Amended and Restated Investment Advisory Agreement, dated as of August 10, 2021, by and between CĪON Investment Corporation and CION Investment Management, LLC
Exhibit 10.1
AMENDED AND RESTATED INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
CĪON INVESTMENT CORPORATION
AND
CION INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LLC
This Amended and Restated Investment Advisory Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made as of August 10, 2021, by and between CĪON INVESTMENT CORPORATION, a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), and CION INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Adviser”).
WHEREAS, the Company is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company that has elected to be treated as a business development company (“BDC”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (together with the rules promulgated thereunder, the “1940 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 had previously entered into an investment advisory agreement (the “Original Agreement”) effective as of June 19, 2012;
WHEREAS, the Company and the Adviser desire to amend and restate the Original Agreement by entering into this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Adviser is willing to continue providing investment advisory services to the Company in the manner and on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.
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:
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 of Directors”), for the period and upon the terms herein set forth in accordance with:
(i) during the term of this Agreement, all other applicable federal and state laws, rules and regulations, and the Company’s articles of incorporation, as further amended and restated from time to time (“Articles of Incorporation”);
(ii) 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
(iii) the Company’s compliance policies and procedures as applicable to the Company’s adviser and as administered by the Company’s chief compliance officer.
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(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, service and monitor the Company’s investments;
(v) determine the securities and other assets that the Company shall purchase, retain, or sell;
(vi) 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; and
(vii) to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act and the Advisers Act, on the Company’s behalf, and in coordination with any Sub-Adviser (as defined below) and administrator, provide significant managerial assistance to those portfolio companies to which the Company is required to provide such assistance under the 1940 Act, including utilizing appropriate personnel of the Adviser to, among other things, participate in board and management meetings, consult with and advise officers of portfolio companies and provide other organizational and financial guidance.
(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, and the Adviser hereby accepts, the power and authority to act on behalf of the Company to effectuate investment decisions for the Company, including the execution and delivery of all documents relating to the Company’s investments and the placing of orders for other purchase or sale transactions on behalf of the Company. In the event that the Company determines to acquire debt 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 of Directors. If it is necessary for the Adviser to make investments on behalf of the Company through a special purpose vehicle, the Adviser shall have authority to create, or arrange for the creation of, such special purpose vehicle and to make investments through such special purpose vehicle 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.
(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.
(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, but only with respect to the amounts due and payable to such Sub-Adviser from the fees and expenses 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 1940 Act and the Advisers Act, including without limitation, the requirements of the 1940 Act relating to Board of Directors and Company stockholder approval thereunder, and other applicable federal and state law.
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(iii) Any Sub-Adviser shall be subject to the same fiduciary duties as are imposed on the Adviser pursuant to this Agreement, the 1940 Act and the Advisers Act, as well as other applicable federal and state law, taking into account any limitations of the scope of responsibilities of such Sub-Adviser.
(iv) In the event that the terms and provisions of any Sub-Advisory Agreement related to the rights, responsibilities and obligations of the Sub-Adviser conflict with this Agreement, the terms of the Sub-Advisory Agreement shall control.
(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 of Directors, 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 1940 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 1940 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, subject to observance of its confidentiality obligations under this Agreement. 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.
The following provisions in this Section 1 shall apply for only so long as shares of the Company’s common stock are not listed on a national securities exchange.
(h) State Administrator. The Adviser shall, upon request by an official or agency administering the securities laws of a state, province, or commonwealth (a “State Administrator”), submit to such State Administrator the reports and statements required to be distributed to Company stockholders pursuant to this Agreement, the Company’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 as declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), as supplemented, amended or superseded from time to time (the “Registration Statement”) and applicable federal and state law; provided, however, the Adviser shall notify (unless prohibited by applicable law, rule or regulation) the Company in writing in advance of any such submission.
(i) Fiduciary Duty. It is acknowledged that the Adviser shall have a fiduciary responsibility for the safekeeping and use of all funds and assets of the Company, whether or not in the Adviser’s immediate possession or control. The Adviser shall not employ, or permit another to employ, such funds or assets in any manner except for the exclusive benefit of the Company. The Adviser shall not, by entry into an agreement with any stockholder of the Company or otherwise, contract away the fiduciary obligation owed to the Company and the Company’s stockholders under common law or otherwise.
