Description of Securities
Exhibit 4.2
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES
The following is a description based on relevant portions of Maryland law (the MGCL) and on 26North BDC, Inc.s (the Company, we, us, or our) Articles of Amendment and Restatement (the Charter) and Amended and Restated Bylaws (the Bylaws), each of which is filed as an exhibit to our Annual Report on Form 10-K (the Annual Report) of which this Exhibit 4.2 is a part. This summary is not necessarily complete, and we refer you to the MGCL, our Charter and our Bylaws for a more detailed description of the provisions summarized below.
Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Annual Report to which this Description of Securities is attached as an exhibit.
General
Under the terms of the Charter, our authorized stock consists solely of 1,000,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share and 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.001 par value per share. As permitted by the MGCL, the Charter provides that a majority of the Board of Directors, without any action by our Stockholders, may amend the Charter from time to time to increase or decrease the aggregate number of shares of stock or the number of shares of stock of any class or series that we have authority to issue. The Charter also provides that the Board of Directors may classify or reclassify any unissued shares of Common Stock into one or more classes or series of common stock or preferred stock by setting or changing the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, or limitations as to dividends, qualifications, or terms or conditions of redemption of the shares. There is currently no market for our stock, and we can offer no assurances that a market for our stock will develop in the future. While we may undertake an Exchange Listing, there can be no assurance that such a listing will be successfully completed. There are no outstanding options or warrants to purchase our stock. No stock has been authorized for issuance under any equity compensation plans. Under Maryland law, our Stockholders generally are not personally liable for our debts, except as they may be liable by reason of their own conduct or acts. Unless the Board of Directors determines otherwise, we will issue all shares of our stock in uncertificated form.
None of our shares of Common Stock are subject to further calls or to assessments, sinking fund provisions, obligations of the Company or potential liabilities associated with ownership of the security (not including investment risks).
Common Stock
Pursuant to the current Private Offering, our Common Stock will be offered (i) in the United States only to investors that are accredited investors as defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D under the 1933 Act and (ii) outside the United States in accordance with Regulation S or Regulation D under the 1933 Act. Prior to the acceptance of any subscriptions in the Private Offering, the Company will file an election to be treated as a BDC under the 1940 Act. This Registration Statement is not the offering document pursuant to which we are conducting the Private Offering and may not include all information regarding the Company contained in the Companys private placement memorandum; accordingly, investors should not rely exclusively on information contained herein in making their investment decisions. Prior to an Exchange Listing, the Common Stock may not be sold or transferred except (i) as permitted under the Companys organizational documents; (ii) as permitted under the Companys Subscription Agreement, and (iii) unless such sale or transfer is registered under the 1933 Act or pursuant to any other applicable securities laws or an exemption from such registration thereunder is available. The Common Stock is not currently listed on an exchange, and there is not, and will likely not be, a secondary market for the Common Stock prior to an Exchange Listing. As a result, the ability of Stockholders to sell shares of Common Stock will be limited. An investment in the Company may not be suitable for investors who may need the money they invest in a specified time frame.
Under the terms of the Charter, all shares of Common Stock have equal rights as to dividends, other distributions and voting and, when they are issued, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. Dividends and other distributions may be paid to Stockholders if, as and when authorized by the Board of Directors and declared by us out of funds legally available therefor. Shares of Common Stock have no preemptive, exchange, conversion or redemption rights and Stockholders generally have no appraisal rights. Shares of Common Stock are freely transferable, except where their transfer is restricted by federal and state securities laws or by contract (including the Subscription Agreement) and except that, in order to avoid the possibility that our assets could be treated as plan assets, we may require any person proposing to acquire shares of Common Stock to furnish such information as may be necessary to determine whether such person is a benefit plan investor or a controlling person, restrict or prohibit transfers of shares of such stock or redeem any outstanding shares of stock for such price and on such other terms and conditions as may be determined by or at the direction of the Board of Directors.
