Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
ITEM
9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation
of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our management, with
the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure
controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or
the Exchange Act), as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Based on such evaluation, our Chief
Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were
effective at a reasonable assurance level.
Internal
Control Over Financial Reporting
This Annual Report
on Form 10-K does not include a report of management’s assessment regarding internal control over financial
reporting or an attestation report of our independent registered public accounting firm as permitted in this transition period
under the rules of the SEC for newly public companies.
Changes
in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There
have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during our fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2020 that
have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM
9B. OTHER INFORMATION
On December 18, 2020,
the Company, through a special purpose wholly-owned subsidiary, PS BDC Funding II, entered into the Loan Agreement with the WF
Lenders, WFB as the administrative agent and U.S. Bank, as Collateral Agent and Custodian, pursuant to which the WF Lenders agreed
to provide the Company with a line of credit.
Under the WF Credit
Facility, which matures on December 18, 2025, the WF Lenders have agreed to extend credit to PS BDC Funding II in an aggregate
amount up to the Facility Amount (as defined in the Loan Agreement). The Facility Amount for the WF Credit Facility was $150.0
million as of the closing date of the Loan Agreement. The WF Borrowers’ ability to draw under the WF Credit Facility is scheduled
to terminate on December 18, 2023. All amounts outstanding under the WF Credit Facility are required to be repaid by December 18,
2025.
The loans under the
WF Credit Facility may be Broadly Syndicated Loans or Middle Market Loans and shall be eurocurrency rate loans unless such rate
is unavailable, in which case the loans shall be base rate loans until such rate is available. Broadly Syndicated Loans will bear
interest at the LIBOR or base rate, as applicable, plus 1.85%, and Middle Market Loans will bear interest at LIBOR or base rate,
as applicable, plus 2.35%. The “base rate” will be equal to the highest of (a) the federal funds rate plus 1/2 of 1%
and (b) the prime rate. The Loan Agreement includes fallback language in the event that LIBOR becomes unavailable. Interest is
payable quarterly, as determined by the WFB as the administrative agent. The WF Loan Agreement requires the payment of a non-usage
fee of (x) 0.50% multiplied by daily unused Facility Amounts during the first six months following the closing of the WF Credit
Facility, (y) 0.50% multiplied by the lesser of (1) daily unused Facility Amounts and (2) 50% of the Facility Amount plus 2.00%
multiplied by the greater of (i) the difference between the daily unused Facility Amount and 50% of the Facility Amount and (ii)
zero between six and twelve months following the closing of the WF Credit Facility, and, (z) thereafter, 0.50% multiplied by the
lesser of (1) daily unused Facility Amounts and (2) 20% of the Facility Amount plus 2.00% multiplied by the greater of (i) the
difference between the daily unused Facility Amount and 20% of the Facility Amount and (ii) zero. Such fee is payable quarterly
in arrears. The applicable percentage for PS BDC Funding II’s Eligible Loans ranges from 67.5% for Middle Market Loans to
70% for Broadly Syndicated Loans (as each such term is defined in the Loan Agreement).
In connection with
the WF Credit Facility, the Company transferred certain loans and assets to PS BDC Funding II through a Loan Sale Agreement (the
“Loan Sale Agreement”). PS BDC Funding II has pledged all of its assets to U.S. Bank, in its capacity as Collateral
Agent, to secure its obligations under the WF Credit Facility. Both the Company and PS BDC Funding II have made customary representations
and warranties and are required to comply with various covenants, reporting requirements, and other customary requirements for
similar credit facilities. Borrowing under the WF Credit Facility is subject to the leverage restrictions contained in the 1940
Act. The obligations under the Loan Agreement may be accelerated upon the occurrence of an event of default under the Loan Agreement,
including in the event of a change of control of PS BDC Funding II, if the Investment Advisor ceases to serve as investment adviser
to the Company, or if Palmer Square or its affiliates cease to directly or indirectly own a majority of the membership interests
of the Investment Advisor.
As of December 31,
2020, we had no principal outstanding and $150 million of available Commitments under the WF Credit Facility.
The description above
is only a summary of the material provisions of the WF Credit Facility and is qualified in its entirety to copies of the Loan Agreement
and Loan Sale Agreement, which are filed as Exhibits 10.11 and 10.12, respectively, to this annual report on Form 10-K.
63
PART
III
ITEM
10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Certain information
with respect to the directors of the Company is set forth below, including their names, ages, a brief description of their recent
business experience, including present occupations and employment, certain directorships that each person holds, and the year in
which each person became a director.