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 and managerial assistance 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.
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(b) Costs. Subject to the limitations on expense reimbursement of the Adviser as set forth in Section 2(c), the Company, either directly or through reimbursement to the Adviser, shall bear all costs and expenses of its investment operations and its investment transactions, including without limitation, expenses relating to: expenses deemed to be “organization and offering expenses” of the Company for purposes of Conduct Rule 2310(a)(12) of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (for purposes of this Agreement, such expenses, exclusive of commissions, the dealer manager fee and any discounts, are hereinafter referred to as “Organization and Offering Expenses”); corporate and organizational expenses relating to borrowings and offerings of the Company’s common stock and other securities and incurrences of indebtedness, subject to limitations included in the Agreement; interest; the cost of calculating the Company’s net asset value, including the cost of any third-party valuation services; the cost of effecting sales and repurchases of shares of the Company’s common stock and other securities; investment advisory fees of the Adviser; fees payable to third parties relating to, or associated with, making investments and valuing investments, including fees and expenses associated with performing due diligence reviews of prospective investments; transfer agent and custodial fees, fees and expenses associated with marketing efforts (including attendance at investment conferences and similar events); federal and state registration fees; federal, state and local taxes; the fees and expenses of any directors of the Company who are not affiliated persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Adviser; costs of proxy statements, stockholders reports and notices; fidelity bond, directors and officers errors and omissions liability insurance and other insurance premiums; direct costs such as printing, mailing, long distance telephone and staff costs; costs associated with the Company’s reporting and compliance obligations under the 1940 Act and applicable federal and state securities laws, including compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002;fees and expenses associated with accounting, independent audits and legal costs; brokerage commissions for the Company’s investments; and all other expenses of any person in connection with administering the Company’s business, including expenses incurred by the Company’s Adviser and administrator in performing administrative services for the Company, including supplying the Company’s chief financial officer and chief compliance officer and personnel supporting them.
The Adviser and/or one or more of its affiliates will be entitled to receive reimbursement from the Company of Organization and Offering Expenses it has paid on behalf of the Company, up to 5.00% of the aggregate gross proceeds of any offerings of the Company’s securities (the “Reimbursable O&O Expenses”) until all of the Organization and Offering Expenses and any future Organization and Offering Expenses incurred and/or paid by the Adviser and each such affiliate have been recovered.
Under the terms of this Agreement, after the Company meets the minimum offering requirement, the Adviser and certain of its affiliates will become entitled to receive 1.5% of gross proceeds raised until all offering costs and organization costs and any future offering or organization costs incurred have been recovered.
The following provisions in this Section 2(c) shall apply for only so long as shares of the Company’s common stock are not listed on a national securities exchange.
(c) Limitations on Reimbursement of Expenses.
(i) In addition to the compensation paid to the Adviser pursuant to Section 3, the Company shall reimburse the Adviser for all expenses of the Company incurred by the Adviser as well as the actual cost of goods and services used for or by the Company and obtained from entities not affiliated with the Adviser. The Adviser may be reimbursed for the administrative services performed by it on behalf of the Company; provided, however, the reimbursement shall be an amount equal to the lower of the Adviser’s actual cost or the amount the Company would be required to pay third parties for the provision of comparable administrative services in the same geographic location; and provided, further, that such costs are reasonably allocated to the Company on the basis of assets, revenues, time records or other method conforming with generally accepted accounting principles. No reimbursement shall be permitted for services for which the Adviser is entitled to compensation by way of a separate fee. Excluded from the allowable reimbursement shall be:
(A) rent or depreciation, utilities, capital equipment, and other administrative items allocated to a person with a controlling interest in the Adviser; and
(B) salaries, fringe benefits, travel expenses and other administrative items incurred or allocated to any executive officer or board member of the Adviser (or any individual performing such services) or a holder of 10% or greater equity interest in the Adviser (or any person having the power to direct or cause the direction of the Adviser, whether by ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise).
