Amendment No. 1 to Form N-2

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 30, 2008.

Securities Act Registration No. 333-150033

Investment Company Act of 1940 File No. 814-00736

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

 

 

FORM N-2

 

 

Registration Statement under the Securities Act Of 1933

Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1  þ

Post-Effective Amendment No.  ¨

 

 

PennantPark Investment Corporation

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

590 Madison Avenue

15th Floor

New York, NY 10022

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

(212) 905-1000

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

Arthur H. Penn

c/o PennantPark Investment Corporation

590 Madison Avenue

15th Floor

New York, NY 10022

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

 

 

Copies to:

Thomas Friedmann, Esq.

David Harris, Esq.

Dechert, LLP

1775 I Street, N.W.

Washington, DC 20006-2401

APPROXIMATE DATE OF PROPOSED PUBLIC OFFERING:

As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

 

 

If any securities being registered on this form will be offered on a delayed or continuous basis in reliance on Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered in connection with a dividend reinvestment plan, check the following box.  x

It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box):

x  when declared effective pursuant to section 8(c).

If appropriate, check the following box:

¨  This amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed registration statement.

¨  This form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act and the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering is

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 
Title of Securities Being Registered   Amount Being
Registered
 

Proposed Maximum
Offering Price

Per Unit

 

Proposed Maximum
Aggregate

Offering Price(1)

  Amount of
Registration Fee(1)

Common Stock, $0.001 par value(2)

      $               $               $            

Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value(2)

               

Warrants(3)

               

Subscription Rights(4)

               

Debt Securities(5)

               

Total

          250,000,000(6)   9,825(7)
 
 
(1) Estimated pursuant to Rule 457 solely for the purposes of determining the registration fee. The proposed maximum offering price per security will be determined, from time to time, by the Registrant in connection with the sale by the Registrant of the securities registered under this registration statement.
(2) Subject to Note 6 below, there is being registered hereunder an indeterminate number of shares of common stock or preferred stock as may be sold, from time to time.
(3) Subject to Note 6 below, there is being registered hereunder an indeterminate number of warrants as may be sold, from time to time, representing rights to purchase common stock, preferred stock or debt securities.
(4) Subject to Note 6 below, there is being registered hereunder an indeterminate number of subscription rights as may be sold, from time to time, representing rights to purchase common stock.
(5) Subject to Note 6 below, there is being registered hereunder an indeterminate principal amount of debt securities as may be sold, from time to time. If any debt securities are issued at an original issue discount, then the offering price shall be in such greater principal amount as shall result in an aggregate price to investors not to exceed $250,000,000.
(6) In no event will the aggregate offering price of all securities issued from time to time pursuant to this registration statement exceed $250,000,000.
(7) Fee previously paid.

 

 

The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that the Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such dates as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 


The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer and sale is not permitted.

 

Subject to Completion

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS

May 30, 2008

$250,000,000

LOGO

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Warrants

Subscription Rights

Debt Securities

 

 

PennantPark Investment Corporation, a Maryland corporation organized on January 11, 2007, is a closed-end, externally managed, non-diversified investment company that has elected to be treated as a business development company, or BDC under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”).

Our investment objectives are to generate both current income and capital appreciation through debt and equity investments primarily in U.S. middle-market private companies in the form of mezzanine debt, senior secured loans and equity investments. We consider our core assets, by value and investment focus, to consist of subordinated debt, second lien secured debt and, to a lesser extent, equity investments. We fund a portion of our investments with borrowed money, a practice commonly known as leverage. We can offer no assurances that we will achieve our investment objectives.

We are managed by PennantPark Investment Advisers, LLC. PennantPark Investment Administration, LLC provides the administrative services necessary for us to operate.

We may offer, from time to time, in one or more offerings or series, together or separately, up to $250,000,000 of our common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants representing rights to purchase shares of our common stock, preferred stock or debt securities or subscription rights, which we refer to, collectively, as the “securities.” The securities may be offered at prices and on terms to be described in one or more supplements to this prospectus. In the event we offer common stock, the offering price per share of our common stock less any underwriting commissions or discounts will not be less than the net value per share of our common stock at the time we make the offering except (1) in connection with a rights offering to our existing stockholders, (2) with the consent of the majority of our common stockholders, or (3) under such circumstances as the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, may permit.

Our common stock has been approved for quotation on NASDAQ under the symbol “PNNT”. The last reported closing price for our common stock on May 21, 2008 was $8.15 per share.

This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement contains important information you should know before investing in our securities. Please read them before you invest and keep them for future reference. We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This information is available free of charge by contacting us at 590 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10022 or by telephone at (212) 905-1000 or on our website at www.pennantpark.com. The SEC also maintains a website at www.sec.gov that contains such information free of charge.

 

 

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk, including the risk of the use of leverage. Before buying any shares of our common stock, you should read the discussion of the material risks of investing in the Company in “ Risk Factors” beginning on page 8 of this prospectus.

 

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

This prospectus may not be used to consummate sales of securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

 

 

Prospectus dated (May 30, 2008)


You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement when considering whether to purchase any securities offered by this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with additional information, or information different from that contained in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplements. If anyone provides you with different or additional information, you should not rely on it. We are offering to sell and seeking offers to buy, securities only in jurisdictions where offers are permitted. The information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus or such prospectus supplement. We will update these documents to reflect material changes only as required by law. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since then.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

   1

FEES AND EXPENSES

   6

RISK FACTORS

   8

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

   26

USE OF PROCEEDS

   27

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

   28

DISTRIBUTIONS

   30

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

   31

PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK

   41

BUSINESS

   42

SENIOR SECURITIES

   47

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES

   48

PORTFOLIO COMPANIES

   55

MANAGEMENT

   61

CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS

   65

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND TRANSACTIONS

   67

DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE

   72

DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN

   75

DESCRIPTION OF OUR CAPITAL STOCK

   76

DESCRIPTION OF OUR PREFERRED STOCK

   82

DESCRIPTION OF OUR WARRANTS

   83

DESCRIPTION OF OUR SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS

   85

DESCRIPTION OF OUR DEBT SECURITIES

   86

REGULATION

   99

BROKERAGE ALLOCATIONS AND OTHER PRACTICES

   104

MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

   105

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

   111

CUSTODIAN, TRANSFER AGENT AND TRUSTEE

   113

LEGAL MATTERS

   113

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

   113

PRIVACY PRINCIPLES

   113

INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

   F-1

Part C OTHER INFORMATION

   C-1

SIGNATURES

   C-5

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the SEC using the “shelf” registration process. Under the shelf registration process, we may offer from time to time up to $250,000,000 of our common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants representing rights to purchase shares of our common stock, preferred stock or debt securities and subscription rights to purchase common stock on the terms to be determined at the time of the offering. The securities may be offered at prices and on terms described in one or more supplements to this prospectus. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that we may offer. Each time we use this prospectus to offer securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. Please carefully read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with any exhibits and the additional information described under the headings “Additional Information” and “Risk Factors” before you make an investment decision.

 

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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

This summary highlights some of the information in this prospectus. It is not complete and may not contain all of the information that you may want to consider. You should read carefully the more detailed information set forth under “Risk Factors” and the other information included in this prospectus. In this prospectus and accompanying prospectus supplement, if any, except where the context suggests otherwise, the terms “we,” “us,” “our” and “PennantPark” refer to PennantPark Investment Corporation; “PennantPark Investment Advisers” or the “Investment Adviser” refers to PennantPark Investment Advisers, LLC; “PennantPark Investment Administration” or the “Administrator” refers to PennantPark Investment Administration, LLC.

PennantPark Investment Corporation

PennantPark Investment Corporation, a Maryland corporation organized on January 11, 2007, is a closed-end, externally managed, non-diversified investment company that has elected to be treated as a business development company, or BDC, under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or the “1940 Act.”

Our investment objectives are to generate both current income and capital appreciation through debt and equity investments primarily in U.S. middle-market private companies in the form of mezzanine debt, senior secured loans and equity investments. We consider our core assets, by value and investment focus, to consist of subordinated debt, second lien secured debt and, to a lesser extent, equity investments.

PennantPark Investment seeks to create a diversified portfolio that includes mezzanine debt, senior secured loans and equity investments by investing approximately $10 to $50 million of capital, on average, in the securities of middle-market companies. We expect this investment size to vary proportionately with the size of our capital base. The companies in which we invest are typically highly leveraged, and, in most cases, are not rated by national rating agencies. If such companies were rated, we believe that they would typically receive a rating below investment grade (between BB and CCC under the Standard & Poor’s system) from the national rating agencies. In addition, we expect our debt investments to range in maturity from three to ten years. In this prospectus, we use the term “middle-market” to refer to companies with annual revenues between $50 million and $1 billion.

 

About PennantPark Investment Advisers

Our investment activities are managed by the Investment Adviser under an investment management agreement (the “Investment Management Agreement”). The Investment Adviser is responsible for sourcing potential investments, conducting research on prospective investments, analyzing investment opportunities, structuring our investments and monitoring our investments and portfolio companies on an ongoing basis. The Investment Adviser is led by Arthur H. Penn, its founder and the founder of PennantPark. Mr. Penn has over 20 years of experience in the mezzanine lending, leveraged finance, distressed debt and private equity businesses. He has been involved in originating, structuring, negotiating, consummating, managing and monitoring investments in each of these businesses. Mr. Penn is a Co-founder and former Managing Partner of Apollo Investment Management, L.P., or Apollo Investment Management, which is the Investment Adviser of Apollo Investment Corporation, or Apollo Investment, a publicly traded business development company. Mr. Penn served as the Chief Operating Officer and a member of the investment committee of Apollo Investment from its inception in April 2004 through February 2006 and was President and Chief Operating Officer from February 2006 through November 2006.

During the period in which Mr. Penn was the Chief Operating Officer, Apollo Investment raised approximately $930 million of gross proceeds in an initial public offering in April 2004 and raised an additional $308 million in a follow-on offering of public equity in March 2006. Mr. Penn supervised the negotiation and execution of a senior secured credit facility with a syndicate of banks which, as amended, provides for borrowings up to $2.0 billion. During Mr. Penn’s tenure with Apollo Investment, it invested approximately $2.8 billion in 73 companies in partnership with 54 different financial sponsors.

 

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During his more than 20-year career in the financial services industry, Mr. Penn has developed a network of financial sponsor relationships as well as relationships with management teams, investment bankers, attorneys and accountants that we believe will provide us with access to substantial investment opportunities.

Our Investment Adviser has three experienced investment professionals, in addition to Mr. Penn, who are partners of the firm. These investment professionals, Geoffrey Chang, Salvatore Giannetti III and Whit Williams, have a combined 44 years of experience in the mezzanine, private equity and leveraged finance businesses. See “Management,” “Certain Relationships and Transactions—Investment Management Agreement” and “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to our Business and Structure.”

About PennantPark Investment Administration

Under our administration agreement (the “Administration Agreement”), the Administrator furnishes us with clerical, bookkeeping and record keeping services and also oversees our financial records as well as the preparation of our reports to stockholders and reports filed with the SEC. The Administrator oversees the determination and publication of our net asset value, oversees the preparation and filing of our tax returns and generally monitors the payment of our expenses and the performance of administrative and professional services rendered to us by others. Furthermore, our Administrator provides, on our behalf, managerial assistance to those portfolio companies to which we are required to provide such assistance. See “Certain Relationships and Transactions—Administration Agreement” and “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to our Business and Structure.”

Our Administrator has experienced professionals including, Aviv Efrat, who serves as our Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. Mr. Efrat, who is also a Managing Director of PennantPark Investment Administration, has extensive experience in finance and administration of registered investment companies, having served for a decade as a Director at BlackRock, Inc., a leading investment firm.

Market Opportunity

We believe that the size of the middle-market, coupled with the demands of these companies for flexible sources of capital, creates an attractive investment environment for PennantPark.

 

   

We believe middle-market companies have faced increasing difficulty in raising debt through the capital markets. While many middle-market companies were formerly able to raise funds by issuing high-yield bonds, we believe this approach to financing has become more difficult as institutional investors have sought to invest in larger, more liquid offerings. We believe this has made it harder for middle-market companies to raise funds by issuing high-yield debt securities.

 

   

We believe that the current credit market dislocation improves the risk/reward of our investments. The downturn in the credit market has resulted in less competition, more conservative capital structures, higher yields and stronger covenants.

 

   

We believe there is a large pool of uninvested private equity capital likely to seek mezzanine capital to support private investments. We expect that private equity firms will continue to be active investors in middle-market companies and that these private equity funds will seek to leverage their investments by combining capital with mezzanine loans and/or senior secured loans from other sources. We expect such activity to be funded by the record amounts of private equity capital that have been raised in recent years.

 

   

We believe that opportunities to invest mezzanine and other debt capital will remain strong. We expect that the volume of domestic “public-to-private” transactions as well as the number of companies selecting a “sale” alternative versus raising capital in the public equity markets as a means of increasing liquidity will remain large. Additionally, the cost and effort associated with being a public company in the United States have become more onerous, causing many management teams to consider alternative liquidity strategies.

 

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Competitive Advantage

We believe that we have the following competitive advantages over other capital providers in middle-market companies:

Disciplined Investment Approach with Strong Value Orientation

We employ a disciplined approach in selecting investments that meet our value-oriented investment criteria employed by the Investment Adviser. Our value-oriented investment philosophy focuses on preserving capital and ensuring that our investments have an appropriate return profile in relation to risk. When market conditions make it difficult for us to invest according to our criteria, we are highly selective in deploying our capital. We do not intend to pursue short-term origination targets. We believe our approach will enable us to build an attractive investment portfolio that meets our return and value criteria over the long-term.

We believe it is critical to conduct extensive due diligence on investment targets. In evaluating new investments we, through our Investment Adviser, conduct a rigorous due diligence process that draws from our Investment Adviser’s experience, industry expertise and network of contacts. Among other things, our due diligence is designed to ensure that each prospective portfolio company will be able to meet its debt service obligations.

Ability to Source and Evaluate Transactions through our Investment Adviser’s Research Capability and Established Network

The management team of the Investment Adviser has long-term relationships with financial sponsors, management consultants and management teams that we believe enable us to evaluate investment opportunities effectively in numerous industries, as well as provide us access to substantial information concerning those industries. We identify potential investments both through active origination and through dialogue with numerous financial sponsors, management teams, members of the financial community and corporate partners with whom professionals of our Investment Adviser have long-term relationships.

Flexible Transaction Structuring

Our Investment Adviser seeks to minimize the risk of capital loss without foregoing potential for capital appreciation. In making investment decisions, we seek to invest in companies that we believe can generate positive risk-adjusted returns.

We believe the in-depth coverage and experience of Mr. Penn, as well as that of the other investment professionals of our Investment Adviser, enable us to invest throughout various stages of the economic cycle and provide us with ongoing market insights in addition to a significant investment sourcing engine.

Longer Investment Horizon with Attractive Publicly Traded Model

Unlike private equity and venture capital funds, we are not subject to standard periodic capital return requirements. Such requirements typically stipulate that funds raised by a private equity or venture capital fund, together with any capital gains on such invested funds, can only be invested once and must be returned to investors after a pre-agreed time period. We believe that our flexibility to make investments with a long-term view and without the capital return requirements of traditional private investment vehicles enables us to generate returns on invested capital and to be a better long-term partner for our portfolio companies.

Competition

Our primary competitors provide financing to middle-market companies and include other business development companies, commercial and investment banks, commercial financing companies and, to the extent they provide an alternative form of financing, private equity funds. Additionally, because competition for

 

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investment opportunities generally has increased prior to downturn in the credit market which began in mid-2007 among alternative investment vehicles, such as hedge funds, those entities have begun to invest in areas they have not traditionally invested in, including investments in middle-market companies. As a result of these new entrants, competition for investment opportunities at middle-market companies had intensified. However, we believe that there has been a reduction in the amount of debt capital available for lending in leveraged buyout transactions since the downturn in the credit markets, which began in mid-2007. We believe this has resulted in a less competitive environment for making new investments.

Many of our competitors are substantially larger and have considerably greater financial, technical and marketing resources than we do. For example, we believe some competitors have a lower cost of funds and access to funding sources that are not available to us. In addition, some of our competitors have higher risk tolerances or different risk assessments, which could allow them to consider a wider variety of investments and establish more relationships than us. Furthermore, many of our competitors are not subject to the regulatory restrictions that the 1940 Act imposes on us as a business development company.

We use the industry information available to our Investment Adviser to assess investment risks and determine appropriate pricing for our investments in portfolio companies. We benefit from the relationships of Messrs. Penn, Chang, Giannetti and Williams and other of our senior investment professionals retained by our Investment Adviser, who enable us to learn about, and compete effectively for, financing opportunities with attractive middle-market companies in the industries in which we invest. For additional information concerning the competitive risks we face, please see “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to our Business and Structure-We operate in a highly competitive market for investment opportunities.”

Leverage

We maintain a five-year, multi-currency $300 million senior secured credit facility with a group of lenders, under which we had $10 million and $194.5 million of indebtedness outstanding (including an $80.0 million temporary draw) at September 30, 2007 and March 31, 2008 , respectively. Pricing on borrowings under our credit facility is set at 100 basis points over LIBOR. We expect that our substantial debt capital resources will provide us with the flexibility to take advantage of market opportunities when they arise. See note 11 to our financial statements.

Operating and Regulatory Structure

Our investment activities are managed by PennantPark Investment Advisers and supervised by our board of directors, a majority of whom are independent of PennantPark. PennantPark Investment Advisers is an Investment Adviser that is registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, or the Advisers Act. Under our Investment Management Agreement, we pay PennantPark Investment Advisers an annual base management fee based on our gross assets as well as an incentive fee based on our performance. See “Certain Relationships and Transactions—Investment Management Agreement.”

As a BDC, we are required to comply with certain regulatory requirements. Also, while we are permitted to finance investments using debt, our ability to use debt is limited in certain significant respects. See “Regulation.” We have elected to be treated for federal income tax purposes as a regulated investment company or “RIC.” For more information, see “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations.”