For purposes of this
presentation, our directors have been divided into two groups – independent directors and interested directors. Interested
directors are “interested persons” as defined in the 1940 Act. Christopher D. Long and Jeffrey D. Fox are interested
directors of the Company because they are officers of the Company and/or the Investment Advisor.
Directors
Name, Address and Age (1)
Position(s)
held with Company
Term of Office and Length of Time Served
Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5 Years
Other Public Directorships Held During the Past 5 years (2)
Independent Director
Christopher C. Nelson – 46
Director
Class II Director since November 2019; Term Expires 2023
Wealth Advisor at SeaCrest Wealth Management, a financial advisory firm, since May 2018. Vice President at Enterprise Trust Company, an investment management firm, from February 2013 to February 2018.
None
Megan L. Webber – 46
Director
Class I Director since November 2019; Term Expires 2022
Financial Reporting Manager at The Anschutz Corporation, a private holding company.
Member of the Board of Trustees of Palmer Square Opportunistic Income Fund since August 2014. Member of the Board of Trustees of Montage Managers Trust, a registered investment company (ceased operations in 2017).
James W. Neville Jr. – 56
Director
Class I Director since November 2019; Term Expires 2021
Proprietary trader and investor. Portfolio Manager at Great Plains Principal Trading, an asset management firm, from January 2012 through June 2019.
Member of the Board of Trustees of Palmer Square Opportunistic Income Fund since August 2014. Member of the Board of Trustees of Montage Managers Trust, a registered investment company (ceased operations in 2017).
Interested Director
Christopher D. Long – 45
Chief Executive Officer,
President and Chairman
Class I Director since November 2019; Term Expires 2022
Chief Executive Officer of Palmer Square Capital Management LLC.
None
Jeffrey D. Fox – 45
Chief Financial Officer,
Treasurer and Director
Class I Director since November 2019; Term Expires 2021
President of Palmer Square Capital Management LLC since March 2020. Managing Director of Palmer Square Capital Management LLC from April 2013 to March 2020.
None
(1) The business address of each of our directors is c/o Palmer
Square Capital BDC Inc., 1900 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Suite 315, Mission Woods, Kansas 66205.
(2) No director otherwise serves as a director of an investment
company subject to the 1940 Act.
64
Executive Officers Who Are Not Directors
Information regarding
our executive officers who do not serve on the Board is as follows:
Name, Address and Age (1)
Positions held with Company
Principal Occupation(s) During the Past 5 Years
Angie K. Long – 46
Chief Investment Officer
Ms. Long was appointed as our Chief Investment Officer in 2019. Ms. Long also serves as Chief Investment Officer of PSCM and has key responsibilities for all investment-related activities at PSCM. Prior to joining PSCM in 2011, Ms. Long worked for JPMorgan Chase & Co. in New York for 13 years. Ms. Long held many senior roles including Deputy Head of North American Credit Trading, Head of High Yield Trading, and Head of Credit Derivatives Trading. Ms. Long has been a trader of many products including high yield bonds, high yield credit derivatives, distressed debt, capital structure arbitrage, and structured credit. In addition, she worked with the Global Head of Credit Trading to help oversee risk management for the High Yield and High Grade credit trading books. Ms. Long is married to Christopher D. Long, our Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President. Ms. Long received an AB degree in Economics from Princeton University and is also a CFA® charterholder.
Scott A. Betz – 43
Chief Compliance Officer
Mr. Betz was appointed as our Chief Compliance Officer in 2019. Mr. Betz also serves as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Compliance Officer of PSCM. Prior to joining PSCM in March 2018, Mr. Betz worked for over 14 years at Scout Investments, most recently as Chief Operating Officer, Chief Compliance Officer and Treasurer. Prior to joining Scout Investments, Mr. Betz worked for over six years at UMB Bank as a Performance Measurement Specialist and subsequently as Investment Technology Officer. Mr. Betz received an MBA degree and a BA degree in Political Science from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
(1) The business address of each of our officers is c/o Palmer
Square Capital BDC Inc., 1900 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Suite 315, Mission Woods, Kansas 66205.
Information About Each Director’s Experience, Qualifications,
Attributes or Skills
The Board believes
that, collectively, the directors have balanced and diverse experience, qualifications, attributes and skills, which allow the
Board to operate effectively in governing the Company and protecting the interests of its stockholders. Below is a description
of the various experiences, qualifications, attributes and/or skills with respect to each director considered by the Board.