Pursuant to the terms of the Subscription Agreement, following an Exchange Listing, Stockholders may be restricted from selling or disposing of their shares of Common Stock by applicable securities laws or contractually by a lock-up agreement with the underwriters of any public offering of the Common Stock conducted in connection with an Exchange Listing or otherwise, in each case with such modifications and exceptions as may be approved by the Company and the underwriters of such public offering. In addition, during the Lock-Up Period, Stockholders will be restricted from: (1) offering, pledging, selling, contracting to sell, selling any option or contract to purchase, purchasing any option or contract to sell, granting any option, right or warrant to purchase or otherwise transferring or disposing of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any shares of Common Stock, or publicly disclosing the intention to make any offer, sale, pledge or disposition, (2) entering into any swap or other arrangement that transfers all or a portion of the economic consequences associated with the ownership of Common Stock or any such other securities (regardless of whether any of these transactions are to be settled by the delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise), or (3) if applicable, making any demand for or exercising any right with respect to the registration of any shares of Common Stock or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock. The Lock-Up Period shall terminate (i) 90 days after the date of an Exchange Listing with respect to one-third of all of the shares of Common Stock held by a Stockholder as of the date of the Exchange Listing, (ii) 180 days after the date of an Exchange Listing with respect to an additional one-third of all of the shares of Common Stock held by a Stockholder as of the date of the Exchange Listing, and (iii) 270 days after the date of an Exchange Listing with respect to the remaining one-third of the shares of Common Stock held by a Stockholder as of the date of the Exchange Listing (or such other periods as may be required or determined to be advisable by the underwriters of such public offering based on prevailing market conditions and practice at the time). The lock-up will apply to all shares of Common Stock acquired prior to an Exchange Listing but will not apply to any shares acquired in open market transactions or acquired pursuant to the dividend reinvestment plan after the date of an Exchange Listing.
In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, each share of Common Stock would be entitled to share ratably in all of our assets that are legally available for distribution after we pay or otherwise provide for all debts and other liabilities and subject to any preferential rights of holders of our preferred stock, if any preferred stock is outstanding at such time. Subject to the rights of holders of any other class or series of stock, each share of Common Stock is entitled to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of Stockholders, including the election of directors, and the Stockholders will possess the exclusive voting power. There will be no cumulative voting in the election of directors. Cumulative voting entitles a Stockholder to as many votes as equals the number of votes which such holder would be entitled to cast for the election of directors multiplied by the number of directors to be elected and allows a Stockholder to cast a portion or all of the Stockholders votes for one or more candidates for seats on the Board of Directors. Without cumulative voting, a minority Stockholder may not be able to elect as many directors as the Stockholder would be able to elect if cumulative voting were permitted. Subject to the special rights of the holders of any class or series of preferred stock to elect directors, each director will be elected by a plurality of the votes cast with respect to such directors election.
Preferred Stock
The current Private Offering does not include an offering of preferred stock. However, under the terms of the Charter, the Board of Directors may authorize us to issue shares of preferred stock in one or more classes or series, without Stockholder approval, to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act. The Board of Directors has the power to fix the preferences, conversion and other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends and other distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption of each class or series of preferred stock. In the event we issue preferred stock, we will make any required disclosure to Stockholders. We will not offer preferred stock to the Adviser or our affiliates except on the same terms as offered to all other Stockholders.
Preferred stock could be issued with terms that would adversely affect the Stockholders. Preferred stock could also be used as an anti-takeover device through the issuance of shares of a class or series of preferred stock with terms and conditions which could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a transaction or a change in control. Every issuance of preferred stock will be required to comply with the requirements of the 1940 Act. The 1940 Act requires, among other things, that: (1) immediately after issuance and before any dividend or other distribution is made with respect to Common Stock and before any purchase of Common Stock is made, such preferred stock together with all other senior securities must not exceed an amount currently equal to 50% of our total assets after deducting the amount of such dividend, distribution or purchase price, as the case may be, and (2) the holders of shares of preferred stock, if any are issued, must be entitled as a class voting separately to elect two directors at all times and to elect a majority of the directors if distributions on such preferred stock are in arrears by two full years or more. Certain matters under the 1940 Act require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of preferred stock (as determined in accordance with the 1940 Act) voting together as a separate class. For example, the vote of such holders of preferred stock would be required to approve a proposal involving a plan of reorganization adversely affecting such securities.
Limitation on Liability of Directors and Officers; Indemnification and Advance of Expenses
Maryland law permits a Maryland corporation to include in its charter a provision eliminating the liability of its directors and officers to the corporation and its Stockholders for money damages except for liability resulting from (a) actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services or (b) active and deliberate dishonesty that is established by a final judgment and is material to the cause of action. The Charter contains a provision that eliminates directors and officers liability to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law, subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act.
