File No.
Before the
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
In the Matter of the Application of:
TICC CAPITAL CORP., OXFORD LANE CAPITAL
CORP., TICC MANAGEMENT, LLC, OXFORD LANE MANAGEMENT, LLC, OXFORD BRIDGE, LLC AND OXFORD BRIDGE MANAGEMENT, LLC
APPLICATION FOR AN ORDER UNDER
SECTIONS 17(d) AND 57(i) OF THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF
1940 AND RULE 17d-1 UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
PERMITTING CERTAIN JOINT TRANSACTIONS OTHERWISE PROHIBITED BY
SECTIONS 17(d) AND 57(a)(4) OF THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF
1940 AND RULE 17d-1 UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
Please direct all communications,
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Copies to:
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notices and orders to:
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Steven B. Boehm, Esq.
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TICC Capital Corp.
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Harry S. Pangas, Esq.
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Oxford Lane Capital Corp.
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Anne G. Oberndorf, Esq.
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8 Sound Shore Drive, Suite 255
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Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP
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Greenwich, Connecticut 06830
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700 Sixth Street, NW, Suite 700
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Attention: Jonathan H. Cohen
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Washington, DC 20001-3980
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(203) 983-5275
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(202) 637-3593 (fax)
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October 13, 2016
This document contains 24 pages (including
exhibits), which have been numbered sequentially.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
BEFORE THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
In the Matter of:
TICC CAPITAL CORP., OXFORD LANE CAPITAL CORP., TICC MANAGEMENT,
LLC, OXFORD LANE MANAGEMENT, LLC, OXFORD BRIDGE, LLC AND OXFORD BRIDGE MANAGEMENT, LLC
8 Sound Shore Drive, Suite 255
Greenwich, Connecticut 06830
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Application for an Order under Sections 17(d) and 57(i) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and Rule 17d–1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 Permitting Certain Joint Transactions Otherwise Prohibited by Sections 17(d) and 57(a)(4) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and Rule 17d–1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
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I.
Summary of Application
The following entities hereby request an order (the “
Order
”)
of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “
Commission
”) pursuant to Sections 17(d) and 57(i)
of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “
1940 Act
”), and Rule 17d–1 promulgated
under the 1940 Act, authorizing certain joint transactions that otherwise may be prohibited by either or both of Sections 17(d)
and 57(a)(4) as modified by the exemptive rules adopted by the Commission under the 1940 Act:
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TICC Capital Corp. (“
TICC
”),
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Oxford Lane Capital Corp. (“
OXLC
” and together with TICC, the “
Existing Regulated Funds
”),
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TICC Management, LLC (“
TICC Adviser
”) on behalf of itself and its successors,
1
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Oxford Lane Management, LLC (“
OXLC Adviser
”),
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·
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Oxford Bridge, LLC (the “
Private Fund
”), and
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·
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Oxford Bridge Management, LLC (the “
Private Fund Adviser
” and together with the Existing Regulated Funds,
TICC Adviser, OXLC Adviser and the Private Fund, the “
Applicants
”).
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1
The term “successor,” as applied to
each Adviser, means an entity that results from a reorganization into another jurisdiction or change in the type of business organization.
In particular, the relief requested in this application (the
“
Application
”) would permit a Regulated Fund
2
and one or more other Regulated Funds and/or one or more Affiliated Funds
3
to participate in the same investment opportunities through a proposed co-investment program (the “
Co-Investment Program
”)
where such participation would otherwise be prohibited under Section 57(a)(4) and Rule 17d–1 by (a) co-investing
with each other in securities issued by issuers in private placement transactions in which an Adviser negotiates terms in addition
to price (“
Private Placement Securities
”);
4
and (b) making additional investments in securities of such issuers, including through the exercise of warrants, conversion
privileges, and other rights to purchase securities of the issuers (“
Follow-On Investments
”). “
Co-Investment
Transaction
” means any transaction in which a Regulated Fund (or its Wholly-Owned Investment Sub (as defined below))
participated together with one or more other Regulated Funds and/or one or more Affiliated Funds in reliance on the requested Order.
5
“
Potential Co-Investment Transaction
” means any investment opportunity in which a Regulated Fund (or its Wholly-Owned
Investment Sub) could not participate together with one or more Affiliated Funds and/or one or more other Regulated Funds without
obtaining and relying on the Order.
A Regulated Fund may, from time to time, form a
special purpose subsidiary (a “
Wholly-Owned Investment Sub
”) (i) that is wholly-owned by a Regulated
Fund (with the Regulated Fund at all times holding, beneficially and of record, 100% of the voting and economic
interests); (ii) whose sole business purpose is to hold one or more investments on behalf of the Regulated Fund (and, in
the case of an SBIC Subsidiary,
6
maintain a license under the SBA Act and issue debentures guaranteed by the SBA); (iii) with respect to which
the Regulated Fund’s Board has the sole authority to make all determinations with respect to the
entity’s participation under the conditions to this Application; and (iv) that would be an investment company but
for Section 3(c)(1) or 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act. All subsidiaries of the Regulated Funds participating in
Co-Investment Transactions will be Wholly-Owned Investment Subs and will have Objectives and Strategies (as defined below)
that are either the same as, or a subset of, the respective Regulated Fund’s Objectives and Strategies.
All existing entities that currently intend to rely upon the
requested Order have been named as Applicants. Any other existing or future entity that subsequently relies on the Order will comply
with the terms and conditions of the Application. Applicants do not seek relief for transactions that would be permitted under
other regulatory or interpretive guidance, including, for example, transactions effected consistent with Commission staff no-action
positions.
7
2
“
Regulated Fund
” means any of the Existing Regulated Funds and any Future Regulated Fund. “
Future Regulated
Fund
” means any closed-end management investment company (a) that is registered under the 1940 Act or has elected
to be regulated as a BDC (as defined below), (b) whose investment adviser is an Adviser, and (c) that intends to participate
in the Co-Investment Program. The term “
Adviser
” means (a) TICC Adviser, (b) OXLC Adviser, (c) the Private
Fund Adviser, and (d) any future investment adviser that controls, is controlled by or is under common control with TICC Adviser,
OXLC Adviser or the Private Fund Adviser and is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the
“
Advisers Act
”).
3
“
Affiliated Fund
” means the Private Fund and any Future Affiliated Fund. “
Future Affiliated Fund
”
means any entity (a) whose investment adviser is an Adviser, (b) that would be an investment company but for Section 3(c)(1)
or 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act, and (c) that intends to participate in the Co-Investment Program.
4
The term “private placement transactions” means transactions in which the offer and sale of securities by the issuer
are exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “
1933 Act
”).
5
No Non-Interested Director (as defined below) of a Regulated Fund will have a financial interest in any Co-Investment Transaction,
other than indirectly through share ownership in one of the Regulated Funds.
6
“
SBIC Subsidiary
” means any Wholly-Owned Investment Sub (as defined below) that is licensed by the Small Business
Administration (the “
SBA
”) to operate under the Small Business Investment Act of 1958, as amended, (the “
SBA
Act
”) as a small business investment company (an “
SBIC
”).
7
See, e.g.
, Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. (pub. avail. June 7, 2000), Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance
Co. (pub. avail. July 28, 2000) and SMC Capital, Inc. (pub. avail. Sept. 5, 1995).
II.
Background
TICC
TICC is a Maryland corporation organized as a closed-end management
investment company that has elected to be regulated as a business development company (“
BDC
”) under Section 54(a) of
the 1940 Act.
