Agreement and Plan of Merger among Franklin BSP Lending Corporation, Franklin BSP Capital Corporation, Franklin BSP Merger Sub, Inc. and Franklin BSP Capital Adviser, L.L.C. (for the limited purposes set forth therein), dated as of October 2, 2023

EX-2.1 2 ea186278ex2-1_franklin.htm AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER AMONG FRANKLIN BSP LENDING CORPORATION, FRANKLIN BSP CAPITAL CORPORATION, FRANKLIN BSP MERGER SUB, INC. AND FRANKLIN BSP CAPITAL ADVISER, L.L.C. (FOR THE LIMITED PURPOSES SET FORTH THEREIN), DATED AS OF OCTOBER 2, 2023

Exhibit 2.1

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

among

FRANKLIN BSP CAPITAL CORPORATION,

FRANKLIN BSP MERGER SUB, INC.,

FRANKLIN BSP LENDING CORPORATION

and

FRANKLIN BSP CAPITAL ADVISER, L.L.C.

(for the limited purposes set forth herein)

Dated as of October 2, 2023

TABLE OF CONTENTS

		Page
Article I THE MERGERS		2
1.1.	The Merger	2
1.2.	Closing	2
1.3.	Effective Time	2
1.4.	Effects of the Merger	3
1.5.	Conversion of Capital Stock	3
1.6.	Termination of Certain Contractual Obligations	4
1.7.	Execution of New Acquiror Advisory Agreement	4
1.8.	The Second Merger	4
1.9.	Charter and Bylaws	5
1.10.	Directors and Officers	5

Article II MERGER CONSIDERATION		6
2.1.	Designation of Exchange Agent; Deposit of Merger Consideration	6
2.2.	Delivery of Merger Consideration	6
2.3.	No Further Ownership Rights; Transfers	8
2.4.	Net Asset Value Calculation	8
2.5.	Termination of Exchange Fund	9
2.6.	No Liability	9
2.7.	Withholding Rights	9

Article III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY		10
3.1.	Corporate Organization	10
3.2.	Capitalization	11
3.3.	Authority; No Violation	11
3.4.	Governmental Consents	12
3.5.	Reports	13
3.6.	Company Financial Statements	14
3.7.	Broker’s Fees	16
3.8.	Absence of Changes or Events	16
3.9.	Compliance with Applicable Law; Permits	17
3.10.	Company Information	18
3.11.	Taxes and Tax Returns	18
3.12.	Litigation	20
3.13.	Employee Matters	20
3.14.	Certain Contracts	21
3.15.	Insurance Coverage	22
3.16.	Intellectual Property	22
3.17.	Real Property	22
3.18.	Investment Assets	22
3.19.	State Takeover Laws	23
3.20.	Appraisal Rights	23
3.21.	Valuation	23

3.22.	Opinion of Financial Advisor	23
3.23.	Chapter 11	23

Article IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE ACQUIROR AND MERGER SUB		24
4.1.	Corporate Organization	24
4.2.	Capitalization	24
4.3.	Authority; No Violation	25
4.4.	Governmental Consents	26
4.5.	Reports	26
4.6.	Acquiror Financial Statements	27
4.7.	Broker’s Fees	30
4.8.	Absence of Changes or Events	30
4.9.	Compliance with Applicable Law; Permits	30
4.10.	Acquiror Information	31
4.11.	Taxes and Tax Returns	32
4.12.	Litigation	34
4.13.	Employee Matters	34
4.14.	Certain Contracts	34
4.15.	Insurance Coverage	35
4.16.	Intellectual Property	35
4.17.	Real Property	36
4.18.	Investment Assets	36
4.19.	State Takeover Laws	36
4.20.	Valuation	36
4.21.	Opinion of Financial Advisor	36
4.22.	Chapter 11	37

Article V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE ACQUIROR ADVISER		37
5.1.	Organization	37
5.2.	Authority; No Violation	37
5.3.	Compliance with Applicable Law; Permits	38
5.4.	Litigation	39
5.5.	Acquiror Adviser Information	39
5.6.	Financial Resources	39

Article VI COVENANTS RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS		40
6.1.	Conduct of Businesses Prior to the Effective Time	40
6.2.	Company Forbearances	40
6.3.	Acquiror Forbearances	43

Article VII ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS		45
7.1.	Further Assurances	45
7.2.	Regulatory Matters	46
7.3.	Stockholder Approval	47
7.4.	Indemnification	49
7.5.	No Solicitation	50

7.6.	Company Takeover Proposals	51
7.7.	Acquiror Takeover Proposals	53
7.8.	Access to Information	56
7.9.	Publicity	56
7.10.	Takeover Statutes and Provisions	57
7.11.	Tax Matters	57
7.12.	Stockholder Litigation	57
7.13.	Section 16 Matters	57
7.14.	No Other Representations or Warranties	58
7.15.	Merger of Surviving Company	58
7.16.	Coordination of Dividends	58

Article VIII CONDITIONS PRECEDENT		59
8.1.	Conditions to Each Party’s Obligations to Effect the Merger	59
8.2.	Conditions to Obligations of the Acquiror and Merger Sub to Effect the Merger	60
8.3.	Conditions to Obligations of the Company to Effect the Merger	61
8.4.	Frustration of Closing Conditions	62

Article IX TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT		62
9.1.	Termination	62
9.2.	[Reserved]	65
9.3.	Effect of Termination	65
9.4.	Fees and Expenses	65
9.5.	Amendment	65
9.6.	Extension; Waiver	65

Article X CERTAIN DEFINITIONS		66

Article XI GENERAL PROVISIONS		74
11.1.	Nonsurvival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements	74
11.2.	Notices	74
11.3.	Interpretation; Construction	76
11.4.	Counterparts	77
11.5.	Entire Agreement	77
11.6.	Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial	77
11.7.	Assignment; Third Party Beneficiaries	78
11.8.	Specific Performance	78

Exhibits

Exhibit A

Form of Amended and Restated Investment Advisory Agreement

iii

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

This AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of October 2, 2023 (this “Agreement”), is made by and among Franklin BSP Capital Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Acquiror”), Franklin BSP Merger Sub, Inc., a Maryland corporation and a wholly-owned direct Consolidated Subsidiary of the Acquiror (“Merger Sub”), Franklin BSP Lending Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), and, solely for purposes of Section 1.7, Article V, Section 8.3 and Article XI, Franklin BSP Capital Adviser, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company and the investment adviser to the Acquiror (the “Acquiror Adviser”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, each of the Company and the Acquiror has previously elected to be regulated as a business development company (“BDC”), as defined in Section 2(a)(48) of the Investment Company Act;

WHEREAS, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, Merger Sub shall merge with and into the Company (the “Merger”), with the Company as the surviving company in the Merger (sometimes referred to in such capacity as the “Surviving Company”);

WHEREAS, immediately following the Merger (as defined below), the Surviving Company shall merge with and into the Acquiror (the “Second Merger” and, together with the Merger, the “Mergers”), with the Acquiror as the surviving company in the Second Merger;

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Company Board”), upon the recommendation of a committee of the Company Board comprised solely of the Independent Directors of the Company (the “Company Special Committee”), has unanimously (i) determined that (x) this Agreement and the terms of the Mergers and the related Transactions are advisable, fair to and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders and (y) the interests of the Company’s existing stockholders will not be diluted as a result of the Transactions, (ii) approved, adopted and declared advisable this Agreement and the Transactions (including the Merger and other Company Matters), (iii) directed that the approval of the Company Matters be submitted to the Company’s stockholders at the Company Stockholders Meeting and (iv) resolved to recommend that the stockholders of the Company approve the Company Matters, including the Merger;

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Acquiror (the “Acquiror Board”), upon the recommendation of a committee of the Acquiror Board comprised solely of the Independent Directors of the Acquiror (the “Acquiror Special Committee”), has unanimously (i) determined that (x) this Agreement, the New Acquiror Advisory Agreement and the terms of the Mergers and the related Transactions are advisable, fair to and in the best interests of the Acquiror and its stockholders and (y) the interests of the Acquiror’s existing stockholders will not be diluted as a result of the Transactions, (ii) approved, adopted and declared advisable this Agreement, the New Acquiror Advisory Agreement and the Transactions (including the Merger and the Acquiror Matters), (iii) directed that the approval of the Acquiror Matters be submitted to the Acquiror’s stockholders at the Acquiror Stockholders Meeting and (iv) resolved to recommend that the stockholders of the Acquiror approve the Acquiror Matters;

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Merger Sub has unanimously (i) determined that this Agreement and the terms of the Mergers and the related Transactions are advisable, fair to and in the best interests of Merger Sub and its sole stockholder, (ii) approved, adopted and declared advisable this Agreement and the Transactions (including the Merger) and (iii) resolved to recommend the approval of the Transactions (including the Merger) by the Acquiror, in the Acquiror’s capacity as the sole stockholder of Merger Sub;

WHEREAS, the parties intend the Mergers to be treated as a single integrated transaction and to qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, and intend for this Agreement to constitute a “plan of reorganization” within the meaning of the Code; and

WHEREAS, the parties desire to make certain representations, warranties, covenants and other agreements in connection with the Transactions and also to prescribe certain conditions to the Transactions.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations, warranties, covenants and other agreements contained in this Agreement, the parties agree as follows:

Article I

THE MERGERS

1.1. The Merger. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, in accordance with the Maryland General Corporation Law (the “MGCL”), at the Effective Time, Merger Sub shall merge with and into the Company, and the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub shall cease. The Company shall be the surviving company in the Merger and shall continue its existence as a corporation under the MGCL.

1.2. Closing. On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, the closing of the Merger (the “Closing”) shall take place by remote communication and by the exchange of signatures by electronic transmission on the date that is three (3) Business Days after the satisfaction or waiver of the latest to occur of the conditions set forth in Article VIII (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of such conditions), unless otherwise agreed in writing by the parties to this Agreement (the “Closing Date”).

1.3. Effective Time. The Merger shall become effective as set forth in the articles of merger with respect to the Merger (the “First Articles of Merger”) that shall be filed with, and accepted for record by, the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland (the “MD SDAT”). The term “Effective Time” shall be the date and time when the Merger becomes effective as set forth in the First Articles of Merger.

1.4. Effects of the Merger. At and after the Effective Time, the Merger shall have the effects set forth in the MGCL.

1.5. Conversion of Capital Stock. At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the Company, the Acquiror or Merger Sub or the holder of any of the following securities:

(a) Each share of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of Merger Sub issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into one validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable share of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Surviving Company.

(b) All shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (“Company Common Stock”) that are issued and outstanding and are owned by the Acquiror or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries (including Merger Sub) immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be cancelled and shall cease to exist and no shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Acquiror (“Acquiror Common Stock”) or any other consideration shall be delivered in exchange therefor (such shares, the “Cancelled Shares”).

(c) Subject to Section 1.5(e), each share of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (except for the Cancelled Shares) shall be converted, in accordance with and subject to the procedures set forth in Article II, into the right to receive a number of shares of Acquiror Common Stock equal to the Exchange Ratio and, if applicable, cash in lieu of fractional shares of Acquiror Common Stock payable in accordance with Section 1.5(f) (such shares of Acquiror Common Stock and any such cash in lieu of fractional shares of Acquiror Common Stock, the “Merger Consideration”), in all cases without interest. The amount of cash each holder of Company Common Stock as of immediately prior to the Effective Time is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section 1.5(c) shall be rounded down to the nearest cent, and computed after aggregating all cash amounts for all shares of Company Common Stock then held by such holder.

(d) All of the shares of Company Common Stock converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration pursuant to this Article I shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be cancelled and shall cease to exist as of the Effective Time, and the holders of book-entry shares (“Book-Entry Shares”) which immediately prior to the Effective Time represented such Company Common Stock shall cease to have any rights with respect to such Company Common Stock other than the right to receive, upon surrender of such Book-Entry Shares in accordance with Section 2.2, the Merger Consideration.

(e) The Exchange Ratio shall be appropriately adjusted (to the extent not already taken into account in determining the Closing Company Net Asset Value and/or the Closing Acquiror Net Asset Value, as applicable) if, between the Determination Date and the Effective Time, the respective outstanding shares of Acquiror Common Stock or Company Common Stock shall have been increased or decreased or changed into or exchanged for a different number or kind of shares or securities, in each case, as a result of any reclassification, recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, split-up, combination or exchange of shares, or if a stock dividend or dividend payable in any other securities shall be authorized and declared with a record date within such period, as permitted by this Agreement. Nothing in this Section 1.5(e) shall be construed to permit any party hereto to take any action that is otherwise prohibited or restricted by any other provision of this Agreement.

(f) No certificates or scrip representing fractional shares of Acquiror Common Stock shall be issued upon the conversion of Company Common Stock pursuant to this Section 1.5, and such fractional share interests shall not entitle the owner thereof to any shares of Acquiror Common Stock or to vote or to any other rights or powers of a holder of Acquiror Common Stock. In lieu of any such fractional shares, each holder of Company Common Stock who would otherwise be entitled to such fractional shares shall be entitled to an amount in cash, without interest, rounded down to the nearest cent, equal to the product of (A) the amount of the fractional share interest in a share of Acquiror Common Stock to which such holder would, but for this Section 1.5(f), be entitled under Section 1.5(c), as so rounded pursuant to the immediately following sentence, and (B) the Acquiror Per Share NAV. All fractional shares to which a single record holder of Company Common Stock as of immediately prior to the Effective Time would be otherwise entitled to receive shall be aggregated and calculations shall be rounded to three (3) decimal places. As soon as practicable after the determination of the amount of cash, if any, to be paid to holders of Company Common Stock as of immediately prior to the Effective Time in lieu of any fractional share interests in Acquiror Common Stock, the Exchange Agent shall make available such amount, without interest, to such holders of Company Common Stock entitled to receive such cash. The payment of cash in lieu of fractional share interests pursuant to this Section 1.5(f) is not a separately bargained-for consideration.

1.6. Termination of Certain Contractual Obligations. Immediately after the Effective Time, the Company Advisory Agreement, the Company Administration Agreements and the Existing Acquiror Advisory Agreement shall be terminated and of no further force and effect.

1.7. Execution of New Acquiror Advisory Agreement. Immediately after the Effective Time, the Acquiror and the Acquiror Adviser shall enter into the New Acquiror Advisory Agreement.

1.8. The Second Merger.

(a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, in accordance with the MGCL and Section 253 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), at the Second Effective Time, the Surviving Company shall merge with and into the Acquiror and the separate corporate existence of the Surviving Company shall cease. The Acquiror shall be the surviving company in the Second Merger and shall continue its existence as a corporation under the Laws of the State of Delaware. The Second Merger shall become effective as set forth in (i) the articles of merger with respect to the Second Merger (the “Second Articles of Merger”) that the Acquiror shall file with the MD SDAT and (ii) the certificate of ownership and merger with respect to the Second Merger (the “Certificate of Merger”) that the Acquiror shall file with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the “DE Secretary”) (the “Second Effective Time”). At and after the Second Effective Time, the Second Merger shall have the effects set forth in the MGCL and the DGCL.

(b) At the Second Effective Time, by virtue of the Second Merger and without any action on the part of the Acquiror or the Surviving Company or the holder of any of the following securities, (i) each share of common stock of the Surviving Company issued and outstanding as of immediately prior to the Second Effective Time shall be cancelled and shall cease to exist, and no consideration shall be exchanged therefor; and (ii) each share of Acquiror Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Second Effective Time shall remain outstanding as an identical share of Acquiror Stock.

1.9. Charter and Bylaws.

(a) At the Effective Time, the charter of the Company as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the charter of the Surviving Company, as the surviving company of the Merger, as of the Effective Time, until thereafter amended in accordance with applicable Law and the terms of such charter. The bylaws of the Company as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the bylaws of the Surviving Company, as the surviving company in the Merger, as of the Effective Time, until thereafter amended in accordance with applicable Law and the terms of such bylaws.

(b) At the Second Effective Time, the certificate of incorporation of the Acquiror as in effect immediately prior to the Second Effective Time shall be the certificate of incorporation of the Acquiror, as the surviving company of the Second Merger, as of the Second Effective Time, until thereafter amended in accordance with applicable Law and the terms of such certificate of incorporation. The bylaws of the Acquiror as in effect immediately prior to the Second Effective Time shall be the bylaws of the Acquiror, as the surviving company in the Second Merger, as of the Second Effective Time, until thereafter amended in accordance with applicable Law and the terms of the certificate of incorporation of the Acquiror and such bylaws.

1.10. Directors and Officers. Subject to applicable Law, the directors and officers of Merger Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the directors and officers of the Surviving Company and shall hold office until their respective successors are duly elected and qualify, or the earlier death, resignation or removal of any such director or officer or the consummation of the Second Merger. Subject to applicable Law, the directors and officers of the Acquiror immediately prior to the Second Effective Time shall be the directors and officers of the Acquiror immediately after consummation of the Second Merger and shall hold office until their respective successors are duly elected and qualify, or their earlier death, resignation or removal.

Article II

MERGER CONSIDERATION

2.1. Designation of Exchange Agent; Deposit of Merger Consideration. Prior to the Closing, the Acquiror shall enter into a customary exchange agreement with a nationally recognized financial institution designated by the Acquiror and reasonably acceptable to the Company (the “Exchange Agent”) for the payment of the Merger Consideration as provided in Section 1.5(c). At or prior to the Effective Time, the Acquiror shall deposit, or cause to be deposited, with the Exchange Agent, for exchange in accordance with this Article II, through the Exchange Agent book-entry shares representing the full number of whole shares of Acquiror Common Stock issuable pursuant to Section 1.5(c) in exchange for outstanding shares of Company Common Stock, and the Acquiror shall, after the Effective Time on the appropriate payment date, if applicable, provide or cause to be provided to the Exchange Agent any dividends or other distributions payable on such shares of Acquiror Common Stock pursuant to Section 2.2(c) (such shares of Acquiror Common Stock provided to the Exchange Agent, together with any dividends or other distributions with respect thereto, are hereinafter referred to as the “Exchange Fund”). For purposes of the deposit, the Acquiror shall assume that there will not be any fractional shares of Acquiror Common Stock. The Acquiror shall make available to the Exchange Agent, for addition to the Exchange Fund, from time to time as needed, cash sufficient to pay cash in lieu of fractional shares in accordance with Section 1.5(f). In the event the Exchange Fund shall at any time be insufficient to make the payments contemplated by Section 1.5(c), the Acquiror shall promptly deposit, or cause to be deposited, additional funds with the Exchange Agent in an amount which is equal to the deficiency in the amount required to make such payment. The Acquiror shall cause the Exchange Fund to be (x) held for the benefit of the holders of Company Common Stock as of immediately prior to the Effective Time and (y) applied promptly to making the payments pursuant to Section 1.5. The Exchange Fund shall not be used for any purpose other than to fund payments pursuant to Section 1.5, except as expressly provided for in this Agreement.

2.2. Delivery of Merger Consideration.

(a) As promptly as practicable following the Effective Time and in any event not later than the second Business Day thereafter, the Acquiror shall cause the Exchange Agent to mail to each holder of record of a Book-Entry Share that immediately prior to the Effective Time represented outstanding shares of Company Common Stock: (i) a letter of transmittal, which shall specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the Book-Entry Shares shall pass, only upon proper delivery of the Book-Entry Shares to the Exchange Agent and which shall be in the form and have such other provisions as the Acquiror and the Company may reasonably specify (such letter of transmittal, the “Letter of Transmittal”) and (ii) instructions (which instructions shall be in the form and have such other provisions as the Acquiror and the Company may reasonably specify) for use in effecting the surrender of the Book-Entry Shares in exchange for (A) the number of shares of Acquiror Common Stock (which shall be in book-entry form) representing, in the aggregate, the whole number of shares that such holder has the right to receive in respect of such Book-Entry Shares pursuant to Section 1.5(c), (B) any dividends or other distributions payable pursuant to Section 2.2(c) and (C) any cash in lieu of fractional shares of Acquiror Common Stock payable pursuant to Section 1.5(f).

(b) Upon surrender of a Book-Entry Share for cancellation to the Exchange Agent, together with a Letter of Transmittal duly completed and validly executed in accordance with the instructions thereto, and such other documents as may be required pursuant to such instructions, the holder of such Book-Entry Share shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor, and the Acquiror shall cause the Exchange Agent to pay and deliver in exchange thereof as promptly as practicable, but in any event within two (2) Business Days following the Exchange Agent’s receipt of such Book-Entry Share, such duly completed and validly executed Letter of Transmittal and such other documents, (A) the number of shares of Acquiror Common Stock (which shall be in book-entry form) representing, in the aggregate, the whole number of shares that such holder has the right to receive in respect of such Book-Entry Shares pursuant to Section 1.5(c), (B) any dividends or other distributions payable pursuant to Section 2.2(c) and (C) any cash in lieu of fractional shares of Acquiror Common Stock payable pursuant to Section 1.5(f), and the Book-Entry Share so surrendered shall be forthwith canceled. The Exchange Agent shall accept such Book-Entry Shares upon compliance with such reasonable terms and conditions as the Exchange Agent may impose to effect an orderly exchange thereof in accordance with normal exchange practices. No interest shall be paid or accrued for the benefit of holders of the Book-Entry Shares on any cash payable upon the surrender of the Book-Entry Shares.

(c) Subject to applicable Law, following surrender of a Book-Entry Shares for cancellation to the Exchange Agent, there shall be paid to the holder of the shares of Acquiror Common Stock issued in exchange for such Book-Entry Shares, without interest, (i) at the time of delivery of such Acquiror Common Stock by the Exchange Agent pursuant to Section 2.2(b), the amount of dividends or other distributions with a record date after the Effective Time theretofore paid with respect to such shares of Acquiror Common Stock and (ii) at the appropriate payment date, the amount of dividends or other distributions with a record date after the Effective Time but prior to such delivery of such shares of Acquiror Common Stock by the Exchange Agent pursuant to Section 2.2(b), and a payment date subsequent to such delivery of such shares of Acquiror Common Stock by the Exchange Agent pursuant to Section 2.2(b), payable with respect to such shares of Acquiror Common Stock.

(d) In the event of a transfer of ownership of Company Common Stock that is not registered in the transfer records of the Company, payment of the appropriate amount of Merger Consideration (and any dividends or other distributions with respect to Acquiror Common Stock as contemplated by Section 2.2(c)) may be made to a Person other than the Person in whose name the Book-Entry Share so surrendered is registered, only if such Book-Entry Share shall be properly transferred and the Person requesting such payment shall pay any transfer or other Taxes required by reason of the payment to a Person other than the registered holder of such Book-Entry Share or establish to the satisfaction of the Acquiror that such Tax has been paid or is not applicable.

2.3. No Further Ownership Rights; Transfers. All Merger Consideration paid by the Acquiror in accordance with the terms of Article I and Article II shall be deemed to have been paid in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to Company Common Stock in respect of which such Merger Consideration was paid. From and after the Effective Time, the stock transfer books of the Company shall be closed with respect to, and there shall be no further transfers on the stock transfer books of the Company of, the shares of Company Common Stock that were issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time.

2.4. Net Asset Value Calculation.

(a) The Acquiror shall deliver to the Company a calculation of the net asset value of the Acquiror as of a date mutually agreed between the Acquiror and the Company, such date to be no earlier than forty-eight (48) hours (excluding Sundays and holidays) prior to the Effective Time (such agreed date, the “Determination Date”), calculated in good faith as of such date and based on the same assumptions and methodologies, and applying the same categories of adjustments to net asset value (except as may be mutually agreed by the parties), historically used by the Acquiror in preparing the calculation of the net asset value per share of Acquiror Common Stock (with an accrual for any dividend declared by the Acquiror and not yet paid) (the “Closing Acquiror Net Asset Value”); provided that the Acquiror shall update the calculation of the Closing Acquiror Net Asset Value in the event that the Closing is subsequently materially delayed or there is a material change to the Closing Acquiror Net Asset Value prior to the Closing (including without limitation any dividend declared after the Determination Date but prior to Closing) and as needed to ensure the Closing Acquiror Net Asset Value is determined within forty-eight (48) hours (excluding Sundays and holidays) prior to the Effective Time; provided further that the Acquiror Board, including a majority of the Independent Directors of the Acquiror Board, shall be required to approve, and the Chief Financial Officer of the Acquiror shall certify in writing to the Company, the calculation of the Closing Acquiror Net Asset Value.

(b) The Company shall deliver to the Acquiror a calculation of the net asset value of the Company as of the Determination Date, calculated in good faith as of such date and based on the same assumptions and methodologies, and applying the same categories of adjustments to net asset value (except as may be mutually agreed by the parties), historically used by the Company in preparing the calculation of the net asset value per share of Company Common Stock (with an accrual for any dividend declared by the Company and not yet paid) (the “Closing Company Net Asset Value”); provided that the Company shall update the calculation of the Closing Company Net Asset Value in the event that the Closing is subsequently materially delayed or there is a material change to the Closing Company Net Asset Value prior to the Closing (including any dividend declared after the Determination Date but prior to Closing) and as needed to ensure the Closing Company Net Asset Value is determined within forty-eight (48) hours (excluding Sundays and holidays) prior to the Effective Time; provided further that the Company Board, including a majority of the Independent Directors of the Company Board, shall be required to approve, and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company shall certify in writing to the Acquiror, the calculation of the Closing Company Net Asset Value.

