false 424B2 Barings BDC, Inc. 0001379785 0001379785 2024-04-24 2024-04-24 0001379785 2023-10-01 0001379785 2023-12-31 0001379785 2023-12-31 2023-12-31 0001379785 bbi:PariPassuUnsecuredSeniorDebtMember 2023-12-31 0001379785 bbi:CommonStocksMember bbi:Assuming1000InvestmentOnA5PercentAnnualReturnWithNoReturnFromNetRealizedCapitalGainsOrNetUnrealizedCapitalAppreciationMember 2024-04-24 2024-04-24 0001379785 bbi:CommonStocksMember bbi:Assuming1000InvestmentOnA5PercentAnnualReturnResultingEntirelyFromNetRealizedCapitalGainsMember 2024-04-24 2024-04-24 0001379785 2021-03-31 0001379785 2021-01-01 2021-03-31 0001379785 2021-06-30 0001379785 2021-04-01 2021-06-30 0001379785 2021-09-30 0001379785 2021-07-01 2021-09-30 0001379785 2021-12-31 0001379785 2021-10-01 2021-12-31 0001379785 2022-03-31 0001379785 2022-01-01 2022-03-31 0001379785 2022-06-30 0001379785 2022-04-01 2022-06-30 0001379785 2022-09-30 0001379785 2022-07-01 2022-09-30 0001379785 2022-12-31 0001379785 2022-10-01 2022-12-31 0001379785 2023-03-31 0001379785 2023-01-01 2023-03-31 0001379785 2023-04-01 2023-06-30 0001379785 2023-07-13 0001379785 2023-07-01 2023-07-13 0001379785 2023-06-30 0001379785 bbi:February2019CreditFacilityMember 2023-03-31 0001379785 bbi:August2025NotesMember 2023-03-31 0001379785 bbi:SeriesBNotesMember 2023-03-31 0001379785 bbi:SeriesCNotesMember 2023-03-31 0001379785 bbi:SeriesDNotesMember 2023-03-31 0001379785 bbi:SeriesENotesMember 2023-03-31 0001379785 bbi:November2026NotesMember 2023-03-31 0001379785 2023-09-30 2023-09-30 0001379785 bbi:February2019CreditFacilityMember 2023-09-30 0001379785 bbi:August2025NotesMember 2023-09-30 0001379785 bbi:SeriesBNotesMember 2023-09-30 0001379785 bbi:SeriesCNotesMember 2023-09-30 0001379785 bbi:SeriesDNotesMember 2023-09-30 0001379785 bbi:SeriesENotesMember 2023-09-30 0001379785 bbi:November2026NotesMember 2023-09-30 0001379785 bbi:CommonStocksMember 2024-04-24 2024-04-24 0001379785 bbi:CommonStocksMember 2023-03-31 2023-03-31 0001379785 bbi:PreferredStocksMember 2024-04-24 2024-04-24 0001379785 bbi:WarrantsMember 2024-04-24 2024-04-24 0001379785 bbi:SubscriptionRightsMember 2024-04-24 2024-04-24 iso4217:USD xbrli:shares iso4217:USD xbrli:shares xbrli:pure

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)
Registration Statement No. 333-273253
Explanatory Note: The sole purpose of this filing is to add inline XBRL tagging to the Registrant's Prospectus Supplement dated February 7, 2024, filed on February 9, 2024 with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2) under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Prospectus Supplement”). This filing does not make any changes to the Prospectus Supplement. This filing does not modify or update in any way disclosures made in the original filing of Prospectus Supplement.
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(to Prospectus dated July 14, 2023)

$300,000,000
7.000% Notes due 2029
We are offering $300,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of 7.000% notes due 2029, which we refer to as the Notes. The Notes will mature on February 15, 2029. We will pay interest on the Notes on February 15 and August 15 of each year, beginning on August 15, 2024.
We may redeem the Notes in whole or in part at any time or from time to time, at the redemption price set forth under the caption “Description of the Notes - Optional Redemption” in this prospectus supplement. In addition, holders of the Notes can require us to repurchase some or all of the Notes at a purchase price equal to 100% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the repurchase date upon the occurrence of a “Change of Control Repurchase Event” (as defined herein). The Notes will be issued in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.
The Notes will be our direct unsecured obligations and rank pari passu with our existing and future unsecured indebtedness but will rank senior to our future indebtedness that is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Notes issued by Barings BDC, Inc. The Notes will rank effectively junior to any of our secured indebtedness (including unsecured indebtedness that we later secure) to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness, and rank structurally junior to all existing and future indebtedness (including trade payables) incurred by our subsidiaries, financing vehicles or similar facilities. See “Summary of the Offering - Ranking of Notes.”
The securities in which we invest will generally not be rated by any rating agency, and if they are rated, they will be below investment grade. These securities, which may be referred to as “junk,” have predominantly speculative characteristics with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal.
We are a closed-end, non-diversified investment company that has elected to be regulated as a business development company, or BDC, under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or 1940 Act. We have elected for federal income tax purposes to be treated, and intend to qualify annually, as a regulated investment company, or RIC, under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or Code.
We are externally managed by our investment adviser, Barings LLC, or Barings. Our investment objective is to generate current income primarily by investing directly in privately-held middle-market companies to help these companies fund acquisitions, growth or refinancing. We use the term “middle market” to refer to companies with between $10.0 million and $75.0 million in annual earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, as adjusted, or Adjusted EBITDA. While we focus our investments in private middle-market companies, we seek to invest across various industries and in both United States-based and foreign-based companies. Barings monitors our investment portfolio to ensure we have acceptable industry balance, using industry and market metrics as key indicators. To a lesser extent, we will invest opportunistically in assets such as, without limitation, equity, special situations, structured credit (e.g., private asset-backed securities), syndicated loan opportunities, high yield investments and/or mortgage securities.
Investing in the Notes involves a high degree of risk and should be considered highly speculative. Before investing in the Notes, you should review carefully the risks and uncertainties, including the risk of leverage, described in the sections titled “Supplementary Risk Factors” beginning on page S-12 of this prospectus supplement, “Risk Factors” beginning on page 12 of the accompanying prospectus and in our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, as well as under similar headings in the other documents that are filed on or after the date hereof and incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.
This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus contain important information about us that a prospective investor should know before investing in the Notes. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you in connection with this offering. You should carefully read this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, any related free writing prospectus, and any information incorporated by reference in each, before investing in the Notes and keep them for future reference. We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. This information is available by written or oral request and free of charge by contacting us at Barings BDC, Inc., 300 South Tryon Street, Suite 2500, Charlotte, North Carolina 28202, Attention: Corporate Secretary, on our website at https://ir.barings.com/sec-filings, or by calling us at (888) 401-1088. Information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus, and you should not consider that information to be part of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus. The SEC also maintains a website at www.sec.gov that contains such information.
Neither the SEC nor any state securities commission, nor any other regulatory body, has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
 
Per Note
Total
Public offering price
98.948%
$296,844,000
Underwriting discount (sales load)
1.000%
$3,000,000
Proceeds to Barings BDC, Inc. (before estimated expenses of $920,000)
97.948%
$293,844,000
The public offering price set forth above does not include accrued interest, if any. Interest on the Notes will accrue from February 12, 2024 and must be paid by the purchaser if the Notes are delivered after February 12, 2024.
THE NOTES ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OTHER OBLIGATIONS OF A BANK AND ARE NOT INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCY.
Delivery of the Notes in book-entry form only through The Depository Trust Company will be made on or about February 12, 2024 for the accounts of its participants.
Joint Book-Running Managers
Wells Fargo Securities
SMBC Nikko
BMO Capital Markets
Fifth Third Securities
ING
J.P. Morgan
BNP PARIBAS
MUFG
Regions Securities LLC
SOCIETE GENERALE
Co-Managers
BofA Securities
Citigroup
R. Seelaus & Co., LLC
Roberts & Ryan
The date of this prospectus supplement is February 7, 2024.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Prospectus Supplement
 
Page
Prospectus
 
Page
S-i

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABOUT THE PROSPECTUS
This document is in two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, which describes the terms of this offering of Notes and also adds to and updates information contained in the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. The second part is the accompanying prospectus, which provides more information about us and related matters. To the extent the information contained in this prospectus supplement differs from the information contained in the accompanying prospectus or any document filed prior to the date of this prospectus supplement and incorporated herein by reference, the information in this prospectus supplement shall control. In addition, the information in this prospectus supplement may add to, update or change the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and accordingly will supersede that information. Generally, when we refer to this “prospectus,” we are referring to both this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus combined, together with any free writing prospectus that we have authorized for use in connection with this offering.
You should rely only on the information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus or in any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us that relates to this offering of Notes. Neither we nor the underwriters have authorized any other person to provide you with different information or to make representations as to matters not stated in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or in any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us that relates to this offering of Notes. We take no responsibility for and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us that relates to this offering of Notes do not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any Notes by any person in any jurisdiction where it is unlawful for that person to make such an offer or solicitation or to any person in any jurisdiction to whom it is unlawful to make such an offer or solicitation. You should not assume that the information included in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or in any such free writing prospectus is accurate as of any date other than their respective dates, or that any information incorporated by reference herein or therein is accurate as of any date other than the date of the document incorporated by reference, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus supplement or sale of the Notes offered hereby.
S-ii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus supplement, including the documents that we incorporate by reference herein, contains, and any applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, including the documents we incorporate by reference therein, may contain forward-looking statements, including statements regarding our future financial condition, business strategy, and plans and objectives of management for future operations. All statements other than statements of historical facts, including statements regarding our future results of operations or financial condition, business strategy and plans, and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and any applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus may include statements as to:
our preliminary estimates of our fourth quarter and full year 2023 financial information;
our future operating results, dividend projections and frequency of dividends;
our business prospectus and the prospects of our portfolio companies;
the impact of the investments that we expect to make;
the ability of our portfolio companies to achieve their objectives;
our expected financings and investments and our ability to raise capital;
the adequacy of our cash resources and working capital; and
the timing of cash flows, if any, from the operations of our portfolio companies.
In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” or “would” or the negative of these words or other similar terms or expressions, although not all forward-looking statements include these words or expressions. The forward-looking statements contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and any applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those implied or expressed in the forward-looking statements for any reason, including the factors set forth in “Risk Factors” in our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as in subsequent filings with the SEC, and elsewhere contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and any applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus. Other factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially include, but are not limited to, the following:
changes in political, economic or industry conditions, including the risks of a slowing economy, rising inflation and risk of recession, and volatility in the financial services sector, including bank failures;
the interest rate environment or conditions affecting the financial and capital markets;
the impact of global health crises, on our or our portfolio companies’ business and the U.S. and global economies;
our, or our portfolio companies’, future business, operations, operating results or prospects;
risks associated with possible disruption due to terrorism in our operations or the economy generally; and
future changes in laws or regulations and conditions in our or our portfolio companies’ operating areas.
Discussions containing these forward-looking statements may be found in the sections titled “Business,” “Risk Factors,” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” incorporated by reference from our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as in subsequent filings with the SEC. We discuss in greater detail, and incorporate by reference into this prospectus in their entirety, many of these risks and uncertainties in the sections titled “Risk Factors” in the applicable prospectus supplement, in any free writing prospectus we may authorize for use in connection with a specific offering, and in our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as in subsequent filings with the SEC. In addition, statements that we “believe” and similar statements reflect our beliefs and opinions on the relevant subject. These statements are based on information available to us as of the applicable date of this prospectus, free writing prospectus and documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement, and while we believe such information forms a reasonable basis for such statements, such information may be limited or incomplete, and our statements should not be read to indicate that we have conducted an exhaustive inquiry
S-iii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

into, or review of, all potentially available relevant information. These statements are inherently uncertain and investors are cautioned not to unduly rely on these statements. We assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless we are required to do so by law.
S-iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
This summary highlights information included elsewhere or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus. It is not complete and may not contain all of the information that you should consider before making your investment decision. To understand the terms of the Notes offered hereby before making your investment decision, you should carefully read this entire prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, any free writing prospectus relating to this offering and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, as provided in “Available Information” and “Incorporation by Reference” in this prospectus supplement and on page 128 of the accompanying prospectus.
Except as otherwise indicated or where the context suggests otherwise, the terms:
“we,” “us,” “our” and the “Company” refer to Barings BDC, Inc., a Maryland corporation;
“Barings” refers to Barings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and our investment adviser and administrator; and
the “Adviser” and the “Administrator” refer to Barings, in its respective capacities as our investment adviser or our administrator.
Overview of Our Business
We are a closed-end, non-diversified investment company that has elected to be regulated as a BDC under the 1940 Act. We have elected for federal income tax purposes to be treated, and intend to qualify annually, as a RIC under the Code. We are organized as a Maryland corporation, which incorporated on October 10, 2006. Our headquarters are in Charlotte, North Carolina.
We are externally managed by our investment adviser, Barings. Beginning in August 2018, Barings shifted our investment focus to invest in syndicated senior secured loans, bonds and other fixed income securities. Since that time, Barings has transitioned our portfolio to primarily senior secured private debt investments in well-established middle-market businesses that operate across a wide range of industries. Barings’ existing SEC co-investment exemptive relief under the 1940 Act, or the Exemptive Relief, permits us and Barings’ affiliated private and SEC-registered funds to co-invest in Barings-originated loans, which allows Barings to efficiently implement its senior secured private debt investment strategy for us.
Our investment objective is to generate current income primarily by investing directly in privately-held middle-market companies to help these companies fund acquisitions, growth or refinancing. We use the term “middle market” to refer to companies with between $10.0 million and $75.0 million in Adjusted EBITDA. Barings employs fundamental credit analysis, and targets investments in businesses with low levels of cyclicality (i.e., the risk of business cycles or other economic cycles adversely affecting them) and operating risk relative to other businesses in this market segment. The holding size of each position will generally be dependent upon a number of factors including total facility size, pricing and structure, and the number of other lenders in the facility. Barings has experience managing levered vehicles, both public and private, and seeks to enhance our returns through the use of leverage with a prudent approach that prioritizes capital preservation. Barings believes this strategy and approach offers attractive risk/return with lower volatility given the potential for fewer defaults and greater resilience through market cycles. While we focus our investments in private middle-market companies, we seek to invest across various industries and in both United States-based and foreign-based companies. Barings monitors our investment portfolio to ensure we have acceptable industry balance, using industry and market metrics as key indicators. To a lesser extent, we will invest opportunistically in assets such as, without limitation, equity, special situations, structured credit (e.g., private asset-backed securities), syndicated loan opportunities, high yield investments and/or mortgage securities.
Relationship with Barings
Our investment adviser, Barings, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, is a leading global asset management firm and is registered with the SEC as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. Barings’ primary investment capabilities include fixed income, private credit, real estate, equity, and alternative investments. Subject to the overall supervision of our Board of Directors, or the Board, Barings’ Global Private Finance Group, or Barings GPFG, manages our day-to-day operations, and provides investment advisory and management services to us. Barings GPFG is part of Barings’ $301.1 billion Global Fixed Income Platform (as of December 31, 2023) that invests in liquid, private and structured credit. Barings GPFG also advises private funds and separately managed accounts, along with multiple public vehicles.
S-1

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Among other things, Barings (i) determines the composition of our portfolio, the nature and timing of the changes therein and the manner of implementing such changes; (ii) identifies, evaluates and negotiates the structure of the investments made by us; (iii) executes, closes, services and monitors the investments that we make; (iv) determines the securities and other assets that we will purchase, retain or sell; (v) performs due diligence on prospective portfolio companies and (vi) provides us with such other investment advisory, research and related services as we may, from time to time, reasonably require for the investment of our funds.
Under the terms of the administration agreement we entered into with Barings, or the Administration Agreement, Barings (in its capacity as our Administrator) performs (or oversees, or arranges for, the performance of) the administrative services necessary for our operation, including, but not limited to, office facilities, equipment, clerical, bookkeeping and record keeping services at such office facilities and such other services as Barings, subject to review by the Board, will from time to time determine to be necessary or useful to perform its obligations under the Administration Agreement. Barings also, on our behalf and subject to the Board’s oversight, arranges for the services of, and oversees, custodians, depositories, transfer agents, dividend disbursing agents, other stockholder servicing agents, accountants, attorneys, underwriters, brokers and dealers, corporate fiduciaries, insurers, banks and such other persons in any such other capacity deemed to be necessary or desirable. Barings is responsible for the financial and other records that we are required to maintain and will prepare all reports and other materials required to be filed with the SEC or any other regulatory authority.
Included in Barings GPFG is Barings North American Private Finance Team, or the U.S. Investment Team, which consists of 48 investment professionals (as of December 31, 2023) located in three offices in the United States. The U.S. Investment Team provides a full set of solutions to the North American middle market, including revolvers, first and second lien senior secured loans, unitranche structures, mezzanine debt and equity co-investments. The U.S. Investment Team averages over 20 years of industry experience at the Managing Director and Director level. In addition, Barings believes that it has best-in-class support personnel, including expertise in risk management, legal, accounting, tax, information technology and compliance, among others. We expect to benefit from the support provided by these personnel in our operations.
The Barings North American Private Finance investment committee, or the Investment Committee, which is responsible for our investment origination and portfolio monitoring activities for middle-market companies in North America, consists of six members: Salman Mukhtar, Managing Director; Terry Harris, Managing Director and Head of Global Private Finance Portfolio Management; Ian Fowler, Managing Director, Fund Portfolio Manager and Co-Head of Global Private Finance; Adam Wheeler, Managing Director, Co-Head of Global Private Finance; Mark Flessner, Managing Director and Fund Portfolio Manager; and Brian Baldwin, Managing Director. Collectively, the Investment Committee has over 160 years of industry experience, and each member averages approximately 27 years of industry experience. A majority of the votes cast at a meeting at which a majority of the members of the Investment Committee is present is required to approve all investments in new middle-market companies.
Terry Harris, Ian Fowler and Adam Wheeler (along with other Barings investment professionals) also sit on the European and Asia Pacific Investment Committees, which is responsible for our investment origination and portfolio monitoring activities for middle-market companies in European and Asia-Pacific geographies, affording them a unique relative value perspective across all of Barings’ investment geographies. Ian Fowler, Mark Flessner and Brian Baldwin have all worked together at prior firms including GE Capital, Freeport Financial and Harbour Group. Barings believes that the individual and shared experiences of these senior team members provide the Investment Committee with an appropriate balance of shared investment philosophy and difference of background and opinion.
Investment Strategy
We seek attractive returns by generating current income primarily from directly-originated debt investments in middle-market companies located primarily in the United States. We also have investments in middle-market companies located outside the United States. Our strategy includes the following components:
Leveraging Barings GPFG’s Origination and Portfolio Management Resources. As of December 31, 2023, Barings GPFG has over 95 investment professionals located in seven different offices in the U.S., Europe, Australia/New Zealand and Asia. These regional investment teams have been working together in their respective regions for a number of years and have extensive experience advising, investing in and lending to companies across changing market cycles. In addition, the individual members of these teams have diverse investment backgrounds, with prior experience at investment banks, commercial banks, and privately and publicly held companies. We believe this diverse experience provides an in-depth understanding of the strategic, financial and operational challenges and opportunities of middle-market companies.
S-2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Utilizing Long-Standing Relationships to Source Investments. Barings GPFG has worked diligently over decades to build strategic relationships with private equity firms globally. Based on Barings GPFG’s long history of providing consistent, predictable capital to middle-market sponsors, even in periods of market dislocation, Barings believes it has a reputation as a reliable partner. Barings also maintains extensive personal relationships with entrepreneurs, financial sponsors, attorneys, accountants, investment bankers, commercial bankers and other non-bank providers of capital who refer prospective portfolio companies to us. These relationships historically have generated significant investment opportunities. We believe that this network of relationships will continue to produce attractive investment opportunities.
Providing One-Stop Customized Financing Solutions. Barings believes that Barings GPFG’s ability to commit to and originate larger hold positions (in excess of $200 million) in a given transaction is a differentiator to middle-market private equity sponsors. In today’s market, it has become increasingly important to have the ability to underwrite an entire transaction, providing financial sponsors with certainty of close. Barings GPFG offers a variety of financing structures and has the flexibility to structure investments to meet the needs of our portfolio companies.
Applying Consistent Underwriting Policies and Active Portfolio Management. We believe robust due diligence on each investment is paramount due to the illiquid nature of a significant portion of our assets. With limited ability to liquidate holdings, private credit investors must take a longer-term, “originate-to-hold” investment approach. Barings has implemented underwriting policies and procedures that are followed for each potential transaction. This consistent and proven fundamental underwriting process includes a thorough analysis of each potential portfolio company’s competitive position, financial performance, management team operating discipline, growth potential and industry attractiveness, which Barings believes allows it to better assess the company’s prospects. After closing, Barings maintains ongoing access to both the sponsor and portfolio company management in order to closely monitor investments and suggest or require remedial actions as needed to avoid a default.
Maintaining Portfolio Diversification. While we focus our investments in middle-market companies, we seek to invest across various industries and in both United States-based and foreign-based companies. Barings monitors our investment portfolio to ensure we have acceptable industry balance, using industry and market metrics as key indicators. By monitoring our investment portfolio for industry balance, we seek to reduce the effects of economic downturns associated with any particular industry or market sector. Notwithstanding our intent to invest across a variety of industries, we may from time to time hold securities of a single portfolio company that comprise more than 5.0% of our total assets and/or more than 10.0% of the outstanding voting securities of the portfolio company. For that reason, we are classified as a non-diversified management investment company under the 1940 Act.
Other Investments. To a lesser extent, we will invest opportunistically in assets such as, without limitation, equity, special situations, structured credit (e.g., private asset-backed securities), syndicated loan opportunities, high yield investments and/or mortgage securities. Our special situation investments generally comprise of investments in stressed and distressed corporate debt instruments which are expected to include (but which are not limited to) senior secured loans (including assignments and participations), second lien loans and subordinated debt (including mezzanine and payment-in-kind, or PIK, securities), secured floating rate notes and secured fixed rated notes, unsecured loans, unsecured senior and subordinated corporate bonds, debentures, notes, commercial paper, convertible debt obligations, equity investments (including preferred stock and common equity instruments), hedging arrangements, other forms of subordinated debt, structured credit (e.g., asset-backed securities) and equity instruments.
We generate revenues in the form of interest income, primarily from our investments in debt securities, loan origination and other fees and dividend income. Fees generated in connection with our debt investments are recognized over the life of the loan using the effective interest method or, in some cases, recognized as earned. Our senior secured, middle-market, private debt investments generally have terms of between five and seven years. Our senior secured, middle-market, first lien private debt investments generally bear interest between the Secured Overnight Financing Rate, or SOFR (or the applicable currency rate for investments in foreign currencies) plus 475 basis points and SOFR plus 675 basis points per annum. Our subordinated middle-market, private debt investments generally bear interest between
S-3

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SOFR (or the applicable currency rate for investments in foreign currencies) plus 700 basis points and SOFR plus 900 basis points per annum if floating rate, and between 8% and 15% if fixed rate. From time to time, certain of our investments may have a form of interest, referred to as PIK interest, which is not paid currently but is instead accrued and added to the loan balance and paid at the end of the term.
You should be aware that investments in our portfolio companies carry a number of risks including, but not limited to, investing in companies which may have limited operating histories and financial resources and other risks common to investing in below-investment-grade debt and equity investments in private, smaller companies. Please see “Risk Factors - Risks Related to Our Investments” in our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as in subsequent filings with the SEC, for a more complete discussion of the risks involved with investing in our portfolio companies.
Investment Criteria
We utilize the following criteria and guidelines in evaluating investment opportunities in middle market companies. However, not all of these criteria and guidelines have been, or will be, met in connection with each of our investments.
Established Companies With Positive Cash Flow. We seek to invest in later-stage or mature companies with a proven history of generating positive cash flows. We typically focus on companies with a history of profitability and trailing twelve-month Adjusted EBITDA ranging from $10.0 million to $75.0 million.
Experienced Management Teams. Based on our prior investment experience, we believe that a management team with significant experience with a portfolio company or relevant industry experience is essential to the long-term success of the portfolio company. We believe management teams with these attributes are more likely to manage the companies in a manner that protects our debt investment.
Strong Competitive Position. We seek to invest in companies that have developed strong positions within their respective markets, are well positioned to capitalize on growth opportunities and compete in industries with barriers to entry. We also seek to invest in companies that exhibit a competitive advantage, which may help to protect their market position and profitability.
Varied Customer and Supplier Bases. We prefer to invest in companies that have varied customer and supplier bases. Companies with varied customer and supplier bases are generally better able to endure economic down-turns, industry consolidation and shifting customer preferences.
Significant Invested Capital. We believe the existence of significant underlying equity value provides important support to investments. We seek to identify portfolio companies that we believe have well-structured capital be-yond the layer of the capital structure in which we invest.
Investment Process
Our investment origination and portfolio monitoring activities for middle-market companies are performed by Barings GPFG. The Investment Committee at Barings GPFG is responsible for all aspects of our investment process for investments in middle-market companies; however, other investment committees within Barings are primarily responsible for the investment process for our opportunistic investments in special situations, structured credit (e.g., private asset-backed securities), high-yield investments and mortgage securities. Each of Barings’ investment processes is designed to maximize risk-adjusted returns, minimize non-performing assets and avoid investment losses. In addition, the investment process is also designed to provide sponsors and/or prospective portfolio companies with efficient and predictable deal execution.
Please see “Item 1. Business - Investment Process” in Part I of our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as in subsequent filings with the SEC, for more information regarding our investment process.
Available Information
Our and Barings’ principal executive offices are located at 300 South Tryon Street, Suite 2500, Charlotte, North Carolina 28202. Our telephone number is (704) 805-7200.
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. The information we file with the SEC is available free
S-4

TABLE OF CONTENTS

of charge by contacting us at 300 South Tryon Street, Suite 2500, Charlotte, North Carolina 28202, by telephone at (704) 805-7200 or on our website at https://ir.barings.com/sec-filings. The SEC also maintains a website that contains reports, proxy statements and other information regarding registrants, including us, that file such information electronically with the SEC. The address of the SEC’s website is http://www.sec.gov. Information contained on our website is not incorporated into this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus, and you should not consider information contained on our website to be part of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.
Risks Associated with Our Business
Our business is subject to numerous risks, as described in the sections titled “Supplementary Risk Factors” in this prospectus supplement and “Risk Factors” in the accompanying prospectus and in any free writing prospectuses we have authorized for use in connection with this offering, and under similar headings in the documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, including the section titled “Risk Factors” included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as in subsequent filings with the SEC.
Recent Developments
Preliminary Financial and Operating Results - Three Months Ended December 31, 2023
Per share highlights
Three Months Ended
December 31, 2023
Estimated range of net investment income(1)
$0.30 - $0.32
Estimated range of net increase in net assets resulting from operations(1)
$0.25 - $0.29
Estimated range of net asset value as of December 31, 2023
$11.25 - $11.29
(1)
Based on weighted average shares outstanding during the period.
Recent Portfolio Activity
During the three months ended December 31, 2023, we made new investments totaling $100.9 million, made investments in existing portfolio companies totaling $79.1 million and made a $12.5 million equity co-investment alongside certain affiliates in a portfolio company that specializes in providing financing to plaintiff law firms engaged in mass tort and other civil litigation. As of December 31, 2023, the fair value of our total investment portfolio was estimated to be approximately $2,488.7 million, down from $2,521.6 million as of September 30, 2023.
Liquidity and Capitalization
As of December 31, 2023, we had cash and foreign currencies of $70.5 million, $719.9 million of borrowings outstanding under our $1.1 billion senior secured revolving credit agreement, $725.0 million aggregate principal amount of unsecured notes outstanding and a net receivable from unsettled transactions of $0.2 million. We estimated that the regulatory leverage ratio was 1.21x and net leverage, which is our regulatory leverage net of cash and unsettled transactions, was 1.15x as of December 31, 2023.
Non-Accruals
As of December 31, 2023, we had four portfolio companies with investments on non-accrual, the aggregate fair value of which was $37.2 million, which comprised 1.5% of the total fair value of our portfolio, and the aggregate cost of which was $62.6 million, which comprised 2.5% of the total cost of our portfolio. As of September 30, 2023, we had seven portfolio companies with investments on non-accrual, the aggregate fair value of which was $40.1 million, which comprised 1.6% of the total fair value of our portfolio, and the aggregate cost of which was $64.6 million, which comprised 2.5% of the total cost of our portfolio. Subsequent to December 31, 2023, we removed our investment in Core Scientific, Inc. from non-accrual status in connection with its January 2024 exit from Chapter 11 bankruptcy and our receipt of shares of its common stock in exchange for the debt investments that we previously held in it as a part its bankruptcy proceedings.
Share Repurchase Program
On February 23, 2023, our Board authorized a new 12-month share repurchase program. Under the program, we may repurchase, during the 12-month period that commenced on March 1, 2023, up to $30.0 million in the aggregate of our outstanding common stock in the open market at prices below the then-current NAV per share. The timing,
S-5

TABLE OF CONTENTS

manner, price and amount of any share repurchases will be determined by us, in our discretion, based upon the evaluation of economic and market conditions, our stock price, applicable legal, contractual and regulatory requirements and other factors. The program is expected to be in effect until March 1, 2024, unless extended or until the aggregate repurchase amount that has been approved by our Board of Directors has been expended. The program does not require us to repurchase any specific number of shares, and we cannot assure stockholders that any shares will be repurchased under the program. The program may be suspended, extended, modified or discontinued at any time. As of January 25, 2024, we had repurchased a total of 1,849,096 shares of common stock in the open market under the authorized program at an average price of $7.99 per share, including brokerage commissions.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
To provide additional information about our results, our management has discussed our net leverage (calculated as (i) total leverage less (ii) unrestricted cash and foreign currencies (excluding restricted cash) net of net payables/receivables from unsettled transactions) and our net leverage-to-equity ratio (calculated as net leverage divided by total net assets), which are not prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, or GAAP. These non-GAAP measures are included to supplement our financial information presented in accordance with GAAP and because we use such measures to monitor and evaluate our leverage and financial condition and believe the presentation of these measures enhances investors’ ability to analyze trends in our business and to evaluate our leverage and ability to take on additional leverage. However, these non-GAAP measures have limitations and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our financial results as reported under GAAP.
These non-GAAP measures are not in accordance with, or an alternative to, measures prepared in accordance with GAAP and may be different from non-GAAP measures used by other companies. In addition, these non-GAAP measures are not based on any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles. These measures should only be used to evaluate our results of operations in conjunction with their corresponding GAAP measures. Pursuant to the requirements of Item 10(e) of Regulation S-K, as promulgated under the Exchange Act, we have provided a reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures in the table below.
Unaudited Reconciliation of Preliminary Debt to Net Debt and Calculation of Net Leverage Ratio
(in thousands, except ratios)
 
As of
December 31,
2023
Total debt (principal)
$1,444,914
minus: Cash and foreign currencies (excluding restricted cash)
(70,528)
plus: Payable from unsettled transactions
1,112
minus: Receivable from unsettled transactions
(1,300)
Total net debt(1)
$1,374,198
Total estimated net assets(2)
$1,195,376
Total net leverage ratio(1)
1.15x
(1)
See the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section above.
(2)
Based on the mid-point of the net asset value per share range disclosed above.
The preliminary financial estimates provided above have been prepared by, and are the responsibility of, our management. Neither KPMG LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm, nor any other independent accountants have audited, reviewed, compiled, or performed any procedures with respect to the preliminary financial data set forth above. Accordingly, KPMG LLP does not express an opinion or any form of assurance with respect thereto and assumes no responsibility for, and disclaims any association with, this information.
The preliminary estimates of fourth quarter and full year 2023 financial information and results furnished above are based on our management’s preliminary determinations and current expectations, and such information is inherently uncertain. The preliminary estimates are subject to completion of our customary year-end closing and review procedures and third-party audit, including the determination of the fair value of our portfolio investments. As a result, actual results could differ materially from the current preliminary estimates based on adjustments made
S-6

TABLE OF CONTENTS

during our year-end closing and review procedures and third-party audit, and our reported information in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 may differ from this information, and any such differences may be material. In addition, the information furnished above does not include all of the information regarding our financial condition and results of operations for the quarter and full year periods ended December 31, 2023 that may be important to readers. As a result, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the preliminary information furnished in this section and should view this information in the context of our full fourth quarter and full year 2023 results when such results are disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.
S-7

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SUMMARY OF THE OFFERING
This prospectus supplement sets forth certain terms of the Notes that we are offering pursuant to this prospectus supplement and supplements the accompanying prospectus that is attached to the back of this prospectus supplement. This section and the “Description of the Notes” section in this prospectus supplement outline the specific legal and financial terms of the Notes. You should read this section of the prospectus supplement together with the more general description of the Notes under the heading “Description of the Notes” in this prospectus supplement and in the accompanying prospectus under the heading “Description of Debt Securities” before investing in the Notes. Capitalized terms used in this prospectus supplement and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the accompanying prospectus or in the indenture governing the Notes.
Issuer
Barings BDC, Inc.
Title of the securities
7.000% Notes due 2029
Aggregate principal amount being offered
$300,000,000
Initial public offering price
98.948% of the aggregate principal amount
Principal payable at maturity
100% of the aggregate principal amount; the principal amount of each Note will be payable on its stated maturity date at the office of the trustee, paying agent, registrar and transfer agent for the Notes or at such other office in New York City as we may designate.
Interest rate
7.000% per year
Yield to maturity
7.254%
Trade date
February 7, 2024
Maturity date
February 15, 2029
Day count basis
360-day year of twelve 30-day months
Date interest starts accruing
February 12, 2024
Interest payment dates
Every February 15 and August 15, commencing August 15, 2024. If an interest payment date is a non-business day, the applicable interest payment will be made on the next business day, and no additional interest will accrue as a result of such delayed payment.
Ranking of Notes
The Notes will be our general unsecured obligations that rank senior in right of payment to all of our existing and future indebtedness that is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Notes.
The Notes will rank equally in right of payment with all of our existing and future unsecured indebtedness or other obligations that are not so subordinated, including our senior unsecured notes due August 2025, or the Series A Notes, our senior unsecured notes due November 2025, the Series B Notes, our senior unsecured notes due November 2027, the Series C Notes, our senior unsecured notes due February 2026, the Series D Notes, our senior unsecured notes due February 2028, or the Series E Notes, and our 3.300% Notes due November 2026, or the November 2026 Notes, together the Existing Senior Unsecured Notes, effectively junior to any of our secured indebtedness (including unsecured indebtedness that we later secure) to the extent of the value of the assets
S-8

TABLE OF CONTENTS

securing such indebtedness, and structurally junior to all existing and future indebtedness (including trade payables) incurred by our subsidiaries, financing vehicles or similar facilities.
As of December 31, 2023, our total consolidated indebtedness was approximately $1,444.9 million, of which $719.9 million was secured and none of which was indebtedness of our subsidiaries. The Notes will be ranked pari passu to the $725.0 million of our outstanding unsecured senior debt, which includes the Existing Senior Unsecured Notes. As of January 31, 2024, there was approximately $1,443.4 million total consolidated indebtedness outstanding, of which $718.4 million was secured and none of which was indebtedness of our subsidiaries.
Denominations
We will issue the Notes in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.
Optional redemption
Prior to January 15, 2029 (one month prior to their maturity date) (the “Par Call Date”), we may redeem the Notes at our option, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of: (1) (a) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the redemption date (assuming the notes matured on the Par Call Date) on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 50 basis points less (b) interest accrued to the date of redemption, and (2) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date.
On or after the Par Call Date, we may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed plus, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date.
Sinking fund
The Notes will not be subject to any sinking fund (i.e., no amounts will be set aside by us to ensure repayment of the Notes at maturity). As a result, our ability to repay the Notes at maturity will depend on our financial condition on the date that we are required to repay the Notes.
Offer to repurchase up-on a Change of Control Repurchase Event
If a Change of Control Repurchase Event (as defined in “Description of the Notes”) occurs prior to maturity, holders will have the right, at their option, to require us to repurchase for cash some or all of the Notes at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the repurchase date.
Defeasance
The Notes will be subject to legal and covenant defeasance by us.
S-9

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Form of Notes
The Notes will be represented by global securities that will be deposited and registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company, or DTC, or its nominee. This means that, except in limited circumstances, you will not receive certificates for the Notes. Beneficial interests in the Notes will be represented through book-entry accounts of financial institutions acting on behalf of beneficial owners as direct and indirect participants in DTC. Investors may elect to hold interests in the Notes through either DTC, if they are a participant, or indirectly through organizations that are participants in DTC.
Trustee, Paying Agent, Registrar and Transfer Agent
U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association
Events of default
If an event of default (as described herein under “Description of the Notes”) on the Notes occurs, the principal amount of the Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, may be declared immediately due and payable, subject to conditions set forth in the indenture. These amounts automatically become due and payable in the case of certain types of bankruptcy or insolvency event involving us.
Other covenants
The following covenants will apply to the Notes:

We agree that for the period of time during which the Notes are outstanding, we will not violate, whether or not we are subject to, Section 18(a)(1)(A) of the 1940 Act as modified by Section 61(a)(1) and (2) of the 1940 Act or any successor provisions, as such obligations may be amended or superseded, giving effect to any exemptive relief granted to us by the SEC.

If at any time, we are not subject to the reporting requirements of Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, to file any periodic reports with the SEC, we agree to furnish to holders of the Notes and the trustee, for the period of time during which the Notes are outstanding, our audited annual consolidated financial statements, within 90 days of our fiscal year end, and unaudited interim consolidated financial statements, within 45 days of our fiscal quarter end (other than our fourth fiscal quarter). All such financial statements will be prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, as applicable.
Further issuances
We have the ability to issue additional debt securities under the indenture with terms different from the Notes and, without the consent of the holders thereof, to reopen the Notes and issue additional Notes.
S-10

TABLE OF CONTENTS

No established trading market
The Notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market. The Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange or quoted on any automated dealer quotation system. We have been advised by certain of the underwriters that they presently intend to make a market in the Notes after completion of the offering as permitted by applicable laws and regulations. The underwriters are not obligated, however, to make a market in the Notes and any such market-making may be discontinued at any time in the sole discretion of the underwriters without any notice. See “Underwriting.” Accordingly, no assurance can be given as to the liquidity of, or development of a public trading market for, the Notes. If an active public trading market for the Notes does not develop, the market price and liquidity of the Notes may be adversely affected.
Use of proceeds
We estimate that net proceeds we will receive from the sale of the Notes in this offering will be approximately $292.9 million, after deducting the underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses payable by us. We intend to use the net proceeds of this offering to repay indebtedness under the senior secured credit facility initially entered into in February 2019, as amended, restated and otherwise modified from time to time, the February 2019 Credit Facility. We may reborrow under our credit facilities for general corporate purposes, which include investing in portfolio companies in accordance with our investment objective. See “Use of Proceeds.”
S-11

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SUPPLEMENTARY RISK FACTORS
Investing in the Notes involves a high degree of risk. In addition to the other information contained in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference, and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize for use in connection with this offering, you should carefully consider the following supplementary risk factors together with the risk factors set forth in the accompanying prospectus and as described in the section titled “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, before making an investment in the Notes, as well as in subsequent filings with the SEC, including our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus in their entirety. The risks described in these documents are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties that we are unaware of, or that we currently believe are not material, may also become important factors that adversely affect our business. Past financial performance may not be a reliable indicator of future performance, and historical trends should not be used to anticipate results or trends in future periods. If any of these risks actually occur, our business, reputation, financial condition, results of operations, revenue, and future prospects could be seriously harmed. In such case, the market price, if any, of the Notes could decline, and you may lose part or all of your investment. Please also read carefully the section titled “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in the accompanying prospectus.
Risks Relating to the Notes
The Notes will be unsecured and therefore will be effectively subordinated to any secured indebtedness we may incur.
The Notes will not be secured by any of our assets or any of the assets of our subsidiaries. As a result, the Notes are effectively subordinated to any secured indebtedness we or our subsidiaries have outstanding as of the date of this prospectus supplement or that we or our subsidiaries may incur in the future (or any indebtedness that is initially unsecured in respect of which we subsequently grant security) to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness. In any liquidation, dissolution, bankruptcy or other similar proceeding, the holders of any of our existing or future secured indebtedness and the secured indebtedness of our subsidiaries may assert rights against the assets pledged to secure that indebtedness in order to receive full payment of their indebtedness before the assets may be used to pay other creditors, including the holders of the Notes. As of December 31, 2023, our total consolidated indebtedness was approximately $1,444.9 million, of which $719.9 million was secured and none of which was indebtedness of our subsidiaries. The Notes will be ranked pari passu to the $725.0 million of our outstanding unsecured senior debt, which includes the Existing Senior Unsecured Notes. As of January 31, 2024, there was approximately $1,443.4 million total consolidated indebtedness outstanding, of which $718.4 million was secured and none of which was indebtedness of our subsidiaries.
The Notes will be subordinated structurally to the indebtedness and other liabilities of our subsidiaries.
The Notes are obligations exclusively of Barings BDC, Inc. and not of any of our subsidiaries. None of our subsidiaries is a guarantor of the Notes and the Notes are not required to be guaranteed by any subsidiaries we may acquire or create in the future. Except to the extent we are a creditor with recognized claims against our subsidiaries, all claims of creditors, including trade creditors, and holders of preferred stock, if any, of our subsidiaries will have priority over our claims (and therefore the claims of our creditors, including holders of the Notes) with respect to the assets of such subsidiaries. Even if we were recognized as a creditor of one or more of our subsidiaries, our claims would still be effectively subordinated to any security interests in the assets of any such subsidiary and to any indebtedness or other liabilities of any such subsidiary senior to our claims. Consequently, the Notes will be subordinated structurally to all indebtedness and other liabilities of any of our subsidiaries and any subsidiaries that we may in the future acquire or establish as financing vehicles or otherwise. All of the existing indebtedness of our subsidiaries will be structurally senior to the Notes. In addition, our subsidiaries may incur substantial additional indebtedness in the future, all of which would be structurally senior to the Notes.
There is no active trading market for the Notes. If an active trading market does not develop for the Notes you may not be able to sell them.
The Notes are a new issue of debt securities for which there currently is no trading market. We do not intend to list the Notes on any securities exchange or for quotation of the Notes on any automated dealer quotation system. If the Notes are traded after their initial issuance, they may trade at a discount to their initial offering price depending on prevailing interest rates, the market for similar securities, our credit ratings, our financial condition or other
S-12

TABLE OF CONTENTS

relevant factors. The underwriters may discontinue any market-making in the Notes at any time at their sole discretion. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that a liquid trading market will develop for the Notes, that you will be able to sell your Notes at a particular time or that the price you receive when you sell will be favorable. To the extent an active trading market does not develop, the liquidity and trading price for the Notes may be harmed. Accordingly, you may be required to bear the financial risk of an investment in the Notes for an indefinite period of time.
Our amount of debt outstanding may increase as a result of this offering. Our current indebtedness could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and our ability to meet our payment obligations under the Notes and our other debt.
The use of debt could have significant consequences on our future operations, including:
making it more difficult for us to meet our payment and other obligations under the Notes and our other outstanding debt;
resulting in an event of default if we fail to comply with the financial and other restrictive covenants contained in our financing arrangements, which event of default could result in substantially all of our debt becoming immediately due and payable;
reducing the availability of our cash flow to fund investments, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes, and limiting our ability to obtain additional financing for these purposes;
subjecting us to the risk of increased sensitivity to interest rate increases on our indebtedness with variable interest rates, including borrowings under our financing arrangements; and
limiting our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, and increasing our vulnerability to, changes in our business, the industry in which we operate and the general economy.
Any of the above-listed factors could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations and our ability to meet our payment obligations under the Notes and our other debt.
Our ability to meet our payment and other obligations under our financing arrangements depends on our ability to generate significant cash flow in the future. This, to some extent, is subject to general economic, financial, competitive, legislative and regulatory factors as well as other factors that are beyond our control. We cannot assure you that our business will generate cash flow from operations, or that future borrowings will be available to us under our financing arrangements or otherwise, in an amount sufficient to enable us to meet our payment obligations under the Notes and our other debt and to fund other liquidity needs. If we are not able to generate sufficient cash flow to service our debt obligations, we may need to refinance or restructure our debt, including the Notes, sell assets, reduce or delay capital investments, or seek to raise additional capital. If we are unable to implement one or more of these alternatives, we may not be able to meet our payment obligations under the Notes and our other debt.
A downgrade, suspension or withdrawal of the credit rating assigned by a rating agency to us or the Notes, if any, could cause the liquidity or market value of the Notes to decline significantly.
Our credit ratings are an assessment by rating agencies of our ability to pay our debts when due. Consequently, real or anticipated changes in our credit ratings will generally affect the market value of the Notes. These credit ratings may not reflect the potential impact of risks relating to the structure or marketing of the Notes. Credit ratings are not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any security, and may be revised or withdrawn at any time by the issuing organization in its sole discretion. Neither we nor any underwriter undertakes any obligation to maintain our credit ratings or to advise holders of the Notes of any changes in our credit ratings.
An increase in market interest rates could result in a decrease in the market value of the Notes.
The condition of the financial markets and prevailing interest rates have fluctuated in the past and are likely to fluctuate in the future, which could have an adverse effect on the market prices of the Notes. In general, as market interest rates rise, debt securities bearing interest at fixed rates of interest decline in value. Consequently, if you purchase Notes bearing interest at fixed rates and market interest rates increase, the market values of those Notes may decline. We cannot predict the future level of market interest rates.
The indenture under which the Notes will be issued contains limited protection for holders of the Notes.
The indenture under which the Notes will be issued offers limited protection to holders of the Notes. The terms of the indenture and the Notes do not restrict our or any of our subsidiaries’ ability to engage in, or otherwise be a
S-13

TABLE OF CONTENTS

party to, a variety of corporate transactions, circumstances or events that could have an adverse impact on your investment in the Notes. In particular, the terms of the indenture and the Notes will not place any restrictions on our or our subsidiaries’ ability to:
issue securities or otherwise incur additional indebtedness or other obligations, including (1) any indebtedness or other obligations that would be equal in right of payment to the Notes, (2) any indebtedness or other obligations that would be secured and therefore rank effectively senior in right of payment to the Notes to the extent of the values of the assets securing such debt, (3) indebtedness or other obligations of ours that is guaranteed by one or more of our subsidiaries and which therefore is structurally senior to the Notes and (4) securities, indebtedness or obligations (including trade payables) issued or incurred by our subsidiaries, financing vehicles or similar facilities that would be senior to our equity interests in those entities subsidiaries and therefore rank structurally senior to the Notes with respect to the assets of our subsidiaries, in each case other than an incurrence of indebtedness or other obligation that would cause a violation of Section 18(a)(1)(A) of the 1940 Act as modified by Section 61(a)(1) and (2) of the 1940 Act or any successor provisions, as such obligations may be amended or superseded, giving effect to any exemptive relief granted to us by the SEC;
pay dividends on, or purchase or redeem or make any payments in respect of, capital stock or other securities ranking junior in right of payment to the Notes;
sell assets (other than certain limited restrictions on our ability to consolidate, merge or sell all or substantially all of our assets);
enter into transactions with affiliates;
create liens (including liens on the shares of our subsidiaries) or enter into sale and leaseback transactions;
make investments; or
create restrictions on the payment of dividends or other amounts to us from our subsidiaries.
In addition, the terms of the indenture and the Notes do not protect holders of the Notes in the event that we experience changes (including significant adverse changes) in our financial condition, results of operations or credit ratings, as they do not require that we or our subsidiaries adhere to any financial tests or ratios or specified levels of net worth, revenues, income, cash flow or liquidity other than as described under “Description of the Notes—Events of Default.
Our ability to recapitalize, incur additional debt and take a number of other actions are not limited by the terms of the Notes and may have important consequences for you as a holder of the Notes, including making it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations with respect to the Notes or negatively affecting the trading value of the Notes.
Other debt we issue or incur in the future could contain more protections for its holders than the indenture and the Notes, including additional covenants and events of default. See “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Business and Structure—Incurring additional leverage may magnify our exposure to risks associated with changes in leverage, including fluctuations in interest rates that could adversely affect our profitability” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. The issuance or incurrence of any such debt with incremental protections could affect the market for and trading levels and prices of the Notes.
The optional redemption provision may materially adversely affect your return on the Notes.
The Notes are redeemable in whole or in part upon certain conditions at any time or from time to time at our option. We may choose to redeem the Notes at times when prevailing interest rates are lower than the interest rate paid on the Notes. In this circumstance, you may not be able to reinvest the redemption proceeds in a comparable security at an effective interest rate as high as the Notes being redeemed.
We may not be able to repurchase the Notes upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event.
We may not be able to repurchase the Notes upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event because we may not have sufficient funds. Upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event, holders of the Notes may require us to repurchase for cash some or all of the Notes at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes being repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the repurchase date. Our failure
S-14

TABLE OF CONTENTS

to purchase such tendered Notes upon the occurrence of such Change of Control Repurchase Event would cause an event of default under the indenture governing the Notes and a cross-default under the agreements governing certain of our other indebtedness, which may result in the acceleration of such indebtedness requiring us to repay that indebtedness immediately. If a Change of Control Repurchase Event were to occur, we may not have sufficient funds to repay any such accelerated indebtedness and/or to make the required repurchase of the Notes. See “Description of the Notes—Offer to Repurchase Upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event” for additional information.
If we default on our obligations to pay our other indebtedness, we may not be able to make payments on the Notes.
Any default under the agreements governing our indebtedness to which we may be a party that is not waived by the required lenders or debt holders, and the remedies sought by the holders of such indebtedness could make us unable to pay principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes and substantially decrease the market value of the Notes. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flow and are otherwise unable to obtain funds necessary to meet required payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest on our indebtedness, or if we otherwise fail to comply with the various covenants, including financial and operating covenants, in the instruments governing our indebtedness, we could be in default under the terms of the agreements governing such indebtedness. In the event of such default, the holders of such indebtedness could elect to declare all the funds borrowed thereunder to be due and payable, together with accrued and unpaid interest, the lenders under the February 2019 Credit Facility or other debt we may incur in the future could elect to terminate their commitments, cease making further loans and institute foreclosure proceedings against our assets, and we could be forced into bankruptcy or liquidation. Our ability to generate sufficient cash flow in the future is, to some extent, subject to general economic, financial, competitive, legislative and regulatory factors as well as other factors that are beyond our control. We cannot assure you that our business will generate cash flow from operations, or that future borrowings will be available to us under the February 2019 Credit Facility or otherwise, in an amount sufficient to enable us to meet our payment obligations under the Notes and our other debt and to fund other liquidity needs.
If our operating performance declines and we are not able to generate sufficient cash flow to service our debt obligations, we may in the future need to refinance or restructure our debt, including the Notes, sell assets, reduce or delay capital investments, seek to raise additional capital or seek to obtain waivers from the required lenders under the February 2019 Credit Facility or the required holders of the Existing Senior Unsecured Notes or other debt that we may incur in the future to avoid being in default. If we are unable to implement one or more of these alternatives, we may not be able to meet our payment obligations under the Notes and our other debt. If we breach our covenants under the February 2019 Credit Facility, the Existing Senior Unsecured Notes or other debt and seek a waiver, we may not be able to obtain a waiver from the required lenders or debt holders. If this occurs, we would be in default under the February 2019 Credit Facility, the Existing Senior Unsecured Notes or other debt, the lenders or debt holders could exercise their rights as described above, and we could be forced into bankruptcy or liquidation. If we are unable to repay debt, lenders having secured obligations could proceed against the collateral securing the debt. Because the February 2019 Credit Facility and Existing Senior Unsecured Notes have, and any future credit facilities will likely have, customary cross-default provisions, if the indebtedness under the Notes, the Existing Senior Unsecured Notes, the February 2019 Credit Facility or under any future credit facility is accelerated, we may be unable to repay or finance the amounts due.
Because the Notes will initially be held in book-entry form, holders of the Notes must rely on DTC’s procedures to exercise their rights and remedies.
We will initially issue the Notes offered hereby in the form of one or more “global notes” registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of DTC. Beneficial interests in global notes will be shown on, and transfers of global notes will be effected only through, the records maintained by DTC. Except in limited circumstances, we will not issue certificated notes. See “Description of the Notes - Book-Entry, Settlement and Clearance.” Accordingly, if you own a beneficial interest in a global note, then you will not be considered an owner or holder of the Notes. Instead, DTC or its nominee will be the sole holder of the Notes. Payments of principal, interest and other amounts on global notes will be made to the paying agent, who will remit the payments to DTC. We expect that DTC will then credit those payments to the DTC participant accounts that hold book-entry interests in the global notes and that those participants will credit the payments to indirect DTC participants. Unlike persons who have certificated notes registered in their names, owners of beneficial interests in global notes will not have the direct right to act on our solicitations for consents or requests for waivers or other actions from holders of the Notes. Instead, those beneficial owners will be permitted to act only to the extent that they have received appropriate proxies to do so from DTC or,
S-15

TABLE OF CONTENTS

if applicable, a DTC participant. The applicable procedures for the granting of these proxies may not be sufficient to enable owners of beneficial interests in global notes to vote on any requested actions on a timely basis.
We may be unable to invest a significant portion of the net proceeds from this offering, which could harm our financial condition and operating results.
Delays in investing the net proceeds raised in this offering may cause our performance to be worse than that of other fully invested BDCs or other lenders or investors pursuing comparable investment strategies. We cannot assure you that we will be able to identify investments that meet our investment objective or that any investment that we make will produce a positive return. We may be unable to invest the net proceeds of this offering on acceptable terms within the time period that we anticipate or at all, which could harm our financial condition and operating results.
S-16

TABLE OF CONTENTS

USE OF PROCEEDS
We estimate that net proceeds we will receive from the sale of the Notes in this offering will be approximately $292.9 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses of approximately $3.9 million payable by us. We intend to use the net proceeds of this offering to repay indebtedness under the February 2019 Credit Facility. We may reborrow under our credit facilities for general corporate purposes, which include investing in portfolio companies in accordance with our investment objective.
As of January 31, 2024, the aggregate principal balance of the February 2019 Credit Facility was approximately $718.4 million. The February 2019 Credit Facility’s revolving period ends on February 21, 2025, followed by a one-year repayment period with a final maturity date of February 21, 2026. Borrowings denominated in U.S. Dollars under the February 2019 Credit Facility bear interest, subject to our election, on a per annum basis equal to (i) the alternate base rate plus 1.25% (or 1.00% for so long as we maintain an investment grade credit rating) or (ii) term SOFR plus 2.25% (or 2.00% for so long as we maintain an investment grade credit rating) plus a credit spread adjustment of 0.10% for borrowings with an interest period of one month, 0.15% for borrowings with an interest period of three months or 0.25% for borrowings with an interest period of six months. Borrowings denominated in certain foreign currencies, other than Australian dollars, bear interest on a per annum basis equal to the applicable currency rate for the foreign currency as defined in the credit agreement plus 2.00% (or 2.25% if we no longer maintain an investment grade credit rating) or for borrowings denominated in Australian dollars, the applicable Australian dollars Screen Rate, plus 2.20% (or 2.45% if we no longer maintain an investment grade credit rating). The alternate base rate is equal to the greatest of (i) the prime rate, (ii) the federal funds rate plus 0.5%, (iii) the Overnight Bank Funding Rate plus 0.5%, (iv) one-month term SOFR plus 1.0% plus a credit spread adjustment of 0.10% and (v) 1.0%.
In addition, we pay a commitment fee of (i) 0.5% per annum on undrawn amounts if the unused portion of the February 2019 Credit Facility is greater than two-thirds of total commitments or (ii) 0.375% per annum on undrawn amounts if the unused portion of the February 2019 Credit Facility is equal to or less than two-thirds of total commitments.
Affiliates of certain of the underwriters in this offering, act as lenders under the February 2019 Credit Facility. As described above, we may use net proceeds of this offering to repay a portion of the outstanding indebtedness under the February 2019 Credit Facility. Certain of the net proceeds from the sale of the Notes, not including underwriting compensation, may be paid to such affiliates of certain of the underwriters in connection with the repayment of debt owed under the February 2019 Credit Facility. As a result, certain of the underwriters and/or their affiliates may receive more than 5% of the net proceeds of this offering, not including underwriting compensation. See “Underwriting” below.
S-17

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth our capitalization:
on an actual basis as of September 30, 2023; and
on an as-adjusted basis giving effect to the sale of $300.0 million aggregate principal amount of Notes in this offering, less estimated underwriting discounts and offering expenses payable by us, and the application of the proceeds thereof.
This table should be read in conjunction with “Use of Proceeds” included in this prospectus supplement and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto in our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as in subsequent filings with the SEC, including our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, incorporated by reference herein.
 
As of September 30, 2023
 
Actual
As adjusted for this
Offering
 
(Unaudited)
(in thousands, except shares)
Assets:
 
 
Investments at fair value:
 
 
Non-Control Affiliate investments (cost of $2,122,125 as of September 30, 2023)
$2,044,426
$2,044,426
Affiliate investments (cost of $352,301 as of September 30, 2023)
382,346
382,346
Control investments (cost of $101, 771 as of September 30, 2023)
94,863
94,863
Total investments at fair value
2,521,635
2,521,635
Cash
33,118
33,118
Foreign currencies (cost of $16,908 as of September 30, 2023)
16,640
16,640
Interest and fees receivable
47,268
47,268
Prepaid expenses and other assets
2,237
2,237
Credit support agreements (cost of $58,000 as of September 30, 2023)
54,200
54,200
Derivative assets
8,240
8,240
Deferred financing fees
4,411
4,411
Receivable from unsettled transactions
53,961
53,961
Total assets
$2,741,710
$2,741,710
Liabilities:
 
 
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
$1,709
$1,709
Interest payable
11,358
11,358
Administrative fees payable
483
483
Base management fees payable
8,315
8,315
Incentive management fees payable
4,618
4,618
Derivative liabilities
266
266
Payable from unsettled transactions
424
424
Borrowings under credit facilities(1)
796,126
503,202
Notes payable (net of deferred financing fees)
720,187
720,187
Notes offered hereby
300,000
Offered issuance costs―Notes offered hereby
(7,076)
Total debt
$1,543,486
$1,543,486
Net Assets
 
 
Common stock, $0.001 par value per share (150,000,000 shares authorized; 106,516,166 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2023)
107
107
Additional paid-in capital
1,845,122
1,845,122
Total undistributed earnings (loss)
(647,005)
(647,005)
Total net assets
$1,198,224
$1,198,224
Total liabilities and net assets
$2,741,710
$2,741,710
(1)
The above table reflects the principal amount of indebtedness outstanding as of September 30, 2023. As of January 31, 2024, we had approximately $718.4 million outstanding under our February 2019 Credit Facility. This table has not been adjusted to reflect the changes in our outstanding borrowings under the February 2019 Credit Facility subsequent to September 30, 2023. The net proceeds from this offering are expected to be used to pay down outstanding indebtedness, if any, under the February 2019 Credit Facility. We may reborrow under these credit facilities for general corporate purposes, which include investing in portfolio companies in accordance with our investment objective. See “Use of Proceeds.”
S-18

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SENIOR SECURITIES
Information about our senior securities is shown in the following table as of September 30, 2023. Information about our senior securities as of the end of the last ten fiscal years is located in “Part II, Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is incorporated by reference herein. The information in the senior securities table for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020 was audited by KPMG LLP and their report thereon has been incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement is a part.
 
Total Amount
Outstanding Exclusive of
Treasury Securities(1)
Asset
Coverage per
Unit(2)
Involuntary
Liquidating
Preference per
Unit(3)
Average
Market Value
per Unit(4)
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
February 2019 Credit Facility
 
 
 
 
2023 (as of September 30, 2023, unaudited)
$796,126
$1,782
N/A
August 2025 Notes
 
 
 
 
2023 (as of September 30, 2023, unaudited)
$50,000
$1,782
N/A
Series B Notes
 
 
 
 
2023 (as of September 30, 2023, unaudited)
$62,500
$1,782
N/A
Series C Notes
 
 
 
 
2023 (as of September 30, 2023, unaudited)
$112,500
$1,782
N/A
Series D Notes
 
 
 
 
2023 (as of September 30, 2023, unaudited)
$80,000
$1,782
N/A
Series E Notes
 
 
 
 
2023 (as of September 30, 2023, unaudited)
$70,000
$1,782
N/A
November 2026 Notes
 
 
 
 
2023 (as of September 30, 2023, unaudited)
$350,000
$1,782
N/A
___________________________
(1)
Total amount of each class of senior securities outstanding at the end of the period presented.
(2)
Asset coverage per unit is the ratio of the carrying value of our total consolidated assets, less all liabilities and indebtedness not represented by senior securities, to the aggregate amount of senior securities representing indebtedness. Asset coverage per unit is expressed in terms of dollar amounts per $1,000 of indebtedness. All prior period ratios have been conformed with this current presentation.
(3)
The amount to which such class of senior security would be entitled upon the involuntary liquidation of the issuer in preference to any security junior to it. The “—” indicates information which the SEC expressly does not require to be disclosed for certain types of senior securities.
(4)
Average market value per unit for all senior securities included in the table is not applicable because these are not registered for public trading.
S-19

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES
The following description of the terms of the 7.000% Notes due 2029 supplements and, to the extent inconsistent with, replaces the description of the general terms and provisions of the debt securities set forth in the accompanying prospectus.
We will issue the Notes under the base indenture between us and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association (as successor-in-interest to U.S. Bank National Association), as trustee, dated as of November 23, 2021, as supplemented by a separate second supplemental indenture between us and the trustee, to be dated as of the settlement date for the Notes. As used in this section, all references to the indenture mean the base indenture as supplemented by the second supplemental indenture. The terms of the Notes include those expressly set forth in the indenture and those made part of the indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
The following description is a summary of the material provisions of the Notes and the indenture and does not purport to be complete. This summary is subject to and is qualified by reference to all the provisions of the Notes and the indenture, including the definitions of certain terms used in the indenture. We urge you to read these documents because they, and not this description, define your rights as a holder of the Notes. You may request a copy of the indenture from us by making a written request to Barings BDC, Inc., 300 South Tryon Street, Suite 2500, Charlotte, North Carolina 28202. In addition, the SEC maintains a website at www.sec.gov that contains information we file with the SEC, including the indenture.
For purposes of this description, references to “we,” “our” and “us” refer only to Barings BDC, Inc. and not to any of its current or future subsidiaries and references to “subsidiaries” refer only to our consolidated subsidiaries and exclude any investments held by Barings BDC, Inc. in the ordinary course of business which are not, under GAAP, consolidated on the financial statements of Barings BDC, Inc. and its subsidiaries.
General
The Notes:
will be our general unsecured, senior obligations;
will initially be issued in an aggregate principal amount of $300,000,000;
will mature on February 15, 2029, unless earlier redeemed or repurchased, as discussed below;
will bear cash interest from February 12, 2024, at an annual rate of 7.000% payable semiannually in arrears on February 15 and August 15 of each year, beginning on August 15, 2024;
will be subject to redemption at our option as described in this prospectus supplement under the caption “—Optional Redemption;”
will be subject to repurchase by us at the option of the holders following a Change of Control Repurchase Event (as defined in this prospectus supplement under the caption “—Offer to Repurchase Upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event”), at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of repurchase;
will be issued in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 thereof; and
will be represented by one or more registered Notes in global form, but in certain limited circumstances may be represented by Notes in definitive form. See “—Book-Entry, Settlement and Clearance” in this prospectus supplement.
The indenture does not limit the amount of debt that may be issued by us or our subsidiaries under the indenture or otherwise. The indenture does not contain any financial covenants and does not restrict us from paying dividends or distributions or issuing or repurchasing our other securities. Other than restrictions described under “—Offer to Repurchase Upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event” and “—Covenants—Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets” in this prospectus supplement, the indenture does not contain any covenants or other provisions designed to afford holders of the Notes protection in the event of a highly leveraged transaction involving us or in the event of a decline in our credit rating as the result of a takeover, recapitalization, highly leveraged transaction or similar restructuring involving us that could adversely affect such holders.
We may, without the consent of the holders, issue additional Notes under the indenture with the same terms (except for the issue date, public offering price, and, if applicable, the initial interest payment date) as the Notes
S-20

TABLE OF CONTENTS

offered hereby in an unlimited aggregate principal amount; provided that, if such additional Notes are not fungible with the Notes offered hereby (or any other tranche of additional Notes) for U.S. federal income tax purposes, then such additional Notes will have different CUSIP numbers from the Notes offered hereby (and any such other tranche of additional Notes).
We do not intend to list the Notes on any securities exchange or any automated dealer quotation system.
Payments on the Notes; Paying Agent and Registrar; Transfer and Exchange
We will pay the principal of, and interest on, the Notes in global form registered in the name of or held by DTC or its nominee in immediately available funds to DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered holder of such Global Note (as defined below).
Payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and any such interest on the Notes will be made at the corporate trust office of the trustee in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that at our option payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the person entitled thereto as such address will appear in the security register.
A holder of Notes may transfer or exchange Notes at the office of the security registrar in accordance with the indenture. The security registrar and the trustee may require a holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents. No service charge will be imposed by us, the trustee or the security registrar for any registration of transfer or exchange of Notes, but we and/or the trustee may require a holder to pay a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or other similar governmental charge required by law or permitted by the indenture.
The registered holder of a Note will be treated as its owner for all purposes.
Interest
The Notes will bear cash interest at a rate of 7.000% per year until maturity. Interest on the Notes will accrue from February 12, 2024. Interest will be payable semiannually in arrears on February 15 and August 15 of each year, beginning on August 15, 2024.
Interest will be paid to the person in whose name a Note is registered at 5:00 p.m. New York City time, or the close of business, on February 1 or August 1, as the case may be, immediately preceding the relevant interest payment date. Interest on the Notes will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year composed of twelve 30-day months.
If any interest payment date, redemption date, the maturity date or any earlier required repurchase date upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event of a Note falls on a day that is not a business day, the required payment will be made on the next succeeding business day and no interest on such payment will accrue in respect of the delay. The term “business day” means, with respect to any Note, any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the City of New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
Ranking
The Notes will be our general unsecured obligations that rank senior in right of payment to all of our existing and future indebtedness that is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Notes. The Notes rank equally in right of payment with all of our existing and future liabilities that are not so subordinated (including our Existing Senior Unsecured Notes). The Notes will rank effectively junior to any of our secured indebtedness (including unsecured indebtedness that we later secure) to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness. The Notes will rank structurally junior to all existing and future indebtedness (including trade payables) incurred by our subsidiaries, financing vehicles or similar facilities. In the event of our bankruptcy, liquidation, reorganization or other winding up, our assets that secure secured debt will be available to pay obligations on the Notes only after all indebtedness under such secured debt has been repaid in full from such assets. We advise you that there may not be sufficient assets remaining to pay amounts due on any or all the Notes then outstanding.
As of December 31, 2023, our total consolidated indebtedness was approximately $1,444.9 million, of which $719.9 million was secured and none of which was indebtedness of our subsidiaries. The Notes will be ranked pari passu to the $725.0 million of our outstanding unsecured senior debt, which includes the Existing Senior Unsecured Notes. As of January 31, 2024, there was approximately $1,443.4 million total consolidated indebtedness outstanding, of which $718.4 million was secured and none of which was indebtedness of our subsidiaries.
S-21

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Optional Redemption
Prior to January 15, 2029 (one month prior to their maturity date) (the “Par Call Date”), we may redeem the Notes at its option, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of:
(1) (a) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the redemption date (assuming the notes matured on the Par Call Date) on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 50 basis points less (b) interest accrued to the date of redemption, and
(2) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date.
On or after the Par Call Date, we may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date.
If we choose to redeem any Notes, we will deliver a notice of redemption to holders of the Notes to be redeemed not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the redemption date. If we are redeeming less than all of the Notes, the particular Notes to be redeemed will be selected in accordance with the applicable procedures of the trustee and, so long as the Notes are registered to DTC or its nominee, the DTC; provided, however, that no such partial redemption will reduce the portion of the principal amount of a Note not redeemed to less than $2,000. Unless we default in payment of the redemption price, on and after the redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions of the Notes called for redemption.
For purposes of calculating the redemption price in connection with the redemption of the Notes, on any redemption date, the following terms have the meanings set forth below:
“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date of the Notes, the yield determined by us in accordance with the following two paragraphs.
The Treasury Rate shall be determined by us after 4:15 p.m., New York City time (or after such time as yields on U.S. government securities are posted daily by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), on the third business day preceding the redemption date based upon the yield or yields for the most recent day that appear after such time on such day in the most recent statistical release published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System designated as “Selected Interest Rates (Daily)—H.15” (or any successor designation or publication) (“H.15”) under the caption “U.S. government securities–Treasury constant maturities–Nominal” (or any successor caption or heading) (“H.15 TCM”). In determining the Treasury Rate, we shall select, as applicable: (1) the yield for the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the period from the redemption date to the maturity date of the Notes (the “Remaining Life”); or (2) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the Remaining Life, the two yields – one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately shorter than and one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately longer than the Remaining Life – and shall interpolate to the Par Call Date on a straight-line basis (using the actual number of days) using such yields and rounding the result to three decimal places; or (3) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 shorter than or longer than the Remaining Life, the yield for the single Treasury constant maturity on H.15 closest to the Remaining Life. For purposes of this paragraph, the applicable Treasury constant maturity or maturities on H.15 shall be deemed to have a maturity date equal to the relevant number of months or years, as applicable, of such Treasury constant maturity from the redemption date.
If on the third business day preceding the redemption date H.15 TCM is no longer published, we shall calculate the Treasury Rate based on the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second business day preceding such redemption date of the United States Treasury security maturing on, or with a maturity that is closest to, the Par Call Date, as applicable. If there is no United States Treasury security maturing on the Par Call Date but there are two or more United States Treasury securities with a maturity date equally distant from the Par Call Date, one with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date and one with a maturity date following the Par Call Date, we shall select the United States Treasury security with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date. If there are two or more United States Treasury securities maturing on the Par Call Date or two or more United States Treasury securities meeting the criteria of the preceding sentence, we shall select from among these two or more United States Treasury securities the United States Treasury security that is trading
S-22

TABLE OF CONTENTS

closest to par based upon the average of the bid and asked prices for such United States Treasury securities at 11:00 a.m., New York City time. In determining the Treasury Rate in accordance with the terms of this paragraph, the semi-annual yield to maturity of the applicable United States Treasury security shall be based upon the average of the bid and asked prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, of such United States Treasury security, and rounded to three decimal places. Our actions and determinations in determining the redemption price of any of the Notes shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
Offer to Repurchase Upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event
If a Change of Control Repurchase Event occurs, unless we have exercised our right to redeem the Notes in full, we will make an offer to each holder of the Notes to repurchase all or any part (in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 principal amount in excess thereof) of that holder’s Notes at a repurchase price in cash equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes repurchased plus any accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes repurchased to, but not including, the date of purchase. Within 30 days following any Change of Control Repurchase Event or, at our option, prior to any Change of Control, but after the public announcement of the Change of Control, we will mail a notice to each holder describing the transaction or transactions that constitute or may constitute the Change of Control Repurchase Event and offering to repurchase Notes on the payment date specified in the notice, which date will be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed. The notice will, if mailed prior to the date of consummation of the Change of Control, state that the offer to purchase is conditioned on the Change of Control Repurchase Event occurring on or prior to the payment date specified in the notice. We will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 promulgated under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes as a result of a Change of Control Repurchase Event. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the Change of Control Repurchase Event provisions of the Notes, we will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached our obligations under the Change of Control Repurchase Event provisions of the Notes by virtue of such conflict.
On the Change of Control Repurchase Event payment date, subject to extension if necessary to comply with the provisions of the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, we will, to the extent lawful:
(1)
accept for payment all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered pursuant to our offer;
(2)
deposit with the paying agent an amount equal to the aggregate purchase price in respect of all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered; and
(3)
deliver or cause to be delivered to the trustee the Notes properly accepted, together with an officers’ certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes being purchased by us.
The paying agent will promptly remit to each holder of Notes properly tendered the purchase price for the Notes, and upon the written request of the Company, the trustee will promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book-entry) to each holder a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of any Notes surrendered; provided that each new Note will be in a minimum principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.
We will not be required to make an offer to repurchase the Notes upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event if a third party makes an offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements for an offer made by us and such third party purchases all Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under its offer.
The source of funds that will be required to repurchase Notes in the event of a Change of Control Repurchase Event will be our available cash or cash generated from our operations or other potential sources, including funds provided by a purchaser in the Change of Control transaction, borrowings, sales of assets or sales of equity. We cannot assure you that sufficient funds from such sources will be available at the time of any Change of Control Repurchase Event to make required repurchases of Notes tendered. The terms of certain of our and our subsidiaries’ financing arrangements provide that certain change of control events will constitute an event of default thereunder entitling the lenders to accelerate any indebtedness outstanding under our and our subsidiaries’ financing arrangements at that time and to terminate the financing arrangements. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for a general discussion of our and our subsidiaries’ indebtedness. Our and our subsidiaries’ future financing arrangements may contain similar restrictions
S-23

TABLE OF CONTENTS

and provisions. If the holders of the Notes exercise their right to require us to repurchase Notes upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event, the financial effect of this repurchase could cause a default under our and our subsidiaries’ future financing arrangements, even if the Change of Control Repurchase Event itself would not cause a default. It is possible that we will not have sufficient funds at the time of the Change of Control Repurchase Event to make the required repurchase of the Notes and/or our and our subsidiaries’ other debt. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to the Notes—We may not be able to repurchase the Notes upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event” in this prospectus supplement for more information.
The definition of “Change of Control” includes a phrase relating to the direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of “all or substantially all” of our properties or assets and those of our subsidiaries taken as a whole. Although there is a limited body of case law interpreting the phrase “substantially all,” there is no precise, established definition of the phrase under applicable law. Accordingly, the ability of a holder of Notes to require us to repurchase the Notes as a result of a sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of less than all of our assets and the assets of our subsidiaries taken as a whole to another person or group may be uncertain.
For purposes of the Notes:
“Below Investment Grade Rating Event” means the Notes are downgraded below Investment Grade by both of the Rating Agencies on any date from the date of the public notice of an arrangement that results in a Change of Control until the end of the 60-day period following public notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control (which period will be extended so long as the rating of the Notes is under publicly announced consideration for possible downgrade by either of the Rating Agencies); provided that a Below Investment Grade Rating Event otherwise arising by virtue of a particular reduction in rating will not be deemed to have occurred in respect of a particular Change of Control (and thus will not be deemed a Below Investment Grade Rating Event for purposes of the definition of Change of Control Repurchase Event hereunder) if the Rating Agencies making the reduction in rating to which this definition would otherwise apply do not announce or publicly confirm or inform the trustee in writing at its request that the reduction was the result, in whole or in part, of any event or circumstance comprised of or arising as a result of, or in respect of, the applicable Change of Control (whether or not the applicable Change of Control will have occurred at the time of the Below Investment Grade Rating Event).
“Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following:
(1)
the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation) in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of Barings BDC, Inc. and its Controlled Subsidiaries taken as a whole to any “person” or “group” (as those terms are used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), other than to any Permitted Holders; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, a pledge of assets pursuant to any secured debt instrument of Barings BDC, Inc. or its Controlled Subsidiaries will not be deemed to be any such sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or disposition;
(2)
the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any “person” or “group” (as those terms are used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) (other than any Permitted Holders) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 promulgated under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the outstanding Voting Stock of Barings BDC, Inc., measured by voting power rather than number of shares; or
(3)
the approval by Barings BDC, Inc.’s stockholders of any plan or proposal relating to the liquidation or dissolution of Barings BDC, Inc.
“Change of Control Repurchase Event” means the occurrence of a Change of Control and a Below Investment Grade Rating Event.
“Controlled Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of Barings BDC, Inc., 50% or more of the outstanding equity interests of which are owned by Barings BDC, Inc. and its direct or indirect subsidiaries and of which Barings BDC, Inc. possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies, whether through the ownership of voting equity interests, by agreement or otherwise.
“Fitch” means Fitch Ratings, Inc., or any successor thereto.
S-24

TABLE OF CONTENTS

“Investment Grade” means a rating of BBB- or better by Fitch (or its equivalent under any successor rating categories of Fitch) and Baa3 or better by Moody’s (or its equivalent under any successor rating categories of Moody’s) (or, in each case the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any Rating Agency selected by us as a Rating Agency).
“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service or any successor thereto.
“Permitted Holders” means (i) us, (ii) one or more of our Controlled Subsidiaries and (iii) the Adviser, any affiliate of the Adviser or any entity that is managed by the Adviser that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction located in the United States and in the business of managing or advising clients.
“Rating Agency” means:
(1)
one or both of Fitch and Moody’s; and
(2)
if both Fitch and Moody’s cease to rate the Notes or fail to make a rating of the Notes publicly available for reasons outside of our control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” as defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act selected by us as a replacement agency for either of Fitch or Moody’s, as the case may be.
“Voting Stock” as applied to stock of any person, means shares, interests, participations or other equivalents in the equity interest (however designated) in such person having ordinary voting power for the election of a majority of the directors (or the equivalent) of such person, other than shares, interests, participations or other equivalents having such power only by reason of the occurrence of a contingency.
Covenants
In addition to the covenants described in the base indenture, the following covenants will apply to the Notes. To the extent of any conflict or inconsistency between the base indenture and the following covenants, the following covenants will govern:
Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets
The indenture will provide that we will not merge or consolidate with or into any other person (other than a merger of a wholly owned subsidiary into us), or sell, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all our property (provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, a pledge of assets pursuant to any secured debt instrument of Barings BDC, Inc. or its Controlled Subsidiaries will not be deemed to be any such sale, transfer, lease, conveyance or disposition) in any one transaction or series of related transactions unless:
we are the surviving person, or the Surviving Person, or the Surviving Person (if other than us) formed by such merger or consolidation or to which such sale, transfer, lease, conveyance or disposition is made will be a statutory trust, corporation or limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the United States or any state or territory thereof;
the Surviving Person (if other than us) expressly assumes, by supplemental indenture in form reasonably satisfactory to the trustee, executed and delivered to the trustee by such Surviving Person, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, all the Notes outstanding, and the due and punctual performance and observance of all the covenants and conditions of the indenture to be performed by us;
immediately before and immediately after giving effect to such transaction or series of related transactions, no default or event of default will have occurred and be continuing; and
we will deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the trustee, an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that such transaction and the supplemental indenture, if any, in respect thereto, comply with this covenant and that all conditions precedent in the indenture relating to such transaction have been complied with.
For the purposes of this covenant, the sale, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all the property of one or more of our subsidiaries, which property, if held by us instead of such subsidiaries, would constitute all or substantially all of our property on a consolidated basis, will be deemed to be the transfer of all or substantially all of our property.
S-25

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Although there is a limited body of case law interpreting the phrase “substantially all,” there is no precise established definition of the phrase under applicable law. Accordingly, in certain circumstances there may be a degree of uncertainty as to whether a particular transaction would involve “all or substantially all” of the properties or assets of a person. As a result, it may be unclear as to whether the merger, consolidation or sale of assets covenant would apply to a particular transaction as described above absent a decision by a court of competent jurisdiction. Although these types of transactions may be permitted under the indenture, certain of the foregoing transactions could constitute a Change of Control that results in a Change of Control Repurchase Event permitting each holder to require us to repurchase the Notes of such holder as described above.
An assumption by any person of obligations under the Notes and the indenture might be deemed for U.S. federal income tax purposes to be an exchange of the Notes for new Notes by the holders thereof, resulting in recognition of gain or loss for such purposes and possibly other adverse tax consequences to the holders. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of such an assumption.
Other Covenants
We agree that for the period of time during which the Notes are outstanding, we will not violate, whether or not we are subject to, Section 18(a)(1)(A) of the 1940 Act as modified by Section 61(a)(1) and (2) of the 1940 Act or any successor provisions, as such obligations may be amended or superseded, giving effect to any exemptive relief granted to us by the SEC.
If, at any time, we are not subject to the reporting requirements of Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act to file any periodic reports with the SEC, we agree to furnish to holders of the Notes and the trustee, for the period of time during which the Notes are outstanding, our audited annual consolidated financial statements, within 90 days of our fiscal year end, and unaudited interim consolidated financial statements, within 45 days of our fiscal quarter end (other than our fourth fiscal quarter). All such financial statements will be prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with GAAP, as applicable.
Events of Default
Each of the following will be an event of default:
(1)
default in the payment of any interest upon any Note when due and payable and the default continues for a period of 30 days;
(2)
default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Note when it becomes due and payable at its maturity including upon any redemption date or required repurchase date;
(3)
default by us in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or agreement in the indenture or the Notes (other than a covenant or agreement a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in the indenture specifically dealt with or which has expressly been included in the indenture solely for the benefit of a series of securities other than the Notes), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 60 consecutive days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to us by the trustee or to us and the trustee by the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Notes a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” under the indenture;
(4)
default by us or any of our significant subsidiaries, as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X promulgated under the Exchange Act (but excluding any subsidiary which is (a) a non-recourse or limited recourse subsidiary, (b) a bankruptcy remote special purpose vehicle or (c) is not consolidated with Barings BDC, Inc. for purposes of GAAP), with respect to any mortgage, agreement or other instrument under which there may be outstanding, or by which there may be secured or evidenced, any indebtedness for money borrowed in excess of $50 million in the aggregate of us and/or any such significant subsidiary, whether such indebtedness now exists or will hereafter be created (i) resulting in such indebtedness becoming or being declared due and payable or (ii) constituting a failure to pay the principal or interest of any such debt when due and payable at its stated maturity, upon required repurchase, upon declaration of acceleration or otherwise, unless, in either case, such indebtedness is discharged, or such acceleration is rescinded, stayed or annulled, within a period of 30 calendar days after written notice of such failure is given to us by the trustee or to us and the trustee by the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding;
S-26

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(5)
pursuant to Section 18(a)(1)(C)(ii) and Section 61 of the 1940 Act, on the last business day of each of 24 consecutive calendar months, any class of securities must have an asset coverage (as such term is used in the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) of less than 100% giving effect to any exemptive relief granted to us by the SEC; or
(6)
certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency, or reorganization involving us occur and remain undischarged or unstayed for a period of 60 days.
If an event of default occurs and is continuing, then and in every such case (other than an event of default specified in item (6) above) the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Notes may declare the entire principal amount of the outstanding Notes to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to us (and to the trustee if given by the holders), and upon any such declaration such principal or specified portion thereof will become immediately due and payable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of the events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization described in item (6) above, 100% of the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes will automatically become due and payable.
At any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to the Notes has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the trustee, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes, by written notice to us and the trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if (i) we have paid or deposited with the trustee a sum sufficient to pay all overdue installments of interest, if any, on all outstanding Notes, the principal of (and premium, if any, on) all outstanding Notes that have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and interest thereon at the rate or rates borne by or provided for in such Notes, to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful interest upon overdue installments of interest at the rate or rates borne by or provided for in such Notes, and all sums paid or advanced by the trustee and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the trustee, its agents and counsel, and (ii) all events of default with respect to the Notes, other than the nonpayment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) or interest on such Notes that have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived. No such rescission will affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.
No holder of Notes will have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to the indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy under the indenture, unless:
(i)
such holder has previously given written notice to the trustee of a continuing event of default with respect to the Notes;
(ii)
the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes have made written request to the trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such event of default;
(iii)
such holder or holders have offered to the trustee indemnity, security, or both, satisfactory to the trustee, against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;
(iv)
the trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity and/or security has failed to institute any such proceeding; and
(v)
no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the trustee during such 60-day period by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes.
Notwithstanding any other provision in the indenture, the holder of any Note will have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and interest, if any, on such Note on the stated maturity or maturity expressed in such Note (or, in the case of redemption, on the redemption date or, in the case of repayment at the option of the holders, on the repayment date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights will not be impaired without the consent of such holder.
The trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by the indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders of the Notes unless such holders have offered to the trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction. Subject to the foregoing, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee with respect to the Notes,
S-27

TABLE OF CONTENTS

provided that (i) such direction may not be in conflict with any rule of law or with the indenture, (ii) the trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the trustee that is not inconsistent with such direction and (iii) the trustee need not take any action that it determines in good faith may involve it in personal liability or be unjustly prejudicial to the holders of Notes not consenting.
The holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes may on behalf of the holders of all of the Notes waive any past default under the indenture with respect to the Notes and its consequences, except a default (i) in the payment of (or premium, if any, on) or interest, if any, on any Note, or (ii) in respect of a covenant or provision of the indenture which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Note affected. Upon any such waiver, such default will cease to exist, and any event of default arising therefrom will be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose, but no such waiver may extend to any subsequent or other default or event of default or impair any right consequent thereto.
We are required to deliver to the trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, an officers’ certificate as to the knowledge of the signers whether we are in default in the performance of any of the terms, provisions or conditions of the indenture.
Within 90 days after the occurrence of any default under the indenture with respect to the Notes, the trustee must transmit notice of such default known to the trustee, unless such default has been cured or waived; provided, however, that, except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) or interest, if any, on any Note, the trustee will be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors of the trustee in good faith determines that withholding of such notice is in the interest of the holders of the Notes.
Satisfaction and Discharge; Defeasance
We may satisfy and discharge our obligations under the indenture by delivering to the security registrar for cancellation all outstanding Notes or by depositing with the trustee or delivering to the holders, as applicable, after the Notes have become due and payable, or otherwise, moneys sufficient to pay all of the outstanding Notes and paying all other sums payable under the indenture by us. Such discharge is subject to terms contained in the indenture.
In addition, the Notes are subject to defeasance and covenant defeasance, in each case, in accordance with the terms of the indenture. Defeasance means that, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including, but not limited to, (i) depositing in trust for the benefit of the holders of the Notes a combination of money and/or U.S. government or U.S. government agency notes or bonds that will generate enough cash, in the opinion of a nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm or firm of independent public accountants, to make interest, principal and any other payments on the Notes on their various due dates and (ii) delivering to the trustee an opinion of counsel stating that (a) we have received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) a ruling, or (b) since the date of execution of the Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable U.S.federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon, the holders of the Notes and any coupons appertaining thereto will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance had not occurred, we can legally release ourselves from all payment and other obligations on the Notes. Covenant defeasance means that, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including, but not limited to, (i) depositing in trust for the benefit of the holders of the Notes a combination of money and/or U.S. government or U.S. government agency notes or bonds that will generate enough cash, in the opinion of a nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm or firm of independent public accountants, to make interest, principal and any other payments on the Notes on their various due dates and (ii) delivering to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the holders of the Notes and any coupons appertaining thereto will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such covenant defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such covenant defeasance had not occurred, we will be released from some of the restrictive covenants in the indenture.
Trustee
U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association (as successor-in-interest to U.S. Bank National Association) is the trustee, security registrar and paying agent. U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, in each of its capacities, including without limitation as trustee, security registrar and paying agent, assumes no responsibility for
S-28

TABLE OF CONTENTS

the accuracy or completeness of the information concerning us or our affiliates or any other party contained in this document or the related documents or for any failure by us or any other party to disclose events that may have occurred and may affect the significance or accuracy of such information, or for any information provided to it by us, including but not limited to settlement amounts and any other information.
We may maintain banking relationships in the ordinary course of business with the trustee and its affiliates.
Governing Law
The indenture provides that it and the Notes will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to principles of conflicts of laws that would cause the application of laws of another jurisdiction.
Book-Entry, Settlement and Clearance
Global Notes
The Notes will be initially issued in the form of one or more registered Notes in global form, without interest coupons, or the Global Notes. Upon issuance, each of the Global Notes will be deposited with the trustee as custodian for DTC and registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of DTC.
Ownership of beneficial interests in a Global Note will be limited to persons who have accounts with the DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream or DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream participants, or persons who hold interests through DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream participants. We expect that under procedures established by DTC:
upon deposit of a Global Note with DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream’s custodian, DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream will credit portions of the principal amount of the Global Note to the accounts of the DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream participants designated by the underwriters; and
ownership of beneficial interests in a Global Note will be shown on, and transfer of ownership of those interests will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC (with respect to interests of DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream participants) and the records of DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream participants (with respect to other owners of beneficial interests in the Global Note).
Beneficial interests in Global Notes may not be exchanged for Notes in physical, certificated form except in the limited circumstances described below.
Book-Entry Procedures for Global Notes
All interests in the Global Notes will be subject to the operations and procedures of DTC. We provide the following summary of those operations and procedures solely for the convenience of investors. The operations and procedures of DTC are controlled by that settlement system and may be changed at any time. Neither we nor the underwriters are responsible for those operations or procedures.
DTC has advised us that it is:
a limited purpose trust company organized under the laws of the State of New York;
a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York State Banking Law;
a member of the Federal Reserve System;
a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the Uniform Commercial Code; and
a “clearing agency” registered under Section 17A of the Exchange Act.
DTC was created to hold securities for its participants and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between its participants through electronic book-entry changes to the accounts of its participants. DTC’s participants include securities brokers and dealers, including the underwriters; banks and trust companies; clearing corporations and other organizations. Indirect access to DTC’s system is also available to others such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies; these indirect participants clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a DTC participant, either directly or indirectly. Investors who are not DTC participants may beneficially own securities held by or on behalf of DTC only through DTC participants or indirect participants in DTC.
S-29

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Euroclear and Clearstream hold securities for participating organizations. They also facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between their respective participants through electronic book-entry changes in the accounts of such participants. Euroclear and Clearstream provide various services to their participants, including the safekeeping, administration, clearance, settlement, lending and borrowing of internationally traded securities. Euroclear and Clearstream interface with domestic securities markets. Euroclear and Clearstream participants are financial institutions such as underwriters, securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and certain other organizations. Indirect access to Euroclear and Clearstream is also available to others such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Euroclear and Clearstream participant, either directly or indirectly.
So long as the Notes are held in global form, Euroclear, Clearstream and/or DTC, as applicable, (or their respective nominees) will be considered the sole holders of Global Notes for all purposes under the indenture. As such, participants must rely on the procedures of Euroclear, Clearstream and/or DTC and indirect participants must rely on the procedures of Euroclear, Clearstream and/ or DTC and the participants through which they own interests in the Notes, or Book-Entry Interests, in order to exercise any rights of holders under the indenture.
So long as DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream’s nominee is the registered owner of a Global Note, that nominee will be considered the sole owner or holder of the Notes represented by that Global Note for all purposes under the indenture. Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests in a Global Note:
will not be entitled to have Notes represented by the Global Note registered in their names;
will not receive or be entitled to receive physical, certificated Notes; and
will not be considered the owners or holders of the Notes under the indenture for any purpose, including with respect to the giving of any direction, instruction or approval to the trustee under the indenture.
As a result, each investor who owns a beneficial interest in a Global Note must rely on the procedures of DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream to exercise any rights of a holder of Notes under the indenture (and, if the investor is not a participant or an indirect participant in DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, on the procedures of the DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream participant through which the investor owns its interest).
Payments of principal and interest with respect to the Notes represented by a Global Note will be made by the trustee to DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream’s nominee as the registered holder of the Global Note. Neither we nor the trustee will have any responsibility or liability for the payment of amounts to owners of beneficial interests in a Global Note, for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of those interests by DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records of DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream relating to those interests.
Payments by participants and indirect participants in DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream to the owners of beneficial interests in a Global Note will be governed by standing instructions and customary industry practice and will be the responsibility of those participants or indirect participants and DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream.
Transfers between participants in DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream will be effected under DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream’s procedures and will be settled in same-day funds.
Cross-market transfers of beneficial interests in Global Notes between DTC participants, on the one hand, and Euroclear or Clearstream participants, on the other hand, will be effected within DTC through the DTC participants that are acting as depositaries for Euroclear and Clearstream. To deliver or receive an interest in a Global Note held in a Euroclear or Clearstream account, an investor must send transfer instructions to Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, under the rules and procedures of that system and within the established deadlines of that system. If the transaction meets its settlement requirements, Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, will send instructions to its DTC depositary to take action to effect final settlement by delivering or receiving interests in the relevant Global Notes in DTC, and making or receiving payment under normal procedures for same-day funds settlement applicable to DTC. Euroclear and Clearstream participants may not deliver instructions directly to the DTC depositaries that are acting for Euroclear or Clearstream.
Because the settlement of cross-market transfers takes place during New York business hours, DTC participants may employ their usual procedures for sending securities to the applicable DTC participants acting as depositaries for Euroclear and Clearstream. The sale proceeds will be available to the DTC participant seller on the settlement date. Thus, to a DTC participant, a cross-market transaction will settle no differently from a trade between two DTC
S-30

TABLE OF CONTENTS

participants. Because of time zone differences, the securities account of a Euroclear or Clearstream participant that purchases an interest in a Global Note from a DTC participant will be credited on the business day for Euroclear or Clearstream immediately following the DTC settlement date. Cash received in Euroclear or Clearstream from the sale of an interest in a Global Note to a DTC participant will be reflected in the account of the Euroclear of Clearstream participant the following business day, and receipt of the cash proceeds in the Euroclear or Clearstream participant’s account will be back-valued to the date on which settlement occurs in New York. DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream have agreed to the above procedures to facilitate transfers of interests in the Global Notes among participants in those settlement systems. However, the settlement systems are not obligated to perform these procedures and may discontinue or change these procedures at any time. Neither we nor the trustee will have any responsibility or liability for the performance by DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream or their participants or indirect participants of their obligations under the rules and procedures governing their operations, including maintaining, supervising or reviewing the records relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial ownership interests in Global Notes.
Certificated Notes
Notes in physical, certificated form will be issued and delivered to each person that DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream identifies as a beneficial owner of the related Notes only if:
DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream notifies us at any time that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for the Global Notes and a successor depositary is not appointed within 90 days;
DTC ceases to be registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act and a successor depositary is not appointed within 90 days; or
an event of default with respect to the Notes has occurred and is continuing and such beneficial owner requests that its Notes be issued in physical, certificated form.
S-31

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
The following discussion is a summary of certain material U.S. federal income tax consequences relevant to the purchase, ownership and disposition of the Notes, but does not purport to be a complete analysis of all potential tax consequences. The discussion is based upon the Code, the regulations promulgated thereunder by the U.S. Treasury, or the Treasury Regulations, rulings and pronouncements issued by the Internal Revenue Service, or the IRS, and judicial decisions, all as of the date hereof and all of which are subject to change at any time. Any such change may be applied retroactively in a manner that could adversely affect a holder of the Notes. We have not sought any ruling from the IRS with respect to the statements made and the conclusions reached in the following discussion, and there can be no assurance that the IRS will agree with such statements and conclusions.
This discussion does not address all of the U.S. federal income tax consequences that may be relevant to a holder in light of such holder’s particular circumstances or to holders subject to special rules, including, without limitation:
banks, insurance companies and other financial institutions;
individual retirement accounts and other tax-deferred accounts;
regulated investment companies and real estate investment trusts;
U.S. expatriates and certain former citizens or long-term residents of the United States;
holders subject to the alternative minimum tax;
dealers in securities or currencies;
traders in securities;
partnerships, S corporations or other pass-through entities;
U.S. holders (as defined below) whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar;
controlled foreign corporations;
tax-exempt organizations;
passive foreign investment companies;
persons holding the Notes as part of a “straddle,” “hedge,” “conversion transaction” or other risk reduction transaction; and
persons deemed to sell the Notes under the constructive sale provisions of the Code.
In addition, this discussion is limited to persons purchasing the Notes for cash at original issue and at their original “issue price” within the meaning of Section 1273 of the Code (i.e., the first price at which a substantial amount of the Notes are sold to the public for cash). Moreover, the effects of other U.S. federal tax laws (such as estate and gift tax laws) and any applicable state, local or foreign tax laws are not discussed. The discussion deals only with Notes held as “capital assets” within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code. This discussion also does not address the U.S. federal income tax consequences to beneficial owners of the Notes that are subject to the special tax accounting rules under Section 451(b) of the Code.
If an entity taxable as a partnership holds the Notes, the tax treatment of an owner of the entity generally will depend on the status of the particular owner in question and the activities of the entity. Owners of any such entity should consult their tax advisors as to the specific tax consequences to them of holding the Notes indirectly through ownership of such entity.
YOU ARE URGED TO CONSULT YOUR TAX ADVISOR WITH RESPECT TO THE APPLICATION OF THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX LAWS TO YOUR PARTICULAR SITUATION AS WELL AS ANY TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF THE NOTES ARISING UNDER THE U.S. FEDERAL ESTATE OR GIFT TAX LAWS OR UNDER THE LAWS OF ANY STATE, LOCAL, FOREIGN OR OTHER TAXING JURISDICTION OR UNDER ANY APPLICABLE INCOME TAX TREATY.
S-32

TABLE OF CONTENTS

U.S. Holders
The following is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences that will apply to you if you are a “U.S. holder” of a Note. As used herein, “U.S. holder” means a beneficial owner of a Note who is for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States, including an alien individual who is a lawful permanent resident of the United States or meets the “substantial presence” test under Section 7701(b) of the Code;
a corporation or other entity taxable as a corporation created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia;
an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source; or
a trust, if a U.S. court can exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more “United States persons” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code can control all substantial trust decisions, or, if the trust was in existence on August 20, 1996, and it has elected to continue to be treated as a United States person.
Payments of Interest
Stated interest on the Notes generally will be taxable to a U.S. holder as ordinary income at the time that such interest is received or accrued, in accordance with such U.S. holder’s method of tax accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In general, if the terms of a debt instrument entitle a holder to receive payments (other than fixed periodic interest) that, in the aggregate, exceed the issue price of the instrument by an amount that equals or exceeds a statutory de minimis amount, the holder will be required to recognize such excess amounts as “original issue discount” which is taxable as ordinary income over the term of the instrument, irrespective of the holder’s regular method of tax accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The following discussion assumes that the Notes will be issued with no original issue discount or with less than a de minimis amount of original issue discount for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Sale or Other Taxable Disposition of Notes
A U.S. holder will recognize gain or loss on the sale, exchange, redemption, retirement or other taxable disposition of a Note equal to the difference between the amount realized upon the disposition (less any portion allocable to any accrued and unpaid interest, which will be taxable as interest to the extent not previously included in income) and the U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in the Note. A U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in a Note generally will be equal to the amount that the U.S. holder paid for the Note. Any gain or loss will be a capital gain or loss, and will be a long term capital gain or loss if the U.S. holder has held the Note for more than one year at the time of disposition. Otherwise, such gain or loss will be a short-term capital gain or loss. Long term capital gains recognized by certain non-corporate U.S. holders, including individuals, are currently subject to a reduced tax rate. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
A U.S. holder may be subject to information reporting and backup withholding when such U.S. holder receives interest payments on the Notes held or upon the proceeds received upon the sale or other disposition of such Notes (including a redemption or retirement of the Notes). Certain U.S. holders generally are not subject to information reporting or backup withholding. A U.S. holder will be subject to backup withholding if such U.S. holder is not otherwise exempt and such U.S. holder:
fails to furnish the U.S. holder’s taxpayer identification number, or TIN, which, for an individual, ordinarily is his or her social security number;
furnishes an incorrect TIN;
is notified by the IRS that the U.S. holder has failed properly to report payments of interest or dividends; or
fails to certify, under penalties of perjury, on an IRS Form W-9 (Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification) or a suitable substitute form (or other applicable certificate), that the U.S. holder has furnished a correct TIN and that the IRS has not notified the U.S. holder that the U.S. holder is subject to backup withholding.
S-33

TABLE OF CONTENTS

U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding their qualification for an exemption from backup withholding and the procedures for obtaining such an exemption, if applicable. Backup withholding is not an additional tax, and taxpayers may use amounts withheld as a credit against their U.S. federal income tax liability or may claim a refund if they timely provide certain information to the IRS.
Unearned Income Medicare Contribution
A tax of 3.8% will be imposed on certain “net investment income” (or “undistributed net investment income”, in the case of estates and trusts) received by individuals with adjusted modified gross incomes in excess of $200,000 ($250,000 in the case of married individuals filing jointly) and certain estates and trusts. “Net investment income” as defined for U.S. federal Medicare contribution purposes generally includes interest payments and gain recognized from the sale or other disposition of the Notes. Tax-exempt trusts, which are not subject to income taxes generally, and foreign individuals will not be subject to this tax. U.S. holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the effect, if any, of this tax on their ownership and disposition of the Notes.
Non-U.S. Holders
The following is a summary of certain material U.S. federal income tax consequences that will apply to you if you are a “Non-U.S. holder” of a Note. A “Non-U.S. holder” is a beneficial owner of a Note who is not a U.S. holder and not a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Payments of Interest
Generally, interest income paid to a Non-U.S. holder that is not effectively connected with the Non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a U.S. trade or business is subject to withholding tax at a rate of 30% (or, if applicable, a lower treaty rate). Nevertheless, subject to the discussion below concerning the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, or FATCA, interest paid on a Note to a Non-U.S. holder that is not effectively connected with the Non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a U.S. trade or business generally will not be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax provided that:
such Non-U.S. holder does not directly or indirectly (actually or constructively) own 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of our voting stock;
such Non-U.S. holder is not a controlled foreign corporation that is related to us through actual or constructive stock ownership and is not a bank that received such Note on an extension of credit made pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business; and
either (1) the Non-U.S. holder certifies in a statement provided to us or the paying agent generally on IRS Form W-8BEN, or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, under penalties of perjury, that it is the beneficial owner of the Notes and not a “United States person” within the meaning of the Code and provides its name and address, (2) a securities clearing organization, bank or other financial institution that holds customers’ securities in the ordinary course of its trade or business and holds the Note on behalf of the Non-U.S. holder certifies to us or the paying agent under penalties of perjury that it, or the financial institution between it and the Non-U.S. holder, has received from the Non-U.S. holder a statement generally on IRS Form W-8BEN, or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, under penalties of perjury, that such Non-U.S. holder is the beneficial owner of the Notes and is not a United States person and provides us or the paying agent with a copy of such statement or (3) the Non-U.S. holder holds its Note directly through a “qualified intermediary” and certain conditions are satisfied.
Even if the above conditions are not met, a Non-U.S. holder generally will be entitled to a reduction in or an exemption from withholding tax on interest if the Non-U.S. holder provides us or our paying agent with a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable, or a suitable substitute form (or other applicable certificate) claiming an exemption from or reduction of the withholding tax under the benefit of an income tax treaty between the United States and the Non-U.S. holder’s country of residence. A Non-U.S. holder is required to inform the recipient of any change in the information on such statement within 30 days of such change. Special certification rules apply to Non-U.S. holders that are pass-through entities rather than corporations or individuals.
If interest paid to a Non-U.S. holder is effectively connected with the Non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a U.S. trade or business, then, the Non-U.S. holder will be exempt from U.S. federal withholding tax, so long as the Non-U.S. holder has provided an IRS Form W-8ECI or substantially similar substitute form stating that the interest that the Non-U.S. holder receives on the Notes is effectively connected with the Non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a trade or
S-34

TABLE OF CONTENTS

business in the United States. In such a case, a Non-U.S. holder will be subject to tax on the interest it receives on a net income basis in the same manner as if such Non-U.S. holder were a U.S. holder. In addition, if the Non-U.S. holder is a foreign corporation, such interest may be subject to a branch profits tax at a rate of 30% or lower applicable treaty rate.
Sale or Other Taxable Disposition of Notes
Subject to the discussion below regarding FATCA, any gain realized by a Non-U.S. holder on the sale, exchange, retirement, redemption or other taxable disposition of a Note generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax unless:
the gain is effectively connected with the Non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a trade or business in the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, the Non-U.S. holder maintains a U.S. permanent establishment to which such gain is attributable); or
the Non-U.S. holder is an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of sale, exchange or other disposition, and certain conditions are met.
A Non-U.S. holder described in the first bullet point above will be required to pay U.S. federal income tax on the net gain derived from the sale or other taxable disposition of a Note generally in the same manner as if such Non-U.S. holder were a U.S. holder, and if such Non-U.S. holder is a foreign corporation, it may also be required to pay an additional branch profits tax at a 30% rate (or a lower rate if so specified by an applicable income tax treaty). A Non-U.S. holder described in the second bullet point above will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% (or, if applicable, a lower treaty rate) on the gain derived from the sale or other taxable disposition, which may be offset by certain U.S. source capital losses, even though the Non-U.S. holder is not considered a resident of the United States.
Certain other exceptions may be applicable, and Non-U.S. holders should consult their own tax advisors with regard to whether taxes will be imposed on capital gain in their individual circumstances.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
The amount of interest that we pay to any Non-U.S. holder on the Notes will be reported to the Non-U.S. holder and to the IRS annually on an IRS Form 1042-S, regardless of whether any tax was actually withheld. Copies of these information returns may also be made available under the provisions of a specific income tax treaty or agreement to the tax authorities of the country in which the Non-U.S. holder resides. However, a Non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to backup withholding and certain other information reporting with respect to payments that we make to the Non-U.S. holder, provided that we do not have actual knowledge or reason to know that such Non-U.S. holder is a “United States person,” within the meaning of the Code, and the Non-U.S. holder has given us the statement described above under “Non-U.S. holders - Payments of Interest.”
If a Non-U.S. holder sells or exchanges a Note through a United States broker or the United States office of a foreign broker, the proceeds from such sale or exchange will be subject to information reporting and backup withholding unless the Non-U.S. holder provides a withholding certificate or other appropriate documentary evidence establishing that such holder is not a U.S. holder to the broker and such broker does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that such holder is a U.S. holder, or the Non-U.S. holder is an exempt recipient eligible for an exemption from information reporting and backup withholding. If a Non-U.S. holder sells or exchanges a Note through the foreign office of a broker who is a United States person or has certain enumerated connections with the United States, the proceeds from such sale or exchange will be subject to information reporting unless the Non-U.S. holder provides to such broker a withholding certificate or other documentary evidence establishing that such holder is not a U.S. holder and such broker does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that such evidence is false, or the Non-U.S. holder is an exempt recipient eligible for an exemption from information reporting. In circumstances where information reporting by the foreign office of such a broker is required, backup withholding will be required only if the broker has actual knowledge that the holder is a U.S. holder.
A Non-U.S. holder generally will be entitled to credit any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules against the Non-U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability or may claim a refund provided that the required information is furnished to the IRS in a timely manner.
S-35

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Non-U.S. holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the application of information reporting and backup withholding in their particular situations, the availability of an exemption therefrom, and the procedures for obtaining such an exemption, if available.
Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act
FATCA and U.S. Treasury Regulations and other IRS administrative guidance thereunder generally impose a U.S. federal withholding tax of 30% on U.S. source interest on a debt obligation and the gross proceeds from the disposition of a debt obligation of a type that produces U.S. source interest, which, in each case, would include the Notes, to certain non-U.S. entities (including, in some circumstances, where such an entity is acting as an intermediary) that fail to comply with certain certification and information reporting requirements, including reporting requirements regarding its United States account holders (in the case of foreign financial institutions) or beneficial United States owners (in the case of non-financial foreign entities). However, under current proposed regulations promulgated by the Treasury Department, withholding under FATCA does not apply to gross proceeds from any sale or disposition of a Note. Taxpayers may generally rely on those proposed regulations until final regulations are issued. Foreign financial institutions located in jurisdictions that have an intergovernmental agreement with the United States with respect to FATCA may be subject to different rules. In addition, under certain circumstances, a Non-U.S. holder might be eligible for refunds or credits of any taxes imposed pursuant to FATCA. Prospective investors in the Notes should consult their own tax advisors regarding the effect, if any, of the FATCA rules for them based on their particular circumstances.
Tax Shelter Reporting Regulations
Under applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations, if a U.S. holder recognizes a loss with respect to the Notes of $2 million or more for a non-corporate U.S. holder or $10 million or more for a corporate U.S. holder in any single taxable year (or a greater loss over a combination of taxable years), the U.S. holder may be required to file with the IRS a disclosure statement on IRS Form 8886. Direct U.S. holders of portfolio securities are in many cases excepted from this reporting requirement, but, under current guidance, U.S. holders of securities issued by a RIC are not exempt from such reporting. Future guidance may extend the current exception from this reporting requirement to U.S. holders of securities issued by most or all RICs. The fact that a loss is reportable under these U.S. Treasury Regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether a taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper. Significant monetary penalties apply to a failure to comply with this reporting requirement. States may also have a similar reporting requirement. U.S. holders of the Notes should consult their own tax advisors to determine the applicability of these U.S. Treasury Regulations in light of their individual circumstances.
S-36

TABLE OF CONTENTS

UNDERWRITING
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc., BMO Capital Markets Corp., and Fifth Third Securities, Inc., are acting as the representatives of the several underwriters named below. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in an underwriting agreement among us and the underwriters, we have agreed to sell to the underwriters, and each underwriter has severally and not jointly agreed to purchase, at the public offering price less the underwriting discounts set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement, the aggregate principal amount of the Notes set forth below:
Name
Aggregate Principal
Amount of the
Notes to be
Purchased
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
$45,000,000
SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc.
$45,000,000
Fifth Third Securities, Inc.
$30,000,000
BMO Capital Markets Corp.
$30,000,000
ING Financial Markets LLC
$27,000,000
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
$27,000,000
BNP Paribas Securities Corp
$21,000,000
MUFG Securities Americas Inc.
$21,000,000
Regions Securities LLC
$21,000,000
SG Americas Securities, LLC
$9,000,000
BofA Securites, Inc.
$9,000,000
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
$9,000,000
R. Seelaus & Co., LLC
$3,000,000
Roberts & Ryan, Inc.
$3,000,000
Total
$300,000,000
The underwriters are committed to purchase all of the Notes offered by us if they purchase any Notes. The underwriting agreement also provides that if an underwriter defaults, the purchase commitments of the non-defaulting underwriters may be increased or the offering may be terminated.
We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make in respect of those liabilities.
The underwriters are offering the Notes, subject to prior sale, when, as and if issued to and accepted by them, subject to approval of legal matters by their counsel, including the validity of the Notes, and other conditions contained in the underwriting agreement, such as the receipt by the underwriters of officers’ certificates and legal opinions. The underwriters reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify offers to the public and to reject orders in whole or in part.
Commissions and Discounts
The underwriters propose to offer some of the Notes to the public at the public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement and some of the Notes to certain other dealers at the public offering price less a concession not in excess of 0.600% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes. The underwriters may allow, and the dealers may reallow, a discount not in excess of 0.400% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes. After the initial offering of the Notes to the public, the public offering price and other selling terms may be changed. No such change shall change the amount of proceeds to be received by us as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement.
The following table shows the public offering price, underwriting discounts and commissions and proceeds before expenses to us.
 
Per Note
Notes Total
Public offering price
98.948%
$296,844,000
Underwriting discounts
1.000%
$3,000,000
Proceeds to us, before expenses
97.948%
$293,844,000
S-37

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The expenses of the offering, not including the underwriting discounts, are estimated at $920,000 and are payable by us.
No Sales of Similar Securities
Through the closing date and subject to certain exceptions, we have agreed not to, and will cause our subsidiaries not to, sell, offer to sell, contract or agree to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agree to dispose of, directly or indirectly, any debt securities issued or guaranteed by us or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for debt securities issued or guaranteed by the us or file or cause to be declared effective a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to any of the foregoing, without the prior written consent of the representatives, which may not be unreasonably withheld. This consent may be given at any time without public notice.
Listing
The Notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market. The Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange or quoted on any automated dealer quotation system.
We have been advised by certain of the underwriters that they presently intend to make a market in the Notes after completion of the offering as permitted by applicable laws and regulations. The underwriters are not obligated, however, to make a market in the Notes and any such market-making may be discontinued at any time in the sole discretion of the underwriters without any notice. Accordingly, no assurance can be given as to the liquidity of, or development of a public trading market for, the Notes. If an active public trading market for the Notes does not develop, the market price and liquidity of the Notes may be adversely affected.
Price Stabilization and Short Positions
In connection with the offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell the Notes in the open market. These transactions may include over-allotment, covering transactions and stabilizing transactions. Over-allotment involves sales of securities in excess of the aggregate principal amount of securities to be purchased by the underwriters in the offering, which creates a short position for the underwriters. Covering transactions involve purchases of the securities in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover short positions. Stabilizing transactions consist of certain bids or purchases of securities made for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the securities while the offering is in progress.
The underwriters may also impose a penalty bid. This occurs when a particular underwriter repays to the underwriters a portion of the underwriting discount received by it because the representatives have repurchased Notes sold by or for the account of such underwriter in stabilizing or short covering transactions.
Any of these activities may cause the price of the Notes to be higher than the price that otherwise would exist in the open market in the absence of such transactions. These transactions may be effected in the over-the-counter market or otherwise and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time without any notice relating thereto.
Neither we nor any of the underwriters make any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of the Notes. In addition, neither we nor any of the underwriters make any representation that the representatives will engage in these transactions or that these transactions, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.
Other Relationships
The underwriters and their respective affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include sales and trading, commercial and investment banking, advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, market making, brokerage and other financial and non-financial activities and services. Certain of the underwriters and their respective affiliates have provided, and may in the future provide, a variety of these services to us and to persons and entities with relationships with us, for which they received or will receive customary fees and expenses.
In the ordinary course of their various business activities, the underwriters and their respective affiliates, officers, directors and employees may purchase, sell or hold a broad array of investments and actively traded securities, derivatives, loans, commodities, currencies, credit default swaps and other financial instruments for their
S-38

TABLE OF CONTENTS

own account and for the accounts of their customers, and such investment and trading activities may involve or relate to assets, securities or instruments of us (directly, as collateral securing other obligations or otherwise) or persons and entities with relationships with us. Certain of the underwriters and their affiliates that have a lending relationship with us may hedge their credit exposure to us consistent with their customary risk management policies. Typically, such underwriters and their affiliates would hedge such exposure by entering into transactions which consist of either the purchase of credit default swaps or the creation of short positions in our securities, including potentially the Notes offered hereby. Any such credit default swaps or short positions could adversely affect future trading prices of the Notes offered hereby. The underwriters and their respective affiliates may also communicate independent investment recommendations, market color or trading ideas or publish or express independent research views in respect of such assets, securities or instruments and may at any time hold, or recommend to clients that they should acquire, long or short positions in such assets, securities and instruments.
The underwriters or their respective affiliates may also trade in our securities, securities of our portfolio companies or other financial instruments related thereto for their own accounts or for the account of others and may extend loans or financing directly or through derivative transactions to the Adviser or any of our portfolio companies.
Affiliates of certain of the underwriters in this offering, act as lenders under the February 2019 Credit Facility. As described in the section entitled “Use of Proceeds”, we may use net proceeds of this offering to repay a portion of the outstanding indebtedness under the February 2019 Credit Facility. Certain of the net proceeds from the sale of the Notes, not including underwriting compensation, may be paid to such affiliates of certain of the underwriters in connection with the repayment of debt owed under the February 2019 Credit Facility. As a result, certain of the underwriters and/or their affiliates may receive more than 5% of the net proceeds of this offering, not including underwriting compensation.
Settlement
We expect that delivery of the Notes will be made to investors on or about February 12, 2024, which will be the third business day following the date hereof. Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Exchange Act trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in two business days, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade the Notes prior to two business days before the date of delivery will be required, by virtue of the fact that the Notes initially will settle T+3, to specify an alternate settlement cycle at the time of any such trade to prevent a failed settlement. Purchasers of the Notes who wish to trade the Notes prior to two business days before the date of delivery should consult their own advisor.
Principal Business Addresses
The principal business address of Wells Fargo Securities, LLC is 550 South Tryon Street, 5th Floor, Charlotte, North Carolina 28202. The principal business address of BMO Capital Markets Corp. is 151 W 42nd St., New York, New York 10036. The principal business address of Fifth Third Securities, Inc. is 38 Fountain Square Plaza, Cincinnati, Ohio 45263. The principal business address of SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc. is 277 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10172.
Disclaimers About Non-US Jurisdictions
Notice to Prospective Investors in the European Economic Area
The Notes are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the European Economic Area, or EEA. For the purposes of this provision:
(a)
the expression “retail investor” means a person who is one (or more) of the following:
(i)
a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU, as amended, MiFID II; or
(ii)
a customer within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97, as amended, the Insurance Distribution Directive, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II; or
(iii)
not a qualified investor as defined in Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, as amended, the Prospectus Regulation; and
S-39

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(b)
the expression “offer” includes the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the Notes to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the Notes.
Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014, as amended, the PRIIPs Regulation, for offering or selling the Notes or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the EEA has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the Notes or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the EEA may be unlawful under the PRIIPs Regulation. This prospectus has been prepared on the basis that any offer of Notes in any member state of the EEA will be made pursuant to an exemption under the Prospectus Regulation from the requirement to publish a prospectus for offers of Notes. This prospectus is not a prospectus for the purposes of the Prospectus Regulation.
Notice to Prospective Investors in the United Kingdom
The Notes are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the United Kingdom. For the purposes of this provision:
(a)
the expression “retail investor” means a person who is one (or more) of the following:
(i)
a retail client as defined in point (8) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 2017/565 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, or EUWA; or
(ii)
a customer within the meaning of the provisions of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended, the “FSMA”) of the United Kingdom and any rules or regulations made under the FSMA to implement Directive (EU) 2016/97, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2(1) of Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA; or
(iii)
not a qualified investor as defined in Article 2 of the Prospectus Regulation as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA, the UK Prospectus Regulation; and
(b)
the expression “offer” includes the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the Notes to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the Notes.
Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the EUWA, or the UK PRIIPs Regulation, for offering or selling the Notes or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the UK has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the Notes or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the UK may be unlawful under the UK PRIIPs Regulation. This prospectus has been prepared on the basis that any offer of Notes in the UK will be made pursuant to an exemption under the UK Prospectus Regulation from the requirement to publish a prospectus for offers of Notes. This prospectus is not a prospectus for the purposes of the UK Prospectus Regulation.
This prospectus and any other material in relation to the Notes is only being distributed to, and is directed only at, persons in the United Kingdom who are “qualified investors” (as defined in the UK Prospectus Regulation who are also (i) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as amended, the “Order”), or (ii) high net worth entities or other persons falling within Articles 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order, or (iii) persons to whom it would otherwise be lawful to distribute it, all such persons together being referred to as “Relevant Persons”. The Notes are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such Notes will be engaged in only with, Relevant Persons. This prospectus and its contents are confidential and should not be distributed, published or reproduced (in whole or in part) or disclosed by any recipients to any other person in the United Kingdom. Any person in the United Kingdom that is not a Relevant Person should not act or rely on this prospectus or its contents. The Notes are not being offered to the public in the United Kingdom.
In addition, in the United Kingdom, each underwriter has represented and agreed the Notes may not be offered other than by an underwriter that:
has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the FSMA) received by it in connection with the issue or sale of the Notes in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to us; and
S-40

TABLE OF CONTENTS

has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to the Notes in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.
Notice to Prospective Investors in Canada
This prospectus constitutes an “exempt offering document” as defined in and for the purposes of applicable Canadian securities laws. No prospectus has been filed with any securities commission or similar regulatory authority in Canada in connection with the offer and sale of the Notes. No securities commission or similar regulatory authority in Canada has reviewed or in any way passed upon this prospectus or on the merits of the Notes and any representation to the contrary is an offence.
Canadian investors are advised that this prospectus has been prepared in reliance on section 3A.3 of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts, or NI 33-105. Pursuant to section 3A.3 of NI 33-105, the Company and the underwriters in the offering are exempt from the requirement to provide Canadian investors with certain conflicts of interest disclosure pertaining to “connected issuer” and/or “related issuer” relationships as would otherwise be required pursuant to subsection 2.1(1) of NI 33-105.
Resale Restrictions
The offer and sale of the Notes in Canada is being made on a private placement basis only and is exempt from the requirement that the Company prepares and files a prospectus under applicable Canadian securities laws. Any resale of Notes by a Canadian investor in this offering must be made in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws, which may vary depending on the relevant jurisdiction, and which may require resales to be made in accordance with Canadian prospectus requirements, a statutory exemption from the prospectus requirements, in a transaction exempt from the prospectus requirements or otherwise under a discretionary exemption from the prospectus requirements granted by the applicable local Canadian securities regulatory authority. These resale restrictions may under certain circumstances apply to resales of the Notes outside of Canada.
Representations of Purchasers
Each Canadian investor who purchases the Notes will be deemed to have represented to the Company, the underwriters and to each dealer from whom a purchase confirmation is received, as applicable, that the investor is (i) purchasing as principal, or is deemed to be purchasing as principal in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws; (ii) an “accredited investor” as such term is defined in section 1.1 of National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or, in Ontario, as such term is defined in section 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario); and (iii) a “permitted client” as such term is defined in section 1.1 of National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations.
Taxation and Eligibility for Investment
Any discussion of taxation and related matters contained in this prospectus does not purport to be a comprehensive description of all of the tax considerations that may be relevant to a Canadian investor when deciding to purchase the Notes and, in particular, does not address any Canadian tax considerations. No representation or warranty is hereby made as to the tax consequences to a resident, or deemed resident, of Canada of an investment in the Notes or with respect to the eligibility of the Notes for investment by such investor under relevant Canadian federal and provincial legislation and regulations.
Rights of Action for Damages or Rescission
Securities legislation in certain of the Canadian jurisdictions provides certain purchasers of securities pursuant to a prospectus (such as this prospectus), including where the distribution involves an “eligible foreign security” as such term is defined in Ontario Securities Commission Rule 45-501 Ontario Prospectus and Registration Exemptions and in Multilateral Instrument 45-107 Listing Representation and Statutory Rights of Action Disclosure Exemptions, as applicable, with a remedy for damages or rescission, or both, in addition to any other rights they may have at law, where the prospectus, or other offering document that constitutes a prospectus, and any amendment thereto, contains a “misrepresentation” as defined under applicable Canadian securities laws. These remedies, or notice with respect to these remedies, must be exercised or delivered, as the case may be, by the purchaser within the time limits prescribed under, and are subject to limitations and defences under, applicable Canadian securities legislation. In addition, these remedies are in addition to and without derogation from any other right or remedy available at law to the investor.
S-41

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Language of Documents
Upon receipt of this prospectus, each Canadian investor hereby confirms that it has expressly requested that all documents evidencing or relating in any way to the sale of the securities described herein (including for greater certainty any purchase confirmation or any notice) be drawn up in the English language only. Par la réception de ce document, chaque investisseur canadien confirme par les présentes qu’il a expressément exigé que tous les documents faisant foi ou se rapportant de quelque manière que ce soit à la vente des valeurs mobilières décrites aux présentes (incluant, pour plus de certitude, toute confirmation d’achat ou tout avis) soient rédigés en anglais seulement.
Notice to Prospective Investors in Israel
Sales of the Notes in Israel will be made through the underwriters and/or through an Israeli broker(s) engaged by them. The Notes will not be offered to an Israeli person unless such offeree is a “qualified investor” (as defined in the First Appendix to the Israeli Securities Law) who is not an individual (a “Qualified Israeli Investor”) and who has (x) completed and signed a questionnaire regarding qualification as a Qualified Israel Investor and (y) certified that it has an exemption from Israeli withholding taxes on interest.
Notice to Prospective Investors in Hong Kong
The contents of this prospectus have not been reviewed, approved or endorsed by any regulatory authority in Hong Kong. The Notes have not been offered or sold and will not be offered or sold in Hong Kong, by means of any document, other than (a) to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) of Hong Kong and any rules made under that Ordinance, or the professional investors; or (b) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” as defined in the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32) of Hong Kong or which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of that Ordinance. No advertisement, invitation or document relating to the Notes has been or may be issued or has been or may be in the possession of any person for the purposes of issue, whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere, which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public of Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to Notes which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors”. This prospectus is intended solely for the use of the person to whom it has been delivered for the purpose of evaluating a possible investment by the recipient in the Notes described herein, and is not to be reproduced or distributed to any other persons (other than professional advisors of the prospective investor receiving this prospectus).
S-42

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LEGAL MATTERS
Certain legal matters regarding the Notes offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Dechert LLP, Washington D.C., and certain legal matters in connection with this offering will be passed upon for the underwriters by Ropes & Gray LLP.
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus constitute part of a universal shelf registration statement on Form N-2 that we have filed with the SEC, together with any and all amendments and related exhibits, under the Securities Act. The registration statement contains additional information about us, our securities and the Notes being offered by this prospectus supplement. Statements contained herein concerning any document filed as an exhibit are not necessarily complete, and, in each instance, reference is made to the copy of such document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement. Each such statement is qualified in its entirety by such reference.
We file with or submit to the SEC annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information meeting the informational requirements of the Exchange Act. The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information filed electronically by us with the SEC, which are available free of charge on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. This information is also available free of charge by contacting us at 300 South Tryon Street, Suite 2500, Charlotte, North Carolina 28202, Attention: Corporate Secretary, on our website at https://ir.barings.com/sec-filings, or by calling us at (888) 401-1088. Information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, and you should not consider that information to be part of this prospectus or any prospectus supplement.
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
We incorporate by reference in this prospectus supplement the documents listed below and any reports and other documents we file with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this prospectus supplement and prior to the termination of this offering (such reports and other documents deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such reports and other documents); provided, however, that any document, report, exhibit (or portion of any of the foregoing) or other information “furnished” to the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act shall not be incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement:
our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on February 23, 2023;
our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2023, June 30, 2023 and September 30, 2023, filed with the SEC on May 4, 2023, August 9, 2023 and November 9, 2023, respectively;
those portions of our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on March 10, 2023, that are incorporated by reference in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022; and
our Current Reports on Form 8-K (other than information furnished rather than filed) filed with the SEC on April 4, 2023, May 4, 2023 and May 15, 2023.
Any statement contained in any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus supplement or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement modifies or supersedes such earlier statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus supplement.
We will provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a copy of this prospectus supplement is delivered, upon written or oral request of any such person, a copy of any or all of the information that has been incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement but not delivered with this prospectus supplement, excluding exhibits to a document unless an exhibit has been specifically incorporated by reference in that document. To obtain copies of these filings, see “Available Information” in this prospectus supplement.
S-43

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PROSPECTUS


BARINGS BDC, INC.
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Warrants
Subscription Rights
Debt Securities
Barings BDC, Inc. (the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is a closed-end, non-diversified investment company that has elected to be regulated as a business development company (“BDC”), under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (together with the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the “1940 Act”). We have elected for federal income tax purposes to be treated, and intend to qualify annually, as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).
We are externally managed by our investment adviser, Barings LLC (“Barings” or the “Adviser”). Our investment objective is to generate current income primarily by investing directly in privately-held middle-market companies to help these companies fund acquisitions, growth or refinancing. We use the term “middle market” to refer to companies with between $10.0 million and $75.0 million in annual earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, as adjusted (“Adjusted EBITDA”). While we focus our investments in private middle-market companies, we seek to invest across various industries and in both United States-based and foreign-based companies. Barings monitors our investment portfolio to ensure we have acceptable industry balance, using industry and market metrics as key indicators. To a lesser extent, we will invest opportunistically in assets such as, without limitation, equity, special situations, structured credit (e.g., private asset-backed securities), syndicated loan opportunities, high yield investments and/or mortgage securities.
We may offer, from time to time in one or more offerings or series, together or separately, an indefinite amount of our common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, subscription rights to purchase shares of our common stock, and/or warrants representing rights to purchase shares of our common stock, preferred stock or debt securities, which we refer to, collectively, as the “securities”. The preferred stock, debt securities, subscription rights and warrants offered hereby may be convertible or exchangeable into shares of our common stock. The securities may be offered at prices and on terms to be described in one or more supplements to this prospectus.
In the event we offer common stock, the net proceeds we receive on a per share basis, before offering expenses, will generally not be less than the net asset value (“NAV”) per share of our common stock at the time we make the offering. However, we may receive net proceeds on a per share basis, before offering expenses, that are less than our NAV per share (i) in connection with a rights offering to our existing stockholders, (ii) with the prior approval of the majority (as defined in the 1940 Act) of our common stockholders or (iii) under such other circumstances as the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) may permit. Our stockholders have in the past and may again approve our ability to sell shares of our common stock below our then current NAV per share in one or more public offerings of our common stock.
Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “BBDC.” The last reported closing price for our common stock on July 13, 2023 was $7.87 per share. The NAV of our common stock as of March 31, 2023 (the last date prior to the date of this prospectus as of which we determined NAV) was $11.17 per share. This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement contain important information you should know before investing in our securities. We will provide the specific terms of these offerings and securities in one or more supplements to this prospectus. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you in connection with these offerings. The prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus may also add, update, or change information contained in this prospectus. You should carefully read and retain for future reference this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement, and any related free writing prospectus, and the documents incorporated by reference, before buying any of the securities being offered. We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information about us with the SEC, which we incorporate by reference herein. See “Incorporation by Reference.” This information will be available by written or oral request and free of charge by contacting us at Barings BDC, Inc., 300 South Tryon Street, Suite 2500, Charlotte, North Carolina 28202, Attention: Corporate Secretary, on our website at https://ir.barings.com/sec-filings, or by calling us at (888) 401-1088. Information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and you should not consider that information to be a part of this prospectus. The SEC also maintains a website at http://www.sec.gov that contains this information.
Shares of closed-end investment companies that are listed on an exchange, including BDCs, frequently trade at a discount to their NAV per share. If our shares trade at a discount to our NAV, it may increase the risk of loss for purchasers in this offering.
Neither the SEC nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk, including credit risk and the risk of the use of leverage, and is highly speculative. The securities in which we invest will generally not be rated by any rating agency, and if they were rated, they would be below investment grade. These securities, which may be referred to as “junk,” have predominantly speculative characteristics with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal. Before buying any securities, you should read the discussion of the material risks of investing in our securities in “Risk Factors” beginning on page 12 of this prospectus.
This prospectus may not be used to consummate sales of securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.
The date of this prospectus is July 14, 2023.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

i

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of an automatic registration statement that we have filed with the SEC using the “shelf” registration process as a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Under this shelf registration statement, we may offer, from time to time in one or more offerings or series, an indefinite amount of our securities on terms to be determined at the time of the offering. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that we may offer. Each time we use this prospectus to offer securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering.
We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you that may contain material information relating to these offerings. In a prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, we may also add, update, or change any of the information contained in this prospectus or in the documents we incorporate by reference into this prospectus. This prospectus, together with the applicable prospectus supplement, any related free writing prospectus, and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, will include all material information relating to the applicable offering. Before buying any of the securities being offered, you should carefully read both this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, together with any exhibits and the additional information described in the sections titled “Available Information” and “Incorporation by Reference.”
This prospectus may contain estimates and information concerning our industry that are based on industry publications and reports. This information involves many assumptions and limitations, and you are cautioned not to give undue weight to these estimates. We have not independently verified the accuracy or completeness of the data contained in these industry publications and reports. The industry in which we operate is subject to a high degree of uncertainty and risk due to a variety of factors, including those described in the section titled “Risk Factors,” that could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in these publications and reports.
This prospectus includes summaries of certain provisions contained in some of the documents described in this prospectus, but reference is made to the actual documents for complete information. All of the summaries are qualified in their entirety by the actual documents. Copies of some of the documents referred to herein have been filed, will be filed, or will be incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and you may obtain copies of those documents as described in the section titled “Available Information.”
You should rely only on the information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or in any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. We have not authorized any dealer, salesperson or other person to provide you with different information or to make representations as to matters not stated in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or in any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. This prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you do not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities by any person in any jurisdiction where it is unlawful for that person to make such an offer or solicitation or to any person in any jurisdiction to whom it is unlawful to make such an offer or solicitation. You should not assume that the information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement or in any such free writing prospectus is accurate as of any date other than their respective dates.
ii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
This summary highlights information included elsewhere in this prospectus or incorporated by reference. It is not complete and may not contain all of the information that you should consider before making your investment decision. You should carefully read the entire prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement, and any related free writing prospectus, including the risks of investing in our securities discussed in the section titled “Risk Factors” below and in the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, and under similar headings in the other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Before making your investment decision, you should also carefully read the information incorporated by reference into this prospectus, including our financial statements and related notes, and the exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. Any yield information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus related to debt investments in our investment portfolio is not intended to approximate a return on your investment in us and does not take into account other aspects of our business, including our operating and other expenses, or other costs incurred by you in connection with your investment in us.
Except as otherwise indicated or where the context suggests otherwise, the terms:
“we,” “us,” “our” and the “Company” refer to Barings BDC, Inc., a Maryland corporation;
“Barings” refers to Barings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and our investment adviser and administrator; and
the “Adviser” and the “Administrator” refer to Barings, in its respective capacities as our investment adviser or our administrator.
Overview of Our Business
We are a closed-end, non-diversified investment company that has elected to be regulated as a BDC under the 1940 Act. We have elected for federal income tax purposes to be treated, and intend to qualify annually, as a RIC under the Code. We are organized as a Maryland corporation, which incorporated on October 10, 2006. Our headquarters are in Charlotte, North Carolina.
We are externally managed by our investment adviser, Barings. Beginning in August 2018, Barings shifted our investment focus to invest in syndicated senior secured loans, bonds and other fixed income securities. Since that time, Barings has transitioned our portfolio to primarily senior secured private debt investments in well-established middle-market businesses that operate across a wide range of industries. Barings’ existing SEC co-investment exemptive relief under the 1940 Act (the “Exemptive Relief”) permits us and Barings’ affiliated private and SEC-registered funds to co-invest in Barings-originated loans, which allows Barings to efficiently implement its senior secured private debt investment strategy for us.
Our investment objective is to generate current income primarily by investing directly in privately-held middle-market companies to help these companies fund acquisitions, growth or refinancing. We use the term “middle market” to refer to companies with between $10.0 million and $75.0 million in Adjusted EBITDA. Barings employs fundamental credit analysis, and targets investments in businesses with low levels of cyclicality (i.e., the risk of business cycles or other economic cycles adversely affecting them) and operating risk relative to other businesses in this market segment. The holding size of each position will generally be dependent upon a number of factors including total facility size, pricing and structure, and the number of other lenders in the facility. Barings has experience managing levered vehicles, both public and private, and seeks to enhance our returns through the use of leverage with a prudent approach that prioritizes capital preservation. Barings believes this strategy and approach offers attractive risk/return with lower volatility given the potential for fewer defaults and greater resilience through market cycles. While we focus our investments in private middle-market companies, we seek to invest across various industries and in both United States-based and foreign-based companies. Barings monitors our investment portfolio to ensure we have acceptable industry balance, using industry and market metrics as key indicators. To a lesser extent, we will invest opportunistically in assets such as, without limitation, equity, special situations, structured credit (e.g., private asset-backed securities), syndicated loan opportunities, high yield investments and/or mortgage securities.
Stockholder Approval of Reduced Asset Coverage Ratio
On July 24, 2018, our stockholders voted at a special meeting of stockholders (the “2018 Special Meeting”) to approve a proposal to authorize us to be subject to a reduced asset coverage ratio of at least 150% under the 1940 Act.
1

TABLE OF CONTENTS

As a result of the stockholder approval at the 2018 Special Meeting, effective July 25, 2018, our applicable asset coverage ratio under the 1940 Act has been decreased to 150% from 200%. As a result, we are permitted under the 1940 Act to incur indebtedness at a level which is more consistent with a portfolio of senior secured debt. As of March 31, 2023, our asset coverage ratio was 180.8%.
Relationship with Barings
Our investment adviser, Barings, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, is a leading global asset management firm and is registered with the SEC as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. Barings’ primary investment capabilities include fixed income, private credit, real estate, equity, and alternative investments. Subject to the overall supervision of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board” or “Board of Directors”), Barings’ Global Private Finance Group (“Barings GPFG”) manages our day-to-day operations, and provides investment advisory and management services to us. Barings GPFG is part of Barings’ $281.6 billion Global Fixed Income Platform (as of March 31, 2023) that invests in liquid, private and structured credit. Barings GPFG manages private funds and separately managed accounts, along with multiple traded closed-end funds and business development companies.
Among other things, pursuant to our third amended and restated investment advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”), Barings (i) determines the composition of our portfolio, the nature and timing of the changes therein and the manner of implementing such changes; (ii) identifies, evaluates and negotiates the structure of the investments made by us; (iii) executes, closes, services and monitors the investments that we make; (iv) determines the securities and other assets that we will purchase, retain or sell; (v) performs due diligence on prospective portfolio companies and (vi) provides us with such other investment advisory, research and related services as we may, from time to time, reasonably require for the investment of our funds.
Barings has entered into a personnel-sharing arrangement with its affiliate, Baring International Investment Limited (“BIIL”). BIIL is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Baring Asset Management Limited, which in turn is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Barings. Pursuant to this arrangement, certain employees of BIIL may serve as “associated persons” of Barings and, in this capacity, subject to the oversight and supervision of Barings, may provide research and related services, and discretionary investment management and trading services (including acting as portfolio managers) to us on behalf of Barings. This arrangement is based on no-action letters of the staff of the SEC that permit SEC-registered investment advisers to rely on and use the resources of advisory affiliates or “participating affiliates,” subject to the supervision of that SEC-registered investment adviser. BIIL is a “participating affiliate” of Barings, and the BIIL employees are “associated persons” of Barings.
Under the terms of an administration agreement (the “Administration Agreement”), Barings (in its capacity as our Administrator) performs (or oversees, or arranges for, the performance of) the administrative services necessary for our operation, including, but not limited to, office facilities, equipment, clerical, bookkeeping and record keeping services at such office facilities and such other services as Barings, subject to review by the Board, will from time to time determine to be necessary or useful to perform its obligations under the Administration Agreement. Barings also, on our behalf and subject to the Board’s oversight, arranges for the services of, and oversees, custodians, depositories, transfer agents, dividend disbursing agents, other stockholder servicing agents, accountants, attorneys, underwriters, brokers and dealers, corporate fiduciaries, insurers, banks and such other persons in any such other capacity deemed to be necessary or desirable. Barings is responsible for the financial and other records that we are required to maintain and will prepare all reports and other materials required to be filed with the SEC or any other regulatory authority.
Included in Barings GPFG is Barings North American Private Finance Team (the “U.S. Investment Team”), which consists of 51 investment professionals (as of March 31, 2023) located in three offices in the U.S. The U.S. Investment Team provides a full set of solutions to the North American middle market, including revolvers, first and second lien senior secured loans, unitranche structures, mezzanine debt and equity co-investments. The U.S. Investment Team averages over 20 years of industry experience at the Managing Director and Director level. In addition, Barings believes that it has best-in-class support personnel, including expertise in risk management, legal, accounting, tax, information technology and compliance, among others. We expect to benefit from the support provided by these personnel in our operations.
The Barings North American Private Finance investment committee (the “Investment Committee”), which is responsible for our investment origination and portfolio monitoring activities for middle-market companies in North America, consists of six members: Salman Mukhtar, Managing Director; Terry Harris, Managing Director and
2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Head of Global Private Finance Portfolio Management; Ian Fowler, Managing Director, Fund Portfolio Manager and Co-Head of Global Private Finance; Adam Wheeler, Managing Director, Co-Head of Global Private Finance; Mark Flessner, Managing Director and Fund Portfolio Manager; and Brian Baldwin, Managing Director. Collectively, the Investment Committee has over 160 years of industry experience, and each member averages approximately 27 years of industry experience. A majority of the votes cast at a meeting at which a majority of the members of the Investment Committee is present is required to approve all investments in new middle-market companies.
Terry Harris, Ian Fowler and Adam Wheeler (along with other Barings investment professionals) also sit on the European and Asia Pacific Investment Committees, which is responsible for our investment origination and portfolio monitoring activities for middle-market companies in European and Asia-Pacific geographies, affording them a unique relative value perspective across all of Barings’ investment geographies. Ian Fowler, Mark Flessner and Brian Baldwin have all worked together at prior firms including GE Capital, Freeport Financial and Harbour Group. Barings believes that the individual and shared experiences of these senior team members provides the Investment Committee with an appropriate balance of shared investment philosophy and difference of background and opinion.
Investment Strategy
We seek attractive returns by generating current income primarily from directly-originated debt investments in middle-market companies located primarily in the United States. We also have investments in middle-market companies located outside the United States. Our strategy includes the following components:
Leveraging Barings GPFG’s Origination and Portfolio Management Resources. As of March 31, 2023 Barings GPFG has over 100 investment professionals located in seven different offices in the U.S., Europe, Australia/New Zealand and Asia. These regional investment teams have been working together in their respective regions for a number of years and have extensive experience advising, investing in and lending to companies across changing market cycles. In addition, the individual members of these teams have diverse investment backgrounds, with prior experience at investment banks, commercial banks, and privately and publicly held companies. We believe this diverse experience provides an in-depth understanding of the strategic, financial and operational challenges and opportunities of middle-market companies.
Utilizing Long-Standing Relationships to Source Investments. Barings GPFG has worked diligently over decades to build strategic relationships with private equity firms globally. Based on Barings GPFG’s long history of providing consistent, predictable capital to middle-market sponsors, even in periods of market dislocation, Barings believes it has a reputation as a reliable partner. Barings also maintains extensive personal relationships with entrepreneurs, financial sponsors, attorneys, accountants, investment bankers, commercial bankers and other non-bank providers of capital who refer prospective portfolio companies to us. These relationships historically have generated significant investment opportunities. We believe that this network of relationships will continue to produce attractive investment opportunities.
Providing One-Stop Customized Financing Solutions. Barings believes that Barings GPFG’s ability to commit to and originate larger hold positions (in excess of $200 million) in a given transaction is a differentiator to middle-market private equity sponsors. In today’s market, it has become increasingly important to have the ability to underwrite an entire transaction, providing financial sponsors with certainty of close. Barings GPFG offers a variety of financing structures and has the flexibility to structure investments to meet the needs of our portfolio companies.
Applying Consistent Underwriting Policies and Active Portfolio Management. We believe robust due diligence on each investment is paramount due to the illiquid nature of a significant portion of our assets. With limited ability to liquidate holdings, private credit investors must take a longer-term, “originate-to-hold” investment approach. Barings has implemented underwriting policies and procedures that are followed for each potential transaction. This consistent and proven fundamental underwriting process includes a thorough analysis of each potential portfolio company’s competitive position, financial performance, management team operating discipline, growth potential and industry attractiveness, which Barings believes allows it to better assess the company’s prospects. After closing, Barings maintains ongoing access to both the sponsor and portfolio company management in order to closely monitor investments and suggest or require remedial actions as needed to avoid a default.
Maintaining Portfolio Diversification. While we focus our investments in middle-market companies, we seek to invest across various industries and in both United States-based and foreign-based companies.
3

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Barings monitors our investment portfolio to ensure we have acceptable industry balance, using industry and market metrics as key indicators. By monitoring our investment portfolio for industry balance, we seek to reduce the effects of economic downturns associated with any particular industry or market sector. Notwithstanding our intent to invest across a variety of industries, we may from time to time hold securities of a single portfolio company that comprise more than 5.0% of our total assets and/or more than 10.0% of the outstanding voting securities of the portfolio company. For that reason, we are classified as a non-diversified management investment company under the 1940 Act.
Other Investments. To a lesser extent, we will invest opportunistically in assets such as, without limitation, equity, special situations, structured credit (e.g., private asset-backed securities), syndicated loan opportunities, high yield investments and/or mortgage securities. Our special situation investments generally comprise of investments in stressed and distressed corporate debt instruments which are expected to include (but which are not limited to) senior secured loans (including assignments and participations), second lien loans and subordinated debt (including mezzanine and payment-in-kind (“PIK”) securities), secured floating rate notes and secured fixed rated notes, unsecured loans, unsecured senior and subordinated corporate bonds, debentures, notes, commercial paper, convertible debt obligations, equity investments (including preferred stock and common equity instruments), hedging arrangements, other forms of subordinated debt, structured credit (e.g., asset-backed securities) and equity instruments.
We generate revenues in the form of interest income, primarily from our investments in debt securities, loan origination and other fees and dividend income. Fees generated in connection with our debt investments are recognized over the life of the loan using the effective interest method or, in some cases, recognized as earned. Our senior secured, middle-market, private debt investments generally have terms of between five and seven years. Our senior secured, middle-market, first lien private debt investments generally bear interest between the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) (or the applicable currency rate for investments in foreign currencies) plus 475 basis points and SOFR plus 675 basis points per annum. Our subordinated middle-market, private debt investments generally bear interest between the SOFR (or the applicable currency rate for investments in foreign currencies) plus 700 basis points and SOFR plus 900 basis points per annum if floating rate, and between 8% and 15% if fixed rate. From time to time, certain of our investments may have a form of interest, referred to as PIK interest, which is not paid currently but is instead accrued and added to the loan balance and paid at the end of the term.
You should be aware that investments in our portfolio companies carry a number of risks including, but not limited to, investing in companies which may have limited operating histories and financial resources and other risks common to investing in below-investment-grade debt and equity investments in private, smaller companies. Please see “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Investments” in our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as in subsequent filings with the SEC, for a more complete discussion of the risks involved with investing in our portfolio companies.
Investment Criteria
We utilize the following criteria and guidelines in evaluating investment opportunities in middle market companies. However, not all of these criteria and guidelines have been, or will be, met in connection with each of our investments.
Established Companies With Positive Cash Flow. We seek to invest in later-stage or mature companies with a proven history of generating positive cash flows. We typically focus on companies with a history of profitability and trailing twelve-month Adjusted EBITDA ranging from $10.0 million to $75.0 million.
Experienced Management Teams. Based on our prior investment experience, we believe that a management team with significant experience with a portfolio company or relevant industry experience is essential to the long-term success of the portfolio company. We believe management teams with these attributes are more likely to manage the companies in a manner that protects our debt investment.
Strong Competitive Position. We seek to invest in companies that have developed strong positions within their respective markets, are well positioned to capitalize on growth opportunities and compete in industries with barriers to entry. We also seek to invest in companies that exhibit a competitive advantage, which may help to protect their market position and profitability.
4

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Varied Customer and Supplier Bases. We prefer to invest in companies that have varied customer and supplier bases. Companies with varied customer and supplier bases are generally better able to endure economic downturns, industry consolidation and shifting customer preferences.
Significant Invested Capital. We believe the existence of significant underlying equity value provides important support to investments. We seek to identify portfolio companies that we believe have well-structured capital beyond the layer of the capital structure in which we invest.
Investment Process
Our investment origination and portfolio monitoring activities for middle-market companies are performed by Barings GPFG. The Investment Committee at Barings GPFG is responsible for all aspects of our investment process for investments in middle-market companies; however, other investment committees within Barings are primarily responsible for the investment process for our opportunistic investments in special situations, structured credit (e.g., private asset-backed securities), high-yield investments and mortgage securities. Each of Barings’ investment processes is designed to maximize risk-adjusted returns, minimize non-performing assets and avoid investment losses. In addition, the investment process is also designed to provide sponsors and/or prospective portfolio companies with efficient and predictable deal execution.
Please see “Item 1. Business – Investment Process” in Part I of our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as in subsequent filings with the SEC, for more information regarding our investment process.
Competition
We compete for investments with a number of investment funds including public funds, private debt funds and private equity funds, other BDCs, as well as traditional financial services companies such as commercial banks and other sources of financing. Some of these entities have greater financial and managerial resources than we do. In addition, some of our competitors may have higher risk tolerances or different risk assessments, which could allow them to consider more investments and establish more relationships than we do. Furthermore, many of our competitors are not subject to the regulatory restrictions that the 1940 Act imposes on us as a BDC.
We use the expertise of the investment professionals of Barings to assess investment risks and determine appropriate pricing for our investments in portfolio companies. We believe the relationship we have with Barings enables us to learn about, and compete for financing opportunities with companies in middle-market businesses that operate across a wide range of industries. For additional information concerning the competitive risks we face, see “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Our Business and Structure” in our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as in subsequent filings with the SEC.
Summary Risk Factors
The following is a summary of the principal risk factors associated with an investment in our securities:
We are dependent upon Barings’ access to its investment professionals for our success.
Our investment portfolio is and will continue to be recorded at fair value as determined in accordance with the Adviser’s valuation policies and procedures and, as a result, there is and will continue to be uncertainty as to the value of our portfolio investments.
We operate in a highly competitive market for investment opportunities, which could reduce returns and result in losses.
There are potential conflicts of interest, including the management of other investment funds and accounts by Barings, which could impact our investment returns.
The fee structure under the Advisory Agreement may induce Barings to pursue speculative investments and incur leverage, which may not be in the best interests of our stockholders.
Regulations governing our operation as a BDC will affect our ability to, and the way in which we, raise additional capital.
Our financing agreements contain various covenants, which, if not complied with, could accelerate our repayment obligations thereunder, thereby materially and adversely affecting our liquidity, financial condition, results of operations and ability to pay distributions.
5

TABLE OF CONTENTS

We are exposed to risks associated with changes in interest rates.
Inflation could adversely affect the business, results of operations, and financial conditions of our portfolio companies.
Incurring additional leverage may magnify our exposure to risks associated with changes in leverage, including fluctuations in interest rates that could adversely affect our profitability.
Prepayments of our debt investments by our portfolio companies could adversely impact our results of operations and reduce our return on equity.
Our investments in portfolio companies may be risky, and we could lose all or part of our investment.
Shares of closed-end investment companies, including BDCs, frequently trade at a discount to their net asset value, and may trade at premiums that may prove to be unsustainable.
Our business is subject to numerous risks, as described in the section titled “Risk Factors” in the applicable prospectus supplement and in any free writing prospectuses we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering, and under similar headings in the documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, including the section titled “Risk Factors” included in our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as well as in subsequent filings with the SEC.
Dividend Reinvestment Plan
We have adopted a dividend reinvestment plan that provides for reinvestment of our distributions on behalf of our common stockholders, unless a common stockholder elects to receive cash as provided below. As a result, if the Board authorizes, and we declare, a cash dividend, then our common stockholders who have not “opted out” of our dividend reinvestment plan will have their cash dividends automatically reinvested in additional shares of our common stock, rather than receiving the cash dividends. For more information, see “Dividend Reinvestment Plan.”
Available Information
Our and Barings’ principal executive offices are located at 300 South Tryon Street, Suite 2500, Charlotte, North Carolina 28202. Our telephone number is (704) 805-7200.
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). The information we file with the SEC is available free of charge by contacting us at 300 South Tryon Street, Suite 2500, Charlotte, North Carolina 28202, by telephone at (704) 805-7200 or on our website at https://ir.barings.com/sec-filings. The SEC also maintains a website that contains reports, proxy statements and other information regarding registrants, including us, that file such information electronically with the SEC. The address of the SEC’s website is http://www.sec.gov. Information contained on our website is not incorporated into this prospectus or any related prospectus supplement, and you should not consider information contained on our website to be part of this prospectus or any related prospectus supplement.
6

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FEES AND EXPENSES
The following table is intended to assist you in understanding the fees and expenses that an investor in this offering will bear directly or indirectly. We caution you that some of the percentages indicated in the table below are estimates and may vary. The expenses shown in the table under “annual expenses” are based on estimated amounts for our current fiscal year. The following table should not be considered a representation of our future expenses. Actual expenses may be greater or less than shown. Except where the context suggests otherwise, whenever this prospectus contains a reference to fees or expenses paid by “you,” “us” or “the Company,” or that “we” will pay fees or expenses, our stockholders will indirectly bear such fees or expenses as our investors.
Stockholder transaction expenses (as a percentage of offering price):
 
Sales load
(1)
Offering expenses
(2)
Dividend reinvestment plan expenses
None(3)
Total stockholder transaction expenses
%

 

Annual expenses (as a percentage of net assets attributable to common stock):(4)
 
Base management fee
2.6%(5)
Incentive fees payable under the Advisory Agreement
3.2%(6)
Interest payments on borrowed funds
6.3%(7)
Other expenses
0.9%(8)
Acquired fund fees and expenses
(9)
Total annual expenses
13.0%
(1)
In the event that the securities to which this prospectus relates are sold to or through underwriters or agents, a corresponding prospectus supplement will disclose the applicable sales load.
(2)
The prospectus supplement corresponding to each offering will disclose the estimated amount of offering expenses, the offering price and the offering expenses borne by us as a percentage of the offering price.
(3)
The estimated expenses associated with the administration of the dividend reinvestment plan are included in “Other expenses.” For additional information, see “Dividend Reinvestment Plan.”
(4)
Net assets attributable to common stock equals net assets as of March 31, 2023.
(5)
Pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, the base management fee is 1.25% of our average gross assets, including our credit support agreements and assets purchased with borrowed funds or other forms of leverage, but excluding cash and cash equivalents, at the end of the two most recently completed calendar quarters prior to the quarter for which such fees are being calculated. The fee table above shows the base management fee as a percentage of net assets as required by the SEC. See “Management Agreements.”
(6)
Our incentive fee consists of two parts: (1) a portion based on our pre-incentive fee net investment income (the “Income-Based Fee”) and (2) a portion based on the net capital gains received on our portfolio of securities on a cumulative basis for each calendar year, net of all realized capital losses and all unrealized capital depreciation for that same calendar year (the “Capital Gains Fee”).
i.
The Income-Based Fee is determined and paid quarterly in arrears based on the amount by which (x) the aggregate “Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income” (as defined below) in respect of the current calendar quarter and the eleven preceding calendar quarters beginning with the calendar quarter that commences on or after January 1, 2021, as the case may be (or the appropriate portion thereof in the case of any of the Company’s first eleven calendar quarters that commences on or after January 1, 2021) (in either case, the “Trailing Twelve Quarters”) exceeds (y) the Hurdle Amount (as defined below) in respect of the Trailing Twelve Quarters. The Hurdle Amount will be determined on a quarterly basis, and will be calculated by multiplying 2.0625% (8.25% annualized) by the aggregate of our NAV at the beginning of each applicable calendar quarter comprising the relevant Trailing Twelve Quarters. For this purpose, “Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income” means interest income, dividend income and any other income (including, without limitation, any accrued income that we have not yet received in cash and any other fees such as commitment, origination, structuring, diligence and consulting fees or other fees that we receive from portfolio companies) accrued during the calendar quarter, minus our operating expenses accrued during the calendar quarter (including, without limitation, the base management fee, administration expenses and any interest expense and dividends paid on any issued and outstanding preferred stock, but excluding the Income-Based Fee and the Capital Gains Fee). For the avoidance of doubt, Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income does not include any realized capital gains, realized capital losses or unrealized capital appreciation or depreciation.
The calculation of the Income-Based Fee for each quarter is as follows:
A.
No Income-Based Fee will be payable to Barings in any calendar quarter in which our aggregate Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income for the Trailing Twelve Quarters does not exceed the Hurdle Amount;
B.
100% of our aggregate Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income for the Trailing Twelve Quarters, if any, that exceeds the Hurdle Amount but is less than or equal to an amount (the “Catch-Up Amount”) determined on a quarterly basis by multiplying 2.578125% (10.3125% annualized) by the aggregate of our NAV at the beginning of each applicable calendar quarter comprising the relevant Trailing Twelve Quarters. The Catch-Up Amount is intended to provide Barings with an incentive fee of 20% on all of our Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income when our Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income reaches the Catch-Up Amount for the Trailing Twelve Quarters; and
7

TABLE OF CONTENTS

C.
For any quarter in which our aggregate Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income for the Trailing Twelve Quarters exceeds the Catch-Up Amount, the Income-Based Fee shall equal 20% of the amount of our aggregate Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income for such Trailing Twelve Quarters, as the Hurdle Amount and Catch-Up Amount will have been achieved.
Subject to the Incentive Fee Cap described below, the amount of the Income-Based Fee that will be paid to Barings for a particular quarter equals the excess of the aggregate Income-Based Fee so calculated less the aggregate Income-Based Fees that were paid to Barings in the preceding eleven calendar quarters (or portion thereof) comprising the relevant Trailing Twelve Quarters.
The Income-Based Fee is subject to a cap (the “Incentive Fee Cap”). The Incentive Fee Cap in any quarter is an amount equal to (a) 20% of the Cumulative Pre-Incentive Fee Net Return (as defined below) during the relevant Trailing Twelve Quarters less (b) the aggregate Income-Based Fee that were paid to Barings in the preceding eleven calendar quarters (or portion thereof) comprising the relevant Trailing Twelve Quarters. For this purpose, “Cumulative Pre-Incentive Fee Net Return” during the relevant Trailing Twelve Quarters means (x) Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income in respect of the Trailing Twelve Quarters less (y) any Net Capital Loss, if any, in respect of the Trailing Twelve Quarters. If, in any quarter, the Incentive Fee Cap is zero or a negative value, we will pay no Income-Based Fee to Barings in that quarter. If, in any quarter, the Incentive Fee Cap is a positive value but is less than the Income-Based Fee calculated in accordance with paragraph (i) above, we will pay Barings the Incentive Fee Cap for such quarter. If, in any quarter, the Incentive Fee Cap is equal to or greater than the Income-Based Fee calculated in accordance with paragraph (i) above, we will pay Barings the Income-Based Fee for such quarter.
“Net Capital Loss” in respect of a particular period means the difference, if positive, between (i) aggregate capital losses on our assets, whether realized or unrealized, in such period and (ii) aggregate capital gains or other gains on our assets (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the value ascribed to any credit support arrangement in our financial statements even if such value is not categorized as a gain therein), whether realized or unrealized, in such period.
ii.
The Capital Gains Fee is determined and payable in arrears as of the end of each calendar year (or upon termination of the Advisory Agreement), commencing with the calendar year ended on December 31, 2018, and is calculated at the end of each applicable year by subtracting (A) the sum of our cumulative aggregate realized capital losses and aggregate unrealized capital depreciation from (B) our cumulative aggregate realized capital gains, in each case calculated from August 2, 2018. If such amount is positive at the end of such year, then the Capital Gains Fee payable for such year is equal to 20% of such amount, less the cumulative aggregate amount of Capital Gains Fees paid in all prior years commencing with the calendar year ended on December 31, 2018. If such amount is negative, then there is no Capital Gains Fee payable for such year. If the Advisory Agreement is terminated as of a date that is not a calendar year end, the termination date will be treated as though it were a calendar year end for purposes of calculating and paying a Capital Gains Fee.
Under the Advisory Agreement, the “cumulative aggregate realized capital gains” are calculated as the sum of the differences, if positive, between (a) the net sales price of each investment in our portfolio when sold and (b) the accreted or amortized cost basis of such investment. The cumulative aggregate realized capital losses are calculated as the sum of the differences, if negative, between (a) the net sales price of each investment in our portfolio when sold and (b) the accreted or amortized cost basis of such investment. The aggregate unrealized capital depreciation is calculated as the sum of the differences, if negative, between (a) the valuation of each investment in our portfolio as of the applicable Capital Gains Fee calculation date and (b) the accreted or amortized cost basis of such investment. Under the Advisory Agreement, the “accreted or amortized cost basis of an investment” means the accreted or amortized cost basis of such investment as reflected in our financial statements.
See “Management Agreements.”
(7)
Interest payments on borrowed funds represents an estimate of our annualized interest expense based on our total borrowings as of March 31, 2023. At March 31, 2023, the weighted average effective interest rate for total outstanding debt was 5.07%. We may borrow additional funds from time to time to make investments to the extent we determine that the economic situation is conducive to doing so. We may also issue preferred stock, subject to our compliance with applicable requirements under the 1940 Act.
(8)
“Other expenses” include expenses incurred under the Administration Agreement between us and Barings, Board fees, directors and officers insurance costs, as well as legal and accounting expenses. The percentage presented in the table reflects actual amounts incurred during the three months ended March 31, 2023 on an annualized basis. See “Management Agreements.”
(9)
Our stockholders indirectly bear the expenses of underlying funds or other investment vehicles in which we invest.
Example
The following example demonstrates the projected dollar amount of total cumulative expenses that would be incurred over various periods with respect to a hypothetical investment in our common stock. In calculating the following expense amounts, we have assumed that the Company would have no additional leverage and that its annual operating expenses would remain at the levels set forth in the tables above.
 
1 year
3 years
5 years
10 years
You would pay the following expenses on a $1,000 common stock investment, assuming a 5% annual return (assumes no return from net realized capital gains or net unrealized capital appreciation)
$98
$280
$447
$808
You would pay the following expenses on a $1,000 common stock investment, assuming a 5% annual return resulting entirely from net realized capital gains (and thus subject to the Capital Gains Fee)
$108
$306
$481
$838
The foregoing tables are to assist you in understanding the various costs and expenses that an investor in our common stock will bear directly or indirectly. While the example assumes, as required by the SEC, a 5% annual return, our performance will vary and may result in a return greater or less than 5%. The incentive fee under the
8

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Advisory Agreement, assuming a 5% annual return, would either not be payable or have an immaterial impact on the expense amounts shown above in the example where there is no return from net realized capital gains, and thus are not included in such example. Under the Advisory Agreement, no incentive fee would be payable if we have a 5% annual return with no capital gains, however, there would be incentive fees payable in the example where the entire return is derived from realized capital gains. If sufficient returns are achieved on investments, including through the realization of capital gains, to trigger an incentive fee of a material amount, expenses, and returns to investors, would be higher. The example assumes that all dividends and other distributions are reinvested at NAV. Under certain circumstances, reinvestment of dividends and other distributions under the relevant dividend reinvestment plan may occur at a price per share that differs from NAV. See “Dividend Reinvestment Plan” for additional information regarding our dividend investment plan.
This example should not be considered a representation of our future expenses, and actual expenses (including the cost of debt, if any, and other expenses) may be greater or less than those shown.
 
 
9

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The financial data as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and each of the ten years ended December 31, 2022 is set forth in the table below. The financial data in the below table for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020 was audited by KPMG LLP and their report thereon is incorporated by reference herein. The financial data in the below table for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 was audited by Ernst & Young LLP and their report thereon is incorporated by reference herein. The financial data set forth in the following table as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2023 has been derived from unaudited financial data, but in the opinion of our management, reflects all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) that are necessary to present fairly the results for such interim periods. Interim results at and for the three months ended March 31, 2023 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2023. You should read these financial highlights in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, our most recently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and any subsequent filings we have made with the SEC that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, together with other information in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement.
Per Share Data:
($ in thousands,
except share and
per share amounts)
For the Three
Months Ended
March 31, 2023
For the Years Ended December 31,
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
Net asset value, at beginning of period
$11.05
$11.36
$10.99
$11.66
$10.98
$13.43
$15.13
$15.23
$16.11
$16.10
$15.30
Net investment income(1)
0.25
1.12
0.90
0.64
0.61
1.55
1.62
2.16
2.08
2.23
Net realized gains (losses) from investments / foreign currency transactions(1)
(0.08)
0.16
(0.05)
(0.79)
(0.08)
(3.17)
(1.11)
0.05
(0.83)
0.46
0.67
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments / CSA/ foreign currency(1)
0.20
(1.20)
0.34
0.38
0.64
1.08
(1.04)
(0.72)
0.17
(1.48)
0.08
Total increase (decrease) from investment operations(1)
0.37
0.08
1.19
0.23
1.17
(2.09)
(0.60)
0.95
1.50
1.06
2.98
Dividends paid to stockholders from net investment income
(0.25)
(0.95)
(0.79)
(0.65)
(0.54)
(0.41)
(1.65)
(1.89)
(2.11)
(1.88)
(2.14)
Dividends paid to stockholders from realized games
(0.25)
(0.68)
(0.02)
Tax return of capital to stockholders
(0.03)
(0.02)
Total dividends paid
(0.25)
(0.95)
(0.82)
(0.65)
(0.54)
(0.43)
(1.65)
(1.89)
(2.36)
(2.56)
(2.16)
Common stock offerings
(0.63)
0.61
0.72
1.49
Deemed contribution - CSA
0.40
0.28
Deemed contribution - Barings LLC
0.07
Purchase of shares in tender offer
0.13
Purchase of shares in share repurchase plan
0.06
0.05
0.07
Sierra Merger(7)
0.10
Stock-based compensation(1)
0.17
(0.01)
0.09
0.01
(0.03)
Shares issued pursuant to Dividend Reinvestment Plan
0.01
0.04
0.03
0.04
0.04
Loss on extinguishment of debt(1)
(0.06)
(0.01)
(0.21)
(0.04)
(0.01)
Benefit from (provision for) taxes(1)
(0.01)
0.02
(0.02)
(0.01)
(0.01)
(0.10)
(0.02)
Other(2)
0.04
(0.04)
(0.04)
(0.01)
0.08
Net asset value, end of period
$11.17
$11.05
$11.36
$10.99
$11.66
$10.98
$13.43
$15.13
$15.23
$16.11
$16.10
Market value at end of period(3)
$7.94
$8.15
$11.02
$9.20
$10.28
$9.01
$9.49
$18.34
$19.11
$20.29
$27.65
10

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Per Share Data:
($ in thousands,
except share and
per share amounts)
For the Three
Months Ended
March 31, 2023
For the Years Ended December 31,
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
Ratio/Supplemental Data:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Shares outstanding at end of period
107,916,166
107,916,166
65,316,085
65,316,085
48,950,803
51,284,064
47,740,832
40,401,292
33,375,126
32,950,288
27,697,483
Net assets at end of period
$1,205,001
$1,192,329
$741,931
$717,805
$570,875
$562,967
$641,275
$611,156
$508,368
$530,827
$445,792
Average net assets
$1,205,207
$1,184,591
$739,250
$517,740
$579,199
$628,155
$667,188
$556,549
$524,580
$482,679
$434,926
Ratio of total expenses, prior to waiver of base management fee, including loss on extinguishment of debt and benefit from (provision for) taxes, to average net assets(4)
13.20%
8.80%
10.33%
8.33%
7.90%
14.54%
7.74%
9.93%
9.81%
9.45%
9.30%
Ratio of total expenses, net of base management fee waived, including loss on extinguishment of debt and benefit from (provision for) taxes, to average net assets(4)
13.20%
8.80%
10.33%
8.33%
7.90%
14.31%
7.74%
9.93%
9.81%
9.45%
9.30%
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets
9.13%
9.76%
7.98%
5.99%
5.27%
(0.01%)
10.83%
10.58%
13.65%
12.85%
14.15%
Portfolio turnover ratio(5)
2.56%
43.07%
68.63%
67.80%
113.99%
228.49%
37.02%
24.61%
37.62%
29.21%
25.96%
Total return(6)
0.59%
(18.35%)
29.34%
(2.17%)
20.27%
18.18%
(42.15%)
5.86%
5.82%
(17.36%)
16.95%
(1)
Based on weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period.
(2)
Represents the impact of the different share amounts used in calculating per share data as a result of calculating certain per share data based upon the weighted average basic shares outstanding during the period and certain per share data based on the shares outstanding as of a period end or transaction date.
(3)
Represents the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the last day of the period.
(4)
Does not include expenses of underlying investment companies, including joint ventures and short-term investments. March 31, 2023 is annualized.
(5)
Portfolio turnover ratio as of December 31, 2022, 2021 and 2020 excludes the impact of short-term investments. Portfolio turnover ratio as of December 31, 2020 excludes the impact of the Company's acquisition of MVC Capital, Inc. (“MVC”) (the “MVC Acquisition”). Portfolio ratio as of December 31, 2022 excludes the impact of the Company’s acquisition of Sierra Income Corporation on February 25, 2022 (the “Sierra Acquisition”).
(6)
Total return is based on purchase of stock at the current market price on the first day and a sale at the current market price on the last day of each period reported on the table and assumes reinvestment of dividends at prices obtained by the Company's dividend reinvestment plan during the period.
(7)
Includes the impact of share issuance and deemed contribution from Barings LLC associated with the Sierra Acquisition.
11

TABLE OF CONTENTS

RISK FACTORS
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before deciding whether to invest in our securities, you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described in the section titled “Risk Factors” in the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, and discussed in the sections titled “Risk Factors” in our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, our most recently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and any subsequent filings we have made with the SEC that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, together with other information in this prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference, and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize for use in connection with an offering pursuant to this prospectus. The risks described in these documents are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties that we are unaware of, or that we currently believe are not material, may also become important factors that adversely affect our business. Past financial performance may not be a reliable indicator of future performance, and historical trends should not be used to anticipate results or trends in future periods. If any of these risks actually occurs, our business, reputation, financial condition, results of operations, revenue, and future prospects could be seriously harmed. This could cause our NAV and the trading price of our securities to decline, resulting in a loss of all or part of your investment. Please also read carefully the section titled “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”
12

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The information in “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of