Use of Proceeds

We expect to use the net proceeds from selling securities pursuant to this prospectus primarily to reduce our outstanding obligations under our credit facility. We may also use such proceeds to invest in new or existing portfolio companies, or for other general corporate purposes. Any supplements to this prospectus relating to an offering will more fully identify the use of the proceeds from such offering. See “Use of Proceeds” for information regarding our outstanding borrowings as of March 31, 2008, the corresponding interest rate charged on such borrowings as of that date and the length of time that it may take us to invest any proceeds in new or existing portfolio companies.

 

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Dividends on Common Stock

We intend to continue to distribute quarterly dividends to our common stockholders. The amount and general timing of our quarterly dividends, if any, will be determined by our board of directors. For more information, see “Distributions.”

Dividends on Preferred Stock

We may issue preferred stock from time to time, although we have no immediate intention to do so. Any such preferred stock will be a senior security for purposes of the 1940 Act and, accordingly, subject to the leverage test under that Act. If we issue shares of preferred stock, holders of such preferred stock will be entitled to receive cash dividends at an annual rate that will be fixed or will vary for the successive dividend periods for each series. In general, the dividend periods for fixed rate preferred stock will be quarterly and for any auction rate preferred stock, or ARPS, will be weekly and subject to extension. With respect to ARPS, we expect the dividend rate to be variable and determined for each dividend period. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Issuance of our Preferred Stock.”

Dividend Reinvestment Plan

We have adopted an “opt-out” dividend reinvestment plan that provides for reinvestment of our dividend distributions on behalf of our stockholders, unless a stockholder elects to receive cash. As a result, if our board of directors authorizes, and we declare, a cash dividend, then our stockholders who have not ‘opted out’ of our dividend reinvestment plan will have their cash dividends automatically reinvested in additional shares of our common stock, rather than receiving the cash dividends. Registered stockholders must notify our transfer agent in writing if they wish to ‘opt-out’ of the dividend reinvestment plan. For more information, see “Dividend Reinvestment Plan.”

Plan of Distribution

We may offer, from time to time, up to $250,000,000 of our securities, on terms to be determined at the time of each such offering and set forth in a supplement to this prospectus.

Securities may be offered at prices and on terms described in one or more supplements to this prospectus directly to one or more purchasers, through agents designated from time to time by us, or to or through underwriters or dealers. The supplement to this prospectus relating to the offering will identify any agents or underwriters involved in the sale of our securities, and will set forth any applicable purchase price, fee and commission or discount arrangement or the basis upon which such amount may be calculated. In compliance with the guidelines of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., or FINRA, the maximum compensation to the underwriters or dealers in connection with the sale of our securities pursuant to this prospectus and the accompanying supplement to this prospectus may not exceed 8% of the aggregate offering price of the securities as set forth on the cover page of the supplement to this prospectus.

We may not sell securities pursuant to this prospectus without delivering a prospectus supplement describing the terms of the particular securities to be offered and the method of the offering of such securities. For more information, see “Distributions.”

Our Corporate Information

Our administrative and principal executive offices are located at 590 Madison Avenue, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10022. Our common stock is quoted on NASDAQ under the symbol “PNNT”. Our Internet website address is www.pennantpark.com. Information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus or any supplements to this prospectus, and you should not consider information contained on our website to be part of this prospectus or any supplements to this prospectus.

 

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FEES AND EXPENSES

The following table will assist you in understanding the various costs and expenses that an investor in shares of our common stock will bear directly or indirectly. However, we caution you that some of the percentages indicated in the table below are estimates and may vary. The following table should not be considered a representation of our future expenses. Actual expenses may be greater or less than shown. Except where the context suggests otherwise, whenever this prospectus contains a reference to fees or expenses paid by “you” or “us” or that “we” will pay fees or expenses, stockholders will indirectly bear such fees or expenses as investors in the Company.

 

Stockholder transaction expenses

  

Sales load (as a percentage of offering price) %

     (1)

Offering expenses (as a percentage of offering price)

     %(2)
      

Total common stockholder expenses (as a percentage of offering price) %

     %(3)

Estimated annual expenses (as a percentage of net assets attributable to common shares)(4)

  

Management fees

   3.18 %(5)

Incentive fees payable under the Investment Management Agreement

   1.34 %(6)

Interest payments on borrowed funds

   2.55 %(7)

Other expenses

   2.20 %(8)

Total annual expenses

   9.27 %(9)

 

(1) In the event that the securities to which this prospectus relates are sold to or through underwriters, a corresponding prospectus supplement will disclose the applicable sales load.

 

(2) The related prospectus supplement will disclose the estimated amount of offering expenses, the offering price and the offering expenses borne by us as a percentage of the offering price.

 

(3) The expenses of our dividend reinvestment plan are included in “other expenses” because they are not material expenses.

 

(4) “Net assets attributable to common shares” equal net assets at March 31, 2008. We intend to use proceeds from an offering of securities under this prospectus to repay outstanding obligations under our credit facility. Any such repayments would reduce our indebtedness and interest payments on borrowings under our credit facility. We plan to continue to borrow amounts under our credit facility to make portfolio investments after completing any such offering and are permitted to do so under the terms of our credit facility. The timing of such investments and any such incurrence of debt is uncertain and will depend on the size of such offering, prevailing interest rates and our rate of investment. Accordingly, we believe that our capital structure as of March 31, 2008 provides a useful approximation of interest payments and credit facility expenses attributable to our common shares.

 

(5) The contractual management fee is calculated at an annual rate of 2.00% of our average adjusted gross total assets. See “Certain Relationships and Transactions—Investment Management Agreement.”

 

(6) The portion of incentive fees paid in respect of net investment income is based on actual amounts incurred during the six months ended March 31, 2008, annualized for a full year. However, such incentive fees are based on performance, will vary from year to year and will not be paid unless our performance exceeds specified thresholds. Incentive fees in respect of net investment income do not include net capital gains, to which the Investment Adviser is entitled to a 20% incentive fee with no threshold. As we cannot predict whether we will meet these thresholds, the incentive fee paid in future years, if any, may be substantially different than the fee earned during the six months ended March 31, 2008. For more detailed information about the incentive fee, please see the section of this prospectus captioned “Certain Relationships and Transactions—Investment Management Agreement” and Note 3 to our financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

6


(7) “Interest payments on borrowed funds” represents interest and other credit facility related fees incurred and amortization of debt issuance costs during the six months ended March 31, 2008 annualized for a full year. As of March 31, 2008, we had $105.5 million unused and $194.5 million in borrowings outstanding (including an $80.0 million temporary draw) under our $300.0 million credit facility. For more information, see “Risk Factors—We currently use borrowed funds to make investments and are exposed to the typical risks associated with leverage.”

 

(8) “Other expenses” includes our general and administrative expenses, professional fees, directors’ fees, insurance costs and the expenses of the Investment Adviser reimbursable under our Investment Management Agreement and of the Administrator reimbursable under our Administration Agreement. Such expenses are based on actual other expenses for the six months ended March 31, 2008 annualized for a full year. See our “Consolidated Statement of Operations” in our financial statements.

 

(9) “Total annual expenses” as a percentage of net assets attributable to common shares, to the extent we borrow money to make investments, are higher than the total annual expenses percentage would be for a company that is not leveraged. We may borrow money to leverage our net assets and increase our total assets. The SEC requires that the “total annual expenses” percentage be calculated as a percentage of net assets (defined as total assets less indebtedness), rather than the total assets, including assets that have been funded with borrowed monies. If the “total annual expenses” percentage were calculated instead as a percentage of total assets, our “total annual expenses” would be 5.83% of total assets. For a presentation and calculation of total annual expenses based on total assets, see page 28 of this prospectus.

Example

The following example illustrates the projected dollar amount of total cumulative expenses that you would pay on a $1,000 hypothetical investment in common shares, assuming (1) a 4.25% sales load (underwriting discounts and commissions) and offering expenses totaling 0.20%, (2) total net annual expenses of 7.93% of net assets attributable to common shares as set forth in the table above (other than performance-based incentive fees) and (3) a 5% annual return:

 

     1 Year    3 Years    5 Years    10 Years

Total expenses incurred

   $ 119    $ 262    $ 397    $ 700

This example and the expenses in the table above should not be considered a representation of our future expenses. Actual expenses may be greater or less than those assumed. The table above is to assist you in understanding the various costs and expenses that an investor in our common stock will bear directly or indirectly. While the example assumes, as required by the SEC, a 5% annual return, our performance will vary and may result in a return greater or less than 5%. Assuming a 5% annual return, the incentive fee under our Investment Management Agreement would not be earned or payable and is not included in the example. If we achieve sufficient returns on our investments, including through the realization of capital gains, to trigger an incentive fee of a material amount, our expenses, and returns to our investors, would be higher. The example assumes that all dividends and distributions are reinvested at net asset value. Under certain circumstances, reinvestment of dividends and distributions under our dividend reinvestment plan may occur at a price per share that differs from net asset value. See “Distributions” for additional information regarding our dividend reinvestment plan.

 

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RISK FACTORS

Before you invest in our securities, you should be aware of various risks, including those described below. You should carefully consider these risk factors, together with all of the other information included in this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement, if any, before you decide whether to make an investment in our securities. The risks set out below are not the only risks we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and/or operating results. If any of the following events occur, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected. In such case, our net asset value and the trading price of our common stock could decline or the value of our preferred stock, debt securities, warrants or subscription rights may decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment.

RISKS RELATING TO OUR BUSINESS AND STRUCTURE

We have a limited operating history.

We were incorporated in January 2007. We are subject to all of the business risks and uncertainties associated with any new business, including the risk that we will not achieve our investment objectives and that the value of our common stock could decline substantially. Although we have used, and will continue to use, the proceeds of our initial public offering and of our credit facility, we anticipate that it will take us up to two years from the date of our initial public offering to invest all of our assets in accordance with our investment objectives. Any distributions we make during such period may be substantially lower than the distributions that we expect to pay when our portfolio is fully invested.

We are dependent upon our Investment Adviser’s key personnel for our future success, and if we or our Investment Adviser is unable to hire and retain qualified personnel or if we lose any member of our management team, our ability to achieve our investment objectives could be significantly harmed.

We depend on the diligence, skill and network of business contacts of the investment professionals of our Investment Adviser. We also depend, to a significant extent, on PennantPark Investment Advisers’ access to the investment information and deal flow generated by these investment professionals and any others that may be hired by PennantPark Investment Advisers. Mr. Penn and other managers of our Investment Adviser evaluate, negotiate, structure, close and monitor our investments. Our future success depends on the continued service of Mr. Penn and other management personnel of our Investment Adviser. The departure of Mr. Penn or any other managers of PennantPark Investment Advisers could have a material adverse effect on our ability to achieve our investment objectives. In addition, we can offer no assurance that PennantPark Investment Advisers will remain our Investment Adviser.

Our borrowers may default on their payments, which may have a materially negative effect on our financial performance.

We make long-term, subordinated loans and invest in equity investments, which may involve a high degree of repayment risk. We invest in companies that may have limited financial resources, may be highly leveraged and may be unable to obtain financing from traditional sources. Accordingly, a general economic downturn or severe tightening in the credit markets could materially impact the ability of our borrowers to repay their loans, which could significantly damage our business. Numerous other factors may affect a borrower’s ability to repay its loan, including the failure to meet its business plan or a downturn in its industry. A portfolio company’s failure to satisfy financial or operating covenants imposed by us or other lenders could lead to defaults and, potentially, termination of its loans or foreclosure on its secured assets, which could trigger cross defaults under other agreements and jeopardize our portfolio company’s ability to meet its obligations under the loans or debt securities that we hold. In addition, our portfolio companies may have, or may be permitted to incur, other debt that ranks senior to or equally with our securities. This means that payments on such senior-ranking securities may have to be made before we receive any payments on our subordinated loans or debt securities. Deterioration in a borrower’s financial condition and prospects may be accompanied by deterioration in any related collateral and may have a materially negative effect on our financial results.

 

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Our financial condition and results of operation will depend on our ability to manage future growth effectively.

Our ability to achieve our investment objectives will depend on our ability to grow, which will depend, in turn, on our Investment Adviser’s ability to identify, invest in and monitor companies that meet our investment criteria. Accomplishing this result on a cost-effective basis will be largely a function of our Investment Adviser’s structuring of the investment process, its ability to provide competent, attentive and efficient services to us and our access to financing on acceptable terms. The management team of PennantPark Investment Advisers will have substantial responsibilities under our Investment Management Agreement. In order to grow, we and our Investment Adviser will need to hire, train, supervise and manage new employees. However, we can offer no assurance that any such employees will contribute effectively to the work of the Investment Adviser. We caution you that the Investment Adviser may also be called upon to provide managerial assistance to portfolio companies as the principals of our Administrator and other investment vehicles which may be managed by the Investment Adviser. Such demands on their time may distract them or slow our rate of investment. Any failure to manage our future growth effectively could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We operate in a highly competitive market for investment opportunities.

A number of entities compete with us to make the types of investments that we make in middle-market companies. We compete with public and private funds, including other business development companies, commercial and investment banks, commercial financing companies, and, to the extent they provide an alternative form of financing, private equity funds. Additionally, because competition for investment opportunities generally has increased among alternative investment vehicles, such as hedge funds, those entities have begun to invest in areas they have not traditionally invested in, including making investments in middle-market companies. As a result of these new entrants, competition for investment opportunities at middle-market companies has intensified. Most of our potential competitors are substantially larger and have considerably greater financial, technical and marketing resources than we do. For example, we believe some competitors have a lower cost of funds and access to funding sources that are not available to us. In addition, some of our competitors have higher risk tolerances or different risk assessments, which could allow them to consider a wider variety of investments and establish more relationships than us. Furthermore, many of our competitors are not subject to the regulatory restrictions that the 1940 Act imposes on us as a business development company. We cannot offer any assurances that the competitive pressures we face will not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Also, as a result of this competition, we may not be able to take advantage of attractive investment opportunities from time to time, and we can offer no assurance that we will be able to identify and make investments that are consistent with our investment objectives.

Entrants in our industry compete on several factors, including price, flexibility in transaction structuring, customer service, reputation, market knowledge and speed in decision-making. We do not seek to compete primarily based on the interest rates we offer, and we believe that some of our competitors may make loans with interest rates that are lower than the rates we offer. We may lose investment opportunities if we do not match our competitors’ pricing, terms and structure. However, if we match our competitors’ pricing, terms and structure, we may experience decreased net interest income and increased risk of credit loss.

PennantPark may not replicate the historical performance of other investment companies with which Mr. Penn and our other investment professionals have been affiliated.

The 1940 Act imposes numerous constraints on the investment activities of business development companies. For example, business development companies are required to invest at least 70% of their total assets primarily in securities of U.S. private or thinly traded public companies, cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government securities and other high quality debt investments that mature in one year or less. These constraints may hinder our Investment Adviser’s ability to take advantage of attractive investment opportunities and to achieve our

 

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investment objectives. Mr. Penn, our Chief Executive Officer and the Managing Member of our Investment Adviser, has had more than one year of experience managing the investments of PennantPark and approximately three years of experience managing another business development company. However, current market conditions and the current stage of the economic cycle present significant challenges to us that have not been present in recent years, if ever. In addition, the investment philosophy and techniques used by our Investment Adviser may differ from those used by other investment companies. Accordingly, we can offer no assurance that PennantPark will replicate the historical performance of other investment companies with which Mr. Penn and our other investment professionals have been affiliated, and we caution that our investment returns could be substantially lower than the returns achieved by such other companies.

Any failure on our part to maintain our status as a business development company would reduce our operating flexibility.

If we do not remain a business development company, we might be regulated as a closed-end investment company under the 1940 Act, which would subject us to substantially more regulatory restrictions under the 1940 Act and correspondingly decrease our operating flexibility.

We will be subject to corporate-level income tax if we are unable to qualify as a RIC.

To qualify as a RIC under the Code, we must meet certain source-of-income, asset diversification and annual distribution requirements. The annual distribution requirement for a RIC is satisfied if we distribute at least 90% of our ordinary income and realized net short-term capital gains in excess of realized net long-term capital losses, if any, to our stockholders on an annual basis. To the extent we use debt financing, we are subject to certain asset coverage ratio requirements under the 1940 Act and financial covenants under loan and credit agreements that could, under certain circumstances, restrict us from making distributions necessary to qualify as a RIC. If we are unable to obtain cash from other sources, we may fail to qualify as a RIC and, thus, may be subject to corporate-level income tax. To qualify as a RIC, we must also meet certain asset diversification requirements at the end of each calendar quarter. Failure to meet these tests may result in having to dispose of certain investments quickly in order to prevent the loss of RIC status. Because most of our investments are in private companies, any such dispositions could be made at disadvantageous prices and may result in substantial losses. If we fail to qualify as a RIC for any reason and become subject to corporate income tax, the resulting corporate taxes could substantially reduce our net assets, the amount of income available for distribution and the amount of our distributions. Such a failure would have a material adverse effect on us and our stockholders.

We may have difficulty paying our required distributions if we recognize income before or without receiving cash representing such income.

For federal income tax purposes, we will include in income certain amounts that we have not yet received in cash, such as original issue discount or contracted payment-in-kind, or “PIK,” interest, which represents contractual interest added to the loan balance and due at the end of the loan term. Such original issue discount, which could be significant relative to our overall investment assets, and increases in loan balances as a result of contracted PIK interest will be included in income before we receive any corresponding cash payments. We also may be required to include in income certain other amounts that we will not receive in cash.

The part of the incentive fee payable by us that relates to our net investment income will be computed and paid on income that may include interest that has been accrued but not yet received in cash. If a portfolio company defaults on a loan that is structured to provide accrued interest, it is possible that accrued interest previously used in the calculation of the incentive fee will become uncollectible.

In some cases we may recognize income before or without receiving cash representing such income. As a result, we may have difficulty meeting the tax requirement to distribute at least 90% of our ordinary income and realized net short-term capital gains in excess of realized net long-term capital losses, if any, to obtain RIC tax

 

10


benefits. Accordingly, we may have to sell some of our investments at times we would not consider advantageous, raise additional debt or equity capital or reduce new investment originations to meet these distribution requirements. If we are not able to obtain cash from other sources, we may fail to qualify for RIC tax benefits and thus be subject to corporate level income tax.

Regulations governing our operation as a BDC will affect our ability to, and the way in which we, raise additional capital.

