UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-A
FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
Pursuant to Section 12(b) or 12(g) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
FS CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES CORP.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
| Maryland | 46-1882356 | |
| (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
201 Rouse Boulevard
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
(Address of Principal Executive Offices; Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (215) 495-1150
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class to be so registered | Name of each exchange on which each class is to be registered | |
| Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share | New York Stock Exchange LLC |
If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General Instruction A.(c), check the following box. ☒
If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General Instruction A.(d), check the following box. ☐
Securities Act registration statement file number to which this form relates:
N/A.
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
None.
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT
| Item 1. | Description of the Registrant’s Securities to be Registered |
As of June 30, 2022, FS Credit Opportunities Corp. (“we,” “our,” or the “Company”) had two classes of securities: (i) our common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“common stock”), and (ii) our preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share (“preferred stock”). Our preferred stock is further classified into several series.
Common Stock and Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share
Our charter authorizes us to issue up to 800,000,000 shares of stock, of which 750,000,000 shares are classified as common stock, par value $0.001 per share, and 50,000,000 shares are classified as preferred stock. Currently, there are 400,000 issued and outstanding shares of the preferred stock which are classified as follows: 45,000 shares classified as Term Preferred Shares, Series 2023 – Floating Rate; 55,000 shares classified as Term Preferred Shares, Series 2023 – Fixed Rate; 100,000 shares classified as Term Preferred Shares, Series 2026; 50,000 shares classified as Term Preferred Shares, Series 2025; 50,000 shares classified as Term Preferred Shares, Series 2025-2; and 100,000 shares classified as Term Preferred Shares, Series 2027. A majority of the board of directors, without any action by our stockholders, may amend our charter to increase or decrease the aggregate number of shares of stock or the number of shares of stock of any class or series that we have authority to issue. There are no outstanding options or warrants to purchase our stock. No stock has been authorized for issuance under any equity compensation plans.
Our charter also contains a provision permitting the board of directors to classify or reclassify any unissued shares of common stock or preferred stock in one or more classes or series of common stock or preferred stock by setting or changing the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications, or terms or conditions of redemption of the common stock or preferred stock. We believe that the power to classify or reclassify unissued shares of capital stock and thereafter issue the classified or reclassified shares provides us with increased flexibility in structuring possible future financings and investments and in meeting other needs that might arise.
Our charter also contains a provision permitting the Company to redeem shares from stockholders with an account balance that is below the minimum threshold as determined by the board of directors at the redemption price of such shares as in effect from time to time as may be determined by the board of directors in accordance with our charter. The redemption price of shares of capital stock of the Company shall be the net asset value thereof determined by the board of directors from time to time in accordance with the provisions of applicable law, less such redemption fee or other charge, if any, as may be fixed by the board of directors. We believe that this ability of the Company minimizes the expense of supporting small accounts.
Common Stock
All shares of our common stock have equal rights as to earnings, assets, dividends and voting and, when they are issued, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. Distributions may be paid to the holders of our common stock if, as and when authorized by our board of directors and declared by us out of funds legally available therefor, subject to any preferential rights of holders of our preferred stock. Shares of our common stock have no preemptive, conversion or redemption rights and will be freely transferable, except where their transfer is restricted by federal and state securities laws or by contract and except for the listing-related transfer restrictions noted below. In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, each share of our common stock will be entitled to share ratably in all of our assets that are legally available for distribution after we pay all debts and other liabilities and subject to any preferential rights of holders of our preferred stock. Each share of our common stock is entitled to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders, including the election of directors (other than directors to be elected solely by the holders of our preferred stock). Except as may be provided by our board of directors in setting the terms of classified or reclassified stock, the holders of our common stock will possess exclusive voting power, subject to the voting rights of holders of our preferred stock. There will be no cumulative voting. As permitted by the MGCL, our charter provides that the presence of stockholders entitled to cast one-third of the votes entitled to be cast at a meeting of stockholders will constitute a quorum.