In addition, we have entered into indemnification agreements with our directors and officers. The indemnification agreements are intended to provide our directors and officers the maximum indemnification permitted under Maryland law and the 1940 Act. Each indemnification agreement provides that we will indemnify a director or an officer who is a party to the agreement including the advancement of legal expenses, if, by reason of his or her corporate status, such director or officer is, or is threatened to be, made a party to or a witness in any threatened, pending, or completed proceeding, other than a proceeding by or in the right of the Company.
Maryland law requires a corporation (unless its charter provides otherwise, which the Charter does not) to indemnify a director or officer who has been successful in the defense of any proceeding to which he or she is made or threatened to be made a party by reason of his or her service in that capacity against reasonable expenses actually incurred in the proceeding in which the director or officer was successful. Maryland law permits a corporation to indemnify its present and former directors and officers, among others, against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by them in connection with any proceeding to which they may be made or threatened to be made a party by reason of their service in those or other capacities unless it is established that (1) the act or omission of the director or officer was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and (a) was committed in bad faith or (b) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty; (2) the director or officer actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services; or (3) in the case of any criminal proceeding, the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful. Under Maryland law, a Maryland corporation also may not indemnify for an adverse judgment in a suit by or on behalf of the corporation or for a judgment of liability on the basis that a personal benefit was improperly received, unless in either case a court orders indemnification, and then only for expenses. In addition, Maryland law permits a corporation to advance reasonable expenses to a director or officer upon the corporations receipt of (a) a written affirmation by the director or officer of his or her good faith belief that he or she has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the corporation and (b) a written undertaking by him or her or on his or her behalf to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by the corporation if it is ultimately determined that the standard of conduct was not met.
The Charter obligates us, subject to the limitations of Maryland law and the requirements of the 1940 Act, to indemnify (1) any present or former director or officer; or (2) any individual who, while a director or officer and at our request, serves or has served another corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise as a director, officer, partner, member, manager or trustee, from and against any claim or liability to which the person or entity may become subject or may incur by reason of such persons service in that capacity, and without requiring a preliminary determination of the ultimate entitlement to indemnification to pay or reimburse such persons reasonable expenses as incurred in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to which such person is made or threatened to be made a party or in which such person is a witness. In accordance with the 1940 Act, we will not indemnify any person for any liability to the extent that such person would be subject by reason of such persons willful misconduct, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his, her or its office.
Maryland Law and Certain Charter and Bylaw Provisions; Anti-Takeover Measures
Maryland law contains, and the Charter and the Bylaws also contain, provisions that could make it more difficult for a potential acquirer to acquire us by means of a tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise. These provisions are expected to discourage certain coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids and to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of the Company to negotiate first with the Board of Directors. These measures may delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change in control that might otherwise be in the best interests of Stockholders. We believe, however, that the benefits of these provisions outweigh the potential disadvantages of discouraging any such acquisition proposals because, among other things, the ability of the Board of Director to negotiate such proposals may improve their terms.
Under the MGCL, a Maryland corporation generally cannot dissolve, amend its charter, merge, consolidate, convert into another form of business entity, sell all or substantially all of its assets or engage in a statutory share exchange unless declared advisable by the corporations board of directors and approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. A Maryland corporation may provide in its charter for approval of these matters by a lesser or greater percentage, but not less than a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Subject to certain exceptions discussed below, the Charter provides for approval of these actions by the affirmative vote of Stockholders entitled to cast a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter.
Subject to certain exceptions provided in the Charter, the affirmative vote of at least 80% of the votes entitled to be cast thereon, with the holders of each class or series of our stock voting as a separate class will be necessary to effect any of the following actions:
| any amendment to the Charter to make the Common Stock a redeemable security or to convert us from a closed-end company to an open-end company (as such terms are defined in the 1940 Act); |
| our liquidation or dissolution and any amendment to the Charter to effect such liquidation or dissolution; |
| any merger, consolidation, conversion, share exchange or sale or exchange of all or substantially all of our assets that the MGCL requires be approved by Stockholders; or |
| any transaction between us, on the one hand, and any person or group of persons acting together that is entitled to exercise or direct the exercise, or acquire the right to exercise or direct the exercise, directly or indirectly (other than solely by virtue of a revocable proxy), of one-tenth or more of the voting power in the election of our directors generally, or any person controlling, controlled by or under common control with, employed by or acting as an agent of, any such person or member of such group. |
However, if any of the foregoing actions is approved by at least a majority of our continuing directors, such action may be approved only by the Board of Directors and, if necessary, the Stockholders as otherwise would be required by applicable law, the Charter and Bylaws, without regard to the supermajority approval requirements discussed above. A continuing director is defined in the Charter as (1) our current directors, (2) those directors whose nomination for election by the Stockholders or whose election by the directors to fill vacancies is approved by a majority of our current directors then on the Board of Directors or (3) any successor directors whose nomination for election by the Stockholders or whose election by the directors to fill vacancies is approved by a majority of continuing directors or the successor continuing directors then in office.