Our business requires a substantial amount of capital. We may acquire additional capital from the issuance of senior securities or other indebtedness, the issuance of additional shares of our common stock, the issuance of warrants to purchase certain of our securities, the issuance of subscription rights or from securitization transactions. However, we may not be able to raise additional capital in the future on favorable terms or at all. We may issue debt securities or preferred securities, which we refer to collectively as “senior securities,” and we may borrow money from banks or other financial institutions, up to the maximum amount permitted by the 1940 Act. The 1940 Act permits us to issue senior securities or incur indebtedness only in amounts such that our asset coverage, as defined in the 1940 Act, equals at least 200% after such issuance or incurrence. Our ability to pay dividends or issue additional senior securities would be restricted if our asset coverage ratio were not at least 200%. If the value of our assets declines, we may be unable to satisfy this test. If that happens, we may be required to liquidate a portion of our investments and repay a portion of our indebtedness at a time when such sales may be disadvantageous, which could materially damage our business.

 

   

Senior Securities. As a result of issuing senior securities, we would also be exposed to typical risks associated with leverage, including an increased risk of loss. If we issue preferred securities they would rank “senior” to common stock in our capital structure. Preferred stockholders would have separate voting rights and may have rights, preferences or privileges more favorable than those of our common stock. Furthermore, the issuance of preferred securities could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a transaction or a change of control that might involve a premium price for our common stockholders or otherwise be in your best interest.

 

   

Additional Common Stock. Our Board of Directors may decide to issue common stock to finance our operations rather than issuing debt or other senior securities. As a BDC, we are generally not able to issue our common stock at a price below net asset value without first obtaining required approvals from our stockholders and our board of directors. We may, however, subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act, issue rights to acquire our common stock at a price below the current net asset value of the common stock if our board of directors determines that such sale is in our best interests and the best interests of our common stockholders. In any such case, the price at which our securities are to be issued and sold may not be less than a price, that in the determination of our Board of Directors, closely approximates the market value of such securities. We will not offer transferable subscription rights to our stockholders at a price equivalent to less than the then current net asset value per share of common stock, taking into account underwriting commissions, unless we first file a post-effective amendment that is declared effective by the SEC with respect to such issuance and the common stock to be purchased in connection with the rights represents no more than one-third of our outstanding common stock at the time the rights are issued. If we raise additional funds by issuing more common stock or warrants or senior securities convertible into, or exchangeable for, our common stock, the percentage ownership of our common stockholders at that time would decrease, and our common stockholders may experience dilution.

 

   

Securitization. In addition to issuing securities to raise capital as described above, we anticipate that in the future, as market conditions permit, we may securitize our loans to generate cash for funding new investments. To securitize loans, we may create a wholly-owned subsidiary, contribute a pool of loans to the subsidiary and have the subsidiary issue primarily investment grade debt securities to purchasers who we would expect to be willing to accept a substantially lower interest rate than the loans earn. We would retain all or a portion of the equity in the securitized pool of loans. Our retained equity would be

 

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exposed to any losses on the portfolio of loans before any of the debt securities would be exposed to such losses. Accordingly, if the pool of loans experienced a low level of losses due to defaults, we would earn an incremental amount of income on our retained equity but we would be exposed, up to the amount of equity we retained, to that proportion of any losses we would have experienced if we had continued to hold the loans in our portfolio. We would not treat the debt issued by such a subsidiary as senior securities. An inability to successfully securitize our loan portfolio could limit our ability to grow our business and fully execute our business strategy and adversely affect our earnings, if any. Moreover, the successful securitization of our loan portfolio might expose us to losses as the residual loans in which we do not sell interests will tend to be those that are riskier and more apt to generate losses.

We currently use borrowed funds to make investments and are exposed to the typical risks associated with leverage.

Because we borrow funds to make investments we are exposed to increased risk of loss due to our use of debt to make investments. A decrease in the value of our investments will have a greater negative impact on the value of our common stock than it would if we did not use debt. Our ability to pay distributions is restricted when our asset coverage ratio is not at least 200% and any amounts that we use to service our indebtedness is not available for distribution to our common stockholders.

Our current and future debt is governed by the terms of our credit facility and by an indenture or other instrument containing covenants restricting our operating flexibility. We, and indirectly our stockholders, bear the cost of issuing and servicing debt. Any convertible or exchangeable securities that we issue in the future may have rights, preferences and privileges more favorable than those of our common stock.

If we incur additional debt, it could increase the risk of investing in our shares.

We have indebtedness outstanding pursuant to our $300 million revolving credit facility and expect in the future to borrow additional amounts under our credit facility and to increase the size of our credit facility. Lenders have fixed dollar claims on our assets that are superior to the claims of our common stockholders or preferred stockholders, if any, and we have granted a security interest in our assets in connection with our credit facility borrowings. In the case of a liquidation event, those lenders would receive proceeds before our stockholders. In addition, borrowings, also known as leverage, magnify the potential for gain or loss on amounts invested and, therefore, increase the risks associated with investing in our securities. Leverage is generally considered a speculative investment technique. If the value of our assets decreases, leveraging would cause the net asset value attributable to our common stock to decline more than it otherwise would have had we not leveraged. Similarly, any decrease in our revenue would cause our net income to decline more than it would have had we not borrowed funds and could negatively affect our ability to make distributions on our common or preferred stock. Our ability to service any debt that we incur depends largely on our financial performance and is subject to prevailing economic conditions and competitive pressures.

As of March 31, 2008 we had outstanding borrowings of $194.5 million (including an $80.0 million temporary draw) under our credit facility with an annual interest rate at that time of 5.41%. Accordingly, to cover the annual interest on our borrowings outstanding at March 31, 2008 at the then current rate we would have to receive an annual return of at least 1.3%. This projection is for illustrative purposes only, and actual interest rates on our credit facility borrowings are likely to fluctuate. The costs associated with our borrowings, including any increase in the management fee payable to our Investment Adviser, will be borne by our common stockholders.

As a BDC, we generally are required to meet a coverage ratio of total assets to total borrowings and other senior securities, which include all of our borrowings and any preferred stock we may issue in the future, of at least 200%. If this ratio declines below 200%, we may not be able to incur additional debt and may need to sell a portion of our investments to repay some debt when it is disadvantageous to do so, and we may not be able to make distributions.

 

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The following table is designed to illustrate the effect on return to a holder of our common stock of the leverage created by our use of borrowing at March 31, 2008 of 33% of our total assets (including such borrowed funds), at the weighted average annual interest rate of 5.41% and assuming hypothetical annual returns on our portfolio of minus 10 to plus 10 percent. As can be seen, leverage generally increases the return to stockholders when the portfolio return is positive and decreases return when the portfolio return is negative. Actual returns may be greater or less than those appearing in the table.

 

Assumed return on portfolio (net of expenses)(1)

  -10.0 %   -5.0 %   0     5.0 %   10.0 %

Corresponding return to common stockholders(2)

  -17.7 %   -10.2 %   -2.7 %   4.8 %   12.3 %

 

(1) The assumed portfolio return is required by regulation of the SEC and is not a prediction of, and does not represent, our projected or actual performance.

 

(2) In order to compute the “corresponding return to common stockholders,” the “assumed return on portfolio” is multiplied by the total value of our assets at the beginning of the period to obtain an assumed return to us. From this amount, all interest expense expected to be accrued during the period is subtracted to determine the return available to stockholders. The return available to stockholders is then divided by the total value of our net assets as of the beginning of the period to determine the “corresponding return to common stockholders.”

The table also assumes that we will maintain a constant level of leverage. The amount of leverage that we use will vary from time to time.

Changes in interest rates may affect our cost of capital and net investment income.

Since we borrow money to make investments, our net investment income depends, in part, upon the difference between the rate at which we borrow funds and the rate at which we invest those funds. As a result, we can offer no assurance that a significant change in market interest rates will not have a material adverse effect on our net investment income. In the period from June 25, 2007, when we executed our credit facility, through March 31, 2008, the applicable LIBOR rate has decreased from 5.32% to 2.69%. In periods of rising interest rates, our cost of funds will increase, which could reduce our net investment income. We may use interest rate risk management techniques in an effort to limit our exposure to interest rate fluctuations. These techniques may include various interest rate hedging activities to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act. These activities may limit our ability to participate in the benefits of lower interest rates with respect to the hedged portfolio. Adverse developments resulting from changes in interest rates or hedging transactions could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Also, we have limited experience in entering into hedging transactions, and we will initially have to purchase or develop such expertise. See “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.”

A rise in the general level of interest rates can be expected to lead to higher interest rates applicable to our debt investments. Accordingly, an increase in interest rates would make it easier for us to meet or exceed the incentive fee hurdle and may result in a substantial increase of the amount of incentive fees payable to our Investment Adviser with respect to Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income. For a definition of Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income, see “Certain Relationships and Transactions—Investment Management Agreement.”

We may in the future determine to fund a portion of our investments with preferred stock, which would magnify the potential for loss and the risks of investing in us in the same way as our borrowings.

Preferred stock, which is another form of leverage, has the same risks to our common stockholders as borrowings because the dividends on any preferred stock we issue must be cumulative. If we issue preferred securities they would rank “senior” to common stock in our capital structure. Payment of dividends on, and repayment of the liquidation preference of, such preferred stock must take preference over any dividends or other

 

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payments to our common stockholders, and preferred stockholders are not subject to any of our expenses or losses and are not entitled to participate in any income or appreciation in excess of their stated preference. Furthermore, preferred stockholders would have separate voting rights and may have rights, preferences or privileges more favorable than those of our common stock. Also, the issuance of preferred securities could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a transaction or a change of control that might involve a premium price for our common stockholders or otherwise be in your best interest.

We may in the future determine to fund a portion of our investments with debt securities, which would magnify the potential for loss and the risks of investing in us in the same way as our borrowings.

As a result of an issuance of debt securities, we would be exposed to typical risks associated with leverage, including an increased risk of loss and an increase in expenses, which are ultimately borne by our common stockholders. Payment of interest on such debt securities must take preference over any other dividends or other payments to our common stockholders. If we issue debt securities, it is likely that such securities will be governed by an indenture or other instrument containing covenants restricting our operating flexibility. In addition, such securities may be rated by rating agencies, and in obtaining a rating for such securities, we may be required to abide by operating and investment guidelines that could further restrict our operating flexibility. Furthermore, any amounts that we use to service our indebtedness would not be available for distributions to our common stockholders.

If we issue preferred stock and/or debt securities, the net asset value and market value of our common stock may become more volatile.

We cannot assure you that the issuance of preferred stock and/or debt securities would result in a higher yield or return to the holders of our common stock. The issuance of preferred stock and/or debt securities would likely cause the net asset value and market value of our common stock to become more volatile. If the dividend rate on the preferred stock, or the interest rate on the debt securities, were to approach the net rate of return on our investment portfolio, the benefit of leverage to the holders of our common stock would be reduced. If the dividend rate on the preferred stock, or the interest rate on the debt securities, were to exceed the net rate of return on our portfolio, the use of leverage would result in a lower rate of return to the holders of common stock than if we had not issued the preferred stock or debt securities. Any decline in the net asset value of our investment would be borne entirely by the holders of our common stock. Therefore, if the market value of our portfolio were to decline, the leverage would result in a greater decrease in net asset value to the holders of our common stock than if we were not leveraged through the issuance of preferred stock. This decline in net asset value would also tend to cause a greater decline in the market price for our common stock.

There is also a risk that, in the event of a sharp decline in the value of our net assets, we would be in danger of failing to maintain required asset coverage ratios which may be required by the preferred stock and/or debt securities or of a downgrade in the ratings of the preferred stock and/or debt securities or our current investment income might not be sufficient to meet the dividend requirements on the preferred stock or the interest payments on the debt securities. In order to counteract such an event, we might need to liquidate investments in order to fund a redemption of some or all of the preferred stock and/or debt securities. In addition, we would pay (and the holders of our common stock would bear) all costs and expenses relating to the issuance and ongoing maintenance of the preferred stock and/or debt securities. Holders of preferred stock and/or debt securities may have different interests than holders of common stock and may at times have disproportionate influence over our affairs.

Holders of any preferred stock that we may issue will have the right to elect members of the board of directors and have class voting rights on certain matters.

The 1940 Act requires that holders of shares of preferred stock must be entitled as a class to elect two directors at all times and to elect a majority of the directors if dividends on such preferred stock are in arrears by

 

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two years or more, until such arrearage is eliminated. In addition, certain matters under the 1940 Act require the separate vote of the holders of any issued and outstanding preferred stock, including changes in fundamental investment restrictions and conversion to open-end status, and accordingly preferred stockholders could veto any such changes. Restrictions imposed on the declarations and payment of dividends or other distributions to the holders of our common stock and preferred stock, both by the 1940 Act and by requirements imposed by rating agencies, might impair our ability to maintain our qualification as a RIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

The trading market or market value of any publicly issued debt securities may be volatile.

If we publicly issue debt securities, they may or may not have an established trading market. We cannot assure investors that a trading market for our publicly issued debt securities would develop or be maintained if developed. In addition to our creditworthiness, many factors may materially adversely affect the trading market for, and market value of, our publicly issued debt securities. These factors include the following:

 

   

the time remaining to the maturity of these debt securities;

 

   

the outstanding principal amount of debt securities with terms identical to these debt securities;

 

   

the supply of debt securities trading in the secondary market, if any;

 

   

the redemption or repayment features, if any, of these debt securities;

 

   

the level, direction and volatility of market interest rates generally; and

 

   

market rates of interest higher or lower than rates borne by the debt securities.

There also may be a limited number of buyers for our debt securities. This too may materially adversely affect the market value of the debt securities or the trading market for the debt securities.

Our credit ratings may not reflect all risks of an investment in debt securities.

Our credit ratings are an assessment of our ability to pay our obligations. Consequently, real or anticipated changes in our credit ratings will generally affect the market value of any publicly issued debt securities. Our credit ratings, however, may not reflect the potential impact of risks related to market conditions generally or other factors discussed above on the market value of, or trading market for, any publicly issued debt securities.

Terms relating to redemption may materially adversely affect the return on any debt securities.

If we issue debt securities that are redeemable at our option, we may choose to redeem the debt securities at times when prevailing interest rates are lower than the interest rate paid on the debt securities. In addition, if the debt securities are subject to mandatory redemption, we may be required to redeem the debt securities at times when prevailing interest rates are lower than the interest rate paid on the debt securities. In this circumstance, a holder of our debt securities may not be able to reinvest the redemption proceeds in a comparable security at an effective interest rate as high as the debt securities being redeemed.

If we issue subscription rights or warrants for our common stock, your interest in us may be diluted as a result of such rights or warrants offering.

Stockholders who do not fully exercise rights or warrants issued to them in an offering of subscription rights or warrants to purchase our common stock should expect that they will, at the completion of the offering, own a smaller proportional interest in us than would otherwise be the case if they fully exercised their rights or warrants. We cannot state precisely the amount of any such dilution in share ownership because we do not know what proportion of the common stock would be purchased as a result of any such offering.

In addition, if the subscription price or warrant price is less than our net asset value per share of common stock at the time of such offering, then our stockholders would experience an immediate dilution of the aggregate

 

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net asset value of their shares as a result of the offering. The amount of any such decrease in net asset value is not predictable because it is not known at this time what the subscription price, warrant price or net asset value per share will be on the expiration date of such rights offering or what proportion of our common stock will be purchased as a result of any such offering.

We will be exposed to risks associated with changes in interest rates.

General interest rate fluctuations may have a substantial negative impact on our investments, the value of our common stock and our rate of return on invested capital. A reduction in the interest rates on new investments relative to interest rates on current investments could also have an adverse impact on our net interest income. An increase in interest rates could decrease the value of any investments we hold which earn fixed interest rates, including subordinated loans, senior and junior secured and unsecured debt securities and loans and high-yield bonds, and also could increase our interest expense, thereby decreasing our net income. Also, an increase in interest rates available to investors could make investment in our common stock less attractive if we are not able to increase our dividend rate, which could reduce the value of our common stock.

We will need to raise additional capital to grow because we must distribute most of our income.

We may need additional capital to fund the growth of our investments. We have issued equity securities and have borrowed from financial institutions. A reduction in the availability of new capital could limit our ability to grow. We will be required to distribute at least 90% of our ordinary income and realized net short-term capital gains in excess of realized net long-term capital losses, if any, to our stockholders to maintain our RIC status. As a result, these earnings will not be available to fund new investments. If we fail to obtain additional capital to fund our investments, this could limit our ability to grow, which may have an adverse effect on the value of our securities.

In addition, as a business development company, we are generally required to maintain a ratio of total assets to total borrowings of at least 200%. This may restrict our ability to borrow in certain circumstances.

We may experience fluctuations in our quarterly results.

We could experience fluctuations in our quarterly operating results due to a number of factors, including the interest rate payable on the debt securities we acquire, the default rate on such securities, the level of our expenses, variations in, and the timing of the recognition of, realized and unrealized gains or losses, the degree to which we encounter competition in our markets and general economic conditions. As a result of these factors, results for any period should not be relied upon as being indicative of performance in future periods.

There are significant potential conflicts of interest which could impact our investment returns.

The partners of our Investment Adviser may serve as officers, directors or principals of entities that operate in the same or a related line of business as we do or of investment funds managed by affiliates of PennantPark that may be formed in the future. The Investment Adviser has not yet undertaken any such services, but may do so at any time and without the prior approval of our stockholders or our board of directors. Our board of directors monitors any potential conflict that may arise upon such a development. Accordingly, if this occurs, they may have obligations to investors in those entities, the fulfillment of which might not be in the best interests of us or our stockholders.

In the course of our investing activities, we will pay investment advisory and incentive fees to our Investment Adviser, and will reimburse our Investment Adviser for certain expenses it incurs. As a result, investors in our common stock will invest on a “gross” basis and receive distributions on a “net” basis after expenses, resulting in a lower rate of return than an investor might achieve through direct investments. Accordingly, there may be times when the management team of the Investment Adviser has interests that differ from those of our stockholders, giving rise to a conflict.