Under our charter, subject to the approval of the board of directors and the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of common stock cast at any meeting of the holders of common stock at which a quorum is present, during the Restricted Period, a stockholder may not transfer (whether by sale, gift, merger, by operation of law or otherwise), exchange, assign, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of or encumber (collectively, “Transfer”) any shares of common stock acquired prior to a listing of our common stock to a national securities exchange to any person or entity unless (i) the board of directors provides prior written consent and (ii) the Transfer is made in accordance with applicable securities and other laws. The “Restricted Period” is 90 days after the date of the listing for two-thirds of the shares of common stock held by a stockholder prior to the date of the listing, and 180 days after the date of the listing for one-third of the shares of common stock held by a stockholder prior to the date of the listing.
Preferred Stock
Our charter authorizes our board of directors to classify and reclassify any unissued shares of stock into other classes or series of stock, including preferred stock. Prior to issuance of shares of each class or series, the board of directors is required by Maryland law and by our charter to set the terms, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms or conditions of redemption for each class or series. Thus, the board of directors could authorize the issuance of shares of preferred stock with terms and conditions that could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a transaction or a change in control that might involve a premium price for holders of our common stock or otherwise be in their best interest.
All of our existing shares of preferred stock have a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share. In the event of our liquidation, the holders of these preferred shares will be entitled to receive a liquidation distribution per share equal to the liquidation preference plus an amount equal to all unpaid dividends and other distributions accumulated to (but excluding) the date fixed for distribution or payment.
Dividends accrue on our existing shares of preferred stock at rates that vary by series and that increase upon the occurrence of certain events. These dividends are payable semi-annually.
Each of our existing series of preferred stock ranks senior in right of payment to our common stock and ranks equal in right of payment with each other series of preferred stock.
We are obligated to redeem our existing shares of preferred stock on dates that vary by series. In addition, we are obligated to redeem our existing shares of preferred stock upon the occurrence of certain events, for example if FS Global Advisor, LLC, or an affiliate thereof, ceases to be our investment advisor and is not timely replaced by another investment advisor reasonably acceptable to holders of a majority of the applicable series of preferred stock. We also have the right to redeem our existing shares of preferred stock in certain circumstances. Each of our existing shares of preferred stock is entitled to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders, including the election of directors. The holders of our preferred stock and common stock vote together as a single class; provided that holders of our preferred stock, voting separately as a class, elect two of our directors at all times and will elect a majority of our directors to the extent we fail to pay dividends on any preferred stock in an amount equal to two full years of dividends on such preferred stock.
Limitation on Liability of Directors and Officers; Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses
Maryland law permits a Maryland corporation to include in its charter a provision expanding or limiting the liability of its directors and officers to the corporation and its stockholders for money damages, but a corporation may not include any provision that restricts or limits the liability of directors or officers to the corporation or its stockholders:
| (i) | to the extent that it is proved that the person actually received an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services; or |
| (ii) | to the extent that a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the person is entered in a proceeding based on a finding in the proceeding that the person’s action, or failure to act, was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty and was material to the cause of action adjudicated in the proceeding. |
Our charter contains a provision which limits directors’ and officers’ liability to us and our stockholders for money damages, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law. In addition, we have obtained directors’ and officers’ liability insurance.
Under the MGCL, a Maryland corporation may indemnify its directors, officers and certain other parties against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by them in connection with any proceeding to which they may be made a party by reason of their service to the corporation or at its request, unless it is established that (i) the act or omission of the indemnified party was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and was committed in bad faith or was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty, (ii) the director actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services, or (iii) in the case of any criminal proceeding, the indemnified party had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful. Maryland law does not permit indemnification in respect of any proceeding in which the party seeking indemnification shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation. Further, a party may not be indemnified for a proceeding brought by that party against the corporation, except (i) for a proceeding brought to enforce indemnification or (ii) if the charter or bylaws, a resolution of the corporation’s board of directors or an agreement approved by the corporation’s board of directors to which the corporation is a party expressly provides otherwise.
