Registration No. 333-

 

Barings BDC, Inc. (the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is offering to exchange all of its outstanding 3.300% Notes due 2026 (the “Restricted Notes”) that were issued in transactions not requiring registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), on November 23, 2021, for an equal aggregate principal amount of its new 3.300% Notes due 2026 (the “Exchange Notes”) that have been registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the 1933 Act. We refer to the Restricted Notes and the Exchange Notes collectively as the “Notes.”

If you participate in the exchange offer, you will receive Exchange Notes for your Restricted Notes that are validly tendered. The terms of the Exchange Notes are substantially identical to those of the Restricted Notes, except that the transfer restrictions and registration rights relating to the Restricted Notes will not apply to the Exchange Notes, and the Exchange Notes will not provide for the payment of additional interest in the event of a registration default. In addition, the Exchange Notes will bear a different CUSIP number than the Restricted Notes.

The exchange offer expires at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on    , 2022, unless extended.

We will exchange all Restricted Notes that are validly tendered and not withdrawn prior to the expiration of the exchange offer for Exchange Notes. You may withdraw tendered Restricted Notes at any time prior to the expiration of the exchange offer.

The only conditions to completing the exchange offer are that the exchange offer not violate any applicable law or applicable interpretation of the staff of the SEC and that no injunction, order or decree has been or is issued that would prohibit, prevent or materially impair our ability to complete the exchange offer.

We will not receive any cash proceeds from the exchange offer.

There is no active trading market for the Restricted Notes, and we do not intend to list the Exchange Notes on any securities exchange or to seek approval for quotations through any automated dealer quotation system.

Investing in the Exchange Notes involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 11 of this prospectus.

Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Notes for its own account pursuant to the exchange offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Notes. This prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of Exchange Notes received in exchange for Restricted Notes where such Restricted Notes were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. Broker-dealers who acquired Restricted Notes directly from us in the initial offering of the Restricted Notes must, in the absence of an exemption, comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any secondary resales and cannot rely on the position of the staff enunciated in Exxon Capital Holdings Corp., SEC no-action letter (publicly available May 13, 1988).

Neither the SEC nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the Exchange Notes or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this prospectus is    , 2022

No dealer, salesperson or other person is authorized to give any information or to represent anything not contained in this prospectus. You must not rely on any unauthorized information or representations. This prospectus is an offer to sell only the Exchange Notes offered hereby, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. The information contained in this prospectus is current only as of its date.

This prospectus incorporates important business and financial information about us that is not included in or delivered with the document. This information is available without charge to security holders upon written request at:

Barings BDC, Inc.

300 South Tryon Street, Suite 2500

Charlotte, NC 28202

Attention: Secretary

To obtain timely delivery, you must request information no later than five business days prior to the expiration of the exchange offer, which expiration is 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on   , 2022.

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are not making an offer of the Exchange Notes in any state or other jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of this prospectus.

Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Notes for its own account in the exchange offer for Restricted Notes that were acquired as a result of market-making or other trading activities must acknowledge that it will comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the 1933 Act in connection with any resale or other transfer of the Exchange Notes received in the exchange offer. The accompanying letter of transmittal relating to the Exchange Offer states that, by so acknowledging and delivering a prospectus, such broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” of the Exchange Notes within the meaning of the 1933 Act. This prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by such broker-dealer in connection with resales or other transfers of Exchange Notes received in the exchange offer for Restricted Notes that were acquired by the broker-dealer as a result of market-making or other trading activities.

In addition to the other information included in this prospectus, you should carefully consider the risks described under “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and under “Risk Factors” set forth in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, and any updates to those risks contained in the Company’s subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC, all of which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus, other than as specified, and the following risks before investing in the Exchange Notes. Any of the risks and uncertainties discussed below and in the documents referred to above could be exacerbated by the effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The Exchange Notes are not secured by any of our assets or any of the assets of our subsidiaries. As a result, the Exchange Notes are effectively subordinated to any secured indebtedness we or our subsidiaries have outstanding as of the date of this prospectus 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 Exchange Notes. As of June 30, 2022, our total consolidated indebtedness was approximately $1.539 billion and $814.4 million of which was secured.

The Exchange Notes are obligations exclusively of the Company and not of any of our subsidiaries. None of our subsidiaries is a guarantor of the Exchange Notes and the Exchange 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 Exchange 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 Exchange Notes are 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 is structurally senior to the Exchange Notes. In addition, our subsidiaries may incur substantial additional indebtedness in the future, all of which would be structurally senior to the Exchange Notes.

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 Exchange Notes. These credit ratings may not reflect the potential impact of risks relating to the structure or marketing of the Exchange 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 initial purchaser undertakes any obligation to maintain our credit ratings or to advise holders of the Exchange Notes of any changes in our credit ratings.

The Exchange Notes are subject to periodic review by independent credit rating agencies. Such ratings are limited in scope and do not address all material risks relating to an investment in the Exchange Notes, but rather reflect only the view of each rating agency at the time the rating is issued. An explanation of the significance of such rating may be obtained from such rating agency. There can be no assurance that their respective credit ratings will remain for any given period of time or that such credit ratings will not be lowered or withdrawn entirely by the applicable ratings agency if in its judgment future circumstances relating to the basis of the credit rating, such as adverse changes in our business, financial condition and results of operations, so warrant.

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 Exchange Notes. In general, as market interest rates rise, debt securities bearing interest at fixed rates of interest decline in value. Consequently, if you purchase Exchange Notes bearing interest at fixed rates and market interest rates increase, the market values of those Exchange Notes may decline. We cannot predict the future level of market interest rates.

The Indenture governing the Exchange Notes offers limited protection to holders of the Exchange Notes. The terms of the Indenture and the Exchange Notes do not restrict our or any of our subsidiaries’ ability to engage in, or otherwise be a party to, a variety of corporate transactions, circumstances or events that could have an adverse impact on your investment in the Exchange Notes. In particular, the terms of the Indenture and the Exchange Notes do not place any restrictions on our or our subsidiaries’ ability to:

In addition, the terms of the Indenture and the Exchange Notes do not protect holders of the Exchange 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 Exchange Notes—Events of Default” in this prospectus.

Our ability to recapitalize, incur additional debt and take a number of other actions are not limited by the terms of the Exchange Notes and may have important consequences for you as a holder of the Exchange Notes, including making it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations with respect to the Exchange Notes or negatively affecting the trading value of the Exchange Notes.

Other debt we issue or incur in the future could contain more protections for its holders than the Indenture and the Exchange Notes, including additional covenants and events of default. See “Item 1A.—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 the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. The issuance or incurrence of any such debt with incremental protections could affect the market for and trading levels and prices of the Exchange Notes.

The Exchange 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 Exchange Notes at times when prevailing interest rates are lower than the interest rate paid on the Exchange 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 Exchange Notes being redeemed.

The Exchange Notes are a new issue of debt securities for which there currently is no trading market. We do not currently intend to apply for listing of the Exchange Notes on any securities exchange or for quotation of the Exchange Notes on any automated dealer quotation system. If no active trading market develops, you may not be able to resell your Exchange Notes at their fair market value or at all. If the Exchange Notes are traded after their initial issuance, they may trade at a discount from their initial offering price depending on prevailing interest rates, the market for similar securities, our credit ratings, general economic conditions, our financial condition, performance and prospects and other factors. Certain of the initial purchasers in the private offerings of the outstanding Restricted Notes have advised us that they intend to make a market in the Exchange Notes as permitted by applicable laws and regulations; however, the initial purchasers are not obligated to make a market in any of the Exchange Notes, and they may discontinue their market-making activities at any time without notice. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that an active and liquid trading market will develop or continue for the Exchange Notes, that you will be able to sell your Exchange 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 Exchange Notes may be harmed. Accordingly, you may be required to bear the financial risk of an investment in the Exchange Notes for an indefinite period of time.

We may not be able to repurchase the Exchange 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 Exchange Notes may require us to repurchase for cash some or all of the Exchange Notes at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Exchange Notes being repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the repurchase date. Our failure to purchase such tendered Exchange Notes upon the occurrence of such Change of Control Repurchase Event would cause an event of default under the Indenture governing the Exchange 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 Exchange Notes. See “Description of the Exchange Notes—Offer to Repurchase Upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event” in this prospectus for additional information.

Payments made under the Exchange Notes to a foreign financial institution or non-financial foreign entity (including such an institution or entity acting as an intermediary) may be subject to a U.S. withholding tax of 30% under U.S. Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) (commonly referred to as “FATCA”). This withholding tax may apply to certain payments of interest on the Exchange Notes unless the foreign financial institution or non-financial foreign entity complies with certain information reporting, withholding, identification, certification and related requirements imposed by FATCA. You should consult your own tax advisors regarding FATCA and how it may affect your investment in the Exchange Notes.

Restricted Notes that you do not validly tender or that we do not accept will, following the exchange offer, continue to be restricted securities, and you may not offer to sell them except under an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws. We will issue the Exchange Notes in exchange for the Restricted Notes in the exchange offer only following the satisfaction of the procedures and conditions set forth in “The Exchange Offer—Procedures for Tendering Restricted Notes.” Because we anticipate that most holders of the Restricted Notes will elect to exchange their outstanding Restricted Notes, we expect that the liquidity of the market for the Restricted Notes remaining after the completion of the exchange offer will be substantially limited, which may have an adverse effect upon and increase the volatility of the market price of the outstanding Restricted Notes. Any Restricted Notes tendered and exchanged in the exchange offer will reduce the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Restricted Notes at maturity. Further, following the exchange offer, if you did not exchange your Restricted Notes, you generally will not have any further registration rights, and Restricted Notes will continue to be subject to certain transfer restrictions.

Any broker-dealer that (1) exchanges its Restricted Notes in the exchange offer for the purpose of participating in a distribution of the Exchange Notes or (2) resells Exchange Notes that were received by it for its own account in the exchange offer may be deemed to have received restricted securities and will be required to comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the 1933 Act in connection with any resale transaction by that broker-dealer. Any profit on the resale of the Exchange Notes and any commission or concessions received by a broker-dealer may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under the 1933 Act.

We will issue the Exchange Notes in exchange for your Restricted Notes only if you validly tender such Restricted Notes before expiration of the exchange offer. Neither we nor the exchange agent is under any duty to give notification of defects or irregularities with respect to the tenders of the Restricted Notes for exchange. If you are the beneficial holder of Restricted Notes that are held through your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, and you wish to tender such Restricted Notes in the exchange offer, you should promptly contact the person through whom your Restricted Notes are held and instruct that person to tender the Restricted Notes on your behalf.

We will not receive any cash proceeds from the issuance of the Exchange Notes pursuant to the exchange offer. In consideration for issuing the Exchange Notes as contemplated in this prospectus, we will receive in exchange a like principal amount of Restricted Notes, the terms of which are substantially identical to the Exchange Notes. The Restricted Notes surrendered in exchange for the Exchange Notes will be retired and cancelled and cannot be reissued. Accordingly, the issuance of the Exchange Notes will not result in any change in our capitalization. We have agreed to bear the expenses of the exchange offer. No underwriter is being used in connection with the exchange offer.

Some of the statements in this prospectus, including the documents we incorporate by reference herein, constitute forward-looking statements because they relate to future events or our future performance or financial condition. Forward-looking statements may include, among other things, statements as to our future operating results, our business prospects 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, the adequacy of our cash resources and working capital, and the timing of cash flows, if any, from the operations of our portfolio companies. Words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “target,” “goals,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “seek,” “estimate,” “continue,” “forecast,” “may,” “should,” “potential,” variations of such words, and similar expressions indicate a forward-looking statement, although not all forward-looking statements include these words. Readers are cautioned that the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus, including the documents we incorporate by reference herein, are only predictions, are not guarantees of future performance, and are subject to risks, events, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Our actual results could differ materially from those implied or expressed in the forward-looking statements for any reason, including the items discussed in Item 1A entitled “Risk Factors” in Part I of our Annual Report on Form 10-K and in Item 1A entitled “Risk Factors” in Part II of our subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or in other reports we may file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, from time to time. Other factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially include, but are not limited to, changes in political, economic or industry conditions, the interest rate environment or conditions affecting the financial and capital markets, including with respect to changes from the impact of the Coronavirus, or COVID-19, pandemic; the length and duration of the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States as well as worldwide and the magnitude of the economic impact of that outbreak; the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business prospects and the prospects of our portfolio companies, including our and their ability to achieve our respective objectives; the effect of the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on our ability to continue to effectively manage our business and on the availability of equity and debt capital and our use of borrowed money to finance a portion of our investments; risks associated with possible disruption due to terrorism in our operations or the economy generally; future changes in laws or regulations and conditions in our operating areas; and risks related to our acquisition of Sierra Income Corporation, or Sierra.

These projections and forward-looking statements apply only as of the date of this prospectus. 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. Although we undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, you are advised to consult any additional disclosures that we may make directly to you or through reports that we in the future may file with the SEC, including subsequent annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K.

We issued $350,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Restricted Notes in a transaction not requiring registration under the 1933 Act on November 23, 2021. The Restricted Notes were issued, and the Exchange Notes will be issued, pursuant to a base indenture dated as of November 23, 2021 (the “Base Indenture”), and the first supplemental indenture, dated as of November 23, 2021, to the Base Indenture (the “First Supplemented Indenture”) between us and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as the Trustee. In connection with such issuances, we entered into registration rights agreements, which requires that we file this registration statement under the 1933 Act with respect to the Exchange Notes to be issued in the exchange offer and, upon the effectiveness of this registration statement, offer to you the opportunity to exchange your Restricted Notes for a like principal amount of Exchange Notes.

Under the registration rights agreements, we agreed, for the benefit of the holders of the Restricted Notes, to use commercially reasonable efforts to:

We also agreed to keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement effective for not less than the minimum period required under applicable federal and state securities laws to consummate the exchange offer; provided, however, that in no event shall such period be less than 20 business days after the commencement of the exchange offer. If there is a Registration Default, the interest rate borne by the affected Restricted Notes will increase by 0.25% per annum and will increase by an additional 0.25% per annum on the principal amount of Notes with respect to each subsequent 90-day period, up to a maximum of additional interest of 0.50% per annum. Additional Interest due pursuant to Registration Defaults will be paid in cash on the relevant interest payment date to holders of record on the relevant regular record dates. Following the cure of all Registration Defaults relating to any particular Restricted Notes, the interest rate borne by the Restricted Notes will be reduced to the original interest rate borne by Restricted Notes; provided, however, that, if after any such reduction in interest rate, a different Registration Default occurs, the interest rate borne by the relevant Restricted Notes will again be increased pursuant to the foregoing provisions.

If the Company is not able to effect the exchange offer, the Company will be obligated to file a shelf registration statement covering the resale of the Notes and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to be declared effective.

The Exchange Notes will be issued without a restrictive legend, and except as set forth below, you may resell or otherwise transfer them without registration under the 1933 Act. After we complete the exchange offer, our obligation to register the exchange of Exchange Notes for Restricted Notes will terminate. Copies of the registration rights agreements has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

Based on interpretations by the staff of the SEC set forth in no-action letters issued to third parties unrelated to us, including Exxon Capital Holdings Corp., SEC no-action letter (April 13, 1988), Morgan, Stanley & Co. Inc., SEC no-action letter (June 5, 1991) and Shearman & Sterling, SEC no-action letter (July 2, 1993), subject to the limitations described in the succeeding three paragraphs, we believe that you may resell or otherwise transfer the

Exchange Notes issued to you in the exchange offer without compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the 1933 Act. Our belief, however, is based on your representations to us that:

If you cannot make the representations described above, you may not participate in the exchange offer, you may not rely on the staff’s interpretations discussed above, and you must, in the absence of an exemption therefrom, comply with registration and the prospectus delivery requirements of the 1933 Act in order to resell your Restricted Notes.

Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Notes for its own account in the exchange offer for Restricted Notes that were acquired as a result of market-making or other trading activities must acknowledge that it will comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the 1933 Act in connection with any resale or other transfer of the Exchange Notes received in the exchange offer. See “Plan of Distribution.”

The Company has not entered into any arrangement or understanding with any person who will receive Exchange Notes in the exchange offer to distribute those notes following completion of the offer. The Company is not aware of any person that will participate in the exchange offer with a view to distribute the Exchange Notes.

We have not asked the staff for a no-action letter in connection with the exchange offer, however, and we cannot assure you that the staff would make a similar determination with respect to the exchange offer.

If you are not eligible to participate in the exchange offer, you can elect to have your Restricted Notes registered for resale on a “shelf” registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the 1933 Act. In the event that we are obligated to file a shelf registration statement, we will be required to use commercially reasonable efforts to keep the shelf registration statement effective for so long as such Restricted Notes remain registrable securities under the registration rights agreements. Other than as set forth in this paragraph, you will not have the right to require us to register your Restricted Notes under the 1933 Act. See “—Procedures for Tendering Restricted Notes.”

If you do not participate or validly tender your Restricted Notes in the exchange offer:

Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this prospectus and in the accompanying letter of transmittal, we will accept any and all Restricted Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date of the exchange offer. We will issue $1,000 principal amount of the

Exchange Notes in exchange for each $1,000 principal amount of the Restricted Notes accepted in the exchange offer. You may tender some or all of your Restricted Notes pursuant to the exchange offer; however, Restricted Notes may be tendered only in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The Exchange Notes issued to you in the exchange offer will be delivered by credit to the accounts at DTC of the applicable DTC participants.

The form and terms of the Exchange Notes are substantially identical to those of the Restricted Notes, except that the transfer restrictions and registration rights relating to the Restricted Notes will not apply to the Exchange Notes, and the Exchange Notes will not provide for the payment of additional interest in the event of a registration default. In addition, the Exchange Notes will bear a different CUSIP number than the Restricted Notes (except for Restricted Notes sold pursuant to the shelf registration statement described above). The Exchange Notes will be issued under and entitled to the benefits of the same indenture that authorized the issuance of the Restricted Notes.

As of the date of this prospectus, $350,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Restricted Notes are outstanding and registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee for DTC. This prospectus, together with the letter of transmittal, is being sent to the registered holder and to others believed to have beneficial interests in the Restricted Notes. We intend to conduct the exchange offer in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated under the Exchange Act.

We will be deemed to have accepted validly tendered Restricted Notes if and when we have given oral (any such oral notice to be promptly confirmed in writing) or written notice of our acceptance to U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, the exchange agent for the exchange offer. The exchange agent will act as our agent for the purpose of receiving from us the Exchange Notes for the tendering noteholders. If we do not accept any tendered Restricted Notes because of an invalid tender, the occurrence of certain other events set forth in this prospectus or otherwise, we will return such Restricted Notes by credit to the accounts at DTC of the applicable DTC participants, without expense, to the tendering noteholder promptly after the expiration date of the exchange offer.

You will not be required to pay brokerage commissions or fees or transfer taxes, except as set forth under “—Transfer Taxes,” with respect to the exchange of your Restricted Notes in the exchange offer. We will pay all charges and expenses, other than certain applicable taxes, in connection with the exchange offer. See “—Fees and Expenses.”

The expiration date for the exchange offer will be 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on     , 2022, unless we determine, in our sole discretion, to extend the exchange offer, in which case it will expire at the later date and time to which it is extended. We do not currently intend to extend the exchange offer, however, although we reserve the right to do so. If we extend the exchange offer, we will give oral (any such oral notice to be promptly confirmed in writing) or written notice of the extension to the exchange agent and give each registered holder of Restricted Notes notice by means of a press release or other public announcement of any extension prior to 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the next business day after the scheduled expiration date.

We also reserve the right, in our sole discretion:

We will notify you as promptly as we can of any extension, termination or amendment. In addition, we acknowledge and undertake to comply with the provisions of Rule 14e-l(c) under the Exchange Act, which requires us to issue the Exchange Notes, or return the Restricted Notes tendered for exchange, promptly after the termination or withdrawal of the exchange offer.

The Restricted Notes are represented by global securities without interest coupons in fully registered form, registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee for DTC. Beneficial interests in the global securities are held by direct or indirect participants in DTC through certificateless depositary interests and are shown on, and transfers of these interests are effected only through, records maintained in book-entry form by DTC with respect to its participants. You are not entitled to receive certificated Restricted Notes in exchange for your beneficial interest in these global securities except in limited circumstances described in “Description of the Exchange Notes—Book-Entry System.”

Accordingly, you must tender your Restricted Notes pursuant to DTC’s ATOP procedures. As the DTC’s ATOP system is the only method of processing exchange offers through DTC, you must instruct a participant in DTC to transmit to the exchange agent on or prior to the expiration date for the exchange offer a computer-generated message transmitted by means of the ATOP system and received by the exchange agent and forming a part of a confirmation of book-entry transfer, in which you acknowledge and agree to be bound by the terms of the letter of transmittal, instead of sending a signed, hard copy letter of transmittal. DTC is obligated to communicate those electronic instructions to the exchange agent. To tender Restricted Notes through the ATOP system, the electronic instructions sent to DTC and transmitted by DTC to the exchange agent must contain the character by which the participant acknowledges its receipt of, and agrees to be bound by, the letter of transmittal, including the representations to us described above under “—Purpose and Effect of the Exchange Offer,” and be received by the exchange agent prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date.

If you hold Restricted Notes through a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company, other financial institution or other nominee, each referred to herein as an “intermediary,” and you wish to tender your Restricted Notes, you should contact such intermediary promptly and instruct such intermediary to tender on your behalf. So long as the Restricted Notes are in book-entry form represented by global securities, Restricted Notes may only be tendered by your intermediary pursuant to DTC’s ATOP procedures.

If you tender an Restricted Note and you do not properly withdraw the tender prior to the expiration date, you will have made an agreement with us to participate in the exchange offer in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this prospectus and in the letter of transmittal.

We will determine, in our sole discretion, all questions regarding the validity, form, eligibility, including time of receipt, acceptance and withdrawal of tendered Restricted Notes. Our determination will be final and binding. We reserve the absolute right to reject any and all Restricted Notes not validly tendered or any Restricted Notes our acceptance of which would, in the opinion of our counsel, be unlawful. We also reserve the right to waive any defects, irregularities or conditions of tender as to certain Restricted Notes. Our interpretation of the terms and conditions of the exchange offer, including the instructions in the letter of transmittal, will be final and binding on all parties.

You must cure any defects or irregularities in connection with tenders of your Restricted Notes within the time period that we determine unless we waive that defect or irregularity. Although we intend to notify you of defects or irregularities with respect to your tender of Restricted Notes, neither we, the exchange agent nor any other person will incur any liability for failure to give this notification. Your tender will not be deemed to have been made and your Restricted Notes will be returned to you unless otherwise provided in the letter of transmittal, as soon as practicable following the expiration of the exchange offer, if:

In addition, we reserve the right in our sole discretion to:

The terms of any of these purchases of or offers for Restricted Notes could differ from the terms of the exchange offer.

In all cases, the issuance of Exchange Notes for Restricted Notes that are accepted for exchange in the exchange offer will be made only after timely receipt by the exchange agent of a timely book-entry confirmation of your Restricted Notes into the exchange agent’s account at DTC, a computer-generated message instead of the Letter of Transmittal, and all other required documents. If any tendered Restricted Notes are not accepted for any reason set forth in the terms and conditions of the exchange offer or if Restricted Notes are submitted for a greater principal amount than you indicate your desire to exchange, the unaccepted or non-exchanged Restricted Notes, or Restricted Notes in substitution therefor, will be returned without expense to you by credit to the accounts at DTC of the applicable DTC participant, promptly after rejection of tender or the expiration or termination of the exchange offer.

The exchange agent will make a request to establish an account with respect to the Restricted Notes at DTC for purposes of the exchange offer after the date of this prospectus, and any financial institution that is a participant in DTC’s systems may make book-entry delivery of Restricted Notes being tendered by causing DTC to transfer such Restricted Notes into the exchange agent’s account at DTC in accordance with DTC’s procedures for transfer.

Any DTC participant wishing to tender Restricted Notes in the exchange offer (whether on its own behalf or on behalf of the beneficial owner of Restricted Notes) should transmit its acceptance to DTC sufficiently far in advance of the expiration of the exchange offer so as to permit DTC to take the following actions prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date. DTC will verify such acceptance, execute a book-entry transfer of the tendered Restricted Notes into the exchange agent’s account at DTC and then send to the exchange agent a confirmation of such book-entry transfer. The confirmation of such book-entry transfer will include a confirmation that such DTC participant acknowledges and agrees (on behalf of itself and on behalf of any beneficial owner of the applicable Restricted Notes) to be bound by the letter of transmittal. All of the foregoing, together with any other required documents, must be delivered to and received by the exchange agent prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date.

Guaranteed delivery procedures are not available in connection with the exchange offer.

You may withdraw tenders of your Restricted Notes at any time prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date of the exchange offer.

For your withdrawal to be effective, the exchange agent must receive an electronic ATOP transmission of the notice of withdrawal at its address set forth below under “—Exchange Agent,” prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date.

The notice of withdrawal must:

We will determine all questions regarding the validity, form and eligibility, including time of receipt, of withdrawal notices. Our determination will be final and binding on all parties. Any Restricted Notes that have been withdrawn will be deemed not to have been validly tendered for exchange for purposes of the exchange offer. Any Restricted Notes that have been tendered for exchange but that are withdrawn and not exchanged will be returned by credit to the account at DTC of the applicable DTC participant without cost as soon as practicable after withdrawal. Properly withdrawn Restricted Notes may be retendered by following one of the procedures described under “—Procedures for Tendering Restricted Notes” above at any time on or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date.

You do not have any appraisal or dissenters’ rights in connection with the exchange offer.

Notwithstanding any other provision of the exchange offer, and subject to our obligations under the registration rights agreements, we will not be required to accept for exchange, or to issue Exchange Notes in exchange for, any Restricted Notes and may terminate or amend the exchange offer, if at any time before the acceptance of any Restricted Notes for exchange any one of the following events occurs:

These conditions are for our sole benefit, and we may assert them regardless of the circumstances giving rise to them, subject to applicable law. We also may waive in whole or in part at any time and from time to time any particular condition in our sole discretion. If we waive a condition, we may be required, in order to comply with applicable securities laws, to extend the expiration date of the exchange offer. Our failure at any time to exercise any of the foregoing rights will not be deemed a waiver of these rights, and these rights will be deemed ongoing rights which may be asserted at any time and from time to time.

In addition, we will not accept for exchange any Restricted Notes validly tendered, and no Exchange Notes will be issued in exchange for any tendered Restricted Notes, if, at the time the Restricted Notes are tendered, any stop order is threatened by the SEC or in effect with respect to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part or the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

The exchange offer is not conditioned on any minimum principal amount of Restricted Notes being tendered for exchange.

We have appointed U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association as exchange agent for the exchange offer. Questions, requests for assistance and requests for additional copies of this prospectus, the Letter of Transmittal and other related documents should be directed to the exchange agent addressed as follows:

U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as Exchange Agent

By Registered or Certified Mail, Overnight Delivery on or before

5:00 p.m. New York City Time on the Expiration Date:

 

U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association

Attn: Corporate Actions

111 Fillmore Avenue

St. Paul, MN 55107-1402

 

For Information or Confirmation by Telephone Call:

 

(800) 934-6802

 

By Email or Facsimile Transmission (for Eligible Institutions only):

 

Email: cts.specfinance@usbank.com

DELIVERY OF A LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE, OR TRANSMISSION OF SUCH LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL VIA FACSIMILE OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE, WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A VALID DELIVERY.

The exchange agent also acts as the Trustee under the Indenture.

We will not pay brokers, dealers or others soliciting acceptances of the exchange offer. The principal solicitation is being made by mail. Additional solicitations, however, may be made in person, by email or by telephone by our officers and employees.

We will pay the estimated cash expenses to be incurred in connection with the exchange offer. These are estimated in the aggregate to be approximately $200,000, which includes fees and expenses of the exchange agent and accounting, legal, printing and related fees and expenses.

You will not be obligated to pay any transfer taxes in connection with a tender of your Restricted Notes unless Exchange Notes are to be registered in the name of, or Restricted Notes (or any portion thereof) not tendered or not accepted in the exchange offer are to be returned to, a person other than the registered tendering holder of the Restricted Notes, in which event the registered tendering holder will be responsible for the payment of any applicable transfer tax. In addition, tendering holders will be responsible for any transfer tax imposed for any reason other than the transfer of Restricted Notes to, or upon the order of, the Company pursuant to the exchange offer.

We will not recognize any gain or loss for accounting purposes upon the consummation of the exchange offer. We will amortize the expense of the exchange offer over the term of the Exchange Notes under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”).

We issued the Restricted Notes, and will issue the Exchange Notes, under the Base Indenture and the First Supplemental Indenture. The following description is a summary of the material provisions of the Indenture. It does not restate the Indenture in its entirety. We urge you to read the Indenture, a copy of which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, because it, and not this description, defines your rights as holders of the Notes.

Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein will have the meanings given to them in the Notes or the Indenture, as applicable.

The registered holder of a Note will be treated as the owner of it for all purposes. Only registered holders will have rights under the Indenture.

The Restricted Notes are, and the Exchange Notes will be, our general senior unsecured obligations ranking equally in right of payment with all of our other senior unsecured indebtedness from time to time outstanding. The Notes will mature on November 23, 2026, unless previously redeemed or repurchased in full by us as provided below under “—Optional Redemption” or “—Offer to Repurchase Upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event.” The Exchange Notes and the Restricted Notes that remain outstanding after the exchange offer will be a single series under the Indenture.

The Restricted Notes bear, and the Exchange Notes will bear, cash interest at the rate of 3.300% per annum from November 23, 2021, to the stated maturity or date of earlier redemption. Interest on the Notes will be payable semi-annually in arrears on each May 23 and November 23, commencing May 23, 2022 (if an interest payment date falls on a day that is not a business day, then the applicable interest payment will be made on the next succeeding business day and no additional interest will accrue as a result of such delayed payment), to the persons in whose names such notes were registered at the close of business on the immediately preceding May 8 and November 8 (whether or not a business day), respectively.

Interest payments in respect of the Notes will equal the amount of interest accrued from and including the immediately preceding interest payment date in respect of which interest has been paid or duly provided for (or from and including the date of issue, if no interest has been paid or duly provided for with respect to the Notes), to, but excluding, the applicable interest payment date or stated maturity date or date of early redemption, as the case may be. Interest on the Notes will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

If an interest payment date or the stated maturity date or date of early redemption of the Notes falls on a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close, the required payment due on such date will instead be made on the next business day. No further interest will accrue as a result of such delayed payment.

We issued the Restricted Notes initially in an aggregate principal amount of $350.0 million. The Indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities which we may issue thereunder and provides that we may issue debt securities thereunder from time to time in one or more series. We may, without the consent of the holders of the Notes, issue additional Notes (in any such case, other than any Exchange Notes, “Additional Notes”) under the Indenture with the same ranking and the same interest rate, maturity and other terms as the Notes of a series; provided that, if such Additional Notes are not fungible with the Notes of the applicable series (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 of such series (and any such other tranche of Additional Notes). Any Additional Notes and the existing Notes of a series will constitute a single series under the Indenture and all references to the relevant Notes herein will include the Additional Notes unless the context otherwise requires.

We do not intend to list the Notes on any securities exchange or any automated dealer quotation system.

The Notes will be issued only in fully registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The Notes may be presented for transfer (duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer, if so required by us or the security registrar) or exchanged for other notes (containing identical terms and provisions, in any authorized denominations, and of a like aggregate principal amount) at the office or agency maintained by us for such purposes (initially the

corporate trust office of the Trustee). Such transfer or exchange will be made without service charge, but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge and any other expenses then payable. Prior to the due presentment of a Note for registration of transfer, we, the Trustee and any other agent of ours or the Trustee may treat the registered holder of each Note as the owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payments of principal of and interest on such Note and for all other purposes whatsoever.

The Indenture does not contain any provisions that would limit our ability to incur unsecured indebtedness or that would afford holders of the Notes protection in the event of a sudden and significant decline in our credit quality or a takeover, recapitalization or highly leveraged or similar transaction involving us. Accordingly, we could in the future enter into transactions that could increase the amount of indebtedness outstanding at that time or otherwise affect our capital structure or the credit rating of the Notes.

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.

We may redeem some or all of the Notes at any time, or from time to time. If we choose to redeem any Notes prior to maturity, we will pay a redemption price equal to the greater of the following amounts, plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date:

Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time on or after the Par Call Date, we may redeem some or all of the Notes at any time, or from time to time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding 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 15 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, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield-to-maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue (computed as of the third business day immediately preceding the redemption), assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date. The redemption price and the Treasury Rate will be determined by us.

“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by the Reference Treasury Dealer as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Notes (assuming the Notes matured on the applicable Par Call Date, if applicable) to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financing practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of the Notes being redeemed.

“Par Call Date” means October 23, 2026, which is the date that is one month prior to the maturity date of the Notes.

“Comparable Treasury Price” means (1) the average of the remaining Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for the redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (2) if the Quotation Agent obtains fewer than four such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations.

“Quotation Agent” means a Reference Treasury Dealer selected by us.

“Reference Treasury Dealer” means each of (1) J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, (2) Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and (3) a primary U.S. government securities dealer selected by ING Financial Markets LLC and (4) a primary U.S. government securities dealer selected by MUFG Securities Americas Inc.; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing or their affiliates shall cease to be a primary U.S. government securities dealer in the United States (a “Primary Treasury Dealer”), the Company shall select another Primary Treasury Dealer.

“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the Quotation Agent, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Quotation Agent by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 3:30 p.m. New York City time on the third business day preceding such redemption date.

All determinations made by any Reference Treasury Dealer, including the Quotation Agent, with respect to determining the redemption price will be final and binding absent manifest error.

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:

The paying agent will promptly remit to each holder of Notes properly tendered the purchase price for the Notes, and the Trustee will promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book-entry) to each holder a Exchange Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of any Notes surrendered; provided that each Exchange 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 the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 for a general discussion of our and our subsidiaries’ indebtedness. Our and our subsidiaries’ future financing arrangements may contain similar restrictions 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 Exchange Notes—We may not be able to repurchase the Notes upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event” in this prospectus 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 Exchange 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 shall 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 shall not be deemed to have occurred in respect of a particular Change of Control (and thus shall 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 shall have occurred at the time of the Below Investment Grade Rating Event).

“Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following:

“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 the Company, 50% or more of the outstanding equity interests of which are owned by the Company and its direct or indirect subsidiaries and of which the Company 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., also known as Fitch Ratings, or any successor thereto.

“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 the Company 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 of Fitch and Moody’s cease to rate the Notes or fail to make a rating of the Notes publicly available for reasons outside of the Company’s control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” as defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act selected by the Company 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.

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:

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 the Company 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:

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.

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.

Each of the following will be an event of default:

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:

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, 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.

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.

U.S. Bank Trust Company, 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 the Trustee, security registrar and paying agent, assumes no responsibility for 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.

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.

Except as set forth below, Notes will be issued in registered, global form, without interest coupons (the “Global Notes”). The Global Notes will be issued in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. Exchange Notes will be issued at the closing of this offering only against payment in immediately available funds.

The Global Notes will be deposited upon issuance with the Trustee as custodian for DTC and registered in the name of DTC’s nominee, Cede & Co., in each case for credit to an account of a direct or indirect participant in DTC as described below.

Except as set forth below, the Global Notes may be transferred, in whole but not in part, only to DTC, to a nominee of DTC or to a successor of DTC or its nominee. Beneficial interests in the Global Notes may not be exchanged for notes in registered, certificated form (the “Certificated Notes”) except in the limited circumstances described below. See “—Certificated Notes.” Except in the limited circumstances described below, owners of beneficial interests in the Global Notes will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of notes in certificated form.

Transfers of beneficial interests in the Global Notes will be subject to the applicable rules and procedures of DTC and its direct or indirect participants, which may change from time to time.

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 initial purchasers are responsible for those operations or procedures.

DTC has advised us that it is:

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 initial purchasers; 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.

So long as the Notes are held in global form, DTC (or its nominee) will be considered the sole holders of Global Notes for all purposes under the Indenture. As such, participants must rely on the procedures of DTC and indirect participants must rely on the procedures of 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’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:

As a result, each investor who owns a beneficial interest in a Global Note must rely on the procedures of DTC 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 on the procedures of the DTC 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’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 or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records of DTC relating to those interests.

Payments by participants and indirect participants in DTC 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.

Transfers between participants in DTC will be effected under DTC’s procedures and will be settled in same-day funds.

Notes in physical, certificated form will be issued and delivered to each person that DTC identifies as a beneficial owner of the related Notes only if:

The exchange of Restricted Notes for Exchange Notes in the exchange offer will not constitute a taxable event to holders for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Consequently, you will not recognize gain or loss upon receipt of an Exchange Note, the holding period of the Exchange Note will include the holding period of the Restricted Note exchanged therefor and the basis of the Exchange Note will be the same as the basis of the Restricted Note exchanged therefor immediately before the exchange.

In any event, persons considering the exchange of Restricted Notes for Exchange Notes should consult their own tax advisors concerning the U.S. federal income tax consequences in light of their particular situations as well as any consequences arising under the laws of any other taxing jurisdiction.

The financial data set forth in the following table (i) as of and for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 is derived from our consolidated financial statements, which have been audited by KPMG LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm, whose reports thereon are incorporated by reference in this prospectus; and (ii) as of and for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, is derived from our consolidated financial statements, which have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, whose report thereon is incorporated by reference in this prospectus. The financial data set forth in the following table as of and for the six months ended June 30, 2022 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 six months ended June 30, 2022 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2022. 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” included in this prospectus, any documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus or the accompanying prospectus supplement, or our Annual Reports on Form 10-K filed with the SEC.

The information in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Part II, Item 7 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 and in Part 1, Item 2 of the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2022 is incorporated into this prospectus by reference.

The information in “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” in Part II, Item 7A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 and in “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” in Part I, Item 3 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2022 is incorporated into this prospectus by reference.

Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Notes for its own account pursuant to the exchange offer in exchange for Restricted Notes where such Restricted Notes were acquired as a result of market-making or other trading activities must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale or other transfer of such Exchange Notes. This prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by such a broker-dealer in connection with resales or other transfers of such Exchange Notes. To the extent any such broker-dealer participates in the exchange offer, we have agreed that, for a period of up to 180 days after the completion of the exchange offer, upon request of such broker-dealer, we will make this prospectus, as amended or supplemented, available to such broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resales or other transfers of Exchange Notes, and will deliver as many additional copies of this prospectus and each amendment or supplement to this prospectus and any documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus as such broker-dealer may reasonably request.

We will not receive any proceeds from any resales or other transfers of Exchange Notes by such broker-dealers. Exchange Notes received by such broker-dealers for their own accounts pursuant to the exchange offer may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated transactions, through the writing of options on the Exchange Notes or a combination of these methods of resale, at market prices prevailing at the time of resale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. Any such resale may be made directly to purchasers or to or through brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or concessions from any such broker-dealer or the purchasers of any such Exchange Notes. Any such broker-dealer that resells Exchange Notes that were received by it for its own account pursuant to the exchange offer and any broker or dealer that participates in a distribution of such Exchange Notes may be deemed to be an “underwriter” of the Exchange Notes within the meaning of the 1933 Act, and any profit on any such resale of Exchange Notes and any commissions or concessions received by any such persons may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under the 1933 Act. The accompanying Letter of Transmittal states that, by acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, such broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” of the Exchange Notes within the meaning of the 1933 Act.

The information in “Business” in Part I, Item 1 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 is incorporated herein by reference.

The information in “Business—Regulation as a Business Development Company” in Part I, Item 1 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 is incorporated herein by reference.

Information about our senior securities is shown as of the dates indicated in the below table. This information about our senior securities should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

The following table sets forth certain information as of June 30, 2022 for each portfolio company in which the Company had an investment. Percentages shown for class of securities held by the Company represent percentage of the class owned and do not necessarily represent voting ownership or economic ownership.

The general terms of the Company’s debt and equity investments are described in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation—Investment Criteria” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation—Investment Process” in Part II, Item 7 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 and “Business—Portfolio Composition” in Part I, Item I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, which are each incorporated by reference in this joint proxy statement/prospectus. Other than the Company’s investments in Jocassee Partners, LLC, Sierra Senior Loan Strategy JV I LLC, Thompson Rivers LLC and Waccamaw River LLC, the Company’s only formal relationships with its portfolio companies are the managerial assistance that it may provide upon request and the board observer or participation rights it may receive in connection with its investment. As of June 30, 2022 the Company had “control investments” as defined in the Investment Company Act, any of its portfolio companies in five portfolio companies. As of June 30, 2022, the Company was an “affiliated person,” as defined in the Investment Company Act, of nine portfolio companies. In general, under the Investment Company Act, the Company would “control” a portfolio company if it owned, directly or indirectly, more than 25% of its voting securities and would be an “affiliate” of a portfolio company if it owned, directly or indirectly, 5% or more of its voting securities.