The Charter also provides that the Board of Directors is divided into three classes, as nearly equal in size as practicable, with each class of directors serving for a staggered three-year term. Additionally, subject to the rights of holders of one or more classes or series of preferred stock to elect or remove one or more directors, directors may be removed at any time, but only for cause (as such term is defined in the Charter) and only by the affirmative vote of Stockholders entitled to cast at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast generally in the election of directors, voting as a single class. The Charter and Bylaws also provide that, except as provided otherwise by applicable law, including the 1940 Act and subject to any rights of holders of one or more classes or series of preferred stock to elect or remove one or more directors, any vacancy on the Board of Directors, and any newly created directorship resulting from an increase in the size of the Board of Directors, may only be filled by vote of the directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director; provided that, under Maryland law, when the holders of any class, classes or series of stock have the exclusive power under the Charter to elect certain directors, vacancies in directorships elected by such class, classes or series may be filled by a majority of the remaining directors so elected by such class, classes or series of our stock. In addition, the Charter provides that, subject to any rights of holders of one or more classes or series of stock to elect or remove one or more directors, the total number of directors will be fixed from time to time exclusively by the Board of Directors.
The classification of the Board of Directors and the limitations on removal of directors described above as well as the limitations on Stockholders right to fill vacancies and newly created directorships and to fix the size of the Board of Directors could have the effect of making it more difficult for a third party to acquire us, or of discouraging a third party from acquiring or attempting to acquire us.
Maryland law, the Charter and the Bylaws also provide that:
| any action required or permitted to be taken by the Stockholders at an annual meeting or special meeting of Stockholders may only be taken if it is properly brought before such meeting or by unanimous consent in lieu of a meeting; |
| special meetings of the Stockholders may be called only by the Board of Directors, the Chair of the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer or the president, and must be called by the secretary to act on any matter that may properly be considered at a meeting of Stockholders upon the written request of Stockholders who are entitled to cast at least a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on such matter at such meeting; and |
| any Stockholder nomination or business proposal to be properly brought before a meeting of Stockholders must have been made in compliance with certain advance notice and informational requirements. |
These provisions could delay or hinder Stockholder actions which are favored by the holders of a majority of our outstanding voting securities. These provisions may also discourage another person or entity from making a tender offer for the Common Stock, because such person or entity, even if it acquired a majority of our outstanding voting securities, would be able to take action as a Stockholder (such as electing new directors or approving a merger) only at a duly called Stockholders meeting, and not by written consent. The provisions of the Charter requiring that the directors may be removed only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast generally in the election of directors will also prevent Stockholders from removing incumbent directors except for cause and upon a substantial affirmative vote. In addition, although the advance notice and information requirements in the Bylaws do not give the Board of Directors any power to disapprove Stockholder nominations for the election of directors or business proposals that are made in compliance with applicable advance notice procedures, they may have the effect of precluding a contest for the election of directors or the consideration of Stockholder proposals if proper procedures are not followed and of discouraging or deterring a third party from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect its own slate of directors or to approve its own proposal without regard to whether consideration of such nominees or proposals might be harmful or beneficial to us and the Stockholders.
