SENIOR SECURED CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of April 19, 2024 between BLACKROCK PRIVATE CREDIT FUND The LENDERS and ISSUING BANKS Party Hereto and SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION as Administrative Agent SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION as Lead...

“Interest Election Request” means a request by the Borrower to convert or continue a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.07, which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit D (or such other form as is reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent) and signed by the Borrower.

 

“Interest Payment Date” means (a) with respect to any ABR Loan, each Quarterly Date, (b) with respect to any RFR Loan, each Monthly Date, (c) with respect to any Term Benchmark Loan, the last day of each Interest Period therefor and, in the case of any Term Benchmark Loan with an Interest Period of more than three (3) months’ duration, each day prior to the last day of such Interest Period that occurs at three (3) month intervals after the first day of such Interest Period and (d) with respect to any Swingline Loan, the day that such Loan is required to be repaid.

 

“Interest Period” means, for any Term Benchmark Loan or Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Loan or Borrowing and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that is one (1) month or three (3) months thereafter or, with respect to such portion of any Term Benchmark Loan or Borrowing denominated in a Foreign Currency that is scheduled to be repaid on the Maturity Date, a period of less than one month’s duration commencing on the date of such Loan or Borrowing and ending on the Maturity Date, as specified in the applicable Borrowing Request or Interest Election Request, provided, that (i) if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day, (ii) any Interest Period (other than an Interest Period pertaining to a Term Benchmark Borrowing denominated in a Foreign Currency that ends on the Maturity Date that is permitted to be of less than one month’s duration as provided in this definition) that commences on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the last calendar month of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the last calendar month of such Interest Period and (iii) no tenor that has been removed from this definition pursuant to Section 2.13(e) shall be available unless or until it is reinstated pursuant to Section 2.13(e).  For purposes hereof, the date of a Loan initially shall be the date on which such Loan is made and thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or continuation of such Loan, and the date of a Borrowing comprising Loans that have been converted or continued shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or continuation of such Loans.

 

“Investment” means, for any Person: (a) Equity Interests, bonds, notes, debentures or other securities of any other Person or any agreement to acquire any Equity Interests, bonds, notes, debentures or other securities of any other Person (including any “short sale” or any sale of any securities at a time when such securities are not owned by the Person entering into such sale); (b) deposits, advances, loans or other extensions of credit made to any other Person (including purchases of property from another Person subject to an understanding or agreement, contingent or otherwise, to resell such property to such Person); or (c) Hedging Agreements and Credit Default Swaps.

 

“Investment Company Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended from time to time.

 

“Investment Policies” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.11(c).

 

“Issuing Banks” means each of SMBC and any other Issuing Bank designated pursuant to Section 2.05(k), in their capacity as issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, and their successors in such capacity as provided in Section 2.05(j).

 

“Joint Venture Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Obligor, any Investment by such Obligor in a joint venture or other investment vehicle in the form of a capital investment, loan or other commitment in or to such joint venture or other investment vehicle pursuant to which such Obligor may be required to provide contributions, investments, or financing to such joint venture or other investment vehicle, which is, under GAAP, consolidated on the financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and which Investment the Borrower has designated in writing as a “Joint Venture Subsidiary”.

 

“LC Disbursement” means a payment made by any Issuing Bank pursuant to a Letter of Credit.

 

“LC Exposure” means, at any time, the sum of (a) the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit at such time (including any Letter of Credit for which a draft has been presented but not yet honored by any Issuing Bank) plus (b) the aggregate amount of all LC Disbursements in respect of such Letters of Credit that have not yet been reimbursed by or on behalf of the Borrower at such time.  The LC Exposure of any Multicurrency Lender at any time shall be its Applicable Multicurrency Percentage of the total Multicurrency LC Exposure at such time and the LC Exposure of any Dollar Lender at any time shall be its Applicable Dollar Percentage of the total Dollar LC Exposure at such time.

 

“Lead Arranger” means SMBC and any other Person who becomes a Lead Arranger hereunder with the written consent of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower.

 

“Lenders” means, collectively, the Term Lenders, the Dollar Lenders, and the Multicurrency Lenders.  Unless otherwise indicated, the term “Lenders” includes each Swingline Lender.

 

“Letter of Credit” means any letter of credit issued pursuant to this Agreement.

 

“Letter of Credit Collateral Account” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.05(l).