8
The common stock
of TICC trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “TICC.” As of June 30, 2016, TICC had net assets
of approximately $336.6 million. TICC’s Objectives and Strategies
9
are to maximize its risk adjusted total return by investing primarily in corporate debt securities. TICC’s debt investments
may include bilateral loans (loans where TICC holds the entirety and/or a significant portion of a particular loan) and syndicated
loans (those where multiple investors hold portions of that loan). TICC has and may continue to invest in structured finance investments,
including collateralized loan obligation (“
CLO
”) investment vehicles that own debt securities. CLO investments
may also include warehouse facilities, which are financing structures intended to aggregate loans that may be used to form the
basis of a CLO vehicle. TICC may also invest in publicly traded debt and/or equity securities.
The board of directors of TICC (the “
TICC Board
”)
is comprised of five directors, three of whom are not “interested persons,” within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19)
of the 1940 Act (the “
Non-Interested Directors
”). The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of
the TICC Board selects and nominates any additional Non-Interested Directors who may be selected to serve on the TICC Board.
In addition, for income tax purposes, TICC has elected to be
treated as a regulated investment company (“
RIC
”) under Subchapter M of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended (the “
Code
”).
8
Section 2(a)(48) defines a BDC to be any closed-end investment company that operates for the purpose of making investments
in securities described in Section 55(a)(1) through 55(a)(3) of the 1940 Act and makes available significant managerial
assistance with respect to the issuers of such securities.
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“
Objectives and Strategies
” means a Regulated Fund’s investment objectives and strategies, as described
in the Regulated Fund’s registration statement on Form N-2, other filings the Regulated Fund has made with the Commission
under the 1933 Act, or under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Regulated Fund’s reports to shareholders.
OXLC
OXLC is a Maryland corporation that is a non-diversified closed-end
management investment company that has registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act. The common stock of OXLC trades
on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “OXLC.” As of June 30, 2016, OXLC had net assets of approximately
$165.1 million. OXLC’s Objectives and Strategies are to maximize its portfolio’s risk-adjusted total return by purchasing
portions of equity and junior debt tranches of CLO vehicles. OXLC may also invest in warehouse facilities, which are financing
structures intended to aggregate senior secured corporate loans that may be used to form the basis of a CLO vehicle.
The OXLC Board is comprised of five directors, three of whom
are Non-Interested Directors of OXLC. A majority of the Non-Interested Directors of OXLC, in accordance with the NASDAQ Global
Select Market listing standards, recommends candidates for election as directors.
OXLC has elected to be treated as a RIC under the Code and intends
to continue to make such election in the future.
The Private Fund
The Private Fund was formed as a Delaware limited liability
company on November 3, 2015. The Private Fund’s investment objective is to maximize its portfolio’s risk-adjusted total
return by investing primarily
in structured finance investments, specifically the equity and junior debt tranches of CLO
Vehicles and in warehouse facilities, which are financing structures intended to aggregate loans that may be used to form the basis
of a CLO vehicle. The Private Fund would be an investment company but for the exclusion from the definition of investment company
provided by Section 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act. Its investment objective and investment policies are similar to those of OXLC
and overlap to an extent with those of TICC.
Advisers
TICC Adviser, Oxford Lane Adviser and the Private Fund Adviser
are each controlled by BDC Partners LLC (“
BDC Partners
”). BDC Partners serves as administrator to TICC and to
OXLC, pursuant to respective administrations agreements with each. BDC Partners
does not
currently offer investment advisory services to any person and is not expected to do so in the future. Accordingly, BDC Partners
has not been included as an Applicant.
TICC Adviser
TICC Adviser was formed as a Delaware limited liability company
on July 9, 2003 and is an investment adviser registered with the Commission under the Advisers Act. TICC Adviser serves as the
investment adviser to TICC and manages its portfolio in accordance with TICC’s Objectives and Strategies.
Under the terms of TICC’s investment advisory agreement
with TICC Adviser (the “
TICC Advisory Agreement
”), TICC Adviser, subject to the overall supervision of the TICC
Board, manages the day-to-day operations of, and provides investment advisory services to, TICC. TICC Adviser, among other things,
determines the composition of TICC’s portfolio, the nature and timing of the changes to TICC’s portfolio and the manner
of implementing such changes; identifies, evaluates and negotiates the structure of the investments that TICC makes; closes, monitors
and services the investments TICC makes; and determines what investments TICC will purchase, retain or sell.
OXLC Adviser
OXLC Adviser was formed as a Connecticut limited liability company
on June 26, 2010 and is an investment adviser registered with the Commission under the Advisers Act. OXLC Adviser serves as the
investment adviser to OXLC and manages its portfolio in accordance with OXLC’s Objectives and Strategies.
Under the terms of OXLC’s investment advisory agreement
with OXLC Adviser (the “
OXLC Advisory Agreement
”), OXLC Adviser, subject to the overall supervision of the OXLC
Board, manages the day-to-day operations of, and provides investment advisory services to, OXLC. OXLC Adviser, among other things,
determines the composition of OXLC’s portfolio, the nature and timing of the changes to OXLC’s portfolio and the manner
of implementing such changes; identifies, evaluates and negotiates the structure of the investments that OXLC makes (including
performing due diligence on OXLC’s prospective investments); closes and monitors the investments OXLC makes; and provides
OXLC with other investment advisory, research and related services as it may from time to time require.
The Private Fund Adviser
The Private Fund Adviser was formed as a Connecticut limited
liability company on October 14, 2015 and is an investment adviser registered with the Commission under the Advisers Act. The Private
Fund Adviser serves as the investment adviser to the Private Fund and manages its portfolio in accordance with the Private Fund’s
investment objectives and strategies. The Private Fund Adviser manages the day-to-day operations of, and provides investment advisory
services to the Private Fund. The Private Fund Adviser, among other things, determines the composition of the Private Fund’s
portfolio, the nature and timing of the changes to Private Fund’s portfolio and the manner of implementing such changes;
identifies, evaluates and negotiates the structure of the investments that the Private Fund makes (including performing due diligence
on the Private Fund’s prospective investments); closes and monitors the investments the Private Fund makes.
III.
Order Requested
The Applicants request the Order of the Commission under Sections 17(d)
and 57(i) under the 1940 Act, and Rule 17d-l under the 1940 Act to permit, subject to the terms and conditions
set forth below in this Application (the “
Conditions
”), one or more Regulated Funds to be able to participate
in Co-Investment Transactions with one or more other Regulated Funds and/or one or more Affiliated Funds.
The Regulated Funds and the Affiliated Funds seek relief to
invest in Co-Investment Transactions because such Co-Investment Transactions would otherwise be prohibited by Sections 17(d)
and 57(a)(4) of the 1940 Act and Rule 17d-l under the 1940 Act. This Application seeks relief in order to (i) enable
the Regulated Funds and the Affiliated Funds to avoid the practical difficulties of trying to structure, negotiate and persuade
counterparties to enter into transactions while awaiting the granting of the relief requested in individual applications with respect
to each Co-Investment Transaction that arises in the future, and (ii) enable the Regulated Funds and the Affiliated Funds
to avoid the significant legal and other expenses that would be incurred in preparing such individual applications.