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(d) Reimbursement.
Expenses incurred by the Adviser on behalf of the Company and payable pursuant to this section shall be reimbursed by the Company for its expenses incurred in accordance with this Section 2 promptly following its request therefor, but in no event later than 10 business days following such request. The Adviser shall prepare a statement documenting the expenses of the Company and the calculation of the reimbursement and shall deliver such statement to the Company prior to full reimbursement.
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. The Adviser may, in its sole discretion, elect or agree to temporarily or permanently waive, defer, reduce or modify, in whole or in part, the Base Management Fee and/or the Incentive Fee. Any of the fees payable to the Adviser under this Agreement for any partial month or calendar quarter shall be appropriately prorated. The fees payable to the Adviser as set forth in this Agreement shall be calculated using a detailed calculation policy and procedures approved by the Adviser and the Board of Directors, including a majority of the Independent Directors (as defined below), and shall be consistent with the calculation of such fees as set forth in this Section.
(a) Base Management Fee.
(i) The Base Management Fee will be calculated at an annual rate of 2.0% of average gross assets, excluding cash and cash equivalents, payable quarterly in arrears, and will be calculated based on the average value of the Company’s gross assets at the end of the two (2) most recently completed calendar quarters. Base Management Fees for any partial quarter will be appropriately pro-rated.
(ii) Effective upon the Company’s shares of common stock being listed on a national securities exchange, the Base Management Fee will be calculated at an annual rate of 1.5% of average gross assets (including cash pledged as collateral for the Company’s secured financing arrangements, but excluding other cash and cash equivalents so that investors do not pay the base management fee on such assets), payable quarterly in arrears, and will be calculated based on the average value of the Company’s gross assets at the end of the two (2) most recently completed calendar quarters; provided, however that a Base Management Fee of 1.0% of the average value of the Company’s gross assets (including cash pledged as collateral for the Company’s secured financing arrangements, but excluding other cash and cash equivalents so that investors do not pay the base management fee on such assets), will apply to any amount of assets attributable to leverage decreasing the Company’s asset coverage ratio below 200%. Base Management Fees for any partial quarter will be appropriately pro-rated.
(b) Incentive Fee.
(i) The Incentive Fee will be divided into two parts: (1) a subordinated incentive fee on income, and (2) an incentive fee on capital gains. Each part of the Incentive Fee is outlined below.
The first part, the subordinated incentive fee on income, will be calculated and payable quarterly in arrears based upon the Company’s “pre-incentive fee net investment income” for the immediately preceding quarter. The subordinated incentive fee on income will be subject to a hurdle rate, measured quarterly and expressed as a rate of return on the net assets of the Company at the beginning of the most recently completed calendar quarter, of 1.875% (7.50% annualized), subject to a “catch up” feature. For this purpose, “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 reimbursed to the Administrator 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 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. The calculation of the subordinated incentive fee on income for each quarter is as follows:
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| · | No subordinated incentive fee on income is 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 1.875% (the “hurdle rate”). |
| · | 100% of the Company’s pre-incentive fee net investment income, if any, that exceeds the hurdle rate, but is less than or equal to 2.34375% in any calendar quarter (9.375% annualized) is payable to the Adviser. This portion of the Company’s pre-incentive fee net investment income is referred to as the “catch-up.” The “catch-up” provision is intended to provide the Adviser with an incentive fee of 20.0% on all of the Company’s pre-incentive fee net investment income when the Company’s pre-incentive fee net investment income reaches 2.34375% in any calendar quarter. |
| · | 20.0% of the amount of the Company’s pre-incentive fee net investment income, if any, that exceeds 2.34375% in any calendar quarter (9.375% annualized) is payable to the Adviser once the hurdle rate is reached and the catch-up is achieved (20.0% of all pre-incentive fee net investment income thereafter is allocated to the Adviser). |
These calculations will be appropriately pro-rated for any period of less than three (3) months.