 

“Letter of Credit Documents” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, collectively, any application therefor and any other agreements, instruments, guarantees or other documents (whether general in application or applicable only to such Letter of Credit) governing or providing for (a) the rights and obligations of the parties concerned or at risk with respect to such Letter of Credit or (b) any collateral security for any of such obligations, each as the same may be modified and supplemented and in effect from time to time.

 

“Lien” means, with respect to any asset, (a) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance (other than any customary contractual limitation set forth in any agreement that is not prohibited from being entered into hereunder), charge or security interest in, on or of such asset, (b) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or title retention agreement (or any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing) relating to such asset and (c) in the case of securities, any purchase option, call or similar right of a third party with respect to such securities (other than on market terms at fair value so long as in the case of any portfolio investment (including Portfolio Investments), the Value used in determining the Borrowing Base is not greater than the call price), except in favor of the issuer thereof (and, for the avoidance of doubt, in the case of Investments that are loans or other debt obligations, restrictions on assignments or transfers, buyout rights, voting rights, right of first offer or refusal thereof pursuant to the underlying documentation of such Investment shall not be deemed to be a “Lien” and, in the case of portfolio investments (including Portfolio Investments) that are equity securities, excluding customary drag along, tag along, buyout rights, voting rights, right of first offer or refusal, restrictions on assignments or transfers and other similar rights in favor of other equity holders of the same issuer).

 

“Loan Documents” means, collectively, this Agreement, the Letter of Credit Documents and the Security Documents.

 

“Loans” means the loans of any Class made hereunder, including the Revolving Loans and the Term Loans.

 

 “Margin Stock” means “margin stock” within the meaning of Regulations T, U and X of the Board.

 

“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, Portfolio Investments and other assets, liabilities and financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (other than Designated Subsidiaries) taken as a whole (excluding in any case a decline in the net asset value of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, a change in general market conditions or values of the Investments of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole), or (b) the validity or enforceability of any of the Loan Documents or the rights or remedies of the Collateral Agent, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders thereunder.

 

“Material Indebtedness” means (a) Indebtedness (other than the Loans, Letters of Credit, Hedging Agreements and Credit Default Swaps), of any one (1) or more of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate outstanding principal amount exceeding $50,000,000 and (b) obligations in respect of one (1) or more Hedging Agreements or Credit Default Swaps under which the maximum aggregate amount (giving effect to any netting agreements) that the Borrower and the Subsidiaries would be required to pay if such Hedging Agreement(s) were terminated at such time would exceed $50,000,000.

 

“Maturity Date” means the earliest to occur of (a) April 19, 2029 and (b) the date on which all Commitments have been terminated and the aggregate amount of Loans outstanding has been repaid in full and all other obligations of the Borrower hereunder have been indefeasibly paid in full (other than any Unasserted Contingent Obligations that survive the termination of this Agreement).

 

“Maximum Rate” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.20.

 

“Modification Offer” means, to the extent required by the definition of Permitted Advisor Loan, Other Secured Indebtedness, Special Longer-Term Unsecured Indebtedness or Unsecured Indebtedness, an obligation that will be satisfied if at least ten (10) Business Days (or, such shorter period if ten (10) Business Days is not practicable) prior to the incurrence of such Permitted Advisor Loan, Other Secured Indebtedness, Special Longer-Term Unsecured Indebtedness or Unsecured Indebtedness, the Borrower shall have provided notice to the Administrative Agent of the terms thereof that do not satisfy the requirements for such type of Indebtedness set forth in the respective definitions herein, which notice shall contain reasonable detail of the terms thereof and an unconditional offer by the Borrower to amend this Agreement to the extent necessary to satisfy the definition of “Permitted Advisor Loan”, “Other Secured Indebtedness”, “Special Longer-Term Unsecured Indebtedness” or “Unsecured Indebtedness”, as applicable, to be incurred.  If any such Modification Offer is accepted by the Required Lenders within ten (10) Business Days of receipt of such offer, this Agreement shall be deemed automatically amended (and, upon the request of the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders, the Borrower shall promptly enter into a written amendment evidencing such amendment), mutatis mutandis, solely to reflect all or some of such more restrictive financial covenants or events of default, as elected by the Required Lenders. Notwithstanding the foregoing any provision in a Modification Offer (including any associated cure or grace period) incorporated into this Agreement pursuant to the definition of “Permitted Advisor Loan”, “Other Secured Indebtedness”, “Special Longer-Term Unsecured Indebtedness” or “Unsecured Indebtedness”, as applicable, shall be deleted from this Agreement pursuant to an amendment entered into by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower following such time as the terms of such other Indebtedness are permanently amended so that such provision no longer applies or the applicable Permitted Advisor Loan, Other Secured Indebtedness, Special Longer-Term Unsecured Indebtedness or Unsecured Indebtedness is terminated or otherwise no longer in effect if (x) the Borrower provides the Administrative Agent and each Lender with written notice of such permanent amendment or termination and (y) within ten (10) Business Days of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders receiving such written notice from the Borrower, the Required Lenders have not provided written notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent objecting to the removal of such provision from this Agreement. Any amendment entered into between the Administrative Agent and the Borrower pursuant to this definition shall be at the Borrower’s sole cost and expense.

