Delaware law further provides that to the extent that a present or former director, trustee or officer is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any action, suit or proceeding, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person will be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding. Subject to the Declaration of Trust, and in all cases in which indemnification is permitted, the Fund shall indemnify a present or former director, trustee, officer, employee or agent as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of such person is proper in the circumstances because the applicable standard of conduct has been met by the party to be indemnified. Such determination must be made, with respect to a person who is a director, trustee or officer at the time of such determination, (1) by a majority vote of the directors or trustees who are not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even though less than a quorum, (2) by a committee of such directors or trustees designated by majority vote of such directors or trustees, even though less than a quorum, (3) if there are no such directors or trustees, or if such directors or trustees so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion or (4) by the shareholders. The statute authorizes the corporation or trust to pay expenses incurred by an officer, trustee or director in advance of the final disposition of a proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the person to whom the advance will be made, to repay the advances if it is ultimately determined that he or she was not entitled to indemnification. Delaware law also provides that indemnification and advancement of expenses permitted are not to be exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested directors or trustees, or otherwise. Delaware law also authorizes the corporation or trust to purchase and maintain liability insurance on behalf of its directors, trustees, officers, employees and agents regardless of whether the corporation or trust would have the statutory power to indemnify such persons against the liabilities insured.
The Declaration of Trust provides that the Fund’s trustees will not be liable to the Fund or the Fund’s shareholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director or trustee to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. Delaware law provides that the personal liability of a director or trustee to a corporation, trust or its shareholders for breach of fiduciary duty as a director or trustee may be eliminated except for liability (1) for any breach of the director’s or trustee’s duty of loyalty to the registrant or its shareholders, (2) for which the director or trustee would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence, in the performance of his or her duties, or by reason of his or her reckless disregard of his obligations and duties to the Fund, (3) relating to unlawful payment of dividends or unlawful stock purchases or redemption of shares or (4) for any transaction from which the director or trustee derives an improper personal benefit.
The bylaws provide for the indemnification of any person to the full extent permitted, and in the manner provided, by Delaware law.
As a BDC, the Fund is not permitted to and will not indemnify the Management Company, any of its executive officers and trustees, or any other person against liability arising from willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such person’s office, or by reason of reckless disregard of obligations and duties of such person arising under contract or agreement.
Delaware Law and Certain Declaration of Trust Provisions
Organization and Duration
We were formed in Delaware on June 28, 2023 and will remain in existence until dissolved in accordance with the Declaration of Trust or pursuant to Delaware law.
Purpose
Under the Declaration of Trust, the Fund is permitted to engage in any business activity that lawfully may be conducted by a statutory trust organized under Delaware law and, in connection therewith, to exercise all of the rights and powers conferred upon us pursuant to the agreements relating to such business activity.
Sales and Leases to the Fund
The Declaration of Trust provides that, unless otherwise permitted by the 1940 Act or applicable guidance or exemptive relief of the SEC, except as otherwise permitted under the 1940 Act, the Fund may not purchase or lease assets in which the Management Company or any of its affiliates have an interest unless all of the following conditions are met: (a) the transaction is fully disclosed to the shareholders in an offering document or in a periodic report; and (b) the sets are sold or leased upon terms that are reasonable to us and at a price not to exceed the lesser of cost or fair market value as determined by an independent expert. However, the Management Company may purchase assets in its own name (and assume loans in connection therewith) and temporarily hold title, for the purposes of facilitating the acquisition of the assets, the borrowing of money, obtaining financing for the Fund, or the completion of construction of the assets, so long as all of the following conditions are met: (i) the assets are purchased by the Fund at a price no greater than the cost of the assets to the Management Company, (ii) all income generated by, and the expenses associated with, the assets so acquired shall be treated as belonging to the Fund; and (iii) there are no other benefits arising out of such transaction to the Management Company.
Sales and Leases to the Management Company, Trustees or Affiliates
The Declaration of Trust provides that, unless otherwise permitted by the 1940 Act or applicable guidance or exemptive relief of the SEC, the Fund may not sell assets to the Management Company or any affiliate thereof unless such sale is approved by the holders of more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. The Declaration of Trust also provides that the Fund may not lease assets to the Management Company or any trustee or affiliate thereof unless all of the following conditions are met: (a) the transaction is fully disclosed to the shareholders in a periodic report filed with the SEC or otherwise; and (b) the terms of the transaction are fair and reasonable to the Fund.
Loans
The Declaration of Trust provides that, unless otherwise permitted by the 1940 Act or applicable guidance or exemptive relief of the SEC, and except for the advancement of indemnification funds, no loans, credit facilities, credit agreements or otherwise may be made by the Fund to the Management Company or any of its affiliates.
Commissions on Financing, Refinancing or Reinvestment
The Declaration of Trust provides that, unless otherwise permitted by the 1940 Act or applicable guidance or exemptive relief of the SEC, the Fund generally may not pay, directly or indirectly, a commission or fee to the Management Company or any of its affiliates in connection with the reinvestment of cash available for distribution, available reserves, or the proceeds of the resale, exchange or refinancing of assets.
Lending Practices
The Declaration of Trust provides that, with respect to financing made available to the Fund by the Management Company, the Management Company may not receive interest in excess of the lesser of the Management Company’s cost of funds or the amounts that would be charged by unrelated lending institutions on comparable loans for the same purpose. The Management Company may not impose a prepayment charge or penalty in connection with such financing and the Management Company may not receive points or other financing charges. In addition, the Management Company will be prohibited from providing financing to us with a term in excess of 12 months.
Delaware Anti-takeover Provisions
The Declaration of Trust contains provisions that could make it more difficult for a potential acquirer to acquire the Fund by means of a tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise. The Board may, without shareholder action, authorize the issuance of shares in one or more classes or series, including preferred shares; the Board may, without shareholder action, amend the Declaration of Trust to increase the number of the Shares, of any class or series, that the Fund will have authority to issue; and the Declaration of Trust provides that, while the Fund does not intend to list the Shares on any securities exchange, if any class of its shares is listed on a national securities exchange, the Board will be divided into three classes of trustees serving staggered terms of three years each. These provisions are expected to discourage certain coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids and to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to negotiate first with the Board. The Fund believes that the benefits of these
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