The second part of the incentive fee, the incentive fee on capital gains, will be an incentive fee on capital gains earned on liquidated investments from the portfolio and will be determined and payable in arrears as of the end of each calendar year (or upon termination of the investment advisory agreement). This fee will equal twenty percent (20%) of the Company’s realized capital gains on a cumulative basis from inception, calculated 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 capital gain incentive fees.
(ii) Effective upon the Company’s shares of common stock being listed on a national securities exchange, the Incentive Fee will be calculated as set forth below:
The first part, the subordinated incentive fee on income, will be calculated and payable quarterly in arrears based upon the Company’s “pre-incentive fee net investment income” for the most recently completed calendar quarter. The subordinated incentive fee on income will be subject to a hurdle rate, measured quarterly and expressed as a rate of return on the net assets of the Company at the beginning of the most recently completed calendar quarter, of 1.625% (6.5% annualized), subject to a “catch up” feature. For this purpose, “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 reimbursed to the Administrator 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 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. The calculation of the subordinated incentive fee on income for each quarter is as follows:
| · | No subordinated incentive fee on income is 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 1.625% (the “hurdle rate”). |
| · | 100% of the Company’s pre-incentive fee net investment income, if any, that exceeds the hurdle rate, but is less than or equal to 1.970% in any calendar quarter (7.879% annualized) is payable to the Adviser. This portion of the Company’s pre-incentive fee net investment income is referred to as the “catch-up.” The “catch-up” provision 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 1.970% in any calendar quarter. |
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| · | 17.5% of the amount of the Company’s pre-incentive fee net investment income, if any, that exceeds 1.970% in any calendar quarter (7.879% annualized) is payable to the Adviser once the hurdle rate is reached and the catch-up is achieved (17.5% of all pre-incentive fee net investment income thereafter is allocated to the Adviser). |
These calculations will be appropriately pro-rated for any period of less than three (3) months.
The second part of the incentive fee, the incentive fee on capital gains, will be an incentive fee on capital gains earned on liquidated investments from the portfolio and will be determined and payable in arrears as of the end of each calendar year (or upon termination of the investment advisory agreement). This fee will equal seventeen and one-half percent (17.5%) of the Company’s realized capital gains on a cumulative basis from inception, calculated 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 capital gain incentive fees.
(c) Waiver or Deferral of Fees.
The Adviser may elect to defer or waive all or a portion of the Base Management Fee and/or the Incentive Fee that would otherwise be paid to it. Prior to the payment of any fee to the Adviser, the Company shall obtain written instructions from the Adviser with respect to any deferral or waiver of any portion of such fees. Any portion of a deferred fee payable to the Adviser and not paid over to the Adviser with respect to any month, calendar quarter or year shall be deferred without interest and may be paid over in any such other month prior to the occurrence of the termination of this Agreement or a liquidity event, as the Adviser may determine upon written notice to the Company.
4. Covenant of the Adviser.
(a) Registration of Adviser.
The Adviser covenants that it is or will be registered as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act on the effective date of this Agreement as set forth in Section 11 herein, and shall maintain such registration until the expiration or termination of this Agreement. The Adviser agrees that its activities shall at all times comply in all material respects with all applicable federal and state laws governing its operations and investments. 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 1940 Act, as such code of ethics may be amended from time to time.
The following provisions in this Section 4 shall apply for only so long as shares of the Company’s common stock are not listed on a national securities exchange.
(b) Reports to Stockholders.
The Adviser shall prepare or shall cause to be prepared and distributed to stockholders during each year the following reports of the Company (either included in a periodic report filed with the SEC or distributed in a separate report):
(i) Quarterly Reports. Within sixty (60) days of the end of each quarter, a report containing the same financial information contained in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed by the Company under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(ii) Annual Report. Within 120 days after the end of the Company’s fiscal year, an annual report containing:
(A) A balance sheet as of the end of each fiscal year and statements of income, equity, and cash flow, for the year then ended, all of which shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and accompanied by an auditor’s report containing an opinion of an independent certified public accountant;
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(B) A report of the activities of the Company during the period covered by the report;
(C) Where forecasts have been provided to the Company’s shareholders, a table comparing the forecasts previously provided with the actual results during the period covered by the report;
(D) To the extent applicable, a report setting forth distributions by the Company for the period covered thereby and separately identifying distributions from (i) cash flow from operations during the period; (ii) cash flow from operations during a prior period which have been held as reserves; and (iii) proceeds from disposition of Company assets.
