Item 1A. Risk Factors
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
In addition to the other information set forth in this report and the risk factors set forth below, you should carefully consider the risk factors disclosed under Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.
Certain provisions of our Declaration of Trust could deter takeover attempts and have an adverse impact on the value of our common shares.
Our Declaration of Trust contains anti-takeover provisions that could have the effect of limiting the ability of other entities or persons to acquire control of the Company or to change the composition of our Board of Trustees. Our Board of Trustees is divided into three classes of trustees serving staggered three-year terms. This provision could delay for up to two years the replacement of a majority of our Board of Trustees. These provisions could have the effect of depriving shareholders of an opportunity to sell their common shares at a premium over prevailing market prices by discouraging a third party from seeking to obtain control over the Company.
The current outbreak of the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, has caused severe disruptions in the U.S. and global economy and already has had and is expected to continue to have a materially adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations.
During the first quarter of 2020, there was a global outbreak of COVID-19, which has spread to over 200 countries and territories, including the United States, and has spread to every state in the United States. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization designated COVID-19 as a pandemic, and on March 13, 2020, the United States declared a national emergency with respect to COVID-19. The global impact of the outbreak has been rapidly evolving, and as cases of COVID-19 have continued to be identified in additional countries, many countries have reacted by instituting quarantines, restrictions on travel, closing financial markets and/or restricting trading, and limiting hours of operations of non-essential businesses. Such actions are creating disruption in global supply chains, and adversely impacting a number of industries, including industries in which our portfolio companies operate. The outbreak of COVID-19 could have a continued adverse impact on economic and market conditions and has triggered a period of global economic slowdown.
The outbreak of COVID-19 and related effects, which continue to be unpredictable, could have a material adverse impact on our NAV, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, and the businesses of our portfolio companies, among other factors. Negative impacts to our business as a result of the pandemic could exacerbate other risks described herein, including:
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• weakening financial conditions of or the bankruptcy or insolvency of portfolio companies, which may result in the inability of such portfolio companies to meet debt obligations, delays in collecting accounts receivable, defaults, or forgiveness or deferral of interest payments from such portfolio companies;
• significant volatility in the markets for syndicated loans, which could cause rapid and large fluctuations in the values of such investments and adverse effects on the liquidity of any such investments;
• deterioration in credit and financing market conditions, which may adversely impact our ability to access financing for our investments on favorable terms or at all;
• operational impacts on our Adviser, Administrator and our other third-party advisors, service providers, vendors and counterparties, including independent valuation firms, our sub-administrator, our lenders and other providers of financing, brokers and other counterparties that we purchase and sell assets to and from, derivative counterparties, and legal and diligence professionals that we rely on for acquiring our investments;
• limitations on our ability to ensure business continuity in the event our, or our third-party advisors’ and service providers’ continuity of operations plan is not effective or improperly implemented or deployed during a disruption;
• the availability of key personnel of the Adviser, Administrator and our other service providers as they face changed circumstances and potential illness during the pandemic;
• difficulty in valuing our assets in light of significant changes in the financial markets, including difficulty in forecasting discount rates and making market comparisons, and circumstances affecting the Adviser’s, Administrator’s and our service providers’ personnel during the pandemic;
• limitations on our ability to raise new capital;
• significant changes to the valuations of pending investments; and
• imitations on our ability to make distributions to our shareholders due to material adverse impacts on our cash flows from operations or liquidity.
The rapid development and fluidity of this situation precludes any prediction as to the ultimate adverse impact of COVID-19 on economic and market conditions, and, as a result, present material uncertainty and risk with respect to us and the performance of our investments. The full extent of the impact and effects of COVID-19 will depend on future developments, including, among other factors, the duration and spread of the outbreak, along with related travel advisories, quarantines and restrictions, the recovery time of the disrupted supply chains and industries, the impact of labor market interruptions, the impact of government interventions, the availability and use of effective vaccines, and uncertainty with respect to the duration of the global economic slowdown. COVID-19 and the current financial, economic and capital markets environment, and future developments in these and other areas present uncertainty and risk with respect to our performance, financial condition, results of operations and ability to pay distributions.
The United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union may create significant risks and uncertainty for global markets and our investments.