(c) In connection with preparing the calculations provided pursuant to this Section 2.4, each of the Company and the Acquiror will use the portfolio valuation methods approved by the Company Board or the Acquiror Board, as applicable, for valuing the securities and other assets of the Company or the Acquiror, as applicable, as of June 30, 2023, unless otherwise agreed by each of the Acquiror Board and the Company Board.

(d) Each of the Company and the Acquiror shall afford the other, and the other’s respective Representatives, upon reasonable request, reasonable access to the individuals who have prepared each calculation provided pursuant to this Section 2.4 and to the information, books, records, work papers and back-up materials used or useful in preparing each such calculation, including without limitation any reports prepared by valuation agents, in order to assist such party with its review of such calculation so long as such individuals remain employed by Franklin BSP Lending Adviser, L.L.C. or the Acquiror Adviser, as applicable, or their respective Affiliates.

2.5. Termination of Exchange Fund. Any portion of the Exchange Fund that remains undistributed to former stockholders of the Company as of the first anniversary of the Effective Time may be paid to the Acquiror, upon the Acquiror’s written demand to the Exchange Agent. In such event, any former stockholders of the Company who have not theretofore complied with any applicable requirements to receive cash in lieu of fractional shares of Acquiror Common Stock shall thereafter look only to the Acquiror for payment of the Merger Consideration and any unpaid dividends and other distributions on the Acquiror Common Stock deliverable in respect of the Company Common Stock such stockholder holds as determined pursuant to this Agreement, in each case, without any interest thereon.

2.6. No Liability. None of the Acquiror, the Company, the Surviving Company, Merger Sub, the Exchange Agent or any other Person shall be liable to any Person in respect of any shares of Acquiror Common Stock or cash held in the Exchange Fund delivered to a Governmental Entity pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar Law. If any Book-Entry Shares shall not have been surrendered immediately prior to the date on which any Merger Consideration or any unpaid dividends or other distributions on the Acquiror Common Stock or other entitlements in respect of such Book-Entry Share would otherwise escheat to or become the property of any Governmental Entity, any such Merger Consideration or unpaid dividends or other distributions or other entitlements in respect of such Book-Entry Share shall, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, become the property of the Acquiror, free and clear of all claims or interest of any Person previously entitled thereto.

2.7. Withholding Rights. The Acquiror, the Exchange Agent and each of their respective Affiliates and agents, as applicable, shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from amounts payable pursuant to this Agreement to any holder of Company Common Stock such amounts as it determines in good faith are required to be deducted and withheld with respect to the making of such payment under the Code, or under any provision of state, local or foreign Tax Law. To the extent that amounts are so withheld and paid over to the appropriate Governmental Entity, such withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the recipient.

Article III

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

Except with respect to matters that have been Previously Disclosed, the Company hereby represents and warrants to the Acquiror and Merger Sub that:

3.1. Corporate Organization.

(a) The Company is a corporation duly incorporated and validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Maryland. The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to own or lease all of its properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted, and is duly licensed or qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted by it or the character or location of the properties and assets owned or leased by it makes such licensing or qualification necessary, in each case, other than as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company. The Company has duly elected to be regulated as a BDC, and such election has not been revoked or withdrawn and is in full force and effect.

(b) True, complete and correct copies of the Third Articles of Amendment and Restatement of the Company, as amended (the “Company Charter”), and the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (the “Company Bylaws”), as in effect as of the date of this Agreement, have previously been publicly filed by the Company.

(c) Each Consolidated Subsidiary of the Company (i) is duly incorporated or duly formed, as applicable to each such Consolidated Subsidiary, and validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization, as applicable, (ii) has the requisite corporate (or similar) power and authority to own or lease all of its properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted and (iii) is duly licensed or qualified to do business as a foreign corporation or other business entity in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted by it or the character or location of the properties and assets owned or leased by it makes such licensing or qualification necessary, other than in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company.

3.2. Capitalization.

(a) The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 450,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock, of which 231,759,899 shares were outstanding as of the close of business on June 30, 2023 (the “Company Capitalization Date”). All of the issued and outstanding shares of Company Common Stock have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid, nonassessable and free of preemptive rights, with no personal liability with respect to the Company attaching to the ownership thereof. As of the date of this Agreement, no Indebtedness having the right to vote on any matters on which stockholders of the Company may vote (“Company Voting Debt”) is issued or outstanding. As of the Company Capitalization Date, except pursuant to the Company’s dividend reinvestment plan, the Company does not have and is not bound by any outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, rights, commitments or agreements of any character (“Rights”) calling for the purchase or issuance of, or the payment of any amount based on, any shares of Company Common Stock, Company Voting Debt or any other equity securities of the Company or any securities representing the right to purchase or otherwise receive any shares of Company Common Stock, Company Voting Debt or other equity securities of the Company. There are no obligations of the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries (i) to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of capital stock of the Company, Company Voting Debt or any equity security of the Company or its Consolidated Subsidiaries or any securities representing the right to purchase or otherwise receive any shares of capital stock, Company Voting Debt or any other equity security of the Company or its Consolidated Subsidiaries or (ii) pursuant to which the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries is or could be required to register shares of the Company’s capital stock or other securities under the Securities Act. All of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock have been issued in compliance with applicable Law in all material respects.

(b) All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity ownership interests of each Consolidated Subsidiary of the Company are owned by the Company, directly or indirectly, free and clear of any Liens, and all of such shares or equity ownership interests are duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid, nonassessable (in respect of corporate entities) and free of preemptive rights. No Consolidated Subsidiary of the Company has or is bound by any outstanding Rights calling for the purchase or issuance of, or the payment of any amount based on, any shares of capital stock or any other equity security of such Consolidated Subsidiary or any securities representing the right to purchase or otherwise receive any shares of capital stock or any other equity security of such Consolidated Subsidiary.

3.3. Authority; No Violation.

(a) The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and, subject to obtaining the Company Requisite Vote, to consummate the Transactions. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the Transactions have been duly and validly approved by the Company Board. The Company Board (on the recommendation of the Company Special Committee) has unanimously (i) determined that (A) this Agreement and the terms of the Mergers and the related Transactions are advisable, fair to and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders and (B) the interests of the Company’s existing stockholders will not be diluted as a result of the Transactions, (ii) approved, adopted and declared advisable this Agreement and the Transactions (including the Merger and other Company Matters), (iii) directed that the approval of the Company Matters be submitted to the Company’s stockholders at a duly held meeting of such stockholders (the “Company Stockholders Meeting”) and (iv) resolved to recommend that the stockholders of the Company approve the Company Matters, including the Merger. Except for receipt of the approval of the Company Matters by the affirmative vote of the holders of Company Common Stock entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matters to be approved at the Company Stockholders Meeting (the “Company Requisite Vote”), the Merger and the other Transactions have been authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company and (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the Acquiror, Merger Sub and the Acquiror Adviser) constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms (except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, moratorium, reorganization or similar Laws of general applicability relating to or affecting the rights of creditors generally and subject to general principles of equity (the “Enforceability Exception”)).

(b) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company, nor the consummation by the Company of the Transactions, nor the performance of this Agreement by the Company, will (i) violate any provision of the Company Charter or the Company Bylaws or (ii) assuming that the consents, approvals and filings referred to in Section 3.3(a) and Section 3.4 are duly obtained and/or made, (A) violate any Law or Order applicable to the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries or (B) except as Previously Disclosed, violate, conflict with, result in a breach of or the loss of any benefit under, constitute a default (or an event that, with or without the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default) under, result in the termination of or a right of termination or cancellation under, accelerate the performance required by, require the consent, approval or authorization of, or notice to or filing with any third-party with respect to, or result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the respective properties or assets of the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any Permit, Contract or other obligation to which the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them or any of their respective properties or assets is bound except, with respect to clause (ii)(B), any such violation, conflict, breach, loss, default, termination, cancellation, acceleration, consent, approval or creation that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

3.4. Governmental Consents. No consents or approvals of, or filings or registrations with, any Governmental Entity are necessary in connection with the consummation by the Company of the Merger and the other Transactions, except for (i) the filing with the SEC and applicable state securities regulators of a joint proxy statement/prospectus in definitive form relating to the Company Stockholders Meeting and the Acquiror Stockholders Meeting to be held in connection with this Agreement and the Transactions (the “Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus”) and of a registration statement on Form N-14 or such other appropriate SEC form (the “Registration Statement”) in which the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus will be included as a prospectus, and declaration of effectiveness of the Registration Statement by the SEC and applicable state securities regulators, (ii) the filing of the First Articles of Merger with and the acceptance for the record of the First Articles of Merger by the MD SDAT in respect of the Merger, (iii) the filing of the Second Articles of Merger with and the acceptance for the record of the Second Articles of Merger by the MD SDAT in respect of the Second Merger, (iv) the filing of the Certificate of Merger with and the acceptance for the record of the Certificate of Merger by the DE Secretary in respect of the Second Merger, (v) any notices or filings under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the “HSR Act”), (vi) the reporting of this Agreement on a Current Report on Form 8-K and (vii) any such consents, approvals, filings or registrations that the failure to obtain or make would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company.

3.5. Reports.

(a) The Company has timely filed or furnished all forms, statements, certifications, reports and documents that it was required to file since January 1, 2021 (the “Applicable Date”) with the SEC (such filings since the Applicable Date, the “Company SEC Reports”), except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries taken as a whole. To the Company’s knowledge, no Company SEC Report, at the time filed or furnished with the SEC, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading. To the Company’s knowledge, all Company SEC Reports, as of their respective dates, complied as to form in all material respects with the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto. None of the Consolidated Subsidiaries of the Company is required to make any filing with the SEC.

(b) Neither the Company nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries is subject to any cease-and-desist or other Order or enforcement action issued by, or is a party to any Contract, consent agreement or memorandum of understanding with, or is a party to any commitment letter or similar undertaking to, any Governmental Entity that currently restricts in any material respect the conduct of its business (or to the Company’s knowledge that, upon consummation of the Mergers, would restrict in any material respect the conduct of the business of the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries), or that in any material manner relates to its capital adequacy, its ability to pay dividends, its credit, risk management or compliance policies, its internal controls, its management or its business, other than those of general application that apply to similarly situated BDCs or their Consolidated Subsidiaries, nor has the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries been advised in writing or, to the knowledge of the Company, verbally, by any Governmental Entity that it is considering issuing, initiating, ordering, or requesting any of the foregoing.

(c) The Company has made available to the Acquiror all material correspondence with the SEC since the Applicable Date and, as of the date of this Agreement, to the knowledge of the Company (i) there are no unresolved comments from the SEC with respect to the Company SEC Reports or any SEC examination of the Company and (ii) none of the Company SEC Reports is subject to any ongoing review by the SEC.

3.6. Company Financial Statements.

(a) The financial statements, including the related consolidated schedules of investments, of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries included (or incorporated by reference) in the Company SEC Reports (including the related notes, where applicable) (i) fairly present in all material respects the consolidated results of operations, cash flows, changes in net assets and consolidated financial position of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for the respective fiscal periods or as of the respective dates therein set forth (except that unaudited statements may not contain notes and are subject to recurring year-end audit adjustments normal in nature and amount), (ii) to the Company’s knowledge, have complied as to form, as of their respective dates of filing with the SEC, in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and with the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto and (iii) have been prepared in all material respects in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) consistently applied during the periods involved, except, in each case, as indicated in such statements or in the notes thereto. Ernst & Young LLP (“E&Y”) has not resigned, threatened resignation or been dismissed as the Company’s independent public accountant as a result of or in connection with any disagreements with the Company on a matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedure.

(b) Except for (A) liabilities reflected or reserved against on the consolidated unaudited balance sheet of the Company as of June 30, 2023 included in the unaudited financial statements set forth in the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2023 (the “Company Balance Sheet”), (B) liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business since June 30, 2023, (C) liabilities incurred in connection with this Agreement and the Transactions, (D) liabilities otherwise disclosed in the Company SEC Reports and (E) liabilities that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company, neither the Company nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries has any liabilities that would be required to be reflected or reserved against in the Company Balance Sheet in accordance with GAAP.

(c) Neither the Company nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries is a party to or has any commitment to become a party to any off-balance sheet joint venture, partnership or similar contract with any unconsolidated Affiliate or “off-balance sheet arrangement” (as defined in Item 303(a) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Exchange Act).

(d) Since the Applicable Date, (i) neither the Company nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, auditor, accountant or Representative of the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries has received or otherwise had or obtained knowledge of any material complaint, allegation, assertion or claim, whether written or oral, regarding the accounting or auditing practices, procedures, methodologies or methods of the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries or their respective internal accounting controls, including any complaint, allegation, assertion or claim that the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries has engaged in questionable or illegal accounting or auditing practices or maintains inadequate internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act), and (ii) no attorney representing the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries, whether or not employed by the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries, has reported evidence of a material violation of securities laws, breach of duty or similar violation by the Company or any of its directors, officers or agents to the Company Board or any committee thereof or to any director or officer of the Company.

(e) To the Company’s knowledge, since the Applicable Date, E&Y, which has expressed its opinion with respect to the financial statements of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries included in the Company SEC Reports (including the related notes), has been (i) “independent” with respect to the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries within the meaning of Regulation S-X, and (ii) in compliance with subsections (g) through (l) of Section 10A of the Exchange Act and the related rules of the SEC and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

(f) The principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the Company have made all certifications required by Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and any related rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC (collectively, the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), and the statements contained in any such certifications are complete and correct, and the Company is otherwise in compliance in all material respects with all applicable effective provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

(g) The Company has in all material respects:

(i) designed and maintained a system of disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) promulgated under the Exchange Act) to ensure that all information (both financial and non-financial) required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits to the SEC under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and to allow the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer to make the certifications required under the Exchange Act with respect to such reports;

(ii) designed and maintained a system of internal controls over financial reporting sufficient to provide reasonable assurance concerning the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP, including reasonable assurance that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets, (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, (D) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences and (E) the Company’s management, with the participation of the Company’s principal executive and financial officers, has completed an assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 in compliance with the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and such assessment concluded that the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022, using the framework specified in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022; and

(iii) (A) disclosed, based on its most recent evaluation, to its auditors and the audit committee of the Company Board (1) any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses (as defined in the relevant Statement of Auditing Standards) in the design or operation of the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting that are reasonably likely to adversely affect its ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and (2) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other individuals who have a significant role in its internal controls over financial reporting and (B) identified for the Company’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls.

(h) The fair market value of the Company’s investments as of June 30, 2023 (i) was determined in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (Topic 820)”, issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“ASC Topic 820”) and (ii) reflects a reasonable estimate of the fair value of such investments as determined in good faith, in accordance with Rule 2a-5 under the Investment Company Act.

(i) To the Company’s knowledge, there is no fraud or suspected fraud affecting the Company involving management of the Company who have significant roles in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

3.7. Broker’s Fees. Neither the Company nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries nor any of their respective directors, officers or agents has utilized any broker, finder or financial advisor or incurred any liability for any broker’s fees, commissions or finder’s fees in connection with the Mergers or the other Transactions, other than to J.P. Morgan Securities LLC pursuant to an engagement letter, a true, complete and correct copy of which has been previously delivered to the Acquiror.

3.8. Absence of Changes or Events. Since December 31, 2022, (i) except as expressly permitted or required by or in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the Transactions, the business of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries has been conducted in the ordinary course of business, (ii) there has not been any Effect that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company and (iii) there has not been any material action that, if it had been taken after the date hereof, would have required the consent of the Acquiror under Sections 6.1 or 6.2.

3.9. Compliance with Applicable Law; Permits.

(a) Each of the Company and each of its Consolidated Subsidiaries is in compliance, and has been operated in compliance, in all material respects, with all applicable Laws, including, if and to the extent applicable, the Investment Company Act, the Securities Act and the Exchange Act other than as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company. The Company has not received any written or, to the Company’s knowledge, oral notification from a Governmental Entity of any material non-compliance with any applicable Laws, which non-compliance would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

(b) The Company is in compliance, and since the Applicable Date, has complied with its investment policies and restrictions and portfolio valuation methods, if any, as such policies and restrictions have been set forth in its registration statement (as amended from time to time) or the reports that it has filed with the SEC under the Exchange Act and applicable Laws, if any, other than any non-compliance that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company.

(c) The Company has written policies and procedures adopted pursuant to Rule 38a-1 under the Investment Company Act that are reasonably designed to prevent material violations of the “Federal Securities Laws,” as such term is defined in Rule 38a-1(e)(1) under the Investment Company Act. There have been no “Material Compliance Matters” for the Company, as such term is defined in Rule 38a-1(e)(2) under the Investment Company Act, other than those that have been reported to the Company Board and satisfactorily remedied or are in the process of being remedied or those that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

(d) Each of the Company and each of its Consolidated Subsidiaries holds and is in compliance with all Permits required in order to permit the Company and each of its Consolidated Subsidiaries to own or lease their properties and assets and to conduct their businesses under and pursuant to all applicable Law as presently conducted, other than any failure to hold or non-compliance with any such Permit that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. All such Permits are valid and in full force and effect, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. The Company has not received any written or, to the Company’s knowledge, oral notification from a Governmental Entity of any material non-compliance with any such Permits, and no Proceeding is pending or threatened in writing to suspend, cancel, modify, revoke or materially limit any such Permits, which Proceeding would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

(e) No “affiliated person” (as defined under the Investment Company Act) of the Company has been subject to disqualification to serve in any capacity contemplated by the Investment Company Act for any investment company (including a BDC) under Sections 9(a) and 9(b) of the Investment Company Act, unless, in each case, such Person has received exemptive relief from the SEC with respect to any such disqualification. There is no material Proceeding pending and served or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened that would result in any such disqualification.

(f) The minute books and other similar records of the Company maintained since the Applicable Date contain a true and complete record in all material respects of all action taken at all meetings and by all written consents in lieu of meetings of the stockholders of the Company, the Company Board and any committees of the Company Board.

3.10. Company Information. None of the information supplied or to be supplied by the Company for inclusion or incorporation by reference in (i) the Registration Statement will, at the time the Registration Statement is filed with the SEC and the applicable state securities regulators, at any time the Registration Statement is amended or supplemented or at the time the Registration Statement becomes effective under the Securities Act, or (ii) the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus will, at the date the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus or any amendment or supplement is first mailed to stockholders of the Company or stockholders of the Acquiror or at the time of the Company Stockholders Meeting or the Acquiror Stockholders Meeting, in each case, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they are made, not misleading, except that no representation or warranty is made by the Company with respect to information supplied by the Acquiror, Merger Sub or the Acquiror Adviser for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement or the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus.

3.11. Taxes and Tax Returns.

(a) The Company and each of its Consolidated Subsidiaries has duly and timely filed (taking into account all applicable extensions) all material Tax Returns required to be filed by it on or prior to the date of this Agreement (all such Tax Returns being accurate and complete in all material respects), has paid all material Taxes shown thereon as arising and has duly paid or made provision for the payment of all material Taxes that have been incurred or are due or claimed to be due from it by federal, state, foreign or local taxing authorities other than Taxes that are not yet delinquent or are being contested in good faith, have not been finally determined and have been adequately reserved against under GAAP. No material Tax Return of the Company or any Consolidated Subsidiary has been examined by the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) or other relevant taxing authority. There are no material disputes pending, or written claims asserted, for Taxes or assessments upon the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries for which the Company does not have reserves that are adequate under GAAP. Neither the Company nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries is a party to or is bound by any Tax sharing, allocation or indemnification agreement or arrangement (other than such an agreement or arrangement exclusively between or among the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries). Within the past five years (or otherwise as part of a “plan (or series of related transactions)” within the meaning of Section 355(e) of the Code of which the Merger is also a part), neither the Company nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries has been a “distributing corporation” or a “controlled corporation” in a distribution of stock which qualified or was intended to qualify under Section 355(a) of the Code and to which Section 355 of the Code (or so much of Section 356 of the Code, as it relates to Section 355 of the Code) applied or was intended to apply. Neither the Company nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries is required to include in income any adjustment pursuant to Section 481(a) of the Code, no such adjustment has been proposed by the IRS and no pending request for permission to change any accounting method has been submitted by the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries. Neither the Company nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries has participated in a “listed transaction” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4(b)(2). If the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries has participated in a “reportable transaction” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4(b), such entity has properly disclosed such transaction in accordance with the applicable Tax regulations.

(b) The Company made a valid election under Part I of Subchapter M of Subtitle A, Chapter 1, of the Code to be taxed as a “regulated investment company” (a “RIC”). The Company has qualified as a RIC at all times since the beginning of its first taxable year ended December 31, 2011 and expects to continue to so qualify through the Effective Time. No challenge to the Company’s status as a RIC is pending or has been threatened orally or in writing. For each taxable year of the Company ending on or before the Effective Time, the Company has satisfied the distribution requirements imposed on a regulated investment company under Section 852 of the Code (assuming for these purposes that any Tax Dividend declared by the Company after the date of this Agreement has been timely paid).

(c) Prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall have declared and paid a Tax Dividend with respect to all taxable years ended prior to the Effective Time. Prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall have declared a Tax Dividend with respect to the final taxable year ending with its complete liquidation.

(d) The Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries have complied in all material respects with all applicable Laws relating to the payment and withholding of Taxes and have, within the time and in the manner prescribed by applicable Law, in all material respects, withheld from and paid over all amounts required to be so withheld and paid over under applicable Laws.

(e) The Company is not aware of any fact or circumstance that could reasonably be expected to prevent the Mergers from qualifying as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.

(f) The Company has no “earnings and profits” for U.S. federal income Tax purposes described in Section 852(a)(2)(B) of the Code.

(g) The Company Previously Disclosed each asset the disposition of which would be subject to the rules similar to Section 1374 of the Code as prescribed in IRS Notice 88-19, 1988-1 C.B. 486, or Treasury Regulation Section 1.337(d)-7 and the amount of “net unrealized built-in gain” (within the meaning of Section 1374(d) of the Code) on each such asset. Other than as Previously Disclosed, the Company is not now and will not be subject to corporate-level income taxation on the sale, transfer or other disposition of its assets currently held as a result of the application of Section 337(d) of the Code or the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.

(h) No claim has been made in writing by a taxing authority in a jurisdiction where the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries does not file Tax Returns that the Company or any such Consolidated Subsidiary is or may be subject to taxation by that jurisdiction, and which, if upheld, would reasonably result in a material Tax liability.

(i) Neither the Company nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries has, or has ever had, a permanent establishment in any country other than the United States.

(j) Neither the Company nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries has requested a private letter ruling from the IRS or comparable rulings from other taxing authorities.

(k) Neither the Company nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries has any liability for the Taxes of another Person other than the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign Law), as a transferee, successor or payable pursuant to a contractual obligation.

(l) Neither the Company nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries has ever been a member of a consolidated, combined or unitary Tax group (other than such a group the common parent of which is the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries).

(m) There are no material Liens for Taxes (other than Taxes not yet due and payable) upon any of the assets of the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries.

3.12. Litigation. There are no material Proceedings pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened against the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries. There is no Order binding upon the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries other than such Orders as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

3.13. Employee Matters. Neither the Company nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries has (i) any employees or (ii) any “employee benefit plans” as defined in Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or any employment, bonus, incentive, vacation, stock option or other equity based, severance, termination, retention, change of control, profit sharing, fringe benefit, health, medical or other similar plan, program or agreement (collectively, “Employee Benefit Plans”).

3.14. Certain Contracts.

(a) The Company has Previously Disclosed a complete and accurate list of, and true and complete copies have been delivered or made available (including via EDGAR) to the Acquiror of, all Contracts (collectively, the “Company Material Contracts”) to which, as of the date hereof, the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries is a party, or by which the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries may be bound, or, to the knowledge of the Company, to which it or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries or their respective assets or properties may be subject, with respect to:

(i) any Contract that is a “material contract” within the meaning of Item 601(b)(10) of the SEC’s Regulation S-K;

(ii) any loans or credit agreements, mortgages, indentures and other agreements and instruments pursuant to which any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount in excess of $5,000,000 is outstanding or may be incurred, or any guarantee by the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries of any Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount in excess of $5,000,000;

(iii) any non-competition or non-solicitation Contract or any other Contract that limits, purports to limit, or would reasonably be expected to limit in each case in any material respect the manner in which, or the localities in which, any material business of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, is or could be conducted or the types of business that the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries conducts or may conduct; or

(iv) any Contract that obligates the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries to conduct any business that is material to the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, on an exclusive basis with any third party, or upon consummation of the Mergers, will obligate the Acquiror, the Surviving Company or any of their Consolidated Subsidiaries to conduct business with any third-party on an exclusive basis.

(b) Each Company Material Contract is (x) valid and binding on the Company or its applicable Consolidated Subsidiary and, to the Company’s knowledge, each other party thereto, (y) enforceable against the Company or its applicable Consolidated Subsidiary in accordance with its terms (subject to the Enforceability Exception), and (z) is in full force and effect other than in each case as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. The Company Advisory Agreement has been approved by the Company Board and stockholders of the Company in accordance with Section 15 of the Investment Company Act. Neither the Company nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any other party thereto, is in material breach of any provisions of or in default (or, with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, would be in default) under, and has not taken any action resulting in the termination of, acceleration of performance required by, or resulting in a right of termination or acceleration under, any Company Material Contract other than as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company. No Company Material Contract has been amended, modified or supplemented other than as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. No event has occurred with respect to the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries that, with or without the giving of notice, the lapse of time or both, would constitute a breach or default under any Company Material Contract other than as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

3.15. Insurance Coverage. All material insurance policies maintained by the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries and that name the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries as an insured (each, a “Company Insurance Policy”), including the fidelity bond required by the Investment Company Act, are in full force and effect and all premiums due and payable with respect to each Company Insurance Policy have been paid. Neither the Company nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries has received written notice of cancellation of any Company Insurance Policy.