A. Section 17(d) and Section 57(a)(4)
Section 17(d) of the 1940 Act generally prohibits
an affiliated person (as defined in Section 2(a)(3) of the 1940 Act), or an affiliated person of such affiliated person,
of a registered closed-end investment company acting as principal, from effecting any transaction in which the registered closed-end
investment company is a joint or a joint and several participant, in contravention of such rules as the Commission may prescribe
for the purpose of limiting or preventing participation by the registered closed-end investment company on a basis different from
or less advantageous than that of such other participant. Rule 17d–1 under the 1940 Act generally prohibits participation
by a registered investment company and an affiliated person (as defined in Section 2(a)(3) of the 1940 Act) or principal
underwriter for that investment company, or an affiliated person of such affiliated person or principal underwriter, in any “joint
enterprise or other joint arrangement or profit-sharing plan,” as defined in the rule, without prior approval by the Commission
by order upon application.
Similarly, with regard to BDCs, Section 57(a)(4) of the 1940
Act prohibits certain persons specified in Section 57(b) of the 1940 Act from participating in a joint transaction with
a BDC or a company controlled by a BDC in contravention of rules as prescribed by the Commission. In particular Section 57(a)(4)
of the 1940 Act applies to:
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Any director, officer, employee, or member of an advisory board of a BDC, or any person (other than the BDC itself) who is
an affiliated person of the foregoing pursuant to Section 2(a)(3)(C) of the 1940 Act; or
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Any investment adviser or promoter of, general partner in, principal underwriter for, or person directly or indirectly either
controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, a BDC,
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or any person who is an affiliated person of any of the foregoing within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3)(C) or (D) of
the 1940 Act.
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Section 2(a)(3)(C) of the 1940 Act defines an “affiliated
person” of another person to include any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control
with, such other person. Section 2(a)(9) of the 1940 Act defines “control” as the power to exercise a controlling
influence over the management or policies of a company, unless such power is solely the result of an official position with that
company. Under Section 2(a)(9) of the 1940 Act, a person who beneficially owns, either directly or through one or more
controlled companies, more than 25% of the voting securities of a company is presumed to control such company. The Commission
and its staff have indicated on a number of occasions their belief that an investment adviser controls the fund that it advises,
absent compelling evidence to the contrary.
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10
Excluded from this category are the BDC itself and any person who, if it were not directly or indirectly controlled by the BDC,
would not otherwise be under common control with the BDC.
11
See, e.g.,
In re Investment Company Mergers
, SEC Rel. No. IC–25259 (Nov. 8, 2001);
In re Steadman Security Corp
.,
46 S.E.C. 896, 920 n.81 (1977) (“[T]he investment adviser almost always controls the fund. Only in the very rare case
where the adviser’s role is simply that of advising others who may or may not elect to be guided by his advice…can
the adviser realistically be deemed not in control.”).
TICC Adviser is the investment adviser to TICC, OXLC Adviser
is the investment adviser to OXLC, the Private Fund Adviser is the investment adviser to the Private Fund, and an Adviser will
be the investment adviser to each of the Future Regulated Funds and each of the Future Affiliated Funds. Each of TICC Adviser,
OXLC Adviser, and the Private Fund Adviser may be deemed to control TICC, OXLC, and the Private Fund respectively, and any other
Adviser will be controlling, controlled by, or under common control with TICC Adviser, OXLC Adviser, and the Private Fund Adviser.
As a result, the Regulated Funds may be deemed to be under common control, and thus affiliated persons of each other under Section 2(a)(3)(C)
of the 1940 Act. In addition, the Affiliated Fund may be deemed to be under common control with the Regulated Funds, and thus
affiliated persons of each Regulated Fund under Section 2(a)(3)(C) of the 1940 Act. As a result, these relationships might
cause a Regulated Fund and one or more other Regulated Funds and/or one or more Affiliated Funds participating in Co-Investment
Transactions to be subject to Sections 17(d) or 57(a)(4) of the 1940 Act, and thus subject to the provisions of
Rule 17d-l of the 1940 Act.
B. Rule 17d–1
Rule 17d–l under the 1940 Act generally prohibits
participation by a registered investment company and an affiliated person (as defined in Section 2(a)(3) of the 1940
Act) or principal underwriter for that investment company, or an affiliated person of such affiliated person or principal underwriter,
in any “joint enterprise or other joint arrangement or profit-sharing plan,” as defined in the rule, without prior
approval by the Commission by order upon application.
Rule 17d–1 was promulgated by the Commission pursuant
to Section 17(d) of the 1940 Act and made applicable to BDCs by Section 57(i) of the 1940 Act. Section 57(i)
of the 1940 Act provides that, until the Commission prescribes rules under Section 57(a)(4) of the 1940 Act, the
Commission’s rules under Section 17(d) of the 1940 Act applicable to registered closed-end investment companies
will be deemed to apply. Because the Commission has not adopted any rules under Section 57(a)(4) of the 1940 Act, Rule 17d–I
under the 1940 Act applies.
Applicants seek relief pursuant to Rule 17d-l under the 1940
Act, which permits the Commission to authorize joint transactions upon application. In passing upon applications filed pursuant
to Rule 17d–l under the 1940 Act, the Commission is directed by Rule 17d–1(b) under the 1940 Act
to consider whether the participation of a registered investment company or controlled company thereof in the joint enterprise
or joint arrangement under scrutiny is consistent with provisions, policies and purposes of the 1940 Act and the extent to
which such participation is on a basis different from or less advantageous than that of other participants.
The Commission has stated that Section 17(d) of the 1940
Act, upon which Rule 17d–1 under the 1940 Act is based, and upon which Section 57(a)(4) of the 1940 Act
was modeled, was designed to protect investment companies from self-dealing and overreaching by insiders. The Commission has also
taken notice that there may be transactions subject to these prohibitions that do not present the dangers of overreaching. See
Protecting Investors: A Half-Century of Investment Company Regulation
, 1504 Fed. Sec. L. Rep., Extra Edition (May 29,
1992) at 488
et seq
. The Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has enunciated a like rationale for the purpose behind
Section 17(d): “The objective of [Section] 17(d) . . . is to prevent . . . injuring the interest of stockholders of
registered investment companies by causing the company to participate on a basis different from or less advantageous than that
of such other participants.”
Securities and Exchange Commission v. Talley Industries. Inc.
, 399 F.2d 396, 405
(2d Cir. 1968),
cert. denied
393 U.S. 1015 (1969). Furthermore, Congress acknowledged that the protective system established
by the enactment of Section 57 is “similar to that applicable to registered investment companies under section 17
of the 1940 Act, and rules thereunder, but is modified to address concerns relating to unique characteristics presented by
business development companies.” H.Rep. No. 96-1341, 96th Cong., 2d Sess. 45 (1980)
reprinted in
1980
U.S.C.C.A.N. 4827.
Applicants believe that the terms and conditions of this Application
would ensure that the conflicts of interest that Section 17(d) and Section 57(a)(4) of the 1940 Act were designed
to prevent would be addressed and the standards for an order under Rule 17d–1 under the 1940 Act are met.
C. Protection Provided by the Proposed Conditions
Applicants believe that the proposed conditions, as discussed
more fully in Section III.D. of this Application (the “
Conditions
”), will ensure the protection of shareholders
of the Regulated Funds and compliance with the purposes and policies of the 1940 Act with respect to the Co-Investment Transactions.