 

“Monthly Date” means, with respect to any RFR Loan or Borrowing, the numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that occurs at one (1) month intervals after the date of such Loan or Borrowing; provided, that (i) if any Monthly Date would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Monthly Date shall be deemed to be the next succeeding Business Day unless such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Monthly Date shall be deemed to occur on the next preceding Business Day.

 

“Moody’s” means ▇▇▇▇▇’▇ Investors Service, Inc. or any successor thereto.

 

“Multicurrency Commitment” means, with respect to each Multicurrency Lender, the commitment of such Multicurrency Lender to make Revolving Loans, and to acquire participations in Letters of Credit, denominated in Dollars and in Agreed Foreign Currencies hereunder, expressed as an amount representing the maximum aggregate amount of the Dollar Equivalent of such Lender’s Revolving Multicurrency Credit Exposure permitted hereunder, as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.08, (b) increased from time to time pursuant to Section 2.08 and (c) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 9.04.  The aggregate amount of each Lender’s Multicurrency Commitment as of the Effective Date is set forth on Schedule I, or in the Assignment and Assumption or Incremental Assumption Agreement pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Multicurrency Commitment, as applicable.  The aggregate amount of the Lenders’ Multicurrency Commitments as of the Effective Date is $75,000,000.

 

“Multicurrency Issuing Bank” means any Issuing Bank identified in Schedule IX (as amended from time to time pursuant to Section 2.08), and its successors in such capacity as provided in Section 2.05(j), that has agreed to issue Letters of Credit under its respective Multicurrency Commitment.  In the case of any Letter of Credit to be issued in an Agreed Foreign Currency, such Issuing Bank may designate any of its affiliates with credit ratings at least as good as such Issuing Bank, as the “Multicurrency Issuing Bank” for purposes of such Letter of Credit.

 

“Multicurrency LC Exposure” means a Multicurrency Lender’s LC Exposure under its Multicurrency Commitment.

 

“Multicurrency Lender” means the Persons listed on Schedule I as having Multicurrency Commitments and any other Person that shall have become a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption or Incremental Assumption Agreement that provides for it to assume a Multicurrency Commitment or to acquire Revolving Multicurrency Credit Exposure, other than any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption or Incremental Assumption Agreement or otherwise in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

“Multicurrency Loan” means any Revolving Loan made pursuant to the Multicurrency Commitments.

 

“Multiemployer Plan” means a “multiemployer plan” as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA in respect of which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate makes any contributions.

 

“National Currency” means the currency, other than the Euro, of a Participating Member State.

 

“Net Cash Proceeds” means:

 

(a)       with respect to any Disposition by the Borrower or any other Obligor, or any Extraordinary Receipt received or paid to the account of the Borrower or any other Obligor, an amount equal to (a) the sum of cash and Cash Equivalents received by an Obligor or paid to the account of any Obligor in connection with such transaction (including any cash or Cash Equivalents received by way of deferred payment pursuant to, or by monetization of, a note receivable or otherwise, but only as and when so received) minus (b) the sum of (i) the principal amount of any Indebtedness that is secured by the applicable asset and that is required to be repaid in connection with such transaction (other than Indebtedness under the Loan Documents), (ii) the reasonable out-of-pocket fees, costs and expenses incurred by the Borrower or such other Obligor in connection with such transaction, (iii) the taxes paid or reasonably estimated to be actually payable within two years of the date of the relevant transaction in connection with such transaction; provided that, if the amount of any estimated taxes pursuant to clause (iii) exceeds the amount of taxes actually required to be paid in cash in respect of such Disposition, the aggregate amount of such excess shall constitute Net Cash Proceeds (as of the date the Borrower determines such excess exists), (iv) any reasonable costs, fees, commissions, premiums and expenses incurred by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with such Disposition, and (v) reserves for indemnification, purchase price adjustments or analogous arrangements either (x) required by underlying documentation for such Disposition or (y) reasonably estimated by the Borrower or the relevant Subsidiary in connection with such Disposition; provided that, if the amount of any estimated reserves pursuant to this clause (v) exceeds the amount actually required to be paid in cash in respect of indemnification, purchase price adjustments or analogous arrangements for such Disposition, the aggregate amount of such excess shall constitute Net Cash Proceeds (as of the date the Borrower determines such excess exists); and