Interested Directors
Christopher D. Long
Mr. Long was appointed as our Chairman,
Chief Executive Officer and President in 2019. Mr. Long has also served as Chief Executive Officer of our Investment Advisor since
2019 and Chief Executive Officer of PSCM since 2009 and is responsible for managing our Investment Advisor’s and PSCM’s
overall business. Mr. Long also served as President of PSCM from 2009 to March 2020. Since PSCM’s inception, Mr. Long has
been successful in not only building a highly-experienced investment team, but also an integrated credit investment platform that
manages mutual fund offerings, private funds and separately managed accounts. PSCM has a client list that spans not only institutions
and family offices, but also RIAs, bank/trust, and broker-dealers. Mr. Long’s previous work experience includes key investment
roles at Prairie Capital and Sandell Asset Management as well as working at Morgan Stanley in the Credit Derivatives and Distressed
Securities Group focused on the firm’s proprietary investments. Before Morgan Stanley, he worked at TH Lee Putnam Ventures,
a private equity fund sponsored by Thomas H Lee Partners and Putnam Investments. In that role, he also served on the Board of Directors
of Avero, Inc. and was a Board Observer for Parago, Inc. He started his career at JPMorgan & Co. in Leveraged Finance and Mergers
& Acquisitions (FIG Group) advising corporations and private equity firms on investment banking and capital markets. Mr. Long
previously served on the board of trustees of Palmer Square Opportunistic Income Fund (Nasdaq) from August 2014 to October 2018.
Mr. Long is married to Angie K. Long, our Chief Investment Officer. He received an MBA degree from the Harvard Business School
and an AB degree in Economics cum laude from Princeton University. The Board believes that Mr. Long’s strong investment and
operating leadership experience qualifies him to serve on the Board.
Jeffrey D. Fox
Mr. Fox was appointed
as our Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer in 2019. Mr. Fox has also served as Chief Financial Officer of our Investment Advisor
since 2019 and as President of PSCM since March 2020. Mr. Fox previously served as Managing Director of PSCM from April 2013 to
March 2020. Prior to joining Palmer Square in April 2013, Mr. Fox worked for Sandler O’Neill and Partners from September
2011 to March 2013 where he was a Managing Director within Fixed Income where he was involved in the structuring and sales of
many products including Collateralized Loan Obligations. Before Sandler O’Neill, Mr. Fox worked for Societe Generale as
a Director within Global Markets Advisory where he was instrumental in the US CDO/CLO and RMBS Credit Advisory effort. His work
included the restructuring of various structured credit legacy positions for European institutions as well as the modeling behind
the corporate rating and pricing for various structured products. Prior to Societe Generale, Mr. Fox was employed by JPMorgan
Chase & Co/Bear Stearns, where he was an Associate Director in the FAST organization focusing on the structuring of Trust
Preferred CDOs and CLOs. Also while at Bear Stearns, Mr. Fox managed the global CDO analytics desk which included intensive credit
modeling of various asset classes. Mr. Fox received a MS degree in Computer Information Systems from Arizona State University
and a BS degree in Mathematics and Geology from Northern Arizona University. Mr. Fox holds the Series 7 and 63 licenses. The Board
believes that Mr. Fox’s strong operational and financial experience qualifies him to serve on the Board.
65
Independent Directors
Megan L. Webber
Ms. Webber is a Financial Reporting Manager
at The Anschutz Corporation, where she has worked for over 19 years. Prior to Anschutz Corporation, she was a Supervising Audit
Senior at KPMG, LLP from 1997 to 2000. Ms. Webber has served on the board of trustees of Palmer Square Opportunistic Income Fund
(Nasdaq) since 2014, and previously served on the board of trustees of Montage Managers Trust from July 2015 to March 2017. Ms.
Webber received a BS in Accounting from Indiana University and received her CPA license in 1997. The Board believes that Ms. Webber’s
strong financial and audit experience qualifies her to serve on the Board.
James W. Neville Jr.
Mr. Neville is an active proprietary trader
and investor. He was a Portfolio Manager at Great Plains Principal Trading from January 2012 through June 2019. Prior to Great
Plains Principal Trading, Mr. Neville served as a proprietary trader for over 23 years, focusing on agriculture futures and options
as well as stock index futures and energy. Mr. Neville has served on the board of directors of Palmer Square Opportunistic Income
Fund (Nasdaq) since 2014. The Board believes that Mr. Neville’s strong investment management and trading experience qualifies
him to serve on the Board.