In particular, the Conditions, as outlined below, would ensure that each Regulated Fund would only invest in investments that are
appropriate to the interests of shareholders and the investment needs and abilities of that Regulated Fund. In addition, each Regulated
Fund would be able to invest on equal footing with each other Regulated Fund and the Affiliated Funds, including identical terms,
conditions, price, class of securities purchased, settlement date, and registration rights. Each Regulated Fund would have the
ability to engage in Follow-On Investments in a fair manner consistent with the protections of the other conditions. Each Regulated
Fund would have the ability to participate on a proportionate basis, at the same price and on the same terms and conditions in
any sale of a security purchased in a Co-Investment Transaction. Fees and expenses of Co-Investment Transactions would be borne
by the applicable Adviser, or shared pro-rata among the Regulated Funds and Affiliated Funds who participate in the Co-Investment
Transactions. The conditions would also prevent a Regulated Fund from investing in any current investments of an affiliated person,
which eliminates the possibility of a Regulated Fund from being forced to invest in a manner that would benefit an affiliated person’s
existing investment. Also, sufficient records of the transactions would be maintained to permit the examination staff of the Commission
to monitor compliance with the terms of the requested order.
The Conditions impose a variety of duties on the Advisers with
respect to Co-Investment Transactions and Potential Co-Investment Transactions by the Regulated Funds. These duties include determinations
regarding investment appropriateness, the appropriate level of investment, and the provision of information to the Board of any
Regulated Fund. In addition, when considering Potential Co-Investment Transactions for any Regulated Fund, the applicable Adviser
will consider only the Objectives and Strategies, investment policies, investment positions, Available Capital (defined below),
and other pertinent factors applicable to that Regulated Fund. Each Adviser, as applicable, undertakes to perform these duties
consistently for each Regulated Fund, as applicable, regardless of which of them serves as investment adviser to these entities.
The participation of a Regulated Fund in a Potential Co-Investment Transaction may only be approved by a required majority, as
defined in Section 57(o) (a “
Required Majority
”), of the directors of the Board eligible to vote on that
Co-Investment Transaction under Section 57(o) (the “
Eligible Directors
”).
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In the case of a Regulated Fund that is a registered closed-end fund, the Board members that make up the Required Majority will
be determined as if the Regulated Fund were a BDC subject to Section 57(o).
The amount of each Regulated Fund’s capital available
for investment (“
Available Capital
”) will be determined based on the amount of cash on hand, existing commitments
and reserves, if any, the targeted leverage level, targeted asset mix and other investment policies and restrictions set from time
to time by the Board of the applicable Regulated Fund or imposed by applicable laws, rules, regulations or interpretations. Likewise,
an Affiliated Fund’s capital available for investment will be determined based on the amount of cash on hand, existing commitments
and reserves, if any, the targeted leverage level, targeted asset mix and other investment policies and restrictions set by the
Affiliated Fund’s directors, general partner, managing member or adviser or imposed by applicable laws, rules, regulations
or interpretations.
If the Advisers, the principal owners of any of the Advisers
(the “
Principals
”), or any person controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Advisers or the
Principals, and the Affiliated Funds (collectively, the “
Holders
”) own in the aggregate more than 25 percent
of the outstanding voting shares of a Regulated Fund (the “
Shares
”), then the Holders will vote such Shares
as required under Condition 14.
Applicants believe that this condition will ensure that the
Non-Interested Directors will act independently in evaluating the Co-Investment Program, because the ability of the Advisers or
the Principals to influence the Non-Interested Directors by a suggestion, explicit or implied, that the Non-Interested Directors
can be removed will be limited significantly. The Non-Interested Directors shall evaluate and approve the independent party referenced
in Condition 14, taking into account its qualifications, reputation for independence, cost to the shareholders, and other factors
that they deem relevant.
In sum, the Applicants believe that the proposed conditions
would ensure that each Regulated Fund that participates in a Co-Investment Transaction does not participate on a basis different
from, or less advantageous than, that of such other participants. As a result, the Applicants believe that the participation of
the Regulated Funds in Co-Investment Transactions done in accordance with the Conditions would be consistent with the provisions,
policies, and purposes of the 1940 Act, and would be done in a manner that was not different from, or less advantageous than,
the other participants.
With respect to each Wholly-Owned Investment Sub, such a subsidiary
would be prohibited from investing in a Co-Investment Transaction with an Affiliated Fund or Regulated Fund because it would be
a company controlled by its parent Regulated Fund for purposes of Section 57(a)(4) of the 1940 Act and Rule 17d-l
under the 1940 Act. Applicants request that each Wholly-Owned Investment Sub be permitted to participate in Co-Investment
Transactions in lieu of its parent Regulated Fund and that the Wholly-Owned Investment Sub’s participation in any such transaction
be treated, for purposes of the Order, as though the parent Regulated Fund were participating directly. Applicants represent that
this treatment is justified because a Wholly-Owned Investment Sub would have no purpose other than serving as a holding vehicle
for the Regulated Fund’s investments and, therefore, no conflicts of interest could arise between the Regulated Fund and
the Wholly-Owned Investment Sub. The Regulated Fund’s Board would make all relevant determinations under the Conditions with
regard to a Wholly-Owned Investment Sub’s participation in a Co-Investment Transaction, and the Regulated Fund’s Board
would be informed of, and take into consideration, any proposed use of a Wholly-Owned Investment Sub in the Regulated Fund’s
place. If the Regulated Fund proposes to participate in the same Co-Investment Transaction with any of its Wholly-Owned Investment
Subs, the Board will also be informed of, and take into consideration, the relative participation of the Regulated Fund and the
Wholly-Owned Investment Sub.
D. Proposed Conditions
Applicants agree that any Order granting the requested relief
shall be subject to the following Conditions:
1. Each time an Adviser considers a Potential Co-Investment
Transaction for an Affiliated Fund or another Regulated Fund that falls within a Regulated Fund’s then-current Objectives
and Strategies, the Regulated Fund’s Adviser will make an independent determination of the appropriateness of the investment
for such Regulated Fund in light of the Regulated Fund’s then-current circumstances.
2. (a) If the Adviser deems a Regulated Fund’s participation
in any Potential Co-Investment Transaction to be appropriate for the Regulated Fund, it will then determine an appropriate level
of investment for the Regulated Fund.
(b) If the aggregate amount recommended
by the applicable Adviser to be invested by the applicable Regulated Fund in the Potential Co-Investment Transaction, together
with the amount proposed to be invested by the other participating Regulated Funds and Affiliated Funds, collectively, in the same
transaction, exceeds the amount of the investment opportunity, the investment opportunity will be allocated among them pro rata
based on each participant’s Available Capital, up to the amount proposed to be invested by each. The applicable Adviser will
provide the Eligible Directors of each participating Regulated Fund with information concerning each participating party’s
Available Capital to assist the Eligible Directors with their review of the Regulated Fund’s investments for compliance with
these allocation procedures.