 

(b)          with respect to the sale or issuance of any Equity Interest by the Borrower or any other Obligor (including, for the avoidance of doubt, cash received by the Borrower or any other Obligor for the sale by the Borrower or such Obligor of any Equity Interest of a Subsidiary, but specifically excluding any sale of any Equity Interest by a Subsidiary that is not an Obligor or cash received by a Subsidiary that is not an Obligor), or the incurrence or issuance of any Indebtedness by the Borrower or any other Obligor, an amount equal to (i) the sum of the cash and Cash Equivalents received in connection with such transaction minus (ii) the sum of (1) reasonable out-of-pocket fees, costs and expenses, incurred by the Borrower or such Obligor in connection therewith plus (2) any reasonable costs, fees, commissions, premiums, expenses, or underwriting discounts or commissions incurred by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with such sale or issuance.

 

“NYFRB” means the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

 

“Obligor” means, collectively, the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors.

 

“Other Connection Taxes” means, with respect to any recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising from such recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Loan Document).

 

“Other Permitted Indebtedness” means (a) Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness for borrowed money), including Guarantees of such Indebtedness, arising in connection with transactions in the ordinary course of any Obligor’s business in connection with its purchasing of securities, loans, derivatives transactions, repurchase agreements or dollar rolls to the extent such transactions are permitted under the Investment Company Act and the Investment Policies, provided that such Indebtedness in connection with repurchase agreements or dollar rolls does not arise in connection with the purchase of Portfolio Investments other than Cash Equivalents and U.S. Government Securities and (b) Indebtedness in respect of judgments or awards so long as such judgments or awards do not constitute an Event of Default under Section 7.01(l).

 

“Other Secured Indebtedness” means, as at any date, Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness hereunder) of an Obligor (which may be Guaranteed by one (1) or more other Obligors) that:

 

(a) has no scheduled amortization prior to (other than for amortization in an amount not greater than 1% of the aggregate initial principal amount of such Indebtedness per annum, provided that amortization in excess of 1% per annum shall be permitted so long as the amount of such amortization in excess of 1% is permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 6.01(m) or Section 6.01(n) hereof) and has a final maturity date not earlier than, six (6) months after the Maturity Date (it being understood that none of: (i) the conversion features into Permitted Equity Interests under convertible notes, (ii) the triggering and/or settlement thereof solely with Permitted Equity Interests, except in the case of interest expense or fractional shares (which may be payable in cash), (iii) any customary voluntary prepayment provisions permitted by the terms thereof, (iv) any customary mandatory prepayment that is contingent upon the happening of an event that is not certain to occur (including, without limitation, a change of control or bankruptcy) or (v) any mandatory prepayment provisions as a result of any borrowing base or collateral base deficiency, in any case shall constitute “amortization” for the purposes of this definition; provided that if any mandatory prepayment is required under such Other Secured Indebtedness constituting a term loan that is not required pursuant to Section 2.10(c) hereof, the Borrower shall offer to repay Loans (and/or provide cover for LC Exposure as specified in Section 2.05(l)) in an amount at least equal to the aggregate Revolving Credit Exposure’s ratable share (such ratable share being determined based on the outstanding principal amount of the Revolving Credit Exposures as compared to the Other Secured Indebtedness being paid), provided the Borrower shall only be required to make an offer to repay the Loans (or provide cover for LC Exposure) to the extent of any amounts that the Borrower would not be permitted to borrow as a new Loan hereunder at such time); provided further, with respect to this clause (a), the Borrower acknowledges that any payment prior to the Maturity Date in respect of any such obligation or right shall only be made to the extent permitted by Section 6.12,