Our charter permits us to indemnify and to pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to any individual (i) who is a present or former director or officer of ours and who is made or threatened to be made a party to a proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity, or (ii) who, while a director or officer of ours and at our request, serves or has served as a director, officer, partner, member, manager or trustee of any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise and who is made or threatened to be made a party to a proceeding by reason of his or her service in such capacity and from and against any claim or liability to which such person may become subject or such person may incur, in each case to the fullest extent permitted by Maryland law.
Our charter provides that any provisions of the charter relating to limiting liability of directors and officers or to indemnifying directors and officers are subject to any applicable limitations in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”).
Our bylaws obligate us to indemnify and, without requiring a preliminary determination of the ultimate entitlement to indemnification, to pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to any individual who (i) is a present or former director or officer of ours and who is made or threatened to be made a party to a proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity, or (ii) while a director or officer of ours and at our request, serves or has served as a director, officer, partner, member, manager or trustee of any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise and who is made or threatened to be made a party to a proceeding by reason of his or her service in such capacity and from and against any claim or liability to which such person may become subject or such person may incur, in each case to the fullest extent permitted by Maryland law and the 1940 Act. Our charter and bylaws also permit us to provide such indemnification and advancement for expenses to a person who served a predecessor of ours in any of the capacities described in (i) or (ii) above and to any employee or agent of ours or a predecessor of ours. In accordance with the 1940 Act, we will not indemnify any person for any liability to which such person would be subject by reason of such person’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.
Board of Directors
Our charter provides that the number of directors will be five, and may be increased or decreased by our board of directors in accordance with our bylaws. Our bylaws provide that the number of directors may not be less than the minimum number required by the MGCL nor more than twelve. Our charter also provides that the directors shall be classified, with respect to the terms for which they severally hold office, into three classes, as nearly equal in number as possible as determined by the board of directors. Generally, at each annual meeting of stockholders, the successors to the class of directors whose term expires at such meeting shall be elected for a three-year term and until their successors are duly elected and qualify. Our directors may be elected to an unlimited number of successive terms.
Our bylaws provide that, if the number of nominees is greater than the number of directors to be elected at the meeting (a “Contested Election”), directors shall be elected by the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of stock outstanding and entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders duly called and at which quorum is present. However, other than a Contested Election, a director shall be elected if such director receives the affirmative vote of a plurality of the shares of stock for which votes were cast at a meeting of stockholders duly called and at which a quorum is present.
Except as may be provided by our board of directors in setting the terms of any class or series of preferred stock, pursuant to an election in our charter as permitted by the MGCL, any and all vacancies on our board of directors may be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors in office, even if the remaining directors do not constitute a quorum, and any director elected to fill a vacancy will serve for the remainder of the full term of the directorship in which the vacancy occurred and until a successor is elected and qualifies, subject to any applicable requirements of the 1940 Act.
Pursuant to our charter, subject to the rights, if any, of holders of one or more classes or series of preferred stock to elect or remove one or more directors, any director may be removed from office at any time only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to cast generally in the election of directors. Pursuant to our bylaws, any director may resign at any time by delivering his or her resignation to the board of directors, the chairman of the board or the secretary, which resignation shall take effect immediately upon its receipt or at such later time specified in the resignation.
We currently have a total of five members of the board of directors, four of whom are independent directors. A director is considered independent if he or she is not an “interested person” as that term is defined under Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act. Our charter provides that a majority of our board of directors must be independent directors except for a period of up to 60 days after the death, removal or resignation of an independent director pending the election of his or her successor.
Action by Stockholders
The MGCL provides that stockholder action can be taken only at an annual or special meeting of stockholders or by unanimous written consent in lieu of a meeting (unless the charter permits the written consent in lieu of a meeting to be less than unanimous). The MGCL and our bylaws provide that for the holders of our preferred stock, they may act without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if such written consent is signed by the holders of our preferred stock entitled to cast not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take the action at a stockholders meeting at which all stockholders entitled to vote on the action were present and voted and if the Company gives notice of the action not later than ten days after the effective time of the action to each holder of the class or series of stock. These provisions, combined with the requirements of our bylaws regarding the calling of a stockholder-requested special meeting of stockholders discussed below, may have the effect of delaying consideration of a stockholder proposal until the next annual meeting.