Christopher C. Nelson
Mr. Nelson is a Wealth Advisor at SeaCrest
Wealth Management, where he has worked since May 2018. Prior to SeaCrest Wealth Management, Mr. Nelson was a Vice President at
Enterprise Trust Company from February 2013 to February 2018, where he led the Kansas City team. Prior to that, Mr. Nelson held
investment management roles at The Private Bank, Kornitzer Capital Management, and The Bank of New York. Mr. Nelson received a
Bachelor of Arts in English from Gettysburg College in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The Board believes that Mr. Nelson’s strong
investment management experience qualifies him to serve on the Board.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a)
of the Exchange Act requires the Company’s officers and directors, and persons who own more than 10% of our Common Stock,
to file reports of securities ownership and changes in such ownership with the SEC. Officers, directors, and greater than 10% stockholders
also are required by SEC rules to furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.
Based solely on the
Company’s review of Forms 3, 4 and 5 filed by such persons and information provided by the Company’s directors
and officers, the Company believes that during the year ended December 31, 2020, all Section 16(a) filing requirements
applicable to such persons were met in a timely manner.
Code of Conduct, Code of Ethics and Insider Trading Policy
We expect each of our
officers and directors, as well as any person affiliated with our operations, to act in accordance with the highest standards of
personal and professional integrity at all times and to comply with the Company’s policies and procedures and all laws, rules
and regulations of any applicable international, federal, provincial, state or local government. To this effect, the Board has
adopted a Code of Ethics. The Code of Ethics applies to all of the Company’s directors and officers.
As required by the 1940 Act and the Advisers Act, we and our
Investment Advisor have each adopted a Code of Ethics that establishes procedures that apply to our directors, executive officers,
officers, their respective staffs and the employees of our Investment Advisor with respect to their personal investments and investment
transactions. Our Code of Ethics generally does not permit investments by our directors, officers or any other covered person in
securities that may be purchased or held by us.
Nomination of Directors
There have been no
material changes to the procedures by which stockholders may recommend nominees to our Board since the filing of our Proxy Statement
for our 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Audit Committee
The members of our
Audit Committee are Megan L. Webber, James W. Neville and Christopher C. Nelson, each of whom meets the independence standards
established by the SEC for audit committees and is independent for purposes of the 1940 Act. Ms. Webber serves as Chair of our
Audit Committee. Our Board has determined that Ms. Webber is an “audit committee financial expert” under SEC rules.
Our Audit Committee’s responsibilities include establishing guidelines and making recommendations to our Board regarding
the valuation of our loans and investments; selecting our independent registered public accounting firm; reviewing with such independent
registered public accounting firm the planning, scope and results of their audit of our financial statements; pre-approving the
fees for services performed; reviewing, in consultation with the independent registered public accounting firm, the adequacy of
internal control systems; reviewing our annual financial statements; overseeing internal audit staff, if any, and periodic filings;
and receiving our audit reports and financial statements.
66
ITEM
11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
None of our officers
receives direct compensation from us. However, Messrs. Long and Fox, through their indirect financial interests in our Investment
Advisor, have an indirect pecuniary interest in the investment advisory fees paid by us under the Advisory Agreement. In addition,
the Company is responsible for expenses incurred by the Administrator in connection with administering the Company’s business,
including making payments to the Administrator based upon the Company’s allocable portion of the Administrator’s overhead
and other expenses associated with performing its obligations under the Administration Agreement, including rent, the fees and
expenses associated with performing compliance functions and the allocable portion of the costs of compensation and related expenses
of the Company’s Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Financial Officer and their respective administrative support staffs.
Compensation of Directors
The Independent Directors
receive an annual fee of $25,000. They also receive reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection
with attending each regular Board meeting, each special meeting and each committee meeting attended. We have obtained directors’
and officers’ liability insurance on behalf of our directors and officers. No compensation is paid to directors who are “interested
persons.” The Board reviews and determines the compensation of Independent Directors.
The following table
shows information regarding the compensation earned by our directors for the year ended December 31, 2020. No compensation
is paid by us to any interested director or executive officer of the Company.
Name
Aggregate
Compensation
from Palmer Square Capital BDC Inc. (1)
Pension or
Retirement
Benefits Accrued as Part of Our Expenses (2)
Total
Compensation
from
Palmer Square
Capital BDC Inc.
Paid
to Director (1)
Independent Directors
Megan L. Webber
$ 25,000
—
$ 31,250
James W. Neville Jr.
$ 25,000
—
$ 31,250
Christopher C. Nelson
$ 25,000
—
$ 31,250
Interested Directors
Christopher D. Long
$ —
—
$ —
Jeffrey D. Fox
$ —
—
$ —
(1) For a description of the Independent Directors’ compensation,
see above.
(2) We do not have a profit-sharing or retirement plan, and
directors do not receive any pension or retirement benefits.