 

(b) has terms that, taken as a whole, are not materially more restrictive than market terms for substantially similar debt of other similarly situated borrowers as determined by the Borrower in good faith or, if such transaction is not one in which there are market terms for substantially similar debt of other similarly situated borrowers, on terms that are negotiated in good faith on an arm’s length basis  (except, in each case, other than financial covenants and events of default (other than events of default customary in indentures or similar instruments that have no analogous provisions in this Agreement or credit agreements generally), which shall be not materially more restrictive upon the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, while any Loans or Commitments are outstanding, than those set forth in the Loan Documents); provided that, the Obligors may incur any Other Secured Indebtedness that otherwise would not meet the requirements set forth in this clause (b) if it has duly made a Modification Offer (whether or not it is accepted by the Required Lenders) (it being understood that put rights or repurchase or redemption obligations (x) in the case of convertible securities, in connection with the suspension or delisting of the capital stock of the Borrower or the failure of the Borrower to satisfy a continued listing rule with respect to its capital stock or (y) arising out of circumstances that would constitute a “fundamental change” (as such term is customarily defined in convertible note offerings) or an Event of Default under this Agreement shall not be deemed to be more restrictive for purposes of this definition)), and

 

(c) is not secured by any assets of any Obligor other than pursuant to the Security Documents and the holders of which, or the agent, trustee or representative of such holders have agreed, by executing the joinder attached as Exhibit C to the Guarantee and Security Agreement or otherwise in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, to be bound by the provisions of the Security Documents, or

 

“Other Secured Indebtedness” shall not include any Indebtedness arising under any Hedging Agreement, Credit Default Swap or any Permitted LC Facility.

 

“Other Taxes” means any and all present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any similar charges or levies arising from any payment made under any Loan Document or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment.

 

“Participating Member State” means any member state of the European Community that adopts or has adopted the Euro as its lawful currency in accordance with the legislation of the European Union relating to the European Monetary Union.

 

“Participation Interest” means a participation interest (excluding any sub-participation interests) in an investment that at the time of acquisition by an Obligor satisfies each of the following criteria: (a) the underlying investment would constitute a Portfolio Investment were it acquired directly by such Obligor, (b) the seller of the participation is an Excluded Asset, (c) the entire purchase price for such participation is paid in full at the time of its acquisition and (d) the participation provides the participant all of the economic benefit and risk of the whole or part of such portfolio investment that is the subject of such participation.

 

“Payment Recipient” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.03(a).

 

“PBGC” means the U.S. Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA and any successor entity performing similar functions.

 

“Periodic Term ▇▇▇▇▇ Determination Day” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Term ▇▇▇▇▇”.

 

“Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Term SOFR”.

 

“Permitted Advisor Loan” means any Indebtedness for borrowed money of any Obligor that (a) is owed to the Advisor or any Affiliate thereof, (b) has no mandatory amortization prior to, and a final maturity date not earlier than, six months after the Maturity Date, (c) is permitted by the Investment Company Act, (d) is not secured by any property or assets (whether of any Obligor or any other Person), (e) is on terms and conditions not materially less favorable to such Obligor than could be obtained on an arm’s-length basis from unrelated third parties, (f) is on terms and conditions that are not materially more restrictive upon such Obligor, while any Commitments or Loans are outstanding hereunder, than those set forth in this Agreement with respect to such Obligor; provided that, such Obligor may incur any Permitted Advisor Loan that otherwise would not meet the requirements set forth in this clause (f) if it has duly made a Modification Offer (whether or not it is accepted by the Required Lenders) and (g) the Borrower has elected to be treated as a Permitted Advisor Loan by giving written notice of such election to the Administrative Agent.