3.16. Intellectual Property. The Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries own, possess or have a valid license or other adequate rights to use all patents, patent applications, patent rights, trademarks, trademark applications, trademark rights, trade names, trade name rights, service marks, service mark applications, service mark rights, copyrights, computer programs and other proprietary intellectual property rights (collectively, “Intellectual Property Rights”) that are material to the conduct of the business of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries taken as a whole (hereinafter, “Company Intellectual Property Rights”), except where the failure to own, possess or have adequate rights would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company. No claims are pending for which the Company has received written notice or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened (i) that the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries is infringing or otherwise violating the rights of any Person with regard to any Intellectual Property Right, or (ii) that any Company Intellectual Property Right is invalid or unenforceable. To the knowledge of the Company, no Person is infringing, misappropriating or using without authorization the rights of the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries with respect to any Intellectual Property Right, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

3.17. Real Property. Neither the Company nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries owns or leases any real property.

3.18. Investment Assets. Each of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries has good title to all securities, Indebtedness and other financial instruments owned by it, free and clear of any material Liens, except to the extent such securities, Indebtedness or other financial instruments, as applicable, are pledged to secure obligations of the Company or its Consolidated Subsidiaries pursuant to credit agreements that have been Previously Disclosed and except for Liens consisting of restrictions on transfer agreed to in respect of investments entered into in the ordinary course of business. As of June 30, 2023, the value of investments owned by the Company that are “qualifying investments” for purposes of Section 55(a) of the Investment Company Act was greater than 70% of the value of the Company’s total assets (other than assets described in Section 55(a)(7) of the Investment Company Act).

3.19. State Takeover Laws. The Company Board has taken all action necessary to render inapplicable to the Merger the restrictions on business combinations contained in Subtitle 6 of Title 3 of the MGCL. Moreover, the restrictions on control share acquisitions contained in Subtitle 7 of Title 3 of the MGCL are not applicable to the Merger, and no other “business combination,” “control share acquisition,” “fair price,” “moratorium” or other similar antitakeover statutes or regulations enacted under state or federal Laws in the United States (any such Laws, “Takeover Statutes”) are applicable to this Agreement, the Mergers or the other Transactions.

3.20. Appraisal Rights. In accordance with Section 3-202 of the MGCL and Section 4.5 of the Company Charter, no dissenters’ rights, appraisal rights or rights of an objecting stockholder shall be available to holders of Company Common Stock in connection with the Transactions.

3.21. Valuation. Except as may be mutually agreed by the parties, the value of each investment asset owned by the Company that is used in connection with the computations made by the Company pursuant to Section 2.4 will be determined in accordance with the valuation policies and procedures set forth in the Company’s compliance policies and procedures approved by the Company Board as of June 30, 2023 and no exceptions to such valuation policies and procedures have been or will be permitted in valuing such assets in connection with the computations pursuant to Section 2.4 for purposes of this Agreement, and the value of all assets owned by the Company other than investment assets that are used in connection with the computations made by the Company pursuant to Section 2.4 will be determined in accordance with GAAP. Except as may be mutually agreed by the parties, all valuations made by third-party valuation agents for such purposes will be made only by valuation agents that have been approved by the Company Board as of or prior to the date hereof. Except as may be mutually agreed by the parties, the fair value of any portfolio securities for which fair value determinations were made by the Company Board for purposes of such computations were or will be determined by the Company Board in good faith in accordance with the valuation methods set forth in the Company’s valuation policies and procedures adopted by the Company Board as of June 30, 2023.

3.22. Opinion of Financial Advisor. The Company Board and the Company Special Committee have received the opinion of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, financial advisor to the Company Special Committee, to the effect that, as of the date of such opinion and based upon and subject to the various assumptions, limitations, qualifications and other matters set forth therein, the Exchange Ratio was fair, from a financial point of view, to the Company’s stockholders other than BSP and its Affiliates.

3.23. Chapter 11. Neither the Company nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries is under the jurisdiction of a court in a “title 11 or similar case” (as defined in Section 368(a)(3)(A) of the Code).

Article IV

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE ACQUIROR AND MERGER SUB

Except with respect to matters that have been Previously Disclosed, the Acquiror and Merger Sub hereby jointly and severally represent and warrant to the Company that:

4.1. Corporate Organization.

(a) The Acquiror is a corporation duly incorporated and validly existing under the Laws of the State of Delaware and in good standing with the DE Secretary and Merger Sub is a corporation duly incorporated and validly existing under the Laws of the State of Maryland and in good standing with the MD SDAT. Each of the Acquiror and Merger Sub has the requisite corporate power and authority to own or lease all of its properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted, and is duly licensed or qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted by it or the character or location of the properties and assets owned or leased by it makes such licensing or qualification necessary, in each case, other than as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Acquiror. The Acquiror has duly elected to be regulated as a BDC, and such election has not been revoked or withdrawn and is in full force and effect.

(b) True, complete and correct copies of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Acquiror, as amended (the “Acquiror Charter”), and the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Acquiror (the “Acquiror Bylaws”), as in effect as of the date of this Agreement, have previously been publicly filed by the Acquiror.

(c) Each Consolidated Subsidiary of the Acquiror (i) is duly incorporated or duly formed, as applicable to each such Consolidated Subsidiary, and validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization, as applicable, (ii) has the requisite corporate (or similar) power and authority to own or lease all of its properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted and (iii) is duly licensed or qualified to do business as a foreign corporation or other business entity in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted by it or the character or location of the properties and assets owned or leased by it makes such licensing or qualification necessary, other than in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Acquiror.

4.2. Capitalization.

(a) The authorized capital stock of the Acquiror consists of (i) 450,000,000 shares of Acquiror Common Stock, of which 25,542,837 shares were outstanding as of the close of business on June 30, 2023 (the “Acquiror Capitalization Date”) and (ii) 50,000,000 shares of Series A preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Acquiror (“Acquiror Preferred Stock” and, together with Acquiror Common Stock, “Acquiror Stock”), of which 77,500 shares were outstanding as of the Acquiror Capitalization Date. All of the issued and outstanding shares of Acquiror Stock have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid, nonassessable and free of preemptive rights, with no personal liability with respect to the Acquiror attaching to the ownership thereof. All of the shares of Acquiror Common Stock constituting the Merger Consideration will be, when issued pursuant to the terms of the Merger, duly authorized and validly issued and fully paid, nonassessable and free of preemptive rights, with no personal liability with respect to the Acquiror attaching to the ownership thereof. As of the date of this Agreement, no Indebtedness having the right to vote on any matters on which stockholders of the Acquiror may vote (“Acquiror Voting Debt”) is issued or outstanding. As of the Acquiror Capitalization Date, except pursuant to the Acquiror’s dividend reinvestment plan and the terms of the Acquiror Preferred Stock, the Acquiror does not have and is not bound by any Rights calling for the purchase or issuance of, or the payment of any amount based on, any shares of Acquiror Stock, Acquiror Voting Debt or any other equity securities of the Acquiror or any securities representing the right to purchase or otherwise receive any shares of Acquiror Stock, Acquiror Voting Debt or other equity securities of the Acquiror. Except pursuant to the terms of the Acquiror Preferred Stock, there are no obligations of the Acquiror or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries (i) to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of capital stock of the Acquiror, Acquiror Voting Debt or any equity security of the Acquiror or its Consolidated Subsidiaries or any securities representing the right to purchase or otherwise receive any shares of capital stock, Acquiror Voting Debt or any other equity security of the Acquiror or its Consolidated Subsidiaries or (ii) pursuant to which the Acquiror or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries is or could be required to register shares of the Acquiror’s capital stock or other securities under the Securities Act. All of the outstanding shares of Acquiror Stock have been issued in compliance with applicable Law in all material respects.

(b) All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity ownership interests of each Consolidated Subsidiary of the Acquiror are owned by the Acquiror, directly or indirectly, free and clear of any Liens, and all of such shares or equity ownership interests are duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid, nonassessable (in respect of corporate entities) and free of preemptive rights. No Consolidated Subsidiary of the Acquiror has or is bound by any outstanding Rights calling for the purchase or issuance of, or the payment of any amount based on, any shares of capital stock or any other equity security of such Consolidated Subsidiary or any securities representing the right to purchase or otherwise receive any shares of capital stock or any other equity security of such Consolidated Subsidiary.

4.3. Authority; No Violation.

(a) The Acquiror has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and, subject to obtaining the Acquiror Requisite Vote, execute and deliver the New Acquiror Advisory Agreement and consummate the Transactions. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and, subject to obtaining the Acquiror Requisite Vote, the execution and delivery of the New Acquiror Advisory Agreement and the consummation of the Transactions have been duly and validly approved by the Acquiror Board. Merger Sub has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the Transactions. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the Transactions have been duly and validly approved by the board of directors of Merger Sub. The Acquiror Board (on the recommendation of the Acquiror Special Committee) has unanimously (i) determined that (A) this Agreement, the New Acquiror Advisory Agreement and the terms of the Mergers and the related Transactions are advisable, fair to and in the best interests of the Acquiror and its stockholders and (B) the interests of the Acquiror’s existing stockholders will not be diluted as a result of the Transactions, (ii) approved, adopted and declared advisable this Agreement, the New Acquiror Advisory Agreement and the Transactions (including the Merger and the Acquiror Matters), (iii) directed that the approval of the Acquiror Matters be submitted to the Acquiror’s stockholders at a duly held meeting of such stockholders (the “Acquiror Stockholders Meeting”) and (iv) resolved to recommend that the stockholders of the Acquiror approve the Acquiror Matters. The board of directors of Merger Sub has unanimously determined that this Agreement and the terms of the Mergers and the related Transactions are advisable, fair to and in the best interests of Merger Sub and its sole stockholder; approved, adopted and declared advisable this Agreement and the Transactions (including the Merger); and resolved to recommend the approval of the Transactions (including the Merger) by the Acquiror, in the Acquiror’s capacity as the sole stockholder of Merger Sub. Except for receipt of the approval of the Acquiror Matters by the affirmative vote of the lesser of (x) 67% of the Acquiror Stock at the Acquiror Stockholders Meeting if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Acquiror Stock are present virtually or represented by proxy, or (y) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Acquiror Stock (the “Acquiror Requisite Vote”), and the approval of the transactions by the Acquiror, as the sole stockholder of Merger Sub (which approval shall occur promptly following the execution of this Agreement), the Mergers and the other Transactions have been authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Acquiror and Merger Sub. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Acquiror and Merger Sub and (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the Company and the Acquiror Adviser) this Agreement constitutes the valid and binding obligation of each of the Acquiror and Merger Sub, enforceable against each of the Acquiror and Merger Sub in accordance with its terms (except as may be limited by the Enforceability Exception). Immediately after the Effective Time, subject to obtaining the Acquiror Requisite Vote, the New Acquiror Advisory Agreement will be duly and validly executed and delivered by the Acquiror and (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the Acquiror Adviser) the New Acquiror Advisory Agreement will constitute the valid and binding obligation of the Acquiror, enforceable against the Acquiror in accordance with its terms (except as may be limited by the Enforceability Exception).

(b) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the New Acquiror Advisory Agreement by the Acquiror and/or Merger Sub, as applicable, nor the consummation by the Acquiror or Merger Sub of the Transactions, nor the performance of this Agreement or the New Acquiror Advisory Agreement by the Acquiror and/or Merger Sub, as applicable, will (i) violate any provision of the Acquiror Charter, the Acquiror Bylaws or the articles of incorporation or bylaws of Merger Sub or (ii) assuming that the consents, approvals and filings referred to in Section 4.3(a) and Section 4.4 are duly obtained and/or made, (A) violate any Law or Order applicable to the Acquiror or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries or (B) except as Previously Disclosed, violate, conflict with, result in a breach of or the loss of any benefit under, constitute a default (or an event that, with or without the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default) under, result in the termination of or a right of termination or cancellation under, accelerate the performance required by, require the consent, approval or authorization of, or notice to or filing with any third-party with respect to, or result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the respective properties or assets of the Acquiror or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any Permit, Contract or other obligation to which the Acquiror or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them or any of their respective properties or assets is bound except, with respect to clause (ii)(B), any such violation, conflict, breach, loss, default, termination, cancellation, acceleration, consent, approval or creation that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Acquiror and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

4.4. Governmental Consents. No consents or approvals of, or filings or registrations with, any Governmental Entity are necessary in connection with the consummation by the Acquiror or Merger Sub of the Merger and the other Transactions, except for (i) the filing with the SEC and the applicable state securities regulators of the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus and the Registration Statement in which the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus will be included as a prospectus, and declaration of effectiveness of the Registration Statement by the SEC and the applicable state securities regulators, (ii) the filing of the First Articles of Merger with and the acceptance for the record of the First Articles of Merger by the MD SDAT in respect of the Merger, (iii) the filing of the Second Articles of Merger with and the acceptance for the record of the Second Articles of Merger by the MD SDAT in respect of the Second Merger, (iv) the filing of the Certificate of Merger with and the acceptance for the record of the Certificate of Merger by the DE Secretary in respect of the Second Merger, (v) any notices or filings under the HSR Act, (vi) the reporting of this Agreement on a Current Report on Form 8-K and (vii) any such consents, approvals, filings or registrations that the failure to obtain or make would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Acquiror.

4.5. Reports.

(a) The Acquiror has timely filed or furnished all forms, statements, certifications, reports and documents that it was required to file since the Applicable Date with the SEC (such filings since the Applicable Date, the “Acquiror SEC Reports”), except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Acquiror and its Consolidated Subsidiaries taken as a whole. To the Acquiror’s knowledge, no Acquiror SEC Report, at the time filed or furnished with the SEC, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading. To the Acquiror’s knowledge, all Acquiror SEC Reports, as of their respective dates, complied as to form in all material respects with the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto. None of the Consolidated Subsidiaries of the Acquiror is required to make any filing with the SEC.

(b) Neither the Acquiror nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries is subject to any cease-and-desist or other Order or enforcement action issued by, or is a party to any Contract, consent agreement or memorandum of understanding with, or is a party to any commitment letter or similar undertaking to, any Governmental Entity that currently restricts in any material respect the conduct of its business (or to the Acquiror’s knowledge that, upon consummation of the Mergers, would restrict in any material respect the conduct of the business of the Acquiror or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries), or that in any material manner relates to its capital adequacy, its ability to pay dividends, its credit, risk management or compliance policies, its internal controls, its management or its business, other than those of general application that apply to similarly situated BDCs or their Consolidated Subsidiaries, nor has the Acquiror or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries been advised in writing or, to the knowledge of the Acquiror, verbally, by any Governmental Entity that it is considering issuing, initiating, ordering, or requesting any of the foregoing.

(c) The Acquiror has made available to the Company all material correspondence with the SEC since the Applicable Date and, as of the date of this Agreement, to the knowledge of the Acquiror, (i) there are no unresolved comments from the SEC with respect to the Acquiror SEC Reports or any SEC examination of the Acquiror and (ii) none of the Acquiror SEC Reports is subject to any ongoing review by the SEC.

4.6. Acquiror Financial Statements.

(a) The financial statements, including the related consolidated schedules of investments, of the Acquiror and its Consolidated Subsidiaries included (or incorporated by reference) in the Acquiror SEC Reports (including the related notes, where applicable) (i) fairly present in all material respects the consolidated results of operations, cash flows, changes in net assets and consolidated financial position of the Acquiror and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for the respective fiscal periods or as of the respective dates therein set forth (except that unaudited statements may not contain notes and are subject to recurring year-end audit adjustments normal in nature and amount), (ii) to the Acquiror’s knowledge, have complied as to form, as of their respective dates of filing with the SEC, in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and with the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto and (iii) have been prepared in all material respects in accordance with GAAP consistently applied during the periods involved, except, in each case, as indicated in such statements or in the notes thereto. E&Y has not resigned, threatened resignation or been dismissed as the Acquiror’s independent public accountant as a result of or in connection with any disagreements with the Acquiror on a matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedure.

(b) Except for (A) liabilities reflected or reserved against on the consolidated unaudited balance sheet of the Acquiror as of June 30, 2023 included in the unaudited financial statements set forth in the Acquiror’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2023 (the “Acquiror Balance Sheet”), (B) liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business since June 30, 2023, (C) liabilities incurred in connection with this Agreement and the Transactions, (D) liabilities otherwise disclosed in the Acquiror SEC Reports and (E) liabilities that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Acquiror, neither the Acquiror nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries has any liabilities that would be required to be reflected or reserved against in the Acquiror Balance Sheet in accordance with GAAP.

(c) Neither the Acquiror nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries is a party to or has any commitment to become a party to any off-balance sheet joint venture, partnership or similar contract with any unconsolidated Affiliate or “off-balance sheet arrangement” (as defined in Item 303(a) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Exchange Act).

(d) Since the Applicable Date, (i) neither the Acquiror nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Acquiror, any director, officer, auditor, accountant or Representative of the Acquiror or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries has received or otherwise had or obtained knowledge of any material complaint, allegation, assertion or claim, whether written or oral, regarding the accounting or auditing practices, procedures, methodologies or methods of the Acquiror or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries or their respective internal accounting controls, including any complaint, allegation, assertion or claim that the Acquiror or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries has engaged in questionable or illegal accounting or auditing practices or maintains inadequate internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act), and (ii) no attorney representing the Acquiror or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries, whether or not employed by the Acquiror or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries, has reported evidence of a material violation of securities laws, breach of duty or similar violation by the Acquiror or any of its directors, officers or agents to the Acquiror Board or any committee thereof or to any director or officer of the Acquiror.

(e) To the Acquiror’s knowledge, since the Applicable Date, E&Y, which has expressed its opinion with respect to the financial statements of the Acquiror and its Consolidated Subsidiaries included in the Acquiror SEC Reports (including the related notes), has been (i) “independent” with respect to the Acquiror and its Consolidated Subsidiaries within the meaning of Regulation S-X, and (ii) in compliance with subsections (g) through (l) of Section 10A of the Exchange Act and the related rules of the SEC and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

(f) The principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the Acquiror have made all certifications required by Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and the statements contained in any such certifications are complete and correct, and the Acquiror is otherwise in compliance in all material respects with all applicable effective provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

(g) The Acquiror has in all material respects:

(i) designed and maintained a system of disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) promulgated under the Exchange Act) to ensure that all information (both financial and non-financial) required to be disclosed by the Acquiror in the reports that it files or submits to the SEC under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Acquiror’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and to allow the Acquiror’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer to make the certifications required under the Exchange Act with respect to such reports;

(ii) designed and maintained a system of internal controls over financial reporting sufficient to provide reasonable assurance concerning the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP, including reasonable assurance that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets, (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, (D) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences and (E) the Acquiror’s management, with the participation of the Acquiror’s principal executive and financial officers, has completed an assessment of the effectiveness of the Acquiror’s internal controls over financial reporting for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 in compliance with the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and such assessment concluded that the Acquiror maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022, using the framework specified in the Acquiror’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022; and

(iii) (A) disclosed, based on its most recent evaluation, to its auditors and the audit committee of the Acquiror Board (1) any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses (as defined in the relevant Statement of Auditing Standards) in the design or operation of the Acquiror’s internal controls over financial reporting that are reasonably likely to adversely affect its ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and (2) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other individuals who have a significant role in its internal controls over financial reporting and (B) identified for the Acquiror’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls.

(h) The fair market value of the Acquiror’s investments as of June 30, 2023 (i) was determined in accordance with ASC Topic 820 and (ii) reflects a reasonable estimate of the fair value of such investments as determined in good faith, in accordance with Rule 2a-5 under the Investment Company Act.

(i) To the Acquiror’s knowledge, there is no fraud or suspected fraud affecting the Acquiror involving management of the Acquiror who have significant roles in the Acquiror’s internal control over financial reporting.

4.7. Broker’s Fees. Neither the Acquiror nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries nor any of their respective directors, officers or agents has utilized any broker, finder or financial advisor or incurred any liability for any broker’s fees, commissions or finder’s fees in connection with the Mergers or the other Transactions, other than to Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. pursuant to an engagement letter, a true, complete and correct copy of which has been previously delivered to the Company.

4.8. Absence of Changes or Events. Since December 31, 2022, (i) except as expressly permitted or required by or in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the Transactions, the business of the Acquiror and its Consolidated Subsidiaries has been conducted in the ordinary course of business, (ii) there has not been any Effect that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Acquiror and (iii) there has not been any material action that, if it had been taken after the date hereof, would have required the consent of the Company under Sections 6.1 or 6.3.

4.9. Compliance with Applicable Law; Permits.

(a) Each of the Acquiror and each of its Consolidated Subsidiaries is in compliance, and has been operated in compliance, in all material respects, with all applicable Laws, including, if and to the extent applicable, the Investment Company Act, the Securities Act and the Exchange Act other than as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Acquiror. The Acquiror has not received any written or, to the Acquiror’s knowledge, oral notification from a Governmental Entity of any material non-compliance with any applicable Laws, which non-compliance would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Acquiror and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

(b) The Acquiror is in compliance, and since the Applicable Date, has complied with its investment policies and restrictions and portfolio valuation methods, if any, as such policies and restrictions have been set forth in its registration statement (as amended from time to time) or reports that it has filed with the SEC under the Exchange Act and applicable Laws, if any, other than any non-compliance that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Acquiror.

(c) The Acquiror has written policies and procedures adopted pursuant to Rule 38a-1 under the Investment Company Act that are reasonably designed to prevent material violations of the “Federal Securities Laws,” as such term is defined in Rule 38a-1(e)(1) under the Investment Company Act. There have been no “Material Compliance Matters” for the Acquiror, as such term is defined in Rule 38a-1(e)(2) under the Investment Company Act, other than those that have been reported to the Acquiror Board and satisfactorily remedied or are in the process of being remedied or those that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Acquiror and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

(d) Each of the Acquiror and each of its Consolidated Subsidiaries holds and is in compliance with all Permits required in order to permit the Acquiror and each of its Consolidated Subsidiaries to own or lease their properties and assets and to conduct their businesses under and pursuant to all applicable Law as presently conducted, other than any failure to hold or non-compliance with any such Permit that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Acquiror and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. All such Permits are valid and in full force and effect, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Acquiror and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. The Acquiror has not received any written or, to the Acquiror’s knowledge, oral notification from a Governmental Entity of any material non-compliance with any such Permits, and no Proceeding is pending or threatened in writing to suspend, cancel, modify, revoke or materially limit any such Permits, which Proceeding would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Acquiror and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

(e) No “affiliated person” (as defined under the Investment Company Act) of the Acquiror has been subject to disqualification to serve in any capacity contemplated by the Investment Company Act for any investment company (including a BDC) under Sections 9(a) and 9(b) of the Investment Company Act, unless, in each case, such Person has received exemptive relief from the SEC with respect to any such disqualification. There is no material Proceeding pending and served or, to the knowledge of the Acquiror, threatened that would result in any such disqualification.

(f) The minute books and other similar records of the Acquiror maintained since the Applicable Date contain a true and complete record in all material respects of all action taken at all meetings and by all written consents in lieu of meetings of the stockholders of the Acquiror, the Acquiror Board and any committees of the Acquiror Board.

4.10. Acquiror Information. None of the information supplied or to be supplied by the Acquiror for inclusion or incorporation by reference in (i) the Registration Statement will, at the time the Registration Statement is filed with the SEC and the applicable state securities regulators, at any time the Registration Statement is amended or supplemented or at the time the Registration Statement becomes effective under the Securities Act, or (ii) the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus will, at the date the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus or any amendment or supplement is first mailed to stockholders of the Company or stockholders of the Acquiror or at the time of the Company Stockholders Meeting or the Acquiror Stockholders Meeting, in each case, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they are made, not misleading, except that no representation or warranty is made by the Acquiror with respect to information supplied by the Company or the Acquiror Adviser for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement or the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus.

4.11. Taxes and Tax Returns.

(a) The Acquiror and each of its Consolidated Subsidiaries has duly and timely filed (taking into account all applicable extensions) all material Tax Returns required to be filed by it on or prior to the date of this Agreement (all such Tax Returns being accurate and complete in all material respects), has paid all material Taxes shown thereon as arising and has duly paid or made provision for the payment of all material Taxes that have been incurred or are due or claimed to be due from it by federal, state, foreign or local taxing authorities other than Taxes that are not yet delinquent or are being contested in good faith, have not been finally determined and have been adequately reserved against under GAAP. No material Tax Return of the Acquiror or any Consolidated Subsidiary has been examined by the IRS or other relevant taxing authority. There are no material disputes pending, or written claims asserted, for Taxes or assessments upon the Acquiror or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries for which the Acquiror does not have reserves that are adequate under GAAP. Neither the Acquiror nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries is a party to or is bound by any Tax sharing, allocation or indemnification agreement or arrangement (other than such an agreement or arrangement exclusively between or among the Acquiror and its Consolidated Subsidiaries). Within the past five years (or otherwise as part of a “plan (or series of related transactions)” within the meaning of Section 355(e) of the Code of which the Merger is also a part), neither the Acquiror nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries has been a “distributing corporation” or a “controlled corporation” in a distribution of stock which qualified or was intended to qualify under Section 355(a) of the Code and to which Section 355 of the Code (or so much of Section 356 of the Code, as it relates to Section 355 of the Code) applied or was intended to apply. Neither the Acquiror nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries is required to include in income any adjustment pursuant to Section 481(a) of the Code, no such adjustment has been proposed by the IRS and no pending request for permission to change any accounting method has been submitted by the Acquiror or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries. Neither the Acquiror nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries has participated in a “listed transaction” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4(b)(2). If the Acquiror or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries has participated in a “reportable transaction” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4(b), such entity has properly disclosed such transaction in accordance with the applicable Tax regulations.

