false0001508655TX 0001508655 2025-02-25 2025-02-25 iso4217:USD
 
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
 
FORM
8-K
 
 
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 25, 2025
 
 
Sixth Street Specialty Lending, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
 
 
 
Delaware
 
001-36364
 
27-3380000
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)
 
(Commission
File Number)
 
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
 
2100 McKinney Avenue, Suite 1500
Dallas,
TX
 
75201
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
 
(zip code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (469)
621-3001
 
 
Check the appropriate box below if the Form
8-K
filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
 
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
 
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule
14a-12
under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14a-12)
 
Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule
14d-2(b)
under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14d-2(b))
 
Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule
13e-4(c)
under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.13e-4(c))
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
 
Title of each class
 
Trading
Symbol(s)
 
Name of each exchange
on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share   TSLX   The New York Stock Exchange
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule
12b-2
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(§240.12b-2
of this chapter).
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
 
 
 

Item 1.01 - Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement
On February 25, 2025, Sixth Street Specialty Lending, Inc. (the “Company”) and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association (the “Trustee”), entered into a Second Supplemental Indenture (the “Second Supplemental Indenture”) to the Indenture, dated as of February 25, 2025, between the Company and the Trustee (the “Base Indenture”; and together with the Second Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”), relating to the Company’s issuance, offer and sale of $300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 5.625% notes due 2030 (the “Notes”).
The Notes will mature on August 15, 2030 and may be redeemed in whole or in part at the Company’s option at any time at the redemption prices set forth in the Second Supplemental Indenture. The Notes bear interest at a rate of 5.625% per year payable semiannually on February 15 and August 15 of each year, commencing on August 15, 2025. The Notes are direct unsecured obligations of the Company.
The Company expects to use the net proceeds of this offering to pay down debt under its revolving credit facility. The Indenture contains certain covenants including covenants requiring the Company to comply with Section 18(a)(1)(A) as modified by Section 61(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or any successor provisions, but giving effect, in either case, to any exemptive relief granted to the Company by the SEC, and to provide financial information to the holders of the Notes and the Trustee if the Company should no longer be subject to the reporting requirements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These covenants are subject to important limitations and exceptions that are described in the Indenture.
In addition, upon the occurrence of a change of control repurchase event (which involves the occurrence of both a change of control and a below investment grade rating of the Notes by Fitch Ratings, Inc., Moody’s Investor Service and S&P Global Ratings), the Company will be required to make an offer to purchase the Notes at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of purchase.
The Notes were offered and sold pursuant to the Registration Statement on Form
N-2
(File
No. 333-276252),
the preliminary prospectus supplement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 18, 2025 and the pricing term sheet filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 18, 2025. The transaction closed on February 25, 2025.
The foregoing descriptions of the Base Indenture, Second Supplemental Indenture and the Notes do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Base Indenture, Second Supplemental Indenture and the Notes, respectively, each filed as exhibits hereto and incorporated by reference herein.
Item 2.03 - Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation Under an
Off-Balance
Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant
The information set forth under Item 1.01 of this Form
8-K
is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 8.01 - Financial Statements and Exhibits
On February 18, 2025, the Company entered into an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) by and among the Company, Sixth Street Specialty Lending Advisers, LLC, (the “Adviser”) and BofA Securities, Inc., as representative of the several underwriters named in Schedule 1 thereto (the “Underwriters”), in connection with the issuance and sale of $300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 5.625% Notes due 2030 (the “Offering”).
 

The Offering was made pursuant to the Company’s effective shelf registration statement on Form
N-2
(Registration
No. 333-276252)
previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as supplemented by a preliminary prospectus supplement dated February 18, 2025, and a final prospectus supplement dated February 18, 2025.
The foregoing description of the Underwriting Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Underwriting Agreement filed with this report as Exhibit 1.1 and which is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01 - Financial Statements and Exhibits
(d) Exhibits:
 
Exhibit
Number
  
Description
1.1    Underwriting Agreement dated February 18, 2025 by and among Sixth Street Specialty Lending, Inc., Sixth Street Specialty Lending Advisers, LLC and BofA Securities, Inc. as representative of the several underwriters named therein.
4.1    Indenture, dated as of January 16, 2024, between Sixth Street Specialty Lending, Inc. and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K, filed on January 16, 2024).
4.2    Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of February 25, 2025, between Sixth Street Specialty Lending, Inc. and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee.
4.3    Form of 5.625% Note Due 2030 (included as part of Exhibit 4.2).
5.1    Opinion of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP.
23.1    Consent of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP (included as part of Exhibit 5.1).
104    Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).
 

SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
  SIXTH STREET SPECIALTY LENDING, INC.
 
 (Registrant)
Date: February 25, 2025     By:  
/s/ Ian Simmonds
      Ian Simmonds
      Chief Financial Officer

Exhibit 1.1

SIXTH STREET SPECIALTY LENDING, INC.

(a Delaware corporation)

$300,000,000

5.625% Notes due 2030

Underwriting Agreement

February 18, 2025

BofA Securities, Inc.

One Bryant Park

New York, New York 10036

as Representative of the Underwriters

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Sixth Street Specialty Lending, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein, to issue and sell to the several Underwriters listed in Schedule 1 hereto (the “Underwriters”), for whom BofA Securities, Inc. is acting as representative (in such capacity, the “Representative”), $300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 5.625% Notes due 2030 of the Company (the “Securities”).

The Securities will be issued under an indenture, dated as of January 16, 2024 (the “Base Indenture”), as supplemented by the Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of February 25, 2025 (the “Second Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”). The Securities will be issued in book-entry form to Cede & Co. as nominee of the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) pursuant to a blanket letter of representations, dated as of March 24, 2014, between the Company and DTC.

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

The Company hereby confirms its agreement with the several Underwriters concerning the purchase and sale of the Securities, as follows:

1. Registration Statement. The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Securities Act”), an automatic shelf registration statement on Form N-2 (File No. 276252), relating to the


Securities and certain of the Company’s other securities, which registration statement became effective upon filing with the Commission on December 22, 2023. The Company has also prepared and filed with the Commission a preliminary prospectus supplement, dated February 18, 2025, as such prospectus may be amended (the “Preliminary Prospectus Supplement”), which contains a base prospectus, dated December 22, 2023 (the “Base Prospectus” and, together with the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement, the “Preliminary Prospectus”). Promptly after execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company will prepare and file a prospectus in accordance with the provisions of Rule 430B (“Rule 430B”) promulgated under the Securities Act or Rule 430C (“Rule 430C”) promulgated under the Securities Act and Rule 424(b) (“Rule 424(b)”). The information included or incorporated by reference in such prospectus that was omitted from such registration statement at the time it became effective but that is deemed to be part of such registration statement pursuant to Rule 430C is referred to as “Rule 430C Information” and the information, if any, included or incorporated by reference in such prospectus that was omitted from such registration statement at the time it became effective but that is deemed to be part of such registration statement pursuant to Rule 430B is referred to as “Rule 430B Information.” Unless the context otherwise requires, such registration statement, including all documents filed as a part thereof and any Rule 430B Information or Rule 430C Information contained in a prospectus subsequently filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act and deemed to be part of the registration statement and also including any registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) promulgated under the Securities Act, is herein called the “Registration Statement.” The final prospectus to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) after the Applicable Time (as defined below) and to be used to confirm sales of the Securities, which will include the Base Prospectus, together with a final prospectus supplement, is hereinafter referred to as the “Prospectus.” Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include all financial statements and other information incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference pursuant to the rules of the Commission promulgated under the Securities Act, as of any specified date. All references in this Agreement to amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, including those made pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act or such other rule under the Securities Act as may be applicable to the Company, shall be deemed to mean and include, without limitation, the filing of any document under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) which is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in or otherwise deemed under the rules of the Commission promulgated thereunder or otherwise to be a part of or included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be, as of any specified date.

A Form N-6F Notice of Intent to Elect to be Subject to Sections 55 through 65 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (File No. 814-00854) (the “Notice of Intent”) was filed, pursuant to Section 6(f) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Investment Company Act”) with the Commission on January 14, 2011. A Form N-54A Notification of Election to be Subject to Sections 55 through 65 of the Investment Company Act filed pursuant to Section 54(a) of the Investment Company Act (File No. 814-00854) (the “Notification of Election”) was filed under the Investment Company Act with the Commission on April 15, 2011.

 

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The Company has entered into an Amended and Restated Investment Advisory and Management Agreement, dated as of December 12, 2011 (the “Investment Management Agreement”), with Sixth Street Specialty Lending Advisers, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company registered as an investment adviser (the “Adviser”) under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “Advisers Act”).

The Company has also entered into an Amended and Restated Administration Agreement, dated as of February 22, 2017 (the “Administration Agreement”) with the Adviser.

At or prior to the Applicable Time (as defined below), the Company had prepared the Preliminary Prospectus, which together with the information set forth on Schedule 2 hereto, comprises the “Pricing Disclosure Package.”

“Applicable Time” means 2:30 P.M., New York City time, on February 18, 2025.

2. Purchase of the Securities by the Underwriters.

(a) The Company agrees to issue and sell the Securities to the several Underwriters as provided in this Agreement, and each Underwriter, on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements set forth herein and subject to the conditions set forth herein, agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company the respective aggregate principal amount of Securities set forth opposite such Underwriter’s name in Schedule 1 hereto at the price (the “Purchase Price”) set forth in Schedule 1 hereto.

(b) The Company understands that the Underwriters intend to offer the Securities for resale on the terms set forth in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, as in the judgment of the Representative is advisable. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters may offer and sell Securities to or through any affiliate of an Underwriter.

(c) Payment for the Securities shall be made by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the account specified by the Company to the Representative, at the offices of Ropes & Gray LLP, 1211 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036, at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on February 25, 2025, or at such other time or place on the same or such other date, not later than the fifth business day thereafter, as the Representative and the Company may agree upon in writing. The time and date of such payment for the Securities is referred to herein as the “Closing Date.”

Payment for the Securities shall be made against delivery to the Representative for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters of the principal amount of Securities to be purchased on such date with any transfer taxes payable in connection with the sale of such Securities duly paid by the Company. Delivery of the Securities shall be made through the facilities of DTC unless the Representative shall otherwise instruct.

(d) The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters are acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s-length contractual counterparty to the Company with respect to the offering of Securities contemplated hereby (including in connection with determining the terms

 

3


of the offering) and not as a financial advisor or a fiduciary to, or an agent of, the Company or any other person. Additionally, neither the Representative nor any other Underwriter is advising the Company or any other person as to any legal, tax, investment, accounting or regulatory matters in any jurisdiction. The Company shall consult with its own advisors concerning such matters and shall be responsible for making its own independent investigation and appraisal of the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Underwriters shall have no responsibility or liability to the Company with respect thereto. Any review by the Underwriters of the Company, the transactions contemplated hereby or other matters relating to such transactions will be performed solely for the benefit of the Underwriters and shall not be on behalf of the Company.

3. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each Underwriter that:

(a) Preliminary Prospectus. No order preventing or suspending the use of the Preliminary Prospectus has been issued by the Commission, and the Preliminary Prospectus included in the Pricing Disclosure Package, at the time of filing thereof, complied in all material respects with the Securities Act, and the Preliminary Prospectus, at the time of filing thereof, did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation and warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use in any Preliminary Prospectus, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8(b) hereof.

(b) Pricing Disclosure Package and Marketing Materials. The Pricing Disclosure Package and any Marketing Materials (as defined below), considered together with the Pricing Disclosure Package, as of the Applicable Time did not, and the Pricing Disclosure Package and any Marketing Materials, considered together with the Pricing Disclosure Package, (together with any amendment or supplement thereto) as of the Closing Date, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and as of the Applicable Time, the Marketing Materials do not conflict with the information contained in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus; provided that the Company makes no representation and warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use in such Pricing Disclosure Package or Marketing Materials, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8(b) hereof. As used in this subsection and elsewhere in this Agreement, “Marketing Materials” means the materials, if any, made available by the Company or with the Company’s consent during certain meetings (including materials made available as part of any “road show”) in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Securities.

 

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(c) Issuer Free Writing Prospectus. The Company (including its agents and representatives, other than the Underwriters in their capacity as such) has not made, used, prepared, authorized, approved or referred to and will not prepare, make, use, authorize, approve or refer to any “written communication” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) that constitutes an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy the Securities (each such communication by the Company or its agents and representatives (other than a communication referred to in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) below) an “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus”) other than (i) any document not constituting a prospectus pursuant to Section 2(a)(10)(a) of the Securities Act or Rule 134 under the Securities Act, (ii) the Registration Statement, (iii) the Preliminary Prospectus, (iv) the Prospectus, (v) the documents listed on Schedule 2 hereto, including a Pricing Term Sheet substantially in the form of Annex A hereto and (vi) any electronic road show or other written communications, in each case approved in writing in advance by the Representative, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld. Each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, if any, complies in all material respects with the Securities Act, has been or will be (within the time period specified in Rule 433) filed in accordance with the Securities Act (to the extent required thereby) and, when taken together with the Preliminary Prospectus filed prior to the first use of such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, at the Applicable Time, did not, and at the Closing Date will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to any statement or omission contained in any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8(b) hereof.