 

“Permitted CLO Issuer” means any issuer of CLO Securities (or such entity’s parent, general partner or other managing entity) that is an Affiliate of the Borrower and has acquired any Investments from an Obligor; provided that:

 

(i)        no portion of the Indebtedness or any other obligations (contingent or otherwise) of such issuer (i) is Guaranteed by any Obligor (other than Guarantees in respect of Standard Securitization Undertakings), (ii) is recourse to or obligates any Obligor in any way other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings or (iii) subjects any property of any Obligor (other than property that has been contributed or sold, purported to be sold or otherwise transferred to such issuer or any equity of such issuer), directly or indirectly, contingently or otherwise, to the satisfaction thereof, other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings or any Guarantee thereof,

 

(ii)       no Obligor has any material contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding with such issuer other than on terms, taken as a whole, not materially less favorable to such Obligor (excluding customary sale and contribution agreements entered into with a single purpose entity that is structured to be bankruptcy remote and master participation agreements) than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons that are not Affiliates of any Obligor, other than fees payable in the ordinary course of business in connection with servicing receivables or financial assets and pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings, and

 

(iii)      to which no Obligor has any obligation to maintain or preserve such issuer’s financial condition or cause such entity to achieve certain levels of operating results, other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings.

 

“Permitted Equity Interests” means any Equity Interest of the Borrower that is not a Disqualified Equity Interest.

 

“Permitted Indebtedness” means, collectively, Other Secured Indebtedness and Unsecured Indebtedness.

 

“Permitted LC Facility” means any letter of credit facility of an Obligor that (i) provides, with respect to such Obligor, for the issuance of letters of credit only on behalf of such Obligor for its own account or the account of its designee; provided that (x) such Obligor remains primarily liable for payment and reimbursement of all amounts payable in respect of such letters of credit and (y) no Obligor shall be a named beneficiary of such letter of credit, (ii) is not secured by any assets of any Obligor that constitute Collateral and (iii) the Borrower has elected to be treated as a Permitted LC Facility by giving written notice of such election to the Administrative Agent.

 

“Permitted LC Facility LC Disbursements” means letter of credit disbursements or any similar or analogous definition under the documents evidencing any Permitted LC Facility.

 

“Permitted Liens” means: (a) Liens imposed by any Governmental Authority for taxes, assessments or charges not yet due or that are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the Borrower or any other Obligor in accordance with GAAP; (b) Liens of clearing agencies, broker-dealers and similar Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business, provided that such Liens (i) attach only to the securities (or proceeds) being purchased or sold and (ii) secure only obligations incurred in connection with such purchase or sale, and not any obligation in connection with margin financing; (c) Liens imposed by law, such as materialmen’s, mechanics’, carriers’, workmens’, landlord, storage and repairmen’s Liens and other similar Liens arising in the ordinary course of business and securing obligations (other than Indebtedness for borrowed money); (d) Liens incurred or pledges or deposits made to secure obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business under workers’ compensation laws, unemployment insurance or other similar social security legislation (other than Liens in respect of employee benefit plans arising under ERISA) or to secure public or statutory obligations; (e) Liens securing the performance of, or payment in respect of, bids, insurance premiums, deductibles or co-insured amounts, tenders, government or utility contracts (other than for the repayment of borrowed money), surety, stay, customs and appeal bonds and other obligations of a similar nature incurred in the ordinary course of business, provided that all Liens on any Collateral included in the Borrowing Base that are permitted pursuant to this clause (e) shall have a priority that is junior to the Liens under the Security Documents; (f) Liens arising out of judgments or awards that have been in force for less than the applicable period for taking an appeal so long as such judgments or awards do not constitute an Event of Default under Section 7.01(l); (g) customary rights of setoff, banker’s lien, security interest or other like right upon (i) deposits of cash in favor of banks or other depository institutions in which such cash is maintained in the ordinary course of business, (ii) cash and financial assets held in securities accounts in favor of banks and other financial institutions with which such accounts are maintained in the ordinary course of business and (iii) assets held by a custodian in favor of such custodian in the ordinary course of business securing payment of fees, indemnities, charges for returning items and other similar obligations; provided that, such rights in clauses (i) and (ii) are subordinated to the Lien of the Collateral Agent, pursuant to the terms of a Control Agreement (as defined in the Guarantee and Security Agreement); (h) Liens arising solely from precautionary filings of financing statements under the Uniform Commercial Code of the applicable jurisdictions in respect of operating leases entered into by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business; (i) deposits of money that are not Collateral securing leases to which an Obligor is a party as the lessee made in the ordinary course of business; (j) easements, rights of way, zoning restrictions and similar encumbrances on real property and minor irregularities in the title thereto that do not interfere with or affect in any material respect the ordinary course conduct of the business of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; (k) Liens in favor of any escrow agent solely on and in respect of any ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ money deposits made by any Obligor in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement (to the extent that the acquisition or disposition with respect thereto is otherwise not prohibited hereunder); (l) precautionary Liens, and filings of financing statements under the Uniform Commercial Code, covering assets sold or contributed or purported to be sold or contributed to any Person not prohibited hereunder; and (m) any restrictions on the sale or disposition of assets pursuant to a transaction not prohibited hereunder arising from a loan sale agreement between or among one or more Obligors with one or more Designated Subsidiaries or Permitted CLO Issuers; provided such restrictions with respect to this clause (m) only apply to such assets sold or disposed of and do not adversely affect the enforceability of the Collateral Agent’s first-priority security interest on any Collateral.

