For these purposes, “capital available for investing” will be determined based on the amount of cash on hand, less Fund expenses, including, without limitation, management fees, amounts that may become due under
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any borrowing or other financings or similar obligations, amounts needed to meet current or anticipated debt covenants or in the reasonable judgment of the Adviser necessary or appropriate to manage leverage, obligations imposed by law, courts, or arbitration or indemnity obligations. The purpose of this recommendation would be to allow the Fund to satisfy as many properly submitted tender requests as possible and the Adviser expects that during this time, the Adviser and the Board would also consider additional ways to improve shareholder liquidity.
In addition, if, during any LTM Repurchase Period, the Fund does not have at least one quarter in which it fully accepts all properly submitted tenders in a repurchase offer, the Adviser shall defer its incentive fee until all properly submitted tenders in any one repurchase offer have been accepted, after which such deferred incentive fee will become payable and no further incentive fee amounts will be required to be deferred; provided, however, that the Adviser is not required to defer its incentive fee if the Fund has, during each of the quarters in such LTM Repurchase Period, accepted repurchase offers for at least (i) 5% of the aggregate shares outstanding (either by number of shares or aggregate NAV) or (ii) the equivalent percentage (
, 20% of the average shares outstanding (either by number of shares or aggregate NAV)) during such LTM Repurchase Period.
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DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN
We have adopted a dividend reinvestment plan, pursuant to which we will reinvest all cash dividends declared by the Board on behalf of our shareholders who do not elect to receive their dividends in cash as provided below. As a result, if the Board authorizes, and we declare, a cash dividend or other distribution, then our shareholders who have not opted out of our Dividend Reinvestment Plan will have their cash distributions automatically reinvested in additional shares as described below, rather than receiving the cash dividend or other distribution. Shareholders who receive dividends and other distributions in the form of Common Shares generally are subject to the same U.S. federal tax consequences as investors who elect to receive their distributions in cash. See “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” for more information. Although each shareholder may from time to time have an undivided fractional interest (computed to three decimal places) in a share of our Common Shares, no certificates for a fractional share will be issued. However, dividends and distributions on fractional shares will be credited to each shareholder’s account. In the event of termination of a shareholder’s account under the Dividend Reinvestment Plan, Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC (the “Plan Administrator”) will adjust for any such undivided fractional interest in cash at the market value of the Fund’s shares at the time of termination.
No action is required on the part of a registered shareholder to have his, her or its cash dividend or other distribution reinvested in our Common Shares, except shareholders located in certain states or who are clients of selected participating brokers, as described below. Shareholders who are eligible for default enrollment can elect to “opt out” of the Fund’s distribution reinvestment plan in their subscription agreements. Shareholders located in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Vermont and Washington, as well as those who are clients of certain participating brokers that do not permit automatic enrollment in our Dividend Reinvestment Plan, will automatically receive their distributions in cash unless they elect to participate in our Dividend Reinvestment Plan and have their cash distributions reinvested in additional shares.
If any shareholder initially elects not to participate or is defaulted to
non-participation
by virtue of residing in one the states mentioned above or being a client of a participating broker dealer that does not permit automatic enrollment in dividend reinvestment plans, they may later become a participant by subsequently completing and executing an enrollment form or any distribution authorization form as may be available from the Fund or the Plan Administrator. Participation in the distribution reinvestment plan will begin with the next distribution payable after acceptance of a participant’s subscription, enrollment or authorization. Shares will be purchased under the distribution reinvestment plan as of the first calendar day of the month following the record date of the distribution.
If a shareholder seeks to terminate its participation in the distribution reinvestment plan, written notice of termination must be received by the Plan Administrator five business days in advance of the first calendar day of the next month in order for a shareholder’s termination to be effective for such month. Any transfer of shares by a participant to a
non-participant
will terminate participation in the distribution reinvestment plan with respect to the transferred shares. If a participant elects to tender its shares in full, any shares issued to the participant under the Plan subsequent to the expiration of the tender offer will be considered part of the participant’s prior tender, and participant’s participation in the Plan will be terminated as of the valuation date of the applicable tender offer. Any distributions to be paid to such shareholder on or after such date will be paid in cash on the scheduled distribution payment date.
If you elect to opt out of the Dividend Reinvestment Plan, you will receive any distributions we declare in cash. There will be no upfront selling commissions or Managing Dealer fees charged to you if you participate in the distribution reinvestment plan. We will pay the Plan Administrator fees under the distribution reinvestment plan. If your shares are held by a broker or other financial intermediary, you may change your election by notifying your broker or other financial intermediary of your election.
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Any purchases of our Common Shares pursuant to our Dividend Reinvestment Plan are dependent on the continued registration of our securities or the availability of an exemption from registration in the recipient’s home state.
The purchase price for shares purchased under our Dividend Reinvestment Plan will be equal to the most recent available NAV per share for such shares at the time the distribution is payable. Shares issued pursuant to our Dividend Reinvestment Plan will have the same voting rights as the shares offered pursuant to this prospectus. Shareholders will not pay transaction related charges when purchasing shares under our Dividend Reinvestment Plan, but all outstanding Class S, Class D and Class F shares, including those purchased under our Dividend Reinvestment Plan, will be subject to ongoing servicing fees.
See our Dividend Reinvestment Plan, which is filed as an exhibit to our registration statement for this offering, for more information.
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The following discussion is a general summary of the material prohibitions and descriptions governing BDCs generally. It does not purport to be a complete description of all of the laws and regulations affecting BDCs.
Under the 1940 Act, a BDC may not acquire any asset other than assets of the type listed in Section 55(a) of the 1940 Act, which are referred to as “Qualifying Assets,” unless, at the time the acquisition is made, Qualifying Assets represent at least 70% of the company’s total assets. The principal categories of Qualifying Assets relevant to our business are any of the following:
(1) Securities purchased in transactions not involving any public offering from the issuer of such securities, which issuer (subject to certain limited exceptions) is an Eligible Portfolio Company (as defined below), or from any person who is, or has been during the preceding 13 months, an affiliated person of an Eligible Portfolio Company, or from any other person, subject to such rules as may be prescribed by the SEC. An “Eligible Portfolio Company” is defined in the 1940 Act as any issuer which:
(a) is organized under the laws of, and has its principal place of business in, the United States;
(b) is not an investment company (other than a small business investment company wholly owned by the BDC) or a company that would be an investment company but for certain exclusions under the 1940 Act; and
(c) satisfies any of the following:
(i) does not have any class of securities that is traded on a national securities exchange;
(ii) has a class of securities listed on a national securities exchange, but has an aggregate market value of outstanding voting and
non-voting
common equity of less than $250 million;
(iii) is controlled by a BDC or a group of companies including a BDC and the BDC has an affiliated person who is a director of the Eligible Portfolio Company; or
(iv) is a small and solvent company having total assets of not more than $4 million and capital and surplus of not less than $2 million.
(2) Securities of any Eligible Portfolio Company controlled by the Fund.