(b) The Acquiror made a valid election under Part I of Subchapter M of Subtitle A, Chapter 1, of the Code to be taxed as a RIC. The Acquiror has qualified as a RIC at all times since the beginning of its first taxable year ended December 31, 2021 and expects to continue to so qualify through the Second Effective Time. No challenge to the Acquiror’s status as a RIC is pending or has been threatened orally or in writing.

For each taxable year of the Acquiror ending on or before the Second Effective Time, the Acquiror has satisfied the distribution requirements imposed on a regulated investment company under Section 852 of the Code.

(c) Merger Sub is a newly formed entity created for the purpose of undertaking the Merger and is wholly owned directly by the Acquiror. Prior to the Effective Time, Merger Sub will not have engaged in any other business activities and will have incurred no liabilities or obligations other than as contemplated by this Agreement.

(d) The Acquiror and its Consolidated Subsidiaries have complied in all material respects with all applicable Laws relating to the payment and withholding of Taxes and have, within the time and in the manner prescribed by applicable Law, in all material respects, withheld from and paid over all amounts required to be so withheld and paid over under applicable Laws.

(e) The Acquiror is not aware of any fact or circumstance that could reasonably be expected to prevent the Mergers from qualifying as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.

(f) The Acquiror has no “earnings and profits” for U.S. federal income Tax purposes described in Section 852(a)(2)(B) of the Code.

(g) The Acquiror Previously Disclosed each asset the disposition of which would be subject to rules similar to Section 1374 of the Code as prescribed in IRS Notice 88-19, 1988-1 C.B. 486, or Treasury Regulation Section 1.337(d)-7 and the amount of “net unrealized built-in gain” (within the meaning of Section 1374(d) of the Code) on each such asset. Other than as Previously Disclosed, the Acquiror is not now and will not be subject to corporate-level income taxation on the sale, transfer or other disposition of its assets currently held as a result of the application of Section 337(d) of the Code or the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.

(h) No claim has been made in writing by a taxing authority in a jurisdiction where the Acquiror or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries does not file Tax Returns that the Acquiror or any such Consolidated Subsidiary is or may be subject to taxation by that jurisdiction, and which, if upheld, would reasonably result in a material Tax liability.

(i) Neither the Acquiror nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries has, or has ever had, a permanent establishment in any country other than the United States.

(j) Neither the Acquiror nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries has requested a private letter ruling from the IRS or comparable rulings from other taxing authorities.

(k) Neither the Acquiror nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries has any liability for the Taxes of another Person other than the Acquiror and its Consolidated Subsidiaries under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign Law), as a transferee, successor or payable pursuant to a contractual obligation.

(l) Neither the Acquiror nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries has ever been a member of a consolidated, combined or unitary Tax group (other than such a group the common parent of which is the Acquiror or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries).

(m) There are no material Liens for Taxes (other than Taxes not yet due and payable) upon any of the assets of the Acquiror or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries.

4.12. Litigation. There are no material Proceedings pending or, to the Acquiror’s knowledge, threatened against the Acquiror or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries. There is no Order binding upon the Acquiror or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries other than such Orders as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Acquiror and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

4.13. Employee Matters. Neither the Acquiror nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries has (i) any employees or (ii) any Employee Benefit Plans.

4.14. Certain Contracts.

(a) The Acquiror has Previously Disclosed a complete and accurate list of, and true and complete copies have been delivered or made available (including via EDGAR) to the Company of, all Contracts (collectively, the “Acquiror Material Contracts”) to which, as of the date hereof, the Acquiror or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries is a party, or by which the Acquiror or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries may be bound, or, to the knowledge of the Acquiror, to which it or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries or their respective assets or properties may be subject, with respect to:

(i) any Contract that is a “material contract” within the meaning of Item 601(b)(10) of the SEC’s Regulation S-K;

(ii) any loans or credit agreements, mortgages, indentures and other agreements and instruments pursuant to which any Indebtedness of the Acquiror or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount in excess of $5,000,000 is outstanding or may be incurred, or any guarantee by the Acquiror or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries of any Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount in excess of $5,000,000;

(iii) any non-competition or non-solicitation Contract or any other Contract that limits, purports to limit, or would reasonably be expected to limit in each case in any material respect the manner in which, or the localities in which, any material business of the Acquiror and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, is or could be conducted or the types of business that the Acquiror and its Consolidated Subsidiaries conducts or may conduct; or

(iv) any Contract that obligates the Acquiror or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries to conduct any business that is material to the Acquiror and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, on an exclusive basis with any third party.

(b) Each Acquiror Material Contract is (x) valid and binding on the Acquiror or its applicable Consolidated Subsidiary and, to the Acquiror’s knowledge, each other party thereto, (y) enforceable against the Acquiror or its applicable Consolidated Subsidiary in accordance with its terms (subject to the Enforceability Exception), and (z) is in full force and effect other than in each case as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Acquiror and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. The investment advisory agreement between the Acquiror and the Acquiror Adviser in effect as of the date of this Agreement (the “Existing Acquiror Advisory Agreement”) has been approved by the Acquiror Board and stockholders of the Acquiror in accordance with Section 15 of the Investment Company Act. Neither the Acquiror nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries nor, to the Acquiror’s knowledge, any other party thereto, is in material breach of any provisions of or in default (or, with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, would be in default) under, and has not taken any action resulting in the termination of, acceleration of performance required by, or resulting in a right of termination or acceleration under, any Acquiror Material Contract other than as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Acquiror. No Acquiror Material Contract has been amended, modified or supplemented other than as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Acquiror and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. No event has occurred with respect to the Acquiror or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries that, with or without the giving of notice, the lapse of time or both, would constitute a breach or default under any Acquiror Material Contract other than as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Acquiror and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

4.15. Insurance Coverage. All material insurance policies maintained by the Acquiror or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries and that name the Acquiror or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries as an insured (each, an “Acquiror Insurance Policy”), including the fidelity bond required by the Investment Company Act, are in full force and effect and all premiums due and payable with respect to each Acquiror Insurance Policy have been paid. Neither the Acquiror nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries has received written notice of cancellation of any Acquiror Insurance Policy.

4.16. Intellectual Property. The Acquiror and its Consolidated Subsidiaries own, possess or have a valid license or other adequate rights to use all Intellectual Property Rights that are material to the conduct of the business of the Acquiror and its Consolidated Subsidiaries taken as a whole (hereinafter, “Acquiror Intellectual Property Rights”), except where the failure to own, possess or have adequate rights would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Acquiror. No claims are pending for which the Acquiror has received written notice or, to the knowledge of the Acquiror, threatened (i) that the Acquiror or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries is infringing or otherwise violating the rights of any Person with regard to any Intellectual Property Right, or (ii) that any Acquiror Intellectual Property Right is invalid or unenforceable. To the knowledge of the Acquiror, no Person is infringing, misappropriating or using without authorization the rights of the Acquiror or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries with respect to any Intellectual Property Right, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to be material to the Acquiror and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

4.17. Real Property. Neither the Acquiror nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries owns or leases any real property.

4.18. Investment Assets. Each of the Acquiror and its Consolidated Subsidiaries has good title to all securities, Indebtedness and other financial instruments owned by it, free and clear of any material Liens, except to the extent such securities, Indebtedness or other financial instruments, as applicable, are pledged to secure obligations of the Acquiror or its Consolidated Subsidiaries pursuant to credit agreements that have been Previously Disclosed and except for Liens consisting of restrictions on transfer agreed to in respect of investments entered into in the ordinary course of business. As of June 30, 2023, the value of investments owned by the Acquiror that are “qualifying investments” for purposes of Section 55(a) of the Investment Company Act was greater than 70% of the value of the Acquiror’s total assets (other than assets described in Section 55(a)(7) of the Investment Company Act). Neither the Acquiror nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries owns, or has owned since its inception, any Company Common Stock.

4.19. State Takeover Laws. No restrictions on “business combinations” set forth in any Takeover Statutes are applicable to this Agreement, the New Acquiror Advisory Agreement, the Mergers or the other Transactions.

4.20. Valuation. Except as may be mutually agreed by the parties, the value of each investment asset owned by the Acquiror that is used in connection with the computations made by the Acquiror pursuant to Section 2.4 will be determined in accordance with the valuation policies and procedures set forth in the Acquiror’s compliance policies and procedures approved by the Acquiror Board as of June 30, 2023 and no exceptions to such valuation policies and procedures have been or will be permitted in valuing such assets in connection with the computations pursuant to Section 2.4 for purposes of this Agreement, and the value of all assets owned by the Acquiror other than investment assets that are used in connection with the computations made by the Acquiror pursuant to Section 2.4 will be determined in accordance with GAAP. Except as may be mutually agreed by the parties, all valuations made by third-party valuation agents for such purposes will be made only by valuation agents that have been approved by the Acquiror Board as of or prior to the date hereof. Except as may be mutually agreed by the parties, the fair value of any portfolio securities for which fair value determinations were made by the Acquiror Board for purposes of such computations were or will be determined by the Acquiror Board in good faith in accordance with the valuation methods set forth in the Acquiror’s valuation policies and procedures adopted by the Acquiror Board as of June 30, 2023.

4.21. Opinion of Financial Advisor. The Acquiror Board and the Acquiror Special Committee have received the opinion of Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., financial advisor to the Acquiror Special Committee, to the effect that, as of the date of such opinion and based upon and subject to the various assumptions, limitations, qualifications and other matters set forth therein, the Exchange Ratio was fair, from a financial point of view, to the Acquiror.

4.22. Chapter 11. Neither the Acquiror nor any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries is under the jurisdiction of a court in a “title 11 or similar case” (as defined in Section 368(a)(3)(A) of the Code).

Article V

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE ACQUIROR ADVISER

Except with respect to matters Previously Disclosed, the Acquiror Adviser hereby represents and warrants to the Company that:

5.1. Organization. The Acquiror Adviser is a limited liability company organized and validly existing under the Laws of the State of Delaware and in good standing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. The Acquiror Adviser has the requisite limited liability company power and authority to own or lease all of its properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted, and is duly licensed or qualified to do business as a foreign limited liability company in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted by it or the character or location of the properties and assets owned or leased by it makes such licensing or qualification necessary, in each case, other than as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Acquiror Adviser.

5.2. Authority; No Violation.

(a) The Acquiror Adviser has all requisite limited liability company power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, and, immediately after the Effective Time, the Acquiror Adviser will have all requisite limited liability company power and authority to execute and deliver the New Acquiror Advisory Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement has been duly and validly approved by the managing members of the Acquiror Adviser, and, immediately after the Effective Time, the execution and delivery of the New Acquiror Advisory Agreement will have been duly and validly approved by the managing members of the Acquiror Adviser. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Acquiror Adviser and (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the Company, the Acquiror and Merger Sub) this Agreement constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the Acquiror Adviser, enforceable against the Acquiror Adviser in accordance with its terms (except as may be limited by the Enforceability Exception). Immediately after the Effective Time, the New Acquiror Advisory Agreement will be duly and validly executed and delivered by the Acquiror Adviser and (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the Acquiror) the New Acquiror Advisory Agreement will constitute the valid and binding obligation of the Acquiror Adviser, enforceable against the Acquiror Adviser in accordance with its terms (except as may be limited by the Enforceability Exception).

(b) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the New Acquiror Advisory Agreement by the Acquiror Adviser, nor the consummation of the Transactions, nor the performance of this Agreement or the New Acquiror Advisory Agreement by the Acquiror Adviser, will (i) violate any provision of the certificate of formation of the Acquiror Adviser or the limited liability company agreement of the Acquiror Adviser or (ii) (A) violate any Law or Order applicable to the Acquiror Adviser or (B) except as set forth in any Contract that was Previously Disclosed, violate, conflict with, result in a breach of or the loss of any benefit under, constitute a default (or an event that, with or without the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default) under, result in the termination of or a right of termination or cancellation under, accelerate the performance required by, require the consent, approval or authorization of, or notice to or filing with any third-party with respect to, or result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the respective properties or assets of the Acquiror Adviser under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any Permit, Contract or other obligation to which the Acquiror Adviser is a party or by which its properties or assets is bound except, with respect to clause (ii)(B), any such violation, conflict, breach, loss, default, termination, cancellation, acceleration, consent, approval or creation that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Acquiror Adviser.

(c) No consents or approvals of, or filings or registrations with, any Governmental Entity are necessary in connection with the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or the New Acquiror Advisory Agreement by the Acquiror Adviser, except for any such consents, approvals, filings or registrations that the failure to obtain or make would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Acquiror Adviser.

5.3. Compliance with Applicable Law; Permits.

(a) The Acquiror Adviser is, and at all times since it became the investment adviser to the Acquiror has been, duly registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act.

(b) The Acquiror Adviser is in compliance, and has been operated in compliance, in all material respects, with all applicable Laws other than as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Acquiror Adviser. The Acquiror Adviser has not received any written or, to the Acquiror Adviser’s knowledge, oral notification from a Governmental Entity of any material non-compliance with any applicable Laws, which non-compliance would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Acquiror Adviser.

(c) The Acquiror Adviser holds and is in compliance with all Permits required in order to permit the Acquiror Adviser to own or lease its properties and assets and to conduct its business under and pursuant to all applicable Law as presently conducted, other than any failure to hold or non-compliance with any such Permit that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Acquiror Adviser. All such Permits are valid and in full force and effect, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Acquiror Adviser. The Acquiror Adviser has not received any written or, to the Acquiror Adviser’s knowledge, oral notification from a Governmental Entity of any material non-compliance with any such Permits, and no Proceeding is pending or threatened in writing to suspend, cancel, modify, revoke or materially limit any such Permits, which Proceeding would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Acquiror Adviser.

(d) The Acquiror Adviser has implemented written policies and procedures as required by Rule 206(4)-7 under the Investment Advisers Act and, during the period prior to the date of this Agreement that the Acquiror Adviser has been the investment adviser to the Acquiror, the Acquiror Adviser has been in compliance with such policies and procedures, except where the failures to adopt such policies and procedures or to be in compliance would not, individually or in the aggregate, be material to the Acquiror and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

(e) During the period prior to the date of this Agreement that it has been the investment adviser to the Acquiror, there has been no material adverse change in the operations, affairs or regulatory status of the Acquiror Adviser.

5.4. Litigation. There are no Proceedings pending or, to the Acquiror Adviser’s knowledge, threatened against the Acquiror Adviser, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Acquiror Adviser. There is no Order binding upon the Acquiror Adviser other than such Orders as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Acquiror Adviser.

5.5. Acquiror Adviser Information. None of the information supplied or to be supplied by the Acquiror Adviser for inclusion or incorporation by reference in (i) the Registration Statement will, at the time the Registration Statement is filed with the SEC and the applicable state securities regulators, at any time the Registration Statement is amended or supplemented or at the time the Registration Statement becomes effective under the Securities Act, or (ii) the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus will, at the date the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus or any amendment or supplement is first mailed to stockholders of the Company or stockholders of the Acquiror or at the time of the Company Stockholders Meeting or the Acquiror Stockholders Meeting, in each case, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, and in the case of the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus in light of the circumstances in which they are made, not misleading, except that no representation or warranty is made by the Acquiror Adviser with respect to information supplied by the Company, the Acquiror or Merger Sub for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement or the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus.

5.6. Financial Resources. The Acquiror Adviser has the financial resources available to it necessary for the performance of its services and obligations as contemplated in the Registration Statement and the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus and under this Agreement.

Article VI

COVENANTS RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS

6.1. Conduct of Businesses Prior to the Effective Time. During the period from the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the Effective Time and the date, if any, on which this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 9.1, except as may be required by Law, as expressly permitted by this Agreement or with the prior written consent of the Acquiror (with respect to the Company) and the Company (with respect to the Acquiror), which prior written consent shall not be unreasonably delayed, conditioned or withheld, each of the Company and the Acquiror shall, and shall cause each of its respective Consolidated Subsidiaries to, (a) conduct its business in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice and each of the Company’s and the Acquiror’s investment objectives and policies as publicly disclosed, respectively, and (b) use reasonable best efforts to maintain and preserve intact its business organization and existing business relationships; provided that in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, each of the Company and the Acquiror may, in connection therewith, take any commercially reasonable actions that the Company or the Acquiror, as applicable, determine are necessary or prudent for such party to take in connection with (i) events surrounding any pandemic or public health emergency caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, (ii) reinitiating or suspending operation of all or a portion of its facilities, (iii) mitigating the adverse effects of such events, pandemic or public health emergency on its business, and (iv) to ensure compliance with any Law.

6.2. Company Forbearances. During the period from the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the Effective Time and the date, if any, on which this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 9.1, except as may be required by Law, as expressly permitted by this Agreement or as Previously Disclosed, and acting in a manner consistent with Section 6.1(a), the Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the Acquiror (which prior written consent shall not be unreasonably delayed, conditioned or withheld):

(a) other than pursuant to the Company’s dividend reinvestment plan as in effect as of the date of this Agreement, issue, deliver, sell or grant, or encumber or pledge, or authorize the creation of (i) any shares of its capital stock, (ii) any Company Voting Debt or other voting securities or (iii) any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or any other Rights to acquire, any such shares or other securities;

(b) (i) make, authorize, declare, pay or set aside any dividend in respect of, or declare or make any distribution on, any shares of its capital stock, except for (A) the authorization, announcement and payment of regular quarterly cash distributions payable on a quarterly basis, consistent with past practices and the Company’s investment objectives and policies as publicly disclosed, (B) a Tax Dividend or (C) dividends payable by any direct or indirect wholly owned Consolidated Subsidiary of the Company to the Company or another direct or indirect wholly owned Consolidated Subsidiary of the Company; (ii) adjust, split, combine, reclassify or take similar action with respect to any of its capital stock or issue or authorize the issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu of or in substitution for shares of its capital stock or (iii) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, any shares of its capital stock or any rights, warrants or options to acquire, or securities convertible into, such capital stock;

(c) sell, transfer, lease, mortgage, encumber or otherwise dispose of any of its assets or properties, except for (i) sales, transfers, leases, mortgages, encumbrances or other dispositions in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and the Company’s investment objectives and policies as publicly disclosed, or (ii) encumbrances required to secure Permitted Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries;

(d) acquire or agree to acquire all or any portion of the assets, business or properties of any other Person, whether by merger, consolidation, purchase or otherwise or make any other investments, except in a transaction conducted in the ordinary course of business consistent with the Company’s investment objectives and policies as publicly disclosed;

(e) amend the Company Charter, the Company Bylaws or other governing documents or similar governing documents of any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries;

(f) implement or adopt any material change in its Tax or financial accounting principles, practices or methods, other than as required by applicable Law, GAAP, the SEC or applicable regulatory requirements;

(g) take any action or knowingly fail to take any action that would, or would reasonably be expected to (i) materially delay or materially impede the ability of the parties to consummate the Transactions or (ii) prevent the Mergers from qualifying as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not preclude the Company from declaring or paying any Tax Dividend on or before the Closing Date;

(h) incur any Indebtedness for borrowed money or guarantee any Indebtedness of another Person, except for (i) draw-downs with respect to any Previously Disclosed financing arrangements existing as of the date of this Agreement and obligations to fund commitments to portfolio companies entered into in the ordinary course of business and (ii) Permitted Indebtedness;

(i) make or agree to make any new capital expenditure other than obligations to fund commitments to portfolio companies entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(j) (i) file or amend any material Tax Return other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and the Company’s investment objectives and policies as publicly disclosed; (ii) make, change or revoke any material Tax election or (iii) settle or compromise any material Tax liability or refund;

(k) take any action, or knowingly fail to take any action, which action or failure to act is reasonably likely to cause the Company to fail to qualify or not be subject to tax as a RIC;

(l) enter into any new line of business (it being understood that this prohibition does not apply to any portfolio companies in which the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries has made a debt or equity investment that is, would or should be reflected in the Company’s schedule of investments included in its quarterly or annual periodic reports that are filed with the SEC);

(m) other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and the Company’s investment objectives and policies as publicly disclosed, or as permitted by Section 6.2(h), enter into any Contract that would otherwise constitute a Company Material Contract had it been entered into prior to the date of this Agreement;

(n) other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and the Company’s investment objectives and policies as publicly disclosed, terminate, cancel, renew or agree to any material amendment of, change in or waiver under any Company Material Contract (other than any Company Material Contract related to Permitted Indebtedness);

(o) settle any Proceeding against it, except for Proceedings that (i) are settled in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and the Company’s investment objectives and policies as publicly disclosed, in an amount not in excess of $2,500,000 in the aggregate (after reduction by any insurance proceeds actually received); (ii) would not impose any material restriction on the conduct of business of it or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries or, after the Effective Time, the Acquiror, the Surviving Company or any of their Consolidated Subsidiaries and (iii) would not admit liability, guilt or fault;

(p) except as otherwise expressly contemplated by this Agreement, merge or consolidate the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries with any Person or enter into any other similar extraordinary corporate transaction, or adopt, recommend, propose or announce an intention to adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization of the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries;

(q) acquire, or agree to acquire, any Acquiror Stock; or

(r) agree to take, make any commitment to take, or adopt any resolutions of the Company Board authorizing, any of the actions prohibited by this Section 6.2.

6.3. Acquiror Forbearances. During the period from the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the Effective Time and the date, if any, on which this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 9.1, except as may be required by Law, as expressly permitted by this Agreement or as Previously Disclosed, and acting in a manner consistent with Section 6.1(a), the Acquiror shall not, and shall not permit any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the Company (which prior written consent shall not be unreasonably delayed, conditioned or withheld):

(a) other than pursuant to the Acquiror’s dividend reinvestment plan as in effect as of the date of this Agreement, issue, deliver, sell or grant, or encumber or pledge, or authorize the creation of (i) any shares of its capital stock, (ii) any Acquiror Voting Debt or other voting securities or (iii) any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or any other Rights to acquire, any such shares or other securities;

(b) (i) make, authorize, declare, pay or set aside any dividend in respect of, or declare or make any distribution on, any shares of its capital stock, except for (A) the authorization, announcement and payment of regular quarterly cash distributions payable on a quarterly basis, consistent with past practices and the Acquiror’s investment objectives and policies as publicly disclosed, (B) the authorization and payment of any dividend or distribution necessary for the Acquiror to maintain its qualification as a RIC or avoid the imposition of any income or excise tax, as reasonably determined by the Acquiror, or (C) dividends payable by any direct or indirect wholly owned Consolidated Subsidiary of the Acquiror to the Acquiror or another direct or indirect wholly owned Consolidated Subsidiary of the Acquiror; (ii) adjust, split, combine, reclassify or take similar action with respect to any of its capital stock or issue or authorize the issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu of or in substitution for shares of its capital stock or (iii) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, any shares of its capital stock or any rights, warrants or options to acquire, or securities convertible into, such capital stock;

(c) sell, transfer, lease, mortgage, encumber or otherwise dispose of any of its assets or properties, except for (i) sales, transfers, leases, mortgages, encumbrances or other dispositions in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and the Acquiror’s investment objectives and policies as publicly disclosed, or (ii) encumbrances required to secure Permitted Indebtedness of the Acquiror or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries;

(d) acquire or agree to acquire all or any portion of the assets, business or properties of any other Person, whether by merger, consolidation, purchase or otherwise or make any other investments, except in a transaction conducted in the ordinary course of business consistent with the Acquiror’s investment objectives and policies as publicly disclosed;

(e) amend the Acquiror Charter, the Acquiror Bylaws or other governing documents or similar governing documents of any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries;

(i) make or agree to make any new capital expenditure other than obligations to fund commitments to portfolio companies entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(j) (i) file or amend any material Tax Return other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and the Acquiror’s investment objectives and policies as publicly disclosed; (ii) make, change or revoke any material Tax election or (iii) settle or compromise any material Tax liability or refund;

(k) take any action, or knowingly fail to take any action, which action or failure to act is reasonably likely to cause the Acquiror to fail to qualify or not be subject to tax as a RIC;

(l) enter into any new line of business (it being understood that this prohibition does not apply to any portfolio companies in which the Acquiror or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries has made a debt or equity investment that is, would or should be reflected in the Acquiror’s schedule of investments included in its quarterly or annual periodic reports that are filed with the SEC);

(m) other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and the Acquiror’s investment objectives and policies as publicly disclosed, or as permitted by Section 6.3(h), enter into any Contract that would otherwise constitute an Acquiror Material Contract had it been entered into prior to the date of this Agreement;

(n) other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and the Acquiror’s investment objectives and policies as publicly disclosed, terminate, cancel, renew or agree to any material amendment of, change in or waiver under any Acquiror Material Contract (other than any Acquiror Material Contract related to Permitted Indebtedness);

(o) settle any Proceeding against it, except for Proceedings that (i) are settled in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and the Acquiror’s investment objectives and policies as publicly disclosed, in an amount not in excess of $2,500,000 in the aggregate (after reduction by any insurance proceeds actually received); (ii) would not impose any material restriction on the conduct of business of it or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries or, after the Effective Time, the Surviving Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries and (iii) would not admit liability, guilt or fault;

(p) except as otherwise expressly contemplated by this Agreement, merge or consolidate the Acquiror or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries with any Person or enter into any other similar extraordinary corporate transaction, or adopt, recommend, propose or announce an intention to adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization of the Acquiror or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries;

(q) acquire, or agree to acquire, any Company Common Stock (other than pursuant to the Merger); or

(r) agree to take, make any commitment to take, or adopt any resolutions of the Acquiror Board authorizing, any of the actions prohibited by this Section 6.3.