(d) Documents Incorporated by Reference. The documents incorporated by reference in each of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Preliminary Prospectus, when they became effective or were filed with the Commission, as the case may be, conformed or will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act.

(e) Registration Statement and Prospectus. The Company is eligible to use Form N-2. The Registration Statement became effective upon filing with the Commission. No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued by the Commission, and, no proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act against the Company or related to the offering of the Securities has been initiated or threatened by the Commission; as of the applicable effective date of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, the Registration Statement and any such post-effective amendment complied and will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act, the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, the Investment Company Act and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “TIA”), and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; and as of the date of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto and as of the Closing Date, the Prospectus

 

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and any amendment or supplement thereto will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation and warranty with respect to (i) that part of the Registration Statement that constitutes the Statement of Eligibility and Qualification (Form T-1) of the Trustee under the TIA or (ii) any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8(b) hereof.

(f) Financial Statements. The financial statements (including the related notes thereto) of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and present fairly in all material respects the financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the results of their operations and the changes in their cash flows for the periods specified; such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby, and any supporting schedules included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement present fairly in all material respects the information required to be stated therein; and the other financial information included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus has been derived from the accounting records and other books and records of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and presents fairly in all material respects the information shown thereby.

(g) No Material Adverse Change. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, since the date of the most recent financial statements of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (i) there has not been any material change in the capital stock of the Company, short-term debt or long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any dividend or distribution of any kind declared, set aside for payment, paid or made by the Company on any class of capital stock (other than with respect to the dividends declared and payable on March 20, 2025 and March 31, 2025 set forth in the Company’s Form 8-K dated February 13, 2025), or any material adverse change, or any development that would reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse change, in or affecting the business, properties, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity, results of operations or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; (ii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has entered into any transaction or agreement (whether or not in the ordinary course of business) that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; and (iii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has sustained any loss or interference with its

 

6


business that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole and that is either from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor disturbance or dispute or any action, order or decree of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority.

(h) Organization and Good Standing. The Company and each of its subsidiaries have been duly organized and are validly existing and in good standing under the laws of their respective jurisdictions of organization, are duly qualified to do business and are in good standing in each jurisdiction in which their respective ownership or lease of property or the conduct of their respective businesses requires such qualification, and have all power and authority necessary to own or hold their respective properties and to conduct the businesses in which they are engaged, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing or have such power or authority would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a material adverse effect on the business, properties, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity, results of operations or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or on the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement, the Indenture, the Securities, the Investment Management Agreement and the Administration Agreement (a “Material Adverse Effect”). The subsidiaries listed in Schedule 3 to this Agreement are the only subsidiaries of the Company.

(i) Capitalization. As of December 31, 2024, the Company had authorized and outstanding capital stock and material indebtedness as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus in “Capitalization,” all the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and are not subject to any pre-emptive or similar rights; except as described in or expressly contemplated by the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no outstanding rights (including, without limitation, pre-emptive rights), warrants or options to acquire, or instruments convertible into or exchangeable for, any shares of capital stock or other equity interest in the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any contract, commitment, agreement, understanding or arrangement of any kind relating to the issuance of any capital stock of the Company or any such subsidiary, any such convertible or exchangeable securities or any such rights, warrants or options; the capital stock of the Company conforms in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and all the outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests of each subsidiary owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable (except as otherwise described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus), and are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of any lien, charge, encumbrance, security interest, restriction on voting or transfer or any other claim of any third party, except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(j) Stock Options. The Company has not granted, and has no policy or expectation of granting stock options.

(k) Due Authorization. The Company has corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, the Second Supplemental Indenture and the Securities, and at the

 

7


applicable time had corporate power and authority to execute and deliver the Base Indenture, the Investment Management Agreement and the Administration Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder; and all action required to be taken for the due and proper authorization, execution and delivery by it of this Agreement, the Second Supplemental Indenture, the Base Indenture, the Securities and each of the Investment Management Agreement and the Administration Agreement and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby has been duly and validly taken.

(l) Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

(m) Investment Management Agreement and Administration Agreement. The Investment Management Agreement and the Administration Agreement have each been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and are valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally or by equitable principles relating to enforceability.

(n) Base Indenture. The Base Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and is a valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally or by equitable principles relating to enforceability.

(o) Second Supplemental Indenture. The Second Supplemental Indenture has been duly authorized, and, on the Closing Date, will be duly executed and delivered by the Company and, when executed and delivered by the Trustee, will constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally or by equitable principles relating to enforceability.

(p) Indenture. The Indenture has been qualified under the TIA.

(q) The Securities. The Securities to be issued and sold by the Company hereunder have been duly authorized and, when issued, authenticated and delivered by the Company and when authenticated by the Trustee as provided herein and in the Indenture relating thereto, against payment of the consideration set forth herein, will be valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally or by equitable principles relating to enforceability, and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture relating thereto; and the Securities and the Indenture conform in all material respects to the statements relating thereto contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(r) Descriptions of Investment Management Agreement and Administration Agreement. Both the Investment Management Agreement and Administration Agreement conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

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(s) No Violation or Default. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is (i) in violation of its charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents, each as amended or supplemented as of the date of this Agreement; (ii) in default, and no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default, in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject; or (iii) in violation of any law or statute applicable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for any such default or violation that would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(t) No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the Indenture, the issuance and sale of the Securities and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Indenture and the performance by the Company of the Investment Management Agreement and the Administration Agreement will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (iii) result in the violation of any law or statute applicable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries, except, in the case of clauses (i) and (iii) above, for any such conflict, breach, violation, default, lien, charge or encumbrance that would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(u) No Consents Required. No consent, approval, authorization, order, license, registration or qualification of or with any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority is required for the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the Indenture, the issuance and sale of the Securities and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Indenture or the performance by the Company of the Investment Management Agreement and the Administration Agreement, except for (i) the registration of the Securities under the Securities Act, (ii) such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, licenses, registrations or qualifications as have already been obtained or made, (iii) such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders and registrations or qualifications as may be required by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) or under

 

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applicable state securities laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters and (iv) where the failure to obtain any such consent, approval, authorization, order, license, registration or qualification would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(v) Legal Proceedings. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no legal, governmental or regulatory investigations, actions, suits or proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is or, to the knowledge of the Company, may be reasonably expected to become a party or to which any property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is or, to the knowledge of the Company, may be reasonably expected to become the subject that, individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; no such investigations, actions, suits or proceedings are threatened or, to the knowledge of the Company, contemplated by any governmental or regulatory authority or threatened by others, except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (i) there are no current or pending legal, governmental or regulatory actions, suits or proceedings that are required under the Securities Act to be described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus that are not so described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and (ii) there are no contracts or other documents that are required under the Securities Act to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are not so filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement.

(w) Notification of Election. When the Notification of Election was filed with the Commission, it (i) contained all statements required to be stated therein in accordance with, and complied in all material respects with the requirements of, the Investment Company Act and (ii) did not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(x) Election to be Treated as a Business Development Company. (A) The Company has duly elected to be treated by the Commission under the Investment Company Act as a business development company, such election is effective and the Company has not withdrawn such election and, to the Company’s knowledge, the Commission has not ordered such election to be withdrawn nor, to the Company’s knowledge have proceedings to effectuate such withdrawal been initiated or threatened by the Commission; (B) the provisions of the certificate of incorporation and by-laws of the Company and the investment objectives, policies and restrictions of the Company described in the Prospectus, assuming they are implemented as described, will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Investment Company Act; and (C) as of the time of the sale of the Securities and as of the Closing Date, the operations of the Company are in compliance in all material respects with the provisions of the Investment Company Act applicable to business development companies.

(y) Independent Accountants. KPMG LLP, who have certified certain financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries within the applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and as required by the Securities Act.

 

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(z) Title to Real and Personal Property. Except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple (in the case of real property) to, or have valid and marketable rights to lease or otherwise use, all items of real and personal property and assets (other than intellectual property, which is subject to Section 3(aa)) that are material to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, claims and defects and imperfections of title except (i) as otherwise described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or (ii) those that do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and its subsidiaries.

(aa) Title to Intellectual Property. Except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) the Company and its subsidiaries, to the knowledge of the Company, own or possess, or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate rights to use all patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trademark registrations, service mark registrations, copyrights, licenses and know-how (including trade secrets) necessary for the conduct of their respective businesses as currently conducted, and (ii) to the knowledge of the Company, the conduct of their respective businesses as currently conducted does not conflict with any such rights of others. The Company and its subsidiaries have not received any written notice of any claim of infringement, misappropriation or conflict with any such rights of others in connection with its patents, patent rights, licenses, inventions, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights and know-how, which would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(bb) No Undisclosed Relationships. No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company or any of its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders, customers or suppliers of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, on the other, that is required by the Securities Act to be described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and that is not so described in such documents and in the Pricing Disclosure Package.

(cc) Investment Company Act. The Company is not and its subsidiaries are not, and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor its subsidiaries will be required to register as an “investment company” or an entity “controlled” by an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act. No person is serving or acting as an officer, director or investment adviser of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company except in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Investment Company Act and the Advisers Act.

(dd) Taxes. The Company and its subsidiaries have paid (or caused to be paid) all federal, state, local and foreign taxes required by law to be paid, and have filed (or caused to be filed) all tax returns required by law to be filed, in each case, through the date hereof, except where the failure to pay such taxes or file such returns would not reasonably be expected,

 

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individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there is no tax deficiency that has been, or, to the knowledge of the Company, would reasonably be expected to be, asserted against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets that, in any case, would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(ee) Licenses and Permits. The Company and its subsidiaries possess all licenses, certificates, permits and other authorizations issued by, and have made all declarations and filings with, the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory authorities having jurisdiction over the Company and its subsidiaries that are necessary for the ownership or lease of their respective properties or the conduct of their respective businesses as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except where the failure to possess or make the same would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect; and except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received written notice of any revocation or modification of any such license, certificate, permit or authorization or has any reason to believe that any such license, certificate, permit or authorization will not be renewed in the ordinary course, except where such revocation, modification or non-renewal would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(ff) Disclosure Controls. The Company maintains an effective system of “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act) that complies with the requirements of the Exchange Act and that has been designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, including controls and procedures designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Company has carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of its disclosure controls and procedures as required by Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act.

(gg) Accounting Controls. The Company maintains a system of “internal control over financial reporting” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that complies with the requirements of the Exchange Act and that has been designed by, or under the supervision of, its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. GAAP, including, but not limited to, internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are executed in accordance with the investment objectives, policies and restrictions of the Company and the applicable requirements of the Investment Company Act and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”); (iii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP, to calculate net asset value, to maintain asset accountability, and to maintain material compliance

 

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with the books and records requirements under the Investment Company Act; (iv) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (v) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no material weaknesses in the Company’s internal controls. The Company’s auditors and the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company have been advised of: (i) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting, which have adversely affected or are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or, other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting.

(hh) Insurance. The Company and its subsidiaries have insurance covering their respective properties, operations, personnel and businesses, including business interruption insurance, which insurance is in amounts and insures against such losses and risks as the Company reasonably believes are adequate to protect the Company and its subsidiaries and their respective businesses; and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has (i) received notice from any insurer or agent of such insurer that capital improvements or other expenditures are required or necessary to be made in order to continue such insurance or (ii) any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage at reasonable cost from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business, except, in each case, as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

(ii) No Unlawful Payments. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor any director, officer, or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any agent, affiliate or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has (i) used any funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made or taken an act in furtherance of an offer, promise or authorization of any direct or indirect unlawful payment or benefit to any foreign or domestic government or regulatory official or employee, including of any government-owned or controlled entity or of a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for political office; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or any applicable law or regulation implementing the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, or committed an offence under the Bribery Act 2010 of the United Kingdom, or any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption laws (collectively, the “Anti-Corruption Laws”); or (iv) made, offered, agreed, requested or taken an act in furtherance of any unlawful bribe or other unlawful benefit, including, without limitation, any rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful or improper payment or benefit. The Company and its subsidiaries have instituted, maintain and enforce, and will continue to maintain and enforce policies and procedures designed to promote and ensure compliance with the Anti-Corruption Laws.

 

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(jj) Compliance with Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including those of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the applicable money laundering statutes, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines issued, administered or enforced by any governmental or regulatory agency (collectively, the “Anti-Money Laundering Laws”) of all jurisdictions having jurisdiction over the Company and its subsidiaries, and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental or regulatory agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws of all jurisdictions having jurisdiction over the Company and its subsidiaries is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.

(kk) No Conflicts with Sanctions Laws. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, directors, officers or employees, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any agent, affiliate, or other person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is currently the subject or the target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Government (including, without limitation, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the U.S. Department of State and including, without limitation, the designation as a “specially designated national” or “blocked person”), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, His Majesty’s Treasury, or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions,” and each such subject or target, a “Sanctioned Person”), nor is the Company or any of its subsidiaries located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject or the target of Sanctions, including, without limitation, Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Syria, and the occupied Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kerson and Crimea regions of Ukraine, that broadly prohibit dealings with that country or territory (each, a “Sanctioned Territory”); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering of the Securities hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity to fund or facilitate any activities of or business with any person, or in any country or territory, that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is a Sanctioned Person or Sanctioned Territory in each case, in any manner that will result in a violation by any person (including any person participating in the transaction, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions. Since the inception of the Company, the Company and its subsidiaries have not knowingly engaged in, and are not now knowingly engaged in, any dealings or transactions with any person that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was a Sanctioned Person or with any Sanctioned Territory.