Advance Notice Provisions for Stockholder Nominations and Stockholder Proposals
Our bylaws provide that, with respect to an annual meeting of stockholders, nominations of persons for election to our board of directors and the proposal of business to be considered by stockholders may be made only (i) pursuant to our notice of the meeting, (ii) by our board of directors or (iii) by a stockholder who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has complied with the advance notice procedures of the bylaws. With respect to special meetings of stockholders, only the business specified in our notice of the meeting may be brought before the meeting. Nominations of persons for election to our board of directors at a special meeting may be made only (x) pursuant to our notice of the meeting, (y) by our board of directors or (z) provided that our board of directors has determined that directors will be elected at the meeting, by a stockholder who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has complied with the advance notice provisions of the bylaws.
The purpose of requiring stockholders to give us advance notice of nominations and other business is to afford our board of directors a meaningful opportunity to consider the qualifications of the proposed nominees and the advisability of any other proposed business and, to the extent deemed necessary or desirable by our board of directors, to inform stockholders and make recommendations about such qualifications or business, as well as to provide a more orderly procedure for conducting meetings of stockholders. Although our bylaws do not give our board of directors any power to disapprove stockholder nominations for the election of directors or proposals recommending certain action, they may have the effect of precluding a contest for the election of directors or the consideration of stockholder proposals if proper procedures are not followed and of discouraging or deterring a third party from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect its own slate of directors or to approve its own proposal without regard to whether consideration of such nominees or proposals might be harmful or beneficial to us and our stockholders.
Exclusive Forum
Our bylaws provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of a different forum, the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, or, if that court does not have jurisdiction, the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Baltimore Division, will be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of any duty owed by any of our directors, officers or other employees to us or our stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against us or any of our directors, officers or other employees arising pursuant to any provision of the MGCL, or our charter or bylaws or (iv) any action asserting a claim against us or any of our directors, officers or other employees that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine. Our bylaws also provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of a different forum, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the federal district courts for the United States of America shall be the sole and exclusive forum for resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Calling of Special Meetings of Stockholders
Our bylaws provide that special meetings of stockholders may be called by our board of directors and certain of our officers. In addition, our bylaws provide that, subject to the satisfaction of certain procedural and informational requirements by the stockholders requesting the meeting, a special meeting of stockholders will be called by our secretary upon the written request of stockholders entitled to cast not less than a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at the meeting.
Approval of Extraordinary Corporate Action; Amendment of Charter and Bylaws
Under the MGCL, a Maryland corporation generally cannot dissolve, amend its charter, merge, consolidate, sell all or substantially all of its assets or engage in a share exchange, unless the transaction is advised by its board of directors and approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. However, a Maryland corporation may provide in its charter for approval of these matters by a lesser percentage, but not less than a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Under our charter, provided that our directors then in office have approved and declared the action advisable and submitted such action to the stockholders, action that requires stockholder approval, including amending our charter, our dissolution, a merger, consolidation or a sale of all or substantially all of our assets must be approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast at least a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the affirmative vote of the holders of shares entitled to cast at least 80% of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter, with each class that is entitled to vote on the matter voting as a separate class, shall be required to effect any amendment to our charter to make our common stock a “redeemable security” or convert us, whether by merger or otherwise, from a “closed-end company” to an “open-end company” (as such terms are defined in the 1940 Act), to cause our liquidation or dissolution or any amendment to our charter to effect any such liquidation or dissolution, or to amend certain charter provisions, provided that, if the Continuing Directors (as defined in our charter), by a vote of at least two-thirds of such Continuing Directors, in addition to approval by the board of directors, approve such amendment, the affirmative vote of only the holders of stock entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter shall be required.
Our charter and bylaws provide that our board of directors will have the exclusive power to make, alter, amend or repeal any provision of our bylaws.
No Appraisal Rights
In certain extraordinary transactions, the MGCL provides the right to dissenting stockholders to demand and receive the fair value of their shares, subject to certain procedures and requirements set forth in the statute. Those rights are commonly referred to as appraisal rights. Except with respect to appraisal rights arising in connection with the Control Share Acquisition Act discussed below, as permitted by the MGCL, or otherwise as may be provided by the board of directors in setting the terms of any class or series of preferred stock, our charter provides that stockholders will not be entitled to exercise appraisal rights.