Article VII

ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

7.1. Further Assurances.

(a) Subject to the right of the Company to take any action that constitutes a Company Adverse Recommendation Change as expressly permitted pursuant to Section 7.6, and the right of the Acquiror to take any action that constitutes an Acquiror Adverse Recommendation Change as expressly permitted pursuant to Section 7.7, the parties shall cooperate with each other and use reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, in good faith, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, including to promptly prepare and file all necessary documentation, to effect all applications, notices, petitions and filings, to obtain as promptly as practicable all Permits of all Governmental Entities and all Permits, consents, approvals, confirmations and authorizations of all third parties, in each case, that are necessary or advisable, to consummate the Transactions (including the Mergers) in the most expeditious manner practicable, and to comply with the terms and conditions of all such Permits, consents, approvals, confirmations and authorizations of all such third parties and Governmental Entities. In furtherance (but not in limitation) of the foregoing, each of the Acquiror and the Company shall as promptly as practicable file any required applications, notices or other filings under the HSR Act. Subject to applicable Law, the Company and the Acquiror shall have the right to review in advance, and, to the extent practicable, each shall consult the other on all the information relating to the Company or the Acquiror, as the case may be, and any of their respective Consolidated Subsidiaries, that appear in any filing made with, or written materials submitted to, any third-party or any Governmental Entity in connection with the Transactions. In exercising the foregoing right, each of the parties shall act reasonably and as promptly as practicable. The parties shall consult with each other with respect to the obtaining of all Permits, consents, approvals and authorizations of all third parties and Permits of all Governmental Entities necessary or advisable to consummate the Transactions and each party will keep the other reasonably apprised of the status of matters relating to completion of the Transactions. The Acquiror and the Company shall each, in connection with the efforts referenced in this Section 7.1(a) to obtain all requisite Permits for the Transactions under the HSR Act, use its reasonable best efforts to (i) cooperate in all respects with each other in connection with any filing or submission and in connection with any investigation or other inquiry; (ii) keep the other party informed of any communication received by such party from, or given by such party to, the Federal Trade Commission (the “FTC”), the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice (the “DOJ”), or any other Governmental Entity and (iii) subject to applicable Law, permit the other party to review, in advance, any written communication given by it to, or received from, and consult with each other in advance of any meeting or conference with, the FTC, the DOJ, or any other Governmental Entity, and to the extent permitted by the FTC, the DOJ, or other applicable Governmental Entity, give the other party the opportunity to attend and participate in such meetings and conferences subject to applicable Law.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, nothing in this Agreement shall require either the Acquiror and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, on the one hand, or the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, on the other hand, to make payments or provide other consideration for the repayment, restructuring or amendment of terms of Indebtedness in connection with the Transactions (including the Mergers), other than any consent fees that were Previously Disclosed.

7.2. Regulatory Matters.

(a) The Acquiror and the Company shall as promptly as practicable jointly prepare and file with the SEC and the applicable state securities regulators the Registration Statement. The Acquiror shall use its reasonable best efforts to have the Registration Statement declared effective under the Securities Act and applicable state Law as promptly as practicable after such filing and to keep the Registration Statement effective as long as necessary to consummate the Mergers. The Company and the Acquiror shall use reasonable best efforts to cause the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus to be promptly mailed to their respective stockholders upon such effectiveness. The Company shall use reasonable best efforts to furnish all information concerning the Company and the holders of Company Common Stock as may be reasonably requested by the Acquiror in connection with any such action.

(b) Each of the Acquiror and the Company shall cooperate with the other in the preparation of the Registration Statement and shall furnish to the other all information reasonably requested as may be reasonably necessary or advisable in connection with the Registration Statement. Prior to the Effective Time, each party hereto shall promptly notify the other party (i) upon becoming aware of any event or circumstance that is required to be described in an amendment to the Registration Statement or in a supplement to the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus and (ii) after the receipt by it of any comments of the SEC or any applicable state securities regulator with respect to the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus or the Registration Statement.

(c) Subject to applicable Law, each of the Acquiror and the Company shall promptly advise the other upon receiving any communication from any Governmental Entity, the consent or approval of which is required for consummation of the Transactions, that causes such party to believe that there is a reasonable likelihood that any Regulatory Approval will not be obtained or that the receipt of any such approval may be materially delayed or conditioned.

7.3. Stockholder Approval.

(a) As of the date of this Agreement, the Company Board (on the recommendation of the Company Special Committee) has unanimously (i) determined that (A) this Agreement and the terms of the Mergers and the related Transactions are advisable, fair to and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders and (B) the interests of the Company’s existing stockholders will not be diluted as a result of the Transactions, (ii) approved, adopted and declared advisable this Agreement and the Transactions (including the Merger and other Company Matters), (iii) directed that the approval of the Company Matters be submitted to the Company’s stockholders at the Company Stockholders Meeting and (iv) resolved to recommend that the stockholders of the Company approve the Company Matters, including the Merger. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 7.6, the Company shall submit to its stockholders the Company Matters on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and any other matters required to be approved or adopted by its stockholders in order to carry out the Transactions. In furtherance of that obligation, the Company shall take, in accordance with applicable Law and the Company Charter and the Company Bylaws, all actions necessary to send a notice as promptly as practicable (but in no event later than five (5) Business Days) following the date on which the SEC and the applicable state securities regulators declare the Registration Statement effective of which the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus forms a part, to convene the Company Stockholders Meeting, as promptly as practicable thereafter, to consider and vote upon the proposal to approve the Company Matters, including the Merger, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement as well as any other such matters. The record date for the Company Stockholders Meeting shall be determined in prior consultation with the Acquiror. The Company shall use reasonable best efforts to obtain from the Company’s stockholders the Company Requisite Vote to approve the Company Matters, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, including, subject to Section 7.6, by providing to the Company’s stockholders the recommendation of the Company Board that the stockholders of the Company approve the Company Matters (the “Company Recommendation”) and including the Company Recommendation in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus and by, at the request of the Acquiror, postponing or adjourning the Company Stockholders Meeting to obtain a quorum or solicit additional proxies; provided that the Company shall not postpone or adjourn the Company Stockholders Meeting for any other reason without the prior written consent of the Acquiror (which prior written consent shall not be unreasonably delayed, conditioned or withheld). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing but subject to the Company’s right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1, the Company’s obligations pursuant to this Section 7.3(a) (including its obligation to submit to its stockholders the Company Matters and any other matters required to be approved or adopted by its stockholders in order to carry out the Transactions) shall not be affected by (i) the commencement, public proposal, public disclosure or communication to the Company, its Representatives or its stockholders of any Takeover Proposal (including any Company Superior Proposal), (ii) the Company effecting a Takeover Approval or delivering a Notice of a Company Superior Proposal or (iii) a Company Adverse Recommendation Change.

(b) As of the date of this Agreement, the Acquiror Board (on the recommendation of the Acquiror Special Committee) has unanimously (i) determined that (A) this Agreement, the New Acquiror Advisory Agreement and the terms of the Mergers and the related Transactions are advisable, fair to and in the best interests of the Acquiror and its stockholders and (B) the interests of the Acquiror’s existing stockholders will not be diluted as a result of the Transactions, (ii) approved, adopted and declared advisable this Agreement, the New Acquiror Advisory Agreement and the Transactions (including the Merger and the Acquiror Matters), (iii) directed that the approval of the Acquiror Matters be submitted to the Acquiror’s stockholders at the Acquiror Stockholders Meeting and (iv) resolved to recommend that the stockholders of the Acquiror approve the Acquiror Matters. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 7.7, the Acquiror shall submit to its stockholders the Acquiror Matters on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and any other matters required to be approved or adopted by its stockholders in order to carry out the Transactions. In furtherance of that obligation, the Acquiror shall take, in accordance with applicable Law and the Acquiror Charter and the Acquiror Bylaws, all actions necessary to send a notice as promptly as practicable (but in no event later than five (5) Business Days) following the date on which the SEC and the applicable state securities regulators declare the Registration Statement effective of which the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus forms a part, to convene the Acquiror Stockholders Meeting, as promptly as practicable thereafter, to consider and vote upon the proposal to approve the Acquiror Matters, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement as well as any other such matters. The record date for the Acquiror Stockholders Meeting shall be determined in prior consultation with the Company. The Acquiror shall use reasonable best efforts to obtain from the Acquiror’s stockholders the Acquiror Requisite Vote to approve the Acquiror Matters, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, including, subject to Section 7.7, by providing to the Acquiror’s stockholders the recommendation of the Acquiror Board that the stockholders of the Acquiror approve the Acquiror Matters (the “Acquiror Recommendation”) and including the Acquiror Recommendation in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus and by, at the request of the Company, postponing or adjourning the Acquiror Stockholders Meeting to obtain a quorum or solicit additional proxies; provided that the Acquiror shall not postpone or adjourn the Acquiror Stockholders Meeting for any other reason without the prior written consent of the Company (which prior written consent shall not be unreasonably delayed, conditioned or withheld). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing but subject to the Acquiror’s right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1, the Acquiror’s obligations pursuant to this Section 7.3(b) (including its obligation to submit to its stockholders the Acquiror Matters and any other matters required to be approved or adopted by its stockholders in order to carry out the Transactions) shall not be affected by (i) the commencement, public proposal, public disclosure or communication to the Acquiror, its Representatives or its stockholders of any Takeover Proposal (including any Acquiror Superior Proposal), (ii) the Acquiror effecting a Takeover Approval or delivering a Notice of an Acquiror Superior Proposal or (iii) an Acquiror Adverse Recommendation Change.

7.4. Indemnification.

(a) Following the Effective Time, the Acquiror shall, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable Law, indemnify, defend and hold harmless and advance expenses to the present and former directors and officers of the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries (in each case, when acting in such capacity) (each, an “Indemnified Party” and collectively, the “Indemnified Parties”) against all costs or expenses (including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys’ fees actually incurred, reasonable experts’ fees, reasonable travel expenses, court costs, transcript fees and telecommunications, postage and courier charges), judgments, fines, losses, claims, damages, penalties, amounts paid in settlement or other liabilities (collectively, “Indemnified Liabilities”) incurred in connection with any Proceeding arising out of actions or omissions occurring at or prior to the Effective Time (including the Transactions). In the event of any such Indemnified Liabilities, (i) the Acquiror shall advance to such Indemnified Party, upon request, reimbursement of documented expenses reasonably and actually incurred to the fullest extent permitted under applicable Law (provided, that the Person to whom expenses are advanced, or someone on his or her behalf, provides an undertaking to repay such advances if it is ultimately determined that such Person is not entitled to indemnification and complies with other applicable provisions imposed under the Investment Company Act and interpretations thereof by the SEC or its staff) and (ii) the Acquiror and the applicable Indemnified Parties shall cooperate in the defense of such matter.

(b) Any Indemnified Party wishing to claim indemnification under Section 7.4(a), upon learning of any Proceeding described above, shall promptly notify the Acquiror in writing; provided, that the failure to so notify shall not affect the obligations of the Acquiror under Section 7.4(a) unless the Acquiror is materially prejudiced as a consequence.

(c) If the Acquiror or any of its successors or assigns consolidates with or merges into any other entity and is not the continuing or surviving entity of such consolidation or merger or transfers or otherwise disposes of all or substantially all of its assets to any other entity or consummates any division transaction, then and in each such case, the Acquiror shall cause proper provision to be made so that the successors and assigns of the Acquiror shall assume the obligations set forth in this Section 7.4.

(d) The provisions of this Section 7.4 are (i) intended to be for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, each Indemnified Party and his or her heirs and Representatives and (ii) in addition to, and not in substitution for, any other rights to indemnification or contribution that any such person may have by Contract or otherwise.

7.5. No Solicitation.

(a) Each of the Company and the Acquiror shall, and shall cause its respective Affiliates, Consolidated Subsidiaries, and its and each of their respective officers, directors, trustees, managers, employees, consultants, financial advisors, attorneys, accountants and other advisors, representatives and agents (collectively, “Representatives”) to, immediately cease and cause to be terminated any discussions or negotiations with any Person that may be ongoing with respect to, or that are intended to or could reasonably be expected to lead to, a Takeover Proposal, and demand the immediate return or destruction (which destruction shall be certified in writing to the Company or the Acquiror, as applicable) of all confidential information previously furnished to any Person (other than the Company, the Acquiror or their respective Affiliates or Representatives) with respect to any Takeover Proposal. Prior to the Effective Time, subject to Section 7.6 in the case of the Company and Section 7.7 in the case of the Acquiror, each of the Company and the Acquiror shall not, and shall cause its respective Affiliates, Consolidated Subsidiaries and its and their respective Representatives not to: (i) directly or indirectly solicit, initiate, induce, encourage or take any other action (including by providing information) designed to, or which could reasonably be expected to, facilitate any inquiries or the making or submission or implementation of any proposal or offer (including any proposal or offer to its stockholders) with respect to any Takeover Proposal; (ii) approve, publicly endorse or recommend or enter into any agreement, arrangement, discussions or understandings with respect to any Takeover Proposal (including any letter of intent, agreement in principle, memorandum of understanding or confidentiality agreement) or enter into any Contract or understanding (including any letter of intent, agreement in principle, memorandum of understanding or confidentiality agreement) requiring it to abandon, terminate or fail to consummate, or that is intended to or that could reasonably be expected to result in the abandonment of, termination of or failure to consummate, the Merger or any other Transaction; (iii) initiate or participate in any way in any negotiations or discussions regarding, or furnish or disclose to any Person (other than the Acquiror, the Company or their respective Affiliates or Representatives) any information with respect to, or take any other action to facilitate or in furtherance of any inquiries or the making of any proposal that constitutes, or could reasonably be expected to lead to, any Takeover Proposal; (iv) publicly propose or publicly announce an intention to take any of the foregoing actions; or (v) grant any (x) approval pursuant to any Takeover Statute to any Person (other than the Acquiror, the Company or their respective Affiliates) or with respect to any transaction (other than the Transactions) or (y) unless required by applicable fiduciary duties (in the case of the Acquiror) or the applicable standard of conduct (in the case of the Company), waiver or release under any standstill or similar agreement with respect to equity securities of the Company or the Acquiror; provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company and the Acquiror (A) may inform Persons of the provisions contained in this Section 7.5, and (B) shall be permitted to grant a waiver of, or terminate, any standstill or similar agreement of any third party with respect to equity securities of the Acquiror or the Company, as applicable, in order to allow such third party to confidentially submit a Takeover Proposal.

(b) Each of the Company and the Acquiror shall as promptly as reasonably practicable (and in any event within twenty-four (24) hours after receipt) (i) notify the other party in writing of any request for information or any Takeover Proposal and the terms and conditions of such request, Takeover Proposal or inquiry (including the identity of the Person (or group of Persons) making such request, Takeover Proposal or inquiry) and (ii) provide to the other party copies of any written materials received by the Company or the Acquiror or their respective Affiliates or Representatives in connection with any of the foregoing, and the identity of the Person (or group of Persons) making any such request, Takeover Proposal or inquiry or with whom any discussions or negotiations are taking place. Each of the Company and the Acquiror agrees that it shall keep the other party informed on a reasonably current basis of the status and the material terms and conditions (including amendments or proposed amendments) of any such request, Takeover Proposal or inquiry and keep the other party informed on a reasonably current basis of any information requested of or provided by the Company or the Acquiror and as to the status of all discussions or negotiations with respect to any such request, Takeover Proposal or inquiry.

7.6. Company Takeover Proposals.

(a) If on or after the date of this Agreement and at any time prior to the Company Stockholders Meeting: (i) the Company receives an unsolicited bona fide Takeover Proposal (under circumstances in which the Company has complied in all material respects with the provisions of Sections 7.5(a) and (b)) and (ii) the Company Board, including a majority of the Independent Directors of the Company Board, shall have determined in good faith, after consultation with its outside legal counsel and, with respect to financial matters, its financial advisor, that (x) failure to consider such Takeover Proposal would be reasonably likely to be a breach of the standard of conduct applicable to the Company Board and (y) such Takeover Proposal constitutes or is reasonably likely to result in a Company Superior Proposal, then, subject to compliance with this Section 7.6(a), the Company may:

(i) engage in negotiations or discussions with such Person who has made the unsolicited bona fide Takeover Proposal and provide information in response to a request therefor by a Person who has made such Takeover Proposal if the Company (A) receives from such Person an executed confidentiality agreement with customary terms (but need not contain any standstill provisions) and (B) provides the Acquiror a copy of all such information that has not previously been delivered to the Acquiror simultaneously with delivery to such Person (or such Person’s Representatives or Affiliates); and

(ii) after fulfilling its obligations under the other provisions of this Section 7.6(a) and Section 7.6(b) below, adopt, approve or recommend, or publicly propose to adopt, approve or recommend such Takeover Proposal, including entering into an agreement with respect thereto (collectively, a “Takeover Approval”).

If on or after the date of this Agreement and at any time prior to the Company Stockholders Meeting, the Company Board, including a majority of the Independent Directors of the Company Board, shall have determined, after consultation with its outside legal counsel, that continued recommendation of the approval of the Company Matters to the Company’s stockholders would be reasonably likely to be a breach of the standard of conduct applicable to the Company Board as a result of a Company Superior Proposal, the Company may (A) withdraw or qualify (or modify or amend in a manner adverse to the Acquiror), or publicly propose to withdraw or qualify (or modify or amend in a manner adverse to the Acquiror), the approval, adoption, recommendation or declaration of advisability by the Company Board of the Company Matters, including the Company Recommendation, and/or (B) fail to include the Company Recommendation in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus (any action described in clause (A) and (B) referred to collectively with any Takeover Approval as a “Company Adverse Recommendation Change”).

(b) Upon any determination that a Takeover Proposal constitutes a Company Superior Proposal, the Company shall promptly provide (and in any event within twenty-four (24) hours of such determination) to the Acquiror a written notice (a “Notice of a Company Superior Proposal”) (i) advising the Acquiror that the Company Board has received a Company Superior Proposal, (ii) specifying in reasonable detail the material terms and conditions of such Company Superior Proposal, including the amount per share or other consideration that the stockholders of the Company will receive in connection with the Company Superior Proposal and including a copy of all written materials provided to or by the Company in connection with such Company Superior Proposal (unless previously provided to the Acquiror), and (iii) identifying the Person making such Company Superior Proposal. The Company shall cooperate and negotiate in good faith with the Acquiror (to the extent the Acquiror desires to negotiate) during the five (5) calendar day period following the Acquiror’s receipt of the Notice of a Company Superior Proposal (it being understood that any amendment to the financial terms or any other material term of such Company Superior Proposal shall require a new notice and a new two (2) calendar day period) to make such adjustments in the terms and conditions of this Agreement as would enable the Company to determine that such Company Superior Proposal is no longer a Company Superior Proposal and proceed with a Company Recommendation without a Company Adverse Recommendation Change. If thereafter the Company Board, including a majority of the Independent Directors of the Company Board, determines, in its reasonable good faith judgment after consultation with its outside legal counsel and, with respect to financial matters, its financial advisor and after giving effect to any proposed adjustments to the terms of this Agreement that such Company Superior Proposal remains a Company Superior Proposal and that the failure to make such Company Adverse Recommendation Change would be reasonably likely to be a breach of the standard of conduct applicable to the Company Board, and the Company has complied in all material respects with Section 7.6(a) above, the Company may terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1(c)(iv).

(c) Other than as permitted by Section 7.6(a) or Section 7.6(d), neither the Company nor the Company Board shall make any Company Adverse Recommendation Change. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no Company Adverse Recommendation Change shall change the approval of the Company Matters or any other approval of the Company Board, including in any respect that would have the effect of causing any Takeover Statute or other similar statute to be applicable to the Transactions.

(d) Other than in connection with a Company Takeover Proposal, nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit or restrict the Company Board from taking any action described in clause (A) of the definition of Company Adverse Recommendation Change in response to an Intervening Event (a “Company Intervening Event Recommendation Change”) if (A) prior to effecting any such Company Intervening Event Recommendation Change, the Company promptly notifies the Acquiror, in writing, at least five (5) Business Days (the “Company Intervening Event Notice Period”) before taking such action of its intent to consider such action (which notice shall not, by itself, constitute a Company Adverse Recommendation Change or a Company Intervening Event Recommendation Change), and which notice shall include a reasonably detailed description of the underlying facts giving rise to, and the reasons for taking, such action, (B) the Company shall, and shall cause its Representatives to, during the Company Intervening Event Notice Period, negotiate with the Acquiror in good faith (to the extent the Acquiror desires to negotiate) to make such adjustments in the terms and conditions of this Agreement that would not permit the Company Board to make a Company Intervening Event Recommendation Change, and (C) the Company Board, including a majority of the Independent Directors of the Company Board, determines, after consulting with its outside legal counsel and, with respect to financial matters, its financial advisor, that the failure to effect such a Company Intervening Event Recommendation Change, after taking into account any adjustments made by the Acquiror during the Company Intervening Event Notice Period, would be reasonably likely to be a breach of the standard of conduct applicable to the Company Board.

(e) Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to prohibit the Company from (i) complying with its disclosure obligations under applicable U.S. federal or state Law with regard to any Takeover Proposal or (ii) making any disclosure to the Company’s stockholders if, after consultation with its outside legal counsel, the Company determines that such disclosure would be required under applicable Law; provided, however, that any such disclosures (other than a “stop, look and listen” communication or similar communication of the type contemplated by Section 14d-9(f) under the Exchange Act) shall be deemed to be a Company Adverse Recommendation Change unless the Company Board expressly publicly reaffirms the Company Recommendation (A) in such communication or (B) within three (3) Business Days after being requested in writing to do so by the Acquiror.

7.7. Acquiror Takeover Proposals.

(a) If on or after the date of this Agreement and at any time prior to the Acquiror Stockholders Meeting: (i) the Acquiror receives an unsolicited bona fide Takeover Proposal (under circumstances in which the Acquiror has complied in all material respects with the provisions of Sections 7.5(a) and (b)) and (ii) the Acquiror Board, including a majority of the Independent Directors of the Acquiror Board, shall have determined in good faith, after consultation with its outside legal counsel and, with respect to financial matters, its financial advisor, that (x) failure to consider such Takeover Proposal would be reasonably likely to be a breach of the Acquiror directors’ fiduciary duties under applicable Law and (y) such Takeover Proposal constitutes or is reasonably likely to result in an Acquiror Superior Proposal, then, subject to compliance with this Section 7.7(a), the Acquiror may:

(i) engage in negotiations or discussions with such Person who has made the unsolicited bona fide Takeover Proposal and provide information in response to a request therefor by a Person who has made such Takeover Proposal if the Acquiror (A) receives from such Person an executed confidentiality agreement with customary terms (but need not contain any standstill provisions) and (B) provides the Company a copy of all such information that has not previously been delivered to the Company simultaneously with delivery to such Person (or such Person’s Representatives or Affiliates); and

(ii) after fulfilling its obligations under Section 7.7(b) below, effect a Takeover Approval.

If on or after the date of this Agreement and at any time prior to the Acquiror Stockholders Meeting, the Acquiror Board, including a majority of the Independent Directors of the Acquiror Board, shall have determined, after consultation with its outside legal counsel, that continued recommendation of the approval of the Acquiror Matters to the Acquiror’s stockholders would be reasonably likely to be a breach of the Acquiror directors’ fiduciary duties under applicable Law as a result of an Acquiror Superior Proposal, the Acquiror may (A) withdraw or qualify (or modify or amend in a manner adverse to the Company), or publicly propose to withdraw or qualify (or modify or amend in a manner adverse to the Company), the approval, adoption, recommendation or declaration of advisability by the Acquiror Board of the Acquiror Matters, including the Acquiror Recommendation, and/or (B) fail to include the Acquiror Recommendation in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus (any action described in clause (A) and (B) referred to collectively with any Takeover Approval as an “Acquiror Adverse Recommendation Change”).

(b) Upon any determination that a Takeover Proposal constitutes an Acquiror Superior Proposal, the Acquiror shall promptly provide (and in any event within twenty-four (24) hours of such determination) to the Company a written notice (a “Notice of an Acquiror Superior Proposal”) (i) advising the Company that the Acquiror Board has received an Acquiror Superior Proposal, (ii) specifying in reasonable detail the material terms and conditions of such Acquiror Superior Proposal, including the amount per share or other consideration that the stockholders of the Acquiror will receive in connection with the Acquiror Superior Proposal and including a copy of all written materials provided to or by the Acquiror in connection with such Acquiror Superior Proposal (unless previously provided to the Company), and (iii) identifying the Person making such Acquiror Superior Proposal. The Acquiror shall cooperate and negotiate in good faith with the Company (to the extent the Company desires to negotiate) during the five (5) calendar day period following the Company’s receipt of the Notice of an Acquiror Superior Proposal (it being understood that any amendment to the financial terms or any other material term of such Acquiror Superior Proposal shall require a new notice and a new two (2) calendar day period) to make such adjustments in the terms and conditions of this Agreement as would enable the Acquiror to determine that such Acquiror Superior Proposal is no longer an Acquiror Superior Proposal and proceed with an Acquiror Recommendation without an Acquiror Adverse Recommendation Change. If thereafter the Acquiror Board, including a majority of the Independent Directors of the Acquiror Board, determines, in its reasonable good faith judgment after consultation with its outside legal counsel and, with respect to financial matters, its financial advisor and after giving effect to any proposed adjustments to the terms of this Agreement that such Acquiror Superior Proposal remains an Acquiror Superior Proposal and that the failure to make such Acquiror Adverse Recommendation Change would be reasonably likely to be a breach of the Acquiror directors’ fiduciary duties under applicable Law, and the Acquiror has complied in all material respects with Section 7.7(a) above, the Acquiror may terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1(d)(iv).