 

“Permitted SBIC Guarantee” means a guarantee by one (1) or more Obligors of Indebtedness of an SBIC Subsidiary on the SBA’s then applicable form (or the applicable form at the time such guarantee was entered into).

 

“Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.

 

“Plan” means any “employee pension benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA), other than a Multiemployer Plan, that is subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, and in respect of which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an “employer” as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.

 

“Plan Asset Regulations” means U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) regulation 29 C.F.R. § 2510.3-101, as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA.

 

“Portfolio Investment” means any Investment (including a Participation Interest) held by the Obligors in their asset portfolio (and solely for purposes of determining the Borrowing Base, and of Sections 6.02(d) and 6.04(d) and Section 7.01(p), Cash and Cash Equivalents, excluding Cash pledged as cash collateral for Letters of Credit).  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that (A) any Portfolio Investments that have been contributed or sold, purported to be contributed or sold or otherwise transferred to any Excluded Asset, or held by any Immaterial Subsidiary, Joint Venture Subsidiary or Controlled Foreign Corporation that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor, shall not be treated as Portfolio Investments, and (B) any Investment in which any Obligor has sold a participation therein to a Person that is not an Obligor shall not be treated as a Portfolio Investment to the extent of such participation.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall limit the provisions of Section 5.12(b)(i), which provides that, for purposes of this Agreement, all determinations of whether an investment is to be included as a Portfolio Investment shall be determined on a settlement-date basis (meaning that any investment that has been purchased will not be treated as a Portfolio Investment until such purchase has settled, and any Portfolio Investment which has been sold will not be excluded as a Portfolio Investment until such sale has settled), provided that no such investment shall be included as a Portfolio Investment to the extent it has not been paid for in full.

 

“Prime Rate” means the rate which is quoted as the “prime rate” in the print edition of The Wall Street Journal, Money Rates Section.

 

“Pro-Rata Borrowing” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.03(a).

 

“Pro-Rata Dollar Portion” means, in connection with any Pro-Rata Borrowing, an amount equal to (i) the aggregate amount of such Pro-Rata Borrowing multiplied by (ii) the aggregate Dollar Commitments of all Dollar Lenders at such time divided by (iii) the aggregate Revolving Commitments of all Lenders at such time.

 

“Pro-Rata Multicurrency Portion” means, in connection with any Pro-Rata Borrowing, an amount equal to (i) the aggregate amount of such Pro-Rata Borrowing multiplied by (ii) the aggregate Multicurrency Commitments of all Multicurrency Lenders at such time divided by (iii) the aggregate Revolving Commitments of all Lenders at such time.

 

“PTE” means a prohibited transaction class exemption issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, as any such exemption may be amended from time to time.

 

“QFC” has the meaning assigned to the term “qualified financial contract” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. 5390(c)(8)(D).

 

“Quarterly Dates” means the last Business Day of March, June, September and December in each year, commencing on June 30, 2024, unless otherwise specified.

 

“Quoted Investments” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.12(b)(ii)(A).

 

“Register” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(c).

 

“Regulations T, U and X” means, respectively, Regulations T, U and X of the Board, as the same may be modified and supplemented and in effect from time to time.

 

“Reinvestment Agreement” means a guaranteed reinvestment agreement from a bank (if treated as a deposit by such bank), insurance company or other corporation or entity, in each case, at the date of such acquisition having a credit rating of at least A-1 from S&P and at least P-1 from ▇▇▇▇▇’▇ (or if only one of S&P or ▇▇▇▇▇’▇ provides such rating, such investment shall also have an equivalent credit rating from any other nationally recognized rating agency); provided that such agreement provides that it is terminable by the purchaser, without penalty, if the rating assigned to such agreement by either S&P or ▇▇▇▇▇’▇ (or such other rating agency) is at any time lower than such ratings; and provided further that such reinvestment agreement may be unwound at the option of the purchaser at any time without penalty.