(c) After making the determinations required
in conditions 1 and 2(a), the applicable Adviser will distribute written information concerning the Potential Co-Investment
Transaction (including the amount proposed to be invested by each participating Regulated Fund and Affiliated Fund) to the Eligible
Directors of each participating Regulated Fund for their consideration. A Regulated Fund will co-invest with one or more other
Regulated Funds and/or one or more Affiliated Funds only if, prior to the Regulated Fund’s participation in the Potential
Co-Investment Transaction, a Required Majority concludes that:
(i) the terms of the Potential
Co-Investment Transaction, including the consideration to be paid, are reasonable and fair to the Regulated Fund and its shareholders
and do not involve overreaching in respect of the Regulated Fund or its shareholders on the part of any person concerned;
(ii) the Potential Co-Investment
Transaction is consistent with:
(A) the interests of the shareholders
of the Regulated Fund; and
(B) the Regulated Fund’s then-current
Objectives and Strategies;
(iii) the investment by any other
Regulated Funds or Affiliated Funds would not disadvantage the Regulated Fund, and participation by the Regulated Fund would not
be on a basis different from or less advantageous than that of other Regulated Funds or Affiliated Funds;
provided that
,
if any other Regulated Fund or Affiliated Fund, but not the Regulated Fund itself, gains the right to nominate a director for election
to a portfolio company’s board of directors or the right to have a board observer or any similar right to participate in
the governance or management of the portfolio company, such event shall not be interpreted to prohibit the Required Majority from
reaching the conclusions required by this condition (2)(c)(iii), if:
(A) the Eligible Directors will
have the right to ratify the selection of such director or board observer, if any;
(B) the applicable Adviser agrees
to, and does, provide periodic reports to the Regulated Fund’s Board with respect to the actions of such director or the
information received by such board observer or obtained through the exercise of any similar right to participate in the governance
or management of the portfolio company; and
(C) any fees or other compensation
that any Affiliated Fund or any Regulated Fund or any affiliated person of any Affiliated Fund or any Regulated Fund receives in
connection with the right of the Affiliated Fund or a Regulated Fund to nominate a director or appoint a board observer or otherwise
to participate in the governance or management of the portfolio company will be shared proportionately among the participating
Affiliated Funds (who each may, in turn, share its portion with its affiliated persons) and the participating Regulated Funds in
accordance with the amount of each party’s investment; and
(iv) the proposed investment by
the Regulated Fund will not benefit the Advisers, the Affiliated Funds or the other Regulated Funds or any affiliated person of
any of them (other than the parties to the Co-Investment Transaction), except (A) to the extent permitted by condition 13,
(B) to the extent permitted by Section 17(e) or 57(k) of the 1940 Act, as applicable, (C) indirectly,
as a result of an interest in the securities issued by one of the parties to the Co-Investment Transaction, or (D) in the
case of fees or other compensation described in condition 2(c)(iii)(C).
3. Each Regulated Fund has the right to decline to participate
in any Potential Co-Investment Transaction or to invest less than the amount proposed.
4. The applicable Adviser will present to the Board of each
Regulated Fund, on a quarterly basis, a record of all investments in Potential Co-Investment Transactions made by any of the other
Regulated Funds or Affiliated Funds during the preceding quarter that fell within the Regulated Fund’s then-current Objectives
and Strategies that were not made available to the Regulated Fund, and an explanation of why the investment opportunities were
not offered to the Regulated Fund. All information presented to the Board pursuant to this condition will be kept for the life
of the Regulated Fund and at least two years thereafter, and will be subject to examination by the Commission and its staff.
5. Except for Follow-On Investments made in accordance with
condition 8,
13
a Regulated Fund
will not invest in reliance on the Order in any issuer in which another Regulated Fund, Affiliated Fund, or any affiliated person
of another Regulated Fund or Affiliated Fund is an existing investor.
6. A Regulated Fund will not participate in any Potential Co-Investment
Transaction unless the terms, conditions, price, class of securities to be purchased, settlement date, and registration rights
will be the same for each participating Regulated Fund and Affiliated Fund. The grant to an Affiliated Fund or another Regulated
Fund, but not the Regulated Fund, of the right to nominate a director for election to a portfolio company’s board of directors,
the right to have an observer on the board of directors or similar rights to participate in the governance or management of the
portfolio company will not be interpreted so as to violate this condition 6, if conditions 2(c)(iii)(A), (B) and
(C) are met.
7. (a) If any Affiliated Fund or any Regulated Fund elects
to sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of an interest in a security that was acquired in a Co-Investment Transaction, the applicable
Advisers will:
(i) notify each Regulated Fund
that participated in the Co-Investment Transaction of the proposed disposition at the earliest practical time; and
(ii) formulate a recommendation
as to participation by each Regulated Fund in the disposition.
(b) Each Regulated Fund will have the right
to participate in such disposition on a proportionate basis, at the same price and on the same terms and conditions as those applicable
to the participating Affiliated Funds and Regulated Funds.
(c) A Regulated Fund may participate in
such disposition without obtaining prior approval of the Required Majority if: (i) the proposed participation of each Regulated
Fund and each Affiliated Fund in such disposition is proportionate to its outstanding investments in the issuer immediately preceding
the disposition; (ii) the Board of the Regulated Fund has approved as being in the best interests of the Regulated Fund the
ability to participate in such dispositions on a pro rata basis (as described in greater detail in this application); and (iii) the
Board of the Regulated Fund is provided on a quarterly basis with a list of all dispositions made in accordance with this condition.
In all other cases, the Adviser will provide its written recommendation as to the Regulated Fund’s participation to the Eligible
Directors, and the Regulated Fund will participate in such disposition solely to the extent that a Required Majority determines
that it is in the Regulated Fund’s best interests.
(d) Each Affiliated Fund and each Regulated
Fund will bear its own expenses in connection with any such disposition.
13
This exception applies only to Follow-On Investments by a Regulated Fund in issuers in which the Regulated Fund already holds investments.
8. (a) If any Affiliated Fund or any Regulated Fund desires
to make a Follow-On Investment in a portfolio company whose securities were acquired in a Co-Investment Transaction, the applicable
Advisers will:
(i) notify each Regulated Fund
that participated in the Co-Investment Transaction of the proposed transaction at the earliest practical time; and
(ii) formulate a recommendation
as to the proposed participation, including the amount of the proposed Follow-On Investment, by each Regulated Fund.
(b) A Regulated Fund may participate in
such Follow-On Investment without obtaining prior approval of the Required Majority if: (i) the proposed participation of
each Regulated Fund and each Affiliated Fund in such investment is proportionate to its outstanding investments in the issuer immediately
preceding the Follow-On Investment; and (ii) the Board of the Regulated Fund has approved as being in the best interests of
the Regulated Fund the ability to participate in Follow-On Investments on a pro rata basis (as described in greater detail in this
application). In all other cases, the Adviser will provide its written recommendation as to the Regulated Fund’s participation
to the Eligible Directors, and the Regulated Fund will participate in such Follow-On Investment solely to the extent that a Required
Majority determines that it is in the Regulated Fund’s best interests.
(c) If, with respect to any Follow-On Investment:
(i) the amount of the opportunity
is not based on the Regulated Funds’ and the Affiliated Funds’ outstanding investments immediately preceding the Follow-On
Investment; and
(ii) the aggregate amount recommended
by the applicable Adviser to be invested by the applicable Regulated Fund in the Follow-On Investment, together with the amount
proposed to be invested by the other participating Regulated Funds and Affiliated Funds, collectively, in the same transaction,
exceeds the amount of the investment opportunity, then the investment opportunity will be allocated among them pro rata based on
each participant’s Available Capital, up to the maximum amount proposed to be invested by each.
(d) The acquisition of Follow-On Investments
as permitted by this condition will be considered a Co-Investment Transaction for all purposes and subject to the other conditions
set forth in this application.