(c) Other than as permitted by Section 7.7(a) or Section 7.7(d), neither the Acquiror nor the Acquiror Board shall make any Acquiror Adverse Recommendation Change. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no Acquiror Adverse Recommendation Change shall change the approval of the Acquiror Matters or any other approval of the Acquiror Board, including in any respect that would have the effect of causing any Takeover Statute or other similar statute to be applicable to the Transactions.

(d) Other than in connection with an Acquiror Takeover Proposal, nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit or restrict the Acquiror Board from taking any action described in clause (A) of the definition of Acquiror Adverse Recommendation Change in response to an Intervening Event (an “Acquiror Intervening Event Recommendation Change”) if (A) prior to effecting any such Acquiror Intervening Event Recommendation Change, the Acquiror promptly notifies the Company, in writing, at least five (5) Business Days (the “Acquiror Intervening Event Notice Period”) before taking such action of its intent to consider such action (which notice shall not, by itself, constitute an Acquiror Adverse Recommendation Change or an Acquiror Intervening Event Recommendation Change), and which notice shall include a reasonably detailed description of the underlying facts giving rise to, and the reasons for taking, such action, (B) the Acquiror shall, and shall cause its Representatives to, during the Acquiror Intervening Event Notice Period, negotiate with the Company in good faith (to the extent the Company desires to negotiate) to make such adjustments in the terms and conditions of this Agreement that would not permit the Acquiror Board to make an Acquiror Intervening Event Recommendation Change, and (C) the Acquiror Board, including a majority of the Independent Directors of the Acquiror Board, determines, after consulting with its outside legal counsel and, with respect to financial matters, its financial advisor, that the failure to effect such an Acquiror Intervening Event Recommendation Change after taking into account any adjustments made by the Company during the Acquiror Intervening Event Notice Period, would be reasonably likely to be a breach of the Acquiror directors’ fiduciary duties under applicable Law.

(e) Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to prohibit the Acquiror from (i) complying with its disclosure obligations under applicable U.S. federal or state Law with regard to any Takeover Proposal or (ii) making any disclosure to the Acquiror’s stockholders if, after consultation with its outside legal counsel, the Acquiror determines that such disclosure would be required under applicable Law; provided, however, that any such disclosures (other than a “stop, look and listen” communication or similar communication of the type contemplated by Section 14d-9(f) under the Exchange Act) shall be deemed to be an Acquiror Adverse Recommendation Change unless the Acquiror Board expressly publicly reaffirms the Acquiror Recommendation (A) in such communication or (B) within three (3) Business Days after being requested in writing to do so by the Company.

7.8. Access to Information.

(a) Upon reasonable notice, except as may otherwise be restricted by applicable Law, each of the Company and the Acquiror shall, and shall cause each of its Consolidated Subsidiaries to, afford to the directors, officers, accountants, counsel, advisors and other Representatives of the other party, reasonable access, during normal business hours during the period prior to the Effective Time, to its properties, books, Contracts, and records and, during such period, such party shall, and shall cause its Consolidated Subsidiaries to, make available (including via EDGAR) to the other party all other information concerning its business and properties as the other party may reasonably request; provided that the foregoing shall not require the Company or the Acquiror, as applicable, to afford access to or to disclose any information that in such party’s reasonable judgment would violate any confidentiality obligations to which such party is subject to if after using its reasonable best efforts with respect thereto, it was unable to obtain any required consent to provide such access or make such disclosure; provided, further, that either the Company or the Acquiror may restrict access to the extent required by any applicable Law or as may be necessary to preserve attorney-client privilege or any similar privilege or protection under any circumstances in which such privilege or protection may be jeopardized by such disclosure or access.

(b) No investigation by a party hereto or its Representatives shall affect or be deemed to modify the representations and warranties of the other parties set forth in this Agreement.

7.9. Publicity. The initial press release with respect to the Transactions shall be a joint press release reasonably acceptable to each of the Acquiror, the Company and the Acquiror Adviser. Thereafter, so long as this Agreement is in effect, the Acquiror, the Company and the Acquiror Adviser each shall consult with the others before issuing or causing the publication of any press release or other public announcement with respect to this Agreement, the Mergers or the Transactions, except as may be required by applicable Law or to the extent that such press release or other public announcement relates to any Company Adverse Recommendation Change or Acquiror Adverse Recommendation Change made in accordance with Sections 7.6 or 7.7, respectively, and, to the extent practicable, before such press release or other public announcement is issued or made, the Acquiror, the Company or the Acquiror Adviser, as applicable, shall have used commercially reasonable efforts to advise the other parties of, and consult with the other parties regarding, the text of such press release or other public announcement; provided, that the Acquiror, the Company or the Acquiror Adviser may make any public statement in response to specific questions by analysts, investors or those attending industry conferences or financial analyst conference calls, so long as any such statements are consistent with previous press releases, public disclosures or public statements made in compliance with this Section 7.9.

7.10. Takeover Statutes and Provisions. Neither the Acquiror nor the Company will take any action that would cause the Transactions to be subject to requirements imposed by any Takeover Statutes. Each of the Acquiror and the Company shall take all necessary steps within its control to exempt (or ensure the continued exemption of) those Transactions from, or if necessary challenge the validity or applicability of, any applicable Takeover Statute, as now or hereafter in effect.

7.11. Tax Matters.

(a) Tax Representation Letters. Prior to the Effective Time (or at such other times as requested by counsel), each of the Acquiror and the Company shall execute and deliver to Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP tax representation letters (which will be used in connection with the tax opinions contemplated by Sections 8.2(e) and 8.3(e)).

(b) RIC Status. During the period from the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, except as expressly contemplated or permitted by this Agreement, (i) the Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the Acquiror take any action, or knowingly fail to take any action, which action or failure to act is reasonably likely to cause the Company to fail to qualify as a RIC, and (ii) the Acquiror shall not, and shall not permit any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the Company, take any action, or knowingly fail to take any action, which action or failure to act is reasonably likely to cause the Acquiror to fail to qualify as a RIC.

(c) Tax Treatment of Mergers. Unless otherwise required by applicable Law or administrative action, (i) each of the Company, the Acquiror and Merger Sub shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Mergers to qualify as a reorganization governed by Section 368(a) of the Code, including by not taking any action that such party knows is reasonably likely to prevent such qualification; and (ii) each of the Company, the Acquiror and Merger Sub shall report the Mergers for U.S. federal income Tax purposes as a reorganization governed by Section 368(a) of the Code.

(d) Tax Opinions. The Company shall use its best efforts to obtain the tax opinion described in Section 8.3(e), and the Acquiror shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the tax opinion described in Section 8.2(e).

7.12. Stockholder Litigation. The parties to this Agreement shall reasonably cooperate and consult with one another in connection with the defense and settlement of any Proceeding by the Company’s stockholders or the Acquiror’s stockholders against any of them or any of their respective directors, officers or Affiliates with respect to this Agreement or the Transactions. Each of the Company and the Acquiror (i) shall keep the other party reasonably informed of any material developments in connection with any such Proceeding brought by its stockholders and (ii) shall not settle any such Proceeding without the prior written consent of the other party (such consent not to be unreasonably delayed, conditioned or withheld).

7.13. Section 16 Matters. Prior to the Effective Time, each of the Company Board and the Acquiror Board shall take all such steps as may be required to cause any dispositions of Company Common Stock or acquisitions of Acquiror Common Stock resulting from the Transactions by each individual who is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act with respect to the Company or will become subject to such reporting requirements with respect to the Acquiror, in each case, to be exempt pursuant to Rule 16b-3.

7.14. No Other Representations or Warranties. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that except for the representations and warranties of the Company in Article III, the representations and warranties of the Acquiror in Article IV and the representations and warranties of the Acquiror Adviser in Article V, none of the Acquiror Adviser, the Company, the Acquiror or any of the Company’s or the Acquiror’s respective Consolidated Subsidiaries or any other Person acting on behalf of the foregoing makes or has relied on any representation or warranty, express or implied.

7.15. Merger of Surviving Company. Immediately after the occurrence of the Effective Time, in accordance with the MGCL and the DGCL, the Surviving Company and the Acquiror shall consummate the Second Merger.

7.16. Coordination of Dividends. The Acquiror and the Company shall coordinate with each other in designating the record and payment dates for any periodic dividends or distributions to their stockholders declared in accordance with this Agreement in any calendar quarter in which the Closing Date might reasonably be expected to occur, and neither the Acquiror nor the Company shall authorize or declare any dividend or distribution to its stockholders after the Determination Date at any time on or before the Closing Date; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prohibit the Acquiror or the Company from authorizing, declaring or paying any dividend or distribution to its stockholders solely payable in cash in accordance with this Agreement to the extent such dividend or distribution is taken into account in determining the Closing Company Net Asset Value and/or the Closing Acquiror Net Asset Value, as applicable, including a Tax Dividend. Prior to the Closing Date, if the aggregate amount of all (a) dividends paid by the Company on or prior to the date of this Agreement plus (b) all quarterly dividends after the date of this Agreement is less than the amount that should be paid as a dividend to distribute to the Company’s stockholders the amounts set forth in (i) through (iv) of the definition of “Tax Dividend” or otherwise is necessary for the Company to maintain its qualification as a RIC and avoid the imposition of any income or excise tax as reasonably determined by the Company, the Company shall declare a Tax Dividend. After the Closing, the Acquiror, on behalf of the Company, will distribute any Tax Dividend that was declared, but not paid, by the Company for any of its taxable years ended prior to the Effective Time and for all federal income tax purposes, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, the Acquiror and the Company shall treat such payments of any Tax Dividend as a payment of a dividend considered to have been paid by the Company in the Company’s last federal income tax year pursuant to Section 855 of the Code. The Acquiror and the Company shall negotiate in good faith to adjust the Exchange Ratio to account for any Tax Dividends not otherwise reflected in the Closing Company Net Asset Value pursuant to the terms of Section 2.4(b).

Article VIII

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

8.1. Conditions to Each Party’s Obligations to Effect the Merger. The respective obligations of the parties to effect the Merger shall be subject to the satisfaction or, other than with respect to Section 8.1(a), which shall not be waived by any party hereto, waiver, at or prior to the Effective Time, of the following conditions:

(a) Stockholder Approvals. (i) The Company Matters shall have been approved by the Company Requisite Vote, and (ii) the Acquiror Matters shall have been approved by the Acquiror Requisite Vote.

(b) Registration Statement. The Registration Statement shall have become effective under the Securities Act and applicable state Law, and no stop Order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued and no Proceedings for that purpose shall have been initiated by the SEC or any applicable state securities regulator.

(c) No Injunctions or Restraints; Illegality. No Order issued by any court or agency of competent jurisdiction or other Law preventing, enjoining, restraining or making illegal the consummation of the Mergers or any of the other Transactions shall be in effect.

(d) Regulatory and Other Approvals. All Regulatory Approvals required by applicable Law to consummate the Transactions, including the Mergers, shall have been obtained and shall remain in full force and effect and all statutory waiting periods required by applicable Law in respect thereof shall have expired (including expiration of the applicable waiting period under the HSR Act).

(e) No Litigation. There shall be no Proceeding by any Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction pending that challenges the Mergers or any of the other Transactions or that otherwise seeks to prevent, enjoin, restrain or make illegal the consummation of the Mergers or any of the other Transactions.

(f) Net Asset Value Determinations. The determination of both the Closing Acquiror Net Asset Value and the Closing Company Net Asset Value shall have been completed in accordance with Section 2.4.

8.2. Conditions to Obligations of the Acquiror and Merger Sub to Effect the Merger. The obligations of the Acquiror and Merger Sub to effect the Merger are also subject to the satisfaction or waiver by the Acquiror, at or prior to the Effective Time, of the following conditions:

(a) Representations and Warranties of the Company. (i) The representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Section 3.2(a) shall be true and correct in all respects (other than de minimis inaccuracies) as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of such date and time (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty expressly speaks as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct as of such earlier date); (ii) the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Section 3.8(ii) shall be true and correct in all respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of such date and time (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty expressly speaks as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct as of such earlier date); (iii) the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Sections 3.3(a), 3.3(b)(i), 3.7, 3.20 and 3.21 shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of such date and time (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty expressly speaks as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct as of such earlier date); and (iv) the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in this Agreement (other than those set forth in the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) and (iii)) shall be true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of such date and time (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty expressly speaks as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct as of such earlier date), without regard to any Material Adverse Effect or other materiality qualification to such representations and warranties, provided, however, that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the condition set forth in this Section 8.2(a)(iv) shall be deemed to have been satisfied even if any such representations and warranties of the Company are not so true and correct, without regard to any Material Adverse Effect or other materiality qualification to such representations and warranties, unless the failure of such representations and warranties of the Company to be so true and correct, individually or in the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company.

(b) Performance of Obligations of the Company. The Company shall have performed in all material respects all obligations required to be performed by it under this Agreement at or prior to the Effective Time.

(c) Absence of Company Material Adverse Effect. Since the date of this Agreement there shall not have occurred any condition, change or event that, individually or in the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect in respect of the Company.

(d) Receipt of Company Certificate. The Acquiror shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by the Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Financial Officer of the Company to the effect that the conditions set forth in Sections 8.2(a), (b) and (c) have been satisfied.

(e) Federal Tax Opinion. The Acquiror shall have received the opinion of its counsel, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, dated as of the Closing Date, substantially to the effect that, on the basis of facts, representations and assumptions that are consistent with the state of facts existing at the Closing Date, the Mergers will be treated as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. In rendering such opinion, counsel may require and rely upon representations contained in certificates of officers of the Acquiror and the Company delivered pursuant to Section 7.11(a).

8.3. Conditions to Obligations of the Company to Effect the Merger. The obligation of the Company to effect the Merger is also subject to the satisfaction or waiver by the Company, at or prior to the Effective Time, of the following conditions:

(a) Representations and Warranties of the Acquiror, Merger Sub and the Acquiror Adviser. (i) The representations and warranties of the Acquiror set forth in Section 4.2(a) shall be true and correct in all respects (other than de minimis inaccuracies) as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of such date and time (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty expressly speaks as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct as of such earlier date); (ii) the representations and warranties of the Acquiror and Merger Sub set forth in Section 4.8(ii) shall be true and correct in all respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of such date and time (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty expressly speaks as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct as of such earlier date); (iii) the representations and warranties of the Acquiror and Merger Sub set forth in Sections 4.3(a), 4.3(b)(i) and 4.7 and the representations and warranties of the Acquiror Adviser set forth in Sections 5.2(a) and 5.2(b)(i) shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of such date and time (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty expressly speaks as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct as of such earlier date); and (iv) the representations and warranties of the Acquiror, Merger Sub and the Acquiror Adviser set forth in this Agreement (other than those set forth in the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) and (iii)) shall be true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of such date and time (except to the extent that any such representation and warranty expressly speaks as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct as of such earlier date), without regard to any Material Adverse Effect or other materiality qualification to such representations and warranties, provided, however, that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the condition set forth in this Section 8.3(a)(iv) shall be deemed to have been satisfied even if any such representations and warranties of the Acquiror, Merger Sub and the Acquiror Adviser are not so true and correct, without regard to any Material Adverse Effect or other materiality qualification to such representations and warranties, unless the failure of such representations and warranties of the Acquiror, Merger Sub and the Acquiror Adviser to be so true and correct, individually or in the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Acquiror, Merger Sub or the Acquiror Adviser, as applicable.

(b) Performance of Obligations of the Acquiror and Merger Sub. The Acquiror and Merger Sub shall have performed in all material respects all obligations required to be performed by them under this Agreement at or prior to the Effective Time.

(c) Absence of Acquiror or Acquiror Adviser Material Adverse Effect. Since the date of this Agreement there shall not have occurred any condition, change or event that, individually or in the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect in respect of the Acquiror or the Acquiror Adviser.

(d) Receipt of Acquiror Certificate. The Company shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of the Acquiror and Merger Sub by the Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Financial Officer of the Acquiror to the effect that the conditions set forth in Sections 8.3(a), (b) and (c) have been satisfied.

(e) Federal Tax Opinion. The Company shall have received the opinion of its counsel, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, dated as of the Closing Date, substantially to the effect that, on the basis of facts, representations and assumptions that are consistent with the state of facts existing at the Closing Date, the Mergers will be treated as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. In rendering such opinion, counsel may require and rely upon representations contained in certificates of officers of the Acquiror and the Company delivered pursuant to Section 7.11(a).

8.4. Frustration of Closing Conditions. None of the Acquiror, Merger Sub or the Company may rely on the failure of any condition set forth in this Article VIII to be satisfied to excuse performance by such party of its obligations under this Agreement if such failure was caused by such party’s failure to act in good faith or to use its commercially reasonable efforts to consummate the Merger and the other Transactions.

Article IX

TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT

9.1. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Effective Time, whether before or after approval of the Company Matters by the stockholders of the Company or the Acquiror Matters by the stockholders of the Acquiror:

(a) by mutual consent of the Company and the Acquiror in a written instrument authorized by each of the Company Board, including a majority of the Independent Directors of the Company, and the Acquiror Board, including a majority of the Independent Directors of the Acquiror;

(b) by either the Company or the Acquiror, if:

(i) any Governmental Entity that must grant a Regulatory Approval has denied approval of the Transactions (including the Mergers) and such denial has become final and nonappealable, or any Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction shall have issued a final and nonappealable Order, or promulgated any other Law permanently enjoining or otherwise prohibiting or making illegal the consummation of the Transactions;

(ii) the Merger shall not have been consummated on or before October 2, 2024 (the “Outside Date”); provided that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 9.1(b)(ii) shall not be available to any party whose failure to fulfill in any material respect any of its obligations under this Agreement has been the cause of, or resulted in, the event giving rise to the failure to close prior to the Outside Date;

(iii) the stockholders of the Company shall have failed to approve the Company Matters by the Company Requisite Vote of the Company’s stockholders at a duly held meeting of the Company’s stockholders or at any adjournment or postponement thereof at which the Company Matters have been voted upon; or

(iv) the stockholders of the Acquiror shall have failed to approve the Acquiror Matters by the Acquiror Requisite Vote of the Acquiror’s stockholders at a duly held meeting of the Acquiror’s stockholders or at any adjournment or postponement thereof at which the Acquiror Matters have been voted upon;

provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 9.1(b) shall not be available to any party that has breached in any material respect its obligations under this Agreement in any manner that has been the principal cause of or resulted in the failure to consummate the Transactions;

(i) there shall have been a breach of any of the covenants or agreements or any of the representations or warranties set forth in this Agreement on the part of the Acquiror, Merger Sub or the Acquiror Adviser, which breach, either individually or in the aggregate, would result in, if occurring or continuing on the Closing Date, the failure of the conditions set forth in Sections 8.3(a), (b) or (c), and such breach is not curable prior to the Outside Date or if curable prior to the Outside Date, has not been cured within thirty (30) days after the giving of notice thereof by the Company to the Acquiror (provided that the Company is not then in material breach of this Agreement so as to cause any of the conditions set forth in Sections 8.1, 8.2(a), 8.2(b) or 8.2(c) not to be satisfied);

(ii) prior to obtaining approval of the Acquiror Matters by the stockholders of the Acquiror (A) an Acquiror Adverse Recommendation Change and/or Takeover Approval shall have occurred, (B) a Takeover Proposal is publicly announced and the Acquiror fails to issue, within ten (10) Business Days after such Takeover Proposal is announced, a press release that reaffirms the Acquiror Recommendation or (C) a tender or exchange offer relating to any shares of Acquiror Stock shall have been commenced by a third party and the Acquiror shall not have sent to its stockholders, within ten (10) Business Days after the commencement of such tender or exchange offer, a statement disclosing that the Acquiror Board recommends rejection of such tender or exchange offer;

(iii) the Acquiror breaches, in any material respect, its obligations under Section 7.5 or Section 7.7; or

(iv) at any time prior to the time the approval of the Company’s stockholders with respect to the Company Matters is obtained, (A) the Company is not in material breach of any of the terms of this Agreement and (B) the Company Board, including a majority of the Independent Directors of the Company, authorizes the Company, subject to complying with the terms of this Agreement (including Section 7.6(b)), to enter into, and the Company enters into, a definitive Contract with respect to a Company Superior Proposal.

(d) by the Acquiror, if:

(i) there shall have been a breach of any of the covenants or agreements or any of the representations or warranties set forth in this Agreement on the part of the Company, which breach, either individually or in the aggregate, would result in, if occurring or continuing on the Closing Date, the failure of the conditions set forth in Sections 8.2(a), (b) or (c), and such breach is not curable prior to the Outside Date or if curable prior to the Outside Date, has not been cured within thirty (30) days after the giving of notice thereof by the Acquiror to the Company (provided that the Acquiror, Merger Sub or the Acquiror Adviser is not then in material breach of this Agreement so as to cause any of the conditions set forth in Sections 8.1, 8.3(a), 8.3(b) or 8.3(c) not to be satisfied);

(ii) prior to obtaining approval of the Company Matters by the stockholders of the Company (A) a Company Adverse Recommendation Change and/or Takeover Approval shall have occurred, (B) a Takeover Proposal is publicly announced and the Company fails to issue, within ten (10) Business Days after such Takeover Proposal is announced, a press release that reaffirms the Company Recommendation or (C) a tender or exchange offer relating to any shares of Company Common Stock shall have been commenced by a third party and the Company shall not have sent to its stockholders, within ten (10) Business Days after the commencement of such tender or exchange offer, a statement disclosing that the Company Board recommends rejection of such tender or exchange offer;

(iii) the Company breaches, in any material respect, its obligations under Section 7.5 or Section 7.6; or

(iv) at any time prior to the time the approval of the Acquiror’s stockholders with respect to the Acquiror Matters is obtained, (A) the Acquiror is not in material breach of any of the terms of this Agreement and (B) the Acquiror Board, including a majority of the Independent Directors of the Acquiror, authorizes the Acquiror, subject to complying with the terms of this Agreement (including Section 7.7(b)), to enter into, and the Acquiror enters into, a definitive Contract with respect to an Acquiror Superior Proposal.

The party desiring to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1 shall give written notice of such termination to the other party in accordance with Section 11.2, specifying the provision or provisions hereof pursuant to which such termination is effected.

9.2. [Reserved]

9.3. Effect of Termination. In the event of termination of this Agreement by either the Company or the Acquiror as provided in Section 9.1, this Agreement shall forthwith become void and have no effect, and none of the Acquiror Adviser, the Acquiror, Merger Sub, the Company, any of their respective Affiliates or Consolidated Subsidiaries or any of the officers or directors of any of them shall have any liability of any nature whatsoever under this Agreement, or in connection with the Transactions, except that Section 7.8(b), Article IX and Article XI (including, in each case, any applicable definitions) shall survive any termination of this Agreement; provided, however, that nothing herein shall relieve any party from any liabilities for damages incurred or suffered by another party arising out of the willful or intentional breach by such party of any provision of this Agreement or a failure or refusal by such party to consummate this Agreement and the Transactions when such party was obligated to do so in accordance with the terms hereof.

9.4. Fees and Expenses. All fees and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the Transactions (including the Mergers) shall be paid by the party incurring such fees or expenses, whether or not the Transactions (including the Mergers) are consummated; provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, the following fees and expenses shall be borne proportionately by the Acquiror and the Company by reference to their respective net asset values as of June 30, 2023: (i) costs and expenses of printing and mailing the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus, (ii) all filing and other fees paid to the SEC and the applicable state securities regulators in connection with the Mergers, and (iii) fees and expenses for legal services to the Company, the Acquiror and Merger Sub in connection with the Agreement and the Transactions (excluding fees for legal services of independent counsel to the Acquiror Special Committee and the Company Special Committee).

9.5. Amendment. This Agreement may be amended by the parties, by action taken or authorized by their respective boards of directors, at any time before or after approval of the Acquiror Matters by the stockholders of the Acquiror or the Company Matters by the stockholders of the Company; provided, however, that after any approval of the Acquiror Matters by the stockholders of the Acquiror or the Company Matters by the stockholders of the Company, there may not be, without further approval of the applicable party’s stockholders, any amendment of this Agreement that requires such further approval under applicable Law. This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the parties.

9.6. Extension; Waiver. At any time prior to the Effective Time, each party, by action taken or authorized by the Company Board, including the Company Special Committee, or the Acquiror Board, including the Acquiror Special Committee, as applicable, may, to the extent legally allowed, (a) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other parties, (b) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties of the other parties contained in this Agreement or (c) waive compliance by the other parties with any of the agreements or conditions contained in this Agreement. Any agreement on the part of a party to any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in a written instrument signed on behalf of such party, but such extension or waiver or failure to insist on strict compliance with an obligation, covenant, agreement or condition shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any subsequent or other non-compliance.