Compensation Committee
The Company does not
have a compensation committee because its executive officers do not receive compensation from us. The Board, as a whole, is responsible
for reviewing the reimbursement by the Company to the Administrator of the allocable portion of the cost of the Company’s
Chief Financial Officer and Chief Compliance Officer and their respective staffs on an annual basis and also participates in the
consideration of director compensation. Decisions on director compensation are based on a review of data of comparable BDCs.
ITEM
12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The following table
shows information as of the March 12, 2021, unless otherwise indicated, regarding the beneficial ownership of our Common Stock
by: (i) each person that the Company believes beneficially holds more than 5% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock based
solely on the Company’s review of filings with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(d) or 13(g) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and Section 16 of the Exchange Act; (ii) each director and nominee;
(iii) each executive officer of the Company; and (iv) all directors and executive officers as a group.
67
The percentage ownership
is based on 12,776,672 shares of our Common Stock issued and outstanding as of March 12, 2021. Unless otherwise indicated, all
persons named as beneficial owners of our Common Stock have sole voting power and sole investment power with respect to the shares
indicated as beneficially owned. In addition, unless otherwise indicated, the address for each person named below is c/o Palmer
Square Capital BDC Inc., Attention: Secretary, 1900 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Suite 315, Mission Woods, Kansas 66205.
Name and Address
Shares Owned (1)
Percentage of Common Stock Outstanding (2)
Christopher D. Long
26,131 (3)
*
Jeffrey D. Fox
7,839
*
Megan L. Webber
—
—
James W. Neville Jr.
—
—
Christopher C. Nelson
—
—
Angie K. Long
26,131 (3)
*
Scott A. Betz
3,920
*
All directors and executive officers as a group (7 persons)
37,890
*
Excelsior Holdings D2 LLC (4)
2,613,051
20.5 %
Alaris Master Fund, LP (5)
1,478,675
11.6 %
Caravel Holdings LLC (6)
1,567,831
12.3 %
BFFV19, LLC (7)
783,915
6.1 %
Pilot Credit, LLC (8)
625,826
4.9 %
* Represents less than 1.0% of the issued and outstanding
shares of our Common Stock as of the Record Date.
(1) Beneficial ownership has been determined in accordance
with Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act. Assumes no other purchases or sales of our common stock since the most recently available
SEC filings. This assumption has been made under the rules and regulations of the SEC and does not reflect any knowledge that
we have with regard to the present intent of the beneficial owners of our common stock listed in this table.
(2) Based on a total of 12,776,672 shares of Common Stock issued
and outstanding as of March 12, 2021.
(3) Includes 26,131 shares of Common Stock indirectly held
by the Christopher D. Long Revocable Trust, for which Mr. Long and Ms. Long disclaim beneficial ownership except to the extent
of his or her pecuniary interests therein.
(4) Based on information provided in a Schedule 13D filed on
March 27, 2020, Excelsior Holdings D2 LLC (“Excelsior”) reported shared voting and dispositive power with respect
to 2,613,051 shares of our Common Stock. Excelsior Holdings D LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Holdings LLC”)
is the managing member of Excelsior. As managing member of Excelsior, Holdings LLC exercises dispositive and voting power over
the shares beneficially owned by Excelsior. The principal business address of each of Excelsior and Holdings LLC is 6000 France
Ave. S., Suite 550, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55435.
(5) Based on information provided in a Schedule 13G filed on
March 27, 2020 and a Form 4 filed on April 22, 2020, Alaris Master Fund LP reported shared voting and dispositive power with respect
to 1,478,675 shares of our Common Stock. Alaris Capital, LLC is the general partner of Alaris Master Fund LP and may be deemed
to be an indirect beneficial owner of the shares. The principal business address of each of Alaris Master Fund LP and Alaris Capital,
LLC is 4900 Main Street, Suite 600, Kansas City, Missouri 64112.
(6) Based on information provided in a Schedule 13G filed on
March 27, 2020, Caravel Holdings LLC reported shared voting and dispositive power with respect to 1,567,831 shares of our Common
Stock. The shares are owned directly by Caravel Holdings LLC, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Seaboard Foods LLC, which
is a wholly owned subsidiary of Seaboard Corporation. Seaboard Foods LLC and Seaboard Corporation may each be deemed to be an
indirect beneficial owner of the shares. The principal business address of each of Caravel Holdings LLC, Seaboard Foods LLC and
Seaboard Corporation is 9000 West 67th Street, Merriam, Kansas 66202.