 

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We have entered into a license agreement (the “License Agreement”) with PennantPark Investment Advisers, pursuant to which our Investment Adviser has agreed to grant us a royalty-free non-exclusive license to use the name “PennantPark.” Under the License Agreement, we will have the right to use the “PennantPark” name for so long as the Investment Adviser or one of its affiliates remains our Investment Adviser. Other than with respect to this limited license, we will have no legal right to the “PennantPark” name. In addition, we pay PennantPark Investment Administration, an affiliate of the Investment Adviser, our allocable portion of overhead and other expenses incurred by PennantPark Investment Administration in performing its obligations under our Administration Agreement, including rent and our allocable portion of the cost of our chief financial officer and chief compliance officer and their respective staffs. These arrangements may create conflicts of interest that our board of directors must monitor.

Changes in laws or regulations governing our operations may adversely affect our business.

We and our portfolio companies are subject to regulation by laws at the local, state and federal levels. These laws and regulations, as well as their interpretation, may be changed from time to time. Accordingly, any change in these laws or regulations could have a material adverse effect on our business.

Our board of directors may change our investment objectives, operating policies and strategies without prior notice or stockholder approval.

Our board of directors has the authority to modify or waive certain of our operating policies and strategies without prior notice and without stockholder approval (except as required by the 1940 Act). However, absent stockholder approval, we may not change the nature of our business so as to cease to be, or withdraw our election as, a business development company. We cannot predict the effect any changes to our current operating policies and strategies would have on our business, operating results and value of our stock. Nevertheless, the effects may adversely affect our business and impact our ability to make distributions.

RISKS RELATING TO THE ILLIQUID NATURE OF OUR PORTFOLIO ASSETS

We invest in illiquid assets, and our valuation procedures with respect to such assets may result in our recording values that are materially different than the values we ultimately receive upon disposition of such assets.

All of our investments are recorded using broker/dealers quotes, or at fair value as determined in good faith by our board of directors. As a result, there will be uncertainty as to the value of our portfolio investments. We expect that a large percentage of our portfolio investments will be in the form of securities that have no broker/dealers quotes. The fair value of such securities may not be readily determinable. We value these securities quarterly at fair value as determined in good faith by our board of directors.

At March 31, 2008, most of our portfolio assets were recorded using broker/dealers quotes. As we invest a greater percentage of our total assets in core assets, more of our portfolio assets will be recorded at fair value as determined in good faith by our board of directors. Our board of directors uses the services of one or more nationally recognized independent valuation firms to aid it in determining the fair value of these securities. The factors that may be considered in fair value pricing of our investments include the nature and realizable value of any collateral, the portfolio company’s ability to make payments and its earnings and cash flows, the markets in which the portfolio company does business, comparison to publicly traded companies and other relevant factors. Because valuations may fluctuate over short periods of time and may be based on estimates, our determinations of fair value may differ materially from the values that would have been used if a ready market for these securities existed. Additionally, valuations of private securities and private companies are inherently uncertain. Our net asset value could be adversely affected if our determinations regarding the fair value of our investments were materially higher than the values that we ultimately realize upon the disposal of such securities.

 

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Determining fair value requires that judgment be applied to the specific facts and circumstances of each portfolio investment while employing a consistently applied valuation process for the types of investments we make. In determining fair value in good faith, we generally obtain financial and other information from portfolio companies, which may represent unaudited, projected or pro forma financial information. Unlike banks, we are not permitted to provide a general reserve for anticipated loan losses; we are instead required by the 1940 Act to specifically value each individual investment on a quarterly basis and record unrealized depreciation for an investment that we believe has become impaired, including where collection of a loan or realization of an equity investment is doubtful, or when the enterprise value of the portfolio company does not currently support the cost of our debt or equity investment. Enterprise value means the entire value of the company to a potential buyer, including the sum of the values of debt and equity investments used to capitalize the enterprise at a point in time. We will record unrealized appreciation if we believe that the underlying portfolio company has appreciated in value. Without a readily available market value and because of the inherent uncertainty of valuation, the fair value of our investments determined in good faith by the board of directors may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had a ready market existed for the investments, and the differences could be material. Our net asset value could be affected if our determination of the fair value of our investments is materially different than the value that we ultimately realize.

We adjust quarterly the valuation of our portfolio to reflect our board of directors’ determination of the fair value of each investment in our portfolio. Any changes in fair value are recorded in our statement of operations as net change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation.

The lack of liquidity in our investments may adversely affect our business.

We may acquire our core investments directly from the issuer in privately negotiated transactions. Substantially all of these securities are subject to legal and other restrictions on resale or are otherwise less liquid than publicly traded securities. We typically exit our investments when the portfolio company has a liquidity event such as a sale, recapitalization, or initial public offering of the company, but we are not required to do so.

The illiquidity of our investments may make it difficult or impossible for us to sell such investments if the need arises, particularly in light of current market developments in which investor appetite for illiquid securities has substantially diminished. In addition, if we are required to liquidate all or a portion of our portfolio quickly, we may realize significantly less than the value at which we have previously recorded our investments. In addition, we may face other restrictions on our ability to liquidate an investment in a portfolio company to the extent that we have material non-public information regarding such portfolio company.

Securities purchased by us that are liquid at the time of purchase may subsequently become illiquid due to events relating to the issuer of the securities, market events, economic conditions or investor perceptions. Domestic and foreign markets are complex and interrelated, so that events in one sector of the world markets or economy, or in one geographical region, can reverberate and have materially negative consequences for other market, economic or regional sectors in a manner that may not be foreseen and which may materially harm our business.

A general disruption in the credit markets could materially damage our business.

We are susceptible to the risk of significant loss if we are forced to discount the value of our investments in order to provide liquidity to meet our liability maturities. Our borrowings under our credit facility are collateralized by the assets in our investment portfolio. A general disruption in the credit markets could result in a diminished appetite for our securities. In addition, with respect to over-the-counter traded securities, the continued viability of any over-the-counter secondary market depends on the continued willingness of dealers and other participants to purchase the securities.

 

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If the fair value of our assets declines substantially, we may fail to maintain the asset coverage ratios stipulated by the 1940 Act, which could, in turn, cause us to lose our status as a business development company and materially impair our business operations. Our liquidity could be impaired further by an inability to access the capital markets or to draw down our credit facility. These situations may arise due to circumstances that we may be unable to control, such as a general disruption in the credit markets, a severe decline in the value of the United States dollar, a sharp economic downturn or an operational problem that affects third parties or us, and could materially damage our business.

We rely in part on our senior secured securities to provide us with adequate liquidity, but even these securities face liquidity constraints under current market conditions.

Even the market for senior secured debt securities and other over-the-counter traded securities has weakened as the viability of any over-the-counter secondary market depends on the continued willingness of dealers and other participants to purchase the securities, which has slackened under current market conditions.

RISKS RELATED TO OUR INVESTMENTS

Our investments in prospective portfolio companies may be risky, and you could lose all or part of your investment.

We intend to invest primarily in mezzanine debt, senior secured loans and selected equity investments issued by U.S. middle-market companies.

Mezzanine Debt: Our mezzanine debt investments will generally be subordinated to senior secured loans and will generally be unsecured. This may result in an above average amount of risk and volatility or a loss of principal. These investments may involve additional risks that could adversely affect our investment returns. To the extent interest payments associated with such debt are deferred, such debt may be subject to greater fluctuations in valuations, and such debt could subject us and our stockholders to non-cash income. Since we will not receive cash prior to the maturity of some of our mezzanine debt investments, such investments may be of greater risk than cash paying loans.

Senior Secured Loans: When we extend senior secured loans, we will generally take a security interest in the available assets of these portfolio companies, including the equity interests of their subsidiaries, although this will not always be the case. We expect this security interest, if any, to help mitigate the risk that we will not be repaid. However, there is a risk that the collateral securing our loans may decrease in value over time, may be difficult to sell in a timely manner, may be difficult to appraise and may fluctuate in value based upon the success of the business and market conditions, including as a result of the inability of the portfolio company to raise additional capital. Also, in some circumstances, our lien could be subordinated to claims of other creditors. In addition, deterioration in a portfolio company’s financial condition and prospects, including its inability to raise additional capital, may be accompanied by deterioration in the value of the collateral for the loan. Consequently, the fact that a loan is secured does not guarantee that we will receive principal and interest payments according to the loan’s terms, or at all, or that we will be able to collect on the loan should we be forced to enforce our remedies.

Equity Investments: We have made and expect to continue to make selected equity investments. In addition, when we invest in senior secured loans or mezzanine debt, we may acquire warrants to purchase equity investments from time to time. Our goal is ultimately to dispose of these equity investments and realize gains upon our disposition of such interests. However, the equity investments we receive may not appreciate in value and, in fact, may decline in value. Accordingly, we may not be able to realize gains from our equity investments, and any gains that we do realize on the disposition of any equity investments may not be sufficient to offset any other losses we experience.

 

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In addition, investing in middle-market companies involves a number of significant risks, including:

 

   

these companies may have limited financial resources and may be unable to meet their obligations under their debt securities that we hold, which may be accompanied by a deterioration in the value of any collateral and a reduction in the likelihood of us realizing any guarantees we may have obtained in connection with our investment;

 

   

they typically have shorter operating histories, narrower product lines and smaller market shares than larger businesses, which tend to render them more vulnerable to competitors’ actions and changing market conditions, as well as general economic downturns;

 

   

they are more likely to depend on the management talents and efforts of a small group of persons; therefore, the death, disability, resignation or termination of one or more of these persons could have a material adverse impact on our portfolio company and, in turn, on us;

 

   

they generally have less predictable operating results, may from time to time be parties to litigation, may be engaged in rapidly changing businesses with products subject to a substantial risk of obsolescence, and may require substantial additional capital to support their operations, finance expansion or maintain their competitive position. In addition, our executive officers, directors and our Investment Adviser may, in the ordinary course of business, be named as defendants in litigation arising from our investments in the portfolio companies; and

 

   

they may have difficulty accessing the capital markets to meet future capital needs, which may limit their ability to grow or to repay their outstanding indebtedness upon maturity.

We may invest up to 30% of our assets in investments that are not qualifying assets for business development companies under the 1940 Act. If we do not invest a sufficient portion of our assets in qualifying assets, we could be precluded from investing in assets that we deem to be attractive.

As a business development company, we may not acquire any asset other than qualifying assets, as defined under the 1940 Act, unless at the time the acquisition is made such qualifying assets represent at least 70% of the value of our total assets. Qualifying assets include investments in U.S. operating companies whose securities are not listed on a national securities exchange and, effective July 2008, companies listed on a national securities exchange subject to a market capitalization limit of $250 million. Qualifying assets also include cash, cash items, government securities and high quality debt securities maturing in one year or less from the time of investment. See “Regulation” for a complete list of the qualifying assets in which we may invest.

We believe that most of our senior secured loans and mezzanine debt investments will constitute qualifying assets. However, we may be precluded from investing in what we believe are attractive investments if such investments are not qualifying assets for purposes of the 1940 Act. If we do not invest a sufficient portion of our assets in qualifying assets, we will be prohibited from making any additional investment that is not a qualifying asset and could be forced to forgo attractive investment opportunities. Similarly, these rules could prevent us from making follow-on investments in existing portfolio companies (which could result in the dilution of our position) or could require us to dispose of investments at inappropriate times in order to comply with the 1940 Act. If we need to dispose of such investments quickly, it would be difficult to dispose of such investments on favorable terms. For example, we may have difficulty in finding a buyer and, even if we do find a buyer, we may have to sell the investments at a substantial loss.

We are a non-diversified investment company within the meaning of the 1940 Act, and therefore we generally are not limited with respect to the proportion of our assets that may be invested in securities of a single issuer.

We are classified as a non-diversified investment company within the meaning of the 1940 Act, which means that we are not limited by the 1940 Act with respect to the proportion of our assets that we may invest in securities of a single issuer, excluding limitations on stakeholdings in investment companies. To the extent that we assume large positions in the securities of a small number of issuers, our net asset value may fluctuate to a

 

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greater extent than that of a diversified investment company as a result of changes in the financial condition or the market’s assessment of the issuer. We may also be more susceptible to any single economic or regulatory occurrence than a diversified investment company. Beyond our income tax diversification requirements, we do not have fixed guidelines for diversification, and our investments could be concentrated in relatively few portfolio companies.

Economic recessions or downturns could impair our portfolio companies and harm our operating results.

Many financial experts believe that we are about to enter into a recession or are already in a recession. Many of our portfolio companies may be susceptible to economic slowdowns or recessions and may be unable to repay our loans during these periods. Therefore, our non-performing assets are likely to increase and the value of our portfolio is likely to decrease during these periods. Adverse economic conditions also may decrease the value of collateral securing some of our loans and the value of our equity investments. Economic slowdowns or recessions could lead to financial losses in our portfolio and a material decrease in revenues, net income and assets. Unfavorable economic conditions also could increase our funding costs, limit our access to the capital markets or result in a decision by lenders not to extend credit to us. These events could prevent us from increasing investments and materially harm our operating results.

A portfolio company’s failure to satisfy financial or operating covenants imposed by us or other lenders could lead to defaults and potential termination of its loans and foreclosure on its secured assets, which could trigger cross-defaults under other agreements and jeopardize our portfolio company’s ability to meet its obligations under the debt securities that we hold. We may incur expenses to the extent necessary to seek recovery upon default or to negotiate new terms with a defaulting portfolio company. Depending on the facts and circumstances of our investments and the extent of our involvement in the management of a portfolio company, upon the bankruptcy of a portfolio company, a bankruptcy court may recharacterize our debt investments as equity investments and subordinate all or a portion of our claim to that of other creditors. This could occur even though we may have structured our investment as senior secured loans.

If we fail to make follow-on investments in our portfolio companies, this could impair the value of our portfolio.

Following an initial investment in a portfolio company, we may make additional investments in that portfolio company as “follow-on” investments, in order to:

 

   

increase or maintain in whole or in part our equity ownership percentage;

 

   

exercise warrants, options or convertible securities that were acquired in the original or subsequent financing; or

 

   

attempt to preserve or enhance the value of our investment. We may elect not to make follow-on investments or otherwise lack sufficient funds to make those investments.

We have the discretion to make any follow-on investments, subject to the availability of capital resources. Any failure to make follow-on investments may, in some circumstances, jeopardize the continued viability of a portfolio company and our initial investment, or may result in a missed opportunity for us to increase our participation in a successful operation. Even if we have sufficient capital to make a desired follow-on investment, we may elect not to make a follow-on investment because we may not want to increase our concentration of risk, because we prefer other opportunities, or because we are inhibited by compliance with business development company requirements or the desire to maintain our tax status.

Because we do not generally hold controlling equity interests in our portfolio companies, we may not be in a position to exercise control over our portfolio companies or to prevent decisions by management of our portfolio companies that could decrease the value of our investments.

Although we may do so in the future, we do not currently have controlling equity positions in our portfolio companies. As a result, we are subject to the risk that a portfolio company may make business decisions with

 

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which we disagree, and the stockholders and management of a portfolio company may take risks or otherwise act in ways that are adverse to our interests. Due to the lack of liquidity for the debt and equity investments that we will typically hold in our portfolio companies, we may not be able to dispose of our investments in the event we disagree with the actions of a portfolio company, and may therefore suffer a decrease in the value of our investments.

An investment strategy focused primarily on privately held companies presents certain challenges, including the lack of available information about these companies, a dependence on the talents and efforts of only a few key portfolio company personnel and a greater vulnerability to economic downturns.

We have invested and intend to continue to invest primarily in privately held companies. Generally, little public information exists about these companies, and we will rely on the ability of our Investment Adviser’s investment professionals to obtain adequate information to evaluate the potential returns from investing in these companies. If they are unable to uncover all material information about these companies, we may not make a fully informed investment decision, and we may lose money on our investments. Also, privately held companies frequently have less diverse product lines and smaller market presence than larger competitors. These factors could materially adversely affect our investment returns as compared to companies investing primarily in the securities of public companies.

Our portfolio companies may incur debt that ranks equally with, or senior to, our investments in such companies.

We invest primarily in mezzanine debt, senior secured loans and equity investments issued by our portfolio companies. The portfolio companies usually will have, or may be permitted to incur, other debt that ranks equally with, or senior to, the debt securities in which we invest. By their terms, such debt instruments may provide that the holders are entitled to receive payment of interest or principal on or before the dates on which we are entitled to receive payments in respect of the debt securities in which we invest. Also, in the event of insolvency, liquidation, dissolution, reorganization or bankruptcy of a portfolio company, holders of debt instruments ranking senior to our investment in that portfolio company would typically be entitled to receive payment in full before we receive any distribution in respect of our investment. After repaying such senior creditors, the portfolio company may not have any remaining assets to use for repaying its obligation to us. In the case of debt ranking equally with debt securities in which we invest, we would have to share on an equal basis any distributions with other creditors holding such debt in the event of an insolvency, liquidation, dissolution, reorganization or bankruptcy of the relevant portfolio company.

Our incentive fee may induce the Investment Adviser to make speculative investments.

The incentive fee payable by us to PennantPark Investment Advisers may create an incentive for PennantPark Investment Advisers to make investments on our behalf that are risky or more speculative than would be the case in the absence of such compensation arrangement. The incentive fee payable to our Investment Adviser is calculated based on a percentage of our return on invested capital. This may encourage our Investment Adviser to use leverage to increase the return on our investments. Under certain circumstances, the use of leverage may increase the likelihood of default, which would disfavor the holders of our common stock. In addition, our Investment Adviser will receive the incentive fee based, in part, upon net capital gains realized on our investments. Unlike that portion of the incentive fee based on income, there is no hurdle applicable to the portion of the incentive fee based on net capital gains. As a result, the Investment Adviser may have a tendency to invest more capital in investments that are likely to result in capital gains as compared to income producing securities. Such a practice could result in our investing in more speculative securities than would otherwise be the case, which could result in higher investment losses, particularly during economic downturns.

 

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We may make investments that cause our shareholders to bear investment advisory fees and other expenses on such investments in addition to our management fees and expenses.

We may invest, to the extent permitted by law, in the securities and instruments of other investment companies and companies that would be investment companies but are excluded from the definition of investment company provided in Section 3(c) of the 1940 Act. To the extent we so invest, we will bear our ratable share of any such investment company’s expenses, including management and performance fees. We will also remain obligated to pay investment advisory fees, consisting of a base management fee and incentive fees, to PennantPark Investment Advisers with respect to investments in the securities and instruments of other investment companies under our Investment Management Agreement. With respect to any such investments, each of our stockholders will bear his or her share of the investment advisory fees of PennantPark Investment Advisers as well as indirectly bearing the investment advisory fees and other expenses of any investment companies in which we invest.

We may be obligated to pay our Investment Adviser incentive compensation even if we incur a loss.

Our investment adviser is entitled to incentive compensation for each fiscal quarter in an amount equal to a percentage of the excess of our investment income for that quarter (before deducting incentive compensation, net operating losses and certain other items) above a threshold return for that quarter. Our pre-incentive fee net investment income for incentive compensation purposes excludes realized and unrealized capital losses that we may incur in the fiscal quarter, even if such capital losses result in a net loss on our statement of operations for that quarter. Thus, we may be required to pay our manager incentive compensation for a fiscal quarter even if there is a decline in the value of our portfolio or we incur a net loss for that quarter.

Our investments in foreign debt securities may involve significant risks in addition to the risks inherent in U.S. investments.

Our investment strategy contemplates potential investments in securities of companies located outside of the United States. Investing in companies located outside of the United States may expose us to additional risks not typically associated with investing in U.S. companies. These risks include changes in exchange control regulations, political and social instability, expropriation, imposition of foreign taxes, less liquid markets and less available information than is generally the case in the United States, higher transaction costs, less government supervision of exchanges, brokers and issuers, less developed bankruptcy laws, difficulty in enforcing contractual obligations, lack of uniform accounting and auditing standards and greater price volatility.

Although most of our investments will be U.S. dollar-denominated, any investments denominated in a foreign currency will be subject to the risk that the value of a particular currency will change in relation to one or more other currencies. Among the factors that may affect currency values are trade balances, the level of short-term interest rates, differences in relative values of similar assets in different currencies, long-term opportunities for investment and capital appreciation, and political developments. We may employ hedging techniques to minimize these risks, but we can offer no assurance that we will, in fact, hedge currency risk or, that if we do, such strategies will be effective.

We may expose ourselves to risks if we engage in hedging transactions.

If we engage in hedging transactions, we may expose ourselves to risks associated with such transactions. We may borrow under a credit facility in currencies selected to minimize our foreign currency exposure or use instruments such as forward contracts, currency options and interest rate swaps, caps, collars and floors to seek to hedge against fluctuations in the relative values of our portfolio positions from changes in currency exchange rates and market interest rates. Hedging against a decline in the values of our portfolio positions does not eliminate the possibility of fluctuations in the values of such positions or prevent losses if the values of such positions decline. However, such hedging can establish other positions designed to gain from those same developments, thereby offsetting the decline in the value of such portfolio positions. Such hedging transactions

 

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may also limit the opportunity for gain if the values of the underlying portfolio positions should increase. Moreover, it may not be possible to hedge against an exchange rate or interest rate fluctuation that is so generally anticipated that we are not able to enter into a hedging transaction at an acceptable price.

While we may enter into such transactions to seek to reduce currency exchange rate and interest rate risks, unanticipated changes in currency exchange rates or interest rates may result in poorer overall investment performance than if we had not engaged in any such hedging transactions. In addition, the degree of correlation between price movements of the instruments used in a hedging strategy and price movements in the portfolio positions being hedged may vary. Moreover, for a variety of reasons, we may not seek to establish a perfect correlation between such hedging instruments and the portfolio holdings being hedged. Any such imperfect correlation may prevent us from achieving the intended hedge and expose us to risk of loss. In addition, it may not be possible to hedge fully or perfectly against currency fluctuations affecting the value of securities denominated in non-U.S. currencies because the value of those securities is likely to fluctuate as a result of factors not related to currency fluctuations.

Provisions of the Maryland General Corporation Law and of our charter and bylaws could deter takeover attempts and have an adverse impact on the price of our common stock.

The Maryland General Corporation Law, our charter and our bylaws contain provisions that may discourage, delay or make more difficult a change in control of PennantPark or the removal of our directors. We are subject to the Maryland Business Combination Act, the application of which is subject to any applicable requirements of the 1940 Act. Our board of directors has adopted a resolution exempting us from the Business Combination Act any business combination between us and any other person, subject to prior approval of such business combination by our board, including approval by a majority of our disinterested directors. If the resolution exempting business combinations is repealed or our board does not approve a business combination, the Business Combination Act may discourage third parties from trying to acquire control of us and increase the difficulty of consummating such an offer. Our bylaws exempt from the Maryland Control Share Acquisition Act acquisitions of our common stock by any person. If we amend our bylaws to repeal the exemption from the Control Share Acquisition Act, the Control Share Acquisition Act also may make it more difficult for a third party to obtain control of us and increase the difficulty of consummating such an offer.

We have also adopted other measures that may make it difficult for a third party to obtain control of us, including provisions of our charter classifying our board of directors in three classes serving staggered three-year terms, and provisions of our charter authorizing our board of directors to classify or reclassify shares of our stock in one or more classes or series, to cause the issuance of additional shares of our stock, and to amend our charter, without stockholder approval, to increase or decrease the number of shares of stock that we have authority to issue. These provisions, as well as other provisions of our charter and bylaws, may delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change in control that might otherwise be in the best interests of our stockholders.

RISKS RELATING TO AN INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMON STOCK

There is a risk that our stockholders may not receive distributions or that our distributions may not grow over time.

We intend to make distributions on a quarterly basis to our stockholders out of assets legally available for distribution. We cannot assure you that we will achieve investment results that will allow us to make a specified level of cash distributions or year-to-year increases in cash distributions. In addition, due to the asset coverage test applicable to us as a business development company, we may be limited in our ability to make distributions. Further, if more stockholders opt to receive cash dividends and other distributions rather than participate in our dividend reinvestment plan, we may be forced to liquidate some of our investments and raise cash in order to make distribution payments, which could materially harm our business. Finally, to the extent we make distributions to stockholders which include a return of capital, that portion of the distribution essentially constitutes a return of the stockholders’ investment. Although such return of capital may not be taxable, such distributions may increase an investor’s tax liability for capital gains upon the future sale of our common stock.

 

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Investing in our shares may involve an above average degree of risk.

The investments we make in accordance with our investment objectives may result in a higher amount of risk and volatility than alternative investment options or loss of principal. Our investments in portfolio companies may be highly speculative and aggressive and therefore, an investment in our shares may not be suitable for someone with lower risk tolerance.

Our shares may trade at discounts from net asset value or at premiums that are unsustainable over the long term.

Shares of business development companies may trade at a market price that is less than the net asset value that is attributable to those shares. Our shares have traded above and below our NAV. Our shares traded on NASDAQ at $8.51 and $13.40 as of March 31, 2008 and September 30, 2007, respectively. Our NAV was $10.26 and $12.83, as of March 31, 2008 and September 30, 2007, respectively. The possibility that our shares of common stock will trade at a discount from net asset value or at a premium that is unsustainable over the long term is separate and distinct from the risk that our net asset value will decrease. It is not possible to predict whether our shares will trade at, above, or below net asset value in the future.

The market price of our common stock may fluctuate significantly.

The market price and liquidity of the market for shares of our common stock may be significantly affected by numerous factors, some of which are beyond our control and may not be directly related to our operating performance. These factors include:

 

   

significant volatility in the market price and trading volume of securities of business development companies or other companies in our sector, which are not necessarily related to the operating performance of these companies;

 

   

changes in regulatory policies or tax guidelines, particularly with respect to RICs or business development companies;

 

   

any loss of RIC status;

 

   

changes in earnings or variations in operating results;

 

   

changes in the value of our portfolio of investments;

 

   

any shortfall in revenue or net income or any increase in losses from levels expected by investors or securities analysts;

 

   

the inability of our Investment Adviser to employ additional experienced investment professionals or the departure of any of the Investment Adviser’s key personnel, including Mr. Penn;

 

   

operating performance of companies comparable to us;

 

   

general economic trends and other external factors; and

 

   

loss of a major funding source.

We may be unable to invest the net proceeds raised from offerings on acceptable terms, which would harm our financial condition and operating results.

Until we identify new investment opportunities, we intend to either invest the net proceeds of future offerings in cash equivalents, U.S. government securities and other high-quality debt investments that mature in one year or less or use the net proceeds from such offerings to reduce then-outstanding obligations under our credit facility. We cannot assure you that we will be able to find enough appropriate investments that meet our investment criteria or that any investment we complete using the proceeds from an offering will produce a sufficient return.

 

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or our future performance or financial condition. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts, but rather are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry, our beliefs and our assumptions. The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus involve risks and uncertainties, including statements as to:

 

   

our future operating results;

 

   

our business prospects and the prospects of our prospective portfolio companies;

 

   

the dependence of our future success on the general economy and its impact on the industries in which we invest;

 

   

the impact of a protracted decline in the liquidity of credit markets on our business;

 

   

the impact of investments that we expect to make;

 

   

the impact of fluctuation in interest rates on our business;

 

   

our contractual arrangements and relationships with third parties;

 

   

the valuation of our investments in portfolio companies, particularly those having no liquid trading market;

 

   

the ability of our prospective portfolio companies to achieve their objectives;

 

   

our expected financings and investments;

 

   

the adequacy of our cash resources and working capital;

 

   

the timing of cash flows, if any, from the operations of our prospective portfolio companies; and

 

   

the ability of our Investment Adviser to locate suitable investments for us and to monitor and administer our investments.

We use words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “seeks” and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Undue influence should not be placed on the forward looking statements as our actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements for any reason, including the factors set forth in our preliminary prospectus entitled “Risk Factors” and elsewhere.

We have based the forward-looking statements included in this prospectus on information available to us on the date of this prospectus , and we assume no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Although we undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements in this prospectus, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, you are advised to consult any additional disclosures that we may make directly to you or through supplemental prospectus that we in the future may file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including annual reports on Form 10-K, reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We expect to use the net proceeds from selling securities pursuant to this prospectus primarily to reduce our outstanding obligations under our credit facility. We may also use such proceeds to invest in new or existing portfolio companies, or for other general corporate purposes. Any supplements to this prospectus relating to an offering will more fully identify the use of the proceeds from such offering.

As of March 31, 2008, we had $105.5 million unused and $194.5 million (including an $80.0 million temporary draw) in borrowings outstanding under our $300 million credit facility. Borrowings under our credit facility bear an interest rate equal to LIBOR + 100 basis points, per annum. At March 31, 2008, this corresponded to an interest rate of 5.41%. The credit facility is a five-year revolving facility with a stated maturity date of June 25, 2012 and is secured by substantially all of the assets in our investment portfolio. See “Credit Facility” in notes to the financial statements for more information.

If we invest proceeds from an offering of securities in new or existing portfolio companies, such investments may take up to two years from the closing of such offering, in part because privately negotiated investments in illiquid securities or private middle-market companies require substantial due diligence and structuring. During this period, we would expect to invest such proceeds in first lien secured debt, cash or cash equivalents. We expect to earn yields on such proceeds that are substantially lower than the interest income that we anticipate receiving in respect of investments in our core assets. As a result, any distributions we make during this period may be lower than the distributions that we would expect to pay when such proceeds are fully invested in core assets. The management fee payable by us will not be reduced while our assets are invested in such securities. See “Regulation—Temporary Investments” for additional information about temporary investments we may make prior to investing in core assets.

 

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SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

Quarterly financial information is derived from unaudited financial data and, in the opinion of management, reflects all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) that are necessary to present fairly the results of such interim periods. Interim results as of and for the six months ended March 31, 2008 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending September 30, 2008. The Statement of Operations, Per Share Data and Balance Sheet Data for the period from January 11, 2007 (inception ) through September 30, 2007 are derived from our financial statements which have been audited by KPMG LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm. This selected financial data should be read in conjunction with our financial statements and related notes thereto and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Regulation—Senior Securities” included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

      Six months ended
March 31, 2008
    Period from
January 11, 2007
(inception) to
September 30, 2007
 
(Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)    (Unaudited)     (audited)  

Statement of operations data:

    

Total investment income

   $ 18,718     $ 13,107  

Net expenses before base management fee waiver

     9,958       6,444  

Net expenses after base management fee waiver(1)

     9,537       5,802  

Net investment income

     9,181       7,305  

Net realized and unrealized loss

     (54,046 )     (24,004 )

Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations

     (44,865 )     (16,699 )

Per share data:

    

Net asset value (at period end)

   $ 10.26     $ 12.83  

Net investment income

     0.44       0.35  

Net realized and unrealized loss

     (2.57 )     (1.15 )

Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations

     (2.13 )     (0.80 )

Distributions declared

     0.44       0.36  

Balance sheet data (at period end):

    

Total assets

   $ 423,700     $ 555,008  

Total investment portfolio(3)

     417,134       548,976  

Borrowings outstanding

     194,500       10,000  

Payable for investments and cash equivalents purchased

     8,620       269,344  

Other liabilities

     4,322       5,271  

Total net asset value

     216,258       270,393  

Other data:

    

Total return(2)

     (33.44 )%     (8.29 )%

Number of portfolio companies (at period end)

     40       38 (4)

Value of long-term investments (at period end)

   $ 335,884     $ 291,017  

Yield on debt portfolio (at period end)

     9.2 %     10.1 %(4)

 

 

(1) The base management fee waiver was in effect through March 31, 2008. See “Certain Relationships and Transactions-Investment Advisory Fees.”

 

(2)

Total return is based on the change in market price per share and takes into account dividends and distributions, if any, reinvested in accordance with our dividend reinvestment plan. Total return would have been (33.66)%(4) and (8.49)%(4), respectively, for the six months ended March 31, 2008 and the period from January 11, 2007 (inception) to September 30, 2007 without the base management fee waiver. Total return is not annualized.

 

(3) Includes cash equivalent.

 

(4) Unaudited.

 

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Selected Quarterly Data (Unaudited)

 

     March 31,
2008
    December 31,
2007
    September 30,
2007
    June 30,
2007
    March 31,
2007
 
     Q2     Q1     Q4     Q3     Q2*  
(dollar amounts in thousands, except per share data)                               

Total investment income

   $ 9,714     $ 9,004     $ 6,909     $ 5,425     $ 773  

Net investment income (loss)

   $ 4,449     $ 4,732     $ 4,348     $ 3,208     $ (251 )

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

   $ (37,778 )   $ (16,269 )   $ (18,870 )   $ (5,152 )   $ 18  

Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations

   $ (33,329 )   $ (11,537 )   $ (14,522 )   $ (1,944 )   $ (234 )

Earnings per common share

   $ (1.58 )   $ (0.54 )   $ (0.70 )   $ (0.09 )   $ (0.01 )

Net asset value per share at the end of the quarter

   $ 10.26     $ 12.07     $ 12.83     $ 13.74     $ 12.08  

Market value per share at the end of the quarter

   $ 8.51     $ 10.02     $ 13.40     $ 14.04       (1 )

 

 * From January 11, 2007 (inception of operations).

 

(1) Our common stock began trading on April 19, 2007.

 

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DISTRIBUTIONS

We intend to make distributions on a quarterly basis to our stockholders. The amount and general timing of our quarterly distributions, if any, will be determined by our Board of Directors. We intend to distribute to our stockholders substantially all of our income. We may elect to make deemed distributions to our stockholders of certain net capital gains. If this happens, you will be treated as if you received an actual distribution of the capital gains we retain and reinvested the after-tax net proceeds in us. You also may be eligible to claim a tax credit (or, in certain circumstances, a tax refund) equal to your allocable share of the tax we paid on the capital gains deemed distributed to you. See “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations.” With respect to the dividends paid to stockholders, income from origination, structuring, closing, commitment and other upfront fees associated with investments in portfolio companies is treated as taxable income and accordingly, distributed to stockholders. We monitor available net investment income to determine if a tax return of capital may occur for the fiscal year. To the extent our taxable earnings fall below the total amount of our distributions for any given fiscal year, a portion of those distributions may be deemed to be a tax return of capital to our common stockholders.

The following table summarizes our dividends declared since shares of our common stock began being regularly quoted on the NASDAQ Global Select Market:

 

     Dividend
Declared
 

Fiscal year ending September 30, 2008

  

Second quarter

   $ 0.22  

First quarter

   $ 0.22  

Fiscal year ended September 30, 2007

  

Fourth quarter

   $ 0.22  

Third quarter

   $ 0.14  
        

Total fiscal year ended September 30, 2007

   $ 0.36 *

 

* $0.00107 per share is a tax return of capital

We intend to continue to distribute quarterly dividends to our stockholders. Our quarterly dividends, if any, will be determined by our board of directors.

We have elected to be taxed as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. To maintain our RIC status, we must distribute at least 90% of our ordinary income and realized net short-term capital gains in excess of realized net long-term capital losses, if any, out of the assets legally available for distribution. In order to avoid certain excise taxes we must distribute during each calendar year an amount at least equal to the sum of (1) 98% of our ordinary income for the calendar year, (2) 98% of our capital gains in excess of capital losses for the one-year period ending on October 31st and (3) any ordinary income and net capital gains for preceding years that were not distributed during such years. In addition, although we currently intend to distribute realized net capital gains (i.e., realized net long-term capital gains in excess of realized net short-term capital losses), if any, at least annually, out of the assets legally available for such distributions, we may in the future decide to retain such capital gains for investment. In such event, the consequences of our retention of net capital gains are as described under “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations.”

We maintain an “opt out” dividend reinvestment plan for our common stockholders. As a result, if we declare a dividend, then stockholders’ cash dividends will be automatically reinvested in additional shares of our common stock, unless they specifically “opt out” of the dividend reinvestment plan so as to receive cash dividends. See “Dividend Reinvestment Plan.”

We may not be able to achieve operating results that will allow us to make dividends and distributions at a specific level or to increase the amount of these dividends and distributions from time to time. In addition, we may be limited in our ability to make dividends and distributions due to the asset coverage test for borrowings when applicable to us as a BDC under the 1940 Act and due to provisions in future credit facilities. If we do not distribute a certain percentage of our income annually, we will suffer adverse tax consequences, including possible loss of our RIC status. We cannot assure stockholders that they will receive any dividends and distributions or dividends and distributions at a particular level.

 

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The information contained in this section should be read in conjunction with the selected financial data and our financial statements and notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this prospectus.

Overview

PennantPark was organized under the Maryland General Corporation Law in January 2007. We are an externally managed, closed-end, non-diversified investment company that has elected to be treated as a business development company under the 1940 Act. As such, we are required to comply with certain regulatory requirements. For instance, we generally have to invest at least 70% of our total assets in “qualifying assets,” including securities of U.S. private or thinly traded public companies, cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government securities and high-quality debt investments that mature in one year or less.

Our investment activities are managed by PennantPark Investment Advisers and supervised by our board of directors, a majority of whom are independent of us and PennantPark Investment Advisers. Under our Investment Management Agreement, we have agreed to pay our Investment Adviser an annual base management fee based on our average adjusted gross total assets as well as an incentive fee based on our investment performance. We have also entered into an Administration Agreement with PennantPark Investment Administration. Under our Administration Agreement, we have agreed to reimburse the Administrator for our allocable portion of overhead and other expenses incurred by the Administrator in performing its obligations under our Administration Agreement, including rent and our allocable portion of the costs of compensation and related expenses of our chief compliance officer, chief financial officer and their respective staffs.

Our investment objectives are to generate both current income and capital appreciation through debt and equity investments primarily in U.S. middle-market private companies in the form of mezzanine debt, senior secured loans and equity investments. We consider our core assets, by value and investment focus, to consist of subordinated debt, second lien secured debt and, to a lesser extent, equity investments.

The companies in which we invest are typically highly leveraged, often as a result of leveraged buy-outs or other recapitalization transactions, and, in most cases, are not rated by national rating agencies. If such companies were rated, we believe that they would typically receive a rating below investment grade (between BB and CCC under the Standard & Poor’s system) from the national rating agencies.

We expect that our investments in mezzanine debt, senior secured loans and other investments will range between $10 million and $50 million each. We expect this investment size to vary proportionately with the size of our capital base.

The level of our investment activity in our core assets depends on many factors, including the amount of debt and equity capital available to middle-market companies, the level of merger and acquisition activity for such companies, the availability of credit to finance transactions, the general economic environment and the competitive environment for the types of investments we make. Although we have used, and will continue to use, the proceeds of our initial public offering and borrowings under our credit facility, we anticipate that it will take us up to two years from the date of our initial public offering to invest all of our assets in accordance with our investment objectives. Any distributions we make during such period may be substantially lower than the distributions that we expect to pay when our portfolio is fully invested.

 

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Revenues

We generate revenue in the form of interest income on the debt securities we hold and capital gains and distributions, if any, on investment securities that we may acquire in portfolio companies. Our debt investments, whether in the form of mezzanine debt or senior secured loans, typically have a term of three to ten years and bear interest at a fixed or floating rate. Interest on debt securities is generally payable quarterly or semiannually. In some cases, some of our investments provide for deferred interest payments or payment-in-kind (PIK). The principal amount of the debt securities and any accrued but unpaid interest generally becomes due at the maturity date. In addition, we may generate revenue in the form of commitment, origination, structuring or diligence fees, fees for providing managerial assistance and possibly consulting fees. Loan origination fees, original issue discount and market discount or premium are capitalized, and we accrete or amortize such amounts as interest income. We record prepayment premiums on loans and debt securities as interest income. Dividend income, if any, is recorded on the ex-dividend date.

Expenses

Our primary operating expenses include the payment of management fees to our Investment Adviser, our allocable portion of overhead under our Administration Agreement and other operating costs as detailed below. Our management fee compensates our Investment Adviser for its work in identifying, evaluating, negotiating, consummating and monitoring our investments. Additionally, we pay interest expense on the outstanding debt we accrue under our credit facility. We bear all other costs and expenses of our operations and transactions, including:

 

   

the cost of calculating our net asset value, including the cost of any third-party valuation services;

 

   

the cost of effecting sales and repurchases of shares of our common stock and other securities;

 

   

fees payable to third parties relating to, or associated with, making investments, including fees and expenses associated with performing due diligence and reviews of prospective investments;

 

   

expenses incurred by the Investment Adviser in performing due diligence and reviews of investments;

 

   

transfer agent and custodial fees;

 

   

fees and expenses associated with marketing efforts;

 

   

federal and state registration fees and any stock exchange listing fees;

 

   

federal, state and local taxes;

 

   

independent directors’ fees and expenses;

 

   

brokerage commissions;

 

   

fidelity bond, directors and officers/errors and omissions liability insurance and other insurance premiums;

 

   

direct costs such as printing, mailing, long distance telephone and staff;

 

   

fees and expenses associated with independent audits and outside legal costs;

 

   

costs associated with our reporting and compliance obligations under the 1940 Act and applicable federal and state securities laws; and

 

   

all other expenses incurred by either the Administrator or us in connection with administering our business, including payments under our Administration Agreement that will be based upon our allocable portion of overhead, and other expenses incurred by the Administrator in performing its obligations under our Administration Agreement, including rent and our allocable portion of the costs of compensation and related expenses of our chief compliance officer, chief financial officer and their respective staffs.

 

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Although the base management fee is 2.00% of average adjusted gross total assets, the Investment Adviser has agreed to waive a portion of the base management fee such that the base management fee equaled 1.50% from the consummation of the initial public offering through September 30, 2007 and 1.75% from October 1, 2007 through March 31, 2008. The base management fee will equal 2.00% after March 31, 2008. For the period from the commencement of operations to the consummation of the initial public offering there were no Management Fees.

We expect our general and administrative operating expenses related to our ongoing operations to remain relatively stable or decline slightly as a percentage of our assets in future periods. Incentive fees, interest expense and costs relating to future offerings of securities would be additive.

The SEC requires that “Total Annual Expenses” be calculated as a percentage of net assets in the chart on page 7 rather than as a percentage of total assets. Total assets includes assets that have been funded with borrowed monies (leverage). For reference, the chart below illustrates our “Total Annual Expenses” as a percentage of total assets:

 

Estimated Annual Expenses (as a Percentage of Total Assets)

      

Base management fees

   2.00 %(1)

Incentive fees payable under the Investment Management Agreement

   0.84 %(2)

Interest payments on borrowed funds

   1.61 %(3)

Other expenses

   1.38 %(4)
      

Total Annual Expenses

   5.83 %

 

(1) The contractual management fee is calculated at an annual rate of 2.00% of our average adjusted gross total assets. See “Certain Relationships and Transactions—Investment Management Agreement”

 

(2) The portion of incentive fees paid in respect of net investment income is based on actual amounts incurred during the six months ended March 31, 2008, annualized for a full year. However, such incentive fees are based on performance, will vary from year to year and will not be paid unless our performance exceeds specified thresholds. Incentive fees in respect of net investment income do not include net capital gains, to which the Investment Adviser is entitled to a 20% incentive fee with no threshold. As we cannot predict whether we will meet these thresholds, the incentive fee paid in future years, if any, may be substantially different than the fee earned during the six months ended March 31, 2008. For more detailed information about the incentive fee, please see the section of this prospectus captioned “Certain Relationships and Transactions—Investment Management Agreement” and note 3 to our financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

(3) “Interest payments on borrowed funds” represents interest and other credit facility related fees incurred and amortization of debt issuance costs during the six months ended March 31, 2008 annualized for a full year. As of March 31, 2008, we had $105.5 million available and $194.5 million (including an $80.0 million temporary draw) in borrowings outstanding under our $300.0 million credit facility. For more information, see “Risk Factors—We currently use borrowed funds to make investments and are exposed to the typical risks associated with leverage” in this prospectus.

 

(4) “Other Expenses” includes, among other expenses, our general and administrative expenses, professional fees, directors’ fees, insurance costs, and the expenses of the Investment Adviser reimbursable under our Investment Management Agreement and of the Administrator reimbursable under our Administration Agreement. Such expenses are based on actual other expenses for the six months ended March 31, 2008 annualized for a full year. See our “Consolidated Statement of Operations” in our financial statements.

Critical Accounting Policies

Our discussion of our financial condition and results of operation is based upon our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or “GAAP.” The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the

 

33


reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. Changes in the economic environment, financial markets and any other parameters used in determining such estimates could cause actual results to differ. In addition to the discussion below, we describe our critical accounting policies in the notes to our financial statements.

Valuation of Portfolio Investments

As a business development company, we generally invest in illiquid securities including debt and equity investments of middle-market companies. All of our investments are recorded using broker/dealers quotes or at fair value as determined in good faith by our board of directors. Our board of directors generally uses market quotations to assess the value of our investments for which market quotations are readily available. We obtain these market values from an independent pricing service or at the bid prices obtained from at least two broker/dealers if available, otherwise by a principal market maker or a primary market dealer. If the board of directors has a bona fide reason to believe any such market quote does not reflect the fair value of an investment, it may independently value such investments by using the valuation procedure that it uses with respect to assets for which market quotations are not readily available. Debt and equity investments that are not publicly traded or whose market prices are not readily available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by or under the direction of our board of directors. Such determination of fair values involves subjective judgments and estimates. Investments purchased within 60 days of maturity will be valued at cost plus accreted discount, or minus amortized premium, which approximates value. With respect to unquoted securities, our board of directors, together with our independent third party valuation firms, values each investment considering, among other measures, discounted cash flow models, comparisons of financial ratios of peer companies that are public and other factors.

When an external event such as a purchase transaction, public offering or subsequent equity sale occurs in connection with one of our portfolio companies, our board uses the pricing indicated by the external event to corroborate and/or assist us in our valuation of our investments in such portfolio company. Because there are not always readily available markets for many of the investments in our portfolio, we value certain of our portfolio investments at fair value as determined in good faith by our board of directors using a documented valuation policy and a consistently applied valuation process. Due to the inherent uncertainty of determining the fair value of investments that do not have a readily available market value, the fair value of our investments may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had a readily available market value existed for such investments, and the differences could be material.

With respect to investments for which market quotations are not readily available or are readily available but believed not to reflect the fair value of an investment, our board of directors undertakes a multi-step valuation process each quarter, as described below:

 

   

Our quarterly valuation process begins with each portfolio company or investment being initially valued by the investment professionals of our Investment Adviser responsible for the portfolio investment;

 

   

Preliminary valuation conclusions are then documented and discussed with the management of our Investment Adviser;

 

   

Our board of directors also engages one or more independent valuation firms to conduct independent appraisals of our investments for which market quotations are not readily available or are readily available but believed not to reflect the fair value of an investment. The independent valuation firm reviews management’s preliminary valuations and makes its own independent assessment;

 

   

The audit committee of our board of directors reviews the preliminary valuations of our Investment Adviser and that of the independent valuation firms and responds and supplements the valuation recommendations of the independent valuation firms to reflect any comments; and

 

   

The board of directors discusses the valuations and determines the fair value of each investment in our portfolio in good faith, based on the input of our Investment Adviser, the independent valuation firms and the audit committee.

 

34


Revenue Recognition

We record interest income on an accrual basis to the extent that we expect to collect such amounts. For loans and debt securities with contractual PIK interest, which represents contractual interest accrued and added to the loan balance that generally becomes due at maturity, we generally will not accrue PIK interest if the portfolio company valuation indicates that such PIK interest is not collectible. We do not accrue as a receivable interest on loans and debt securities if we have reason to doubt our ability to collect such interest. Loan origination fees, original issue discount and market discount or premium are capitalized, and we then accrete or amortize such amounts using the effective interest method as interest income. We record prepayment premiums on loans and debt securities as interest income. Dividend income, if any, is recognized on the ex-dividend date.

Net Realized Gains or Losses and Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation or Depreciation

We measure realized gains or losses by the difference between the net proceeds from the repayment or sale and the amortized cost basis of the investment, using the specific identification method, without regard to unrealized appreciation or depreciation previously recognized, but considering unamortized upfront fees and prepayment penalties. Net change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation reflects the change in portfolio investment values during the reporting period, including any reversal of previously recorded unrealized appreciation or depreciation, when gains or losses are realized.

Payment in Kind Interest

We have investments in our portfolio which contain a PIK interest provision. The PIK interest is added to the principal balance of the investment and is recorded as income. For the Company to maintain its status as a RIC, substantially all of this income must be paid out to stockholders in the form of dividends, even though the Company has not collected any cash.

Federal Income Taxes

We operate so as to qualify to be taxed as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code and intend to continue to do so. Accordingly, we are not subject to federal income tax on the portion of our taxable income and gains distributed to stockholders. To qualify as a RIC, we are required to distribute at least 90% of our investment company taxable income as defined by the Code.

Because federal income tax regulations differ from GAAP, distributions in accordance with tax regulations may differ from net investment income and realized gains recognized for financial reporting purposes. Differences may be permanent or temporary. Permanent differences are reclassified among capital accounts in the financial statements to reflect their tax character. Temporary differences arise when certain items of income, expense, gain or loss are recognized at some time in the future. Differences in classification may also result from the treatment of short-term gains as ordinary income for tax purposes.

Portfolio and Investment Activity

As of March 31, 2008, our portfolio consisted of $92.6 million of subordinated debt, $100.6 million of second lien secured debt, $8.6 million of equity investments and $134.1 million of senior secured loans. Our core assets totaled $201.8 million and consisted of investments in fourteen different companies with an average investment size of $14.4 million per company and a weighted average yield of 11.7% on the debt investments. On March 31, 2008, our senior secured loan portfolio totaled $134.1 million and consisted of twenty-eight different companies (including two companies also in our core portfolio) with an average investment size of $4.8 million, and a weighted average yield of 5.3%. The overall portfolio had a weighted average yield on debt investments of 9.2%. Due to continued erosion in market prices of leveraged finance instruments and a significant reduction in LIBOR, the portfolio had unrealized depreciation of $77.7 million. As of March 31, 2008, our portfolio consisted of forty companies and was invested 28% in subordinated debt, 30% in second lien secured debt, 2% in equity investments and 40% in senior secured loans.

 

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As of September 30, 2007, our portfolio consisted of $57.3 million of subordinated debt, $67.8 million of second lien secured debt, $7.0 million of equity investments and $158.9 million of senior secured loans. Our core assets totaled $132.1 million and consisted of investments in eight different companies with an average investment size of $16.5 million per company and a weighted average yield of 13.0% on the debt investments. On September 30, 2007, our senior secured loan portfolio totaled $158.9 million and consisted of thirty-one different companies (including one company also in our core portfolio) with an average investment size of $5.3 million, and a weighted average yield of 7.5%. The overall portfolio had a weighted average yield on debt investments of 10.1%. On September 30, 2007, our portfolio consisted of thirty-eight companies and was invested 20% in subordinated debt, 23% in second lien secured debt, 2% in equity investments and 55% in senior secured loans.

Results of operations

Set forth below are our results of operations for the six months ended March 31, 2008 and the period from January 11, 2007 (inception) through September 30, 2007.

Investment Income

Investment income totaled $18.7 million and $13.1 million for the six months ended March 31, 2008 and the period from January 11, 2007 (inception) through September 30, 2007, respectively.

Investment income for the six months ended March 31, 2008, was $18.7 million and was primarily attributed to $7.9 million of interest income from senior secured loan investments; $6.8 million from our second lien secured debt investments; and $3.5 million from our subordinated debt investments. The remaining investment income was primarily attributed to interest income from short-term investments and to accretion of discount and amortization of premium.

Investment income totaled $13.1 million for the period January 11, 2007 (inception) through September 30, 2007. The investment income was generated primarily from senior secured loan investments which had stated interest rates between 6.9% and 8.7%, and a weighted average yield of 7.5%. Our second lien secured debt investments had stated interest rates between 11.1% and 13.3% and weighted average yield of 12.9%. Our subordinated debt investments had stated interest rates between 11.7% and 14.3% and weighted average yield of 13.1%. Our total portfolio had a weighted average yield on debt investments of 10.1%.

Expenses

Net expenses totaled $9.5 million and $5.8 million for the six months ended March 31, 2008 and the period January 11, 2007 (inception) through September 30, 2007, respectively. Of these totals, $2.8 million and $1.8 million was attributable to credit facility related expenses for the six months ended March 31, 2008 and the period January 11, 2007 (inception) through September 30, 2007, respectively, and $2.4 million and $2.0 million to general and administrative expenses for the six months ended March 31, 2008 and the period January 11, 2007 (inception) through September 30, 2007, respectively. Net base management fee totaled $2.9 million and $ 1.9 million for the six months ended March 31, 2008 and the period January 11, 2007 (inception) through September 30, 2007, respectively. The performance-based incentive fee totaled approximately $1.4 million for the six months ended March 31, 2008. We paid no performance-based incentive fees for the period January 11, 2007 (inception) through September 30, 2007.

Net Investment Income

Our net investment income totaled $9.2 million and $7.3 million or $0.44 and $0.35 per share, for the six months ended March 31, 2008 and the period January 11, 2007 (inception) through September 30, 2007, respectively.

 

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Net Realized Loss

Sales and paydowns of long-term investments totaled $5.2 million and $99.6 million, and net realized losses totaled approximately $219,000 and $82,000 for the six months ended March 31, 2008 and the period January 11, 2007 (inception) through September 30, 2007, respectively.

Net Unrealized Depreciation on Investments and Cash Equivalents

For the six months ended March 31, 2008, the Company’s investments and cash equivalents had a net increase in unrealized depreciation of $53.8 million. On March 31, 2008, net unrealized depreciation on investments and cash equivalents totaled $77.7 million, primarily due to the continued downturn in the leveraged finance credit market.

Net Decrease in Net Assets From Operations

Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations totaled $44.9 million and $16.7 million, or $2.13 and $0.80 per share, for the six months ended March 31, 2008 and the period January 11, 2007 (inception) through September 30, 2007, respectively.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

On June 25, 2007, we entered into a Senior Secured Revolving Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) among us, various lenders and SunTrust Bank, as administrative agent for the lenders. SunTrust Robinson Humphrey Capital Markets acted as the joint lead arranger and book-runner, and Bear Stearns Corporate Lending Inc. acted as joint lead arranger and syndication agent. As of March 31, 2008, we had outstanding borrowings of $194.5 million under the Credit Agreement, with an annual interest rate of 5.41%.

Under the Credit Agreement, the lenders agreed to extend us credit in an initial aggregate principal or face amount not exceeding $300.0 million at any one time outstanding. The Credit Agreement is a five-year revolving facility (with a stated maturity date of June 25, 2012) and is secured by substantially all of our investment portfolio assets. Pricing of borrowings under our credit facility is set at 100 basis points over LIBOR.

On March 31, 2008, we had $81.2 million in cash equivalents. During the six months ended March 31, 2008, we generated operating cash flows primarily from interest earned on debt investments, and our primary use of funds for operations during the same period consisted of investments in portfolio companies, payments of fees and other operating expenses we incurred. Our operating activities resulted in a net use of cash of $351.9 million, for the six months ended March 31, 2008, and our financing activities resulted in a net inflow of cash of $175.2 million for the same period, primarily from borrowings under our credit facility.

Contractual Obligations

A summary of our significant contractual payment obligations for the repayment of outstanding borrowing under the multi-currency $300 million, five-year, revolving credit facility maturing in June 2012 is as follows:

 

     Payments due by period (millions)
     Total    Less than 1
year
   1-3 years    3-5 years     More than 5
years

Senior secured revolving credit facility(1)

   $ 194.5    —      —      194.5 (2)   —  

 

(1) On March 31, 2008, $105.5 million remained unused under our senior secured revolving credit facility.
(2) Including an $80.0 million temporary draw.

 

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We have entered into certain contracts under which we have material future commitments. On April 17, 2007 we entered into an Investment Management Agreement with PennantPark Investment Advisers in accordance with the 1940 Act, effective as of the completion of our initial public offering. PennantPark Investment Advisers now serves as our investment adviser in accordance with the terms of our Investment Management Agreement. Payments under our Investment Management Agreement in each reporting period is equal to (1) a management fee equal to a percentage of the value of our gross assets and (2) an incentive fee based on our performance. See “Certain Relationships and Transactions—Investment Management Agreement” and Note 3 to our financial statements for more information).

Under our Administration Agreement, dated April 17, 2007, PennantPark Investment Administration furnishes us with office facilities and administrative services necessary to conduct our day-to-day operations. If requested to provide managerial assistance to our portfolio companies, PennantPark Investment Administration will be paid an additional amount based on the services provided, which amount will not in any case exceed the amount we receive from the portfolio companies for such services. Payment under our Administration Agreement is based upon our allocable portion of the Administrator’s overhead in performing its obligations under our Administration Agreement, including rent, technology systems, insurance and our allocable portion of the costs of our chief compliance officer, chief financial officer and their respective staff. See “Certain Relationships and Transactions—Administration Agreement” and note 3 to our financial statements for more information.

If any of our contractual obligations discussed above is terminated, our costs under new agreements that we enter into may increase. In addition, we will likely incur significant time and expense in locating alternative parties to provide the services we expect to receive under our Investment Management Agreement and our Administration Agreement. Any new Investment Management Agreement would also be subject to approval by our stockholders.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We engage in no off-balance sheet arrangements, including any risk management of commodity pricing or other hedging practices.

Recently issued accounting pronouncements

In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) 157, Fair Value Measurements, which clarifies the definition of fair value and requires companies to expand their disclosure about the use of fair value to measure assets and liabilities in interim and annual periods subsequent to initial recognition. Adoption of SFAS 157 requires the use of the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. SFAS 157 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years. At this time, PennantPark is in the process of reviewing SFAS 157 against its valuation policies to determine future applicability.

In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities—Including an Amendment of FASB 115. This statement permits an entity to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value. This statement applies to all reporting entities, and contains financial statement presentation and disclosure requirements for assets and liabilities reported at fair value as a consequence of the election. This statement is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years. At this time, PennantPark is in the process of reviewing SFAS 159 against its valuation policies to determine future applicability.

Distributions

In order to qualify as a regulated investment company and to avoid corporate level tax on income, we are required, under Subchapter M of the Code, to distribute at least 90% of our ordinary income and net short-term

 

38


capital gains in excess of realized net long-term capital losses, if any, to our stockholders on an annual basis. Additionally, we must distribute at least 98% of our income (both ordinary income and net capital gains) to avoid an excise tax.

During the six months ended March 31, 2008 we paid to stockholders distributions of $0.44 per share, for a total dividend of $9.3 million. We monitor available net investment income to determine if a tax return of capital may occur for the fiscal year. To the extent our taxable earnings fall below the total amount of our distributions for any given fiscal year, a portion of those distributions may be deemed to be a tax return of capital to our common stockholders. Tax characteristics of all distributions will be reported to stockholders on Form 1099 after the end of the calendar year.

During the six months ended March 31, 2008, approximately $731,000 was reinvested under our dividend reinvestment plan.

We intend to continue to distribute quarterly dividends to our stockholders. Our quarterly dividends, if any, will be determined by our board of directors. Our dividends declared since our inception have been as follows:

 

     Dividend
Declared
 

Fiscal year ending September 30, 2008

  

Second quarter

   $ 0.22  

First quarter

   $ 0.22  

Fiscal year ended September 30, 2007

  

Fourth quarter

   $ 0.22  

Third quarter

   $ 0.14  
        

Total fiscal year ended September 30, 2007

   $ 0.36 *

 

* $0.00107 per share is a tax return of capital

We can offer no assurance that we will achieve results that will permit the payment of any cash distributions and, if we issue senior securities, we will be prohibited from making distributions if doing so causes us to fail to maintain the asset coverage ratios stipulated by the 1940 Act or if distributions are limited by the terms of any of our borrowings.

We maintain an “opt out” dividend reinvestment plan for our common stockholders. As a result, if we declare a dividend, then stockholders’ cash dividends will be automatically reinvested in additional shares of our common stock, unless they specifically “opt out” of the dividend reinvestment plan so as to receive cash dividends.

We may not be able to achieve operating results that will allow us to make dividends and distributions at a specific level or to increase the amount of these dividends and distributions from time to time. In addition, we may be limited in our ability to make dividends and distributions due to the asset coverage test for borrowings when applicable to us as a business development company under the 1940 Act and due to provisions in future credit facilities. If we do not distribute a certain percentage of our income annually, we will suffer adverse tax consequences, including possible loss of RIC status. We cannot assure stockholders that they will receive any dividends and distributions at a particular level.

We did not experience any compromised liquidity during the recent turmoil in the global credit markets because of our ability to liquidate our portfolio of senior secured loans, which totaled $134.1 million as of March 31, 2008, and availability under our credit facility.

 

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Quantitative and qualitative disclosure about market risk

We are subject to financial market risks, including changes in interest rates. During the period covered by this report, many of the loans in our portfolio had floating interest rates. These loans are usually based on a floating LIBOR rate and typically have durations of three months after which they reset to current market interest rates.

Assuming that the balance sheet as of the period covered by this report was to remain constant and no actions were taken to alter the existing interest rate sensitivity, a hypothetical immediate 1% change in interest rates may affect net income by more than 1% over a one-year horizon. Although management believes that this measure is indicative of our sensitivity to interest rate changes, it does not adjust for potential changes in the credit market, credit quality, size and composition of the assets on the balance sheet and other business developments that could affect net increase in net assets resulting from operations, or net income. Accordingly, no assurances can be given that actual results would not differ materially from the statement above.

Because we borrow money to make investments, our net investment income is dependent upon the difference between the rate at which we borrow funds and the rate at which we invest these funds. In periods of declining interest rates, our cost of funds would decrease, which may reduce our net investment income. As a result, there can be no assurance that a significant change in market interest rates will not have a material adverse effect on our net investment income.

We may hedge against interest rate fluctuations by using standard hedging instruments such as futures, options and forward contracts subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act. While hedging activities may insulate us against adverse changes in interest rates, they may also limit our ability to participate in benefits of lower interest rates with respect to our portfolio of investments with fixed interest rates.

 

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PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK

Our common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “PNNT”. The following table lists the high and low closing sale price for our common stock, the closing sale price as a percentage of net asset value, or NAV, and quarterly dividends per share since shares of our common stock began being regularly quoted on the NASDAQ Global Select Market. On May 21, 2008, the last reported closing price of our common stock was $8.15 per share.

 

Period

   NAV(1)    Closing Sales Price    Premium/
Discount
of High
Sales
Price to
NAV(2)
    Premium/
Discount
of Low
Sales
Price to
NAV(2)
    Declared
Dividends
      High    Low       

Fiscal year ending September 30, 2008

               

Third quarter (through 5/21/08)

     N/A    $ 8.60    $ 7.06    N/A     N/A       N/A

Second quarter

     10.26    $ 11.31    $ 8.38    110 %   82 %   $ 0.22

First quarter

   $ 12.07    $ 14.49    $ 9.08    120 %   75 %   $ 0.22

Fiscal year ended September 30, 2007

               

Fourth quarter

   $ 12.83    $ 14.76    $ 12.61    115 %   98 %   $ 0.22

Third quarter*

   $ 13.74    $ 15.03    $ 14.04    109 %   102 %   $ 0.14

 

(1) NAV per share is determined as of the last day in the relevant quarter and therefore may not reflect the NAV per share on the date of the high and low sales prices. The NAVs shown are based on outstanding shares at the end of each period.

 

(2) Calculated as of the respective high or low closing sales price divided by the quarter end NAV.

 

 * From April 24, 2007 (initial public offering) to June 30, 2007.

 

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BUSINESS

PennantPark Investment Corporation

PennantPark Investment Corporation, a Maryland corporation organized on January 11, 2007, is a closed-end, externally managed, non-diversified investment company that has elected to be treated as a business development company (“BDC”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”).

Our investment objectives are to generate both current income and capital appreciation through debt and equity investments primarily in U.S. middle-market private companies in the form of mezzanine debt, senior secured loans and equity investments. We consider our core assets, by value and investment focus, to consist of subordinated debt, second lien secured debt and, to a lesser extent, equity investments.

PennantPark Investment seeks to create a diversified portfolio that includes mezzanine debt, senior secured loans and equity investments by investing approximately $10 to $50 million of capital, on average, in the securities of middle-market companies. We expect this investment size to vary proportionately with the size of our capital base. The companies in which we invest are typically highly leveraged, and, in most cases, are not rated by national rating agencies. If such companies were rated, we believe that they would typically receive a rating below investment grade (between BB and CCC under the Standard & Poor’s system) from the national rating agencies. In addition, we expect our debt investments to range in maturity from three to ten years. In this prospectus, we use the term “middle-market” to refer to companies with annual revenues between $50 million and $1 billion.

The level of our investment activity in our core assets depends on many factors, including the amount of debt and equity capital available to middle-market companies, the level of merger and acquisition activity for such companies, the general economic environment and the competitive environment for the types of investments we make. Although we have used, and will continue to use, the proceeds of our initial public offering and of our credit facility, we anticipate that it will take us up to two years from the date of our initial public offering to invest all of our assets in accordance with our investment objectives. Any distributions we make during such period may be substantially lower than the distributions that we expect to pay when our portfolio is fully invested.

Operating Structure

Our investment activities are managed by PennantPark Investment Advisers and supervised by our board of directors, a majority of whom are independent of us and our Investment Adviser. Under our Investment Management Agreement, we have agreed to pay our Investment Adviser an annual base management fee based on our average adjusted gross total assets as well as an incentive fee based on our investment performance. See “Certain Relationships and Transactions—Investment Management Agreement.”

We have also entered into an Administration Agreement with the Administrator. Under our Administration Agreement, we have agreed to reimburse the Administrator for our allocable portion of overhead and other expenses incurred by the Administrator in performing its obligations under our Administration Agreement, including rent and our allocable portion of the costs of compensation and related expenses of our chief compliance officer, chief financial officer and their respective staffs. See “Certain Relationships and Transactions—Administration Agreement.”

If any of our contractual obligations discussed above is terminated, our costs under new agreements that we enter into may increase. In addition, we will likely incur significant time and expense in locating alternative parties to provide the services we expect to receive under our Investment Management Agreement and our Administration Agreement. Any new Investment Management Agreement would also be subject to approval by our stockholders.

 

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Our Investment Adviser and Administrator

We utilize the investing experience and contacts of Arthur H. Penn, the founder of PennantPark Investment Corporation and PennantPark Investment Advisers, as well as the other investment professionals of the Investment adviser. Mr. Penn has over 20 years of experience in the mezzanine lending, leveraged finance, distressed debt and private equity businesses. He has been involved in originating, structuring, negotiating, consummating, managing and monitoring investments in each of these businesses. Mr. Penn is a Co-founder and former Managing Partner of Apollo Investment Management, which is the investment adviser of Apollo Investment Corporation, a publicly traded business development company. Mr. Penn served as the Chief Operating Officer and a member of the investment committee of Apollo Investment from its inception in April 2004 through February 2006 and was its President and Chief Operating Officer from February 2006 through November 30, 2006.

During the period in which Mr. Penn was the Chief Operating Officer, Apollo Investment Corporation raised approximately $930 million of gross proceeds in an initial public offering in April 2004 and raised an additional $308 million in a follow-on offering of public equity in March 2006. Mr. Penn supervised the negotiation and execution of a senior secured credit facility with a syndicate of banks which, as amended, provides for borrowings up to $2.0 billion. During Mr. Penn’s tenure with Apollo Investment Corporation, it invested approximately $2.8 billion in 73 companies in partnership with 54 different financial sponsors.

During Mr. Penn’s career in the financial services industry, he also served as Managing Partner of Apollo Value Fund L.P. (formerly Apollo Distressed Investment Fund, L.P.) from 2003 through November 2006. Mr. Penn previously served as Global Head of Leveraged Finance at UBS Warburg LLC (now UBS Securities LLC) from 1999 through 2001. Prior to joining UBS Warburg, Mr. Penn was Global Head of Fixed Income Capital markets for BT Securities and BT Alex Brown Incorporated from 1994 to 1999. In these capacities, Mr. Penn oversaw groups responsible for more than 200 high-yield and leveraged bank financings aggregating over $34 billion in capital raised. From 1992 to 1994, Mr. Penn served as Head of High Yield Capital Markets at Lehman Brothers.

During his more than 20-year career in the financial services industry, Mr. Penn has developed a network of financial sponsor relationships as well as relationships with management teams, investment bankers, attorneys and accountants that we believe will provide us with access to substantial investment opportunities.

Our Investment Adviser has three experienced investment professionals, in addition to Mr. Penn, who are also partners. These professionals, Geoffrey Chang, Salvatore Giannetti III and Whit Williams, have a combined 44 years of experience in the mezzanine, private equity and leveraged finance businesses. Mr. Chang was previously a founding member and Principal of Audax Mezzanine from 2000 through 2007 and, prior to that was a Director in the Leveraged Finance Group at CIBC World Markets Corp. Mr. Giannetti previously served as Partner in the private equity firm of Wilton Ivy Partners from 2004 through 2007. Prior to joining Wilton Ivy Partners, he was a Managing Director at UBS Warburg LLC in its Leveraged Finance and Financial Sponsors Groups from March 2000 to November 2001. Mr. Williams was an officer at UBS Investment Bank from 1996 to March 2007, most recently as a Managing Director in its Leveraged Finance and Financial Sponsors Group. They are supported by a team of employees, including three investment professionals who have experience in middle-market investing, leveraged finance and capital markets.

Our Administrator has experienced professionals including, Aviv Efrat, who serves as our Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. Mr. Efrat, who is also a Managing Director of the Administrator, has extensive experience in finance, operations, and administration of registered investment companies, having served for a decade as a Director at BlackRock, Inc., a leading investment firm. Guy Talarico, who serves as our Chief Compliance Officer, has over 20 years of regulatory compliance and securities law experience in the financial services industry, having served with various organizations in the areas of equity and fixed-income portfolio management, money market trading and custody.

 

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In addition to furnishing us with clerical, bookkeeping and record keeping services, the Administrator also oversees our financial records as well as the preparation of our reports to stockholders and reports filed with the SEC. The Administrator oversees the determination and publication of our net asset value, oversees the preparation and filing of our tax returns, and generally monitors the payment of our expenses and the performance of administrative and professional services rendered to us by others. Furthermore, our Administrator provides, on our behalf, managerial assistance to those portfolio companies to which we are required to provide such assistance. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to our Business and Structure.”

Market Opportunity

We believe that the size of the middle-market, coupled with the demands of these companies for flexible sources of capital, creates an attractive investment environment for PennantPark.

 

   

We believe middle-market companies have faced increasing difficulty in raising debt through the capital markets. While many middle-market companies were formerly able to raise funds by issuing high-yield bonds, we believe this approach to financing has become more difficult as institutional investors have sought to invest in larger, more liquid offerings. We believe this has made it harder for middle-market companies to raise funds by issuing high-yield debt securities.

 

   

We believe that the current credit market dislocation improves the risk/reward of our investments. The downturn in the credit market has resulted in less competition, more conservative capital structures, higher yields and stronger covenants.

 

   

We believe there is a large pool of uninvested private equity capital likely to seek mezzanine capital to support private investments. We expect that private equity firms will continue to be active investors in middle-market companies and that these private equity funds will seek to leverage their investments by combining capital with mezzanine loans and/or senior secured loans from other sources. We expect such activity to be funded by the record amounts of private equity capital that have been raised in recent years.

 

   

We believe that opportunities to invest mezzanine and other debt capital will remain strong. We expect that the volume of domestic “public-to-private” transactions as well as the number of companies selecting a “sale” alternative versus raising capital in the public equity markets as a means of increasing liquidity will remain large. Additionally, the cost and effort associated with being a public company in the United States have become more onerous, causing many management teams to consider alternative liquidity strategies.

Competitive Advantages

We believe that we have the following competitive advantages over other capital providers in middle-market companies.

Disciplined Investment Approach with Strong Value Orientation

We employ a disciplined approach in selecting investments that meet our value-oriented investment criteria employed by the Investment Adviser. Our value-oriented investment philosophy focuses on preserving capital and ensuring that our investments have an appropriate return profile in relation to risk. When market conditions make it difficult for us to invest according to our criteria, we are highly selective in deploying our capital. We do not intend to pursue short-term origination targets. We believe our approach will enable us to build an attractive investment portfolio that meets our return and value criteria over the long-term.