 

“Related Parties” means, with respect to any specified Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the respective directors, officers, partners, trustees, administrators, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and of such Person’s Affiliates.

 

“Relevant Asset Coverage Ratio” means, as of any date, the Asset Coverage Ratio as of the most recent Quarterly Date.

 

“Relevant Governmental Body” means (a) with respect to a Benchmark Replacement in respect of Secured Obligations, interest, fees, commissions or other amounts denominated in, or calculated with respect to, Dollars, the Board or the NYFRB, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Board or the NYFRB, or any successor thereto, (b) with respect to a Benchmark Replacement in respect of Secured Obligations, interest, fees, commissions or other amounts denominated in, or calculated with respect to, CAD, the Bank of Canada, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Bank of Canada or any successor thereto, (c) with respect to a Benchmark Replacement in respect of Secured Obligations, interest, fees, commissions or other amounts denominated in, or calculated with respect to, GBP, the Bank of England, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Bank of England or, in each case, any successor thereto, (d) with respect to a Benchmark Replacement in respect of Secured Obligations, interest, fees, commissions or other amounts denominated in, or calculated with respect to, Euro, the European Central Bank, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the European Central Bank or, in each case, any successor thereto and (e) with respect to a Benchmark Replacement in respect of Secured Obligations, interest, fees, commissions or other amounts denominated in, or calculated with respect to, any Agreed Foreign Currency (other than GBP, CAD or Euro), (1) the central bank for the Currency in which such Secured Obligations, interest, fees, commissions or other amounts are denominated, or calculated with respect to, or any central bank or other supervisor which is responsible for supervising either (A) such Benchmark Replacement or (B) the administrator of such Benchmark Replacement or (2) any working group or committee officially endorsed or convened by (A) the central bank for the Currency in which such Secured Obligations, interest, fees, commissions or other amounts are denominated, or calculated with respect to, (B) any central bank or other supervisor that is responsible for supervising either (i) such Benchmark Replacement or (ii) the administrator of such Benchmark Replacement, (C) a group of those central banks or other supervisors or (D) the Financial Stability Board or any part thereof.

 

(1)

For the first calendar month immediately following the end of each fiscal quarter (the last fiscal quarter is referred to herein as, the “Testing Period”), commencing with the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2024, the Administrative Agent shall cause an Agent-Selected Third-Party Appraiser to value such number of Unquoted Investments (selected by the Administrative Agent) that collectively have an aggregate Value approximately equal to the Calculation Amount; provided, that unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, such Unquoted Investments selected by the Administrative Agent shall be Investments that are included in the Borrowing Base.  The Administrative Agent agrees to notify the Borrower of the Unquoted Investments selected by the Administrative Agent to be tested in each Testing Period.  If there is a difference between the Borrower’s valuation and the Agent-Selected Third-Party Appraiser’s valuation of any Unquoted Investment, the Value of such Unquoted Investment for Borrowing Base purposes shall be established as set forth in sub-clause (F) below.

(2)

For the avoidance of doubt, the valuation of any Agent-Selected Third-Party Appraiser would not be as of, or delivered at, the end of any fiscal quarter.  Any such valuation would be as of the end of the first month immediately following any fiscal quarter and would be reflected in the Borrowing Base Certificate for such month (provided that such Agent-Selected Third-Party Appraiser delivers such valuation at least seven Business Days before the last Business Day of the month after the end of the applicable monthly accounting period and, if such valuation is delivered after such time, it shall be included in the Borrowing Base Certificate for the following monthly period and applied to the then applicable balance of the related Portfolio Investment).  For illustrative purposes, if the given fiscal quarter is the fourth quarter ending on December 31, 2023, then (A) the Administrative Agent would initiate the testing of Values (using the December 31, 2023 Values for purposes of determining the scope of the testing under clause (E)(x) during the month of January with the anticipation of receiving the valuations from the applicable Agent-Selected Third-Party Appraiser(s) on or after January 31, 2024 and (B) (x) if such valuations were received before the seventh Business Day before February 29, 2024, such valuations would be included in the February 29, 2024 Borrowing Base Certificate covering the month of January, or (y) if such valuations were received after such time, they would be included in the March 29, 2024 Borrowing Base Certificate for the month of February.