Article X

CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

“Acquiror Matters” means (i) the approval of the New Acquiror Advisory Agreement and (ii) any other matters required to be approved or adopted by the stockholders of the Acquiror in order to effect the Transactions.

“Acquiror Per Share NAV” means the quotient of (i) the Closing Acquiror Net Asset Value divided by (ii) the number of shares of Acquiror Common Stock issued and outstanding as of the Determination Date.

“Acquiror Superior Proposal” means a bona fide written Takeover Proposal that was not knowingly solicited by, or the result of any knowing solicitation by, the Acquiror or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries or by any of their respective Affiliates or Representatives in violation of this Agreement, made by a third party that would result in such third party becoming the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 75% of the total voting power of the Acquiror or more than 75% of the assets of the Acquiror on a consolidated basis (a) on terms which the Acquiror Board determines in good faith to be superior for the stockholders of the Acquiror (in their capacity as stockholders), taken as a group, from a financial point of view as compared to the Merger (after giving effect to any alternative proposed by the Company in accordance with Section 7.7), (b) that is reasonably likely to be consummated (taking into account, among other things, all legal, financial, regulatory and other aspects of the proposal, including any conditions, and the identity of the offeror) in a timely manner and in accordance with its terms and (c) in respect of which any required financing has been determined in good faith by the Acquiror Board (upon the recommendation of the Acquiror Special Committee) to be reasonably likely to be obtained, as evidenced by a written commitment of a reputable financing source.

“Affiliate” of a Person means any other Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by or is under common control with the first Person (it being understood that no portfolio company in which any Person has, directly or indirectly, made a debt or equity investment that is, would or should be reflected in the schedule of investments included in the quarterly or annual reports of such Person that are filed with the SEC shall be an Affiliate of such Person). The term “control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and the terms “controlled” has a meaning correlative thereto.

“BSP” means Benefit Street Partners L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company.

“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday or Sunday or a day on which banks are required or authorized to close in the City of New York, New York.

“Company Administration Agreements” means (i) the administration agreement between the Company and BSP, (ii) the fund administration servicing agreement between the Company and U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC and (iii) the fund accounting servicing agreement between the Company and U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, each in effect as of the date of this Agreement.

“Company Advisory Agreement” means the investment advisory and management services agreement between the Company and Franklin BSP Lending Adviser, L.L.C. in effect as of the date of this Agreement.

“Company Matters” means (i) the adoption of this Agreement and the approval of the Merger and the other Transactions and (ii) any other matters required to be approved or adopted by the stockholders of the Company in order to effect the Transactions.

“Company Per Share NAV” means the quotient of (i) the Closing Company Net Asset Value divided by (ii) the number of shares of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding as of the Determination Date (excluding any Cancelled Shares).

“Company Superior Proposal” means a bona fide written Takeover Proposal that was not knowingly solicited by, or the result of any knowing solicitation by, the Company or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries or by any of their respective Affiliates or Representatives in violation of this Agreement, made by a third party that would result in such third party becoming the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 75% of the total voting power of the Company or more than 75% of the assets of the Company on a consolidated basis (a) on terms which the Company Board determines in good faith to be superior for the stockholders of the Company (in their capacity as stockholders), taken as a group, from a financial point of view as compared to the Merger (after giving effect to any alternative proposed by the Acquiror in accordance with Section 7.6), (b) that is reasonably likely to be consummated (taking into account, among other things, all legal, financial, regulatory and other aspects of the proposal, including any conditions, and the identity of the offeror) in a timely manner and in accordance with its terms and (c) in respect of which any required financing has been determined in good faith by the Company Board (upon the recommendation of the Company Special Committee) to be reasonably likely to be obtained, as evidenced by a written commitment of a reputable financing source.

“Consolidated Subsidiary”, when used with respect to any Person, means any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other Person, whether incorporated or unincorporated, that is consolidated with such Person for financial reporting purposes under GAAP.

“Contract” means any agreement, contract, lease, mortgage, evidence of indebtedness, indenture, license or instrument, whether oral or written, and shall include each amendment, supplement and modification to the foregoing, to which a Person or any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them may be bound.

“EDGAR” means the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval System.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules promulgated thereunder.

“Exchange Ratio” means the quotient (rounded to four decimal places) of (i) the Company Per Share NAV divided by (ii) the Acquiror Per Share NAV.

“Governmental Entity” means any federal, state, local or foreign government or other governmental body, any agency, commission or authority thereof, any regulatory or administrative authority, any quasi-governmental body, any self-regulatory agency, any court, tribunal or judicial body, or any political subdivision, department or branch of any of the foregoing.

“Indebtedness” shall mean (a) any indebtedness or other obligation for borrowed money, (b) any indebtedness evidenced by a note, bond, debenture or similar instrument, (c) any liabilities or obligations with respect to interest rate swaps, collars, caps and similar hedging obligations, (d) any capitalized lease obligations, (e) any direct or contingent obligations under letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances, bank guarantees, surety bonds and similar instruments, each to the extent drawn upon and unpaid, (f) any obligation to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business) and (g) guarantees in respect of clauses (a) through (f), in each case excluding obligations to fund commitments to portfolio companies entered into in the ordinary course of business.

“Independent Director” means, with respect to the Acquiror or the Company, each director who is not an “interested person” of the Acquiror or the Company, as the case may be, as defined in the Investment Company Act.

“Intervening Event” means any event, change or development first occurring or arising after the date hereof that is material to the Acquiror and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as whole, that was not known to, or reasonably foreseeable by, the party’s board of directors, as of or prior to the date hereof (or if known or reasonably foreseeable, the material consequences of which were not known or reasonably foreseeable as of the date hereof) and did not result from or arise out of the announcement or pendency of, or any actions required to be taken by such party (or to be refrained from being taken by such party) pursuant to this Agreement; provided, however, that in no event shall the following events, changes or developments constitute an Intervening Event: (a) the receipt, existence, or terms of a Takeover Proposal or any matter relating thereto or consequence thereof or any inquiry, proposal, offer, or transaction from any third party relating to or in connection with a transaction of the nature described in the definition of “Takeover Proposal” (which, for the purposes of the Intervening Event definition, shall be read without reference to the percentage thresholds set forth in the definition thereof); (b) any change in the price of the Acquiror Stock (provided, however, that this clause (b) shall not apply to the underlying causes giving rise to or contributing to such change or prevent any of such underlying causes from being taken into account in determining whether an Intervening Event has occurred unless such underlying causes are otherwise excluded from the definition of Intervening Event); or (c) any changes in general economic or political conditions, except to the extent that such changes have a materially disproportionate adverse impact on the Acquiror and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to other participants of similar sizes engaged in the industries in which, as applicable, the Acquiror or the Company conducts its businesses.

“Investment Advisers Act” means the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules promulgated thereunder.

“Investment Company Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules promulgated thereunder.

“knowledge” means for each of the Acquiror, the Company and the Acquiror Adviser, the actual knowledge of their respective executive officers, directors and managing members, as applicable, as of the date of this Agreement.

“Law” means any federal, state, local or foreign law (including the common law), statute, code, ordinance, rule, regulation, judgment, Order, writ, decree or injunction or any Permit or similar right granted by any Governmental Entity.

“Liens” means all security interests, liens, claims, pledges, easements, mortgages, rights of first offer or refusal or other encumbrances.

“Material Adverse Effect” means, with respect to the Acquiror, the Company or the Acquiror Adviser, as the case may be, any event, development, change, effect or occurrence (each, an “Effect”) that is, or would reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, materially adverse to (i) the business, operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or results of operations of such party and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, other than (A) any Effect resulting from or attributable to (1) changes in general economic, social or political conditions or the financial markets in general, including the commencement or escalation of a war, armed hostilities or other material international or national calamity or acts of terrorism or earthquakes, hurricanes, other natural disasters or acts of God, the coronavirus (COVID-19) or any other pandemic (including the impact on economies generally and the results of any actions taken by Governmental Entities in response thereto), (2) general changes or developments in the industries in which such party and its Consolidated Subsidiaries operate, including general changes in Law after the date hereof across such industries, except, in the case of the foregoing clauses (1) and (2), to the extent such changes or developments referred to therein have a materially disproportionate adverse impact on such party and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to other participants of similar sizes engaged in the industries in which such party conducts its businesses or (3) the announcement of this Agreement or the Transactions or the identities of the parties to this Agreement or (B) any failure to meet internal or published projections or forecasts for any period, as the case may be (provided that the underlying causes of such failure shall be considered in determining whether there is a Material Adverse Effect) or (ii) the ability of such party to timely perform its material obligations under this Agreement or consummate the Merger and the other Transactions.

“New Acquiror Advisory Agreement” means the amended and restated investment advisory agreement between the Acquiror and the Acquiror Adviser substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.

“Order” means any writ, injunction, judgment, order or decree entered, issued, made or rendered by any Governmental Entity.

“Permit” means any license, permit, variance, exemption, approval, qualification, or Order of any Governmental Entity.

“Permitted Indebtedness” means Indebtedness of the Acquiror or the Company, as applicable, and its respective Consolidated Subsidiaries (i) outstanding as of the date of this Agreement or (ii) incurred after the date of this Agreement to the extent permitted by the Investment Company Act that is substantially consistent with the past practices of the Acquiror or the Company, as applicable.

“Person” means an individual, a (general or limited) partnership, a corporation, a limited liability company, an association, a trust, a joint venture, a Governmental Entity or other legal entity or organization.

“Previously Disclosed” means information (i) with respect to the Company, (A) set forth by the Company in a disclosure schedule, if any, provided by the Company to the Acquiror or (B) previously disclosed since the Applicable Date in any Company SEC Report, (ii) with respect to the Acquiror, (A) set forth by the Acquiror in a disclosure schedule, if any, provided by the Acquiror to the Company or (B) previously disclosed since the Applicable Date in any Acquiror SEC Report, and (iii) with respect to the Acquiror Adviser, set forth by the Acquiror Adviser in a disclosure schedule, if any, provided by the Acquiror Adviser to the Company; provided, however, that any risk factor disclosures contained under the heading “Risk Factors,” any disclosure of risks included in any “forward-looking statements” disclaimer or any other statements that are similarly predictive or forward-looking in nature in any Company SEC Report or Acquiror SEC Report, as the case may be, shall not be deemed to be “Previously Disclosed.”

“Proceeding” means an action, suit, arbitration, investigation, examination, litigation, lawsuit or other proceeding, whether civil, criminal or administrative.

“Regulatory Approvals” means all applications and notices with, and receipt of consents, authorizations, approvals, exemptions or nonobjections from any Governmental Entity.

“SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules promulgated thereunder.

“Takeover Proposal” means any inquiry, proposal, discussions, negotiations or offer from any Person or group of Persons (other than the Acquiror or the Company or any of their respective Affiliates) (a) with respect to a merger, consolidation, tender offer, exchange offer, stock acquisition, asset acquisition, share exchange, business combination, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution, joint venture or similar transaction involving the Company or the Acquiror, as applicable, or any of such party’s respective Consolidated Subsidiaries, as applicable, or (b) relating to any direct or indirect acquisition, in one transaction or a series of transactions, of (i) assets or businesses (including any mortgage, pledge or similar disposition thereof but excluding any bona fide financing transaction) that constitute or represent, or would constitute or represent if such transaction is consummated, 25% or more of the total assets, net revenue or net income of the Company or the Acquiror, as applicable, and such party’s respective Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (ii) 25% or more of the outstanding shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, the Company or in any of the Company’s Consolidated Subsidiaries or, the Acquiror or in any of the Acquiror’s Consolidated Subsidiaries, as applicable, in each case other than the Merger and the other Transactions.

“Tax” means all federal, state, local, and foreign income, excise, gross receipts, gross income, profits, gains, property, capital, sales, transfer, use, payroll, employment, severance, withholding, duties, franchise, value added and other taxes, charges, levies or like assessments together with all penalties and additions to tax and interest thereon.

“Tax Dividend” means a dividend or dividends, with respect to any applicable tax year, which is deductible pursuant to the dividends paid deduction under Section 562 of the Code, and shall have the effect of distributing to the Company’s stockholders (i) all of its previously undistributed “investment company taxable income” within the meaning of Section 852(b) of the Code (determined without regard to Section 852(b)(2)(D) of the Code), (ii) any prior year shortfall as determined under Section 4982(b)(2) of the Code, (iii) amounts constituting the excess of (A) the amount specified in Section 852(a)(1)(B)(i) of the Code over (B) the amount specified in Section 852(a)(1)(B)(ii) of the Code, and (iv) net capital gain (within the meaning of Section 1222(11) of the Code), if any, in each case recognized either in the applicable tax year or any prior tax year.

“Tax Return” means a report, return, statement, form or other information (including any schedules, attachments or amendments thereto) required to be supplied to a Governmental Entity with respect to Taxes including, where permitted or required, consolidated, combined or unitary returns for any group of entities.

“Transactions” means the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Mergers.

“Treasury Regulations” means all final and temporary federal income tax regulations, as amended from time to time, issued under the Code by the United States Treasury Department.

Table of Definitions

Term:		Section:
Acceptable Courts		11.6
Acquiror		Preamble
Acquiror Adverse Recommendation Change		7.7(a)
Acquiror Adviser		Preamble
Acquiror Balance Sheet		4.6(b)
Acquiror Board		Recitals
Acquiror Bylaws		4.1(b)
Acquiror Capitalization Date		4.2(a)
Acquiror Charter		4.1(b)

Term:		Section:
Acquiror Common Stock		1.5(b)
Acquiror Insurance Policy		4.15
Acquiror Intellectual Property Rights		4.16
Acquiror Intervening Event Notice Period		7.7(d)
Acquiror Intervening Event Recommendation Change		7.7(d)
Acquiror Material Contracts		4.14(a)
Acquiror Preferred Stock		4.2(a)
Acquiror Recommendation		7.3(b)
Acquiror Requisite Vote		4.3(a)
Acquiror SEC Reports		4.5(a)
Acquiror Special Committee		Recitals
Acquiror Stock		4.2(a)
Acquiror Stockholders Meeting		4.3(a)
Acquiror Voting Debt		4.2(a)
Agreement		Preamble
Applicable Date		3.5(a)
ASC Topic 820		3.6(h)
BDC		Recitals
Book-Entry Shares		1.5(d)
Cancelled Shares		1.5(b)
Certificate of Merger		1.8(a)
Closing		1.2
Closing Acquiror Net Asset Value		2.4(a)
Closing Company Net Asset Value		2.4(b)
Closing Date		1.2
Code		Recitals
Company		Preamble
Company Adverse Recommendation Change		7.6(a)
Company Balance Sheet		3.6(b)
Company Board		Recitals
Company Bylaws		3.1(b)
Company Capitalization Date		3.2(a)
Company Charter		3.1(b)
Company Common Stock		1.5(b)
Company Insurance Policy		3.15
Company Intellectual Property Rights		3.16
Company Intervening Event Notice Period		7.6(d)
Company Intervening Event Recommendation Change		7.6(d)
Company Material Contracts		3.14(a)
Company Recommendation		7.3(a)
Company Requisite Vote		3.3(a)
Company SEC Reports		3.5(a)
Company Special Committee		Recitals
Company Stockholders Meeting		3.3(a)
Company Voting Debt		3.2(a)

Term:		Section:
DE Secretary		1.8(a)
Determination Date		2.4(a)
DGCL		1.8(a)
DOJ		7.1(a)
Effective Time		1.3
Employee Benefit Plans		3.13
Enforceability Exception		3.3(a)
Exchange Agent		2.1
Exchange Fund		2.1
Existing Acquiror Advisory Agreement		4.14(b)
E&Y		3.6(a)
First Articles of Merger		1.3
FTC		7.1(a)
GAAP		3.6(a)
HSR Act		3.4
Indemnified Liabilities		7.4(a)
Indemnified Party		7.4(a)
Intellectual Property Rights		3.16
IRS		3.11(a)
Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus		3.4
Letter of Transmittal		2.2(a)
MD SDAT		1.3
Merger		Recitals
Merger Consideration		1.5(c)
Merger Sub		Preamble
Mergers		Recitals
MGCL		1.1
Notice of a Company Superior Proposal		7.6(b)
Notice of an Acquiror Superior Proposal		7.7(b)
Outside Date		9.1(b)(ii)
Registration Statement		3.4
Representatives		7.5(a)
RIC		3.11(b)
Rights		3.2(a)
Sarbanes-Oxley Act		3.6(f)
Second Articles of Merger		1.8(a)
Second Effective Time		1.8(a)
Second Merger		Recitals
Surviving Company		Recitals
Takeover Approval		7.6(a)(ii)
Takeover Statutes		3.19

Article XI

GENERAL PROVISIONS

11.1. Nonsurvival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements. None of the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth in this Agreement or in any instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the Effective Time, except for and subject to Section 7.4 and Section 9.4 and for those other covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement that by their express terms apply or are to be performed in whole or in part after the Effective Time.

11.2. Notices. All notices and other communications in connection with this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally, sent via email (provided that the transmission is followed up within one (1) Business Day by dispatch pursuant to one of the other methods described herein), mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested) or delivered by an express courier (with confirmation) to the parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice):

If to the Company, to:

Franklin BSP Lending Corporation

9 West 57th Street, 49th Floor, Suite 4920

New York, NY 10019

Attention:

Richard Byrne

Email:

r ***@***

with a copy, which will not constitute notice, to:

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

900 G Street, N.W.

Washington, DC 20001

Attention:

Steven Grigoriou

Email:

***@***

Attention:

Christopher Healey

Email:

***@***

and

Sullivan & Worchester LLP

1666 K Street, N.W.

Washington, DC 20006

Attention:

David Mahaffey

Email:

***@***

Attention:

David Leahy

Email:

***@***

and

Dechert LLP

One International Place

40th Floor, 100 Oliver Street

Boston, MA 02110

Attention:

Thomas J. Friedmann

Email:

***@***

Attention:

Eric S. Siegel

Email:

***@***

If to the Acquiror or Merger Sub, to:

Franklin BSP Capital Corporation

9 West 57th Street, 49th Floor, Suite 4920

New York, NY 10019

Attention:

Richard Byrne

Email:

r ***@***

with a copy, which will not constitute notice, to:

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

900 G Street, N.W.

Washington, DC 20001

Attention:

Steven Grigoriou

Email:

***@***

Attention:

Christopher Healey

Email:

***@***

and

Sullivan & Worchester LLP

1666 K Street, N.W.

Washington, DC 20006

Attention:

David Mahaffey

Email:

***@***

Attention:

David Leahy

Email:

***@***

and

Dechert LLP

One International Place

40th Floor, 100 Oliver Street

Boston, MA 02110

Attention:

Thomas J. Friedmann

Email:

***@***

Attention:

Eric S. Siegel

Email:

***@***

If to the Acquiror Adviser, to:

Franklin BSP Capital Adviser L.L.C.

9 West 57th Street, 49th Floor, Suite 4920

New York, NY 10019

Attention:

Richard Byrne

Email:

r ***@***

with a copy, which will not constitute notice, to:

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

900 G Street, N.W.

Washington, DC 20001

Attention:

Steven Grigoriou

Email:

***@***

Attention:

Christopher Healey

Email:

***@***

and

Dechert LLP

One International Place

40th Floor, 100 Oliver Street

Boston, MA 02110

Attention:

Thomas J. Friedmann

Email:

***@***

Attention:

Eric S. Siegel

Email:

***@***

Each such notice or other communication shall be effective upon receipt (or refusal of receipt).

11.3. Interpretation; Construction . When a reference is made in this Agreement to Articles, Sections, Exhibits or Schedules, such reference shall be to an Article or Section of or Exhibit or Schedule to this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. The table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.” The terms “cash,” “dollars” and “$” mean United States dollars. All schedules and exhibits hereto shall be deemed part of this Agreement and included in any reference to this Agreement. Any singular term in this Agreement shall be deemed to include the plural, and any plural term the singular. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction contained in this Agreement is held by a court or a federal or state regulatory agency of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions and covenants and restrictions contained in this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect, and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated. If for any reason such court or regulatory agency determines that any term, provision, covenant or restriction is invalid, void or unenforceable, it is the express intention of the parties that such term, provision, covenant or restriction be enforced to the maximum extent permitted. The parties have jointly participated in negotiating and drafting this Agreement. In the event that an ambiguity or a question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement.

11.4. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other parties, it being understood that each party need not sign the same counterpart. Counterparts may be delivered via facsimile, electronic mail (including any electronic signature covered by the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, the Electronic Signatures and Records Act or other applicable Law) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.

11.5. Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including the documents and the instruments referred to in this Agreement), once executed, constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, between the parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement.

11.6. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial. This Agreement shall be governed and construed in accordance with the Laws of the State of Maryland applicable to contracts made and performed entirely within such state, without regard to any applicable conflicts of law principles that would cause the application of the Laws of another jurisdiction, except to the extent governed by the Investment Company Act, in which case the Investment Company Act shall control. The parties hereto agree that any Proceeding brought by any party to enforce any provision of, or based on any matter arising out of or in connection with, this Agreement or the Transactions shall be brought in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, or if jurisdiction over the matter is vested exclusively in federal courts, the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Northern Division and the appellate courts to which Orders and judgments therefore may be appealed (collectively, the “Acceptable Courts”). In any such judicial proceeding, each of the parties further consents to the assignment of any proceeding in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland to the Business and Technology Case Management Program pursuant to Maryland Rule 16-205 (or any successor thereof). Each of the parties hereto submits to the jurisdiction of any Acceptable Court in any Proceeding seeking to enforce any provision of, or based on any matter arising out of or in connection with, this Agreement or the Transactions and hereby irrevocably waives the benefit of jurisdiction derived from present or future domicile or otherwise in such Proceeding. Each party hereto irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any Proceeding in any such Acceptable Court or that any such Proceeding brought in any such Acceptable Court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. EACH PARTY HERETO ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. Each party hereto (a) certifies that no Representative of any other party has represented, expressly or otherwise, that such other party would not, in the event of any action, suit or proceeding, seek to enforce the foregoing waiver, (b) certifies that it makes this waiver voluntarily and (c) acknowledges that it and the other parties hereto have been induced to enter into this Agreement, by, among other things, the mutual waiver and certifications in this Section 11.6.

11.7. Assignment; Third Party Beneficiaries. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations under this Agreement shall be assigned by any of the parties (whether by operation of law or otherwise) without the prior written consent of the other parties. Any purported assignment in contravention hereof shall be null and void. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by each of the parties and their respective successors and assigns. Except as otherwise specifically provided in Section 7.4, this Agreement (including the documents and instruments referred to in this Agreement) is not intended to and does not confer upon any Person other than the parties hereto any rights or remedies under this Agreement.

11.8. Specific Performance. The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached, and that monetary damages, even if available, would not be an adequate remedy therefor. It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement in any federal or state court located in the State of Maryland, without proof of actual damages (and each party hereby waives any requirement for the securing or posting of any bond in connection with such remedy), this being in addition to any other remedy to which such party is entitled at law or in equity. Each of the parties hereto agrees that it will not oppose the granting of an injunction, specific performance or other equitable relief on the basis that any other party hereto has an adequate remedy at law or that any award of specific performance is not an appropriate remedy for any reason at law or in equity.

[Signature Page Follows]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Acquiror, the Company, Merger Sub and the Acquiror Adviser have caused this Agreement to be executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above written.

FRANKLIN BSP CAPITAL CORPORATION

By:	/s/ Richard J. Byrne
	Name:	Richard J. Byrne
	Title:	Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman of the Board

FRANKLIN BSP LENDING CORPORATION

By:	/s/ Richard J. Byrne
	Name:	Richard J. Byrne
	Title:	Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman of the Board

FRANKLIN BSP MERGER SUB, INC.

By:	/s/ Richard J. Byrne
	Name:	Richard J. Byrne
	Title:	President

FRANKLIN BSP CAPITAL ADVISER, L.L.C.

By:	/s/ Bryan R. Martoken
	Name:	Bryan R. Martoken
	Title:	Authorized Person

[Signature Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]

Exhibit A

Form of Amended and Restated Investment Advisory Agreement

[Attached]

[Exhibit A to Agreement and Plan of Merger]

AMENDED AND RESTATED INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
FRANKLIN BSP CAPITAL CORPORATION
AND
FRANKLIN BSP CAPITAL ADVISER L.L.C.

This Amended and Restated Investment Advisory Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made as of [ ], 2023, by and between Franklin BSP Capital Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Franklin BSP Capital Adviser L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (the “Adviser”).

WHEREAS, the Company is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company that has elected to be regulated as a business development company (“BDC”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (together with the rules promulgated thereunder, the “Investment Company Act”);

WHEREAS, the Adviser is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (together with the rules promulgated thereunder, the “Advisers Act”);

WHEREAS, the Company and the Adviser are parties to that certain investment advisory agreement dated September 23, 2020 by and between the Company and the Adviser (the “Prior Agreement”); and

WHEREAS, the Company and the Adviser desire to amend and restate the Prior Agreement to set forth the terms and conditions for the continued provision by the Adviser of investment advisory services to the Corporation.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants hereinafter contained and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Adviser hereby agree as follows:

Section 1. Duties of the Adviser.