(3) Securities purchased in a private transaction from a U.S. issuer that is not an investment company or from an affiliated person of the issuer, or in transactions incident thereto, if the issuer is in bankruptcy and subject to reorganization or if the issuer, immediately prior to the purchase of its securities was unable to meet its obligations as they came due without material assistance other than conventional lending or financing arrangements.
(4) Securities of an Eligible Portfolio Company purchased from any person in a private transaction if there is no ready market for such securities and the Fund already owns 60% of the outstanding equity of the Eligible Portfolio Company.
(5) Securities received in exchange for or distributed on or with respect to securities described in (1) through (4) above, or pursuant to the exercise of warrants or rights relating to such securities.
(6) Cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government securities or high-quality debt securities maturing in one year or less from the time of investment.
In addition, a BDC must be operated for the purpose of making investments in the types of securities described in (1), (2) or (3) above.
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Significant Managerial Assistance
A BDC must have been organized and have its principal place of business in the United States and must be operated for the purpose of making investments in the types of securities described above. However, in order to count portfolio securities as Qualifying Assets for the purpose of the 70% test, the BDC must either control the issuer of the securities or must offer to make available to the issuer of the securities (other than small and solvent companies described above) significant managerial assistance; except that, where the BDC purchases such securities in conjunction with one or more other persons acting together, one of the other persons in the group may make available such managerial assistance. Making available significant managerial assistance means, among other things, any arrangement whereby we, as a BDC, through our trustees, officers or employees, offer to provide and, if accepted, provide, significant guidance and counsel concerning the management, operations or business objectives and policies of a portfolio company through monitoring of portfolio company operations, selective participation in board and management meetings, consulting with and advising a portfolio company’s officers or other organizational or financial guidance. As part of our ongoing relationship with portfolio companies, our investment team monitors the financial trends of each portfolio company and its respective industry to assess the appropriate course of action for each investment.
Pending investment in other types of Qualifying Assets, as described above, our investments can consist of cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government securities or high-quality debt securities maturing in one year or less from the time of investment, which are referred to herein, collectively, as temporary investments, so that 70% of our assets would be Qualifying Assets.
Under the 1940 Act, a BDC is subject to restrictions on the issuance, terms and amount of warrants, options or rights to purchase shares that it may have outstanding at any time. In particular, the amount of shares that would result from the conversion or exercise of all outstanding warrants, options or rights to purchase shares cannot exceed 25% of the BDC’s total outstanding shares.
Leverage and Senior Securities; Coverage Ratio
We are permitted, under specified conditions, to issue multiple classes of indebtedness and one class of Common Shares senior to our Common Shares if our asset coverage, as defined in the 1940 Act, would at least equal 150% immediately after each such issuance. At the organizational meeting on October 20, 2023, our Board approved the adoption of this 150% threshold pursuant to Section 61(a)(2) of the 1940 Act and such election became effective the following day. As defined in the 1940 Act, asset coverage of 150% means that for every $100 of net assets we hold, we may raise $200 from borrowing and issuing senior securities. In addition, while any senior securities remain outstanding, we will be required to make provisions to prohibit any dividend distribution to our shareholders or the repurchase of such securities or shares unless we meet the applicable asset coverage ratios at the time of the dividend distribution or repurchase. We will also be permitted to borrow amounts up to 5% of the value of our total assets for temporary or emergency purposes, which borrowings would not be considered senior securities.
We have entered into the Credit Agreement and may in the future establish one or more credit facilities and/ or subscription facilities or enter into other financing arrangements to facilitate investments and the timely payment of our expenses. It is anticipated that any such credit facilities will bear interest at floating rates at to be determined spreads over an applicable reference rate. We cannot assure shareholders that we will be able to enter into a credit facility in the future. Shareholders will indirectly bear the costs associated with any borrowings under a credit facility or otherwise.
We may enter into a total return swap agreement. A TRS is a contract in which one party agrees to make periodic payments to another party based on the change in the market value of the assets underlying the TRS,
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which may include a specified security, basket of securities or securities indices during a specified period, in return for periodic payments based on a fixed or variable interest rate. A TRS effectively adds leverage to a portfolio by providing investment exposure to a security or market without owning or taking physical custody of such security or investing directly in such market. Because of the unique structure of a TRS, a TRS often offers lower financing costs than are offered through more traditional borrowing arrangements. The Fund would typically have to post collateral to cover this potential obligation.
We may also create leverage by securitizing our assets (including in CLOs) and retaining the equity portion of the securitized vehicle. We may also from time to time make secured loans of our marginable securities to brokers, dealers and other financial institutions.
We and the Adviser have adopted a code of ethics pursuant to Rule
17j-1
under the 1940 Act and
Rule 204A-1
under the Advisers Act, respectively, that establishes procedures for personal investments and restricts certain personal securities transactions. Personnel subject to the code are permitted to invest in securities for their personal investment accounts, including securities that may be purchased or held by us, so long as such investments are made in accordance with the code’s requirements. You may read and copy this code of ethics at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at (202)
551-8090.
You may also obtain copies of the codes of ethics, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following email address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the SEC’s Public Reference Section, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549.
We may be prohibited under the 1940 Act from conducting certain transactions with our affiliates without the prior approval of our Trustees who are not interested persons and, in some cases, the prior approval of the SEC.
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures
The Fund has delegated proxy voting responsibility to the Adviser. As a fiduciary, the Adviser has a duty to monitor corporate events and to vote proxies (in accordance with applicable law, including ERISA), as well as a duty to cast votes in the best interest of the Fund and not to subrogate Fund interests to its own interests. To meet its fiduciary obligations, the Adviser seeks to ensure that it votes proxies in the best interest of the Fund, and the Adviser’s proxy voting policy addresses how the Adviser will resolve any conflict of interest that may arise when voting proxies. The Adviser’s proxy voting policy attempts to generalize a complex subject and the Adviser may, from time to time, determine that it is in the best interests of the Fund to depart from specific policies described therein.
The Adviser is responsible for processing all proxy notifications received by the Adviser. All proxy voting requests received are forwarded to the appropriate contact person at the Adviser that is responsible for monitoring the issuer. The appropriate contact person at the Adviser communicates the proxy voting decision to the Adviser. The Adviser shall keep a record of its proxy voting policies and procedures, proxy statements received and votes cast, in accordance with its record keeping policies. The trade operations department is responsible for maintaining records with respect to proxy voting.
You may obtain information, without charge, regarding how we voted proxies with respect to our portfolio securities by making a written request for proxy voting information to: Chief Compliance Officer, c/o AMG Comvest Senior Lending Fund, 360 S. Rosemary Avenue, Suite 1700, West Palm Beach, FL 33401.
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We will be periodically examined by the SEC for compliance with the 1940 Act, and be subject to the periodic reporting and related requirements of the Exchange Act.
We are also required to provide and maintain a bond issued by a reputable fidelity insurance company to protect against larceny and embezzlement. Furthermore, as a BDC, we will be prohibited from protecting any trustee or officer against any liability to our shareholders arising from willful misfeasance, bad faith, negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such person’s office.