(7) Based on information provided in a Schedule 13G filed on
March 27, 2020, BBFV19, LLC reported shared voting and dispositive power with respect to 783,915 shares of our Common Stock. The
shares are owned directly by BFFV19, LLC. Martin Christopher Bicknell is the Elected Manager of each of the entities that collectively
own all of the outstanding membership interests of BFFV19, LLC, and thus, Mr. Bicknell may be deemed to be an indirect beneficial
owner of the shares. The principal business address of each of BFFV19, LLC and Mr. Bicknell is 5700 W 112 th Street,
Suite 500, Overland Park, Kansas 66211.
(8) The principal business address for Pilot Credit, LLC is
1055 Hillcrest Road, Suite F-4, Mobile, Alabama 36695.
68
ITEM
13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
Transactions
with Related Persons
Investment
Advisory Agreement
We
have entered into the Advisory Agreement with our Investment Advisor pursuant to which we pay the Investment Advisor a base management
fee and incentive fee (which incentive fee is only payable following a listing of the Company’s Common Stock on a national
securities exchange) in exchange for the Investment Advisor’s services sourcing, reviewing and structuring investment opportunities
for us, underwriting and performing diligence on our investments and monitoring our investment portfolio on an ongoing basis.
Our Board initially approved the Advisory Agreement at an in-person meeting in November 2019, and the Company entered into the
Advisory Agreement in January 2020. Messrs. Long and Fox, through their indirect financial interests in our Investment Advisor,
have an indirect pecuniary interest in the investment advisory fees paid by us under the Advisory Agreement.
Administration
Agreement
We
have entered into the Administration Agreement with the Administrator pursuant to which the Administrator furnishes us with office
facilities and equipment and provides us with clerical, bookkeeping, recordkeeping and other administrative services. Our Board
approved the Administration Agreement in November 2019, and the Company entered into the Administration Agreement in January 2020.
Under the Administration Agreement, the Administrator performs, or oversees the performance of, our required administrative services,
which include, among other things, being responsible for the financial records which we are required to maintain and preparing
reports to our stockholders and reports filed with the SEC.
Resource
Sharing Agreement
The
Investment Advisor is an affiliate of PSCM, with whom it has entered into a resource sharing agreement (the “Resource Sharing
Agreement”). Under this agreement, PSCM provides the Investment Advisor experienced investment professionals and access
to the senior investment personnel and other resources of PSCM and its affiliates. The Resource Sharing Agreement provides the
Investment Advisor with access to deal flow generated by the professionals of PSCM and its affiliates and commits the members
of the Investment Advisor’s investment committee to serve in that capacity. The Investment Advisor seeks to capitalize on
what we believe to be the significant deal origination, credit underwriting, due diligence, investment structuring, execution,
portfolio management and monitoring experience of PSCM’s investment professionals. The Resource Sharing Agreement may be
terminated by either party on 60 days’ notice.
License
Agreement
We
have also entered into a license agreement (the “License Agreement”) with Palmer Square under which Palmer Square
has granted us a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use the name “Palmer Square” for specified purposes in our
business. Under the License Agreement, we have a right to use the “Palmer Square” name, subject to certain conditions,
for so long as our Investment Advisor or one of its affiliates remains our investment adviser. Other than with respect to this
limited license, we will have no legal right to the “Palmer Square” name.
Policies
and Procedures for Managing Conflicts; Co-investment Opportunities
We
have procedures in place for the review, approval and monitoring of transactions involving the Company and certain persons related
to the Company. As a BDC, the 1940 Act restricts us from participating in certain transactions with certain persons affiliated
with the Company, including our officers, directors, and employees and any person controlling or under common control with us.
In addition, each of our directors and executive officers is required to complete questionnaire on an annual basis designed to
elicit information about any potential related-party transactions. In order to ensure that we do not engage in any prohibited
transactions with any persons affiliated with the Company, our officers screen each of our transactions for any possible affiliations,
close or remote, between the proposed portfolio investment, the Company, companies controlled by us and our employees and directors.
We will not enter into any transactions unless and until we are satisfied that the transaction is not prohibited by the 1940 Act
or, if such prohibitions exist, we have taken appropriate actions to seek Board review and approval or exemptive relief from the
SEC for such transaction.
The
Investment Advisor, Palmer Square, and their affiliates, partners and employees (collectively, “PSCM Affiliates”)
may engage in any other business and furnish investment management and advisory services and other types of services to others
which may include, without limitation, serving as investment manager or sponsor of other collective investment vehicles or managed
accounts that acquire interests in, provide financing to or otherwise deal in securities or other investments that would be suitable
investments for us. PSCM Affiliates furnish investment management or advisory services to other persons with investment policies
similar or different to those of us. Such persons may own securities or other instruments of the same class or type or which may
be senior to those held by us, and they have incentives, financial or otherwise, to favor certain accounts or vehicles over others.