(ll) Company Not Ineligible Issuer and is a Well-Known Seasoned Issuer. The Company is not an ineligible issuer and is a well-known seasoned issuer, in each case as defined under the Securities Act, in each case at the times specified in the Securities Act in connection with the offering of the Securities.

(mm) No Restrictions on Subsidiaries. No subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, under any agreement or other instrument to which it is a party or is subject, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other distribution on such subsidiary’s capital stock, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such

 

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subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any of such subsidiary’s properties or assets to the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(nn) No Broker’s Fees. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is a party to any contract, agreement or understanding with any person (other than this Agreement) that would give rise to a valid claim against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any Underwriter for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or like payment in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities.

(oo) No Stabilization or Manipulation. The Company has not taken, directly or indirectly, without giving effect to any activities by the Underwriters, any action designed, or that would reasonably be expected, to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Securities.

(pp) Forward-Looking Statements. No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus has been made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than in good faith.

(qq) Statistical and Market Data. Nothing has come to the attention of the Company that has caused the Company to believe that the statistical and market-related data included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus is not based on or derived from sources that are reasonably reliable and accurate in all material respects.

(rr) Sarbanes-Oxley Act. There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or, to the knowledge of the Company, any of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply in all material respects with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), including Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications.

(ss) Rule 38a-1 Compliance. The Company has adopted and implemented written policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent violation of the Federal Securities Laws (as that term is defined in Rule 38a-1 under the Investment Company Act) by the Company, including policies and procedures that provide oversight of compliance by each investment adviser, administrator and transfer agent of the Company.

(tt) Regulated Investment Company. The Company has elected to be treated, and has operated, and intends to continue to operate, its business in such a manner so as to enable the Company to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code. The Company intends to direct the investment of the proceeds of the offering of the Securities in such a manner as to comply with the requirements of Subchapter M of the Code.

 

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(uu) Cybersecurity. (A) To the Company’s knowledge, in the last three years, there has been no material security breach or other material compromise of or relating to the Company’s or its subsidiaries’ information technology and computer systems, networks, hardware, software, data and databases (including the data and information of their respective customers, employees, suppliers, vendors and any third party data maintained, processed or stored by the Company and its subsidiaries, and any such data processed or stored by third parties on behalf of the Company and its subsidiaries) (collectively, “IT Systems and Data”); (B) in the last three years, neither the Company nor its subsidiaries have been notified of, and have no knowledge of any material event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in, any such material security breach or other material compromise to their IT Systems and Data and (C) the Company and its subsidiaries have implemented controls, policies, procedures, and technological safeguards reasonably designed to maintain and protect the integrity, continuous operation, redundancy and security of their IT Systems and Data reasonably consistent with industry standards and practices, or as required by applicable regulatory standards. The Company and its subsidiaries are presently in material compliance with all applicable laws or statutes and all applicable judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority and internal policies relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Data.

4. Representations and Warranties of the Adviser. The Adviser represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each Underwriter that:

(a) No Material Adverse Change. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, since the date of the most recent financial statements of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (i) there has not been any material adverse change, or any development that would reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse change, in or affecting the business, properties, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity, results of operations or prospects of the Adviser and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; and (ii) neither the Adviser nor any of its subsidiaries has sustained any loss or interference with its business that is material to the Adviser and its subsidiaries taken as a whole and that is either from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor disturbance or dispute or any action, order or decree of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority.

(b) Organization and Good Standing. The Adviser and each of its subsidiaries have been duly organized and are validly existing and in good standing under the laws of their respective jurisdictions of organization, are duly qualified to do business and are in good standing in each jurisdiction in which their respective ownership or lease of property or the conduct of their respective businesses requires such qualification, and have all power and authority necessary to own or hold their respective properties and to conduct the businesses in which they are engaged, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing or have such power or authority would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a material adverse effect on the business, properties, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity, results of operations or prospects of the Adviser and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or on the performance by the Adviser of its obligations under this Agreement, the Investment Management Agreement and the Administration Agreement (an “Adviser Material Adverse Effect”). 

 

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(c) Registration as an Investment Adviser. The Adviser is duly registered with the Commission as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act and the Adviser is not prohibited by the Advisers Act or the Investment Company Act from acting under the Investment Management Agreement as an investment adviser to the Company, as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. There does not exist any proceeding or, to the Adviser’s knowledge, any facts or circumstances, the existence of which would lead to any proceeding which would reasonably be expected to adversely affect the registration of the Adviser with the Commission.

(d) Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Adviser.

(e) Investment Management Agreement and the Administration Agreement. The Investment Management Agreement and the Administration Agreement have each been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Adviser and are valid and binding obligations of the Adviser, enforceable against the Adviser in accordance with their terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally or by equitable principles relating to enforceability.

(f) No Violation or Default. Neither the Adviser nor any of its subsidiaries is (i) in violation of its charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents; (ii) in default, and no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default, in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Adviser or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Adviser or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Adviser or any of its subsidiaries is subject; or (iii) in violation of any law or statute applicable to the Adviser or any of its subsidiaries or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the Adviser or any of its subsidiaries, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for any such default or violation that would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have an Adviser Material Adverse Effect.

(g) No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by the Adviser of this Agreement and the performance by the Adviser of the Investment Management Agreement and the Administration Agreement will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Adviser or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Adviser or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Adviser or any of its subsidiaries is subject, (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents of the Adviser or any of its subsidiaries or (iii) result in the violation of any law or statute applicable to the Adviser or any of its

 

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subsidiaries or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the Adviser or any of its subsidiaries, except, in the case of clauses (i) and (iii) above, for any such conflict, breach, violation, default, lien, charge or encumbrance that would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have an Adviser Material Adverse Effect.

(h) No Consents Required. No consent, approval, authorization, order, license, registration or qualification of or with any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority is required for the execution, delivery and performance by the Adviser of this Agreement or the performance by the Adviser of the Investment Management Agreement and the Administration Agreement, except for (i) such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, licenses and registrations or qualifications as have already been obtained or made and (ii) where the failure to obtain any such consent, approval, authorization, order, license, registration or qualification would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have an Adviser Material Adverse Effect.

(i) Legal Proceedings. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no legal, governmental or regulatory investigations, actions, suits or proceedings pending to which the Adviser or any of its subsidiaries is or, to the knowledge of the Adviser, may be reasonably expected to become a party or to which any property of the Adviser or any of its subsidiaries is or, to the knowledge of the Adviser, may be reasonably expected to become the subject that, individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely to the Adviser or any of its subsidiaries, would reasonably be expected to have an Adviser Material Adverse Effect; no such investigations, actions, suits or proceedings are threatened or, to the knowledge of the Adviser, contemplated by any governmental or regulatory authority or threatened by others, except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have an Adviser Material Adverse Effect; and there are no current or pending legal, governmental or regulatory actions, suits or proceedings that are required under the Securities Act to be described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus that are not so described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(j) Licenses and Permits. The Adviser and its subsidiaries possess all licenses, certificates, permits and other authorizations issued by, and have made all declarations and filings with, the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory authorities having jurisdiction over the Adviser and its subsidiaries that are necessary for the ownership or lease of their respective properties or the conduct of their respective businesses as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except where the failure to possess or make the same would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have an Adviser Material Adverse Effect; and except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, neither the Adviser nor any of its subsidiaries has received written notice of any revocation or modification of any such license, certificate, permit or authorization or has any reason to believe that any such license, certificate, permit or authorization will not be renewed in the ordinary course, except where such revocation, modification or non-renewal would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have an Adviser Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(k) Description of the Adviser. The description of the Adviser and its respective principals and business in the Registration Statement, Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus do not and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(l) Financial Resources. The Adviser has the financial resources available to it necessary for the performance of its services and obligations contemplated in the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, and under this Agreement, the Investment Management Agreement and the Administration Agreement.

(m) Internal Controls. The Adviser maintains a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with its management’s general or specific authorization and with the investment objectives, policies and restrictions of the Company and the applicable requirements of the Investment Company Act and the Code; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of the Company’s financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP, to calculate net asset value, and to maintain asset accountability, and to maintain material compliance with the books and records requirements under the Investment Company Act; (iii) access to assets of the Company and its subsidiaries is permitted only in accordance with its management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.

(n) No Unlawful Payments. Neither the Adviser nor any of its subsidiaries nor any director, officer, or employee of the Adviser or any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Adviser, any agent, affiliate or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Adviser or any of its subsidiaries has (i) used any funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made or taken an act in furtherance of an offer, promise or authorization of any direct or indirect unlawful payment or benefit to any foreign or domestic government or regulatory official or employee, including of any government-owned or controlled entity or of a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for political office; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Anti-Corruption Laws; or (iv) made, offered, agreed, requested or taken an act in furtherance of any unlawful bribe or other unlawful benefit, including, without limitation, any rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful or improper payment or benefit. The Adviser and its subsidiaries have instituted, maintain and enforce, and will continue to maintain and enforce, policies and procedures designed to promote and ensure compliance with all Anti-Corruption Laws.

(o) Compliance with Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Adviser and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including those of the Anti-Money Laundering Laws of all jurisdictions having jurisdiction over the Adviser and its subsidiaries, and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental or regulatory agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Adviser or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws of all jurisdictions having jurisdiction over the Adviser and its subsidiaries is pending or, to the knowledge of the Adviser, threatened.

 

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(p) No Conflicts with Sanctions Laws. Neither the Adviser nor any of its subsidiaries, directors, officers or employees, nor, to the knowledge of the Adviser, any agent, or affiliate or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Adviser or any of its subsidiaries is currently the subject or the target of any Sanctions, nor is the Adviser, any of its subsidiaries located, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Territory. Since the inception of the Adviser, the Adviser and its subsidiaries have not knowingly engaged in, and are not now knowingly engaged in, any dealings or transactions with any person that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was a Sanctioned Person or with any Sanctioned Territory.

(q) No Stabilization or Manipulation. The Adviser has not taken, directly or indirectly, without giving effect to any activities by the Underwriters, any action designed to or that would reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Securities.

(r) Key Employees. The Adviser is not aware that (i) any of its executives, key employees or significant group of employees plans to terminate employment with the Adviser or (ii) any such executive or key employee is subject to any noncompete, nondisclosure, confidentiality, employment, consulting or similar agreement that would be violated by either the Adviser’s present or proposed business activities, except, in each case, as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have an Adviser Material Adverse Effect.

(s) No Labor Disputes. No labor disturbance by or dispute with employees of the Adviser or any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Adviser, is contemplated or threatened, and the Adviser is not aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by, or dispute with, the employees or any of its or its subsidiaries’ principal suppliers, contractors or customers, except in each case as would not reasonably be expected to have an Adviser Material Adverse Effect.

5. Further Agreements of the Company. The Company covenants and agrees with each Underwriter that:

(a) Required Filings. The Company will file the final Prospectus with the Commission within the time periods specified by Rule 424(b) and Rule 430B or Rule 430C under the Securities Act; will file promptly all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of the Prospectus and for so long as the delivery of a prospectus is required in connection with the offering or sale of the Securities; and will furnish electronic copies of the Prospectus to the Underwriters in New York City prior to 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on the business day next succeeding the date of this Agreement, with written copies of the Prospectus to follow as soon as practicable but in no event later than 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on the second business day succeeding the date of this Agreement in such quantities as the Representative may reasonably request.

 

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(b) Delivery of Copies. The Company will deliver, without charge, (i) to the Representative, electronic signed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto, in each case including all exhibits and consents filed therewith; and (ii) to each Underwriter (A) a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto (without exhibits) and (B) during the Prospectus Delivery Period (as defined below), as many copies of the Prospectus as the Representative may reasonably request. As used herein, the term “Prospectus Delivery Period” means such period of time after the first date of the public offering of the Securities as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters a prospectus relating to the Securities is required by law to be delivered in connection with sales of the Securities by any Underwriter or dealer.

(c) Amendments or Supplements. Before using, authorizing, approving, referring to or filing any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, the Company will furnish to the Representative and counsel for the Underwriters a copy of the proposed amendment or supplement for review and will not use, authorize, approve, refer to or file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Representative reasonably objects in a timely manner.

(d) Marketing Materials. Before using, authorizing, approving, referring to or distributing any Marketing Materials, the Company will furnish to the Representative and counsel for the Underwriters a copy of such materials for review and will not use, authorize, approve, refer to or distribute any such materials to which the Representative reasonably objects in a timely manner.

(e) Notice to the Representative. The Company will advise the Representative promptly, and confirm such advice in writing, (i) when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective; (ii) when any supplement to the Prospectus or any amendment to the Prospectus has been filed or distributed; (iii) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or the receipt of any comments from the Commission relating to the Registration Statement or any other request by the Commission for any additional information; (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package, any Marketing Materials or the Prospectus or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act; (v) of the occurrence of any event or development within the Prospectus Delivery Period as a result of which the Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package or any Marketing Materials, as then amended or supplemented, would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package or any Marketing Materials is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading; and (vi) of the receipt by the Company of any notice with respect to any suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offer and sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and the Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any such order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, any of the Pricing Disclosure Package, any Marketing Materials or

 

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the Prospectus or suspending any such qualification of the Securities and, if any such order is issued, will use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal thereof.