Under the MGCL, a Maryland corporation generally cannot amend its charter unless the amendment is declared advisable by the corporations board of directors and approved by the affirmative vote of Stockholders entitled to cast at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. A Maryland corporation may provide in its charter for approval of amendments by a lesser or greater percentage, but not less than a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Subject to certain exceptions discussed herein, the Charter provides for approval of charter amendments by the affirmative vote of Stockholders entitled to cast a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. The Board of Directors has the exclusive power to adopt, alter, amend or repeal the Bylaws. The Charter provides that any amendment to the following provisions of the Charter, among others, will require, in addition to any other vote required by applicable law or the Charter, the affirmative vote of Stockholders entitled to cast at least 80% of the votes entitled to be cast generally in the election of directors, with the holders of each class or series of our stock voting as a separate class, unless a majority of the continuing directors approve the amendment, in which case such amendment must be approved as would otherwise be required by applicable law, the Charter and/or the Bylaws:
| the provisions regarding the classification of the Board of Directors; |
| the provisions governing the removal of directors; |
| the provisions limiting Stockholder action by written consent; |
| the provisions regarding the number of directors on the Board of Directors; and |
| the provisions specifying the vote required to approve extraordinary actions and amend the Charter and exclusive power of the Board of Directors to amend the Bylaws. |
Advance Notice Provisions for Stockholder Nominations and Stockholder Proposals
The Bylaws provide that, with respect to an annual meeting of Stockholders, nominations of individuals for election as directors and the proposal of business to be considered by Stockholders may be made only (a) pursuant to our notice of the meeting, (b) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (c) by a Stockholder who is a Stockholder of record at the record date set by the Board of Directors for the purpose of determining Stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, at the time of giving the advance notice required by the Bylaws and at the time of the meeting (and any adjournment or postponement thereof), who is entitled to vote at the meeting in the election of each individual so nominated or on any such other business and who has complied with the advance notice procedures of the Bylaws. With respect to special meetings of Stockholders, only the business specified in the notice of the meeting may be brought before the meeting. Nominations of individuals for election as directors at a special meeting at which directors are to be elected may be made only (a) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, (b) by a Stockholder that has requested that a special meeting be called for the purpose of electing directors in compliance with the Bylaws and that has supplied the information required by the Bylaws about each individual whom the Stockholder proposes to nominate for election of directors or (c) provided that the special meeting has been called in accordance with the Bylaws for the purpose of electing directors, by a Stockholder who is a Stockholder of record at the record date set by the Board of Directors for the purpose of determining Stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, at the time of giving the advance notice required by the Bylaws and at the time of the meeting (and any postponement or adjournment thereof), who is entitled to vote at the meeting in the election of each individual so nominated and who has complied with the advance notice provisions of the Bylaws.
The purpose of requiring Stockholders to give us advance notice of nominations and other business is to afford the Board of Directors a meaningful opportunity to consider the qualifications of the proposed nominees and the advisability of any other proposed business and, to the extent deemed necessary or desirable by the Board of Directors, to inform Stockholders and make recommendations about such qualifications or business, as well as to provide a more orderly procedure for conducting meetings of Stockholders. Although the Bylaws do not give the Board of Directors any power to disapprove Stockholder nominations for the election of directors or proposals recommending certain action, the advance notice and information requirements may have the effect of precluding election contests or the consideration of Stockholder proposals if proper procedures are not followed and of discouraging or deterring a third party from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect its own slate of directors or to approve its own proposal without regard to whether consideration of such nominees or proposals might be harmful or beneficial to us and our Stockholders.
No Appraisal Rights
For certain extraordinary transactions and charter amendments, the MGCL provides the right to dissenting Stockholders to demand and receive the fair value of their shares, subject to certain procedures and requirements set forth in the statute. Those rights are commonly referred to as appraisal rights. As permitted by the MGCL, the Charter provides that Stockholders will not be entitled to exercise appraisal rights unless the Board of Directors determines that appraisal rights apply, with respect to all or any classes or series of stock, to one or more transactions occurring after the date of such determination in connection with which Stockholders would otherwise be entitled to exercise appraisal rights.
Control Share Acquisitions
Certain provisions of the MGCL provide that a holder of control shares of a Maryland corporation acquired in a control share acquisition has no voting rights with respect to the control shares except to the extent approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter, which is referred to as the Control Share Acquisition Act. Shares owned by the acquiror, by officers or by employees who are directors of the corporation are excluded from shares entitled to vote on the matter. Control shares are voting shares of stock which, if aggregated with all other shares of stock owned by the acquirer or in respect of which the acquirer is able to exercise or direct the exercise of voting power (except solely by virtue of a revocable proxy), would entitle the acquirer to exercise voting power in electing directors within one of the following ranges of voting power:
| one-tenth or more but less than one-third; |
| one-third or more but less than a majority; or |
| a majority or more of all voting power. |
The requisite stockholder approval must be obtained each time an acquirer crosses one of the thresholds of voting power set forth above. Control shares do not include shares the acquiring person is then entitled to vote as a result of having previously obtained stockholder approval. A control share acquisition means the acquisition of issued and outstanding control shares, subject to certain exceptions.