The United Kingdom (the “UK”) formally left the European Union (the “EU”) on January 31, 2020 (commonly known as “Brexit”), followed by an implementation period, during which EU law continued to apply in the UK and the UK maintained its EU single market access rights and EU customs union membership. The implementation period expired on December 31, 2020. Consequently, the UK has become a third country vis-à-vis the EU, without access to the single market or membership of the EU customs union.
During the implementation period, on December 30, 2020, the UK and the EU signed a trade and cooperation agreement (the “TCA”) to govern their ongoing relationship. The TCA was officially ratified by the UK Parliament on December 30, 2020, and was ratified by the EU Parliament and Council on April 27, 2021. It is anticipated that further details of the relationship between the UK and the EU will continue to be negotiated even after formal ratification of the TCA.
Over time, UK regulated firms and other UK businesses may be adversely affected by the terms of the TCA (assuming it is formally ratified by the EU), as compared with the position prior to the expiration of the implementation period on December 31, 2020. For example, the TCA introduces new customs checks, as well as new restrictions on the provision of cross-border services and on the free movement of employees. These changes have the potential to materially impair the profitability of a business, and to require it to adapt or even relocate.
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Although it is probable that any adverse effects flowing from the UK’s withdrawal from the EU will principally affect the UK (and those having an economic interest in, or connected to, the UK), given the size and global significance of the UK’s economy, the impact of the withdrawal is unpredictable and likely to be an ongoing source of instability, produce significant currency fluctuations, and/or have other adverse effects on international markets, international trade agreements and/or other existing cross-border cooperation arrangements (whether economic, tax, fiscal, legal, regulatory or otherwise). The withdrawal of the UK from the EU could therefore adversely affect us. In addition, although it seems less likely following the expiration of the transition period than at the time of the UK’s referendum, the withdrawal of the UK from the EU could have a further destabilizing effect if any other member states were to consider withdrawing from the EU, presenting similar and/or additional potential risks and consequences to our business and financial results.
Our Declaration of Trust includes exclusive forum and jury trial waiver provisions that could limit a shareholder’s ability to bring a claim or, if such provisions are deemed inapplicable or unenforceable by a court, may cause the Company to incur additional costs associated with such action.
Our Declaration of Trust provides that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Company, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a duty owed by any trustee, officer or other agent of the Company to the Company or our shareholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of Title 12 of the Delaware Code, Delaware statutory or common law, our Declaration of Trust, or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine (for the avoidance of doubt, including any claims brought to interpret, apply or enforce the federal securities laws of the United States, including, without limitation, the 1940 Act or the securities or antifraud laws of any international, national, state, provincial, territorial, local or other governmental or regulatory authority, including, in each case, the applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) shall be the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, if such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction thereof, any other court in the State of Delaware with subject matter jurisdiction. In addition, our Declaration of Trust provides that no shareholder may maintain a derivative action on behalf of the Company unless holders of at least ten percent (10%) of the outstanding shares join in the bringing of such action. These provisions of our Declaration of Trust may make it more difficult for shareholders to bring a derivative action than a company without such provisions.
Our Declaration of Trust also includes an irrevocable waiver of the right to trial by jury in all such claims, suits, actions and proceedings. Any person purchasing or otherwise acquiring any of our Common Shares shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to these provisions of our Declaration of Trust. These provisions may limit a shareholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum or in a manner that it finds favorable for disputes with the Company or the Company’s trustees or officers, which may discourage such lawsuits. Alternatively, if a court were to find the exclusive forum provision or the jury trial waiver provision to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions or in other manners, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, neither we nor any of our investors are permitted to waive compliance with any provision of the U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Our investments in prospective portfolio companies may be risky, and we could lose all or part of our investment.
Risk Retention Vehicles . We may invest in CLO debt and equity tranches and warehouse investments directly or indirectly through an investment in U.S. and/or European vehicles (“ Risk Retention Vehicles ”) established for the purpose of satisfying U.S. and/or E.U. regulations that require eligible risk retainers to purchase and retain specified amounts of the credit risk associated with certain CLOs, which vehicles themselves are invested in CLO securities, warehouse investments and/or senior secured obligations. Risk Retention Vehicles will be structured to satisfy the retention requirements by purchasing and retaining the percentage of CLO notes prescribed under the applicable retention requirements (the “ Retention Notes ”) and will include Risk Retention Vehicles with respect to CLOs managed by other collateral managers, but will not include Risk Retention Vehicles with respect to CLOs for which the Adviser or its affiliates acts as collateral manager.