(iii) Previous Reimbursement Reports. The Adviser shall prepare or shall cause to be prepared a report, prepared in accordance with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants United States Auditing Standards relating to special reports, and distributed to stockholders not less than annually, containing an itemized list of the costs reimbursed to the Adviser for the previous fiscal year. The special report shall at a minimum provide:
(A) A review of the time records of individual employees, the costs of whose services were reimbursed; and
(B) A review of the specific nature of the work performed by each such employee.
(iv) Proposed Reimbursement Reports. The Adviser shall prepare or shall cause to be prepared a report containing an itemized estimate of all proposed expenses for which it shall receive reimbursements pursuant to Section 2(c) of this Agreement for the next fiscal year, together with a breakdown by year of such expenses reimbursed in each of the last five public programs formed by the Adviser.
(c) Reports to State Administrators.
The Adviser shall, upon written request of any State Administrator, submit any of the reports and statements to be prepared and distributed by it to such State Administrator; provided that, the Adviser shall provide written notice to the Company in advance of any such submission.
(d) Reserves.
In performing its duties hereunder, the Adviser shall cause the Company to provide for adequate reserves for normal replacements and contingencies (but not for payment of fees payable to the Adviser hereunder) by causing the Company to retain a reasonable percentage of proceeds from offerings and revenues.
(e) Recommendations Regarding Reviews.
From time to time and not less than quarterly, the Adviser must review the Company’s accounts to determine whether cash distributions are appropriate. The Company may, subject to authorization by the Board of Directors, distribute pro rata to the stockholders funds received by the Company which the Adviser deems unnecessary to retain in the Company.
(f) Temporary Investments.
The Adviser shall, in its sole discretion, temporarily place proceeds from offerings by the Company into short term, highly liquid investments which, in its reasonable judgment, afford appropriate safety of principal during such time as it is determining the composition and allocation of the portfolio of the Company and the nature, timing and implementation of any changes thereto pursuant to Section 1(b); provided, however, that the Adviser shall be under no fiduciary obligation to select any such short-term, highly liquid investment based solely on any yield or return of such investment. The Adviser shall cause any proceeds of the offering of Company securities not committed for investment within the later of two (2) years from the date of effectiveness of the Registration Statement or one year from termination of the offering, unless a longer period is permitted by the applicable State Administrator, to be paid as a distribution to the stockholders of the Company as a return of capital without deduction of Front End Fees (as defined below).
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5. Brokerage Commissions.
(a) Selection of Brokers. 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.
The following provisions in this Section 5 shall apply for only so long as shares of the Company’s common stock are not listed on a national securities exchange.
(b) Limitations. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary:
(i) All fees and expenses paid by any party for any services rendered to organize the Company and to acquire assets for the Company (“Front End Fees”) shall be reasonable and shall not exceed 18% of the gross offering proceeds, regardless of the source of payment. Any reimbursement to the Adviser or any other person for deferred organizational and offering expenses, including any interest thereon, if any, will be included within this 18% limitation.
(ii) The Adviser shall commit at least eighty-two percent (82%) of the gross offering proceeds towards the investment or reinvestment of assets and reserves as set forth in Section 4(d) above on behalf of the Company. The remaining proceeds may be used to pay Front End Fees.
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 or different from those of the Company, and nothing in this Agreement shall limit or restrict the right of any officer, director, stockholder (and their stockholders or members, including the owners of their stockholders or members), or 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 set forth herein. It is understood that directors, officers, employees and stockholders of the Company are or may become interested in the Adviser and its affiliates, as directors, officers, employees, partners, stockholders, members, managers or otherwise, and that the Adviser and directors, officers, employees, partners, stockholders, members and managers of the Adviser and its affiliates are or may become similarly interested in the Company as stockholders or otherwise.