A person who has made or proposes to make a control share acquisition may compel the board of directors of the corporation to call a special meeting of stockholders to be held within 50 days of demand to consider the voting rights of the shares. The right to compel the calling of a special meeting is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including an undertaking to pay the expenses of the meeting. If no request for a meeting is made, the corporation may itself present the question at any stockholders meeting.
If voting rights are not approved at the meeting or if the acquiring person does not deliver an acquiring person statement as required by the statute, then the corporation may redeem for fair value any or all of the control shares, except those for which voting rights have previously been approved. The right of the corporation to redeem control shares is subject to certain conditions and limitations. Fair value is determined, without regard to the absence of voting rights for the control shares, as of the date of any meeting of stockholders at which the voting rights of the shares are considered and not approved or, if no such meeting is held, as of the date of the last control share acquisition by the acquirer. If voting rights for control shares are approved at a stockholder meeting and the acquirer becomes entitled to vote a majority of the shares entitled to vote, all other stockholders may exercise appraisal rights. The fair value of the shares as determined for purposes of appraisal rights may not be less than the highest price per share paid by the acquirer in the control share acquisition.
The Control Share Acquisition Act does not apply (a) to shares acquired in a merger, consolidation or share exchange if the corporation is a party to the transaction or (b) to acquisitions approved or exempted by the charter or bylaws of the corporation. The Bylaws contain a provision exempting from the Control Share Acquisition Act any and all acquisitions by any person of shares of our stock. There can be no assurance that such provision will not be amended or eliminated at any time in the future. However, the SEC staff has taken the position that, if a BDC fails to opt-out of the Control Share Acquisition Act, its actions are inconsistent with Section 18(i) of the 1940 Act and we will amend the Bylaws to be subject to the Control Share Acquisition Act only if the Board of Directors determines that it would be in our best interests and if the SEC staff does not object to our determination that being subject to the Control Share Acquisition Act does not conflict with the 1940 Act.
Business Combinations
Under Maryland law, business combinations between a Maryland corporation and an interested stockholder or an affiliate of an interested stockholder are prohibited for five years after the most recent date on which the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder, such law, the Business Combination Act. These business combinations include a merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or, in circumstances specified in the statute, an asset transfer or issuance or reclassification of equity securities. An interested stockholder is defined as:
| any person who beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of the voting power of the corporations outstanding voting stock; or |
| an affiliate or associate of the corporation who, at any time within the two-year period prior to the date in question, was the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 10% or more of the voting power of the then outstanding stock of the corporation. |
A person is not an interested stockholder under this statute if the corporations board of directors approves in advance the transaction by which such person otherwise would have become an interested stockholder. However, in approving a transaction, the board may provide that its approval is subject to compliance, at or after the time of approval, with any terms and conditions determined by the board.
After the five-year prohibition, any such business combination generally must be recommended by the corporations board of directors and approved by the affirmative vote of at least:
| 80% of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of outstanding shares of voting stock of the corporation; and |
| two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of voting stock of the corporation other than shares held by the interested stockholder with whom or with whose affiliate the business combination is to be effected or held by an affiliate or associate of the interested stockholder. |
These super-majority vote requirements do not apply if holders of the corporations common stock receive a minimum price, as defined under Maryland law, for their shares in the form of cash or other consideration in the same form as previously paid by the interested stockholder for its shares. The statute provides various exemptions from its provisions, including for business combinations that are exempted by the corporations board of directors before the time that the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. If the Board of Directors does not otherwise approve a business combination, the statute may discourage others from trying to acquire control of the Company and increase the difficulty of consummating any offer.
Conflict with the 1940 Act
The Bylaws provide that, if and to the extent that any provision of the MGCL, including the Control Share Acquisition Act (if we amend the Bylaws to be subject to such Act) and the Business Combination Act or any provision of the Charter or the Bylaws conflicts with any provision of the 1940 Act, the applicable provision of the 1940 Act will control.
Exclusive Forum Provision
The Bylaws provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, or, if that court does not have jurisdiction, the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Northern Division, will be the sole and exclusive forum for (a) any Internal Corporate Claim, as such term is defined in the MGCL, other than any action arising under federal securities laws, including (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of any duty owed by any of our directors, officers or other employees to us or to the Stockholders or (iii) any action asserting a claim against us or any of our directors, officers or other employees arising pursuant to any provision of the MGCL, the Charter or the Bylaws, or (b) any other action asserting a claim against us or any of our directors, officers or other employees that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our stock will be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of the Charter and the Bylaws, including the exclusive forum provision in the Bylaws.