We are also required to designate a chief compliance officer and to adopt and implement written policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent violation of the federal securities laws and to review these policies and procedures annually for their adequacy and the effectiveness of their implementation.
We are not permitted to change the nature of our business so as to cease to be, or to withdraw our election as, a BDC unless approved by a majority of our outstanding voting securities. A majority of the outstanding voting securities of a company is defined under the 1940 Act as the lesser of: (i) 67% or more of such company’s shares present at a meeting if more than 50% of the outstanding shares of such company are present or represented by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of such company.
Our internet address is
We make available free of charge on our website our annual report on
Form 10-K,
quarterly reports on
Form 10-Q,
current reports on Form
8-K,
proxy statement and amendments to those reports as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC.
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CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following discussion is a general summary of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to us and the purchase, ownership and disposition of our Common Shares. This discussion does not purport to be complete or to deal with all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to shareholders in light of their particular circumstances. Unless otherwise noted, this discussion applies only to U.S. shareholders that hold our Common Shares as capital assets. A U.S. shareholder is an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States, a U.S. corporation, a trust if it (a) is subject to the primary supervision of a court in the United States and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (b) has made a valid election to be treated as a U.S. person, or any estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source. If a partnership (including an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds our Common Shares, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. A prospective investor that is a partner in a partnership that will hold our Common Shares should consult its tax advisors with respect to the purchase, ownership and disposition of such Common Shares. This discussion is based upon present provisions of the Code, the regulations promulgated thereunder, and judicial and administrative ruling authorities, all of which are subject to change, or differing interpretations (possibly with retroactive effect). This discussion does not represent a detailed description of the U.S. federal income tax consequences relevant to special classes of taxpayers including, without limitation, financial institutions, insurance companies, investors in pass-through entities, U.S. shareholders whose “functional currency” is not the U.S. dollar,
tax-exempt
organizations, dealers in securities or currencies, traders in securities or commodities that elect mark to market treatment, or persons that will hold our Common Shares as a position in a “straddle,” “hedge” or as part of a “constructive sale” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In addition, this discussion does not address the application of the Medicare tax on net investment income or the U.S. federal alternative minimum tax, or any tax consequences attributable to persons being required to accelerate the recognition of any item of gross income with respect to our Common Shares as a result of such income being recognized on an applicable financial statement. Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors with regard to the U.S. federal tax consequences of the purchase, ownership, or disposition of our Common Shares, as well as the tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, foreign country or other taxing jurisdiction.
Taxation as a Regulated Investment Company
The Fund has elected, and intends to qualify annually thereafter, to be treated as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code.
To qualify for the favorable tax treatment accorded to RICs under Subchapter M of the Code, the Fund must, among other things: (1) have an election in effect to be treated as a BDC under the 1940 Act at all times during each taxable year; (2) have filed with its return for the taxable year an election to be a RIC or have made such election for a previous taxable year; (3) derive in each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income from (a) dividends, interest, payments with respect to certain securities loans, and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock or securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including but not limited to gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities, or currencies; and (b) net income derived from an interest in certain publicly-traded partnerships that are treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes and that derive less than 90% of their gross income from the items described in (a) above (each, a “Qualified Publicly-Traded Partnership”); and (4) diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of each taxable year of the Fund (a) at least 50% of the value of the Fund’s total assets is represented by cash and cash items (including receivables), U.S. government securities and securities of other RICs, and other securities for purposes of this calculation limited, in respect of any one issuer to an amount not greater in value than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets, and to not more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, and (b) not more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets is invested in the securities (other than U.S. government securities or securities of other RICs) of (I) any one issuer, (II) any two or more issuers which the Fund controls and which are determined to be engaged in the same or similar
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trades or businesses or related trades or businesses or (III) any one or more Qualified Publicly-Traded Partnerships (described in 3(b) above).
As a RIC, the Fund generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on its investment company taxable income (as that term is defined in the Code, but determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid) and net capital gain (the excess of net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss), if any, that it distributes in each taxable year to its shareholders, provided that it distributes at least 90% of the sum of its investment company taxable income and its net
tax-exempt
income for such taxable year. Generally, the Fund intends to distribute to its shareholders, at least annually, substantially all of its investment company taxable income and net capital gains, if any.
Amounts not distributed on a timely basis in accordance with a calendar year distribution requirement are subject to a nondeductible 4% U.S. federal excise tax. To prevent imposition of the excise tax, the Fund must distribute during each calendar year an amount at least equal to the sum of (i) 98% of its ordinary income for the calendar year, (ii) 98.2% of its capital gains in excess of its capital losses (adjusted for certain ordinary losses) for the
one-year
period ending October 31 of the calendar year and (iii) any ordinary income and capital gains for previous years that were not distributed during those years. For these purposes, the Fund will be deemed to have distributed any income or gains on which it paid U.S. federal income tax.
A distribution will be treated as paid on December 31 of any calendar year if it is declared by the Fund in October, November or December with a record date in such a month and paid by the Fund during January of the following calendar year. Such distributions will be taxable to shareholders in the calendar year in which the distributions are declared, rather than the calendar year in which the distributions are received.
Although the Fund does not presently expect to do so, the Fund is authorized to borrow funds and to sell assets in order to satisfy the distribution requirement. However, under the 1940 Act, the Fund is not permitted to make distributions to shareholders while the Fund’s debt obligations and other senior securities are outstanding unless certain “asset coverage” tests are met. Moreover, the Fund’s ability to dispose of assets to meet the distribution requirement may be limited by (1) the illiquid nature of the Fund’s portfolio and/or (2) other requirements relating to the Fund’s qualification as a RIC, including the diversification requirements. If the Fund disposes of assets in order to meet the distribution requirement or to avoid imposition of the 4% federal excise tax, the Fund may make such dispositions at times that, from an investment standpoint, are not advantageous.
Some of the income and fees that the Fund may recognize, such as fees for providing managerial assistance, certain fees earned with respect to the Fund’s investments, income recognized in a
work-out
or restructuring of a portfolio investment, or income recognized from an equity investment in an operating partnership, may not satisfy the 90% income requirement. In order to manage the risk that such income and fees might disqualify the Fund as a RIC for a failure to satisfy the 90% income requirement, the Fund may be required to recognize such income and fees indirectly through one or more entities treated as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Such corporations will be required to pay U.S. corporate income tax on their earnings, which ultimately will reduce the Fund’s return on such income and fees.
A portfolio company in which the Fund invests may face financial difficulties that require the Fund to
work-out,
modify or otherwise restructure its investment in the portfolio company. Any such transaction could, depending upon the specific terms of the transaction, result in unusable capital losses and future
non-cash
income. Any such transaction could also result in the Fund receiving assets that give rise to income that is not qualifying income for purposes of the 90% income requirement, and we may need to hold such assets in a taxable subsidiary and pay federal and state income tax on income related to such assets.
A RIC is limited in its ability to deduct expenses in excess of its investment company taxable income. If the Fund’s deductible expenses in a given taxable year exceed the Fund’s investment company taxable income, the Fund may incur a net operating loss for that taxable year. However, a RIC is not permitted to carry forward net
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operating losses to subsequent taxable years and such net operating losses do not pass through to its shareholders. In addition, deductible expenses can be used only to offset investment company taxable income, not net capital gain. A RIC may not use any net capital losses (that is, the excess of realized capital losses over realized capital gains) to offset its investment company taxable income, but may carry forward such net capital losses, and use them to offset future capital gains, indefinitely. Due to these limits on deductibility of expenses and net capital losses, the Fund may for tax purposes have aggregate taxable income for several taxable years that the Fund is required to distribute and that is taxable to shareholders even if such taxable income is greater than the net income the Fund actually earns during those taxable years. Any underwriting fees paid by the Fund are not deductible.
For federal income tax purposes, the Fund is generally permitted to carry forward a net capital loss in any taxable year to offset its own capital gains, if any. These amounts are available to be carried forward to offset future capital gains to the extent permitted by the Code and applicable tax regulations. Any such loss carryforwards will retain their character as short-term or long-term. In the event that the Fund were to experience an ownership change as defined under the Code, the capital loss carryforwards and other favorable tax attributes of the Fund, if any, may be subject to limitation.
In determining its net capital gain, including in connection with determining the amount available to support a capital gain dividend, its taxable income and its earnings and profits, the Fund generally may elect to treat part or all of any post-October capital loss (defined as any net capital loss attributable to the portion, if any, of the taxable year after October 31 or, if there is no such loss, the net long-term capital loss or net short-term capital loss attributable to any such portion of the taxable year) or late-year ordinary loss (generally, the sum of its (i) net ordinary loss, if any, from the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of property, attributable to the portion, if any, of the taxable year after October 31, and its (ii) other net ordinary loss, if any, attributable to the portion, if any, of the taxable year after December 31) as if incurred in the succeeding taxable year.
If the Fund failed to qualify as a RIC or failed to satisfy the 90% distribution requirement in any taxable year, the Fund would be subject to U.S. federal income tax at regular corporate rates on its taxable income (including distributions of net capital gain), even if such income were distributed to its shareholders, and all distributions out of earnings and profits would be taxed to shareholders as ordinary dividend income. Subject to certain limitations under the Code, such distributions generally would be eligible (i) to be treated as “qualified dividend income” in the case of individual and other
non-corporate
shareholders and (ii) for the dividends received deduction in the case of corporate shareholders. Distributions in excess of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits would be treated first as a return of capital to the extent of the shareholder’s tax basis, and any remaining distributions would be treated as a capital gain. In addition, the Fund could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay taxes and make distributions (which could be subject to interest charges) before requalifying for taxation as a RIC.
While the Fund has elected to be treated as a RIC for each taxable year, it is possible that as we ramp up our portfolio we may not satisfy the diversification requirements described above, and thus may not qualify as a RIC, for the short taxable year from the date on which this Registration Statement becomes effective. The remainder of this discussion assumes that the Fund qualifies as a RIC for each taxable year.
Distributions to shareholders by the Fund of ordinary income (including “market discount” realized by the Fund on the sale of debt securities), and of net short-term capital gains, if any, realized by the Fund will generally be taxable to U.S. shareholders as ordinary income to the extent such distributions are paid out of the Fund’s current or accumulated earnings and profits. Distributions, if any, of net capital gains properly reported as “capital gain dividends” will be taxable as long-term capital gains, regardless of the length of time the shareholder has owned our Common Shares. A distribution of an amount in excess of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits (as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes) will be treated by a
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shareholder as a return of capital which will be applied against and reduce the shareholder’s basis in his or her Common Shares. To the extent that the amount of any such distribution exceeds the shareholder’s basis in his or her Common Shares, the excess will be treated by the shareholder as gain from a sale or exchange of the Common Shares. Distributions paid by the Fund generally will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction allowed to corporations or for the reduced rates applicable to certain qualified dividend income received by
non-corporate
shareholders.
Certain distributions reported by the Fund as Section 163(j) interest dividends may be treated as interest income by shareholders for purposes of the tax rules applicable to interest expense limitations under Section 163(j) of the Code. Such treatment by the shareholder is generally subject to holding period requirements and other potential limitations, although the holding period requirements are generally not applicable to dividends declared by money market funds and certain other funds that declare dividends daily and pay such dividends on a monthly or more frequent basis. The amount that the Fund is eligible to report as a Section 163(j) dividend for a tax year is generally limited to the excess of the Fund’s business interest income over the sum of the Fund’s (i) business interest expense and (ii) other deductions properly allocable to the Fund’s business interest income.
Distributions will be treated in the manner described above regardless of whether such distributions are paid in cash or invested in additional Common Shares pursuant to the distribution reinvestment plan. Shareholders receiving distributions in the form of additional Common Shares will generally be treated as receiving a distribution in the amount of the fair market value of the distributed Common Shares. The additional Common Shares received by a shareholder pursuant to the distribution reinvestment plan will have a new holding period commencing on the day following the day on which the Common Shares were credited to the shareholder’s account.
If an investor purchases Common Shares shortly before the record date of a distribution, the price of the Common Shares will include the value of the distribution and the investor will be subject to tax on the distribution even though it represents a return of their investment.
The Fund may elect to retain its net capital gain or a portion thereof for investment and be taxed at corporate rates on the amount retained. In such case, it may report the retained amount as undistributed capital gains in a notice to its shareholders, who will be treated as if each received a distribution of its pro rata share of such gain, with the result that each shareholder will (i) be required to report its pro rata share of such gain on its tax return as long-term capital gain, (ii) receive a refundable tax credit for its pro rata share of tax paid by the Fund on the gain and (iii) increase the tax basis for its Common Shares by an amount equal to the deemed distribution less the tax credit.
The IRS currently requires that a RIC that has two or more classes of stock allocate to each such class proportionate amounts of each type of its income (such as ordinary income and capital gains) based upon the percentage of total dividends paid to each class for the tax year. Accordingly, if the Fund issues preferred shares, the Fund intends to allocate capital gain dividends, if any, between its Common Shares and preferred shares in proportion to the total dividends paid to each class with respect to such tax year.
Shareholders will be notified annually as to the U.S. federal tax status of distributions, and shareholders receiving distributions in the form of additional Common Shares will receive a report as to the NAV of those Common Shares. In addition, the federal tax status of each year’s distributions generally will be reported to the IRS. Dividends paid by us generally will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction or the preferential tax rate applicable to qualified dividend income because our income generally will not consist of dividends.
Distributions may also be subject to additional state, local and foreign taxes depending on a shareholder’s particular situation.
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Unless and until the Fund is treated as a “publicly offered regulated investment company” (within the meaning of Section 67 of the Code) as a result of either (i) Common Shares being held by at least 500 persons at all times during a taxable year, (ii) Common Shares being continuously offered pursuant to a public offering (within the meaning of section 4 of the Securities Act) or (iii) Common Shares being treated as regularly traded on an established securities market, for purposes of computing the taxable income of shareholders that are individuals, trusts or estates, (1) the Fund’s earnings will be computed without taking into account such shareholders’ allocable Common Shares of the management and incentive fees paid to the Adviser and certain of the Fund’s other expenses, (2) each such shareholder will be treated as having received or accrued a distribution from us in the amount of such shareholder’s allocable share of these fees and expenses for such taxable year, (3) each such shareholder will be treated as having paid or incurred such shareholder’s allocable share of these fees and expenses for the calendar year and (4) each such shareholder’s allocable share of these fees and expenses will be treated as miscellaneous itemized deductions by such shareholder. For taxable years beginning before 2026, miscellaneous itemized deductions generally are not deductible by a shareholder that is an individual, trust or estate. For taxable years beginning in 2026 or later, miscellaneous itemized deductions generally are deductible by a shareholder that is an individual, trust or estate only to the extent that the aggregate of such shareholder’s miscellaneous itemized deductions exceeds 2% of such shareholder’s adjusted gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes, are not deductible for purposes of the alternative minimum tax and are subject to the overall limitation on itemized deductions under Section 68 of the Code.
Sale or Exchange of Common Shares
Upon the sale or other disposition of our Common Shares (except pursuant to a repurchase by the Fund, as described below), a shareholder will generally realize a capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized and the shareholder’s adjusted tax basis in the Common Shares sold. Such gain or loss will be long-term or short-term, depending upon the shareholder’s holding period for the Common Shares. Generally, a shareholder’s gain or loss will be a long-term gain or loss if the Common Shares have been held for more than one year. For
non-corporate
taxpayers, long-term capital gains are currently eligible for reduced rates of taxation.
No loss will be allowed on the sale or other disposition of Common Shares if the owner acquires (including pursuant to the distribution reinvestment plan) or enters into a contract or option to acquire securities that are substantially identical to such Common Shares within 30 days before or after the disposition. In such a case, the basis of the securities acquired will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss. Losses realized by a shareholder on the sale or exchange of Common Shares held for six months or less are treated as long-term capital losses to the extent of any distribution of long-term capital gain received (or amounts designated as undistributed capital gains) with respect to such Common Shares.
The Code requires reporting of adjusted cost basis information for covered securities, which generally include shares of a RIC, to the IRS and to taxpayers. Shareholders should contact their financial intermediaries with respect to reporting of cost basis and available elections for their accounts.
From time to time, the Fund may offer to repurchase its outstanding Common Shares. Shareholders who tender all Common Shares of the Fund held, or considered to be held, by them will be treated as having sold their Common Shares and generally will realize a capital gain or loss. If a shareholder tenders fewer than all of its Common Shares or fewer than all Common Shares tendered are repurchased, such shareholder may be treated as having received a taxable dividend upon the tender of its Common Shares. In such a case, there is a risk that
non-tendering
shareholders, and shareholders who tender some but not all of their Common Shares or fewer than all of whose Common Shares are repurchased, in each case whose percentage interests in the Fund increase as a result of such tender, will be treated as having received a taxable distribution from the Fund. The extent of such risk will vary depending upon the particular circumstances of the tender offer, and in particular whether such offer is a single and isolated event or is part of a plan for periodically redeeming Common Shares of the Fund.
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Under U.S. Treasury regulations, if a shareholder recognizes a loss with respect to Common Shares of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on Internal Revenue Service Form 8886. Direct owners of portfolio securities are in many cases excepted from this reporting requirement, but under current guidance, shareholders of a RIC are not excepted. Future guidance may extend the current exception from this reporting requirement to shareholders of most or all RICs. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.
Nature of the Fund’s Investments
Certain of the Fund’s hedging and derivatives transactions are subject to special and complex U.S. federal income tax provisions that may, among other things, (i) disallow, suspend or otherwise limit the allowance of certain losses or deductions, (ii) convert lower-taxed long-term capital gain into higher-taxed short-term capital gain or ordinary income, (iii) convert an ordinary loss or a deduction into a capital loss (the deductibility of which is more limited), (iv) cause the Fund to recognize income or gain without a corresponding receipt of cash, (v) adversely affect the time as to when a purchase or sale of stock or securities is deemed to occur, (vi) adversely alter the intended characterization of certain complex financial transactions and (vii) produce income that will not be treated as qualifying income for purposes of the 90% gross income test described above.
These rules could therefore affect the character, amount and timing of distributions to shareholders and the Fund’s status as a RIC. The Fund will monitor its transactions and may make certain tax elections in order to mitigate the effect of these provisions.
Below Investment Grade Instruments
The Fund expects to primarily invest in debt securities that are rated below investment grade by rating agencies or that would be rated below investment grade if they were rated. Investments in these types of instruments may present special tax issues for the Fund. U.S. federal income tax rules are not entirely clear about issues such as when the Fund may cease to accrue interest, original issue discount or market discount, when and to what extent deductions may be taken for bad debts or worthless instruments, how payments received on obligations in default should be allocated between principal and income and whether exchanges of debt obligations in a bankruptcy or workout context are taxable. These and other issues will be addressed by the Fund, to the extent necessary, to distribute sufficient income to preserve our tax status as a RIC and minimize the extent to which we are subject to U.S. federal income tax.
For federal income tax purposes, we may be required to recognize taxable income in circumstances in which we do not receive a corresponding payment in cash. For example, if we hold debt obligations that are treated under applicable tax rules as having original issue discount (such as zero coupon securities, debt instruments with PIK interest or, in certain cases, increasing interest rates or debt instruments that were issued with warrants), we must include in income each year a portion of the original issue discount that accrues over the life of the obligation, regardless of whether cash representing such income is received by us in the same taxable year. Because any original issue discount will be included in our investment company taxable income for the year of the accrual, we may be required to make a distribution to our shareholders in order to satisfy the annual distribution requirement, even though we will not have received any corresponding cash amount. As a result, we may have difficulty meeting the annual distribution requirement necessary to qualify for and maintain RIC tax treatment under Subchapter M of the Code. We may have to sell some of our investments at times and/or at prices we would not consider advantageous, raise additional debt or equity capital or forgo new investment opportunities for this purpose. If we are not able to obtain cash from other sources, we may not qualify for or maintain RIC tax treatment and thus may become subject to corporate-level income tax.
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In general, the Fund will be treated as having acquired a security with market discount if its stated redemption price at maturity (or, in the case of a security issued with original issue discount, its revised issue price) exceeds the Fund’s initial tax basis in the security by more than a statutory de minimis amount. The Fund will be required to treat any principal payments on, or any gain derived from the disposition of, any securities acquired with market discount as ordinary income to the extent of the accrued market discount, unless the Fund makes an election to accrue market discount on a current basis. If this election is not made, all or a portion of any deduction for interest expense incurred to purchase or carry a market discount security may be deferred until the Fund sells or otherwise disposes of such security.
Gain or loss realized by the Fund from warrants acquired by the Fund as well as any loss attributable to the lapse of such warrants generally will be treated as capital gain or loss. Such gain or loss generally will be long-term or short-term, depending on how long the Fund held a particular warrant.
Under Section 988 of the Code, gains or losses attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates between the time the Fund accrues income or receivables or expenses or other liabilities denominated in a foreign currency and the time the Fund actually collects such income or receivables or pays such liabilities are generally treated as ordinary income or loss. Similarly, gains or losses on foreign currency, foreign currency forward contracts, certain foreign currency options or futures contracts and the disposition of debt securities denominated in foreign currency, to the extent attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates between the acquisition and disposition dates, are also treated as ordinary income or loss.
Passive Foreign Investment Companies
The Fund may invest in stocks of foreign companies that are classified under the Code as passive foreign investment companies (“PFICs”). In general, a foreign company is classified as a PFIC if at least 50% of its assets constitute investment-type assets or 75% or more of its gross income is investment-type income. In general, under the PFIC rules, an “excess distribution” received with respect to PFIC stock is treated as having been realized ratably over the period during which the Fund held the PFIC stock. The Fund will be subject to tax on the portion, if any, of the excess distribution that is allocated to its holding period in prior taxable years (and an interest factor will be added to the tax, as if the tax had actually been payable in such prior taxable years) even though the Fund distributes the corresponding income to shareholders. Excess distributions include any gain from the sale of PFIC stock as well as certain distributions from a PFIC. All excess distributions are taxable as ordinary income.
The Fund may be eligible to elect alternative tax treatment with respect to PFIC stock. Under such an election, the Fund generally would be required to include in its gross income its share of the earnings of a PFIC on a current basis, regardless of whether any distributions are received from the PFIC. If this election is made, the special rules, discussed above, relating to the taxation of excess distributions, would not apply. Treasury Regulations generally treat income inclusion from a PFIC with respect to which the Fund has made such an election as qualifying income for purposes of the 90% income requirement if (i) there is a current distribution out of the earnings and profits of the PFIC that are attributable to such income inclusion or (ii) such income inclusion is derived with respect to the Fund’s business of investing in stock, securities, or currencies. Alternatively, the Fund may be able to elect to mark to market its PFIC stock, resulting in any unrealized gains at year end being treated as though they were realized and reported as ordinary income. Any
losses and any loss from an actual disposition of the PFIC’s shares would be deductible as ordinary losses to the extent of any net
gains included in income in prior years with respect to stock in the same PFIC.
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Because the application of the PFIC rules may affect, among other things, the character of gains, the amount of gain or loss and the timing of the recognition of income with respect to PFIC stock, as well as subject the Fund to tax on certain income from PFIC stock, the amount that must be distributed to shareholders, and which will be taxed to shareholders as ordinary income or long-term capital gain, may be increased or decreased substantially as compared to a fund that did not invest in PFIC stock.
Preferred Shares or Borrowings
If the Fund utilizes leverage through the issuance of preferred shares or borrowings, it may be restricted by certain covenants with respect to the declaration of, and payment of, dividends on shares in certain circumstances. Limits on the Fund’s payments of dividends on shares may prevent the Fund from meeting the distribution requirements described above, and may, therefore, jeopardize the Fund’s qualification for taxation as a RIC and possibly subject the Fund to the 4% excise tax. The Fund will endeavor to avoid restrictions on its ability to make dividend payments.
The Fund may be required to withhold from all distributions and redemption proceeds payable to U.S. shareholders who fail to provide the Fund with their correct taxpayer identification numbers or to make required certifications, or who have been notified by the IRS that they are subject to backup withholding. Certain shareholders specified in the Code generally are exempt from such backup withholding. This backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld may be refunded or credited against the shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.
Medicare Tax on Net Investment Income
An additional 3.8% Medicare tax is imposed on certain net investment income (including ordinary dividends and capital gain distributions received from the Fund and net gains from redemptions or other taxable dispositions of Common Shares) of U.S. individuals, estates and trusts to the extent that such person’s “modified adjusted gross income” (in the case of an individual) or “adjusted gross income” (in the case of an estate or trust) exceed certain threshold amounts.
U.S. Taxation of
Tax-Exempt
U.S. Shareholders
A U.S. shareholder that is a
tax-exempt
organization for U.S. federal income tax purposes and therefore generally exempt from U.S. federal income taxation may nevertheless be subject to taxation to the extent that it is considered to derive unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”). The direct conduct by a
tax-exempt
U.S. shareholder of the activities that the Fund proposes to conduct could give rise to UBTI. However, a RIC is a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes and its business activities generally will not be attributed to its shareholders for purposes of determining their treatment under current law. Therefore, a
tax-exempt
U.S. shareholder should not be subject to U.S. federal income taxation solely as a result of such shareholder’s direct or indirect ownership of the Fund’s equity and receipt of distributions with respect to such equity (regardless of whether we incur indebtedness). Moreover, under current law, if the Fund incurs indebtedness, such indebtedness will not be attributed to a
tax-exempt
U.S. shareholder. Therefore, unless a
tax-exempt
shareholder’s investment in the Fund is itself debt-financed, a
tax-exempt
U.S. shareholder should not be treated as earning income from “debt-financed property” and distributions the Fund pays should not be treated as “unrelated debt-financed income” solely as a result of indebtedness that the Fund incurs. Certain
tax-exempt
private universities are subject to an additional 1.4% excise tax on their “net investment income,” including income from interest, dividends, and capital gains. Proposals periodically are made to change the treatment of “blocker” investment vehicles interposed between
tax-exempt
investors and
non-qualifying
investments. In the event that any such proposals were to be adopted and applied to RICs, the treatment of dividends payable to
tax-exempt
investors could be adversely affected. In addition, special rules would apply if the Fund were to
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invest in certain real estate mortgage investment conduits or taxable mortgage pools, which the Fund does not currently plan to do, that could result in a
tax-exempt
U.S. shareholder recognizing income that would be treated as UBTI.
U.S. taxation of a shareholder who is a nonresident alien individual, a foreign trust or estate or a foreign corporation, as defined for U.S. federal income tax purposes (a “foreign shareholder”), depends on whether the income from the Fund is “effectively connected” with a U.S. trade or business carried on by the shareholder.
A RIC is a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, its business activities generally will not be attributed to its shareholders for purposes of determining their treatment under current law. Therefore, a foreign shareholder should not be considered to earn income “effectively connected” with a U.S. trade or business solely as a result of activities conducted by the Fund.
If the income from the Fund is not “effectively connected” with a U.S. trade or business carried on by the foreign shareholder, distributions of investment company taxable income will be subject to a U.S. tax of 30% (or lower treaty rate), which tax is generally withheld from such distributions. The portion of distributions considered to be a return of capital for U.S. federal income tax purposes generally will not be subject to tax. However, dividends paid by the Fund that are “interest-related dividends” or “short-term capital gain dividends” will generally be exempt from such withholding, in each case to the extent the Fund properly reports such dividends to shareholders. For these purposes, interest-related dividends and short-term capital gain dividends generally represent distributions of certain interest or short-term capital gains that would not have been subject to U.S. federal withholding tax at the source if received directly by a foreign shareholder, and that satisfy certain other requirements. Interest-related dividends do not include distributions paid in respect of a RIC’s
non-U.S. source
interest income or its dividend income (or any other type of income other than generally
non-contingent
U.S.-source interest income received from unrelated obligors). In the case of Common Shares of the Fund held through an intermediary, the intermediary may withhold U.S. federal income tax even if the Fund reports the payment as interest-related dividends or short-term capital gain dividends. There can be no assurance as to whether any of the Fund’s distributions will be eligible for an exemption from withholding of U.S. federal income tax or, as to whether any of the Fund’s distributions that are eligible, will be reported as such by us.