7. Responsibility of Dual Directors, Officers and/or Employees.
If any person who is a director, officer, stockholder or employee of the Adviser is or becomes a director, officer, stockholder and/or employee of the Company and acts as such in any business of the Company, then such director, officer, stockholder and/or employee of the Adviser shall be deemed to be acting in such capacity solely for the Company, and not as a director, officer, stockholder or employee of the Adviser or under the control or direction of the Adviser, even if paid by the Adviser.
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8. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification of Adviser. Subject to Section 9, the Adviser and each of its directors, officers, stockholders or members (and its stockholders or members, including the owners of their stockholders or members), agents, employees, controlling persons (as determined under the 1940 Act (“Controlling Persons”)) and any other person or entity affiliated with, or acting on behalf of, the Adviser (each an “Indemnified Party” and, collectively, the “Indemnified Parties”)shall not be liable to the Company for any action taken or omitted to be taken by the 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 1940 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 settlement) (“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 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 Articles of Incorporation, the 1940 Act, the laws of the State of Maryland or, to the extent applicable, the provisions of Section II.G of the Omnibus Guidelines published by the North American Securities Administrators Association on March 29, 1992, as it may be amended from time to time.
The following provisions in this Section 8(b) shall apply for only so long as shares of the Company’s common stock are not listed on a national securities exchange.
(b) Advancement of Funds. The Company shall be permitted to advance funds to the Indemnified Parties for legal expenses and other costs incurred as a result of any legal action for which indemnification is being sought only if all of the following conditions are met:
(i) The legal action relates to acts or omissions with respect to the performance of duties or services on behalf of the Company;
(ii) the Indemnified Party provides the Company with written affirmation of the Indemnified Party’s good faith belief that the Indemnified Party has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the Company;
(iii) The legal action is initiated by a third party who is not a Company stockholder, or the legal action is initiated by a Company stockholder and a court of competent jurisdiction specifically approves such advancement; and
(iv) The Indemnified Party provides the Company with a written agreement to repay the advanced funds to the Company, allocated as advanced, together with the applicable legal rate of interest thereon, in cases in which the Indemnified Party is not found to be entitled to indemnification pursuant to a final, non-appealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction.
(c) Indemnification of the Company. The Adviser shall indemnify the Company, and its affiliates and Controlling Persons, for any Losses that the Company or its Affiliates and Controlling Persons may sustain as a result of the Adviser’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, reckless disregard of its duties hereunder or violation of applicable law, including, without limitation, the federal and state securities laws.
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9. Limitation on Indemnification.
The following provisions in this Section 9 shall apply for only so long as shares of the Company’s common stock are not listed on a national securities exchange.
Notwithstanding Section 8(a) to the contrary, the Company shall not provide for indemnification of the Indemnified Parties for any liability or loss suffered by the Indemnified Parties, nor shall the Company provide that any of the Indemnified Parties be held harmless for any loss or liability suffered by the Company, unless all of the following conditions are met:
(i) the Indemnified Party has determined, in good faith, that the course of conduct which caused the loss or liability was in the best interests of the Company;
(ii) the Indemnified Party was acting on behalf of or performing services for the Company;
(iii) such liability or loss was not the result of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence by the Indemnified Party; and
(iv) such indemnification or agreement to hold harmless is recoverable only out of the Company’s net assets and not from stockholders of the Company.
Furthermore, the Indemnified Party shall not be indemnified for any losses, liabilities or expenses arising from or out of an alleged violation of federal or state securities laws, unless one or more of the following conditions are met:
(i) there has been a successful adjudication on the merits of each count involving alleged material securities law violations;
(ii) such claims have been dismissed with prejudice on the merits by a court of competent jurisdiction; or
(iii) a court of competent jurisdiction approves a settlement of the claims against a particular indemnitee and finds that indemnification of the settlement and related costs should be made, and the court of law considering the request for indemnification has been advised of the position of the SEC and the published position of any state securities regulatory authority in which securities of the Company were offered or sold as to indemnification for violations of securities laws.