(a) Retention of Adviser. The Company hereby appoints the Adviser to act as the investment adviser to the Company and to manage the investment and reinvestment of the assets of the Company, subject to the supervision of the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”), for the period and upon the terms herein set forth in accordance with:

(i) the investment objectives, policies and restrictions that are set forth in the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10 or Form N-2, as applicable, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), as supplemented, amended or superseded from time to time, and in the Company’s confidential private placement memorandum, as amended from time to time or as may otherwise be set forth in the Company’s reports filed in compliance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as applicable;

(ii) during the term of this Agreement, all other applicable federal and state laws, rules and regulations, and the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws, as they may be amended from time to time (the “Organizational Documents”);

(iii) such investment policies, directives, regulatory restrictions as the Company may from time to time establish or issue and communicate to the Adviser in writing; and

(iv) the Company’s compliance policies and procedures as applicable to the Adviser and as administered by the Company’s chief compliance officer.

(b) Responsibilities of Adviser. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Adviser shall, during the term and subject to the provisions of this Agreement:

(i) determine the composition and allocation of the Company’s investment portfolio, the nature and timing of any changes therein and the manner of implementing such changes;

(ii) identify, evaluate and negotiate the structure of the investments made by the Company;

(iii) perform due diligence on prospective portfolio companies;

(iv) execute, close, monitor and service the Company’s investments;

(v) determine the securities and other assets that the Company shall purchase, retain or sell;

(vi) arrange financings and borrowing facilities for the Company; and

(vii) provide the Company with such other investment advisory, research and related services as the Company may, from time to time, reasonably require for the investment of its funds.

(c) Power and Authority. To facilitate the Adviser’s performance of these undertakings, but subject to the restrictions contained herein, the Company hereby delegates to the Adviser (which power and authority may be delegated by the Adviser to one or more Sub-Advisers), and the Adviser hereby accepts, the power and authority to act on behalf of and in the name of the Company to effectuate investment decisions for the Company, including the negotiation, execution and delivery of all documents relating to the acquisition and disposition of the Company’s investments, the placing of orders for other purchase or sale transactions on behalf of the Company or any entity in which the Company has a direct or indirect ownership interest, including any interest rate, currency or other derivative instruments, and the engagement of any services providers deemed necessary or appropriate by the Adviser to the exercise of such power and authority. In the event that the Company determines to acquire debt or other financing (or to refinance existing debt or other financing), the Adviser shall use commercially reasonable efforts to arrange for such financing on the Company’s behalf, subject to the oversight and approval of the Board. If it is necessary for the Adviser to make investments or obtain financing on behalf of the Company through a special purpose vehicle or a special tax blocker vehicle, the Adviser shall have authority to create, or arrange for the creation of, such special purpose vehicles and to make investments or obtain financing through such special purpose vehicles in accordance with applicable law. The Company also grants to the Adviser power and authority to engage in all activities and transactions (and anything incidental thereto) that the Adviser deems, in its sole discretion, appropriate, necessary or advisable to carry out its duties pursuant to this Agreement, including the authority to open accounts and deposit, maintain and withdraw funds of the Company or any of its subsidiaries in any bank, savings and loan association, brokerage firm or other financial institution.

(d) Acceptance of Appointment. The Adviser hereby accepts such appointment and agrees during the term hereof to render the services described herein for the compensation provided herein, subject to the limitations contained herein. Unless and until it resigns or is removed as investment adviser to the Company in accordance with this Agreement, the Adviser, to the extent of its powers as set forth in this Agreement, shall be an agent of the Company for the purpose of the Company’s business, and action taken by the Adviser in accordance with such powers shall bind the Company.

(e) Sub-Advisers. The Adviser is hereby authorized to enter into one or more sub-advisory agreements (each a “Sub-Advisory Agreement”) with other investment advisers (each a “Sub-Adviser”) pursuant to which the Adviser may obtain the services of the Sub-Adviser(s) to assist the Adviser in fulfilling its responsibilities hereunder, subject to the oversight of the Adviser and/or the Company, with the scope of such services and oversight to be set forth in each Sub-Advisory Agreement.

(i) The Adviser and not the Company shall be responsible for any compensation payable to any Sub-Adviser; provided, however, that the Adviser shall have the right to direct the Company to pay directly any Sub-Adviser the amounts due and payable to such Sub-Adviser from the fees and expenses otherwise payable to the Adviser under this Agreement.

(ii) Any Sub-Advisory Agreement entered into by the Adviser shall be in accordance with the requirements of the Investment Company Act and the Advisers Act, including without limitation, the requirements of the Investment Company Act relating to Board and Company stockholder approval thereunder, and other applicable federal and state law.

(iii) Any Sub-Adviser shall be subject to the same fiduciary duties as are imposed on the Adviser pursuant to this Agreement, the Investment Company Act and the Advisers Act, as well as other applicable federal and state law.

(f) Independent Contractor Status. The Adviser shall, for all purposes herein provided, be deemed to be an independent contractor and, except as expressly provided or authorized herein, shall have no authority to act for or represent the Company in any way or otherwise be deemed an agent of the Company.

(g) Record Retention. Subject to review by and the overall control of the Board, the Adviser shall maintain and keep all books, accounts and other records of the Adviser that relate to activities performed by the Adviser hereunder as required under the Investment Company Act and the Advisers Act. The Adviser agrees that all records that it maintains and keeps for the Company shall at all times remain the property of the Company, shall be readily accessible during normal business hours, and shall be promptly surrendered to the Company upon the termination of this Agreement or otherwise on written request by the Company. The Adviser further agrees that the records that it maintains and keeps for the Company shall be preserved in the manner and for the periods prescribed by the Investment Company Act, unless any such records are earlier surrendered as provided above. The Adviser shall have the right to retain copies, or originals where required by Rule 204-2 promulgated under the Advisers Act, of such records to the extent required by applicable law. The Adviser shall maintain records of the locations where books, accounts and records are maintained among the persons and entities providing services directly or indirectly to the Adviser or the Company.

Section 2. Expenses Payable by the Company.

(a) Adviser Personnel. All investment personnel of the Adviser, when and to the extent engaged in providing investment advisory services hereunder, and the compensation and routine overhead expenses of such personnel allocable to such services, shall be provided and paid for by the Adviser and not by the Company.

(b) Company’s Costs. Subject to the limitations on expense reimbursement of the Adviser as set forth in Sections 2(a) and (c), the Company, either directly or through reimbursement to the Adviser, shall bear all out-of-pocket costs and expenses of its operations and its transactions, including, but not limited to, expenses incurred by the Adviser and payable to third parties, including agents, consultants and other advisors, in monitoring the financial and legal affairs of the Company, news and quotation subscriptions, and market or industry research expenses; the cost of calculating the Company’s net asset value; the cost of effecting sales and repurchases of shares of the Company’s common stock and other securities; management and incentive fees payable pursuant to this Agreement; fees payable to third parties, including agents, consultants and other advisors, relating to, or associated with, making investments, and, if necessary, enforcing its rights, and valuing investments (including third-party valuation firms); expenses related to consummated or unconsummated investments, including dead deal or broken deal expenses; rating agency expenses; fees to arrange debt financings for the Company; distributions on the Company’s shares; administration fees payable under the administration agreement (the “Administration Agreement”), by and between the Company and Benefit Street Partners L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (the “Administrator”); the allocated costs incurred by the Administrator in providing managerial assistance to those portfolio companies that request it; transfer agent and custodial fees; fees and expenses associated with marketing efforts (including attendance at investment conferences and similar events); accounting, audit and tax preparation expenses; federal and state registration fees; any exchange listing fees; federal, state, local, and other taxes; costs and expenses incurred in relation to compliance with applicable laws and regulations and the operation and administration of the Company generally; independent directors’ fees and expenses, including any legal counsel or other advisors retained by, or at the discretion or for the benefit of, the independent directors; brokerage commissions; costs of proxy statements, stockholders’ reports and notices; costs of preparing government filings, including periodic and current reports with the SEC; the Company’s fidelity bond, directors and officers/errors and omissions liability insurance, and any other insurance premiums; indemnification payments; expenses relating to the development and maintenance of the Company’s website; other operations and technology costs; direct costs and expenses of administration, including printing, mailing, copying, telephone, fees of independent accountants and outside legal costs; and all other expenses incurred by the Company or the Administrator in connection with administering the Company’s business, including, but not limited to, payments under the Administration Agreement based upon the Company’s allocable portion of the Administrator’s overhead in performing its obligations under the Administration Agreement, including rent, travel and the allocable portion of the cost of the Company’s chief compliance officer and chief financial officer and their respective staffs, including operations and tax professionals, and administrative staff providing support services in respect of the Company.

For avoidance of doubt, it is agreed and understood that, from time to time, the Adviser or its affiliates may pay amounts or bear costs properly constituting Company expenses as set forth herein or otherwise and that the Company shall reimburse the Adviser or its affiliates for all such costs and expenses that have been paid by the Adviser or its affiliates on behalf of the Company.

(c) Portfolio Company’s Compensation. In certain circumstances the Adviser, any Sub-Adviser, or any of their respective Affiliates (as defined below), may receive compensation from a portfolio company, in connection with the Company’s investment in such portfolio company. Any compensation received by the Adviser, Sub-Adviser, or any of their respective Affiliates, attributable to the Company’s investment in any portfolio company, in excess of any of the limitations in or exemptions granted from the Investment Company Act, any interpretation thereof by the staff of the SEC, or the conditions set forth in any exemptive relief granted to the Adviser, any Sub-Adviser or the Company by the SEC, shall be delivered promptly to the Company and the Company will retain such excess compensation for the benefit of its stockholders.

Section 3. Compensation of the Adviser.

The Company agrees to pay, and the Adviser agrees to accept, as compensation for the services provided by the Adviser hereunder, a base management fee (“Base Management Fee”) and an incentive fee (“Incentive Fee”) as hereinafter set forth. Any of the fees payable to the Adviser under this Agreement for any partial calendar quarter shall be appropriately prorated based on the actual number of days elapsed during such partial quarter as a fraction of the number of days in the relevant calendar year.

(a) Base Management Fee. The Base Management Fee is payable quarterly in arrears. The Base Management Fee shall be based on the average value of the Company’s gross assets at the end of the two most recently completed calendar quarters (the “Average Gross Assets”). The Base Management Fee shall be calculated at an annual rate of 1.50% of the Average Gross Assets; provided, that, the Base Management Fee shall be calculated at an annual rate of 1.00% of the Company’s gross assets purchased with borrowed funds above 1.0x debt-to-equity.

(b) Incentive Fee. The Incentive Fee shall consist of two parts, as follows:

(i) The first part, referred to as the “Incentive Fee on Income,” shall be calculated and payable quarterly in arrears based on the Company’s “Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income” for the immediately preceding quarter. “Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income” means interest income, dividend income and any other income (including any other fees, other than fees for providing managerial assistance, such as commitment, origination, structuring, diligence and consulting fees or other fees that the Company receives from portfolio companies) accrued during the calendar quarter, minus the Company’s operating expenses for the quarter (including the Base Management Fee, expenses payable under the Administration Agreement and any interest expense and dividends paid on any issued and outstanding preferred stock, but excluding the incentive fee). Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income includes, in the case of investments with a deferred interest feature (such as original issue discount debt instruments with payment-in-kind (“PIK”) interest and zero coupon securities), accrued income that the Company has not yet received in cash. Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income does not include any realized capital gains, realized capital losses or unrealized capital appreciation or depreciation. For purposes of computing the Company’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income, the calculation methodology will look through total return swaps as if the Company owned the referenced assets directly. The payment of the Incentive Fee on Income shall be subject to payment of a preferred return to investors each quarter, expressed as a quarterly rate of return on the value of the Company’s net assets at the end of the most recently completed calendar quarter, subject to a “catch up” feature (as described below).

(1) The calculation of the Incentive Fee on Income is as follows:

(A) No Incentive Fee on Income shall be payable to the Adviser in any calendar quarter in which the Company’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income does not exceed the preferred return rate of 1.50% per quarter (or 6.00% annualized) (the “Preferred Return”) on net assets;

(B) 100% of the Company’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income, if any, that exceeds the Preferred Return but is less than or equal to 1.8175% in any calendar quarter (or 7.27% annualized) shall be payable to the Adviser. This portion of the Incentive Fee on Income is referred to as the “catch up” and is intended to provide the Adviser with an incentive fee of 17.5% on all of the Company’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income when the Company’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income reaches 1.8175% (or 7.27% annualized) in any calendar quarter; and

(C) For any quarter in which the Company’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income exceeds 1.8175% in any calendar quarter (or 7.27% annualized), the Incentive Fee on Income shall equal 17.5% of the amount of the Company’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income as the Preferred Return and catch up will have been achieved.

(ii) The second part of the incentive fee, referred to as the “Incentive Fee on Capital Gains,” shall be determined and payable in arrears as of the end of each calendar year (or upon termination of this Agreement, if earlier). The Incentive Fee on Capital Gains shall be calculated based on the Company’s “incentive fee capital gains,” which shall equal the Company’s realized capital gains on a cumulative basis from the date of the Company’s election to be regulated as a business development company, as of the end of each calendar year, computed net of all realized capital losses and unrealized capital depreciation on a cumulative basis, less the aggregate amount of any previously paid Incentive Fee on Capital Gains. For the purpose of computing the Incentive Fee on Capital Gains, the calculation methodology will look through derivative financial instruments or swaps as if the Company owned the reference assets directly. Therefore, realized gains and realized losses on the disposition of any reference assets, as well as unrealized depreciation on reference assets retained in the derivative financial instrument or swap, will be included on a cumulative basis in the calculation of the Incentive Fee on Capital Gains. For periods ending on or prior to the date of this Agreement, the Incentive Fee on Capital Gains shall equal 15.0% of the Company’s incentive fee capital gains, and for periods ending after the date of this Agreement, the Incentive Fee on Capital Gains shall equal 17.5% of the Company’s incentive fee capital gains.

Section 4. Covenant of the Adviser.

The Adviser covenants that it is registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act on the effective date of this Agreement, and shall maintain such registration until the expiration or termination of this Agreement. The Adviser agrees that its activities shall at all times be in compliance in all material respects with all applicable federal and state laws governing its operations and investments, except to the extent that any such noncompliance would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Adviser to fulfill its obligations under this Agreement. The Adviser agrees to observe and comply with applicable provisions of the code of ethics adopted by the Company pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the Investment Company Act, as such code of ethics may be amended from time to time.

Section 5. Brokerage Commissions.

The Adviser is hereby authorized, to the fullest extent now or hereafter permitted by law, to cause the Company to pay a member of a national securities exchange, broker or dealer an amount of commission for effecting a securities transaction in excess of the amount of commission another member of such exchange, broker or dealer would have charged for effecting that transaction, if the Adviser determines in good faith, taking into account factors, including without limitation, price (including the applicable brokerage commission or dealer spread), size of order, difficulty of execution, and operational facilities of the firm and the firm’s risk and skill in positioning blocks of securities, that such amount of commission is reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and/or research services provided by such member, broker or dealer, viewed in terms of either that particular transaction or its overall responsibilities with respect to the Company’s portfolio, and is consistent with the Adviser’s duty to seek the best execution on behalf of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with regard to transactions with or for the benefit of the Company, the Adviser may not pay any commission or receive any rebates or give-ups, nor participate in any business arrangements which would circumvent this restriction.

Section 6. Other Activities of the Adviser.

The services of the Adviser to the Company are not exclusive, and the Adviser may engage in any other business or render similar or different services to others including, without limitation, the direct or indirect sponsorship or management of other investment-based accounts or commingled pools of capital, however structured, having investment objectives similar to those of the Company, so long as its services to the Company hereunder are not impaired thereby, and nothing in this Agreement shall limit or restrict the right of any manager, partner, member (including its members and the owners of its members), officer or employee of the Adviser to engage in any other business or to devote his or her time and attention in part to any other business, whether of a similar or dissimilar nature, or to receive any fees or compensation in connection therewith (including fees for serving as a director of, or providing consulting services to, one or more of the Company’s portfolio companies, subject to applicable law). The Adviser assumes no responsibility under this Agreement other than to render the services called for hereunder.

During the term of this Agreement and for a period of one year following any termination or nonrenewal of this Agreement for any reason, the Company shall not, directly or indirectly on behalf of itself or any other person or entity: (a) solicit the employment of or employ any partners, stockholders, directors, trustees, officers, employees, consultants and/or associated persons (each, an “Associate”) of the Adviser, any Sub-Adviser or any of their respective Affiliates (collectively, “Adviser Persons”) or any person or entity who was an Associate of an Adviser Person during the one-year period preceding such proposed solicitation or employment, or (b) induce, persuade or attempt to induce or persuade the discontinuation of, or in any way interfere or attempt to interfere with, the relationship between an Adviser Person and any Associate of such Adviser Person or any person or entity who was an Associate of such Adviser Person during the one-year period preceding such proposed inducement, persuasion or interference or attempted inducement, persuasion or interference. The parties intend that any provision of this Section 6 held invalid, illegal or unenforceable only in part or degree because of the duration or geographic scope thereof shall remain in full force to the extent not held invalid, illegal or unenforceable.

For purposes of this Agreement, “Affiliate” or “Affiliated” or any derivation thereof means with respect to any individual, corporation, partnership, trust, joint venture, limited liability company or other entity or association (“Person”): (a) any Person directly or indirectly owning, controlling, or holding, with the power to vote, 10% or more of the outstanding voting securities of such other Person; (b) any Person 10% or more of whose outstanding voting securities are directly or indirectly owned, controlled or held, with the power to vote, by such other Person; (c) any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with such other Person; (d) any executive officer, director, trustee or general partner of such other Person; or (e) any legal entity for which such Person acts as an executive officer, director, trustee or general partner.

Section 7. Responsibility of Dual Directors, Officers and/or Employees.

If any person who is a manager, partner, member, officer or employee of the Adviser is or becomes a director, officer and/or employee of the Company and acts as such in any business of the Company, then such manager, partner, member, officer and/or employee of the Adviser shall be deemed to be acting in such capacity solely for the Company, and not as a manager, partner, member, officer or employee of the Adviser or under the control or direction of the Adviser, even if paid by the Adviser.

Section 8. Indemnification.

Subject to Section 9, the Adviser, any Sub-Adviser, each of their respective directors, trustees, officers, managers, partners, stockholders or members (and their stockholders or members, including the owners of their stockholders or members), agents, employees, controlling persons (as determined under the Investment Company Act (“Controlling Persons”)), any other person or entity Affiliated with the Adviser or Sub-Adviser (including each of their respective directors, trustees, officers, stockholders or members (and their stockholders or members, including the owners of their stockholders or members), agents, employees or Controlling Persons) and any other person or entity acting on behalf of, the Adviser or Sub-Adviser (each an “Indemnified Party” and, collectively, the “Indemnified Parties”) shall not be liable to the Company or any stockholder thereof for any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Adviser or any Sub-Adviser in connection with the performance of any of their duties or obligations under this Agreement or otherwise as an investment adviser of the Company (except to the extent specified in Section 36(b) of the Investment Company Act concerning loss resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty with respect to the receipt of compensation for services), and the Company shall indemnify, defend and protect the Indemnified Parties (each of whom shall be deemed a third party beneficiary hereof) and hold them harmless from and against all losses, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and amounts reasonably paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromises and settlement, as fines and penalties and legal or other costs and reasonable expenses of investigating or defending against any claim or alleged claim) of any nature whatsoever, known or unknown, liquidated or unliquidated) (“Losses”) incurred by the Indemnified Parties in or by reason of any pending, threatened or completed action, suit, investigation or other proceeding (including an action or suit by or in the right of the Company or its security holders) arising out of or otherwise based upon the performance of any of the Indemnified Parties’ duties or obligations under this Agreement, any Sub-Advisory Agreement, or otherwise as an investment adviser of the Company to the extent such Losses are not fully reimbursed by insurance and otherwise to the fullest extent such indemnification would not be inconsistent with the Organizational Documents, the Investment Company Act, the laws of the State of New York and other applicable law.

Section 9. Limitation on Indemnification.

Notwithstanding anything in Section 8 to the contrary, nothing contained herein shall protect or be deemed to protect any of the Indemnified Parties against, or entitle or be deemed to entitle any of the Indemnified Parties to indemnification in respect of, any Losses to the Company or its security holders to which the Indemnified Parties would otherwise be subject primarily attributable to the willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of the Adviser’s or Sub-Adviser’s duties or by reason of the reckless disregard of the Adviser’s or Sub-Adviser’s duties and obligations under this Agreement or any Sub-Advisory Agreement (to the extent applicable, as the same shall be determined in accordance with the Investment Company Act and any interpretations or guidance by the SEC or its staff thereunder).

In addition, notwithstanding any of the foregoing to the contrary, the provisions of Section 8 and this Section 9 shall not be construed so as to provide for the indemnification of any Indemnified Party for any liability (including liability under federal securities laws which, under certain circumstances, impose liability even on persons that act in good faith), to the extent (but only to the extent) that such indemnification would be in violation of applicable law, but shall be construed so as to effectuate the provisions of Section 8 and this Section 9 to the fullest extent permitted by law.

Section 10. Effectiveness, Duration and Termination of Agreement.

(a) Term and Effectiveness. This Agreement shall become effective as of the date first written above. This Agreement shall remain in effect for two years, and thereafter shall continue automatically for successive one-year periods; provided that such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by: (i) the vote of the Board, or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Company and (ii) the vote of a majority of the Independent Directors, in accordance with the requirements of the Investment Company Act, or as otherwise permitted under Section 15 of the Investment Company Act.

(b) Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time, without the payment of any penalty, (i) by the Company upon 60 days’ prior written notice to the Adviser: (A) upon the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Company (as “majority of the outstanding voting securities” is defined in Section 2(a)(42) of the Investment Company Act) or (B) by the vote of the Independent Directors; or (ii) by the Adviser upon not less than 60 days’ prior written notice to the Company. This Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event of its “assignment” (as such term is defined for purposes of construing Section 15(a)(4) of the Investment Company Act). The provisions of Sections 8 and 9 shall remain in full force and effect, and the Adviser shall remain entitled to the benefits thereof, notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement. Further, notwithstanding the termination or expiration of this Agreement as aforesaid, the Adviser shall be entitled to any amounts owed to it under Section 3 through the date of termination or expiration and Sections 8 and 9 shall continue in force and effect and apply to the Adviser and its representatives as and to the extent applicable.

(i) deliver to the Board a full accounting, including a statement showing all payments collected by it and a statement of all money held by it, covering the period following the date of the last accounting furnished to the Board;

(ii) deliver to the Board all assets and documents of the Company then in custody of the Adviser; and

(iii) cooperate with the Company to provide an orderly transition of services.

Section 11. Notices.

Any notice under this Agreement shall be given in writing, addressed and delivered or mailed, postage prepaid, to the other party at the address listed below or at such other address for a party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section.

Section 12. Amendments.

This Agreement may be amended by mutual written consent of the parties; provided that the consent of the Company is required to be obtained in conformity with the requirements of the Investment Company Act.

Section 13. Severability.

If any provision of this Agreement shall be declared illegal, invalid, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, then such provision shall be deemed to be severable from this Agreement (to the extent permitted by law) and in any event such illegality, invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the remainder hereof.

Section 14. Counterparts.

This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original copy and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument binding on all parties hereto, notwithstanding that all parties shall not have signed the same counterpart.

Section 15. Governing Law.

Notwithstanding the place where this Agreement may be executed by any of the parties hereto and the provisions of Sections 8 and 9, this Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. For so long as the Company is regulated as a BDC under the Investment Company Act, this Agreement shall also be construed in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Investment Company Act and the Advisers Act. In such case, to the extent the applicable laws of the State of New York or any of the provisions herein conflict with the provisions of the Investment Company Act or the Advisers Act, the Investment Company Act and the Advisers Act shall control.

Section 16. Third Party Beneficiaries.

Except for any Sub-Adviser and any Indemnified Party, such Sub-Adviser and the Indemnified Parties each being an intended beneficiary of this Agreement, this Agreement is for the sole benefit of the parties hereto and their permitted assigns and nothing herein express or implied shall give or be construed to give to any person, other than the parties hereto and such assigns, any legal or equitable rights hereunder.

Section 17. Entire Agreement.

This Agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties and supersedes all prior agreements, understandings and arrangements with respect to the subject matter hereof.

Section 18. Insurance.

The Company shall acquire and maintain a directors and officers liability insurance policy or similar insurance policy, which may name the Adviser and any Sub-Adviser each as an additional insured party (each an “Additional Insured Party” and collectively the “Additional Insured Parties”). Such insurance policy shall include reasonable coverage from a reputable insurer. The Company shall make all premium payments required to maintain such policy in full force and effect; provided, however, each Additional Insured Party, if any, shall pay to the Company, in advance of the due date of such premium, its allocated share of the premium. Irrespective of whether the Adviser and any Sub-Adviser is a named Additional Insured Party on such policy, the Company shall provide the Adviser and any Sub-Adviser with written notice upon receipt of any notice of: (a) any default under such policy; (b) any pending or threatened termination, cancellation or non-renewal of such policy or (c) any coverage limitation or reduction with respect to such policy. The foregoing provisions of this Section 18 notwithstanding, the Company shall not be required to acquire or maintain any insurance policy to the extent that the same is not available upon commercially reasonable pricing terms or at all, as determined in good faith by the required majority (as defined in Section 57(o) of the Investment Company Act) of the Board.

(signature page follows)

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed on the date above written.

	FRANKLIN BSP CAPITAL CORPORATION
	a Delaware corporation

	By:
	Name:
	Title:

	FRANKLIN BSP CAPITAL ADVISER L.L.C.
	a Delaware limited liability company

	By:
	Name:
	Title: