannot be certain if the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies will make our shares less attractive to investors.
We are and we will remain an “emerging growth company” as defined in the JOBS Act until the earlier of (a) the last day of the fiscal year (i) following the fifth anniversary of the completion of an Exchange Listing, (ii) in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion, or (iii) in which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer, which means the market value of our shares that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the date of our most recently completed second fiscal quarter, and (b) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt during the prior three-year period. For so long as we remain an “emerging growth company,” we may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies” including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. We cannot predict if investors will find our shares less attractive because we may rely on some or all of these exemptions. If some investors find our shares less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our shares and our share price may be more volatile.
In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act also provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the 1933 Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an “emerging growth company” can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We currently are and intend to continue taking advantage of such extended transition periods.
Any unrealized losses we experience on our portfolio may be an indication of future realized losses, which could reduce our income available for distribution.
As a BDC, we are required to carry our investments at market value or, if no market value is ascertainable, at the fair value as determined in good faith pursuant to procedures adopted by, and under the oversight of, our Board. Decreases in the market value or fair value of our investments relative to amortized cost will be recorded as unrealized depreciation. Any unrealized losses in our portfolio could be an indication of a portfolio company’s inability to meet its repayment obligations to us with respect to the affected loans. This could result in realized losses in the future and ultimately in reductions of our income available for distribution in future periods. In addition, decreases in the market value or fair value of our investments will reduce our NAV.
Terrorist attacks, acts of war or natural disasters may adversely affect our operations.
Terrorist acts, acts of war or natural disasters may disrupt our operations, as well as the operations of the businesses in which we invest. Such acts have created, and continue to create, economic and political uncertainties and have contributed to
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recent global economic instability. Future terrorist activities, military or security operations, or natural disasters could further weaken the domestic/global economies and create additional uncertainties, which may negatively impact the businesses in which we invest directly or indirectly and, in turn, could have a material adverse impact on our business, operating results and financial condition. Losses from terrorist attacks and natural disasters are generally uninsurable.
We may face a breach of our cyber security, which could result in adverse consequences to our operations and exposure of confidential information.
Cyber security incidents and cyber-attacks have been occurring globally at a more frequent and severe level and will likely continue to increase in frequency in the future. Blackstone, GSO and their affiliates and portfolio companies’ and service providers’ information and technology systems may be vulnerable to damage or interruption from cyber security breaches, computer viruses or other malicious code, network failures, computer and telecommunication failures, infiltration by unauthorized persons and other security breaches, or usage errors by their respective professionals or service providers. If unauthorized parties gain access to such information and technology systems, they may be able to steal, publish, delete or modify private and sensitive information, including non-public personal information related to shareholders (and their beneficial owners) and material non-public information. Although Blackstone has implemented, and portfolio companies and service providers may implement, various measures to manage risks relating to these types of events, such systems could prove to be inadequate and, if compromised, could become inoperable for extended periods of time, cease to function properly or fail to adequately secure private information. Blackstone and GSO do not control the cyber security plans and systems put in place by third-party service providers, and such third-party service providers may have limited indemnification obligations to Blackstone, GSO, their affiliates, the Company, the shareholders and/or a portfolio company, each of which could be negatively impacted as a result. Breaches, such as those involving covertly introduced malware, impersonation of authorized users and industrial or other espionage may not be identified even with sophisticated prevention and detection systems, potentially resulting in further harm and preventing them from being addressed appropriately. The failure of these systems and/or of disaster recovery plans for any reason could cause significant interruptions in Blackstone’s, GSO’s, their affiliates’, the Company’s and/or a portfolio company’s operations and result in a failure to maintain the security, confidentiality or privacy of sensitive data, including personal information relating to shareholders (and their beneficial owners), material non-public information and the intellectual property and trade secrets and other sensitive information of Blackstone, GSO and/or portfolio companies. Blackstone, GSO, the Company and/or a portfolio company could be required to make a significant investment to remedy the effects of any such failures, harm to their reputations, legal claims that they and their respective affiliates may be subjected to, regulatory action or enforcement arising out of applicable privacy and other laws, adverse publicity, and other events that may affect their business and financial performance.
We may not be able to obtain all required state licenses.
We may be required to obtain various state licenses in order to, among other things, originate commercial loans. Applying for and obtaining required licenses can be costly and take several months. There is no assurance that we will obtain all of the licenses that we need on a timely basis. Furthermore, we will be subject to various information and other requirements in order to obtain and maintain these licenses, and there is no assurance that we will satisfy those requirements. Our failure to obtain or maintain licenses might restrict investment options and have other adverse consequences.
B.Risks Related to Our Investments
Our investments in prospective portfolio companies may be risky, and we could lose all or part of our investment.
Our investments in senior secured loans, senior secured bonds, subordinated debt and equity of private U.S. companies, including middle market companies, may be risky and, subject to compliance with our 80% test, there is no limit on the amount of any such investments in which we may invest.
Senior Secured Loans and Senior Secured Bonds. There is a risk that any collateral pledged by portfolio companies in which we have taken a security interest may decrease in value over time or lose its entire value, may be difficult to sell in a timely manner, may be difficult to appraise and may fluctuate in value based upon the success of the business and market conditions, including as a result of the inability of the portfolio company to raise additional capital. To the extent our debt investment is collateralized by the securities of a portfolio company’s subsidiaries, such securities may lose some or all of their value in the event of the bankruptcy or insolvency of the portfolio company. Also, in some circumstances, our security interest may be contractually or structurally subordinated to claims of other creditors. In addition, deterioration in a portfolio company’s financial condition and prospects, including its inability to raise additional capital, may be accompanied by deterioration in the value of the collateral for the debt. Secured debt that is under-collateralized involves a greater risk of loss. In addition, second lien debt is granted a second priority security interest in collateral, which means that any realization of collateral will generally
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be applied to pay senior secured debt in full before second lien debt is paid. Similarly, investments in “last out” pieces of unitranche loans will be similar to second lien loans in that such investments will be junior in priority to the “first out” piece of the same unitranche loan with respect to payment of principal, interest and other amounts. Consequently, the fact that debt is secured does not guarantee that we will receive principal and interest payments according to the debt’s terms, or at all, or that we will be able to collect on the debt should we be forced to enforce our remedies.
Subordinated Debt. Our subordinated debt investments will generally rank junior in priority of payment to senior debt and will generally be unsecured. This may result in a heightened level of risk and volatility or a loss of principal, which could lead to the loss of the entire investment. These investments may involve additional risks that could adversely affect our investment returns. To the extent interest payments associated with such debt are deferred, such debt may be subject to greater fluctuations in valuations, and such debt could subject us and our shareholders to non-cash income. Because we will not receive any principal repayments prior to the maturity of some of our subordinated debt investments, such investments will be of greater risk than amortizing loans.
Equity Investments. We may make select equity investments. In addition, in connection with our debt investments, we on occasion may receive equity interests such as warrants or options as additional consideration. The equity interests we receive may not appreciate in value and, in fact, may decline in value. Accordingly, we may not be able to realize gains from our equity interests, and any gains that we do realize on the disposition of any equity interests may not be sufficient to offset any other losses we experience.
Non-U.S. Securities. We may invest in non-U.S. securities, which may include securities denominated in U.S. dollars or in non-U.S. currencies, to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act. Because evidences of ownership of such securities usually are held outside the United States, we would be subject to additional risks if we invested in non-U.S. securities, which include possible adverse political and economic developments, seizure or nationalization of foreign deposits and adoption of governmental restrictions, which might adversely affect or restrict the payment of principal and interest on the non-U.S. securities to shareholders located outside the country of the issuer, whether from currency blockage or otherwise. Because non-U.S. securities may be purchased with and payable in foreign currencies, the value of these assets as measured in U.S. dollars may be affected unfavorably by changes in currency rates and exchange control regulations.
Below Investment Grade Risk. In addition, we invest in securities that are rated below investment grade by rating agencies or that would be rated below investment grade if they were rated. Below investment grade securities, which are often referred to as “junk,” have predominantly speculative characteristics with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal. They may also be difficult to value and illiquid. The major risks of below investment grade securities include:
Below investment grade securities may be issued by less creditworthy issuers. Issuers of below investment grade securities may have a larger amount of outstanding debt relative to their assets than issuers of investment grade securities. In the event of an issuer’s bankruptcy, claims of other creditors may have priority over the claims of holders of below investment grade securities, leaving few or no assets available to repay holders of below investment grade securities.
Prices of below investment grade securities are subject to extreme price fluctuations. Adverse changes in an issuer’s industry and general economic conditions may have a greater impact on the prices of below investment grade securities than on other higher-rated fixed-income securities.
Issuers of below investment grade securities may be unable to meet their interest or principal payment obligations because of an economic downturn, specific issuer developments, or the unavailability of additional financing.
Below investment grade securities frequently have redemption features that permit an issuer to repurchase the security from us before it matures. If the issuer redeems below investment grade securities, we may have to invest the proceeds in securities with lower yields and may lose income.
Below investment grade securities may be less liquid than higher-rated fixed-income securities, even under normal economic conditions. There are fewer dealers in the below investment grade securities market, and there may be significant differences in the prices quoted by the dealers. Judgment may play a greater role in valuing these securities and we may be unable to sell these securities at an advantageous time or price.
We may incur expenses to the extent necessary to seek recovery upon default or to negotiate new terms with a defaulting issuer.
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The credit rating of a high-yield security does not necessarily address its market value risk. Ratings and market value may change from time to time, positively or negatively, to reflect new developments regarding the issuer.
Mezzanine Loans.  Our mezzanine loans generally will be subordinated to senior secured loans on a payment basis, are typically unsecured and rank pari passu with other unsecured creditors.  As such, other creditors may rank senior to us in the event of insolvency.  This may result in an above average amount of risk and loss of principal.
Our portfolio companies may incur debt that ranks equally with, or senior to, our investments in such companies.
Our portfolio companies may have, or may be permitted to incur, other debt that ranks equally with, or senior to, the debt in which we invest. By their terms, such debt instruments may entitle the holders to receive payment of interest or principal on or before the dates on which we are entitled to receive payments with respect to the debt instruments in which we invest. Also, in the event of insolvency, liquidation, dissolution, reorganization or bankruptcy of a portfolio company, holders of debt instruments ranking senior to our investment in that portfolio company would typically be entitled to receive payment in full before we receive any proceeds. After repaying such senior creditors, such portfolio company may not have any remaining assets to use for repaying its obligation to us. In the case of debt ranking equally with debt instruments in which we invest, we would have to share on an equal basis any distributions with other creditors holding such debt in the event of an insolvency, liquidation, dissolution, reorganization or bankruptcy of the relevant portfolio company.
We may form one or more CLOs, which may subject us to certain structured financing risks.
To finance investments, we may securitize certain of our secured loans or other investments, including through the formation of one or more CLOs, while retaining all or most of the exposure to the performance of these investments. This would involve contributing a pool of assets to a special purpose entity, and selling debt interests in such entity on a non-recourse or limited-recourse basis to purchasers. Depending on how these CLOs are structured, an interest in any such CLO held by us may be considered a “non-qualifying” portfolio investment for purposes of the 1940 Act.
If we create a CLO, we will depend in part on distributions from the CLO’s assets out of its earnings and cash flows to enable us to make distributions to shareholders. The ability of a CLO to make distributions will be subject to various limitations, including the terms and covenants of the debt it issues. Also, a CLO may take actions that delay distributions in order to preserve ratings and to keep the cost of present and future financings lower or the CLO may be obligated to retain cash or other assets to satisfy over-collateralization requirements commonly provided for holders of the CLO’s debt, which could impact our ability to receive distributions from the CLO. If we do not receive cash flow from any such CLO that is necessary to satisfy the annual distribution requirement for maintaining RIC status, and we are unable to obtain cash from other sources necessary to satisfy this requirement, we may not maintain our qualification as a RIC, which would have a material adverse effect on an investment in the shares.
In addition, a decline in the credit quality of loans in a CLO due to poor operating results of the relevant borrowers, declines in the value of loan collateral or increases in defaults, among other things, may force a CLO to sell certain assets at a loss, reducing their earnings and, in turn, cash potentially available for distribution to us for distribution to shareholders. To the extent that any losses are incurred by the CLO in respect of any collateral, such losses will be borne first by us as owner of equity interests in the CLO.
There may be circumstances where our debt investments could be subordinated to claims of other creditors or we could be subject to lender liability claims.
If one of our portfolio companies were to file for bankruptcy, depending on the facts and circumstances, including the extent to which we actually provided managerial assistance to that portfolio company, a bankruptcy court might recharacterize our debt investment and subordinate all or a portion of our claim to that of other creditors. We may also be subject to lender liability claims for actions taken by us with respect to a borrower’s business or instances where we exercise control over the borrower.
We generally do not control our portfolio companies.
We do not expect to control most of our portfolio companies, even though we may have board representation or board observation rights, and our debt agreements with such portfolio companies may contain certain restrictive covenants. As a result, we are subject to the risk that a portfolio company in which we invest may make business decisions with which we disagree and the management of such company, as representatives of the holders of the company’s common equity, may take risks or otherwise act in ways that do not serve our interests as debt investors. Due to the lack of liquidity for our investments in
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non-traded companies, we may not be able to dispose of our interests in our portfolio companies as readily as we would like or at an appropriate valuation. As a result, a portfolio company may make decisions that could decrease the value of our portfolio holdings.
We are exposed to risks associated with changes in interest rates.
We are subject to financial market risks, including changes in interest rates. General interest rate fluctuations may have a substantial negative impact on our investments and investment opportunities and, accordingly, have a material adverse effect on our investment objectives and our rate of return on invested capital. In addition, an increase in interest rates would make it more expensive to use debt for our financing needs.
During periods of falling interest rates, payments under the floating rate debt instruments that we hold would generally decrease, resulting in less revenue to us. In the event of a sharply rising interest rate environment, payments under floating rate debt instruments generally would rise and there may be a significant number of issuers of such floating rate debt instruments that would be unable or unwilling to pay such increased interest costs and may otherwise be unable to repay their loans. Investments in floating rate debt instruments may also decline in value in response to rising interest rates if the interest rates of such investments do not rise as much, or as quickly, as market interest rates in general. Similarly, during periods of rising interest rates, fixed-rate debt instruments may decline in value because the fixed rates of interest paid thereunder may be below market interest rates.

A rise in the general level of interest rates can be expected to lead to higher interest rates applicable to our debt investments. Accordingly, an increase in interest rates would make it easier for us to meet or exceed the incentive fee hurdle rate and may result in a substantial increase in the amount of incentive fees payable to the Adviser with respect to pre-incentive fee net investment income.
Changes in the method of determining LIBOR, or the replacement of LIBOR with an alternative reference rate, may adversely affect our credit arrangements and our collateralized loan obligation transactions.
LIBOR and certain other “benchmarks” are the subject of recent national, international, and other regulatory guidance and proposals for reform. These reforms may cause such benchmarks to perform differently than in the past or have other consequences which cannot be predicted. Regulators and law-enforcement agencies from a number of governments, including entities in the United States, Japan, Canada and the United Kingdom, have conducted or are conducting civil and criminal investigations into whether the banks that contribute to the British Bankers’ Association (the “BBA”) in connection with the calculation of daily LIBOR may have been manipulating or attempting to manipulate LIBOR. Several financial institutions have reached settlements with the U.S. Commodities Futures Trading Commission, the U.S. Department of Justice Fraud Section and the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority in connection with investigations by such authorities into submissions made by such financial institutions to the bodies that set LIBOR and other interbank offered rates. Additional investigations remain ongoing with respect to other major banks. There can be no assurance that there will not be additional admissions or findings of rate-setting manipulation or that manipulations of LIBOR or other similar interbank offered rates will not be shown to have occurred. ICE Benchmark Administration Limited assumed the role of LIBOR administrator from the BBA on February 1, 2014. Any new administrator of LIBOR may make methodological changes to the way in which LIBOR is calculated or may alter, discontinue or suspend calculation or dissemination of LIBOR. Additional findings of manipulation may decrease the confidence of the market in LIBOR and lead market participants to look for alternative, non-LIBOR based types of financing, such as fixed rate loans or bonds or floating rate loans based on non-LIBOR indices.
On July 27, 2017, the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates LIBOR, announced that it intends to phase out LIBOR as a benchmark by the end of 2021. It is expected that a number of private-sector banks currently reporting information used to set LIBOR will stop doing so after 2021 when their current reporting commitment ends, which could either cause LIBOR to stop publication immediately or cause LIBOR’s regulator to determine that its quality has degraded to the degree that it is no longer representative of its underlying market. The U.S. Federal Reserve, in conjunction with the Alternative Reference Rates Committee, a steering committee comprised of large U.S. financial institutions, is considering replacing U.S. dollar LIBOR with a new index calculated by short-term repurchase agreements, backed by U.S. Treasury securities. Additionally, on July 12, 2019 the Staff of the SEC’s Division of Corporate Finance, Division of Investment Management, Division of Trading and Markets, and Office of the Chief Accountant issued a statement about the potentially significant effects on financial markets and market participants when LIBOR is discontinued in 2021 and no longer available as a reference benchmark rate. The Staff encouraged all market participants to identify contracts that reference LIBOR and begin transitions to alternative rates. On December 30, 2019, the SEC’s Chairman, Division of Corporate Finance and Office of the Chief Accountant issued a statement to encourage audit committees in particular to understand management’s plans to identify and address the risks associated with the elimination of LIBOR, and, specifically, the impact on accounting and financial reporting and any related issues associated with financial products and contracts that reference LIBOR, as the
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risks associated with the discontinuation of LIBOR and transition to an alternative reference rate will be exacerbated if the work is not completed in a timely manner. As a result of this transition, interest rates on our floating rate obligations, loans, deposits, derivatives, and other financial instruments tied to LIBOR rates, as well as the revenue and expenses associated with those financial instruments, may be adversely affected. It is unclear whether new methods of calculating LIBOR will be established such that it continues to exist after 2021.

There is no guarantee that a transition from LIBOR to an alternative will not result in financial market disruptions, significant increases in benchmark rates, or borrowing costs to borrowers, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, result of operations, financial condition, and unit price.
Second priority liens on collateral securing debt investments that we make to our portfolio companies may be subject to control by senior creditors with first priority liens. If there is a default, the value of the collateral may not be sufficient to repay in full both the first priority creditors and us.
Certain debt investments that we make to portfolio companies may be secured on a second priority basis by the same collateral securing first priority debt of such companies. The first priority liens on the collateral will secure the portfolio company’s obligations under any outstanding senior debt and may secure certain other future debt that may be permitted to be incurred by the company under the agreements governing the loans. The holders of obligations secured by the first priority liens on the collateral will generally control the liquidation of and be entitled to receive proceeds from any realization of the collateral to repay their obligations in full before us. In addition, the value of the collateral in the event of liquidation will depend on market and economic conditions, the availability of buyers and other factors. There can be no assurance that the proceeds, if any, from the sale or sales of all of the collateral would be sufficient to satisfy the debt obligations secured by the second priority liens after payment in full of all obligations secured by the first priority liens on the collateral. If such proceeds are not sufficient to repay amounts outstanding under the debt obligations secured by the second priority liens, then we, to the extent not repaid from the proceeds of the sale of the collateral, will only have an unsecured claim against the company’s remaining assets, if any.
We may also make unsecured debt investments in portfolio companies, meaning that such investments will not benefit from any interest in collateral of such companies. Liens on such portfolio companies’ collateral, if any, will secure the portfolio company’s obligations under its outstanding secured debt and may secure certain future debt that is permitted to be incurred by the portfolio company under its secured debt agreements. The holders of obligations secured by such liens will generally control the liquidation of, and be entitled to receive proceeds from, any realization of such collateral to repay their obligations in full before we are so entitled. In addition, the value of such collateral in the event of liquidation will depend on market and economic conditions, the availability of buyers and other factors. There can be no assurance that the proceeds, if any, from sales of such collateral would be sufficient to satisfy its unsecured debt obligations after payment in full of all secured debt obligations. If such proceeds were not sufficient to repay the outstanding secured debt obligations, then its unsecured claims would rank equally with the unpaid portion of such secured creditors’ claims against the portfolio company’s remaining assets, if any.
The rights we may have with respect to the collateral securing the debt investments we make to our portfolio companies with senior debt outstanding may also be limited pursuant to the terms of one or more intercreditor agreements that we enter into with the holders of senior debt. Under such an intercreditor agreement, at any time that obligations that have the benefit of the first priority liens are outstanding, any of the following actions that may be taken in respect of the collateral will be at the direction of the holders of the obligations secured by the first priority liens: the ability to cause the commencement of enforcement proceedings against the collateral; the ability to control the conduct of such proceedings; the approval of amendments to collateral documents; releases of liens on the collateral; and waivers of past defaults under collateral documents. We may not have the ability to control or direct such actions, even if our rights are adversely affected.
Our investments in CLOs may be riskier than a direct investment in the debt or other securities of the underlying companies.
When investing in CLOs, we may invest in any level of a CLO’s subordination chain, including subordinated (lower-rated) tranches and residual interests (the lowest tranche). CLOs are typically highly levered and therefore, the junior debt and equity tranches that we may invest in are subject to a higher risk of total loss and deferral or nonpayment of interest than the more senior tranches to which they are subordinated. In addition, we will generally have the right to receive payments only from the CLOs, and will generally not have direct rights against the underlying borrowers or entities that sponsored the CLOs. Furthermore, the investments we make in CLOs are at times thinly traded or have only a limited trading market. As a result, investments in such CLOs may be characterized as illiquid securities.
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Economic recessions or downturns or restrictions on trade could impair our portfolio companies and adversely affect our operating results.
Many of our portfolio companies may be susceptible to economic recessions or downturns and may be unable to repay our debt investments during these periods. Therefore, our non-performing assets are likely to increase, and the value of our portfolio is likely to decrease during these periods. Adverse economic conditions may also decrease the value of any collateral securing our senior secured debt. A prolonged recession may further decrease the value of such collateral and result in losses of value in our portfolio and a decrease in our revenues, net income and NAV. Certain of our borrowers may also be impacted by tariffs or other matters affecting international trade. Unfavorable economic conditions also could increase our funding costs, limit our access to the capital markets or result in a decision by lenders not to extend credit to us on terms we deem acceptable. These events could prevent us from increasing investments and adversely affect our operating results.
A covenant breach or other default by our portfolio companies may adversely affect our operating results.
A portfolio company’s failure to satisfy financial or operating covenants imposed by us or other lenders could lead to defaults and, potentially, termination of its loans and foreclosure on its secured assets, which could trigger cross-defaults under other agreements and jeopardize a portfolio company’s ability to meet its obligations under the debt or equity securities that we hold. We may incur expenses to the extent necessary to seek recovery upon default or to negotiate new terms, which may include the waiver of certain financial covenants, with a defaulting portfolio company. In addition, lenders in certain cases can be subject to lender liability claims for actions taken by them when they become too involved in the borrower’s business or exercise control over a borrower. It is possible that we could become subject to a lender’s liability claim, including as a result of actions taken if we render significant managerial assistance to the borrower. Furthermore, if one of our portfolio companies were to file for bankruptcy protection, a bankruptcy court might re-characterize our debt holding and subordinate all or a portion of our claim to claims of other creditors, even though we may have structured our investment as senior secured debt. The likelihood of such a re-characterization would depend on the facts and circumstances, including the extent to which we provided managerial assistance to that portfolio company.
Our portfolio companies may be highly leveraged.
Some of our portfolio companies may be highly leveraged, which may have adverse consequences to these companies and to us as an investor. These companies may be subject to restrictive financial and operating covenants and the leverage may impair these companies’ ability to finance their future operations and capital needs. As a result, these companies’ flexibility to respond to changing business and economic conditions and to take advantage of business opportunities may be limited. Further, a leveraged company’s income and net assets will tend to increase or decrease at a greater rate than if borrowed money were not used.
Our portfolio may be concentrated in a limited number of industries, which may subject us to a risk of significant loss if there is a downturn in a particular industry in which a number of our investments are concentrated.
Our portfolio may be concentrated in a limited number of industries. A downturn in any particular industry in which we are invested could significantly impact the aggregate returns we realize.
As of December 31, 2019, our investments in the Distributors, Building Products and Air Freight & Logistics industries represented approximately 18.5%, 12.2% and 11.0%, respectively, of the fair value of our portfolio. If an industry in which we have significant investments suffers from adverse business or economic conditions, as these industries have to varying degrees, a material portion of our investment portfolio could be affected adversely, which, in turn, could adversely affect our financial position and results of operations.
Our investments in the healthcare sector face considerable uncertainties.
Our investments in the healthcare sector are subject to substantial risks. As of December 31, 2019, our investments in the healthcare industry represented approximately 6.6% of the fair value of our portfolio. The laws and rules governing the business of healthcare companies and interpretations of those laws and rules are subject to frequent change. Broad latitude is given to the agencies administering those regulations. Existing or future laws and rules could force our portfolio companies engaged in healthcare to change how they do business, restrict revenue, increase costs, change reserve levels and change business practices.
Healthcare companies often must obtain and maintain regulatory approvals to market many of their products, change prices for certain regulated products and consummate some of their acquisitions and divestitures. Delays in obtaining or failing
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to obtain or maintain these approvals could reduce revenue or increase costs. Policy changes on the local, state and federal level, such as the expansion of the government’s role in the healthcare arena and alternative assessments and tax increases specific to the healthcare industry or healthcare products as part of federal health care reform initiatives, could fundamentally change the dynamics of the healthcare industry.
Investing in middle market companies involves a number of significant risks, any one of which could have a material adverse effect on our operating results.
Investments in middle market companies involve the same risks that apply generally to investments in larger, more established companies. However, such investments have more pronounced risks in that middle market companies:
may have limited financial resources and may be unable to meet their obligations under their debt securities that we hold, which may be accompanied by a deterioration in the value of any collateral and a reduction in the likelihood of us realizing on any guarantees we may have obtained in connection with our investment;
have shorter operating histories, narrower product lines and smaller market shares than larger businesses, which tends to render them more vulnerable to competitors’ actions and changing market conditions, as well as general economic downturns;
are more likely to depend on the management talents and efforts of a small group of persons; therefore, the death, disability, resignation or termination of one or more of these persons could have a material adverse impact on our portfolio company and, in turn, on us;
generally have less predictable operating results, may from time to time be parties to litigation, may be engaged in rapidly changing businesses with products subject to a substantial risk of obsolescence, and may require substantial additional capital to support their operations, finance expansion or maintain their competitive position. In addition, our executive officers, trustees and members of the Adviser may, in the ordinary course of business, be named as defendants in litigation arising from our investments in the portfolio companies; and
may have difficulty accessing the capital markets to meet future capital needs, which may limit their ability to grow or to repay their outstanding indebtedness upon maturity.
We may not realize gains from our equity investments.
Certain investments that we may make could include warrants or other equity securities. In addition, we may make direct equity investments in portfolio companies. Our goal is ultimately to realize gains upon our disposition of such equity interests. However, the equity interests we receive may not appreciate in value and, in fact, may decline in value. Accordingly, we may not be able to realize gains from our equity interests, and any gains that we do realize on the disposition of any equity interests may not be sufficient to offset any other losses we experience. We also may be unable to realize any value if a portfolio company does not have a liquidity event, such as a sale of the business, recapitalization or public offering, which would allow us to sell the underlying equity interests. We intend to seek puts or similar rights to give us the right to sell our equity securities back to the portfolio company issuer. We may be unable to exercise these put rights for the consideration provided in our investment documents if the issuer is in financial distress.
An investment strategy focused primarily on privately-held companies presents certain challenges, including, but not limited to, the lack of available information about these companies.
We intend to invest primarily in privately-held companies. Investments in private companies pose significantly greater risks than investments in public companies. First, private companies have reduced access to the capital markets, resulting in diminished capital resources and the ability to withstand financial distress. Second, the depth and breadth of experience of management in private companies tends to be less than that at public companies, which makes such companies more likely to depend on the management talents and efforts of a smaller group of persons and/or persons with less depth and breadth of experience. Therefore, the decisions made by such management teams and/or the death, disability, resignation or termination of one or more of these persons could have a material adverse impact on our investments and, in turn, on us. Third, the investments themselves tend to be less liquid. As such, we may have difficulty exiting an investment promptly or at a desired price prior to maturity or outside of a normal amortization schedule. As a result, the relative lack of liquidity and the potential diminished capital resources of our target portfolio companies may affect our investment returns. Fourth, little public information generally exists about private companies. Further, these companies may not have third-party debt ratings or audited financial statements. We must therefore rely on the ability of the Adviser to obtain adequate information through due diligence to evaluate the creditworthiness and potential returns from investing in these companies. The Adviser would typically assess an
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investment in a portfolio company based on the Adviser’s estimate of the portfolio company’s earnings and enterprise value, among other things, and these estimates may be based on limited information and may otherwise be inaccurate, causing the Adviser to make different investment decisions than it may have made with more complete information. These companies and their financial information will generally not be subject to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and other rules that govern public companies. If we are unable to uncover all material information about these companies, we may not make a fully informed investment decision, and we may lose money on our investments.
A lack of liquidity in certain of our investments may adversely affect our business.
We generally invest in companies whose securities are not publicly-traded or actively traded on the secondary market, and whose securities are subject to legal and other restrictions on resale or will otherwise be less liquid than publicly-traded securities. The illiquidity of certain of our investments may make it difficult for us to sell these investments when desired. In addition, if we are required to liquidate all or a portion of our portfolio quickly, we may realize significantly less than the value at which we had previously recorded these investments. The reduced liquidity of our investments may make it difficult for us to dispose of them at a favorable price, and, as a result, we may suffer losses.
We may not have the funds or ability to make additional investments in our portfolio companies or to fund our unfunded debt commitments.
We may not have the funds or ability to make additional investments in our portfolio companies or to fund our unfunded debt commitments. After our initial investment in a portfolio company, we may be called upon from time to time to provide additional funds to such company or have the opportunity to increase our investment through the exercise of a warrant to purchase shares. There is no assurance that we will make, or will have sufficient funds to make, follow-on investments. Any decisions not to make a follow-on investment or any inability on our part to make such an investment may have a negative impact on a portfolio company in need of such an investment, may result in a missed opportunity for us to increase our participation in a successful operation or may reduce the expected return on the investment.
Our investments may include original issue discount and payment-in-kind instruments.
To the extent that we invest in original issue discount or PIK instruments and the accretion of original issue discount or PIK interest income constitutes a portion of our income, we will be exposed to risks associated with the requirement to include such non-cash income in taxable and accounting income prior to receipt of cash, including the following: 
the higher interest rates on PIK instruments reflect the payment deferral and increased credit risk associated with these instruments, and PIK instruments generally represent a significantly higher credit risk than coupon loans;
original issue discount and PIK instruments may have unreliable valuations because the accruals require judgments about collectability of the deferred payments and the value of any associated collateral;
an election to defer PIK interest payments by adding them to the principal on such instruments increases our future investment income which increases our gross assets and, as such, increases the Adviser’s future base management fees which, thus, increases the Adviser’s future income incentive fees at a compounding rate;
market prices of PIK instruments and other zero coupon instruments are affected to a greater extent by interest rate changes, and may be more volatile than instruments that pay interest periodically in cash. While PIK instruments are usually less volatile than zero coupon debt instruments, PIK instruments are generally more volatile than cash pay securities;
the deferral of PIK interest on an instrument increases the loan-to-value ratio, which is a measure of the riskiness of a loan, with respect to such instrument;
even if the conditions for income accrual under U.S. GAAP are satisfied, a borrower could still default when actual payment is due upon the maturity of such loan;
for accounting purposes, cash distributions to investors representing original issue discount income do not come from paid-in capital, although they may be paid from the offering proceeds. Thus, although a distribution of original issue discount income may come from the cash invested by investors, the 1940 Act does not require that investors be given notice of this fact;
the required recognition of original issue discount or PIK interest for U.S. federal income tax purposes may have a negative impact on liquidity, as it represents a non-cash component of our investment company taxable
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income that may require cash distributions to shareholders in order to maintain our ability to be subject to tax as a RIC; and
original issue discount may create a risk of non-refundable cash payments to the Adviser based on non-cash accruals that may never be realized.
We may enter into a TRS agreement that exposes us to certain risks, including market risk, liquidity risk and other risks similar to those associated with the use of leverage.
A TRS is a contract in which one party agrees to make periodic payments to another party based on the change in the market value of the assets underlying the TRS, which may include a specified security, basket of securities or securities indices during a specified period, in return for periodic payments based on a fixed or variable interest rate. A TRS effectively adds leverage to a portfolio by providing investment exposure to a security or market without owning or taking physical custody of such security or investing directly in such market. Because of the unique structure of a TRS, a TRS often offers lower financing costs than are offered through more traditional borrowing arrangements. The Company would typically have to post collateral to cover this potential obligation. To the extent the Company segregates liquid assets with a value equal (on a daily mark-to-market basis) to its obligations under TRS transactions, enters into offsetting transactions or otherwise covers such TRS transactions in accordance with applicable SEC guidance, the leverage incurred through TRS will not be considered a borrowing for purposes of the Company’s overall leverage limitation.  
A TRS is subject to market risk, liquidity risk and risk of imperfect correlation between the value of the TRS and the loans underlying the TRS. In addition, we may incur certain costs in connection with the TRS that could in the aggregate be significant. A TRS is also subject to the risk that a counterparty will default on its payment obligations thereunder or that we will not be able to meet our obligations to the counterparty.
We may enter into repurchase agreements.
Subject to our investment objective and policies, we may invest in repurchase agreements as a buyer for investment purposes. Repurchase agreements typically involve the acquisition by the Company of debt securities from a selling financial institution such as a bank, savings and loan association or broker-dealer. The agreement provides that the Company will sell the securities back to the institution at a fixed time in the future for the purchase price plus premium (which often reflects the interests). The Company does not bear the risk of a decline in the value of the underlying security unless the seller defaults under its repurchase obligation. In the event of the bankruptcy or other default of a seller of a repurchase agreement, the Company could experience both delays in liquidating the underlying securities and losses, including (1) possible decline in the value of the underlying security during the period in which the Company seeks to enforce its rights thereto; (2) possible lack of access to income on the underlying security during this period; and (3) expenses of enforcing its rights. In addition, as described above, the value of the collateral underlying the repurchase agreement will be at least equal to the repurchase price, including any accrued interest earned on the repurchase agreement. In the event of a default or bankruptcy by a selling financial institution, the Company generally will seek to liquidate such collateral. However, the exercise of the Company’s right to liquidate such collateral could involve certain costs or delays and, to the extent that proceeds from any sale upon a default of the obligation to repurchase were less than the repurchase price, the Company could suffer a loss.
We may enter into securities lending agreements.
We may from time to time make secured loans of our marginable securities to brokers, dealers and other financial institutions if our asset coverage, as defined in the 1940 Act, would at least equal 150% immediately after each such loan. The risks in lending portfolio securities, as with other extensions of credit, consist of possible delay in recovery of the securities or possible loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially. However, such loans will be made only to broker-dealers and other financial institutions that are believed by the Adviser to be of high credit standing. Securities loans are made to broker-dealers pursuant to agreements requiring that loans be continuously secured by collateral consisting of U.S. government securities, cash or cash equivalents (e.g., negotiable certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances or letters of credit) maintained on a daily mark-to-market basis in an amount at least equal at all times to the market value of the securities lent. If the Company enters into a securities lending arrangement, the Adviser, as part of its responsibilities under the Investment Advisory Agreement, will invest the Company’s cash collateral in accordance with the Company’s investment objectives and strategies. The Company will pay the borrower of the securities a fee based on the amount of the cash collateral posted in connection with the securities lending program. The borrower will pay to the Company, as the lender, an amount equal to any dividends or interest received on the securities lent.
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The Company may invest the cash collateral received only in accordance with its investment objectives, subject to the Company’s agreement with the borrower of the securities. In the case of cash collateral, the Company expects to pay a rebate to the borrower. The reinvestment of cash collateral will result in a form of effective leverage for the Company.
Although voting rights or rights to consent with respect to the loaned securities pass to the borrower, the Company, as the lender, will retain the right to call the loans and obtain the return of the securities loaned at any time on reasonable notice, and it will do so in order that the securities may be voted by the Company if the holders of such securities are asked to vote upon or consent to matters materially affecting the investment. The Company may also call such loans in order to sell the securities involved. When engaged in securities lending, the Company’s performance will continue to reflect changes in the value of the securities loaned and will also reflect the receipt of interest through investment of cash collateral by the Company in permissible investments.
We may from time to time enter into credit default swaps or other derivative transactions which expose us to certain risks, including credit risk, market risk, liquidity risk and other risks similar to those associated with the use of leverage.
We may from time to time enter into credit default swaps or other derivative transactions that seek to modify or replace the investment performance of a particular reference security or other asset. These transactions are typically individually negotiated, non-standardized agreements between two parties to exchange payments, with payments generally calculated by reference to a notional amount or quantity. Swap contracts and similar derivative contracts are not traded on exchanges; rather, banks and dealers act as principals in these markets. These investments may present risks in excess of those resulting from the referenced security or other asset. Because these transactions are not an acquisition of the referenced security or other asset itself, the investor has no right directly to enforce compliance with the terms of the referenced security or other asset and has no voting or other consensual rights of ownership with respect to the referenced security or other asset. In the event of insolvency of a counterparty, we will be treated as a general creditor of the counterparty and will have no claim of title with respect to the referenced security or other asset.
A credit default swap is a contract in which one party buys or sells protection against a credit event with respect to an issuer, such as an issuer’s failure to make timely payments of interest or principal on its debt obligations, bankruptcy or restructuring during a specified period. Generally, if we sell credit protection using a credit default swap, we will receive fixed payments from the swap counterparty and if a credit event occurs with respect to the applicable issuer, we will pay the swap counterparty par for the issuer’s defaulted debt securities and the swap counterparty will deliver the defaulted debt securities to us. Generally, if we buy credit protection using a credit default swap, we will make fixed payments to the counterparty and if a credit event occurs with respect to the applicable issuer, we will deliver the issuer’s defaulted securities underlying the swap to the swap counterparty and the counterparty will pay us par for the defaulted securities. Alternatively, a credit default swap may be cash settled and the buyer of protection would receive the difference between the par value and the market value of the issuer’s defaulted debt securities from the seller of protection.
Credit default swaps are subject to the credit risk of the underlying issuer. If we are selling credit protection, there is a risk that we will not properly assess the risk of the underlying issuer, a credit event will occur and we will have to pay the counterparty. If we are buying credit protection, there is a risk that we will not properly assess the risk of the underlying issuer, no credit event will occur and we will receive no benefit for the premium paid.
A derivative transaction is also subject to the risk that a counterparty will default on its payment obligations thereunder or that we will not be able to meet our obligations to the counterparty. In some cases, we may post collateral to secure our obligations to the counterparty, and we may be required to post additional collateral upon the occurrence of certain events such as a decrease in the value of the reference security or other asset. In some cases, the counterparty may not collateralize any of its obligations to us. Derivative investments effectively add leverage to a portfolio by providing investment exposure to a security or market without owning or taking physical custody of such security or investing directly in such market. In addition to the risks described above, such arrangements are subject to risks similar to those associated with the use of leverage. See “—Risks Related to Debt Financing.”
We may acquire various financial instruments for purposes of “hedging” or reducing our risks, which may be costly and ineffective and could reduce our cash available for distribution to our shareholders.
We may seek to hedge against interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations and credit risk by using financial instruments such as futures, options, swaps and forward contracts, subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act. These financial instruments may be purchased on exchanges or may be individually negotiated and traded in over-the-counter markets. Use of such financial instruments for hedging purposes may present significant risks, including the risk of loss of the amounts invested. Defaults by the other party to a hedging transaction can result in losses in the hedging transaction. Hedging activities also
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involve the risk of an imperfect correlation between the hedging instrument and the asset being hedged, which could result in losses both on the hedging transaction and on the instrument being hedged. Use of hedging activities may not prevent significant losses and could increase our losses. Further, hedging transactions may reduce cash available to pay distributions to our shareholders.
Prepayments of our debt investments by our portfolio companies could adversely impact our results of operations and reduce our return on equity.
We are subject to the risk that the investments we make in our portfolio companies may be repaid prior to maturity. When this occurs, we will generally reinvest these proceeds in temporary investments, pending their future investment in new portfolio companies. These temporary investments will typically have substantially lower yields than the debt being prepaid and we could experience significant delays in reinvesting these amounts. Any future investment in a new portfolio company may also be at lower yields than the debt that was repaid. As a result, our results of operations could be materially adversely affected if one or more of our portfolio companies elect to prepay amounts owed to us. Additionally, prepayments, net of prepayment fees, could negatively impact our return on equity.
Technological innovations and industry disruptions.
Current trends in the market generally have been toward disrupting a traditional approach to an industry with technological innovation, and multiple young companies have been successful where this trend toward disruption in markets and market practices has been critical to their success. In this period of rapid technological and commercial innovation, new businesses and approaches may be created that will compete with the Company and/or its portfolio companies or alter the market practices the Company’s strategy has been designed to function within and depend on for investment return. Any of these new approaches could damage the Company’s investments, significantly disrupt the market in which it operates and subject it to increased competition, which could materially and adversely affect its business, financial condition and results of investments.
C.Risks Related to the Adviser and Its Affiliates
The Adviser has limited prior experience managing a BDC.
Although the Adviser’s management team consists of substantially the same personnel that form the investment and operations teams that provided sub-advisory services to five FS Investments BDCs, neither the Adviser nor GSO has prior experience managing a BDC without a third-party partner.  Therefore, the Adviser may not be able to successfully operate our business or achieve our investment objectives.  As a result, an investment in our shares may entail more risk than the shares of a comparable company with a substantial operating history.
The 1940 Act and the Code impose numerous constraints on the operations of BDCs that do not apply to the other types of investment vehicles previously managed by the Adviser’s management team. For example, under the 1940 Act, BDCs are required to invest at least 70% of their total assets primarily in securities of qualifying U.S. private or thinly-traded public companies. The failure to comply with these provisions in a timely manner could prevent us from qualifying as a BDC or could force us to pay unexpected taxes and penalties, which could be material. The Adviser’s limited experience in managing a portfolio of assets under such constraints may hinder its ability to take advantage of attractive investment opportunities and, as a result, achieve our investment objective.
The Adviser and its affiliates, including our officers and some of our trustees, face conflicts of interest caused by compensation arrangements with us and our affiliates, which could result in actions that are not in the best interests of our shareholders.
The Adviser and its affiliates receive substantial fees from us in return for their services, and these fees could influence the advice provided to us. We pay to the Adviser an incentive fee that is based on the performance of our portfolio and an annual base management fee that is based on the average value of our gross assets at the end of the two most recently completed calendar quarters. Because the incentive fee is based on the performance of our portfolio, the Adviser may be incentivized to make investments on our behalf that are riskier or more speculative than would be the case in the absence of such compensation arrangement. The way in which the incentive fee is determined may also encourage the Adviser to use leverage to increase the return on our investments. In addition, because the base management fee is based on the average value of our gross assets at the end of the two most recently completed calendar quarters, which includes any borrowings for investment purposes, the Adviser may be incentivized to recommend the use of leverage or the issuance of additional equity to make additional investments and increase the average value of our gross assets at the end of the two most recently completed calendar quarters. Under certain
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circumstances, the use of leverage may increase the likelihood of default, which could disfavor our shareholders. Our compensation arrangements could therefore result in our making riskier or more speculative investments, or relying more on leverage to make investments, than would otherwise be the case. This could result in higher investment losses, particularly during cyclical economic downturns. See “— Potential Conflicts of Interest.”
We may be obligated to pay the Adviser incentive compensation even if we incur a net loss due to a decline in the value of our portfolio.
Our Investment Advisory Agreement entitles the Adviser to receive Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income Returns regardless of any capital losses. In such case, we may be required to pay the Adviser incentive compensation for a fiscal quarter even if there is a decline in the value of our portfolio or if we incur a net loss for that quarter.
In addition, any Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income Returns may be computed and paid on income that may include interest that has been accrued but not yet received. If a portfolio company defaults on a loan that is structured to provide accrued interest, it is possible that accrued interest previously included in the calculation of the incentive fee will become uncollectible. The Adviser is not under any obligation to reimburse us for any part of the incentive fee it received that was based on accrued income that we never received as a result of a default by an entity on the obligation that resulted in the accrual of such income, and such circumstances would result in our paying an incentive fee on income we never received.
There may be conflicts of interest related to obligations that the Adviser’s senior management and Investment Team have to other clients.
The members of the senior management and Investment Team of the Adviser serve or may serve as officers, directors or principals of entities that operate in the same or a related line of business as we do, or of investment funds managed by the same personnel. In serving in these multiple capacities, they may have obligations to other clients or investors in those entities, the fulfillment of which may not be in our best interests or in the best interest of our shareholders. Our investment objective may overlap with the investment objectives of such investment funds, accounts or other investment vehicles. In particular, we will rely on the Adviser to manage our day-to-day activities and to implement our investment strategy. The Adviser and certain of its affiliates are presently, and plan in the future to continue to be, involved with activities that are unrelated to us. As a result of these activities, the Adviser, its officers and employees and certain of its affiliates will have conflicts of interest in allocating their time between us and other activities in which they are or may become involved, including the management of its affiliated equipment funds. The Adviser and its officers and employees will devote only as much of its or their time to our business as the Adviser and its officers and employees, in their judgment, determine is reasonably required, which may be substantially less than their full time.
We rely, in part, on the Adviser to assist with identifying investment opportunities and making investment recommendations to the Adviser. The Adviser and its affiliates are not restricted from forming additional investment funds, entering into other investment advisory relationships or engaging in other business activities. These activities could be viewed as creating a conflict of interest in that the time and effort of the members of the Adviser, its affiliates and their officers and employees will not be devoted exclusively to our business, but will be allocated between us and such other business activities of the Adviser and its affiliates in a manner that the Adviser deems necessary and appropriate. See “—Potential Conflicts of Interest.”
The time and resources that individuals employed by the Adviser devote to us may be diverted and we may face additional competition due to the fact that individuals employed by the Adviser are not prohibited from raising money for or managing other entities that make the same types of investments that we target.
The Adviser and individuals employed by the Adviser are generally not prohibited from raising capital for and managing other investment entities that make the same types of investments as those we target. As a result, the time and resources that these individuals may devote to us may be diverted. In addition, we may compete with any such investment entity for the same investors and investment opportunities. We may participate in certain transactions originated by the Adviser or its affiliates under our exemptive relief from the SEC that allows us to engage in co-investment transactions with the Adviser and its affiliates, subject to certain terms and conditions. However, while the terms of the exemptive relief require that the Adviser will be given the opportunity to cause us to participate in certain transactions originated by affiliates of the Adviser, the Adviser may determine that we not participate in those transactions and for certain other transactions (as set forth in guidelines approved by the Board) the Adviser may not have the opportunity to cause us to participate. Affiliates of the Adviser, whose primary business includes the origination of investments or investing in non-originated assets, engage in investment advisory business with accounts that compete with us. See “—Potential Conflicts of Interest.”
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Our shares may be purchased by the Adviser or its affiliates.
Affiliates of the Adviser have purchased and in the future expect to purchase our shares. The Adviser and its affiliates will not acquire any shares with the intention to resell or re-distribute such shares. The purchase of shares by the Adviser and its affiliates could create certain risks, including, but not limited to, the following:
the Adviser and its affiliates may have an interest in disposing of our assets at an earlier date so as to recover their investment in our shares; and
substantial purchases of shares by the Adviser and its affiliates may limit the Adviser’s ability to fulfill any financial obligations that it may have to us or incurred on our behalf.
The Adviser relies on key personnel, the loss of any of whom could impair its ability to successfully manage us.
Our future success depends, to a significant extent, on the continued services of the officers and employees of the Adviser or its affiliates. The loss of services of one or more members of the Adviser’s management team, including members of our Investment Committee, could adversely affect our financial condition, business and results of operations.
The compensation we pay to the Adviser will be determined without independent assessment on our behalf, and these terms may be less advantageous to us than if such terms had been the subject of arm’s-length negotiations.
The Investment Advisory Agreement will not be entered into on an arm’s-length basis with an unaffiliated third party. As a result, the form and amount of compensation we pay the Adviser may be less favorable to us than they might have been had an investment advisory agreement been entered into through arm’s-length transactions with an unaffiliated third party.
The Adviser’s influence on conducting our operations gives it the ability to increase its fees, which may reduce the amount of cash flow available for distribution to our shareholders.
The Adviser is paid a base management fee calculated as a percentage of our gross assets and unrelated to net income or any other performance base or measure. The Adviser may advise us to consummate transactions or conduct our operations in a manner that, in the Adviser’s reasonable discretion, is in the best interests of our shareholders. These transactions, however, may increase the amount of fees paid to the Adviser. The Adviser’s ability to influence the base management fee paid to it by us could reduce the amount of cash flow available for distribution to our shareholders.
D.Risks Related to Business Development Companies
The requirement that we invest a sufficient portion of our assets in Qualifying Assets could preclude us from investing in accordance with our current business strategy; conversely, the failure to invest a sufficient portion of our assets in Qualifying Assets could result in our failure to maintain our status as a BDC.
As a BDC, we may not acquire any assets other than Qualifying Assets unless, at the time of and after giving effect to such acquisition, at least 70% of our total assets are Qualifying Assets. Therefore, we may be precluded from investing in what we believe are attractive investments if such investments are not Qualifying Assets. Conversely, if we fail to invest a sufficient portion of our assets in Qualifying Assets, we could lose our status as a BDC, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Similarly, these rules could prevent us from making additional investments in existing portfolio companies, which could result in the dilution of our position, or could require us to dispose of investments at an inopportune time to comply with the 1940 Act. If we were forced to sell non-qualifying investments in the portfolio for compliance purposes, the proceeds from such sale could be significantly less than the current value of such investments.
Failure to maintain our status as a BDC would reduce our operating flexibility.
If we do not remain a BDC, we might be regulated as a registered closed-end investment company under the 1940 Act, which would subject us to substantially more regulatory restrictions under the 1940 Act and correspondingly decrease our operating flexibility.
Regulations governing our operation as a BDC and RIC will affect our ability to raise, and the way in which we raise, additional capital or borrow for investment purposes, which may have a negative effect on our growth.
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As a result of the annual distribution requirement to qualify as a RIC, we may need to periodically access the capital markets to raise cash to fund new investments. We may issue “senior securities,” as defined under the 1940 Act, including borrowing money from banks or other financial institutions only in amounts such that our asset coverage meets the threshold set forth in the 1940 Act immediately after each such issuance. The 1940 Act currently requires an asset coverage of at least 150% (i.e., the amount of debt may not exceed two-thirds of the value of our assets). Our ability to issue different types of securities is also limited. Compliance with these requirements may unfavorably limit our investment opportunities and reduce our ability in comparison to other companies to profit from favorable spreads between the rates at which we can borrow and the rates at which we can lend. As a BDC, therefore, we intend to continuously issue equity at a rate more frequent than our privately-owned competitors, which may lead to greater shareholder dilution.
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, we are required to recognize taxable income (such as deferred interest that is accrued as original issue discount) in some circumstances in which we do not receive a corresponding payment in cash and to make distributions with respect to such income to maintain our status as a RIC. Under such circumstances, we may have difficulty meeting the annual distribution requirement necessary to maintain RIC tax treatment under the Code. This difficulty in making the required distribution may be amplified to the extent that we are required to pay an incentive fee with respect to such accrued income. As a result, we may have to sell some of our investments at times and/or at prices we would not consider advantageous, raise additional debt or equity capital, or forgo new investment opportunities for this purpose. If we are not able to obtain cash from other sources, we may not qualify for RIC tax treatment and thus become subject to corporate-level income tax.
We expect to borrow for investment purposes. If the value of our assets declines, we may be unable to satisfy the asset coverage test, which would prohibit us from paying distributions and could prevent us from qualifying as a RIC. If we cannot satisfy the asset coverage test, we may be required to sell a portion of our investments and, depending on the nature of our debt financing, repay a portion of our indebtedness at a time when such sales may be disadvantageous.
Under the 1940 Act, we generally are prohibited from issuing or selling our shares at a price per share, after deducting selling commissions and dealer manager fees, that is below our NAV per share, which may be a disadvantage as compared with other public companies. We may, however, sell our shares, or warrants, options or rights to acquire our shares, at a price below the current NAV of our shares if our Board, including our independent trustees, determine that such sale is in our best interests and the best interests of our shareholders, and our shareholders, as well as those shareholders that are not affiliated with us, approve such sale. In any such case, the price at which our securities are to be issued and sold may not be less than a price that, in the determination of our Board, closely approximates the fair value of such securities.
Our ability to enter into transactions with our affiliates is restricted.
We are prohibited under the 1940 Act from participating in certain transactions with certain of our affiliates (including portfolio companies of Other Clients) without the prior approval of a majority of the independent members of our Board and, in some cases, the SEC. Any person that owns, directly or indirectly, 5% or more of our outstanding voting securities will be our affiliate for purposes of the 1940 Act and generally we will be prohibited from buying or selling any securities from or to such affiliate, absent the prior approval of our Board. However, we may under certain circumstances purchase any such affiliate's loans or securities in the secondary market, which could create a conflict for the Adviser between our interests and the interests of such affiliate, in that the ability of the Adviser to recommend actions in our best interest may be limited. The 1940 Act also prohibits certain “joint” transactions with certain of our affiliates, which could include investments in the same portfolio company (whether at the same or closely related times), without prior approval of our Board and, in some cases, the SEC. If a person acquires more than 25% of our voting securities, we will be prohibited from buying or selling any security from or to such person or certain of that person’s affiliates, or entering into prohibited joint transactions (including certain co-investments) with such persons, absent the prior approval of the SEC. Similar restrictions limit our ability to transact business with our officers, trustees, investment advisers, sub-advisers or their affiliates. As a result of these restrictions, we may be prohibited from buying or selling any security from or to any fund or any portfolio company of a fund managed by the Adviser, or entering into joint arrangements such as certain co-investments with these companies or funds without the prior approval of the SEC, which may limit the scope of investment opportunities that would otherwise be available to us.
We have obtained exemptive relief from the SEC that allows us to engage in co-investment transactions with the Adviser and its affiliates, subject to certain terms and conditions. However, while the terms of the exemptive relief require that the Adviser will be given the opportunity to cause us to participate in certain transactions originated by affiliates of the Adviser, the Adviser may determine that we not participate in those transactions and for certain other transactions (as set forth in guidelines approved by the Board) the Adviser may not have the opportunity to cause us to participate.
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We are uncertain of our sources for funding our future capital needs; if we cannot obtain debt or equity financing on acceptable terms, our ability to acquire investments and to expand our operations will be adversely affected.
The net proceeds from the sale of shares will be used for our investment opportunities, operating expenses and for payment of various fees and expenses such as base management fees, incentive fees and other expenses. Any working capital reserves we maintain may not be sufficient for investment purposes, and we may require debt or equity financing to operate. Accordingly, in the event that we develop a need for additional capital in the future for investments or for any other reason, these sources of funding may not be available to us. Consequently, if we cannot obtain debt or equity financing on acceptable terms, our ability to acquire investments and to expand our operations will be adversely affected. As a result, we would be less able to create and maintain a broad portfolio of investments and achieve our investment objective, which may negatively impact our results of operations and reduce our ability to make distributions to our shareholders.
We are a non-diversified investment company within the meaning of the 1940 Act, and therefore we are not limited with respect to the proportion of our assets that may be invested in securities of a single issuer.
We are classified as a non-diversified investment company within the meaning of the 1940 Act, which means that we are not limited by the 1940 Act with respect to the proportion of our assets that we may invest in securities of a single issuer. Under the 1940 Act, a “diversified” investment company is required to invest at least 75% of the value of its total assets in cash and cash items, government securities, securities of other investment companies and other securities limited in respect of any one issuer to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of the total assets of such company and no more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer. As a non-diversified investment company, we are not subject to this requirement. To the extent that we assume large positions in the securities of a small number of issuers, or within a particular industry, our NAV may fluctuate to a greater extent than that of a diversified investment company as a result of changes in the financial condition or the market’s assessment of the issuer. We may also be more susceptible to any single economic or regulatory occurrence than a diversified investment company or to a general downturn in the economy. However, we will be subject to the diversification requirements applicable to RICs under Subchapter M of the Code.
E.Risks Related to Debt Financing
We borrow money, which magnifies the potential for loss on amounts invested in us and may increase the risk of investing in us. Borrowed money may also adversely affect the return on our assets, reduce cash available for distribution to our shareholders, and result in losses.
The use of borrowings, also known as leverage, increases the volatility of investments by magnifying the potential for loss on invested equity capital. When we use leverage to partially finance our investments, through borrowing from banks and other lenders, shareholders will experience increased risks of investing in our shares. If the value of our assets decreases, leveraging would cause NAV to decline more sharply than it otherwise would have had we not leveraged. Similarly, any decrease in our income would cause net income to decline more sharply than it would have had we not borrowed. Such a decline could negatively affect our ability to make distributions to our shareholders. In addition, our shareholders will bear the burden of any increase in our expenses as a result of our use of leverage, including interest expenses and any increase in the management or incentive fees payable to the Adviser.
We use and intend to continue to use leverage to finance our investments. The amount of leverage that we employ will depend on the Adviser’s and our Board’ assessment of market and other factors at the time of any proposed borrowing. There can be no assurance that leveraged financing will be available to us on favorable terms or at all. However, to the extent that we use leverage to finance our assets, our financing costs will reduce cash available for distributions to shareholders. Moreover, we may not be able to meet our financing obligations and, to the extent that we cannot, we risk the loss of some or all of our assets to liquidation or sale to satisfy the obligations. In such an event, we may be forced to sell assets at significantly depressed prices due to market conditions or otherwise, which may result in losses.
As a BDC, we generally are required to meet a coverage ratio of total assets to total borrowings and other senior securities, which include all of our borrowings and any preferred shares that we may issue in the future, of at least 150%. If this ratio were to fall below 150%, we could not incur additional debt and could be required to sell a portion of our investments to repay some debt when it is disadvantageous to do so. This could have a material adverse effect on our operations and investment activities. Moreover, our ability to make distributions to shareholders may be significantly restricted or we may not be able to make any such distributions whatsoever. The amount of leverage that we will employ will be subject to oversight by our Board, a majority of whom are independent trustees with no material interests in such transactions.
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Although borrowings by the Company have the potential to enhance overall returns that exceed the Company’s cost of funds, they will further diminish returns (or increase losses on capital) to the extent overall returns are less than the Company’s cost of funds. In addition, borrowings by the Company may be secured by the investors’ Capital Commitments as well as by the Company’s assets and the documentation relating to such borrowing may provide that during the continuance of a default under such borrowing, the interests of the investors may be subordinated to such borrowing.
We may default under our credit facilities.
In the event we default under our credit facilities or other borrowings, our business could be adversely affected as we may be forced to sell a portion of our investments quickly and prematurely at what may be disadvantageous prices to us in order to meet our outstanding payment obligations and/or support working capital requirements under such borrowing facility, any of which would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. In addition, following any such default, the agent for the lenders under such borrowing facility could assume control of the disposition of any or all of our assets, including the selection of such assets to be disposed and the timing of such disposition, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Provisions in a credit facility may limit our investment discretion.
A credit facility may be backed by all or a portion of our loans and securities on which the lenders will have a security interest. We may pledge up to 100% of our assets and may grant a security interest in all of our assets under the terms of any debt instrument we enter into with lenders. We expect that any security interests we grant will be set forth in a pledge and security agreement and evidenced by the filing of financing statements by the agent for the lenders. In addition, we expect that the custodian for our securities serving as collateral for such loan would include in its electronic systems notices indicating the existence of such security interests and, following notice of occurrence of an event of default, if any, and during its continuance, will only accept transfer instructions with respect to any such securities from the lender or its designee. If we were to default under the terms of any debt instrument, the agent for the applicable lenders would be able to assume control of the timing of disposition of any or all of our assets securing such debt, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. In connection with one or more credit facilities entered into by the Company, distributions to shareholders may be subordinated to payments required in connection with any indebtedness contemplated thereby.
In addition, any security interests and/or negative covenants required by a credit facility may limit our ability to create liens on assets to secure additional debt and may make it difficult for us to restructure or refinance indebtedness at or prior to maturity or obtain additional debt or equity financing. In addition, if our borrowing base under a credit facility were to decrease, we may be required to secure additional assets in an amount sufficient to cure any borrowing base deficiency. In the event that all of our assets are secured at the time of such a borrowing base deficiency, we could be required to repay advances under a credit facility or make deposits to a collection account, either of which could have a material adverse impact on our ability to fund future investments and to make distributions.
In addition, we may be subject to limitations as to how borrowed funds may be used, which may include restrictions on geographic and industry concentrations, loan size, payment frequency and status, average life, collateral interests and investment ratings, as well as regulatory restrictions on leverage which may affect the amount of funding that may be obtained. There may also be certain requirements relating to portfolio performance, including required minimum portfolio yield and limitations on delinquencies and charge-offs, a violation of which could limit further advances and, in some cases, result in an event of default. An event of default under a credit facility could result in an accelerated maturity date for all amounts outstanding thereunder, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition. This could reduce our liquidity and cash flow and impair our ability to grow our business.
The following table illustrates the effect of leverage on returns from an investment in our shares assuming various annual returns on our portfolio, net of expenses. The calculations in the table below are hypothetical, and actual returns may be higher or lower than those appearing in the table below.
  Assumed Return on Our Portfolio (Net of Expenses)
-10%    -5%    0%    5%    10%   
Corresponding return to common stockholder (1)
-22.55  % -13.02  % -3.48  % 6.05  % 15.59  %
(1)Based on (i) $3,190.1 million in total assets as of December 31, 2019, (ii) $1,454.2 million in outstanding indebtedness as of December 31, 2019, (iii) $1,673.1 million in net assets as of December 31, 2019 and (iv) an annualized average interest
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rate on our indebtedness, as of December 31, 2019, excluding fees (such as fees on undrawn amounts and amortization of financing costs), of 4.01%.
Based on an outstanding indebtedness of $1,454.2 million as of December 31, 2019 and the weighted average effective annual interest rate, excluding fees (such as fees on undrawn amounts and amortization of financing costs), of 4.01% as of that date, our investment portfolio at fair value would have had to produce an annual return of approximately 1.83% to cover annual interest payments on the outstanding debt. For more information on our indebtedness, see “Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources.
Changes in interest rates may affect our cost of capital and net investment income.
Since we use debt to finance a portion of our investments, our net investment income will depend, in part, upon the difference between the rate at which we borrow funds and the rate at which we invest those funds. As a result, we can offer no assurance that a significant change in market interest rates will not have a material adverse effect on our net investment income. In periods of rising interest rates when we have debt outstanding, our cost of funds will increase, which could reduce our net investment income. We expect that our long-term fixed-rate investments will be financed primarily with equity and long-term debt. We may use interest rate risk management techniques in an effort to limit our exposure to interest rate fluctuations. These techniques may include various interest rate hedging activities to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act. These activities may limit our ability to participate in the benefits of lower interest rates with respect to the hedged portfolio. Adverse developments resulting from changes in interest rates or hedging transactions could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Also, we have limited experience in entering into hedging transactions, and we will initially have to purchase or develop such expertise.
F.Federal Income Tax Risks
We will be subject to corporate-level income tax if we are unable to qualify as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code or to satisfy RIC distribution requirements.
To obtain and maintain RIC tax treatment under Subchapter M of the Code, we must, among other things, meet annual distribution, income source and asset diversification requirements. If we do not qualify for or maintain RIC tax treatment for any reason and are subject to corporate income tax, the resulting corporate taxes could substantially reduce our net assets, the amount of income available for distribution and the amount of our distributions.
We may have difficulty paying our required distributions if we recognize income before or without receiving cash representing such income.
For federal income tax purposes, we may be required to recognize taxable income in circumstances in which we do not receive a corresponding payment in cash. For example, if we hold debt obligations that are treated under applicable tax rules as having original issue discount (such as zero coupon securities, debt instruments with PIK interest or, in certain cases, increasing interest rates or debt instruments that were issued with warrants), we must include in income each year a portion of the original issue discount that accrues over the life of the obligation, regardless of whether cash representing such income is received by us in the same taxable year. We may also have to include in income other amounts that we have not yet received in cash, such as deferred loan origination fees that are paid after origination of the loan or are paid in non-cash compensation such as warrants or stock. We anticipate that a portion of our income may constitute original issue discount or other income required to be included in taxable income prior to receipt of cash. Further, we may elect to amortize market discount and include such amounts in our taxable income in the current year, instead of upon disposition, as an election not to do so would limit our ability to deduct interest expenses for tax purposes.
Because any original issue discount or other amounts accrued will be included in our investment company taxable income for the year of the accrual, we may be required to make a distribution to our shareholders in order to satisfy the annual distribution requirement, even though we will not have received any corresponding cash amount. As a result, we may have difficulty meeting the annual distribution requirement necessary to qualify for and maintain RIC tax treatment under Subchapter M of the Code. We may have to sell some of our investments at times and/or at prices we would not consider advantageous, raise additional debt or equity capital or forgo new investment opportunities for this purpose. If we are not able to obtain cash from other sources, we may not qualify for or maintain RIC tax treatment and thus become subject to corporate-level income tax.
If we do not qualify as a “publicly offered regulated investment company,” as defined in the Code, a non-corporate shareholder will be taxed as though it received a distribution of some of our expenses.
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A “publicly offered regulated investment company” or “publicly offered RIC” is a RIC whose shares are either (i) continuously offered pursuant to a public offering within the meaning of Section 4 of the 1933 Act, (ii) regularly traded on an established securities market or (iii) held by at least 500 persons at all times during the taxable year. If we are a RIC that is not a publicly offered RIC for any period, a non-corporate shareholder’s allocable portion of our affected expenses, including our management fees, will be treated as an additional distribution to the shareholder and will be treated as miscellaneous itemized deductions that are deductible only to the extent permitted by applicable law. Pursuant to current law, however, such expenses will not be deductible by any such shareholder for tax years that begin prior to January 1, 2026.
Some of our investments may be subject to corporate-level income tax.
We may invest in certain debt and equity investments through taxable subsidiaries and the taxable income of these taxable subsidiaries will be subject to federal and state corporate income taxes. We may invest in certain foreign debt and equity investments which could be subject to foreign taxes (such as income tax, withholding and value added taxes).
Our portfolio investments may present special tax issues.
The Company expects to invest in debt securities that are rated below investment grade by rating agencies or that would be rated below investment grade if they were rated. Investments in these types of instruments may present special tax issues for the Company. U.S. federal income tax rules are not entirely clear about issues such as when the Company may cease to accrue interest, original issue discount or market discount, when and to what extent deductions may be taken for bad debts or worthless instruments, how payments received on obligations in default should be allocated between principal and income and whether exchanges of debt obligations in a bankruptcy or workout context are taxable. These and other issues will be addressed by the Company, to the extent necessary, to preserve its status as a RIC and to distribute sufficient income to not become subject to U.S. federal income tax.
Legislative or regulatory tax changes could adversely affect investors.
At any time, the federal income tax laws governing RICs or the administrative interpretations of those laws or regulations may be amended. Any of those new laws, regulations or interpretations may take effect retroactively and could adversely affect the taxation of us or our shareholders. Therefore, changes in tax laws, regulations or administrative interpretations or any amendments thereto could diminish the value of an investment in our shares or the value or the resale potential of our investments.
G.Risks Related to an Investment in the Shares
Investors in offerings after the initial closing could receive fewer shares than anticipated.
The purchase price per shares in any drawdown of Capital Commitments after the Initial Drawdown is expected to be based on the NAV per share. As a result, in the event of an increase in our NAV per share, the purchase price for shares purchased in any drawdown may be higher than the prior quarterly NAV per share, and therefore an investor may receive a smaller number of shares than if it had purchased shares in a prior issuance. Additionally, in order to more fairly allocate such expenses among all shareholders, investors subscribing after the Initial Drawdown Date will be required to bear a pro rata portion of our organizational expenses at the time of their first investment in us.
We may have difficulty paying distributions and the tax character of any distributions is uncertain.
We generally intend to distribute substantially all of our available earnings annually by paying distributions on a quarterly basis, as determined by the Board in its discretion. We cannot assure shareholders that we will achieve investment results that will allow us to make a specified level of cash distributions (particularly during the early stages of our operations) or year-to-year increases in cash distributions. Our ability to pay distributions might be adversely affected by the impact of one or more of the risk factors described in this annual report. Due to the asset coverage test applicable to us under the 1940 Act as a BDC, we may be limited in our ability to make distributions. In addition, if we enter into a credit facility or any other borrowing facility, for so long as such facility is outstanding, we anticipate that we may be required by its terms to use all payments of interest and principal that we receive from our current investments as well as any proceeds received from the sale of our current investments to repay amounts outstanding thereunder, which could adversely affect our ability to make distributions.
Furthermore, the tax treatment and characterization of our distributions may vary significantly from time to time due to the nature of our investments. The ultimate tax characterization of our distributions made during a taxable year may not finally be determined until after the end of that taxable year. We may make distributions during a taxable year that exceed our
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investment company taxable income and net capital gains for that taxable year. In such a situation, the amount by which our total distributions exceed investment company taxable income and net capital gains generally would be treated as a return of capital up to the amount of a shareholder’s tax basis in the shares, with any amounts exceeding such tax basis treated as a gain from the sale or exchange of such shares. A return of capital generally is a return of a shareholder’s investment rather than a return of earnings or gains derived from our investment activities. Moreover, we may pay all or a substantial portion of our distributions from the proceeds of the sale of our shares or from borrowings in anticipation of future cash flow, which could constitute a return of shareholders’ capital and will lower such shareholders’ tax basis in our shares, which may result in increased tax liability to shareholders when they sell such shares.
An investment in our shares will have limited liquidity.
Our shares constitute illiquid investments for which there is not, and will likely not be, a secondary market at any time prior to an Exchange Listing. There can be no guarantee that we will conduct an Exchange Listing. Investment in the Company is suitable only for sophisticated investors and requires the financial ability and willingness to accept the high risks and lack of liquidity inherent in an investment in the Company.  A shareholder generally may not sell, assign or transfer its shares without prior written consent of the Adviser, which the Adviser may grant or withhold in its sole discretion.  Except in limited circumstances for legal or regulatory purposes, shareholders are not entitled to redeem their shares.  Shareholders must be prepared to bear the economic risk of an investment in our shares for an indefinite period of time.  While we may undertake an Exchange Listing, there can be no assurance that such a listing will be successfully completed.  Furthermore, an Exchange Listing does not ensure that an actual market will develop for a listed security.  
Furthermore, should there be an Exchange Listing, shareholders may be subject to lock-up restrictions pursuant to which they will be prohibited from selling our shares for a certain period after the date of such Exchange Listing.  The specific terms of this restriction and any other limitations on the sale of our shares in connection with or following an Exchange Listing will be agreed in advance between our Board and the Adviser, acting on behalf of our investors, and the underwriters of the Exchange Listing or other similar institutions acting on our behalf in connection with the Exchange Listing.  There can be no assurance that our shares will be offered in an Exchange Listing.
Certain investors will be subject to 1934 Act filing requirements.
Because our shares are registered under the 1934 Act, ownership information for any person who beneficially owns 5% or more of our shares will have to be disclosed in a Schedule 13G or other filings with the SEC. Beneficial ownership for these purposes is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC, and includes having voting or investment power over the securities. In some circumstances, our shareholders who choose to reinvest their dividends may see their percentage stake in the Company increased to more than 5%, thus triggering this filing requirement. Each shareholder is responsible for determining their filing obligations and preparing the filings. In addition, our shareholders who hold more than 10% of a class of our shares may be subject to Section 16(b) of the 1934 Act, which recaptures for the benefit of the Company profits from the purchase and sale of registered stock (and securities convertible or exchangeable into such registered stock) within a six-month period.
Special considerations for certain benefit plan investors.
We intend to conduct our affairs so that our assets should not be deemed to be “plan assets” within the meaning of the Plan Asset Regulations Labor. The fiduciary of each prospective benefit plan investor must independently determine that our shares are an appropriate investment for such plan, taking into account the fiduciary’s obligations under ERISA, the Code and applicable similar laws, and the facts and circumstances of each investing benefit plan investor.
No shareholder approval is required for certain mergers.
Our Board may undertake to approve mergers between us and certain other funds or vehicles.  Subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act and, after an Exchange Listing, the applicable stock exchange rules, such mergers will not require shareholder approval so shareholders will not be given an opportunity to vote on these matters unless such mergers are reasonably anticipated to result in a material dilution of the NAV per Share of the Company.  These mergers may involve funds managed by affiliates of GSO.  The Board may also convert the form and/or jurisdiction of organization, including to take advantage of laws that are more favorable to maintaining board control in the face of dissident shareholders.
Shareholders may experience dilution.
Shareholders will not have preemptive rights to subscribe to or purchase any shares issued in the future.  Investors in earlier closings during the Initial Closing Period will be diluted by investors in later closings during the Initial Closing
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Period.  This dilution will be accelerated because purchases of our shares are generally made first by holders with the largest percentage of their Initial Capital Commitments undrawn and then, once all holders have the same percentage of undrawn Initial Capital Commitments outstanding, pro rata in accordance with remaining Initial Capital Commitments of all investors.  
To the extent we issue additional shares, including in a public offering or following a Subsequent Closing, a shareholder’s percentage ownership interest in the Company will be diluted. In addition, depending upon the terms and pricing of any additional offerings and the value of our investments, a shareholder may also experience dilution in the NAV and fair value of our shares.
There are severe economic consequences for defaulting shareholders.
If shareholders fail to fund their commitment obligations or to make required capital contributions when due, the Company’s ability to complete its investment program or otherwise continue operations may be substantially impaired. A shareholder’s failure to fund such amounts when due may cause that shareholder to become a defaulting shareholder. A defaulting shareholder will have ten days to cure its deficiency following the required funding date, after which the defaulting shareholder may forfeit its right to participate in future investments and 50% of its shares may be transferred to the non-defaulting shareholders on a pro rata basis.  If a substantial number of shareholders become defaulting shareholders, this may severely limit opportunities for investment diversification and would likely reduce returns to the Company and restrict the Company’s ability to meet loan obligations. Any single defaulting shareholder could cause substantial costs to be incurred by the Company if such default causes the Company to fail to meet its contractual obligations or if the Company must pursue remedial action against such shareholder.
If the Company fails to meet its contractual obligations related to a portfolio investment due to a defaulting shareholder, the relevant portfolio company may have a cause of action against the Company, which may include a claim against assets of the Company other than the Company’s interest in such portfolio company.  A creditor of the Company (including a portfolio company with respect to which the Company has failed to meet its contractual obligations) will not be bound to satisfy its claims from the assets attributable to a particular portfolio investment and such creditor generally may seek to satisfy its claims from the assets of the Company as a whole.  As a result, if a creditor’s claims relating to a particular portfolio investment exceed the net assets attributable to that portfolio investment, the remaining assets of the Company will likely be subject to such claim.
Investing in our shares involves a high degree of risk.
The investments we make in accordance with our investment objective may result in a higher amount of risk than alternative investment options and volatility or loss of principal. Our investments in portfolio companies may be highly speculative and aggressive and, therefore, an investment in our shares not be suitable for someone with lower risk tolerance.
The NAV of our shares may fluctuate significantly.
The NAV and liquidity, if any, of the market for our shares may be significantly affected by numerous factors, some of which are beyond our control and may not be directly related to our operating performance. These factors include:
changes in regulatory policies or tax guidelines, particularly with respect to RICs or BDCs;
loss of RIC or BDC status;
changes in earnings or variations in operating results;
changes in the value of our portfolio of investments;
changes in accounting guidelines governing valuation of our investments;
any shortfall in revenue or net income or any increase in losses from levels expected by shareholders;
departure of either the Adviser or certain of its respective key personnel;
general economic trends and other external factors; and
loss of a major funding source.
H.Potential Conflicts of Interest
The Adviser, GSO, Blackstone and their respective affiliates will be subject to certain conflicts of interest with respect to the services the Adviser and the Administrator provide to us. These conflicts will arise primarily from the involvement of
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GSO, Blackstone and their respective affiliates, or collectively (the “Firm”), in other activities that may conflict with our activities. You should be aware that individual conflicts will not necessarily be resolved in favor of your interest. The foregoing list of conflicts does not purport to be a complete enumeration or explanation of the actual and potential conflicts involved in an investment in the Company.
Performance Based Compensation and Management Fees. The existence of the incentive fees payable to GSO may create a greater incentive for GSO to make more speculative investments on behalf of the Company, or to time the purchase or sale of investments in a manner motivated by the personal interests of GSO and/or Blackstone personnel. However, the fact that the hurdle rate for the incentive fee based on income is calculated on an aggregate basis each quarter and that realized and unrealized losses are netted against realized gains for the incentive fee based on capital gains should reduce the incentives for the Adviser to make more speculative investments or otherwise time the purchase or sale of investments.
In addition, the manner in which the Adviser’s entitlement to incentive fees is determined may result in a conflict between its interests and the interests of shareholders with respect to the sequence and timing of disposals of investments, as the Adviser may want to dispose of lower yielding investments in favor of higher yielding ones. With respect to the Adviser’s entitlement to incentive fees on capital gains, the Adviser may be incentivized to realize capital gains prior to a year end if such gains, net of realized and unrealized losses, would result in an incentive fee on capital gains.
The Firm’s Policies and Procedures. Because the Firm has many different asset management and advisory businesses, it is subject to a number of actual and potential conflicts of interest, greater regulatory oversight and more legal and contractual restrictions than that to which it would be subject if it had just one line of business. Certain policies and procedures implemented by the Firm to mitigate potential conflicts of interest and address certain regulatory requirements and contractual restrictions, such as the Firm’s information wall policy, will from time to time reduce the synergies and collaboration across the Firm’s various businesses that the Company expects to draw on for purposes of identifying, pursuing and managing attractive investment opportunities. For example, the Firm will come into possession of material non-public information with respect to companies, including companies in which the Company has investments or is considering making investments. The information, which could be of benefit to the Company, is likely to be restricted to those other businesses and otherwise be unavailable to the Company. It is also possible that the Company could be restricted from trading despite the fact that the Company did not receive such information. Additionally, the Firm may restrict or otherwise limit the Company and/or its portfolio companies from entering into agreements with, or related to, companies that either are advisory clients of the Firm or in which any fund of the Firm has invested or has considered making an investment. The Firm will from time to time restrict or otherwise limit the ability of the Company and/or its portfolio companies to make investments in or otherwise engage in businesses or activities competitive with companies of other advisory clients of the Firm, either as a result of contractual restrictions or otherwise. Furthermore, there will be circumstances in which affiliates of the Firm (including Other Clients) may refrain from taking certain confidential information in order to avoid trading restrictions. Finally, the Firm has and will enter into one or more strategic relationships in certain regions or with respect to certain types of investments that, although possibly intended to provide greater opportunities for the Company, may require the Company to share such opportunities or otherwise limit the amount of an opportunity the Company can otherwise take. There can be no assurance that additional restrictions will not be imposed that would further limit the ability of the Firm to share information internally.
Broad and Wide-Ranging Activities. The Firm engages in a broad spectrum of activities. In the ordinary course of its business activities, the Firm will engage in activities where the interests of certain divisions of the Firm or the interests of its clients will conflict with the interests of the shareholders in the Company. Other present and future activities of the Firm will give rise to additional conflicts of interest. In the event that a conflict of interest arises, the Adviser will attempt to resolve such conflict in a fair and equitable manner. Subject to applicable law, including the 1940 Act, and the Board of Trustees’ oversight, the Adviser will have the power to resolve, or consent to the resolution of, conflicts of interest on behalf of the Company. Investors should be aware that conflicts will not necessarily be resolved in favor of the Company's interests. In addition, the Adviser may in certain situations choose to consult with or obtain the consent of the Board of Trustees with respect to any specific conflict of interest, including with respect to the approvals required under the 1940 Act, including Section 57(f), and the Advisers Act. The Company may enter into joint transactions or cross-trades with clients or affiliates of the Adviser to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act and any applicable co-investment order from the SEC. Subject to the limitations of the 1940 Act, the Company may invest in loans or other securities, the proceeds of which may refinance or otherwise repay debt or securities of companies whose debt is owned by other GSO funds.

Management Fee. The fact that all or a portion of the management fee is calculated based on each shareholder’s capital contributions for investments (and, in the case of management fees, also on the amounts borrowed to fund the purchase of investments) rather than solely on capital commitments may create an incentive for the Adviser to (i) make more speculative investments than it otherwise would have made if management fees and servicing fees were solely based on capital commitments, (ii) seek to deploy the capital commitments in investments at an accelerated pace and/or (iii) hold investments, or
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retain and not distribute proceeds, longer than it otherwise would have if management fees and servicing fees were based solely on capital commitments.

Allocation of Personnel. The Adviser and its members, officers and employees will devote as much of their time to the activities of the Company as they deem necessary to conduct its business affairs in an appropriate manner. By the terms of the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Firm is not restricted from forming additional investment funds, from entering into other investment advisory relationships or from engaging in other business activities, even though such activities may be in competition with the Company and/or may involve substantial time and resources of the Adviser. Firm personnel, including members of the investment committee, will work on other projects, serve on other committees and source potential investments for and otherwise assist the investment programs of Other Clients and their portfolio companies, including other investment programs to be developed in the future. These activities could be viewed as creating a conflict of interest in that the time and effort of the members of the Adviser and its officers and employees will not be devoted exclusively to the business of the Company, but will be allocated between the business of the Company and the management of the monies of such other advisees of the Adviser. Time spent on these other initiatives diverts attention from the activities of the Company, which could negatively impact the Company shareholders. Furthermore, GSO and GSO personnel derive financial benefit from these other activities, including fees and performance-based compensation. Firm personnel outside of GSO may share in the fees and performance-based compensation from the Company; similarly, GSO personnel may share in the fees and performance-based compensation generated by Other Clients. These and other factors create conflicts of interest in the allocation of time by Firm personnel. GSO’s determination of the amount of time necessary to conduct the Company's activities will be conclusive, and shareholders rely on GSO’s judgment in this regard.

Outside Activities of Principals and Other Personnel and their Related Parties. Certain of the principals and employees of the Adviser may be subject to a variety of conflicts of interest relating to their responsibilities to the Company. Other clients and their respective portfolio companies, and their outside business activities as members of investment or advisory committees or boards of directors of or advisors to investment funds, corporations, foundations or other organizations. Such positions create a conflict if such other entities have interests that are adverse to those of the Company, including if such other entities compete with the Company for investment opportunities or other resources. The other managed accounts and/or investment funds in which such individuals may become involved may have investment objectives that overlap with the Company. Furthermore, certain principals and employees of the Adviser may have a greater financial interest in the performance of such other funds or accounts than the performance of the Company. Such involvement may create conflicts of interest in making investments on behalf of the Company and such other funds and accounts. Although such principals and employees will seek to limit any such conflicts in a manner that is in accordance with their fiduciary duties to the Company, there can be no assurance they will be resolved favorably for the Company. Also, Blackstone personnel, Firm employees, including employees of the Adviser, are generally permitted to invest in alternative investment funds, private equity funds, real estate funds, hedge funds or other investment vehicles, including potential competitors of the Company. Shareholders will not receive any benefit from any such investments, and the financial incentives of such Firm employees in such other investments could be greater than their financial incentives in relation to the Company.
Additionally, certain employees and other professionals of the Firm have family members or relatives employed by such advisers and service providers (or their affiliates) or otherwise actively involved in industries and sectors in which the Company invests, or have business, financial, personal or other relationships with companies in such industries and sectors (including the advisors and service providers described above) or other industries, which gives rise to potential or actual conflicts of interest. For example, such family members or relatives might be employees, officers, directors or owners of companies or assets that are actual or potential investments of the Company or other counterparties of the Company and its portfolio companies and/or assets. Moreover, in certain instances, the Company or its portfolio companies may issue loans to or acquire securities from, or otherwise transact with, companies that are owned by such family members or relatives or in respect of which such family members or relatives have other involvement. These relationships may influence Blackstone, the Adviser and/or GSO in deciding whether to select or recommend such service providers to perform services for the Company or portfolio companies (the cost of which will generally be borne directly or indirectly by the Company or such portfolio companies, as applicable). Notwithstanding the foregoing, investment transactions relating to the Company that require the use of a service provider will generally be allocated to service providers on the basis of best execution, the evaluation of which includes, among other considerations, such service provider’s provision of certain investment-related services and research that the Adviser believes to be of benefit to the Company. To the extent that the Firm determines appropriate, conflict mitigation strategies may be put in place with respect to a particular circumstance, such as internal information barriers or recusal, disclosure or other steps determined appropriate by the Firm. The shareholders rely on the Firm to manage these conflicts in its sole discretion.

Secondments and Internships. Certain personnel of the Firm and its affiliates, including consultants, will, in certain circumstances, be seconded to one or more portfolio companies, vendors, service providers and vendors or shareholders or other investors of the Company and Other Clients to provide services, including the sourcing of investments for the Company
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or other parties. The salaries, benefits, overhead and other similar expenses for such personnel during the secondment could be borne by the Firm and its affiliates or the organization for which the personnel are working or both. In addition, personnel of portfolio companies, vendors and service providers (including law firms and accounting firms) and shareholders or other investors of the Company and Other Clients will, in certain circumstances, be seconded to, serve internships at or otherwise provide consulting services to, the Firm, the Company, Other Clients and portfolio companies of the Company and Other Clients. While often the Company, Other Clients and their portfolio companies are the beneficiaries of these types of arrangements, the Firm is from time to time a beneficiary of these arrangements as well, including in circumstances where the vendor or service provider also provides services to the Company, Other Clients, their portfolio companies or the Firm in the ordinary course. The Firm, the Company, Other Clients or their portfolio companies could receive benefits from these arrangements at no cost, or alternatively could pay all or a portion of the fees, compensation or other expenses in respect of these arrangements. The management fee will not be reduced as a result of these arrangements or any fees, expense reimbursements or other costs related thereto and the Company may not receive any benefit as a result of these arrangements. The personnel described above may provide services in respect of multiple matters, including in respect of matters related to the Firm, the Company, Other Clients, portfolio companies, each of their respective affiliates and related parties, and the Firm will endeavor in good faith to allocate the costs of these arrangements, if any, to the Firm, the Company, Other Clients, portfolio companies and other parties based on time spent by the personnel or another methodology the Firm deems appropriate in a particular circumstance.

Other Benefits. GSO and its personnel will receive certain intangible and/or other benefits, rebates and/or discounts and/or perquisites arising or resulting from their activities on behalf of the Company, which will not reduce the management fee or incentive fees or otherwise be shared with the Company, investors and/or portfolio companies. For example, airline travel or hotel stays incurred as Company expenses, as set forth in the Investment Advisory Agreement and Administration Agreement (“Company Expenses”), may result in “miles” or “points” or credit in loyalty/status programs, and such benefits and/or amounts will, whether or not de minimis or difficult to value, inure exclusively to GSO and/or such personnel (and not the Company and/or portfolio companies) even though the cost of the underlying service is borne by the Company and/or portfolio companies. GSO, its personnel, and other related persons also receive discounts on products and services provided by portfolio companies and/or customers or suppliers of such portfolio companies. Such other benefits or fees may give rise to conflicts of interest in connection with the Company's investment activities, and while the Adviser and GSO will seek to resolve any such conflicts in a fair and equitable manner, there is no assurance that any such conflicts will be resolved in favor of the Company. (See also “—Portfolio Company Service Providers and Vendors” and “—Portfolio Company Relationships Generally” below.)

Senior Advisors, Industry Experts and Operating Partners. GSO may engage and retain strategic advisers, consultants, senior advisors, executive advisers, industry experts, operating partners, deal sourcers, consultants and other similar professionals (which may include former employees of Blackstone and/or GSO, as well as current employees of Blackstone’s and/or GSO’s portfolio companies) (“Senior and Other Advisors”) who are not employees or affiliates of GSO and who will, from time to time, receive payments from, or allocations of a profits interest with respect to, portfolio companies (as well as from GSO or the Company). In particular, in some cases, consultants, including those with a “Senior Advisor” title, have been and will be engaged with the responsibility to source and recommend transactions to GSO or to undertake a build-up strategy to acquire and develop assets and businesses in a particular sector or involving a particularly strategy, potentially on a full-time and/or exclusive basis and notwithstanding any overlap with the responsibilities of GSO under the Investment Advisory Agreement, the compensation to such consultants may be borne fully by the Company and/or portfolio companies (with no reduction to management fee payable by the Company) and not GSO. In such circumstances, such payments from, or allocations of a profits interest with respect to, portfolio companies and/or the Company may, subject to applicable law, be treated as Company Expenses and will not, even if they have the effect of reducing any retainers or minimum amounts otherwise payable by GSO, be deemed paid to or received by GSO, and such amounts will not reduce the management fees or incentive fees payable.
To the extent permitted by applicable law and/or any applicable SEC-granted exemptive or no-action relief, these Senior and Other Advisors often have the right or may be offered the ability to (i) co-invest alongside the Company, including in the specific investments in which they are involved (and for which they may be entitled to receive performance-related incentive fees, which will reduce the Company’s returns), (ii) otherwise participate in equity plans for management of any such portfolio company or (iii) invest directly in the Company or in a vehicle controlled by the Company subject to reduced or waived management fees and/or incentive fees, including after the termination of their engagement by or other status with the Firm. Such co-investment and/or participation generally will result in the Company being allocated a smaller share of the applicable investment will not be considered as part of the Firm’s side-by-side co-investment rights. Such co-investment and/or participation may vary by transaction and such participation may, depending on its structure, reduce the Company’s returns.  Additionally, and notwithstanding the foregoing, these Senior and Other Advisors, as well as other Blackstone clients (as defined below), may be (or have the preferred right to be) investors in GSO’s portfolio companies (which, in some cases, may involve agreements to pay performance fees or allocate profits interests to such persons in connection with the Company’s investment therein, which will reduce the Company’s returns) and/or Other Clients. Such Senior and Other Advisors, as well as other Blackstone clients, may also, subject to applicable law, have rights to co-invest with the Company on a side-by-side basis,
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which rights are generally offered on a no-fee/no-carried interest basis and generally result in the Company being allocated a smaller share of an investment than would otherwise be the case in the absence of such side-by-side participation.
The time, dedication and scope of work of, and the nature of the relationship with each of the Senior and Other Advisors vary considerably. In certain cases, they may provide the Adviser and/or GSO with industry-specific insights and feedback on investment themes, assist in transaction due diligence or make introductions to and provide reference checks on management teams. In other cases, they take on more extensive roles (and may be exclusive service providers to GSO) and serve as executives or directors on the boards of portfolio companies or contribute to the identification and origination of new investment opportunities. The Company may rely on these Senior and Other Advisors to recommend GSO as a preferred investment partner, identify investments, source opportunities, and otherwise carry out its investment program, but there is no assurance that these advisers will continue to be involved with the Company for any length of time. In certain instances, GSO has formal arrangements with these Senior and Other Advisors (which may or may not be terminable upon notice by any party), and in other cases the relationships are more informal. They are either compensated (including pursuant to retainers and expense reimbursement, and, in any event, pursuant to negotiated arrangements that will not be confirmed as being comparable to the market rates for such services) by GSO, the Company, and/or portfolio companies or otherwise uncompensated unless and until an engagement with a portfolio company develops. In certain cases, they have certain attributes of GSO “employees” (e.g., they may have dedicated offices at GSO, receive administrative support from GSO personnel, participate in general meetings and events for GSO personnel, work on GSO matters as their primary or sole business activity, service GSO exclusively, have GSO-related e-mail addresses and/or business cards and participate in certain benefit arrangements typically reserved for GSO employees, etc.) even though they are not considered GSO employees, affiliates or personnel for purposes of the Investment Advisory Agreement between the Company and GSO. Some Senior and Other Advisors work only for the Company and its portfolio companies, while others may have other clients. Senior and Other Advisors could have conflicts of interest between their work for the Company and its portfolio companies, on the one hand, and themselves or other clients, on the other hand, and GSO is limited in its ability to monitor and mitigate these conflicts. GSO expects, where applicable, to allocate the costs of such Senior and Other Advisors to the Company and/or applicable portfolio companies, and to the extent any such costs are allocated to the Company, they would be treated as Company Expenses. Payments or allocations to Senior and Other Advisors will not be reduced by the management fee, and can be expected to increase the overall costs and expenses borne indirectly by investors in the Company. There can be no assurance that any of the Senior and Other Advisors, to the extent engaged, will continue to serve in such roles and/or continue their arrangements with GSO, the Company and/or any portfolio companies for the duration of the relevant investments or throughout the term of the Company.
As an example of the foregoing, in certain investments through Platform Arrangements, the Company will from time to time enter into an arrangement with one or more individuals (who may be former personnel of the Firm or current or former personnel of portfolio companies of the Company or Other Clients, may have experience or capability in sourcing or managing investments, and may form a management team) to undertake a build-up strategy to acquire and develop assets and businesses in a particular sector or involving a particular strategy. The services provided by such individuals or relevant portfolio company, as the case may be, could include the following with respect to investments: origination or sourcing, due diligence, evaluation, negotiation, servicing, development, management (including turnaround) and disposition. The individuals or relevant portfolio company could be compensated with a salary and equity incentive plan, including a portion of profits derived from the Company or a portfolio company or asset of the Company, or other long-term incentive plans. Compensation could also be based on assets under management, a waterfall similar to a carried interest, respectively, or other similar metric. The Company could initially bear the cost of overhead (including rent, utilities, benefits, salary or retainers for the individuals or their affiliated entities) and the sourcing, diligence and analysis of investments, as well as the compensation for the individuals and entity undertaking the build-up strategy. Such expenses could be borne directly by the Company as Company Expenses (or broken deal expenses, if applicable) or indirectly through expenditures by a portfolio company. None of the fees, costs or expenses described above will reduce the management fee.
In addition, the Adviser may engage third parties as Senior and Other Advisors (or in another similar capacity) in order to advise it with respect to existing investments, specific investment opportunities, and economic and industry trends. Such Senior and Other Advisors may receive reimbursement of reasonable related expenses by portfolio companies or the Company and may have the opportunity to invest in a portion of the equity and/or debt available to the Company for investment that would otherwise be taken by the Adviser and its affiliates. If such Senior and Other Advisors generate investment opportunities on the Company’s behalf, such Senior and Other Advisors may receive special additional fees or allocations comparable to those received by a third party in an arm’s length transaction and such additional fees or allocations would be borne fully by the Company and/or portfolio companies (with no reduction to management fees) and not GSO.
Multiple Firm Business Lines. The Firm has multiple business lines, including the Blackstone Capital Markets Group, which, subject to applicable law, Blackstone, GSO, the Company, Other Clients, portfolio companies of the Company and Other Clients and third parties may engage for debt and equity financings and to provide other investment banking,
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brokerage, investment advisory or other services. As a result of these activities, the Firm is subject to a number of actual and potential conflicts of interest, greater regulatory oversight and more legal and contractual restrictions than if it had one line of business. For example, the Firm may come into possession of information that limits the Company’s ability to engage in potential transactions. Similarly, other Firm businesses and their personnel may be prohibited by law or contract from sharing information with GSO that would be relevant to monitoring the Company’s investments and other activities. Additionally, Blackstone, GSO or Other Clients can be expected to enter into covenants that restrict or otherwise limit the ability of the Company or its portfolio companies and their affiliates to make investments in, or otherwise engage in, certain businesses or activities. For example, Other Clients could have granted exclusivity to a joint venture partner that limits the Company and Other Clients from owning assets within a certain distance of any of the joint venture’s assets, or Blackstone, GSO or an Other Client could have entered into a non-compete in connection with a sale or other transaction. These types of restrictions may negatively impact the ability of the Company to implement its investment program. (See also “—Other Blackstone and GSO Clients; Allocation of Investment Opportunities”). Finally, Blackstone and GSO personnel who are members of the investment team or investment committee may be excluded from participating in certain investment decisions due to conflicts involving other Firm businesses or for other reasons, in which case the Company will not benefit from their experience. The shareholders will not receive a benefit from any fees earned by the Firm or their personnel from these other businesses.
Blackstone is under no obligation to decline any engagements or investments in order to make an investment opportunity available to the Company. The Firm has long-term relationships with a significant number of corporations and their senior management. In determining whether to invest in a particular transaction on behalf of the Company, the Adviser will consider those relationships and may decline to participate in a transaction as a result of one or more of such relationships (e.g., investments in a competitor of a client or other person with whom Blackstone has a relationship). The Company may be forced to sell or hold existing investments as a result of investment banking relationships or other relationships that the Firm may have or transactions or investments the Firm may make or have made. (See “—Other Blackstone and GSO Clients; Allocation of Investment Opportunities” and “—Portfolio Company Relationships Generally.”) Subject to the 1940 Act and any applicable co-investment order issued by the SEC, the Company may also co-invest with clients of the Firm in particular investment opportunities, and the relationship with such clients could influence the decisions made by the Adviser with respect to such investments. There can be no assurance that all potentially suitable investment opportunities that come to the attention of the Firm will be made available to the Company.
Finally, Blackstone and other Blackstone Clients could acquire shares in the Company in the secondary market. Blackstone and other Blackstone Clients would generally have greater information than counterparties in such transactions, and the existence of such business could produce conflicts, including in the valuation of the Company’s Investments.

Minority Investments in Asset Management Firms. Blackstone and other Blackstone Clients, including Blackstone Strategic Capital Holdings (“BSCH”) and its related parties, regularly make minority investments in alternative asset management firms that are not affiliated with Blackstone, the Company, other Blackstone Clients and their respective portfolio companies, and which may from time to time engage in similar investment transactions, including with respect to purchase and sale of investments, with these asset management firms and their sponsored funds and portfolio companies. Typically, the Blackstone related party with an interest in the asset management firm would be entitled to receive a share of carried interest/performance based incentive compensation and net fee income or revenue share generated by the various products, vehicles, funds and accounts managed by that third party asset management firm that are included in the transaction or activities of the third party asset management firm, or a subset of such activities such as transactions with a Blackstone related party. In addition, while such minority investments are generally structured so that Blackstone does not “control” such third party asset management firms, Blackstone may nonetheless be afforded certain governance rights in relation to such investments (typically in the nature of “protective” rights, negative control rights or anti-dilution arrangements, as well as certain reporting and consultation rights) that afford Blackstone the ability to influence the firm. Although Blackstone and other Blackstone Clients, including BSCH, do not intend to control such third party asset management firms, there can be no assurance that all third parties will similarly conclude that such investments are non-control investments or that, due to the provisions of the governing documents of such third party asset management firms or the interpretation of applicable law or regulations, investments by Blackstone and other Blackstone Clients, including BSCH, will not be deemed to have control elements for certain contractual, regulatory or other purposes. While such third party asset managers may not be affiliated with the Company within the meaning of the 1940 Act, Blackstone may, under certain circumstances, be in a position to influence the management and operations of such asset managers and the existence of its economic/revenue sharing interest therein may give rise to conflicts of interest. Participation rights in a third party asset management firm (or other similar business), negotiated governance arrangements and/or the interpretation of applicable law or regulations could expose the investments of the Company to claims by third parties in connection with such investments (as indirect owners of such asset management firms or similar businesses) that may have an adverse financial or reputational impact on the performance of the Company. The Company, its affiliates and their respective portfolio companies may from time to time engage in transactions with, and buy and sell investments from, any such third party asset managers and their sponsored funds and transactions and other commercial arrangements between such third party asset managers and the Company and its portfolio companies are not subject to approval by the Board of Trustees. There can be no
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assurance that the terms of these transactions between parties related to Blackstone, on the one hand, and the Company and its portfolio companies, on the other hand, will be at arm’s length or that Blackstone will not receive a benefit from such transactions, which can be expected to incentivize Blackstone to cause these transactions to occur. By executing a Subscription Agreement with respect to the Company, each shareholder acknowledges these conflicts related to investments in and arrangements with other asset management firms, acknowledges that these conflicts will not necessarily be resolved in favor of the Company, agrees that shareholders will not be entitled to receive notice or disclosure of the terms or occurrence of either the investments in alternative asset management firms or transactions therewith, otherwise understands that shareholders will not receive any benefit from such transactions, consents to all such transactions and arrangements to the fullest extent permitted by law, and waives any claim against the Firm and releases the Firm from any liability arising from the existence of any such conflict of interest.

Data. The Firm receives or obtains various kinds of data and information from the Company, Other Clients and their portfolio companies, including data and information relating to business operations, trends, budgets, customers and other metrics, some of which is sometimes referred to as “big data.” The Firm can be expected to be better able to anticipate macroeconomic and other trends, and otherwise develop investment themes, as a result of its access to (and rights regarding) this data and information from the Company, Other Clients and their portfolio companies. The Firm has entered and will continue to enter into information sharing and use arrangements with the Company, Other Clients and their portfolio companies, related parties and service providers, which may give the Firm access to (and rights regarding) data that it would not otherwise obtain in the ordinary course. Although the Firm believes that these activities improve the Firm’s investment management activities on behalf of the Company and Other Clients, information obtained from the Company and its portfolio companies also provides material benefits to Blackstone, GSO or Other Clients without compensation or other benefit accruing to the Company or shareholders. For example, information from a portfolio company in which the Company holds an interest can be expected to enable the Firm to better understand a particular industry and execute trading and investment strategies in reliance on that understanding for Blackstone, GSO and Other Clients that do not own an interest in the portfolio company, without compensation or benefit to the Company or its portfolio companies.
Furthermore, except for contractual obligations to third parties to maintain confidentiality of certain information, and regulatory limitations on the use of material nonpublic information, the Firm is generally free to use data and information from the Company’s activities to assist in the pursuit of the Firm’s various other activities, including to trade for the benefit of the Firm and/or an Other Client. Any confidentiality obligations in the operative documents do not limit the Firm’s ability to do so. For example, the Firm’s ability to trade in securities of an issuer relating to a specific industry may, subject to applicable law, be enhanced by information of a portfolio company in the same or related industry. Such trading can be expected to provide a material benefit to the Firm without compensation or other benefit to the Company or shareholders.
The sharing and use of “big data” and other information presents potential conflicts of interest and the shareholders acknowledge and agree that any benefits received by the Firm or its personnel (including fees, costs and expenses) will not reduce the management fees or incentive fees payable to the Adviser or otherwise be shared with the Company or shareholders. As a result, the Adviser has an incentive to pursue investments that have data and information that can be utilized in a manner that benefits the Firm or Other Clients.

Data Management Services. Blackstone or an affiliate of Blackstone formed in the future may provide data management services to portfolio companies and may also provide such services directly to the Company and Other Clients (collectively, “Data Holders”). Such services may include assistance with obtaining, analyzing, curating, processing, packaging, organizing, mapping, holding, transforming, enhancing, marketing and selling such data (among other related data management and consulting services) for monetization through licensing or sale arrangements with third parties and, subject to applicable law and the limitations in the Investment Advisory Agreement and any other applicable contractual limitations, with the Company, Other Clients, portfolio companies and other Blackstone affiliates and associated entities (including funds in which Blackstone and Other Clients make investments, and portfolio companies thereof). Where Blackstone believes appropriate, data from one Data Holder may be pooled with data from other Data Holders. Any revenues arising from such pooled data sets would be allocated between applicable Data Holders on a fair and reasonable basis as determined by GSO in its sole discretion, with GSO able to make corrective allocations should it determine subsequently that such corrections were necessary or advisable. Blackstone is expected to receive compensation for such data management services, which may include a percentage of the revenues generated through any licensing or sale arrangements with respect to the relevant data, and which compensation may also include fees, royalties and cost and expense reimbursement (including start-up costs and allocable overhead associated with personnel working on relevant matters (including salaries, benefits and other similar expenses)), provided that any compensation amounts will not exceed market rates for such services as determined by GSO to be appropriate under the circumstances. Additionally, Blackstone may determine to share the products from such Data Management Services within Blackstone or its affiliates (including Other Clients or their portfolio companies) at no charge and, in such cases, the Data Holders would not receive any financial or other benefit from having provided such data to Blackstone. The potential receipt of such compensation by Blackstone could create incentives for the Firm to cause the Company to invest in portfolio
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companies with a significant amount of data that it might not otherwise have invested in or on terms less favorable than it otherwise would have sought to obtain.

Blackstone and GSO Strategic Relationships. Blackstone and GSO have entered, and it can be expected that Blackstone and GSO in the future will enter, into strategic relationships with investors (and/or one or more of their affiliates) that involve an overall relationship with Blackstone or GSO that could incorporate one or more strategies in addition to the Company’s strategy (“Strategic Relationships”), with terms and conditions applicable solely to such investor and its investment in multiple Blackstone or GSO strategies that would not apply to any other investor’s investment in the Company. A Strategic Relationship often involves an investor agreeing to make a capital commitment to multiple Blackstone or GSO funds, one of which may include the Company. Shareholders will not receive a copy of any agreement memorializing such a Strategic Relationship program (even if in the form of a side letter) and will be unable to elect in the “most-favored-nations” election process any rights or benefits afforded through a Strategic Relationship. Specific examples of such additional rights and benefits include, among others, specialized reporting, discounts on and/or reimbursement of management fees or carried interest, secondment of personnel from the investor to Blackstone or GSO (or vice versa), rights to participate in the investment review and evaluation process, as well as priority rights or targeted amounts for co-investments alongside GSO or Blackstone funds (including, without limitation, preferential or favorable allocation of co-investment and preferential terms and conditions related to co-investment or other participation in Blackstone or GSO funds (including in respect of any carried interest and/or management fees to be charged with respect thereto, as well as any additional discounts or rebates with respect thereto or other penalties that may result if certain target co-investment allocations or other conditions under such arrangements are not achieved)). The co-investment that is part of a Strategic Relationship may include co-investment in investments made by the Company. Blackstone, including its personnel (including GSO personnel), may receive compensation from Strategic Relationships and be incentivized to allocate investment opportunities away from the Company to or source investment opportunities for Strategic Relationships. Strategic Relationships may therefore result in fewer co-investment opportunities (or reduced or no allocations) being made available to shareholders, subject to the 1940 Act.

Portfolio Operations Group. Members of Blackstone’s Portfolio Operations group, who are Blackstone employees, are permitted to provide services to the Company’s portfolio companies, and any payments made by such portfolio companies to Blackstone for reimbursement of the internal compensation costs for time spent on such portfolio companies will not reduce the management fee payable by the Company. As a result, Blackstone may be incentivized to cause members of the Portfolio Operations group to spend more time on the Company’s portfolio companies as compared to portfolio companies of Other Clients that do reduce the management fee offset. There can be no assurance that members of the Portfolio Operations group will be able to provide their services to portfolio companies and/or that any individuals within the Portfolio Operations group will remain employed by Blackstone through the term of the Company.

Buying and Selling Investments or Assets from Certain Related Parties. The Company and its portfolio companies may purchase investments or assets from or sell investments or assets to shareholders, other portfolio companies of the Company, portfolio companies of Other Clients or their respective related parties. Purchases and sales of investments or assets between the Company or its portfolio companies, on the one hand, and shareholders, other portfolio companies of the Company, portfolio companies of Other Clients or their respective related parties, on the other hand, are not, unless required by applicable law, subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees or any shareholder. These transactions involve conflicts of interest, as the Firm may receive fees and other benefits, directly or indirectly, from or otherwise have interests in both parties to the transaction, including different financial incentives Blackstone may have with respect to the parties to the transaction. For example, there can be no assurance that any investment or asset sold by the Company to a shareholder, other portfolio companies of the Company, portfolio company of Other Clients or any of their respective related parties will not be valued or allocated a sale price that is lower than might otherwise have been the case if such asset were sold to a third party rather than to a shareholder, portfolio company of Other Clients or any of their respective related parties. The Firm will not be required to solicit third party bids or obtain a third party valuation prior to causing the Company or any of its portfolio companies to purchase or sell any asset or investment from or to a shareholder, other portfolio companies of the Company, portfolio company of Other Clients or any of their respective related parties as provided above.

Blackstone’s Relationship with Pátria. Blackstone owns 40% of the equity interests in Pátria Investimentos Ltd. (“Pátria”), a leading Brazilian alternative asset manager and advisory firm. Pátria’s alternative asset management businesses include the management of private equity funds, real estate funds, infrastructure funds and hedge funds (e.g., a multi-strategy fund and a long/short equity fund). Each of Blackstone’s and Pátria’s respective investment funds continues to pursue investment opportunities in accordance with its existing mandates. There may be overlap between the Company’s investment program and Pátria’s investment activities and instances where appropriate investment opportunities will be shared with (or allocated to) Pátria. Therefore, there may be opportunities available to Pátria that are not shared with the Company, and there may be opportunities available to the Company that are shared with one or more Pátria funds. GSO generally expects, with respect to certain types of investments in Brazil otherwise suitable for the Company, to permit such investments to be shared with and/or pursued by Pátria, which may be on a priority basis and may result in the Company not participating in any such investments or participating therein to a lesser extent. In addition, the Company may invest in companies or other entities in
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which Pátria sponsored investment funds have or are concurrently making a different investment (e.g., an equity investment vs. a debt investment) at the time of the Company’s investment, and investment funds that have been or may be formed by Pátria may invest in different securities of companies or other entities in which the Company has made an investment. In such situations, the Company and such other Pátria sponsored investment funds (and therefore Blackstone through its indirect minority interest in Pátria) may have conflicting interests (e.g., over the terms of their respective investments).

Other Firm Businesses, Activities and Relationships. As part of its regular business, Blackstone provides a broad range of investment banking, advisory and other services. In addition, from time to time, the Firm will provide services in the future beyond those currently provided. Shareholders will not receive any benefit from any fees relating to such services.

In the regular course of its capital markets, investment banking, real estate advisory and other businesses, Blackstone represents potential purchasers, sellers and other involved parties, including corporations, financial buyers, management, shareholders and institutions, with respect to transactions that could give rise to other transactions that are suitable for the Company. In such a case, a Blackstone advisory client would typically require Blackstone to act exclusively on its behalf. Such advisory client requests may preclude all Blackstone-affiliated clients, including the Company, from participating in related transactions that would otherwise be suitable. Blackstone will be under no obligation to decline any such engagements in order to make an investment opportunity available to the Company. In connection with its capital markets, investment banking, advisory, real estate and other businesses, Blackstone comes into possession of information that limits its ability to engage in potential transactions. The Company’s activities are expected to be constrained as a result of the inability of Blackstone personnel to use such information. For example, employees of Blackstone from time to time are prohibited by law or contract from sharing information with members of the Company’s investment team. Additionally, there are expected to be circumstances in which one or more individuals associated with Blackstone affiliates (including clients) will be precluded from providing services related to the Company’s activities because of certain confidential information available to those individuals or to other parts of Blackstone (e.g., trading may be restricted). Where Blackstone affiliates are engaged to find buyers or financing sources for potential sellers of assets, the seller may permit the Company to act as a participant in such transactions (as a buyer or financing partner), which would raise certain conflicts of interest inherent in such a situation (including as to the negotiation of the purchase price).
The Company may invest in securities of the same issuers as Other Clients, other investment vehicles, accounts and clients of the Firm and the Adviser. To the extent that the Company holds interests that are different (or more senior or junior) than those held by such Other Clients, GSO may be presented with decisions involving circumstances where the interests of such Other Clients are in conflict with those of the Company. Furthermore, it is possible the Company’s interest may be subordinated or otherwise adversely affected by virtue of such Other Clients’ involvement and actions relating to its investment.
In addition, the 1940 Act may limit the Company’s ability to undertake certain transactions with its affiliates that are registered under the 1940 Act or regulated as business development companies under the 1940 Act. As a result of these restrictions, the Company may be prohibited from executing “joint” transactions with such affiliates, which could include investments in the same portfolio company (whether at the same or different times). These limitations may limit the scope of investment opportunities that would otherwise be available to the Company.
GSO has received an exemptive order that permits certain funds, among other things, to co-invest with certain other persons, including certain affiliates of GSO, and certain funds managed and controlled by GSO and its affiliates subject to certain terms and conditions. In addition, other present and future activities of the Firm and its affiliates (including GSO and the Adviser) will from time to time give rise to additional conflicts of interest relating to the Firm and its investment activities. In the event that any such conflict of interest arises, the Adviser will attempt to resolve such conflicts in a fair and equitable manner. Investors should be aware that, subject to applicable law, conflicts will not necessarily be resolved in favor of the Company’s interests.

Transactions with Clients of Blackstone Insurance Solutions. Blackstone Insurance Solutions (“BIS”) is a business unit of Blackstone that is comprised of two affiliated registered investment advisers. BIS provides investment advisory services to insurers (including insurance companies that are owned, directly or indirectly, by Blackstone or Other Clients, in whole or in part). Actual or potential conflicts of interest may arise with respect to the relationship of the Company and its portfolio companies with the funds, vehicles or accounts BIS advises or sub-advises, including accounts where an insurer participates in investments directly and there is no separate vehicle controlled by Blackstone (collectively, “BIS Clients”). BIS Clients have invested and are expected to continue investing in Other Clients and the Company. BIS Clients may have investment objectives that overlap with those of the Company or its portfolio companies, and such BIS Clients may invest, as permitted by applicable law and the Company’s co-investment exemptive relief, alongside the Company or such portfolio companies in certain investments, which will reduce the investment opportunities otherwise available to the Company or such portfolio companies. BIS Clients will also participate in transactions related to the Company and/or its portfolio companies (e.g., as originators, co-originators, counterparties or otherwise). Other transactions in which BIS Clients will participate include, without limitation,
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investments in debt or other securities issued by portfolio companies or other forms of financing to portfolio companies (including special purpose vehicles established by the Company or such portfolio companies). When investing alongside the Company or its portfolio companies or in other transactions related to the Company or its portfolio companies, BIS Clients may or may not invest or divest at the same time or on the same terms as the Company or the applicable portfolio companies. BIS Clients may also from time to time acquire investments and portfolio companies directly or indirectly from the Company, as permitted by applicable law and the Company’s co-investment exemptive relief. In circumstances where GSO determines in good faith that the conflict of interest is mitigated in whole or in part through various measures that Blackstone, GSO or the Adviser implements, the Adviser may determine to proceed with the applicable transaction (subject to oversight by the Board of Trustees and the applicable law to which the Company is subject). In order to seek to mitigate any potential conflicts of interest with respect to such transactions (or other transactions involving BIS Clients), Blackstone may, in its discretion, involve independent members of the board of a portfolio company or a third party stakeholder in the transaction to negotiate price and terms on behalf of the BIS Clients or otherwise cause the BIS Clients to “follow the vote” thereof, and/or cause an independent client representative or other third party to approve the investment or otherwise represent the interests of one or more of the parties to the transaction. In addition, Blackstone or the Adviser may limit the percentage interest of the BIS Clients participating in such transaction, or obtain appropriate price quotes or other benchmarks, or, alternatively, a third-party price opinion or other document to support the reasonableness of the price and terms of the transaction. BIS will also from time to time require the applicable BIS Clients participating in a transaction to consent thereto (including in circumstances where the Adviser does not seek the consent of the Board of Trustees). There can be no assurance that any such measures or other measures that may be implemented by Blackstone will be effective at mitigating any actual or potential conflicts of interest.

Allocation of Portfolios. The Firm may have an opportunity to acquire a portfolio or pool of assets, securities and instruments that it determines should be divided and allocated among the Company and Other Clients. Such allocations generally would be based on the Firm’s assessment of the expected returns and risk profile of each of the assets. For example, some of the assets in a pool may have a return profile appropriate for us, while others may have a return profile not appropriate for the Company but appropriate for Other Clients. Also, a pool may contain both debt and equity instruments that the Firm determines should be allocated to different funds. In all of these situations, the combined purchase price paid to a seller would be allocated among the multiple assets, securities and instruments in the pool and therefore, subject to applicable law and the conditions of the Company’s co-investment relief, among the Company and Other Clients acquiring any of the assets, securities and instruments. Similarly, there will likely be circumstances in which the Company and Other Clients will sell assets in a single or related transactions to a buyer. In some cases a counterparty will require an allocation of value in the purchase or sale contract, though the Firm could determine such allocation of value is not accurate and should not be relied upon. The Firm will generally rely upon internal analysis to determine the ultimate allocation of value, though it could also obtain third party valuation reports. Regardless of the methodology for allocating value, the Firm will have conflicting duties to the Company and Other Clients when they buy or sell assets together in a portfolio, including as a result of different financial incentives the Firm has with respect to different vehicles, most clearly when the fees and compensation, including performance-based compensation, earned from the different vehicles differ. There can be no assurance that an investment will not be valued or allocated a purchase price that is higher or lower than it might otherwise have been allocated if such investment were acquired or sold independently rather than as a component of a portfolio shared with Other Clients.

Other Affiliate Transactions and Investments in Different Levels of Capital Structure. From time to time, the Company and the Other Clients may make investments at different levels of an issuer’s capital structure or otherwise in different classes of an issuer’s securities or loans, subject to the limitations of the 1940 Act. Such investments may inherently give rise to conflicts of interest or perceived conflicts of interest between or among the various classes of securities or loans that may be held by such entities. To the extent the Company holds securities or loans that are different (including with respect to their relative seniority) than those held by an Other Client, the Adviser and its affiliates may be presented with decisions when the interests of the funds are in conflict. For example, conflicts could arise where the Company lends funds to a portfolio company while an Other Client invests in equity securities of such portfolio company. In this circumstance, for example, if such portfolio company were to go into bankruptcy, become insolvent or otherwise be unable to meet its payment obligations or comply with its debt covenants, conflicts of interest could arise between the holders of different types of securities or loans as to what actions the portfolio company should take. In addition, purchases or sales of securities or loans for the account of the Company (particularly marketable securities) will be bunched or aggregated with orders for Other Clients, including other funds. It is frequently not possible to receive the same price or execution on the entire volume of securities sold, and the various prices may be averaged, which may be disadvantageous to the Company. Further conflicts could arise after the Company and Other Clients have made their respective initial investments. For example, if additional financing is necessary as a result of financial or other difficulties, it may not be in the best interests of the Company to provide such additional financing. If the Other Clients were to lose their respective investments as a result of such difficulties, the ability of the Adviser to recommend actions in the best interests of the Company might be impaired. Any applicable co-investment order issued by the SEC may restrict the Company’s ability to participate in follow-on financings. GSO may in its discretion take steps to reduce the potential for adversity between the Company and the Other Clients, including causing the Company and/or such Other Clients to take certain actions that, in the absence of such conflict, it would not take. Such conflicts will be more difficult if the Company and Other Clients hold significant or controlling interests in competing or different tranches of a portfolio company’s
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capital structure. In addition, there may be circumstances where GSO agrees to implement certain procedures to ameliorate conflicts of interest that may involve a forbearance of rights relating to the Company or Other Clients, such as where GSO may cause the Company or Other Clients to decline to exercise certain control- and/or foreclosure-related rights with respect to a portfolio company.

Further, the Company is prohibited under the 1940 Act from participating in certain transactions with certain of affiliates (including portfolio companies of Other Clients) without the prior approval of a majority of the independent members of the Board of Trustees and, in some cases, the SEC. Any person that owns, directly or indirectly, 5% or more of the outstanding voting securities will be an affiliate of the Company for purposes of the 1940 Act and generally the Company will be prohibited from buying or selling any securities from or to such affiliate, absent the prior approval of the Board of Trustees. However, the Company may under certain circumstances purchase any such affiliate's loans or securities in the secondary market, which could create a conflict for the Adviser between the Company’s interests and the interests of such affiliate, in that the ability of the Adviser to recommend actions in the Company’s best interest may be limited. The 1940 Act also prohibits certain “joint” transactions with certain affiliates, which could include investments in the same portfolio company (whether at the same or closely related times), without prior approval of the Board of Trustees and, in some cases, the SEC.

In addition, conflicts may arise in determining the amount of an investment, if any, to be allocated among potential investors and the respective terms thereof. There can be no assurance that any conflict will be resolved in favor of the Company, and each shareholder acknowledges and agrees that in some cases, subject to applicable law, a decision by GSO to take any particular action could have the effect of benefiting an Other Client (and, incidentally, may also have the effect of benefiting GSO) and therefore may not have been in the best interests of, and may be adverse to, the Company. There can be no assurance that the return on the Company’s investment will be equivalent to or better than the returns obtained by the Other Clients participating in the transaction. The shareholders will not receive any benefit from fees paid to any affiliate of the Adviser from a portfolio company in which an Other Client also has an interest to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act.

Related Financing Counterparties. The Company may invest in companies or other entities in which Other Clients make an investment in a different part of the capital structure (and vice versa) subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act and the Company’s co-investment order. The Adviser requests in the ordinary course proposals from lenders and other sources to provide financing to the Company and its portfolio companies. GSO takes into account various facts and circumstances it deems relevant in selecting financing sources, including whether a potential lender has expressed an interest in evaluating debt financing opportunities, whether a potential lender has a history of participating in debt financing opportunities generally and with the Firm in particular, the size of the potential lender’s loan amount, the timing of the relevant cash requirement, the availability of other sources of financing, the creditworthiness of the lender, whether the potential lender has demonstrated a long-term or continuing commitment to the success of Blackstone, GSO and their funds, and such other factors that Blackstone and GSO deem relevant under the circumstances. The cost of debt alone is not determinative.

Although the Company will generally be providing first lien financing to its portfolio companies, it is possible that shareholders, Other Clients, their portfolio companies, co-investors and other parties with material relationships with the Firm, such as shareholders of and lenders to the Firm and lenders to Other Clients and their portfolio companies (as well as Blackstone itself), could provide additional first lien financing to portfolio companies of the Company, subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act. The Firm could have incentives to cause the Company and its portfolio companies to accept less favorable financing terms from a shareholder, Other Clients, their portfolio companies, Blackstone, and other parties with material relationships with the Firm than it would from a third party. If the Company or a portfolio company occupies a more senior position in the capital structure than a shareholder, Other Client, their portfolio companies and other parties with material relationships with Blackstone, Blackstone could have an incentive to cause the Company or portfolio company to offer more favorable financing terms to such parties. In the case of a related party financing between the Company or its portfolio companies, on the one hand, and Blackstone or Other Clients’ portfolio companies, on the other hand, to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the Adviser could, but is not obligated to, rely on a third party agent to confirm the terms offered by the counterparty are consistent with market terms, or the Adviser could instead rely on its own internal analysis, which the Adviser believes is often superior to third party analysis given the Firm’s scale in the market. If however any of the Firm, the Company, an Other Client or any of their portfolio companies delegates to a third party, such as another member of a financing syndicate or a joint venture partner, the negotiation of the terms of the financing, the transaction will be assumed to be conducted on an arms-length basis, even though the participation of the Firm related vehicle impacts the market terms. For example, in the case of a loan extended to the Company or a portfolio company by a financing syndicate in which an Other Client has agreed to participate on terms negotiated by a third party participant in the syndicate, it may have been necessary to offer better terms to the financing provider to fully subscribe the syndicate if the Other Client had not participated. It is also possible that the frequent participation of Other Clients in such syndicates could dampen interest among other potential financing providers, thereby lowering demand to participate in the syndicate and increasing the financing costs to the Company. The Adviser does not believe either of these effects is significant, but no assurance can be given to shareholders that these effects will not be significant in any circumstance. Unless required by applicable law, the Adviser will not seek any consent or approvals from shareholders or the Board of Trustees in the case of any of these conflicts.

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The Firm could cause actions adverse to the Company to be taken for the benefit of Other Clients that have made an investment more senior in the capital structure of a portfolio company than the Company (e.g., provide financing to a portfolio company, the equity of which is owned by the Company) and, vice versa, actions may be taken for the benefit of the Company and its portfolio companies that are adverse to Other Clients. The Firm could seek to implement procedures to mitigate conflicts of interest in these situations such as (i) a forbearance of rights, including some or all non-economic rights, by the Company or relevant Other Client (or their respective portfolio companies, as the case may be) by, for example, agreeing to follow the vote of a third party in the same tranche of the capital structure, or otherwise deciding to recuse itself with respect to decisions on defaults, foreclosures, workouts, restructurings and other similar matters, (ii) causing the Company or relevant Other Client (or their respective portfolio companies, as the case may be) to hold only a non-controlling interest in any such portfolio company, (iii) retaining a third party loan servicer, administrative agent or other agent to make decisions on behalf of the Company or relevant Other Client (or their respective portfolio companies, as the case may be), or (iv) create groups of personnel within the Firm separated by information barriers (which may be temporary and limited purpose in nature), each of which would advise one of the clients that has a conflicting position with other clients. As an example, to the extent an Other Client holds an interest in a loan or security that is different (including with respect to relative seniority) than those held by the Company or its portfolio companies, the Firm may decline to exercise, or delegate to a third party, certain control, foreclosure and other similar governance rights of the Other Client. In these cases, the Firm would generally act on behalf of one of its clients, though the other client would generally retain certain control rights, such as the right to consent to certain actions taken by the trustee or administrative or other agent of the investment, including a release, waiver, forgiveness or reduction of any claim for principal or interest; extension of maturity date or due date of any payment of any principal or interest; release or substitution of any material collateral; release, waiver, termination or modification of any material provision of any guaranty or indemnity; subordination of any lien; and release, waiver or permission with respect to any covenants.

In connection with negotiating loans and bank financings in respect of GSO-sponsored transactions, GSO will generally obtain the right to participate (for its own account or an Other Client) in a portion of the financings with respect to such GSO-sponsored transactions on the same terms negotiated by third parties with the Firm or other terms the Adviser determines to be consistent with the market. Although the Firm could rely on third parties to verify market terms, the Firm may nonetheless have influence on such third parties. No assurance can be given that negotiating with a third party, or verification of market terms by a third party, will ensure that the Company and its portfolio companies receive market terms.

In addition, it is anticipated that in a bankruptcy proceeding the Company’s interests will likely be subordinated or otherwise adverse to the interests of Other Clients with ownership positions that are more senior to those of the Company. For example, an Other Client that has provided debt financing to an investment of the Company may take actions for its benefit, particularly if the Company’s Investment is in financial distress, which adversely impact the value of the Company’s subordinated interests.

Although Other Clients can be expected to provide financing to the Company and its portfolio companies subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act, there can be no assurance that any Other Client will indeed provide any such financing with respect to any particular Investment. Participation by Other Clients in some but not all financings of the Company and its portfolio companies may adversely impact the ability of the Company and its portfolio companies to obtain financing from third parties when Other Clients do not participate, as it may serve as a negative signal to market participants.

Any financing provided by a shareholder or an affiliate to the Company or a portfolio company is not a capital contribution to the Company and does not reduce the unused capital commitment of such shareholder.

Conflicting Fiduciary Duties to Debt Funds. Other Clients include funds and accounts that make investments in senior secured loans, distressed debt, subordinated debt, high-yield securities, commercial mortgage-backed securities and other debt instruments. As discussed above, it is expected that these Other Clients or investors therein will be offered the opportunity, subject to applicable law, to provide financing with respect to investments made by the Company and its portfolio companies. The Firm owes a fiduciary duty to these Other Clients as well as to the Company and will encounter conflicts in the exercise of these duties. For example, if an Other Client purchases high-yield securities or other debt instruments of a portfolio company of the Company, or otherwise occupies a senior (or other different) position in the capital structure of an investment relative to the Company, the Firm will encounter conflicts in providing advice to the Company and to these Other Clients with regard to appropriate terms of such high-yield securities or other instruments, the enforcement of covenants, the terms of recapitalizations and the resolution of workouts or bankruptcies, among other matters. More commonly, the Company could hold an investment that is senior in the capital structure, such as a debt instrument, to an Other Client. Although measures described above in “Related Financing Counterparties” above can mitigate these conflicts, they cannot completely eliminate them.

Similarly, certain Other Clients may invest in securities of publicly traded companies that are actual or potential investments of the Company or its portfolio companies. The trading activities of those vehicles may differ from or be
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inconsistent with activities that are undertaken for the account of the Company or its portfolio companies in any such securities or related securities. In addition, the Company may not pursue an investment in a portfolio company otherwise within the investment mandate of the Company as a result of such trading activities by Other Clients.

Other Blackstone and GSO Clients; Allocation of Investment Opportunities. Certain inherent conflicts of interest arise from the fact that the Adviser, GSO and Blackstone provide investment management, advisory and sub-advisory services to the Company and Other Clients.

For purposes of this discussion and ease of reference, the following terms shall have the meanings as set forth below:

Other GSO Clients” means, collectively, the investment funds, client accounts (including managed accounts) and proprietary accounts and/or other similar arrangements (including such arrangements in which the Company or one or more Other GSO Clients own interests) that GSO may establish, advise or sub-advise from time to time and to which GSO provides investment management or sub-advisory services (other than the Company and any such funds and accounts in which the Company has an interest), in each case including any alternative investment vehicles and additional capital vehicles relating thereto and any vehicles established by GSO to exercise its side-by-side or other general partner investment rights as set forth in their respective governing documents; provided, that for the avoidance of doubt, “Other GSO Clients” shall not include GSO in its role as principal of any account, including any accounts for which GSO or an affiliate thereof acts as an advisor.

Blackstone Clients” means, collectively, the investment funds, client accounts (including managed accounts) and proprietary accounts and/or other similar arrangements (including such arrangements in which the Company or one or more Blackstone Clients own interests) that Blackstone may establish, advise or sub-advise from time to time and to which Blackstone provides investment management or sub-advisory services (other than the Company, any such funds and accounts in which the Company has an interest and Other GSO Clients), in each case including any alternative investment vehicles and additional capital vehicles relating thereto and any vehicles established by Blackstone to exercise its side-by-side or other general partner investment rights as set forth in their respective governing documents; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, “Blackstone Clients” shall not include Blackstone in its role as principal of any account, including any accounts for which Blackstone or an affiliate thereof acts as an advisor.

Other Clients” means, collectively, Other GSO Clients and Blackstone Clients.

The respective investment programs of the Company and the Other Clients may or may not be substantially similar. GSO and/or Blackstone may give advice to, and recommend securities for, Other Clients that may differ from advice given to, or securities recommended or bought for, the Company, even though their investment objectives may be the same as or similar to those of the Company. While GSO will seek to manage potential conflicts of interest in a fair and equitable manner, the portfolio strategies employed by GSO and Blackstone in managing their respective Other Clients are likely to conflict from time to time with the transactions and strategies employed by the Adviser in managing the Company and may affect the prices and availability of the securities and instruments in which the Company invests. Conversely, participation in specific investment opportunities may be appropriate, at times, for both the Company and Other Clients. In any event, it is the policy of GSO to allocate investment opportunities and sale opportunities on a basis deemed by GSO, in its sole discretion, to be fair and equitable over time.

Allocation Methodology Considerations

GSO will share any investment and sale opportunities with such Other Clients and the Company in accordance with the Advisers Act, and Firm-wide allocation policies, which generally provide for sharing pro rata based on targeted acquisition size or targeted sale size.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, GSO may also consider the following factors in making any allocation determinations, and such factors may result in a different allocation of investment and/or sale opportunities: (i) the risk-return and target return profile of the proposed investment relative to the Company’s and the Other Clients’ current risk profiles; (ii) the Company’s and/or the Other Clients’ investment guidelines, restrictions, terms and objectives, including whether such objectives are considered solely in light of the specific investment under consideration or in the context of the respective portfolios’ overall holdings; (iii) the need to re-size risk in the Company’s or the Other Clients’ portfolios (including the potential for the proposed investment to create an industry, sector or issuer imbalance in the Company’s and Other Clients’ portfolios, as applicable) and taking into account any existing non-pro rata investment positions in the portfolio of the Company and Other Clients; (iv) liquidity considerations of the Company and the Other Clients, including during a ramp-up or wind-down of one or more of the Company or such Other Clients, proximity to the end of the Company’s or Other Clients’ specified term or investment period, any redemption/withdrawal requests, anticipated future contributions and available cash; (v) legal, tax, accounting, political, national security and other consequences; (vi) regulatory or contractual restrictions or consequences (including, without limitation, requirements under the 1940 Act and any related rules, orders, guidance or other authority applicable to the
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Company or Other GSO Clients); (vii) avoiding a de minimis or odd lot allocation; (viii) availability and degree of leverage and any requirements or other terms of any existing leverage facilities; (ix) the Company’s or Other Clients’ investment focus on a classification attributable to an investment or issuer of an investment, including, without limitation, investment strategy, geography, industry or business sector; (x) the nature and extent of involvement in the transaction on the part of the respective teams of investment professionals dedicated to the Company or such Other Clients; (xi) the management of any actual or potential conflict of interest; (xii) with respect to investments that are made available to GSO by counterparties pursuant to negotiated trading platforms (e.g., ISDA contracts), the absence of such relationships which may not be available to the Company and all Other Clients; (xiii) available capital of the Company and the Other Clients, (xiv) primary and permitted investment strategies and objectives of the Company and the Other Clients, including, without limitation, with respect to Other Clients that expect to invest in or alongside other funds or across asset classes based on expected return (such as certain managed accounts with similar investment strategies and objectives), (xv) sourcing of the investment, (xvi) the specific nature (including size, type, amount, liquidity, holding period, anticipated maturity and minimum investment criteria) of the investment, (xvii) expected investment return, (xviii) expected cash characteristics (such as cash-on-cash yield, distribution rates or volatility of cash flows), (xix) capital expenditure required as part of the investment, (xx) portfolio diversification concerns (including, but not limited to, whether a particular fund already has its desired exposure to the investment, sector, industry, geographic region or markets in question), (xxi) relation to existing investments in a fund, if applicable (e.g., “follow on” to existing investment, joint venture or other partner to existing investment, or same security as existing investment), and (xxii) any other considerations deemed relevant by GSO in good faith.

GSO shall not have any obligation to present any investment opportunity (or portion of any investment opportunity) to the Company if GSO determines in good faith that such opportunity (or portion thereof) should not be presented to the Company for any one or a combination of the reasons specified above, or if GSO is otherwise restricted from presenting such investment opportunity to the Company.

In addition, GSO has received an exemptive order from the SEC that permits certain existing and future funds regulated under the 1940 Act (each, a “Regulated Fund”), among other things, to co-invest with certain other persons, including certain affiliates of GSO, and certain funds managed and controlled by GSO and its affiliates, including the Company, subject to certain terms and conditions. For so long as any privately negotiated investment opportunity falls within the investment criteria of one or more Regulated Funds, such investment opportunity shall also be offered to such Regulated Fund(s). In the event that the aggregate targeted investment sizes of the Company and such Regulated Fund(s) exceed the amount of such investment opportunity, allocation of such investment opportunity to each of the Company and such Regulated Fund(s) will be reduced proportionately based on their respective “available capital” as defined in the exemptive order, which may result in allocation to the Company in an amount less than what it would otherwise have been if such Regulated Fund(s) did not participate in such investment opportunity. The exemptive order also restricts the ability of the Company (or any other GSO fund) from investing in any privately negotiated investment opportunity alongside a Regulated Fund except at the same time and on same terms. As a result, the Company may be unable to make investments in different parts of the capital structure of the same issuer in which a Regulated Fund has invested or seeks to invest. The rules promulgated by the SEC under the 1940 Act, as well as any related guidance from the SEC and/or the terms of the exemptive order itself, are subject to change, and GSO could undertake to amend the exemptive order (subject to SEC approval), obtain additional exemptive relief, or otherwise be subject to other requirements in respect of co-investments involving the Company and any Regulated Funds, any of which may impact the amount of any allocation made available to Regulated Funds and thereby affect (and potentially decrease) the allocation made to the Company.

Moreover, with respect to GSO’s ability to allocate investment opportunities, including where such opportunities are within the common objectives and guidelines of the Company and one or more Other Clients (which allocations are to be made on a basis that GSO believes in good faith to be fair and reasonable), GSO and Blackstone have established general guidelines and policies, which it may update from time to time, for determining how such allocations are to be made, which, among other things, set forth principles regarding what constitutes “debt” or “debt-like” investments, criteria for defining “control-oriented equity” or “infrastructure” investments, guidance regarding allocation for certain types of investments (e.g., distressed energy) and other matters. In addition, certain Other Clients may receive certain priority or other allocation rights with respect to certain investments, subject to various conditions set forth in such Other Clients’ respective governing agreements. The application of those guidelines and conditions may result in the Company or Other Clients not participating (and/or not participating to the same extent) in certain investment opportunities in which they would have otherwise participated had the related allocations been determined without regard to such guidelines and conditions and based only on the circumstances of those particular investments. Additionally, investment opportunities sourced by GSO will be allocated in accordance with Blackstone’s and GSO’s allocation policies, which may provide that investment opportunities will be allocated in whole or in part to other business units of the Firm on a basis that Blackstone and GSO believe in good faith to be fair and reasonable, based on various factors, including the involvement of the respective teams from GSO and such other business units. It should also be noted that investment opportunities sourced by business units of the Firm other than GSO will be allocated in accordance with such business units’ allocation policies, which will result in such investment opportunities being allocated, in whole or in part, away from GSO, the Company and Other GSO Clients.

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When GSO determines not to pursue some or all of an investment opportunity for the Company that would otherwise be within the Company’s objectives and strategies, and Blackstone or GSO provides the opportunity or offers the opportunity to Other Clients, Blackstone or GSO, including their personnel (including GSO personnel), may receive compensation from the Other Clients, whether or not in respect of a particular investment, including an allocation of carried interest or referral fees, and any such compensation could be greater than amounts paid by the Company to GSO. As a result, GSO (including GSO personnel who receive such compensation) could be incentivized to allocate investment opportunities away from the Company to or source investment opportunities for Other Clients. In addition, in some cases Blackstone or GSO may earn greater fees when Other Clients participate alongside or instead of the Company in an Investment.

GSO makes good faith determinations for allocation decisions based on expectations that may prove inaccurate. Information unavailable to GSO, or circumstances not foreseen by GSO at the time of allocation, may cause an investment opportunity to yield a different return than expected. Conversely, an investment that GSO expects to be consistent with the Company’s objectives may fail to achieve them.

The Adviser may, but will be under no obligation to, provide co-investment opportunities relating to investments made by the Company to Company shareholders, Other Clients, and investors of such Other Clients, subject to the Company’s exemptive relief and the 1940 Act. Such co-investment opportunities may be offered to such parties in the Adviser’s subject to the Company’s exemptive relief. From time to time, GSO may form one or more funds or accounts to co-invest in transactions with the Company (or transactions alongside any of the Company and one or more Other Clients). Furthermore, for the avoidance of doubt, to the extent that the Company has received its target amount in respect of an investment opportunity, any remaining portion of such investment opportunity initially allocated to the Company may be allocated to Other Clients or to co-investors in GSO’s discretion pursuant to the Company’s exemptive relief.

Orders may be combined for the Company and all other participating Other Clients, and if any order is not filled at the same price, they may be allocated on an average price basis. Similarly, if an order on behalf of more than one account cannot be fully executed under prevailing market conditions, securities may be allocated among the different accounts on a basis that GSO or its affiliates consider equitable.

Additionally, it can be expected that the Firm will, from time to time, enter into arrangements or strategic relationships with third parties, including other asset managers, financial firms or other businesses or companies, that, among other things, provide for referral, sourcing or sharing of investment opportunities. Blackstone or GSO may pay management fees and performance-based compensation in connection with such arrangements. Blackstone or GSO may also provide for or receive reimbursement of certain expenses incurred or received in connection with these arrangements, including diligence expenses and general overhead, administrative, deal sourcing and related corporate expenses. The amount of these rebates may relate to allocations of co-investment opportunities and increase if certain co-investment allocations are not made. While it is possible that the Company will, along with the Firm itself, benefit from the existence of those arrangements and/or relationships, it is also possible that investment opportunities that would otherwise be presented to or made by the Company would instead be referred (in whole or in part) to such third party, or, as indicated above, to other third parties, either as a contractual obligation or otherwise, resulting in fewer opportunities (or reduced allocations) being made available to the Company and/or shareholders. This means that co-investment opportunities that are sourced by the Company may be allocated to investors that are not shareholders. For example, a firm with which the Firm has entered into a strategic relationship may be afforded with “first-call” rights on a particular category of investment opportunities, although there is not expected to be substantial overlap in the investment strategies and/or objectives between the Company and any such firm. (See “—Blackstone’s Relationship with Pátria.”)

Certain Investments Inside the Company’s Mandate that are not Pursued by the Company. Under certain circumstances, Blackstone or GSO may determine not to pursue some or all of an investment opportunity within the Company’s mandate, including without limitation, as a result of business, reputational or other reasons applicable to the Company, Other Clients, their respective portfolio companies or Blackstone. In addition, GSO may determine that the Company should not pursue some or all of an investment opportunity, including, by way of example and without limitation, because the Company has already invested sufficient capital in the investment, sector, industry, geographic region or markets in question, as determined by GSO in its good faith discretion, or the investment is not appropriate for the Company for other reasons as determined by GSO in its good faith reasonable sole discretion. In any such case Blackstone or GSO could, thereafter, offer such opportunity to other parties, including Other Clients or portfolio companies or limited partners or shareholders of the Company or Other Clients, joint venture partners, related parties or third parties. Any such Other Clients may be advised by a different Blackstone or GSO business group with a different investment committee, which could determine an investment opportunity to be more attractive than GSO believes to be the case. In any event, there can be no assurance that GSO’s assessment will prove correct or that the performance of any investments actually pursued by the Company will be comparable to any investment opportunities that are not pursued by the Company. Blackstone and GSO, including their personnel, may receive compensation from any such party that makes the investment, including an allocation of carried interest or referral fees,
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and any such compensation could be greater than amounts paid by the Company to GSO. In some cases, Blackstone or GSO earns greater fees when Other Clients participate alongside or instead of the Company in an Investment.

Cross Transactions. Situations may arise where certain assets held by the Company may be transferred to Other Clients and vice versa. Such transactions will be conducted in accordance with, and subject to, the Adviser’s contractual obligations to the Company and applicable law, including the 1940 Act.

Co-Investment. The Company will co-invest with its shareholders, limited partners and/or shareholders of the Other Clients, the Firm’s affiliates and other parties with whom GSO has a material relationship. The allocation of co-investment opportunities is entirely and solely in the discretion of GSO, subject to applicable law. In addition to participation by Senior and Other Advisors in specific transactions or investment opportunities, Senior and Other Advisors and/or other Firm employees may be permitted to participate in the Firm’s side-by-side co-investment rights. Such rights generally do not provide for a management fee or carried interest payable by participants therein and generally result in the Company being allocated a smaller share of an investment than would otherwise be the case in the absence of such side-by-side. Furthermore, Other Clients will be permitted (or have a preferred right) to participate in the Firm’s side-by-side co-investment rights.

In certain circumstances, GSO will determine that a co-investment opportunity should be offered to one or more third parties (such investors, “Co-Investors”) and will maintain sole discretion with respect to which Co-Investors are offered any such opportunity. It is expected that many investors who may have expressed an interest in co-investment opportunities will not be allocated any co-investment opportunities or may receive a smaller amount of co-investment opportunities than the amount requested. Furthermore, co-investment offered by GSO will be on such terms and conditions (including with respect to management fees, performance-based compensation and related arrangements and/or other fees applicable to co-investors) as GSO determine to be appropriate in its sole discretion on a case-by-case basis, which may differ amongst co-investors with respect to the same co-investment. In addition, the performance of Other Clients co-investing with the Company is not considered for purposes of calculating the carried interest payable by the Company to the Adviser. Furthermore, the Company and co-investors will often have different investment objectives and limitations, such as return objectives and maximum hold period. GSO, as a result, will have conflicting incentives in making decisions with respect to such opportunities. Even if the Company and any such parties invest in the same securities on similar terms, conflicts of interest will still arise as a result of differing investment profiles of the investors, among other items.

General Co-Investment Considerations: There are expected to be circumstances where an amount that would otherwise have been invested by the Company is instead allocated to co-investors (who may or may not be shareholders of the Company or limited partners of Other Clients) or supplemental capital vehicles, and there is no guarantee that any shareholders will be offered any particular co-investment opportunity. Each co-investment opportunity (should any exist) is likely to be different, and allocation of each such opportunity will depend on the facts and circumstances specific to that unique situation (e.g., timing, industry, size, geography, asset class, projected holding period, exit strategy and counterparty). Different situations will require that the various facts and circumstances of each opportunity be weighted differently, as GSO deems relevant to such opportunity. Such factors are likely to include, among others, whether a co-investor adds strategic value, industry expertise or other similar synergies; whether a potential co-investor has expressed an interest in evaluating co-investment opportunities; whether a potential co-investor has an overall strategic relationship with the Firm; whether a potential co-investor has demonstrated a long-term and/or continuing commitment to the potential success of Blackstone, GSO, the Company, Other Clients or other co-investments (including whether a potential co-investor will help establish, recognize, strengthen and/or cultivate relationships that may provide indirectly longer-term benefits to the Company or Other Clients and their respective underlying portfolio companies, or whether the potential co-investor has significant capital under management by the Firm or intends to increase such amount); the ability of a potential co-investor to commit to a co-investment opportunity within the required timeframe of the particular transaction; GSO’s assessment of a potential co-investor’s ability to invest an amount of capital that fits the needs of the investment (taking into account the amount of capital needed as well as the maximum number of investors that can realistically participate in the transaction); whether the co-investor is considered “strategic” to the investment because it is able to offer the Company certain benefits, including but not limited to, the ability to help consummate the investment, the ability to aid in operating or monitoring the portfolio company or the possession of certain expertise; the transparency, speed and predictability of the potential co-investor’s investment process; whether the Firm has previously expressed a general intention to seek to offer co-investment opportunities to such potential co-investor; whether a potential co-investor has the financial and operational resources and other relevant wherewithal to evaluate and participate in a co-investment opportunity; the familiarity the Firm has with the personnel and professionals of the investor in working together in investment contexts (which may include such potential co-investor’s history of investment in other Firm co-investment opportunities); the extent to which a potential co-investor has committed to an Other Client; the size of such potential co-investor’s interest to be held in the underlying portfolio company as a result of the Company’s investment (which is likely to be based on the size of the potential co-investor’s capital commitment or investment in the Company); the extent to which a potential co-investor has been provided a greater amount of co-investment opportunities relative to others; the ability of a potential co-investor to invest in potential add-on acquisitions
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for the portfolio company or participate in defensive investments; the likelihood that the potential co-investor would require governance rights that would complicate or jeopardize the transaction (or, alternatively, whether the investor would be willing to defer to the Firm and assume a more passive role in governing the portfolio company); any interests a potential co-investor may have in any competitors of the underlying portfolio company; the tax profile of the potential co-investor and the tax characteristics of the investment (including whether the potential co-investor would require particular structuring implementation or covenants that would not otherwise be required but for its participation or whether such co-investor’s participation is beneficial to the overall structuring of the investment); whether a potential co-investor’s participation in the transaction would subject the Company and/or the portfolio company to additional regulatory requirements, review and/or scrutiny, including any necessary governmental approvals required to consummate the investment; the potential co-investor’s interaction with the potential management team of the portfolio company; whether the potential co-investor has any existing positions in the portfolio company (whether in the same security in which the Company is investing or otherwise); whether there is any evidence to suggest that there is a heightened risk with respect to the potential co-investor maintaining confidentiality; whether the potential co-investor has demonstrated a long-term and/or continuing commitment to the potential success of the Company, other affiliated funds and/or other co-investments, including the size of such commitment; whether the potential co-investor has any known investment policies and restrictions, guideline limitations or investment objectives that are relevant to the transaction, including the need for distributions; whether the expected holding period and risk-return profile of the investment is consistent with the stated goals of the investor; and such other factors as the Adviser deems relevant and believes to be appropriate under the circumstances. Furthermore, in connection with any such co-investment by third-party co-investors, the Adviser may establish one or more investment vehicles managed or advised by the Firm to facilitate such co-investors’ investment alongside the Company. The factors listed in the foregoing sentence are neither presented in order of importance nor weighted, except that GSO has historically primarily relied upon the following two factors in making the determination to offer co-investment opportunities to co-investors: (i) whether the potential co-investor has demonstrated a long-term and/or continuing commitment to the potential success of the Company (including whether a potential co-investor will help establish, recognize, strengthen and/or cultivate relationships that may provide indirectly longer-term benefits to the Company or Other Clients and their respective underlying portfolio companies), other affiliated funds, and/or other co-investments, including the size of any such commitment and fee revenue or profits generated for the benefit of GSO or Blackstone as a result thereof and (ii) the ability of a potential co-investor to process a co-investment decision within the required timeline of the particular transaction. Except as otherwise described herein, co-investors generally will not share Broken Deal Expenses with the Company and Other Clients, with the result that the Company and such Other Clients will bear all such Broken Deal Expenses, and such expenses may be significant. However, the Adviser does not intend to offer any such co-investment opportunities to shareholders in their capacity as shareholders. GSO may (but is not required to) establish co-investment vehicles (including dedicated or “standing” co-investment vehicles) for one or more investors (including third party investors and investors in the Company) in order to co-invest alongside the Company in one or more future investments. The existence of these vehicles could reduce the opportunity for other shareholders to receive allocations of co-investment. In addition, the allocation of investments to Other Clients, including as described under “Other Blackstone and GSO Clients; Allocation of Investment Opportunities” herein, may result in fewer co-investment opportunities (or reduced allocations) being made available to shareholders.

Additional Potential Conflicts of Interest with respect to Co-Investment; Strategic Relationships Involving Co-Investment: In addition, the Adviser and/or its affiliates will in certain circumstances be incentivized to offer certain potential co-investors (including, by way of example, as a part of an overall strategic relationship with the Firm) opportunities to co-invest because the extent to which any such co-investor participates in (or is offered) co-investment opportunities may impact the amount of performance-based compensation and/or management fees or other fees paid by the co-investor. The amount of carried interest or expenses charged and/or management fees paid by the Company may be less than or exceed such amounts charged or paid by co-investment vehicles pursuant to the terms of such vehicles’ partnership agreements and/or other agreements with co-investors, and such variation in the amount of fees and expenses may create an economic incentive for GSO to allocate a greater or lesser percentage of an investment opportunity to the Company or such co-investment vehicles or co-investors, as the case may be. In addition, other terms of existing and future co-investment vehicles may differ materially, and in some instances may be more favorable to GSO, than the terms of the Company, and such different terms may create an incentive for GSO to allocate a greater or lesser percentage of an investment opportunity to the Company or such co-investment vehicles, as the case may be. Such incentives will from time to time give rise to conflicts of interest, and there can be no assurance that such conflicts of interest will be resolved in favor of the Company. Accordingly, any investment opportunities that would have otherwise been offered or allocated, in whole or in part, to the Company may be reduced and made available to co-investment vehicles. Co-investments may be offered by the Adviser on such terms and conditions as the Adviser determines in its discretion on a case-by-case basis.

Company Co-Investment Opportunities. As a BDC regulated under the 1940 Act, the Company is subject to certain limitations relating to co-investments and joint transactions with affiliates, which likely will in certain circumstances limit the
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Company’s ability to make investments or enter into other transactions alongside the Other Clients. There can be no assurance that such regulatory restrictions will not adversely affect the Company’s ability to capitalize on attractive investment opportunities. However, subject to the 1940 Act and any applicable co-investment order issued by the SEC, the Company may co-invest with Other Clients (including co-investment or other vehicles in which the Firm or its personnel invest and that co-invest with such Other Clients) in investments that are suitable for the Company and one or more of such Other Clients. Even if the Company and any such Other Clients and/or co-investment or other vehicles invest in the same securities, conflicts of interest may still arise.

We have received an exemptive order from the SEC that permits us, among other things, to co-invest with certain other persons, including certain affiliates of the Adviser and certain funds managed and controlled by the Adviser and its affiliates, subject to certain terms and conditions. Such order may restrict our ability to enter into follow-on investments or other transactions. Pursuant to such order, we may co-invest in a negotiated deal with certain affiliates of the Adviser or certain funds managed and controlled by the Adviser and its affiliates, subject to certain terms and conditions. We may also receive an allocation in such a deal alongside affiliates pursuant to other mechanisms to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act.

Investments in Portfolio Companies Alongside Other Clients. From time to time, the Company will co-invest with Other Clients (including co-investment or other vehicles in which the Firm or its personnel invest and that co-invest with such Other Clients) in investments that are suitable for both the Company and such Other Clients, as permitted by applicable law and/or any applicable SEC-granted order. Even if the Company and any such Other Clients invest in the same securities or loans, conflicts of interest may still arise. For example, it is possible that as a result of legal, tax, regulatory, accounting, political, national security or other considerations, the terms of such investment (and divestment thereof) (including with respect to price and timing) for the Company and such other funds and vehicles may not be the same. Additionally, the Company and such Other Clients and/or vehicles will generally have different investment periods and/or investment objectives (including return profiles) and GSO, as a result, may have conflicting goals with respect to the price and timing of disposition opportunities. As such, subject to applicable law and any applicable order issued by the SEC, the Company and/or such Other Clients may dispose of any such shared investment at different times and on different terms.

Firm Involvement in Financing of Third Party Dispositions by the Company. The Company may from time to time dispose of all or a portion of an investment by way of accepting a third-party purchaser’s bid where the Firm or one or more Other Clients is providing financing as part of such bid or acquisition of the investment or underlying assets thereof. This generally would include the circumstance where the Firm or one or more Other Clients is making commitments to provide financing at or prior to the time such third-party purchaser commits to purchase such investments or assets from the Company. Such involvement of the Firm or one or more Other Clients as such a provider of debt financing in connection with the potential acquisition of portfolio investments by third parties from the Company may give rise to potential or actual conflicts of interest.

Blackstone Europe. Blackstone, GSO and Other Clients may incorporate or otherwise organize, and one or more of its affiliates have incorporated or otherwise organized, one or more Luxembourg-based or Ireland-based entities (and in the future may organize other non-U.S. entities) that are the master holding companies or other structures through which the Company and Other GSO Clients may principally invest into European investments (any such structure, “Blackstone Europe”) and that may be utilized by GSO. Blackstone Europe is expected to provide one or more of the following key service functions to the Company and/or to the European-domiciled entities that are part of the investments of Other GSO Clients and may also be owned, directly or indirectly, by Other Clients or their affiliates. The key service functions expected to be provided by Blackstone Europe and its employees are: (i) domiciliation, (ii) account management, (iii) administration, (iv) accounting, (v) tax, regulatory and organizational compliance, (vi) transaction support services, and (vii) local office space, though other services may also be provided. If approved by the Board of Trustees, Blackstone Europe is expected to receive fees for such services at no greater than market rates deemed competitive by the Firm. The Firm will endeavor to allocate fees and expenses associated with Blackstone Europe fairly and equitably, which allocation is expected to involve certain subjective assumptions based on actual data pertaining to the services provided. The Adviser believes that this method will result in a fair and equitable allocation of expenses. Any such expenses attributable directly or indirectly to the Company, including, without limitation, the Company’s allocable portion of overhead expenses (including, for example, the salary and compensation of personnel of Blackstone Europe) and costs associated with the leasing of office space, will be treated as a Company Expense and will not reduce the management fee or otherwise be shared with the Company or the shareholders.

Self-Administration of the Company. GSO and its affiliates expect to provide certain fund administration services to the Company rather than engage or rely on a third party administrator to perform such services. The costs for providing these services are not included in the management fee under the Investment Advisory Agreement and will be paid separately by the Company. GSO also reserves the right to charge the Company a reduced rate for these services, or to reduce or waive such charges entirely, subject to the 1940 Act. GSO’s ability to determine the reimbursement obligation from the Company creates a conflict of interest. GSO addresses this conflict by reviewing its fund administration fee to ensure that it is comparable and fair with regard to equivalent services performed by a non-affiliated third party at a rate negotiated on an arm’s length basis. The Board of Trustees periodically reviews the reimbursement obligation.

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Material, Non-Public Information. GSO will come into possession of confidential information with respect to an issuer. GSO may be restricted from buying, originating or selling securities, loans of, or derivatives with respect to, the issuer on behalf of the Company until such time as the information becomes public or is no longer deemed material such that it would preclude the Company from participating in an investment. Disclosure of such information to the Adviser’s personnel responsible for the affairs of the Company will be on a need-to-know basis only, and the Company may not be free to act for the Company upon any such information. Therefore, the Company may not have access to confidential information in the possession of GSO that might be relevant to an investment decision to be made for the Company. In addition, GSO, in an effort to avoid buying or selling restrictions on behalf of the Company or Other GSO Clients, may choose to forego an opportunity to receive (or elect not to receive) information that other market participants or counterparties, including those with the same positions in the issuer as the Company, are eligible to receive or have received, even if possession of such information would otherwise be advantageous to the Company.

In addition, affiliates of GSO within Blackstone may come into possession of confidential information with respect to an issuer. GSO may be restricted from buying, originating or selling securities, loans of, or derivatives with respect to, the issuer on behalf of the Company if the Firm deemed such restriction appropriate. Disclosure of such information to the Adviser’s personnel responsible for the affairs of the Company will be on a need-to-know basis only, and the Company may not be free to act upon any such information. Therefore, the Company may not have access to confidential information in the possession of the Firm that might be relevant to an investment decision to be made by the Company. Accordingly, the Company may not be able to initiate a transaction that it otherwise might have initiated and may not be able to sell an investment that it otherwise might have sold.

Break-up and other Similar Fees. Break-up or topping fees with respect to the Company’s investments can be paid to GSO. Alternatively, the Company could receive the break-up or topping fees directly. Break-up or topping fees paid to GSO or the Company in connection with a transaction could be allocated, or not, to Other Clients or co-investment vehicles that invest (or are expected to invest) alongside the Company, as determined by GSO to be appropriate in the circumstances. Generally, GSO would not allocate break-up or topping fees with respect to a potential investment to the Company, an Other Client or co-investment vehicle unless such person would also share in broken deal expenses related to the potential Investment. With respect to fees received by GSO relating to the Company’s investments or from unconsummated transactions, shareholders will not receive the benefit of any fees relating to the Company’s investments (including, without limitation, as described above). In the case of fees for services as a director of a portfolio company, the management fee will not be reduced to the extent any Firm personnel continues to serve as a director after the Company has exited (or is in the process of exiting) the applicable portfolio company and/or following the termination of such employee’s employment with the Firm. For the avoidance of doubt, although the financial advisory and restructuring business of Blackstone has been spun out, to the extent any investment banking fees, consulting (including management consulting) fees, syndication fees, capital markets syndication and advisory fees (including underwriting fees), origination fees, servicing fees, healthcare consulting / brokerage fees, fees relating to group purchasing, financial advisory fees and similar fees for arranging acquisitions and other major financial restructurings, loan servicing and/or other types of insurance fees, operations fees, financing fees, fees for asset services, title insurance fees, and other similar fees and annual retainers (whether in cash or in kind) are received by Blackstone, such fees will not be required to be shared with the Company or the shareholders and will not reduce the management fee payable by the Company.

Broken Deal Expenses. Any expenses that may be incurred by the Company for actual investments as described herein may also be incurred by the Company with respect to broken deals (i.e., investments that are not consummated). GSO is not required to and in most circumstances will not seek reimbursement of broken deal expenses (i.e., expenses incurred in pursuit of an investment that is not consummated) from third parties, including counterparties to the potential transaction or potential co-investors. Examples of such broken deal expenses include, but are not limited to, reverse termination fees, extraordinary expenses such as litigation costs and judgments, travel and entertainment expenses incurred, costs of negotiating co-investment documentation, and legal, accounting, tax and other due diligence and pursuit costs and expenses. Any such broken deal expenses could, in the sole discretion of GSO, be allocated solely to the Company and not to Other Clients or co-investment vehicles that could have made the investment, even when the Other Client or co-investment vehicle commonly invests alongside the Company in its investments or the Firm or Other Clients in their investments. In such cases, the Company’s shares of expenses would increase. In the event broken deal expenses are allocated to an Other Client or a co-investment vehicle, GSO may advance such fees and expenses without charging interest until paid by the Other Client or co-investment vehicle, as applicable.

Other Firm Business Activities. The Firm, Other Clients, their portfolio companies, and personnel and related parties of the foregoing will receive fees and compensation, including performance-based and other incentive fees, for products and services provided to the Company and its portfolio companies, such as fees for asset and property management; investment management, underwriting, syndication or refinancing of a loan or investment; loan servicing; special servicing; administrative services; advisory services on purchase or sale of an asset or company; investment banking and capital markets services;
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placement agent services; fund administration; internal legal and tax planning services; information technology products and services; insurance procurement; brokerage; solutions and risk management services; data extraction and management products and services; and other products and services. Such parties will also provide products and services for fees to the Firm, Other Clients and their portfolio companies, and their personnel and related parties, as well as third parties. Through its Innovations group, Blackstone incubates businesses that can be expected to provide goods and services to the Company (subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act and applicable guidance) and Other Clients and their portfolio companies, as well as other Firm-related parties and third parties. By contracting for a product or service from a business related to the Firm, the Company and its portfolio companies would provide not only current income to the business and its stakeholders, but could also create significant enterprise value in them, which would not be shared with the Company or shareholders and could benefit the Firm directly and indirectly. Also, the Firm, Other Clients and their portfolio companies, and their personnel and related parties may receive compensation or other benefits, such as through additional ownership interests or otherwise, directly related to the consumption of products and services by the Company and its portfolio companies. The Company and its portfolio companies will incur expense in negotiating for any such fees and services, which will be treated as Company Expenses. In addition, the Firm may receive fees associated with capital invested by co-investors relating to investments in which the Company participates or otherwise, in connection with a joint venture in which the Company participates (subject to the 1940 Act) or otherwise with respect to assets or other interests retained by a seller or other commercial counterparty with respect to which the Firm performs services. Finally, the Firm and its personnel and related parties may also receive compensation in connection with referrals and related activities of such business incubated by the Blackstone Innovations group.

The Company will, as determined by GSO and as permitted by the governing fund documents, bear the cost of fund administration, in house legal, tax planning and other related services provided by Firm personnel and related parties to the Company and its portfolio companies, including the allocation of their compensation and related overhead otherwise payable by the Firm, or pay for their services at market rates, as discussed below in “Self-Administration of the Company.” Such allocations or charges can be based on any of the following methodologies: (i) requiring personnel to periodically record or allocate their historical time spent with respect to the Company or the Firm approximating the proportion of certain personnel’s time spent with respect to the Company, and in each case allocating their compensation and allocable overhead based on time spent, or charging their time spent at market rates, (ii) the assessment of an overall dollar amount (based on a fixed fee or percentage of assets under management) that the Firm believes represents a fair recoupment of expenses and a market rate for such services or (iii) any other similar methodology determined by the Firm to be appropriate under the circumstances. Certain Firm personnel will provide services to few, or only one, of the Company and Other Clients, in which case the Firm could rely upon rough approximations of time spent by the employee for purposes of allocating the salary and overhead of the person if the market rate for services is clearly higher than allocable salary and overhead. However, any methodology (including the choice thereof) involves inherent conflicts and may result in incurrence of greater expenses by the Company and its portfolio companies than would be the case if such services were provided by third parties.

GSO, Other Clients and their portfolio companies, and their affiliates, personnel and related parties could continue to receive fees, including performance-based or incentive fees, for the services described in the preceding paragraphs with respect to investments sold by the Company or a portfolio company to a third party buyer after the sale is consummated. Such post-disposition involvement will give rise to potential or actual conflicts of interest, particularly in the sale process. Moreover, GSO, Other Clients and their portfolio companies, and their affiliates, personnel and related parties may acquire a stake in the relevant asset as part of the overall service relationship, at the time of the sale or thereafter.

GSO does not have any obligation to ensure that fees for products and services contracted by the Company or its portfolio companies are at market rates unless the counterparty is considered an affiliate of the Firm and given the breadth of the Firm’s investments and activities GSO may not be aware of every commercial arrangement between the Company and its portfolio companies, on the one hand, and the Firm, Other Clients and their portfolio companies, and personnel and related parties of the foregoing, on the other hand.

Except as set forth above, the Company and shareholders will not receive the benefit (e.g., through a reduction to the management fee or otherwise) of any fees or other compensation or benefit received by GSO, its affiliates or their personnel and related parties. (See also “—Service Providers, Vendors and Other Counterparties Generally” and “—Other Firm Business Activities.”)

Securities and Lending Activities. Blackstone, its affiliates and their related parties and personnel will from time to time participate in underwriting or lending syndicates with respect to current or potential portfolio companies, or may otherwise act as arrangers of financing, including with respect to the public offering and/or private placement of debt or equity securities issued by, or loan proceeds borrowed by the Company and its portfolio companies, or otherwise in arranging financing (including loans) for such portfolio companies or advise on such transactions. Such underwritings or engagements may be on a firm commitment basis or may be on an uncommitted “best efforts” basis, and the underwriting or financing parties are under no duty to provide any commitment unless specifically set forth in the relevant contract. Blackstone may also provide placement or other similar services to purchasers or sellers of securities, including loans or instruments issued by portfolio
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companies. There may also be circumstances in which the Company commits to purchase any portion of such issuance from the portfolio company that a Blackstone broker-dealer intends to syndicate to third parties. As a result thereof, subject to the limitations of the 1940 Act, Blackstone may receive commissions or other compensation, thereby creating a potential conflict of interest. This could include, by way of example, fees and/or commissions for equity syndications to co-investment vehicles. In certain cases, subject to the limitations of the 1940 Act, a Blackstone broker-dealer will from time to time act as the managing underwriter or a member of the underwriting syndicate or broker for the Company or its portfolio companies, or as dealer, broker or advisor to a counterparty to the Company or a portfolio company and purchase securities from or sell securities to the Company, Other Clients or portfolio companies of the Company or Other Clients or advise on such transactions. Blackstone will also from time to time, on behalf of the Company or other parties to a transaction involving the Company or its portfolio companies, effect transactions, including transactions in the secondary markets that result in commissions or other compensation paid to Blackstone by the Company or its portfolio companies or the counterparty to the transaction, thereby creating a potential conflict of interest. This could include, by way of example, fees and/or commissions for equity syndications to co-investment vehicles.. Subject to applicable law, Blackstone will from time to time receive underwriting fees, discounts, placement commissions, loan modification or restructuring fees, servicing fees, capital markets advisory fees, lending arrangement fees, asset/property management fees, insurance (including title insurance) fees and consulting fees, monitoring fees, commitment fees, syndication fees, origination fees, organizational fees, operational fees, loan servicing fees, and financing and divestment fees (or, in each case, rebates in lieu of any such fees, whether in the form of purchase price discounts or otherwise, even in cases where Blackstone, an Other Client or its portfolio companies are purchasing debt) or other compensation with respect to the foregoing activities, which are not required to be shared with the Company. In addition, the management fee with respect to a shareholder generally will not be reduced by such amounts. Therefore, Blackstone will from time to time have a potential conflict of interest regarding the Company and the other parties to those transactions to the extent it receives commissions, discounts or other compensation from such other parties. The Board of Trustees, in its sole discretion, will approve any transactions, subject to the limitations of the 1940 Act, in which a Blackstone broker-dealer acts as an underwriter, as broker for the Company, or as dealer, broker or advisor, on the other side of a transaction with the Company only where the Board of Trustees believes in good faith that such transactions are appropriate for the Company and, by executing a Subscription Agreement for shares in the Company, a shareholder consents to all such transactions, along with the other transactions involving conflicts of interest described herein, to the fullest extent permitted by law.

When Blackstone serves as underwriter with respect to securities of the Company or its portfolio companies, the Company and such portfolio companies could from time to time be subject to a “lock-up” period following the offering under applicable regulations during which time the Company or portfolio company would be unable to sell any securities subject to the “lock-up.” This may prejudice the ability of the Company and its portfolio companies to dispose of such securities at an opportune time. In addition, Blackstone Capital Markets may serve as underwriter in connection with the sale of securities by the Company or its portfolio companies. Conflicts may arise because such engagement would result in Blackstone Capital Markets receiving selling commissions or other compensation in connection with such sale. (See also “—Portfolio Company Relationships Generally” below.)

Blackstone and GSO employees are generally permitted to invest in alternative investment funds, real estate funds, hedge funds or other investment vehicles, including potential competitors of the Company. The Company will not receive any benefit from any such investments.

PJT. On October 1, 2015, Blackstone spun off its financial and strategic advisory services, restructuring and reorganization advisory services, and its Park Hill fund placement businesses and combined these businesses with PJT Partners Inc. (“PJT”), an independent financial advisory firm founded by Paul J. Taubman. While the combined business operates independently from Blackstone and is not an affiliate thereof, it is expected that there will be substantial overlapping ownership between Blackstone and PJT for a considerable period of time going forward. Therefore, conflicts of interest will arise in connection with transactions between or involving the Company and its portfolio companies, on the one hand, and PJT, on the other. The pre-existing relationship between Blackstone and its former personnel involved in financial and strategic advisory services at PJT, the overlapping ownership and co-investment and other continuing arrangements between PJT and Blackstone may influence GSO to select or recommend PJT to perform services for the Company or its portfolio companies, the cost of which will generally be borne directly or indirectly by the Company. Given that PJT is no longer an affiliate of Blackstone, GSO and its affiliates will be free to cause the Company and portfolio companies to transact with PJT generally without restriction under the applicable governing documents, notwithstanding the relationship between Blackstone and PJT.

Portfolio Company Relationships Generally. The Company’s portfolio companies are expected to be counterparties to or participants in agreements, transactions or other arrangements with portfolio companies of Other Clients for the provision of goods and services, purchase and sale of assets and other matters. Although the Firm may determine that such agreements, transactions or other arrangements are consistent with the requirements of such Other Clients’ offering and/or governing agreements, such agreements, transactions or other arrangements may not have otherwise been entered into but for the affiliation with GSO and/or Blackstone. These agreements, transactions or other agreements involve fees, commissions, servicing payments and/or discounts to GSO, any Blackstone affiliate (including personnel) or a portfolio company, none of
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which reduce the management fee payable by the Company). For example, the Firm may cause, or offer the opportunity to, portfolio companies to enter into agreements regarding group procurement (such as the group purchasing organization), benefits management, purchase of title and/or other insurance policies (which may be pooled across portfolio companies and discounted due to scale) and other operational, administrative or management related matters from a third party or a Firm affiliate, and other similar operational initiatives that may result in commissions or similar payments, including related to a portion of the savings achieved by the portfolio company. Such agreements, transactions or other arrangements may be entered into without the consent or direct involvement of the Company and/or such Other Client or the consent of the Board of Trustees and/or the shareholders of the Company or such Other Client (including, without limitation, in the case of minority and/or non-controlling investments by the Company in such portfolio companies or the sale of assets from one portfolio company to another) and/or such Other Client. In any such case, the Company may not be involved in the negotiation process, and there can be no assurance that the terms of any such agreement, transaction or other arrangement will be as favorable to the Company as otherwise would be the case if the counterparty were not related to the Firm.

In addition, it is possible that certain portfolio companies of Other Clients or companies in which Other Clients have an interest will compete with the Company for one or more investment opportunities and/or engage in activities that may have adverse consequences on the Company and/or its portfolio companies. As an example of the latter, the laws and regulations of certain jurisdictions (e.g., bankruptcy, environmental, consumer protection and/or labor laws) may not recognize the segregation of assets and liabilities as between separate entities and may permit recourse against the assets of not just the entity that has incurred the liabilities, but also the other entities that are under common control with, or part of the same economic group as, such entity. In such circumstances, the assets of the Company and/or its portfolio companies may be used to satisfy the obligations or liabilities of one or more Other Clients, their portfolio companies and/or affiliates.

Certain portfolio companies may have established or invested in, or may in the future establish or invest in, vehicles that are managed exclusively by the portfolio company (and not the Company or the Firm or any of its affiliates) and that invest in asset classes or industry sectors (such as cyber security) that fall within the Company’s investment strategy. Such vehicles, which may not be considered affiliates of the Firm and would not be subject to the Firm’s policies and procedures, may compete with the Company for investment opportunities. Portfolio companies and affiliates of the Firm may also establish other investment products, vehicles and platforms focusing on specific asset classes or industry sectors (such as reinsurance) that may compete with the Company for investment opportunities (it being understood that such arrangements may give rise to conflicts of interest that may not necessarily be resolved in favor of the Company). Portfolio companies and affiliates of the Firm may also establish other investment products, vehicles and platforms focusing on specific asset classes or industry sectors (such as reinsurance) that may compete with the Company for investment opportunities (it being understood that such arrangements may give rise to conflicts of interest that may not necessarily be resolved in favor of the Company). In addition, the Company may hold non-controlling interests in certain portfolio companies and, as a result, such portfolio companies could engage in activities outside of the Company’s control that may have adverse consequences on the Company and/or its other portfolio companies.

In addition, the Firm has also entered into an investment management arrangement whereby it provides investment management services to Fidelity & Guaranty Life Insurance Company (a portfolio company of certain Other Clients), which will involve investments across a variety of asset classes (including investments that may otherwise be appropriate for the Company), and in the future the Firm may enter into similar arrangements with other portfolio companies. Such arrangements may reduce the allocations of investments to the Company, and the Firm may be incentivized to allocate investments away from the Company to the counterparties to such investment management arrangements or other vehicles/accounts to the extent the economic arrangements related thereto are more favorable to the Firm relative to the terms of the Company.

Further, portfolio companies with respect to which the Company may elect members of the board of directors may, as a result, subject the Company and/or such directors to fiduciary obligations to make decisions that they believe to be in the best interests of any such portfolio company. Although in most cases the interests of the Company and any such portfolio company will be aligned, this may not always be the case. This may create conflicts of interest between the relevant director’s obligations to any such portfolio company and its stakeholders, on the one hand, and the interests of the Company, on the other hand. Although GSO will generally seek to minimize the impact of any such conflicts, there can be no assurance they will be resolved favorably for the Company.

Portfolio Company Service Providers and Vendors. Subject to applicable law, the Company, Other Clients, portfolio companies of each of the foregoing and GSO can be expected to engage portfolio companies of the Company and Other Clients to provide some or all of the following services: (a) corporate support services (including, without limitation, accounts payable, accounting/audit (including valuation support services), account management, insurance, procurement, placement, brokerage, consulting, cash management, corporate secretarial services, domiciliation, data management, directorship services, finance/budget, human resources, information technology/systems support, internal compliance/KYC, judicial processes, legal, operational coordination (i.e., coordination with JV partners, property managers), risk management, reporting, tax, tax analysis and compliance (e.g., CIT and VAT compliance), transfer pricing and internal risk control, treasury
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and valuation services); (b) loan services (including, without limitation, monitoring, restructuring and work-out of performing, sub-performing and nonperforming loans, administrative services, and cash management); (c) management services (i.e., management by a portfolio company, Blackstone affiliate or third party (e.g., a third-party manager) of operational services); (d) operational services (i.e., general management of day to day operations); (e) risk management (tax and treasury); (f) insurance procurement, placement, brokerage and consulting services; and (g) other services. Similarly, GSO, Other Clients and their portfolio companies can be expected to engage portfolio companies of the Company to provide some or all of these services. Some of the services performed by portfolio company service providers could also be performed by GSO from time to time and vice versa. Fees paid by the Company or its portfolio companies to the other portfolio company service providers do not reduce the management fee payable by the Company and are not otherwise shared with the Company.

Portfolio companies of the Company and Other Clients that can be expected to provide services to the Company and its portfolio companies include, without limitation, the following, and may include additional portfolio companies that may be formed or acquired in the future:

BTIG. BTIG, LLC (“BTIG”) is a global financial services firm in which certain Blackstone entities own a strategic minority investment. BTIG provides institutional trading, investment banking, research and related brokerage services and may provide goods and services for the Company or its portfolio companies.

Optiv. Optiv Security, Inc. is a portfolio company held by certain Blackstone private equity funds that provides a full slate of information security services and solutions and may provide goods and services for the Company and its portfolio companies.

PSAV. PSAV, Inc. is a portfolio company held by certain Blackstone private equity funds that provides outsourced audiovisual services and event production and may provide goods and services for the Company and its portfolio companies.

Refinitiv. On October 1, 2018, a consortium led by Blackstone announced that private equity funds managed by Blackstone had completed an acquisition of Thomson Reuters’ Financial & Risk business (“Refinitiv”). Refinitiv operates a pricing service that provides valuation services and may provide goods and services for the Company and its portfolio companies.

Blackstone through one or more of its funds has committed to a minority investment in Kryalos, an operating partner in certain investments made by Other Clients, and expects that Kryalos will perform services after the investment has closed for the Company and Other Clients and receive compensation as described below.

The Company and its portfolio companies will compensate one or more of these service providers and vendors owned by the Company or Other Clients, including through incentive based compensation payable to their management teams and other related parties. The incentive based compensation paid with respect to a portfolio company or asset of the Company or Other Clients will vary from the incentive based compensation paid with respect to other portfolio companies and assets of the Company and Other Clients; as a result the management team or other related parties can be expected to have greater incentives with respect to certain assets and portfolio companies relative to others, and the performance of certain assets and portfolio companies may provide incentives to retain management that also service other assets and portfolio companies. Some of these service providers and vendors owned or controlled by the Company or Other Clients will charge the Company and its portfolio companies for goods and services at rates generally consistent with those available in the market for similar goods and services. The discussion regarding the determination of market rates under “Firm Affiliated Service Providers” herein applies equally in respect of the fees and expenses of the portfolio company service providers, if charged at rates generally consistent with those available in the market. Other service providers and vendors owned and/or controlled by the Company or Other Clients pass through expenses on a cost reimbursement, no-profit or break-even basis, in which case the service provider allocates costs and expenses directly associated with work performed for the benefit of the Company and its portfolio companies to them, along with any related tax costs and an allocation of the service provider’s overhead, including any of the following: salaries, wages, benefits and travel expenses; marketing and advertising fees and expenses; legal, accounting and other professional fees and disbursements; office space and equipment; insurance premiums; technology expenditures, including hardware and software costs; costs to engage recruitment firms to hire employees; diligence expenses; one-time costs, including costs related to building-out and winding-down a portfolio company; taxes; and other operating and capital expenditures. Any of the foregoing costs, although allocated in a particular period, will, in certain circumstances, relate to activities occurring outside the period, and therefore the Company could pay more than its pro rata portion of fees for services. The allocation of overhead among the entities and assets to which services are provided can be expected to be based on any of a number of different methodologies, including, without limitation, “cost” basis as described above, “time-allocation” basis, “per unit” basis, “per square footage” basis or “fixed percentage” basis. There can be no assurance that a different manner of allocation would result in the Company and its portfolio companies bearing less or more costs and expenses. GSO will not always perform or obtain benchmarking analysis or third-party verification of expenses with respect to services provided on a cost reimbursement, no profit or break even basis. There can be no assurances that amounts charged by portfolio company service providers that are not controlled by
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the Company or Other Clients will be consistent with market rates or that any benchmarking, verification or other analysis will be performed with respect to such charges. If benchmarking is performed, the related expenses will be borne by the Company, Other Clients and their respective portfolio companies and will not reduce the management fee. A portfolio company service provider will, in certain circumstances, subcontract certain of its responsibilities to other portfolio companies. In such circumstances, the relevant subcontractor could invoice the portfolio company for fees (or in the case of a cost reimbursement arrangement, for allocable costs and expenses) in respect of the services provided by the subcontractor. The portfolio company, if charging on a cost reimbursement, no-profit or break-even basis, would in turn allocate those costs and expenses as it allocates other fees and expenses as described above. Similarly, Other Clients, their portfolio companies and GSO can be expected to engage portfolio companies of the Company to provide services, and these portfolio companies will generally charge for services in the same manner described above, but the Company and its portfolio companies generally will not be reimbursed for any costs (such as start-up costs) relating to such portfolio companies incurred prior to such engagement. Some of the services performed by these service providers could also be performed by GSO from time to time and vice versa. Fees paid by the Company or its portfolio companies to these service providers do not the management fee payable to the Adviser.

Service Providers, Vendors and Other Counterparties Generally. Certain third party advisors and other service providers and vendors to the Company and its portfolio companies (including accountants, administrators, lenders, bankers, brokers, attorneys, consultants, title agents and investment or commercial banking firms) are owned by the Firm, the Company or Other Clients or provide goods or services to, or have other business, personal, financial or other relationships with, the Firm, the Other Clients and their respective portfolio companies and affiliates and personnel. Such advisors and service providers referred to above may be investors in the Company, affiliates of the Adviser, sources of financing and investment opportunities or co-investors or commercial counterparties or entities in which the Firm and/or Other Clients have an investment, and payments by the Company and/or such entities may indirectly benefit the Firm, the Other Clients and their respective portfolio companies or any affiliates or personnel. Also, advisors, lenders, investors, commercial counterparties, vendors and service providers (including any of their affiliates or personnel) to the Company and its portfolio companies could have other commercial or personal relationships with the Firm, Other Clients and their respective portfolio companies, or any affiliates, personnel or family members of personnel of the foregoing. Although the Firm selects service providers and vendors it believes are most appropriate in the circumstances based on its knowledge of such service providers and vendors (which knowledge is generally greater in the case of service providers and vendors that have other relationships to the Firm), the relationship of service providers and vendors to the Firm as described above will influence the Firm in deciding whether to select, recommend or form such an advisor or service provider to perform services for the Company, subject to applicable law, or a portfolio company, the cost of which will generally be borne directly or indirectly by the Company and can be expected to incentivize the Firm to engage such service provider over a third party, utilize the services of such service providers and vendors more frequently than would be the case absent the conflict, or to pay such service providers and vendors higher fees or commissions than would be the case absent the conflict. The incentive could be created by current income and/or the generation of enterprise value in a service provider or vendor; the Firm can be expected to also have an incentive to invest in or create service providers and vendors to realize on these opportunities.

The Firm has a practice of not entering into any arrangements with advisors, vendors or service providers that provide lower rates or discounts to the Firm itself compared to those it enters into on behalf of the Company and its portfolio companies for the same services. However, legal fees for unconsummated transactions are often charged at a discount rate, such that if the Company and its portfolio companies consummate a higher percentage of transactions with a particular law firm than the Firm, the Company, Other Clients and their portfolio companies, the shareholders could indirectly pay a higher net effective rate for the services of that law firm than the Firm, the Company or Other Clients or their portfolio companies. Also, advisors, vendors and service providers often charge different rates or have different arrangements for different types of services. For example, advisors, vendors and service providers often charge fees based on the complexity of the matter as well as the expertise and time required to handle it. Therefore, to the extent the types of services used by the Company and its portfolio companies are different from those used by the Firm, Other Clients and their portfolio companies, and their affiliates and personnel, the Company and its portfolio companies can be expected to pay different amounts or rates than those paid by such other persons. Similarly, the Firm, the Company, the Other Clients and their portfolio companies and affiliates can be expected to enter into agreements or other arrangements with vendors and other similar counterparties (whether such counterparties are affiliated or unaffiliated with the Firm) from time to time whereby such counterparty will, in certain circumstances, charge lower rates (or no fee) or provide discounts or rebates for such counterparty’s products or services depending on the volume of transactions in the aggregate or other factors.

Subject to applicable law, the Company, Other Clients and their portfolio companies are expected to enter into joint ventures with third parties to which the service providers and vendors described above will provide services. In some of these cases, the third party joint venture partner may negotiate to not pay its pro rata share of fees, costs and expenses to be allocated as described above, in which case the Company, Other Clients and their portfolio companies that also use the services of the portfolio company service provider will, directly or indirectly, pay the difference, or the portfolio company service provider will bear a loss equal to the difference.

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The Firm may, from time to time, encourage service providers to funds and investments to use, at market rates and/or on arm’s length terms, the Firm-affiliated service providers in connection with the business of the Company, portfolio companies, and unaffiliated entities. This practice provides an indirect benefit to the Firm in the form of added business for the Firm-affiliated service providers.

Certain portfolio companies that provide services to the Company, Other Clients and/or portfolio companies or assets of the Company and/or Other Clients may be transferred between and among the Company and/or Other Clients (where the Company may be a seller or a buyer in any such transfer) for minimal or no consideration (based on a third party valuation confirming the same). Such transfers may give rise to actual or potential conflicts of interest for GSO.

Firm Affiliated Service Providers. Certain of the Company’s, the Firm’s and/or portfolio companies’ advisers and other service providers, or their affiliates (including accountants, administrators, lenders, bankers, brokers, attorneys, consultants, and investment or commercial banking firms) also provide goods or services to, or have business, personal, financial or other relationships with, the Firm, its affiliates and portfolio companies. Such advisers and service providers (or their affiliates) may be investors in the Company, affiliates of the Firm, sources of investment opportunities, co-investors, commercial counterparties and/or portfolio companies in which the Firm and/or the Company has an investment. Accordingly, payments by the Company and/or such entities may indirectly benefit the Company and/or its affiliates, including the Firm and Other Clients. No fees charged by these service providers and vendors will reduce the management fees payable to the Adviser. Furthermore, the Firm, the Other Clients and their portfolio companies and their affiliates and related parties will use the services of these Firm affiliates, including at different rates. Although the Firm believes the services provided by its affiliates are equal or better than those of third parties, the Firm directly benefits from the engagement of these affiliates, and there is therefore an inherent conflict of interest such as those described above.