(f) Ongoing Compliance. (1) If during the Prospectus Delivery Period (i) any event or development shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with law, the Company will immediately notify the Underwriters thereof and forthwith prepare and, subject to paragraph (c) above, file with the Commission and furnish to the Underwriters and to such dealers as the Representative may designate such amendments or supplements to the Prospectus as may be necessary so that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus will comply with law and (2) if at any time prior to the Closing Date (i) any event or development shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the Pricing Disclosure Package as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Pricing Disclosure Package is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement the Pricing Disclosure Package to comply with law, the Company will immediately notify the Underwriters thereof and forthwith prepare and, subject to paragraph (c) above, file with the Commission (to the extent required) and furnish to the Underwriters and to such dealers as the Representative may designate such amendments or supplements to the Pricing Disclosure Package as may be necessary so that the statements in the Pricing Disclosure Package as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Pricing Disclosure Package is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Pricing Disclosure Package will comply with law.

(g) Blue Sky Compliance. The Company will use commercially reasonable efforts, in cooperation with the Representative, to qualify the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Representative shall reasonably request and will continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for distribution of the Securities; provided that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or other entity or as a dealer in securities in any such jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (ii) file any general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not otherwise so subject.

(h) Earning Statement. The Company will make generally available to its security holders and the Representative as soon as practicable an earning statement that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 of the Commission promulgated thereunder covering a period of at least twelve months beginning after the “effective date” (as defined in Rule 158) of the Registration Statement; provided that the Company will be deemed to have complied with such requirement by filing such an earning statement on the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval system (or any successor system) (“EDGAR”).

 

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(i) Clear Market. Through the Closing Date, the Company will not (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, or file with the Commission a registration statement under the Securities Act relating to, any debt securities issued or guaranteed by the Company or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for debt securities issued or guaranteed by the Company, or publicly disclose the intention to make any such offer, sale, pledge, disposition or filing, or (ii) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the debt securities issued or guaranteed by the Company or any such other securities, without the prior written consent of the Representative on behalf of the Underwriters, other than the Securities to be sold hereunder for purposes of interest rate hedging.

(j) Use of Proceeds. The Company will apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities in all material respects as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the heading “Use of Proceeds.”

(k) No Stabilization or Manipulation. The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, without giving effect to any activities by the Underwriters, any action designed, or that would reasonably be expected, to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Securities.

(l) Reports. For a period of one year from the date of this Agreement, so long as the Securities are outstanding, the Company will furnish to the Representative, as soon as commercially reasonable after the date they are available, copies of all reports or other communications (financial or other) furnished to holders of the Securities, and copies of any reports and financial statements furnished to or filed with the Commission or any national securities exchange or automatic quotation system; provided the Company will be deemed to have furnished such reports and financial statements to the Representative to the extent they are filed on EDGAR.

(m) Business Development Company. The Company, during a period of twelve months from the date of the Prospectus, will use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain its status as a business development company under the Investment Company Act; provided, however, that the Company may change the nature of its business so as to cease to be, or withdraw its election to be treated as, a business development company with the approval of its Board of Directors and a vote of stockholders as required by Section 58 of the Investment Company Act.

(n) Regulated Investment Company. The Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain in effect its qualification and election to be treated as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code for each taxable year during which it is a business development company under the Investment Company Act.

 

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(o) Annual Compliance Reviews. The Company will retain qualified accountants and qualified tax experts (i) to test procedures and conduct annual compliance reviews designed to determine compliance with the regulated investment company provisions of the Code and the Company’s exempt status under the Investment Company Act and (ii) to otherwise assist the Company in monitoring appropriate accounting systems and procedures designed to determine compliance with the regulated investment company provisions of the Code and the Company’s exempt status under the Investment Company Act.

(p) Issuer Free Writing Prospectus. The Company represents and agrees that, without the prior consent of the Representative (i) it will not distribute any offering material other than the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or the information set forth on Schedule 2 hereto, and (ii) it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute a “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act (other than for the information set forth on Schedule 2 hereto), and which the parties agree, for the purposes of this Agreement, includes (x) any “advertisement” as defined in Rule 482 under the Securities Act; and (y) any sales literature, materials or information provided to investors by, or with the approval of, the Company in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Securities, including any in-person roadshow or investor presentations (including slides and scripts relating thereto) made to investors by or on behalf of the Company.

6. Certain Agreements of the Underwriters. Each Underwriter hereby represents, warrants and agrees that:

(a) Without the prior written consent of the Company, it has not used, authorized use of, referred to or participated in the planning for the use of, and will not use, authorize the use of, refer to or participate in the planning for the use of, any written information concerning the offering of the Securities other than materials contained in the Pricing Disclosure Package, any Marketing Materials, the Prospectus or any other offering materials prepared by or with the prior written consent of the Company.

(b) It is not subject to any pending proceeding under Section 8A of the Securities Act with respect to the offering contemplated by this Agreement (and will promptly notify the Company if any such proceeding against it is initiated during the Prospectus Delivery Period).

7. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations. The obligation of each Underwriter to purchase the Securities on the Closing Date as provided herein is subject to the performance by the Company of its covenants and other obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:

(a) Registration Compliance; No Stop Order. No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto shall be in effect, and no proceeding for such purpose or pursuant to Section 8A under the Securities Act shall be pending before or threatened by the Commission; the Prospectus shall have been timely filed with the Commission under the Securities Act and in accordance with Section 5(a) hereof; and all requests by the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of the Representative.

 

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(b) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Company and the Adviser contained herein shall be true and correct on the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date; and the statements of the Company and its officers made in any certificates delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date.

(c) No Material Adverse Change. No event or condition of a type described in Section 3(g) and Section 4(a) hereof shall have occurred or shall exist, which event or condition is not described in the Pricing Disclosure Package (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) and the Prospectus (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) and the effect of which in the judgment of the Representative makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Securities on the Closing Date, on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(d) Company’s Officer’s Certificate. The Representative shall have received on and as of the Closing Date a certificate, which shall be delivered on behalf of the Company and not the signatories in their individual capacity, of the chief financial officer or chief accounting officer of the Company and one additional senior executive officer of the Company who is reasonably satisfactory to the Representative (i) confirming that such officers have carefully reviewed the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (ii) confirming that, to the knowledge of such officers, the representations and warranties of the Company in Sections 3(b), 3(c) and 3(e) hereof are true and correct, (iii) confirming that, to the knowledge of such officers, the other representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct and that the Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date, and (iv) to the effect set forth in paragraph (a) above and, with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries, to the effect set forth in paragraph (c) above.

(e) Adviser’s Officer’s Certificate. The Representative shall have received on and as of the Closing Date a certificate, which shall be delivered on behalf of the Adviser and not the signatories in their individual capacity, from the two appropriate senior officers of the Adviser reasonably satisfactory to the Representative (i) confirming that the representations and warranties of the Adviser in this Agreement are true and correct and that the Adviser has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date, and (ii) with respect to the Adviser and its subsidiaries, to the effect set forth in paragraph (c) above.

(f) Comfort Letters. On the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date KPMG LLP shall have furnished to the Representative, at the request of the Company, letters, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, containing statements and information of the type customarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information included or incorporated by reference in

 

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the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; provided, that the letter delivered on the Closing Date shall use a “cut-off” date no more than three business days prior to the Closing Date.

(g) Opinion and 10b-5 Statement of Counsel for the Company and Adviser. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, counsel for the Company and the Adviser, shall have furnished to the Representative, at the request of the Company and the Adviser, their written opinions and 10b-5 letter, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative. Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell LLP, Delaware counsel for the Adviser, shall have furnished to the Representative, at the request of the Adviser, their written opinion, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative. In-house counsel to the Company and the Adviser, shall have furnished to the Representative its written opinion, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative.

(h) Opinion and 10b-5 Statement of Counsel for the Underwriters. The Representative shall have received on and as of the Closing Date an opinion and 10b-5 statement of Ropes & Gray LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, with respect to such matters as the Representative may reasonably request, and such counsel shall have received such documents and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters.

(i) No Legal Impediment to Issuance. No action shall have been taken and no statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any federal, state or foreign governmental or regulatory authority that would, as of the Closing Date, prevent the issuance and sale of the Securities; and no injunction or order of any federal, state or foreign court shall have been issued that would, as of the Closing Date, prevent the issuance and sale of the Securities.

(j) Good Standing. The Representative shall have received on and as of the Closing Date reasonably satisfactory evidence of the good standing of the Company and its subsidiaries in their respective jurisdictions of organization and their good standing as foreign entities in such other jurisdictions as the Representative may reasonably request, in each case in writing or any standard form of telecommunication from the appropriate governmental authorities of such jurisdictions.

(k) Second Supplemental Indenture and Securities. On or prior to the Closing Date, the Company and the Trustee shall have executed and delivered the Second Supplemental Indenture and the Securities.

(l) No Downgrade. Subsequent to the earlier of (A) the Applicable Time and (B) the execution and delivery of this Agreement, if there are any debt securities or preferred stock of, or guaranteed, by, the Company or any of its subsidiaries that are rated by a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization,” as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act, (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded any such debt securities or preferred stock and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it

 

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has under surveillance or review, or has changed its outlook with respect to, its rating of any such debt securities or preferred stock (other than an announcement with positive implications of a possible upgrading).

(m) Additional Documents. On or prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall have furnished to the Representative such further certificates and documents as the Representative may reasonably request.

All opinions, letters, certificates and evidence mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters.

8. Indemnification and Contribution.

(a) Indemnification of the Underwriters. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates, directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, reasonable and documented legal fees and other reasonable and documented expenses incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted, as such fees and expenses are incurred), joint or several, that arise out of, or are based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, or (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any road show as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Securities Act (a “road show”), any Marketing Materials or the Pricing Disclosure Package (including any Pricing Disclosure Package that has subsequently been amended), or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in subsection (b) below.

(b) Indemnification of the Company. Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the indemnity set forth in paragraph (a) above, but only with respect to any losses, claims, damages or liabilities that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through

 

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the Representative expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any road show, any Marketing Materials or any Pricing Disclosure Package (including any Pricing Disclosure Package that has subsequently been amended), it being understood and agreed upon that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the following information in the Prospectus furnished on behalf of each Underwriter: the marketing names of the Underwriters set forth on such cover page, and under the caption “Underwriting;” the legal names of the Underwriters, the concession amount appearing in first and second sentences of the sixth paragraph and the information regarding stabilizing transactions contained in the first and second sentences of the eleventh paragraph, the first sentence of the twelfth paragraph and the second sentence of the thirteenth paragraph.

(c) Notice and Procedures. If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against any person in respect of which indemnification may be sought pursuant to either paragraph (a) or (b) above, such person (the “Indemnified Person”) shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnification may be sought (the “Indemnifying Person”) in writing; provided that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under paragraph (a) or (b) above except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (including through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided, further, that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an Indemnified Person otherwise than under paragraph (a) or (b) above. If any such proceeding shall be brought or asserted against an Indemnified Person and it shall have notified the Indemnifying Person thereof, the Indemnifying Person shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person (who shall not, without the consent of the Indemnified Person, be counsel to the Indemnifying Person) to represent the Indemnified Person in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable and documented fees and expenses of such counsel related to such proceeding, as incurred. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Person shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person, unless (i) the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed to the contrary; (ii) the Indemnifying Person has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person; (iii) the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in addition to those available to the Indemnifying Person; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interest between them. It is understood and agreed that the Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable and documented fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Indemnified Persons, and that all such reasonable and documented fees and expenses shall be paid or reimbursed as they are incurred. Any such separate firm for any Underwriter, its affiliates, directors and officers and any control persons of such Underwriter shall be designated in writing by the Representative, and any such separate firm for the Company, its directors, its officers who signed the Registration Statement and any control persons of the Company shall be designated

 

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in writing by the Company. The Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Person agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an Indemnified Person shall have requested that an Indemnifying Person reimburse the Indemnified Person for reasonable and documented fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by this paragraph, the Indemnifying Person shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by the Indemnifying Person of such request and, (ii) the Indemnifying Person shall not have reimbursed the Indemnified Person in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No Indemnifying Person shall, without the written consent of the Indemnified Person, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or could have been a party and indemnification could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless such settlement (x) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Person, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person, from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (y) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person.

(d) Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in paragraphs (a) and (b) above is unavailable to an Indemnified Person or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Person under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters on the other, from the offering of the Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters on the other, in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds (before deducting expenses) received by the Company from the sale of the Securities and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters in connection therewith, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate offering price of the Securities. The relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Section 8, no party shall be entitled to indemnification or contribution under this Agreement in violation of Section 17(j) of the Investment Company Act.

 

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(e) Limitation on Liability. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to paragraph (d) above were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (d) above. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in paragraph (d) above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any reasonable and documented legal or other expenses incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (d) and (e) of this Section 8, in no event shall an Underwriter be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriter with respect to the offering of the Securities exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations to contribute pursuant to paragraphs (d) and (e) of this Section 8 are several in proportion to their respective purchase obligations hereunder and not joint.