10. Conflicts of Interests and Prohibited Activities.
The following provisions in this Section 10 shall apply for only so long as shares of the Company’s common stock are not listed on a national securities exchange.
(a) No Exclusive Agreement. The Adviser is not hereby granted or entitled to an exclusive right to sell or exclusive employment to sell assets for the Company.
(b) Rebates, Kickbacks and Reciprocal Arrangements.
(i) The Adviser agrees that it shall not (A) receive or accept any rebate, give-up or similar arrangement that is prohibited under applicable federal or state securities laws, (B)participate in any reciprocal business arrangement that would circumvent provisions of applicable federal or state securities laws governing conflicts of interest or investment restrictions, or (C) enter into any agreement, arrangement or understanding that would circumvent the restrictions against dealing with affiliates or promoters under applicable federal or state securities laws.
(ii) The Adviser agrees that it shall not directly or indirectly pay or award any fees or commissions or other compensation to any person or entity engaged to sell shares of the Company’s common stock or give investment advice to a potential shareholder; provided, however, that this subsection shall not prohibit the payment to a registered broker-dealer or other properly licensed agent of sales commissions for selling or distributing shares of the Company’s common stock.
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(c) Commingling. The Adviser covenants that it shall not permit or cause to be permitted the Company’s funds to be commingled with the funds of any other entity. Nothing in this Subsection 10(c) shall prohibit the Adviser from establishing a master fiduciary account pursuant to which separate sub-accounts are established for the benefit of affiliated programs, provided that, the Company’s funds are protected from the claims of other programs and creditors of such programs.
11. Effectiveness, Duration and Termination of Agreement.
(a) Term and Effectiveness. This Agreement shall be effective as of the date first written above and shall remain in effect for two (2) 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 of Directors, or by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Company, and (ii) the vote of a majority of the Company’s directors who are not parties to this Agreement or “interested persons” (as such term is defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act) of any such party (“Independent Directors”), in accordance with the requirements of the 1940 Act.
(b) Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time, without the payment of any penalty: (i) by the Company upon sixty (60) days’ prior written notice to the Adviser: (A) upon the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Company (as defined in Section 2(a)(42) of the 1940 Act) or (B) by the vote of the Company’s Board of Directors; or (ii) by the Adviser upon not less than sixty (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 1940 Act). The provisions of Sections 8 and 9 of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect, and the parties 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.
The following provision in this Section 11(d) shall apply for only so long as shares of the Company’s common stock are not listed on a national securities exchange.
(d) Stockholder Voting Rights. Without the approval of holders of a majority of the Company’s securities entitled to vote on the matter, the Adviser shall not: (i) amend this Agreement except for amendments that do not adversely affect the interests of the stockholders; (ii) voluntarily withdraw as the Adviser, unless such withdrawal would not affect the tax status of the Company and would not materially adversely affect the stockholders; (iii) appoint a new Adviser; (iv) sell all or substantially all of the Company’s assets other than in the ordinary course of the Company’s business; or (v) cause the merger or other reorganization of the Company.
12. 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 12.
13. Amendments.
This Agreement may be amended by mutual written consent of the parties, subject to the provisions of the 1940 Act. Upon the listing of the shares of common stock of the Company on a national securities exchange, this Agreement may be amended without further action to remove those provisions which become inactive at such time.
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.
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15. Governing Law.
Notwithstanding the place where this Agreement may be executed by any of the parties hereto and the provisions of Section 8, 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 1940 Act, this Agreement shall also be construed in accordance with the applicable provisions of the 1940 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 1940 Act or the Advisers Act, the latter shall control. Any reference in this Agreement to a statute or provision of the 1940 Act shall be construed to include any successor statute or provision to such statute or provision and any reference to any rule promulgated under the Advisers Act shall be construed to include any successor promulgated rule.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to by duly executed on the date above written.
CĪON INVESTMENT CORPORATION
a Maryland corporation
| By: | /s/ Michael A. Reisner |
Name: Michael A. Reisner
Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer
CION INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LLC
a Delaware limited liability company
| By: | /s/ Mark Gatto |
Name: Mark Gatto
Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer
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