Because the Firm has many different businesses, including the Blackstone Capital Markets Group, which Blackstone investment teams and portfolio companies may engage to provide underwriting and capital market advisory services, it is subject to a number of actual and potential conflicts of interest, greater regulatory oversight and more legal and contractual restrictions than that to which it would be subject if it had just one line of business. To the extent Blackstone determines appropriate, conflict mitigation strategies may be put in place with respect to a particular circumstance, such as internal information barriers or recusal, disclosure or other steps determined appropriate by the Adviser. Service providers affiliated with the Firm, which are generally expected to receive competitive market rate fees (as determined by the Adviser or its affiliates) with respect to certain Investments, include:


BPM. Blackstone Property Management is a Blackstone affiliate that may provide property management, leasing oversight, corporate services (including accounting and reporting), development and construction management, and transaction support services to any of the Company's investment properties primarily located in the United Kingdom and continental Europe.

Equity Healthcare. Equity Healthcare LLC (“Equity Healthcare”) is a Blackstone affiliate that negotiates with providers of standard administrative services for health benefit plans and other related services for cost discounts, quality of service monitoring, data services and clinical consulting. Because of the combined purchasing power of its client participants, which include unaffiliated third parties, Equity Healthcare is able to negotiate pricing terms that are believed to be more favorable than those that the portfolio companies could obtain on an individual basis. The fees received by Equity Healthcare in connection with services provided to investments will not reduce the management fee payable by the Company.

LNLS. Blackstone wholly owns a leading national title agency, Lexington National Land Services (“LNLS”), a title agent company. LNLS may act as an agent for one or more underwriters in issuing title policies and/or providing support services in connection with investments by the Company, Other Clients and third parties. LNLS focuses on transactions in rate-regulated U.S. states where the cost of title insurance is non-negotiable. LNLS will not perform services in nonregulated U.S. states for the Company and Other Clients unless (i) in the context of a portfolio transaction that includes assets in rate-regulated U.S. states, (ii) as part of a syndicate of title insurance companies where the rate is negotiated by other insurers or their agents, (iii) when a third party is paying all or a material portion of the premium or (iv) when providing only support services to the underwriter and not negotiating the title policy or issuing it to the insured. LNLS earns fees, which would have otherwise been paid to third parties, by providing title agency services and facilitating the placement of title insurance with underwriters. Blackstone receives distributions from LNLS in connection with investments by the Company based on its equity interest in LNLS. In each case, there will be no related reduction in management fees. As a result, while Blackstone believes that venture will provide services at or better than those provided by third parties (even in jurisdictions where insurance rates are regulated), there is an inherent conflict of interest that would incentivize Blackstone to engage LNLS over a third party.

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Refinitiv. See “—Portfolio Company Service Providers and Vendors.”

Certain Blackstone-affiliated service providers and their respective personnel will receive a management promote, an incentive fee and other performance-based compensation in respect of investments, sales or other transaction volume. Furthermore, Blackstone-affiliated service providers may charge costs and expenses based on allocable overhead associated with personnel working on relevant matters (including salaries, benefits and other similar expenses).

In connection with such relationships, GSO and, if required by applicable law, the Board of Trustees, will make determinations of competitive market rates based on its consideration of a number of factors, which are generally expected to include GSO’s experience with non-affiliated service providers, benchmarking data and other methodologies determined by GSO to be appropriate under the circumstances (i.e., rates that fall within a range that GSO has determined is reflective of rates in the applicable market and certain similar markets, though not necessarily equal to or lower than the median rate of comparable firms). In respect of benchmarking, while GSO often obtains benchmarking data regarding the rates charged or quoted by third parties for services similar to those provided by GSO affiliates in the applicable market or certain similar markets, relevant comparisons may not be available for a number of reasons, including, without limitation, as a result of a lack of a substantial market of providers or users of such services or the confidential or bespoke nature of such services (e.g., different assets may receive different services). In addition, benchmarking data is based on general market and broad industry overviews, rather than determined on an asset by asset basis. As a result, benchmarking data does not take into account specific characteristics of individual assets then invested in by the Company (such as location or size), or the particular characteristics of services provided. For these reasons, such market comparisons may not result in precise market terms for comparable services. Expenses to obtain benchmarking data will be borne by the Company, Other Clients and their respective portfolio companies and will not reduce the management fee. Finally, in certain circumstances GSO may determine that third party benchmarking is unnecessary, either because the price for a particular good or service is mandated by law (e.g., title insurance in rate regulated states) or because GSO has access to adequate market data to make the determination without reference to third party benchmarking. For example, certain portfolio companies may enter into an employer health program arrangement or similar arrangements with Equity Healthcare, a Blackstone affiliate that negotiates with providers of standard administrative services and insurance carriers for health benefit plans and other related services for cost discounts, quality of service monitoring, data services and clinical consulting. Because of the combined purchasing power of its client participants, Equity Healthcare is able to negotiate pricing terms from providers that are believed to be more favorable than the companies could obtain for themselves on an individual basis. The payments made to Blackstone in connection with Equity Healthcare, group purchasing, insurance and benefits management will not reduce the management fee payable to the Adviser.
Portfolio company service providers described in this section are generally owned by one or more Blackstone funds. In certain instances a similar company could be owned by Blackstone directly. Blackstone could cause a transfer of ownership of one of these service providers from an Other Client to the Company. The transfer of a portfolio company service provider between the Company and an Other Client (where the Company may be a seller or a buyer in any such transfer) will generally be consummated for minimal or no consideration. The Adviser may, but is not required to, obtain a third party valuation confirming the same, and if it does, the Adviser may rely on such valuation.
Advisers and service providers, or their affiliates, often charge different rates, including below-market or no fee, or have different arrangements for different types of services. With respect to service providers, for example, the fee for a given type of work may vary depending on the complexity of the matter as well as the expertise required and demands placed on the service provider. Therefore, to the extent the types of services used by the Company and/or portfolio companies differ from those used by the Firm and its affiliates (including personnel), GSO and/or Blackstone or their respective affiliates (including personnel) may pay different amounts or rates than those paid by the Company and/or portfolio companies. However, GSO and its affiliates have a longstanding practice of not entering into any arrangements with advisers or service providers that could provide for lower rates or discounts than those available to the Company, Other Clients and/or portfolio companies for the same services. Furthermore, advisers and service providers may provide services exclusively to the Firm and its affiliates, including the Company, Other Clients and their portfolio companies, although such advisers and service providers would not be considered employees of Blackstone or GSO. Similarly, Blackstone, GSO, each of their respective affiliates, the Company, the Other Clients and/or their portfolio companies, may enter into agreements or other arrangements with vendors and other similar counterparties (whether such counterparties are affiliated or unaffiliated with the Firm) from time to time whereby such counterparty may charge lower rates (or no fee) and/or provide discounts or rebates for such counterparty’s products and/or services depending on certain factors, including volume of transactions entered into with such counterparty by the Firm, its affiliates, the Company, the Other Clients and their portfolio companies in the aggregate.
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In addition, investment banks or other financial institutions, as well as Blackstone employees, may also be investors in the Company. These institutions and employees are a potential source of information and ideas that could benefit the Company. Blackstone has procedures in place reasonably designed to prevent the inappropriate use of such information by the Company.

Transactions with Portfolio Companies. The Firm and portfolio companies of the Company and Other Clients provide products and services to or otherwise contract with the Company and its portfolio companies, among others. In the alternative, the Firm may form a joint venture with such a company to implement such referral arrangement. For example, such arrangements may include the establishment of a joint venture or other business arrangement between the Firm, on the one hand, and a portfolio company of the Company, portfolio company of an Other Client or third party, on the other hand, pursuant to which the joint venture or business provides services (including, without limitation, corporate support services, loan management services, management services, operational services, risk management services, data management services, consulting services, brokerage services, insurance procurement, placement, brokerage and consulting services, and other services) to portfolio companies of the Company (and portfolio companies of Other Clients) that are referred to the joint venture or business by the Firm. The Firm, the Company and Other Clients and their respective portfolio companies and personnel and related parties of the foregoing may make referrals or introductions to portfolio companies of the Company or Other Clients in an effort, in part, to increase the customer base of such companies or businesses (and therefore the value of the investment held by the Company or Other Client, which would also benefit the Firm financially through its participation in such joint venture or business) or because such referrals or introductions may result in financial benefits, such as additional equity ownership and/or milestones benefitting the referring or introducing party that are tied or related to participation by the portfolio companies of the Company and/or of Other Clients, accruing to the party making the introduction. The Company and the shareholders will not share in any fees, economics, equity or other benefits accruing to the Firm, Other Clients and their portfolio companies as a result of the introduction of the Company and its portfolio companies. Moreover, payments made to the Firm in connection with such arrangements will not reduce the management fee payable to the Adviser. There may, however, be instances in which the applicable arrangements provide that the Company or its portfolio companies share in some or all of any resulting financial incentives (including, in some cases, equity ownership) based on structures and allocation methodologies determined in the sole discretion of the Firm. Conversely, where the Company or one of its portfolio companies is the referring or introducing party, rather than receiving all of the financial incentives (including, in some cases, additional equity ownership) for similar types of referrals and/or introductions, such financial incentives (including, in some cases, equity ownership) may be similarly shared with the participating Other Clients or their respective portfolio companies.

The Firm may also enter into commercial relationships with third party companies, including those in which the Company considered making an investment (but ultimately chose not to pursue). For example, the Firm may enter into an introducer engagement with such company, pursuant to which the Firm introduces the company to unaffiliated third parties (which may include current and former portfolio companies and portfolio companies of Other Clients and/or their respective employees) in exchange for a fee from, or equity interest in, such company. Even though the Firm may benefit financially from this commercial relationship, the Firm will be under no obligation to reimburse the Company for Broken Deal Expenses incurred in connection with its consideration of the prospective investment and such arrangements will not be subject to the management fee payable to the Adviser and otherwise described herein.
Additionally, the Firm or an affiliate thereof will from time to time hold equity or other investments in companies or businesses that provide services to or otherwise contract with portfolio companies. Blackstone and GSO have in the past entered (and can be expected in the future to enter) into relationships with companies in the information technology, corporate services and related industries whereby Blackstone acquires an equity or similar interest in such company. In connection with such relationships, Blackstone and/or GSO may also make referrals and/or introductions to portfolio companies (which may result in financial incentives (including additional equity ownership) and/or milestones benefitting Blackstone and/or GSO that are tied or related to participation by portfolio companies). Such joint venture or business could use data obtained from portfolio companies of the Company and/or portfolio companies of Other Clients. (See “—Data.”) These arrangements may be entered into without the consent or direct involvement of the Company. The Company and the shareholders will not share in any fees or economics accruing to Blackstone and/or GSO as a result of these relationships and/or participation by portfolio companies.
With respect to transactions or agreements with portfolio companies (including, for the avoidance of doubt, long-term incentive plans), at times if officers unrelated to the Firm have not yet been appointed to represent a portfolio company, the Firm may negotiate and execute agreements between the Firm and/or the Company on the one hand, and the portfolio company or its affiliates, on the other hand, without arm’s length representation of the portfolio company, which could entail a conflict of interest in relation to efforts to enter into terms that are arm’s length. Among the measures the Firm may use to mitigate such conflicts are to involve outside counsel to review and advise on such agreements and provide insights into commercially reasonable terms, or establish separate groups with information barriers within the Firm to advise on each side of the negotiation.

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Related Party Leasing. Subject to applicable law, the Company and its portfolio companies may lease property to or from Blackstone, Other Clients and their portfolio companies and affiliates and other related parties. The leases are generally expected to be at market rates. Blackstone may confirm market rates by reference to other leases it is aware of in the market, which Blackstone expects to be generally indicative of market given the scale of Blackstone’s real estate business. Blackstone will nonetheless have conflicts of interest in making these determinations. There can be no assurance that the Company and its portfolio companies will lease to or from any such related parties on terms as favorable to the Company and its portfolio companies as would apply if the counterparties were unrelated.

Cross-Guarantees and Cross-Collateralization. While GSO generally seeks to use reasonable efforts to avoid cross-guarantees and other similar arrangements, a counterparty, lender or other participant in any transaction to be pursued by the Company (other than alternative investment vehicles) and/or the Other Clients may require or prefer facing only one fund entity or group of entities, which may result in any of the Company, such Other Clients, the portfolio companies, such Other Clients’ portfolio companies and/or other vehicles being jointly and severally liable for such applicable obligation (subject to any limitations set forth in the applicable partnership agreements or other governing documents thereof), which in each case may result in the Company, such Other Clients, such portfolio companies, and/or vehicles entering into a back-to-back or other similar reimbursement agreement, subject to applicable law. In such situation, better financing terms may be available through a cross-collateralized arrangement, but it is not expected that any of the Company or such Other Clients or vehicles would be compensated (or provide compensation to the other) for being primarily liable vis-à-vis such third party counterparty. Also, it is expected that cross-collateralization will generally occur at portfolio companies rather than the Company for obligations that are not recourse to the Company except in limited circumstances such as “bad boy” events. Any cross-collateralization arrangements with Other Clients could result in the Company losing its interests in otherwise performing investments due to poorly performing or non-performing investments of Other Clients in the collateral pool.

Similarly, a lender could require that it face only one portfolio company of the Company and Other Clients, even though multiple portfolio companies of the Company and Other Clients benefit from the lending, which will typically result in (i) the portfolio company facing the lender being solely liable with respect to the entire obligation, and therefore being required to contribute amounts in respect of the shortfall attributable to other portfolio companies, and (ii) portfolio companies of the Company and Other Clients being jointly and severally liable for the full amount of the obligation, liable on a cross-collateralized basis or liable for an equity cushion (which cushion amount may vary depending upon the type of financing or refinancing (e.g., cushions for refinancings may be smaller)). The portfolio companies of the Company and Other Clients benefiting from a financing may enter into a back-to-back or other similar reimbursement agreements to ensure no portfolio company bears more than its pro rata portion of the debt and related obligations. It is not expected that the portfolio companies would be compensated (or provide compensation to other portfolio companies) for being primarily liable, or jointly liable, for other portfolio companies pro rata share of any financing.

Joint Venture Partners. The Company will from time to time enter into one or more joint venture arrangements with third party joint venture partners. Investments made with joint venture partners will often involve performance-based compensation and other fees payable to such joint venture partners, as determined by the Adviser in its sole discretion. The joint venture partners could provide services similar to those provided by the Adviser to the Company. Yet, no compensation or fees paid to the joint venture partners would reduce the management fees payable by the Company. Additional conflicts would arise if a joint venture partner is related to the Firm in any way, such as a limited partner investor in, lender to, a shareholder of, or a service provider to the Firm, the Company, Other Clients, or their respective portfolio companies, or any affiliate, personnel, officer or agent of any of the foregoing.

Group Procurement; Discounts. The Company (subject to applicable law) and certain portfolio companies will enter into agreements regarding group procurement (such as CoreTrust, an independent group purchasing organization), benefits management, purchase of title and/or other insurance policies (which may include brokerage and/or placement thereof, and will from time to time be pooled across portfolio companies and discounted due to scale, including through sharing of deductibles and other forms of shared risk retention) from a third party or an affiliate of GSO and/or Blackstone, and other operational, administrative or management related initiatives. The Firm will allocate the cost of these various services and products purchased on a group basis among the Company, Other Clients and their portfolio companies. Some of these arrangements result in commissions, discounts, rebates or similar payments to GSO and/or Blackstone or their affiliates (including personnel), or Other Clients and their portfolio companies, including as a result of transactions entered into by the Company and its portfolio companies and/or related to a portion of the savings achieved by the portfolio companies. Such commissions or payment will not reduce the management fee. The Firm may also receive consulting or other fees from the parties to these group procurement arrangements. To the extent that a portfolio company of an Other Client is providing such a service, such portfolio company and such Other Client will benefit. Further, the benefits received by a particular portfolio company providing the service may be greater than those received by the Company and its portfolio companies receiving the service. Conflicts exist in the allocation of the costs and benefits of these arrangements, and shareholders rely on the Adviser to handle them in its sole discretion.

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Diverse Shareholder Group. The Company’s shareholders are expected to be based in a wide variety of jurisdictions and take a wide variety of forms. The shareholders may have conflicting investment, tax and other interests with respect to their investments in the Company and with respect to the interests of investors in other investment vehicles managed or advised by the Adviser and GSO that may participate in the same investments as the Company. The conflicting interests of individual shareholders with respect to other shareholders and relative to investors in other investment vehicles would generally relate to or arise from, among other things, the nature of investments made by the Company and such other partnerships, the structuring or the acquisition of investments and the timing of disposition of investments. As a consequence, conflicts of interest may arise in connection with the decisions made by the Adviser or GSO, including with respect to the nature or structuring of investments that may be more beneficial for one investor than for another investor, especially with respect to investors’ individual tax situations. In addition, the Company may make investments that may have a negative impact on related investments made by the shareholders in separate transactions. In selecting and structuring investments appropriate for the Company, the Adviser or GSO will consider the investment and tax objectives of the Company and the shareholders (and those of investors in other investment vehicles managed or advised by the Adviser or GSO) as a whole, not the investment, tax or other objectives of any Shareholder individually.

In addition, certain shareholders also may be investors in Other Clients, including supplemental capital vehicles and co-investment vehicles that may invest alongside the Company in one or more investments, consistent with applicable law and/or any applicable SEC-granted order. Shareholders also may include affiliates of the Firm, such as Other Clients, affiliates of portfolio companies of the Company or Other Clients, charities, foundations or other entities or programs associated with Firm personnel and/or current or former Firm employees, the Firm’s senior advisors and/or operating partners and any affiliates, funds or persons may also invest in the Company through the vehicles established in connection with the Firm’s side-by-side co-investment rights, subject to applicable law, in each case, without being subject to management fees, and shareholders will not be afforded the benefits of such arrangements. Some of the foregoing Firm related parties are sponsors of feeder vehicles that could invest in the Company as shareholders. The Firm related sponsors of feeder vehicles generally charge their investors additional fees, including performance based fees, which could provide the Firm current income and increase the value of its ownership position in them. The Firm will therefore have incentives to refer potential investors to these feeder vehicles. All of these Firm related shareholders will have equivalent rights to vote and withhold consents as nonrelated shareholders. Nonetheless, the Firm may have the ability to influence, directly or indirectly, these Firm related shareholders.

It is also possible that the Company or its portfolio companies will be a counterparty (such counterparties dealt with on an arm’s-length basis) or participant in agreements, transactions or other arrangements with a shareholder or an affiliate of a shareholder. Such transactions may include agreements to pay performance fees to operating partners, a management team and other related persons in connection with the Company’s investment therein, which will reduce the Company’s returns. Such shareholders described in the previous sentences may therefore have different information about the Firm and the Company than shareholders not similarly positioned. In addition, conflicts of interest may arise in dealing with any such shareholders, and the Adviser and its affiliates may not be motivated to act solely in accordance with its interests relating to the Company. Similar information disparity may occur as a result of shareholders monitoring their investments in vehicles such as the Company differently. For example, certain shareholders may periodically request from the Adviser information regarding the Company, its investments and/or portfolio companies that is not otherwise set forth in (or has yet to be set forth) in the reporting and other information required to be delivered to all shareholders. In such circumstances, the Adviser may provide such information to such shareholders, subject to applicable law and regulations. Unless required by applicable law, the Adviser will not be obligated to affirmatively provide such information to all shareholders (although the Adviser will generally provide the same information upon request and treat shareholders equally in that regard). As a result, certain shareholders may have more information about the Company than other shareholders, and, unless required by applicable law, the Adviser will have no duty to ensure all shareholders seek, obtain or process the same information regarding the Company, its investments and/or portfolio companies. Therefore, certain shareholders may be able to take actions on the basis of such information which, in the absence of such information, other shareholders do not take. Furthermore, at certain times the Firm may be restricted from disclosing to the shareholders material non-public information regarding any assets in which the Company invests, particularly those investments in which an Other Client or portfolio company that is publicly registered co-invests with the Company. In addition, investment banks or other financial institutions, as well as Firm personnel, may also be shareholders. These institutions and personnel are a potential source of information and ideas that could benefit the Company, and may receive information about the Company and its portfolio companies in their capacity as a service provider or vendor to the Company and its portfolio companies.

Possible Future Activities. The Firm and its affiliates may expand the range of services that it provides over time. Except as provided herein, the Firm and its affiliates will not be restricted in the scope of its business or in the performance of any such services (whether now offered or undertaken in the future) even if such activities could give rise to conflicts of interest, and whether or not such conflicts are described herein. The Firm and its affiliates have, and will continue to develop, relationships with a significant number of companies, financial sponsors and their senior managers, including relationships with clients who may hold or may have held investments similar to those intended to be made by the Company. These clients may
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themselves represent appropriate investment opportunities for the Company or may compete with the Company for investment opportunities.

Restrictions Arising under the Securities Laws. The Firm’s activities and the activities of Other Clients (including the holding of securities positions or having one of its employees on the board of directors of a portfolio company) could result in securities law restrictions on transactions in securities held by the Company, affect the prices of such securities or the ability of such entities to purchase, retain or dispose of such investments, or otherwise create conflicts of interest, any of which could have an adverse impact on the performance of the Company and thus the return to the shareholders.

The 1940 Act may limit the Company’s ability to undertake certain transactions with or alongside its affiliates that are registered under the 1940 Act. As a result of these restrictions, the Company may be prohibited from executing “joint” transactions with the Company’s 1940 Act registered affiliates, which could include investments in the same portfolio company (whether at the same or different times) or buying investments from, or selling them to, Other Clients. These limitations may limit the scope of investment opportunities that would otherwise be available to the Company.

We have received an exemptive order from the SEC that permits us, among other things, to co-invest with certain other persons, including certain affiliates of the Adviser and certain funds managed and controlled by the Adviser and its affiliates, subject to certain terms and conditions.

Shareholders’ Outside Activities. A shareholder shall be entitled to and may have business interests and engage in activities in addition to those relating to the Company, including business interests and activities in direct competition with the Company and its portfolio companies, and may engage in transactions with, and provide services to, the Company or its portfolio companies (which may include providing leverage or other financing to the Company or its portfolio companies as determined by the Adviser in its sole discretion). None of the Company, any shareholder or any other person shall have any rights by virtue of the Company’s operative documents in any business ventures of any shareholder. The shareholder, and in certain cases the Adviser, will have conflicting loyalties in these situations.
Subscription Credit Facility. The Company has entered into and may enter into additional subscription credit facilities, which involve potential conflicts of interest. The use of a subscription credit facility by the Company is within the Adviser’s discretion. Subject to the terms of any subscription-based credit facility for the Company, the Adviser has adopted a policy relating to the use of fund-level credit facilities for the Company. Generally and without limiting the foregoing, the Company may seek to utilize a subscription credit facility for the purpose of, among other things, financing any investment-related activities of the Company (such as for assets that the Company does not intend to hold for a long term period), covering Company Expenses, organizational expenses, management fees and any other costs of the Company, making distributions to shareholders, providing permanent financing or refinancing or providing interim financing to consummate the purchase of investments. The amount of credit available to the Company under a subscription credit facility is partially determined by the committed capital and credit quality of the shareholders, as determined by the lender. For this reason, shareholders with a higher credit quality, as determined by the lender, may generate more credit for the Company than shareholders with a lower credit quality, which can result in an indirect benefit conferred by the higher credit quality shareholders to the others.
Use of leverage arrangements with respect to investments may make reaching the hurdle amount easier and accelerate or increase the incentive fees payable to the Adviser, providing the Adviser with an economic incentive to fund investments through borrowings in lieu of capital contributions. Moreover, the costs and expenses of any such borrowings will be borne by the Company, which would be expected to diminish net cash on cash returns.
The Adviser maintains substantial flexibility in choosing when and how the Company’s subscription-based credit facilities or asset-backed facilities (or other facilities), if any, are used. The Adviser may adopt from time to time policies or guidelines relating to the use of such credit facilities. Such policies or guidelines may include using the credit facilities to systematically defer calling capital from shareholders (such as seeking to call capital only once a year). In addition to using such facilities to defer capital calls, the Adviser may elect to use long-term fund-level financing for investments made by the Company including (a) for investments that have a longer lead time to generate cash flow or to acquire assets, (b) for platform investments that require capital to fund operating expenses prior to developing sufficient scale to self-fund or generate enterprise value, (c) for investments where cash is retained in the business to fund activity that results in incremental returns for the investment, (d) to make margin payments as necessary under currency hedging arrangements, (e) to fund management fees and/or Company Expenses otherwise payable by the Company, (f) for investments in portfolio companies denominated in or with revenues in a foreign currency, (g) to lever returns generated by the Company’s investments, and (h) when the Adviser otherwise determines that it is in the best interests of the Company.
Insurance. The Adviser will cause the Company to purchase, and/or bear premiums, fees, costs and expenses (including any expenses or fees of insurance brokers) for insurance to insure the Company and the Board of Trustees against
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liability in connection with the activities of the Company. This includes a portion of any premiums, fees, costs and expenses for one or more “umbrella,” group or other insurance policies maintained by the Firm that cover the Company and one or more of the Other Clients, the Adviser, GSO and/or Blackstone (including their respective directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives, independent client representative (if any) and other indemnified parties). The Adviser will make judgments about the allocation of premiums, fees, costs and expenses for such “umbrella,” group or other insurance policies among the Company, one or more Other Clients, the Adviser, GSO and/or Blackstone on a fair and reasonable basis, subject to approval by the Board of Trustees.
Additional Potential Conflicts of Interest. The officers, directors, members, managers, employees and personnel of the Adviser may trade in securities for their own accounts, subject to restrictions and reporting requirements as may be required by law or the Firm’s policies, or otherwise determined from time to time by the Adviser. In addition, certain Other Clients may be subject to the 1940 Act or other regulations that, due to the role of the Firm, could restrict the ability of the Company to buy investments from, to sell investments to or to invest in the same securities as, such Other Clients. Such regulations may have the effect of limiting the investment opportunities available to the Company. In addition, as a consequence of Blackstone’s status as a public company, the officers, directors, members, managers and personnel of the Adviser may take into account certain considerations and other factors in connection with the management of the business and affairs of the Company and its affiliates that would not necessarily be taken into account if Blackstone were not a public company. The directors of Blackstone have fiduciary duties to shareholders of the public company that may conflict with their duties to the Company. Finally, although the Firm believes its positive reputation in the marketplace provides benefit to the Company and Other Clients, the Adviser could decline to undertake investment activity or transact with a counterparty on behalf of the Company for reputational reasons, and this decision could result in the Company foregoing a profit or suffering a loss.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.
None.
Item 2. Properties.
Our corporate headquarters are located at 345 Park Avenue, 31st floor, New York, New York 10154 and are provided by the Administrator in accordance with the terms of our Administration Agreement. We believe that our office facilities are suitable and adequate for our business as it is contemplated to be conducted.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings.
We are not currently subject to any material legal proceedings, nor, to our knowledge, are any material legal proceeding threatened against us. From time to time, we may be a party to certain legal proceedings in the ordinary course of business, including proceedings relating to the enforcement of our rights under contracts with our portfolio companies. Our business is also subject to extensive regulation, which may result in regulatory proceedings against us. While the outcome of any such future legal or regulatory proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty, we do not expect that any such future proceedings will have a material effect upon our financial condition or results of operations.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not applicable.
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PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.
Market Information
There is not currently, and until an Exchange Listing we do not expect there to be, a public market for our shares, nor can we give any assurance that one will develop.
Our shares may not be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or otherwise disposed of unless (i) our Adviser consents to such transfer and (ii) the shares is registered under applicable securities laws or specifically exempted from registration (in which case the shareholder may, at our option, be required to provide us with a legal opinion, in form and substance satisfactory to us, that registration is not required). Accordingly, an investor must be willing to bear the economic risk of investment in the shares until we are liquidated. No sale, transfer, assignment, pledge or other disposition, whether voluntary or involuntary, of the shares may be made except by registration of the transfer on our books. Each transferee will be required to execute an instrument agreeing to be bound by these restrictions and the other restrictions imposed on our shares and to execute such other instruments or certifications as we may reasonably require.
Holders
As of February 21, 2020, there were 11,091 holders of record of our shares.
Distributions and Dividend Reinvestment
We generally intend to distribute, out of assets legally available for distribution, substantially all of our available earnings, on a quarterly basis, as determined by the Board in its discretion. We can offer no assurance that we will achieve results that will permit the payment of any cash distributions and, if we issue senior securities, we will be prohibited from making distributions if doing so causes us to fail to maintain the asset coverage ratios stipulated by the 1940 Act or if distributions are limited by the terms of any of our borrowings.
The following table summarizes our distributions declared and payable for the year ended December 31, 2019 (dollars in thousands except per share amounts):
Date Declared Record Date Payment Date Per Share Amount Total Amount
January 22, 2019 January 23, 2019 May 15, 2019 $ 0.1239    $ 1,192   
February 28, 2019 March 27, 2019 May 15, 2019 0.3536    5,406   
March 26, 2019 March 31, 2019 May 15, 2019 0.0225    565   
June 26, 2019 June 26, 2019 August 14, 2019 0.4780    12,010   
June 26, 2019 June 30, 2019 August 14, 2019 0.0220    827   
August 8, 2019 August 8, 2019 November 14, 2019 0.2120    7,967   
September 24, 2019 September 24, 2019 November 14, 2019 0.2554    9,973   
September 24, 2019 September 30, 2019 November 14, 2019 0.0326    1,752   
December 13, 2019 December 15, 2019 January 30, 2020 0.4130    22,226   
December 16, 2019 December 31, 2019 January 30, 2020 0.0870    5,593   
Total distributions $ 2.0000    $ 67,511   
Pursuant to our dividend reinvestment plan, the following table summarizes the amounts received and shares issued to shareholders who have not opted out of our dividend reinvestment plan during the year ended December 31, 2019 (dollars in thousands except per share amounts):

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Payment Date DRIP Shares Value DRIP Shares Issued
May 15, 2019 $ 519    20,605   
August 14, 2019 1,748    68,165   
November 14, 2019 2,051    79,894   
Total $ 4,318    168,664   
All of the dividends declared during the year ended December 31, 2019 were derived from ordinary income, determined on a tax basis.
During the period from November 20, 2018 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2018, no distributions were declared or paid by the Company.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities and Use of Proceeds
Except as previously reported by the Company on its current reports on Form 8-K, we did not sell any securities during the period covered by this Annual Report that were not registered under the Securities Act.
Item 6. Selected Financial Data.
The following table below sets forth our selected consolidated historical financial data. The selected consolidated historical financial data has been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements, which is included elsewhere in this Form 10-K.
The selected consolidated financial information and other data presented below should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto and “ITEM 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” which are included elsewhere in this Annual Report (dollar amounts in thousands, expect for per share data). The year ended December 31, 2018 represents the period from November 20, 2018 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2018.
  For the Year Ended December 31, 2019 For the Year Ended December 31, 2018
Consolidated Statements of Operations Data  
Investment income:  
Total investment income $ 148,048    $ 3,174   
Expenses:     
Net expenses (including excise tax expense) 74,194    1,887   
Net investment income 73,854    1,287   
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) 28,329    (3,650)  
Net realized gain (loss) 4,023    (581)  
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations $ 106,206    $ (2,944)  
Per share data  
Net investment income per share (basic and diluted) $ 2.18    $ 0.17   
Earnings (loss) per share (basic and diluted) $ 3.14    $ (0.39)  
Distributions declared $ 2.00    $ —   

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  December 31, 2019 December 31, 2018
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data  
Cash and cash equivalents $ 65,495    $ 6,228   
Investments at fair value 3,092,440    545,325   
Total assets 3,190,107    574,743   
Total debt 1,454,214    185,000   
Total liabilities 1,516,990    338,378   
Total net assets 1,673,117    236,365   
Net asset value per share $ 26.02    $ 24.57   

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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
The discussion and analysis contained in this section refers to our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. The information contained in this section should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto in Part II, Item 8 of this Form 10-K “Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.” This discussion contains forward-looking statements and involves numerous risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to those described in Part I, Item 1A of this Form 10-K “Risk Factors.”  Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated by such forward-looking information due to factors discussed under “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” appearing elsewhere in this Form 10-K. The year ended December 31, 2018 represents the period from November 20, 2018 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2018.   
Overview and Investment Framework
We are a Delaware statutory trust structured as a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company that has elected to be regulated as a BDC under the 1940 Act. In addition, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, we elected to be treated as a RIC under the Code. We are managed by our Adviser. The Administrator will provide the administrative services necessary for us to operate.
Our investment objectives are to generate current income and, to a lesser extent, long-term capital appreciation.
Under normal market conditions, we generally invest at least 80% of our total assets (net assets plus borrowings for investment purposes) in secured debt investments (including investments that are secured by equity interests) and our portfolio is composed primarily of first lien senior secured and unitranche loans (including first out/last out loans), generally with total investment sizes less than $300 million, which criteria may change from time to time. To a lesser extent, we have and may continue to also invest in second lien, third lien, unsecured or subordinated loans, generally with total investment sizes less than $100 million, which criteria may change from time to time, and other debt and equity securities. We do not currently focus on investments in issuers that are distressed or in need of rescue financing.
We commenced our loan origination and investment activities contemporaneously with the Initial Drawdown on November 20, 2018.  The proceeds from the Initial Drawdown and availability under our credit facilities provided us with the necessary seed capital to commence operations.  See “—Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources—Borrowings.” We anticipate raising additional equity capital for investment purposes through additional closings under the Private Offering.
Key Components of Our Results of Operations
Investments
We focus primarily on loans and securities, including syndicated loans, of private U.S. companies, specifically small and middle market companies, which we define as companies with annual revenue of $50 million to $2.5 billion, at the time of investment. Specifically, for our originated investments, we target companies with $25 million to $75 million of EBITDA. In many market environments, we believe such a focus offers an opportunity for superior risk-adjusted returns.

Our level of investment activity (both the number of investments and the size of each investment) can and will 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 for such companies, the general economic environment, trading prices of loans and other securities and the competitive environment for the types of investments we make.
Revenues
We generate revenues in the form of interest income from the debt securities we hold and dividends and capital appreciation on either direct equity investments or equity interests obtained in connection with originating loans, such as options, warrants or conversion rights. Our debt investments typically have a term of five to eight years and bear interest at floating rates on the basis of a benchmark such as LIBOR. In some instances, we receive payments on our debt investments based on scheduled amortization of the outstanding balances. In addition, we may receive repayments of some of our debt investments prior to their scheduled maturity date. The frequency or volume of these repayments fluctuates significantly from period to period. Our portfolio activity also reflects the proceeds of sales of securities. In some cases, our investments may provide for deferred interest payments or PIK interest. The principal amount of loans and any accrued but unpaid interest generally become due at the maturity date.
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In addition, we generate revenue in the form of commitment, loan origination, structuring or diligence fees, fees for providing managerial assistance to our portfolio companies, and possibly consulting fees.
Expenses
Except as specifically provided below, all investment professionals and staff of the Adviser, when and to the extent engaged in providing investment advisory services to us, and the base compensation, bonus and benefits, and the routine overhead expenses, of such personnel allocable to such services, will be provided and paid for by the Adviser. We bear all other costs and expenses of our operations, administration and transactions, including, but not limited to (a) investment advisory fees, including management fees and incentive fees, to the Adviser, pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement; (b) our allocable portion of compensation, overhead (including rent, office equipment and utilities) and other expenses incurred by the Administrator in performing its administrative obligations under the Administration Agreement, including but not limited to: (i) our chief compliance officer, chief financial officer and their respective staffs; (ii) investor relations, legal, operations and other non-investment professionals at the Administrator that perform duties for us; and (iii) any internal audit group personnel of Blackstone or any of its affiliates; and (c) all other expenses of our operations and transactions.
With respect to costs incurred in connection with the Company's organization and offering costs, if actual organization and offering costs incurred exceed 0.10% of our total Capital Commitments, the Adviser or its affiliates will bear the excess costs.  To the extent our Capital Commitments later increase, the Adviser or its affiliates may be reimbursed for past payments of excess organization and offering costs made on our behalf provided that the total organization and offering costs borne by us do not exceed 0.10% of total Capital Commitments and provided further that the Adviser or its affiliates may not be reimbursed for payment of excess organization and offering expenses that were incurred more than three years prior to the proposed reimbursement.  Any sales load, platform fees, servicing fees or similar fees or expenses charged directly to an investor in our Private Offering by a placement agent or similar party will not be considered organization or offering expenses of the Company for purposes of our cap on organization and offering expenses.
From time to time, the Adviser, the Administrator or their affiliates may pay third-party providers of goods or services. We will reimburse the Adviser, Administrator or such affiliates thereof for any such amounts paid on our behalf. From time to time, the Adviser or the Administrator may defer or waive fees and/or rights to be reimbursed for expenses. In this regard, the Administrator has waived the right to be reimbursed for rent and related occupancy costs. However, the Administrator may seek reimbursement for such costs in future periods. All of the foregoing expenses will ultimately be borne by our shareholders, subject to the cap on organization and offering expenses described above.
Costs and expenses of the Administrator and the Adviser that are eligible for reimbursement by us will be reasonably allocated to the Company on the basis of time spent, assets under management, usage rates, proportionate holdings, a combination thereof or other reasonable methods determined by the Administrator in accordance with policies adopted by the Board.
On December 12, 2018, we entered into an Expense Support Agreement with the Adviser. The Expense Support Agreement provides that, at such times as the Adviser determines, the Adviser may pay certain Expense Payments of the Company, provided that no portion of the payment will be used to pay any of our interest expense. Such Expense Payment must be made in any combination of cash or other immediately available funds no later than forty-five days after a written commitment from the Adviser to pay such expense, and/or by an offset against amounts due from us to the Adviser or its affiliates. Following any calendar quarter in which Available Operating Funds (as defined in the Expense Support Agreement) exceed Excess Operating Funds, we shall pay Reimbursement Payments to the Adviser until such time as all Expense Payments made by the Adviser to us within three years prior to the last business day of such calendar quarter have been reimbursed. The amount of the Reimbursement Payment for any calendar quarter shall equal the lesser of (i) the Excess Operating Funds in such quarter and (ii) the aggregate amount of all Expense Payments made by the Adviser to us within three years prior to the last business day of such calendar quarter that have not been previously reimbursed by us to the Adviser. The Expense Support Agreement provides additional restrictions on the amount of each Reimbursement Payment for any calendar quarter. The Adviser may waive its right to receive all or a portion of any Reimbursement Payment in any particular calendar quarter, so that such Reimbursement Payment may be reimbursable in a future calendar quarter.
Hedging
We may, but are not required to, enter into interest rate, foreign exchange or other derivative agreements to hedge interest rate, currency, credit or other risks, but we do not generally intend to enter into any such derivative agreements for speculative purposes. Any derivative agreements entered into for speculative purposes are not expected to be material to our business or results of operations. These hedging activities, which will be in compliance with applicable legal and regulatory
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requirements, may include the use of futures, options and forward contracts. We will bear the costs incurred in connection with entering into, administering and settling any such derivative contracts. There can be no assurance any hedging strategy we employ will be successful.
Portfolio and Investment Activity
For the year ended December 31, 2019, we acquired $3,298.8 million aggregate principal amount of investments (including $173.0 million of remaining unfunded commitments), $3,243.2 million of which was first lien debt, $42.1 million of which was second lien debt and $13.5 million of which was equity. For the year ended December 31, 2018, we acquired $616.9 million aggregate principal amount of investments (including $54.7 million of unfunded commitments), $610.5 million of which was first lien debt and $6.4 million of which was second lien debt.
Our investment activity is presented below (information presented herein is at amortized cost unless otherwise indicated) (dollar amounts in thousands):
  For the Year Ended December 31, 2019 For the Year Ended December 31, 2018
Investments:  
Total investments, beginning of period $ 548,753    $ —   
New investments purchased 3,078,070    549,058   
Net accretion of discount on investments 9,812    127   
Net realized gain (loss) on investments 3,962    —   
Investments sold or repaid (572,830)   (432)  
Total investments, end of period $ 3,067,767    $ 548,753   
Amount of investments funded at principal:     
First lien debt investments $ 3,104,807    $ 555,449   
Second lien debt investments 42,083    6,381   
Equity investments 13,487    —   
Total $ 3,160,377    $ 561,830   
Proceeds from investments sold or repaid:     
First lien debt investments $ (558,149)   $ (432)  
Second lien debt investments (14,681)   —   
Equity investments $ —    —   
Total $ (572,830)   $ (432)  
Number of portfolio companies 56    61   
Weighted average yield on debt and income producing investments, at
amortized cost(1)(2)
8.64  % 8.70  %
Weighted average yield on debt and income producing investments, at
fair value(1)(2)
8.57  % 8.76  %
Percentage of debt investments bearing a floating rate 100  % 100  %
Percentage of debt investments bearing a fixed rate —  % —  %
(1)Computed as (a) the annual stated interest rate or yield plus the annual accretion of discounts or less the annual amortization of premiums, as applicable, on accruing debt included in such securities, divided by (b) total first lien and second lien debt (at fair value or cost, as applicable) included in such securities. Actual yields earned over the life of each investment could differ materially from the yields presented above.
(2)As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the weighted average total portfolio yield at cost was 8.60% and 8.70%, respectively. The weighted average total portfolio yield at fair value was 8.53% and 8.76%, respectively.
The composition of our investment portfolio at cost and fair value was as follows (dollar amounts in thousands):
December 31, 2019 December 31, 2018
Cost Fair Value % of Total Investments at Fair Value Cost Fair Value % of Total Investments at Fair Value
First lien debt $ 3,021,498    $ 3,046,101    98.50  % $ 542,395    $ 538,983    98.84  %
Second lien debt 32,782    32,419    1.05    6,358    6,342    1.16   
Equity Investments 13,487    13,920    0.45    —    —    —   
Total $ 3,067,767    $ 3,092,440    100.00  % $ 548,753    $ 545,325    100.00  %
As of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, no loans in the portfolio were on non-accrual status.
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Table of Contents



Results of Operations
The following table represents our operating results (dollar amounts in thousands):
  For the Year Ended December 31, 2019 For the Year Ended December 31, 2018
Total investment income $ 148,048    $ 3,174   
Net expenses (73,729)   (1,835)  
Net investment income before excise tax 74,319    1,339   
Excise tax expense (465)   (52)  
Net investment income after excise tax 73,854    1,287   
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) 28,329    (3,650)  
Net realized gain (loss) 4,023    (581)  
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations $ 106,206    $ (2,944)  
Investment Income
Investment income was as follows (dollar amounts in thousands):
  For the Year Ended December 31, 2019 For the Year Ended December 31, 2018
Interest income $ 146,380    $ 3,174   
Payment-in-kind interest income 988    —   
Fee income 680    —   
Total investment income $ 148,048    $ 3,174   
For the year ended December 31, 2019, total investment income (which includes prepayment premiums and accelerated accretion of upfront loan origination fees and unamortized discounts of $1.6 million and $2.1 million, respectively, which are included within interest income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations) increased from the prior year primarily driven by our deployment of capital and increased invested balance of our investments and the fact that we had a full year of operations compared to a partial period in the prior year. The size of our investment portfolio at fair value increased from $545.3 million at December 31, 2018 to $3,092.4 million at December 31, 2019.
With the exception of three equity investments (which represented 0.45% of the total fair value of the portfolio), all investments were income producing senior secured debt investments. There were no loans on non-accrual status as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018.
Expenses
Expenses were as follows (dollar amounts in thousands):
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  For the Year Ended December 31, 2019 For the Year Ended December 31, 2018
Interest expense $ 35,431    $ 1,351   
Management fees 12,635    309   
Income based incentive fee 13,818    —   
Capital gains incentive fee 4,218    —   
Professional fees 1,338    212   
Board of Trustees' fees 430    177   
Administrative service fees 1,506    362   
Other general and administrative 3,033    333   
Organization costs —    670   
Amortization of offering costs 1,090    117   
Excise tax expense 465    52   
Total expenses (including excise tax expense) 73,964    3,583   
Expense support (570)   (1,696)  
Recoupment of expense support 800    —   
Net expenses (including excise tax expense) $ 74,194    $ 1,887   
The increase in interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to the prior year, was driven by increased borrowings under our credit facilities related to increased deployment of capital for investments and the fact that we had a full year of operations compared to a partial period in the prior year. The average principal debt outstanding increased to $776.6 million at December 31, 2019 from $162.0 million at December 31, 2018.
The increase in management fees and income based incentive fees for the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to the prior year were driven by our deployment of capital which resulted in a higher level of investments (increased to $3,092.4 million at December 31, 2019 from $545.3 million at December 31, 2018) and pre-incentive fee net investment income.
We accrued capital gains incentive fees of $4.2 million in the current year as compared to $0.0 million in the prior year as a result of net realized and unrealized gains as of December 31, 2019. However, none of this amount is payable as of December 31, 2019 under the investment advisory agreement.
Organization costs and offering costs include expenses incurred in our initial formation and our Private Offering. Professional fees include legal, rating agencies, audit, tax, valuation, technology and other professional fees incurred related to the management of us. Administrative service fees represent fees paid to the Administrator for our allocable portion of overhead and other expenses incurred by the Administrator in performing its obligations under the administration agreement, including our allocable portion of the cost of certain of our executive officers, their respective staff and other non-investment professionals that perform duties for us. Other general and administrative expenses include insurance, filing, research, our sub-administrator, subscriptions and other costs. The increase in professional fees, administrative service fees and other general and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to the prior year was primarily driven by the deployment of capital and the fact that we had a full year of operations in the current year compared to a partial period in the prior year.
The Adviser may elect to make Expense Payments on our behalf, subject to future Reimbursement Payments pursuant to the Expense Support Agreement described above in “—Key Components of Our Results of Operations—Expenses.”
Income Taxes, Including Excise Taxes
We elected to be treated as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code, and we intend to operate in a manner so as to continue to qualify for the tax treatment applicable to RICs. To qualify for tax treatment as a RIC, we must, among other things, distribute to our shareholders in each taxable year generally at least 90% of the sum of our investment company taxable income, as defined by the Code (without regard to the deduction for dividends paid), and net tax-exempt income for that taxable year. To maintain our tax treatment as a RIC, we, among other things, intend to make the requisite distributions to our shareholders, which generally relieve us from corporate-level U.S. federal income taxes.
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Depending on the level of taxable income earned in a tax year, we may carry forward taxable income (including net capital gains, if any) in excess of current year dividend distributions from the current tax year into the next tax year and pay a nondeductible 4% U.S. federal excise tax on such taxable income, as required. To the extent that we determine that our estimated current year annual taxable income will be in excess of estimated current year dividend distributions from such income, we will accrue excise tax on estimated excess taxable income.
For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, we incurred $0.5 million and $0.1 million, respectively, of U.S. federal excise tax.
Net Unrealized Gain (Loss)
We fair value our portfolio investments quarterly and any changes in fair value are recorded as unrealized gains or losses. Net unrealized gain (loss) was comprised of the following (dollar amounts in thousands):
For the Year Ended December 31, 2019 For the Year Ended December 31, 2018
Net unrealized gain (loss) on investments $ 28,173    $ (3,428)  
Net unrealized gain (loss) on forward purchase obligation 222    (222)  
Net unrealized gain (loss) on translation of assets and liabilities in foreign currencies (66)   —   
Net unrealized gain (loss) on investments $ 28,329    $ (3,650)  

For the year ended December 31, 2019, the net unrealized gains on investments were primarily driven by increases in the value of our quoted loan portfolio and non-quoted loan portfolio of $22.8 million and $5.3 million, respectively.
For the year ended December 31, 2018, the net unrealized losses on investments were primarily driven by decreases in the value of our quoted loan portfolio and non-quoted loan portfolio of $2.4 million and $1.0 million, respectively.

Net Realized Gain (Loss)

The realized gains and losses on fully exited and partially exited investments comprised of the following (dollar amounts in thousands):

For the Year Ended December 31, 2019 For the Year Ended December 31, 2018
Net realized gain (loss) on investments $ 3,962    $ —   
Net realized gain (loss) on foreign currency transactions 61    —   
Net realized gain (loss) on derivative —    (581)  
Net realized gain (loss) on investments $ 4,023    $ (581)  

For the year ended December 31, 2019, we generated net realized gains of $4.0 million resulting primarily from full or partial sales of quoted loans.
Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources
We generate cash from the net proceeds from the drawdown of Capital Commitments, proceeds from net borrowings on our credit facilities and income earned on our debt investments. Other potential future sources of capital include proceeds from secured or unsecured financings from banks or other lenders and proceeds from public or private offerings of debt or equity securities. The primary uses of our cash and cash equivalents are for (i) originating loans and purchasing senior secured debt investments, (ii) funding the costs of our operations (including fees paid to our Adviser and expense reimbursements paid to our Administrator), (iii) debt service, repayment and other financing costs of our borrowings and (iv) cash distributions to the holders of our shares.
As of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, we had four and three revolving credit facilities outstanding, respectively, as described in “—Borrowings” below. We may from time to time enter into additional credit facilities, increase the size of our existing credit facilities or issue debt securities. Any such incurrence or issuance would be subject to prevailing market conditions, our liquidity requirements, contractual and regulatory restrictions and other factors. In accordance with the 1940 Act, with certain limited exceptions, we are only allowed to incur borrowings, issue debt securities or issue preferred stock, if immediately after the borrowing or issuance, the ratio of total assets (less total liabilities other than indebtedness) to
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total indebtedness plus preferred stock, is at least 150%. As of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, we had an aggregate amount of $1,454.2 million and $185.0 million of senior securities outstanding and our asset coverage ratio was 215.1% and 227.8%, respectively. The independent members of our Board and our sole initial shareholder approved our asset coverage limit of 150% pursuant to Section 61(a)(2) of the 1940 Act effective September 25, 2018. As of such date, our initial shareholder was the only holder of our shares and it waived the right to receive repurchase offers pursuant to Section 61(a)(2)(D)(ii) of the 1940 Act. We seek to carefully consider our unfunded commitments for the purpose of planning our ongoing financial leverage. Further, we maintain sufficient borrowing capacity within the 150% asset coverage limitation to cover any outstanding unfunded commitments we are required to fund.
Cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2019, taken together with our $820.8 million of available capacity under our credit facilities (subject to borrowing base availability) and our $1,597.6 million of uncalled Capital Commitments is expected to be sufficient for our investing activities and to conduct our operations in the near term.
As of December 31, 2019, we had $65.5 million in cash and cash equivalents. During the year ended December 31, 2019, cash used in operating activities was $2,558.3 million, primarily as a result of funding portfolio investments of $3,077.3 million and a decrease in payables for investments purchased of $139.4 million, partially offset by proceeds from sale of investments of $572.8 million. Cash provided by financing activities was $2,617.6 million during the period, which was primarily the result of proceeds from the issuance of shares of $1,387.8 million and net borrowings on our credit facilities of $1,269.2 million, partially offset by dividends paid in cash of $35.4 million.
As of December 31, 2018, we had $6.2 million in cash and cash equivalents. During the year ended December 31, 2018, cash used in operating activities was $349.8 million, primarily as a result of funding portfolio investments of $428.1 million, the purchase of the equity interests in the Syndicated Warehouse (discussed below), net of cash of $24.0 million; partially offset by a decrease in receivables for investments sold of $12.0 million and an increase in payables for investments purchased of $86.8 million. Cash provided by financing activities was $356.0 million during the period, which was the result of proceeds from the issuance of shares of $239.3 million and net borrowings on our credit facilities of $120.0 million, partially offset by deferred financing costs paid of $2.6 million.
Equity
The following table summarizes the total shares issued and proceeds received related to our capital drawdowns delivered pursuant to the Subscription Agreements for the year ended December 31, 2019 (dollars in millions):

Common Share Issuance Date Number of Common Shares Issued Aggregate Offering Price
January 24, 2019 5,666,095    $ 142.1   
March 28, 2019 9,818,817    247.5   
June 27, 2019 12,453,261    319.7   
August 9, 2019 1,401,367    36.1   
September 25, 2019 14,686,050    377.3   
December 16, 2019 (1)
10,474,169    271.1   
Total 54,499,759    $ 1,393.8   
(1)On December 2, 2019, the Company issued a capital call and delivered capital drawdown notices totaling $271.1 million, of which $5.9 million was received subsequent to December 31, 2019 and recorded as a subscription receivable on the Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities.
The following table summarizes the total shares issued and proceeds received related to our initial capitalization and capital drawdowns delivered pursuant to the Subscription Agreements for the year ended December 31, 2018 (dollars in millions):
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Common Share Issuance Date Number of
Common
Shares Issued
Aggregate
Offering Price
September 14, 2018 60    $ —   
November 20, 2018 5,671,181    141.8   
December 13, 2018 3,950,078    97.5   
Total 9,621,319    $ 239.3   
We entered into Subscription Agreements with a number of investors, including affiliates of our Adviser, providing for the private placement of our shares. Under the terms of the Subscription Agreements, investors are required to fund drawdowns to purchase our shares up to the amount of their respective capital commitment on an as-needed basis each time we deliver a drawdown notice to our investors. As of December 31, 2019, the Company had received Capital Commitments totaling $3,230.6 million ($1,597.6 million remaining undrawn), of which $74.5 million ($36.7 million remaining undrawn) were from affiliates of the Adviser. As of December 31, 2018, the Company had received Capital Commitments totaling $952.2 million ($712.9 million remaining undrawn), of which $15.0 million ($6.9 million remaining undrawn) were from affiliates of the Adviser.
Distributions and Dividend Reinvestment
The following table summarizes our distributions declared and payable for the year ended December 31, 2019 (dollars in thousands except per share amounts):
Date Declared Record Date Payment Date Per Share Amount Total Amount
January 22, 2019 January 23, 2019 May 15, 2019 $ 0.1239    $ 1,192   
February 28, 2019 March 27, 2019 May 15, 2019 0.3536    5,406   
March 26, 2019 March 31, 2019 May 15, 2019 0.0225    565   
June 26, 2019 June 26, 2019 August 14, 2019 0.4780    12,010   
June 26, 2019 June 30, 2019 August 14, 2019 0.0220    827   
August 8, 2019 August 8, 2019 November 14, 2019 0.2120    7,967   
September 24, 2019 September 24, 2019 November 14, 2019 0.2554    9,973   
September 24, 2019 September 30, 2019 November 14, 2019 0.0326    1,752   
December 13, 2019 December 15, 2019 January 30, 2020 0.4130    22,226   
December 16, 2019 December 31, 2019 January 30, 2020 0.0870    5,593   
Total distributions $ 2.0000    $ 67,511   
Pursuant to our dividend reinvestment plan, the following table summarize the amounts received and shares issued to shareholders who have not opted out of our dividend reinvestment plan during the year ended December 31, 2019 (dollars in thousands except per share amounts):

Payment Date DRIP Shares Value DRIP Shares Issued
May 15, 2019 $ 519    20,605   
August 14, 2019 1,748    68,165   
November 14, 2019 2,051    79,894   
Total $ 4,318    168,664   
During the year ended December 31, 2018, we did not declare or pay any distributions.



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Borrowings
Our outstanding debt obligations were as follows (dollar amounts in thousands):
December 31, 2019
Aggregate Principal Committed Outstanding Principal Carrying Value Unused
Portion (1)
Amount Available (2)
Subscription Facility $ 400,000    $ 119,752    $ 119,752    $ 280,248    $ 280,248   
Jackson Hole Funding Facility (3)
600,000    514,151    514,151    85,849    5,843   
Breckenridge Funding Facility 875,000    820,311    820,311    54,689    10,769   
Big Sky Funding Facility 400,000    —    —    400,000    25,481   
Total $ 2,275,000    $ 1,454,214    $ 1,454,214    $ 820,786    $ 322,341   

December 31, 2018
Aggregate
Principal
Committed
Outstanding
Principal
Carrying
Value
Unused
Portion (1)
Amount
Available (2)
Subscription Facility $ 200,000    $ —    $ —    $ 200,000    $ 174,032   
Jackson Hole Funding Facility (3)
300,000    120,000    120,000    180,000    22,966   
Breckenridge Funding Facility 400,000    65,000    65,000    335,000    5,183   
Total $ 900,000    $ 185,000    $ 185,000    $ 715,000    $ 202,181   
(1)The unused portion is the amount upon which commitment fees, if any, are based.
(2)The amount available reflects any limitations related to each respective credit facility’s borrowing base.
(3)Under the Jackson Hole Funding Facility, the Company may borrow in U.S. dollars or certain other permitted currencies. As of December 31, 2019, the Company had borrowings denominated in Euros (EUR) of 23.9 million. As of December 31, 2018, all borrowings outstanding were in USD.
For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, the weighted average interest rate on all borrowings outstanding was 4.36% and 5.42% (including unused fees), respectively, and the average principal debt outstanding was $776.6 million and $162.0 million, respectively.
For additional information on our debt obligations see "Item 8. Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 6. Borrowings.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Portfolio Company Commitments
Our investment portfolio contains and is expected to continue to contain debt investments which are in the form of lines of credit or delayed draw commitments, which require us to provide funding when requested by portfolio companies in accordance with underlying loan agreements. As of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, we had delayed draw term loans with an aggregate of $179.4 million and $54.7 million of unfunded commitments, respectively.
Warehousing Transactions
We entered into two Warehousing Transactions whereby we agreed, subject to certain conditions, to purchase certain assets from  parties unaffiliated with the Adviser. Such Warehousing Transactions were designed to assist us in deploying capital upon receipt of drawdown proceeds. The Middle Market Warehouse related primarily to originated or anchor investments in middle market loans.  The Syndicated Warehouse related primarily to broadly syndicated loans prior to the acquisition of the equity interests of the Syndicated Warehouse by us and merger of the Syndicated Warehouse with our wholly-owned subsidiary, as described below. See—“Item 1A.—Risk Factors — Risks Related to an Investment in the Shares — Risks related to the Warehousing Transactions.
We entered into two warehousing transactions whereby we, subject to certain conditions, to purchase certain assets from parties unaffiliated with the Adviser. Such warehousing transactions were designed to assist us in deploying capital upon receipt of drawdown proceeds. The Middle Market Warehouse related primarily to originated or anchor investments in middle
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market loans. The Syndicated Warehouse related primarily to broadly syndicated loans. Both the Middle Market Warehouse and the Syndicated Warehouse have been terminated.
For additional information on our Warehousing Transactions see Item 8. Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 7. Commitments and Contingencies.
Other Commitments and Contingencies
From time to time, we may become a party to certain legal proceedings incidental to the normal course of its business. At December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, management is not aware of any pending or threatened litigation.
Contractual Obligations
Our contractual obligations consisted of the following as of December 31, 2019 (dollar amounts in thousands):
  Payments Due by Period
  Total Less than
1 year
1-3 years 3-5 years After 5 years
Subscription Facility $ 119,752    $ 119,752    $ —    $ —    $ —   
Jackson Hole Funding Facility 514,151    —    —    514,151    —   
Breckenridge Funding Facility 820,311    —    —    820,311    —   
Big Sky Funding Facility —    —    —    —    —   
Total Contractual Obligations $ 1,454,214    $ 119,752    $ —    $ 1,334,462    $ —   

Related-Party Transactions
We have entered into a number of business relationships with affiliated or related parties, including the following:
the Investment Advisory Agreement; and
the Administration Agreement; and
Expense Support and Conditional Reimbursement Agreement.
In addition to the aforementioned agreements, we, our Adviser and certain of our Adviser’s affiliates have been granted exemptive relief by the SEC to co-invest with other funds managed by our Adviser or its affiliates in a manner consistent with our investment objective, positions, policies, strategies and restrictions as well as regulatory requirements and other pertinent factors. See “Item 8. Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 3. Agreements and Related Party Transactions.
Critical Accounting Policies
The preparation of the consolidated financial statements requires us 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. Our critical accounting policies should be read in connection with our risk factors described in “Item 1A. Risk Factors.”
Fair Value Measurements
The Company is required to report its investments for which current market values are not readily available at fair value. The Company values its investments in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 820, Fair Value Measurements (“ASC 820”), which defines fair value as the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the applicable measurement date. ASC 820 prioritizes the use of observable market prices derived from such prices over entity-specific inputs. Due to the inherent uncertainties of valuation, certain estimated fair values may differ significantly from the values that would have been realized had a ready market for these investments existed, and these differences could be material. See “Item 8. Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 5. Fair Value Measurements.”

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Where available, fair value is based on observable market prices or parameters or derived from such prices or parameters. The Company utilizes mid-market pricing (i.e. mid-point of average bid and ask prices) to value these investments. These market quotations are obtained from independent pricing services, if available; otherwise from at least two principal market makers or primary market dealers. To assess the continuing appropriateness of pricing sources and methodologies, the Adviser regularly performs price verification procedures and issues challenges as necessary to independent pricing services or brokers, and any differences are reviewed in accordance with the valuation procedures. The Adviser does not adjust the prices unless it has a reason to believe market quotations are not reflective of the fair value of an investment. Examples of events that would cause market quotations to not reflect fair value could include cases when a security trades infrequently or not at all, causing a quoted purchase or sale price to become stale, or in the event of a “fire sale” by a distressed seller. All price overrides require approval from the Company’s Board.

Where prices or inputs are not available or, in the judgment of the Board, not reliable, valuation techniques based on the facts and circumstances of the particular investment will be utilized. Securities that are not publicly traded or for which market prices are not readily available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Board, based on, among other things, the input of the Adviser, the Audit Committee of the Board (the “Audit Committee”) and independent valuation firms engaged on the recommendation of the Adviser and at the direction of the Board. These valuation approaches involve some level of management estimation and judgment, the degree of which is dependent on the price transparency for the investments or market and the investments’ complexity.
The Company’s Board undertakes a multi-step valuation process each quarter in connection with determining the fair value of the Company’s investments for which market quotations are not readily available, or are available but deemed not reflective of the fair value of an investment, which includes, among other procedures, the following:
The valuation process begins with each investment being preliminarily valued by the Adviser’s valuation team in conjunction with the Adviser’s investment professionals responsible for each portfolio investment;
In addition, independent valuation firms engaged by the Board prepare valuations of all the Company’s investments over a de minimis threshold.  The independent valuation firms provide a final range of values on such investments to the Board and the Adviser.  The independent valuation firms also provide analyses to support their valuation methodology and calculations;
The Adviser's Valuation Committee reviews each valuation recommendation to confirm they have been calculated in accordance with the valuation policy and compares such valuations to the independent valuation firms’ valuation ranges to ensure the Adviser’s valuations are reasonable;
The Valuation Committee makes valuation recommendations to the Audit Committee;
The Audit Committee reviews the valuation recommendations made by the Adviser's Valuation Committee, including the independent valuation firms' valuations, and once approved, recommends them for approval by the Board; and
The Board reviews the valuation recommendations of the Audit Committee and determines the fair value of each investment in the portfolio in good faith based on the input of the Audit Committee, the Adviser's Valuation Committee and, where applicable, the independent valuation firms.
Valuation of each of our investments will generally be made as described above as of the end of each fiscal quarter. In cases where we determine our NAV at times other than a quarter end, we intend to update the value of securities with market quotations to the most recent market quotation. For securities without market quotations, non-quarterly valuations will generally be the most recent quarterly valuation unless a material event has occurred since the most recent quarter end with respect to the investment. Independent valuation firms are generally not used for non-quarterly valuations.
As part of the valuation process, the Board takes into account relevant factors in determining the fair value of its investments, many of which are loans, including and in combination, as relevant, of: (i) the estimated enterprise value of a portfolio company, (ii) the nature and realizable value of any collateral, (iii) the portfolio company’s ability to make payments based on its earnings and cash flow, (iv) the markets in which the portfolio company does business, (v) a comparison of the portfolio company’s securities to any similar publicly traded securities, and (vi) overall changes in the interest rate environment and the credit markets that may affect the price at which similar investments may be made in the future. When an external event such as a purchase transaction, public offering or subsequent equity or debt sale occurs, the Board considers whether the pricing indicated by the external event corroborates its valuation.
The Company applies ASC 820, as amended, which establishes a framework for measuring fair value in accordance with U.S. GAAP and required disclosures of fair value measurements. ASC 820 determines fair value to be the price that would
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be received for an investment in a current sale, which assumes an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Market participants are defined as buyers and sellers in the principal or most advantageous market (which may be a hypothetical market) that are independent, knowledgeable, and willing and able to transact. In accordance with ASC 820, the Company considers its principal market to be the market that has the greatest volume and level of activity. ASC 820 specifies a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes and ranks the level of observability of inputs used in determination of fair value. In accordance with ASC 820, these levels are summarized below:
Level 1: Valuations based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that we have the ability to access.
Level 2:  Valuations based on quoted prices in markets that are not active or for which all significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly.
Level 3:  Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement.

Transfers between levels, if any, are recognized at the beginning of the quarter in which the transfer occurred. In addition to using the above inputs in investment valuations, we apply the valuation policy approved by our Board that is consistent with ASC 820. Consistent with the valuation policy, we evaluate the source of the inputs, including any markets in which our investments are trading (or any markets in which securities with similar attributes are trading), in determining fair value. When an investment is valued based on prices provided by reputable dealers or pricing services (that is, broker quotes), we subject those prices to various criteria in making the determination as to whether a particular investment would qualify for treatment as a Level 2 or Level 3 investment. For example, we, or the independent valuation firm(s), review pricing support provided by dealers or pricing services in order to determine if observable market information is being used, versus unobservable inputs.

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 fluctuate from period to period. Additionally, the fair value of such investments may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had a ready market existed for such investments and may differ materially from the values that may ultimately be realized. Further, such investments are generally less liquid than publicly traded securities and may be subject to contractual and other restrictions on resale. If we were required to liquidate a portfolio investment in a forced or liquidation sale, it could realize amounts that are different from the amounts presented and such differences could be material.

In addition, changes in the market environment and other events that may occur over the life of the investments may cause the gains or losses ultimately realized on these investments to be different than the unrealized gains or losses reflected herein.
Interest and Dividend Income Recognition
Interest income is recorded on an accrual basis and includes the accretion of discounts and amortizations of premiums. Discounts from and premiums to par value on debt investments purchased are accreted/amortized into interest income over the life of the respective security using the effective interest method. The amortized cost of debt investments represents the original cost, including loan origination fees and upfront fees received that are deemed to be an adjustment to yield, adjusted for the accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums, if any. Upon prepayment of a loan or debt security, any prepayment premiums, unamortized upfront loan origination fees and unamortized discounts are recorded as interest income in the current period.

Loans are generally placed on non-accrual status when there is reasonable doubt that principal or interest will be collected in full. Accrued interest is generally reversed when a loan is placed on non-accrual status. Additionally, any original issue discount and market discount are no longer accreted to interest income as of the date the loan is placed on non-accrual status. Interest payments received on non-accrual loans may be recognized as income or applied to principal depending upon management’s judgment regarding collectability. Non-accrual loans are restored to accrual status when past due principal and interest is paid current and, in management’s judgment, are likely to remain current. Management may make exceptions to this treatment and determine to not place a loan on non-accrual status if the loan has sufficient collateral value and is in the process of collection.

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Dividend income on preferred equity securities is recorded on the accrual basis to the extent that such amounts are payable by the portfolio company and are expected to be collected. Dividend income on common equity securities is recorded on the record date for private portfolio companies or on the ex-dividend date for publicly-traded portfolio companies.

Fee income (such as structuring, consent, waiver, amendment, syndication fees as well as fees for managerial assistance rendered by the Company) is recognized as income when earned or the services are rendered.
Distributions
To the extent that the Company has taxable income available, the Company intends to make quarterly distributions to its shareholders. Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the record date. All distributions will be paid at the discretion of the Board and will depend on our earnings, financial condition, maintenance of our tax treatment as a RIC, compliance with applicable BDC regulations and such other factors as the Board may deem relevant from time to time.
The Company has adopted a dividend reinvestment plan, pursuant to which it will reinvest all cash dividends declared by the Board on behalf of its shareholders who do not elect to receive their dividends in cash as provided below. As a result, if the Board and the Company declares, a cash dividend or other distribution, then the Company’s shareholders who have not opted out of its dividend reinvestment plan will have their cash distributions automatically reinvested in additional shares as described below, rather than receiving the cash dividend or other distribution. Distributions on fractional shares will be credited to each participating shareholder’s account to three decimal places. A participating shareholder will receive an amount of shares equal to the amount of the distribution on that participant’s shares divided by the most recent quarter-end NAV per share that is available on the date such distribution was paid (unless the Board determines to use the NAV per share as of another time). Shareholders who receive distributions in the form of shares will generally be subject to the same U.S. federal, state and local tax consequences as if they received cash distributions; however, since their cash distributions will be reinvested, those shareholders will not receive cash with which to pay any applicable taxes. The Company intends to use newly issued shares to implement the plan. Shares issued under the dividend reinvestment plan will not reduce outstanding Capital Commitments.
Income Taxes
The Company has elected to be treated as a BDC under the 1940 Act.  The Company also has elected to be treated as a RIC under the Code. So long as the Company maintains its status as a RIC, it generally will not pay corporate-level U.S. federal income taxes on any ordinary income or capital gains that it distributes at least annually to its shareholders as dividends. Rather, any tax liability related to income earned and distributed by the Company would represent obligations of the Company’s investors and would not be reflected in the consolidated financial statements of the Company.

The Company evaluates tax positions taken or expected to be taken in the course of preparing its financial statements to determine whether the tax positions are “more-likely-than-not” to be sustained by the applicable tax authority. Tax positions not deemed to meet the “more-likely-than-not” threshold are reserved and recorded as a tax benefit or expense in the current year. All penalties and interest associated with income taxes are included in income tax expense. Conclusions regarding tax positions are subject to review and may be adjusted at a later date based on factors including, but not limited to, on-going analyses of tax laws, regulations and interpretations thereof.

In addition, based on the excise tax distribution requirements, the Company is subject to a 4% nondeductible federal excise tax on undistributed income unless the Company distributes in a timely manner in each taxable year an amount at least equal to the sum of (1) 98% of its ordinary income for the calendar year, (2) 98.2% of capital gain net income (both long-term and short-term) for the one-year period ending October 31 in that calendar year and (3) any income realized, but not distributed, in prior years. For this purpose, however, any ordinary income or capital gain net income retained by the Company that is subject to corporate income tax is considered to have been distributed.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
We are subject to financial market risks, including valuation risk and interest rate risk.
Valuation Risk
We have invested, and plan to continue to invest, primarily in illiquid debt and equity securities of private companies. Most of our investments will not have a readily available market price, and we value these investments at fair value as determined in good faith by our Board, based on, among other things, the input of the Adviser, our Audit Committee and independent third-party valuation firms engaged at the direction of the Board, and in accordance with our valuation policy.
98




There is no single standard for determining fair value. As a result, determining fair value requires that judgment be applied to the specific facts and circumstances of each portfolio investment while employing a consistently applied valuation process for the types of investments we make. If we were required to liquidate a portfolio investment in a forced or liquidation sale, we may realize amounts that are different from the amounts presented and such differences could be material.
Interest Rate Risk
Interest rate sensitivity refers to the change in earnings that may result from changes in the level of interest rates. We intend to fund portions of our investments with borrowings, and at such time, our net investment income will be affected by the difference between the rate at which we invest and the rate at which we borrow. Accordingly, we cannot assure shareholders that a significant change in market interest rates will not have a material adverse effect on our net investment income.
As of December 31, 2019, 100% of our debt investments based on fair value in our portfolio were at floating rates. Based on our consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2019, the following table shows the annualized impact on net income of hypothetical base rate changes in interest rates (considering interest rate floors and ceilings for floating rate instruments assuming no changes in our investment and borrowing structure) (dollar amounts in thousands):
  Interest
Income
Interest
Expense
Net
Income
Up 300 basis points $ 93,961    $ (43,626)   $ 50,335   
Up 200 basis points 62,641    (29,084)   33,557   
Up 100 basis points 31,320    (14,542)   16,778   
Down 100 basis points (23,803)   14,542    (9,261)  
Down 200 basis points (23,803)   25,594    1,791   

99




Item 8. Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
101
102
103
104
105
107
115

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the shareholders and the Board of Trustees of Blackstone / GSO Secured Lending Fund:
Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements and Financial Highlights

We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of assets and liabilities of Blackstone / GSO Secured Lending Fund (the "Company"), including the consolidated schedule of investments, as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the related consolidated statements of operations, cash flows, changes in net assets, and the financial highlights for the year ended December 31, 2019 and the period from November 20, 2018 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2018, and the related notes. In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements and financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, and the results of its operations, changes in net assets, cash flows, and the financial highlights for the year ended December 31, 2019 and the period from November 20, 2018 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2018 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These consolidated financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's consolidated financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements and financial highlights, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements and financial highlights. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements and financial highlights. Our procedures included confirmation of investments owned as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, by correspondence with the custodian, loan agents, and borrowers; when replies were not received, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
New York, New York
February 27, 2020
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2018.
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Blackstone / GSO Secured Lending Fund
Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
  December 31, 2019 December 31, 2018
ASSETS  
Investments at fair value  
Non controlled/non affiliated investments (amortized cost of $3,067,767 and $548,753 at December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively)
$ 3,092,440    $ 545,325   
Cash and cash equivalents 65,495    6,228   
Interest receivable from non controlled/non affiliated investments 16,990    2,212   
Deferred financing costs 5,172    2,270   
Deferred offering costs 760    591   
Receivable for investments 2,726    17,746   
Subscription Receivable (Note 8) 5,942    —   
Other assets 582    371   
Total assets $ 3,190,107    $ 574,743   
LIABILITIES
Debt $ 1,454,214    $ 185,000   
Payable for investments purchased 10,086    149,513   
Due to affiliates 2,007    1,761   
Management fees payable 5,045    309   
Income based incentive fee payable 6,345    —   
Capital gains incentive fee payable 4,218    —   
Forward purchase liability at fair value (cost: $0 at December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively) (Note 7)
—    222   
Interest payable 5,496    918   
Distribution payable (Note 8) 27,827    —   
Accrued expenses and other liabilities 1,752    655   
Total liabilities 1,516,990    338,378   
Commitments and contingencies (Note 7)
NET ASSETS
Common shares, $0.001 par value (unlimited shares authorized; 64,289,742 and 9,621,319 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively)
64    10   
Additional paid in capital 1,635,915    239,247   
Distributable earnings (loss) 37,138    (2,892)  
Total net assets 1,673,117    236,365   
Total liabilities and net assets $ 3,190,107    $ 574,743   
NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE $ 26.02    $ 24.57   
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
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Blackstone / GSO Secured Lending Fund
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
  For the Year Ended December 31, 2019 For the period from November 20, 2018 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2018
Investment income:  
From non-controlled/non-affiliated investments:  
Interest income $ 146,380    $ 3,174   
Payment-in-kind interest income 988    —   
Fee income 680    —   
Total investment income 148,048    3,174   
Expenses:
Interest expense 35,431    1,351   
Management fees 12,635    309   
Income based incentive fee 13,818    —   
Capital gains incentive fee 4,218    —   
Professional fees 1,338    212   
Board of Trustees' fees 430    177   
Administrative service expenses (Note 3) 1,506    362   
Other general and administrative 3,033    333   
Organization costs —    670   
Amortization of offering costs 1,090    117   
Total expenses 73,499    3,531   
Expense support (Note 3) (570)   (1,696)  
Recoupment of expense support (Note 3) 800    —   
Net expenses 73,729    1,835   
Net investment income before excise tax 74,319    1,339   
Excise tax expense 465    52   
Net investment income after excise tax 73,854    1,287   
Realized and unrealized gain (loss):
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation):
Non-controlled/non-affiliated investments 28,173    (3,428)  
Forward purchase obligation  (Note 7) 222    (222)  
Translation of assets and liabilities in foreign currencies (66)   —   
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) 28,329    (3,650)  
Realized gain (loss):
Non-controlled/non-affiliated investments 3,962    —   
Foreign currency transactions 61    —   
Derivative (Note 5) —    (581)  
Net realized gain (loss) 4,023    (581)  
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 32,352    (4,231)  
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations $ 106,206    $ (2,944)  
Net investment income per share (basic and diluted) $ 2.18    $ 0.17   
Earnings (loss) per share (basic and diluted) $ 3.14    $ (0.39)  
Weighted average shares outstanding (basic and diluted) 33,858,642    7,458,181   
Distributions declared per share $ 2.00    $ —   
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
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Blackstone / GSO Secured Lending Fund
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Net Assets
(in thousands)

Par Amount Additional Paid in Capital Distributable Earnings (Loss) Total Net Assets
Balance, November 20, 2018 (commencement of operations) $ —    $ —    $ —    $ —   
Issuance of common shares 10    239,299    —    239,309   
Net investment income —    —    1,287    1,287   
Net realized gain (loss) on investments —    —    (581)   (581)  
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments —    —    (3,650)   (3,650)  
Tax reclassification of shareholders’ equity in accordance with US GAAP —    (52)   52    —   
Balance, December 31, 2018 10    239,247    (2,892)   236,365   
Issuance of common shares 54    1,393,685    —    1,393,739   
Reinvestment of dividends —    4,318    —    4,318   
Net investment income —    —    73,854    73,854   
Net realized gain (loss) on investments —    —    4,023    4,023   
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments —    —    28,329    28,329   
Dividends declared from net investment income —    —    (67,511)   (67,511)  
Tax reclassification of shareholders' equity in accordance with US GAAP —    (1,335)   1,335    —   
Balance, December 31, 2019 $ 64    $ 1,635,915    $ 37,138    $ 1,673,117   





























The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
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Blackstone / GSO Secured Lending Fund
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands)
  For the Year Ended December 31, 2019 For the period from November 20, 2018 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2018
Cash flows from operating activities:  
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations $ 106,206    $ (2,944)  
Adjustments to reconcile net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Net unrealized (appreciation) depreciation on investments (28,173)   3,428   
Net unrealized (appreciation) depreciation on forward purchase obligation (222)   222   
Net unrealized (appreciation) depreciation on translation of assets and liabilities in foreign currencies 66    —   
Net realized (gain) loss on investments (3,962)   581   
Net accretion of discount and amortization of premium (9,812)   (127)  
Payment-in-kind interest capitalized (803)   —   
Amortization of deferred financing costs 1,565    327   
Amortization of offering costs 1,090    117   
Payment in connection with settlement of derivative, net of cash received —    (24,015)  
Purchases of investments (3,077,267)   (428,071)  
Proceeds from sale of investments and principal repayments 572,830    432   
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Interest receivable (14,778)   (1,608)  
Receivable for investments 15,020    11,994   
Other assets (211)   (371)  
Payable for investments purchased (139,427)   86,754   
Management fee payable 4,736    309   
Income based incentive fee payable 6,345    —   
Capital gains incentive fee payable 4,218    —   
Due to affiliates (349)   1,761   
Interest payable 4,578    779   
Accrued expenses and other liabilities 65    655   
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities (2,558,285)   (349,777)  
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on credit facilities 2,259,973    238,650   
Repayments on credit facilities (990,754)   (118,650)  
Deferred financing costs paid (3,435)   (2,597)  
Deferred offering costs paid (663)   (707)  
Proceeds from issuance of common shares 1,387,797    239,309   
Dividends paid in cash (35,366)   —   
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 2,617,552    356,005   
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 59,267    6,228   
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 6,228    —   
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 65,495    $ 6,228   
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Supplemental information and non-cash activities:
Interest paid during the period $ 28,946    $ 105   
Distribution payable $ 27,827    $ —   
Subscription receivable $ 5,942    $ —   
Reinvestment of distributions during the period $ 4,318    $ —   
Accrued but unpaid deferred financing and debt issuance costs $ 1,032    $ —   
Accrued but unpaid offering costs $ 596    $ —   
Investments received in purchase of Syndicated Warehouse (Note 7) $ —    $ 120,988   
Debt assumed in purchase of Syndicated Warehouse (Note 7) $ —    $ (65,000)  
Other net operating assets and liabilities assumed in purchase of Syndicated
Warehouse (Note 7)
$ —    $ (31,635)  
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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Blackstone / GSO Secured Lending Fund
Consolidated Schedules of Investments
December 31, 2019
(in thousands)
Investments—non-controlled/non-affiliated (1)(5) Reference Rate
and Spread
Interest Rate (2) Maturity
Date
Par
Amount/Units
Cost (3) Fair
Value
Percentage
of Net Assets 
 
First Lien Debt
Air Freight and Logistics
Livingston International Inc. (6) L + 5.75% 7.69%    4/30/2026 $ 116,415    $ 113,249    $ 115,105    6.88  %
Mode Purchaser, Inc. (4) L + 6.25% 8.14%    12/9/2026 178,325    174,791    174,759    10.45   
R1 Holdings, LLC (4)(7) L + 6.00% 7.69%    1/2/2026 44,732    44,047    44,732    2.67   
332,087    334,596    20.00   
Building Products
Jacuzzi Brands LLC (4)(7) L + 6.50% 8.30%    2/25/2025 91,640    90,132    90,723    5.42   
Latham Pool Products, Inc. L + 6.00% 7.76%    6/13/2025 53,571    51,824    52,812    3.16   
Lindstrom, LLC (4) L + 6.25% 8.48%    4/7/2025 130,633    128,444    129,980    7.77   
Mi Windows and Doors, LLC L + 5.50% 7.21%    11/26/2026 30,000    28,382    30,038    1.80   
The Wolf Organization, LLC (4) L + 6.50% 8.41%    9/3/2026 74,813    73,386    74,625    4.46   
372,168    378,178    22.61   
Chemicals
Alchemy US Holdco 1, LLC L + 5.50% 7.24%    10/10/2025 3,900    3,892    3,843    0.23   
Polymer Additives, Inc. (4) L + 6.00% 7.80%    7/31/2025 29,752    28,457    24,248    1.45   
VDM Buyer, Inc. (4) L + 6.75% 8.69%    4/22/2025 24,267    26,828    26,695    1.60   
VDM Buyer, Inc. (4)(7) L + 6.75% 8.71%    4/22/2025 63,730    62,603    62,455    3.73   
121,780    117,241    7.01   
Commercial Services & Supplies
Research Now Group, LLC L + 5.50% 7.41%    12/20/2024 28,662    28,296    28,701    1.72   
JSS Holdings, Inc. (4) L + 6.25% (incl. 2.00% PIK) 7.99%    10/18/2025 237,678    234,806    234,707    14.03   
263,102    263,408    15.75   
Construction & Engineering
IEA Energy Services LLC L + 8.25% 10.19%    9/25/2024 10,200    9,804    10,315    0.62   
Therma LLC (4) L + 6.50% 8.46%    3/29/2025 128,421    126,114    127,137    7.60   
135,918    137,452    8.22   
Distributors
Bution Holdco 2, Inc. (4) L + 6.25% 7.99%    10/17/2025 124,688    122,280    122,194    7.30   
Construction Supply Acquisition, LLC (4)(7) L + 6.00% 7.69%    10/1/2025 135,756    132,800    134,738    8.05   
Tailwind Colony Holding Corporation (4) L + 7.50% 9.44%    11/13/2024 32,081    31,703    31,439    1.88   
EIS Buyer, LLC (4)(7) L + 6.25% 8.05%    9/30/2025 134,072    131,504    131,390    7.85   
EIS Buyer, LLC (4) L + 6.25% 8.05%    9/30/2020 19,551    19,259    19,258    1.15   
Fastlane Parent Company, Inc. (4) L + 4.50% 6.45%    2/4/2026 34,738    34,131    34,477    2.06   
PSS Industrial Group Corp. (4) L + 6.00% 7.94%    4/10/2025 58,695    54,825    57,374    3.43   
Unified Door and Hardware Group, LLC (4)(7) L + 6.25% 8.19%    6/30/2025 39,048    38,333    38,852    2.32   
564,835    569,722    34.04   
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Blackstone / GSO Secured Lending Fund
Consolidated Schedules of Investments
December 31, 2019
(in thousands)
Investments—non-controlled/non-affiliated (1)(5) Reference Rate
and Spread
Interest Rate (2) Maturity
Date
Par
Amount/Units
Cost (3) Fair
Value
Percentage
of Net Assets 
 
First Lien Debt (continued)
Diversified Financial Services
SelectQuote, Inc. (4) L + 6.00% 7.70%    11/5/2024 78,087    75,497    77,697    4.64   
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components  
Convergeone Holdings, Inc. L + 5.00% 6.80%    1/4/2026 14,766    14,244    14,165    0.85   
Energy Equipment & Services
Abaco Energy Technologies LLC (4) L + 7.00% 8.69%    10/4/2024 58,836    57,157    57,071    3.41   
Tetra Technologies, Inc. (4)(6) L + 6.25% 8.05%    9/10/2025 24,055    23,901    23,213    1.39   
81,058    80,284    4.80   
Health Care Equipment & Supplies
Lifescan Global Corporation L + 6.00% 8.06%    10/1/2024 22,862    22,072    21,890    1.31   
Surgical Specialties Corp (US) Inc. (6) L + 5.00% 6.80%    5/7/2025 33,416    32,218    33,166    1.98   
54,290    55,056    3.29   
Health Care Providers & Services
Epoch Acquisition, Inc. (4) L + 6.75% 8.49%    10/4/2024 25,066    24,791    25,066    1.50   
The GI Alliance Management, LLC (4)(7) L + 6.25% 8.19%    11/2/2024 109,902    107,804    108,191    6.47   
Odyssey Holding Company, LLC (4) L + 5.75% 7.78%    11/16/2025 13,628    13,483    13,492    0.81   
146,078    146,749    8.78   
Health Care Technology
Precyse Acquisition Corporation L + 4.50% 6.30%    10/20/2022 2,962    2,940    2,482    0.15   
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure
Excel Fitness Holdings, Inc. L + 5.25% 7.05%    10/7/2025 47,059    45,018    47,118    2.82   
Industrial Conglomerates
Tailwind Smith Cooper Intermediate Corporation L + 5.00% 6.80%    5/28/2026 32,502    31,754    31,202    1.86   
Interactive Media & Services
Bungie, Inc. (4) L + 6.25% 8.05%    8/28/2024 47,200    46,541    46,846    2.80   
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail
Shutterfly, Inc. L + 6.00% 7.94%    9/25/2026 44,053    40,216    41,611    2.49   
IT Services
Travelport Worldwide Ltd. (6) L + 5.00% 6.94%    5/29/2026 103,730    97,896    97,299    5.81   
Media
DiscoverOrg, LLC L + 4.50% 6.30%    2/2/2026 13,092    12,978    13,157    0.79   
Radiate Holdco LLC (5) L + 3.50% 5.30%    2/1/2024 4,975    4,908    5,015    0.30   
17,886    18,172    1.09   
Machinery
Apex Tool Group, LLC L + 5.50% 7.30%    8/1/2024 50,955    49,820    50,391    3.01   
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels
Eagle Midstream Canada Finance Inc.(4)(7) L + 6.25% 8.17%    11/26/2024 150,862    148,662    148,599    8.87   
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Blackstone / GSO Secured Lending Fund
Consolidated Schedules of Investments
December 31, 2019
(in thousands)
Investments—non-controlled/non-affiliated (1)(5) Reference Rate
and Spread
Interest Rate (2) Maturity
Date
Par
Amount/Units
Cost (3) Fair
Value
Percentage
of Net Assets 
 
First Lien Debt (continued)
Professional Services
APFS Staffing Holdings, Inc. L + 5.00% 6.79%    4/15/2026 22,614    22,206    22,614    1.35   
Minotaur Acquisition, Inc. L + 5.00% 6.80%    3/27/2026 17,597    17,283    17,377    1.04   
GI Revelation Acquisition LLC L + 5.00% 6.80%    4/16/2025 15,155    14,714    14,341    0.86   
54,203    54,332    3.25   
Software
LD Intermediate Holdings, Inc. L + 5.88% 7.93%    12/9/2022 14,572    14,314    14,608    0.87   
PaySimple, Inc. (4)(5)(7) L + 5.50% 7.30%    8/23/2025 26,488    25,984    26,328    1.57   
Vero Parent, Inc. L + 6.00% 7.91%    8/16/2024 51,000    45,471    48,705    2.91   
85,769    89,641    5.35   
Specialty Retail
CustomInk, LLC (4) L + 6.00% 8.21%    5/3/2026 133,125    130,766    132,459    7.92   
Spencer Spirit Holdings, Inc. L + 6.00% 7.79%    6/19/2026 49,875    47,102    49,485    2.96   
177,868    181,944    10.88   
Trading Companies & Distributors
The Cook & Boardman Group, LLC L + 5.75% 7.67%    10/17/2025 6,806    6,751    6,567    0.39   
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals
Electronics For Imaging, Inc. L + 5.00% 6.94%    7/23/2026 35,000    32,703    32,703    1.95   
Transportation Infrastructure
Spireon, Inc. (4)(7) L + 6.50% 8.44%    10/4/2024 22,646    22,414    22,646    1.35   
Total First Lien Debt $ 3,021,498    $ 3,046,101    182.06  %
Second Lien Debt
Commercial Services & Supplies
TKC Holdings, Inc. L + 8.00% 9.80%    2/1/2024 $ 1,000    $ 997    $ 910    0.05  %
IT Services
WEB.COM Group, Inc. L + 7.75% 9.49%    10/9/2026 16,607    15,882    16,031    0.96   
Media
DiscoverOrg, LLC L + 8.50% 10.19%    2/1/2027 11,250    11,100    11,306    0.68   
Software
Imperva, Inc. L + 7.75% 9.74%    1/11/2027 1,421    1,426    1,249    0.07   
Rocket Software, Inc. L + 8.25% 10.05%    11/27/2026 3,500    3,377    2,923    0.17   
4,803    4,172    0.24   
Total Second Lien Debt $ 32,782    $ 32,419    1.93  %
Equity Investments
CustomInk, LLC - Series A Preferred Units (4) 384,520    $ 5,200    $ 5,633    0.34  %
EIS Acquisition Holdings, LP - Class A Units (4) 11,200    2,800    2,800    0.17   
Mode Holdings, L.P. - Class A-2 Units (4) 5,486,923    5,487    5,487    0.33   
Total Equity Investments $ 13,487    $ 13,920    0.84  %
Total Investment Portfolio $ 3,067,767    $ 3,092,440    184.83  %
109

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Blackstone / GSO Secured Lending Fund
Consolidated Schedules of Investments
December 31, 2019
(in thousands)
Investments—non-controlled/non-affiliated (1)(5) Reference Rate
and Spread
Interest Rate (2) Maturity
Date
Par
Amount/Units
Cost (3) Fair
Value
Percentage
of Net Assets 
 
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Other Cash and Cash Equivalents 65,495    65,495    3.91  %
Total Portfolio Investments, Cash and Cash Equivalents $ 3,133,262    $ 3,157,935    188.74  %

(1)Unless otherwise indicated, issuers of debt and equity investments held by the Company (which such term “Company” shall include the Company’s consolidated subsidiaries for purposes of this Consolidated Schedule of Investments) are denominated in dollars. Debt investments are income producing unless otherwise indicated. Certain portfolio company investments are subject to contractual restrictions on sales. Under the 1940 Act, the Company would be deemed to “control” a portfolio company if the Company owned more than 25% of its outstanding voting securities and/or held the power to exercise control over the management or policies of the portfolio company. As of December 31, 2019, the Company does not “control” any of its portfolio companies. Under the 1940 Act, the Company would be deemed an “affiliated person” of a portfolio company if the Company owns 5% or more of the portfolio company’s outstanding voting securities. As of December 31, 2019, the Company is not an “affiliated person” of any of its portfolio companies.
(2)Variable rate loans to the portfolio companies bear interest at a rate that is determined by reference to either LIBOR (“L”) or an alternate base rate (commonly based on the Federal Funds Rate (“F”) or the U.S. Prime Rate (“P”)), which generally resets quarterly. For each loan, the Company has indicated the reference rate used and provided the spread and the interest rate in effect as of December 31, 2019. As of December 31, 2019, the reference rates for our variable rate loans were the 30-day L at 1.76%, the 90-day L at 1.91% and the 180-day L at 1.91% and P at 4.75%. Variable rate loans typically include an interest reference rate floor feature, which is generally 1.00%.
(3)The cost represents the original cost adjusted for the amortization of discounts and premiums, as applicable, on debt investments using the effective interest method in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP").
(4)These investments were valued using unobservable inputs and are considered Level 3 investments. Fair value was determined in good faith by or under the direction of the Board of Trustees (see Note 2 and Note 5), pursuant to the Company’s valuation policy.
(5)Each of the Company’s investments is pledged as collateral, other than the investments in PaySimple, Inc. and Radiate Holdco LLC, under one or more of its credit facilities. A single investment may be divided into parts that are individually pledged as collateral to separate credit facilities.
(6)The investment is not a qualifying asset under Section 55(a) of the 1940 Act. The Company may not acquire any non-qualifying asset unless, at the time of acquisition, qualifying assets represent at least 70% of the Company’s total assets. As of December 31, 2019, non-qualifying assets represented 14.1% of total assets as calculated in accordance with regulatory requirements.
(7)Position or portion thereof is an unfunded loan commitment, and no interest is being earned on the unfunded portion, although the investment may be subject to unused commitment fees. Negative cost and fair value results from unamortized fees, which are capitalized to the investment cost. The unfunded loan commitment may be subject to a commitment termination date that may expire prior to the maturity date stated. See below for more information on the Company’s unfunded commitments:

Investments—non-controlled/non-affiliated Commitment Type Commitment Expiration Date Unfunded Commitment Fair Value
First Lien Debt
Construction Supply Acquisition, LLC Delayed Draw Term Loan 10/1/2025 $ 22,626    $ —   
Jacuzzi Brands LLC Delayed Draw Term Loan 2/25/2021 8,450    —   
PaySimple, Inc. Delayed Draw Term Loan 8/23/2025 5,588    —   
R1 Holdings, LLC Delayed Draw Term Loan 1/2/2021 20,282    —   
Spireon, Inc. Delayed Draw Term Loan 6/30/2020 6,375    —   
EIS Acquisition Holdings, LP Delayed Draw Term Loan 9/30/2020 16,800    —   
The GI Alliance Management, LLC Delayed Draw Term Loan 11/2/2024 66,143    (612)  
Unified Door and Hardware Group, LLC Delayed Draw Term Loan 6/29/2020 15,094    —   
VDM Buyer, Inc. Delayed Draw Term Loan 10/22/2020 18,000    —   
Total First Lien Debt Unfunded Commitments $ 179,358    $ (612)  

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

110

Table of Contents
Blackstone / GSO Secured Lending Fund
Consolidated Schedules of Investments
December 31, 2018
(in thousands)
Investments—non-controlled/non-affiliated (1)(5) Reference Rate
and Spread
Interest Rate (2) Maturity
Date
Par
Amount
Cost (3) Fair
Value
Percentage
of Net Assets
First Lien Debt              
Aerospace and Defense              
StandardAero Aviation Holdings, Inc. L + 3.75% 6.27%    7/7/2022 $ 6,977    $ 6,924    $ 6,913    2.92  %
Building Products  
American Bath Group, LLC (4) L + 4.25% 7.05%    9/30/2023 4,987    4,888    4,838    2.05   
Latham Pool Products, Inc. (4) L + 6.00% 8.80%    6/13/2025 44,618    42,833    43,502    18.40   
Ply Gem Midco, Inc. L + 3.75% 6.18%    4/12/2025 3,491    3,366    3,194    1.35   
  51,087    51,534    21.80   
Capital Markets  
Advisor Group, Inc. L + 3.75% 6.27%    8/15/2025 998    994    983    0.42   
Victory Capital Holdings, Inc. (4)(6) L + 2.75% 5.55%    2/12/2025 1,500    1,496    1,487    0.63   
  2,490    2,470    1.05   
Chemicals  
Alchemy US Holdco 1, LLC (4)(6) L + 5.50% 8.17%    10/10/2025 4,000    3,990    3,990    1.69   
Polymer Additives, Inc. (4) L + 6.00% 8.52%    7/31/2025 15,053    14,530    13,924    5.89   
  18,520    17,914    7.58   
Commercial Services & Supplies  
Allied Universal Holdco LLC L + 3.75% 6.14%    7/28/2022 2,992    2,850    2,847    1.20   
Allied Universal Holdco LLC L + 4.25% 6.77%    7/28/2022 7,000    6,798    6,703    2.84   
LegalZoom, Inc. (4) L + 4.50% 7.00%    11/20/2024 4,500    4,472    4,433    1.88   
Revspring, Inc. (4) L + 4.25% 7.05%    10/11/2025 3,000    2,993    2,993    1.27   
TKC Holdings, Inc. L + 3.75% 6.28%    2/1/2023 4,987    4,851    4,760    2.01   
    21,964    21,736    9.20   
Construction & Engineering  
IEA Energy Services LLC (4) L + 6.25% 9.05%    9/25/2024 12,000    11,559    11,610    4.91   
Containers & Packaging  
Trident TPI Holdings, Inc. L + 3.25% 5.77%    10/17/2024 1,990    1,961    1,878    0.79   
Distributors  
Tailwind Colony Holding Corporation (4)(7) L + 7.50% 10.28%    11/13/2024 25,835    25,514    25,318    10.71   
Diversified Consumer Services  
American Residential Services, LLC L + 4.00% 6.52%    6/30/2022 1,990    1,981    1,950    0.83   
Prime Security Services Borrower, LLC L + 2.75% 5.27%    5/2/2022 1,492    1,458    1,427    0.60   
Weight Watchers International, Inc. (6) L + 4.75% 7.56%    11/29/2024 7,500    7,466    7,434    3.14   
    10,905    10,811    4.57   
Diversified Financial Services  
PI US MergerCo, Inc.  (6) L + 3.50% 6.02%    12/20/2024 1,990    1,948    1,934    0.82   
York Risk Services Holding Corp L + 3.75% 6.27%    10/1/2021 5,984    5,703    5,612    2.37   
    7,651    7,546    3.19   
111

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Blackstone / GSO Secured Lending Fund
Consolidated Schedules of Investments
December 31, 2018
(in thousands)
Investments—non-controlled/non-affiliated (1)(5) Reference Rate
and Spread
Interest Rate (2) Maturity
Date
Par
Amount
Cost (3) Fair
Value
Percentage
of Net Assets
First Lien Debt (continued)
Diversified Telecommunication Services    
Securus Technologies Holdings, Inc. L + 4.50% 7.02%    11/1/2024 4,987    4,825    4,813    2.04   
Energy Equipment & Services                           
Tetra Technologies, Inc. (4)(6)(7) L + 6.25% 8.72%    9/10/2025 21,818    21,685    21,600    9.14   
Health Care Equipment & Supplies  
Lifescan Global Corporation L + 6.00% 8.40%    10/1/2024 41,974    40,223    39,770    16.83   
Health Care Providers & Services  
AMGH Holding Corp L + 3.25% 5.68%    4/28/2022 6,982    6,606    6,548    2.77   
AMGH Holding Corp L + 4.25% 6.75%    3/14/2025 6,226    5,904    5,817    2.46   
Envision Healthcare Corporation L + 3.75% 6.27%    10/10/2025 4,000    3,760    3,739    1.58   
Epoch Acquisition, Inc. (4)(7) L + 6.75% 9.13%    10/4/2024 22,500    22,221    22,050    9.33   
The GI Alliance Management, LLC (4)(7) L + 6.25% 8.81%    11/2/2024 37,436    36,711    36,427    15.41   
Onex TSG Intermediate Corp. (6) L + 4.00% 6.52%    7/31/2022 1,000    994    963    0.41   
Orion B Holdings, LLC (4) L + 5.75% 8.21%    11/16/2025 13,628    13,459    13,356    5.65   
Prospect Medical Holdings, Inc. L + 5.50% 7.94%    2/22/2024 1,995    1,983    1,976    0.84   
Regionalcare Hospital Partners Holding, Inc. L + 4.50% 7.13%    11/16/2025 5,040    4,845    4,796    2.03   
U.S Renal Care, Inc. L + 4.25% 7.05%    12/30/2022 2,420    2,331    2,311    0.98   
    98,814    97,983    41.46   
Health Care Technology  
Precyse Acquisition Corporation L + 4.50% 7.02%    10/20/2022 2,992    2,963    2,869    1.21   
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure  
Casablanca US Holdings Inc.(4)(6) L + 4.00% 6.53%    3/29/2024 995    958    945    0.40   
Hotel Acquisition Company LLC (4)(8) L + 6.00% 8.52%    12/9/2024 93,000    91,665    91,650    38.77   
    92,623    92,595    39.17   
Insurance  
Achilles Acquisition LLC L + 4.00% 6.56%    10/8/2025 1,000    994    988    0.42   
IT Services                           
Tierpoint, LLC L + 3.75% 6.27%    5/6/2024 8,972    8,470    8,411    3.56   
WEB.COM Group Inc. L + 3.75% 6.17%    10/10/2025 4,000    3,934    3,860    1.63   
    12,404    12,271    5.19   
Machinery  
Apex Tool Group LLC L + 3.75% 6.25%    2/1/2022 4,968    4,819    4,802    2.03   
Media  
Champ Acquisition Corporation L + 5.50% 8.13%    12/12/2025 14,925    14,328    14,562    6.16   
Entravision Communications Corporation (4)(6) L + 2.75% 5.27%    11/29/2024 1,241    1,218    1,160    0.49   
    15,546    15,722    6.65   
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels  
Traverse Midstream Partners LLC L + 4.00% 6.60%    9/27/2024 1,995    1,980    1,920    0.81   
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Blackstone / GSO Secured Lending Fund
Consolidated Schedules of Investments
December 31, 2018
(in thousands)
Investments—non-controlled/non-affiliated (1)(5) Reference Rate
and Spread
Interest Rate (2) Maturity
Date
Par
Amount
Cost (3) Fair
Value
Percentage
of Net Assets
First Lien Debt (continued)
Professional Services  
GI Revelation Acquisition LLC L + 5.00% 7.52%    4/16/2025 7,264    7,165    7,164    3.03   
Real Estate Management & Development  
Forest City Enterprises, L.P. L + 4.00% 6.38%    12/7/2025 5,000    4,991    4,896    2.07   
Software  
Banff Merger Sub Inc. L + 4.25% 7.05%    10/2/2025 1,500    1,477    1,451    0.61   
Brave Parent Holdings, Inc. L + 4.00% 6.52%    4/18/2025 4,988    4,952    4,838    2.05   
Imperva, Inc. (4) L + 4.00% 6.52%    11/7/2025 4,000    3,975    3,945    1.67   
Ivanti Software, Inc. L + 4.25% 6.76%    1/20/2024 4,984    4,917    4,860    2.06   
LD Intermediate Holdings, Inc. L + 5.88% 8.49%    12/9/2022 2,980    2,767    2,705    1.14   
Quest Software US Holdings Inc. (6) L + 4.25% 6.78%    5/18/2025 4,500    4,471    4,365    1.85   
Rocket Software, Inc. L + 4.25% 6.77%    11/28/2025 6,000    5,952    5,898    2.50   
Vero Parent, Inc. L + 4.50% 7.02%    8/16/2024 2,494    2,496    2,471    1.05   
    31,007    30,533    12.93   
Specialty Retail  
Bass Pro Group, LLC L + 5.00% 7.52%    9/25/2024 5,407    5,350    5,197    2.20   
EG Group Limited (6) L + 4.00% 6.81%    2/7/2025 3,985    3,914    3,850    1.63   
    9,264    9,047    3.83   
Trading Companies & Distributors  
DiversiTech Holdings, Inc. L + 3.00% 5.80%    6/3/2024 995    965    946    0.40   
The Hillman Group Inc. L + 4.00% 6.80%    5/31/2025 997    963    950    0.40   
LBM Borrower, LLC L + 3.75% 6.25%    8/19/2022 8,000    7,505    7,490    3.17   
The Cook & Boardman Group, LLC (4) L + 5.75% 8.54%    10/17/2025 2,500    2,494    2,481    1.05   
    11,927    11,867    5.02   
Transportation Infrastructure  
Spireon, Inc. (4)(7) L + 6.50% 9.00%    10/4/2024 22,875    22,591    22,418    9.48   
Total First Lien Debt   $ 542,395    $ 538,983    228.03  %
Second Lien Debt  
Commercial Services & Supplies  
TKC Holdings, Inc. L + 8.00% 10.53%    2/1/2024 $ 1,000    $ 997    $ 987    0.42  %
IT Services  
WEB.COM Group, Inc. L + 7.75% 10.17%    10/9/2026 1,881    1,867    1,867    0.79   
Software  
Imperva, Inc. L + 7.75% 10.27%    1/11/2027 1,500    1,506    1,500    0.63   
Rocket Software, Inc. L + 8.25% 10.77%    11/27/2027 2,000    1,988    1,988    0.84   
           3,494    3,488    1.47   
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Blackstone / GSO Secured Lending Fund
Consolidated Schedules of Investments
December 31, 2018
(in thousands)
Investments—non-controlled/non-affiliated (1)(5) Reference Rate
and Spread
Interest Rate (2) Maturity
Date
Par
Amount
Cost (3) Fair
Value
Percentage
of Net Assets
Total Second Lien Debt          $ 6,358    $ 6,342    2.68  %
Total Investment Portfolio          $ 548,753    $ 545,325    230.71  %
Cash and Cash Equivalents         
State Street Institutional U.S. Government Money Market Fund          $ 2,000    $ 2,000    0.85  %
Other Cash and Cash Equivalents          4,228    4,228    1.79   
Total Cash and Cash Equivalents          $ 6,228    $ 6,228    2.64  %
Total Portfolio Investments, Cash and Cash Equivalents          $ 554,981    $ 551,553    233.35  %
(1)Unless otherwise indicated, issuers of debt and equity investments held by the Company (which such term “Company” shall include the Company’s consolidated subsidiaries for purposes of this Consolidated Schedule of Investments) are denominated in dollars. Debt investments are income producing unless otherwise indicated. Certain portfolio company investments are subject to contractual restrictions on sales. Under the 1940 Act, the Company would be deemed to “control” a portfolio company if the Company owned more than 25% of its outstanding voting securities and/or held the power to exercise control over the management or policies of the portfolio company. As of December 31, 2018, the Company does not “control” any of its portfolio companies. Under the 1940 Act, the Company would be deemed an “affiliated person” of a portfolio company if the Company owns 5% or more of the portfolio company’s outstanding voting securities. As of December 31, 2018, the Company is not an “affiliated person” of any of its portfolio companies.
(2)Variable rate loans to the portfolio companies bear interest at a rate that is determined by reference to either LIBOR (“L”) or an alternate base rate (commonly based on the Federal Funds Rate (“F”) or the U.S. Prime Rate (“P”)), which generally resets quarterly. For each loan, the Company has indicated the reference rate used and provided the spread and the interest rate in effect as of December 31, 2018. As of December 31, 2018, the reference rates for our variable rate loans were the 30-day L at 2.50%, the 90-day L at 2.81% and the 180-day L at 2.88% and P at 5.50%. Variable rate loans typically include an interest reference rate floor feature, which is generally 1.00%.
(3)The cost represents the original cost adjusted for the amortization of discounts and premiums, as applicable, on debt investments using the effective interest method in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
(4)These investments were valued using unobservable inputs and are considered Level 3 investments. Fair value was determined in good faith by or under the direction of the Board of Trustees (see Note 2 and Note 5), pursuant to the Company’s valuation policy.
(5)Each of the Company’s investments is pledged as collateral, under one or more of its credit facilities. A single investment may be divided into parts that are individually pledged as collateral to separate credit facilities.  
(6)The investment is not a qualifying asset under Section 55(a) of the 1940 Act. The Company may not acquire any non-qualifying asset unless, at the time of acquisition, qualifying assets represent at least 70% of the Company’s total assets. As of December 31, 2018, non-qualifying assets represented 11.3% of total assets as calculated in accordance with regulatory requirements.
(7)Position or portion thereof is an unfunded loan commitment, and no interest is being earned on the unfunded portion, although the investment may be subject to unused commitment fees. Negative cost and fair value results from unamortized fees, which are capitalized to the investment cost. The unfunded loan commitment may be subject to a commitment termination date that may expire prior to the maturity date stated. See below for more information on the Company’s unfunded commitments:
Investments—non-controlled/non-affiliated Commitment Type Commitment
Expiration Date
Unfunded
Commitment
Fair
Value
First Lien Debt        
Epoch Acquisition, Inc. Delayed Draw Term Loan 10/4/2024 $ 7,500    $ —   
Spireon, Inc. Delayed Draw Term Loan 6/30/2020 6,375    —   
Tailwind Colony Holding Corporation Delayed Draw Term Loan 10/31/2024 6,540    —   
Tetra Technologies, Inc. Delayed Draw Term Loan 9/10/2025 8,182    —   
The GI Alliance Management, LLC Delayed Draw Term Loan 11/2/2024 26,053    (260)  
Total First Lien Debt Unfunded Commitments     54,650    (260)  
Forward purchase obligation (Note 7)     29,786    (222)  
Total Unfunded Commitments     $ 84,436    $ (482)  
(8)This investment is also held in the Middle Market Warehouse as of December 31, 2018. Refer to Note 7.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements
114

Table of Contents
Blackstone / GSO Secured Lending Fund
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(in thousands, unless otherwise indicated, except share and per share data)
Note 1. Organization
Blackstone / GSO Secured Lending Fund (together with its consolidated subsidiaries, the “Company”), is a Delaware statutory trust formed on March 26, 2018, and structured as an externally managed, non-diversified closed-end investment company.  On October 26, 2018, the Company elected to be regulated as a business development company (“BDC”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”).  In addition, the Company elected to be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as a regulated investment company (“RIC”), as defined under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). The Company also intends to continue to comply with the requirements prescribed by the Code in order to maintain tax treatment as a RIC.  
The Company’s investment objectives are to generate current income and, to a lesser extent, long-term capital appreciation.  The Company seeks to achieve its investment objective primarily through originated loans and other securities, including syndicated loans, of private U.S. companies, specifically small and middle market companies, typically in the form of first lien senior secured and unitranche loans (including first out/last out loans), and to a lesser extent, second lien, third lien, unsecured and subordinated loans and other debt and equity securities.
The Company is externally managed by GSO Asset Management LLC (the “Adviser”), a subsidiary of GSO Capital Partners LP.  GSO Capital Partners LP (the “Administrator” and, collectively with its affiliates in the credit-focused business of The Blackstone Group Inc., “GSO,” which, for the avoidance of doubt, excludes Harvest Fund Advisors LLC and Blackstone Insurance Solutions) provides certain administrative and other services necessary for the Company to operate pursuant to an administration agreement (the “Administration Agreement”).  GSO is part of the credit-focused platform of The Blackstone Group Inc. (“Blackstone”) and is the primary part of its credit reporting segment. 
The Company is conducting a private offering (the “Private Offering”) of its common shares of beneficial interest (i) to accredited investors, as defined in Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “1933 Act”) and (ii) in the case of shares sold outside the United States, to persons that are not “U.S. persons,” as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act, in reliance on exemptions from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act. At each closing of the Private Offering, each investor makes a capital commitment (“Capital Commitment”) to purchase shares of the beneficial interest of the Company pursuant to a subscription agreement entered into with the Company. Investors are required to fund drawdowns to purchase the Company’s shares up to the amount of their Capital Commitments on as as-needed basis each time the Company delivers a notice to investors.

On October 31, 2018, the Company began its initial period of closing of capital commitments ("Initial Closing Period"). The Initial Closing Period will last for two years but the Adviser may modify the Initial Closing Period, if approved by the Board of Trustees (the "Board"), which could extend the Initial Closing Period up to one additional year. The Company commenced its loan origination and investment activities on November 20, 2018, the date of receipt of the initial drawdown from investors in the Private Offering (the "Initial Drawdown Date").

The year ended December 31, 2018 represents the period from November 20, 2018 (commencement of operations), which was from the Initial Drawdown Date to December 31, 2018.
Note 2. Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the accrual basis of accounting in accordance with U.S. GAAP. As an investment company, the Company applies the accounting and reporting guidance in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 946, Financial Services – Investment Companies (“ASC 946”) issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”). U.S. GAAP for an investment company requires investments to be recorded at fair value.  The carrying value for all other assets and liabilities approximates their fair value.
The annual consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP for annual financial information and pursuant to the requirements for reporting on Form 10-K and Article 6 of Regulation S-X. In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for the fair presentation of the consolidated financial statements for the periods presented have been included. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.
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Certain prior period information has been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements. Such amounts could differ from those estimates and such differences could be material.  Assumptions and estimates regarding the valuation of investments involve a higher degree of judgment and complexity and these assumptions and estimates may be significant to the consolidated financial statements.
Consolidation
As provided under ASC 946, the Company will not consolidate its investment in a company other than an investment company subsidiary or a controlled operating company whose business consists of providing services to the Company.  Accordingly, the Company consolidated the results of the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiaries.  
As of December 31, 2019, the Company's consolidated subsidiaries were BGSL Jackson Hole Funding LLC (“Jackson Hole Funding”), BGSL Breckenridge Funding LLC (“Breckenridge Funding”), BGSL Big Sky Funding LLC ("Big Sky Funding") and BGSL Investments LLC ("BGSL Investments" and collectively with Jackson Hole Funding, Breckenridge Funding and Big Sky Funding the "SPVs").
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents consist of demand deposits and highly liquid investments, such as money market funds, with original maturities of three months or less. Cash and cash equivalents are carried at cost, which approximates fair value. The Company deposits its cash and cash equivalents with financial institutions and, at times, may exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insured limit.
Investments
Investment transactions are recorded on the trade date. Realized gains or losses are measured by the difference between the net proceeds received (excluding prepayment fees, if any) and the amortized cost basis of the investment using the specific identification method without regard to unrealized gains or losses previously recognized, and include investments charged off during the period, net of recoveries. The net change in unrealized gains or losses primarily reflects the change in investment values, including the reversal of previously recorded unrealized gains or losses with respect to investments realized during the period.
The Company is required to report its investments for which current market values are not readily available at fair value. The Company values its investments in accordance with FASB ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements (“ASC 820”), which defines fair value as the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the applicable measurement date. ASC 820 prioritizes the use of observable market prices derived from such prices over entity-specific inputs.  Due to the inherent uncertainties of valuation, certain estimated fair values may differ significantly from the values that would have been realized had a ready market for these investments existed, and these differences could be material. See “– Note 5. Fair Value Measurements.
Where available, fair value is based on observable market prices or parameters or derived from such prices or parameters. The Company utilizes mid-market pricing (i.e., mid-point of average bid and ask prices) to value these investments. These market quotations are obtained from independent pricing services, if available; otherwise from at least two principal market makers or primary market dealers.  To assess the continuing appropriateness of pricing sources and methodologies, the Adviser regularly performs price verification procedures and issues challenges as necessary to independent pricing services or brokers, and any differences are reviewed in accordance with the valuation procedures. The Adviser does not adjust the prices unless it has a reason to believe market quotations are not reflective of the fair value of an investment.  Examples of events that would cause market quotations to not reflect fair value could include cases when a security trades infrequently or not at all, causing a quoted purchase or sale price to become stale, or in the event of a “fire sale” by a distressed seller.  All price overrides require approval from the Board.
Where prices or inputs are not available or, in the judgment of the Board, not reliable, valuation techniques based on the facts and circumstances of the particular investment will be utilized.  Securities that are not publicly traded or for which market prices are not readily available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Board, based on, among other
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things, the input of the Adviser, the Audit Committee of the Board (the “Audit Committee”) and independent valuation firms engaged on the recommendation of the Adviser and at the direction of the Board.  These valuation approaches involve some level of management estimation and judgment, the degree of which is dependent on the price transparency for the investments or market and the investments’ complexity.
The Company’s Board undertakes a multi-step valuation process each quarter in connection with determining the fair value of the Company’s investments for which market quotations are not readily available, or are available but deemed not reflective of the fair value of an investment, which includes, among other procedures, the following:
The valuation process begins with each investment being preliminarily valued by the Adviser’s valuation team in conjunction with the Adviser’s investment professionals responsible for each portfolio investment;
In addition, independent valuation firms engaged by the Board prepare valuations of all the Company’s investments over a de minimis threshold.  The independent valuation firms provide a final range of values on such investments to the Board and the Adviser.  The independent valuation firms also provide analyses to support their valuation methodology and calculations;
The Adviser's Valuation Committee reviews each valuation recommendation to confirm they have been calculated in accordance with the valuation policy and compares such valuations to the independent valuation firms’ valuation ranges to ensure the Adviser’s valuations are reasonable;
The Valuation Committee makes valuation recommendations to the Audit Committee;
The Audit Committee reviews the valuation recommendations made by the Adviser's Valuation Committee, including the independent valuation firms' valuations, and once approved, recommends them for approval by the Board; and
The Board reviews the valuation recommendations of the Audit Committee and determines the fair value of each investment in the portfolio in good faith based on the input of the Audit Committee, the Adviser's Valuation Committee and, where applicable, the independent valuation firms.
Valuation of each of our investments will generally be made as described above as of the end of each fiscal quarter. In cases where we determine our NAV at times other than a quarter end, we intend to update the value of securities with market quotations to the most recent market quotation. For securities without market quotations, non-quarterly valuations will generally be the most recent quarterly valuation unless a material event has occurred since the most recent quarter end with respect to the investment. Independent valuation firms are generally not used for non-quarterly valuations.
As part of the valuation process, the Board takes into account relevant factors in determining the fair value of its investments, many of which are loans, including and in combination, as relevant, of: (i) the estimated enterprise value of a portfolio company, (ii) the nature and realizable value of any collateral, (iii) the portfolio company’s ability to make payments based on its earnings and cash flow, (iv) the markets in which the portfolio company does business, (v) a comparison of the portfolio company’s securities to any similar publicly traded securities, and (vi) overall changes in the interest rate environment and the credit markets that may affect the price at which similar investments may be made in the future. When an external event such as a purchase transaction, public offering or subsequent equity or debt sale occurs, the Board considers whether the pricing indicated by the external event corroborates its valuation. See “—Note 5. Fair Value Measurements.”
The Board has and will continue to engage independent valuation firms to provide assistance regarding the determination of the fair value of the Company’s portfolio securities for which market quotations are not readily available or are readily available but deemed not reflective of the fair value of the investment each quarter, and the Board may reasonably rely on that assistance. However, the Board is responsible for the ultimate valuation of the portfolio investments at fair value as determined in good faith pursuant to the Company’s valuation policy and a consistently applied valuation process.
Derivative Instruments
The Company recognizes all derivative instruments as assets or liabilities at fair value in its consolidated financial statements. Derivative contracts entered into by the Company are not designated as hedging instruments, and as a result the Company presents changes in fair value through current period gains or losses.
In the normal course of business, the Company has commitments and risks resulting from its investment transactions, which may include those involving derivative instruments. Derivative instruments are measured in terms of the notional contract amount and derive their value based upon one or more underlying instruments. While the notional amount gives some indication of the Company’s derivative activity, it generally is not exchanged, but is only used as the basis on which interest
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and other payments are exchanged. Derivative instruments are subject to various risks similar to non-derivative instruments including market, credit, liquidity, and operational risks. The Company manages these risks on an aggregate basis as part of its risk management process.
Forward Purchase Agreement
The Company was a party to a forward purchase agreement pursuant to which the Company agreed to purchase certain assets held in the Middle Market Warehouse (defined in Note 7) at a purchase price based on the cost of the asset to the warehouse provider plus amounts of unpaid interest, original issue discount and structuring fees accrued to the warehouse provider during the time the warehouse provider owned the asset.
Forward purchase agreements are recognized at fair value through current period gains or losses on the date on which the contract is entered into and are subsequently re-measured at fair value. All forward purchase agreements are carried as assets when fair value is positive and as liabilities when fair value is negative.  A forward purchase agreement is derecognized when the obligation specified in the contract is discharged, canceled or expired.
Foreign Currency Transactions

Amounts denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars on the following basis: (i) investments and other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars based upon currency exchange rates effective on the last business day of the period; and (ii) purchases and sales of investments, borrowings and repayments of such borrowings, income, and expenses denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars based upon currency exchange rates prevailing on the transaction dates.

The Company includes net changes in fair values on investments held resulting from foreign exchange rate fluctuations in translation of assets and liabilities in foreign currencies on the Consolidated Statements of Operations, if any. Foreign security and currency translations may involve certain considerations and risks not typically associated with investing in U.S. companies and U.S. government securities. These risks include, but are not limited to, currency fluctuations and revaluations and future adverse political, social and economic developments, which could cause investments in foreign markets to be less liquid and prices more volatile than those of comparable U.S. companies or U.S. government securities.
Revenue Recognition
Interest Income
Interest income is recorded on an accrual basis and includes the accretion of discounts and amortizations of premiums.  Discounts from and premiums to par value on debt investments purchased are accreted/amortized into interest income over the life of the respective security using the effective interest method.  The amortized cost of debt investments represents the original cost, including loan origination fees and upfront fees received that are deemed to be an adjustment to yield, adjusted for the accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums, if any.  Upon prepayment of a loan or debt security, any prepayment premiums, unamortized upfront loan origination fees and unamortized discounts are recorded as interest income in the current period. For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 the Company recorded $1.6 million and $0.0 million in prepayment premiums, respectively, and $2.1 million and $0.0 million in accelerated accretion of upfront loan origination fees and unamortized discounts, respectively.   
PIK Income
The Company has loans in its portfolio that contain payment-in-kind (“PIK”) provisions.  PIK represents interest that is accrued and recorded as interest income at the contractual rates, increases the loan principal on the respective capitalization dates, and is generally due at maturity.  Such income is included in interest income in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.  If at any point the Company believes PIK is not expected to be realized, the investment generating PIK will be placed on non-accrual status.  When a PIK investment is placed on non-accrual status, the accrued, uncapitalized interest is generally reversed through interest income.  To maintain the Company’s status as a RIC, this non-cash source of income must be paid out to shareholders in the form of dividends, even though the Company has not yet collected cash. For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 the Company recorded PIK income of $1.0 million and $0.0 million, respectively.
Dividend Income
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Dividend income on preferred equity securities is recorded on the accrual basis to the extent that such amounts are payable by the portfolio company and are expected to be collected. Dividend income on common equity securities is recorded on the record date for private portfolio companies or on the ex-dividend date for publicly-traded portfolio companies.  
Fee Income
The Company may receive various fees in the ordinary course of business such as structuring, consent, waiver, amendment, syndication fees as well as fees for managerial assistance rendered by the Company to the portfolio companies.  Such fees are recognized as income when earned or the services are rendered.  
Non-Accrual Income
Loans are generally placed on non-accrual status when there is reasonable doubt that principal or interest will be collected in full.  Accrued interest is generally reversed when a loan is placed on non-accrual status. Additionally, any original issue discount and market discount are no longer accreted to interest income as of the date the loan is placed on non-accrual status.  Interest payments received on non-accrual loans may be recognized as income or applied to principal depending upon management’s judgment regarding collectability. Non-accrual loans are restored to accrual status when past due principal and interest is paid current and, in management’s judgment, are likely to remain current. Management may make exceptions to this treatment and determine to not place a loan on non-accrual status if the loan has sufficient collateral value and is in the process of collection.
Organization Expenses and Offering Expenses
Costs associated with the organization of the Company are expensed as incurred, subject to the limitations discussed below. These expenses consist primarily of legal fees and other costs of organizing the Company.
Costs associated with the offering of the Company’s shares will be capitalized as “deferred offering costs” on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities and amortized over a twelve-month period from incurrence, subject to the limitation below.  These expenses consist primarily of legal fees and other costs incurred in connection with the Company’s continuous Private Offering of its shares.  
The Company will not bear more than an amount equal to 0.10% of the aggregate Capital Commitments of the Company for organization and offering expenses in connection with the offering of shares. If actual organization and offering costs incurred exceed 0.10% of the Company’s total Capital Commitments, the Adviser or its affiliate will bear the excess costs.  To the extent the Company’s Capital Commitments later increase, the Adviser or its affiliates may be reimbursed for past payments of excess organization and offering costs made on the Company’s behalf provided that the total organization and offering costs borne by the Company do not exceed 0.10% of total Capital Commitments and provided further that the Adviser of its affiliates may not be reimbursed for payment of excess organization and offering expenses that were incurred more than three years prior to the proposed reimbursement. For the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company accrued organization costs of $0.7 million. For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company accrued offering costs of $1.1 million and $0.1 million, respectively.
Deferred Financing Costs and Debt Issuance Costs
Deferred financing and debt issuance costs represent fees and other direct incremental costs incurred in connection with the Company’s borrowings.  These expenses are deferred and amortized into interest expense over the life of the related debt instrument using the straight-line method. Deferred financing costs related to revolving credit facilities are presented separately as an asset on the Company’s Statements of Assets and Liabilities.  Debt issuance costs related to any issuance of installment debt or notes are presented net against the outstanding debt balance of the related security.
Income Taxes
The Company has elected to be treated as a BDC under the 1940 Act.  The Company also has elected to be treated as a RIC under the Code. So long as the Company maintains its status as a RIC, it generally will not pay corporate-level U.S. federal income taxes on any ordinary income or capital gains that it distributes at least annually to its shareholders as dividends. Rather, any tax liability related to income earned and distributed by the Company would represent obligations of the Company’s investors and would not be reflected in the consolidated financial statements of the Company.
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The Company evaluates tax positions taken or expected to be taken in the course of preparing its consolidated financial statements to determine whether the tax positions are “more-likely-than-not” to be sustained by the applicable tax authority. Tax positions not deemed to meet the “more-likely-than-not” threshold are reserved and recorded as a tax benefit or expense in the current year. All penalties and interest associated with income taxes are included in income tax expense. Conclusions regarding tax positions are subject to review and may be adjusted at a later date based on factors including, but not limited to, on-going analyses of tax laws, regulations and interpretations thereof.
To qualify for and maintain qualification as a RIC, the Company must, among other things, meet certain source-of-income and asset diversification requirements. In addition, to qualify for RIC tax treatment, the Company must distribute to its shareholders, for each taxable year, at least 90% of the sum of (i) its “investment company taxable income” for that year (without regard to the deduction for dividends paid), which is generally its ordinary income plus the excess, if any, of its realized net short-term capital gains over its realized net long-term capital losses and (ii) its net tax-exempt income.
In addition, based on the excise tax distribution requirements, the Company is subject to a 4% nondeductible federal excise tax on undistributed income unless the Company distributes in a timely manner in each taxable year an amount at least equal to the sum of (1) 98% of its ordinary income for the calendar year, (2) 98.2% of capital gain net income (both long-term and short-term) for the one-year period ending October 31 in that calendar year and (3) any income realized, but not distributed, in prior years. For this purpose, however, any ordinary income or capital gain net income retained by the Company that is subject to corporate income tax is considered to have been distributed.
Distributions
To the extent that the Company has taxable income available, the Company intends to make quarterly distributions to its shareholders.  Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the record date.  All distributions will be paid at the discretion of our Board and will depend on our earnings, financial condition, maintenance of our tax treatment as a RIC, compliance with applicable BDC regulations and such other factors as our Board may deem relevant from time to time.  
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Disclosure Framework – Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement, which changes the fair value disclosure requirements. The new guidance includes new, eliminated and modified fair value disclosures. Among other requirements, the guidance requires disclosure of the range and weighted average of the significant unobservable inputs for Level 3 fair value measurements and the way it is calculated. The guidance also eliminated the following disclosures: (i) amount and reason for transfers between Level 1 and Level 2, (ii) policy for timing of transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy and (iii) valuation processes for Level 3 fair value measurement. The guidance is effective for all entities for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted upon issuance of the guidance. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In August 2018, the SEC adopted amendments to certain disclosure requirements intended to eliminate redundant, duplicative, overlapping, outdated, or superseded, in light of other SEC disclosure requirements, US GAAP requirements, or changes in the information environment in its Disclosure Update and Simplification release (the “DUS Release”). In part, the DUS Release requires an investment company to present distributable earnings in total, rather than showing the three components of distributable earnings. The compliance date for the DUS Release was for all filings on or after November 5, 2018. The Company has adopted the DUS Release on November 5, 2018, which did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Note 3. Agreements and Related Party Transactions
Investment Advisory Agreement
On October 1, 2018, the Company entered into an investment advisory agreement with the Adviser (the “Investment Advisory Agreement”), pursuant to which the Adviser manages the Company on a day-to-day basis. The Adviser is responsible for originating prospective investments, conducting research and due diligence investigations on potential investments, analyzing investment opportunities, negotiating and structuring the Company’s investments and monitoring its investments and portfolio companies on an ongoing basis.  
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The Company pays the Adviser a fee for its services under the Investment Advisory Agreement consisting of two components: a management fee and an incentive fee. The cost of both the management fee and the incentive fee will ultimately be borne by the shareholders.
Base Management Fee
The management fee is payable quarterly in arrears at an annual rate of (i) prior to a quotation or listing of the Company’s securities on a national securities exchange (including through an initial public offering) or a sale of all or substantially all of its assets to, or a merger or other liquidity transaction with, an entity in which the Company’s shareholders receive shares of a publicly-traded company which continues to be managed by the Adviser or an affiliate thereof (“Exchange Listing”), 0.75%, and (ii) following an Exchange Listing, 1.0%, in each case of the average value of the Company’s gross assets at the end of the two most recently completed calendar quarters. For purposes of the Investment Advisory Agreement, gross assets means the Company’s total assets determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with U.S. GAAP, excluding undrawn commitments but including assets purchased with borrowed amounts. For the first calendar quarter in which the Company has operations, gross assets will be measured as the average of gross assets at the Initial Drawdown Date and at the end of such first calendar quarter. If an Exchange Listing occurs on a date other than the first day of a calendar quarter, the management fee shall be calculated for such calendar quarter at a weighted rate calculated based on the fee rates applicable before and after the Exchange Listing based on the number of days in such calendar quarter before and after the Exchange Listing.
For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, base management fees were $12.6 million and $0.3 million respectively. As of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, $5.0 million and $0.3 million, respectively, was payable to the Adviser relating to management fees.
Incentive Fees
The incentive fee consists of two components that are determined independently of each other, with the result that one component may be payable even if the other is not. One component is based on income and the other component is based on capital gains, each as described below:
(i) Income based incentive fee:
The first part of the incentive fee, an income based incentive fee, is calculated and payable quarterly in arrears based on the Company’s pre-incentive fee net investment income as defined in the Investment Advisory Agreement.  Pre-incentive fee net investment income means, as the context requires, either the dollar value of, or percentage rate of return on the value of the Company’s net assets at the end of the immediately preceding quarter from, interest income, dividend income and any other income (including any other fees (other than fees for providing managerial assistance), such as commitment, origination, structuring, diligence and consulting fees or other fees that the Company receives from portfolio companies) accrued during the calendar quarter, minus the Company’s operating expenses accrued for the quarter (including the management fee, expenses payable under the Administration Agreement, and any interest expense or fees on any credit facilities or outstanding debt and dividends paid on any issued and outstanding preferred shares, but excluding the incentive fee.  Pre-incentive fee net investment income includes, in the case of investments with a deferred interest feature (such as original issue discount, debt instruments with PIK interest and zero coupon securities)), accrued income that the Company has not yet received in cash.  Pre-incentive fee net investment income excludes any realized capital gains, realized capital losses or unrealized capital appreciation or depreciation. The Company excludes the impact of expense support payments and recoupments from pre-incentive fee net investment income.
The Company pays its Adviser an income based incentive fee with respect to the Company’s pre-incentive fee net investment income in each calendar quarter as follows:  
No income based incentive fee if the Company’s pre-incentive fee net investment income, expressed as a return on the value of our net assets at the end of the immediately preceding calendar quarter, does not exceed the hurdle rate of 1.5%;
100% of the Company’s pre-incentive fee net investment income, if any, that exceeds the hurdle rate but is less than or equal to 1.76% (7.06% annualized) prior to an Exchange Listing, or 1.82% (7.27% annualized) following an Exchange Listing, of the value of the Company’s net assets.  This “catch-up” portion is meant to provide the Adviser with approximately 15% prior to an Exchange Listing, or 17.5% following an Exchange Listing, of the Company’s pre-incentive fee net investment income as if a hurdle rate did not apply if the “catch up” is achieved; and
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15% prior to an Exchange Listing, or 17.5% following an Exchange Listing, of the Company’s pre-incentive fee net investment income, if any, that exceeds the rate of return of 1.76% (7.06% annualized) prior to an Exchange Listing, or 1.82% (7.27% annualized) following an Exchange Listing.
These calculations are prorated for any period of less than three months and adjusted for any share issuances or repurchases during the relevant quarter. If an Exchange Listing occurs on a date other than the first day of a calendar quarter, the income based incentive fee with respect to the Company’s pre-incentive fee net investment income shall be calculated for such calendar quarter at a weighted rate calculated based on the fee rates applicable before and after the Exchange Listing based on the number of days in such calendar quarter before and after the Exchange Listing.
(ii) Capital gains based incentive fee:
The second part of the incentive fee, a capital gains incentive fee, will be determined and payable in arrears as of the end of each calendar year in an amount equal to 15% prior to an Exchange Listing, or 17.5% following an Exchange Listing, of realized capital gains, if any, on a cumulative basis from inception through the end of each calendar year, computed net of all realized capital losses and unrealized capital depreciation on a cumulative basis, less the aggregate amount of any previously paid capital gain incentive fees as calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP.  The Company will accrue, but will not pay, a capital gains incentive fee with respect to unrealized appreciation because a capital gains incentive fee would be owed to the Adviser if the Company were to sell the relevant investment and realize a capital gain.  
For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company accrued income based incentive fees of $13.8 million and $0.0 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, $6.3 million and $0.0 million, respectively was payable to the Adviser for income based incentive fees. For the year ended December 31, 2019 the Company accrued capital gains incentive fees of $4.2 million, none of which was payable as of December 31, 2019 under the Investment Advisory Agreement. As of December 31, 2018, the Company did not accrue any capital gains incentive fee since there were cumulative net unrealized and realized losses as of such date.
Administration Agreement
On October 1, 2018, the Company entered into an Administration Agreement with GSO.  Under the terms of the Administration Agreement, the Administrator provides, or oversees the performance of, administrative and compliance services, including, but not limited to, maintaining financial records, overseeing the calculation of NAV, compliance monitoring (including diligence and oversight of the Company’s other service providers), preparing reports to shareholders and reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), preparing materials and coordinating meetings of the Company’s Board, managing the payment of expenses and the performance of administrative and professional services rendered by others and providing office space, equipment and office services. The Administrator may also offer to provide, on the Company’s behalf, managerial assistance to the Company’s portfolio companies. The initial term of the agreement is two years from October 1, 2018 and, unless terminated earlier, the Administration Agreement will renew automatically for successive annual periods, provided that such continuance is approved at least annually by (i) the vote of the Board or by a majority vote of the outstanding voting securities of the Company and (ii) the vote of a majority of the Company’s independent trustees.  
For providing these services, the Company will reimburse the Administrator for its costs, expenses and allocable portion of overhead (including rent, office equipment and utilities) and other expenses incurred by the Administrator in performing its administrative obligations under the Administration Agreement, including but not limited to: (i) the Company’s chief compliance officer, chief financial officer and their respective staffs; (ii) investor relations, legal, information technology, operations and other non-investment professionals at the Administrator that perform duties for the Company; and (iii) any internal audit group personnel of Blackstone or any of its affiliates. The Administrator has elected to forego any reimbursement for rent and other occupancy costs for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018.
For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company incurred $1.5 million and $0.4 million, respectively, under the Administration Agreement, which were recorded in administrative service fees in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations. As of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, $0.9 million and $0.4 million, respectively, was unpaid and included in due to affiliate in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.  
Sub-Administration and Custody Agreement
On October 1, 2018, the Administrator entered into a sub-administration agreement (the “Sub-Administration Agreement”) with State Street Bank and Trust Company (the “Sub-Administrator”) under which the Sub-Administrator
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provides various accounting and administrative services to the Company.  The Sub-Administrator also serves as the Company’s custodian (the “Custodian”).  The initial term of the Sub-Administration Agreement is two years from the effective date and after expiration of the initial term and the Sub-Administration Agreement shall automatically renew for successive one-year periods, unless a written notice of non-renewal is delivered prior to 120 days prior to the expiration of the initial term or renewal term.  
For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company incurred expenses for services provided by the Sub-Administrator and the Custodian of $0.9 million and $0.1 million, respectively, which were recorded in other general and administrative expenses in the Company’s Statement of Operations.  
Expense Support and Conditional Reimbursement Agreement
On December 12, 2018, the Company entered into an Expense Support and Conditional Reimbursement Agreement (the “Expense Support Agreement”) with the Adviser. The Adviser may elect to pay certain expenses of the Company on the Company’s behalf (each, an “Expense Payment”), provided that no portion of the payment will be used to pay any interest of the Company. Any Expense Payment that the Adviser has committed to pay must be paid by the Adviser to the Company in any combination of cash or other immediately available funds no later than forty-five days after such commitment was made in writing, and/or offset against amounts due from the Company to the Adviser or its affiliates.
Following any calendar quarter in which Available Operating Funds (as defined below) exceed the cumulative distributions accrued to the Company’s shareholders based on distributions declared with respect to record dates occurring in such calendar quarter (the amount of such excess being hereinafter referred to as “Excess Operating Funds”), the Company shall pay such Excess Operating Funds, or a portion thereof, to the Adviser until such time as all Expense Payments made by the Adviser to the Company within three years prior to the last business day of such calendar quarter have been reimbursed. Any payments required to be made by the Company shall be referred to herein as a “Reimbursement Payment.” Available Operating Funds means the sum of (i) the Company’s net investment company taxable income (including net short-term capital gains reduced by net long-term capital losses), (ii) the Company’s net capital gains (including the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses) and (iii) dividends and other distributions paid to the Company on account of investments in portfolio companies (to the extent such amounts listed in clause (iii) are not included under clauses (i) and (ii) above).
No Reimbursement Payment for any calendar quarter shall be made if the annualized rate of regular cash distributions declared by the Company on record dates in the applicable calendar quarter of such Reimbursement Payment is less than the annualized rate of regular cash distributions declared by the Company on record dates in the calendar quarter in which the Expense Payment was committed to which such Reimbursement Payment relates. The Company’s obligation to make a Reimbursement Payment shall automatically become a liability of the Company on the last business day of the applicable calendar quarter, except to the extent the Adviser has waived its right to receive such payment for the applicable quarter.
The following table presents a summary of Expense Payments by quarter in which they occurred and the related Reimbursement Payments since the Company's commencement of operations:

For the Quarter Ended Expense Payments by Adviser Reimbursement Payments to Adviser Unreimbursed Expense Payments
December 31, 2018 $ 1,696    $ (800)   $ 896   
March 31, 2019 570    —    570   
Total $ 2,266    $ (800)   $ 1,466   
For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company made Reimbursement Payments to the Adviser of $0.8 million and $0.0 million, respectively. The Company may or may not reimburse remaining expense support in the future.
Note 4. Investments
The composition of the Company’s investment portfolio at cost and fair value was as follows:

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December 31, 2019 December 31, 2018
Cost Fair Value % of Total Investments at Fair Value Cost Fair Value % of Total Investments at Fair Value
First lien debt $ 3,021,498    $ 3,046,101    98.50  % $ 542,395    $ 538,983    98.84  %
Second lien debt 32,782    32,419    1.05    6,358    6,342    1.16   
Equity Investments 13,487    13,920    0.45    —    —    —   
Total $ 3,067,767    $ 3,092,440    100.00  % $ 548,753    $ 545,325    100.00  %
The industry composition of investments at fair value was as follows:
December 31, 2019 December 31, 2018
Aerospace & Defense —  % 1.27  %
Air Freight & Logistics 11.00    —   
Building Products 12.23    9.46   
Capital Markets —    0.45   
Chemicals 3.79    3.29   
Commercial Services & Supplies 8.55    4.17   
Construction & Engineering 4.44    2.13   
Containers & Packaging —    0.34   
Distributors 18.51    4.64   
Diversified Consumer Services —    1.98   
Diversified Financial Services 2.51    1.38   
Diversified Telecommunication Services —    0.88   
Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components 0.46    —   
Energy Equipment & Services 2.60    3.96   
Health Care Equipment & Supplies 1.78    7.29   
Health Care Providers & Services 4.75    17.97   
Health Care Technology 0.08    0.53   
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure 1.52    16.98   
Industrial Conglomerates 1.01    —   
Insurance —    0.18   
Interactive Media & Services 1.51    —   
Internet & Direct Marketing Retail 1.35    —   
IT Services 3.66    2.59   
Machinery 1.63    0.88   
Media 0.95    2.88   
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels 4.81    0.35   
Professional Services 1.76    1.31   
Real Estate Management & Development —    0.90   
Software 3.03    6.24   
Specialty Retail 6.07    1.66   
Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals 1.06    —   
Trading Companies & Distributors 0.21    2.18   
Transportation Infrastructure 0.73    4.11   
Total 100.00  % 100.00  %
The geographic composition of investments at cost and fair value was as follows:
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December 31, 2019
Cost Fair Value % of Total Investments at Fair Value Fair Value as % of Net Assets
United States $ 2,675,743    $ 2,698,272    87.25  % 161.27  %
Canada 261,911    263,704    8.53    15.76   
Luxembourg 130,113    130,464    4.22    7.80   
Total $ 3,067,767    $ 3,092,440    100.00  % 184.83  %

December 31, 2018
Cost Fair Value % of Total
Investments at
Fair Value
Fair Value
as % of Net
Assets
United States $ 542,891    $ 539,541    98.94  % 228.26  %
United Kingdom 5,862    5,784    1.06    2.45   
Total $ 548,753    $ 545,325    100.00  % 230.71  %

As of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, no loans in the portfolio were on non-accrual status. 
Note 5. Fair Value Measurements
The fair value of a financial instrument is the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the applicable measurement date.  
The fair value hierarchy under ASC 820 prioritizes the inputs to valuation methodology 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 levels used for classifying investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in these securities. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:
Level 1: Inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices available in active markets for identical instruments as of the reporting date. The types of financial instruments included in Level 1 include unrestricted securities, including equities and derivatives, listed in active markets.
Level 2:  Inputs to the valuation methodology are other than quoted prices in active markets, which are either directly or indirectly observable as of the reporting date. The types of financial instruments in this category include less liquid and restricted securities listed in active markets, securities traded in other than active markets, government and agency securities and certain over-the-counter derivatives where the fair value is based on observable inputs.
Level 3:  Inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to overall fair value measurement. The inputs into the determination of fair value require significant management judgment or estimation. Financial instruments that are included in this category include debt and equity investments in privately held entities, collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”) and certain over-the-counter derivatives where the fair value is based on unobservable inputs.
In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, an investment’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the overall fair value measurement. The Adviser’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, and considers factors specific to the investment.  Transfers between levels, if any, are recognized at the beginning of the quarter in which the transfer occurs.
In addition to using the above inputs in investment valuations, the Company applies the valuation policy approved by its Board that is consistent with ASC 820.  Consistent with the valuation policy, the Company evaluates the source of the inputs, including any markets in which its investments are trading (or any markets in which securities with similar attributes are trading), in determining fair value. When an investment is valued based on prices provided by reputable dealers or pricing services (that is, broker quotes), the Company subjects those prices to various criteria in making the determination as to whether a particular investment would qualify for treatment as a Level 2 or Level 3 investment.
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In the absence of independent, reliable market quotes, an enterprise value analysis is typically performed to determine the value of equity investments, control debt investments and non-control debt investments that are credit-impaired, and to determine if debt investments are credit impaired.  Enterprise value (“EV”) means the entire value of the portfolio company to a market participant, including the sum of the values of debt and equity securities used to capitalize the enterprise at a point in time.  When an investment is valued using an EV analysis, the EV of a portfolio company is first determined and allocated over the portfolio company’s securities in order of their preference relative to one another (i.e. “waterfall” allocation).  
If debt investments are credit-impaired, which occurs when there is insufficient coverage under the EV analysis through the respective investment’s position in the capital structure, the Adviser uses the enterprise value “waterfall” approach or a recovery method (if a liquidation or restructuring is deemed likely) to determine fair value.  For debt investments that are not determined to be credit-impaired, the Adviser uses a market interest rate yield analysis (discussed below) to determine fair value.
The Adviser will generally utilize approaches including the market approach, the income approach or both approaches, as appropriate, when calculating EV.  The primary method for determining EV for non-control investments, and control investments without reliable projections, uses a multiple analysis whereby appropriate multiples are applied to the portfolio company’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) or another key financial metric (e.g. such as revenues, cash flows or net income) (“Performance Multiple”).  Performance Multiples are typically determined based upon a review of publicly traded comparable companies and market comparable transactions, if any.  The second method for determining EV (and primary method for control investments with reliable projections) uses a discounted cash flow analysis whereby future expected cash flows and the anticipated terminal value of the portfolio company are discounted to determine a present value using estimated discount rates.  The income approach is generally used when the Adviser has visibility into the long term projected cash flows of a portfolio company, which is more common with control investments.  
Subsequently, for non-control debt investments that are not credit-impaired, and where there is an absence of available market quotations, fair value is determined using a yield analysis. To determine fair value using a yield analysis, the expected cash flows are projected based on the contractual terms of the debt security and discounted back to the measurement date based on a market yield.  A market yield is determined based upon an assessment of current and expected market yields for similar investments and risk profiles.  The Company considers the current contractual interest rate, the maturity and other terms of the investment relative to risk of the company and the specific investment. A key determinant of risk, among other things, is the leverage through the investment relative to the enterprise value of the portfolio company. As debt investments held by the Company are substantially illiquid with no active transaction market, the Company depends on primary market data, including newly funded transactions, as well as secondary market data with respect to high yield debt instruments and syndicated loans, as inputs in determining the appropriate market yield, as applicable.  The fair value of loans with call protection is generally capped at par plus applicable prepayment premium in effect at the measurement date.  
The following table presents the fair value hierarchy of financial instruments:

December 31, 2019
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total
First lien debt $ —    $ 804,708    $ 2,241,393    $ 3,046,101   
Second lien debt —    32,419    —    32,419   
Equity investments —    —    13,920    13,920   
Total $ —    $ 837,127    $ 2,255,313    $ 3,092,440   

December 31, 2018
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total
First lien debt $ —    $ 210,858    $ 328,125    $ 538,983   
Second lien debt —    6,342    —    6,342   
Total Investments —    217,200    328,125    545,325   
Forward purchase obligation —    —    (222)   (222)  
Total $ —    $ 217,200    $ 327,903    $ 545,103   


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The following table presents changes in the fair value of financial instruments for which Level 3 inputs were used to determine the fair value:

For the Year Ended December 31, 2019
First Lien Debt Equity Investments Total Investments Forward Purchase Obligation
Fair value, beginning of period $ 328,125    $ —    $ 328,125    $ (222)  
Purchases of investments 2,134,729    13,487    2,148,216    —   
Proceeds from principal repayments and sales of investments (177,217)   —    (177,217)   —   
Accretion of discount/amortization of premium 5,560    —    5,560    —   
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) 11,780    433    12,213    222   
Transfers into Level 3 (1)
—    —    —    —   
Transfers out of Level 3 (1)
(61,584)   —    (61,584)   —   
Fair value, end of period $ 2,241,393    $ 13,920    $ 2,255,313    $ —   
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) included in earnings related to financial instruments still held as of December 31, 2019 included in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the Consolidated Statements of Operations $ 11,821    $ 433    $ 12,254    $ —   
For the Year Ended December 31, 2018
First Lien Debt Equity Investments Total Investments Forward Purchase
Obligation
Fair value, beginning of period $ —    $ —    $ —    $ —   
Purchases of investments 329,443    —    329,443    —   
Proceeds from principal repayments and sales of investments (256)   —    (256)   —   
Accretion of discount/amortization of premium 63    —    63    —   
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) (1,125)   —    (1,125)   (222)  
Fair value, end of period $ 328,125    $ —    $ 328,125    $ (222)  
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) included in earnings related to financial instruments still held as of December 31, 2018 included in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the Consolidated Statements of Operations $ (1,125)   $ —    $ (1,125)   $ (222)  
(1)For the year ended December 31, 2019, transfers into or out of Level 3 were primarily due to decreased or increased price transparency. There were no transfers into or out of Level 3 for the year ended December 31, 2018.
The following table presents quantitative information about the significant unobservable inputs of the Company’s Level 3 financial instruments. The table is not intended to be all-inclusive but instead captures the significant unobservable inputs relevant to the Company’s determination of fair value.

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December 31, 2019
Range
Fair Value Valuation Technique Unobservable Input Low High Weighted Average
Investments in first lien debt $ 1,886,531    Yield analysis Discount rate 7.68  % 13.58  % 8.39  %
354,862    Market Quotations Broker quoted price 81.50    99.50    97.87   
2,241,393   
Investments in equity 13,920    Market Approach Performance multiple 6.15x 13.50x 10.18x
Total $ 2,255,313   

December 31, 2018
Range
Fair Value Valuation
Technique
Unobservable
Input
Low High Weighted
Average
Investments in first lien debt $ 232,818    Yield analysis Discount rate 8.84  % 9.90  % 9.34  %
95,307    Market Quotations Broker quoted price 92.50    99.75    96.91   
328,125   
Forward purchase obligation (1)
(222)   Yield analysis Discount rate 9.13  % 9.13  % 9.13  %
Total $ 327,903   
(1)The forward purchase obligation is valued as the excess of the (a) agreed upon purchase price under the Forward Purchase Agreement over the (b) fair value of the underlying investment, which is calculated in a similar manner to the Company’s debt investments. Refer to Note 7 for additional information.
The significant unobservable input used in the yield analysis is the discount rate based on comparable market yields. The significant unobservable input used for market quotations are the quoted prices from independent pricing services. The significant unobservable input used under the market approach is the performance multiple. Significant increases in discount rates would result in a significantly lower fair value measurement. Significant decreases in quoted prices or performance multiples would result in a significantly lower fair value measurement.
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 the Company’s investments may fluctuate from period to period. Additionally, the fair value of the Company’s investments may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had a ready market existed for such investments and may differ materially from the values that the Company may ultimately realize. Further, such investments are generally subject to legal and other restrictions on resale or otherwise are less liquid than publicly traded securities. If the Company was required to liquidate a portfolio investment in a forced or liquidation sale, it could realize significantly less than the value at which the Company has recorded it. In addition, changes in the market environment and other events that may occur over the life of the investments may cause the gains or losses ultimately realized on these investments to be different than the unrealized gains or losses reflected in the valuations currently assigned.
Derivative Instruments
Under the Syndicated Warehouse (See “—Note 7. Commitments and Contingencies”), the Company had the right, but not the obligation, to purchase equity interests of a warehouse vehicle from a third party at an agreed upon price.  In this regard, the Company exercised its right to acquire such equity interests on December 11, 2018, at which time the assets and liabilities of the warehouse were included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.  The notional amount of assets acquired and liabilities assumed on December 11, 2018 were $152.3 million and $127.9 million, respectively.  The Company determined that this contractual right met the definition of a derivative, and as a result, recorded a loss at the time the Company acquired the equity interests in the warehouse in the amount of $0.6 million, which was recorded in realized loss on derivatives in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations.  
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Financial Instruments Not Carried at Fair Value
The carrying amounts of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities, other than investments at fair value, approximate fair value. These financial instruments are categorized as Level 3 within the hierarchy.
Note 6. Borrowings
In accordance with the 1940 Act, with certain limitations, the Company is allowed to borrow amounts such that its asset coverage, as defined in the 1940 Act, is at least 150% after such borrowing. As of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the Company’s asset coverage was 215.1% and 227.8%, respectively.
Subscription Facility
On November 6, 2018, the Company entered into a revolving credit facility (which was subsequently amended on September 16, 2019 and as further amended from time to time, the “Subscription Facility”) with Bank of America, N.A., as the administrative agent, the sole lead arranger, the letter of credit issuer and a lender, and the other lenders from time to time party thereto.
The initial maximum commitment amount of the Subscription Facility was $200 million. Effective September 16, 2019, the maximum commitment amount of the Subscription Facility was increased to $400 million, subject to availability under the borrowing base, which is based on the undrawn capital commitments of the shareholders, and restrictions imposed on borrowings under the 1940 Act. The maximum commitment amount of the Subscription Facility may be increased to $700 million through the exercise by the Company of an uncommitted accordion feature through which existing and new lenders may, at their option, agree to provide additional financing. The Company is permitted to borrow under the Subscription Facility for any purpose permitted under its constituent documents.
Borrowings under the Subscription Facility bear interest, at the Company’s election at the time of drawdown, at a rate per annum equal to (i) in the case of LIBOR rate loans, an adjusted LIBOR rate for the applicable interest period plus 2.00% or (ii) in the case of reference rate loans, the greatest of (A) the prime rate plus 1.00%, (B) the federal funds rate plus 1.50%, and (C) one-month adjusted LIBOR plus 2.00%. Loans may be converted from one rate to another at any time at the Company’s election, subject to certain conditions. Effective November 6, 2018, the Company pays an unused commitment fee equal to (x) 0.30% per annum when the outstanding principal obligations are less than 50% of the maximum commitment and (y) 0.25% per annum when the outstanding principal obligations are greater than or equal to 50% of the maximum commitment.  
The Subscription Facility will mature upon the earliest of: (i) November 6, 2020 (the “Stated Maturity Date”); (ii) the date upon which the administrative agent declares the obligations under the Subscription Facility due and payable after the occurrence of an event of default; (iii) 30 days prior to the termination of the Company’s constituent documents; (iv) 30 days prior to the date on which the Company’s ability to call capital contributions for the purpose of repaying the obligations under the Subscription Facility is terminated; and (v) the date the Company terminates the lender commitments pursuant to the Subscription Facility. The Stated Maturity Date may be extended, at the Company’s option, for two additional terms not longer than 364 days each, subject to customary conditions, including (x) the consent of the administrative agent and the extending lenders and (y) payment of an extension fee.
The Subscription Facility is secured by a pledge of the Company’s right, title, and interest in and to the undrawn capital commitments of the Company’s investors. The Subscription Facility includes customary affirmative and negative covenants and consent rights granted to the lenders, as well as usual and customary events of default for revolving credit facilities of this nature.
As of December 31, 2019, and December 31, 2018, the Company was in compliance with all covenants and other requirements of the Subscription Facility.
Jackson Hole Funding Facility
On November 16, 2018, BGSL Jackson Hole Funding LLC (“Jackson Hole Funding”), the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary that holds primarily originated loan investments, entered into a senior secured revolving credit facility (which was subsequently amended on February 6, 2019 and September 20, 2019 and as further amended from time to time, the “Jackson Hole Funding Facility”) with JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association (“JPM”). JPM serves as administrative agent, Citibank, N.A., serves as collateral agent and securities intermediary, Virtus Group, LP serves as collateral administrator and the Company serves as portfolio manager under the Jackson Hole Funding Facility.
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Advances under the Jackson Hole Funding Facility bear interest at a per annum rate equal to the three-month LIBOR in effect, plus the applicable margin of 2.375% per annum. Effective January 16, 2019, Jackson Hole Funding pays a commitment fee of 0.60% per annum (or 0.375% per annum until March 20, 2020) on the average daily unused amount of the financing commitments until the third anniversary of the Jackson Hole Funding Facility.  
The initial maximum commitment amount of the Jackson Hole Funding Facility was $300 million. Effective September 20, 2019, the maximum commitment amount of the Jackson Hole Funding Facility was increased to $600 million. The Jackson Hole Funding Facility has an accordion feature, subject to the satisfaction of various conditions, which could bring total commitments under the Jackson Hole Funding Facility to up to $900 million. Proceeds from borrowings under the Jackson Hole Funding Facility may be used to fund portfolio investments by Jackson Hole Funding and to make advances under delayed draw term loans where Jackson Hole Funding is a lender. The period during which Jackson Hole Funding may make borrowings under the Jackson Hole Funding Facility expires on November 16, 2021 and the Jackson Hole Funding Facility is scheduled to mature on May 16, 2023 (“Maturity Date”).
Jackson Hole Funding’s obligations to the lenders under the Jackson Hole Funding Facility are secured by a first priority security interest in Jackson Hole Funding’s portfolio of investments and cash. The obligations of Jackson Hole Funding under the Jackson Hole Funding Facility are non-recourse to the Company, and the Company’s exposure under the Jackson Hole Funding Facility is limited to the value of its investment in Jackson Hole Funding.  
In connection with the Jackson Hole Funding Facility, Jackson Hole Funding has made certain customary representations and warranties and is required to comply with various covenants, reporting requirements and other customary requirements for similar facilities. The Jackson Hole Funding Facility contains customary events of default for similar financing transactions, including if a change of control of Jackson Hole Funding occurs or if the Company is no longer the portfolio manager of Jackson Hole Funding. Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an event of default, JPM may declare the outstanding advances and all other obligations under the Jackson Hole Funding Facility immediately due and payable.
The occurrence of an event of default (as described above) or a market value event (as defined in the Jackson Hole Funding Facility) triggers a requirement that Jackson Hole Funding obtain the consent of JPM prior to entering into any sale or disposition with respect to portfolio assets, and the occurrence of a market value event triggers the right of JPM to direct Jackson Hole Funding to enter into sales or dispositions with respect to any portfolio assets, in each case in JPM’s sole discretion.
As of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the Company was in compliance with all covenants and other requirements of the Jackson Hole Funding Facility.
Breckenridge Funding Facility
On December 21, 2018, BGSL Breckenridge Funding LLC (“Breckenridge Funding”), the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary that holds primarily syndicated loan investments, entered into a senior secured revolving credit facility (which was subsequently amended on June 11, 2019, August 2, 2019 and September 27, 2019 and as further amended from time to time, the “Breckenridge Funding Facility”) with BNP Paribas (“BNP”). BNP serves as administrative agent, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association serves as collateral agent and the Company serves as servicer under the Breckenridge Funding Facility.
Advances under the Breckenridge Funding Facility bear interest at a per annum rate equal to the three-month LIBOR in effect, plus an applicable margin of 1.52% (or 1.25% prior to the collection period end date on June 3, 2019) to 2.15% per annum depending on the nature of the advances being requested under the facility. Effective December 11, 2019, Breckenridge Funding will also pay a commitment fee of 0.70% per annum if the unused facility amount is greater than 50% or 0.35% per annum if the unused facility amount is less than or equal to 50% and greater than 25% on the average daily unused amount of the financing commitments until the third anniversary of the Breckenridge Funding Facility.
The initial maximum commitment amount of the Breckenridge Funding Facility was $400 million. Effective June 11, 2019, the maximum commitment amount of the Breckenridge Funding Facility was increased to $575 million and effective September 27, 2019, the maximum commitment amount of the Breckenridge Funding Facility was increased to $875 million. Proceeds from borrowings under the Breckenridge Funding Facility may be used to fund portfolio investments by Breckenridge Funding and to make advances under delayed draw and revolving loans where Breckenridge Funding is a lender. The period during which Breckenridge Funding may make borrowings under the Breckenridge Funding Facility expires on December 21, 2021 (or such later date as may be agreed by Breckenridge Funding, BNP, as administrative agent, and the lenders under the Breckenridge Funding Facility) and the Breckenridge Funding Facility is scheduled to mature on December 21, 2023.
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Breckenridge Funding’s obligations to the lenders under the Breckenridge Funding Facility are secured by a first priority security interest in all of Breckenridge Funding’s portfolio of investments and cash. The obligations of Breckenridge Funding under the Breckenridge Funding Facility are non-recourse to the Company, and the Company’s exposure under the Breckenridge Funding Facility is limited to the value of its investment in Breckenridge Funding.
In connection with the Breckenridge Funding Facility, Breckenridge Funding has made certain customary representations and warranties and is required to comply with various covenants, reporting requirements and other customary requirements for similar facilities. The Breckenridge Funding Facility contains customary events of default for similar financing transactions, including if a change of control of Breckenridge Funding occurs or if the Company is no longer the servicer of Breckenridge Funding. Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an event of default, BNP may declare the outstanding advances and all other obligations under the Breckenridge Funding Facility immediately due and payable. The occurrence of an event of default (as described above) suspends the ability of Breckenridge Funding to acquire or sell additional assets.
As of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the Company was in compliance with all covenants and other requirements of the Breckenridge Funding Facility.
Big Sky Funding Facility
On December 10, 2019, BGSL Big Sky Funding LLC (“Big Sky Funding”), the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, entered into a senior secured revolving credit facility (the “Big Sky Funding Facility”) with Bank of America, N.A. (“Bank of America”). Bank of America serves as administrative agent, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. serves as collateral administrator and the Company serves as manager under the Revolving Credit Facility.
Advances under the Big Sky Funding Facility bear interest at a per annum rate equal to the one-month or three-month London Interbank Offered Rate in effect, plus the applicable margin of 1.60% per annum. Big Sky Funding is required to utilize a minimum percentage of the financing commitments (the “Minimum Utilization Amount”), which amount increases in three-month intervals from 20% six months after the closing date of the Revolving Credit Facility to 80% 15 months after the closing date of the Revolving Credit Facility and thereafter. Unused amounts below the Minimum Utilization Amount accrue a fee at a rate of 1.60% per annum. In addition, Big Sky Funding will pay an unused fee of 0.45% per annum on the daily unused amount of the financing commitments in excess of the Minimum Utilization Amount, commencing three months after the closing date of the Big Sky Funding Facility.
The initial maximum commitment amount of the Big Sky Funding Facility is $400 million. The Big Sky Funding Facility has an accordion feature, subject to the satisfaction of various conditions, which could bring total commitments under the Big Sky Funding Facility to up to $500 million. Proceeds from borrowings under the Big Sky Funding Facility may be used to fund portfolio investments by Big Sky Funding and to make advances under revolving loans or delayed draw term loans where Big Sky Funding is a lender. All amounts outstanding under the Big Sky Funding Facility must be repaid by December 10, 2022.
Big Sky Funding's obligations to the lenders under the Big Sky Funding Facility are secured by a first priority security interest in all of Big Sky Funding's portfolio investments and cash. The obligations of Big Sky Funding under the Big Sky Funding Facility are non-recourse to the Company, and the Company’s exposure under the Big Sky Funding Facility is limited to the value of the Company’s investment in Big Sky Funding.
In connection with the Big Sky Funding Facility, Big Sky Funding has made certain customary representations and warranties and is required to comply with various covenants, reporting requirements and other customary requirements for similar facilities. The Revolving Credit Facility contains customary events of default for similar financing transactions, including if a change of control of SPV occurs. Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an event of default, Bank of America may declare the outstanding advances and all other obligations under the Revolving Credit Facility immediately due and payable. The occurrence of an event of default (as described above) triggers a requirement that SPV obtain the consent of Bank of America prior to entering into any sale or disposition with respect to portfolio investments.
As of December 31, 2019, the Company was in compliance with all covenants and other requirements of the Big Sky Funding Facility.
The Company’s outstanding debt obligations were as follows:

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December 31, 2019
Aggregate Principal Committed Outstanding Principal Carrying Value Unused
Portion (1)
Amount Available (2)
Subscription Facility $ 400,000    $ 119,752    $ 119,752    $ 280,248    $ 280,248   
Jackson Hole Funding Facility (3)
600,000    514,151    514,151    85,849    5,843   
Breckenridge Funding Facility 875,000    820,311    820,311    54,689    10,769   
Big Sky Funding Facility 400,000    —    —    400,000    25,481   
Total $ 2,275,000    $ 1,454,214    $ 1,454,214    $ 820,786    $ 322,341   

December 31, 2018
Aggregate
Principal
Committed
Outstanding
Principal
Carrying
Value
Unused
Portion (1)
Amount
Available (2)
Subscription Facility $ 200,000    $ —    $ —    $ 200,000    $ 174,032   
Jackson Hole Funding Facility (3)
300,000    120,000    120,000    180,000    22,966   
Breckenridge Funding Facility 400,000    65,000    65,000    335,000    5,183   
Total $ 900,000    $ 185,000    $ 185,000    $ 715,000    $ 202,181   
(1)The unused portion is the amount upon which commitment fees, if any, are based.
(2)The amount available reflects any limitations related to each respective credit facility’s borrowing base.
(3)Under the Jackson Hole Funding Facility, the Company may borrow in U.S. dollars or certain other permitted currencies. As of December 31, 2019, the Company had borrowings denominated in Euros (EUR) of 23.9 million. As of December 31, 2018, all borrowings outstanding were in USD.

As of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, $5.3 million and $0.8 million, respectively, of interest expense and $0.2 million and $0.1 million, respectively, of unused commitment fees was included in interest payable. For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, the weighted average interest rate on all borrowings outstanding was 4.36% and 5.42% (including unused fees), respectively, and the average principal debt outstanding was $776.6 million and $162.0 million, respectively.
The components of interest expense were as follows:
For the Year Ended December 31, 2019 For the Year Ended December 31, 2018
Borrowing interest expense $ 32,859    $ 935   
Facility unused fees 1,007    89   
Amortization of financing costs 1,565    327   
Total Interest Expense $ 35,431    $ 1,351   
Cash paid for interest expense $ 28,946    $ 105   

Note 7. Commitments and Contingencies
Portfolio Company Commitments
The Company’s investment portfolio may contain debt investments which are in the form of lines of credit or delayed draw commitments, which require us to provide funding when requested by portfolio companies in accordance with underlying loan agreements.  As of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 we had nine and five delayed draw terms loans, respectively, with an aggregate of $179.4 million and $54.7 million of unfunded commitments, respectively.
Warehousing Transactions
The Company entered into two warehousing transactions whereby the Company agreed, subject to certain conditions, to purchase certain assets from parties unaffiliated with the Adviser. Such warehousing transactions were designed to assist the Company in deploying capital upon receipt of drawdown proceeds. One of these warehousing transactions related primarily to
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originated or anchor investments in middle market loans (the “Middle Market Warehouse”).  The other warehouse related primarily to broadly syndicated loans (the “Syndicated Warehouse” and, together with the Middle Market Warehouse, the “Warehousing Transactions”) prior to the acquisition of the equity interests of the Syndicated Warehouse by the Company and merger of the Syndicated Warehouse with the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, as described below. Both the Middle Market Warehouse and the Syndicated Warehouse have been terminated.
Middle Market Warehouse
On September 10, 2018, the Company entered into a Warehousing Transaction for primarily middle market loans with a warehouse provider unaffiliated with the Adviser. The warehouse investments for the Middle Market Warehouse were ultimately selected by the warehouse provider, in its sole discretion, for an account which it solely controlled. Recommendations for such investments were made on a non-discretionary basis by an affiliate of the Adviser, but only if the Adviser determined the investment was desirable for the Company. The Company was a party to a forward purchase agreement pursuant to which the Company agreed to purchase certain assets held in the Middle Market Warehouse at a purchase price based on the cost of the asset to the warehouse provider plus amounts of unpaid interest, original issue discount and structuring fees accrued to the warehouse provider during the time the warehouse provider owned the asset.
On July 12, 2019, the Company purchased all investments held by the Middle Market Warehouse for a total consideration of $86.9 million (including $0.2 million of accrued interest). The Middle Market Warehouse was terminated on September 10, 2019.
Since the Company had a contractual obligation to acquire all qualifying assets in the Middle Market Warehouse through a forward purchase agreement, the mark-to-market gain/loss of all investments was recognized in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The Company did not, however, have any direct interest in the underlying assets nor did it have the power to control the activities most significant to the economic performance of the Middle Market Warehouse, and therefore, such assets were not included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. This gain/loss amount is calculated as the difference between (1) the current purchase price the Company would be obligated to pay to purchase each asset under the forward purchase agreement and (2) the current fair value as determined by the Company’s valuation policy. As of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the Company had a total unrealized loss of $0.0 million and $0.2 million, respectively, relating to this forward purchase obligation.
Syndicated Warehouse
On August 21, 2018, the Company entered into a Warehousing Transaction with a third party whereby the Company (or the Company’s designees) agreed, subject to certain contingencies, to purchase the equity interests of a warehouse vehicle from such third party at a price equal to the initial capital contribution made by the third party equity holder plus accrued but unpaid interest on the underlying assets in the warehouse vehicle remaining after the payment of all other obligations outstanding under the credit agreement of the Syndicated Warehouse vehicle other than principal on the loan made under such credit agreement. The warehouse investments for the Syndicated Warehouse vehicle were selected by an affiliate of the Adviser as the collateral manager of the Syndicated Warehouse. Neither the Adviser nor any of its affiliates received any additional compensation from the Company in connection with serving as collateral manager of the warehouse vehicle.
The Company exercised their rights to acquire the equity interests of the Syndicated Warehouse on December 11, 2018, at which time the assets and liabilities of the warehouse started to be included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements for a total purchase price of $24.9 million.  For the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company recorded a loss $0.6 million, which represented the excess of total consideration paid for the equity interests over the fair value of the net assets of the Syndicated Warehouse we assumed on the date of acquisition.
The following table summarizes the assets and liabilities of the Syndicated Warehouse as of the acquisition date:
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  December 11, 2018
ASSETS  
Investments at fair value $ 120,988   
Cash and cash equivalents 919   
Interest receivable 604   
Receivable for investments sold 29,740   
Total assets $ 152,251   
LIABILITIES
Debt $ 65,000   
Payable for investments purchased 62,758   
Interest payable 140   
Total liabilities 127,898   
NET ASSETS
Total net assets 24,353   
Total liabilities and net assets $ 152,251   
On December 28, 2018, the Company caused a certificate of merger to be filed with the Delaware Secretary of State to merge the Syndicated Warehouse, a Cayman Islands exempted company, into Breckenridge Funding, a Delaware limited liability company at which time all the assets and liabilities of the Syndicated Warehouse became owned by Breckenridge Funding.  Breckenridge is, and at the time of the merger the Syndicated Warehouse was, a wholly-owned bankruptcy remote subsidiary of the Company.  The Syndicated Warehouse and Breckenridge were established in connection with non-recourse credit facilities provided by BNP Paribas as lender on August 21, 2018 and December 21, 2018, respectively. In connection with the merger, the Company caused the credit facility at the Syndicated Warehouse to be paid off and terminated.
Other Commitments and Contingencies
From time to time, the Company may become a party to certain legal proceedings incidental to the normal course of its business. At December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, management is not aware of any pending or threatened litigation.
Note 8. Net Assets
Subscriptions and Drawdowns
In connection with its formation, the Company has the authority to issue an unlimited number of shares at $0.001 per share par value.  
For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company entered into subscription agreements (the “Subscription Agreements”) with investors providing for the private placement of the Company’s shares. Under the terms of the Subscription Agreements, investors are required to fund drawdowns to purchase the Company’s shares up to the amount of their respective Capital Commitment on an as-needed basis each time the Company delivers a drawdown notice to its investors. As of December 31, 2019, the Company had received Capital Commitments totaling $3,230.6 million ($1,597.6 million remaining undrawn), of which $74.5 million ($36.7 million remaining undrawn) were from affiliates of the Adviser. As of December 31, 2018, the Company had received Capital Commitments totaling $952.2 million ($712.9 million remaining undrawn), of which $15.0 million ($6.9 million remaining undrawn) were from affiliates of the Adviser.
The following table summarizes the total shares issued and proceeds received related to the Company’s capital drawdowns delivered pursuant to the Subscription Agreements for the year ended December 31, 2019 (dollars in millions):

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Common Share Issuance Date Number of Common Shares Issued Aggregate Offering Price
January 24, 2019 5,666,095    $ 142.1   
March 28, 2019 9,818,817    247.5   
June 27, 2019 12,453,261    319.7   
August 9, 2019 1,401,367    36.1   
September 25, 2019 14,686,050    377.3   
December 16, 2019 (1)
10,474,169    271.1   
Total 54,499,759    $ 1,393.8   
(1)On December 2, 2019, the Company issued a capital call and delivered capital drawdown notices totaling $271.1 million, of which $5.9 million was received subsequent to December 31, 2019 and recorded as a subscription receivable on the Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities.
The following table summarizes the total shares issued and proceeds received related to the Company’s initial capitalization and capital drawdowns delivered pursuant to the Subscription Agreements for the year ended December 31, 2018 (dollars in millions):
Common Share Issuance Date Number of
Common
Shares Issued
Aggregate
Offering Price
September 14, 2018 60    $ —   
November 20, 2018 5,671,181    141.8   
December 13, 2018 3,950,078    97.5   
Total 9,621,319    $ 239.3   
Distributions
The following table summarizes the Company’s distributions declared and payable for the year ended December 31, 2019 (dollars in thousands except per share amounts):

Date Declared Record Date Payment Date Per Share Amount Total Amount
January 22, 2019 January 23, 2019 May 15, 2019 $ 0.1239    $ 1,192   
February 28, 2019 March 27, 2019 May 15, 2019 0.3536    5,406   
March 26, 2019 March 31, 2019 May 15, 2019 0.0225    565   
June 26, 2019 June 26, 2019 August 14, 2019 0.4780    12,010   
June 26, 2019 June 30, 2019 August 14, 2019 0.0220    827   
August 8, 2019 August 8, 2019 November 14, 2019 0.2120    7,967   
September 24, 2019 September 24, 2019 November 14, 2019 0.2554    9,973   
September 24, 2019 September 30, 2019 November 14, 2019 0.0326    1,752   
December 13, 2019 December 15, 2019 January 30, 2020 0.4130    22,226   
December 16, 2019 December 31, 2019 January 30, 2020 0.0870    5,593   
Total distributions $ 2.0000    $ 67,511   
For the year ended December 31, 2018, no distributions were declared or paid by the Company.
Dividend Reinvestment
The Company has adopted a dividend reinvestment plan ("DRIP"), pursuant to which it reinvests all cash dividends declared by the Board on behalf of its shareholders who do not elect to receive their dividends in cash. As a result, if the Board and the Company declares, a cash dividend or other distribution, then the Company’s shareholders who have not opted out of its dividend reinvestment plan will have their cash distributions automatically reinvested in additional shares as described below, rather than receiving the cash dividend or other distribution. Distributions on fractional shares will be credited to each participating shareholder’s account to three decimal places. A participating shareholder will receive an amount of shares equal
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to the amount of the distribution on that participant’s shares divided by the most recent quarter-end NAV per share that is available on the date such distribution was paid (unless the Board determines to use the NAV per share as of another time). Shareholders who receive distributions in the form of shares will generally be subject to the same U.S. federal, state and local tax consequences as if they received cash distributions; however, since their cash distributions will be reinvested, those shareholders will not receive cash with which to pay any applicable taxes. The Company intends to use newly issued shares to implement the plan. Shares issued under the dividend reinvestment plan will not reduce outstanding Capital Commitments.
Pursuant to the Company’s dividend reinvestment plan, the following table summarize the amounts received and shares issued to shareholders who have not opted out of the Company’s dividend reinvestment plan during the year ended December 31, 2019 (dollars in thousands except per share amounts):

Payment Date DRIP Shares Value DRIP Shares Issued
May 15, 2019 $ 519    20,605   
August 14, 2019 1,748    68,165   
November 14, 2019 2,051    79,894   
Total $ 4,318    168,664   
For the year ended December 31, 2018, no distributions were declared or paid by the Company.
Note 9. Earnings Per Share
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share:
For the Year Ended December 31, 2019 For the Year Ended December 31, 2018
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations $ 106,206    $ (2,944)  
Weighted average shares outstanding (basic and diluted) 33,858,642    7,458,181   
Earnings (loss) per common share (basic and diluted) $ 3.14    $ (0.39)  

Note 10. Income Taxes
Taxable income differs from net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations primarily due to: (1) unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments, as gains and losses are generally not included in taxable income until they are realized; (2) income or loss recognition on exited investments; (3) non-deductible U.S federal excise taxes; and (4) other non-deductible expenses.
The Company makes certain adjustments to the classification of net assets as a result of permanent book-to-tax differences, which include differences in the book and tax basis of certain assets and liabilities, and nondeductible federal taxes or losses among other items. To the extent these differences are permanent, they are charged or credited to additional paid in capital, undistributed net investment income or undistributed net realized gains on investments, as appropriate. For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, permanent differences were as follows:
  For the Year Ended December 31, 2019 For the Year Ended December 31, 2018
Undistributed net investment income (loss) $ (732)   $ 43   
Accumulated net realized gain (loss) 2,067     
Paid In Capital $ (1,335)   $ (52)  
During the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, permanent differences were principally related to $0.5 million and $0.1 million, respectively, of U.S. federal excise taxes and $0.5 million and $0.0 million, respectively, of non-deductible offering costs.
The following reconciles the increase in net assets resulting from operations to taxable income for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018:
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For the Year Ended December 31, 2019 (1)
For the Year Ended December 31, 2018
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations $ 106,206    $ (2,944)  
Net unrealized (appreciation) depreciation (28,329)   3,650   
Realized losses for tax not included in book income (511)   581   
Nondeductible capital gains incentive fee 4,218    —   
Other nondeductible expenses and excise taxes 1,335    52   
Taxable/distributable income $ 82,919    $ 1,339   
(1)Tax information for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 is estimated and is not considered final until the Company files its tax return.

The components of accumulated gains / losses as calculated on a tax basis for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 are as follows:
  For the Year Ended December 31, 2019 For the Year Ended December 31, 2018
Distributable ordinary income $ 16,748    $ 1,339   
Other temporary book/tax differences (4,212)   —   
Net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on investments 24,603    (4,231)  
Total accumulated under-distributed (over-distributed) earnings $ 37,139    $ (2,892)  

The cost and unrealized gain (loss) of the Company’s investments, as calculated on a tax basis, at December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 were as follows:
  December 31, 2019 December 31, 2018
Gross unrealized appreciation $ 35,465    $ 953   
Gross unrealized depreciation (10,862)   (4,962)  
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) $ 24,603    $ (4,009)  
 
Tax cost of investments $ 3,067,837    $ 549,334   

All of the dividends declared during the year ended December 31, 2019 were derived from ordinary income, as determined on a tax basis. During the year ended December 31, 2018, no distributions were declared or paid by the Company.

BGSL Investments, a wholly owned subsidiary that was formed in 2019, is a Delaware LLC which has elected to be treated as a corporation for U.S. tax purposes. As such, BGSL Investments is subject to U.S. Federal, state and local taxes. For the Company's tax year ended December 31, 2019, BGSL Investments activity did not result in a material provision for income taxes.

Management has analyzed the Company’s tax positions taken, or to be taken, on federal income tax returns for all open tax years, and has concluded that no provision for income tax is required in the Company’s financial statements. The Company’s federal tax returns are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service for a period of three fiscal years after they are filed.
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Note 11. Financial Highlights
The following are the financial highlights for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018:
  For the Year End December 31, 2019 For the Year Ended December 31, 2018
Per Share Data:  
Net asset value, beginning of period $ 24.57    $ 25.00   
Net investment income (1)
2.18    0.17   
Net unrealized and realized gain (loss) (2)
1.27    (0.60)  
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations 3.45    (0.43)  
Distributions declared (3)
(2.00)   —   
Total increase (decrease) in net assets 1.45    (0.43)  
Net asset value, end of period $ 26.02    $ 24.57   
Shares outstanding, end of period 64,289,742    9,621,319   
Total return based on NAV (4)
14.43  % (1.72) %
Ratios:
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets (5)
8.50  % 8.89  %
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets (5)
8.46  % 6.07  %
Portfolio turnover rate 31.49  % —  %
Supplemental Data:
Net assets, end of period 1,673,117    236,365   
Total capital commitments, end of period 3,230,641    952,234   
Ratios of total contributed capital to total committed capital, end of period 50.55  % 25.13  %
Asset coverage ratio 215.1%    227.8  %
(1)The per share data was derived by using the weighted average shares outstanding during the period.
(2)For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, the amount shown does not correspond with the aggregate amount for the period as it includes a $0.31 and ($0.03) impact, respectively, from the effect of the timing of capital transactions.
(3)The per share data for distributions was derived by using the actual shares outstanding at the date of the relevant transactions (refer to Note 8).
(4)Total return is calculated as the change in NAV per share during the period, plus distributions per share (assuming dividends and distributions are reinvested in accordance with the Company's dividend reinvestment plan) divided by the beginning NAV per share.
(5)For the year ended December 31, 2018, amounts are annualized except for organizational costs and expense support amounts relating to organizational costs. For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, the ratio of total operating expenses to average net assets was 8.47% and 14.09%, respectively, on an annualized basis, excluding the effect of expense support/(recoupment) by the Adviser which represented (0.03)% and 5.20%, respectively, of average net assets.
Note 12. Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)


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As of and For the Three Months Ended
Q4 2019 Q3 2019 Q2 2019 Q1 2019
Q4 2018 (1)
Total investment income $ 64,580    $ 38,590    $ 29,639    $ 15,239    $ 3,174   
Net expenses 30,957    17,480    16,625    8,667    1,835   
Net investment income before excise tax 33,623    21,110    13,014    6,572    1,339   
Excise tax expense 465    —    —    —    52   
Net investment income after excise tax 33,158    21,110    13,014    6,572    1,287   
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) 15,994    (1,623)   10,584    7,397    (4,231)  
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations 49,152    19,487    23,598    13,969    (2,944)  
NAV per share 26.02    25.66    25.64    25.20    24.57   
Net investment income per share (basic and diluted) $ 0.60    $ 0.54    $ 0.51    $ 0.46    $ 0.17   
Earnings (loss) per share (basic and diluted) $ 0.88    $ 0.49    $ 0.92    $ 0.98    $ (0.39)  
(1)Q4 represents the period from November 20, 2018 (commencement of operations) to December 31, 2018.
Note 13. Subsequent Events
The Company’s management evaluated subsequent events through the date of issuance of the consolidated financial statements.  There have been no subsequent events that occurred during such period that would require disclosure in, or would be required to be recognized in, the consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2019, except as discussed below.
In January 2020, the Company received the remaining outstanding amount of $5.9 million related to the capital call issued on December 2, 2019.
On January 15, 2020, the Company issued a capital call notice to call $440.9 million of capital commitments. Proceeds from the capital call were received and the related issuance of approximately 16.9 million shares occurred on January 30, 2020.
On January 29, 2020, the Board declared a distribution of $0.1593 per share, which is payable on May 15, 2020 to shareholders of record as of January 29, 2020.
On February 26, 2020, the Board declared a distribution of $0.3407 per share, which is payable on May 15, 2020 to shareholders of record as of March 31, 2020.



Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
There are not and have not been any disagreements between the Company and its accountant on any matter of accounting principles, practices, or financial statement disclosure.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.
(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
In accordance with Rules 13a-15(b) and 15d-15(b) of the 1934 Act, we, under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and Rule 15d-15(e) of the 1934 Act) as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K and determined that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective as of the end of the period covered by the Annual Report on Form 10-K.
(b) Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act). Under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019 based on the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 COSO Framework). Based on this evaluation under the framework in Internal Control—Integrated Framework, management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2019.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
(c) Changes in Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting
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.
Item 9B. Other Information.
None.
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Table of Contents
PART III
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
Management
Our business and affairs are managed under the direction of the Board.  The responsibilities of the Board include, among other things, the oversight of our investment activities, the quarterly and non-quarterly valuation of our assets, oversight of our financing arrangements and corporate governance activities.  Our Board consists of seven members, four of whom are not “interested persons” of the Company or of the Adviser as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act and are “independent,” as determined by the Board.  These individuals are referred to as independent trustees.  Our Board elects the Company’s executive officers, who serve at the discretion of the Board.
Board of Trustees and Executive Officers
Trustees
Information regarding the Board is as follows:
Name Year of Birth Position Trustee Since
Interested Trustee:      
Bennett Goodman 1957 Chairman of the Board,
Trustee
2018
Daniel H. Smith, Jr. 1963 Trustee 2018
Brad Marshall 1972 Trustee 2018
Independent Trustees:      
Robert Bass 1949 Trustee 2018
Tracy Collins 1963 Trustee 2018
Robert Harteveldt 1962 Trustee 2018
Thomas Joyce 1955 Trustee 2018
The address for each of our trustees is c/o GSO Asset Management LLC, 345 Park Avenue, 31st Floor, New York, NY 10154.
Executive Officers
Name Year of Birth Position
Brad Marshall 1972 Chief Executive Officer
Stephan Kuppenheimer 1970 Chief Financial Officer
Robert W. Busch 1982 Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer
Beth Chartoff 1969 Public Relations Officer
Marisa J. Beeney 1970 Chief Compliance Officer, Chief Legal
    Officer and Secretary
Biographical Information
Trustees
Our trustees have been divided into two groups—interested trustees and independent trustees. An interested trustee is an “interested person” as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act.
Interested Trustees
Bennett J. Goodman, Trustee and Chairman of the Board of Trustees. Mr. Goodman is Chairman of the Board of the Company, a Co-Founder of GSO and a Senior Advisor of Blackstone. Since joining Blackstone in 2008, Mr. Goodman has focused on the management of GSO, which is Blackstone’s credit investment platform with over $124 billion of assets under management in various direct lending strategies, leveraged loan vehicles and distressed investment funds. Before co-founding
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GSO in 2005, Mr. Goodman was the Managing Partner of the Alternative Capital Division of Credit Suisse. Mr. Goodman joined Credit Suisse in November 2000 when they acquired Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette (“DLJ”) where he was Global Head of Leveraged Finance. Mr. Goodman joined DLJ in February of 1988 as the founder of the High Yield Capital Markets Group. Prior to joining DLJ, Mr. Goodman worked in the high yield business at Drexel Burnham Lambert from 1984 to 1988. He currently sits on the board of Lincoln Center, the Whitney Museum and the Central Park Conservancy. He received Institutional Investor’s 2012 Money Manager of The Year Award and the 2004 Lifetime Achievement Award from Euromoney Magazine for his career achievements in the global capital markets. Mr. Goodman graduated from Lafayette College and the Harvard Business School.
Daniel H. Smith, Jr., Senior Managing Director of Blackstone and Head of Liquid Credit Strategies.  Mr. Smith is a Trustee of the Company, a Senior Managing Director of Blackstone and is Head of Liquid Credit Strategies unit, which includes various commingled credit funds, permanent capital vehicles, CLOs, closed-end funds and leveraged and unleveraged separately managed accounts (SMAs). Additional responsibilities include serving as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the closed-end investment companies managed by the unit. Mr. Smith joined GSO from the Royal Bank of Canada in July 2005 where he was a Managing Partner and Co-Head of RBC Capital Market’s Alternative Investments Unit. Mr. Smith joined RBC in 2001 from Indosuez Capital, a division of Crédit Agricole Indosuez, where he was a Co-Head and Managing Director overseeing the firm’s debt investments business and merchant banking activities. Prior to Indosuez Capital, Mr. Smith was a Principal at Frye-Louis Capital Management in Chicago. He began his career in investment management in 1987 at Van Kampen American Capital (f/k/a Van Kampen Merritt), a mutual fund company in Chicago where he held a variety of positions including Co-Head of the firm’s high-yield investment group and head of the firm’s equity fund complex.  Mr. Smith received a B.S. in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Southern California and a Masters in Management from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.
Brad Marshall, Senior Managing Director. Mr. Marshall is a Trustee and the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and a Senior Managing Director of Blackstone. He is a senior portfolio manager in GSO’s Performing Credit Group and oversees GSO’s Direct Lending effort.  Mr. Marshall is a member of GSO’s Performing Credit Investment Committee.  Before joining GSO in 2005, Mr. Marshall worked in various roles at RBC, including fixed income research and business development within RBC’s private equity funds effort. Prior to RBC, Mr. Marshall helped develop a private equity funds business for TAL Global, a Canadian asset management division of CIBC, and prior to that, he co-founded a microchip verification software company where he served as Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Marshall received an M.B.A. from McGill University in Montreal and a B.A. (Honors) in Economics from Queen’s University in Kingston, Canada.
Independent Trustees
Robert Bass. Mr. Bass has served on the board of Groupon, Inc. since June 2012 and is currently the Chairman of the audit committee. He served as a Vice Chairman of Deloitte & Touche LLP from 2006 through June 2012, and was a partner in Deloitte from 1982 through June 2012, where he specialized in e-commerce, mergers and acquisitions, SEC filings and related issues. At Deloitte, Mr. Bass was responsible for all services provided to Forstmann Little and its portfolio companies and was the advisory partner for Blackstone, DIRECTV, 24 Hour Fitness, McKesson, IMG and CSC. In addition, he has been an advisory partner for RR Donnelley, Automatic Data Processing, Community Health Systems, and Avis Budget. Mr. Bass served on the board of directors of Sims Metal Management (ASX: SGM.AX) and as a member of the risk and audit committee from September 2013 to January 1, 2019, including as Chairman of the risk and audit committee since November 2014, the board of directors and as a member of the audit committee of Apex Tool Group, LLC since December 2014, including as Chairman of the audit committee since April 2015, the board of directors and as Chairman of the audit committee of New Page Corporation from January 2013 (emergence from chapter XI) to January 2015 (sale of the company), and the board of directors and as Chairman of the audit committee of Redfin Corporation (NASDAQ: RDFN) since October 2016. Mr. Bass is a certified public accountant licensed in New York and Connecticut. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Connecticut State Society of Certified Public Accountants. Mr. Bass brings to the Board a wealth of experience and knowledge of public company financial reporting and accounting, including with respect to companies in the e-commerce sector, and his experience at the highest levels of a Big Four accounting firm is an invaluable resource to the Board in its oversight of the Company’s SEC filings, all of which make him well qualified to serve on our Board.
Tracy Collins. Ms. Collins is an independent finance professional and most recently served as CEO to SmartFinance LLC (2013-2017), a Fintech startup purchased by MidFirst Bank in December of 2017. During her career in financial services, Ms. Collins worked as a Senior Managing Director (Partner) and Head of Asset-Backed Securities Research at Bear Stearns & Co., Inc. for six years and prior to that as a Managing Director (Partner) and Head of Asset-Backed Securities and Structured Products at Credit Suisse (formerly known as Credit Suisse First Boston) for nine years. During her tenure as a structured product specialist, Ms. Collins was consistently recognized as a “First Team All American Research Analyst.” Ms. Collins served as an independent director for KKR Financial from August 2006 to May 2014. She graduated from the University of
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Texas at Austin in the Plan II Honors Program. Ms. Collins has held numerous management positions and her broad experiences in the financial services sector provide her with skills and valuable insight in handling complex financial transactions and issues, all of which make her well qualified to serve on our Board. Ms. Collins’ spouse is the founder, managing partner and co-CIO of Good Hill Partners LP (“Good Hill”).  Good Hill is a registered investment adviser that manages various types of collective investment vehicles and investment accounts. Affiliates of the Adviser (but not the Adviser) have invested on behalf of their clients in Good Hill managed vehicles or accounts since 2010, and the amount of such investment is material to Good Hill.
Robert L. Harteveldt. Mr. Harteveldt is the Founder and President of Veracity Advisors, LLC (“Veracity”). Mr. Harteveldt founded Veracity in 2019. Veracity advises small businesses seeking to raise equity and debt financing. Prior to Founding Veracity, Mr. Harteveldt was CEO of Trishield Capital Management (“Trishield”), a deep-value, event-driven hedge fund focused primarily on small and mid-cap domestic companies, investing in both credit and equity. Trishield was named the number one performing Event Driven Fund by BarclayHedge for the three years ending in 2014. Mr. Harteveldt joined Trishield in 2013. Prior to joining Trishield, Mr. Harteveldt worked at Jefferies LLC (“Jefferies”) from 2008 to 2013. At Jefferies, Mr. Harteveldt was Co-Head of Global Fixed Income, Global Head of Leveraged Finance Investment Banking and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. Prior to joining Jefferies, Mr. Harteveldt worked at Bear Stearns & Co., Inc. from 1984 until 2008, where Mr. Harteveldt was Co-Head of Leveraged Finance Sales & Trading. Prior to moving into the Fixed Income Department at Bear Stearns, Mr. Harteveldt worked in its Mergers and Acquisitions and Corporate Finance Departments. Mr. Harteveldt holds an A.B. in History from Dartmouth College, where he currently serves on the Board of Overseers for the Hood Museum of Art. Mr. Harteveldt currently serves on the Board of the Greenwich Country Day School and Airelle Skincare LLC. Mr. Harteveldt is a former Trustee of Choate Rosemary Hall and served on the Board of Directors of the Boys and Girls Club of Greenwich. Mr. Harteveldt has held numerous management positions and his broad experiences in the financial services sector provide him with skills and valuable insight in handling complex financial transactions and issues, all of which make him well qualified to serve on our Board. Mr. Harteveldt, directly or through one or more investment vehicles, is a limited partner in GSO Capital Solutions Fund II LP, Blackstone Real Estate Partners VII, LP and Blackstone Real Estate Debt Strategies III, L.P., funds managed by affiliates of the Adviser.
Thomas Joyce. Mr. Joyce is a recognized leader in the financial services industry. He has over thirty five years of experience, both domestic and internationally. He was most recently Executive Chairman of Arxis Capital. Prior to Arxis, Mr. Joyce was Chairman and CEO of Knight Capital Group (“Knight”). He joined Knight in 2002 and retired in July 2013, taking the company from $400 million to $1.3 billion in revenues. From January through May of 2002, Mr. Joyce was Global Head of Trading for S.C. Bernstein & Co.  Before that, he held a variety of leadership roles in the Global Institutional Equity business at Merrill Lynch & Co, during his almost fifteen years there. He is a former member of the Boards of Special Olympics Connecticut; the Alfred E. Smith Foundation; and Salisbury School. He is one of the Police Commissioners of the Darien Police Department. Mr. Joyce received an AB in Economics from Harvard College. Mr. Joyce has held numerous management positions and his broad experiences in the financial services sector provide him with skills and valuable insight in handling complex financial transactions and issues, all of which make him well qualified to serve on our Board.
Executive Officers Who Are Not Trustees
Beth Chartoff, Senior Managing Director and Head of Investor Relations and Business Development. Ms. Chartoff is the Public Relations Officer of the Company, a Senior Managing Director of Blackstone and Head of Investor Relations and Business Development at GSO. Before joining GSO in 2005, Ms. Chartoff worked as a Director in Investment Banking at Banc of America Securities in the Financial Sponsors Group. Prior to working at Banc of America Securities, Ms. Chartoff was in the investment banking groups of Credit Suisse and DLJ. Ms. Chartoff worked on a variety of financing, M&A and restructuring transactions in the consumer & retail and media & telecommunications industries. Ms. Chartoff received a B.A. in Economics from Cornell University and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She is Head of the Blackstone Women’s Initiative, focused on the recruitment, retention and advancement of women at the firm. In addition, Ms. Chartoff serves as a member of the Executive Committee of American Ballet Theatre’s Board of Governing Trustees.

Stephan Kuppenheimer, Senior Managing Director. Mr. Kuppenheimer is the Chief Financial Officer of the Company and a Senior Managing Director of Blackstone. Mr. Kuppenheimer is a member of GSO’s Performing Credit Group focused on direct lending and capital markets activities. Mr. Kuppenheimer is also a member of the investment committee for certain GSO direct lending funds. Before joining GSO in 2015, he was a Senior Managing Director at Stifel Financial where he served as Head of Principal Investing and Head of Debt Capital Markets from 2010 to 2015. In addition, as part of his responsibilities at Stifel, Mr. Kuppenheimer served as a member of the board of directors of CM Finance Inc. a publicly listed BDC. Prior to Stifel, Mr. Kuppenheimer was founder and CEO of FSI Capital, an alternative asset management company focused on U.S. credit products. Previously, Mr. Kuppenheimer was head of CLOs, structured funds and new products for Merrill Lynch. Mr. Kuppenheimer received a J.D., with Distinction, from Emory University School of Law and a B.A. from Colgate University with Honors in Philosophy.
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Marisa J. Beeney, Senior Managing Director, General Counsel of GSO. Ms. Beeney is a Senior Managing Director of Blackstone and the Chief Compliance Officer, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary of the Company. Ms. Beeney has been with GSO since 2007. Prior to her role as General Counsel, Ms. Beeney worked on a variety of legal matters within GSO, overseeing certain legal and compliance issues and also focusing on the leverage facilities of the GSO funds, new business initiatives, fund structuring and related issues for fund investments. Ms. Beeney also serves as Chief Compliance Officer, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary of certain GSO-advised registered closed-end funds. Before joining GSO, Ms. Beeney was an attorney at DLA Piper within the finance group. Prior to that time, she worked at Latham & Watkins primarily on project finance and development transactions, as well as other structured credit products. Ms. Beeney holds a B.S. in Engineering from Cornell University, and a J.D., magna cum laude, from Boston University.
Robert W. Busch, Senior Vice President. Mr. Busch is the Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer of the Company and a Senior Vice President with Blackstone. Mr. Busch joined GSO in 2018. Mr. Busch worked previously at Fifth Street Asset Management from 2012 to 2018, where he was Senior Vice President Finance and served as Controller of the firm’s two publicly traded business development companies and publicly traded alternative asset manager. Prior to that, Mr. Busch was an Audit Manager at Deloitte & Touche LLP serving clients in various industries including alternative asset management and real estate. Mr. Busch is a Certified Public Accountant in the state of New York and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from Boston University’s Questrom School of Business where he graduated cum laude.
Leadership Structure and Oversight Responsibilities
Overall responsibility for our oversight rests with the Board.  We have entered into the Investment Advisory Agreement pursuant to which the Adviser will manage the Company on a day-to-day basis.  The Board is responsible for overseeing the Adviser and other service providers in our operations in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act, the Declaration of Trust and applicable provisions of state and other laws. The Board meets in person at regularly scheduled quarterly meetings each year.  In addition, the Board may hold special in-person or telephonic meetings or informal conference calls to discuss specific matters that may arise or require action between regular meetings.  As described below, the Board has established a Nominating Committee, and an Audit Committee, and may establish ad hoc committees or working groups from time to time, to assist the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities.
The Board has appointed Bennett J. Goodman to serve in the role of Chairman of the Board.  The Chairman’s role is to preside at all meetings of the Board and to act as a liaison with the Adviser, counsel and other trustees generally between meetings.  The Chairman serves as a key point person for dealings between management and the trustees.  The Chairman also may perform such other functions as may be delegated by the Board from time to time.  The Board reviews matters related to its leadership structure annually.  The Board has determined that the Board’s leadership structure is appropriate because it allows the Board to exercise informed and independent judgment over the matters under its purview and it allocates areas of responsibility among committees of trustees and the full Board in a manner that enhances effective oversight.
Following an Exchange Listing, the Trustees may be classified, with respect to the terms for which they severally hold office, into classes, as determined by the Board, as nearly equal in size as is practicable.
Board’s Role in Risk Oversight
We are subject to a number of risks, including investment, compliance, operational and valuation risks, among others.  Risk oversight forms part of the Board’s general oversight of the Company and is addressed as part of various Board and committee activities.  Day-to-day risk management functions will be subsumed within the responsibilities of the Adviser and other service providers (depending on the nature of the risk), which will carry out our investment management and business affairs.  The Adviser and other service providers employ a variety of processes, procedures and controls to identify various events or circumstances that give rise to risks, to lessen the probability of their occurrence and to mitigate the effects of such events or circumstances if they do occur. Each of the Adviser and other service providers has their own independent interest in risk management, and their policies and methods of risk management will depend on their functions and business models.  The Board recognizes that it is not possible to identify all of the risks that may affect the Company or to develop processes and controls to eliminate or mitigate their occurrence or effects.  As part of its regular oversight of the Company, the Board interacts with and reviews reports from, among others, the Adviser, our chief compliance officer, our independent registered public accounting firm and counsel, as appropriate, regarding risks faced by the Company and applicable risk controls.  The Board may, at any time and in its discretion, change the manner in which it conducts risk oversight.
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Corporate Governance
Committees
The Board has an Audit Committee and a Nominating Committee and may form additional committees in the future.
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee is composed of Robert Bass, Tracy Collins, Robert Harteveldt and Thomas Joyce, each of whom is not considered an “interested person” of the Company as that term is defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act.  Robert Bass serves as Chair of the Audit Committee.  Our Board determined that Robert Bass is an “audit committee financial expert” as that term is defined under Item 407 of Regulation S-K, as promulgated under the 1934 Act.  The Audit Committee members meet the current independence and experience requirements of Rule 10A-3 of the 1934 Act.
In accordance with its written charter adopted by the Board, the Audit Committee (a) assists the Board’s oversight of the integrity of our financial statements, the independent registered public accounting firm’s qualifications and independence, our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and the performance of our independent registered public accounting firm; (b) prepares an Audit Committee report, if required by the SEC, to be included in our annual proxy statement, if any; (c) oversees the scope of the annual audit of our financial statements, the quality and objectivity of our financial statements, accounting and financial reporting policies and internal controls; (d) determines the selection, appointment, retention and termination of our independent registered public accounting firm, as well as approving the compensation thereof; (e) pre-approves all audit and non-audit services provided to us and certain other persons by such independent registered public accounting firm; and (f) acts as a liaison between our independent registered public accounting firm and the Board.
Nominating and Governance Committee
The Nominating Committee is composed of Robert Bass, Tracy Collins, Robert Harteveldt and Thomas Joyce, each of whom is not considered an “interested person” of the Company as that term is defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act. Thomas Joyce serves as Chair of the Nominating Committee.
In accordance with its written charter adopted by the Board, the Nominating Committee recommends to the Board persons to be nominated by the Board for election at the Company’s meetings of our shareholders, special or annual, if any, or to fill any vacancy on the Board that may arise between shareholder meetings.  The Nominating Committee also makes recommendations with regard to the tenure of the trustees and is responsible for overseeing an annual evaluation of the Board and its committee structure to determine whether the structure is operating effectively.  The Nominating Committee will consider for nomination to the Board candidates submitted by our shareholders or from other sources it deems appropriate.
Compensation Committee
The Board does not currently intend to delegate any authority to a compensation committee because our executive officers will not receive any direct compensation from us.
Communications to the Board of Trustees
The independent trustees serving on our Board intend to meet in executive sessions at the conclusion of or preceding each regularly scheduled meeting of the Board, and additionally as needed, without the presence of any directors or other persons who are part of our management.
Shareholders and other interested parties may contact any member (or all members) of the Board by mail. To communicate with the Board, any individual trustees or any group or committee of trustees, correspondence should be addressed to the Board or any such individual trustees or group or committee of trustees by either name or title. The address for each of our trustees is c/o GSO Asset Management LLC, 345 Park Avenue, 31st Floor, New York, NY 10154. Any communication to report potential issues regarding accounting, internal controls and other auditing matters will be directed to the Audit Committee. Appropriate Company personnel will review and sort through communications before forwarding them to the addressee(s).
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Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance 
Section 16(a) of the 1934 Act requires our executive officers, members of our Board, and persons who own more than ten percent of our shares to file initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership with the SEC and furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. To our knowledge, based solely on our review of the copies of such reports furnished to us, we believe that, with respect to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, such persons complied with all such filing requirements.
Dollar Range of Equity Securities Beneficially Owned by Directors
The following table sets forth the dollar range of equity securities of the Company beneficially owned by each trustee of February 21, 2020:
  Dollar Range of
Equity Securities
in the Company (1)(2)
Dollar Range of
Equity Securities
in the Fund Complex
(1)(2)(3)
Interested Trustees    
Bennett Goodman None    None   
Daniel H. Smith, Jr. None    over $100,000   
Brad Marshall None    None   
Independent Trustees          
Robert Bass $50,001 – $100,000    $50,001 – $100,000   
Tracy Collins None    None   
Robert Harteveldt None    None   
Thomas Joyce over $100,000    over $100,000   
(1)Dollar ranges are as follows: none, $1 – $10,000, $10,001 – $50,000, $50,001 – $100,000, or over $100,000.
(2)Dollar ranges were determined using the number of shares that are beneficially owned as of February 27, 2020, multiplied by the Company’s net asset value per share as of December 31, 2019.
(3)The "Fund Complex" consists of the Company, the GSO Closed-End Funds (Blackstone / GSO Senior Floating Rate Term Fund, Blackstone / GSO Long Short Credit Income Fund, Blackstone / GSO Strategic Credit Fund and Blackstone / GSO Floating Rate Enhanced Income Fund), as well as the Blackstone Real Estate Income Funds (Blackstone Real Estate Income Fund, Blackstone Real Estate Income Fund II and Blackstone Real Estate Income Master Fund), the Blackstone Alternative Alpha Funds (Blackstone Alternative Alpha Fund, Blackstone Alternative Alpha Fund II and Blackstone Alternative Alpha Master Fund) and Blackstone Alternative Multi-Strategy Fund.

Item 11. Executive Compensation.
Executive Compensation
None of our executive officers will receive direct compensation from us.  We will reimburse the Administrator the allocable portion of the compensation paid by the Administrator (or its affiliates) to our chief compliance officer and chief financial officer and their respective staffs as well as other administrative personnel (based on the percentage of time such individuals devote, on an estimated basis, to our business and affairs).  The members of the Investment Committee, through their financial interests in the Adviser, are entitled to a portion of the profits earned by the Adviser, which includes any fees payable to the Adviser under the terms of the Investment Advisory Agreement, less expenses incurred by the Adviser in performing its services under the Investment Advisory Agreement.  
Further, we are prohibited under the 1940 Act from issuing equity incentive compensation, including stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock and stock, to our officers, directors and employees.
Trustee Compensation
No compensation is paid to our trustees who are “interested persons,” as such term is defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act.  We pay each independent trustee: (i) $75,000 ($100,000 after an Exchange Listing) per year (prorated for any partial year), (ii) $2,500 for each regular meeting of the Board attended, (iii) $1,000 for each committee meeting attended (in addition to regular meeting fees to the extent committees meet on regular meeting dates) and (iv) an additional fee of $7,500 ($10,000 after an Exchange Listing) per year for the chairman of the Audit Committee. We are also authorized to pay the reasonable out-
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of-pocket expenses of each independent trustee incurred by such trustee in connection with the fulfillment of his or her duties as an independent trustee.
  Total Compensation earned from the Company for Fiscal Year 2019 (3) Total Compensation earned from Fund Complex for Fiscal Year 2019 (4)
Interested Trustees    
Bennett Goodman (1) $ —    $ —   
Daniel H. Smith, Jr. (1) $ —    $ —   
Brad Marshall (1) $ —    $ —   
Independent Trustees          
Robert Bass (2) $ 114,000    $ 114,000   
Tracy Collins $ 109,000    $ 109,000   
Robert Harteveldt $ 105,500    $ 105,500   
Thomas Joyce $ 102,000    $ 102,000   
(1)These are interested trustees and, as such, do not receive compensation from the Company or the Fund Complex for their services as trustees.
(2)Includes compensation as chairman of Audit Committee.
(3)The Company does not have a profit-sharing plan, and trustees do not receive any pension or retirement benefits from the Company.
(4)The GSO Closed-End Funds, the Blackstone Real Estate Income Funds, the Blackstone Alternative Alpha Funds and Blackstone Alternative Multi Strategy Fund do not pay compensation to the trustees of the Company.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.
The following table sets forth, as of February 21, 2020, the beneficial ownership of each current trustee, the Company’s executive officers, each person known to us to beneficially own 5% or more of the outstanding shares, and the executive officers and trustees as a group. Percentage of beneficial ownership is based on 81,234,495 shares outstanding as of February 21, 2020.
Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and includes voting or investment power with respect to the shares. Ownership information for those persons who beneficially own 5% or more of our shares is based upon filings by such persons with the SEC and other information obtained from such persons, if available.
Unless otherwise indicated, we believe that each beneficial owner set forth in the table has sole voting and investment power and has the same address as the Company. Our trustees are divided into two groups—interested and independent. Interested trustees are “interested persons” of the Company or the Adviser as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of all executive officers and trustees is 345 Park Avenue, 31st floor, New York, New York 10154.
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  Type of Ownership Number of Shares Owned Percentage
Interested Trustees      
Bennett Goodman —    —    —   
Daniel H. Smith, Jr. —    —    —   
Brad Marshall —    —    —   
Independent Trustees         
Robert Bass Record/Beneficial 2,615    (1)  
Tracy Collins —    —    —   
Robert Harteveldt —    —    —   
Thomas Joyce Record/Beneficial 12,768    (1)  
Executive Officers Who Are Not Directors         
Stephan Kuppenheimer —    —    —   
Robert W. Busch —    —    —   
Beth Chartoff —    —    —   
Marisa J. Beeney —    —    —   
All Trustees and Executive Officers as a Group (11 persons)   15,383    (1)  
Five-Percent Shareholder         
Universities Superannuation Scheme Record/Beneficial 7,545,151    9.3%   
(1)Amounts round to less than 1%
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.
Transactions with Related Persons
Investment Advisory Agreement; Administration Agreement
We have entered into the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Adviser pursuant to which we pay the Adviser a management fee at an annual rate of (i) prior to an Exchange Listing, 0.75%, and (ii) following an Exchange Listing, 1.0%, in each case of the average value of our gross assets at the end of the two most recently completed calendar quarters, and a two-part incentive fee based on (i) the amount by which our pre-incentive fee net investment income returns exceed a certain “hurdle rate” and (ii) our capital gains. In addition, pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement and the Administration Agreement, we will reimburse the Adviser and Administrator for certain expenses as they occur. See “Item 1. Business—Investment Advisory Agreement,” “Item 1. Business—Administration Agreement,” and “Item 1. Business—Payment of Our Expenses under the Investment Advisory and Administration Agreements.” Each of the Investment Advisory Agreement and the Administration Agreement has been approved by the Board. Unless earlier terminated, each of the Investment Advisory Agreement and the Administration Agreement will remain in effect for a period of two years from the date it first became effective and will remain in effect from year-to-year thereafter if approved annually by a majority of the Board, including a majority of independent trustees, or by the holders of a majority of our outstanding voting securities.
For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, base management fees were $12.6 million and $0.3 million respectively. As of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, $5.0 million and $0.3 million, respectively, was payable to the Adviser relating to management fees.
For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company accrued income based incentive fees of $13.8 million and $0.0 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, $6.3 million and $0.0 million, respectively was payable to the Adviser for income based incentive fees. For the year ended December 31, 2019 the Company accrued capital gains incentive fees of $4.2 million, none of which was payable as of December 31, 2019 under the Investment Advisory Agreement. As of December 31, 2018, the Company did not accrue any capital gains incentive fee since there were cumulative net unrealized and realized losses as of such date.
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For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company incurred $1.5 million and $0.4 million, respectively, under the Administration Agreement which were recorded in administrative service fees in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations. As of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, $0.9 million and $0.4 million, respectively, was unpaid and included in due to affiliate in the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.  
Co-Investment Relief
We have in the past co-invested, and in the future may co-invest, with certain affiliates of the Adviser.  We have received an exemptive order from the SEC that permits us, among other things, to co-invest with certain other persons, including certain affiliates of the Adviser and certain funds managed and controlled by the Adviser and its affiliates, subject to certain terms and conditions. Pursuant to such order, the Board has established Board Criteria clearly defining co-investment opportunities in which the Company will have the opportunity to participate with one or more GSO BDCs and other public or private GSO funds that target similar assets. If an investment falls within the Board Criteria, GSO must offer an opportunity for the GSO BDCs to participate.  The GSO BDCs may determine to participate or not to participate, depending on whether GSO determines that the investment is appropriate for the GSO BDCs (e.g., based on investment strategy).  The co-investment is generally allocated to us, any other GSO BDCs and the other GSO funds that target similar assets pro rata based on available capital in the applicable asset class.  If the Adviser determines that such investment is not appropriate for us, the investment will not be allocated to us, but the Adviser will be required to report such investment and the rationale for its determination for us to not participate in the investment to the Board at the next quarterly board meeting.
Transactions with Promoters and Certain Control Persons
The Adviser may be deemed a promoter of the Company. We have entered into the Investment Advisory Agreement with the Adviser and the Administration Agreement with the Administrator. The Adviser, for its services to us, are entitled to receive management fees and incentive fees in addition to the reimbursement of certain expenses. The Administrator, for its services to us, are entitled to receive reimbursement of certain expenses. In addition, under the Investment Advisory Agreement and Administration Agreement, to the extent permitted by applicable law and in the discretion of our Board, we have indemnified the Adviser and the Administrator and certain of their affiliates. See “Item 1. Business.”
Statement of Policy Regarding Transactions with Related Persons
The Board will conduct quarterly reviews of any potential related party transactions brought to its attention and, during these reviews, it will consider any conflicts of interest brought to its attention pursuant to the Company’s compliance policies and procedures. Each of the Company’s trustees and executive officers is subject to the Company’s Code of Ethics, which places restrictions on related party transactions, and is instructed and periodically reminded to inform the Company’s Chief Compliance Officer or her designee of any potential related party transactions. In addition, each such trustee and executive officer completes a questionnaire on an annual basis designed to elicit information about any potential related party transactions.
Trustee Independence
For information regarding the independence of our trustees, see “Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.”
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services.
Audit Fees
The aggregate audit fees billed by Deloitte & Touche LLP for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 were $425,000 and $50,000, respectively.
Fees included in the audit fees category are those associated with the seed and annual audit of the Company’s financial statements and services that are normally provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings.
Audit-Related Fees
No audit-related fees were billed by Deloitte & Touche LLP for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018.
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Audit-related fees are for any services rendered to the Company that are reasonably related to the performance of the audits or reviews of the Company’s consolidated financial statements (but not reported as audit fees above). These services include attestation services that are not required by statute or regulation and consultations concerning financial accounting and reporting standards.
No audit related fees were billed by Deloitte & Touche LLP to the Adviser, or any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, the Adviser, that provides ongoing services to the Company, for engagements directly related to the Company’s operations and financial reporting, for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018.
Tax Fees
No tax fees were billed by Deloitte & Touche LLP for services rendered to the Company for professional tax services for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018.
Fees included in the tax fees category comprise all services performed by professional staff in the independent registered public accountant’s tax division except those services related to the audits. This category comprises fees for services provided in connection with the preparation and review of the Company’s tax returns.
No tax fees were billed by Deloitte & Touche LLP to the Adviser, or any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, the Adviser, that provides ongoing services to the Company, for engagements directly related to the Company’s operations and financial reporting, for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018.
All Other Fees
No fees were billed by Deloitte & Touche LLP for products and services provided to the Company, other than the services reported in “Audit Fees” above, for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018.
No fees were billed by Deloitte & Touche LLP to the Adviser, or any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, the Adviser, that provides ongoing services to the Company, for engagements directly related to the Company’s operations and financial reporting, for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018.
Aggregate Non-Audit Fees
No non-audit fees were billed to the Adviser and service affiliates by Deloitte & Touche LLP for non-audit services for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018. This includes any non-audit services required to be pre-approved or non-audit services that did not require pre-approval since they did not directly relate to the Company’s operations or financial reporting.
Pre-Approval of Audit and Non-Audit Services Provided to the Company
As part of this responsibility, the Audit Committee is required to pre-approve all audit and non-audit services performed by our independent auditor in order to assure that the performance of these services does not impair the auditor’s independence from the Company. Accordingly, the Audit Committee has adopted a Pre-Approval of Independent Auditor Services Policy (the “Policy”), which sets forth the conditions and procedures governing the pre-approval of services that the Independent Auditor proposes to provide. Our independent auditor has reviewed the Policy and has confirmed that the implementation of the Policy will not adversely affect its independence.
The Policy describes the audit, audit-related, tax and other services for the Company that have the pre-approval of the Audit Committee. The term of any pre-approval is 12 months from the date of pre-approval or until the next annual Independent Auditor services engagement is pre-approved, whichever is later. The Audit Committee will periodically revise the list of pre-approved services based on subsequent determinations.
Annual Approval
On an annual basis, at the time of the appointment of our independent auditor and such other times as determined by the Audit Committee, the Audit Committee will consider and approve the services (including audit, audit-related, tax and all other services) that the Independent Auditor may initiate. The term of any pre-approval is 12 months from the date of the pre-approval or until the next annual Independent Auditor services engagement is pre-approved, whichever is later, unless the Audit Committee specifically provides for a different period. Summary descriptions of the types of services the Audit Committee believes are appropriate for annual approval are provided under the Policy. In addition, in connection with the annual pre-
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approval of services, the Audit Committee will supplementally review and approve a detailed presentation that sets forth the types of audit, audit-related, tax and other services proposed to be provided by the Independent Auditor, which shall include estimates of the fees for such services (the “Services Proposal”). The Audit Committee may periodically revise the list of pre-approved services based on subsequent determinations.
Specific Pre-Approval
Specific pre-approval is required for the provision of certain audit services as described in the Policy. In addition, if a service proposed to be performed by the Independent Auditor does not fall within an existing pre-approval, either because it is a new type of service or because provision of the service would cause the Independent Auditor to exceed the maximum dollar amount approved for a particular type of service, the proposed service will require specific pre-approval by the Audit Committee.
De Minimis Exception
In the event that the Independent Auditor is inadvertently engaged other than by the Audit Committee for a non-audit service, such engagement will not be a violation of the Policy if: (i) any and all such services do not aggregate to more than 5% of total revenues paid by the Company to the Independent Auditor in the fiscal year when services are provided; (ii) the services were not recognized as non-audit services at the time of the engagement; (iii) the services are promptly brought to the attention of the Committee and approved prior to the completion of the audit by the Committee or one or more designated representatives; and (iv) separate disclosure of the services retroactively approved under this exception is made in accordance with the proxy disclosure rules.
The Audit Committee has considered these fees and the nature of the services rendered, and has concluded that they are compatible with maintaining the independence of Deloitte & Touche LLP. The Audit Committee did not approve any of the audit-related, tax, or other non-audit fees described above pursuant to the “de minimis exceptions” set forth in Rule 2-01(c)(7)(i)(C) and Rule 2-01(c)(7)(ii) of Regulation S-X. Deloitte & Touche LLP did not provide any audit-related services, tax services or other non-audit services to the Adviser or any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Adviser that provides ongoing services to the Company that the Audit Committee was required to approve pursuant to Rule 2-01(c)(7)(ii) of Regulation S-X. The Audit Committee considered whether any provision of non-audit services rendered to the Adviser and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Adviser that provides ongoing services to the Company that were not pre-approved by the Audit Committee because the engagement did not relate directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Company is compatible with maintaining Deloitte & Touche LLP’s independence.
PART IV
Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.
The following documents are filed as part of this annual report:
(1)Financial Statements – Financial statements are included in Item 8. See the Index to the consolidated financial statements on page 100 of this annual report on Form 10-K.
(2)Financial Statement Schedules – None. We have omitted financial statement schedules because they are not required or are not applicable, or the required information is shown in the consolidated statements or notes to the consolidated financial statements.
(3)Exhibits – The following is a list of all exhibits filed as a part of this annual report on Form 10-K, including those incorporated by reference
Please note that the agreements included as exhibits to this Form 10-K are included to provide information regarding their terms and are not intended to provide any other factual or disclosure information about us or the other parties to the agreements. The agreements contain representations and warranties by each of the parties to the applicable agreement that have been made solely for the benefit of the other parties to the applicable agreement and may not describe the actual state of affairs as of the date they were made or at any other time.
The following exhibits are filed as part of this report or hereby incorporated by reference to exhibits previously filed with the SEC:

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Exhibit
Number
Description of Exhibits
   
3.1
3.2
4.1
4.2
4.3
   
10.1
10.2
10.3
10.4
10.5
10.6
10.6.1
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Table of Contents
Exhibit
Number
Description of Exhibits
   
10.7
10.7.1
10.7.2
   
10.8
10.9
10.10
10.10.1
10.10.2
   
10.10.3
   
10.11
   
14
   
21.1
   
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Exhibit
Number
Description of Exhibits
31.1
   
31.2
32.1
   
32.2
_________________________
* Filed herewith.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.

  Blackstone / GSO Secured Lending Fund
     
Date: February 27, 2020 By: /s/ Brad Marshall
    Brad Marshall
    Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant in the capacities and on the dates indicated on February 27, 2020.
Name Title
   
/s/ Brad Marshall Chief Executive Officer and Trustee
Brad Marshall  
   
/s/ Stephan Kuppenheimer Chief Financial Officer
Stephan Kuppenheimer  
   
/s/ Robert W. Busch Chief Accounting Officer and Treasurer
Robert W. Busch  
   
/s/ Bennett Goodman Trustee
Bennett Goodman  
   
/s/ Robert Bass Trustee
Robert Bass  
   
/s/ Tracy Collins Trustee
Tracy Collins  
   
/s/ Robert Harteveldt Trustee
Robert Harteveldt  
   
/s/ Thomas Joyce Trustee
Thomas Joyce  
   
/s/ Daniel H. Smith, Jr. Trustee
Daniel H. Smith, Jr.  

155
EXHIBIT 4.3

As of February 27, 2020, Blackstone / GSO Secured Lending Fund (“we” or “our”) has one class of securities registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended: our common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.001 (“Shares”).
Description of Common Shares of Beneficial Interest

The following description of our Shares is a summary of the material terms and provisions that apply to our Shares. The summary does not purport to be complete. The summary is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to our Third Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust (“Declaration of Trust”), which is incorporated by reference into our Annual Report on Form 10-K and are incorporated by reference herein. We encourage you to carefully review our Declaration of Trust for additional information.

General
The terms of the Declaration of Trust authorize an unlimited number of Shares, which may include Preferred Shares, none of which are outstanding as of the date of this Registration Statement. There is currently no market for the Shares, and there can be no assurance that a market for the Shares will develop in the future.
Shares
Under the terms of the Declaration of Trust, we retain the right to issue our Shares during the Private Offering, and payment for such Shares may be made over time as the Board of Trustees determines. In addition, Shareholders are entitled to one vote for each Share held on all matters submitted to a vote of Shareholders and do not have cumulative voting rights. Accordingly, subject to the rights of any outstanding Preferred Shares, holders of a majority of the Shares entitled to vote in any election of trustees may elect all of the trustees standing for election. Shareholders are entitled to receive proportionately any dividends declared by the Board of Trustees, subject to any preferential dividend rights of outstanding Preferred Shares. Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the Shareholders will be entitled to receive ratably our net assets available after the payment of all debts and other liabilities and will be subject to the prior rights of any outstanding Preferred Shares. Shareholders have no redemption or preemptive rights. The rights, preferences and privileges of Shareholders are subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Shares that we may designate and issue in the future.
Transfer and Resale Restrictions
Shareholders may not sell, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of (a “Transfer”) any Shares unless (i) the Adviser and, if required by our lending arrangements, our lenders give consent and (ii) the Transfer is made in accordance with applicable securities laws. No Transfer will be effectuated except by registration of the Transfer on our books. Each transferee must agree to be bound by these restrictions and all other obligations as a Shareholder.

Redemptions by the Fund
Each Share is subject to redemption (out of the assets of the Fund) by the Fund at the redemption price equal to the then current net asset value per Share of the Fund determined in accordance with the Declaration of Trust at any time if the Trustees determine in their sole discretion that a Shareholder has breached any of its representations or warranties contained in such Shareholder’s subscription agreement with the Fund, and upon such redemption the holders of the Shares so redeemed shall have no further right with respect thereto other than to receive payment of such redemption price.

 


EXHIBIT 10.10.2
EXECUTION VERSION
SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE REVOLVING CREDIT AND SECURITY AGREEMENT (this “Amendment”), dated as of August 2, 2019 (the “Amendment Date”), by and among BGSL BRECKENRIDGE FUNDING LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as the borrower (the “Borrower”), the LENDERS from time to time party thereto, BNP PARIBAS, as the administrative agent (the “Administrative Agent”), BLACKSTONE/GSO SECURED LENDING FUND, a Delaware statutory trust, as the equityholder (the “Equityholder”), BLACKSTONE/GSO SECURED LENDING FUND, a Delaware statutory trust, as the servicer (the “Servicer”), and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as collateral agent (the “Collateral Agent”).
WHEREAS, the Borrower, the lenders from time to time party thereto, the Administrative Agent, the Equityholder, the Servicer and the Collateral Agent are party to the Revolving Credit and Security Agreement, dated as of December 21, 2018 (as amended from time to time prior to the date hereof, the “Revolving Credit Agreement”); and
WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to amend the Revolving Credit Agreement, in accordance with Section 13.01(b) of the Revolving Credit Agreement subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises and the mutual agreements contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I 

Definitions
SECTION 1.1. Defined Terms. Terms used but not defined herein have the respective meanings given to such terms in the Revolving Credit Agreement.
ARTICLE II 
Amendments to Revolving Credit Agreement
SECTION 2.1. As of the Amendment Date, the Revolving Credit Agreement is hereby amended to delete the stricken text (indicated textually in the same manner as the following example: stricken text) and to add the bold and double-underlined text (indicated textually in the same manner as the following example: bold and double-underlined text) as set forth on the pages attached as Appendix A hereto.
ARTICLE III 
Representations and Warranties
        


SECTION 3.1. The Borrower and the Equityholder hereby represent and warrant to the Administrative Agent and the Lender that, as of the Amendment Date, (i) no Default, Event of Default, Potential Servicer Removal Event or Servicer Removal Event has occurred and is continuing and (ii) the representations and warranties of the Borrower, the Servicer and the Equityholder contained in Sections 4.01, 4.02 and 4.03 of the Revolving Credit Agreement are true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Amendment Date (other than any representation and warranty that is made as of a specific date).
ARTICLE IV 
Conditions Precedent
SECTION 4.1. This Amendment shall become effective
(a) upon the execution and delivery of this Amendment by the parties hereto;
(b) the Administrative Agent shall have received satisfactory evidence that the Borrower has obtained all required consents and approvals of all Persons to the execution, delivery and performance of this Amendment and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby;
(c) payment of all fees due and owing to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the Amendment Date; and
(d) the Administrative Agent shall have received the executed legal opinion of Dechert LLP, counsel to the Borrower, in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion.
ARTICLE V 
Miscellaneous
SECTION 5.1. Governing Law. THIS AMENDMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES UNDER THIS AMENDMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
SECTION 5.2. Severability Clause. In case any provision in this Amendment 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 5.3. Ratification. Except as expressly amended hereby, the Revolving Credit Agreement is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. This Amendment shall form a part of the Revolving Credit Agreement for all purposes.
        2


SECTION 5.4. Counterparts. The parties hereto may sign one or more copies of this Amendment in counterparts, all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Delivery of an executed signature page of this Amendment by facsimile or email transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof.
SECTION 5.5. Headings. The headings of the Articles and Sections in this Amendment are for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed to alter or affect the meaning or interpretation of any provisions hereof.
SECTION 5.6. Direction to Execute. The Administrative Agent hereby authorizes and directs the Collateral Agent to execute this Amendment.
[Signature Pages Follow]
        3


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be duly executed as of the Amendment Date.
BORROWER:
BGSL BRECKENRIDGE FUNDING LLC
By: /s/ Marisa J. Beeney
Name: Marisa J. Beeney
Title: Authorized Signatory



[Signature Page to Second Amendment to Revolving Credit and Security Agreement]


EQUITYHOLDER:
BLACKSTONE/GSO SECURED LENDING FUND,
as Equityholder
By: /s/ Marisa J. Beeney
Name: Marisa J. Beeney
Title: Authorized Signatory

SERVICER:
BLACKSTONE/GSO SECURED LENDING FUND,
as Servicer

By: /s/ Marisa J. Beeney
Name: Marisa J. Beeney
Title: Authorized Signatory

[Signature Page to Second Amendment to Revolving Credit and Security Agreement]


ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT:
BNP PARIBAS,
as Administrative Agent
By: /s/ Matthew Salvner
Name: Matthew Salvner
Title: Managing Director

By: /s/ David Lee
Name: David Lee
Title: Director

LENDER:
BNP PARIBAS,
as Lender
By: /s/ Matthew Salvner
Name: Matthew Salvner
Title: Managing Director

By: /s/ David Lee
Name: David Lee
Title: Director

[Signature Page to Second Amendment to Revolving Credit and Security Agreement]


LENDER:
SUMITOMO MITSUI TRUST BANK, NEW YORK   BRANCH
By: /s/ Susumu Koguchi
Name: Susumu Koguchi
Title: Vice President

[Signature Page to Second Amendment to Revolving Credit and Security Agreement]


COLLATERAL AGENT:
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
By: /s/ Rupinder Suri
Name: Rupinder Suri
Title: Vice President


[Signature Page to Second Amendment to Revolving Credit and Security Agreement]


APPENDIX A


EXECUTION VERSION
Conformed through Second Amendment, dated August 2, 2019


REVOLVING CREDIT AND SECURITY AGREEMENT
among
BGSL BRECKENRIDGE FUNDING LLC,
as Borrower,
THE LENDERS FROM TIME TO TIME PARTIES HERETO,
BNP PARIBAS,
as Administrative Agent,
BLACKSTONE/GSO SECURED LENDING FUND,
as Equityholder,
BLACKSTONE/GSO SECURED LENDING FUND, as Servicer,
and
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Collateral Agent
Dated as of December 21, 2018
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS; RULES OF CONSTRUCTION; COMPUTATIONS
Section 1.01 Definitions 1
Section 1.02 Rules of Construction 49
Section 1.03 Computation of Time Periods 49
Section 1.04 Collateral Value Calculation Procedures 50
ARTICLE II
ADVANCES
Section 2.01 Revolving Credit Facility 51
Section 2.02 Requests for Collateral Loan Approval 52
Section 2.03 Making of the Advances 54
Section 2.04 Evidence of Indebtedness 55
Section 2.05 Payment of Principal and Interest 55
Section 2.06 Prepayment of Advances 56
Section 2.07 Changes of Commitments 56
Section 2.08 Maximum Lawful Rate 57
Section 2.09 Several Obligations 57
Section 2.10 Increased Costs 57
Section 2.11 Compensation; Breakage Payments 59
Section 2.12 Illegality; Inability to Determine Rates 59
Section 2.13 Rescission or Return of Payment 59
Section 2.14 Post-Default Interest 59
Section 2.15 Payments Generally 59
Section 2.16 Extension of Commitment Termination Date 60
Section 2.17 Defaulting Lenders 61
Section 2.18 LIBOR Discontinuation 62
ARTICLE III
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
Section 3.01 Conditions Precedent to Initial Advance 63
Section 3.02 Conditions Precedent to Each Borrowing 65

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ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Section 4.01 Representations and Warranties of the Borrower 66
Section 4.02 Representations and Warranties of the Servicer 70
Section 4.03 Representations and Warranties of the Equityholder 73
ARTICLE V
COVENANTS
Section 5.01 Affirmative Covenants of the Borrower 75
Section 5.02 Covenants of the Servicer 79
Section 5.03 Negative Covenants of the Borrower 82
Section 5.04 Covenants of the Equityholder 84
Section 5.05 Certain Undertakings Relating to Separateness 85
ARTICLE VI
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
Section 6.01 Events of Default 87
Section 6.02 OC Ratio Posting Payments 91
ARTICLE VII
PLEDGE OF COLLATERAL; RIGHTS OF THE COLLATERAL AGENT
Section 7.01 Grant of Security 91
Section 7.02 Release of Security Interest 92
Section 7.03 Rights and Remedies 92
Section 7.04 Remedies Cumulative 95
Section 7.05 Related Documents 95
Section 7.06 Borrower Remains Liable 96
Section 7.07 Protection of Collateral 96
ARTICLE VIII
ACCOUNTS, ACCOUNTINGS AND RELEASES
Section 8.01 Collection of Money 97
Section 8.02 Collateral Account and Collection Account 97
Section 8.03 Payment Account 98
Section 8.04 The Revolving Reserve Account; Fundings 98
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Section 8.05 [Reserved] 99
Section 8.06 Reinvestment of Funds in Covered Accounts; Reports by Collateral Agent 99
Section 8.07 Accountings 100
Section 8.08 Release of Collateral 102
Section 8.09 Reports by Independent Accountants 103
ARTICLE IX
APPLICATION OF MONIES
Section 9.01 Disbursements of Monies from Payment Account 104
ARTICLE X
SALE OF COLLATERAL LOANS;
PURCHASE OF ADDITIONAL COLLATERAL LOANS
Section 10.01 Sales of Collateral Loans 108
Section 10.02 Purchase of Additional Collateral Loans 109
Section 10.03 Conditions Applicable to All Sale and Purchase Transactions 109
Section 10.04 Additional Equity Contributions 110
ARTICLE XI
ADMINISTRATION AND SERVICING OF CONTRACTS
Section 11.01 Appointment and Designation of the Servicer 110
Section 11.02 Duties of the Servicer 112
Section 11.03 Authorization of the Servicer 114
Section 11.04 Collection Efforts, Modification of Collateral 114
Section 11.05 Servicer Compensation 115
Section 11.06 The Servicer Not to Resign 115
ARTICLE XII
THE AGENTS
Section 12.01 Authorization and Action 115
Section 12.02 Delegation of Duties 116
Section 12.03 Agents’ Reliance, Etc. 117
Section 12.04 Indemnification 119
Section 12.05 Successor Agents 119
Section 12.06 The Collateral Agent 120
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ARTICLE XIII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 13.01 No Waiver; Modifications in Writing 122
Section 13.02 Notices, Etc. 123
Section 13.03 Taxes 123
Section 13.04 Costs and Expenses; Indemnification 127
Section 13.05 Execution in Counterparts 129
Section 13.06 Assignability 129
Section 13.07 Governing Law 131
Section 13.08 Severability of Provisions 131
Section 13.09 Confidentiality 131
Section 13.10 Merger 132
Section 13.11 Survival 132
Section 13.12 Submission to Jurisdiction; Waivers; Etc. 132
Section 13.13 Waiver of Jury Trial 133
Section 13.14 Right of Setoff; Payments Pro Rata 134
Section 13.15 PATRIOT Act Notice 134
Section 13.16 Legal Holidays 135
Section 13.17 Non-Petition 135
Section 13.18 Waiver of Setoff 135
Section 13.19 Collateral Agent Execution and Delivery 135
Section 13.20 Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions 136
Section 13.21 WAIVER OF SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY 136
Section 13.22 Risk Retention 136
Section 13.23 EU Due Diligence Requirements. 137
Section 13.24 Compliance with the Securitisation Regulation 138
Section 13.25 Adequacy of Monetary Damages Against the Lenders 138

SCHEDULES
Schedule 1 Initial Commitments and Percentages
Schedule 2 S&P Industry Classifications
Schedule 3 Initial Collateral Loans
Schedule 4 Moody’s Industry Classifications
Schedule 5 Notice Information
Schedule 6 Authorized Signatories
Schedule 7 Diversity Score
Schedule 8 Moody’s RiskCalc
Schedule 9 Initial Asset List
EXHIBITS
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Exhibit A Form of Note
Exhibit B Form of Notice of Borrowing (with attached form of Borrowing Base Calculation Statement)

Exhibit C Form of Notice of Prepayment
Exhibit D Form of Assignment and Acceptance
Exhibit E [Reserved]
Exhibit F Agreed-Upon Procedures
Exhibit G Form of Extension Request
Exhibit H Form of Data Report
Exhibit I Form of Approval Request