(f) Non-Exclusive Remedies. The remedies provided for in this Section 8 paragraphs (a) through (e) are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any Indemnified Person at law or in equity.

9. Effectiveness of Agreement. This Agreement shall become effective upon the execution and delivery hereof by the parties hereto.

10. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated in the absolute discretion of the Representative, by notice to the Company, if after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date (i) trading generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on or by either of the New York Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq Stock Market; (ii) trading of any securities issued or guaranteed by the Company shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by U.S. federal or New York State authorities; or (iv) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis, either within or outside the United States, that, in the judgment of the Representative, is material and adverse and makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Securities on the Closing Date on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

11. Defaulting Underwriter.

(a) If, on the Closing Date, any Underwriter defaults on its obligation to purchase the Securities that it has agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, the non-defaulting Underwriters may in their discretion arrange for the purchase of such Securities by other persons satisfactory to the Company on the terms contained in this Agreement. If, within 36 hours after any such default by any Underwriter, the non-defaulting Underwriters do not arrange for the purchase of

 

30


such Securities, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of 36 hours within which to procure other persons reasonably satisfactory to the non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase such Securities on such terms. If other persons become obligated or agree to purchase the Securities of a defaulting Underwriter, either the non-defaulting Underwriters or the Company may postpone the Closing Date for up to five full business days in order to effect any changes that in the opinion of counsel for the Company or counsel for the Underwriters may be necessary in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or in any other document or arrangement, and the Company agrees to promptly prepare any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus that effects any such changes. As used in this Agreement, the term “Underwriter” includes, for all purposes of this Agreement unless the context otherwise requires, any person not listed in Schedule 1 hereto that, pursuant to this Section 11, purchases Securities that a defaulting Underwriter agreed but failed to purchase.

(b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting Underwriters and the Company as provided in paragraph (a) above, the aggregate principal amount of Securities that remain unpurchased on the Closing Date does not exceed one-eleventh of the aggregate principal amount of Securities to be purchased on such date, then the Company shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the principal amount of Securities that such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder on such date plus such Underwriter’s pro rata share (based on the principal amount of Securities that such Underwriter agreed to purchase on such date) of the Securities of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been made.

(c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting Underwriters and the Company as provided in paragraph (a) above, the aggregate principal amount of Securities that remain unpurchased on the Closing Date exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate principal amount of Securities to be purchased on such date, or if the Company shall not exercise the right described in paragraph (b) above, then this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of the non-defaulting Underwriters. Any termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 11 shall be without liability on the part of the Company, except that the Company will continue to be liable for the payment of expenses as set forth in Section 12 hereof and except that the provisions of Section 8 hereof shall not terminate and shall remain in effect.

(d) Nothing contained herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter of any liability it may have to the Company or any non-defaulting Underwriter for damages caused by its default.

12. Payment of Expenses.

(a) Whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Company will pay or cause to be paid all costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder, including without limitation, (i) the costs incident to the authorization, issuance, sale, preparation and delivery of the Securities and any stamp, issuance, transfer or other similar taxes payable in that connection; (ii) the costs incident to the preparation, printing and filing under the Securities Act of the Registration

 

31


Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, any Pricing Disclosure Package, any Marketing Materials and the Prospectus (including all exhibits, amendments and supplements thereto) and the distribution thereof; (iii) the fees and expenses of the Company’s counsel and independent accountants; (iv) the reasonable and documented fees and expenses incurred in connection with the registration or qualification of the Securities under the state or foreign securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Representative may designate with the prior approval of the Company (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) (including the related reasonable and documented fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters); (v) all filing fees and the reasonable fees and expenses incurred in connection with any filing with, and clearance of the offering by, FINRA (such fees and expenses pursuant to this clause (v) and clause (iv), in the aggregate, shall not exceed $15,000); (vi) all expenses incurred by the Company in connection with any “road show” presentation to potential investors, provided, however, that the Underwriters shall be responsible for 50% of the third party costs of any chartered private aircraft incurred in connection with such road show; and (vii) the fees and expenses of the Trustee with respect to the Securities. It is, however, understood that except as provided in this Section 12 or in Section 8 of this Agreement, the Underwriters shall pay all of their own costs and expenses, including, without limitation, the fees and disbursements of their counsel, any advertising expenses connected with any offers they make and 50% of the third party costs of any chartered private aircraft incurred in connection with the road show and all travel, lodging and other expenses of the Underwriters incurred by them in connection with any road show.

(b) If (i) this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 10 (other than as a result of a termination pursuant to clauses (i), (iii) or (iv) of Section 10), (ii) the Company for any reason fails to tender the Securities for delivery to the Underwriters (other than as a result of a termination pursuant to Section 11 or clauses (i), (iii) or (iv) of Section 10 or the default by one or more of the Underwriters in its or their respective obligations hereunder) or (iii) the Underwriters decline to purchase the Securities for any reason permitted under this Agreement, the Company agrees to reimburse the Underwriters for all out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including the reasonable and documented fees and expenses of their counsel) reasonably incurred by the Underwriters in connection with this Agreement and the offering contemplated hereby.

13. Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers and directors and any controlling persons referred to in Section 8 hereof. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any other person any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision contained herein. No purchaser of Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor merely by reason of such purchase.

14. Survival. The respective indemnities, rights of contribution, representations, warranties and agreements of the Company, the Adviser and the Underwriters contained in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of the Company, the Adviser or the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement or any certificate delivered pursuant hereto shall survive the delivery of and payment for the Securities and shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any termination of this Agreement or any investigation made by or on behalf of the Company, the Adviser or the Underwriters.

 

32


15. Certain Defined Terms. For purposes of this Agreement, (a) except where otherwise expressly provided, the term “affiliate” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act; (b) the term “business day” means any day other than a day on which banks are permitted or required to be closed in New York City; and (c) the term “subsidiary” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

16. Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.

(a) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

(b) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

(c) For purposes of this Section 16, a “BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k). “Covered Entity” means any of the following: (i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b). “Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable. “U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

17. Miscellaneous.

(a) Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted and confirmed by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the Underwriters shall be given to the Representative c/o BofA Securities, Inc. 114 W 47th St., NY8-114-07-01, New York, New York 10036, Facsimile: (646) 855-5958 Attention: High Grade Transaction Management/Legal. Notices to the Company or the Adviser shall be given to either of them at Sixth Street Specialty Lending, Inc., 345 California Street, Suite 3300, San Francisco, California 94104 (fax: (415) 486-5929), Attention: Joshua Peck.

 

33


(b) USA Patriot Act. In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L, 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the Underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their clients, which may include the name and address of their clients, as well as other information that will allow the Underwriters to properly identify their clients.

(c) Governing Law. This Agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made and to be performed in such state.

(d) Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Delivery of this Agreement by one party to the other may be made by facsimile, electronic mail (including any electronic signature complying with the New York Electronic Signatures and Records Act (N.Y. State Tech. §§ 301-309), as amended from time to time, or other applicable law) or other transmission method, and the parties hereto agree that any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.

(e) Amendments or Waivers. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, nor any consent or approval to any departure therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the parties hereto.

(f) Headings. The headings herein are included for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Agreement.

(g) Authority of the Representative. The Representative is duly authorized to act hereunder on behalf of the other Underwriters. Any action by the Underwriters hereunder may be taken by the Representative on behalf of the Underwriters, and any such action taken by the Representative shall be binding on all the Underwriters.

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please indicate your acceptance of this Agreement by signing in the space provided below.

[Signature pages follow]

 

34


Very truly yours,
SIXTH STREET SPECIALTY LENDING, INC.
By:    /s/ Ian T. Simmonds
  Name: Ian T. Simmonds
  Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

SIXTH STREET SPECIALTY LENDING ADVISERS, LLC
By:    /s/ Ian T. Simmonds
  Name: Ian T. Simmonds
  Title: Vice President

[Signature page to Underwriting Agreement]

 

35


BOFA SECURITIES, INC.

Acting on behalf of itself and the

several Underwriters listed in Schedule 1 hereto.

BOFA SECURITIES, INC.

 

By:    /s/ Zara Kwan
 

Name: Zara Kwan

Title: Managing Director

 

 

[Signature page to Underwriting Agreement]

 

36


Schedule 1

The Purchase Price for the Securities to be paid by the several Underwriters shall be 97.805% of the aggregate principal amount thereof.

 

Underwriter

   Principal Amount of
Securities to be Purchased
 

BofA Securities, Inc.

   $ 37,500,000  

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

   $ 37,500,000  

SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc.

   $ 37,500,000  

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

   $ 37,500,000  

MUFG Securities Americas Inc.

   $ 18,750,000  

Truist Securities, Inc.

   $ 18,750,000  

HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.

   $ 15,000,000  

Mizuho Securities USA LLC

   $ 15,000,000  

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

   $ 12,000,000  

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

   $ 12,000,000  

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

   $ 12,000,000  

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

   $ 12,000,000  

ICBC Standard Bank Plc

   $ 6,000,000  

Citizens JMP Securities, LLC

   $ 5,250,000  

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.

   $ 5,250,000  

Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.

   $ 5,250,000  

Raymond James & Associates, Inc.

   $ 5,250,000  

Comerica Securities

   $ 3,000,000  

Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc.

   $ 3,000,000  

R. Seelaus & Co., LLC

   $ 1,500,000  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 300,000,000  

 

S-1-1


Schedule 2

 

1.

Pricing Term Sheet, dated February 18, 2025, containing the terms governing the Securities, substantially in the form of Annex A to this Agreement, filed with the Commission on February 18, 2025 pursuant to Rule 433.

 

S-2-1


Schedule 3

Subsidiaries of the Company

 

1.

TC Lending, LLC

 

2.

Sixth Street SL SPV, LLC

 

3.

Sixth Street SL Holding, LLC

 

4.

Sixth Street Specialty Lending Sub, LLC

 

S-3-1


Annex A

Issuer Free Writing Prospectus dated February 18, 2025

Relating to Preliminary Prospectus Supplement dated February 18, 2025 and

Prospectus dated December 22, 2023 (Registration No. 333-276252)

Sixth Street Specialty Lending, Inc.

$300,000,000

5.625% Notes due 2030

PRICING TERM SHEET

February 18, 2025

The following sets forth the final terms of the 5.625% Notes due 2030 and should only be read together with the preliminary prospectus supplement dated February 18, 2025, together with the accompanying prospectus dated December 22, 2023, relating to these securities (the “Preliminary Prospectus”), and supersedes the information in the Preliminary Prospectus to the extent inconsistent with the information in the Preliminary Prospectus. In all other respects, this pricing term sheet is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Preliminary Prospectus. Terms used herein but not defined herein shall have the respective meanings as set forth in the Preliminary Prospectus. All references to dollar amounts are references to U.S. dollars.

 

Issuer:

   Sixth Street Specialty Lending, Inc. (the “Issuer”)

Security:

   5.625% Notes due 2030

Ratings (Moody’s/S&P/Fitch)*:

   Baa2/BBB-/BBB

Aggregate Principal Amount Offered:

   $300,000,000

Maturity Date:

   August 15, 2030, unless earlier repurchased or redeemed

Trade Date:

   February 18, 2025

Price to Public (Issue Price):

   The Notes will be issued at a price of 98.805% of their principal amount, plus accrued interest, if any, from February 25, 2025.

Coupon (Interest Rate):

   5.625%

Yield to Maturity:

   5.884%

Spread to Benchmark Treasury:

   T+150 bps

Benchmark Treasury:

   4.250% due January 31, 2030

Benchmark Treasury Price and Yield:

   99-13 / 4.384%

Interest Payment Dates:

   February 15 and August 15, commencing August 15, 2025

Optional Redemption:

  

Prior to July 15, 2030 (the date falling one month prior to the maturity date of the Notes) (the “Par Call Date”), the Issuer may redeem some or all of the Notes at any time, or from time to time, at a redemption price equal to the greater of the following amounts, plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date:

 

•  (a) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon, discounted to the


  

redemption date (assuming the Notes matured on the Par Call Date) on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 25 basis points less (b) interest accrued to the date of redemption; and

 

•  100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed;

   provided, however, that if the Issuer redeems any Notes on or after the Par Call Date, the redemption price for the Notes will be equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the date of redemption.

Change of Control:

   Holders have the right to require the Issuer to repurchase the Notes at 100% of their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, in the event of a change of control repurchase event.

Settlement Date**:

  

February 25, 2025 (T+5)

Denomination:

  

$2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof

CUSIP:

  

83012AAD1

ISIN:

  

US83012AAD19

Joint Book-Running Managers:

  

BofA Securities, Inc.

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc.

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

MUFG Securities Americas Inc.

Truist Securities, Inc.

HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.

Mizuho Securities USA LLC

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

Co-Managers:

  

ICBC Standard Bank Plc

Citizens JMP Securities, LLC

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.

Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.

Raymond James & Associates, Inc.

Comerica Securities, Inc.

Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc.

R. Seelaus & Co., LLC

 

*

Note: A securities rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time.

 

**

The Issuer expects that delivery of the Notes will be made to investors on or about February 25, 2025, which will be the fifth business day following the date hereof. Under Rule 15c6-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, trades in the secondary market are required to settle in one business day, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade Notes on the date hereof or the next succeeding business day will be required by virtue of the fact that the Notes initially settle in T+5, to specify an alternate settlement arrangement at the time of any such trade to prevent a failed settlement. Purchasers of the Notes who wish to trade the Notes on the date hereof or the next succeeding business day should consult their advisors.

 

S-3-2


***

ICBC Standard Bank Plc is restricted in its U.S. securities dealings under the United States Bank Holding Company Act and may not underwrite, subscribe, agree to purchase or procure purchasers to purchase notes that are offered or sold in the United States. Accordingly, ICBC Standard Bank Plc shall not be obligated to, and shall not, underwrite, subscribe, agree to purchase or procure purchasers to purchase notes that may be offered or sold by other underwriters in the United States. ICBC Standard Bank Plc shall offer and sell the Notes constituting part of its allotment solely outside the United States.

Investors are advised to carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the Issuer before investing. The Preliminary Prospectus, which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), contains this and other information about the Issuer and should be read carefully before investing.

The information in the Preliminary Prospectus and in this pricing term sheet is not complete and may be changed. The Preliminary Prospectus and this pricing term sheet are not offers to sell any securities of the Issuer and are not soliciting an offer to buy such securities in any state or jurisdiction where such offer and sale is not permitted.

The Issuer has filed a registration statement including a prospectus and the prospectus supplement with the SEC for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement, the prospectus supplement and other documents the Issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the Issuer and this offering. You may obtain these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC Web site at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the Issuer, any underwriter or any dealer participating in the offering will arrange to send you the prospectus and the prospectus supplement if you request them by calling BofA Securities, Inc. at 1-800-294-1322.

 

S-3-3

Exhibit 4.2

SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

between

SIXTH STREET SPECIALTY LENDING, INC.

and

U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee

Dated as of February 25, 2025

 

 

SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

THIS SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “Second Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of February 25, 2025, between Sixth Street Specialty Lending, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”). All capitalized terms used herein shall have the meaning set forth in the Base Indenture (as defined below) unless otherwise defined herein.

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

The Company and the Trustee executed and delivered an Indenture, dated as of January 16, 2024 (the “Base Indenture” and, as supplemented by this Second Supplemental Indenture, collectively, the “Indenture”), to provide for the issuance by the Company from time to time of the Company’s unsecured debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (the “Securities”), to be issued in one or more series as provided in the Indenture.

The Company desires to issue and sell $300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 5.625% Notes due 2030 (the “Notes”).

Sections 9.01(v) and 9.01(vii) of the Base Indenture provide that without the consent of Holders of the Securities of any series issued under the Indenture, the Company, when authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental to the Base Indenture to (i) change or eliminate any of the provisions of the Indenture when there is no Security Outstanding of any series created prior to the execution of a supplemental indenture that is entitled to the benefit of such provision and (ii) establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Section 2.01 and Section 3.01 of the Base Indenture.

The Company desires to establish the form and terms of the Notes and to modify, alter, supplement and change certain provisions of the Base Indenture for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes (except as may be provided in a future supplemental indenture to the Indenture (“Future Supplemental Indenture”)).


The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Second Supplemental Indenture to provide for the issuance of the Notes and all acts and things necessary to make this Second Supplemental Indenture a valid, binding, and legal obligation of the Company and to constitute a valid agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done and performed.

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Notes by the Holders thereof, it is mutually agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Notes, as follows:

ARTICLE I

TERMS OF THE NOTES

Section 1.01. Terms of the Notes. The following terms relating to the Notes are hereby established:

(a) The Notes shall constitute a series of Securities having the title “5.625% Notes due 2030” and shall be designated as Senior Securities under the Indenture. The Notes shall bear a CUSIP number of 83012AAD1 and an ISIN number of US83012AAD19.

(b) The aggregate principal amount of the Notes that may be initially authenticated and delivered under the Indenture (except for Notes authenticated and delivered upon registration of, transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Notes pursuant to Sections 3.04, 3.05, 3.06, 9.06 or 11.07 of the Base Indenture) shall be $300,000,000. Under a Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate pursuant to Board Resolutions or an indenture supplement, the Company may from time to time, without the consent of the Holders of Notes, issue additional Notes (in any such case “Additional Notes”) having the same ranking and the same interest rate, maturity, CUSIP number and other terms as the Notes; provided that such Additional Notes must either (i) be issued in a “qualified reopening” for U.S. Federal income tax purposes, with no more than a de minimis amount of original issue discount, or otherwise (ii) be part of the same issue as the Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Any Additional Notes and the existing Notes will constitute a single series under the Indenture and all references to the relevant Notes herein shall include the Additional Notes unless the context otherwise requires.

(c) The entire Outstanding principal amount of the Notes shall be payable on August 15, 2030, unless earlier redeemed or repurchased in accordance with the provisions of this Second Supplemental Indenture.

(d) The rate at which the Notes shall bear interest shall be 5.625% per annum (the “Applicable Interest Rate”). The date from which interest shall accrue on the Notes shall be February 25, 2025, or the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or provided for; the Interest Payment Dates for the Notes shall be February 15 and August 15 of each year, commencing August 15, 2025 (if an Interest Payment Date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, then the applicable interest payment will be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the scheduled Interest Payment Date and no additional interest will accrue as a result of such delayed payment); the initial interest

 

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period will be the period from and including February 25, 2025 (or the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or provided for), to, but excluding, the initial Interest Payment Date, and the subsequent interest periods will be the periods from and including an Interest Payment Date to, but excluding, the next Interest Payment Date or the Stated Maturity, as the case may be; the interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date, will be paid to the Person in whose name the Note (or one or more predecessor Notes) is registered at 5:00 p.m. New York City time (the “close of business”) on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be February 1 and August 1 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date. Payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and any such interest on the Notes will be made at the Corporate Trust Office of the Paying Agent, which shall initially be the Trustee, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that in the case of Notes that are not in global form, at the option of the Company, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register. Interest on the Notes will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

(e) The Notes shall be initially issuable in global form (each such Note, a “Global Note”). The Global Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication thereon shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A to this Second Supplemental Indenture. Each Global Note shall represent the Outstanding Notes as shall be specified therein and each shall provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of Outstanding Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate amount of Outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges and redemptions. Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the amount of Outstanding Notes represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee or the Security Registrar, in accordance with Sections 2.03 and 3.05 of the Base Indenture.

(f) The Depositary Custodian for such Global Notes shall be the Trustee. The Security Registrar with respect to the Global Notes shall be the Trustee.

(g) The Notes shall be defeasible pursuant to Section 14.02 or Section 14.03 of the Base Indenture. Covenant defeasance contained in Section 14.03 of the Base Indenture shall apply to the covenants contained in Sections 10.06, 10.07 and 10.08 of the Indenture.

(h) The Notes shall be redeemable pursuant to Section 11.01 of the Base Indenture and as follows:

(i) The Notes will be redeemable, in whole or in part, at any time, or from time to time, at the option of the Company, at a Redemption Price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places), prior to July 15, 2030 (the “Par Call Date”), equal to the greater of the following amounts, plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the Redemption Date:

 

  (a)(1)

the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the

 

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  Redemption Date (assuming the Notes matured on the Par Call Date) on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 25 basis points less (2) interest accrued to the date of redemption; and

 

  (b)

100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed;

provided, however, that if the Company redeems any Notes on or after the Par Call Date, the Redemption Price for the Notes will be equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the Redemption Date.

“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, the yield determined by the Company in accordance with the following two paragraphs:

 

  (a)

The Treasury Rate shall be determined by the Company after 4:15 p.m., New York City time (or after such time as yields on U.S. government securities are posted daily by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), on the third Business Day preceding the Redemption Date based upon the yield or yields for the most recent day that appear after such time on such day in the most recent statistical release published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System designated as “Selected Interest Rates (Daily)—H.15” (or any successor designation or publication) (“H.15”) under the caption “U.S. government securities-Treasury constant maturities-Nominal” (or any successor caption or heading) (“H.15 TCM”). In determining the Treasury Rate, the Company shall select, as applicable: (1) the yield for the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the period from the redemption date to the Par Call Date (the “Remaining Life”); or (2) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the Remaining Life, the two yields—one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately shorter than and one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately longer than the Remaining Life—and shall interpolate to the Par Call Date on a straight-line basis (using the actual number of days) using such yields and rounding the result to three decimal places; or (3) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 shorter than or longer than the Remaining Life, the yield for the single Treasury constant maturity on H.15 closest to the Remaining Life. For purposes of this paragraph, the applicable Treasury constant maturity or maturities on H.15 shall be deemed to have a maturity date equal to the relevant number of months or years, as applicable, of such Treasury constant maturity from the redemption date; and

 

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  (b)

If on the third business day preceding the redemption date H.15 TCM is no longer published, the Company shall calculate the Treasury Rate based on the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second Business Day preceding such redemption date of the United States Treasury security maturing on, or with a maturity that is closest to, the Par Call Date, as applicable. If there is no United States Treasury security maturing on the Par Call Date but there are two or more United States Treasury securities with a maturity date equally distant from the Par Call Date, one with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date and one with a maturity date following the Par Call Date, the Company shall select the United States Treasury security with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date. If there are two or more United States Treasury securities maturing on the Par Call Date or two or more United States Treasury securities meeting the criteria of the preceding sentence, the Company shall select from among these two or more United States Treasury securities the United States Treasury security that is trading closest to par based upon the average of the bid and asked prices for such United States Treasury securities at 11:00 a.m., New York City time. In determining the Treasury Rate in accordance with the terms of this paragraph, the semi-annual yield to maturity of the applicable United States Treasury security shall be based upon the average of the bid and asked prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, of such United States Treasury security, and rounded to three decimal places.

The Company’s actions and determinations in determining the Redemption Price shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error. The Trustee will not be responsible or liable for determining, confirming, or verifying the Redemption Price.

(ii) Notice of any redemption shall be mailed or electronically delivered (or otherwise transmitted in accordance with the depositary’s procedures) at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date to each Holder of Notes to be redeemed, at the Holder’s address appearing in the Security Register. All notices of redemption shall contain the information set forth in Section 11.04 of the Base Indenture. If the Redemption Price is not known at the time such notice is to be given, the actual Redemption Price, calculated as described in the terms of the Notes, will be set forth in an Officers’ Certificate of the Company delivered to the Trustee no later than two Business Days prior to the Redemption Date.

(iii) Any exercise of the Company’s option to redeem the Notes will be done in compliance with the Investment Company Act, to the extent applicable.

 

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(iv) If the Company elects to redeem only a portion of the Notes, selection of the Notes for redemption shall be made pro rata, by lot or by such other method as the Trustee deems appropriate and fair with the prior written consent of the Company. No Notes of a principal amount of $2,000 or less will be redeemed in part. If any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to the Note will state the portion of the principal amount of the Note to be redeemed. A new note in a principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Note will be issued in the name of the holder of the Note upon surrender for cancellation of the original Note. For so long as the Notes are held by DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream (or another depositary), the redemption of the Notes shall be done in accordance with the policies and procedures of the depositary.

(v) Unless the Company defaults in payment of the Redemption Price, on and after the Redemption Date, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes called for redemption hereunder.

(i) The Notes shall not be subject to any sinking fund pursuant to Section 12.01 of the Base Indenture.

(j) The Notes shall be issuable in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

(k) Holders of the Notes will not have the option to have the Notes repaid prior to the Stated Maturity other than in accordance with Article Thirteen of the Indenture.

ARTICLE II

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

Section 2.01. Except as may be provided in a Future Supplemental Indenture, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes but no other series of Securities under the Indenture, whether now or hereafter issued and Outstanding, Article One of the Base Indenture shall be amended by adding the following defined terms to Section 1.01 of the Base Indenture in appropriate alphabetical sequence, as follows:

Below Investment Grade Rating Event” means the Notes are downgraded below Investment Grade by all three Rating Agencies on any date from the date of the public notice of an arrangement that results in a Change of Control until the end of the 60-day period following public notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control (which period shall be extended so long as the rating of the Notes is under publicly announced consideration for possible downgrade by any of the Rating Agencies); provided that a Below Investment Grade Rating Event otherwise arising by virtue of a particular reduction in rating shall not be deemed to have occurred in respect of a particular Change of Control (and thus shall not be deemed a Below Investment Grade Rating Event for purposes of the definition of Change of Control Repurchase Event hereunder) if the Rating Agencies making the reduction in rating to which this definition would otherwise apply do not announce or publicly confirm or inform the Company in writing that the

 

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reduction was the result, in whole or in part, of any event or circumstance comprised of or arising as a result of, or in respect of, the applicable Change of Control (whether or not the applicable Change of Control shall have occurred at the time of the Below Investment Grade Rating Event).

Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following:

 

  (1)

the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation) in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Controlled Subsidiaries taken as a whole to any “person” or “group” (as those terms are used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), other than to any Permitted Holders; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, a pledge of assets pursuant to any secured debt instrument of the Company or its Controlled Subsidiaries shall not be deemed to be any such sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or disposition;

 

  (2)

the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any “person” or “group” (as those terms are used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) (other than any Permitted Holders) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the outstanding Voting Stock of the Company, measured by voting power rather than number of shares; or

 

  (3)

the approval by the Company’s stockholders of any plan or proposal relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

Change of Control Repurchase Event” means the occurrence of a Change of Control and a Below Investment Grade Rating Event.

Corporate Trust Office” means the corporate trust office of the Trustee, at which at any particular time its corporate trust business with respect to this Indenture shall be administered, which office is currently located at U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, 100 Wall St STE 600, New York, NY 10005.

Depositary” means, with respect to each Note in global form, The Depository Trust Company, until a successor shall have been appointed and becomes such person, and thereafter, Depositary shall mean or include such successor.

Fitch” means Fitch Ratings, Inc., also known as Fitch Ratings, or any successor thereto.

Investment Grade” means a rating of BBB- or better by Fitch (or its equivalent under any successor rating categories of Fitch), BBB- or better by S&P (or its equivalent under any successor rating categories of S&P) and Baa3 or better by Moody’s (or its equivalent under any successor rating categories of Moody’s) (or, in each case, if such Rating Agency ceases to rate the Notes for reasons outside of the Company’s control, the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any Rating Agency selected by the Company as a replacement Rating Agency).

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investor Service, or any successor thereto.

 

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Permitted Holders” means (i) the Company, (ii) one or more of the Company’s Controlled Subsidiaries and (iii) Sixth Street Specialty Lending Advisers, LLC or any Affiliate of Sixth Street Specialty Lending Advisers, LLC that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction located in the United States of America and in the business of managing or advising clients.

Rating Agency” means (1) each of Fitch, Moody’s and S&P; and (2) if any of Fitch, Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the Notes or fails to make a rating of the Notes publicly available for reasons outside of the Company’s control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” as defined in Section (3)(a)(62) of the Exchange Act selected by the Company as a replacement agency for Fitch, Moody’s or S&P, or all three, as the case may be.

S&P” means S&P Global Ratings or any successor thereto.

Voting Stock” as applied to stock of any Person, means shares, interests, participations or other equivalents in the equity interest (however designated) in such Person having ordinary voting power for the election of a majority of the directors (or the equivalent) of such Person, other than shares, interests, participations or other equivalents having such power only by reason of the occurrence of a contingency.

ARTICLE III

REMEDIES

Section 3.01. Except as may be provided in a Future Supplemental Indenture, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes but no other series of Securities under the Base Indenture (as supplemented or amended from time to time by one or more indentures supplemental thereto), whether now or hereafter issued and Outstanding, Section 5.01 of the Base Indenture shall be amended by replacing clause (viii) thereof with the following:

“default by the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries, with respect to any mortgage, agreement or other instrument under which there may be outstanding, or by which there may be secured or evidenced, any indebtedness for money borrowed in excess of $100 million in the aggregate of the Company and/or any such Significant Subsidiary, whether such indebtedness now exists or shall hereafter be created (i) resulting in such indebtedness becoming or being declared due and payable or (ii) constituting a failure to pay the principal or interest of any such debt when due and payable at its stated maturity, upon required repurchase, upon declaration of acceleration or otherwise, unless, in either case, such indebtedness is discharged, or such acceleration is rescinded, stayed or annulled, within a period of 30 calendar days after written notice of such failure is given to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any series then Outstanding.”

ARTICLE IV

THE TRUSTEE

Section 4.01. Neither the Trustee nor any Paying Agent shall be responsible (or liable) for determining whether any Change of Control or Below Investment Grade Rating Event has

 

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occurred and whether any Change of Control offer with respect to the Notes is required. The transferor of any Note shall provide or cause to be provided to the Trustee, upon reasonable request therefore, all information necessary to allow the Trustee to comply with any applicable tax reporting obligations, including without limitation any cost basis reporting obligations under Internal Revenue Code Section 6045. In connection with any proposed exchange of a certificated Note for a Global Note, there shall be provided to the Trustee, upon reasonable request therefore, all information necessary to allow the Trustee to comply with any applicable tax reporting obligations, including without limitation any cost basis reporting obligations under Internal Revenue Code Section 6045. The Trustee may rely on information provided to it and shall have no responsibility (or liability) to verify or ensure the accuracy, correctness, adequacy, or completeness of such information.

Section 4.02. In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation any act or provision of any present or future law or regulation or governmental authority, natural disaster, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, labor dispute, disease, epidemic or pandemic, quarantine, national emergency and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services, communications system failure, malware or ransomware or other unavailability of the Federal Reserve Bank wire or facsimile or telex system or other funds transfer system or other wire or communication facility or unavailability of any securities clearing system; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts that are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

ARTICLE V

COVENANTS

Section 5.01. Except as may be provided in a Future Supplemental Indenture, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes but no other series of Securities under the Indenture, whether now or hereafter issued and Outstanding, Article Ten of the Base Indenture shall be amended by replacing Section 10.07 with the following:

“Section 10.07. Section 18(a)(1)(A) of the Investment Company Act.

The Company hereby agrees that for the period of time during which Securities are Outstanding, the Company will not violate, whether or not it is subject thereto, Section 18(a)(1)(A) as modified by Section 61(a) of the Investment Company Act or any successor provisions thereto of the Investment Company Act, but giving effect, in either case, to any exemptive relief granted to the Company by the Commission.”

ARTICLE VI

OFFER TO REPURCHASE UPON A CHANGE OF CONTROL REPURCHASE EVENT

Except as may be provided in a Future Supplemental Indenture, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes but no other series of Securities under the Indenture, whether now or hereafter issued and Outstanding, Article Thirteen of the Base Indenture shall be amended by replacing Sections 13.01 to 13.05 thereto with the following:

 

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“Section 13.01 Change of Control.

If a Change of Control Repurchase Event occurs, unless the Company shall have exercised its right to redeem the Notes in full, the Company shall make an offer to each Holder of the Notes to repurchase all or any part (in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 principal amount thereabove) of that Holder’s Notes at a repurchase price in cash equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes repurchased plus any accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes repurchased to the date of purchase. Within 30 days following any Change of Control Repurchase Event or, at the Company’s option, prior to any Change of Control, but after the public announcement of the Change of Control, the Company will send a written notice to each Holder and the Trustee describing the transaction or transactions that constitute or may constitute the Change of Control Repurchase Event and offering to repurchase Notes on the payment date specified in the notice, which date will be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is sent. The notice shall, if sent prior to the date of consummation of the Change of Control, state that the offer to purchase is conditioned on the Change of Control Repurchase Event occurring on or prior to the payment date specified in the notice. The Company shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes as a result of a Change of Control Repurchase Event.

To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with this Section 13.01, the Company shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section 13.01 by virtue of such conflict.

On the Change of Control Repurchase Event payment date, subject to extension if necessary to comply with the provisions of the Investment Company Act, the Company shall, to the extent lawful:

 

  (1)

accept for payment all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered pursuant to its offer;

 

  (2)

deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the aggregate purchase price in respect of all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered; and

 

  (3)

deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes properly accepted, together with an Officers’ Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes being purchased by the Company.

The Paying Agent will promptly remit to each Holder of Notes properly tendered the purchase price for the Notes, and the Trustee will promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book-entry) to each Holder a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of any Notes surrendered; provided that each new Note will be in a minimum principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

 

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If any Repayment Date upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event falls on a day that is not a Business Day, then the required payment will be made on the next succeeding Business Day and no additional interest will accrue as a result of such delayed payment.

The Company will not be required to make an offer to repurchase the Notes upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event if a third party makes an offer in respect of the Notes in the manner, at the time and otherwise in compliance with the requirements for an offer made by the Company and such third party purchases all Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under its offer.”

ARTICLE VII

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 7.01. This Second Supplemental Indenture and the Notes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to principles of conflicts of laws that would cause the application of laws of another jurisdiction. This Second Supplemental Indenture is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of the Indenture and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions. If any provision of the Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by Section 318(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, the imposed duties will control.

Section 7.02. In case any provision in this Second Supplemental Indenture or in the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

Section 7.03. This Second Supplemental Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which will be an original, but such counterparts will together constitute but one and the same Second Supplemental Indenture. This Second Supplemental Indenture shall be valid, binding, and enforceable against a party when executed and delivered by an authorized individual on behalf of the party by means of (i) an original manual signature; (ii) a faxed, scanned, or photocopied manual signature, or (iii) any other electronic signature permitted by the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, state enactments of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, and/or any other relevant electronic signatures law, including any relevant provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code/UCC (collectively, “Signature Law”), in each case to the extent applicable. Each faxed, scanned, or photocopied manual signature, or other electronic signature, shall for all purposes have the same validity, legal effect, and admissibility in evidence as an original manual signature. Each party hereto shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon, and shall have no liability with respect to, any faxed, scanned, or photocopied manual signature, or other electronic signature, of any other party and shall have no duty to investigate, confirm or otherwise verify the validity or authenticity thereof. For the avoidance of doubt, original manual signatures shall be used for execution or indorsement of writings when required under the UCC or other Signature Law due to the character or intended character of the writings.

Section 7.04. The Base Indenture, as supplemented and amended by this Second Supplemental Indenture, is in all respects ratified and confirmed, and the Base Indenture and this Second Supplemental Indenture shall be read, taken and construed as one and the same

 

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instrument with respect to the Notes. All provisions included in this Second Supplemental Indenture supersede any conflicting provisions included in the Base Indenture with respect to the Notes, unless not permitted by law. The Trustee accepts the trusts created by the Indenture, as supplemented by this Second Supplemental Indenture, and agrees to perform the same upon the terms and conditions of the Indenture, as supplemented by this Second Supplemental Indenture. All of the provisions contained in the Base Indenture in respect of the rights, privileges, protections, limitations of liability, indemnities, immunities, powers, and duties of the Trustee shall be applicable in respect of this Second Supplemental Indenture as fully and with like force and effect as though fully set forth in full herein.

Section 7.05. The provisions of this Second Supplemental Indenture shall become effective as of the date hereof.

Section 7.06. Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary herein, the terms and provisions of this Second Supplemental Indenture shall apply only to the Notes and shall not apply to any other series of Securities under the Indenture and this Second Supplemental Indenture shall not and does not otherwise affect, modify, alter, supplement or change the terms and provisions of any other series of Securities under the Indenture, whether now or hereafter issued and Outstanding.

Section 6.07. The recitals contained herein and in the Notes shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for their accuracy, completeness or correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to and shall not be responsible or liable for the validity or sufficiency of this Second Supplemental Indenture, the Notes or any Additional Notes, except that the Trustee represents that it is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Second Supplemental Indenture, authenticate the Notes and any Additional Notes and perform its obligations hereunder. The Trustee shall not be responsible or liable for the use or application by the Company of the Notes or any Additional Notes or the proceeds thereof.

Section 6.08. EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, THE SECURITIES OR THE TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Second Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

SIXTH STREET SPECIALTY LENDING, INC.
By:   /s/ Ian T. Simmonds
  Name: Ian T. Simmonds
  Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
By:   /s/ James W. Hall
  Name: James W. Hall
  Title: Vice President

[Signature Page to Second Supplemental Indenture]


Exhibit A – Form of Global Note

THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL NOTE WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF. THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR A SECURITY REGISTERED, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN WHOLE OR IN PART MAY BE REGISTERED, IN THE NAME OF ANY PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.

Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company to the issuer or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment and such certificate issued in exchange for this certificate is registered in the name of Cede & Co., or such other name as requested by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company, any transfer, pledge or other use hereof for value or otherwise by or to any person is wrongful, as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.

Sixth Street Specialty Lending, Inc.

 

No. 1

     Initially $300,000,000  
    

CUSIP No. 83012AAD1

ISIN No. US83012AAD19

 

5.625% Notes due 2030

Sixth Street Specialty Lending, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of Delaware (herein called the “Company”, which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co., or registered assigns, the principal sum of THREE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS (U.S. $300,000,000), or such other principal sum as shall be set forth in the Schedule of Increases or Decreases attached hereto, on August 15, 2030, and to pay interest thereon from February 25, 2025 or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually on February 15 and August 15 of each year, commencing August 15, 2025, at the rate of 5.625% per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security is registered at 5:00 p.m. New York City time (the “close of business”) on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be February 1 and August 1 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Company, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any


time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities of this series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture. This Security may be issued as part of a series.

Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and any such interest on this Security will be made at the Corporate Trust Office of the Paying Agent, which shall initially be the Trustee, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that at the option of the Company payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register.

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

Dated:       

 

SIXTH STREET SPECIALTY LENDING, INC.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

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This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

Dated:       

 

U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee

By:  

 

  Authorized Signatory

 

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[BACK OF NOTE]

Sixth Street Specialty Lending, Inc.

5.625% Notes due 2030

This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein called the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of January 16, 2024 (herein called the “Base Indenture”, which term shall have the meaning assigned to it in such instrument), between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee”, which term includes any successor trustee under the Base Indenture), and reference is hereby made to the Base Indenture for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee, and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered, as supplemented by the Second Supplemental Indenture, relating to the Securities, dated as of February 25, 2025, by and between the Company and the Trustee (herein called the “Second Supplemental Indenture”; and together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”). In the event of any conflict between the Base Indenture and the Second Supplemental Indenture, the Second Supplemental Indenture shall govern and control.

This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof, initially limited in aggregate principal amount to $300,000,000. Under a Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate pursuant to Board Resolutions or an indenture supplement, the Company may from time to time, without the consent of the Holders of Securities, issue additional Securities of this series (in any such case “Additional Securities”) having the same ranking and the same interest rate, maturity, CUSIP number and other terms as the Securities, provided that such Additional Securities must either (i) be issued in a “qualified reopening” for U.S. Federal income tax purposes, with no more than a de minimis amount of original issue discount, or otherwise (ii) be part of the same issue as the Securities for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Any Additional Securities and the existing Securities will constitute a single series under the Indenture and all references to the relevant Securities herein shall include the Additional Securities unless the context otherwise requires. The aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities represented hereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges and redemptions.

The Securities of this series are subject to redemption in whole or in part, at any time, or from time to time, at the option of the Company, at a Redemption Price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places), prior to the Par Call Date, equal to the greater of the following amounts, plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the Redemption Date:

 

  (a)(i)

the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the Redemption Date (assuming the Securities matured on the Par Call Date) on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 25 basis points less (i) interest accrued to the date of redemption; and

 

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  (b)

100% of the principal amount of the Securities to be redeemed;

provided, however, that if the Company redeems any Securities on or after the Par Call Date, the Redemption Price for the Securities will be equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Securities to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the Redemption Date.

“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, the yield determined by the Company in accordance with the following two paragraphs:

 

  (a)

The Treasury Rate shall be determined by the Company after 4:15 p.m., New York City time (or after such time as yields on U.S. government securities are posted daily by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), on the third Business Day preceding the Redemption Date based upon the yield or yields for the most recent day that appear after such time on such day in the most recent statistical release published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System designated as “Selected Interest Rates (Daily)—H.15” (or any successor designation or publication) (“H.15”) under the caption “U.S. government securities-Treasury constant maturities-Nominal” (or any successor caption or heading) (“H.15 TCM”). In determining the Treasury Rate, the Company shall select, as applicable: (1) the yield for the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the period from the redemption date to the Par Call Date (the “Remaining Life”); or (2) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the Remaining Life, the two yields—one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately shorter than and one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately longer than the Remaining Life—and shall interpolate to the Par Call Date on a straight-line basis (using the actual number of days) using such yields and rounding the result to three decimal places; or (3) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 shorter than or longer than the Remaining Life, the yield for the single Treasury constant maturity on H.15 closest to the Remaining Life. For purposes of this paragraph, the applicable Treasury constant maturity or maturities on H.15 shall be deemed to have a maturity date equal to the relevant number of months or years, as applicable, of such Treasury constant maturity from the redemption date; and

 

  (b)

If on the third business day preceding the redemption date H.15 TCM is no longer published, the Company shall calculate the Treasury Rate based on the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second Business Day preceding such redemption date of the United States Treasury security maturing on, or with a maturity that is closest to, the Par Call Date, as applicable. If there is no United States Treasury security maturing on the Par Call Date but there are two or more United States Treasury securities with a maturity date equally distant from the Par Call Date, one with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date and one with a maturity date following the Par Call Date, the Company shall select the United States Treasury security with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date. If there are two or more United States Treasury securities maturing on the Par Call Date or two or more United

 

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  States Treasury securities meeting the criteria of the preceding sentence, the Company shall select from among these two or more United States Treasury securities the United States Treasury security that is trading closest to par based upon the average of the bid and asked prices for such United States Treasury securities at 11:00 a.m., New York City time. In determining the Treasury Rate in accordance with the terms of this paragraph, the semi-annual yield to maturity of the applicable United States Treasury security shall be based upon the average of the bid and asked prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, of such United States Treasury security, and rounded to three decimal places.

The Company’s actions and determinations in determining the Redemption Price shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error. The Trustee will not be responsible or liable for determining, confirming, or verifying the Redemption Price.

Notice of any redemption shall be mailed or electronically delivered (or otherwise transmitted in accordance with the depositary’s procedures) at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed, at the Holder’s address appearing in the Security Register. All notices of redemption shall contain the information set forth in Section 11.04 of the Base Indenture.

Any exercise of the Company’s option to redeem the Securities will be done in compliance with the Investment Company Act, to the extent applicable.

If the Company elects to redeem only a portion of the Securities, selection of the Securities for redemption shall be made pro rata, by lot or by such other method as the Trustee deems appropriate and fair with the prior written consent of the Company. No Securities of a principal amount of $2,000 or less will be redeemed in part. If any Security is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to the Security will state the portion of the principal amount of the Security to be redeemed. A new security in a principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Security will be issued in the name of the holder of the Security upon surrender for cancellation of the original Security. For so long as the Securities are held by DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream (or another depositary), the redemption of the Securities shall be done in accordance with the policies and procedures of the depositary.

Unless the Company defaults in payment of the Redemption Price, on and after the Redemption Date, interest will cease to accrue on the Securities called for redemption.

Holders will have the right to require the Company to repurchase their Securities upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Repurchase Event as set forth in the Indenture.

The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of the entire indebtedness of this Security or certain restrictive covenants and Events of Default with respect to this Security, in each case upon compliance with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing (other than Events of Default related to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization as set forth in the Indenture), the principal of the Securities of this series may be

 

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declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. In the case of certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization described in the Indenture, 100% of the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on the Securities will automatically become due and payable.

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this Security shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given the Trustee, and a responsible officer of the Trustee has received, written notice of, or a responsible officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge of, a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Securities of this series at the time Outstanding shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee indemnity against the costs, expenses (including attorneys’ fees and expenses), court costs and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request, and the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of Securities of this series at the time Outstanding a direction inconsistent with such request, and shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for ninety (90) days after receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Security for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any premium or interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

 

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The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company or Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

To the extent any provision of this Security conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling.

The Indenture and this Security shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to principles of conflicts of laws.

 

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ASSIGNMENT FORM

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

 

(I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to:

    
   (INSERT ASSIGNEES LEGAL NAME)

(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)

 

 
 
 
(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)
and irrevocably appoint      

to transfer this Note on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

Date:         

 

Your Signature:    

 

  (Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)

Signature Guarantee*:         

 

*

Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

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OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 13.01 of the Indenture, check the box below:

☐ Section 13.01

If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 13.01 of the Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased:

$      

Date:       

 

Your Signature:    

 

  (Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)
Tax Identification No.:    

 

Signature Guarantee*:         

 

*

Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

-11-


SCHEDULE OF INCREASES AND DECREASES OF GLOBAL NOTE

The Initial principal amount of this Global Note is $        . The following increases and decreases to this Global Note have been made:

 

Date of

Increase or Decrease

 

Amount of

Decrease in

Principal Amount

at Maturity of this Global
Note

 

Amount of

Increase in

Principal Amount

at Maturity of this Global Note

 

Principal Amount at Maturity
of this Global Note Following
such decrease (or increase)

 

Signature of Authorized
Signatory of Trustee or DTC
Custodian

 

-12-

Exhibit 5.1

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

900 G STREET, NW

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20001

 

 

TELEPHONE: +1-202-636-5500

FACSIMILE: +1-202-636-5502

 

Direct Dial Number    E-mail Address
+1-202-636-5543    rajib.chanda@stblaw.com

February 25, 2025

Sixth Street Specialty Lending, Inc.

2100 McKinney Avenue

Suite 1500

Dallas, TX 75201

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to Sixth Street Specialty Lending, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) in connection with the Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-276252) (the “Registration Statement”) filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to the issuance by the Company of an indeterminate initial offering price of debt securities and other securities.

We have examined the Registration Statement, the Underwriting Agreement dated February 18, 2025 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), among the Company, Sixth Street Specialty Lending Advisers, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Adviser”) and BofA Securities, Inc., as representatives of the several underwriters named therein pursuant to which such underwriters have agreed to purchase up to $300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 5.625% Notes due 2030 (the “Notes”) issued by the Company, the Indenture, dated as of January


Sixth Street Specialty Lending, Inc.    2    February 25, 2025

 

16, 2024 (the “Base Indenture”), between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by the second supplemental indenture dated February 25, 2025, (together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), and a duplicate of the global notes representing the Notes whose terms are set forth in the Indenture. In addition, we have examined, and have relied as to matters of fact upon, originals, or duplicates or certified or conformed copies, of such records, agreements, documents and other instruments and such certificates or comparable documents of public officials and of officers and representatives of the Company and the Adviser and have made such other investigations as we have deemed relevant and necessary in connection with the opinion hereinafter set forth.

In rendering the opinion set forth below, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as duplicates or certified or conformed copies and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents. We also have assumed that the Indenture is the valid and legally binding obligation of the Trustee.

In rendering the opinion set forth below, we have assumed further that the execution, issuance, delivery and performance by the Company of the Underwriting Agreement, the Indenture and the Notes, do not constitute a breach or default under any agreement or instrument which is binding upon the Company.

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications, assumptions and limitations stated herein, we are of the opinion that, assuming due authentication thereof by the Trustee and upon payment and delivery in accordance with the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement, the Notes will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.


Sixth Street Specialty Lending, Inc.    3    February 25, 2025

 

Our opinion set forth above is subject to (i) the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, (ii) general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), and (iii) an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. In addition, we express no opinion as to the validity, legally binding effect or enforceability of (i) the waiver of rights and defenses contained in Section 5.14 of the Base Indenture or (ii) Section 1.09 of the Indenture relating to the separability of provisions of the Base Indenture.

In connection with Section 1.13 of the Indenture whereby the parties submit to the jurisdiction of any New York state or federal court sitting in The City of New York, we note the limitations of 28 U.S.C. Sections 1331 and 1332 on subject matter jurisdiction of the U.S. federal courts. In connection with the provisions of Section 1.13 of the Indenture which relate to forum selection (including, without limitation, any waiver of any objection to venue or any objection that a court is an inconvenient forum), we note that under N.Y.C.P.L.R. Section 510 a New York State court may have discretion to transfer the place of trial, and under 28 U.S.C. Section 1404(a) a United States District Court has discretion to transfer an action from one U.S. federal court to another.

We do not express any opinion herein concerning any law other than the law of the State of New York and the Delaware General Corporation Law.


Sixth Street Specialty Lending, Inc.    4    February 25, 2025

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit (l) to the Registration Statement and to the use of our name under the caption “Legal Matters” in the prospectus included in the Registration Statement.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT LLP

v3.25.0.1
Cover Page
Feb. 25, 2025
Document Information [Line Items]  
Amendment Flag false
Entity Central Index Key 0001508655
Document Type 8-K
Document Period End Date Feb. 25, 2025
Entity Registrant Name Sixth Street Specialty Lending, Inc.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code DE
Securities Act File Number 001-36364
Entity Tax Identification Number 27-3380000
Entity Address, Address Line One 2100 McKinney Avenue
Entity Address, Address Line Two Suite 1500
Entity Address, City or Town Dallas
Entity Address, State or Province TX
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code 75201
City Area Code 469
Local Phone Number 621-3001
Written Communications false
Soliciting Material false
Pre-commencement Tender Offer false
Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer false
Title of 12(b) Security Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
Trading Symbol TSLX
Security Exchange Name NYSE
Entity Emerging Growth Company false
v3.25.0.1
N-2
Feb. 25, 2025
USD ($)
Cover [Abstract]  
Entity Central Index Key 0001508655
Amendment Flag false
Securities Act File Number 001-36364
Document Type 8-K
Entity Registrant Name Sixth Street Specialty Lending, Inc.
Entity Address, Address Line One 2100 McKinney Avenue
Entity Address, Address Line Two Suite 1500
Entity Address, City or Town Dallas
Entity Address, State or Province TX
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code 75201
City Area Code 469
Local Phone Number 621-3001
Entity Emerging Growth Company false
Capital Stock, Long-Term Debt, and Other Securities [Abstract]  
Long Term Debt [Table Text Block] On February 25, 2025, Sixth Street Specialty Lending, Inc. (the “Company”) and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association (the “Trustee”), entered into a Second Supplemental Indenture (the “Second Supplemental Indenture”) to the Indenture, dated as of February 25, 2025, between the Company and the Trustee (the “Base Indenture”; and together with the Second Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”), relating to the Company’s issuance, offer and sale of $300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 5.625% notes due 2030 (the “Notes”).
Long Term Debt, Title [Text Block] 5.625% notes due 2030
Long Term Debt, Principal $ 300,000,000
Long Term Debt, Structuring [Text Block] The Notes will mature on August 15, 2030 and may be redeemed in whole or in part at the Company’s option at any time at the redemption prices set forth in the Second Supplemental Indenture. The Notes bear interest at a rate of 5.625% per year payable semiannually on February 15 and August 15 of each year, commencing on August 15, 2025.
Long Term Debt, Dividends and Covenants [Text Block] The Company expects to use the net proceeds of this offering to pay down debt under its revolving credit facility. The Indenture contains certain covenants including covenants requiring the Company to comply with Section 18(a)(1)(A) as modified by Section 61(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or any successor provisions, but giving effect, in either case, to any exemptive relief granted to the Company by the SEC, and to provide financial information to the holders of the Notes and the Trustee if the Company should no longer be subject to the reporting requirements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These covenants are subject to important limitations and exceptions that are described in the Indenture.

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