Indirect investments in CLO equity securities (and in some instances more senior CLO securities) and warehouse investments through entities that have been established to satisfy the U.S. retention requirements and/or the European retention requirements may allow for better economics for us (including through fee rebate arrangements) by creating stronger negotiating positions with CLO managers and underwriting banks who are incentivized to issue CLOs and who require the participation of a Risk Retention Vehicle to enable the CLO securities to be issued. However, Retention Notes differ from other securities of the same ranking since the retention requirements prescribe that such Retention Notes must be held by the relevant risk retainer for a specified period. In the case of European Risk Retention Vehicles, the prescribed holding period is the lifetime of the CLO, and in the case of U.S. Risk Retention Vehicles it is the longer of (x) the period until the CLO has paid down its securities to 33% of their original principal amount, (y) the period until the CLO has sold down its assets to 33% of their original principal amount and (z) two years after the closing of the CLO. In addition, Retention Notes are subject to other restrictions not imposed on other securities of the same ranking; for example, Retention Notes may not be subject to credit risk
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mitigation, and breach of the retention requirements may result in the imposition of regulatory sanctions or, in the case of the European retention requirements, in claims being brought against the retaining party.
A portion of our portfolio may be invested in the life sciences industry.
Investments in the life sciences industry involve a high degree of risk that can result in substantial losses. For example, investing in these assets involves substantial risks, including, but not limited to, the following: the obsolescence of products; erosion of sales due to generic or biosimilar competition; change in government policies and governmental investigations; potential litigation alleging negligence, products liability torts, breaches of warranty, intellectual property infringement and other legal theories; extensive and evolving government regulation; disappointing results from preclinical testing in new indications; indications of safety concerns; insufficient clinical trial data in certain jurisdictions to support the safety or efficacy of the product candidate; difficulty in obtaining all necessary regulatory approvals in each additional proposed jurisdiction; inability to manufacture sufficient quantities of the product for development or commercialization in a timely or cost-effective manner; substantial commercial risk; and the fact that, even after regulatory approval has been obtained, the product and its manufacturer are subject to continual regulatory review, and any discovery of previously unknown problems with the product or the manufacturer may result in restrictions or recalls. Many of these companies may operate as a loss, or with substantial variations in operating results for a period of time after product approval. In addition, many of the companies will need substantial additional capital to support additional research and development activities and may face intense competition from biopharmaceutical companies with greater financial resources, more extensive research and development capabilities and a larger number of qualified managerial and technical personnel.
Biopharmaceutical product sales may also be lower than expected due to pricing pressures, insufficient demand, product competition, failure of clinical trials, lack of market acceptance, obsolescence, loss of patent protection, the impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic or other factors and development-stage product candidates may fail to reach the market. Unexpected side effects, safety or efficacy concerns can arise with respect to a product, leading to product recalls, withdrawals or declining sales of our life sciences portfolio companies.
We may enter into repurchase agreements or reverse repurchase agreements.
Subject to our investment objectives and policies, we may invest in repurchase agreements as a buyer for investment purposes. Repurchase agreements typically involve the acquisition by us of debt securities from a selling financial institution such as a bank, savings and loan association or broker-dealer. The agreement provides that we will sell the securities back to the institution at a fixed time in the future for the purchase price plus premium (which often reflects the interests). We do not bear the risk of a decline in the value of the underlying security unless the seller defaults under its repurchase obligation. In the event of the bankruptcy or other default of a seller of a repurchase agreement, we could experience both delays in liquidating the underlying securities and losses, including (1) possible decline in the value of the underlying security during the period in which we seek to enforce its rights thereto; (2) possible lack of access to income on the underlying security during this period; and (3) expenses of enforcing its rights. In addition, as described above, the value of the collateral underlying the repurchase agreement will be at least equal to the repurchase price, including any accrued interest earned on the repurchase agreement. In the event of a default or bankruptcy by a selling financial institution, we generally will seek to liquidate such collateral. However, the exercise of our right to liquidate such collateral could involve certain costs or delays and, to the extent that proceeds from any sale upon a default of the obligation to repurchase were less than the repurchase price, we could suffer a loss.
Subject to our investment objectives and policies, we invest in repurchase agreements as a seller, also known as a “reverse repurchase agreement.” Our use of reverse repurchase agreements involves many of the same risks involved in our use of leverage, as the proceeds from reverse repurchase agreements generally will be invested in additional portfolio investments. There is a risk that the market value of the securities acquired in the reverse repurchase agreement may decline below the price of the securities that we have sold but remains obligated to repurchase. If the buyer of securities under a reverse repurchase agreement were to file for bankruptcy or experiences insolvency, we may be adversely affected. Also, in entering into reverse repurchase agreements, we would bear the risk of loss to the extent that the proceeds of the reverse repurchase agreement are less than the value of the underlying securities. In addition, due to the interest costs associated with reverse repurchase agreements transactions, our NAV will decline, and, in some cases, we may be worse off than if we had not used such instruments.
We may invest through various joint ventures.
From time to time, we may hold a portion of its investments through partnerships, joint ventures, securitization vehicles or other entities with third-party investors (collectively, “joint ventures”). Joint venture investments involve various risks, including the risk that we will not be able to implement investment decisions or exit strategies because of limitations on our control under applicable agreements with joint venture partners, the risk that a joint venture partner may become bankrupt or may at any time have economic or business interests or goals that are inconsistent with those of the Company, the risk that a joint venture partner may be in a position to take action contrary to the Company’s objectives, the risk of liability based upon
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the actions of a joint venture partner and the risk of disputes or litigation with such partner and the inability to enforce fully all rights (or the incurrence of additional risk in connection with enforcement of rights) one partner may have against the other, including in connection with foreclosure on partner loans, because of risks arising under state law. In addition, we may, in certain cases, be liable for actions of our joint venture partners. The joint ventures in which we participate may sometimes be allocated investment opportunities that might have otherwise gone entirely to the Company, which may reduce our return on equity. Additionally, our joint venture investments may be held on an unconsolidated basis and at times may be highly leveraged. Such leverage would not count toward the investment limits imposed on us by the 1940 Act
The incentive fee based on income takes into account our past performance.
Upon consummation of the IPO, the Incentive Fee based on income will be determined and paid quarterly in arrears at the end of each calendar quarter by reference to our aggregate net investment income, as adjusted, from the calendar quarter then ending and the Trailing Twelve Quarters. The effect of calculating the incentive fee using reference to the Trailing Twelve Quarters is that, in certain circumstances, an incentive fee based on income will be payable to the Adviser although our net income for such quarter did not exceed the hurdle rate or the incentive fee will be higher than it would have been if calculated based on our performance for the applicable quarter without taking into account the Trailing Twelve Quarters. For example, if we experience a net loss for any particular quarter, an incentive fee may still be paid to the Adviser if such net loss is less than the net loss for the most recent quarter that preceded the Trailing Twelve Quarters. In such circumstances, the Adviser would be entitled to an incentive fee whereas it would not have been entitled to an incentive fee if calculated solely on the basis of our performance for the applicable quarter.
Segregation and asset coverage requirements may limit our investment discretion.
Certain portfolio management techniques, such as engaging in reverse repurchase agreements or firm commitments may be considered senior securities unless appropriate steps are taken to segregate our assets or otherwise cover its obligations. When employing these techniques, we may segregate liquid assets, enter into offsetting transactions or own positions covering its obligations. To the extent we cover our commitment under such a portfolio management technique, such instrument will not be considered a senior security for the purposes of the 1940 Act. We may cover such transactions using other methods currently or in the future permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder, or orders issued by the SEC thereunder. For these purposes, interpretations and guidance provided by the SEC staff may be taken into account when deemed appropriate by us. These segregation and coverage requirements could result in the Company maintaining securities positions that we would otherwise liquidate, segregating assets at a time when it might be disadvantageous to do so or otherwise restricting portfolio management and limit our investment discretion. Such segregation and cover requirements will not limit or offset losses on related positions. In connection with the adoption of Rule 18f-4 of the 1940 Act, the SEC eliminated the asset segregation framework arising from prior SEC guidance for covering positions in derivatives and certain financial instruments. Among other things, Rule 18f-4 limits a company’s derivatives exposure through a value-at-risk test and requires the adoption and implementation of a derivatives risk management program for certain derivatives users. Subject to certain conditions, limited derivatives users (as defined in Rule 18f-4), such as the Company, however, would not be subject to the full requirements of Rule 18f-4. We will comply with the requirements of the new rule on or before the SEC’s compliance date in 2022.
Prior to the IPO, there has been no public market for our common shares, and we cannot assure you that a market for our common shares will develop or that the market price of common shares will not decline following the offering. Our common share price may be volatile and may fluctuate substantially.
The Company is listed on the NYSE under the symbol “BXSL.” We cannot assure you that a trading market will develop for our common shares after the IPO or, if one develops, that the trading market can be sustained. In addition, we cannot predict the prices at which our common shares will trade. The offering price for our common shares will be determined through our negotiations with the underwriters and may not bear any relationship to the market price at which it may trade after the IPO. Shares of companies offered in an initial public offering often trade at a discount to the initial offering price due to underwriting discounts and commissions and related offering expenses. Also, shares of closed-end investment companies, including BDCs, frequently trade at a discount from their net asset value and our shares may also be discounted in the market. This characteristic of closed-end investment companies is separate and distinct from the risk that our net asset value per share may decline. We cannot predict whether our common shares will trade at, above or below net asset value. The risk of loss associated with this characteristic of closed-end management investment companies may be greater for investors expecting to sell common shares purchased in the offering soon after the offering. In addition, if our common shares trades below its net asset value, we will generally not be able to sell additional common shares to the public at its market price without first obtaining the approval of a majority of our shareholders (including a majority of our unaffiliated shareholders) and our independent directors for such issuance.
The market price and liquidity of the market for our common shares may be significantly affected by numerous factors, some of which are beyond our control and may not be directly related to our operating performance. These factors include:
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• significant volatility in the market price and trading volume of securities of BDCs or other companies in the sector in which we operate, which are not necessarily related to the operating performance of these companies;
• changes in regulatory policies or tax guidelines, particularly with respect to RICs or BDCs;
• loss of RIC status;
• changes in earnings or variations in operating results;
• changes in the value of our portfolio of investments;
• any shortfall in revenue or net income or any increase in losses from levels expected by investors or securities analysts;
• departure of key personnel from our Adviser;
• operating performance of companies comparable to us;
• general economic trends and other external factors; and
• loss of a major funding source.
A shareholder’s interest in us will be diluted if we issue additional shares, which could reduce the overall value of an investment in us.
Our shareholders do not have preemptive rights to purchase any shares we issue in the future. Our charter authorizes us to issue an unlimited number of shares. Our Board may elect to sell additional shares in the future or issue equity interests in private offerings. To the extent we issue additional equity interests at or below net asset value, your percentage ownership interest in us may be diluted. In addition, depending upon the terms and pricing of any additional offerings and the value of our investments, you may also experience dilution in the book value and fair value of your shares.
Under the 1940 Act, we generally are prohibited from issuing or selling our common shares at a price below net asset value per share, which may be a disadvantage as compared with certain public companies. We may, however, sell our common shares, or warrants, options, or rights to acquire our common shares, at a price below the current net asset value of our common shares if our Board and independent directors determine that such sale is in our best interests and the best interests of our shareholders, and our shareholders, including a majority of those shareholders that are not affiliated with us, approve such sale. In any such case, the price at which our securities are to be issued and sold may not be less than a price that, in the determination of our Board, closely approximates the fair value of such securities (less any distributing commission or discount). If we raise additional funds by issuing common shares or senior securities convertible into, or exchangeable for, our common shares, then the percentage ownership of our shareholders at that time will decrease and you will experience dilution.
Sales of substantial amounts of our common shares in the public market may have an adverse effect on the market price of our common shares.
The common shares sold in the IPO will be freely tradable without restriction or limitation under the Securities Act.
Any shares purchased in the IPO or currently owned by our affiliates, as defined in the Securities Act, will be subject to the public information, manner of sale and volume limitations of Rule 144 under the Securities Act. The remaining common shares that will be outstanding upon the completion of the IPO will be “restricted securities” under the meaning of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act and may only be sold if such sale is registered under the Securities Act or exempt from registration, including the exemption under Rule 144.
In addition, without the consent of the Adviser:
• prior to January 3, 2022, a shareholder is not permitted to transfer (whether by sale, gift, merger, by operation of law or otherwise), exchange, assign, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of or encumber any common share held by such shareholder prior to the date of the IPO (and any DRIP shares received with respect to such common shares);
• prior to March 1, 2022, a shareholder is not permitted to transfer (whether by sale, gift, merger, by operation of law or otherwise), exchange, assign, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of or encumber 90% of the common shares held by such shareholder prior to the date of the IPO (and any DRIP shares received with respect to such common shares);
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• prior to May 1, 2022, a shareholder is not permitted to transfer (whether by sale, gift, merger, by operation of law or otherwise), exchange, assign, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of or encumber 75% of the common shares held by such shareholder prior to the date of the IPO (and any DRIP shares received with respect to such common shares); and
• prior to July 1, 2022, a shareholder is not permitted to transfer (whether by sale, gift, merger, by operation of law or otherwise), exchange, assign, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of or encumber 50% of the common shares held by such shareholder prior to the date of the IPO (and any DRIP shares received with respect to such common shares).
This means that, as a result of these transfer restrictions, without the consent of the Adviser, a shareholder who owned 100 common shares on the date of the IPO could not sell any of such shares until January 3, 2022; prior to March 1, 2022, such shareholder could only sell up to 10 of such shares; prior to May 1, 2022 , such shareholder could only sell up to 25 of such shares; prior to July 1, 2022, such shareholder could only sell up to 50 of such shares; and after July 1, 2022, such shareholder could sell all of such shares. Consent by the Adviser to waive any of the foregoing transfer restrictions is subject to the consent of the representatives on behalf of the underwriters in the IPO. In addition, our trustees have agreed for a period of 180 days after the date of the IPO and our executive officers who are not trustees have agreed for a period of 180 days after the date of the IPO, not to transfer (whether by sale, gift, merger, by operation of law or otherwise) their common shares without the prior written consent of the representatives on behalf of the underwriters, subject to certain exceptions.
Following the IPO and the expiration of applicable lock-up periods, subject to applicable securities laws, sales of substantial amounts of our common shares, or the perception that such sales could occur, could adversely affect the prevailing market prices for our common shares. If this occurs, it could impair our ability to raise additional capital through the sale of equity securities should we desire to do so. We cannot predict what effect, if any, future sales of securities, or the availability of securities for future sales, will have on the market price of our common shares prevailing from time to time.
Distributions on our common shares may exceed our taxable earnings and profits. Therefore, portions of the distributions that we pay may represent a return of capital to you. A return of capital is a return of a portion of your original investment in common shares. As a result, a return of capital will (i) lower your tax basis in your shares and thereby increase the amount of capital gain (or decrease the amount of capital loss) realized upon a subsequent sale or redemption of such shares, and (ii) reduce the amount of funds we have for investment in portfolio companies. We have not established any limit on the extent to which we may use offering proceeds to fund distributions.
We may pay our distributions from offering proceeds in anticipation of future cash flow, which may constitute a return of your capital and will lower your tax basis in your shares, thereby increasing the amount of capital gain (or decreasing the amount of capital loss) realized upon a subsequent sale or redemption of such shares, even if such shares have not increased in value or have, in fact, lost value.
Shareholders will experience dilution in their ownership percentage if they do not participate in our dividend reinvestment plan.
All distributions declared in cash payable to shareholders that are participants in our dividend reinvestment plan will generally be automatically reinvested in common shares if the investor opts in to the plan. As a result, shareholders that do not elect to participate in our dividend reinvestment plan may experience dilution over time.
Shareholders may experience dilution in the net asset value of their shares if they do not participate in our dividend reinvestment plan and if our shares are trading at a discount to net asset value.
All distributions declared in cash payable to shareholders that are participants in our dividend reinvestment plan will generally be automatically reinvested in common shares if the investor opts in to the plan. As a result, shareholders who do not elect to participate in our dividend reinvestment plan may experience accretion to the net asset value of their shares if our shares are trading at a premium to net asset value and dilution if our shares are trading at a discount to net asset value. The level of accretion or discount would depend on various factors, including the proportion of our shareholders who participate in the plan, the level of premium or discount at which our shares are trading and the amount of the distribution payable to shareholders.
Purchases of our common shares by us under the Company 10b5-1 Plan may result in the price of our common shares being higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market.
On October 18, 2021, our Board approved the Company 10b5-1 Plan. Under the Company 10b5-1 Plan, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, as agent for the Company, will acquire up to the greater of $250 million and the net proceeds from the IPO in the aggregate of our common shares during the period beginning on the later of (i) 30 calendar days following the date of the IPO and (ii) four full calendar weeks following the completion of the offering and will terminate upon the earliest to occur of (i) 12-months (tolled for periods during which the Company 10b5-1 Plan is suspended), (ii) the end of the trading day on which the aggregate purchase price for all shares purchased under the Company 10b5-1 Plan equals the greater of $250 million and the net proceeds from the IPO and (iii) the occurrence of certain other events described in the Company 10b5-1 Plan.