Control Share Acquisitions
The MGCL provides that control shares of a Maryland corporation acquired in a control share acquisition have no voting rights except to the extent approved by a vote of two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter, which we refer to as the Control Share Acquisition Act. Shares owned by the acquirer, by officers or by directors who are employees of the corporation are excluded from shares entitled to vote on the matter. Control shares are voting shares of stock which, if aggregated with all other shares of stock owned by the acquirer or in respect of which the acquirer is able to exercise or direct the exercise of voting power (except solely by virtue of a revocable proxy), would entitle the acquirer to exercise voting power in electing directors within one of the following ranges of voting power:
| • | one-tenth or more but less than one-third; |
| • | one-third or more but less than a majority; or |
| • | a majority or more of all voting power. |
The requisite stockholder approval must be obtained each time an acquirer crosses one of the thresholds of voting power set forth above. Control shares do not include shares the acquiring person is then entitled to vote as a result of having previously obtained stockholder approval. A control share acquisition means the acquisition of control shares, subject to certain exceptions.
A person who has made or proposes to make a control share acquisition may compel the corporation’s board of directors to call a special meeting of stockholders to be held within 50 days of demand to consider the voting rights of the shares. The right to compel the calling of a special meeting is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including an undertaking to pay the expenses of the meeting. If no request for a meeting is made, the corporation may present the question at any stockholders meeting.
If voting rights are not approved at the meeting or if the acquiring person does not deliver an acquiring person statement as required by the statute, then the corporation may repurchase for fair value any or all of the control shares, except those for which voting rights have previously been approved. The corporation’s right to repurchase control shares is subject to certain conditions and limitations, including compliance with the 1940 Act. Fair value is determined, without regard to the absence of voting rights for the control shares, as of the date of the last control share acquisition by the acquirer or of any meeting of stockholders at which the voting rights of the shares are considered and not approved. If voting rights for control shares are approved at a stockholders meeting and the acquirer becomes entitled to vote a majority of the shares entitled to vote, all other stockholders may exercise appraisal rights. The fair value of the shares as determined for purposes of appraisal rights may not be less than the highest price per share paid by the acquirer in the control share acquisition.
A Maryland corporation registered under the 1940 Act as a closed end investment company is not subject to the Control Share Acquisition Act unless its board of directors adopts a resolution to be subject to it, and our board of directors has adopted such a resolution, and pursuant to our bylaws, it does not apply to the voting rights of any person acquiring shares of any class or series of stock of the Company other than common stock.
The Control Share Acquisition Act also does not apply to the voting rights of any person (i) who has become a holder of control shares before the adoption of the resolution by our board of directors electing to be subject to the Control Share Acquisition Act, (ii) who is acquiring shares of any class or series of stock of the Company other than common stock or (iii) who is acquiring shares of stock of the Company in a control share acquisition (as defined in the Control Share Acquisition Act) if, prior to the acquisition, the person obtains approval of the board of directors exempting the acquisition from the Control Share Acquisition Act specifically, generally, or generally by type, which exemption may include the person and the person’s affiliates or associates or other persons to acquisitions approved or exempted by the corporation’s charter or bylaws.
Stockholder Liability
The MGCL provides that our stockholders are under no obligation to us or our creditors with respect to their shares other than the obligation to pay to us the full amount of the consideration for which their shares were issued.
Under our charter, our stockholders shall not be liable for any debt, claim, demand, judgment or obligation of any kind by reason of being a stockholder, nor shall any stockholder be subject to any personal liability by reason of being a stockholder.