A foreign shareholder whose income from the Fund is not “effectively connected” with a U.S. trade or business would generally be exempt from U.S. federal income tax on capital gain dividends, any amounts retained by the Fund that are designated as undistributed capital gains and any gains realized upon the sale or exchange of Common Shares. However, a foreign shareholder who is a nonresident alien individual and is physically present in the United States for more than 182 days during the taxable year and meets certain other requirements will nevertheless be subject to a U.S. tax of 30% on such capital gain dividends, undistributed capital gains and sale or exchange gains.
If the income from the Fund is “effectively connected” with a U.S. trade or business carried on by a foreign shareholder, then distributions of investment company taxable income, any capital gain dividends, any amounts retained by the Fund that are designated as undistributed capital gains and any gains realized upon the sale or exchange of Common Shares will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the graduated rates applicable to U.S. citizens, residents or domestic corporations, as applicable. Foreign corporate shareholders may also be subject to the 30% branch profits tax imposed by the Code.
The Fund may be required to withhold from distributions that are otherwise exempt from U.S. federal withholding tax (or taxable at a reduced treaty rate) unless the foreign shareholder certifies his or her foreign status under penalties of perjury or otherwise establishes an exemption.
Foreign shareholders may also be subject to U.S. estate tax with respect to their investment in Common Shares.
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The tax consequences to a foreign shareholder entitled to claim the benefits of an applicable tax treaty may differ from those described herein. Foreign shareholders are advised to consult their own tax advisers with respect to the particular tax consequences to them of an investment in the Fund.
Additional Withholding Requirements
Under Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code (such Sections commonly referred to as “FATCA”), a 30% United States federal withholding tax may apply to any dividends that the Fund pays to (i) a “foreign financial institution” (as specifically defined in the Code), whether such foreign financial institution is the beneficial owner or an intermediary, unless such foreign financial institution agrees to verify, report and disclose its United States “account” holders (as specifically defined in the Code) and meets certain other specified requirements or (ii) a
non-financial
foreign entity, whether such nonfinancial foreign entity is the beneficial owner or an intermediary, unless such entity provides a certification that the beneficial owner of the payment does not have any substantial United States owners or provides the name, address and taxpayer identification number of each such substantial United States owner and certain other specified requirements are met. In certain cases, the relevant foreign financial institution or
non-financial
foreign entity may qualify for an exemption from, or be deemed to be in compliance with, these rules. In addition, foreign financial institutions located in jurisdictions that have an intergovernmental agreement with the United States governing FATCA may be subject to different rules. You should consult your own tax advisor regarding FATCA and whether it may be relevant to your ownership and disposition of our Common Shares.
Foreign and Other Taxation
The Fund’s investment in
non-U.S. securities
may be subject to
non-U.S. withholding
taxes. In that case, the Fund’s yield on those securities would be decreased. Shareholders will generally not be entitled to claim a credit or deduction with respect to foreign taxes paid by the Fund. Tax conventions between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate such taxes.
In addition, shareholders may be subject to state, local and foreign taxes on their distributions from the Fund. Shareholders are advised to consult their own tax advisers with respect to the particular tax consequences to them of an investment in the Fund.
Each prospective investor should be aware that tax laws and regulations are changing on an ongoing basis, and such laws and/or regulations may be changed with retroactive effect. Moreover, the interpretation and/or application of tax laws and regulations by certain tax authorities may not be clear, consistent or transparent. Uncertainty in the tax law may require the Fund to accrue potential tax liabilities even in situations in which the Fund and/or shareholders do not expect to be ultimately subject to such tax liabilities. In that regard, accounting standards and/or related tax reporting obligations may change, giving rise to additional accrual and/or other obligations.
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CERTAIN ERISA CONSIDERATIONS
Each prospective investor that is, or is acting on behalf of, any (i) “employee benefit plan” (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA) subject to Title I of ERISA, (ii) “plan” described in Section 4975(e)(1) of the Code, subject to Section 4975 of the Code (including for
., IRA and a “Keogh” plan), (iii) plan, account or other arrangement that is subject to provisions under any Similar Laws, or (iv) entity whose underlying assets are considered to include the assets of any of the foregoing described in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), pursuant to ERISA or otherwise (each of the foregoing described in clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) referred to herein as a “Plan”), must independently determine that our Common Shares are an appropriate investment, taking into account its obligations under ERISA, the Code and applicable Similar Laws.
In contemplating an investment in the Fund, each fiduciary of the Plan who is responsible for making such an investment should carefully consider, taking into account the facts and circumstances of the Plan, whether such investment is consistent with the applicable provisions of ERISA, Section 4957 of the Code or any Similar Law relating to a fiduciary’s duties to the Plan including, without limitation, the prudence, diversification, and prohibited transaction provisions of ERISA, Section 4957 of the Code and any other applicable Similar Laws. Furthermore, absent satisfying all of the requirements of a prohibited transaction exemption, the fiduciaries of a Plan should not invest in the Fund with the assets of any Plan if the Adviser or any of its affiliates is a fiduciary with respect to such assets of the Plan. Each purchaser of Common Shares that is or may become a Plan is responsible for determining the extent, if any, to which the purchase and holding of Common Shares will constitute a
non-exempt
prohibited transaction under ERISA, Section 4975 of the Code or any Similar Law, and otherwise for determining compliance with ERISA, Section 4975 of the Code and any applicable Similar Law.
In contemplating an investment in the Fund, the fiduciaries of a Plan that is a “benefit plan investor” (within the meaning of the Plan Assets Regulation (“Benefit Plan Investor”)) should also carefully consider the definition of the term “plan assets” in ERISA and the Plan Assets Regulation. Under ERISA and the Plan Assets Regulation, when a Benefit Plan Investor invests in an equity interest of an entity that is neither a Publicly-Offered Security nor a security issued by an investment company registered under the 1940 Act, the Benefit Plan Investor’s assets include both the equity interest and an undivided interest in each of the entity’s underlying assets, unless it is established that the entity is an “operating company” or that equity participation in the entity by Benefit Plan Investors is not “significant” (each within the meaning of the Plan Assets Regulation). A Benefit Plan Investor includes (i) any employee benefit plan (as defined in section 3(3) of ERISA) subject to the provisions of Title I of ERISA, (ii) any plan described in section 4975(e)(1) of the Code that is subject to Section 4975 of the Code, and (iii) any entity whose underlying assets include plan assets by reason of such an employee benefit plan’s or plan’s investment in the entity.
Under the Plan Assets Regulation, equity participation in an entity by Benefit Plan Investors is “significant” on any date if 25% or more of the total value of any class of equity interests in the entity is held by Benefit Plan Investors. For purposes of this determination, the value of equity interests held by a person (other than a Benefit Plan Investor) who has discretionary authority or control with respect to the assets of the entity or that provides investment advice for a fee (direct or indirect) with respect to such assets (or any affiliate of such a person) is disregarded (each such person, a “Controlling Person”). The Plan Assets Regulation defines the term Publicly-Offered Security as a security that is “widely-held,” “freely transferrable” and either part of a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act or sold pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act if the securities are registered under the Exchange Act within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year of the issuer during which the public offering occurred. A security is considered “widely held” only if it is part of a class of securities that is owned by 100 or more investors independent of the issuer and of one another. A security will not fail to be “widely held” because the number of independent investors falls below 100 subsequent to the initial public offering as a result of events beyond the issuer’s control. The Plan Assets Regulation provides that whether a security is “freely transferable” is a factual question to be determined on the basis of all relevant facts and circumstances. It is noted that the Plan Assets Regulation only establishes a presumption in favor of the finding of free transferability where the applicable investment minimum is $10,000 or less and the restrictions are consistent with the particular types of restrictions listed in the Plan Assets Regulation.
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If the assets of the Fund were deemed to be “plan assets” under the Plan Assets Regulation, the obligations and other responsibilities of Plan sponsors, Plan fiduciaries and Plan administrators, and of parties in interest and disqualified persons, under Parts 1 and 4 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code, as applicable, may be expanded, and there may be an increase in their liability under these and other provisions of ERISA and the Code (except to the extent (if any) that a favorable statutory or administrative exemption or exception applies); in addition, various providers of fiduciary or other services to the entity, and any other parties with authority or control with respect to the entity, could be deemed to be Plan fiduciaries or otherwise parties in interest or disqualified persons by virtue of their provision of such services (and there could be an improper delegation of authority to such providers). Among other consequences, if the assets of the Fund were deemed to be “plan assets,” this could result, among other things, in (i) the application of the prudence and other fiduciary responsibility standards of ERISA to investments made by the Fund, and (ii) the possibility that certain transactions in which the Fund might seek to engage could constitute “prohibited transactions” under ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code. If a prohibited transaction occurs for which no exemption is available, the Adviser and/or any other fiduciary that has engaged in the prohibited transaction could be required to (i) restore to the Plan any profit realized on the transaction and (ii) reimburse the Plan for any losses suffered by the Plan as a result of the investment. In addition, each disqualified person (within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code) involved could be subject to an excise tax equal to 15% of the amount involved in the prohibited transaction for each year the transaction continues and, unless the transaction is corrected within statutorily required periods, to an additional tax of 100%. Fiduciaries of Plan investors who decide to invest in the Fund could, under certain circumstances, be liable for prohibited transactions or other violations as a result of their investment in the Fund or as
co-fiduciaries
for actions taken by or on behalf of the Fund or the Advisor. With respect to an IRA that invests in the Fund, the occurrence of a prohibited transaction involving the individual who established the IRA, or his or her beneficiaries, would cause the IRA to lose its
tax-exempt
status.
Accordingly, the Fund intends to conduct its affairs so that its assets should not be deemed to constitute “plan assets” under the Plan Assets Regulation. In this regard, generally, we intended to take one of the following approaches: (1) in the event that each class of Common Shares is considered a Publicly-Offered Security, we will not limit Benefit Plan Investors from investing in the Common Shares; (2) in the event one or more classes of Common Shares does not constitute a Publicly-Offered Security, (a) we will limit investment in each class of Common Shares by Benefit Plan Investors to less than 25% of the total value of each class of our Common Shares, within the meaning of the Plan Assets Regulation (including any class that constitutes a Publicly-Offered Security), or (b) we will prohibit Benefit Plan Investors from owning any class that does not constitute a Publicly-Offered Security. For purposes of the 25% test in the immediately preceding sentence, we will disregard equity interests held by Controlling Persons (other than a Benefit Plan Investor) as contemplated by the Plan Assets Regulation. In this respect, in order to avoid the possibility that our assets could be treated as “plan assets” within the meaning of the Plan Assets Regulation, until such time as each class of our Common Shares constitutes Publicly-Offered Securities, (i) we will require any person proposing to acquire Common Shares to furnish such information as may be necessary to determine whether such person is a Benefit Plan Investor or a Controlling Person, and (ii) we will have the power to (a) exclude any shareholder or potential shareholder from purchasing Common Shares, (b) prohibit any redemption of Common Shares, and (c) redeem some or all Common Shares held by any holder if, and to the extent that, our Board determines that there is a substantial likelihood that such holder’s purchase, ownership or redemption of Common Shares would result in our assets to be characterized as “plan assets” under the Plan Assets Regulation, and each of class of Common Shares shall be subject to such terms and conditions. After such time as all of Class S, Class D, Class F and Class I shares (and any other equity interests in the Fund (if any)) constitute Publicly-Offered Securities, the Fund may no longer be required to limit or prohibit Benefit Plan Investors from investing in the Fund.
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CUSTODIAN, TRANSFER AND DISTRIBUTION PAYING AGENT AND REGISTRAR
Our securities are held under a custody agreement by U.S. Bank National Association. The address of the custodian is U.S. Bank Tower, 425 Walnut Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202. Ultimus Fund Solutions, LLC (the “Transfer Agent”) will act as our transfer agent, distribution paying agent and registrar. The principal business address of our transfer agent is 225 Pictoria Drive, Suite 450, Cincinnati, OH 45246. U.S. Bank National Association and its affiliates are acting solely in the capacity of custodian, and U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC and its affiliates are acting solely in the capacity of
sub-administrator
and have not endorsed, recommended or guaranteed the purchase, value or repayment of such securities.
BROKERAGE ALLOCATION AND OTHER PRACTICES
Since we will generally acquire and dispose of our investments in privately negotiated transactions, we will infrequently use brokers in the normal course of our business. Subject to policies established by our Board, if any, our Adviser will be primarily responsible for the execution of any publicly-traded securities portfolio transactions and the allocation of brokerage commissions. Our Adviser does not expect to execute transactions through any particular broker or dealer, but will seek to obtain the best net results for us, taking into account such factors as price (including the applicable brokerage commission or dealer spread), size of order, difficulty of execution, and operational facilities of the firm and the firm’s risk and skill in positioning blocks of securities. While our Adviser generally will seek reasonably competitive trade execution costs, we will not necessarily pay the lowest spread or commission available. Subject to applicable legal requirements, our Adviser may select a broker based partly upon brokerage or research services provided to it and us and any other clients. In return for such services, we may pay a higher commission than other brokers would charge if our Adviser determines in good faith that such commission is reasonable in relation to the services provided.
The financial statements of the Fund at December 31, 2023 and for the period from September 29, 2023 (Inception Date) through December 31, 2023 appearing in this prospectus and registration statement have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon appearing elsewhere herein, and are included in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.