There is no assurance that accounts with similar strategies or investment objectives will hold the same investments or perform
in a similar manner. This and other future activities of PSCM Affiliates may give rise to additional conflicts of interest.
Subject
to certain 1940 Act restrictions on co-investments with affiliates or in accordance with the conditions of any co-investment exemptive
relief provided by the SEC, the Investment Advisor offers us the right to participate in all investment opportunities that it
determines are appropriate for us in view of our investment objective, positions, policies, strategies and restrictions as well
as regulatory requirements and other relevant factors. Such offers are subject to the exception that, in accordance with the Investment
Advisor’s code of ethics and allocation policies, we might not participate in each individual opportunity but, on an overall
basis, the Investment Advisor will seek to allocate investments across applicable client accounts in a manner that is fair and
equitable on an overall basis.
69
The Investment Advisor and its affiliates have both subjective
and objective policies and procedures in place that are designed to manage the potential conflicts of interest between the Investment
Advisor’s fiduciary obligations to us and its similar fiduciary obligations to other clients. To the extent that we compete
with entities sponsored or managed by the Investment Advisor or its affiliates for a particular investment opportunity, the Investment
Advisor will allocate investment opportunities across the entities for which such opportunities are appropriate, consistent with
(1) its internal conflict of interest and allocation policies, (2) the requirements of the Advisers Act, and (3) certain restrictions
under the 1940 Act regarding co-investments with affiliates. The Investment Advisor’s allocation policies are intended to
ensure that, over time, we may generally share equitably with other accounts sponsored or managed by the Investment Advisor or
its affiliates in investment opportunities, particularly those involving a security with limited supply or involving differing
classes of securities of the same issuer which may be suitable for us and such other accounts. There can be no assurance that the
Investment Advisor’s or its affiliates’ efforts to allocate any particular investment opportunity fairly among all
clients for whom such opportunity is appropriate will result in an allocation of all or part of such opportunity to us. Not all
conflicts of interest can be expected to be resolved in our favor.
Director
Independence
The 1940 Act requires that
at least a majority of the Company’s directors not be “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the
Company. On an annual basis, each member of our Board is required to complete an independence questionnaire designed to provide
information to assist the Board in determining whether the director is independent under the 1940 Act and our corporate governance
guidelines. Our Board has determined that each of our directors, other than Mr. Christopher D. Long and Mr. Jeffrey D. Fox, is
independent under the Exchange Act and the 1940 Act. Our governance guidelines require any director who has previously been determined
to be independent to inform the Chairman of the Board and our Secretary of any change in circumstance that may cause his or her
status as an Independent Director to change. The Board limits membership on the Audit Committee to Independent Directors.
ITEM
14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The
following aggregate fees by Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP, the Company’s independent registered accounting firm for the fiscal
years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, were billed to the Company for work attributable to audit, tax and other
services provided to the Company for such fiscal year.
Fiscal Year
Ended
December 31,
2020
Fiscal Year
Ended
December 31,
2019
Audit Fees
$ 240,000
$ 20,000
Audit-Related Fees
-
—
Tax Fees
33,000
—
All Other Fees
-
—
Total
$ 273,000
$ 20,000
Audit
Fees
Audit
fees consist of fees billed for professional services rendered for the audit of our year-end financial statements and services
that were provided by PwC for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 in connection with statutory
and regulatory filings.
Audit-Related
Fees
Audit-related
services consist of fees billed for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit
or review of our financial statements and are not reported under “Audit Fees.” These services include attest services
that are not required by statute or regulation and consultations concerning financial accounting and reporting standards.
Tax
Fees
Tax
fees consist of fees billed for professional services for tax compliance and filings. These services include assistance regarding
federal, state, and local tax compliance and filings.
All
Other Fees
Other
fees would include fees billed for products and services other than the services reported above.
The
Audit Committee has established a pre-approval policy that describes the permitted audit, audit-related, tax and other services
to be provided by PwC, the Company’s independent auditor. The policy requires that the Audit Committee pre-approve the audit
and permissible non-audit services performed by the independent auditor in order to assure that the provision of such service
does not impair the auditor’s independence.
Any
requests for audit, audit-related, tax and other services that have not received general pre-approval must be submitted to the
Audit Committee for specific pre-approval, and cannot commence until such approval has been granted. Normally, pre-approval is
provided at regularly scheduled meetings of the Audit Committee. However, the Audit Committee may delegate pre-approval authority
to one or more of its members. The member or members to whom such authority is delegated must report any pre-approval decisions
to the Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting. The Audit Committee does not delegate its responsibilities to pre-approve
services performed by the independent auditor to management.