Business Combinations
Under the MGCL, certain “business combinations” between a Maryland corporation and an interested stockholder or an affiliate of an interested stockholder are prohibited for five years after the most recent date on which the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. We refer to these provisions as the Business Combination Act. These business combinations include a merger, consolidation, share exchange or, in circumstances specified in the statute, an asset transfer or issuance or reclassification of equity securities. An interested stockholder is defined as:
| • | any person who beneficially owns 10% or more of the voting power of the corporation’s shares; or |
| • | an affiliate or associate of the corporation who, at any time within the two-year period prior to the date in question, was the beneficial owner of 10% or more of the voting power of the then outstanding voting stock of the corporation. |
A person is not an interested stockholder under this statute if the board of directors approved in advance the transaction by which he or she otherwise would have become an interested stockholder. However, in approving a transaction, the board of directors may provide that its approval is subject to compliance, at or after the time of approval, with any terms and conditions determined by the board of directors.
After the five-year prohibition, any business combination between the Maryland corporation and an interested stockholder generally must be recommended by the board of directors and approved by the affirmative vote of at least:
| • | 80% of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of outstanding shares of voting stock of the corporation; and |
| • | two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of voting stock of the corporation other than shares held by the interested stockholder with whom or with whose affiliate the business combination is to be effected or held by an affiliate or associate of the interested stockholder. |
These super-majority vote requirements do not apply if the corporation’s common stockholders receive a minimum price, as defined under the MGCL, for their shares in the form of cash or other consideration in the same form as previously paid by the interested stockholder for its shares.
The statute permits various exemptions from its provisions, including business combinations that are exempted by the board of directors before the time that the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder.
Additional Provisions of the Maryland General Corporation Law
The MGCL provides that a Maryland corporation that is subject to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and has at least three outside directors can elect by resolution of the board of directors to be subject to some corporate governance provisions that may be inconsistent with the corporation’s charter and bylaws. Under the applicable statute, a board of directors may classify itself without the vote of stockholders. A board of directors classified in that manner cannot be altered by amendment to the charter of the corporation. Further, the board of directors may, by electing into applicable statutory provisions and notwithstanding the charter or bylaws:
| • | provide that a special meeting of stockholders will be called only at the request of stockholders entitled to cast at least a majority of the votes entitled to be cast at the meeting; |
| • | reserve for itself the right to fix the number of directors; |
| • | provide that a director may be removed only by the vote of the holders of two-thirds of the stock entitled to vote; |
| • | retain for itself sole authority to fill vacancies created by the death, removal or resignation of a director; and |
| • | provide that all vacancies on the board of directors may be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors, in office, even if the remaining directors do not constitute a quorum. |
In addition, if the board of directors is classified, a director elected to fill a vacancy under this provision will serve for the balance of the unexpired term instead of until the next annual meeting of stockholders. A board of directors may implement all or any of these provisions without amending the charter or bylaws and without stockholder approval. A corporation may be prohibited by its charter or by resolution of its board of directors from electing any of the provisions of the statute. We are not prohibited from implementing any or all of the statute. Our board of directors has elected into the applicable statutory provisions, which provide that, except as may be provided by the board in setting the terms of any class of preferred stock, any vacancies on the board may be filled only by a majority of the directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, and a director elected to fill a vacancy will serve for the balance of the unexpired term.
Provisions in Conflict with Law or Regulation
Our bylaws provide that the provisions of the bylaws are severable, and if the board of directors determines, with the advice of counsel, that any of such provisions is in conflict with the 1940 Act or with other applicable binding laws and regulations, the conflicting provision will be deemed never to have constituted a part of the bylaws; provided, however, that such determination will not affect any of the remaining provisions of the bylaws or render invalid or improper any action taken or omitted prior to such determination. If any provision of the bylaws is held invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability will attach only to such provision in such jurisdiction and will not in any manner affect such provision in any other jurisdiction or any other provision of the bylaws in any jurisdiction.
Item 2. Exhibits
The securities being registered hereby are to be registered on an exchange on which no other securities of the Company are registered. Pursuant to the Instructions as to Exhibits, no exhibits are filed herewith or incorporated by reference.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.
Date: November 8, 2022
FS CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES CORP. a Maryland corporation | ||||
| By: | /s/ Stephen S. Sypherd | |||
| Name: | Stephen S. Sypherd | |||
| Title: | Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary | |||