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Whether purchases will be made under the Company 10b5-1 Plan and how much will be purchased at any time is uncertain, dependent on prevailing market prices and trading volumes, all of which we cannot predict. These activities may have the effect of maintaining the market price of our common shares or retarding a decline in the market price of the common shares, and, as a result, the price of our common shares may be higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market.
Purchases of our common shares by us under the Company 10b5-1 Plan may result in dilution to our net asset value per share.
The Company 10b5-1 Plan is intended to require Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, as our agent, to repurchase our common shares on our behalf when the market price per share is below the most recently reported net asset value per share (including any updates, corrections or adjustments publicly announced by us to any previously announced net asset value per share). Under the Company 10b5-1 Plan, the agent will increase the volume of purchases made as the price of our common shares declines, subject to volume restrictions.
Because purchases under the Company 10b5-1 Plan will be made beginning at any price below our most recently reported net asset value per share, if our net asset value per share as of the end of a quarter is lower than the net asset per share as of the end of the prior quarter, purchases under the Company 10b5-1 Plan during the period from the end of a quarter to the time of our earnings release announcing the new net asset value per share for that quarter may result in dilution to our net asset value per share. This dilution would occur because we would repurchase shares under the Company 10b5-1 Plan at a price above the net asset value per share as of the end of the most recent quarter end, which would cause a proportionately smaller increase in our shareholders’ interest in our earnings and assets and their voting interest in us than the decrease in our assets resulting from such repurchase. As a result of any such dilution, our market price per share may decline. The actual dilutive effect will depend on the number of common shares that could be so repurchased, the price and the timing of any repurchases under the Company 10b5-1 Plan.
If we issue preferred shares or convertible debt securities, the net asset value of our common shares may become more volatile.
We cannot assure you that the issuance of preferred shares and/or convertible debt securities would result in a higher yield or return to the holders of our common shares. The issuance of preferred shares or convertible debt would likely cause the net asset value of our common shares to become more volatile. If the dividend rate on the preferred shares, or the interest rate on the convertible debt securities, were to approach the net rate of return on our investment portfolio, the benefit of such leverage to the holders of our common shares would be reduced. If the dividend rate on the preferred shares, or the interest rate on the convertible debt securities, were to exceed the net rate of return on our portfolio, the use of leverage would result in a lower rate of return to the holders of common shares than if we had not issued the preferred shares or convertible debt securities. Any decline in the net asset value of our investment would be borne entirely by the holders of our common shares. Therefore, if the market value of our portfolio were to decline, the leverage would result in a greater decrease in net asset value to the holders of our common shares than if we were not leveraged through the issuance of preferred shares or debt securities. This decline in net asset value would also tend to cause a greater decline in the market price, if any, for our common shares.
There is also a risk that, in the event of a sharp decline in the value of our net assets, we would be in danger of failing to maintain required asset coverage ratios, which may be required by the preferred shares or convertible debt, or our current investment income might not be sufficient to meet the dividend requirements on the preferred shares or the interest payments on the debt securities. In order to counteract such an event, we might need to liquidate investments in order to fund the redemption of some or all of the preferred shares or convertible debt. In addition, we would pay (and the holders of our common shares would bear) all costs and expenses relating to the issuance and ongoing maintenance of the preferred shares, debt securities, convertible debt, or any combination of these securities. Holders of preferred shares or convertible debt may have different interests than holders of common shares and may at times have disproportionate influence over our affairs.
Holders of any preferred shares that we may issue will have the right to elect certain members of our Board and have class voting rights on certain matters.
The 1940 Act requires that holders of preferred shares must be entitled as a class to elect two trustees at all times and to elect a majority of the trustees if dividends on such preferred shares are in arrears by two years or more, until such arrearage is eliminated. In addition, certain matters under the 1940 Act require the separate vote of the holders of any issued and outstanding preferred shares, including changes in fundamental investment restrictions and conversion to open-end status and, accordingly, preferred shareholders could veto any such changes. Restrictions imposed on the declarations and payment of dividends or other distributions to the holders of our common shares and preferred shares, both by the 1940 Act and by requirements imposed by rating agencies, might impair our ability to maintain our tax treatment as a RIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
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