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REVOLVING CREDIT AND SECURITY AGREEMENT
REVOLVING CREDIT AND SECURITY AGREEMENT, dated as of December 21, 2018, among BGSL BRECKENRIDGE FUNDING LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as borrower (the “Borrower”), the LENDERS from time to time party hereto, BNP PARIBAS (“BNP”), as administrative agent for the Secured Parties (as hereinafter defined) (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”), BLACKSTONE/GSO SECURED LENDING FUND, a Delaware statutory trust (in such capacity, the “Equityholder”), BLACKSTONE/GSO SECURED LENDING FUND, a Delaware statutory trust, as servicer (in such capacity, the “Servicer”), and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (“Wells Fargo”), as collateral agent for the Secured Parties (as hereinafter defined) (in such capacity, the “Collateral Agent”).
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Borrower desires that the Lenders make advances on a revolving basis to the Borrower on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, each Lender is willing to make such advances to the Borrower on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual covenants herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I 
DEFINITIONS; RULES OF CONSTRUCTION; COMPUTATIONS
SECTION 6.1. Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
Account Control Agreement” means that certain Account Control Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, among the Borrower, the Servicer, the Collateral Agent and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Securities Intermediary, which agreement relates to the Covered Accounts.
Adjusted Principal Balance” means, for any Eligible Collateral Loan, as of any date of determination, an amount equal to the Loan Value of such Eligible Collateral Loan as of such date multiplied by the Principal Balance of such Eligible Collateral Loan as of such date; provided that, the parties hereby agree that the Adjusted Principal Balance of any Collateral Loan that is not an Eligible Collateral Loan as of such date of determination shall be zero.
Administrative Agent” has the meaning assigned to such term in the introduction to this Agreement.
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Administrative Expense Cap” means, for any Payment Date, an amount not to exceed $200,000 for any twelve (12) month period.
Administrative Expenses” means the fees and expenses (including indemnities) and other amounts of the Borrower due or accrued with respect to any Payment Date and payable in the following order:
(a) first, to the Collateral Agent, the Custodian and the Securities Intermediary, any amounts and indemnities payable to such entities pursuant to the Facility Documents; and
(b) second, on a pro rata basis, to:
(i) the Independent Accountants, agents (other than the Servicer) and outside counsel of the Borrower for fees and expenses related to the Collateral and the Facility Documents and to the Independent Manager of the Borrower for its fees and expenses incurred in acting in such capacity; and
(ii) to any rating agency for fees and expenses in connection with the rating of (or provision of credit estimates in respect of) any Collateral Loan.
Advance” means each loan advanced by the Lenders to the Borrower on a Borrowing Date pursuant to Article II.
Advance Rate” means, with respect to any Collateral Loan, the corresponding percentage for the loan type set forth below:
Loan Type Sub-Category Advance Rate
First Lien BSLs
75  %
Second Lien BSLs
45  %
First Lien Middle Market Loans
whose Obligors have an EBITDA of greater than $25,000,000 (as of the date such Collateral Loan is acquired) 70  %
First Lien Middle Market Loans
whose Obligors have an EBITDA of less than or equal to $25,000,000 (as of the date such Collateral Loan is acquired) 65  %
First Lien Last Out Loans
First Lien Last Out Category A Loans 60  %
First Lien Last Out Loans
First Lien Last Out Category B Loans 50  %
First Lien Last Out Loans
First Lien Last Out Category C Loans 45  %
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in the table above, the portion of First Lien Middle Market Loans with a Paid Senior Net Leverage Ratio up to 5.0x will be assigned an Advance Rate of 70% or 65% (as applicable pursuant to the above chart) and portions above 5.0x will be assigned an Advance Rate of 45%.
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Affected Person” means (a) the Administrative Agent, each Lender and each of their respective Affiliates and (b) any assignee or participant of any Lender (unless the benefit of any particular provision hereof to any such Affected Person is otherwise expressly excluded herein).
Affiliate” means, in respect of a referenced Person at any time, another Person Controlling, Controlled by or under common Control with such referenced Person but which shall not, with respect to the Borrower, include the obligors under any Collateral Loan; provided that (a) an obligor will not be considered an “Affiliate” of any other obligor solely due to the fact that each such obligor is under the control of the same financial sponsor and (b) obligors in respect of Collateral Obligations shall be deemed not to be “Affiliates” if they have distinct corporate family ratings and/or distinct issuer credit ratings. The Borrower will be deemed to have no “Affiliates.”
Agents” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent.
Aggregate Adjusted Collateral Balance” means, as of any date of determination, an amount equal to the sum of the Adjusted Principal Balances of all Collateral Loans in the Collateral (including each potential Collateral Loan that the Borrower has entered into a binding commitment to purchase that has not yet settled) on such date, after giving effect to all Collateral Loans added to and removed from the Collateral on such date.
Aggregate Funded Spread” means, as of any date, the sum of:
(a) in the case of each Floating Rate Loan (excluding any Floor Loan) that bears interest at a spread over an index (including any London interbank offered rate based index), (i) the excess of the sum of such spread and such index over LIBOR as then in effect (which spread or excess may be expressed as a negative percentage) multiplied by (ii) the Principal Balance of such Collateral Loan; and
(b) in the case of each Floor Loan, (i) the excess of the interest rate on such Floor Loan as of such date over LIBOR as then in effect (which spread or excess may be expressed as a negative percentage) multiplied by (ii) the Principal Balance of each such Collateral Loan.
Aggregate Net Collateral Balance” means, as of any date of determination, the Aggregate Adjusted Collateral Balance minus the Excess Concentration Amount, in each case, as of such date of determination.
Aggregate Principal Balance” means, when used with respect to all or a portion of the Collateral Loans, the sum of the Principal Balances of all or of such portion of such Collateral Loans.
Aggregate Tranche A Net Collateral Balance” means, as of any date of determination, an amount equal to the portion of the Aggregate Net Collateral Balance allocable to Tranche A Collateral Loans as of such date of determination (including each potential Tranche
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A Collateral Loan that the Borrower has entered into a binding commitment to purchase that has not yet settled).
Aggregate Tranche B Net Collateral Balance” means, as of any date of determination, an amount equal to the portion of the Aggregate Net Collateral Balance allocable to Tranche B Collateral Loans as of such date of determination (including each potential Tranche B Collateral Loan that the Borrower has entered into a binding commitment to purchase that has not yet settled).
Aggregate Tranche C Net Collateral Balance” means, as of any date of determination, an amount equal to the portion of the Aggregate Net Collateral Balance allocable to Tranche C Collateral Loans as of such date of determination (including each potential Tranche C Collateral Loan that the Borrower has entered into a binding commitment to purchase that has not yet settled).
Agreement” means this Revolving Credit and Security Agreement.
Applicable Law” means, for any Person, any Law of any Governmental Authority, including all federal and state banking or securities laws, to which the Person in question is subject or by which it or any of its assets or properties are bound.
Applicable Margin” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Lender Fee Letter.
Appraisal” means an appraisal of a Collateral Loan that is conducted by an Approved Appraisal Firm, which may be in the form of an update or reaffirmation by an Approved Appraisal Firm of an appraisal previously performed by such Approved Appraisal Firm or another Approved Appraisal Firm.
Approval Request” has the meaning specified in Section 2.02 hereof.
Approved Appraisal Firm” means Lincoln International LLC (f/k/a Lincoln Partners LLC), Valuation Research Corporation, Alvarez & Marsal, Duff & Phelps, Houlihan Lokey, Murray Devine, FTI Consulting and any appraisal or valuation firm providing such service to Blackstone/GSO Secured Lending Fund; provided that any independent appraisal firm or independent financial advisor recognized as being experienced in conducting valuations of secured loans may be added as an “Approved Appraisal Firm” with the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not the be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned).
Approved List” has the meaning specified in Section 2.02 hereof.
Asset Information” means, with respect to any Obligor, in each case to the extent available to the Borrower and subject to any redactions required by the Servicer’s internal policies and procedures (it being understood that to the extent any of the information described in any of the following is contained in the Servicer’s internal credit memo described in clause (d) below, such information need not be separately represented by any document or file and shall for
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all purposes of this Agreement be deemed delivered upon delivery of such internal credit memo): (a) the legal name of such Obligor, (b) the jurisdiction in which such Obligor is domiciled, (c) the audited financial statements for the two prior fiscal years of such Obligor (or such shorter period of time for which such audited financial statements have been prepared and are available), (d) the Servicer’s internal credit memo with respect to such Obligor and the related Collateral Loan, (e) the informational memorandum, offering memorandum or similar document, if any, issued by the bookrunner or the administrative agent for such Obligor and relating to such Collateral Loan, (f) a company forecast of such Obligor including plans related to capital expenditures, (g) the business model, company strategy and names of known peers of such Obligor, (h) the shareholding pattern and details of the management team of such Obligor, (i) details of any banking facilities and the debt maturity schedule of such Obligor, (j) the Moody’s RiskCalc rating output for the related Collateral Loan and (k) a copy of the related credit agreement (which may be a draft) specifying the terms and governing the repayment of such Collateral Loan.
Assignment and Acceptance” means an Assignment and Acceptance in substantially the form of Exhibit D, entered into by a Lender, an assignee, the Administrative Agent and, if applicable, the Borrower.
AUP Report Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.09.
Bail-In Action” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable EEA Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an EEA Financial Institution.
Bail-In Legislation” means, with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union (as amended or re-enacted) establishing a framework for the recovery and resolution of credit institutions and investment firms, the relevant implementing law or regulation for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule. For the purposes of this definition, a reference to “regulation” includes any regulation, rule, official directive, request or guideline (whether or not having the force of law) of any governmental, intergovernmental or supranational body, agency, department or of any regulatory, self-regulatory or other authority or organisation.
Bankruptcy Code” means the United States Bankruptcy Code, Title 11, United States Code §§101 et seq., or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally.
Base Rate” means, on any date, a fluctuating interest rate per annum equal to the highest of (a) the Prime Rate or (b) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.50%. The Base Rate is a reference rate and does not necessarily represent the lowest or best rate actually charged to any customer of any Agent or any Lender. Interest calculated pursuant to clause (a) above will be determined based on a year of 365 or 366 days, as applicable, and actual days elapsed. Interest calculated pursuant to clause (b) above will be determined based on a year of 360 days and actual
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days elapsed. If the calculation of the Base Rate results in a Base Rate of less than zero (0), the Base Rate shall be deemed to be zero (0) for all purposes hereunder.
BNP” has the meaning assigned to such term in the introduction to this Agreement.
BNP Lender Fee Letter” means that certain fee letter, dated as of August 2, 2019, by and among BNP, the Borrower and the Servicer.
Borrower” has the meaning assigned to such term in the introduction to this Agreement.
Borrowing” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.01.
Borrowing Base” means, at any time, an amount equal to the sum of (i) the amounts in the Principal Collection Subaccount, (ii) the product of (x) the Weighted Average Advance Rate (excluding the Sale Settlement Pending Collateral from the calculation of the Weighted Average Advance Rate) as of such date, (y) the Portfolio Advance Rate Adjustment as of such date and (z) the Aggregate Net Collateral Balance as of such date (excluding the Sale Settlement Pending Collateral from the calculation of the Aggregate Net Collateral Balance) and (iii) the aggregate sale price (expressed in Dollars) of the Sale Settlement Pending Collateral.
Borrowing Base Calculation Statement” means a statement in substantially the form attached to the form of Notice of Borrowing attached hereto as Exhibit B, as such form of Borrowing Base Calculation Statement may be modified as mutually agreed by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower from time to time.
Borrowing Date” means the date of a Borrowing.
Broadly Syndicated Loan” means a Collateral Loan that (a) is a syndicated commercial loan, (b) has an Initial Tranche Size of $250,000,000 or greater (without consideration of reductions thereon from scheduled amortization payments), and (c) is rated (or will be rated) by S&P or Moody’s (or the related Obligor for such Collateral Loan is rated by S&P or Moody’s).
Business Day” means any day of the year except: (a) a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City or the city in which the offices of the Collateral Agent are located are authorized or required by law to close; and (b) if such day relates to any interest rate setting as to an Advance determined by reference to LIBOR, any day on which banks are not open for dealings in Dollars in the London interbank market.
Cash” means Dollars immediately available on the day in question.
Cash Interest Coverage Ratio” means, with respect to any Collateral Loan for any Relevant Test Period, the meaning of “Cash Interest Coverage Ratio,” “Pro Forma Cash Interest Coverage Ratio” or any comparable term in the Related Documents for such Collateral Loan, and in any case that “Cash Interest Coverage Ratio,” “Pro Forma Cash Interest Coverage
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Ratio” or such comparable term is not defined in such Related Documents, the ratio, for such Collateral Loan, of (a) EBITDA for the Relevant Test Period, to (b) interest for the Relevant Test Period, in each case, as calculated by the Servicer in accordance with the Servicing Standard.
Certificated Security” has the meaning specified in Section 8-102(a)(4) of the UCC.
Change in Law” means (a) the adoption of any law, rule or regulation after the Closing Date, (b) any change in any law, rule or regulation or in the interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority after the Closing Date or (c) compliance by any Lender (or, for purposes of Section 2.10(b), by any lending office of such Lender or by such Lender’s holding company, if any) with any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority made or issued after the Closing Date; provided that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines, requirements or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith or in implementation thereof and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines, requirements or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law” hereunder regardless of the date of effectiveness.
Change of Control” means an event or series of events by which (A) the Equityholder or its Affiliates, collectively, (i) shall cease to possess, directly or indirectly, the right to elect or appoint (through contract, ownership of voting securities, or otherwise) managers that at all times have a majority of the votes of the board of managers (or similar governing body) of the Borrower or to direct the management policies and decisions of the Borrower or (ii) shall cease, directly or indirectly, to own and control legally and beneficially all of the equity interests of the Borrower or (B) GSO Asset Management LLC or its Affiliates shall cease to be the investment advisor of the Equityholder.
Clearing Agency” means an organization registered as a “clearing agency” pursuant to Section 17A of the Exchange Act.
Clearing Corporation” means each entity included within the meaning of “clearing corporation” under Section 8-102(a)(5) of the UCC.
Clearing Corporation Security” means securities which are in the custody of or maintained on the books of a Clearing Corporation or a nominee subject to the control of a Clearing Corporation and, if they are Certificated Securities in registered form, properly endorsed to or registered in the name of the Clearing Corporation or such nominee.
Closing Date” means December 21, 2018.
Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Collateral” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.01(a).
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Collateral Account” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.02(a)(i).
Collateral Agent” has the meaning assigned to such term in the introduction to this Agreement.
Collateral Agent Fee Letter” means the fee letter between the Collateral Agent and the Borrower setting forth the fees and other amounts payable by the Borrower to the Collateral Agent under the Facility Documents, in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Collateral Interest Amount” means, as of any date of determination, without duplication, the sum of (a) the aggregate amount of Interest Proceeds that has been received or that is expected to be received (other than Interest Proceeds expected to be received from Defaulted Collateral Loans and Ineligible Collateral Loans) and (b) the aggregate amount of Interest Proceeds that the Servicer has determined, in accordance with the Servicing Standard, are likely to be received from Defaulted Collateral Loans and Ineligible Collateral Loans, in each case, during the Collection Period (and, if such Collection Period does not end on a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day) in which such date of determination occurs.
Collateral Loan” means a loan, debt obligation, debt security or participation therein acquired by the Borrower. For the avoidance of doubt, any loan, debt obligation, debt security or participation therein acquired by the Borrower by operation of a Macomb Merger shall be a Collateral Loan.
Collateral Loan Buy Confirmation” means with respect to any Collateral Loan, documentation evidencing, in reasonable detail, the Borrower’s acquisition of such Collateral Loan, and which shall identify at least the obligor, price and the Principal Balance of such Collateral Loan.
Collection Account” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.02(a)(ii) and includes the Principal Collection Subaccount and the Interest Collection Subaccount.
Collection Date” means the date on which the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Advances have been repaid in full and all Interest and fees and all other Obligations (other than contingent indemnification and reimbursement obligations which are unknown, unmatured and/or for which no claim giving rise thereto has been asserted) have been paid in full, and the Borrower shall have no further right to request any additional Advances.
Collection Period” means, with respect to any Payment Date, the quarterly period from and including the date on which the first Advance is made hereunder to but excluding the first Collection Period Start Date following the date of such Advance and each successive quarterly period from and including a Collection Period Start Date to but excluding the immediately succeeding Collection Period Start Date or, in the case of the Collection Period immediately preceding the Final Maturity Date or the Collection Period immediately preceding an optional prepayment in whole of the Advances, ending on the day preceding the Final Maturity Date or the date of such prepayment, respectively.
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Collection Period Start Date” means the first calendar day of March, June, September and December of each year (or, if any such date is not a Business Day, the immediately succeeding Business Day), commencing in June 2019.
Collections” means all cash collections, distributions, payments or other amounts received, or to be received, by the Borrower from any Person in respect of any Collateral Loan constituting Collateral, including all principal, interest, fees, distributions and redemption and withdrawal proceeds payable to the Borrower under or in connection with any such Collateral Loans and all Proceeds from any sale or disposition of any such Collateral Loans.
Commitment” means, as to each Lender, the obligation of such Lender to make, on and subject to the terms and conditions hereof, Advances to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01 in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding for such Lender up to but not exceeding the amount set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 1 or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Commitment, as applicable, as such amount may be reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.07 or increased or reduced from time to time pursuant to assignments effected in accordance with Section 13.06(a).
Commitment Fees” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Lender Fee Letter.
Commitment Reduction Fee” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Lender Fee Letter.
Commitment Termination Date” means the last day of the Reinvestment Period.
Concentration Calculation Amount” means the greater of (a) 50% of the Maximum Portfolio Amount and (b) the Aggregate Adjusted Collateral Balance (after giving effect to any proposed purchase of Collateral Loans).
Concentration Limitations” means, as of any date of determination, the following limitations (calculated without duplication) as applied to the Eligible Collateral Loans owned (or, in relation to a proposed purchase of a Collateral Loan, proposed to be owned, with respect to which, if such purchase results in noncompliance with the limitations, the relevant requirements must be maintained or improved after giving effect to the purchase) by the Borrower, unless a waiver is provided in writing by the Administrative Agent specifying the agreed treatment of such Collateral Loan or Concentration Limitation:
(a) not more than 45.00% of the Concentration Calculation Amount may consist of First Lien Last Out Category B Loans, First Lien Last Out Category C Loans and Second Lien BSLs;
(b) not more than 20.00% of the Concentration Calculation Amount may consist of Second Lien BSLs;
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(c) not more than 20.00% of the Concentration Calculation Amount may consist of Cov-Lite Loans that are not First Lien BSLs;
(d) not less than 90.00% of the Concentration Calculation Amount may consist of Collateral Loans denominated in Dollars;
(e) not less than 90.00% of the Concentration Calculation Amount may consist of Collateral Loans whose Obligors have a principal place of business in or are organized or incorporated in the United States;
(f) not more than 35.00% of the Concentration Calculation Amount may consist of Collateral Loans whose Obligors have a Paid Senor Net Leverage Ratio at origination that is greater than 6.0x;
(g) not more than 5.00% of the Maximum Portfolio Amount may consist of Collateral Loans that are issued to any Obligor and its Affiliates, except that up to 7.00% of the Maximum Portfolio Amount may consist of Collateral Loans that are issued to the three largest Obligors and their respective Affiliates;
(h) not more than 15.00% of the Maximum Portfolio Amount may consist of Collateral Loans that are issued by Obligors and their Affiliates that belong to any single S&P Industry Classification, except that (i) up to 30.00% may consist of Collateral Loans with Obligors and their Affiliates in the largest S&P Industry Classification, (ii) up to 20.00% may consist of Collateral Loans with Obligors and their Affiliates in the second largest S&P Industry Classification and (iii) up to 10.00% may consist of Collateral Loans with Obligors and their Affiliates in the S&P Industry Classification of “Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels”;
(i) not more than 10.00% of the Concentration Calculation Amount may consist of Fixed Rate Loans; and
(j) not more than 10.00% of the Maximum Portfolio Amount may consist of Collateral Loans where the majority owner of the related Obligor is an Affiliate of the Servicer or the Equityholder.
Connection Income Taxes” means Other Connection Taxes that are imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated) or that are franchise Taxes or branch profits Taxes.
Constituent Documents” means, in respect of any Person, the certificate or articles of formation or organization, the limited liability company agreement, operating agreement, partnership agreement, joint venture agreement or other applicable agreement of formation or organization (or equivalent or comparable constituent documents) and other organizational documents and by-laws and any certificate of incorporation, certificate of formation, certificate of limited partnership and other agreement, similar instrument filed or
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made in connection with its formation or organization, in each case, as the same may be amended, restated, replaced, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
Control” means the direct or indirect possession of the power to vote 50% or more of the voting securities of such Person or the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through ownership, by contract, arrangement or understanding, or otherwise. “Controlled” and “Controlling” have the meaning correlative thereto.
Cov-Lite Loan” means a Collateral Loan that does not (I) contain any financial covenants or (II) require the related Obligor of such Collateral Loan to comply with any maintenance covenant; provided that a Collateral Loan described in clause (I) or (II) above which either (i) contains a cross-default provision to, or (ii) is pari passu with, another loan of the Obligor that requires the Obligor to comply with a maintenance covenant will be deemed not to be a Cov-Lite Loan.
Coverage Test” means each of (a) the Minimum OC Coverage Test and (b) the Interest Coverage Ratio Test.
Covered Account” means each of the Collection Accounts (including the Interest Collection Subaccount and Principal Collection Subaccount therein), the Payment Account, the Collateral Account and the Revolving Reserve Account.
Custodian” means Wells Fargo, and any successor thereto under the Custodian Agreement.
Custodian Agreement” means that certain Custodian Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, among the Custodian, the Borrower and the Collateral Agent.
Data File” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.07(a).
Default” means any event which, with the passage of time, the giving of notice, or both, would (if not cured or otherwise remedied during such time) constitute an Event of Default.
Defaulted Collateral Loan” means any Collateral Loan as to which at any time:
(a) a default as to all or any portion of one or more payments of principal and/or interest (including a failure of a selling institution to pay amounts due and payable to the Borrower with respect to the related participation) has occurred after the earlier of (i) any grace period applicable thereto and (ii) five (5) Business Days, in each case, past the applicable due date;
(b) a default (other than a default described in clause (a) of this definition) has occurred under the applicable Related Documents and for which the Borrower (or the agent or required lenders pursuant to the applicable Related Documents, as applicable) has elected to exercise any of its rights or remedies under the applicable Related
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Documents (including acceleration, foreclosing on collateral or the imposition of default pricing);
(c) any portion of principal and/or interest payable thereunder has been waived or forgiven by the holders of such obligation; or
(d) a Revaluation Event under clauses (b) or (f) of the definition thereof has occurred.
Defaulting Lender” means, at any time, any Lender that (a) has failed for three (3) or more Business Days after a Borrowing Date to fund its portion of an Advance required pursuant to the terms of this Agreement (other than failures to fund as a result of a bona fide dispute as to whether the conditions to borrowing were satisfied on the relevant Borrowing Date), (b) has notified the Borrower or the Administrative Agent in writing that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations hereunder, or has made a public statement to that effect (unless such writing or public statement relates to such Lender’s obligation to fund an Advance hereunder and states that such position is based on such Lender’s determination that a condition precedent to funding (which condition precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing or public statement) cannot be satisfied), (c) has failed, within three (3) Business Days after written request by the Administrative Agent or the Borrower, to confirm in writing to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations hereunder (provided that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower) or (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code or any other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, receivership, insolvency, reorganization or similar debtor relief laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdiction, (ii) had appointed for it a receiver, custodian, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or assets, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other state or federal regulatory authority acting in such a capacity or (iii) become the subject of a Bail-In Action; provided that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any equity interest in that Lender or any direct or indirect parent company thereof by a Governmental Authority so long as such ownership interest does not result in or provide such Lender with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgment or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Lender (or such Governmental Authority) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made with such Lender. Any determination by the Administrative Agent that a Lender is a Defaulting Lender under any one or more of clauses (a) through (d) shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error.
Delayed Drawdown Collateral Loan” means a Collateral Loan that (a) requires the Borrower to make one or more future advances to the Obligor under the applicable Related Documents, (b) specifies a maximum amount that can be borrowed on one or more fixed borrowing dates, and (c) does not permit the re-borrowing of any amount previously repaid by
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the Obligor thereunder; provided that any such Collateral Loan will be a Delayed Drawdown Collateral Loan only to the extent of undrawn commitments and solely until all commitments by the Borrower to make advances on such Collateral Loan to the Obligor under the Related Documents expire or are terminated or are reduced to zero.
Deliver” or “Delivered” or “Delivery” means the taking of the following steps:
(a) in the case of each Instrument, causing the Securities Intermediary to maintain continuous possession of such Instrument;
(b) in the case of each Certificated Security (other than a Clearing Corporation Security):
(i) causing the delivery of such Certificated Security to the Securities Intermediary by registering the same in the name of the Securities Intermediary or its affiliated nominee or by endorsing the same to the Securities Intermediary in blank;
(ii) causing the Securities Intermediary to indicate continuously on its books and records that such Certificated Security is credited to the applicable Covered Account; and
(iii) causing the Securities Intermediary to maintain continuous possession of such Certificated Security;
(c) in the case of each Uncertificated Security (other than a Clearing Corporation Security):
(i) causing such Uncertificated Security to be continuously registered on the books of the issuer thereof to the Securities Intermediary; and
(ii) causing the Securities Intermediary to continuously indicate on its books and records that such Uncertificated Security is credited to the applicable Covered Account;
(d) in the case of each Clearing Corporation Security:
(i) causing the relevant Clearing Corporation to credit such Clearing Corporation Security to the securities account of the Securities Intermediary; and
(ii) causing the Securities Intermediary to continuously indicate on its books and records that such Clearing Corporation Security is credited to the applicable Covered Account;
(e) in the case of each security issued or guaranteed by the United States of America or an agency or instrumentality thereof and that is maintained in book-entry
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records of a Federal Reserve Bank (“FRB”) (each such security a “Government Security”):
(i) causing the creation of a Security Entitlement to such Government Security by the credit of such Government Security to the securities account of the Securities Intermediary at such FRB; and
(ii) causing the Securities Intermediary to continuously indicate on its books and records that such Government Security is credited to the applicable Covered Account;
(f) in the case of each Security Entitlement not governed by clauses (a) through (e) above:
(i) causing a Securities Intermediary (x) to indicate on its books and records that the underlying Financial Asset has been credited to the appropriate Covered Account, (y) to receive a Financial Asset from a Securities Intermediary or to acquire the underlying Financial Asset from a Securities Intermediary, and in either case, accepting it for credit to the appropriate Covered Account or (z) to become obligated under other law, regulation or rule to credit the underlying Financial Asset to a Securities Intermediary’s securities account;
(ii) causing such Securities Intermediary to make entries on its books and records continuously identifying such Security Entitlement as belonging to the Custodian and continuously indicating on its books and records that such Security Entitlement is credited to one of the Covered Accounts, which shall at all times be securities accounts; and
(iii) causing the Securities Intermediary to continuously indicate on its books and records that such Security Entitlement (or all rights and property of the Securities Intermediary representing such Security Entitlement) is credited to the applicable Covered Account;
(g) in the case of Cash or Money:
(i) causing the delivery of such Cash or Money to the Securities Intermediary;
(ii) causing the Securities Intermediary to credit such Cash or Money to a “securities account” (as defined in Section 8-501(a) of the UCC), which may be a subaccount of the applicable Covered Account, in accordance with Article 9 of the UCC, pursuant to agreement by the Securities Intermediary to treat such Cash or Money as a Financial Asset; and
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(iii) causing the Securities Intermediary to continuously indicate on its books and records that such Cash or Money so held is credited to the applicable Covered Account;
(h) with respect to such of the Collateral as constitutes an account or a general intangible or is not otherwise described in the foregoing clauses (a) through (g), causing to be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware a properly completed UCC financing statement that names the Borrower as debtor and the Collateral Agent as secured party and that describes such Collateral (which financing statement may have been previously filed) or any equivalent filing in any applicable jurisdiction; or
(i) in the case of each of clauses (a) through (h) above, such additional or alternative procedures as may hereafter become appropriate to perfect the security interest granted to the Collateral Agent hereunder in such items of the Collateral, consistent with Applicable Law.
In addition, the Servicer on behalf of the Borrower will obtain any and all consents required by the Related Documents relating to any Instruments, accounts or general intangibles for the transfer of ownership and/or pledge hereunder (except to the extent that the requirement for such consent is rendered ineffective under Section 9-406 of the UCC).
Determination Date” means the last day of each Collection Period.
Diversity Score” means, as of any day, a single number that indicates collateral concentration in terms of both issuer and industry concentration, calculated as set forth in Schedule 7 hereto, as such Diversity Scores shall be updated at the option of the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion if Moody’s publishes revised criteria.
Dollars” and “$” mean lawful money of the United States of America.
Due Date” means each date on which any payment is due on a Collateral Loan in accordance with its terms.
EBITDA” means, with respect to any Relevant Test Period and any Collateral Loan, the meaning of the term “Adjusted EBITDA,” the term “EBITDA” or any comparable definition in the Related Documents for such period and Collateral Loan (or, in the case of a Collateral Loan for which the Related Documents have not been executed, as set forth in the relevant marketing materials or financial model in respect of such Collateral Loan) as determined in the good faith discretion of the Servicer, and, in any case that the term “Adjusted EBITDA,” the term “EBITDA” or such comparable definition is not defined in such Related Documents, an amount, for the principal Obligor thereunder and any of its parents or subsidiaries that are obligated as guarantor pursuant to the Related Documents for such Collateral Loan (determined on a consolidated basis without duplication in accordance with GAAP (and also on a pro forma basis as determined in good faith by the Servicer in case of any acquisitions)) equal to earnings from continuing operations for such period plus interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization for such period, other non-cash charges and organization costs, extraordinary, one-
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time and/or non-recurring losses or charges, any other customary add-backs for similarly situated obligors the Servicer deems to be appropriate and any other item the Servicer and the Administrative Agent mutually deem to be appropriate.
EEA Financial Institution” means (a) any credit institution or investment firm established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition, or (c) any financial institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a subsidiary of an institution described in clauses (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent.
EEA Member Country” means any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.
EEA Resolution Authority” means any body which has authority to exercise any Write-down and Conversion Powers.
Eligible Collateral Loan” means, as of any date of determination, a Collateral Loan that meets each of the following criteria:
(a) is (i) a First Lien BSL, (ii) a First Lien Middle Market Loan, (iii) a Second Lien BSL or (iv) a First Lien Last Out Loan;
(b) for which the related Obligor has a minimum EBITDA of $15,000,000 at origination;
(c) for which the related Obligor has a maximum Paid Senior Net Leverage Ratio at origination of 7.0x;
(d) was acquired by the Borrower for a price of not less than 80% of its Principal Balance;
(e) is denominated in a Permitted Currency and does not permit the currency or country in which such Collateral Loan is payable to be changed except to another Permitted Currency;
(f) the relevant Obligor’s main place of business and/or incorporation and/or headquarters are in an Eligible Country;
(g) the Related Documents for such Collateral Loan are governed by the laws of the United States or Canada;
(h) is not a Defaulted Collateral Loan at the time of acquisition by the Borrower;
(i) is not a credit linked note or a single purpose real estate loan;
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(j) is scheduled to pay interest semi-annually or more frequently, with a minimum cash interest spread (after any withholding taxes levied and any PIK Toggle exercised) of at least 3.5%;
(k) does not constitute Margin Stock and is not by its terms convertible into or exchangeable for an equity security at the option of either the Borrower thereof or the holder, and does not have attached warrants to purchase equity securities;
(l) is not an obligation pursuant to which any future advances or payments to the Obligor may be required to be made by the Borrower, including Revolving Collateral Loans and Delayed Drawdown Collateral Loans, unless such future funding requirements are covered by either cash reserves or available amounts under the Facility Documents;
(m) has an original term to maturity of not more than eight (8.0) years;
(n) has been approved by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion;
(o) permits the pledge to the Collateral Agent by the Borrower;
(p) provides for payments that do not, at the time the obligation is acquired, subject to the Borrower to withholding tax or other similar taxes, unless the related Obligor is required to make “gross-up” payments that ensure that the net amount actually received by the Borrower (after payment of all taxes, whether imposed on such Obligor or the Borrower) will equal the full amount that the Borrower would have received had no such taxes been imposed;
(q) it is capable of being sold, assigned or participated to the Borrower, together with any associated security, without any breach of applicable selling restrictions, any contractual provisions or any legal or regulatory requirements and the Borrower does not require any authorizations, consents, approvals or filings (other than such as have been obtained or effected) as a result of or in connection with any such sale, assignment or participation under any Applicable Law;
(r) is not subject to a tender offer from the related Obligor other than (A) a Permitted Offer or (B) an exchange offer in which a security is exchanged for a security that would otherwise qualify for purchase herein;
(s) is not a Structured Finance Obligation, a Zero Coupon Obligation or a Synthetic Security;
(t) is not a corporate rescue loan, PIK Loan, unsecured senior loan or Mezzanine Obligation;
(u) is not a project, shipping/aircraft or infrastructure/construction financings;
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(v) for which the relevant the Obligor of such Collateral Loan is not a Governmental Authority;
(w) for which the Obligor of such Collateral Loan is not a commodity trader and producer, oil field services company or other entity highly exposed to commodity price/volume risk;
(x) for which the relevant Obligor is not operating, domiciled or having business in a country subject to Sanctions;
(y) is not a lease; and
(z) will not cause the Borrower or the pool of assets to be required to be registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act;
provided that the Administrative Agent may agree in writing to specifically waive any of the requirements set forth above with respect to any single Collateral Loan (it being understood that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to provide any such waiver under any circumstances), and upon such waiver, such waived requirements shall be deemed not to be part of the eligibility requirement with respect to such Collateral Loan.
Eligible Country” means (a) the United States or (b) OECD countries with a country ceiling for foreign currency bonds of at least “Aa2” by Moody’s and a foreign currency issuer credit rating of at least “AA” by S&P.
Eligible Investments” means any Dollar investment that, at the time it is Delivered, is Cash or one or more of the following obligations or securities:
(a) direct interest bearing obligations of, and interest bearing obligations guaranteed as to timely payment of principal and interest by, the United States or any agency or instrumentality of the United States, the obligations of which are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States;
(b) demand or time deposits in, certificates of deposit of, bank deposit products, demand notes of, or bankers’ acceptances issued by any depository institution or trust company organized under the laws of the United States or any State thereof (including any federal or state branch or agency of a foreign depository institution or trust company) and subject to supervision and examination by federal and/or state banking authorities (including, if applicable, the Collateral Agent, the Custodian or the Administrative Agent or any agent thereof acting in its commercial capacity); provided that the short-term unsecured debt obligations of such depository institution or trust company at the time of such investment, or contractual commitment providing for such investment, are rated at least “A-1” by S&P and “P-1” by Moody’s;
(c) commercial paper that (i) is payable in Dollars and (ii) is rated at least “A-1” by S&P and “P-1” by Moody’s; and
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(d) units of money market funds having a rating of the Highest Required Investment Category from each of S&P and Moody’s.
No Eligible Investment shall have an “f,” “r,” “p,” “pi,” “q,” “sf” or “t” subscript affixed to its S&P rating. Any such investment may be made or acquired from or through the Collateral Agent or the Administrative Agent or any of their respective Affiliates, or any entity for whom the Collateral Agent, the Administrative Agent, the Custodian or any of their respective Affiliates provides services and receives compensation (so long as such investment otherwise meets the applicable requirements of the foregoing definition of Eligible Investment at the time of acquisition) or acts as offeror of; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing clauses (a) through (d), unless the Borrower and the Servicer have received the written advice of counsel of national reputation experienced in such matters to the contrary (together with an officer’s certificate of the Borrower or the Servicer to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent that the advice specified in this definition has been received by the Borrower and the Servicer), Eligible Investments may only include obligations or securities that constitute cash equivalents for purposes of the rights and assets in paragraph (c)(8)(i)(B) of the exclusions from the definition of “covered fund” for purposes of the Volcker Rule. The Collateral Agent and Custodian shall have no obligation to determine or oversee compliance with the foregoing.
Equity Security” means any stock or similar security, certificate of interest or participation in any profit sharing agreement, reorganization certificate or subscription, transferable share, voting trust certificate or certificate of deposit for an equity security, limited partnership interest, interest in a joint venture, or certificate of interest in a business trust; any security future on any such security; or any security convertible, with or without consideration into such a security, or carrying any warrant or right to subscribe to or purchase such a security; or any such warrant or right.
Equityholder” has the meaning given to such term in the recitals.
ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and the regulations promulgated and rulings issued thereunder.
ERISA Event” means (a) any “reportable event,” as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder with respect to a Plan (other than an event for which the thirty (30) day notice requirement is waived); (b) the failure with respect to any Plan to satisfy the “minimum funding standard” (as defined in Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA); (c) the filing pursuant to Section 412(c) of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan; (d) a determination that any Plan is, or is expected to be, in “at risk” status (as defined in Section 430 of the Code or Section 303 of ERISA); (e) the incurrence by the Borrower or any member of its ERISA Group of any material liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan; (f) (i) the receipt by the Borrower or any member of its ERISA Group from the PBGC of a notice of determination that the PBGC intends to seek termination of any Plan or to have a trustee appointed for any Plan under Section 4041(c) of ERISA, or (ii) the filing by the Borrower or any member of its ERISA Group of a notice of intent to terminate any Plan; (g) the incurrence by the Borrower or any member of its ERISA Group of any material liability (i) with
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respect to a Plan pursuant to Sections 4063 and 4064 of ERISA, (ii) with respect to a facility closing pursuant to Section 4062(e) of ERISA, or (iii) with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any Multiemployer Plan; (h) the receipt by the Borrower or any member of its ERISA Group of any notice concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, in endangered status or critical status, within the meaning of Section 432 of the Code or Section 305 of ERISA or is or is expected to be insolvent, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA; or (i) the failure of the Borrower or any member of its ERISA Group to make any required contribution to a Multiemployer Plan, in each case that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
ERISA Group” means each controlled group of corporations or trades or businesses (whether or not incorporated) under common control that is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) or, for purposes of ERISA Section 302 or Code Section 412, (m) or (o) of the Code with the Borrower.
Establishment” means an “establishment” for the purposes of Regulation (EU) 2015/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2015 on insolvency proceedings (recast).
EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule” means the document described as the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor person), as in effect from time to time.
EU Retention Requirements” means Article 6 of the Securitisation Regulation (together with any delegated regulations, applicable guidance, regulatory technical standards, or implementing technical standards made thereunder.
Euros” or “” means the lawful currency of the EEA Member Countries that have adopted and retain the single currency in accordance with the treaty establishing the European Community, as amended from time to time.
Event of Default” means the occurrence of any of the events, acts or circumstances set forth in Section 6.01.
Excess Concentration Amount” means, as of any date of determination, in respect of which any one or more of the Concentration Limitations are exceeded, the portions (calculated by the Servicer and without duplication) of each Eligible Collateral Loan that cause such Concentration Limitations to be exceeded.
Excess Interest Proceeds” means, at any time of determination, the excess of (1) amounts then on deposit in the Collateral Accounts representing Interest Proceeds over (2) the projected amount required to be paid pursuant to Section 9.01(a)(i)(A), (B), (C) and (D), on the next Payment Date, any prepayment date or the Final Maturity Date, as applicable, in each case, as determined by the Borrower in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner.
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Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, all as from time to time in effect, or any successor law, rules or regulations, and any reference to any statutory or regulatory provision shall be deemed to be a reference to any successor statutory or regulatory provision.
Excluded Amounts” means (a) any amount received in the Collection Account with respect to any Collateral Loan included as part of the Collateral, which amount is attributable to the payment of any Taxes, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority on such Collateral Loan or on any underlying asset securing such Collateral Loan and (b) any amount received in the Collection Account (or other applicable account) representing (i) any amount representing a reimbursement of insurance premiums and (ii) any escrows relating to Taxes, insurance and other amounts in connection with Collateral Loans which are held in an escrow account for the benefit of the Obligor and the applicable secured party pursuant to escrow arrangements under a Related Document, to the extent such amount is attributable to a time after the effective date of such replacement or sale, in each case of clauses (a) and (b) to the extent paid on behalf of the Borrower from equity contributions.
Excluded Principal Distributions” means Permitted Distributions of Principal Proceeds designated as “Excluded Principal Distributions” by mutual agreement of the Servicer and Administrative Agent.
Excluded Taxes” means any of the following Taxes imposed on or with respect to a Secured Party or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to a Secured Party: (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by a Secured Party’s net income (however denominated), franchise Taxes imposed on a Secured Party, and branch profits Taxes imposed on a Secured Party, in each case, (i) by the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof) under the laws of which such Secured Party is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its applicable lending office is located or (ii) that are Other Connection Taxes, (b) in the case of any Lender, U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed on amounts payable to or for the account of such Lender pursuant to a law in effect on the date on which (i) such Lender becomes a party hereto or (ii) such Lender changes its lending office, except in each case to the extent that, pursuant to Section 13.03, amounts with respect to such Taxes were payable either to such Lender’s assignor immediately before such Lender became a party hereto or to such Lender immediately before it changed its lending office, (c) Taxes attributable to such Secured Party’s failure to comply with Section 13.03(g), and (d) U.S. federal withholding Taxes imposed under FATCA.
Expedited Notice of Borrowing” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.03(d).
Extension Request” means a written request by the Borrower substantially in the form of Exhibit G to extend the Commitment Termination Date for an additional period of not greater than one year.
Facility Amount” means (a) on or prior to the Commitment Termination Date, an amount equal to the Maximum Facility Amount (as such amount may be reduced from time to
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time pursuant to Section 2.07) and (b) following the Commitment Termination Date, the outstanding principal balance of all of the Advances.
Facility Documents” means this Agreement, the Notes, the Account Control Agreement, the Collateral Agent Fee Letter, the Custodian Agreement, the Lender Fee Letter, the BNP Lender Fee Letter, the Loan Sale Agreement and any other security agreements and other instruments entered into or delivered by or on behalf of the Borrower pursuant to Section 5.01(c) to create, perfect or otherwise evidence the Collateral Agent’s security interest in the Collateral.
FATCA” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with) and any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof and any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code.
Federal Funds Rate” means, for any period, a fluctuating interest rate per annum equal for each day during such period to the weighted average of the rates on overnight federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by federal funds brokers, as published for such day (or, if such day is not a Business Day, for the next preceding Business Day) by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day which is a Business Day, the average of the quotations for such day on such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it; provided that, if at any time a Lender is borrowing overnight funds from a Federal Reserve Bank that day, the Federal Funds Rate for such Lender for such day shall be the average rate per annum at which such overnight borrowings are made on that day as promptly reported by such Lender to the Borrower and the Agents in writing. Each determination of the Federal Funds Rate by a Lender pursuant to the foregoing proviso shall be conclusive and binding except in the case of manifest error.
Fee Basis Amount” means, for any Payment Date, an amount equal to the Aggregate Principal Balance.
Final Maturity Date” means the earlier to occur of (i) the Business Day 24 months after the last day of the Reinvestment Period and (ii) the date on which the Final Maturity Date is declared pursuant to Section 6.01.
Final Order” means an order, judgment, decree or ruling the operation or effect of which has not been stayed, reversed or amended and as to which order, judgment, decree or ruling (or any revision, modification or amendment thereof) the time to appeal or to seek review or rehearing has expired and as to which no appeal or petition for review or rehearing was filed or, if filed, remains pending.
Financial Asset” has the meaning specified in Section 8-102(a)(9) of the UCC.
First Lien BSL” means a First Lien Loan that is a Broadly Syndicated Loan.
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First Lien Last Out Category A Loan” means a First Lien Last Out Loan where any tranches of First Lien Loans issued by the related Obligor which, at any time prior to and/or after an event of default under the Related Documents, will be paid prior to the Collateral Loan in accordance with a specified waterfall or other priority of payments as specified in the Related Documents, an agreement among lenders or other applicable agreement are less than or equal to 25% of the aggregate principal amount of all first lien debt of such Obligor.
First Lien Last Out Category B Loan” means a First Lien Last Out Loan where any tranches of First Lien Loans issued by the related Obligor which, at any time prior to and/or after an event of default under the Related Documents, will be paid prior to the Collateral Loan in accordance with a specified waterfall or other priority of payments as specified in the Related Documents, an agreement among lenders or other applicable agreement are more than 25% of the aggregate principal amount of all first lien debt but less than or equal to 50% of the aggregate principal amount of all first lien debt of such Obligor.
First Lien Last Out Category C Loan” means a First Lien Last Out Loan where any tranches of First Lien Loans issued by the related Obligor which, at any time prior to and/or after an event of default under the Related Documents, will be paid prior to the Collateral Loan in accordance with a specified waterfall or other priority of payments as specified in the Related Documents, an agreement among lenders or other applicable agreement are greater than 50% of the aggregate principal amount of all first lien debt of such Obligor.
First Lien Last Out Loan” means a Collateral Loan which would be a First Lien Loan but for the fact that at any time prior to and/or after an event of default under the Related Documents, such Collateral Loan will be paid after one or more tranches of First Lien Loans issued by the Obligor have been paid in full in accordance with a specified waterfall or other priority of payments as specified in the Related Documents, an agreement among lenders or other applicable agreement.
First Lien Loan” means any Collateral Loan (for purposes of this definition, a “loan”) that meets the following criteria:
(a) is not (and is not expressly permitted by its terms to become) subordinate to any obligation of the obligor in any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency, moratorium or liquidation proceedings (other than pursuant to a Permitted Working Capital Lien and customary waterfall provisions contained in the applicable loan agreement or indenture);
(b) is secured by a pledge of collateral, which security interest is (i) validly perfected and first priority under Applicable Law (subject to liens permitted under the applicable credit agreement that are reasonable for similar Collateral Loans, and liens accorded priority by law in favor of any Governmental Authority) or (ii)(1) validly perfected and second priority in the accounts, documents, instruments, chattel paper, letter-of-credit rights, supporting obligations, deposit accounts, investments accounts (as such terms are defined in the UCC) and any other assets securing any Working Capital Revolver under Applicable Law and proceeds of any of the foregoing (a first priority lien
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on such assets, a “Permitted Working Capital Lien”) and (2) validly perfected and first priority (subject to liens permitted under the related underlying instruments that are reasonable and customary for similar Collateral Loans) in all other collateral under Applicable Law;
(c) the Servicer determines in good faith that the value of the collateral for such Collateral Loan (including based on enterprise value) on or about the time of acquisition equals or exceeds the outstanding principal balance of the Collateral Loan plus the aggregate outstanding balances of all other Collateral Loans of equal or higher seniority secured by a first priority Lien over the same collateral; and
(d) for which the Obligor of such loan and its Affiliates has been designated on the date such Collateral Loan was acquired by the Borrower as a “First Lien Loan” by the Administrative Agent.
First Lien Middle Market Loan” means a First Lien Loan that is not a Broadly Syndicated Loan.
Fixed Rate Loan” means any Collateral Loan that bears a fixed rate of interest.
Floating Rate Loan” means any Collateral Loan that bears a floating rate of interest.
Floor Loan” means, as of any date:
(a) a Floating Rate Loan (i) for which the Related Documents provide for a Libor option and that such Libor is calculated as the greater of a specified “floor” rate per annum and the London interbank offered rate for the applicable interest period and (ii) that, as of such date, bears interest based on such Libor option, but only if as of such date the London interbank offered rate for the applicable interest period is less than such floor rate; and
(b) a Floating Rate Loan (i) for which the Related Documents provide for a base or prime rate option and such base or prime rate is calculated as the greater of a specified “floor” rate per annum and the base or prime rate for the applicable interest period and (ii) that, as of such date, bears interest based on such base or prime rate option, but only if as of such date the base or prime rate for the applicable interest period is less than such floor rate.
Foreign Lender” means a Lender that is resident or organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which the Borrower is resident for tax purposes.
FRB” has the meaning specified in the definition of Deliver.
Fundamental Amendment” means any amendment, modification, waiver or supplement of or to this Agreement that would (a) increase or extend the term of the Commitments or change the Final Maturity Date (other than an increase of the Commitment of a
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particular Lender or the addition of a new Lender agreed to by the relevant Lender), (b) extend the date fixed for the payment of principal of or interest on any Advance or any fee hereunder, (c) reduce the amount of any such payment of principal, (d) reduce the rate at which Interest is payable thereon or any fee is payable hereunder (other than in connection with the appointment of a LIBOR Successor Rate), (e) release any material portion of the Collateral, except in connection with dispositions permitted hereunder, (f) alter the terms of Section 9.01 or Section 13.01(b), (g) modify the definition of the terms “Majority Lenders,” “Required Lenders,” “Maximum Available Amount,” “Advance Rate,” “Borrowing Base,” “Minimum OC Coverage Test,” “Interest Coverage Ratio Test,” “Collateral Loan,” “Eligible Collateral Loan,” “Eligible Country,” “Minimum Equity Amount,” “Collateral Quality Test,” “Tranche A Borrowing Base,” “Tranche B Borrowing Base,” “Tranche C Borrowing Base,” “Tranche A Minimum OC Coverage Test,” “Tranche B Minimum OC Coverage Test,” “Tranche C Minimum OC Coverage Test,” “Tranche A Collateral Loan,” “Tranche B Collateral Loan,” “Tranche C Collateral Loan,” or any Collateral Quality Test set forth therein or component thereof defined therein; (h) modify in any other manner the number or percentage of the Lenders required to make any determinations or waive any rights hereunder or to modify any provision hereof or (i) extend the Reinvestment Period.
GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in effect from time to time in the United States.
Government Security” has the meaning specified in the definition of Deliver.
Governmental Authority” means, with respect to any Person, any nation or government, any supranational, state or other political or subdivision thereof, any central bank (or similar monetary or regulatory authority) thereof, any body or entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government and any court or arbitrator, in each case, having jurisdiction or authority over such Person.
Governmental Authorizations” means all franchises, permits, licenses, approvals, consents and other authorizations of all Governmental Authorities.
Governmental Filings” means all filings, including franchise and similar tax filings, and the payment of all fees, assessments, interests and penalties associated with such filings with all Governmental Authorities.
Highest Required Investment Category” means (a) with respect to ratings assigned by Moody’s, “Aa2” or “P-1” for one month instruments, “Aa2” and “P-1” for three month instruments, “Aa3” and “P-1” for six month instruments and “Aa2” and “P-1” for instruments with a term in excess of six months and (b) with respect to rating assigned by S&P, “A-1” for short-term instruments and “A” for long-term instruments.
Indemnified Party” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 13.04(b).
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Indemnified Taxes” means (a) Taxes other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower under any Facility Document and (b) to the extent not otherwise described in clause (a), Other Taxes.
Independent Accountants” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.09(a).
Independent Manager” means a natural person who, (A) for the five-year period prior to his or her appointment as Independent Manager, has not been, and during the continuation of his or her service as Independent Manager is not: (i) an employee, director, stockholder, member, manager, partner or officer of the Borrower or any of its Affiliates (other than his or her service as an Independent Manager of the Borrower or other Affiliates that are structured to be “bankruptcy remote”); (ii) a customer or supplier of the Borrower or any of its Affiliates (other than his or her service as an Independent Manager of the Borrower or any such Affiliate); (iii) a Person controlling or under common control with any partner, shareholder, member, manager, Affiliate or supplier of the Borrower or any Affiliate of the Borrower or (iv) any member of the immediate family of a person described in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii); provided that an independent manager may serve in similar capacities for other special purpose entities established from time to time by Affiliates of the Borrower and (B) has (i) prior experience as an Independent Manager for a corporation or limited liability company whose charter documents required the unanimous consent of all Independent Managers thereof before such corporation or limited liability company could consent to the institution of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against it or could file a petition seeking relief under any applicable federal or state law relating to bankruptcy and (ii) at least three years of employment experience with one or more entities that provide, in the ordinary course of their respective businesses, advisory, management or placement services to issuers of securitization or structured finance instruments, agreements or securities.
Ineligible Collateral Loan” means, at any time, a Collateral Loan or any portion thereof, that fails to satisfy any criteria of the definition of Eligible Collateral Loan as of the date when such criteria are applicable; it being understood that such criteria in the definition of Eligible Collateral Loan that is specified to be applicable only as of the date of acquisition of such Collateral Loan shall not be applicable after the date of acquisition of such Collateral Loan.
Initial AUP Report Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.09(a).
Initial Tranche Size” means, with respect to any Collateral Loan, an amount equal to (a) if any delayed draw loan or incremental term loan issuance has been issued under the same credit document that has the same interest spread, maturity and seniority (such issuance an “Additional Tranche”), the sum of the principal amounts on the issuance date of the most recently issued Additional Tranche of (i) the aggregate tranche of such Collateral Loan plus (ii) the aggregate tranches of any Additional Tranches, and (b) if no Additional Tranche has been issued, the principal amount of the aggregate tranche of such Collateral Loan as of its original issuance date.
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Insolvency Event” means, with respect to a specified Person, (a) the filing of a decree or order for relief by a court having jurisdiction in the premises in respect of such Person or any substantial part of its property in an involuntary case under the Bankruptcy Code or any other applicable insolvency law now or hereafter in effect, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator or similar official for such Person or for any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding-up or liquidation of such Person’s affairs, and such decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of sixty (60) consecutive days; or (b) the commencement by such Person of a voluntary case under the Bankruptcy Code or any other applicable insolvency law now or hereafter in effect, or the consent by such Person to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law, or the consent by such Person to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator or similar official for such Person or for any substantial part of its property, or the making by such Person of any general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the failure by such Person generally to pay its debts as such debts become due, or the taking of action by such Person in furtherance of any of the foregoing.
Instrument” has the meaning specified in Section 9-102(a)(47) of the UCC.
Interest” means, for any day during an Interest Accrual Period with respect to each Tranche of Advances, the sum of the products (for each day elapsed during such Interest Accrual Period) of:
BRECKAMENDMENTIMAGE11.JPG
where:
IR = the Interest Rate for such Tranche for such Interest Accrual Period;
P = the principal amount of the Advances for such Tranche outstanding on such day; and
D = 360 days.
Interest Accrual Period” means (a) with respect to the first Payment Date, the period from and including the Closing Date to and including the last Business Day of the calendar month preceding the month in which such Payment Date occurs and (b) with respect to any subsequent Payment Date, the period beginning on (and including) the day immediately following the last day of the prior Interest Accrual Period and ending on (but excluding) the last Business Day of the calendar month preceding  the month in which such Payment Date occurs.
Interest Collection Subaccount” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.02(a).
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Interest Coverage Ratio” means, on any Determination Date, the percentage equal to:
(a) (i) an amount equal to the Collateral Interest Amount at such time minus (ii) the amount payable on the Payment Date immediately following such date of determination pursuant to Sections 9.01(a)(i)(A), (B) and (D); divided by
(b) the amount payable on the Payment Date immediately following such date of determination pursuant to Section 9.01(a)(i)(C).
Interest Coverage Ratio Test” means a test that is satisfied at any time if the Interest Coverage Ratio is greater than or equal to 150%; provided that the Interest Coverage Ratio Test shall be deemed to be satisfied on any date prior to the initial Advance hereunder.
Interest Proceeds” means, with respect to any Collection Period or the related Determination Date, without duplication, the sum of:
(a) all payments of interest and other income received in cash by the Borrower during such Collection Period on the Collateral Loans (including interest purchased with Principal Proceeds, interest and other income received in cash on Ineligible Collateral Loans and the accrued interest received in cash in connection with a sale of any such Collateral Loan during such Collection Period);
(b) all principal and interest payments received by the Borrower during such Collection Period on Eligible Investments purchased with Interest Proceeds and all interest payments received by the Borrower during such Collection Period on Eligible Investments purchased with amounts credited to the Revolving Reserve Account;
(c) all amendment and waiver fees, late payment fees (including compensation for delayed settlement or trades), and all protection fees and other fees and commissions received by the Borrower during such Collection Period unless the Servicer has determined in its sole discretion that such payments are to be treated as Principal Proceeds; and
(d) commitment fees, facility fees, anniversary fees, ticking fees and other similar fees received by the Borrower during such Collection Period unless the Servicer has determined in its sole discretion that such payments are to be treated as Principal Proceeds;
provided that:
(1) as to any Defaulted Collateral Loan (and only so long as it remains a Defaulted Collateral Loan), any amounts received in respect thereof will constitute Principal Proceeds (and not Interest Proceeds) until the aggregate of all Collections in respect thereof since it became a Defaulted Collateral Loan equals the Principal Balance of such Defaulted Collateral Loan at the time as of which it became a Defaulted
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Collateral Loan and all amounts received in excess thereof will constitute Interest Proceeds; and
(2) any amounts received in respect of any Equity Security that was received in exchange for a Defaulted Collateral Loan will constitute Principal Proceeds (and not Interest Proceeds) until the aggregate of all collections in respect of such Equity Security equals the outstanding Principal Balance of the related Collateral Loan, at the time it became a Defaulted Collateral Loan, for which such Equity Security was received in exchange.
Interest Rate” means, for any Tranche for any Interest Accrual Period, an interest rate per annum equal to LIBOR (or, if at any time LIBOR cannot be determined, the Base Rate) plus the Applicable Margin, .
Interim Order” means an order, judgment, decree or ruling entered after notice and a hearing conducted in accordance with Bankruptcy Rule 4001(c) granting interim authorization, the operation or effect of which has not been stayed, reversed or amended.
Investment Company Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Law” means any action, code, consent decree, constitution, decree, directive, enactment, finding, guideline, law, injunction, interpretation, judgment, order, ordinance, policy statement, proclamation, promulgation, regulation, requirement, rule, rule of law, treaty, rule of public policy, settlement agreement, statute, or writ, of any Governmental Authority, or any particular section, part or provision thereof.
Lender” means each Person listed on Schedule 1 and any other Person that shall have become a party hereto in accordance with the terms hereof pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance, other than any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance.
Lender Fee Letter” means that certain fee letter, dated as of the Closing Date, by and among the Lenders, the Borrower and the Servicer.
Liabilities” means all liabilities, obligations, losses, claims, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses (including reasonable and documented out-of-pocket outside attorneys’ fees and expenses) and disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever.
LIBOR” means, for any Interest Accrual Period, the ICE Benchmark Administration Limited London interbank offered rate per annum for deposits in the relevant currency for a period equal to the Interest Accrual Period as displayed in the Bloomberg Financial Markets System (or such other page on that service or such other service designated by the ICE Benchmark Limited for the display of such administration’s London interbank offered rate for deposits in the relevant currency) as of 11:00 a.m., London time on the day that is two Business Days prior to the first day of the Interest Accrual Period (the “Screen Rate”); provided
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that if the Administrative Agent determines that the relevant foregoing sources are unavailable for the relevant Interest Accrual Period, LIBOR shall mean the rate of interest determined by the Administrative Agent to be the average (rounded upward, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100th of 1%) of the rates per annum at which deposits in the relevant currency are offered to the Administrative Agent two (2) Business Days preceding the first day of such Interest Accrual Period by four leading banks (selected by the Administrative Agent after consultation with the Borrower) in the London or other offshore interbank market for the relevant currency as of 11:00 a.m. for delivery on the first day of such Interest Accrual Period, for the number of days comprised therein and in an amount comparable to the amount of the Administrative Agent’s portion of the relevant Advance; provided, if such rate is less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.
LIBOR Successor Rate” has the meaning given to such term in Section 2.18(a).
LIBOR Successor Rate Conforming Changes” means, with respect to any proposed LIBOR Successor Rate, any conforming changes to the definition of Interest Rate, Interest Accrual Period, timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest and other administrative matters as may be appropriate, in the reasonable discretion of the Administrative Agent, to reflect the adoption of such LIBOR Successor Rate and to permit the administration thereof by the Administrative Agent in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if the Administrative Agent determines that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or that no market practice for the administration of such LIBOR Successor Rate exists, in such other manner of administration as the Administrative Agent reasonably determines).
Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, encumbrance, lien or security interest (statutory or other), or preference, priority or other security agreement, charge or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing, and the filing authorized by the Borrower of any financing statement under the UCC or comparable law of any jurisdiction).
Listed Collateral Loan” means, at any time, a Collateral Loan for which three or more bids are quoted and available from Loan Pricing Corporation, Mark-it Partners (formerly known as Loan X), Interactive Data Corporation or another nationally recognized broker-dealer or nationally recognized quotation service requested by the Servicer and approved from time to time by the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders.
Listed Value” means, for any Listed Collateral Loan at any time, the bid price for such Collateral Loan most recently quoted by Loan Pricing Corporation, Mark-it Partners (formerly known as Loan X) or Interactive Data Corporation and obtained by the Servicer, or quoted by another nationally recognized broker-dealer or nationally recognized quotation service as may be approved from time to time by the Administrative Agent if so requested by the Borrower or the Servicer; provided that, if the Servicer reasonably believes that the price quoted by any such source is based on less than three bona fide bids, then the Servicer, by notice to the
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Administrative Agent, may determine the Listed Value in accordance with clause (b) of the definition of Loan Value.
LLC Agreement” means that certain Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement, dated as of December 21, 2018, of the Borrower.
Loan Sale Agreement” means that certain Loan Sale and Contribution Agreement.
Loan Value” means, with respect to each Collateral Loan, as of any date of determination and expressed as a percentage of the Principal Balance of such Eligible Collateral Loan, a percentage equal to:
(a) if a Revaluation Event has not occurred with respect to such Collateral Loan, the purchase price of such Collateral Loan (excluding any original issue discount of 3% or less);
(b) if a Revaluation Event has occurred with respect to such Collateral Loan and such Collateral Loan is not a Defaulted Collateral Loan:
(i) if such loan is a Listed Collateral Loan as of such date, the lesser of (x) the Listed Value of such loan as at such date and (y) the purchase price of such Collateral Loan; and
(ii) if such loan is not a Listed Collateral Loan as of such date:
(A) and the Servicer provides three bona fide bids that are acceptable to the Administrative Agent (in its sole discretion), the average of such bona fide bids; otherwise
(B) the fair market value of such Collateral Loan as determined by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion; and
(c) if a Revaluation Event has occurred with respect to such Collateral Loan and such Collateral Loan is a Defaulted Collateral Loan, the fair market value of such Collateral Loan as determined by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion.
If the Borrower disagrees with the Loan Value assigned by the Administrative Agent to a Collateral Loan pursuant to clauses (b)(ii) or (c) above (an “Agent Valuation”), then the Borrower may at its own expense and within sixty (60) days from the date on which the Administrative Agent assigned the Agent Valuation (the “Dispute Period”) obtain an Appraisal (the “New Valuation”) from an Approved Appraisal Firm or a valuation firm selected by the Borrower with the consent of the Administrative Agent (such process, a “Valuation Agent Dispute”). If a New Valuation is obtained during the Dispute Period, then the New Valuation shall be treated as the amended Loan Value, otherwise the Agent Valuation shall be treated as the amended Loan Value. During the Dispute Period, the Loan Value shall be the Agent Valuation. The Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, further amend the Loan Value in respect of
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such Collateral Loan on any subsequent date, subject to the valuation procedures and dispute mechanics set forth above, and such further determination shall constitute the Loan Value.
Macomb Credit Agreement” means that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of August 21, 2018, by and among BNP Paribas, as a lender, the other lenders party thereto, Macomb Park CLO, Ltd., as borrower, BNP Paribas, as administrative agent, GSO / Blackstone Debt Funds Management LLC, as collateral manager, and SENTE Master Fund, L.P., as preferred investor.
Macomb Merger” means a transaction wherein the Borrower acquires the outstanding equity of Macomb Park CLO, Ltd., repays the loans outstanding under the Macomb Credit Agreement and merges with Macomb Park CLO, Ltd., with the Borrower being the surviving entity.
Majority Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, the Administrative Agent and Lenders having aggregate Percentages greater than 50%; provided, however, that if any Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender at such time, then Advances owing to such Defaulting Lender and such Defaulting Lender’s unfunded Commitments shall be excluded from the determination of Majority Lenders.
Margin Stock” has the meaning assigned to such term in Regulation U.
Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, assets, financial condition or operations of the Borrower or the Servicer either individually or taken as a whole, (b) the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any other Facility Document or the validity, enforceability or collectability of the Collateral Loans or the Related Documents generally or any material portion of the Collateral Loans or the Related Documents, (c) the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the other Secured Parties with respect to matters arising under this Agreement or any other Facility Document, (d) the ability of each of the Borrower or the Servicer to perform its obligations under any Facility Document to which it is a party, or (e) the status, existence, perfection, priority or enforceability of the Collateral Agent’s Lien on the Collateral.
Material Modification” means, with respect to any Collateral Loan, any amendment, waiver, consent or modification of, or supplement to or inaction with, a Related Document with respect thereto (it being understood that a release document or similar instrument executed or delivered in connection with a disposition that is otherwise permitted under the applicable Related Documents shall not constitute an amendment or modification to such Related Document) executed or effected after the date on which such Collateral Loan is acquired by the Borrower, that:
(a) reduces, defers or forgives any principal amount of such Collateral Loan;
(b) reduces or forgives one or more interest payments which reduces the spread or coupon by more than 50 basis points or permits any interest due with respect to
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such Collateral Loan in cash to be deferred or capitalized and added to the principal amount of such Collateral Loan (other than any deferral or capitalization already expressly permitted by the terms of its Related Documents or pursuant to the application of a pricing grid, in each case, as of the date such Collateral Loan was acquired by the Borrower);
(c) extends, delays or waives any date fixed for any scheduled payment (including at maturity) or mandatory prepayment of principal on such Collateral Loan;
(d) in the case of a First Lien Last Out Loan, a First Lien BSL or a First Lien Middle Market Loan, contractually or structurally subordinates such Collateral Loan by operation of a priority of payments, turnover provisions or the transfer of assets in order to limit recourse to the related Obligor (other than as permitted by the terms of the Related Documents on the date such Collateral Loan was acquired);
(e) substitutes, alters, releases or terminates any material portion of the underlying assets securing such Collateral Loan (other than as expressly permitted by the Related Documents as of the date such Collateral Loan was acquired by the Borrower) or releases any material guarantor or co-Obligor from its obligations with respect thereto, and each such substitution, alteration, release or termination materially and adversely affects the value of such Collateral Loan (as determined in the commercially reasonable discretion of the Administrative Agent);
(f) modifies any term or provision of the Related Documents of such Collateral Loan that impacts the calculation of any financial covenant, the definition of “Permitted Liens” (or any analogous definition), or the determination of any default or event of default with respect to the related Collateral Loan;
(g) results in change of currency of the Collateral Loan; or
(h) any other modification which is material and adverse to the value of such Collateral Loan.
Maximum Available Amount” means, on any date of determination, an amount equal to the lesser of:
(a) the Maximum Facility Amount at such time; and
(b) the Borrowing Base (calculated after giving effect to the deposit or investment of such borrowed funds on the borrowing date).
Maximum Facility Amount” means $575,000,000; provided that it is understood that the loan facility established under this Agreement is an uncommitted facility and there is no express or implied commitment on the part of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to provide any Advance except that, in the case of Collateral Loans approved by means of an Approval Request or Approved List, the Lenders shall have committed to fund the related Advances (up to
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the amount(s) specified in the related Approval Request or Approved List) provided that the related conditions precedent set forth in Article III are satisfied.
Maximum Portfolio Amount” means the sum of (i) (x) initially, $200,000,000, (y) after the first to occur of (a) the Borrower waives its ability to reduce the Maximum Facility Amount pursuant to Section 2.07(b) and (b) March 31, 2019, the Maximum Facility Amount and (ii) the aggregate amount of all contributions by the Equityholder to the Borrower (other than contributions made to cure a Default or an Event of Default) less any principal distributions to the Equityholder other than Excluded Principal Distributions.
Measurement Date” means (a) the Closing Date, (b) each Borrowing Date, (c) each Monthly Report Determination Date, (d) each Payment Date Report Determination Date and (e) each other date reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent.
Mezzanine Obligations” means unsecured obligations that are contractually subordinated in right of payment to other debt of the same issuer.
Minimum Equity Amount” means, at any time, the product of (a) 10% and (b) the Maximum Facility Amount.
Minimum OC Coverage Test” means a test that shall be satisfied if the OC Ratio is equal to or greater than 100%.
Money” has the meaning specified in Section 1-201(24) of the UCC.
Monthly Report” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.07(a).
Monthly Report Determination Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.07(a).
Monthly Reporting Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.07(a).
Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., together with its successors.
Moody’s Industry Classification” means the industry classifications set forth in Schedule 4 hereto, as such industry classifications shall be updated at the option of the Servicer if Moody’s publishes revised industry classifications. The determination of which Moody’s Industry Classification to which an Obligor belongs shall be made in good faith by the Servicer.
Moody’s RiskCalc” has the meaning specified in Schedule 8 hereto.
Multiemployer Plan” means an employee pension benefit plan within the meaning of Section 4001 (a)(3) of ERISA that is sponsored by the Borrower or a member of its ERISA Group or to which the Borrower or a member of its ERISA Group is obligated to make contributions or has any liability.
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Note” means each promissory note, if any, issued by the Borrower to a Lender in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.04, substantially in the form of Exhibit A.
Notice of Borrowing” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.03(a).
Notice of Prepayment” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.06(a).
Obligations” means all indebtedness, whether absolute, fixed or contingent, at any time or from time to time owing by the Borrower to any Secured Party or any Affected Person under or in connection with this Agreement, the Notes or any other Facility Document, including all amounts payable by the Borrower in respect of the Advances, with interest thereon, and all other amounts payable hereunder or thereunder by the Borrower.
Obligor” means, in respect of any Collateral Loan, each Person obligated to pay Collections in respect of such Collateral Loan, including any applicable guarantors; provided that for purposes of determining the domicile of an Obligor for purposes of the definitions of Concentration Limitations and Eligible Collateral Loan, the term “Obligor” shall only include the Person in respect of which the Collateral Loan was principally underwritten.
OC Ratio” means, as of any Business Day,
(a) the Borrowing Base; divided by
(b) the sum of (x) the outstanding principal balance of the Facility and (y) the aggregate purchase price of all potential Collateral Loans for which the Borrower has entered into a binding commitment to purchase that have not yet settled.
OC Ratio Breach” means, on any Business Day, a failure of the Minimum OC Coverage Test.
OC Ratio Posting Payment” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.02.
OFAC” means the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control.
Other Connection Taxes” means, in the case of any Secured Party, any Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Secured Party and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such Secured Party having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced this Agreement, the Notes or any other Facility Document).
Other Taxes” means all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes that arise from any payment made under, from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to any Facility Document, except any such
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Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 13.03(h)).
Paid Senior Net Leverage Ratio” means, with respect to any Collateral Loan, the Senior Net Leverage Ratio multiplied by the purchase price of such Collateral Loan.
Partial PIK Loan” means a Collateral Loan that requires the Obligor to pay only a portion of the accrued and unpaid interest in Cash on a current basis, the remainder of which is or can be deferred and paid later; provided that (x) the portion of such interest required to be paid in Cash pursuant to the terms of the applicable Related Documents carries a current Cash pay interest rate paid at a fixed rate of not less than 3.5% per annum, (y) the terms of the applicable Related Documents do not permit the amount of current Cash pay interest to be less than 25% of the ordinary specified interest at any time and (z) the terms of the applicable Related Documents do not permit any accrued and unpaid interest to be deferred for more than 12 months or paid later than the date that is 12 months after the initial due date for such interest.
Participant” means any bank or other Person to whom a participation is sold as permitted by Section 13.06(c).
Participant Register” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 13.06(c)(ii).
PATRIOT Act” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 13.15.
Payment Account” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.03.
Payment Date” means the 20th day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with June 20, 2019; provided that, if any such day is not a Business Day, then such Payment Date shall be the next succeeding Business Day.
Payment Date Report” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.07(b).
Payment Date Report Determination Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.07(b).
PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, or any successor agency or entity performing substantially the same functions.
Percentage” of any Lender means, (a) with respect to any Lender party hereto on the date hereof, the percentage set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 1, as such amount is reduced by any Assignment and Acceptance entered into by such Lender with an assignee or increased by any Assignment and Acceptance entered into by such Lender with an assignor, or (b) with respect to a Lender that has become a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance, the percentage set forth therein as such Lender’s Percentage, as such amount is reduced by an Assignment and Acceptance entered into between such Lender and an assignee or increased by any Assignment and Acceptance entered into by such Lender with an assignor.
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Permitted Assignee” means (a) a Lender or any of its Affiliates or (b) any Person managed by a Lender or any of its Affiliates.
Permitted Currencies” means Pounds Sterling, Euro, Dollars and Canadian Dollars.
Permitted Distribution” means, on any Business Day, distributions of (x) Interest Proceeds so long as immediately after giving effect to such Permitted Distribution, sufficient Interest Proceeds remain to pay all amounts payable on the immediately following Payment Date pursuant to Section 9.01(a)(i) as determined by the Servicer in good faith and/or (y) prior to the last day of the Reinvestment Period, Principal Proceeds; provided that amounts may be distributed pursuant to this definition so long as (i) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing (or would occur after giving effect to such Permitted Distribution) and (ii) the OC Ratio would be at least 107.5% immediately after giving effect to such Permitted Distribution.
Permitted Liens” means any of the following: (a) Liens for Taxes if such Taxes shall not at the time be due and payable or if a Person shall currently be contesting the validity thereof in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which reserves in accordance with GAAP have been provided on the books of such Person; (b) Liens imposed by law, such as materialmen’s, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, carriers’, workmen’s and repairmen’s Liens and other similar Liens, arising by operation of law in the ordinary course of business for sums that are not overdue or are being contested in good faith; (c) Liens granted pursuant to or by the Facility Documents, (d) judgement Liens not constituting an Event of Default hereunder, (e) bankers’ Liens, rights of setoff and other similar Liens existing solely with respect to cash and cash equivalents on deposit in one or more accounts maintained by such Person, in each case granted in the ordinary course of business in favor of the bank or banks with which such accounts are maintained, securing amounts owing to such bank with respect to cash management, operating account arrangements and netting arrangements, (f) with respect to collateral underlying any Collateral Loan, the Lien in favor of the Borrower herein and Liens permitted under the underlying instruments related to such Collateral Loan, (g) as to any agented Collateral Loan, Liens in favor of the agent on behalf of all the lenders to the related obligor and (h) Liens of clearing agencies, broker-dealers and similar Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business, provided that such Liens (x) attach only to the securities (or proceeds) being purchased or sold and (y) secure only obligations incurred in connection with such purchase or sale, and not any obligation in connection with financing.
Permitted Offer” means a tender offer pursuant to the terms of which the offeror offers to acquire a debt obligation (including a Collateral Loan) in exchange for consideration consisting of (x) Cash in an amount equal to or greater than the full face amount of the debt obligation being exchanged plus any accrued and unpaid interest or (y) other debt obligations that rank pari passu or senior to the debt obligation being exchanged which have a face amount equal to or greater than the full face amount of the debt obligation being exchanged and are eligible to be Collateral Loans plus any accrued and unpaid interest in Cash.
Permitted RIC Distribution” means distributions to the Equityholder (from the Collection Account or otherwise) to the extent required to allow the Equityholdert to make
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sufficient distributions to qualify as a regulated investment company and to otherwise eliminate federal or state income or excise taxes payable by the Equityholder in or with respect to any taxable year of the Equityholder (or any calendar year, as relevant); provided that (A) the amount of any such payments made in or with respect to any such taxable year (or calendar year, as relevant) of the Equityholder shall not exceed 115% of the amounts that the Borrower would have been required to distribute to the Equityholder to: (i) allow the Borrower to satisfy the minimum distribution requirements that would be imposed by Section 852(a) of the Code (or any successor thereto) to maintain its eligibility to be taxed as a regulated investment company for any such taxable year, (ii) reduce to zero for any such taxable year the Borrower’s liability for federal income taxes imposed on (x) its investment company taxable income pursuant to Section 852(b)(1) of the Code (or any successor thereto) or (y) its net capital gain pursuant to Section 852(b)(3) of the Code (or any successor thereto), and (iii) reduce to zero the Borrower’s liability for federal excise taxes for any such calendar year imposed pursuant to Section 4982 of the Code (or any successor thereto), in the case of each of (i), (ii) or (iii), calculated assuming that the Borrower had qualified to be taxed as a regulated investment company under the Code, (B) after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the amount of Permitted RIC Distributions made in any calendar quarter shall not exceed U.S.$1,500,000 (or such greater amount consented to by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion) and (C) amounts may be distributed pursuant to this definition only to the extent of available Excess Interest Proceeds and/or Principal Proceeds and only so long as (x) the Coverage Tests are satisfied immediately prior to and immediately after giving effect to such Permitted RIC Distribution (unless otherwise consented to by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion), (y) the Borrower certifies the above in a RIC Distribution Notice to the Administrative Agent at least two (2) Business Days prior to the applicable distribution and (z) the Borrower provides at least two (2) Business Days’ prior written notice thereof to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Collateral Administrator.
Permitted Working Capital Lien” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “First Lien Loan”.
Person” means an individual or a corporation (including a business trust), partnership, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint stock company, limited liability company, government (or an agency or political subdivision thereof) or other entity of any kind.
PIK Loan” means a Collateral Loan (other than a Partial PIK Loan) that permits the Obligor thereon to defer or capitalize any portion of the accrued interest thereon.
Plan” means an employee pension benefit plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) which is covered by Title IV of ERISA or subject to the minimum funding standards under Section 412 of the Code that is sponsored by the Borrower or a member of its ERISA Group or to which the Borrower or a member of its ERISA Group is obligated to make contributions or has any liability.
Plan Asset Rule” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.01(m).
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Portfolio Advance Rate Adjustment” means, as of any date of determination, the highest applicable percentage set forth on the table below:
Diversity Score Advance Rate Adjustment
Less than 4
40  %
Greater than or equal to 4, but less than 7
60  %
Greater than or equal to 7, but less than 10
80  %
Greater than or equal to 10
100  %
Post-Default Rate” means a rate per annum equal to the rate of interest otherwise in effect pursuant to this Agreement (or, if no such rate is specified, the Base Rate) plus 2.00% per annum.
Potential Servicer Removal Event” means any event which, with the passage of time, the giving of notice, or both, would (if not cured or otherwise remedied during such time) constitute a Servicer Removal Event.
Pounds Sterling” and “” means the lawful currency of the United Kingdom.
Prime Rate” means the rate announced by BNP from time to time as its prime rate in the United States, such rate to change as and when such designated rate changes. The Prime Rate is not intended to be the lowest rate of interest charged by BNP in connection with extensions of credit to debtors.
Principal Balance” means, with respect to any loan, as of any date of determination, the outstanding principal amount of such loan, excluding any capitalized interest.
Principal Collection Subaccount” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.02(a).
Principal Proceeds” means, with respect to any Collection Period or the related Determination Date, all amounts received by the Borrower during such Collection Period that do not constitute Interest Proceeds, including unapplied proceeds of the Advances and any amounts received by the Borrower as equity contributions (howsoever designated).
Priority of Payments” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.01(a).
Private Authorizations” means all franchises, permits, licenses, approvals, consents and other authorizations of all Persons (other than Governmental Authorities).
Proceeds” has, with reference to any asset or property, the meaning assigned to it under Section 9-102(a)(64) of the UCC and, in any event, shall include any and all amounts from time to time paid or payable under or in connection with such asset or property.
QIB” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 13.06(e).
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Qualified Institution” means a depository institution or trust company organized under the laws of the United States of America or any one of the States thereof or the District of Columbia (or any domestic branch of a foreign bank), (a)(i) that has either (A) a long-term unsecured debt rating of “A” or better by S&P and “A2” or better by Moody’s or (B) a short-term unsecured debt rating or certificate of deposit rating of “A-1” or better by S&P or “P-1” or better by Moody’s, (ii) the parent corporation of which has either (A) a long-term unsecured debt rating of “A” or better by S&P and “A2” or better by Moody’s or (B) a short-term unsecured debt rating or certificate of deposit rating of “A-1” or better by S&P and “P-1” or better by Moody’s or (iii) is otherwise acceptable to the Administrative Agent and (b) the deposits of which are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
Qualified Purchaser” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 13.06(e).
Recipient” means the Administrative Agent, each Lender and each Secured Party.
Register” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 13.06(d).
Regulation T,” “Regulation U” and “Regulation X” mean Regulation T, U and X, respectively, of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as in effect from time to time.
Reinvestment Period” means the period from and including the Closing Date to and including the earlier of (a) the date that is the third anniversary of the Closing Date (or such later date as may be agreed by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and each Lender pursuant to Section 2.16) and (b) the date of the termination of the Commitments pursuant to Section 6.01.
Related Documents” means, with respect to any Collateral Loan, (i) the loan or credit agreement evidencing such Collateral Loan, (ii) the principal security agreement, and (iii) if the same can be obtained without undue expense or effort, all other documents evidencing, securing, guarantying, governing or giving rise to such Collateral Loan.
Relevant Test Period” means, with respect to any Collateral Loan, the relevant test period for the calculation of EBITDA, Cash Interest Coverage Ratio or Total Net Leverage Ratio, as applicable, for such Collateral Loan in the applicable Related Documents or, if no such period is provided for therein, for Obligors delivering monthly financial statements, each period of the last twelve consecutive reported calendar months, and for Obligors delivering quarterly financial statements, each period of the last four consecutive reported fiscal quarters of the principal Obligor on such Collateral Loan; provided that, with respect to any Collateral Loan for which the relevant test period is not provided for in the applicable Related Documents, if an Obligor is a newly-formed entity as to which twelve consecutive calendar months have not yet elapsed, “Relevant Test Period” shall initially include the period from the date of formation of such Obligor or closing date of the applicable Collateral Loan to the end of the twelfth calendar month or fourth fiscal quarter (as the case may be) from the date of formation or closing, as applicable, and shall subsequently include each period of the last twelve consecutive reported
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calendar months or four consecutive reported fiscal quarters (as the case may be) of such Obligor.
Replacement Servicer” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.01(c).
Requested Amount” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.03.
Required Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, the Administrative Agent and Lenders having aggregate Percentages greater than or equal to 66 2/3%; provided, however, that if any Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender at such time, then Advances owing to such Defaulting Lender and such Defaulting Lender’s unfunded Commitments shall be excluded from the determination of Required Lenders.
Responsible Officer” means (a) in the case of (i) a corporation or (ii) a partnership or limited liability company that, in each case, pursuant to its Constituent Documents, has officers, any chief executive officer, chief financial officer, chief administrative officer, managing director, president, senior vice president, vice president, assistant vice president, treasurer, director or manager, and, in any case where two Responsible Officers are acting on behalf of such entity, the second such Responsible Officer may be a secretary or assistant secretary (provided that a director or manager of the Borrower shall be a Responsible Officer regardless of whether its Constituent Documents provide for officers), (b) without limitation of clause (a)(ii), in the case of a limited partnership, the Responsible Officer of the general partner, acting on behalf of such general partner in its capacity as general partner, (c) without limitation of clause (a)(ii), in the case of a limited liability company, any Responsible Officer of the sole member or managing member, acting on behalf of the sole member or managing member in its capacity as sole member or managing member, (d) in the case of a trust, the Responsible Officer of the trustee, acting on behalf of such trustee in its capacity as trustee, (e) an “authorized signatory” or “authorized officer” that has been so authorized pursuant to customary corporate proceedings, limited partnership proceedings, limited liability company proceedings or trust proceedings, as the case may be, and that has responsibilities commensurate with the matter for which it is acting as a Responsible Officer: the initial “authorized signatories” of the parties hereto are set forth on Schedule 6 (as such Schedule 6 may be modified from time to time by written notice), and (f) in the case of the Custodian, the Securities Intermediary, the Collateral Agent or Administrative Agent, an officer of the Custodian, the Securities Intermediary, the Collateral Agent or Administrative Agent, as applicable, having direct responsibility for the administration of this Agreement.
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Retention Basis Amount” means the nominal value of all Collateral Loans held by the Borrower from time to time.
Revaluation Event” means, with respect to any Collateral Loan as of any date of determination, the occurrence of any one or more of the following events (any of which, for the avoidance of doubt, may occur more than once):
(a) (i) the trailing 12-month (or such lesser time if the most recent 12-month is not available) EBITDA (based on the most recently reported information of the related Obligor) of such Collateral Loan decreases by more than 25.0% from either (x) the trailing 12-month (or such lesser time if the most recent 12-month is not available) EBITDA of the Obligor measured for the period ending 12 months (or such lesser time elapsed from the closing date of such Collateral Loan) prior or (y) the trailing 12-month (or such lesser time if the most recent 12-month is not available) EBITDA calculated on the date the Borrower acquired such Collateral Loan or (ii) the Total Net Leverage Ratio for the current period of the related Obligor with respect to such Collateral Loan increases by more than 1.25x from the ratio calculated on the date the Borrower acquired such Collateral Loan;
(b) an Insolvency Event occurs with respect to the Obligor;
(c) an Obligor default in the payment of principal or interest on revolving loan facilities (giving effect to any applicable grace period under the Related Documents, but not to exceed five days) with respect to such Collateral Loan or any other debt obligation of such Obligor secured by the same collateral and which is senior or pari passu to such Collateral Loan or the occurrence of any other default with respect to such Collateral Loan, in each case, together with the election by any agent or lender (including the Borrower) to accelerate such Collateral Loan or to enforce any other respective secured creditor rights or remedies;
(d) the Servicer grades such Collateral Loan “5” or lower (or any equivalent rating) on its internal grading scale;
(e) the occurrence of a Material Modification with respect to such Collateral Loan that was not approved by the Administrative Agent (in its sole discretion); or
(f) the related Obligor fails to deliver to the Borrower or the Servicer any financial reporting information (i) as required by the Related Documents of such Collateral Loan (giving effect to any applicable grace period thereunder) and (ii) no less frequently than quarterly (subject to the delivery requirements of the Related Documents).
Revolving Collateral Loan” means any Collateral Loan (other than a Delayed Drawdown Collateral Loan) that is a loan (including revolving loans, funded and unfunded portions of revolving credit lines and letter of credit facilities, unfunded commitments under
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specific facilities and other similar loans and investments) that by its terms may require one or more future advances to be made to the related Obligor by the Borrower and which provides that such borrowed money may be repaid and re-borrowed from time to time; provided that any such Collateral Loan will be a Revolving Collateral Loan only until all commitments to make revolving advances to the Obligor expire or are terminated or irrevocably reduced to zero.
Revolving Exposure” means, at any time, the sum of the aggregate Unfunded Amount of each Collateral Loan (including each Ineligible Collateral Loan and each Defaulted Collateral Loan) at such time.
Revolving Reserve Account” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.04.
RIC Distribution Notice” means a written notice setting forth the calculation of the Borrower’s net taxable income (determined as if the Borrower were a domestic corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) and of any Permitted RIC Distribution and certifying that the Equityholder remains a “regulated investment company” under Subchapter M of the Code.
S&P” means S&P Global Ratings, a Standard & Poor’s Financial Services, LLC business.
S&P Industry Classification” means the industry classifications set forth in Schedule 2 hereto, as such industry classifications shall be updated at the option of the Servicer if S&P publishes revised industry classifications. The determination of which S&P Industry Classification to which an Obligor belongs shall be made in good faith by the Servicer.
Sale Settlement Condition” means, with respect to any binding commitment of the Borrower to sell a Collateral Loan, a condition that is beyond the control of the Borrower and/or the Servicer, as certified in writing by the Servicer to the Administrative Agent, which has resulted in the settlement of such sale not occurring within 30 days of the date of the Borrower entering into such binding commitment to sell.
Sale Settlement Pending Collateral” means, on any date of determination, Collateral Loans that the Borrower, within the immediately preceding 30 days (or if a Sale Settlement Condition applies, within the immediately preceding 45 days), has entered into a binding commitment to sell that has not settled.
Sanctioned Country” has the meaning given to such term in Section 4.01(r).
Sanctioned Person” has the meaning given to such term in Section 4.01(r).
Sanctions” means any economic or trade sanctions or restrictive measures enacted, administered, imposed or enforced by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or any EU member state, the French Republic, Her Majesty’s Treasury and/or any other relevant sanctions authority.
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Scheduled Distribution” means, with respect to any Collateral Loan, for each Due Date, the scheduled payment of principal and/or interest and/or fees due on such Due Date with respect to such Collateral Loan.
Scheduled Unavailability Date” has the meaning given to such term in Section 2.18(a)(ii).
Screen Rate” has the meaning assigned to it in the definition of “LIBOR.”
Second Lien BSL” means any Collateral Loan (for purposes of this definition, a “loan”) that meets the following criteria:
(a) is secured by a pledge of collateral which security interest is validly perfected and second priority (subject to liens permitted under the related underlying instruments that are reasonable and customary for similar Collateral Loans) under Applicable Law (other than a Collateral Loan that is second priority to a Permitted Working Capital Lien);
(b) the Servicer determines in good faith that the value of the collateral securing the Collateral Loan (including based on enterprise value) on or about the time of origination or acquisition by the Borrower equals or exceeds the outstanding principal balance of the Collateral Loan plus the aggregate outstanding balances of all other Collateral Loans of equal or higher seniority secured by the same collateral; and
(c) is a Broadly Syndicated Loan.
Secured Parties” means the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Custodian, each Lender, the Servicer (to the extent the Servicer has not been removed), Wells Fargo, in its capacity as Securities Intermediary under the Account Control Agreement, and, if applicable, the Replacement Servicer.
Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, all as from time to time in effect.
Securities Intermediary” shall mean Wells Fargo in its capacity as Securities Intermediary under the Account Control Agreement and any other entity as defined in Section 8-102(a)(14) of the UCC.
Securitisation Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2017/2402.
Security Entitlement” has the meaning specified in Section 8-102(a)(17) of the UCC.
Senior Net Leverage Ratio” means, with respect to any Collateral Loan for any Relevant Test Period, the meaning of “Senior Net Leverage Ratio” or any comparable term defined in the Related Documents for such Loan, and in any case that “Senior Net Leverage Ratio” or such comparable term is not defined in such Related Documents, the ratio of (a) total
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indebtedness (other than indebtedness of such Obligor that is junior in terms of lien subordination to indebtedness of such Obligor held by the Borrower) minus Unrestricted Cash and cash equivalents to (b) EBITDA as calculated by the Servicer in accordance with the Servicing Standard.
Servicer” means Blackstone/GSO Secured Lending Fund, in its capacity as servicer hereunder and any successor thereto in accordance herewith.
Servicer Expense Cap” means, for any Payment Date, an amount not to exceed $75,000 during any twelve (12) month period.
Servicer Expenses” means the out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Servicer in connection with the Facility Documents.
Servicer Fee” means, for any Collection Period, an amount equal to the product of (i) 0.35% per annum multiplied by (ii) the Fee Basis Amount (calculated on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed in the related Collection Period); provided that, the Servicer Fee is waived so long as Blackstone/GSO Secured Lending Fund is the Servicer.
Servicer Removal Event” means any one of the following events:
(a) except as set forth in another clause of this definition, the Servicer breaches in any material respect any covenant or agreement applicable to it under this Agreement or any other Facility Document to which it is a party (it being understood that failure to meet any Coverage Test or Concentration Limitation is not a breach under this subclause (a)), and, if capable of being cured, is not cured within 30 days of the earlier of (i) a Responsible Officer of the Servicer acquiring actual knowledge of such breach or (ii) its receiving written notice from either Agent of such breach;
(b) the occurrence and continuation of an Event of Default;
(c) an act by the Servicer, or any of its senior investment personnel actively involved in managing the portfolio of the Borrower, that constitutes fraud or criminal activity in the performance of its obligations under the Facility Documents or the Servicer or any of its senior investment personnel actively involved in managing the portfolio of the Borrower being indicted for a criminal offense materially related to its asset management business; provided that the Servicer will be deemed to have cured any event of cause pursuant to this clause (c) if the Servicer terminates or causes the termination of employment of all individuals who engaged in the conduct constituting cause pursuant to this clause (c) and makes the Borrower whole for any actual financial loss that such conduct caused the Borrower;
(d) the failure of any representation, warranty, or certification made or delivered by the Servicer in or pursuant to this Agreement or any other Facility Document to be correct when made that has a Material Adverse Effect on the Borrower or any Secured Party and is either incapable of being cured or is not cured within 30 days
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of the earlier of (i) a Responsible Officer of the Servicer acquiring actual knowledge of such breach or (ii) its receiving written notice from either Agent of such breach;
(e) the rendering of one or more final judgments, decrees or orders by a court or arbitrator of competent jurisdiction for the payment of money in excess individually or in the aggregate of $5,000,000, with respect to the Servicer (in each case, net of amounts covered by insurance), and the Servicer shall not have either (i) discharged or provided for the discharge of any such judgment, decree or order in accordance with its terms or (ii) perfected a timely appeal of such judgment, decree or order and caused the execution of same to be stayed during the pendency of the appeal, in each case, within sixty (60) days from the date of entry thereof;
(f) the Servicer shall have made payments to settle any litigation, claim or dispute totaling more than, in the aggregate, $5,000,000;
(g) an Insolvency Event relating to the Servicer occurs;
(h) Blackstone/GSO Secured Lending Fund, GSO Asset Management LLC or an Affiliate thereof ceases to be the Servicer;
(i) any failure by the Servicer to deliver any required reporting under the Facility Documents on or before the date occurring five (5) Business Days after the date such report is required to be made;
(j) any failure by the Servicer to deposit or credit, or to deliver for deposit, in the Covered Accounts any amount required hereunder to be so deposited, credited or delivered by it, or to make any distributions therefrom required by it, in each case on or before the date occurring three (3) Business Days after the date such deposit or distribution is required to be made by the Servicer; or
(k) a Change of Control occurs.
Servicer Removal Notice” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.01(b).
Servicing Standard” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.02(d).
Solvent” means, as to any Person, such Person is not “insolvent” within the meaning of Section 101(32) of the Bankruptcy Code or Section 271 of the Debtor and Creditor Law of the State of New York.
Specified Eligible Investment” means an Eligible Investment meeting the requirements of Section 8.06(a) and that is available to the Collateral Agent, specified by the Servicer to the Collateral Agent (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) on or prior to the initial Borrowing Date; provided that, so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and then be continuing, at any time with not less than five Business Days’ notice to the Collateral Agent (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) the Servicer may (and, if the then Specified
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Eligible Investment is no longer available to the Collateral Agent, shall) designate another Eligible Investment that meets the requirements of Section 8.06(a) and that is available to the Collateral Agent to be the Specified Eligible Investment for purposes hereof. After the occurrence and continuation of an Event of Default, a Specified Eligible Investment shall mean an Eligible Investment meeting the requirements of Section 8.06(a) and which has been selected by the Administrative Agent and specified to the Collateral Agent.
Structured Finance Obligation” means any debt obligation owing by a finance vehicle that is secured directly and primarily by, primarily referenced to, and/or primarily representing ownership of, a pool of receivables or a pool of other assets, including collateralized debt obligations, residential mortgage-backed securities, commercial mortgage-backed securities, other asset-backed securities, “future flow” receivable transactions and other similar obligations; provided that loans to financial service companies, factoring businesses, health care providers and other genuine operating businesses do not constitute Structured Finance Obligations.
Synthetic Security” means a security or swap transaction (excluding, for purposes of this Agreement, a participation interest) that has payments associated with either payments of interest and/or principal on a reference obligation or the credit performance of a reference obligation.
Taxes” means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding), assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.
Total Net Leverage Ratio” means, with respect to any Collateral Loan for any Relevant Test Period, the meaning of “Total Leverage Ratio,” “Total Net Leverage Ratio” or any comparable term relating to total indebtedness defined in the Related Documents for such Loan, and in any case that “Total Leverage Ratio,” “Total Net Leverage Ratio” or such comparable term is not defined in such Related Documents, the ratio of (a) total indebtedness secured by a lien at such time minus Unrestricted Cash and cash equivalents to (b) EBITDA as calculated by the Servicer in accordance with the Servicing Standard.
Trade Date” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 1.04(l).
Tranche A” means, at any time, all Tranche A Collateral Loans at such time.
Tranche A Advance” means each Advance allocated to Tranche A pursuant to, and in accordance with, this Agreement.
Tranche A Borrowing Base” means, at any time, an amount equal to the sum of (i) the amounts in the Principal Collection Subaccount, (ii) the product of (x) the Weighted Average Tranche A Advance Rate (excluding the portion of the Sale Settlement Pending Collateral allocable to Tranche A Collateral Loans from the calculation of the Weighted Average Tranche A Advance Rate) as of such date, (y) the Portfolio Advance Rate Adjustment as of such date and (z) the Aggregate Tranche A Net Collateral Balance as of such date (excluding the portion of the Sale Settlement Pending Collateral allocable to the Tranche A Collateral Loans
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from the calculation of the Aggregate Tranche A Net Collateral Balance) and (iii) the aggregate sale price (expressed in Dollars) of the portion of the Sale Settlement Pending Collateral allocable to Tranche A Collateral Loans.
Tranche A Collateral Loans” means, at any time, all First Lien BSLs that are Eligible Collateral Loans.
Tranche A Minimum OC Coverage Test” means a test that shall be satisfied if the Tranche A OC Ratio is equal to or greater than 100%.
Tranche A OC Ratio” means, as of any Business Day,
(l) the Tranche A Borrowing Base; divided by
(m) the sum of (x) the aggregate outstanding principal balance of the Tranche A Advances and (y) the aggregate purchase price of all potential Tranche A Collateral Loans for which the Borrower has entered into a binding commitment to purchase that have not yet settled.
Tranche B” means, at any time, all Tranche B Collateral Loans at such time.
Tranche B Advance” means each Advance allocated to Tranche B pursuant to, and in accordance with, this Agreement.
Tranche B Borrowing Base” means, at any time, an amount equal to the sum of (i) the amounts in the Principal Collection Subaccount, (ii) the product of (x) the Weighted Average Tranche B Advance Rate (excluding the portion of the Sale Settlement Pending Collateral allocable to Tranche B Collateral Loans from the calculation of the Weighted Average Tranche B Advance Rate) as of such date, (y) the Portfolio Advance Rate Adjustment as of such date and (z) the Aggregate Tranche B Net Collateral Balance as of such date (excluding the portion of the Sale Settlement Pending Collateral allocable to Tranche B Collateral Loans from the calculation of the Aggregate Tranche B Net Collateral Balance) and (iii) the aggregate sale price (expressed in Dollars) of the portion of the Sale Settlement Pending Collateral allocable to Tranche B Collateral Loans.
Tranche B Collateral Loans” means, at any time, all First Lien Middle Market Loans whose Obligors have an EBITDA of greater than $25,000,000 at origination that are Eligible Collateral Loans.
Tranche B Minimum OC Coverage Test” means a test that shall be satisfied if the Tranche B OC Ratio is equal to or greater than 100%.
Tranche B OC Ratio” means, as of any Business Day,
(n) the Tranche B Borrowing Base; divided by
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(o) the sum of (x) the aggregate outstanding principal balance of the Tranche B Advances and (y) the aggregate purchase price of all potential Tranche B Collateral Loans for which the Borrower has entered into a binding commitment to purchase that have not yet settled.
Tranche C” means, at any time, all Tranche C Collateral Loans at such time.
Tranche C Advance” means each Advance allocated to Tranche C pursuant to, and in accordance with, this Agreement.
Tranche C Borrowing Base” means, at any time, an amount equal to the sum of (i) the amounts in the Principal Collection Subaccount, (ii) the product of (x) the Weighted Average Tranche C Advance Rate (excluding the portion of the Sale Settlement Pending Collateral allocable to Tranche C Collateral Loans from the calculation of the Weighted Average Tranche C Advance Rate) as of such date, (y) the Portfolio Advance Rate Adjustment as of such date and (z) the Aggregate Tranche C Net Collateral Balance as of such date (excluding the portion of the Sale Settlement Pending Collateral allocable to Tranche C Collateral Loans from the calculation of the Aggregate Tranche C Net Collateral Balance) and (iii) the aggregate sale price (expressed in Dollars) of the portion of the Sale Settlement Pending Collateral allocable to Tranche C Collateral Loans.
Tranche C Collateral Loans” means, at any time, all First Lien Middle Market Loans whose Obligors have an EBITDA of less than or equal to $25,000,000 at origination, First Lien Last Out Loans and Second Lien Loans that are, in each case, Eligible Collateral Loans.
Tranche C Minimum OC Coverage Test” means a test that shall be satisfied if the Tranche C OC Ratio is equal to or greater than 100%.
Tranche C OC Ratio” means, as of any Business Day,
(p) the Tranche C Borrowing Base; divided by
(q) the sum of (x) the aggregate outstanding principal balance of the Tranche C Advances and (y) the aggregate purchase price of all potential Tranche C Collateral Loans for which the Borrower has entered into a binding commitment to purchase that have not yet settled.
Tranche Minimum OC Coverage Test” means the Tranche A Minimum OC Coverage Test, the Tranche B Minimum OC Coverage Test or the Tranche C Minimum OC Coverage Test, as applicable.
Tranches” means each of the Tranche A Advances, Tranche B Advances and the Tranche C Advances.
UCC” means the New York Uniform Commercial Code; provided that if, by reason of any mandatory provisions of law, the perfection, the effect of perfection or non-perfection or priority of the security interests granted to the Collateral Agent pursuant to this
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Agreement are governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in a jurisdiction of the United States of America other than the State of New York, then “UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in such other jurisdiction for purposes of such perfection, effect of perfection or non-perfection or priority.
Uncertificated Security” has the meaning specified in Section 8-102(a)(18) of the UCC.
Unfunded Amount” means, with respect to any Collateral Loan, as of any date of determination, the unfunded commitment of the Borrower with respect to such Collateral Loan as of such date.
Unrestricted Cash” has the meaning assigned to the term “Unrestricted Cash” or any comparable term defined in the Related Documents for each Collateral Loan, and in any case that “Unrestricted Cash” or such comparable term is not defined in such Related Documents, all cash available for use for general corporate purposes and not held in any reserve account or legally or contractually restricted for any particular purposes or subject to any lien (other than blanket liens permitted under or granted in accordance with such Related Documents).
U.S. Person” means any Person that is a “United States person” as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.
U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 13.03(g)(iii).
Volcker Rule” means Section 13 of the U.S. Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended, and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder.
Weighted Average Advance Rate” means, as of any date of determination with respect to all Eligible Collateral Loans included in the Aggregate Net Collateral Balance, the number obtained by (a) summing the products obtained by multiplying (i) the Advance Rate of each Eligible Collateral Loan by (ii) such Eligible Collateral Loan’s contribution to the Aggregate Net Collateral Balance and dividing (b) such sum by the Aggregate Net Collateral Balance.
Weighted Average Tranche A Advance Rate” means, as of any date of determination with respect to all Tranche A Collateral Loans included in the Aggregate Tranche A Net Collateral Balance, the number obtained by (a) summing the products obtained by multiplying (i) the Advance Rate of each Tranche A Collateral Loan by (ii) such Tranche A Collateral Loan’s contribution to the Aggregate Tranche A Net Collateral Balance and dividing (b) such sum by the Aggregate Tranche A Net Collateral Balance.
Weighted Average Tranche B Advance Rate” means, as of any date of determination with respect to all Tranche B Collateral Loans included in the Aggregate Tranche B Net Collateral Balance, the number obtained by (a) summing the products obtained by multiplying (i) the Advance Rate of each Tranche B Collateral Loan by (ii) such Tranche B
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Collateral Loan’s contribution to the Aggregate Tranche B Net Collateral Balance and dividing (b) such sum by the Aggregate Tranche B Net Collateral Balance.
Weighted Average Tranche C Advance Rate” means, as of any date of determination with respect to all Tranche C Collateral Loans included in the Aggregate Tranche C Net Collateral Balance, the number obtained by (a) summing the products obtained by multiplying (i) the Advance Rate of each Tranche C Collateral Loan by (ii) such Tranche C Collateral Loan’s contribution to the Aggregate Tranche C Net Collateral Balance and dividing (b) such sum by the Aggregate Tranche C Net Collateral Balance.
Withdrawal Liability” means liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.
Working Capital Revolver” means a revolving lending facility secured on a first lien basis solely by all or a portion of the current assets of the related obligor, which current assets subject to such security interest do not constitute a material portion of the obligor’s total assets (it being understood that such revolving lending facility may be secured on a junior lien basis by other assets of the related obligor).
Write-Down and Conversion Powers” means, with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time in relation to any Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described as such in relation to that Bail-in Legislation in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.
Zero Coupon Obligation” means a Collateral Loan that does not provide for periodic payments of interest in Cash or that pays interest only at its stated maturity.
SECTION 1.02. Rules of Construction. For all purposes of this Agreement and the other Facility Documents, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires, (a) singular words shall connote the plural as well as the singular and vice versa (except as indicated), as may be appropriate, (b) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import used in any Facility Document refer to such Facility Document as a whole and not to any particular article, schedule, section, paragraph, clause, exhibit or other subdivision thereof, (c) the headings, subheadings and table of contents set forth in any Facility Document are solely for convenience of reference and shall not constitute a part of such Facility Document nor shall they affect the meaning, construction or effect of any provision hereof, (d) references in any Facility Document to “include” or “including” shall mean include or including, as applicable, without limiting the generality of any description preceding such term, (e) any definition of or reference to any Facility Document, agreement, instrument or other document shall be construed as referring to such Facility Document, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, restatements, supplements or modifications set forth herein or any other Facility Document), (f) any reference in any Facility Document, including the introduction and recitals to such Facility Document, to
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any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns (subject to any restrictions set forth herein or in any other applicable agreement), (g) any reference to any law or regulation herein shall refer to such law or regulation as amended, modified, supplemented or replaced from time to time, (h) any Event of Default shall be continuing until expressly waived in writing by the requisite Lenders, (i) except as set forth herein, references herein to the knowledge or actual knowledge of a Person shall mean the actual knowledge following due inquiry of such Person, (j) except as otherwise expressly provided for in this Agreement, any use of “material” or “materially” or words of similar meaning in this Agreement shall mean material, as determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion and (k) unless otherwise expressly stated in this Agreement, if at any time any change in generally accepted accounting principles (including the adoption of IFRS) would affect the computation of any covenant (including the computation of any financial covenant) set forth in this Agreement or any other Facility Document, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall negotiate in good faith to amend such covenant to preserve the original intent in light of such change; provided, that, until so amended, (i) such covenant shall continue to be computed in accordance with the application of generally accepted accounting principles prior to such change and (ii) the Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent a written reconciliation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, between calculations of such covenant made before and after giving effect to such change in generally accepted accounting principles.
SECTION 1.03. Computation of Time Periods. Unless otherwise stated in the applicable Facility Document, in the computation of a period of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including,” the word “through” means “to and including” and the words “to” and “until” both mean “to but excluding.” Periods of days referred to in any Facility Document shall be counted in calendar days unless Business Days are expressly prescribed. Unless otherwise indicated herein, all references to time of day refer to Eastern standard time or Eastern daylight saving time, as in effect in New York City on such day.
SECTION 1.04. Collateral Value Calculation Procedures. In connection with all calculations required to be made pursuant to this Agreement with respect to Scheduled Distributions on any Collateral Loan, or any payments on any other assets included in the Collateral, with respect to the sale of and reinvestment in Collateral Loans, and with respect to the income that can be earned on Scheduled Distributions on such Collateral Loans and on any other amounts that may be received for deposit in the Collection Account, the provisions set forth in this Section 1.04 shall be applied. The provisions of this Section 1.04 shall be applicable to any determination or calculation that is covered by this Section 1.04, whether or not reference is specifically made to Section 1.04, unless some other method of calculation or determination is expressly specified in the particular provision.
(a) All calculations with respect to Scheduled Distributions on any Collateral Loan shall be made on the basis of information as to the terms of each such Collateral Loan and upon reports of payments, if any, received on such Collateral Loan that are furnished by or on behalf of the Obligor of such Collateral Loan and, to the extent they are not manifestly in error, such information or reports may be conclusively relied upon in making such calculations.
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(b) For purposes of calculating the Coverage Tests, except as otherwise specified in the Coverage Tests, such calculations will not include (i) scheduled interest and principal payments on Defaulted Collateral Loans and Ineligible Collateral Loans unless or until such payments are actually made or such payments are determined likely to be received by the Servicer pursuant to the definition of Collateral Interest Amount and (ii) ticking fees and other similar fees in respect of Collateral Loans, unless or until such fees are actually paid.
(c) For each Collection Period and as of any date of determination, the Scheduled Distribution on any Collateral Loan (other than a Defaulted Collateral Loan or an Ineligible Collateral Loan, which, unless such payments are determined likely to be received by the Servicer pursuant to the definition of Collateral Interest Amount and except as otherwise provided herein, shall be assumed to have Scheduled Distributions of zero) shall be the total amount of (i) payments and collections to be received during such Collection Period in respect of such Collateral Loan, (ii) proceeds of the sale of such Collateral Loan received and, in the case of sales which have not yet settled, to be received during such Collection Period that are not reinvested in additional Collateral Loans or retained in a Collection Account for subsequent reinvestment pursuant to Article X, which proceeds, if received as scheduled, will be available in a Collection Account and available for distribution at the end of such Collection Period and (iii) amounts referred to in clause (i) or (ii) above that were received in prior Collection Periods but were not disbursed on a previous Payment Date or retained in a Collection Account for subsequent reinvestment pursuant to Article X.
(d) Each Scheduled Distribution receivable with respect to a Collateral Loan shall be assumed to be received on the applicable Due Date.
(e) References in the Priority of Payments to calculations made on a “pro forma basis” shall mean such calculations after giving effect to all payments, in accordance with the Priority of Payments, that precede (in priority of payment) or include the clause in which such calculation is made.
(f) For purposes of calculating all Concentration Limitations, in both the numerator and the denominator of any component of the Concentration Limitations, Ineligible Collateral Loans will be treated as having a Principal Balance equal to zero.
(g) Determinations of the Collateral Loans, or portions thereof, that constitute Excess Concentration Amounts will be determined in the way that produces the highest Borrowing Base at the time of determination, it being understood that a Collateral Loan (or portion thereof) that falls into more than one category of Collateral Loans will be deemed, solely for purposes of such determinations, to fall only into the category that produces the highest such Borrowing Base at such time (without duplication).
(h) All calculations required to be made hereunder with respect to the Collateral Loans and the Borrowing Base shall be made on a trade date basis and after giving effect to (x) all purchases or sales to be entered into on such trade date and (y) all Advances requested to be made on such trade date plus the balance of all unfunded Advances to be made in
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connection with the Borrower’s purchase of previously requested (and approved) Collateral Loans.
(i) [Reserved.]
(j) References in this Agreement to the Borrower’s “purchase” or “acquisition” of a Collateral Loan include references to the Borrower’s acquisition of such Collateral Loan by way of a sale and/or contribution from the Equityholder and the Borrower’s making or origination of such Collateral Loan. Portions of the same Collateral Loan acquired by the Borrower on different dates (whether through purchase, receipt by contribution or the making or origination thereof, but excluding subsequent draws under Revolving Collateral Loans or Delayed Drawdown Collateral Loans) will, for purposes of determining the purchase price of such Collateral Loan, be treated as separate purchases on separate dates (and not a weighted average purchase price for any particular Collateral Loan).
(k) For the purposes of calculating compliance with each of the Concentration Limitations all calculations will be rounded to the nearest 0.01%.
(l) For purposes of calculating compliance with any test under this Agreement in connection with the acquisition or disposition of a Collateral Loan or Eligible Investment, the trade date (the “Trade Date”) (and not the settlement date) with respect to any such Collateral Loan or Eligible Investment under consideration for acquisition or disposition shall be used to determine whether such acquisition or disposition is permitted hereunder.
ARTICLE II 
ADVANCES
SECTION 2.01. Revolving Credit Facility. On the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth, including Article III, each Lender severally agrees to make available to the Borrower an uncommitted revolving credit facility providing for Advances under each Tranche from time to time in Dollars on any Business Day during the Reinvestment Period (or immediately thereafter pursuant to Section 8.04), on a pro rata basis in each case in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding up to but not exceeding such Lender’s Commitment and, as to all Lenders, in an aggregate principal amount up to but not exceeding the Maximum Available Amount as then in effect; provided that, after making any such Advance, each Tranche’s Tranche Minimum OC Coverage Test shall be satisfied.
Within such limits and subject to the other terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Borrower may borrow (and re-borrow) Advances under this Section 2.01 and prepay Advances under Section 2.06. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the parties hereto acknowledge that this is an uncommitted facility and there is no express or implied commitment on the part of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to provide any Advance except that, in the case of Collateral Loans approved by means of an Approval Request or Approved List, the Lenders shall have committed to fund the related Advances (up to
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the amount(s) specified in the related Approval Request or Approved List) provided that the related conditions precedent set forth in Article III are satisfied.
SECTION 2.02. Requests for Collateral Loan Approval. (a)  Prior to the Closing Date, the Servicer, on behalf of the Borrower, shall provide to the Administrative Agent (with a copy to the Borrower) a list of Collateral Loans (the “Asset List”) that the Borrower is requesting be included in the Approved List (as defined below) and which, subject to such inclusion, may be purchased with, if applicable, funds held in the Principal Collection Subaccount, the proceeds of Advances or Principal Proceeds pursuant to Section 10.02. The Borrower (or the Servicer on its behalf) and the Administrative Agent shall adhere to the following procedures in requesting and approving Collateral Loans for purchase:
(i) For each Collateral Loan on the Asset List sent to the Administrative Agent or for any single Approval Request pursuant to clause (vii) below, the Borrower (or the Servicer on its behalf) may provide a notice by electronic mail that contains the information listed in Exhibit I with respect to each Collateral Loan (which information shall include the amount of the Advance to be requested in order to settle the related purchase) (together with any attachments required in connection therewith, an “Approval Request”).
(ii) The initial Asset List which the Administrative Agent has approved for purchase by the Borrower is attached hereto as Schedule 9 (such list, the “Approved List”), which Approved List may be updated from time to time after the Closing Date by the Borrower with the consent of the Administrative Agent.
(iii) From the time the Administrative Agent has provided the Approved List, the Borrower shall have the ability to commit to purchase and purchase any Collateral Loan on the Approved List without further approval by the Administrative Agent only if the Borrower commits to purchase such Collateral Loan within ten (10) Business Days of approval by the Administrative Agent. On the date occurring ten (10) Business Days after the date of approval by the Administrative Agent, any approved Collateral Loan, if not purchased or committed to be purchased by the Borrower, will be deemed to be removed from the Approved List.
(iv) The Borrower shall have the ability to request (A) an addition to the Approved List by undertaking similar procedure to clause (vii) below, or (B) a removal from the Approved List.
(v) The Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, may rescind its approval for any Collateral Loan on the Approved List at any time by notice to the Servicer in writing; provided, that such rescission of approval shall not invalidate any commitment to purchase a Collateral Loan entered into by the Borrower (or the Servicer on its behalf), prior to the delivery of such rescission.
(vi) As early as commercially practicable, but no later than 12:00 p.m. New York City time on the Business Day following the day that the Borrower (or the Servicer
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on its behalf) purchases a Collateral Loan on the Approved List, the Borrower (or the Servicer on its behalf) shall provide by electronic mail to the Administrative Agent (with a copy to the Borrower and the Custodian) a copy of the Collateral Loan Buy Confirmation.
(vii) With respect to Collateral Loans that are not on the Approved List, the Borrower (or the Servicer on behalf of the Borrower) may send an Approval Request at any time to the Administrative Agent. If the Administrative Agent receives an Approval Request by 12:00 p.m. New York City time on any Business Day, the Administrative Agent shall use commercially reasonable efforts to notify the Servicer and Borrower in writing (including via electronic mail) whether it has approved or rejected such Approval Request by 12:00 p.m. New York City time on or prior to the second Business Day thereafter (it being understood, for the avoidance of doubt, that any Approval Request received by the Administrative Agent after 12:00 p.m. New York City time on any Business Day shall be deemed to have been received on the following Business Day); provided further that the Borrower shall have the ability to commit to purchase any Collateral Loan approved and added to the Approved List pursuant to this clause (vii) without further approval by the Administrative Agent only if the Borrower commits to purchase such Collateral Loan within ten (10) Business Days from the date of such approval by the Administrative Agent. On the date occurring ten (10) Business Days after the date of such approval by the Administrative Agent, any such approved Collateral Loan, if not purchased or committed to be purchased by the Borrower, will be deemed to be removed from the Approved List.
(viii) [Reserved.]
(ix) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Administrative Agent shall have the right, acting in its sole and absolute discretion, to (A) approve or reject any Approval Request or Approved List, (B) determine which Collateral Loans are included in the Approved List, and (C) request additional information reasonably available to the Borrower regarding any proposed Collateral Loan; provided that any rescission of approval shall not invalidate any commitment to purchase a Collateral Loan entered into by the Borrower (or the Servicer on its behalf) prior to the delivery of such rescission, in which case, such Collateral Loan shall be deemed to remain approved until settlement of such purchase.
SECTION 2.03. Making of the Advances. (a)   If the Borrower desires to make a Borrowing under this Agreement with respect to any Tranche to purchase a Collateral Loan for which the Approval Request has been approved or which has been identified on the Approved List pursuant to Section 2.02 or to fund the Macomb Merger, it shall give the Collateral Agent and the Administrative Agent (with a copy to each Lender) a written notice (each, a “Notice of Borrowing”) for such Borrowing (which notice shall be irrevocable and effective upon receipt) not later than 2:00 p.m. at least one (1) Business Day prior to the day of the requested Borrowing.
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Each Notice of Borrowing shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit B, dated the date the request for the related Borrowing is being made, signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower or the Servicer, as applicable, shall attach a Borrowing Base Calculation Statement (which Borrowing Base Calculation Statement shall give pro forma effect to any Collateral Loans being acquired with the proceeds of such Borrowing on such date or the following Business Day), and shall otherwise be appropriately completed. In addition, the Servicer must provide to the Administrative Agent for each Collateral Loan that is not a Broadly Syndicated Loan copies of the Asset Information related to such Collateral Loan and such additional materials related to such Collateral Loan as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent. Each Notice of Borrowing shall specify the Tranches under which the related Borrowing shall be allocated. The proposed Borrowing Date specified in each Notice of Borrowing shall be a Business Day falling on or prior to the Commitment Termination Date, the currency of the Borrowing requested shall be Dollars and the amount of the Borrowing requested in such Notice of Borrowing (the “Requested Amount”) shall be equal to at least $500,000 or an integral multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof (or, if less, the remaining unfunded Commitments hereunder or, in the case of Revolving Collateral Loans and Delayed Drawdown Collateral Loans, such lesser amount required to be funded by the Borrower in respect thereof).
(a) Each Lender shall, not later than 2:00 p.m. on each Borrowing Date in respect of Advances under any Tranche, make its Percentage of the applicable Requested Amount available to the Borrower by disbursing such funds in Dollars to the applicable Principal Collection Subaccount (or in accordance with the wire instructions delivered in connection with the Notice of Borrowing).
(b) [Reserved.].
(c) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.03 to the contrary, the Servicer, on behalf of the Borrower, may deliver a Notice of Borrowing to the Collateral Agent and the Administrative Agent (with a copy to each Lender) after 2 p.m. on the first Business Day prior to the proposed Borrowing and prior to 11 a.m. on the date of the proposed Borrowing. (an “Expedited Notice of Borrowing”). Upon receipt of an Expedited Notice of Borrowing, the Lenders shall use commercially reasonable efforts to make such Advance on the proposed funding date set forth in the Expedited Notice of Borrowing subject to the terms and conditions for borrowings otherwise set forth in this Agreement; provided, that if the Lenders are unable to make an Advance pursuant to an Expedited Notice of Borrowing due to the occurrence of a force majeure, or any other unexpected and unforeseen event, including, without limitation, market disruptions, the Lenders shall make such Advance subject to the terms and conditions for Advances otherwise set forth in this Agreement as soon as they are reasonably able to do so.
SECTION 2.04. Evidence of Indebtedness. (a)  Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrower to it and resulting from the Advances made by such Lender to the Borrower, from time to time, including the amounts and currencies of principal and interest thereon and paid to it, from time to time hereunder; provided that the failure of any Lender to maintain such accounts or
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any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay the Advances in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
(a) Any Lender may request that its Advances to the Borrower be evidenced by a Note. In such event, the Borrower shall promptly prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender a Note payable to such Lender and otherwise appropriately completed. Thereafter, the Advances of such Lender evidenced by such Note and interest thereon shall at all times (including after any assignment pursuant to Section 13.06(a)) be represented by a Note payable to such Lender (or registered assigns pursuant to Section 13.06(a)), except to the extent that such Lender (or assignee) subsequently returns any such Note for cancellation and requests that such Advances once again be evidenced as described in clause (a) of this Section 2.04.
SECTION 2.05. Payment of Principal and Interest. The Borrower shall pay principal and Interest on the Advances as follows:
(a) 100% of the outstanding principal amount of each Advance, together with all accrued and unpaid Interest thereon, shall be payable on the Final Maturity Date.
(b) Interest shall accrue on the unpaid principal amount of each Advance from the date of such Advance until such principal amount is paid in full. The Administrative Agent shall determine the unpaid Interest and Commitment Fees payable thereto prior to each Payment Date using the applicable Interest Rate for the related Interest Accrual Period to be paid by the Borrower on each Payment Date for the related Interest Accrual Period and shall advise each Lender, the Collateral Agent and the Servicer thereof and shall send a consolidated invoice of all such Interest and Commitment Fees to the Borrower on the third (3rd) Business Day prior to such Payment Date.
(c) Accrued Interest shall be payable in arrears (i) on each Payment Date, and (ii) in connection with any prepayment of the Advances pursuant to Section 2.06(a); provided that (x) with respect to any prepayment in full of the Advances outstanding, accrued Interest on such amount through the date of prepayment may be payable on such date or as otherwise agreed to between the Lenders and the Borrower and (y) with respect to any partial prepayment of the Advances outstanding, accrued Interest on such amount through the date of prepayment shall be payable on the Payment Date following such prepayment (or on such date of prepayment if requested by the Administrative Agent).
(d) The obligation of the Borrower to pay the Obligations, including the obligation of the Borrower to pay the Lenders the outstanding principal amount of the Advances and accrued interest thereon, shall be absolute and unconditional, and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms hereof (including Section 2.15), under any and all circumstances and irrespective of any setoff, counterclaim or defense to payment which the Borrower or any other Person may have or have had against any Secured Party or any other Person except as otherwise provided under the Facility Documents.
SECTION 2.06. Prepayment of Advances.
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(a) Optional Prepayments. The Borrower may, from time to time on any Business Day, voluntarily prepay Advances under each Tranche in whole or in part, without penalty or premium; provided that the Borrower shall have delivered to the Collateral Agent, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent written notice of such prepayment (such notice, a “Notice of Prepayment”) in the form of Exhibit C not later than 2:00 p.m. two (2) Business Days prior to the date of such prepayment. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Lenders of such Notice of Prepayment. Each such Notice of Prepayment shall specify the portion of the outstanding principal balance under each Tranche that shall be prepaid and be irrevocable and effective upon receipt and shall be dated the date such notice is being given, signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower and otherwise appropriately completed. Each prepayment of any Advance by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.06(a) shall in each case be in a principal amount of at least $500,000 or, if less, the entire outstanding principal amount of the Advances of the Borrower. If a Notice of Prepayment is given by the Borrower, the Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein.
(b) Mandatory Prepayments. The Borrower shall prepay the Advances on each Payment Date in the manner and to the extent provided in the Priority of Payments.
(c) Additional Prepayment Provisions. Each prepayment pursuant to this Section 2.06 shall be subject to Sections 2.05(c) and 2.11 and applied to the Advances in accordance with the Lenders’ respective Percentages.
(d) Re-designation of Tranche Advances. The Administrative Agent shall be permitted at any time, upon written notice to the Borrower, each Lender and the Collateral Agent, to re-allocate the aggregate outstanding principal balance under each Tranche so long as after giving effect to such re-allocation, each Tranche’s Tranche Minimum OC Coverage Test is satisfied or, if not satisfied, improved.
SECTION 2.07. Changes of Commitments.
(a) Automatic Reduction and Termination. Subject to the provisions of Section 8.04, the Commitments of all Lenders shall be automatically reduced to zero at 5:00 p.m. on the Commitment Termination Date.
(b) Optional Reductions. Prior to the first anniversary of the Closing Date, the Borrower shall have the right to terminate or reduce the unused amount of the Facility Amount at any time or from time to time concurrently with the payment of any applicable Commitment Reduction Fee payable in connection therewith upon not less than two (2) Business Days’ prior notice to the Collateral Agent, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent of each such termination or reduction, which notice shall specify the effective date of such termination or reduction and the amount of any such reduction; provided that (i) the amount of any such reduction of the Facility Amount shall be equal to at least $500,000 or an integral multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof or, if less, the remaining unused portion thereof, and (ii) no such reduction will reduce the Facility Amount below the sum of (x) the aggregate principal amount of Advances outstanding at such time and (y) the Revolving Exposure at such time. Such notice
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of termination or reduction shall be irrevocable and effective only upon receipt and shall be applied pro rata to reduce the respective Commitments of each Lender. Except as otherwise set forth herein, upon the occurrence of the Collection Date, this Agreement shall terminate automatically.
(c) Effect of Termination or Reduction. The Commitments of the Lenders once terminated or reduced may not be reinstated. Each reduction of the Facility Amount pursuant to this Section 2.07 shall be applied ratably among the Lenders in accordance with their respective Commitments.
SECTION 2.08. Maximum Lawful Rate. It is the intention of the parties hereto that the interest on the Advances shall not exceed the maximum rate permissible under Applicable Law. Accordingly, anything herein or in any Note to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event any interest is charged to, collected from or received from or on behalf of the Borrower by the Lenders pursuant hereto or thereto in excess of such maximum lawful rate, then the excess of such payment over that maximum shall be applied first to the payment of amounts then due and owing by the Borrower to the Secured Parties under this Agreement (other than in respect of principal of and interest on the Advances) and then to the reduction of the outstanding principal amount of the Advances of the Borrower.
SECTION 2.09. Several Obligations. The failure of any Lender to make any Advance to be made by it on the date specified therefor shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligation to make its Advance on such date. Neither Agent shall be responsible for the failure of any Lender to make any Advance, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make an Advance required to be made by such other Lender.
SECTION 2.10. Increased Costs.
(a) Increased Costs Generally. If any Change in Law shall:
(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, compulsory loan, insurance charge, special deposit or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for account of, or credit extended by, any Affected Person;
(ii) subject any Affected Person to any Taxes (other than (A) Indemnified Taxes, (B) Taxes described in clauses (b) through (d) of the definition of Excluded Taxes and (C) Connection Income Taxes) on its loans, loan principal, letters of credit, commitments, or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto; or
(iii) impose on any Affected Person or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense, affecting this Agreement or Advances made by such Affected Person by reference to LIBOR or any participation therein;
and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Affected Person of making, continuing, converting into or maintaining any Advance made by reference to LIBOR
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(or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Advance) or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Affected Person hereunder (whether of principal, interest or otherwise), then the Borrower will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Affected Person for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered as specified in a certificate delivered to the Borrower pursuant to clause (c) of this Section 2.10.
(b) Capital Requirements. If any Affected Person determines that any Change in Law regarding capital or liquidity requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Affected Person’s capital or on the capital of such Affected Person’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement or the Advances made by such Affected Person to a level below that which such Affected Person or such Affected Person’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Affected Person’s policies and the policies of such Affected Person’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy and liquidity coverage), by an amount deemed to be material by such Affected Person, then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Affected Person in Dollars, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Affected Person or such Affected Person’s holding company for any such reduction suffered or charge imposed; provided that the amounts payable under this Section 2.10(b) shall be without duplication of amounts payable under Section 13.03 and shall not include any Excluded Taxes.
(c) Certificates from Lenders. A certificate of an Affected Person setting forth in reasonable detail the basis for such demand and the amount or amounts, in Dollars, necessary to compensate such Affected Person or its holding company as specified in clause (a) or (b) of this Section 2.10 shall be promptly delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such amount shown as due on any such certificate on the next Payment Date after receipt thereof.
(d) Delay in Requests. Failure or delay on the part of any Affected Person to demand compensation pursuant to this Section 2.10 shall not constitute a waiver of such Affected Person’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate an Affected Person pursuant to this Section 2.10 for any costs, reductions, penalties or interest incurred more than nine months prior to the date that such Affected Person notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to any increased costs or reductions and of such Affected Person’s intention to claim compensation therefor; provided, further, that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the nine-month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.
(e) Lending Office. Upon the occurrence of any event giving rise to the Borrower’s obligation to pay additional amounts to a Lender pursuant to clauses (a) or (b) of this Section 2.10, such Lender will, if requested by the Borrower, use reasonable efforts (subject to overall policy considerations of such Lender) to designate a different lending office if such designation would reduce or obviate the obligations of the Borrower to make future payments of such additional amounts; provided that such designation is made on such terms that such Lender and its lending office suffer no unreimbursed cost or material legal or regulatory disadvantage
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(as reasonably determined by such Lender), with the object of avoiding future consequence of the event giving rise to the operation of any such provision.
SECTION 2.11. Compensation; Breakage Payments. The Borrower agrees to compensate each Affected Person from time to time, on the Payment Date (or on the applicable date of prepayment) immediately following such Affected Person’s written request (which request shall set forth the basis for requesting such amounts) in accordance with the Priority of Payments, for all reasonable and documented actual losses, expenses and liabilities (including any interest paid by such Affected Person to lenders of funds borrowed to make or carry an Advance bearing interest that was computed by reference to LIBOR and any loss sustained by such Affected Person in connection with the re-employment of such funds but excluding loss of anticipated profits), which such Affected Person may sustain: (i) if for any reason (including any failure of a condition precedent set forth in Article III but excluding a default by the applicable Lender) a Borrowing of any Advance bearing interest that was computed by reference to LIBOR by the Borrower does not occur on the Borrowing Date specified therefor in the applicable Notice of Borrowing delivered by the Borrower, and (ii) if any payment or prepayment of any Advance bearing interest that was computed by reference to LIBOR is not made on a Payment Date or pursuant to a Notice of Prepayment given by the Borrower. A certificate as to any amounts payable pursuant to this Section 2.11 submitted to the Borrower by any Lender (with a copy to the Agents, and accompanied by a reasonably detailed calculation of such amounts and a description of the basis for requesting such amounts) shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error.
SECTION 2.12. Illegality; Inability to Determine Rates. If, prior to the first day of any Interest Accrual Period or prior to the date of any Advance, as applicable, the Administrative Agent determines that for any reason adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining LIBOR for the applicable Advances, the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Borrower, the Collateral Agent and each Lender; provided that each such Lender has made a similar determination with respect to similarly situated borrowers in similar facilities. Thereafter, the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Advances shall be suspended until the Administrative Agent (upon the instruction of the Required Lenders) revokes such notice.
SECTION 2.13. Rescission or Return of Payment. The Borrower agrees that, if at any time (including after the occurrence of the Final Maturity Date) all or any part of any payment theretofore made by it to any Secured Party or any designee of a Secured Party is or must be rescinded or returned for any reason whatsoever (including the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Borrower or any of its Affiliates), the obligation of the Borrower to make such payment to such Secured Party shall, for the purposes of this Agreement, to the extent that such payment is or must be rescinded or returned, be deemed to have continued in existence and this Agreement and any other applicable Facility Document shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, as to such obligations, all as though such payment had not been made.
SECTION 2.14. Post-Default Interest. The Borrower shall pay interest on all Obligations (other than any Administrative Expenses) that are not paid when due for the period
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from the due date thereof until the date the same is paid in full at the Post-Default Rate. Interest payable at the Post-Default Rate shall be payable on each Payment Date in accordance with the Priority of Payments.
SECTION 2.15. Payments Generally. (a)  All amounts owing and payable to any Secured Party, any Affected Person or any Indemnified Party, in respect of the Advances and other Obligations, including the principal thereof, interest, fees, indemnities, expenses or other amounts payable under this Agreement or any other Facility Document, shall be paid by the Borrower to the applicable recipient in Dollars, in immediately available funds, in accordance with the Priority of Payments, and all without counterclaim, setoff, deduction, defense, abatement, suspension or deferment. Each Lender shall provide wire instructions to the Borrower and the Collateral Agent. All payments made by the Collateral Agent pursuant to a Payment Date Report on any Payment Date shall be wired by the Collateral Agent by 2:00 p.m. on such Payment Date. Prepayments to be made pursuant to Section 2.06 for which the Collateral Agent has received a Notice of Prepayment two (2) Business Days prior to the scheduled date of prepayment shall be wired by the Collateral Agent by 2:00 p.m. on such date. All other payments by the Borrower must be received by the Collateral Agent on or prior to 3:00 p.m. on a Business Day (the Collateral Agent shall then wire such funds to the Lenders by 5:00 p.m. on such Business Day); provided that, payments received by the Collateral Agent after 3:00 p.m. or payments received by the Lenders after 5:00 p.m. on a Business Day will be deemed to have been paid on the next following Business Day. For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of Section 6.01, amounts paid by the Borrower shall be deemed received upon payment by the Borrower to the Collateral Agent. At no time will the Collateral Agent have any duty (express or implied) to fund (or front or advance) any amount owing by the Borrower hereunder.
(a) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all computations of interest, fees and other Obligations shall be made on the basis of a year of 360 days for the actual number of days elapsed in computing interest on any Advance, the date of the making of the Advance shall be included and the date of payment shall be excluded; provided that, if an Advance is repaid on the same day on which it is made, one day’s Interest shall be paid on such Advance. All computations made by the Collateral Agent or the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Facility Document shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
SECTION 2.16. Extension of Commitment Termination Date. The Borrower shall have an option to extend the Commitment Termination Date one time, not longer than one year, subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:
(a) each of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent consent to the extension in their sole discretion (written notice of such consent to be delivered to Borrower together with the requested extension fee (if applicable) no later than thirty (30) days following receipt of the Extension Request delivered pursuant to clause (e) below; provided that if the Borrower fails to receive such consent from the Administrative Agent or any Lender within such thirty-day period, the Administrative Agent and such Lender, as applicable, shall be deemed to have denied such Extension Request);
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(b) as of the effective date of such extension, the representations and warranties of the Borrower, the Equityholder and the Servicer set forth herein and in the other Facility Documents are true and correct in all material respects with the same force and effect as if made on and as of such date (except to the extent that such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date); provided that if a representation or warranty is qualified as to materiality, with respect to such representation or warranty, the foregoing materiality qualifier shall be disregarded for the purposes of this condition;
(c) the Borrower shall have paid an extension fee to the Administrative Agent, for the account of each Lender, in an amount to be mutually agreed upon by the Borrower and such Lender;
(d) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date on which notice is given in accordance with the following clause (e) or on the Commitment Termination Date then in effect; and
(e) the Borrower shall have delivered an Extension Request with respect to the Commitment Termination Date to Administrative Agent not earlier than one year after the Closing Date and not later than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the Commitment Termination Date then in effect (which shall be promptly forwarded by Administrative Agent to each Lender).
SECTION 2.17. Defaulting Lenders. (a)  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then, until such time as that Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law:
(i) That Defaulting Lender’s right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent with respect to this Agreement shall be restricted as set forth in Section 13.01(d).
(ii) Any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of that Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, or otherwise), shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows: first, to the payment of any amounts owing by that Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second, as the Borrower may request (so long as no Event of Default or Default exists), to the funding of any Advance in respect of which that Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent; third, if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to be held as cash collateral for future funding obligations of that Defaulting Lender to fund Advances under this Agreement; fourth, to the payment of any amounts owing to other Lenders as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender against that Defaulting Lender as a result of that Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; fifth, so long as no Event of Default or Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower as a result of any judgment of a
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court of competent jurisdiction obtained by such Borrower against that Defaulting Lender as a result of that Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and sixth, to that Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Advances in respect of which that Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Advances of all non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Advances of that Defaulting Lender. Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender or to post cash collateral pursuant to this Section 2.17 shall be deemed paid to and redirected by that Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.
(iii) For any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender, that Defaulting Lender shall not be entitled to receive any Commitment Fee for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender (and the Borrower shall not be required to pay any such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to such Defaulting Lender).
(b) If the Administrative Agent and the Borrower agree that a Defaulting Lender should no longer be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Agent will so notify the parties hereto, whereupon as of the effective date specified in such notice and subject to any conditions set forth therein (which may include arrangements with respect to any cash collateral), that Lender will, to the extent applicable, purchase that portion of outstanding Advances of the other Lenders or take such other actions as the Administrative Agent may determine to be necessary to cause the Advances to be held on a pro rata basis by the Lenders in accordance with their relative Commitments, whereupon that Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrowers while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided, further, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.
SECTION 2.18. LIBOR Discontinuation. (a)  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Facility Documents, if the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be made by notice to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error), or the Required Lenders notify the Administrative Agent (with, in the case of the Required Lenders, a copy to Borrower) that the Required Lenders (as applicable) have determined, that:
(i) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining LIBOR for any requested Interest Accrual Period, including, without limitation, because the Screen Rate is not available or published on a current basis and such circumstances are unlikely to be temporary;
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(ii) the administrator of the Screen Rate or a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Administrative Agent has made a public statement identifying a specific date after which LIBOR or the Screen Rate shall no longer be made available, or used for determining the interest rate of loans (such specific date, the “Scheduled Unavailability Date”); or
(iii) syndicated loans being executed in the U.S. at the time, or that include language similar to that contained in this Section 2.18, are being executed or amended (as applicable) to incorporate or adopt a new benchmark interest rate to replace LIBOR;
then, reasonably promptly after such determination by the Administrative Agent or receipt by the Administrative Agent of such notice, as applicable, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower may amend this Agreement to replace LIBOR with an alternate benchmark rate (including any mathematical or other adjustments to the benchmark (if any) incorporated therein), giving due consideration to any evolving or then existing convention for similar U.S. dollar denominated syndicated credit facilities for such alternative benchmarks (any such proposed rate, a “LIBOR Successor Rate”), together with any proposed LIBOR Successor Rate Conforming Changes and any such amendment shall become effective at 5:00 p.m. (New York time) on the fifth Business Day after the Administrative Agent shall have posted such proposed amendment to all Lenders and the Borrower unless, prior to such time, Lenders comprising the Required Lenders have delivered to the Administrative Agent written notice that such Required Lenders do not accept such amendment.
(b) If no LIBOR Successor Rate has been determined and the circumstances under clause (a)(i) above exist or the Scheduled Unavailability Date has occurred, as applicable, the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Borrower and each Lender. From and after the date of the occurrence of the circumstances described under clause (a)(i) or the occurrence of the Scheduled Unavailability Date (until a LIBOR Successor Rate has been determined in accordance with Section 2.18(a)), (x) the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Advances shall be suspended (to the extent of the affected Advances or Interest Accrual Periods), and (y) the LIBOR component shall no longer be utilized in determining the Interest Rate. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of an Advance (to the extent of the affected Advances or Interest Accrual Periods) or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Borrowing of Advances based on the Base Rate (subject to the foregoing clause (y)) in the amount specified therein.
(c) Notwithstanding anything else herein, any definition of LIBOR Successor Rate shall provide that in no event shall such LIBOR Successor Rate be less than zero for purposes of this Agreement.
ARTICLE III 
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
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SECTION 3.01. Conditions Precedent to Initial Advance. The obligation of each Lender to make its initial Advance hereunder shall be subject to the conditions precedent that the Administrative Agent shall have received on or before the Closing Date the following, each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:
(a) each of the Facility Documents (other than the Collateral Agent Fee Letter which shall be delivered directly to the Collateral Agent) duly executed and delivered by the parties thereto, which shall each be in full force and effect;
(b) true and complete copies of the Constituent Documents of the Borrower, the Equityholder and the Servicer as in effect on the Closing Date;
(c) a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying (i) as to its Constituent Documents, (ii) as to its resolutions or other action of its designated manager approving this Agreement and the other Facility Documents to which it is a party and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, (iii) that its representations and warranties set forth in the Facility Documents to which it is a party are true and correct in all material respects as of the Closing Date (except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to any earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date), (iv) that no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, and (v) as to the incumbency and specimen signature of each of its Responsible Officers authorized to execute the Facility Documents to which it is a party;
(d) [Reserved];
(e) [Reserved];
(f) a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Servicer certifying, respectively, (i) as to its Constituent Documents, (ii) as to its resolutions or other action of its board of directors or members approving this Agreement and the other Facility Documents to which it is a party and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, (iii) that its representations and warranties set forth in the Facility Documents to which it is a party are true and correct in all material respects as of the Closing Date (except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to any earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date), and (iv) as to the incumbency and specimen signature of each of its Responsible Officers authorized to execute the Facility Documents to which it is a party;
(g) financing statements (or the equivalent thereof in any applicable foreign jurisdiction, as applicable) in proper form for filing on the Closing Date, under the UCC with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and any other applicable filing office in any applicable jurisdiction that the Administrative Agent deems necessary or desirable in order to perfect the interests in the Collateral contemplated by this Agreement;
(h) copies of proper financing statement amendments (or the equivalent thereof in any applicable foreign jurisdiction, as applicable), if any, necessary to release all
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security interests and other rights of any Person in the Collateral previously granted by the Borrower, the Equityholder or any transferor;
(i) legal opinions (addressed to each of the Secured Parties) of counsel to the Borrower, the Equityholder, the Servicer, the Collateral Agent and the Custodian, covering such matters as the Administrative Agent and its counsel shall reasonably request;
(j) evidence reasonably satisfactory to it that all of the Covered Accounts shall have been established, and the Account Control Agreement shall have been executed and delivered by the Borrower, the Collateral Agent and the Custodian and shall be in full force and effect;
(k) evidence that (i) all fees and expenses due and payable to each Lender on or prior to the Closing Date have been received or will be received contemporaneously with the Closing Date; (ii) the reasonable and documented fees and expenses of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP, counsel to the Administrative Agent, in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby (to the extent invoiced prior the Closing Date); and (iii) all other reasonable and documented up-front expenses and fees (including legal fees of outside counsel and any fees required under the Collateral Agent Fee Letter) that are, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), invoiced at least one Business Day prior to the Closing Date, shall have been paid by the Borrower;
(l) delivery of such Collateral (including any promissory note, executed assignment agreements and Word or pdf copies of the principal credit agreement for each initial Collateral Loan, to the extent received by the Borrower) in accordance with the Custodian Agreement shall have been effected;
(m) a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, dated as of the Closing Date, certifying to the effect that, in the case of each item of Collateral pledged to the Collateral Agent, on the Closing Date and, in the case of clauses (i) through (iii) below, immediately prior to the delivery thereof on the Closing Date:
(i) the Borrower is the owner of such Collateral free and clear of any Liens except for those which are being released on the Closing Date or Permitted Liens;
(ii) the Borrower has not assigned, pledged or otherwise encumbered any interest in such Collateral (or, if any such interest has been assigned, pledged or otherwise encumbered, it has been released) other than Permitted Liens or interests granted pursuant to this Agreement; and
(iii) upon grant by the Borrower, the Collateral Agent has a first priority perfected security interest in the Collateral, except Permitted Liens or as permitted by this Agreement; and
(n) such other opinions, instruments, certificates and documents from the Borrower as the Agents or any Lender shall have reasonably requested.
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SECTION 3.02. Conditions Precedent to Each Borrowing. The obligation of each Lender to make each Advance to be made by it (including the initial Advance) on each Borrowing Date shall be subject to the fulfillment of the following conditions; provided that the conditions described in clauses (d) and (e) (other than a Default or Event of Default described in Section 6.01(i)) below need not be satisfied if the proceeds of the Borrowing are used to fund Revolving Collateral Loans or Delayed Drawdown Collateral Loans then owned by the Borrower to fund the Revolving Reserve Account to the extent required under Section 8.04;:
(a) subject to Section 2.02, the Administrative Agent must have received and approved an Approval Request for the Collateral Loan the Borrower intends to purchase with the proceeds of the Advance and such approval has not expired or been rescinded or the Collateral Loan the Borrower intends to purchase with the proceeds of the Advance must be on the current Approved List and such inclusion on the Approved List has not expired or been rescinded;
(b) the Administrative Agent shall have received a Notice of Borrowing with respect to such Advance (including the Borrowing Base Calculation Statement attached thereto, all duly completed) delivered in accordance with Section 2.03;
(c) immediately before and after the making of such Advance on the applicable Borrowing Date, each Coverage Test shall be satisfied and the Tranche Minimum OC Coverage Test for each Tranche shall be satisfied (as demonstrated on the Borrowing Base Calculation Statement attached to such Notice of Borrowing);
(d) each of the representations and warranties of the Borrower, the Servicer and the Equityholder contained in the Facility Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such Borrowing Date (except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to any earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date as if made on such date);
(e) no Default, Event of Default, Potential Servicer Removal Event or Servicer Removal Event shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of the making of such Advance or shall result upon the making of such Advance;
(f) the Reinvestment Period shall not have terminated; and
(g) after giving effect to such Advance, the aggregate outstanding principal balance of the Advances shall not exceed the sum of:
(i) the Aggregate Net Collateral Balance, minus
(ii) the Minimum Equity Amount, plus
(iii) the aggregate amounts on deposit in the Principal Collection Subaccount constituting Principal Proceeds.
ARTICLE IV 
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REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
SECTION 4.01. Representations and Warranties of the Borrower. The Borrower represents and warrants to each of the Secured Parties on and as of each Measurement Date, as follows:
(a) Due Organization. It is a limited liability company duly incorporated and validly existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with full power and authority to own and operate its assets and properties, conduct the business in which it is now engaged and to execute and deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement and the other Facility Documents to which it is a party.
(b) Due Qualification. It is duly qualified to do business and, to the extent applicable, is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which the nature of its business, assets and properties, including the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, the other Facility Documents to which it is a party and its Constituent Documents, requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(c) Due Authorization; Execution and Delivery; Legal, Valid and Binding; Enforceability. The execution and delivery by it, and the performance of its obligations under, the Facility Documents to which it is a party and the other instruments, certificates and agreements contemplated thereby are within its powers and have been duly authorized by all requisite action by it and have been duly executed and delivered by it and constitute its legal, valid and binding obligations enforceable against it in accordance with their respective terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally or general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.
(d) The Equityholder (i) is not required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act, and (ii) has elected to be treated a business development corporation for purposes of the Investment Company Act.
(e) Non-Contravention. None of the execution and delivery by it of this Agreement or the other Facility Documents to which it is a party, the Borrowings or the pledge of the Collateral hereunder, the consummation of the transactions herein or therein contemplated, or compliance by it with the terms, conditions and provisions hereof or thereof, will (i) conflict with, or result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under its Constituent Documents or (ii) conflict with or contravene in any material respect, and with respect to clause (B), result in the creation of a Lien (other than Permitted Liens) under, (A) any Applicable Law, (B) any indenture, agreement or other contractual restriction binding on or affecting it or any of its assets, including any Related Document, or (C) any order, writ, judgment, award, injunction or decree binding on or affecting it or any of its assets or properties.
(f) Governmental Authorizations; Private Authorizations; Governmental Filings. It has obtained, maintained and kept in full force and effect all material Governmental
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Authorizations and material Private Authorizations which are necessary for it to properly carry out its business, and made all material Governmental Filings necessary for the execution and delivery by it of the Facility Documents to which it is a party, the Borrowings under this Agreement, the pledge of the Collateral under this Agreement and the performance by it of its obligations under this Agreement and the other Facility Documents to which it is a party.
(g) Compliance with Agreements, Laws, Etc. It has duly observed and complied in all material respects with all Applicable Laws relating to the conduct of its business and its assets. It has preserved and kept in full force and effect its legal existence. It has preserved and kept in full force and effect its rights, privileges, qualifications and franchises, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(h) Location. Its office in which it maintains its limited liability company books and records is located at the addresses set forth on Schedule 5. Its registered office and jurisdiction of organization is the jurisdiction referred to in Section 4.01(a).
(i) Investment Company Act. Neither it nor the pool of Collateral is required to register as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act.
(j) ERISA. Neither it nor any member of the ERISA Group has, or during the past five years had, any liability or obligation with respect to any Plan or Multiemployer Plan that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(k) Taxes. It is a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes. It has filed all income tax returns and all other material tax returns which are required to be filed by it, if any, and has paid all income taxes and all other material taxes shown to be due and payable on such returns, if any, or pursuant to any assessment received by any such Person other than any such taxes, assessments or charges that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which appropriate reserves in accordance with GAAP have been established.
(l) Filings and Stamp Taxes. This Agreement is in proper legal form under the applicable law of the jurisdiction of incorporation or formation of the Borrower for the enforcement hereof or thereof against the Borrower, and to ensure legality, validity, enforceability, priority or admissibility in evidence of this Agreement it is not necessary that (i) this Agreement, or any other document be filed, registered or recorded with, or executed or notarized before, any court or other authority in the jurisdiction of incorporation or formation of the Borrower or (ii) that any registration charge or stamp or similar tax be paid in any jurisdiction on or in respect of this Agreement or any other document.
(m) Plan Assets. Its assets are not treated and during the term of this Agreement will not be treated as “plan assets” for purposes of 29 C.F.R. Section 2510.3-101 and Section 3(42) of ERISA (the “Plan Asset Rule”) and the Collateral is not and during the term of this Agreement will not be deemed to be “plan assets” for purposes of the Plan Asset Rule.
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(n) Solvency. After giving effect to each Advance hereunder, and the disbursement of the proceeds of such Advance, it is and will be Solvent.
(o) Representations Relating to the Collateral. (i) It owns and has good and marketable legal and beneficial title to all Collateral Loans and other Collateral free and clear of any Lien or claim of any Person, other than Permitted Liens;
(i) Except for Permitted Liens or as contemplated by the Facility Documents, it has not pledged, assigned, sold, granted a security interest in, or otherwise conveyed any of the Collateral. It has not authorized the filing of and is not aware of any financing statements or any equivalent filing in any applicable jurisdiction against it that include a description of collateral covering the Collateral other than any financing statement or any equivalent filing in any applicable jurisdiction relating to the security interest granted to the Collateral Agent hereunder or that has been terminated; and it is not aware of any judgment, PBGC liens or tax lien filings against it or any of its assets;
(ii) the Collateral constitutes Money, Cash, accounts (as defined in Section 9-102(a)(2) of the UCC), Instruments, general intangibles (as defined in Section 9-102(a)(42) of the UCC), Uncertificated Securities, Certificated Securities or Security Entitlements to Financial Assets resulting from the crediting of Financial Assets to a “securities account” (as defined in Section 8-501(a) of the UCC);
(iii) all Covered Accounts constitute “securities accounts” under Section 8-501(a) of the UCC;
(iv) this Agreement creates a valid, continuing and, upon Delivery of Collateral, filing of the financing statements referred to in clause (viii) below and execution of the Account Control Agreement, perfected security interest (as defined in Section 1-201(37) of the UCC) in the Collateral in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the benefit and security of the Secured Parties, which security interest is prior to all other Liens (other than Permitted Liens) and claims and is enforceable as such against creditors of and purchasers from it, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally or general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law;
(v) it has received all consents and approvals required by the terms of the Related Documents in respect of such Collateral to the pledge hereunder to the Collateral Agent of its interest and rights in such Collateral;
(vi) with respect to the Collateral that constitutes Security Entitlements, all such Collateral has been and will have been credited to the applicable Covered Account and the Securities Intermediary for each Covered Account has agreed to treat all assets credited to such Covered Account as Financial Assets;
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(vii) with respect to Collateral that constitutes accounts or general intangibles (as defined in Section 9-102(a)(42) of the UCC), it has caused or will have caused, on or prior to the Closing Date, the filing of all appropriate financing statements in the proper filing office in the appropriate jurisdictions under Applicable Law in order to perfect the security interest in the Collateral granted to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit and security of the Secured Parties, hereunder (which it hereby agrees may be an “all assets” filing);
(viii) it has taken all steps necessary to enable the Collateral Agent to obtain “control” (within the meaning of the UCC) with respect to each Covered Account;
(ix) the Covered Accounts are in its name and not in the name of any other Person. It has not instructed the Securities Intermediary of any Covered Account to comply with the entitlement order of any Person other than the Collateral Agent; provided that, until the Collateral Agent delivers a notice of exclusive control, it and the Servicer may cause Cash in the Covered Accounts to be invested in Eligible Investments, and the proceeds thereof to be paid and distributed in accordance with this Agreement; and
(x) all Covered Accounts constitute “securities accounts” as defined in Section 8-501(a) of the UCC.
(p) Eligibility. (i) The information contained in each Notice of Borrowing delivered pursuant to Section 2.03, is an accurate and complete listing of all Collateral Loans included in the Collateral as of the related Borrowing Date and the information contained therein with respect to the identity of such Collateral Loan and the amounts owing thereunder is true, correct and complete as of the related Borrowing Date and (ii) with respect to each Collateral Loan included in any calculation of the Borrowing Base or OC Ratio, such Collateral Loan is an Eligible Collateral Loan at such time; provided that, notwithstanding anything to contrary contained herein, to the extent any such Collateral Loan is repurchased or otherwise removed from the Borrowing Base pursuant to the Loan Sale Agreement, then no such breach of the foregoing clause (ii) shall constitute an Event of Default or other breach of this Agreement.
(q) Anti-Corruption Laws and Anti-Terrorism Laws. None of the Borrower, its subsidiaries, their respective directors or officers, or, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, their respective agents or employees or its Affiliates, has engaged in any activity or conduct which would violate any applicable anti-bribery, anti-corruption, anti-terrorism or anti-money laundering laws, regulations or rules in any applicable jurisdiction and the Borrower and its Affiliates have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to prevent violation of such laws, regulations and rules.
(r) Sanctions. None of the Borrower, its subsidiaries, their respective directors or officers, or, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, their respective agents or employees or its Affiliates, is a Person that is, or is owned or controlled by Persons that are: (i) the target of any Sanctions (a “Sanctioned Person”) or (ii) located, organized or resident in a
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country or territory that is, or whose government is, the subject of Sanctions broadly prohibiting dealings with such government, country, or territory (a “Sanctioned Country”).
(s) No Default. Neither it nor any of its subsidiaries is in default under or with respect to any contractual obligation or restriction that could, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(t) No Proceedings. There is no litigation, proceeding or investigation pending or, to its knowledge, threatened against it before any Governmental Authority (i) asserting the invalidity of any Facility Document to which it is a party, (ii) seeking to prevent the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by any Facility Document to which it is a party or (iii) that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(u) Information. All information heretofore or hereafter furnished by it or on its behalf to any Secured Party in connection with the Facility Documents or any transaction contemplated hereby or thereby is and will be (when taken as a whole) true, complete and correct in all material respects as of the date such information is stated or certified and does not and will not omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein not misleading; provided that solely with respect to information furnished by the Borrower which was provided to the Borrower from an Obligor with respect to a Collateral Loan, such information shall only need to be true, complete and correct to the actual knowledge of the Borrower; provided further that, with respect to projected financial information, the Borrower represents only that such information represents the Borrower’s good faith estimates as of the date of preparation thereof, based upon methods and data the Borrower believes to be reasonable and accurate, but actual results during the periods covered by such projections may differ materially from such projections.
(v) Procedures. In selecting and disposing of the Collateral, no selection procedures were employed which are intended to be adverse to the interests of any Secured Party.
SECTION 4.02. Representations and Warranties of the Servicer. The Servicer represents and warrants to each of the other Secured Parties on and as of each Measurement Date, as follows:
(a) Due Organization. It is a statutory trust formed and validly existing under the laws of Delaware, with full power and authority to own and operate its assets and properties, conduct the business in which it is now engaged and to execute and deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement and the other Facility Documents to which it is a party.
(b) Due Qualification. It is duly qualified to do business and, to the extent applicable, is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which the nature of its business, assets and properties, including the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, the other Facility Documents to which it is a party and its Constituent Documents, requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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(c) Due Authorization; Execution and Delivery; Legal, Valid and Binding; Enforceability. The execution and delivery by it, and the performance of its obligations under the Facility Documents to which it is a party and the other instruments, certificates and agreements contemplated thereby are within its powers and have been duly authorized by all requisite action by it and have been duly executed and delivered by it and constitute its legal, valid and binding obligations enforceable against it in accordance with their respective terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally or general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.
(d) [Reserved].
(e) Non-Contravention. None of the execution and delivery by it of this Agreement or the other Facility Documents to which it is a party, the consummation of the transactions herein or therein contemplated, or compliance by it with the terms, conditions and provisions hereof or thereof, will (i) conflict with, or result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under its Constituent Documents or (ii) conflict with or contravene in any material respect, and with respect to clause (B), result in the creation of a Lien (other than Permitted Liens) under, (A) any Applicable Law, (B) any indenture, agreement or other contractual restriction binding on or affecting it or any of its assets, including any Related Document, or (C) any order, writ, judgment, award, injunction or decree binding on or affecting it or any of its assets or properties, except, in the case of clauses (A), (B) and (C) above, where such conflict, contravention, breach, violation or default could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(f) Governmental Authorizations; Private Authorizations; Governmental Filings. It has obtained, maintained and kept in full force and effect all material Governmental Authorizations and material Private Authorizations which are necessary for it to properly carry out its business, and made all material Governmental Filings necessary for the execution and delivery by it of the Facility Documents to which it is a party and the performance by it of its obligations under this Agreement and the other Facility Documents to which it is a party.
(g) Compliance with Agreements, Laws, Etc. It has duly observed and complied in all material respects with all Applicable Laws relating to the conduct of its business and its assets. It has preserved and kept in full force and effect its legal existence. It has preserved and kept in full force and effect its rights, privileges, qualifications and franchises, except where the failure to do so world not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(h) [Reserved].
(i) Taxes. It has filed all income tax returns and all other material tax returns which are required to be filed by it, if any, and has paid all income taxes and all other material taxes shown to be due and payable on such returns, if any, or pursuant to any assessment received by any such Person other than any such taxes, assessments or charges that are being
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contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which appropriate reserves in accordance with GAAP have been established.
(j) [Reserved].
(k) Anti-Corruption Laws and Anti-Terrorism Laws. None of the Servicer, its subsidiaries, their respective directors or officers, or, to the best knowledge of the Servicer, their respective agents or employees or its Affiliates, has engaged in any activity or conduct which would violate any applicable anti-bribery, anti-corruption, anti-terrorism or anti-money laundering laws, regulations or rules in any applicable jurisdiction and the Servicer and its Affiliates have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to prevent violation of such laws, regulations and rules.
(l) Sanctions. None of the Servicer, its subsidiaries, their respective directors or officers, or, to the best knowledge of the Servicer, their respective agents or employees or its Affiliates, is a Person that is, or is owned or controlled by Persons that are: (i) a Sanctioned Person or (ii) located, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country.
(m) [Reserved].
(n) No Proceedings. There is no litigation, proceeding or investigation pending or, to its knowledge, threatened against it before any Governmental Authority (i) asserting the invalidity of any Facility Document to which it is a party, (ii) seeking to prevent the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by any Facility Document to which it is a party or (iii) that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(o) Information. All information heretofore or hereafter furnished by it or on its behalf to any Secured Party in connection with the Facility Documents or any transaction contemplated hereby or thereby is and will be (when taken as a whole) true, complete and correct in all material respects as of the date such information is stated or certified and does not and will not omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein not misleading; provided that solely with respect to information furnished by the Servicer which was provided to the Servicer from an Obligor with respect to a Collateral Loan, such information shall only need to be true, complete and correct to the actual knowledge of the Servicer; provided further that, with respect to projected financial information, the Servicer represents only that such information represents the Servicer’s good faith estimates as of the date of preparation thereof, based upon methods and data the Servicer believes to be reasonable and accurate, but actual results during the periods covered by such projections may differ materially from such projections.
(p) Procedures. In selecting and disposing of the Collateral, no selection procedures were employed which are intended to be adverse to the interests of any Secured Party.
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SECTION 4.03. Representations and Warranties of the Equityholder. The Equityholder represents and warrants to each of the other Secured Parties on and as of each Measurement Date, as follows:
(a) Due Organization. It is a statutory trust duly established and validly existing under the laws of Delaware, with full power and authority to own and operate its assets and properties, conduct the business in which it is now engaged and to execute and deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement and the other Facility Documents to which it is a party.
(b) Due Qualification. It is duly qualified to do business and, to the extent applicable, is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which the nature of its business, assets and properties, including the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, the other Facility Documents to which it is a party and its Constituent Documents, requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(c) Due Authorization; Execution and Delivery; Legal, Valid and Binding; Enforceability. The execution and delivery by it, and the performance of its obligations under the Facility Documents to which it is a party and the other instruments, certificates and agreements contemplated thereby are within its powers and have been duly authorized by all requisite action by it and have been duly executed and delivered by it and constitute its legal, valid and binding obligations enforceable against it in accordance with their respective terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally or general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.