9. The Non-Interested Directors of each Regulated Fund will
be provided quarterly for review all information concerning Potential Co-Investment Transactions and Co-Investment Transactions,
including investments made by other Regulated Funds or Affiliated Funds that the Regulated Fund considered but declined to participate
in, so that the Non-Interested Directors may determine whether all investments made during the preceding quarter, including those
investments that the Regulated Fund considered but declined to participate in, comply with the conditions of the Order. In addition,
the Non-Interested Directors will consider at least annually the continued appropriateness for the Regulated Fund of participating
in new and existing Co-Investment Transactions.
10. Each Regulated Fund will maintain the records required by
Section 57(f)(3) of the 1940 Act as if each of the Regulated Funds were a BDC and each of the investments permitted under
these conditions were approved by the Required Majority under Section 57(f) of the 1940 Act.
11. No Non-Interested Director of a Regulated Fund will also
be a director, general partner, managing member or principal, or otherwise an “affiliated person” (as defined in the 1940
Act) of an Affiliated Fund.
12. The expenses, if any, associated with acquiring, holding
or disposing of any securities acquired in a Co-Investment Transaction (including, without limitation, the expenses of the distribution
of any such securities registered for sale under the 1933 Act) will, to the extent not payable by the Advisers under their
respective investment advisory agreements with Affiliated Funds and the Regulated Funds, be shared by the Regulated Funds and the
Affiliated Funds in proportion to the relative amounts of the securities held or to be acquired or disposed of, as the case may
be.
13. Any transaction fee (including break-up or commitment fees
but excluding broker’s fees contemplated by Section 17(e) or 57(k) of the 1940 Act, as applicable), received
in connection with a Co-Investment Transaction will be distributed to the participating Regulated Funds and Affiliated Funds on
a pro rata basis based on the amounts they invested or committed, as the case may be, in such Co-Investment Transaction. If any
transaction fee is to be held by an Adviser pending consummation of the transaction, the fee will be deposited into an account
maintained by such Adviser at a bank or banks having the qualifications prescribed in Section 26(a)(1) of the 1940 Act,
and the account will earn a competitive rate of interest that will also be divided pro rata among the participating Regulated Funds
and Affiliated Funds based on the amounts they invest in such Co-Investment Transaction. None of the Affiliated Funds, the Advisers,
the other Regulated Funds or any affiliated person of the Regulated Funds or Affiliated Funds will receive additional compensation
or remuneration of any kind as a result of or in connection with a Co-Investment Transaction (other than (a) in the case of
the Regulated Funds and the Affiliated Funds, the pro rata transaction fees described above and fees or other compensation described
in condition 2(c)(iii)(C); and (b) in the case of an Adviser, investment advisory fees paid in accordance with the agreement
between the Adviser and the Regulated Fund or Affiliated Fund.
14. If the Holders own in the aggregate more than 25% of the
Shares of a Regulated Fund, then the Holders will vote such Shares as directed by an independent third party when voting on (1)
the election of directors; (2) the removal of one or more directors; or (3) any other matter under either the 1940 Act or applicable
State law affecting the Board’s composition, size or manner of election.
IV.
Statement in Support of Relief Requested
Applicants submit that allowing the Co-Investment Transactions
described by this Application is justified on the basis of (i) the potential benefits to the Regulated Funds and the shareholders
thereof and (ii) the protections found in the terms and conditions set forth in this Application.
A. Potential Benefits
In the absence of the relief sought hereby, in some circumstances
the Regulated Funds would be limited in their ability to participate in attractive and appropriate investment opportunities. Section 17(d)
and Section 57(a)(4) of the 1940 Act and Rule 17d–1 under the 1940 Act should not prevent BDCs and registered
closed–end investment companies from making investments that are in the best interests of their shareholders.
In cases where the Advisers identify investment opportunities
requiring larger capital commitments, they must seek the participation of other entities with similar investment styles. The ability
to participate in Co-Investment Transactions that involve committing larger amounts of financing would enable each Regulated Fund
to participate with one or more of the Affiliated Funds and the other Regulated Funds in larger financing commitments, which would,
in turn, be expected to obtain discounted prices and increase income, expand investment opportunities and provide better access
to due diligence information for the Regulated Funds. Indeed, each Regulated Fund’s inability to co-invest with one or more
of the Affiliated Funds and the other Regulated Funds could potentially result in the loss of beneficial investment opportunities
for such Regulated Fund and, in turn, adversely affect such Regulated Fund’s shareholders. For example, a Regulated Fund
may lose investment opportunities if the Adviser cannot provide “one-stop” financing to a potential portfolio company.
Portfolio companies may reject an offer of funding arranged by an Adviser due to a Regulated Fund’s inability to commit the
full amount of financing required by the portfolio company in a timely manner (i.e., without the delay that typically would be
associated with obtaining single-transaction exemptive relief from the Commission). To the extent there is an investment that falls
within the Objectives and Strategies of a Regulated Fund and one or more other Regulated Funds and/or the investment objectives
and strategies of one or more Affiliated Funds, it is expected that a Regulated Fund will co-invest with one or more other Regulated
Funds and/or one or more Affiliated Funds, with certain exceptions based on available capital or diversification. The Regulated
Funds, however, will not be obligated to invest, or co-invest, when investment opportunities are referred to them.
Each Regulated Fund and its shareholders will benefit from the
ability to participate in Co-Investment Transactions. The Board of each Regulated Fund, including the Non-Interested Directors,
has (or will have prior to relying on the requested Order) determined that it is in the best interests of the Regulated Fund to
participate in Co-Investment Transactions because, among other matters, (i) the Regulated Fund will be able to participate
in a larger number and greater variety of transactions; (ii) the Regulated Fund will be able to participate in larger transactions;
(iii) the Regulated Fund will be able to participate in all opportunities approved by a Required Majority or otherwise permissible
under the Order rather than risk underperformance through rotational allocation of opportunities among the Regulated Funds; (iv) the
Regulated Fund and any other Regulated Funds participating in the proposed investment will have greater bargaining power, more
control over the investment and less need to bring in other external investors or structure investments to satisfy the different
needs of external investors; (v) the Regulated Fund will be able to obtain greater attention and better deal flow from investment
bankers and others who act as sources of investments; and (vi) the general terms and conditions of the proposed Order are
fair to the Regulated Funds and their shareholders. The Board of each of the Existing Regulated Funds, including the Non-Interested
Directors, also determined that it is in the best interests of the Existing Regulated Funds and their shareholders to obtain the
Order at the earliest possible time and instructed the officers of the Existing Regulated Funds, the Advisers and counsel to use
all appropriate efforts to accomplish such goal. For these reasons, the respective Boards of the Existing Regulated Funds have
determined (or will have prior to relying on the requested Order) that it is proper and desirable for each of TICC and OXLC to
participate in Co-Investment Transactions with one or more other Regulated Funds and/or one or more Affiliated Funds.
B. Protective Representations and Conditions
The terms and conditions set forth in this application ensure
that the proposed Co-Investment Transactions are consistent with the protection of each Regulated Fund’s shareholders and
with the purposes intended by the policies and provisions of the 1940 Act. Specifically, the Conditions incorporate the following
critical protections: (i) in each Co-Investment Transaction, all Regulated Funds and Affiliated Funds participating in the
Co-Investment Transactions will invest at the same time for the same price and with the same terms, conditions, class, registration
rights and any other rights, so that none of them receives terms more favorable than any other; (ii) a Required Majority of
each Regulated Fund must approve various investment decisions with respect to such Regulated Fund in accordance with the Conditions;
and (iii) the Regulated Funds are required to retain and maintain certain records.
Other than pro rata dispositions and Follow-On Investments as
provided in conditions 7 and 8, and after making the determinations required in conditions 1 and 2(a), the
applicable Adviser will present each Potential Co-Investment Transaction and the proposed allocation to the Eligible Directors,
and the Required Majority will approve each Co-Investment Transaction prior to any investment by the participating Regulated Fund.
With respect to the pro rata dispositions and Follow-On Investments provided in conditions 7 and 8, a Regulated Fund
may participate in a pro rata disposition or Follow-On Investment without obtaining prior approval of the Required Majority if,
among other things: (i) the proposed participation of each Regulated Fund and Affiliated Fund in such disposition is proportionate
to its outstanding investments in the issuer immediately preceding the disposition or Follow-On Investment, as the case may be;
and (ii) the Board of the Regulated Fund has approved that Regulated Fund’s participation in pro rata dispositions and
Follow-On Investments as being in the best interests of the Regulated Fund. If the Board does not so approve, any such disposition
or Follow-On Investment will be submitted to the Regulated Fund’s Eligible Directors. The Board of any Regulated Fund may
at any time rescind, suspend or qualify its approval of pro rata dispositions and Follow-On Investments with the result that all
dispositions and/or Follow-On Investments must be submitted to the Eligible Directors.
The Applicants believe that participation by the Regulated Funds
in pro rata dispositions and Follow-On Investments, as provided in conditions 7 and 8, is consistent with the provisions,
policies and purposes of the 1940 Act and will not be made on a basis different from or less advantageous than that of other
participants. A formulaic approach, such as pro rata dispositions and Follow-On Investments, eliminates the discretionary ability
to make allocation determinations, and in turn eliminates the possibility for overreaching and promotes fairness. The Applicants
note that the Commission has adopted a similar pro rata approach in the context of Rule 23c-2 under the 1940 Act, which
relates to the redemption by a closed-end investment company of less than all of a class of its securities, indicating the general
fairness and lack of overreaching that such approach provides.
The foregoing analysis applies equally where a Wholly-Owned
Investment Sub is involved in a Co-Investment Transaction as each Wholly-Owned Investment Sub will be treated as one company with
its parent for purposes of this Application.
V.
Precedents
The Commission previously has issued orders permitting
certain investment companies subject to regulation under the 1940 Act and their affiliated persons to co-invest in
Private Placement Securities.
See
OFS Capital Corporation, et al.
(File No. 812-14602) Investment Company Act
Rel. Nos. 32197 (September 13, 2016) (notice) and 32312 (October 12, 2016) (order);
AB Private Credit Investors
Corporation, et al.
(File No. 812-14453) Investment Company Act Rel. Nos. 32261 (September 13, 2016) (notice) and 32310
(October 11, 2016) (order);
Bain Capital Specialty Finance, Inc., et al.
(File No. 812-14575) Investment Company Act
Rel. Nos. 32197 (July 29, 2016) (notice) and 32226 (August 23, 2016) (order);
Carey Credit Income Fund, et al.
(File
No. 812-14426) Investment Company Act Rel. Nos. 32138 (June 2, 2016) (notice) and 32164 (June 28, 2016) (order);
Triloma
EIG Global Energy Fund, et al.
(File No. 812-14429) Investment Company Act Rel. Nos. 32106 (May 5, 2016) (notice) and
32132 (May 31, 2016) (order);
Capitala Finance Corp., et al.
(File No. 812-14544) Investment Company Act Rel. Nos.
32102 (May 4, 2016) (notice) and 32136 (June 1, 2016) (order);
OHA Investment Corporation, et al.
(File No. 812-14482)
Investment Company Act Rel. Nos. 32061 (March 30, 2016) (notice) and 32094 (April 25, 2016) (order);
NexPoint Capital,
Inc., et al.
(File No. 812-14430) Investment Company Act Rel. Nos. 32048 (March 24, 2016) (notice) and 32078 (April 29,
2016) (order);
Crescent Capital BDC Inc., et al.
(File No. 812-14454) Investment Company Act Rel. Nos. 32018 (March 2,
2016) (notice) and 32056 (March 29, 2016) (order);
Apollo Investment Corporation, et al.
(File No. 812-13754)
Investment Company Act Rel. Nos. 32019 (March 2, 2016) (notice) and 32057 (March 29, 2016) (order);
Alcentra Capital
Corporation, et al.
(File No. 812-14374) Investment Company Act Rel. Nos. 31927 (December 4, 2015) (notice) and
31951 (December 30, 2015) (order);
Harvest Capital Credit Corporation, et al.
(File No. 812-14365) Investment Company
Act Rel. Nos. 31860 (October 5, 2015) (notice) and 31930 (December 10, 2015) (order);
THL Credit, Inc., et al.
(File
No. 812-14256), Investment Company Act Rel. Nos. 31899 (November 10, 2015) (notice) and 31929 (December 8, 2015) (order);
Full
Circle Capital Corporation, et al.
(File No. 812-14396), Investment Company Act Rel. Nos. 31799 (August 28, 2015)
(notice) and 31837 (September 23, 2015) (order);
Business Development Corporation of America
, et al. (File No.
812-14368) Investment Company Act Rel. Nos. 31598 (May 11, 2015) (notice) and 31738 (Aug. 5, 2015) (order);
Benefit Street
Partners BDC, Inc., et al.
(File No. 812-14126) Investment Company Act Rel. Nos. 31651 (May 27, 2015) (notice) and 31686
(June 23, 2015) (order);
TCW Direct Lending LLC, et al.
(File No. 812-14382) Investment Company Act Rel. Nos. 31589
(April 30, 2015) (notice) and 31649 (May 27, 2015) (order);
Garrison Capital Inc., et al.
(File No. 812-14097)
Investment Company Act Rel. Nos. 31373 (Dec. 15, 2014) (notice) and 31409 (Jan. 12, 2015) (order).
VI.
Procedural Matters
Pursuant to Rule 0-2(f) under the 1940 Act, each Applicant
states that its address is as indicated below:
8 Sound Shore Drive, Suite 255
Greenwich, CT 06830
Attention:
Jonathan
H. Cohen
(203) 983-5275 (Tel.)
Applicants further state that all written or oral communications
concerning this Application should be directed to:
Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP
700 Sixth Street, NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20001-3980
Attention: Steven B. Boehm, Esq.
Harry S. Pangas, Esq.
Anne G. Oberndorf, Esq.
(202) 383-0100 (Tel.)
(202) 637-3593 (Fax)
The Applicants desire that the Commission issue an Order pursuant
to Rule 0-5 under the 1940 Act without conducting a hearing.
The verifications required by Rule 0-2(d) under the 1940
Act are attached hereto as Exhibit A.
Pursuant to Rule 0-2 under the 1940 Act, each Applicant declares
that this Application for a Commission order is signed on behalf of each Applicant, pursuant to the general authority vested in
each signatory by the Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws, Certificate of Formation and Limited Liability Company Agreement
of each Applicant, or other similar document, or, with regard to TICC and OXLC, pursuant to the resolutions attached hereto as
Exhibits B and C, respectively.
Applicants request that any questions regarding this Application
be directed to the persons listed on the facing page of this Application.
VII.
Request for Order of Exemption
For the foregoing reasons, the Applicants request that the Commission
enter an Order under Sections 17(d) and 57(i) of the 1940 Act and Rule 17d–1 under the 1940 Act
granting Applicants the relief sought by the Application. Applicants submit that the requested exemption is consistent with the
protection of investors.
Dated: October 13, 2016
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TICC Capital Corp.
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By:
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/s/ Jonathan H. Cohen
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Name: Jonathan H. Cohen
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Title: Chief Executive Officer
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Oxford Lane Capital Corp.
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By:
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/s/ Jonathan H. Cohen
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Name: Jonathan H. Cohen
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Title: Chief Executive Officer
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TICC Management, LLC
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By: BDC Partners, LLC, its managing member
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By:
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/s/ Jonathan H. Cohen
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Name: Jonathan H. Cohen
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Title: Managing Member
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Oxford Lane Management, LLC
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By: BDC Partners, LLC, its managing member
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By:
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/s/ Jonathan H. Cohen
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Name: Jonathan H. Cohen
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Title: Managing Member
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Oxford Bridge, LLC
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By: Oxford Bridge Management, LLC, its Managing Member
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By:
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/s/ Saul Rosenthal
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Name: Saul Rosenthal
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Title: President
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Oxford Bridge Management, LLC
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By:
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/s/ Saul Rosenthal
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Name: Saul Rosenthal
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Title: President
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Exhibit A
Verification
The undersigned states that he has duly executed the attached
application for an order under Sections 17(d) and 57(i) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and Rule 17d-1 under
the Investment Company Act of 1940, dated as of October 13, 2016 for and on behalf of each entity listed below; that he is the
authorized person of each such entity; and that all action by officers, directors, and other bodies necessary to authorize the
undersigned to execute and file such instrument has been taken. The undersigned further states that he is familiar with such instrument,
and the contents thereof, and that the facts therein set forth are true to the best of his knowledge, information and belief.
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TICC Capital Corp.
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By:
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/s/ Jonathan H. Cohen
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Name: Jonathan H. Cohen
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Title: Chief Executive Officer
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Oxford Lane Capital Corp.
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By:
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/s/ Jonathan H. Cohen
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Name: Jonathan H. Cohen
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Title: Chief Executive Officer
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TICC Management, LLC
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By: BDC Partners, LLC, its managing member
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By:
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/s/ Jonathan H. Cohen
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Name: Jonathan H. Cohen
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Title: Managing Member
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Oxford Lane Management, LLC
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By: BDC Partners, LLC, its managing member
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By:
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/s/ Jonathan H. Cohen
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Name: Jonathan H. Cohen
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Title: Managing Member
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Oxford Bridge, LLC
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By: Oxford Bridge Management, LLC,
its Managing Member
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By:
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/s/ Saul Rosenthal
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Name: Saul Rosenthal
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Title: President
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Oxford Bridge Management, LLC
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By:
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/s/ Saul Rosenthal
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Name: Saul Rosenthal
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Title: President
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Exhibit B
Resolutions Adopted
by the Board of Directors of TICC Capital Corp.
WHEREAS
,
the Board believes it is in the best interests of the Company to file an application with the Commission for an order pursuant
to Sections 17(d) and 57(i) of the 1940 Act and Rule 17d-l promulgated under the 1940 Act (the “
Application
”),
to authorize the entering into of certain joint transactions and co-investments by the Company with certain entities which may
be deemed to be “affiliates” of the Company pursuant to the provisions of the 1940 Act, which such joint transactions
and co-investments would otherwise be prohibited by Sections 17(d) and 57(a)(4) of the 1940 Act, all as more fully set forth in
the draft Application that has been presented to the Board; and
WHEREAS
,
the Board has reviewed the Application, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A.
NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED
, that the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of the Company (each an “
Authorized
Officer
” and, collectively, the “
Authorized Officers
”) be, and they hereby are, authorized,
empowered and directed, in the name and on behalf of the Company, to cause to be prepared, executed, delivered and filed with the
Commission the Application, and to do such other acts or things and execute such other documents, including amendments to the Application,
as they deem necessary or desirable to cause the Application to conform to comments received from the Staff of the Commission and
otherwise to comply with the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, in such form and accompanied by such
exhibits and other documents, as the Authorized Officers preparing the same shall approve, such approval to be conclusively evidenced
by the filing of the Application; and it is further
RESOLVED
,
that the Authorized Officers be, and each of them hereby is, authorized, empowered and directed, in the name and on behalf of the
Company, to perform all of the agreements and obligations of the Company in connection with the foregoing resolutions, to take or cause to be taken any and all further actions, to execute and deliver, or cause
to be executed and delivered, all other documents, instruments, agreements, undertakings, and certificates of any kind and nature
whatsoever, to incur and pay all fees and expenses and to engage such persons as the Authorized Officers may determine to be necessary,
advisable or appropriate to effectuate or carry out the purposes and intent of the foregoing resolutions, and the execution by
the Authorized Officers of any such documents, instruments, agreements, undertakings and certificates, the payment of any fees
and expenses or the engagement of such persons or the taking by them of any action in connection with the foregoing matters shall
conclusively establish the Authorized Officers’ authority therefore and the authorization, acceptance, adoption, ratification,
approval and confirmation by the Company thereof.
(Adopted by Written Consent dated October
13, 2016)
Exhibit C
Resolutions Adopted by the Board of Directors
of Oxford Lane Capital Corp.
WHEREAS
,
the Board believes it is in the best interests of the Company to file an application with the Commission for an order pursuant
to Sections 17(d) and 57(i) of the 1940 Act and Rule 17d-l promulgated under the 1940 Act (the “
Application
”),
to authorize the entering into of certain joint transactions and co-investments by the Company with certain entities which may
be deemed to be “affiliates” of the Company pursuant to the provisions of the 1940 Act, which such joint transactions
and co-investments would otherwise be prohibited by Sections 17(d) and 57(a)(4) of the 1940 Act, all as more fully set forth in
the draft Application that has been presented to the Board; and
WHEREAS
,
the Board has reviewed the Application, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A.
NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED
, that the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of the Company (each an “
Authorized
Officer
” and, collectively, the “
Authorized Officers
”) be, and they hereby are, authorized,
empowered and directed, in the name and on behalf of the Company, to cause to be prepared, executed, delivered and filed with the
Commission the Application, and to do such other acts or things and execute such other documents, including amendments to the Application,
as they deem necessary or desirable to cause the Application to conform to comments received from the Staff of the Commission and
otherwise to comply with the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, in such form and accompanied by such
exhibits and other documents, as the Authorized Officers preparing the same shall approve, such approval to be conclusively evidenced
by the filing of the Application; and it is further
RESOLVED
,
that the Authorized Officers be, and each of them hereby is, authorized, empowered and directed, in the name and on behalf of the
Company, to perform all of the agreements and obligations of the Company in connection with the foregoing resolutions, to take or cause to be taken any and all further actions, to execute and deliver, or cause
to be executed and delivered, all other documents, instruments, agreements, undertakings, and certificates of any kind and nature
whatsoever, to incur and pay all fees and expenses and to engage such persons as the Authorized Officers may determine to be necessary,
advisable or appropriate to effectuate or carry out the purposes and intent of the foregoing resolutions, and the execution by
the Authorized Officers of any such documents, instruments, agreements, undertakings and certificates, the payment of any fees
and expenses or the engagement of such persons or the taking by them of any action in connection with the foregoing matters shall
conclusively establish the Authorized Officers’ authority therefore and the authorization, acceptance, adoption, ratification,
approval and confirmation by the Company thereof.
(Adopted by Written Consent dated October
13, 2016)
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