70
PART
IV
ITEM
15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a)
DOCUMENTS FILED AS PART OF THIS REPORT
The following is a
list of our consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K under Item 8 of Part II hereof:
1. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements
Page
Report
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for the Period January 23, 2020 (Commencement of Operations) through December
31, 2020
F-2
Consolidated
Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of December 31, 2020
F-3
Consolidated
Statement of Operations for the Period January 23, 2020 (Commencement of Operations) through December 31, 2020
F-4
Consolidated
Statement of Changes in Net Assets for the Period January 23, 2020 (Commencement of Operations) through December 31, 2020
F-5
Consolidated
Statement of Cash Flows for the Period January 23, 2020 (Commencement of Operations) through December 31, 2020
F-6
Consolidated
Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2020
F-7
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements
F-11 - F-26
(b)
EXHIBITS
3.1 Form
of Articles of Amendment and Restatement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to
Registrant’s Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form 10 (File No. 000-56126)
filed on January 16, 2020)
3.2 Bylaws
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Registrant’s Registration Statement
on Form 10 (File No. 000-56126) filed on November 27, 2019)
4.1* Description
of securities
10.1 Investment
Advisory Agreement, dated as of January 14, 2020, by and between the Registrant and Palmer
Square BDC Advisor LLC (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Registrant’s
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 000-56126) filed on May 15, 2020)
10.2 Form
of Administration Agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Registrant’s
Registration Statement on Form 10 (File No. 000-56126) filed on November 27, 2019)
10.3 Form
of Advisory Agreement Waiver Letter (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Registrant’s
Registration Statement on Form 10 (File No. 000-56126) filed on November 27, 2019)
10.4 Custody
Agreement, dated as of December 17, 2019, by and between the Registrant and U.S. Bank
National Association (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to Registrant’s
Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form 10 (File No. 000-56126) filed on January
16, 2020)
10.5 Form
of Indemnification Agreement for Directors and Officers (Incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.5 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 10 (File No. 000-56126)
filed on November 27, 2019)
10.6 Form
of Trademark Licensing Agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to Registrant’s
Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form 10 (File No. 000-56126) filed on January
16, 2020)
71
10.7 Form
of Subscription Agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to Registrant’s
Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form 10 (File No. 000-56126) filed on January
16, 2020)
10.8 Dividend
Reinvestment Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to Registrant’s Amendment
No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form 10 (File No. 000-56126) filed on January 16,
2020
10.9 Credit
Agreement, dated February 18, 2020, by and among Palmer Square BDC Funding I LLC, as
the borrower, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent and as lender, and BofA
Securities, Inc., as sole lead arranger and sole book manager (Incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 10.1 to Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 814-01334)
filed on February 20, 2020)
10.10 Sale
and Contribution Agreement, dated February 18, 2020, by and between the Registrant, as
the seller, and Palmer Square BDC Funding I LLC, as the purchaser (Incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 10.2 to Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 814-01334)
filed on February 20, 2020)
10.11* Loan and Security Agreement, dated December 18, 2020, by and
among the Registrant, as the collateral manager, Palmer Square BDC Funding II LLC, as the borrower, Wells Fargo Bank, National
Association, as the administrative agent, U.S. Bank National Association, as the collateral agent and custodian, and the lenders
party thereto.
10.12* Loan Sale Agreement, dated December 18, 2020, by and between
the Registrant, as the seller, and Palmer Square BDC Funding II LLC, as the purchaser.
21.1* Subsidiaries
of Registrant
31.1* Certification
of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a), as adopted
pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2* Certification
of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a), as adopted
pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.1* Certification
of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.2* Certification
of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
*
Filed
herewith
ITEM
16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY
The
Registrant has elected not to provide summary information.
72
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report
to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Palmer
Square Capital BDC Inc.
Dated:
March 12, 2021
By:
/s/
Christopher D. Long
Christopher
D. Long
Chief
Executive Officer and President
(Principal
Executive Officer)
Pursuant to the requirements
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant
and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature
Title
Date
/s/ Christopher D. Long
Chief Executive Officer, President and
Chairman of the Board of Directors
(Principal Executive Officer)
March
12, 2021
Christopher D. Long
/s/ Jeffrey D. Fox
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
March
12, 2021
Jeffrey D. Fox
/s/ Megan L. Webber
Director
March
12, 2021
Megan L. Webber
/s/ James W. Neville Jr.
Director
March
12, 2021
James W. Neville Jr.
/s/ Christopher C. Nelson
Director
March
12, 2021
Christopher C. Nelson
73