(d) [Reserved].
(e) Non-Contravention. None of the execution and delivery by it of this Agreement or the other Facility Documents to which it is a party, the consummation of the transactions herein or therein contemplated, or compliance by it with the terms, conditions and provisions hereof or thereof, will (i) conflict with, or result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under its Constituent Documents or (ii) conflict with or contravene in any material respect, and with respect to clause (B), result in the creation of a Lien (other than Permitted Liens) under, (A) any Applicable Law, (B) any indenture, agreement or other contractual restriction binding on or affecting it or any of its assets, including any Related Document, or (C) any order, writ, judgment, award, injunction or decree binding on or affecting it or any of its assets or properties, except, in the case of clauses (A), (B) and (C) above, where such conflict, contravention, breach, violation or default could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(f) Governmental Authorizations; Private Authorizations; Governmental Filings. It has obtained, maintained and kept in full force and effect all material Governmental Authorizations and material Private Authorizations which are necessary for it to properly carry out its business, and made all material Governmental Filings necessary for the execution and
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delivery by it of the Facility Documents to which it is a party and the performance by it of its obligations under this Agreement and the other Facility Documents to which it is a party.
(g) Compliance with Agreements, Laws, Etc. It has duly observed and complied in all material respects with all Applicable Laws relating to the conduct of its business and its assets. It has preserved and kept in full force and effect its legal existence. It has preserved and kept in full force and effect its rights, privileges, qualifications and franchises, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(h) [Reserved].
(i) Taxes. It has filed all income tax returns and all other material tax returns which are required to be filed by it, if any, and has paid all income taxes and all other material taxes shown to be due and payable on such returns, if any, or pursuant to any assessment received by any such Person other than any such taxes, assessments or charges that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which appropriate reserves in accordance with GAAP have been established.
(j) Anti-Corruption Laws and Anti-Terrorism Laws. None of the Equityholder, its subsidiaries, their respective directors or officers, or, to the best knowledge of the Equityholder, their respective agents or employees or its Affiliates, has engaged in any activity or conduct which would violate any applicable anti-bribery, anti-corruption, anti-terrorism or anti-money laundering laws, regulations or rules in any applicable jurisdiction and the Equityholder and its Affiliates have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to prevent violation of such laws, regulations and rules.
(k) Sanctions. None of the Equityholder, its subsidiaries, their respective directors or officers, or, to the best knowledge of the Equityholder, their respective agents or employees or its Affiliates, is a Person that is, or is owned or controlled by Persons that are: (i) a Sanctioned Person or (ii) located, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country.
(l) [Reserved].
(m) No Proceedings. There is no litigation, proceeding or investigation pending or, to its knowledge, threatened against it before any Governmental Authority (i) asserting the invalidity of any Facility Document to which it is a party, (ii) seeking to prevent the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by any Facility Document to which it is a party or (iii) that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(n) Information. All information heretofore or hereafter furnished by it or on its behalf to any Secured Party in connection with the Facility Documents or any transaction contemplated hereby or thereby is and will be (when taken as a whole) true, complete and correct in all material respects as of the date such information is stated or certified and does not and will not omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein not misleading.
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ARTICLE V 
COVENANTS
SECTION 5.01 Affirmative Covenants of the Borrower. The Borrower covenants and agrees that, until the Collection Date:
(a) Compliance with Agreements, Laws, Etc. It shall (i) duly observe and comply in all material respects with all Applicable Laws relative to the conduct of its business or to its assets, (ii) preserve and keep in full force and effect its legal existence, (iii) preserve and keep in full force and effect its rights, privileges, qualifications and franchises, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (iv) comply with the terms and conditions of each Facility Document to which it is a party, its Constituent Documents and each Related Document to which it is a party and (v) obtain, maintain and keep in full force and effect all Governmental Authorizations, Private Authorizations and Governmental Filings which are necessary to properly carry out its business and the transactions contemplated to be performed by it under the Facility Documents to which it is a party, its Constituent Documents and the Related Documents to which it is a party, except, in the case of this clause (v), where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Enforcement.
(i) It shall not take any action that would release any Obligor from any of such Obligor’s material covenants or obligations under any instrument or agreement included in the Collateral, except in the case of (A) repayment of Collateral Loans, (B) subject to the terms of this Agreement, (1) amendments to Collateral Loans in accordance with the Servicing Standard and (2) actions taken in connection with the work out or restructuring of any Collateral Loan in accordance with the provisions hereof, and (C) other actions by the Servicer required hereby or otherwise to the extent not prohibited by, or in conflict with, this Agreement.
(ii) It will perform, and use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Servicer to perform, all of their obligations and agreements contained in this Agreement or any other Facility Document to which such Person is a party.
(c) Further Assurances. It shall promptly upon the reasonable request of either Agent or the Required Lenders (through the Administrative Agent), at its expense, execute and deliver such further instruments and take such further action in order to maintain and protect the Collateral Agent’s first-priority perfected security interest in the Collateral pledged by the Borrower for the benefit of the Secured Parties free and clear of any Liens (other than Permitted Liens). At the request of either Agent or the Required Lenders (through the Administrative Agent), it shall promptly take, at the Borrower’s expense, such further action in order to establish and protect the rights, interests and remedies created or intended to be created under this Agreement in favor of the Secured Parties in the Collateral, including all actions which are necessary to (x) enable the Secured Parties to enforce their rights and remedies under this
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Agreement and the other Facility Documents, and (y) effectuate the intent and purpose of, and to carry out the terms of, the Facility Documents.
(d) Financial Statements; Other Information. It shall provide to the Administrative Agent or cause to be provided to the Administrative Agent (with enough additional copies for each Lender):
(i) within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Equityholder, a copy of the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Equityholder and its consolidated subsidiaries as at the end of such year, the related consolidated statements of income for such year and the related consolidated statements of changes in net assets and of cash flows for such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous year; provided, that the financial statements required to be delivered pursuant to this clause (i) which are made available via EDGAR, or any successor system of the Securities Exchange Commission, in the Equityholder’s annual report on Form 10-K, shall be deemed delivered to the Administrative Agent on the date such documents are made so available;
(ii) within 45 days after the end of each fiscal quarter of each fiscal year (other than the last fiscal quarter of each fiscal year), an unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Equityholder and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the end of such fiscal quarter and including the prior comparable period (if any), and the unaudited consolidated statements of income of the Equityholder and its consolidated subsidiaries for such fiscal quarter and for the period commencing at the end of the previous fiscal year and ending with the end of such fiscal quarter, and the unaudited consolidated statements of cash flows of the Equityholder and its consolidated subsidiaries for the period commencing at the end of the previous fiscal year and ending with the end of such fiscal quarter; provided, that the financial statements required to be delivered pursuant to this clause (ii) which are made available via EDGAR, or any successor system of the Securities Exchange Commission, in Equityholder’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q, shall be deemed delivered to the Administrative Agent on the date such documents are made so available;
(iii) within two Business Days after a Responsible Officer of the Borrower obtains actual knowledge of the occurrence and continuance of any (A) Default, (B) Event of Default, (C) event or occurrence that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (D) Revaluation Event, (E) receipt of notice from the agent on a Collateral Loan that the related Obligor has defaulted (beyond applicable grace periods) in the payment of principal or interest or (F) Collateral Loan that ceases to be an Eligible Collateral Loan, a certificate of a Responsible Officer setting forth the details thereof and the action which the Borrower is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto;
(iv) from time to time such additional information regarding the Borrower’s financial position or business and the Collateral (including reasonably detailed calculations of each Coverage Test) as the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders
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(through the Administrative Agent) may reasonably request if reasonably available without undue burden or expense;
(v) promptly after the occurrence of any ERISA Event, notice of such ERISA Event and copies of any communications with all Governmental Authorities or any Multiemployer Plan with respect to such ERISA Event;
(vi) promptly following any reasonable request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, all documentation and other information that the Administrative Agent or such Lender requests in order to comply with its ongoing obligations under applicable “know your customer,” anti-money laundering and sanctions rules and regulations, including the PATRIOT Act;
(vii) within two Business Days after a Responsible Officer of the Borrower obtains actual knowledge thereof, provide notice to the Administrative Agent of any settlement of, material judgment (including a material judgment with respect to the liability phase of a bifurcated trial) in or commencement of any material labor controversy, material litigation, material action, material suit or material proceeding before any court or governmental department, commission, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality, domestic or foreign, directly affecting in any material respect the Collateral (taken as a whole), the Facility Documents, or any Secured Party’s interest in the Collateral; and
(viii) with respect to each Obligor of a Collateral Loan that is not a Broadly Syndicated Loan: (1) within ten (10) Business Days of the completion of the Servicer’s portfolio review of such Obligor (which, for each Obligor shall occur no less frequently than four (4) times per calendar year) (I) the most recent financial reporting packages that correspond to such portfolio review with respect to such Obligor and with respect to each related Collateral Loan (including any attached or included information, statements and calculations) received as of the date of the Servicer’s most recent portfolio review and (II) the internal monitoring report prepared by the Servicer with respect to each Obligor and (2) upon demand by the Administrative Agent, such other information as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request with respect to any Collateral Loan or Obligor (to the extent reasonably available to the Servicer).
(e) Access to Records and Documents. It shall permit the Administrative Agent (or any Person designated by the Administrative Agent as its agent or representative, subject to delivery of standard confidentiality agreements) to, upon reasonable advance notice and during normal business hours, visit and inspect and make copies thereof at reasonable intervals: (i) its books, records and accounts relating to its business, financial condition, operations, assets and its performance under the Facility Documents and the Related Documents and to discuss the foregoing with its and such Person’s officers, partners, employees and accountants, and (ii) the Related Documents with respect to the Collateral; provided that, so long as no Event of Default has occurred, the Borrower shall be responsible for all costs and expenses for only one such visit per fiscal year by the Lenders and the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall be permitted to schedule such visits on behalf of the Lenders and
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shall (1) coordinate in good faith with the Lenders to determine dates which are acceptable to a majority of the Lenders and whenever possible occur on one such date as a single group and (2) provide 10 days’ prior notice to the Lenders of any such visit and any Lender shall be permitted to accompany the Administrative Agent in such visit.
(f) Use of Proceeds. It shall use the proceeds of each Advance made hereunder solely:
(i) to fund or pay the purchase price of Collateral Loans or Eligible Investments acquired by the Borrower in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth herein (it being understood that the Borrower may request a Borrowing to fund the applicable Advance Rate of one or more Collateral Loans either on the date of acquisition or at a later time during the Reinvestment Period pursuant to Article II) including pursuant to the Macomb Merger;
(ii) to fund additional extensions of credit under Revolving Collateral Loans and Delayed Drawdown Collateral Loans purchased in accordance with the terms of this Agreement;
(iii) to fund the Revolving Reserve Account on or prior to the Commitment Termination Date to the extent the Revolving Reserve Account is required to be funded pursuant to Section 8.04 (and the Borrower shall submit a Notice of Borrowing requesting a Borrowing of Advances for a Borrowing Date falling no more than five and no less than one Business Day prior to the Commitment Termination Date with a Requested Amount sufficient to fully fund the Revolving Reserve Account under Section 8.04); and
(iv) to make Permitted Distributions or Permitted RIC Distributions.
Without limiting the foregoing, it shall use the proceeds of each Advance in a manner that does not, directly or indirectly, violate any provision of its Constituent Documents or any Applicable Law, including Regulation T, Regulation U and Regulation X.
(g) Information and Reports. Each Notice of Borrowing, each Monthly Report and all other written information, reports, certificates and statements furnished by or on behalf of it to any Secured Party for purposes of or in connection with this Agreement, the other Facility Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be true, complete and correct in all material respects as of the date such information is stated or certified; provided that solely with respect to information furnished by the Borrower which was provided to the Borrower from an Obligor with respect to a Collateral Loan, such information shall only need to be true, complete and correct to the actual knowledge of the Borrower; provided further that, with respect to projected financial information, the Borrower represents only that such information represents the Borrower’s good faith estimates as of the date of preparation thereof, based upon methods and data the Borrower believes to be reasonable and accurate, but actual results during the periods covered by such projections may differ materially from such projections.
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(h) Opinions as to Collateral. On or before each five year anniversary of the Closing Date, at the request of the Administrative Agent, it shall furnish to the Agents an opinion of counsel addressed to the Agents and the Borrower relating to the continued perfection of the security interest granted by the Borrower to the Collateral Agent hereunder.
(i) No Other Business. It shall not engage in any business or activity other than borrowing Advances pursuant to this Agreement, funding, acquiring, owning, holding, administering, selling, enforcing, lending, exchanging, redeeming, pledging, contracting for the management of and otherwise dealing with Collateral Loans, Eligible Investments and the Collateral in connection therewith and entering into and performing its obligations under the Facility Documents, any applicable Related Documents and any other agreement contemplated by this Agreement.
(j) Tax Matters. It shall remain a disregarded entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
(k) Compliance with Legal Opinions. The Borrower shall take all other actions necessary to maintain the accuracy of the factual assumptions set forth in the legal opinions of Dechert LLP, as special counsel to the Borrower, issued on the Closing Date and relating to the issues of substantive consolidation.
SECTION 5.02 Covenants of the Servicer. The Servicer covenants and agrees that, until the Collection Date:
(a) Compliance with Agreements, Laws, Etc. It shall (i) duly observe and comply in all material respects with all Applicable Laws relative to the conduct of its business or to its assets, (ii) preserve and keep in full force and effect its legal existence, (iii) preserve and keep in full force and effect its rights, privileges, qualifications and franchises, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (iv) comply with the terms and conditions of each Facility Document to which it is a party and its Constituent Documents and (v) obtain, maintain and keep in full force and effect all Governmental Authorizations, Private Authorizations and Governmental Filings which are necessary to properly carry out its business and the transactions contemplated to be performed by it under the Facility Documents to which it is a party and its Constituent Documents, except, in the case of this clause (v), where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Enforcement. It shall not take any action that would release any Obligor from any of such Obligor’s covenants or obligations under any instrument or agreement included in the Collateral, except in the case of (A) repayment of Collateral Loans, (B) subject to the terms of this Agreement, (1) amendments to Collateral Loans in accordance with the Servicing Standard and (2) actions taken in connection with the work out or restructuring of any Collateral Loan in accordance with the provisions hereof, and (C) other actions by the Servicer required hereby or otherwise to the extent not prohibited by, or in conflict with, this Agreement.
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(c) Further Assurances. It shall promptly upon the request of either Agent or the Required Lenders (through the Administrative Agent), at its expense, execute and deliver such further instruments and take such further action in order to maintain and protect the Collateral Agent’s first-priority perfected security interest in the Collateral pledged by the Borrower for the benefit of the Secured Parties free and clear of any Liens (other than Permitted Liens). At the request of either Agent or the Required Lenders (through the Administrative Agent), it shall promptly take, at the Borrower’s expense, such further action in order to establish and protect the rights, interests and remedies created or intended to be created under this Agreement in favor of the Secured Parties in the Collateral, including all actions which are necessary to (x) enable the Secured Parties to enforce their rights and remedies under this Agreement and the other Facility Documents, and (y) effectuate the intent and purpose of, and to carry out the terms of, the Facility Documents.
(d) Other Information. It shall provide to the Administrative Agent or cause to be provided to the Administrative Agent:
(i) within two (2) Business Days after a Responsible Officer of the Servicer obtains actual knowledge of the occurrence and continuance of any (A) Default, (B) Event of Default, (C) Potential Servicer Removal Event, (D) Servicer Removal Event, (E) event or occurrence that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (F) Revaluation Event, (G) receipt of notice from the agent on a Collateral Loan that the related Obligor has defaulted (beyond applicable grace periods) in the payment of principal or interest or (H) Collateral Loan that ceases to be an Eligible Collateral Loan, a certificate of a Responsible Officer setting forth the details thereof and the action which the Servicer is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto;
(ii) from time to time such additional information regarding the Collateral (including reasonably detailed calculations of each Coverage Test) as the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders (through the Administrative Agent) may reasonably request if reasonably available without undue burden or expense;
(iii) a Borrowing Base Calculation Statement on (A) each date on which the Servicer sells or substitutes (or commits to sell or substitute, as the case may be) any Collateral Loan and (B) the date on which the Servicer obtains knowledge of any Material Modification or Revaluation Event to a Collateral Loan or that a Collateral Loan has become a Defaulted Collateral Loan;
(iv) promptly following any reasonable request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, all documentation and other information that the Administrative Agent or such Lender requests in order to comply with its ongoing obligations under applicable “know your customer,” anti-money laundering and sanctions rules and regulations, including the PATRIOT Act; and
(v) within two (2) Business Days after a Responsible Officer of the Servicer obtains actual knowledge thereof, provide notice to the Administrative Agent of any
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settlement of, material judgment (including a material judgment with respect to the liability phase of a bifurcated trial) in or commencement of any material labor controversy, material litigation, material action, material suit or material proceeding before any court or governmental department, commission, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality, domestic or foreign, directly and adversely affecting the in any material respect the Collateral (taken as a whole), the Facility Documents, or any Secured Party’s interest in the Collateral.
(e) Access to Records and Documents. It shall permit the Administrative Agent (or any Person designated by the Administrative Agent as its agent or representative, subject to delivery of standard confidentiality agreements) to, upon reasonable advance notice and during normal business hours, visit and inspect and make copies thereof at reasonable intervals its books, records and accounts relating to the Collateral, the Borrower, the Facility Documents and the performance of the Servicer under the Facility Documents and to discuss the foregoing with its and such Person’s officers, partners, employees and accountants; provided that so long as no Event of Default has occurred the Borrower shall be responsible for all costs and expenses for only one such visit per fiscal year by the Lenders and the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall be permitted to schedule such visits on behalf of the Lenders and shall (1) coordinate in good faith with the Lenders to determine dates which are acceptable to a majority of the Lenders and whenever possible occur on one such date as a single group and (2) provide 10 days’ prior notice to the Lenders of any such visit and any Lender shall be permitted to accompany the Administrative Agent in such visit.
(f) Information and Reports. Each Notice of Borrowing, each Monthly Report and all other written information, reports, certificates and statements furnished by or on behalf of it to any other Secured Party for purposes of or in connection with this Agreement, the other Facility Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be true, complete and correct in all material respects as of the date such information is stated or certified; provided that solely with respect to information furnished by the Servicer which was provided to the Servicer from an Obligor with respect to a Collateral Loan, such information shall only need to be true, complete and correct to the actual knowledge of the Servicer; provided further that, with respect to projected financial information, the Servicer represents only that such information represents the Servicer’s good faith estimates as of the date of preparation thereof, based upon methods and data the Servicer believes to be reasonable and accurate, but actual results during the periods covered by such projections may differ materially from such projections.
(g) Collections. It shall direct any agent or administrative agent for any Collateral Loan to remit all payments and collections with respect to such Collateral Loan and, if applicable, to direct the Obligor with respect to such Collateral Loan to remit all such payments and collections with respect to such Collateral Loan directly to the Collection Account.
(h) Priority of Payments. It shall instruct the Collateral Agent to apply all Interest Proceeds and Principal Proceeds solely in accordance with the Priority of Payments and the other provisions of this Agreement.
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(i) Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions. The Servicer shall maintain and shall ensure that its Affiliates maintain policies and procedures designed to prevent violation of any applicable anti-bribery, anti-corruption, anti-terrorism or anti-money laundering laws, regulations or rules in any applicable jurisdiction. The Servicer shall not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the loan hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, sister company, joint venture partner or any other Person (i) to fund any activities or business of or with any Person, or in any country or territory, that, at the time of such funding, is, a Sanctioned Person or Sanctioned Country, or (ii) in any other manner that would result in a violation of Sanctions, any applicable anti-bribery, anti-corruption, anti-terrorism or anti-money laundering laws, regulations or rules in any applicable jurisdiction by any Person (including any Person participating in the loan hereunder, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor, lender, hedge provider, facility or security agent or otherwise).
SECTION 5.03 Negative Covenants of the Borrower. The Borrower covenants and agrees that, until the Collection Date:
(a) Restrictive Agreements. It shall not enter into or suffer to exist or permit to become effective any agreement that prohibits, limits or imposes any condition upon its ability to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien (other than Permitted Liens) upon any of its property or revenues constituting Collateral, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, to secure its obligations under the Facility Documents other than this Agreement and the other Facility Documents.
(b) Liquidation; Merger; Sale of Collateral. It shall not consummate any plan of liquidation, dissolution, partial liquidation, merger or consolidation (or suffer any liquidation, dissolution or partial liquidation) nor sell, transfer, exchange or otherwise dispose of any of its assets, or enter into an agreement or commitment to do so or enter into or engage in any business with respect to any part of its assets, except as expressly permitted by this Agreement and the other Facility Documents (including in connection with the repayment in full of the Obligations). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, after the date hereof the Borrower may merge with Macomb Park CLO, Ltd., so long as the Borrower is the surviving entity.
(c) Amendments to Constituent Documents, Etc. Without the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), (i) it shall not amend, modify or take any action inconsistent with its Constituent Documents and (ii) it will not amend, modify or waive in any material respect any term or provision in any Facility Document (other than in accordance with any provision thereof requiring the consent of the Administrative Agent or all or a specified percentage of the Lenders).
(d) ERISA. It shall not establish or incur any liability or obligation with respect to any Plan or Multiemployer Plan and no member of the ERISA Group shall establish or incur any liability or obligation with respect to any Plan or Multiemployer Plan that in each case would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(e) Liens. It shall not sell, pledge, assign or transfer to any other Person, or grant, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien on any of its assets now owned or
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hereafter acquired by it at any time, except for Permitted Liens or as otherwise expressly permitted by this Agreement and the other Facility Documents.
(f) Margin Requirements; Covered Transactions. It shall not (i) extend credit to others for the purpose of buying or carrying any Margin Stock in such a manner as to violate Regulation T or Regulation U or (ii) use all or any part of the proceeds of any Advance, whether directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, for any purpose that violates the provisions of the Regulations of the Board of Governors, including, to the extent applicable, Regulation U and Regulation X.
(g) Changes to Filing Information; Change of Location of Underlying Instruments. It shall not change its name or its jurisdiction of organization from that referred to in Section 4.01(a), unless it gives thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to the Agents and takes all actions that the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders (through the Administrative Agent) reasonably request and determine to be necessary to protect and perfect the Collateral Agent’s perfected security interest in the Collateral. It shall not, without the prior consent of the Administrative Agent, consent to the Collateral Agent moving any Certificated Securities or Instruments, unless the Borrower has given at least ten (10) days’ written notice to the Administrative Agent and has taken all actions required under the UCC of each relevant jurisdiction in order to ensure that the Collateral Agent’s first priority perfected security interest (subject to Permitted Liens) continues in full effect.
(h) Transactions with Affiliates. It shall not sell, lease or otherwise transfer any property or assets to, or purchase, lease or otherwise acquire any property or assets from, or otherwise engage in any other transactions with, the Servicer, the Equityholder and/or any of their Affiliates (including sales of Defaulted Collateral Loans and other Collateral Loans), unless (x) such transaction is upon terms no less favorable to the Borrower than it would obtain in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person that is not an Affiliate (it being agreed that any purchase or sale at par shall be deemed to comply with this provision) or (y) the Borrower has received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent with respect to such transaction. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary contained herein, nothing shall prohibit Borrower from (i) transferring or distributing the Collateral Loans to the Equityholder or an Affiliate of the Equityholder, as applicable, in accordance with Article X, (ii) making Permitted Distributions(in accordance with the definition thereof) or (iii) Permitted RIC Distributions (in accordance with the definition thereof) to the Equityholder.
(i) Investment Company Restriction. It shall not and shall not permit the pool of Collateral to become required to register as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act.
(j) Anti-Corruption and Sanctions. The Borrower shall maintain and shall ensure that its Affiliates maintain policies and procedures designed to prevent violation of any applicable anti-bribery, anti-corruption, anti-terrorism or anti-money laundering laws, regulations or rules in any applicable jurisdiction. The Borrower shall not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the loan hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, sister company, joint venture partner or any other Person (i) to fund any activities
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or business of or with any Person, or in any country or territory, that, at the time of such funding, is, a Sanctioned Person or Sanctioned Country, or (ii) in any other manner that would result in a violation of Sanctions, any applicable anti-bribery, anti-corruption, anti-terrorism or anti-money laundering laws, regulations or rules in any applicable jurisdiction by any Person (including any Person participating in the loan hereunder, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor, lender, hedge provider, facility or security agent or otherwise).
(k) [Reserved].
(l) Indebtedness; Guarantees; Securities; Other Assets. It shall not incur or assume or guarantee any indebtedness, obligations (including contingent obligations) or other liabilities, or issue any additional securities, whether debt or equity, in each case other than (i) pursuant to or as expressly permitted by this Agreement and the other Facility Documents, including expenses payable in the ordinary course of business, (ii) obligations under its Constituent Documents or (iii) pursuant to customary indemnification, expense reimbursement and similar provisions under the Related Documents. It shall not acquire any Collateral Loan or other property other than as expressly permitted under the Facility Documents, it being understood and agreed that the Borrower shall be permitted to acquire Collateral Loans from the Servicer, the Equityholder and/or their Affiliates and from unaffiliated third parties. The Borrower shall not accept equity contributions from the Equityholder or OC Ratio Posting Payments in excess of $600,000,000 in the aggregate.
(m) Validity of this Agreement. It shall not (i) take any action or omit to take any action, the result of which would permit the validity or effectiveness of any Facility Document or any grant of Collateral under this Agreement to be impaired, or permit the Lien of this Agreement to be amended, hypothecated, subordinated, terminated or discharged, or take any action or omit to take any action, the result of which would permit any Person to be released from any covenant or obligation with respect to this Agreement and (ii) except as permitted by any Facility Document, take any action that would permit the Lien of this Agreement not to constitute a valid first priority perfected security interest in the Collateral (subject to Permitted Liens).
(n) Subsidiaries. It shall not have or permit the formation of any subsidiaries, except in connection with the receipt of equity securities pursuant to an exercise of remedies with respect to a Collateral Loan or any work-out or restructuring of a Collateral Loan.
(o) Name. It shall not conduct business under any name other than its own.
(p) Employees. It shall not have any employees.
(q) Non-Petition. It shall not be party to any agreements under which it has any material obligation or liability (direct or contingent) without using commercially reasonable efforts to include customary “non-petition” and “limited recourse” provisions therein (and shall not amend or eliminate such provisions in any agreement to which it is party), except for loan agreements, related loan documents, any agreements related to the purchase and sale of any Collateral Loan which contain customary (as determined by the Servicer) purchase or sale terms
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or which are documented using customary (as determined by the Servicer) loan trading documentation in connection with the Collateral Loans and any agreement that does not impose a material obligation on the Borrower and that is of a type that customarily does not include “non-petition” or “limited recourse” provisions (including customary service contracts and engagement letters entered into with third party service providers (including independent accountants and providers of independent managers)).
(r) Certificated Securities. It shall not acquire or hold any Certificated Securities in bearer form in a manner that does not satisfy the requirements of United States Treasury Regulations section 1.165-12(c) (as determined by the Servicer).
SECTION 5.04. Covenants of the Equityholder. The Equityholder covenants and agrees that, until the Collection Date:
(a) Compliance with Agreements, Laws, Etc. It shall (i) duly observe and comply in all material respects with all Applicable Laws relative to the conduct of its business or to its assets, (ii) preserve and keep in full force and effect its legal existence, (iii) preserve and keep in full force and effect its rights, privileges, qualifications and franchises, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (iv) comply with the terms and conditions of each Facility Document to which it is a party and its Constituent Documents and (v) obtain, maintain and keep in full force and effect all Governmental Authorizations, Private Authorizations and Governmental Filings which are necessary to properly carry out its business and the transactions contemplated to be performed by it under the Facility Documents to which it is a party and its Constituent Documents, except, in the case of clause (v), where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Other Information. It shall provide to the Administrative Agent or cause to be provided to the Administrative Agent (with enough additional copies for each Lender) promptly following any reasonable request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, all documentation and other information that the Administrative Agent or such Lender requests in order to comply with its ongoing obligations under applicable “know your customer,” anti-money laundering and sanctions rules and regulations, including the PATRIOT Act.
(c) Anti-Corruption Laws and Sanctions. The Equityholder shall maintain and shall ensure that its Affiliates maintain policies and procedures designed to prevent violation of any applicable anti-bribery, anti-corruption, anti-terrorism or anti-money laundering laws, regulations or rules in any applicable jurisdiction. The Equityholder shall not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the loan hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, sister company, joint venture partner or any other Person (i) to fund any activities or business of or with any Person, or in any country or territory, that, at the time of such funding, is, a Sanctioned Person or Sanctioned Country, or (ii) in any other manner that would result in a violation of Sanctions, any applicable anti-bribery, anti-corruption, anti-terrorism or anti-money laundering laws, regulations or rules in any applicable jurisdiction by any Person (including any Person participating in the loan hereunder, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor, lender, hedge provider, facility or security agent or otherwise).
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(d) Separateness. The Equityholder shall not take any action that causes, or omit to take any action that results in, the Borrower to fail to comply with any of its covenants in Section 5.05 and the Equityholder shall take all other actions necessary to maintain the accuracy of the factual assumptions set forth in the legal opinions of Dechert LLP, as special counsel to the Borrower, issued on the Closing Date and relating to the issues of substantive consolidation.
(e) Liens. The Equityholder shall neither pledge (nor permit to be pledged) the equity interests in the Borrower nor otherwise permit any equity interests of the Borrower to be subject to a Lien other than Permitted Liens.
SECTION 5.05. Certain Undertakings Relating to Separateness. Without limiting any, and subject to all, other covenants of the Borrower, the Equityholder and the Servicer contained in this Agreement, the Borrower (the Servicer in acting on behalf or for the benefit of the Borrower and the Equityholder in acting on behalf of the Borrower as the equityholder in the Borrower) shall conduct its business and operations separate and apart from that of any other Person (including the Equityholder and any of their Affiliates) and in furtherance of the foregoing:
(a) The Borrower shall maintain its accounts, financial statements, books, accounting and other records, and other documents separate from those of any other Person; provided that the Borrower may be consolidated into the Equityholder solely for tax and accounting purposes.
(b) The Borrower shall not commingle or pool any of its funds or assets with those of the Servicer, the Equityholder or any of their Affiliates or any other Person, and it shall hold all of its assets in its own name, except as otherwise permitted or required under the Facility Documents.
(c) The Borrower shall conduct its own business in its own name and, for all purposes, shall not operate, or purport to operate, collectively as a single or consolidated business entity with respect to any Person (although, in connection with certain financial reporting, regulatory filings, advertising and marketing, it may be identified as a subsidiary of the Equityholder).
(d) The Borrower shall pay its own debts, liabilities and expenses (including overhead expenses, if any) only out of its own assets as the same shall become due; provided, however, in its capacity as Servicer, Blackstone/GSO Secured Lending Fund may from time to time advance expenses of the Borrower for which Blackstone/GSO Secured Lending Fund is later reimbursed pursuant to the Priority of Payments.
(e) The Borrower has observed, and shall observe, all (A) corporate formalities and (B) other organizational formalities, in each case to the extent necessary or advisable to preserve its separate existence (although, in connection with certain financial reporting, regulatory filings, advertising and marketing, it may be identified as a subsidiary of the Equityholder), and shall preserve its existence, and it shall not, nor shall it permit any Affiliate or any other Person to, amend, modify or otherwise change its operating agreement in a manner that
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would adversely affect the existence of the Borrower as a bankruptcy-remote special purpose entity. The Borrower shall have at least one Independent Manager at all times (subject to the time periods for replacement of Independent Managers that have resigned or have been removed set forth in the Borrower’s Constituent Documents).
(f) The Borrower shall not (A) guarantee, become obligated for, or hold itself or its credit out to be responsible for or available to satisfy, the debts or obligations of any other Person or (B) control the decisions or actions respecting the daily business or affairs of any other Person, except as permitted by or pursuant to the Facility Documents.
(g) The Borrower shall, at all times, hold itself out to the public as a legal entity separate and distinct from any other Person (although, in connection with certain financial reporting, advertising and marketing, it may be identified as a subsidiary of the Equityholder); provided that the assets of the Borrower may be consolidated for accounting purposes and included in consolidated financial statements of the Equityholder as required by GAAP or applicable law.
(h) The Borrower shall not identify itself as a division of any other Person.
(i) The Borrower shall maintain its assets in such a manner that it will not be costly or difficult to segregate, ascertain or identify its individual assets from those of any Affiliate or any other Person.
(j) Except as may be provided in the Facility Documents, any transaction between the Borrower and any of the Servicer, the Equityholder and their Affiliates shall be on arm’s length terms.
(k) Except as permitted by, or pursuant to, the Facility Documents, the Borrower shall not grant a security interest or otherwise pledge its assets for the benefit of any other Person (other than its pledge of the Collateral hereunder to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties).
(l) The Borrower shall not acquire any securities or debt instruments of the Equityholder, the Servicer, any Affiliates of the foregoing or any other Person (except for equity interests in Obligors in connection with the exercise of any remedies with respect to a Collateral Loan or any exchange offer, work-out or restructuring of a Collateral Loan).
(m) The Borrower shall not make loans or advances to any Person, except for the Collateral Loans and as permitted by or pursuant to the Facility Documents.
(n) The Borrower shall make no transfer of its Collateral Loans, except as permitted by or pursuant to the Facility Documents.
(o) The Borrower shall file its own tax returns separate from those of any other Person or entity, except to the extent that the Borrower is not required to file tax returns
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under Applicable Law or is not permitted to file its own tax returns separate from those of any other Person.
(p) The Borrower shall, to the extent used in its business, use separate stationery, invoices and checks.
(q) The Borrower shall correct any known misunderstanding regarding its separate identity.
(r) The Borrower shall maintain adequate capital in light of its contemplated business operations.
(s) The Borrower shall at all times be organized as a single-purpose entity with Constituent Documents substantially similar to those in effect on the Closing Date.
(t) The Borrower shall at all times conduct its business so that any assumptions made with respect to the Borrower in any “substantive non-consolidation” opinion delivered in connection with the Facility Documents will continue to be true and correct in all material respects.
ARTICLE VI 
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
SECTION 6.01. Events of Default. “Event of Default,” wherever used herein, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):
(a) a default in the payment, when due and payable, of (x) any principal in respect of the Advances or (y) any other payment required to be made pursuant to this Agreement or any other Facility Document and if such date is not the Final Maturity Date, such default, solely in the case of this clause (y), has not been cured within three (3) Business Days after written notice thereof by the Administrative Agent; provided, that, solely in the case of clause (y) on a date other than on the Final Maturity Date resulting solely from an administrative error or omission by the Administrative Agent, the Securities Intermediary or any paying agent, such default continues for a period of five Business Days after the Administrative Agent or the Securities Intermediary receives written notice or a Responsible Officer of such party has actual knowledge of such administrative error or omission;
(b) any failure by the Borrower to deposit or credit, or to deliver for deposit, in the Covered Accounts any amount required hereunder to be so deposited credited or delivered by it, on or before the date occurring three (3) Business Days after the date such deposit or distribution is required to be made by the Servicer;
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(c) the Borrower or the pool of Collateral becomes an investment company required to be registered under the Investment Company Act;
(d) except as otherwise provided in this Section 6.01, a default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or agreement of the Borrower or Equityholder under this Agreement or the other Facility Documents to which it is a party (it being understood, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, that any failure to meet any Concentration Limitation or Coverage Test is not an Event of Default under this clause (d)), or the failure of any representation or warranty of the Borrower or the Equityholder made in this Agreement or in any other Facility Document to be correct, in each case, in all material respects when the same shall have been made, and the continuation of such default, breach or failure for a period of thirty (30) days after the earlier of (i) written notice to the Borrower and the Servicer (which may be by e-mail) by either Agent, and (ii) a Responsible Officer of the Borrower or the Servicer has acquired actual knowledge thereof; provided that if such default, breach or failure cannot be cured, such Event of Default shall occur immediately after receipt by the Borrower of such written notice from the Administrative Agent;
(e) the Borrower ceases to have a valid ownership interest in all of the Collateral (subject to Permitted Liens);
(f) the Borrower assigns any of its rights, obligations, or duties under the Facility Documents without the prior written consent of each Lender;
(g) [Reserved];
(h) (i) any Facility Document or any material provision thereof shall (except in accordance with its terms) terminate, cease to be effective or cease to be the legally valid, binding and enforceable obligation of the Borrower, the Equityholder or the Servicer, (ii) the Borrower, the Equityholder, the Servicer or any Governmental Authority shall, directly or indirectly, contest in any manner the effectiveness, validity, binding nature or enforceability of any Facility Document or any Lien purported to be created thereunder, or (iii) any Lien securing any obligation under any Facility Document shall, in whole or in part, cease to be a first priority perfected security interest of the Collateral Agent, except as otherwise permitted in accordance with the Facility Documents (subject to Permitted Liens);
(i) an Insolvency Event relating to the Borrower or the Equityholder;
(j) failure to reduce the Advances to $0 by the Final Maturity Date;
(k) on any Monthly Report Determination Date, the Interest Coverage Ratio Test is not satisfied and such failure shall continue for three (3) Business Days;
(l) the occurrence of an OC Ratio Breach and such OC Ratio Breach remains unremedied for a period of 10 consecutive Business Days without being cured;
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(m) the rendering of one or more final judgments, decrees or orders by a court or arbitrator of competent jurisdiction for the payment of money in excess individually or in the aggregate of $100,000, with respect to the Borrower (net of amounts covered by insurance), or $1,000,000, with respect to the Equityholder (net of amounts covered by insurance), and the Borrower or Equityholder, as applicable, shall not have either (i) discharged or provided for the discharge of any such judgment, decree or order in accordance with its terms or (ii) perfected a timely appeal of such judgment, decree or order and caused the execution of same to be stayed during the pendency of the appeal, in each case, within sixty (60) days from the date of entry thereof;
(n) the Borrower fails to have at least one Independent Manager; provided that the resignation of an Independent Manager or the removal of an Independent Manager for “cause” shall not affect this clause (n) unless the Borrower fails to appoint a new Independent Manager within ten (10) Business Days of the effective date of such removal or resignation;
(o) any Monthly Report or Payment Date Report shall fail to be delivered when due and such failure shall continue for three (3) Business Days after receipt of written notice thereof;
(p) a Servicer Removal Event occurs;
(q) (i) the Internal Revenue Service shall file notice of a Lien pursuant to Section 6321 of the Code with regard to any asset of the Borrower and such Lien shall not have been released within five (5) Business Days or (ii) the PBGC shall file notice of a Lien pursuant to Section 4068 of ERISA with regard to any asset of the Borrower and such Lien shall not have been released within five (5) Business Days;
(r) the failure of the Borrower or the Equityholder or any of their subsidiaries to make any payment when due (after giving effect to any related grace period set forth in the related agreements) under one or more agreements for borrowed money to which it is a party in an amount in excess of $100,000, with respect to the Borrower, or $1,000,000, with respect to the Equityholder, whether or not such failure is waived pursuant to the related agreement;
(s) the Borrower or Equityholder shall have made payments to settle any litigation, claim or dispute totaling more than, in the aggregate, $100,000, with respect to the Borrower, or $1,000,000, with respect to the Equityholder; or
(t) the Borrower shall fail to qualify as a bankruptcy-remote entity based on customary criteria such that Borrower’s special counsel or any other reputable counsel could no longer render a substantive non-consolidation opinion with respect to the Borrower.
Upon a Responsible Officer of the Borrower or the Servicer obtaining actual knowledge of the occurrence of an Event of Default, each of the Borrower and the Servicer shall promptly (and in any event within two (2) Business Days) notify each other and the Agents, specifying each specific Event of Default that has then occurred as well as all other Events of Default that are then known to be continuing. Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default
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actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Collateral Agent, the Collateral Agent shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent (which will notify the Lenders promptly) of such Event of Default in writing.
Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, in addition to all rights and remedies specified in this Agreement and the other Facility Documents, including Article VII, and the rights and remedies of a secured party under Applicable Law, including the UCC, the Administrative Agent shall, at the request of, or may with the consent of, the Majority Lenders, by notice to the Borrower (with a copy to the Collateral Agent), do any one or more of the following: (1) declare the Commitments to be terminated, whereupon the Commitments shall be terminated, and (2) declare the principal of and the accrued Interest on the Advances and all other Obligations whatsoever payable by the Borrower hereunder to be forthwith due and payable, whereupon such amounts shall be immediately due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other formalities of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower; provided that, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default described in clause (i) of this Section 6.01, the Commitments shall automatically terminate and the Advances and all such other amounts shall automatically become due and payable, without any further action by any party.
In addition, upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default (and with respect to the remedy provided in clause (w) below, upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default described in clause (p) above), following written notice by the Administrative Agent (provided in its sole discretion or at the direction of the Required Lenders) to the Servicer of the exercise of control rights with respect to the Collateral, the Administrative Agent may exercise such rights, including: (v) the exercise of the Servicer’s rights and obligations under the Facility Documents, including its unilateral power to (A) consent to modifications to Collateral Loans, (B) take any discretionary action with respect to Collateral Loans and (C) direct the acquisition, sales and other dispositions of Collateral Loans to be immediately terminated; (w) subject to delivery of a Servicer Removal Notice, remove the Servicer and transfer of the Servicer’s rights and obligations under the Facility Documents to a Replacement Servicer; (x) if the Servicer is not terminated or otherwise replaced, to require the Servicer to obtain the consent of the Administrative Agent before agreeing to any modification of any Collateral Loan, taking any discretionary action with respect to any Collateral Loan or causing the Borrower to sell or otherwise dispose of any Collateral Loan; (y) if the Servicer is not terminated or otherwise replaced, to require the Servicer to cause the Borrower to sell or otherwise dispose of any Collateral Loan as directed by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 7.03, and (z) with respect to any specific Collateral Loan, to require the Servicer to take such discretionary action with respect to such Collateral Loan as directed by the Administrative Agent.
SECTION 6.02. OC Ratio Posting Payments. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if an OC Ratio Breach has occurred, within 10 Business Days of the occurrence of such OC Ratio Breach, the Equityholder may, but shall not be required to, cure such condition by making a cash payment into the Principal Collection Subaccount in an amount (which shall be in increments of $500,000) that would cause such OC Ratio Breach to be cured
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after giving effect to such payment into the Principal Collection Subaccount (any such payment, an “OC Ratio Posting Payment”); provided that the aggregate amount of OC Ratio Posting Payments made by the Equityholder, measured cumulatively from the Closing Date onward, and equity contributions and deemed capital contributions made by the Equityholder may not exceed $350,000,000.
ARTICLE VII 
PLEDGE OF COLLATERAL; RIGHTS OF THE COLLATERAL AGENT
SECTION 7.01. Grant of Security. (a)  The Borrower hereby grants, pledges, transfers and collaterally assigns to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, as collateral security for all Obligations, a continuing security interest in, and a Lien upon, all of the Borrower’s right, title and interest in, to and under, the following property, in each case whether tangible or intangible, wheresoever located, and whether now owned by the Borrower or hereafter acquired and whether now existing or hereafter coming into existence (in each case excluding the Excluded Amounts) (all of the property described in this Section 7.01(a) being collectively referred to herein as the “Collateral”):
(i) all Collateral Loans and Related Documents (including those listed, as of the Closing Date, in Schedule 3), both now and hereafter owned, including all Collections and other Proceeds thereon or with respect thereto;
(ii) each Covered Account and all Money and all investment property (including all securities, all security entitlements with respect to such Covered Account and all financial assets carried in such Covered Account) from time to time on deposit in or credited to each Covered Account;
(iii) all interest, dividends, distributions and other Money or property of any kind distributed in respect of the Collateral Loans of the Borrower, which the Borrower is entitled to receive, including all Collections in respect of its Collateral Loans;
(iv) each Facility Document and all rights, remedies, powers, privileges and claims under or in respect thereto (whether arising pursuant to the terms thereof or otherwise available to the Borrower at law or equity), including the right to enforce each such Facility Document and to give or withhold any and all consents, requests, notices, directions, approvals, extensions or waivers under or with respect thereto, to the same extent as the Borrower could but for the assignment and security interest granted to the Collateral Agent under this Agreement;
(v) all Cash or Money;
(vi) all securities, loans and investments and, in each case as defined in the UCC, accounts, chattel paper, deposit accounts, instruments, financial assets, investment property, general intangibles, letter-of-credit rights, and supporting obligations of the Borrower, and all other property of any type or nature in which the Borrower has an interest (including the equity interests of each subsidiary of the Borrower), and all
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property of the Borrower which is delivered to the Collateral Agent by or on behalf of the Borrower (whether or not constituting Collateral Loans or Eligible Investments);
(vii) all Liens, property, guaranties, supporting obligations, insurance and other agreements or arrangements of whatever character from time to time supporting or securing payment of the assets, investments and properties described above; and
(viii) all Proceeds of any and all of the foregoing.
(b) All terms used in this Section 7.01 but not defined in Section 1.01 shall have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in the UCC as applicable.
SECTION 7.02. Release of Security Interest. Upon the Collection Date or pursuant to Section 8.08, the Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, shall, at the expense of the Borrower, promptly execute, deliver and file or authorize for filing such instruments as the Borrower shall reasonably request in order to reassign, release or terminate the Secured Parties’ security interest in the Collateral. The Secured Parties acknowledge and agree that upon the sale or disposition of any Collateral by the Borrower in compliance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the security interest of the Secured Parties in such Collateral shall immediately terminate and the Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, shall, at the expense of the Borrower, execute, deliver and file or authorize for filing such instrument as the Borrower shall reasonably request to reflect or evidence such termination. Any and all actions under this Article VII in respect of the Collateral shall be without any recourse to, or representation or warranty by any Secured Party and shall be at the sole cost and expense of the Borrower.
SECTION 7.03. Rights and Remedies. The Collateral Agent (for itself and on behalf of the other Secured Parties) shall have all of the rights and remedies of a secured party under the UCC and other Applicable Law. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Collateral Agent or its designees shall, at the written direction of the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders acting through the Administrative Agent, (a) instruct the Borrower to deliver any or all of the Collateral, the Related Documents and any other document relating to the Collateral to the Collateral Agent or its designees and otherwise give all instructions for the Borrower regarding the Collateral; (b) sell or otherwise dispose of the Collateral in a commercially reasonable manner, all without judicial process or proceedings; (c) take control of the Proceeds of any such Collateral; (d) subject to the provisions of the applicable Related Documents, exercise any consensual or voting rights in respect of the Collateral; (e) release, make extensions, discharges, exchanges or substitutions for, or surrender all or any part of the Collateral; (f) enforce the Borrower’s rights and remedies with respect to the Collateral; (g) institute and prosecute legal and equitable proceedings to enforce collection of, or realize upon, any of the Collateral; (h) require that the Borrower immediately take all actions necessary to cause the liquidation of the Collateral in order to pay all amounts due and payable in respect of the Obligations, in accordance with the terms of the Related Documents; (i) redeem any asset of the Borrower to pay amounts due and payable in respect of the Obligations; (j) make copies of all books, records and documents relating to the Collateral; and (k) endorse the name of the Borrower upon any items of payment relating to the Collateral or
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upon any proof of claim in bankruptcy against an account debtor. To the extent permitted by applicable law, each of the Borrower, the Servicer and the Equityholder waive all claims, damages and demands it may acquire against the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties arising out of the exercise by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent of any of their rights hereunder, except for any claims, damages and demands it may have against the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent arising from the willful misconduct or gross negligence of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent or their affiliates, or any agents or employees of the foregoing.
The Borrower hereby agrees that, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, at the request of either Agent or the Required Lenders (acting through the Administrative Agent), it shall execute all documents and agreements which are necessary or appropriate to have the Collateral to be assigned to the Collateral Agent or its designee. For purposes of taking the actions described in clauses (a) through (k) of this Section 7.03 the Borrower hereby irrevocably appoints the Collateral Agent as its attorney-in-fact (which appointment being coupled with an interest and is irrevocable while any of the Obligations remain unpaid), with power of substitution, in the name of the Collateral Agent or in the name of the Borrower or otherwise, for the use and benefit of the Collateral Agent, but at the cost and expense of the Borrower and, except as expressly required by Applicable Law, without notice to the Borrower.
Each of the Borrower, the Servicer and the Equityholder recognizes that the Administrative Agent may be unable to effect a public sale of any or all of the Collateral, by reason of certain prohibitions contained in the Securities Act, and applicable state securities laws or otherwise, and may be compelled to resort to one or more private sales thereof to a restricted group of purchasers which will be obliged to agree, among other things, to acquire such item of Collateral for their own account for investment and not with a view to the distribution or resale thereof. Each of the Borrower, the Servicer and the Equityholder acknowledges and agrees that any such private sale may result in prices and other terms less favorable to the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties than if such sale were a public sale and, notwithstanding such circumstances, agree that any such private sale shall not be deemed to have been made in a commercially unreasonable manner solely by virtue of being a private sale.
Each of the Borrower, the Servicer and the Equityholder further agrees that a breach of any of their covenants contained in this Section 7.03 will cause irreparable injury to the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties, that the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties have no adequate remedy at law in respect of such breach and, as a consequence, that each and every covenant contained in this Section 7.03 shall be specifically enforceable against the Borrower, the Servicer and the Equityholder, and each of the Borrower, the Servicer and the Equityholder hereby waives and agrees not to assert any defenses against an action for specific performance of such covenants except for a defense that no Event of Default has occurred under this Agreement or any defense relating to the Administrative Agent’s willful misconduct or gross negligence.
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Pursuant to the UCC, each of the Borrower, the Servicer and the Equityholder hereby specifically agrees (x) that it shall not raise any objection to any Secured Party’s purchase of the Collateral (through bidding on the obligations or otherwise) and (y) that a foreclosure sale conducted in conformity with the principles set forth in the No Action Letters promulgated by the SEC staff (1) shall be considered to be a “public” sale for purposes of the UCC, (2) shall be considered commercially reasonable notwithstanding that the Secured Party has not registered or sought to register the Collateral under the Securities Act, even if the Borrower agrees to pay all costs of the registration process, and (3) shall be considered to be commercially reasonable notwithstanding that the Secured Party purchases the Collateral at such a sale.
Each of the Borrower, the Servicer and the Equityholder agrees that neither the Administrative Agent nor the Collateral Agent shall not have any general duty or obligation to make any effort to obtain or pay any particular price for any Collateral sold by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Agreement. Each of the Borrower, the Servicer and the Equityholder hereby agrees that the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent shall have the right to conduct, and shall not incur any liability as a result of, the sale of any Collateral, or any part thereof, at any sale conducted in a commercially reasonable manner, it being agreed by the parties hereto that some or all of the Collateral is or may be of one or more types that threaten to decline speedily in value. The Borrower, the Servicer and the Equityholder hereby waive any claims against the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent arising by reason of the fact that the price at which any of the Collateral may have been sold at a private sale was less than the price that might have been obtained at a public sale or was less than the aggregate amount of the Borrower’s obligations under this Agreement, even if the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent accepts the first bid received and does not offer any Collateral to more than one bidder, provided that Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent has acted in a commercially reasonable manner in conducting such private sale. Without in any way limiting the Administrative Agent’s or the Collateral Agent’s right to conduct a foreclosure sale in any manner which is considered commercially reasonable, each of the Borrower, the Servicer and the Equityholder hereby agrees that any foreclosure sale conducted in accordance with the following provisions shall be considered a commercially reasonable sale, and each of the Borrower, the Servicer and the Equityholder hereby irrevocably waives any right to contest any such sale conducted in accordance with the following provisions:
(1) the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent conducts such foreclosure sale in the State of New York;
(2) such foreclosure sale is conducted in accordance with the laws of the State of New York; and
(3) not more than thirty days before, and not less than three Business Days in advance of such foreclosure sale, the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent notifies the Borrower, the Servicer and the Equityholder at the address set forth herein of the time and place of such foreclosure sale.
In connection with the sale of the Collateral following the acceleration of the Obligations, the Equityholder, the Servicer and their respective Affiliates shall have the right to
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purchase any or all of the Collateral, in each case by paying to the Collateral Agent in immediately available funds, an amount equal to all outstanding Obligations. If the Equityholder, the Servicer and their respective Affiliates fail to exercise this purchase right within ten (10) days following such acceleration of the Obligations, then such contractual rights shall be irrevocably forfeited by the Equityholder, the Servicer and all Affiliates thereof, but nothing herein shall prevent the Equityholder, the Servicer or their respective Affiliates from bidding at any sale of such Collateral.
Notwithstanding anything in this Section 7.03 to the contrary, the Collateral Agent shall be under no duty or obligation to take any affirmative action to exercise or enforce any power, right or remedy available to it under this Agreement unless and to the extent expressly so directed by the Administrative Agent, the Required Lenders or the Majority Lenders, as applicable; provided that the Collateral Agent shall not be required to take any action hereunder at the direction of the Administrative Agent or any Secured Party if such action would, in the reasonable determination of the Collateral Agent (x) be in violation of or contrary to applicable law or any provisions of this Agreement or other Facility Document or (y) expose the Collateral Agent to liability unless it has received reasonably satisfactory indemnity with respect thereto.
All sums paid or advanced by the Collateral Agent in connection with the foregoing and all out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including reasonable and documented attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred in connection therewith, together with interest thereon at the Post-Default Rate from the date of payment until repaid in full, shall be paid by the Borrower to the Collateral Agent from time to time on demand in accordance with the Priority of Payments and shall constitute and become a part of the Obligations secured hereby.
SECTION 7.04. Remedies Cumulative. Each right, power, and remedy of the Agents and the other Secured Parties, or any of them, as provided for in this Agreement or in the other Facility Documents or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or by statute or otherwise shall be cumulative and concurrent and shall be in addition to every other right, power, or remedy provided for in this Agreement or in the other Facility Documents or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or by statute or otherwise, and the exercise or beginning of the exercise by either of the Agents or any other Secured Party of any one or more of such rights, powers, or remedies shall not preclude the simultaneous or later exercise by such Persons of any or all such other rights, powers, or remedies.
SECTION 7.05. Related Documents. (a)  Each of the Borrower and the Servicer hereby agrees that, to the extent not expressly prohibited by the terms of the Related Documents, after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, it shall (i) upon the written request of either Agent, promptly forward to such Person all material information and notices which it receives under or in connection with the Related Documents relating to the Collateral, (ii) upon the written request of the Administrative Agent, promptly forward to the Administrative Agent any reasonably requested information relating to any specified Collateral Loans and (iii) upon the written request of either Agent, act and refrain from acting in respect of any request, act, decision or vote under or in connection with the Related Documents relating to
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the Collateral only in accordance with the direction of the Administrative Agent (in its reasonable discretion).
(a) The Borrower agrees that, to the extent the same shall be in the Borrower’s possession, it will hold all Related Documents relating to the Collateral in trust for the Collateral Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties, and upon request of either Agent following the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default or as otherwise provided herein, promptly deliver the same to the Collateral Agent or its designee. In addition, in accordance with the Custodian Agreement, promptly (and in any event, within five (5) Business Days) following its acquisition of any Collateral Loan, the Borrower shall deliver to the Custodian, to the extent applicable, copies of the Related Documents.
SECTION 7.06. Borrower Remains Liable. (a)  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) the Borrower shall remain liable under the contracts and agreements included in and relating to the Collateral (including the Related Documents) to the extent set forth therein, and shall perform all of its duties and obligations under such contracts and agreements to the same extent as if this Agreement had not been executed, and (ii) the exercise by any Secured Party of any of its rights hereunder shall not release the Borrower from any of its duties or obligations under any such contracts or agreements included in the Collateral.
(a) No obligation or liability of the Borrower is intended to be assumed by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party under or as a result of this Agreement or the other Facility Documents, or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, including under any Related Document or any other agreement or document that relates to Collateral and, to the maximum extent permitted under provisions of Law, the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties expressly disclaim any such assumption.
SECTION 7.07. Protection of Collateral. The Borrower shall from time to time execute, deliver, file and/or authorize the filing of all UCC-1 financing statements and continuation statements and the equivalent thereof in any applicable foreign jurisdiction, if applicable, instruments of further assurance and other instruments, and shall take such other action as may be necessary or advisable to secure the rights and remedies of the Secured Parties hereunder and to:
(a) grant security more effectively on all or any portion of the Collateral;
(b) maintain, preserve and perfect any grant of security made or to be made by this Agreement including the first priority nature of the Lien granted hereunder or to carry out more effectively the purposes hereof;
(c) perfect, publish notice of or protect the validity of any grant made or to be made by this Agreement (including any and all actions necessary as a result of changes in Law);
(d) enforce any of the Collateral or other instruments or property included in the Collateral;
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(e) preserve and defend title to the Collateral and the rights therein of the Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties in the Collateral against the claims of all third parties; and
(f) pay or cause to be paid any and all taxes levied or assessed upon all or any part of the Collateral.
The Borrower hereby designates the Collateral Agent as its agent and attorney in fact to prepare and file any UCC-1 financing statement and continuation statement and the equivalent thereof in any applicable foreign jurisdiction, if applicable, and all other instruments, and take all other actions, required pursuant to this Section 7.07 if the Borrower fails to take any such action within ten (10) Business Days after either Agent’s request therefor. Such designation shall not impose upon the Collateral Agent or the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party, or release or diminish, the Borrower’s obligations under this Section 7.07. The Borrower further authorizes the Collateral Agent to file UCC-1 financing statements or the equivalent thereof in any foreign jurisdiction, if applicable, that name the Borrower as debtor and the Collateral Agent as secured party and that describes “all assets in which the debtor now or hereafter has rights” as the Collateral in which the Collateral Agent has a grant of security hereunder.
ARTICLE VIII 
ACCOUNTS, ACCOUNTINGS AND RELEASES
SECTION 8.01. Collection of Money. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Collateral Agent may demand payment or delivery of, and shall collect, directly and without intervention or assistance of any fiscal agent or other intermediary, all Money and other property payable to or receivable by the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Agreement, including all payments due on the Collateral, in accordance with the terms and conditions of such Collateral. The Collateral Agent shall segregate and hold all such Money and property received by it in trust for the Secured Parties and shall apply it as provided in this Agreement. Each Covered Account shall be established and maintained under the Account Control Agreement with a Qualified Institution. Any Covered Account may contain any number of subaccounts for the convenience of the Collateral Agent or as required by the Servicer for convenience in administering the Covered Account or the Collateral.
SECTION 8.02. Collateral Account and Collection Account. (a)  In accordance with this Agreement and the Account Control Agreement, the Borrower shall, on or prior to the Closing Date, establish at the Securities Intermediary (i) the “Collateral Account,” which shall be maintained with the Securities Intermediary in accordance with the Account Control Agreement and which shall be subject to the Lien of the Collateral Agent, and (ii) the “Collection Account” which shall be maintained with the Securities Intermediary in accordance with the Account Control Agreement, which shall be subject to the Lien of the Collateral Agent and which shall consist of two segregated subaccounts, one of which will be designated the “Interest Collection Subaccount” and one of which will be designated the “Principal Collection Subaccount.” The Collateral Agent shall from time to time deposit into the Interest Collection Subaccount, in
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addition to the deposits required pursuant to Section 8.06(a), promptly upon receipt thereof, all Interest Proceeds received by the Collateral Agent. The Collateral Agent shall deposit promptly upon receipt thereof all other amounts remitted to the Collection Account into the Principal Collection Subaccount including, in addition to the deposits required pursuant to Section 8.06(a), all Principal Proceeds (unless simultaneously reinvested in additional Collateral Loans in accordance with Article X or in Eligible Investments or required to be deposited in the Revolving Reserve Account pursuant to Section 8.04) received by the Collateral Agent. All Monies deposited from time to time in the Collection Account pursuant to this Agreement shall be held by the Collateral Agent as part of the Collateral and shall be applied to the purposes herein provided. Subject to Section 8.02(c), amounts in the Collection Account shall be reinvested pursuant to Section 8.06(a). Other than as expressly set forth herein, the Collateral Agent shall from time to time deposit into the Collateral Account any Collateral that is capable of being delivered to and held by the Securities Intermediary and credited to an account in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Account Control Agreement.
(a) At any time when reinvestment is permitted pursuant to Article X, the Servicer on behalf of the Borrower (subject to compliance with Article X) may, by delivery of a certificate or an email instruction of a Responsible Officer of the Servicer or a trade ticket, direct the Collateral Agent to, and upon receipt of such certificate, email or trade ticket, as applicable, the Collateral Agent shall, withdraw funds on deposit in the Principal Collection Subaccount representing Principal Proceeds (together with accrued interest received with regard to any Collateral Loan and Interest Proceeds but only to the extent used to pay for accrued interest on an additional Collateral Loan) and reinvest such funds in additional Collateral Loans or make a Permitted Distribution or Permitted RIC Distribution in accordance with such certificate, email or trade ticket. At any time as of which sufficient funds are not on deposit in the Revolving Reserve Account, the Servicer on behalf of the Borrower may, by delivery of a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Servicer, direct the Collateral Agent to, and upon receipt of such certificate the Collateral Agent shall, withdraw funds on deposit in the Principal Collection Subaccount representing Principal Proceeds and remit such funds as so directed by the Servicer to meet the Borrower’s funding obligations in respect of Delayed Drawdown Collateral Loans or Revolving Collateral Loans.
(b) The Collateral Agent shall transfer to the Payment Account, from the Collection Account for application pursuant to Section 9.01(a), on the Business Day prior to each Payment Date, the amount set forth to be so transferred in the Payment Date Report for such Payment Date.
SECTION 8.03. Payment Account. In accordance with this Agreement and the Account Control Agreement, the Borrower shall, on or prior to the Closing Date, establish at the Securities Intermediary a single, segregated trust account in the name “BGSL Breckenridge Funding LLC Payment Account, subject to the Lien of the Collateral Agent,” which shall be designated as the “Payment Account,” which shall be maintained by the Borrower with the Securities Intermediary in accordance with the Account Control Agreement and which shall be subject to the Lien of the Collateral Agent. Except as provided in Section 9.01, the only permitted withdrawal from or application of funds on deposit in, or otherwise to the credit of, the
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Payment Account shall be to pay amounts due and payable under the Priority of Payments on the Payment Dates in accordance with their terms and the provisions of this Agreement. The Borrower shall not have any legal, equitable or beneficial interest in the Payment Account other than in accordance with this Agreement and the Priority of Payments. Amounts on deposit in the Payment Account will not be invested.
SECTION 8.04. The Revolving Reserve Account; Fundings. In accordance with this Agreement and the Account Control Agreement, the Borrower shall, on or prior to the Closing Date, establish at the Securities Intermediary a single, segregated trust account in the name “BGSL Breckenridge Funding LLC Revolving Reserve Account, subject to the Lien of the Collateral Agent,” which shall be designated as the “Revolving Reserve Account,” which shall be maintained by the Borrower with the Securities Intermediary in accordance with the Account Control Agreement and which shall be subject to the Lien of the Collateral Agent. The only permitted deposits to or withdrawals from the Revolving Reserve Account shall be in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. The Borrower shall not have any legal, equitable or beneficial interest in the Revolving Reserve Account other than in accordance with this Agreement and the Priority of Payments.
During the Reinvestment Period, fundings of Delayed Drawdown Collateral Loans and Revolving Collateral Loans shall be made using, first, amounts on deposit in the Revolving Reserve Account, then available Principal Proceeds on deposit in the Collection Account and finally, available Borrowings. On the last day of the Reinvestment Period, to the extent the amount of funds on deposit in the Revolving Reserve Account are less than the Revolving Exposure, (x) the Borrower shall request a final Borrowing in an amount sufficient to fund the Revolving Reserve Account in an amount equal to the Revolving Exposure; provided that after giving effect to such Borrowing, the aggregate principal amount of the Advances then outstanding shall not exceed the Maximum Available Amount, and/or (y) the Borrower shall deposit other available funds into the Revolving Reserve Account in an amount sufficient to fund the Revolving Reserve Account in an amount equal to the Revolving Exposure. After the Commitment Termination Date, fundings of Delayed Drawdown Collateral Loans and Revolving Collateral Loans shall be made using, first, amounts on deposit in the Revolving Reserve Account, then available Principal Proceeds on deposit in the Collection Account. In addition, after the Commitment Termination Date, all Principal Proceeds received with respect to Revolving Collateral Loans shall be deposited into the Revolving Reserve Account to the extent such proceeds may be re-borrowed by the related Obligors.
Amounts on deposit in the Revolving Reserve Account will be invested in overnight funds that are Eligible Investments selected by the Servicer pursuant to Section 8.06 and earnings from all such investments will be deposited in the Interest Collection Subaccount as Interest Proceeds. Funds in the Revolving Reserve Account (other than earnings from Eligible Investments therein) will be available solely to cover drawdowns on the Delayed Drawdown Collateral Loans and Revolving Collateral Loans and settle purchases of Collateral Loans committed to be acquired by the Borrower prior to the end of the Reinvestment Period; provided that, to the extent that the aggregate amount of funds on deposit therein at any time exceeds an amount equal to the Revolving Exposure, the Collateral Agent, at the direction of the Borrower
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(or the Servicer on its behalf) shall remit such excess to the Principal Collection Subaccount. In addition, following the occurrence of an Event of Default, funds in the Revolving Reserve Account may be withdrawn by the Collateral Agent and deposited into the Principal Collection Subaccount pursuant to and at the direction of the Administrative Agent.
SECTION 8.05. [Reserved].
SECTION 8.06. Reinvestment of Funds in Covered Accounts; Reports by Collateral Agent. (a)  By delivery of a certificate of a Responsible Officer (which may be in the form of standing instructions), the Borrower (or the Servicer on behalf of the Borrower) shall at all times direct the Collateral Agent to, and, upon receipt of such certificate, the Collateral Agent shall, invest all funds on deposit in the Collection Account and the Revolving Reserve Account in Eligible Investments having stated maturities no later than the Business Day preceding the next Payment Date (or such shorter maturities expressly provided herein, including Section 8.04 above). If, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default, the Servicer shall not have given any such investment directions, such funds shall remain uninvested. After the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Collateral Agent shall invest and reinvest such Monies as fully as practicable in Specified Eligible Investments selected by the Administrative Agent in accordance with the definition of Specified Eligible Investment (and if no Specified Eligible Investment has been specified, such funds shall be invested in the Specified Eligible Investment selected by the Servicer or held uninvested if none has been selected). Except to the extent expressly provided otherwise herein, all interest, gain, loss and other income from such investments shall be deposited, credited or charged (as applicable) in and to the Interest Collection Subaccount. Absent its timely receipt of such instruction from the Servicer in accordance with the foregoing, the Collateral Agent shall not be under an obligation to invest (or pay interest on) funds held hereunder. The Collateral Agent shall in no way be liable for any insufficiency in a Covered Account resulting from any loss relating to any such investment.
(a) The Collateral Agent agrees to give the Borrower prompt notice if any Covered Account or any funds on deposit in any Covered Account, or otherwise to the credit of a Covered Account, shall become subject to any writ, order, judgment, warrant of attachment, execution or similar process. All Covered Accounts shall remain at all times with the Securities Intermediary.
(b) The Collateral Agent shall supply, in a timely fashion, to the Borrower and the Servicer any information regularly maintained by the Collateral Agent that the Borrower or the Servicer may from time to time reasonably request with respect to the Collateral, the Covered Accounts and the other Collateral and provide any other requested information reasonably available to the Collateral Agent and required to be provided by Section 8.07 or to permit the Servicer to perform its obligations hereunder or the Borrower’s obligations hereunder that have been delegated to the Servicer. The Collateral Agent shall promptly forward to the Servicer copies of notices and other writings received by it from the Obligor of any Collateral Loan or from any Clearing Agency with respect to any Collateral Loan which notices or writings advise the holders of such Collateral Loan of any rights that the holders might have with respect thereto (including requests to vote with respect to amendments or waivers and notices of prepayments
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and redemptions) as well as all periodic financial reports received from such Obligor and Clearing Agency with respect to such Obligor.
SECTION 8.07. Accountings.
(a) Monthly. Not later than two (2) Business Days prior to the 15th calendar day of each calendar month, beginning with February 2019 (other than March, June, September and December in each year) (such date, the “Monthly Reporting Date”), the Servicer shall compile and provide to the Agents and the Lenders, a monthly report for the prior calendar month (each, a “Monthly Report”) in accordance with this Section 8.07. The Servicer shall compile and provide to the Collateral Agent and the Administrative Agent a loan data file (the “Data File”) in the form of Exhibit H for the previous monthly period ending on the Monthly Report Determination Date (containing such information agreed upon by the Servicer, the Collateral Agent and the Administrative Agent). The Servicer shall provide (or cause to be provided) the Data File to the Collateral Agent at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Monthly Reporting Date and, with respect to a Payment Date Report, at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Payment Date. The Collateral Agent shall use commercially reasonable efforts to review and, based solely on the Data File provided by the Borrower (or Servicer on its behalf), re-calculate the calculations in clauses (i) through (xvi) below made by the Servicer in any such Monthly Report or Payment Date Report, as applicable, for such calendar month, within two (2) Business Days of the receipt thereof and notify the Servicer and the Administrative Agent in the event of any discrepancy between the Collateral Agent’s calculations and the Monthly Report and Payment Date Report. The Collateral Agent shall re-calculate pursuant to the preceding sentence: (i) Aggregate Net Collateral Balance, (ii) Borrowing Base, (iii) Excess Concentration Amount, (iv) Maximum Available Amount, (v) Tranche A Borrowing Base, (vi) Tranche B Borrowing Base, (vii) Tranche C Borrowing Base, (viii) Tranche A OC Ratio, (ix) Tranche B OC Ratio, (x) Tranche C OC Ratio, (xi) each Tranche Minimum OC Coverage Test, (xii) each Coverage Test, (xiii) for any Payment Date Report, completion of Priority of Payments pursuant to Section 9.01(a), (xiv) balances for each of the Covered Accounts and (xv) such other calculations as may be mutually agreed upon by the Collateral Agent, the Servicer and the Administrative Agent. Upon receipt of such notice reporting and showing discrepancies, if any, from the Collateral Agent and in any event by no later than the Monthly Reporting Date, the Servicer shall compile and provide (or cause to be compiled and provided) to the Agents and the Lenders the Monthly Report. As used herein, the “Monthly Report Determination Date” with respect to any calendar month in which a Payment Date does not occur (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next Business Day) will be the last day of such calendar month. The Monthly Report for a calendar month shall contain the information with respect to the Collateral Loans and Eligible Investments included in the Collateral that is agreed to by the Servicer, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent from time to time, and shall be determined as of the Monthly Report Determination Date for such calendar month.
In addition, the Borrower shall provide (or cause to be provided) in each Monthly Report a statement setting forth in reasonable detail each amendment, modification or waiver under any Related Document for each Collateral Loan that constitutes a Material Modification
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that became effective since the immediately preceding Monthly Report (or, in respect of the first Monthly Report, from the Closing Date).
(b) Payment Date Accounting. The Borrower shall render (or cause to be rendered) an accounting (each, a “Payment Date Report”), determined as of the close of business on each Determination Date preceding a Payment Date (such Determination Date, a “Payment Date Report Determination Date”), and shall deliver such Payment Date Report to the Agents, the Servicer and each Lender not later than the second Business Day preceding the related Payment Date. The Payment Date Report shall contain the information that is agreed to by the Servicer, the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent from time to time.
(c) Daily Accounting. For each Business Day, the Collateral Agent shall render to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent and the Servicer) a daily report of (i) all deposits to and withdrawals from the Covered Accounts for such Business Day and the outstanding balance of the Covered Accounts as of the end of such Business Day, (ii) all settled trades of securities for such Business Day, (iii) the Adjusted Principal Balance of each Collateral Loan as of the end of such Business Day, (iv) the OC Ratio as of the end of such Business Day, (v) the Borrower’s compliance with the Concentration Limitations, (vi) the Loan Value of each Collateral Loan, (vii) the S&P rating and Moody’s rating of each Collateral Loan and/or the Obligor thereunder (if applicable), (viii) all principal and interest payments made or to be made on each Collateral Loan on such Business Day, (ix) the applicable interest rates, interest rate resets, interest accrual periods and libor floors, if any, of each Collateral Loan, (x) the portion of the Principal Balance of any Delayed Drawdown Collateral Loan that is unfunded, (xi) the amount of Interest Proceeds received from Collateral Loans and Eligible Investments, (xii) the Collateral Loans that are Defaulted Collateral Loans and (xiii) such other items as may be agreed upon from time to time by the Collateral Agent and the Borrower. “Loan Value” shall be determined in accordance with the definition herein and provided to the Collateral Agent. For purposes of calculating the Adjusted Principal Balance of each Collateral Loan, the Collateral Agent shall begin including each Collateral Loan in the report as of its trade date.
(d) Failure to Provide Accounting. If the Collateral Agent shall not have received any accounting provided for in this Section 8.07 on the first Business Day after the date on which such accounting is due to the Collateral Agent, the Collateral Agent shall notify the Servicer who shall use reasonable efforts to obtain such accounting by the applicable Monthly Reporting Date or Payment Date, as applicable. The Collateral Agent shall in no event have any liability for the actions or omissions of the Servicer, the Borrower or any other Person, and shall have no liability for any inaccuracy or error in any duty performed by it that results from or is caused by inaccurate, untimely or incomplete information or data received by it from the Servicer, the Borrower or another Person (other than claims relating to the Collateral Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct).
SECTION 8.08. Release of Collateral. (a)  The Borrower may, by delivery of a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Servicer (with the written consent of the Administrative Agent if the Administrative Agent has notified the Collateral Agent in writing, following the occurrence of or during the continuation of an Event of Default, to only permit
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releases with the written consent of the Administrative Agent) delivered to the Collateral Agent and Custodian, as applicable, at least one (1) Business Day prior to the settlement date for any sale of any item of Collateral certifying that the sale of such loan is being made in accordance with Section 10.01 and such sale complies with all applicable requirements of Section 10.01, direct the Collateral Agent to release or cause to be released such item from the Lien of this Agreement and, upon receipt of such certificate, the Collateral Agent (or Custodian, as applicable) shall deliver any such item, if in physical form, duly endorsed to the broker or purchaser designated in such certificate or, if such item is a Clearing Corporation Security, cause an appropriate transfer thereof to be made, in each case against receipt of the sales price therefor as specified by the Servicer in such certificate; provided that the Collateral Agent may deliver any such item in physical form for examination in accordance with street delivery custom.
(a) Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Collateral Agent (or Custodian, as applicable) shall, upon the receipt of a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Servicer, deliver any Collateral in accordance with such certificate, and execute such documents or instruments as are delivered by or on behalf of the Borrower and reasonably necessary to release or cause to be released such security from the Lien of this Agreement, which is set for any mandatory call or redemption or payment in full to the appropriate paying agent on or before the date set for such call, redemption or payment, in each case against receipt of the call or redemption price or payment in full thereof.
(b) As provided in Section 8.02(a), the Collateral Agent shall deposit any proceeds received by it from the disposition of any Collateral in the applicable subaccount of the Collection Account, unless simultaneously applied to the purchase of additional Collateral Loans or Eligible Investments as permitted under and in accordance with the requirements of this Article VIII and Article X.
(c) The Collateral Agent shall, upon receipt of a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying that there are no Commitments outstanding and all Obligations of the Borrower hereunder and under the other Facility Documents have been satisfied, execute such documents or instruments as are delivered by or on behalf of the Borrower and reasonably necessary to release any remaining Collateral from the Lien of this Agreement.
(d) Any Collateral Loan or amounts that are released pursuant to Section 8.08(a) or (b) shall be automatically released from the Lien of this Agreement.
SECTION 8.09. Reports by Independent Accountants. (a)  The Servicer will cause Protiviti Inc. or any other firm of nationally recognized independent public accountants (who may also render other services to the Servicer) consented to by the Administrative Agent (the “Independent Accountants”) to furnish to the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the Collateral Agent (i) on or prior to December, 2019 (the “Initial AUP Report Date”), a report relating to one Monthly Report and one Payment Date Report (in each case, as selected by the Administrative Agent), each delivered prior to the Initial AUP Report Date, and (ii) on or prior to each one-year anniversary of the Initial AUP Report Date (each such anniversary, an “AUP Report Date”), a report relating to one Monthly Report and one Payment Date Report (in each
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case, as selected by the Administrative Agent), each delivered during the twelve (12) months immediately preceding such AUP Report Date, in each case, to the effect that such accountants have applied certain agreed-upon procedures (a copy of which procedures are attached hereto as Exhibit F, it being understood that the Servicer and the Administrative Agent will provide an updated Exhibit F reflecting any further amendments to such Exhibit F prior to the issuance of the first such agreed-upon procedures report, a copy of which shall replace the then existing Exhibit F) to certain documents and records relating to the Collateral under any Facility Document, compare the information contained in selected Monthly Reports and Payment Date Reports (and all calculations therein) delivered during the period covered by such report with such documents and records and that no matters came to the attention of such accountants that caused them to believe that such servicing was not conducted in compliance with this Agreement, except for such exceptions as such accountants shall believe to be immaterial and such other exceptions as shall be set forth in such statement.
(a) In the event the Independent Accountants appointed pursuant to clause (a) above require the Collateral Agent to agree to the procedures performed by such Independent Accountants with respect to any of the reports, statements or certificates of such Independent Accountants, or sign any agreement in connection therewith, Borrower hereby directs the Collateral Agent to agree to the terms and conditions requested by such Independent Accountants as a condition to receiving documentation required by this Agreement; it being understood and agreed that the Collateral Agent shall deliver such agreement in conclusive reliance on the foregoing direction and shall make no inquiry or investigation as to, and shall have no obligation or responsibility in respect of, the terms of the engagement of such Independent Accountants by the Borrower or the sufficiency, validity or correctness of the agreed upon procedures in respect of such engagement. The Borrower hereby authorizes and directs the Collateral Agent, without liability on its part, to execute and deliver any such agreement with such Independent Accountants in the form presented to it by the Borrower (or the Servicer on behalf of the Borrower), which agreement, to the extent so directed by the Borrower (or the Servicer on behalf of the Borrower), may include, amongst other things, (i) an acknowledgement that the Borrower (or the Servicer on behalf of the Borrower) has agreed that the procedures by such Independent Accountants are sufficient for the relevant purposes, (ii) releases by the Collateral Agent of any claims, liabilities and expenses arising out of or relating to such Independent Accountant’s engagement, agreed-upon procedures or any report, statement or certificate issued by such Independent Accountants under any such engagement and acknowledgement of other limitations of liability in favor of such Independent Accountants and (iii) restrictions or prohibitions on the disclosure of any such reports, statements, certificates or other information or documents provided to it by such Independent Accountants.
ARTICLE IX 
APPLICATION OF MONIES
SECTION 9.01. Disbursements of Monies from Payment Account. (a)  Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement, but subject to the other subsections of this Section 9.01, on each Payment Date, the Collateral Agent shall disburse amounts transferred from the Collection Account to the Payment Account pursuant to Section 8.02 in
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accordance with the Payment Date Report and the following priorities (the “Priority of Payments”):
(i) On each Payment Date prior to the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default, Interest Proceeds on deposit in the Interest Collection Subaccount, to the extent received on or before the related Determination Date (or, if such Determination Date is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day) will be transferred into the Payment Account, to be applied in the following order of priority:
(A) to pay registration, registered office and filing fees, if any, of the Borrower, subject to a cap of $15,000 per annum;
(B) to pay Administrative Expenses; provided that the amounts in this clause (B) shall not exceed the Administrative Expense Cap;
(C) to each Lender, pro rata, based on amounts owed, to pay accrued and unpaid Interest on the Advances and Commitment Fees due to each such Lender and amounts payable to each such Lender under Section 2.11;
(D) to the Administrative Agent to pay all fees and expenses of the Administrative Agent under the Facility Documents;
(E) (1) first, to the Servicer to pay the Servicer Fee, plus any Servicer Fee that remains due and unpaid in respect of any prior Payment Dates as a result of insufficient funds and (2) second, to pay Servicer Expenses; provided that the amounts in this clause (2) shall not exceed the Servicer Expense Cap for such Payment Date;
(F) (1) on the Payment Date occurring after the 12-month anniversary of the Commitment Termination Date, pro rata to the Lenders to reduce the outstanding principal amount to not more than 75% of the outstanding principal amount as of the Commitment Termination Date (calculated after giving effect to any paydown on such Payment Date pursuant to Section 9.01(a)(ii)) and (2) on the Payment Date occurring after the 18-month anniversary of the Commitment Termination Date, pro rata to the Lenders to reduce the outstanding principal amount to not more than 50% of the outstanding principal amount as of the Commitment Termination Date (calculated after giving effect to any paydown on such Payment Date pursuant to Section 9.01(a)(ii));
(G) if the Coverage Tests are not satisfied as of the relevant Determination Date, to pay principal of the Advances of each Lender (pro rata, based on each Lender’s Percentage) until the Coverage Tests are satisfied (on a pro forma basis as at such Determination Date); provided that the Borrower shall be permitted to allocate such principal payments among the Tranches on each Payment Date so long as, after giving effect to such allocation of payments on such Payment Date, each Tranche’s Tranche Minimum OC Coverage Test is
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satisfied; provided, further, that, if the Borrower would be unable to cause each Tranche’s Tranche Minimum OC Coverage Test to be satisfied on any Payment Date after allocating such payments, the Administrative Agent shall allocate such payments in its sole discretion;
(H) (i) during the Reinvestment Period, at the discretion of the Servicer, for deposit into the Revolving Reserve Account until the amount on deposit therein equals the Revolving Exposure and (ii) after the Reinvestment Period, for deposit into the Revolving Reserve Account until the amount on deposit therein equals the Revolving Exposure;
(I) to pay, on a pro rata basis, accrued and unpaid amounts owing to Affected Persons (if any) under Sections 2.10 and 13.04, all unpaid Commitment Reduction Fees and all other fees, expenses or indemnities owed to the Secured Parties or Indemnified Parties;
(J) (1) first, to the payment or application of amounts referred to in clause (B) above (in the same order of priority specified therein), to the extent not paid in full pursuant to applications under such clause, (2) second, to the payment or application of amounts referred to in clause (D) above to the extent not paid in full pursuant to such clause, and (3) third, to the payment or application of amounts referred to in clause (E) above to the extent not paid in full pursuant to such clause; and
(K) (1) if a Default has occurred and is continuing, to remain in the Interest Collection Subaccount (other than any Permitted RIC Distribution) or (2) otherwise, any remaining amount shall be released to the Equityholder or its designee (or, at the direction of the Servicer, deposited into the Principal Collection Subaccount for investment in Collateral Loans).
(ii) On each Payment Date prior to the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default, except for any Principal Proceeds that will be used to settle binding commitments entered into prior to the related Determination Date for the purchase of Collateral Loans, Principal Proceeds on deposit in the Principal Collection Subaccount to the extent received on or before the related Determination Date (or, if such Determination Date is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day) will be transferred to the Payment Account to be applied in the following order of priority:
(A) to the payment of unpaid amounts under clauses (A) through (E) in clause (i) above (in the same order of priority specified therein), to the extent not paid in full thereunder, but subject to any caps specified therein;
(B) during the Reinvestment Period, (i) if the Coverage Tests are not satisfied as of the relevant Determination Date, to pay principal of the Advances of each Lender (pro rata, based on each Lender’s Percentage) until such Coverage Tests are satisfied (on a pro forma basis as at such Determination Date) and (ii) to
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the Principal Collection Subaccount for the purchase of additional Collateral Loans (including funding Revolving Collateral Loans and Delayed Drawdown Collateral Loans) and/or for the making of any Permitted Distribution or Permitted RIC Distribution;
(C) after the Reinvestment Period, to pay the Advances of each Lender (pro rata, based on each Lender’s Percentage) until the Advances are paid in full; provided that the Borrower shall be permitted to allocate such principal payments among the Tranches on each Payment Date so long as, after giving effect to such allocation of payments on such Payment Date, each Tranche’s Tranche Minimum OC Coverage Test is satisfied; provided, further, that, if the Borrower would be unable to cause each Tranche’s Tranche Minimum OC Coverage Test to be satisfied on any Payment Date after allocating such payments, the Administrative Agent shall allocate such payments in its sole discretion;
(D) to the payment of amounts referred to in clauses (I) and (J) of clause (i) above (in the same order of priority specified therein), to the extent not paid in full thereunder; and
(E) (1) if a Default has occurred and is continuing, to remain in the Principal Collection Subaccount (other than any Permitted RIC Distribution) or (2) otherwise, any remaining amount shall be released to the Equityholder or its designee (or, at the direction of the Servicer, deposited into the Principal Collection Subaccount for investment in Collateral Loans).
(iii) On each Payment Date following the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default, all Interest Proceeds in the Interest Collection Subaccount and all Principal Proceeds in the Principal Collection Subaccount, except for any Principal Proceeds that will be used to settle binding commitments entered into prior to the related Determination Date for the purchase of Collateral Loans, in each case, to the extent received on or before the related Determination Date (or, if such Determination Date is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day) will be transferred to the Payment Account to be applied in the following order of priority:
(A) to pay registration, registered office and filing fees, if any, of the Borrower, subject to a cap of $15,000 per annum;
(B) (1) first, to pay Administrative Expenses as provided in Section 9.01(a)(i)(B) subject to the Administrative Expense Cap and (2) second, to the Administrative Agent to pay all fees and expenses of the Administrative Agent under the Facility Documents;
(C) to each Lender, pro rata, based on amounts owed, to pay accrued and unpaid Interest on the Advances and Commitment Fees due to each such Lender and amounts payable to each such Lender under Section 2.11;
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(D) (1) first, to the Servicer to pay the Servicer Fee, plus any Servicer Fee that remains due and unpaid in respect of any prior Payment Dates as a result of insufficient funds and (2) second, to pay Servicer Expenses in accordance with the priorities specified in the definition thereof, provided that the amounts in this clause (D)(2) shall not exceed the Servicer Expense Cap;
(E) to pay the principal of the Advances of each Lender (pro rata, based on each Lender’s Percentage) until paid in full; provided that the Administrative Agent shall allocate such principal payments among the Tranches in its sole discretion;
(F) to pay, on a pro rata basis, accrued and unpaid amounts owing to Affected Persons (if any) under Sections 2.10 and 13.04, all unpaid Commitment Reduction Fees and all other fees, expenses or indemnities owed to the Secured Parties or Indemnified Parties;
(G) (1) first, to the payment of amounts referred to in clause (B) and (2) second, to the payment of amounts referred to in clause (D)(2) above, in each case to the extent not paid in full pursuant to such clause; and
(H) any remaining amount shall be released to the Equityholder or its designee.
(b) If on any Payment Date the amount available in the Payment Account is insufficient to make the full amount of the disbursements required by the Payment Date Report, the Collateral Agent shall make the disbursements called for in the order and according to the priority set forth under Section 9.01(a) to the extent funds are available therefor.
ARTICLE X 
SALE OF COLLATERAL LOANS;
PURCHASE OF ADDITIONAL COLLATERAL LOANS
SECTION 10.01. Sales of Collateral Loans.
(a) Discretionary Sales of Collateral Loans. Subject to the satisfaction of the conditions specified in Section 10.03, the Borrower (or the Servicer on behalf of the Borrower) may, but will not be required to, direct the Collateral Agent to sell, and the Collateral Agent shall sell in the manner directed by the Servicer, any Collateral Loan if such sale meets the requirements set forth below (as shown in the Borrowing Base Calculation Statement delivered with respect thereto in accordance with Section 5.02(d)(iii)):
(i) no Default or Event of Default exists or would result upon giving effect thereto; provided that the Borrower (or the Servicer on behalf of the Borrower) may sell one or more Collateral Loans if after giving effect thereto and the application of the proceeds thereof any existing Default or Event of Default would be cured;
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(ii) upon giving effect thereto and the application of the proceeds thereof, the Minimum OC Coverage Test is satisfied;
(iii) such sale is not to the Equityholder, the Servicer or a Person that is an Affiliate of the Borrower, the Equityholder or the Servicer unless it complies with Section 5.03(h) and Section 10.03; and
(iv) if the sale is after the Reinvestment Period, after giving effect to such sale or disposition, the OC Ratio would not (A) be decreased and (b) be less than 125% without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent;
provided that the restriction in clause (iii) above in this Section 10.01(a) shall not apply to sales of Defaulted Collateral Loans or Ineligible Collateral Loans.
Notwithstanding anything above that would otherwise prohibit the sale of a Collateral Loan after the occurrence or during the continuance of a Default or an Event of Default, if the Borrower entered into an agreement to sell any such Collateral prior to the occurrence of such Default or an Event of Default, but such sale did not settle prior to the occurrence of such Default or an Event of Default, then the Borrower shall be permitted to consummate such sale notwithstanding the occurrence of such Default or an Event of Default; provided that the settlement for such sale occurs within the customary settlement period for similar trades.
(b) Ineligible Collateral Loans. Notwithstanding Section 10.01(a), if on any day a Collateral Loan is no longer an Eligible Collateral Loan, the Borrower shall either make a deposit of the funds and/or deliver one or more replacement Collateral Loans for such ineligible Collateral Loan, in each case pursuant to the Loan Sale Agreement and in accordance with Section 10.03. Upon confirmation of the deposit of the amount described above into the Collection Account or the delivery to the Borrower of the replacement Collateral Loans, such ineligible Collateral Loan shall be removed from the Collateral and the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, shall automatically and without further action be deemed to release to the Borrower, without recourse, representation or warranty, all the right, title and interest and any Lien of the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties in, to and under such ineligible Collateral Loan.
(c) Sales of Equity Securities. The Borrower (or the Servicer on behalf of the Borrower) may sell any Equity Security at any time without restriction, and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect the sale of any Equity Security, regardless of price, within forty-five (45) days of receipt if such Equity Security constitutes Margin Stock, unless such sale is prohibited by Applicable Law or contract, in which case such Equity Security should be sold as soon as such sale is permitted by Applicable Law or contract.
SECTION 10.02. Purchase of Additional Collateral Loans. (a)  On any date during the Reinvestment Period, if no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower (or the Servicer on behalf of the Borrower) may, if each of the conditions specified in this Section 10.02 and Section 10.04 are met, invest Principal Proceeds (and accrued interest
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received with respect to any Collateral Loan to the extent used to pay for accrued interest on additional Collateral Loans and other amounts on deposit in the Principal Collection Subaccount) in additional Collateral Loans on the current Approved List or subject to an Approval Request; provided that no Collateral Loan may be purchased unless each of the following conditions are satisfied as of the date the Servicer commits on behalf of the Borrower to make such purchase and after giving effect to such purchase and all other sales or purchases previously or simultaneously committed to:
(i) the Borrower shall have delivered and the Administrative Agent shall have approved an Approval Request with respect to the Collateral Loan pursuant to the terms of Section 2.02;
(ii) such obligation is an Eligible Collateral Loan; and
(iii) each Coverage Test is satisfied (or, if not satisfied immediately prior to such investment, compliance with such Coverage Test is maintained or improved).
SECTION 10.03. Conditions Applicable to All Sale and Purchase Transactions. (a)  Any transaction effected under this Article X (other than sales required by Section 10.01(c)) or in connection with the acquisition of additional Collateral Loans shall be for fair market value and, if effected with a Person that is the Equityholder or an Affiliate thereof, shall be (i) in compliance with Section 5.03(h), (ii) effected in accordance with all Applicable Laws, (iii) during the 12-month period most recently ended prior to the relevant date of determination (or such lesser number of months as shall have elapsed since the Closing Date), and after giving pro forma effect to such transaction, the value of Collateral Loans substituted or sold by the Borrower to Affiliates of the Servicer may not exceed 20% of the highest Aggregate Principal Balance of Collateral Loans of the Borrower during such 12-month period (or such higher percentage as agreed to by the Administrative Agent), and (iv) during the 12-month period most recently ended prior to the relevant date of determination (or such lesser number of months as shall have elapsed since the Closing Date), and after giving pro forma effect to such transaction, the value of Defaulted Collateral Loans substituted or sold by the Borrower to Affiliates of the Servicer may not exceed 10% of the highest Aggregate Principal Balance of Collateral Loans of the Borrower during such 12-month period.
(a) Upon each acquisition by the Borrower of a Collateral Loan (i) all of the Borrower’s right, title and interest to such Collateral Loan shall be subject to the Lien granted to the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Agreement and (ii) such Collateral Loan shall be Delivered to the Collateral Agent.
SECTION 10.04. Additional Equity Contributions. (a)  The Equityholder may, but shall have no obligation to, at any time or from time to time make a capital contribution to the Borrower for any purpose, including for the purpose of curing any Default, satisfying any Coverage Test, enabling the acquisition or sale of any Collateral Loan or satisfying any conditions under Section 3.02. Each contribution shall either be made (a) in Cash (in which event such contributions shall be made by deposit into the Collection Account), (b) by assignment and contribution of an Eligible Investment and/or (c) by assignment of a Collateral
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Loan that is an Eligible Collateral Loan. In connection with any contribution described in this Section 10.04, the Servicer shall provide written instruction to the Collateral Agent identifying (a) the subclause under which such contribution is being made (the “Contribution Notice”) and (b)(i) in the case of contributions made in Cash, (A) the timing of such contribution and (B) the amount of such contribution and (ii) in the case of contributions made by assignment and contribution of an Eligible Investment and/or by assignment of a Collateral Loan that is an Eligible Collateral Loan, (A) the name of such Eligible Investment and/or Collateral Loan and (B) attaching the accompanying assignment forms. All Cash contributed to the Borrower shall be treated as Principal Proceeds, except to the extent that the Servicer specifies in the Contribution Notice that such Cash shall constitute Interest Proceeds and shall be deposited into a Collection Account in accordance with Section 8.02 as designated by the Servicer.
ARTICLE XI 
ADMINISTRATION AND SERVICING OF CONTRACTS
SECTION 11.01. Appointment and Designation of the Servicer.
(a) Initial Servicer. The Borrower hereby appoints Blackstone/GSO Secured Lending Fund, pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, as Servicer, with the authority to service, administer and exercise rights and remedies, on behalf of the Borrower, in respect of the Collateral. Blackstone/GSO Secured Lending Fund hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to perform the duties and responsibilities of the Servicer pursuant to the terms hereof. The Servicer and the Borrower hereby acknowledge that the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties are third party beneficiaries of the obligations undertaken by the Servicer hereunder.
(b) Servicer Removal Notice. The Borrower, the Servicer, each Lender and the Administrative Agent hereby agree that, upon the occurrence of a Servicer Removal Event, the Administrative Agent may provide a removal notice to the Servicer (with a copy to the Collateral Agent) (a “Servicer Removal Notice”) and terminate all of the rights, obligations, power and authority of the Servicer under this Agreement. On and after the receipt by the Servicer of a Servicer Removal Notice pursuant to this Section 11.01(b), the Servicer shall continue to perform all servicing functions under this Agreement until the date specified in the Servicer Removal Notice or otherwise specified by the Administrative Agent in writing or, if no such date is specified in such Servicer Removal Notice or otherwise specified by the Administrative Agent, until a date mutually agreed upon by the Servicer and the Administrative Agent and shall be entitled to receive the Servicer Fee therefor accrued until such date. After such date, the Servicer agrees that it will terminate its activities as Servicer hereunder in a manner that the Administrative Agent believes will facilitate the transition of the performance of such activities to the Replacement Servicer, and except as provided herein the Replacement Servicer shall assume each and all of the Servicer’s obligations to service and administer the Collateral, on the terms and subject to the conditions herein set forth, and the Servicer shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to assist the Replacement Servicer in assuming such obligations.
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(c) Appointment of Replacement Servicer. At any time following the delivery of a Servicer Removal Notice, the Administrative Agent may appoint a successor servicer (the “Replacement Servicer”), which appointment shall take effect upon the Replacement Servicer accepting such appointment by a written assumption in a form satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion. Upon the appointment of a Replacement Servicer, the initial Servicer shall have no liability with respect to any action performed by the Replacement Servicer on or after the date that the Replacement Servicer assumes the servicing duties of the Servicer.
(d) Liabilities and Obligations of Replacement Servicer. Upon its appointment, the Replacement Servicer shall be the successor in all respects to the Servicer with respect to servicing functions under this Agreement and shall be subject to all the responsibilities, duties and liabilities relating thereto placed on the Servicer by the terms and provisions hereof, and all references in this Agreement to the Servicer shall be deemed to refer to the Replacement Servicer; provided that the Replacement Servicer shall have (i) no liability with respect to any action performed by the terminated Servicer prior to the date that the Replacement Servicer becomes the successor to the Servicer or any claim of a third party based on any alleged action or inaction of the terminated Servicer, (ii) no obligation to perform any advancing or any repurchase obligations, if any, of the Servicer unless it elects to in its sole discretion, (iii) no obligation to pay any Taxes required to be paid by the Servicer (provided that the Replacement Servicer shall pay any income Taxes for which it is liable), (iv) no obligation to pay any of the fees and expenses of any other party to the transactions contemplated hereby, and (v) no liability or obligation with respect to any Servicer indemnification obligations of any prior Servicer, including the original Servicer. The indemnification obligations of the Replacement Servicer, upon becoming a Replacement Servicer, are expressly limited to those arising on account of its failure to act in good faith and with reasonable care under the circumstances. In addition, the Replacement Servicer shall have no liability relating to the representations and warranties of the Servicer contained in Section 4.02. Any other provision in this Agreement notwithstanding, if a Replacement Servicer is appointed, it shall perform its obligations hereunder in good faith and with reasonable care, exercising a degree of skill and attention no less than what it exercises to service similar assets for itself and for others, such standard of care to be the “Servicing Standard” applicable to it.
(e) Subcontracts. The Servicer may, without the consent of any party but with prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, subcontract with any other Person for servicing, administering or collecting the Collateral; provided that (i) the Servicer shall select any such Person with reasonable care and shall be solely responsible for the fees and expenses payable to any such Person, (ii) the Servicer shall not be relieved of, and shall remain liable for, the performance of the duties and obligations of the Servicer pursuant to the terms hereof without regard to any subcontracting arrangement and (iii) any such subcontract shall be terminable upon the occurrence of a Servicer Removal Event.
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SECTION 11.02. Duties of the Servicer.
(a) Duties. The Servicer shall take or cause to be taken all such actions as may be necessary or advisable to service, administer and collect on the Collateral from time to time, all in accordance with Applicable Law and the Servicing Standard. Prior to the delivery of a Servicer Removal Notice, but subject to the terms of this Agreement (including Section 11.04 and Article VI), the Servicer has the sole and exclusive authority to make any and all decisions with respect to the Collateral and take or refrain from taking any and all actions with respect to the Collateral. Without limiting the foregoing, the duties of the Servicer shall include the following:
(i) supervising the Collateral, including communicating with Obligors, executing amendments, providing consents and waivers, exercising voting rights, enforcing and collecting on the Collateral and otherwise managing the Collateral on behalf of the Borrower;
(ii) maintaining all necessary servicing records with respect to the Collateral and providing such reports to the Administrative Agent and each Lender (with a copy to the Collateral Agent and the Custodian) in respect of the servicing of the Collateral (including information relating to its performance under this Agreement) as may be required hereunder or as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably request and which can be obtained without any undue burden or expense;
(iii) maintaining and implementing administrative and operating procedures (including an ability to recreate servicing records evidencing the Collateral in the event of the destruction of the originals thereof) and keeping and maintaining all documents, books, records and other information reasonably necessary or advisable for the collection of the Collateral;
(iv) promptly delivering to the Administrative Agent, each Lender, the Collateral Agent or the Custodian, from time to time, such information and servicing records (including information relating to its performance under this Agreement) as the Administrative Agent, each Lender, Custodian or the Collateral Agent may from time to time reasonably request and which can be obtained without any undue burden or expense;
(v) identifying each Collateral Loan in its internal servicing records to reflect the ownership of such Collateral Loan by the Borrower;
(vi) notifying the Administrative Agent and each Lender of any material action, suit, proceeding, dispute, offset, deduction, defense or counterclaim (A) that is or is threatened to be asserted by an Obligor with respect to any Loan (or portion thereof) of which it has actual knowledge or has received notice; or (B) that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(vii) maintaining the perfected security interest of the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, in the Collateral;
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(viii) directing the Collateral Agent to make payments pursuant to the terms of the Payment Date Report;
(ix) assisting the Borrower with respect to the purchase and sale of and payment for the Collateral Loans and Eligible Investments;
(x) instructing the Obligors and the administrative agents on the Collateral Loans to make payments directly into the Collection Account established and maintained with the Collateral Agent;
(xi) delivering assignments and promissory notes to the Custodian;
(xii) complying with such other duties and responsibilities as may be required of the Servicer by this Agreement; and
(xiii) assisting in the acquisition and sale of Collateral Loans and other Collateral in accordance with Article X and the Servicing Standard.
It is acknowledged and agreed that in circumstances in which a Person other than the Borrower or the Servicer acts as lead agent with respect to any Collateral Loan, the Servicer shall perform its servicing duties hereunder only to the extent a lender under the applicable Related Documents has the right to do so.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the exercise by the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties of their rights hereunder shall not release the Servicer (unless replaced by a Replacement Servicer) or the Borrower from any of their duties or responsibilities with respect to the Collateral. The Secured Parties, the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the Collateral Agent shall not have any obligation or liability with respect to any Collateral, nor shall any of them be obligated to perform any of the obligations of the Servicer hereunder, unless one of them becomes a Replacement Servicer hereunder.
(c) Any payment by an Obligor in respect of any indebtedness owed by it to the Borrower shall, except as otherwise specified by such Obligor or otherwise required by contract or law and unless otherwise instructed by the Administrative Agent, be applied as a collection of a payment by such Obligor (starting with the oldest such outstanding payment due, provided such obligation is not on non-accrual) to the extent of any amounts then due and payable thereunder before being applied to any other receivable or other obligation of such Obligor.
(d) The Servicer agrees to supervise and assist in the investment and reinvestment of the Collateral, and shall perform on behalf of the Borrower the duties that have been expressly delegated to the Servicer in this Agreement and any other Facility Document (and the Servicer shall have no obligation to perform any other duties hereunder or otherwise) and, to the extent necessary or appropriate to perform such duties, the Servicer shall have the power to execute and deliver all necessary and appropriate documents and instruments on behalf of the
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Borrower with respect thereto. The Servicer shall comply with the terms and conditions hereof and any other Facility Document expressly applicable to it, in its capacity as the Servicer, or otherwise affecting the duties and functions that have been delegated to it thereunder and hereunder as the Servicer and shall perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder in good faith and with reasonable care, using a degree of skill and attention no less than the Servicer and its Affiliates exercises with respect to comparable assets that it services for itself and for others having similar investment objectives and restrictions substantially in accordance with its existing practices and procedures relating to assets of the nature and character of the Collateral Loans (such standard of care, the “Servicing Standard”).
SECTION 11.03. Authorization of the Servicer. (a)  Each of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and each Lender hereby authorizes the Servicer (including any successor thereto) to take any and all reasonable steps in its name and on its behalf necessary or desirable in the determination of the Servicer and not inconsistent with the grant by the Borrower to the Collateral Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties hereunder, to collect all amounts due under any and all Collateral, including, endorsing any of their names on checks and other instruments representing Collections, executing and delivering any and all instruments of satisfaction or cancellation, or of partial or full release or discharge, and all other comparable instruments, with respect to the Collateral and, after the delinquency of any Collateral and to the extent permitted under and in compliance with Applicable Law, to commence proceedings with respect to enforcing payment thereof. The Borrower and the Collateral Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties shall furnish the Servicer (and any successors thereto) with any powers of attorney and other documents reasonably necessary or appropriate to enable the Servicer to carry out its servicing and administrative duties hereunder. In case any reasonable question arises as to its duties hereunder, the Collateral Agent may request instructions from the Administrative Agent and shall be entitled at all times to refrain from taking any actions unless it has received instruction from the Administrative Agent. In no event shall the Servicer be entitled to make any Secured Party a party to any litigation without such party’s express prior written consent, or to make the Borrower a party to any litigation (other than any routine foreclosure or similar collection procedure) without the Administrative Agent’s consent.
(a) The Administrative Agent may, at any time that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, notify any Obligor with respect to any Collateral of the assignment of such Collateral to the Collateral Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties and direct that payments of all amounts due or to become due be made directly to the Administrative Agent or any servicer, collection agent or account designated by the Administrative Agent and, upon such notification and at the expense of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent may enforce collection of any such Collateral, and adjust, settle or compromise the amount or payment thereof.
SECTION 11.04. Collection Efforts, Modification of Collateral. (a)  The Servicer will use commercially reasonable efforts to collect, or cause to be collected, all payments called for under the terms and provisions of the Collateral Loans included in the Collateral as and when the same become due, all in accordance with the Servicing Standard.
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(a) In the performance of its obligations hereunder, the Borrower (or the Servicer on its behalf) may enter into any amendment or waiver of or supplement to any Related Document; provided that the prior written consent of the Required Lenders shall be required if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or an Event of Default or Default would result from such amendment, waiver or supplement. For the avoidance of doubt, any Collateral Loan that, as a result of any amendment or supplement thereto, ceases to qualify as an Eligible Collateral Loan shall not be included in the Borrowing Base.
SECTION 11.05. Servicer Compensation. As compensation for its activities hereunder and reimbursement for its expenses, the Servicer shall be entitled to be paid the Servicer Fee and reimbursed its expenses as provided in the Priority of Payments.
SECTION 11.06. The Servicer Not to Resign. The Servicer shall not resign from the obligations and duties hereby imposed on it except upon the Servicer’s determination that (a) the performance of its duties hereunder is or becomes impermissible under Applicable Law and (b) there is no reasonable action that the Servicer could take to make the performance of its duties hereunder permissible under Applicable Law. Any such determination permitting the resignation of the Servicer shall be evidenced as to clause (a) above by an opinion of counsel to such effect delivered to the Administrative Agent and each Lender. No such resignation shall become effective until a Replacement Servicer shall have assumed the responsibilities and obligations of the Servicer in accordance with Section 11.01(c).
ARTICLE XII 
THE AGENTS
SECTION 12.01. Authorization and Action. (a)  Each Lender hereby irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this Agreement and, to the extent applicable, the other Facility Documents as are delegated to such Agent by the terms hereof and thereof, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto, subject to the terms hereof. No Agent shall have any duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set forth herein or in the other Facility Documents to which it is a party or any fiduciary relationship with any Secured Party and no implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties or obligations or liabilities on the part of such Agent shall be read into this Agreement or any other Facility Document to which such Agent is a party (if any) as duties on its part to be performed or observed. No Agent shall have or be construed to have any other duties or responsibilities in respect of this Agreement or any other Facility Document and the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby. As to any matters not expressly provided for by this Agreement or the other Facility Documents, no Agent shall be required to exercise any discretion or take any action, but shall be required to act or to refrain from acting (and shall be fully protected in so acting or refraining from acting) upon the written instructions of the Majority Lenders (or, with respect to the Collateral Agent, the Administrative Agent); provided that such Agent shall not be required to take any action which exposes such Agent, in its judgment, to personal liability, cost or expense or which is contrary to this Agreement, the other Facility Documents or Applicable Law, or would be, in its judgment, contrary to its duties hereunder, under any other Facility
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Document or under Applicable Law. Each Lender agrees that in any instance in which the Facility Documents provide that an Agent’s consent may not be unreasonably withheld, provide for the exercise of such Agent’s reasonable discretion, or provide to a similar effect, it shall not in its instructions (or by refusing to provide instruction) to such Agent withhold its consent or exercise its discretion in an unreasonable manner.
(a) If the Collateral Agent has been requested or directed by the Majority Lenders or the Required Lenders, as applicable, (or by the Administrative Agent acting at the direction of the Majority Lenders or the Required Lenders) to take any action pursuant to any provision of this Agreement or any other Facility Document, the Collateral Agent shall not be under any obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Agreement or such Facility Document in the manner so requested unless it shall have been provided indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred by it in compliance with or in performing such request or direction. No provision of this Agreement or any other Facility Document shall otherwise be construed to require the Collateral Agent to expend or risk its own funds or to take any action that could in its judgment cause it to incur any cost, expenses or liability, unless it is provided indemnity acceptable to it against any such expenditure, risk, costs, expense or liability. For the avoidance of doubt, the Collateral Agent shall not have any duty or obligation to take any action to exercise or enforce any power, right or remedy available to it under this Agreement or any other Facility Document or any Related Document unless and until directed by the Majority Lenders or the Required Lenders, as applicable (or the Administrative Agent on their behalf).
(b) Neither the Collateral Agent nor any officer, agent or representative thereof shall be personally liable for any action taken by any such Person in accordance with any notice given by the Majority Lenders or the Required Lenders, as applicable, (or by the Administrative Agent acting at the direction of the Majority Lenders or the Required Lenders) pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other Facility Document even if, at the time such action is taken by any such Person, the Majority Lenders or the Required Lenders, as applicable, or Persons purporting to be the Majority Lenders or the Required Lenders, as applicable, are not entitled to give such notice, except where the Responsible Officer of the Collateral Agent has actual knowledge (without any duty of inquiry or investigation on its part) that the Majority Lenders or the Required Lenders, as applicable, or Persons purporting to be the Majority Lenders or the Required Lenders, as applicable, are not entitled to give such notice. If any dispute or disagreement shall arise as to the allocation of any sum of money received by the Collateral Agent hereunder or under any Facility Document, the Collateral Agent shall have the right to deliver such sum to a court of competent jurisdiction and therein commence an action for interpleader.
(c) If in performing its duties under this Agreement, the Collateral Agent is required to decide between alternative courses of action, it may request written instructions from the Administrative Agent as to the course of action desired by it. If the Collateral Agent does not receive such instructions within five (5) Business Days after it has requested them, the Collateral Agent may, but shall be under no duty to, take or refrain from taking any such courses of action. The Collateral Agent shall act in accordance with instructions received after such five (5)
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Business Day period except to the extent it has already, in good faith, taken or committed itself to take, action inconsistent with such instructions.
SECTION 12.02. Delegation of Duties. Each Agent may execute any of its duties under this Agreement and each other Facility Document by or through agents or attorneys-in-fact and shall be entitled to advice of counsel concerning all matters pertaining to such duties. No Agent shall be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agents or attorneys-in-fact selected by it with reasonable care other than any Affiliates of such Agent.
SECTION 12.03. Agents’ Reliance, Etc. (a)  Neither Agent nor any of their respective directors, officers, agents or employees shall be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it or them under or in connection with this Agreement or any of the other Facility Documents, except for its or their own gross negligence or willful misconduct. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Agent: (i) may consult with legal counsel (including counsel for the Borrower or the Servicer or any of their Affiliates) and independent public accountants and other experts selected by it and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken in good faith by it in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts; (ii) makes no warranty or representation to any Secured Party or any other Person and shall not be responsible to any Secured Party or any Person for any statements, warranties or representations (whether written or oral) made in or in connection with this Agreement or the other Facility Documents; (iii) shall not have any duty to monitor, ascertain or to inquire as to the performance or observance of any of the terms, covenants or conditions of this Agreement, the other Facility Documents or any Related Document on the part of the Borrower, the Servicer or any other Person or to inspect the property (including the books and records) of the Borrower or the Servicer; (iv) shall not be responsible to any Secured Party or any other Person for the due execution, legality, validity, enforceability, perfection, genuineness, sufficiency or value of any Collateral (or the validity, perfection, priority or enforceability of the Liens on the Collateral), this Agreement, the other Facility Documents, any Related Document or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto or thereto; and (v) shall incur no liability under or in respect of this Agreement or any other Facility Document by relying on, acting upon (or by refraining from action in reliance on) any notice, consent, certificate (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Borrowing Base Calculation Statement), instruction or waiver, report, statement, opinion, direction or other instrument or writing (which may be delivered by telecopier, email, cable or telex, if acceptable to it) reasonably believed by it to be genuine and believed by it to be signed or sent by the proper party or parties. No Agent shall have any liability to the Borrower or any Lender or any other Person for the Borrower’s, the Servicer’s, any Lender’s or any other Person’s, as the case may be, performance of, or failure to perform, any of their respective obligations and duties under this Agreement or any other Facility Document.
(a) No Agent shall be liable for the actions or omissions of any other Agent (including concerning the application of funds), or under any duty to monitor or investigate compliance on the part of any other Agent with the terms or requirements of this Agreement, any Facility Document or any Related Document, or their duties hereunder or thereunder. Each Agent shall be entitled to assume the due authority of any signatory and genuineness of any signature appearing on any instrument or document it may receive (including each Notice of
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Borrowing received hereunder) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. No Agent shall be liable for any action taken in good faith and reasonably believed by it to be within the powers conferred upon it, or taken by it pursuant to any direction or instruction by which it is governed, or omitted to be taken by it by reason of the lack of direction or instruction required hereby for such action (including for refusing to exercise discretion or for withholding its consent in the absence of its receipt of, or resulting from a failure, delay or refusal on the part of the Required Lenders to provide, written instruction to exercise such discretion or grant such consent from the Required Lenders, as applicable). No Agent shall be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith unless it shall be proven by a court of competent jurisdiction that such Agent was grossly negligent in ascertaining the relevant facts. Nothing herein or in any Facility Document or Related Document shall obligate any Agent to advance, expend or risk its own funds, or to take any action which in its reasonable judgment may cause it to incur any expense or financial or other liability for which it is not adequately indemnified. No Agent shall be liable for any indirect, special, punitive or consequential damages (including lost profits) whatsoever, even if it has been informed of the likelihood thereof and regardless of the form of action. No Agent shall be charged with knowledge or notice of any matter unless actually known to a Responsible Officer of such Agent, or unless and to the extent written notice of such matter is received by such Agent at its address in accordance with Section 13.02. Any permissive grant of power to an Agent hereunder shall not be construed to be a duty to act. Each Agent shall have only the duties and responsibilities as are specifically set forth in this Agreement and no covenants or obligations shall be implied in this Agreement against any Agent. Before acting hereunder, an Agent shall be entitled to request, receive and rely upon such certificates and opinions as it may reasonably determine appropriate with respect to the satisfaction of any specified circumstances or conditions precedent to such action. Neither Agent shall be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, entitlement order, approval or other paper or document. Neither Agent shall be liable for any error of judgment, or for any act done or step taken or omitted by it, in good faith, or for any mistakes of fact or law, or for anything that it may do or refrain from doing in connection herewith, except in the case of its willful misconduct or grossly negligent performance or omission of its duties.
(b) No Agent shall be responsible or liable for delays or failures in performance resulting from acts beyond its control. Such acts shall include acts of God, strikes, lockouts, riots, acts of war, epidemics, governmental regulations imposed after the fact, fire, communication line failures, computer viruses, power failures, loss or malfunction of utilities, communications or computers (software and hardware) services, earthquakes or other disasters.
(c) The delivery of reports and other documents and information to the Collateral Agent hereunder or under any other Facility Document is for informational purposes only and the Collateral Agent’s receipt of such documents and information shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein. The Collateral Agent is hereby authorized and directed to execute and deliver the other Facility Documents to which it is a party. Whether or not expressly stated in such Facility Documents, in performing (or refraining from acting) thereunder, the Collateral Agent
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shall have all of the rights, benefits, protections and indemnities which are afforded to it in this Agreement.
(d) Each Lender acknowledges that, except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, neither Agent has made any representation or warranty to it, and that no act by either Agent hereafter taken, including any consent and acceptance of any assignment or review of the affairs of the Borrower, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by such Agent to any Secured Party as to any matter. Each Lender represents to each Agent that it has, independently and without reliance upon such Agent and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own appraisal of and investigation into the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Borrower and the Servicer, and made its own decision to enter into this Agreement and the other Facility Documents to which it is a party. Each Lender also represents that it will, independently and without reliance upon either Agent or any other Secured Party and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement and the Facility Documents, and to make such investigations as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Borrower and the Servicer. Neither Agent shall have any duty or responsibility to provide any Secured Party with any credit or other information concerning the business, prospects, operations, property, financial or other condition or creditworthiness of the Borrower or Servicer which may come into the possession of such Agent.
SECTION 12.04. Indemnification. Each of the Lenders agrees to indemnify and hold the Agents harmless (to the extent not reimbursed by or on behalf of the Borrower pursuant to Section 13.04 or otherwise) from and against any and all Liabilities which may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against the Agents in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement or any other Facility Document or any Related Document or any action taken or omitted by the Agents under this Agreement or any other Facility Document or any Related Document; provided that no Lender shall be liable to any Agent for any portion of such Liabilities resulting from such Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct; and provided, further, that no Lender shall be liable to the Collateral Agent for any portion of such Liabilities unless such Liabilities are imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against the Collateral Agent as a result of any action taken, or not taken, by the Collateral Agent by the express terms of this Agreement or at the direction of the Administrative Agent or such Lender or Lenders, as the case may be, in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement (it being understood and agreed that the Collateral Agent shall be under no obligation to exercise or to honor any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Agreement at the request or direction of the Administrative Agent or any of the Lenders (or other Persons authorized or permitted under the terms hereof to make such request or give such direction) pursuant to this Agreement or any of the other Facility Document, unless the Administrative Agent or such Lenders shall have provided to the Collateral Agent security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses (including reasonable and documented attorney’s fees and expenses) and Liabilities which might reasonably be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction, whether such indemnity is provided under this Section 12.04 or otherwise). The rights of the
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Agents and obligations of the Lenders under or pursuant to this Section 12.04 shall survive the termination of this Agreement, and the earlier removal or resignation of any Agent hereunder.
SECTION 12.05. Successor Agents. (a)  Subject to the terms of this Section 12.05, each Agent may, upon thirty (30) days’ notice to the Lenders and the Borrower, resign as Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, as applicable. If an Agent shall resign, then the Required Lenders shall appoint a successor agent. If for any reason a successor agent is not so appointed and does not accept such appointment within thirty (30) days of notice of resignation, such Agent may appoint a successor agent. The appointment of any successor Agent shall be subject to the prior written consent of the Borrower (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided that the consent of the Borrower to any such appointment shall not be required if (i) a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and is continuing or (ii) if such successor agent is a Lender or an Affiliate of such Agent or any Lender. Any resignation of an Agent shall be effective upon the appointment of a successor agent pursuant to this Section 12.05. After the effectiveness of any retiring Agent’s resignation hereunder as Agent, the retiring Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Facility Documents and the provisions of this Article XII shall continue in effect for its benefit with respect to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was Agent under this Agreement and under the other Facility Documents. If no successor Collateral Agent shall have been appointed and an instrument of acceptance by a successor Collateral Agent shall not have been delivered to the Collateral Agent within sixty days after giving of notice of resignation by the Collateral Agent, the resigning Collateral Agent may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Collateral Agent.
(a) Any Person (i) into which the Collateral Agent may be merged or consolidated, (ii) that may result from any merger or consolidation to which the Collateral Agent shall be a party, or (iii) that may succeed to the corporate trust properties and assets of the Collateral Agent substantially as a whole, shall be the successor to the Collateral Agent under this Agreement without further act of any of the parties to this Agreement.
SECTION 12.06. The Collateral Agent. (a)  The Collateral Agent shall have no liability for losses arising from (i) any cause beyond its control, (ii) any delay, error, omission or default of any mail, telegraph, cable or wireless agency or operator, or (iii) the acts or edicts of any government or governmental agency or other group or entity exercising governmental powers.
(a) It is expressly acknowledged and agreed that the Collateral Agent is not guaranteeing the performance of or assuming any liability for the obligations of the other parties hereto or any portion of the Collateral.
(b) The Collateral Agent shall not be responsible for the preparation or filing of any UCC financing statements or continuation statements or the correctness of any financing statements filed in connection with this Agreement or the validity or perfection of any lien or security interest created pursuant to this Agreement.
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(c) The Collateral Agent shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Collateral Agent may agree in writing with the Borrower. In no event shall the Collateral Agent be liable for the selection of any investments or any losses in connection therewith (except in its capacity as obligor thereunder, if applicable), or for any failure of the relevant party to provide investment instruction to the Collateral Agent in connection with the investment of funds in or from any account set forth herein.
(d) The Collateral Agent shall have no liability for any failure, inability or unwillingness on the part of the Servicer, the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to provide accurate and complete information on a timely basis to the Collateral Agent, or otherwise on the part of any such party to comply with the terms of this Agreement, and shall have no liability for any inaccuracy or error in the performance or observance on the Collateral Agent’s part of any of its duties hereunder that is caused by or results from any such inaccurate, incomplete or untimely information received by it, or other failure on the part of any such other party to comply with the terms hereof.
(e) The Collateral Agent shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any certificate, report or other document; provided, however, that, if the form thereof is prescribed by this Agreement, the Collateral Agent shall examine the same to determine whether it conforms on its face to the requirements hereof. The Collateral Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of any matter unless actually known to a Responsible Officer. It is expressly acknowledged by the Borrower, the Servicer, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent that performance by the Collateral Agent of its various duties hereunder (including recalculations to be performed in respect of the matters contemplated hereby) shall be based upon, and in reliance upon, data, information and notices provided to it by the Servicer (and/or the Borrower) and/or any related bank agent, obligor or similar party with respect to the Collateral, and the Collateral Agent shall have no responsibility for the accuracy of any such information or data provided to it by such persons and shall be entitled to update its records (as it may deem necessary or appropriate). Nothing herein shall impose or imply any duty or obligation on the part of the Collateral Agent to verify, investigate or audit any such information or data, or to determine or monitor on an independent basis whether any issuer of the Collateral is in default or in compliance with the underlying documents governing or securing such item of Collateral, from time to time.
(f) The Collateral Agent shall have no duty to determine or inquire into the happening or occurrence of any event or contingency, and it is agreed that its duties hereunder are purely ministerial in nature.
(g) Should any controversy arise between the undersigned with respect to the Collateral held by the Collateral Agent, the Collateral Agent shall follow the instructions of the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties.
(h) The powers conferred on the Collateral Agent hereunder are solely to protect its interest (on behalf of the Secured Parties) in the Collateral and shall not impose any duty on it to exercise any such powers. Except for performing the obligations expressly imposed on the Collateral Agent hereunder, the Collateral Agent shall have no duty as to any Collateral or
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responsibility for ascertaining or taking action with respect to calls, conversions, exchanges, maturities, tenders or other matters relative to any Collateral, whether or not the Collateral Agent has or is deemed to have knowledge of such matters or taking any steps to preserve rights against prior parties or other rights pertaining to any Collateral.
(i) In order to comply with the laws, rules, regulations and executive orders in effect from time to time applicable to banking institutions, including those relating to the funding of terrorist activities and money laundering, the Collateral Agent may be required to obtain, verify and record certain information relating to individuals and entities which maintain a business relationship with the Collateral Agent. Accordingly, each of the parties hereto agrees to provide to the Collateral Agent upon its request from time to time such identifying information and documentation as may be available to such party in order to enable the Collateral Agent to comply with such requirements.
(j) If Wells Fargo or the Collateral Agent is also acting in another capacity, including as Custodian or Securities Intermediary, the rights, protections, immunities and indemnities afforded to Wells Fargo or the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Article XII shall also be afforded to Wells Fargo or the Collateral Agent acting in such capacities; provided that such rights, protections, benefits, immunities and indemnities shall be in addition to, and not in limitation of, any rights, protections, benefits, immunities and indemnities provided in the Custodian Agreement, Account Control Agreement or any other Facility Documents to which Wells Fargo or the Collateral Agent in such capacity is a party.
(k) The Collateral Agent shall not have any obligation to determine if a Collateral Loan meets the criteria specified in the definition of Eligible Collateral Loan.
ARTICLE XIII 
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 13.01. No Waiver; Modifications in Writing. (a)  No failure or delay on the part of any Secured Party exercising any right, power or remedy hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right, power or remedy preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy. Any waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Facility Document, and any consent to any departure by any party to this Agreement or any other Facility Document from the terms of any provision of this Agreement or such other Facility Document, shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given. No notice to or demand on the Borrower or the Servicer in any case shall entitle the Borrower or the Servicer to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.
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(a) No amendment, modification, supplement or waiver of this Agreement shall be effective unless signed by the Borrower, the Servicer, the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders; provided that:
(i) any Fundamental Amendment shall require the written consent of all Lenders affected thereby; and
(ii) no such amendment, modification, supplement or waiver shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of any Agent hereunder without the prior written consent of such Agent.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in connection with the increase of the Commitments hereunder, only the consent of the Lender increasing its Commitment (or providing a new Commitment) shall be required for any amendment that effects such increase in Commitments.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder (and any amendment, waiver or consent which by its terms requires the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender may be effected with the consent of the applicable Lenders other than Defaulting Lenders), except that (x) the Commitment of any Defaulting Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender and (y) any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that by its terms affects any Defaulting Lender more adversely than other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender.
SECTION 13.02. Notices, Etc. Except where telephonic instructions are authorized herein to be given, all notices, demands, instructions and other communications required or permitted to be given to or made upon any party hereto shall be in writing and shall be personally delivered or sent by registered, certified or express mail, postage prepaid, or by facsimile transmission, or by prepaid courier service, or by electronic mail (if the recipient has provided an email address in Schedule 5), and shall be deemed to be given for purposes of this Agreement on the day that such writing is received by the intended recipient thereof in accordance with the provisions of this Section 13.02. Unless otherwise specified in a notice sent or delivered in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Section 13.02, notices, demands, instructions and other communications in writing shall be given to or made upon the respective parties hereto at their respective addresses (or to their respective facsimile numbers or email addresses) indicated in Schedule 5, and, in the case of telephonic instructions or notices, by calling the telephone number or numbers indicated for such party in Schedule 5.
Wells Fargo agrees to accept and act upon instructions or directions pursuant to this Agreement, any other Facility Document, or any Related Document or any document executed in connection herewith or therewith sent by unsecured email, facsimile transmission or other similar unsecured electronic methods; provided, however, that any person providing such instructions or directions shall provide to Wells Fargo an incumbency certificate listing persons designated to provide such instructions or directions as such incumbency certificate may be
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supplemented from time to time. If any person elects to give Wells Fargo email or facsimile instructions (or instructions by a similar electronic method) and Wells Fargo in its discretion elects to act upon such instructions, Wells Fargo’s reasonable understanding of such instructions shall be deemed controlling. Wells Fargo shall not be liable for any losses, costs or expenses arising directly or indirectly from Wells Fargo’s reliance upon and compliance with such instructions notwithstanding such instructions conflicting with or being inconsistent with a subsequent written instruction. Any person providing such instructions or directions acknowledges and agrees that there may be more secure methods of transmitting such instructions than the method(s) selected by it and agrees that the security procedures (if any) to be followed in connection with its transmission of such instructions provide to it a commercially reasonable degree of protection in light of its particular needs and circumstances.
SECTION 13.03. Taxes. (a)  Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower under any Facility Document shall be made without deduction or withholding for any and all Taxes with respect thereto, unless required by Applicable Law. If any Applicable Law (as determined in the good faith discretion of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent) requires the deduction or withholding of any Tax from any such payment by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, then the Borrower or the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to make such deduction or withholding and shall timely pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with Applicable Law and, if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax, then the sum payable by the Borrower shall be increased as may be necessary so that after such deduction or withholding has been made (including such deductions and withholdings applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 13.03) the applicable Recipient receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been made.
(a) The Borrower agrees to timely pay to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law, or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for the payment of, any Other Taxes.
(b) The Borrower agrees to indemnify each Recipient, within 10 days after demand therefor, for (i) the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes (including any Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted by any jurisdiction on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section 13.03) payable or paid by any Recipient or required to be withheld or deducted from a payment to such Recipient and (ii) any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, in each case whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Recipient (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of another Recipient, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
(c) Each Lender shall severally indemnify the Administrative Agent, within 10 days after demand therefor, for (i) any Indemnified Taxes attributable to such Lender (but only to the extent that the Borrower has not already indemnified the Administrative Agent for such Indemnified Taxes and without limiting the obligation of the Borrower to do so), (ii) any
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Taxes attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the provisions of Section 13.06(c)(ii) relating to the maintenance of a Participant Register and (iii) any Excluded Taxes attributable to such Lender, in each case, that are payable or paid by the Administrative Agent in connection with any Facility Document, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to any Lender by the Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under any Facility Document or otherwise payable by the Administrative Agent to the Lender from any other source against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this Section 13.03(d).
(d) As soon as practicable after the date of any payment of Taxes by the Borrower to Governmental Authority pursuant to this Section 13.03, the Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by the relevant Governmental Authority evidencing payment thereof, a copy of the return reporting such payment, or other evidence of payment as may be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(e) If any Recipient in its sole discretion, but acting in good faith, determines that it has received a refund of any Taxes with respect to which it has been indemnified pursuant to this Section 13.03 (including by the payment of additional amounts pursuant to Section 13.03(a)), such Recipient shall reimburse the Borrower (or the Servicer, as applicable) such amount of any refund received (net of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred), but only to the extent of indemnity payments made under this Section with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund), as such Secured Party shall determine in its sole discretion, but acting in good faith, to be attributable to the relevant Indemnified Taxes; provided that in the event that such Secured Party is required to repay such refund to the relevant taxing authority, the Borrower agrees to return the refund to such Secured Party. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 13.03(f), in no event will any Secured Party be required to pay any amount to an indemnifying party pursuant to this Section 13.03(f) the payment of which would place such Secured Party in a less favorable net after-Tax position than such Secured Party would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification and giving rise to such refund had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts with respect to such Tax had never been paid. Unless required by Applicable Law, at no time shall any Agent have any obligation to file for or otherwise pursue on behalf of a Lender, or have any obligation to pay to any Lender, any refund of Taxes withheld or deducted from funds paid for the account of such Lender, as the case may be. This paragraph shall not be construed to require any indemnified party to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to the indemnifying party or any other Person.
(f) (i) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Facility Document shall deliver to the
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Borrower and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by Applicable Law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Sections 13.03(g)(ii), (iii) and (v) below) shall not be required if in the Lender’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.
(i) Without limiting the generality of Section 13.03(g)(i), each Lender that is a U.S. Person shall, on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or any Agent), deliver to the Borrower and each Agent, two accurate, complete and signed copies of U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding tax.
(ii) Any Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and each Agent, on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or any Agent), two accurate, complete and signed copies of whichever of the following is applicable:
(A) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party (x) with respect to payments of interest under any Facility Document, executed copies of U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN-E (or W-8BEN, as applicable) establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “interest” article of such tax treaty and (y) with respect to any other applicable payments under any Facility Document, U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN-E (or W-8BEN, as applicable) establishing an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. federal withholding Tax pursuant to the “business profits” or “other income” article of such tax treaty;
(B) executed copies of U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI;
(C) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or a “controlled foreign
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corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code (a “U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate”) and (y) executed copies of U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN-E (or W-8BEN, as applicable); or
(D) to the extent a Foreign Lender is not the beneficial owner, executed copies of U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY, accompanied by IRS Form W-ECI, IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or W-8BEN, as applicable), a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate, IRS Form W-9, and/or other certification documents from each beneficial owner, as applicable; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner.
(iii) Each Foreign Lender shall, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrower and the Agents (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrower or any Agent), executed copies of any other form prescribed by Applicable Law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in U.S. federal withholding Tax, duly completed, together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by Applicable Law to permit the Borrower or the Agents to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made.
(iv) If a payment made to a Recipient under any Facility Document would be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax imposed by FATCA if such Lender were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Recipient shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by Applicable Law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Recipient has complied with such Recipient’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment. Solely for purposes of this Section 13.03(v), “FATCA” shall include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.
Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it shall update such form or certification or promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.
(g) If any Lender requires the Borrower to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amount to such Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of such Lender
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pursuant to this Section 13.03, then such Lender shall (at the request of the Borrower) use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Advances hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if such Lender determines, in its sole discretion that such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to this Section 13.03 in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.
(h) Each party’s obligations under this Section 13.03 shall survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations under any Facility Document.
SECTION 13.04. Costs and Expenses; Indemnification. (a)  The Borrower agrees to promptly pay on demand all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses of the Agents and the Lenders in connection with the preparation, review, negotiation, reproduction, execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Facility Documents, including the reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of one outside counsel for the Administrative Agent and one outside counsel for the Collateral Agent, costs and expenses of creating, perfecting, releasing or enforcing the Collateral Agent’s security interests in the Collateral, including filing and recording fees, expenses, search fees, UCC filing fees and the equivalent thereof in any foreign jurisdiction, if applicable, and all other related fees and expenses in connection therewith; and in connection with the administration and any waiver, consent, modification or amendment or similar agreement in respect of this Agreement, the Notes or any other Facility Document and advising the Agents and Lenders as to their respective rights, remedies and responsibilities. The Borrower agrees to promptly pay on demand all reasonable and documented costs and expenses of each of the Secured Parties in connection with the enforcement of this Agreement, the Notes or any other Facility Document, including all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by the Collateral Agent in connection with the preservation, collection, foreclosure or enforcement of the Collateral subject to the Facility Documents or any interest, right, power or remedy of the Collateral Agent and the Replacement Servicer (including in its capacity as Replacement Servicer) or in connection with the collection or enforcement of any of the Obligations or the proof, protection, administration or resolution of any claim based upon the Obligations in any insolvency proceeding, including all reasonable fees and disbursements of outside attorneys, accountants, auditors, consultants, appraisers and other professionals engaged by the Collateral Agent; provided that, in each case, there shall be one primary outside attorney and one local counsel representing such Secured Parties (other than the Collateral Agent, who shall have one primary outside attorney and one local counsel) unless any conflict of interest arises. Without prejudice to its rights hereunder, the expenses and the compensation for the services of the Secured Parties are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable bankruptcy law. For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 13.04(a) shall not apply to Taxes, other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages, etc. arising from any non-Tax claim, which shall be covered by Section 13.03.
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(a) The Borrower agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Secured Party and each of their Affiliates and the respective officers, directors, employees, agents, managers of, and any Person controlling any of, the foregoing (each, an “Indemnified Party”) from and against any and all Liabilities that may be incurred by or asserted or awarded against any Indemnified Party, in each case arising out of or in connection with or by reason of the execution, delivery, enforcement, performance, administration of or otherwise arising out of or incurred in connection with this Agreement, any other Facility Document, any Related Document or any transaction contemplated hereby or thereby (and regardless of whether or not any such transactions are consummated); except that the Borrower shall not be liable to the extent any such Liability is found in a final, non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from such Indemnified Party’s gross negligence or willful misconduct; provided that any payment hereunder which relates to taxes, levies, imposes, deductions, charges and withholdings, and all liabilities (including penalties, interest and expenses) with respect thereto, or additional sums described in Sections 2.10, 2.11 or 13.03, shall not be covered by this Section 13.04(b).
(b) Subject to the Lender Fee Letter, the Servicer agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnified Party from and against any and all Liabilities that may be incurred by or asserted or awarded against any Indemnified Party, in each case arising out of or in connection with or by reason of any one or more of the following: (i) any breach by the Servicer of any covenant or any of its obligations under any Facility Document, (ii) the failure of any of the representations or warranties of the Servicer set forth in any Facility Document or in any certificate, statement or report delivered in connection therewith to be true when made or when deemed made or repeated and (iii) by reason of any gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct (as determined by the final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction) on the part of the Servicer in its capacity as Servicer; except the Servicer shall not be liable to the extent any such Liability (x) results from the performance or non-performance of the Collateral Loans or (y) is found in a final, non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from such Indemnified Party’s gross negligence or willful misconduct; provided that any payment hereunder which relates to taxes, levies, imposes, deductions, charges and withholdings, and all liabilities (including penalties, interest and expenses) with respect thereto, or additional sums described in Sections 2.10, 2.11 or 13.03, shall not be covered by this Section 13.04(c). The Servicer shall not have any liability hereunder to any Indemnified Party to the extent an Indemnified Party affects any settlement of a matter that is (or could be) subject to indemnification hereunder without the prior written consent of the Servicer (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed). In no event shall the Servicer be liable for any special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages.
(c) The Equityholder agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnified Party from and against any and all Liabilities that may be incurred by or asserted or awarded against any Indemnified Party, in each case arising out of or in connection with or by reason of any breach of the Equityholder of any covenant or any of its obligations set forth in Section 13.22.
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SECTION 13.05. Execution in Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto on separate counterparts, each of which counterparts, when so executed and delivered, shall be deemed to be an original and all of which counterparts, taken together, shall constitute but one and the same Agreement. Delivery of an executed signature page of this Agreement by facsimile or other electronic transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof.
SECTION 13.06. Assignability. (a)  Each Lender may, with the consent of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, assign to an assignee all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its outstanding Advances or interests therein owned by it, together with ratable portions of its Commitment); provided that:
(i) each of the Borrower’s and the Administrative Agent’s consent to any such assignment (A) shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed and (B) shall not be required if the assignee is a Permitted Assignee with respect to such assignor; and
(ii) the Borrower’s consent to any such assignment pursuant to this Section 13.06(a) shall not be required if (x) a Default or an Event of Default shall have occurred (and not been waived by the Lenders in accordance with Section 13.01) or (y) such assignment is required by any Change in Law.
The parties to each such assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent (with a copy to the Collateral Agent) an Assignment and Acceptance and the applicable tax forms required by Section 13.03(g). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 13.06, no assignment by any Lender to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates shall be permitted.
(b) The Borrower may not assign its rights or obligations hereunder or any interest herein without the prior written consent of the Agents and the Lenders.
(c) (i) Any Lender may, without the consent of, but with notice to, the Borrower, sell participations to Participants in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement; provided that (A) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (B) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations, (C) such Borrower, the Agents and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, and (D) each Participant shall have agreed to be bound by this Section 13.06(c), Section 13.06(d), Section 13.06(e) and Section 13.17. Any agreement pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any Fundamental Amendment. Sections 2.10, 2.11, and 13.03 shall apply to each Participant as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to clause (a) of this Section 13.06 (subject to the requirements and limitations set forth in Section 13.03, including the requirements under Section 13.03(g)); provided that (A) such Participant agrees to be subject to the provisions of
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Section 13.03(g) as if it were an assignee under clause (a) of this Section 13.06 and (B) no Participant shall be entitled to any amount under Section 2.10, 2.11, or 13.03 which is greater than the amount the related Lender would have been entitled to under any such Sections or provisions if the applicable participation had not occurred, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater amount results from a Change in Law that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation.
(ii) In the event that any Lender sells participations in any portion of its rights and obligations hereunder, such Lender as nonfiduciary agent for the Borrower shall maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of all participants in the Advances held by it and the principal amount (and stated interest thereon) of the portion of the Advance which is the subject of the participation (the “Participant Register”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any commitments, loans or its other obligations under any Facility Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations. The entries in a Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in such Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.
(d) The Administrative Agent, on behalf of and acting solely for this purpose as the nonfiduciary agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at its address specified in Section 13.02 or such other address as the Administrative Agent shall designate in writing to the Lenders, a copy of this Agreement and each signature page hereto and each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to and accepted by it and a register (the “Register”) for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders and the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the outstanding Advances maintained by each Lender under this Agreement (and any stated interest thereon). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the Agents and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower or any Lender at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice. An Advance (and a Note, if any, evidencing the same) may be assigned or sold in whole or in part only by registration of such assignment or sale on the Register (and each Note, if any, shall expressly so provide) and compliance with this Section 13.06. The Administrative Agent shall update and furnish to the Collateral Agent and the Borrower from time to time at the request of the Collateral Agent or the Borrower an updated version of Schedule 1 reflecting the then-current allocation of the Commitments.
(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein or in any other Facility Document, each Lender hereunder, and each Participant, must at all times be a “qualified purchaser” as defined in the Investment Company Act (a “Qualified Purchaser”) and a “qualified
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institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act (a “QIB”). Each Lender represents to the Borrower, (i) on the date that it becomes a party to this Agreement (whether by being a signatory hereto or by entering into an Assignment and Acceptance) and (ii) on each date on which it makes an Advance hereunder, that it is a Qualified Purchaser and a QIB. Each Lender further agrees that it shall not assign, or grant any participations in, any of its Advances or its Commitment to any Person unless such Person is a Qualified Purchaser and a QIB.
(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 13.06, any Lender may at any time pledge or grant a security interest in all or any portion of its rights (including rights to payment of principal and interest) under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or security interest granted to a Federal Reserve Bank, without notice to or consent of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent; provided that no such pledge or grant of a security interest shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or grantee for such Lender as a party hereto.
SECTION 13.07. Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES UNDER THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY, DISPUTE OR CAUSE OF ACTION (WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE) BASED UPON, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER FACILITY DOCUMENT (EXCEPT, AS TO ANY OTHER FACILITY DOCUMENT, AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH THEREIN) AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
SECTION 13.08. Severability of Provisions. Any provision of this Agreement or any other Facility Document which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.
SECTION 13.09. Confidentiality. The parties hereto agree to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed by any party (a) to its Affiliates, directors, officers, members, principals and employees, and to its agents, counsel and other advisors that have a need for such information relative to this facility (collectively, the “Related Parties”) (it being understood that, in each case, the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential and the disclosing party shall be responsible for any breach by its Related Parties under this Section 13.09); (b) to the extent required or requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over such Person or its Related Parties (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made shall be informed of the confidential nature of such Information; (c) to the extent required by Applicable Law or by any subpoena or similar legal process; provided that with respect to disclosures of Information pursuant to a subpoena or similar legal process, (A) prior to any
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disclosure under this clause (c) the disclosing party agrees to provide the Borrower with prior written notice thereof, to the extent that it is practicable to do so and to the extent that the disclosing party is permitted to provide such prior written notice to the Borrower pursuant to the terms of the subpoena or other legal process and (B) any disclosure under this clause (c) shall be limited to the portion of the Information as may be required by such Governmental Authority pursuant to such subpoena or other legal process; (d) to any other party hereto; (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Facility Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Facility Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder; (f) solely with respect to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, to (i) any assignee of or participant in, or any prospective assignee of or participant in, any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement; provided that such assignee or participant (or prospective assignee or participant) has agreed to maintain confidentiality pursuant to this Section 13.09 or another non-disclosure agreement substantially similar hereto, or (ii) any actual or prospective party (or its Related Parties) to any swap, derivative or other transaction under which payments are to be made by reference to the Borrower and its obligations, this Agreement or payments hereunder that has agreed to maintain confidentiality pursuant to this Section 13.09; or (iii) any rating agency or (g) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section by such party, or (y) becomes available to such party or any of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than a party to this Agreement. For purposes of this Section 13.09, “Information” means all information received from a party to this Agreement, the terms and substance of this Agreement and each other Facility Document and any term sheet.
SECTION 13.10. Merger. This Agreement and the other Facility Documents executed by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders taken as a whole incorporate the entire agreement between the parties hereto and thereto concerning the subject matter hereof and thereof and this Agreement and such other Facility Documents supersede any prior agreements among the parties relating to the subject matter thereof.
SECTION 13.11. Survival. All representations and warranties made hereunder, in the other Facility Documents and in any certificate delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making of the Advances hereunder. The agreements in Sections 2.10, 2.11, 2.13, 12.04, 13.03, 13.04, 13.09, 13.15 and 13.17 and this Section 13.11 shall survive the termination of this Agreement in whole or in part, the payment in full of the principal of and interest on the Advances, any foreclosure under, or modification, release or discharge of, any or all of the Related Documents and the resignation or replacement of any Agent.
SECTION 13.12. Submission to Jurisdiction; Waivers; Etc. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally:
(a) submits for itself and its property in any legal action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or the other Facility Documents to which it is a party, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect thereof, to the non-exclusive general jurisdiction of the
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courts of the State of New York in the Borough of Manhattan, the courts of the United States of America for the Southern District of New York, and the appellate courts of any of them;
(b) consents that any such action or proceeding may be brought in any court described in Section 13.12(a) and waives to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the venue of any such action or proceeding in any such court or that such action or proceeding was brought in an inconvenient court and agrees not to plead or claim the same;
(c) solely in the case of each party hereto (other than the Borrower, Servicer and Equityholder) agrees that service of process in any such action or proceeding may be effected by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified mail (or any substantially similar form of mail), postage prepaid, to such party at its address set forth in Section 13.02 or at such other address as may be permitted thereunder;
(d) EACH OF THE BORROWER, SERVICER AND EQUITYHOLDER IRREVOCABLY APPOINTS INTERTRUST CORPORATE SERVICES DELAWARE LTD. (THE “PROCESS AGENT”) WITH AN OFFICE ON THE DATE HEREOF AT 200 BELLEVUE PARKWAY, SUITE 210, WILMINGTON, NEW CASTLE COUNTY, DELAWARE 29809, AS ITS AGENT TO RECEIVE ON ITS BEHALF AND PROPERTY SERVICE OF COPIES OF ANY SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT AND ANY OTHER PROCESS WHICH MAY BE SERVED IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING. SUCH SERVICE MAY BE MADE BY MAILING OR DELIVERING A COPY OF SUCH PROCESS TO THE ACCOUNT PARTY IN CARE OF THE PROCESS AGENT AT THE PROCESS AGENT’S ABOVE ADDRESS, AND THE ACCOUNT PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AUTHORIZES AND DIRECTS THE PROCESS AGENT TO ACCEPT SUCH SERVICE ON ITS BEHALF. AS AN ALTERNATIVE METHOD OF SERVICE, EACH OF THE BORROWER, SERVICER AND EQUITYHOLDER ALSO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO THE SERVICE OF ANY AND ALL PROCESS IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING BY THE MAILING OF COPIES OF SUCH PROCESS TO IT AT ITS ADDRESS SET FORTH IN SECTION 13.02 IN THE MANNER DESCRIBED ABOVE. EACH OF THE BORROWER, SERVICER AND EQUITYHOLDER AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW. NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL AFFECT THE RIGHTS OF ANY OTHER PARTY HERETO RIGHTS TO SERVE LEGAL PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW OR AFFECT SUCH PARTY’S RIGHT TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING AGAINST THE ACCOUNT PARTY OR ITS PROPERTY IN THE COURTS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION; and
(e) waives, to the maximum extent not prohibited by law, any right it may have to claim or recover in any legal action or proceeding against any Secured Party arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Facility Document any special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages.
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SECTION 13.13. Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER FACILITY DOCUMENT OR FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM HEREIN OR THEREIN OR RELATING HERETO OR THERETO.
SECTION 13.14. Right of Setoff; Payments Pro Rata. (a)  Subject to Section 9.01(a), if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Facility Document to such Lender or their respective Affiliates, irrespective of whether or not such Lender or Affiliate shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Facility Document and although such obligations of the Borrower may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch, office or Affiliate of such Lender different from the branch, office or Affiliate holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness; provided, that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (x) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.17 and, pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and (y) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff. The rights of each Lender and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender or their respective Affiliates may have. Each Lender agrees to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application, provided, that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.
(a) Each of the Lenders agrees that, if it should receive any amount under this Agreement (whether by voluntary payments, by realization upon security, by the exercise of the right of setoff or banker’s lien, by counterclaim or cross action, by the enforcement of any right under the Facility Documents, or otherwise) which is applicable to the payment of the principal of, or interest on, the Advances or fees, of a sum which with respect to the related sum or sums received by other Lenders is in a greater proportion than the total of such Obligation then owed and due to such Lender bears to the total of such Obligation then owed and due to all of the Lenders immediately prior to such receipt, then such Lender receiving such excess payment shall purchase for cash without recourse or warranty from the other Lenders an interest in the Obligations to such other Lenders in such amount as shall result in a proportional participation by all of the Lenders in such disproportionate sum received; provided that if all or any portion of such excess amount is thereafter recovered from such Lender, such purchase shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, but without interest.
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SECTION 13.15. PATRIOT Act Notice. Each Agent and Lender hereby notifies the Borrower that, pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law on October 26, 2001)) (the “PATRIOT Act”), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and other information that will allow such Agent or Lender to identify the Borrower in accordance with the PATRIOT Act. The Borrower shall provide, to the extent commercially reasonable, such information and take such actions as are reasonably requested by any Lender or Agent in order to assist such Lender or Agent, as applicable, in maintaining compliance with the PATRIOT Act.
SECTION 13.16. Legal Holidays. In the event that the date of prepayment of Advances or the Final Maturity Date shall not be a Business Day, then notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or any other Facility Document, payment need not be made on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the nominal date of any such date of prepayment or Final Maturity Date, as the case may be, and interest shall accrue on such payment for the period from and after any such nominal date to but excluding such next succeeding Business Day.
SECTION 13.17. Non-Petition. Each of the Servicer and each Secured Party hereby agrees not to institute against, or join, cooperate with or encourage any other Person in instituting against, the Borrower any bankruptcy, reorganization, receivership, arrangement, insolvency, moratorium or liquidation proceeding or other proceeding under federal or state bankruptcy or similar laws until at least one year and one day, or, if longer, the applicable preference period then in effect plus one day, after the payment in full of all outstanding Obligations and the termination of all Commitments; provided that nothing in this Section 13.17 shall preclude, or be deemed to prevent, any Secured Party (a) from taking any action prior to the expiration of the aforementioned one year and one day period, or, if longer, the applicable preference period then in effect, in (i) any case or proceeding voluntarily filed or commenced by the Borrower or (ii) any involuntary insolvency proceeding filed or commenced against the Borrower by a Person other than any such Secured Party, or (b) from commencing against the Borrower or any properties of the Borrower any legal action which is not a bankruptcy, reorganization, receivership, arrangement, insolvency, moratorium or liquidation proceeding or other proceeding under federal or state bankruptcy or similar laws. The provisions of this paragraph shall survive the termination of this Agreement. The provisions of this Section 13.17 are a material inducement for the Secured Parties to enter into this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and are an essential term hereof. The parties hereby agree that monetary damages are not adequate for a breach of the provisions of this Section 13.17 and the Administrative Agent may seek and obtain specific performance of such provisions (including injunctive relief), including, without limitation, in any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, winding up, insolvency, moratorium, winding up or liquidation proceedings, or other proceedings under United States federal or state bankruptcy laws, or any similar laws.
SECTION 13.18. Waiver of Setoff. Each of the Borrower and the Servicer hereby waives any right of setoff it may have or to which it may be entitled under this Agreement or
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under any Applicable Law from time to time against the Administrative Agent, any Lender or its respective assets.
SECTION 13.19. Collateral Agent Execution and Delivery. By executing this Agreement, each Lender hereby consents to the terms of this Agreement, directs the Collateral Agent to execute and deliver this Agreement, and acknowledges and agrees that the Collateral Agent shall be fully protected in relying upon the foregoing consent and direction and hereby releases the Collateral Agent and its respective officers, directors, agents, employees and shareholders, as applicable, from any liability for complying with such direction, except as a result of gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Collateral Agent.
SECTION 13.20. Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Facility Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges and accepts that any liability of any EEA Financial Institution arising under or in connection with any Facility Document, to the extent such liability is unsecured, may be subject to Bail-in Action by the relevant EEA Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:
(a) the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by an EEA Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an EEA Financial Institution; and
(b) the effects of any Bail-in Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:
(i) a reduction in full or in part, in the principal amount, or outstanding amount due (including any accrued but unpaid interest), or cancellation of any such liability;
(ii) a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such EEA Financial Institution, its parent undertaking, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Facility Document; or
(iii) the variation of the terms of any Finance Document to the extent necessary to give effect to any Bail-in Action in relation to such liability.
SECTION 13.21. WAIVER OF SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY. To the extent that any of the Borrower, Servicer or Equityholder may be entitled, in any jurisdiction in which judicial proceedings may at any time be commenced with respect to this Agreement or any other Facility Document, to claim for itself or its revenues, assets or properties any immunity from suit, the jurisdiction of any court, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution of a judgment, set-off, execution of a judgment or any other legal process, and to the extent that in any such jurisdiction there may be attributed such immunity (whether or not claimed), each of
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the Borrower, the Servicer and the Equityholder irrevocably agrees not to claim and hereby irrevocably waives such immunity to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of such jurisdiction and hereby agrees that the foregoing waiver shall be enforced to the fullest extent permitted under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976 of the United States of America, as amended, and is intended to be irrevocable for the purpose of such act.
SECTION 13.22. Risk Retention. The Equityholder hereby covenants, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the Collateral Agent and, in respect of paragraphs (d) and (e) below only, the Servicer that, for so long as any Advance remains outstanding:
(a) it will retain, as originator, on an ongoing basis, a material net economic interest in the form specified in paragraph (d) of Article 6(3) of the Securitisation Regulation, being retention of the first loss tranche and, if necessary, other tranches having the same or a more severe risk profile than those transferred or sold to investors and not maturing any earlier than those transferred or sold to investors, through maintaining funding to the Borrower under the LLC Agreement, in an amount equal to not less than 5% of the Retention Basis Amount (such net economic interest being the “Retention”);
(b) neither it nor any of its Affiliates will sell, hedge or otherwise mitigate its credit risk under or associated with the Retention where to do so would cause the transaction contemplated by the Facility Documents to cease to be compliant with the EU Retention Requirements;
(c) it will take such further action, provide such information as is in its possession (provided that the provision of such information would not contravene any applicable contract, law or regulation or duties of confidentiality binding on the Equityholder) and enter into such other agreements, in each case, as may reasonably be required by the Borrower, a Lender or the Administrative Agent to satisfy the EU Retention Requirements;
(d) it will confirm to each of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Servicer, each Lender and the Collateral Agent, its continued compliance with the covenants set out at paragraphs (a) and (b) above in each Monthly Report;
(e) it will promptly notify the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Servicer, each Lender and the Collateral Agent in writing if for any reason it fails to comply with either of the covenants set out in paragraphs (a) or (b) above in any way; and
(f) it will notify each of its Affiliates of the contents of paragraph (b) above and shall use reasonable endeavours to procure that each of its Affiliates complies with the terms of paragraph (b) as if it were a party thereto.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, neither the Equityholder nor the Borrower makes any representation as to compliance of the transaction or any of the parties hereto with respect to Securitisation Regulation. Any Person accepting the benefits of this Section 13.22 and/or Section 13.23 below (including any related definitions or provisions), shall
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be deemed to have agreed to the terms set forth in this paragraph and each Lender hereby represents that is not relying on any of the Borrower, the Servicer or the Equityholder or any of their respective Affiliates, for any financial, tax, legal, accounting, or regulatory advise in connection with the matters set forth in this Section 13.22 and/or Section 13.23 below.
SECTION 13.23. EU Due Diligence Requirements.
(a) The Retention holder agrees to make available (or will cause the Servicer or the Borrower to make available), promptly upon written request by the Administrative Agent on behalf of any Lender from time to time, the documents, reports and information necessary to enable compliance by any Lender with Article 5 of the Securitisation Regulation; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower shall be obligated to do so only if such documents, reports or information is: (1) not subject to a duty of confidentiality; and (2)(a) in the Borrower’s or the Retention holder’s possession, or (b) not in the Borrower’s or the Retention holder’s possession but the Retention holder or Borrower can obtain such documents, reports or information using commercially reasonably efforts without material expense (provided further that, if obtaining such documents, reports or information would involve material expense but the requesting Lender agrees to pay it, then the Borrower shall obtain the same).
SECTION 13.24. Compliance with the Securitisation Regulation. Each of the parties hereto acknowledges that none of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, the Custodian, the Securities Intermediary and the Collateral Agent shall be responsible for and shall have no obligation to assist any other party hereto in connection with compliance with any requirement of the Securitisation Regulation applicable to them.
SECTION 13.25. Adequacy of Monetary Damages Against the Lenders. Each of the Borrower, the Servicer and the Equityholder hereby acknowledges and agrees that (i) any and all claims, damages and demands against the Administrative Agent or the Lenders arising out of, or in connection with, the exercise by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders of any Administrative Agent or any of the Lenders’ rights or remedies pursuant to this Agreement can be sufficiently and adequately remedied by monetary damages, (ii) no irreparable injury will be caused to the Borrower, the Servicer or the Equityholder as a result of, or in connection with, any such claims, damages or demands, and (iii) no equitable or injunctive relief shall be sought by the Borrower, the Servicer or the Equityholder as a result of, or in connection with, any such claims, damages or demands; provided that this Section 13.25 shall not constitute a waiver of any rights of the Borrower, the Servicer or the Equityholder to seek injunctive relief to enforce its rights under Section 13.09.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, as of the date first above written.
BGSL BRECKENRIDGE FUNDING LLC, as Borrower
By:  
Name:
Title:
BLACKSTONE/GSO SECURED LENDING FUND, as Equityholder
By:  
Name:
Title:
BLACKSTONE/GSO SECURED LENDING FUND, as Servicer
By:  
Name:
Title:
BNP PARIBAS, as Administrative Agent and a Lender
By:  
Name:
Title:
By:  
Name:
Title:
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WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Collateral Agent
By:  
Name:
Title:

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EXHIBIT 21.1
SUBSIDIARIES OF BLACKSTONE / GSO SECURED LENDING FUND

Name           Jurisdiction
BGSL JACKSON HOLE FUNDING LLC      DELAWARE
BGSL BRECKENRIDGE FUNDING LLC      DELAWARE
BGSL BIG SKY FUNDING LLC       DELAWARE
BGSL INVESTMENTS LLC        DELAWARE


Exhibit 31.1
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
RULES 13a-14(a) AND 15d-14(a) UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, Brad Marshall, Chief Executive Officer of Blackstone / GSO Secured Lending Fund, certify that:
1.I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Blackstone / GSO Secured Lending Fund (the “registrant”) for the year ended December 31, 2019;
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 the 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 (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) 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 trustees (or persons performing the equivalent function):
(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: February 27, 2020
By: /s/ Brad Marshall
Brad Marshall
Chief Executive Officer



Exhibit 31.2
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
RULES 13a-14(a) AND 15d-14(a) UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
I, Stephan Kuppenheimer, Chief Financial Officer of Blackstone / GSO Secured Lending Fund, certify that:
1.I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Blackstone / GSO Secured Lending Fund (the “registrant”) for the year ended December 31, 2019;
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 the 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 (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) 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 trustees (or persons performing the equivalent function):
(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: February 27, 2020
By: /s/ Stephan Kuppenheimer
Stephan Kuppenheimer
Chief Financial Officer



Exhibit 32.1
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
Pursuant to Section 1350, Chapter 63 of Title 18, United States Code, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the undersigned, as Chief Executive Officer of Blackstone / GSO Secured Lending Fund (the “Company”), does hereby certify that to the undersigned’s knowledge:
(1)the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 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 Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
Date: February 27, 2020
By: /s/ Brad Marshall
  Brad Marshall
  Chief Executive Officer



Exhibit 32.2
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
Pursuant to Section 1350, Chapter 63 of Title 18, United States Code, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the undersigned, as Chief Financial Officer of Blackstone / GSO Secured Lending Fund (the “Company”), does hereby certify that to the undersigned’s knowledge:
(1)the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 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 Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
Date: February 27, 2020
By: /s/ Stephan Kuppenheimer
  Stephan Kuppenheimer
  Chief Financial Officer