NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT, dated October 5, 2023 (this “Agreement”), among HLEND CLO 2023-1, LLC, a limited liability company formed under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Issuer”), HPS Corporate Lending Fund (in such capacity, the “EU/UK Retention Holder”) and BofA Securities, Inc. (the “Initial Purchaser”).
WHEREAS, the Issuer intends to issue each class of securities set forth on Schedule A hereto (or, with respect to certain classes of securities, the Issuer alone) and, for purposes of this Agreement: (i) “Secured Notes” means, collectively, the classes of securities set forth on Schedule A hereto, and (ii) “Notes” means, the Secured Notes;
WHEREAS, the Issuer proposes to offer for sale the Notes to the following purchasers (each, an “Eligible Investor”):
(i) in the United States in private offerings solely to purchasers that are:
(A) “qualified institutional buyers” (“Qualified Institutional Buyers”) as that term is defined in Rule 144A (“Rule 144A”) under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) that are also “qualified purchasers” (“Qualified Purchasers”) as such term is defined in Section 2(a)(51) of the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and the various rules relating thereto and promulgated thereunder for purposes of Section 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act (each, a “QIB/QP”),
(B) solely in the case of Notes issued as Certificated Notes, either (i) institutional “accredited investors” meeting the requirements of Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) of Regulation D (“Regulation D”) under the Securities Act (“Institutional Accredited Investors”) that are also Qualified Purchasers (or a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity (other than a trust), each shareholder, partner, member or other equity owner of which is a Qualified Purchaser) (each, an “IAI/QP”) or (ii) “accredited investors” (as defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D under the Securities Act) (“Accredited Investors”) who are also “knowledgeable employees” as such term is defined in Rule 3c-5(a)(4) of the 1940 Act (each an “AI/KE”) with respect to the Issuer; and
(ii) in offshore transactions to purchasers that are not “U.S. persons” as defined in, and in reliance on, Regulation S under the Securities Act (“Regulation S”);
WHEREAS, the Notes will be issued pursuant to an indenture (the “Indenture”), to be dated as of October 5, 2023 (the “Closing Date”), between the Issuer and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”);
WHEREAS, the Secured Notes will be secured by a portfolio of loans transferred to the Issuer on the Closing Date that were originated, acquired or purchased by the EU/UK Retention Holder and further sold and/or contributed by the EU/UK Retention Holder to HLEND CLO 2023-1 Investments, LLC, as depositor (the “Depositor”) and further sold and/or contributed by the Depositor to the Issuer, and certain other assets of the Issuer as provided in the Indenture, which assets will be managed by HPS Corporate Lending Fund, as Collateral Manager (in such capacity, the “Collateral Manager”), pursuant to a Collateral Management Agreement to be dated as of the Closing Date (the “Collateral Management Agreement”) between the Collateral Manager and the Issuer;