We believe it is critical to conduct extensive due diligence on investment targets. In evaluating new investments we, through our Investment Adviser, conduct a rigorous due diligence process that draws from our Investment Adviser’s experience, industry expertise and network of contacts. Among other things, our due

 

44


diligence is designed to ensure that each prospective portfolio company will be able to meet its debt service obligations. See “Business-Investment Process-Investment Selection Criteria” and “Business-Investment Process-Due Diligence.”

Ability to Source and Evaluate Transactions through our Investment Adviser’s Research Capability and Established Network

The management team of the Investment Adviser has long-term relationships with financial sponsors, management consultants and management teams that we believe enable us to evaluate investment opportunities effectively in numerous industries, as well as provide us access to substantial information concerning those industries. We identify potential investments both through active origination and through dialogue with numerous financial sponsors, management teams, members of the financial community and corporate partners with whom professionals of our Investment Adviser have long-term relationships.

Flexible Transaction Structuring

Our Investment Adviser seeks to minimize the risk of capital loss without foregoing potential for capital appreciation. In making investment decisions, we seek to invest in companies that we believe can generate positive risk-adjusted returns.

We expect that the in-depth coverage and experience of Mr. Penn, as well as that of the other investment professionals of our Investment Adviser, will enable us to invest throughout various stages of the economic cycle and will provide us with ongoing market insights in addition to a significant investment sourcing engine.

Longer Investment Horizon with Attractive Publicly Traded Model

Unlike private equity and venture capital funds, we are not subject to standard periodic capital return requirements. Such requirements typically stipulate that funds raised by a private equity or venture capital fund, together with any capital gains on such invested funds, can only be invested once and must be returned to investors after a pre-agreed time period. We believe that our flexibility to make investments with a long-term view and without the capital return requirements of traditional private investment vehicles enables us to generate returns on invested capital and to be a better long-term partner for our portfolio companies.

Competition

Our primary competitors provide financing to middle-market companies and include other business development companies, commercial and investment banks, commercial financing companies, and to the extent they provide an alternative form of financing, private equity funds. Additionally, because competition for investment opportunities generally has increased among alternative investment vehicles, such as hedge funds, those entities have begun to invest in areas they have not traditionally invested in, including investments in middle-market companies. As a result of these new entrants, competition for investment opportunities at middle-market companies has intensified. However, we believe that there has been a reduction in the amount of debt capital available for lending in leveraged buyout transactions since the downturn in the credit markets, which began in mid-2007. This has resulted in a less competitive environment.

Many of our competitors are substantially larger and have considerably greater financial, technical and marketing resources than we do. For example, we believe some competitors have a lower cost of funds and access to funding sources that are not available to us. In addition, some of our competitors have higher risk tolerances or different risk assessments, which could allow them to consider a wider variety of investments and establish more relationships than us. Furthermore, many of our competitors are not subject to the regulatory restrictions that the 1940 Act imposes on us as a business development company.

 

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We use the industry information available to our Investment Adviser to assess investment risks and determine appropriate pricing for our investments in portfolio companies. We benefit from the relationships of Messrs. Penn, Chang, Giannetti and Williams, and other of our senior investment professionals retained by our Investment Adviser, who enable us to learn about, and compete effectively for, financing opportunities with attractive middle-market companies in the industries in which we invest. For additional information concerning the competitive risks we face, see “Risk Factors—Risks relating to our business and structure-We operate in a highly competitive market for investment opportunities.”

Leverage

On June 25, 2007, we entered into a credit agreement among us, various lenders and SunTrust Bank, as administrative agent for the lenders. SunTrust Robinson Humphrey Capital Markets acted as the joint lead arranger and book-runner, and Bear Stearns Corporate Lending Inc. acted as joint lead arranger and syndication agent. As of September 30, 2007 and March 31, 2008, we had outstanding borrowings of $10.0 million and $194.5 million (including an $80 million temporary draw) respectively, under our credit agreement, with an annual interest rate of 6.15% and 5.41%, respectively.

Under the Credit Agreement, the lenders agreed to extend us credit in an initial aggregate principal or face amount not exceeding $300.0 million at any one time outstanding. The Credit Agreement is a five-year revolving facility (with a stated maturity date of June 25, 2012) and is secured by substantially all of our investment portfolio assets. Pricing of borrowings under the credit agreement is set at 100 basis points over LIBOR.

 

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SENIOR SECURITIES

Information about our senior securities is shown in the following table for the six months ended March 31, 2008 and the period January 11, 2007 (inception) through September 30, 2007. The information for the period January 11, 2007 (inception) through September 30, 2007 has been derived from our financial statements which have been audited by KPMG LLP. The “—” indicates information which the SEC expressly does not require to be disclosed for certain types of senior securities.

 

Class and Year

   Total Amount
Outstanding(1)
   Asset
Coverage
per Unit(2)
   Involuntary
Liquidating
Preference
Per Unit(3)
   Average
Market
Value Per
Unit(4)

Credit Facility

           

Fiscal 2008 (as of March 31, 2008, unaudited)

   $ 194,500    $ 2,112    $ —      N/A

Fiscal 2007 (as of September 30, 2007)

   $ 10,000    $ 28,039    $ —      N/A

 

(1) Total amount of each class of senior securities outstanding at the end of the period presented (in 000’s).

 

(2) The asset coverage ratio for a class of senior securities representing indebtedness is calculated as our consolidated total assets, less all liabilities and indebtedness not represented by senior securities, divided by senior securities representing indebtedness. This asset coverage ratio is multiplied by $1,000 to determine the Asset Coverage Per Unit.

 

(3) The amount to which such class of senior security would be entitled upon the involuntary liquidation of the issuer in preference to any security junior to it.

 

(4) Not applicable, as senior securities are not registered for public trading.

 

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INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES

Investment Policy Overview

PennantPark seeks to create a diversified portfolio that includes mezzanine debt, senior secured loans and equity by targeting investment size of $10 to $50 million in securities of middle-market companies. We expect this investment size to vary proportionately with the size of our capital base. The companies in which we invest are typically highly leveraged, and, in most cases, are not rated by national rating agencies. If such companies were rated, we believe that they would typically receive a rating below investment grade (between BB and CCC under the Standard & Poor’s system) from the national rating agencies. In addition, we expect our debt investments to range in maturity from three to ten years.

Additionally, we may in the future seek to securitize our loans to generate cash for funding new investments. To securitize loans, we may create a wholly owned subsidiary and contribute a pool of loans to the subsidiary. This could include sales of interests in the subsidiary on a non-recourse basis to purchasers who we would expect to be willing to accept a lower interest rate to invest in investment grade loan pools, and we would retain a portion of the equity in the securitized pool of loans. See “Investment Objectives and Policies—Investment selection criteria.”

Our board of directors has the authority to modify or waive certain of our operating policies and strategies without prior notice and without stockholder approval (except as required by the 1940 Act). However, absent stockholder approval, we may not change the nature of our business so as to cease to be, or withdraw our election as, a BDC. We cannot predict the effect any changes to our current operating policies and strategies would have on our business, operating results and value of our stock. Nevertheless, the effects may adversely affect our business and impact our ability to make distributions.

Mezzanine Debt

Structurally, mezzanine debt (which includes second lien secured debt and subordinated debt) usually ranks subordinate in priority of payment to senior secured loans. Our second lien secured debt is subordinated debt that benefits from a collateral interest in the borrower. As such, other creditors may rank senior to us in the event of insolvency. However, mezzanine debt ranks senior to common and preferred equity in a borrowers’ capital structure. Due to its higher risk profile and often less restrictive covenants as compared to senior secured loans, mezzanine debt generally earns a higher return than senior secured loans. In many cases mezzanine investors receive opportunities to invest directly in the equity investments of borrowers and from time to time may also receive warrants to purchase equity investments. We evaluate these investment opportunities on a case-by-case basis.

Investment selection criteria

We are committed to a value oriented philosophy used by the investment professionals who manage our portfolio and seek to minimize the risk of capital loss without foregoing potential for capital appreciation.

We have identified several criteria that we believe are important in identifying and investing in prospective portfolio companies. These criteria provide general guidelines for our investment decisions; however, we caution that not all of these criteria will be met by each prospective portfolio company in which we choose to invest.

Generally, we seek to use our experience and access to market information to identify investment candidates and to structure investments quickly and effectively.

Value orientation and positive cash flow

Our investment philosophy places a premium on fundamental analysis from an investor’s perspective and has a distinct value orientation. We focus on companies in which we can invest at relatively low multiples of operating cash flow and that are profitable at the time of investment on an operating cash flow basis. Typically, we do not expect to invest in start-up companies or companies having speculative business plans.

 

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Experienced management and established financial sponsor relationship

We generally require that our portfolio companies have an experienced management team. We also require the portfolio companies to have proper incentives in place to induce management to succeed and to act in concert with our interests as investors, including having significant equity interests. In addition, we focus our investments in companies backed by strong financial sponsors that have a history of creating value and with whom members of our Investment Adviser have an established relationship.

Strong and defensible competitive market position in industry

We seek to invest in target companies that have developed leading market positions within their respective markets and are well positioned to capitalize on growth opportunities. We also seek companies that demonstrate significant competitive advantages versus their competitors, which should help to protect their market position and profitability.

Viable exit strategy

We seek to invest in companies that we believe will provide a steady stream of cash flow to repay our loans and reinvest in their respective businesses. We expect that such internally generated cash flow, leading to the payment of interest on, and the repayment of the principal of, our investments in portfolio companies to be a key means by which we exit from our investments over time. In addition, we also seek to invest in companies whose business models and expected future cash flows offer attractive exit possibilities. These companies include candidates for strategic acquisition by other industry participants and companies that may repay our investments through an initial public offering of common stock or another capital market transaction.

Due diligence

We believe it is critical to conduct extensive due diligence on investment targets and in evaluating new investments. We, through our Investment Adviser, conduct a rigorous due diligence process that is applied to prospective portfolio companies that draws from our Investment Adviser’s experience, industry expertise and network of contacts. In conducting due diligence, our Investment Adviser uses publicly available information as well as information from its relationships with former and current management teams, consultants, competitors and investment bankers.

Our due diligence typically includes:

 

   

review of historical and prospective financial information;

 

   

on-site visits;

 

   

interviews with management, employees, customers and vendors of the potential portfolio company;

 

   

review of loan documents;

 

   

background checks; and

 

   

research relating to the company’s management, industry, markets, products and services and competitors.

Upon the completion of due diligence and a decision to proceed with an investment in a company, the principals leading the investment present the investment opportunity to our Investment Adviser’s investment committee. This committee determines whether to pursue the potential investment. All new investments are required to be reviewed by the investment committee of our Investment Adviser, which currently consists of Messrs. Penn, Chang, Giannetti and Williams, subject to final approval by Mr. Penn. As our Investment Adviser adds senior investment professionals, our Investment Adviser may add them to its investment committee. The members of our investment committee receive no compensation from us. These members are employees of our Investment Adviser and receive compensation from our Investment Adviser.

 

49


Additional due diligence with respect to any investment may be conducted on our behalf by attorneys and independent auditors prior to the closing of the investment, as well as other outside advisers, as appropriate.

Investment structure

Once we determine that a prospective portfolio company is suitable for investment, we work with the management of that company and its other capital providers, including senior, junior and equity capital providers, to structure an investment. We negotiate among these parties to agree on how our investment is expected to perform relative to the other capital in the portfolio company’s capital structure.

Mezzanine debt typically has interest-only payments in the early years, with amortization of principal deferred to the later years of the mezzanine debt. In some cases, we may enter into mezzanine debt that, by its terms, converts into equity or additional debt securities or defers payments of interest for the first few years after our investment. Also, in some cases our mezzanine debt may be collateralized by a subordinated lien on some or all of the assets of the borrower. Typically, our mezzanine debt has maturities of three to ten years.

We expect our senior secured loans to have terms of three to ten years. We generally obtain security interests in the assets of our portfolio companies that will serve as collateral in support of the repayment of these loans. This collateral may take the form of first or second priority liens on the assets of a portfolio company.

In the case of our mezzanine debt and senior secured loan investments, we seek to tailor the terms of the investment to the facts and circumstances of the transaction and the prospective portfolio company, negotiating a structure that protects our rights and manages our risk while creating incentives for the portfolio company to achieve its business plan and improve its profitability. For example, in addition to seeking a senior position in the capital structure of our portfolio companies, we seek to limit the downside potential of our investments by:

 

   

requiring a total return on our investments (including both interest and potential equity appreciation) that compensates us for credit risk;

 

   

incorporating “put” rights and call protection into the investment structure; and

 

   

negotiating covenants in connection with our investments that afford our portfolio companies as much flexibility in managing their businesses as possible, consistent with preservation of our capital. Such restrictions may include affirmative and negative covenants, default penalties, lien protection, change of control provisions and board rights, including either observation or participation rights.

Our investments may include equity features, such as direct investments in the equity securities of borrowers or warrants or options to buy a minority interest in a portfolio company. Any warrants we may receive with our debt securities generally require only a nominal cost to exercise, so as a portfolio company appreciates in value, we may achieve additional investment return from these equity investments. We may structure the warrants to provide provisions protecting our rights as a minority-interest holder, as well as puts, or rights to sell such securities back to the company, upon the occurrence of specified events. In many cases, we may also obtain registration rights in connection with these equity investments, which may include demand and “piggyback” registration rights.

We expect to hold most of our investments to maturity or repayment, but may sell certain investments earlier if a liquidity event takes place, such as the sale or recapitalization of a portfolio company.

Ongoing relationships with portfolio companies

Monitoring

The Investment Adviser monitors our portfolio companies on an ongoing basis. The Investment Adviser monitors the financial trends of each portfolio company to determine if they are meeting their respective business plans and to assess the appropriate course of action for each company.

 

50


The Investment Adviser has several methods of evaluating and monitoring the performance and fair value of our investments, which may include the following:

 

   

Assessment of success in adhering to portfolio company’s business plan and compliance with covenants;

 

   

Periodic and regular contact with portfolio company management and, if appropriate, the financial or strategic sponsor, to discuss financial position, requirements and accomplishments;

 

   

Comparisons to other PennantPark portfolio companies in the industry, if any;

 

   

Attendance at and participation in board meetings; and

 

   

Review of monthly and quarterly financial statements and financial projections for portfolio companies.

Valuation Process

The following is a description of the steps we take each quarter to determine the value of our portfolio. All of our investments are recorded using broker/dealers quotes, or at fair value as determined in good faith by our board of directors. Our board of directors generally uses market quotations to assess the value of our investments for which market quotations are readily available. We obtain these market values from an independent pricing service or at the bid prices obtained from at least two broker/dealers if available, otherwise by a principal market maker or a primary market dealer. If the board of directors has a bona fide reason to believe any such market quote does not reflect the fair value of an investment, it may independently value such investment by using the valuation procedure that it uses with respect to assets for which market quotations are not readily available. With respect to investments for which market quotations are not readily available or are readily available but believed to not reflect the value of an investment, our board of directors undertakes a multi-step valuation process each quarter, as described below:

 

   

Our quarterly valuation process begins with each portfolio company or investment being initially valued by the investment professionals of our Investment Adviser responsible for the portfolio investment;

 

   

Preliminary valuation conclusions are then documented and discussed with the management of our Investment Adviser;

 

   

Our board of directors also engages one or more independent valuation firms to conduct independent appraisals of our investments for which market quotations are not readily available or are readily available but believed to not reflect the value of an investment. The independent valuation firm reviews management’s preliminary valuations in light of its own independent assessment;

 

   

The audit committee of our board of directors reviews the preliminary valuations of our Investment Adviser and that of the independent valuation firms and responds and supplements the valuation recommendations of the independent valuation firms to reflect any comments; and

 

   

The board of directors discusses the valuations and determines the fair value of each investment in our portfolio in good faith based on the input of our Investment Adviser, the independent valuation firms and the audit committee.

When we make investments that involve deferrals of interest payable to us, any increase in the value of the investment due to the accrual or receipt of payment of interest is allocated to the increase in the cost basis of the investment, rather than to capital appreciation or gain.

It is possible that future events unforeseen by us or our Investment Adviser, such as a disturbance in the global credit markets, a severe decline in the value of the U.S. dollar, a sharp economic downturn or other general market disturbance, will negatively impact the market for leveraged finance instruments. If the market

 

51


for our investments is substantially eroded, we may not find purchasers for our portfolio securities at all, or we may be able to sell them only for a fraction of their previously recorded value. During such times, our board of directors, in conjunction with our Investment Adviser and one or more independent valuation firms will continue to determine the fair value of our investments in accordance with our valuation process enumerated above. They will take into account the applicable market conditions, the nature and realizable value of any collateral, the portfolio company’s ability to make payments, its earnings and cash flows, the markets in which the portfolio company does business, comparison to publicly traded companies and other relevant factors. Determining fair value requires that judgment be applied to the specific facts and circumstances of each portfolio investment while employing a consistently applied valuation process for the types of investments we make.

Managerial assistance

As a business development company, we offer, and must provide upon request, managerial assistance to certain of our portfolio companies. This assistance could involve monitoring the operations of our portfolio companies, participating in board and management meetings, consulting with and advising officers of portfolio companies and providing other organizational and financial guidance. Our Administrator provides such managerial assistance on our behalf to portfolio companies that request this assistance. We have not received any fees for such services since inception.

Staffing

We do not currently have any employees. Mr. Penn, our Chief Executive Officer, is the Managing Member of our Investment Adviser. Our Investment Adviser currently has four senior investment professionals, Messrs. Chang, Giannetti, Penn and Williams. In addition, Mr. Efrat, our Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, is a Managing Director of our Administrator, and Mr. Guy Talarico is our Chief Compliance Officer. Our Administrator and our Investment Adviser have hired and expect to continue to hire professionals with skills applicable to our business plan, including experience in middle-market investing, leveraged finance and capital markets.

 

52


Our Portfolio

Our principal investment focus is to provide mezzanine debt and senior secured loans to U.S. middle-market companies in a variety of industries. We generally seek to target companies that generate positive cash flows from the broad variety of industries in which our Investment Adviser has direct expertise. The following is a representative list of the industries in which we have invested:

 

   

Aerospace Defense

 

   

Broadcasting & Entertainment

 

   

Buildings & Real Estate

 

   

Business Services

 

   

Cable TV

 

   

Cargo Transport

 

   

Chemical, Plastics, & Rubber

 

   

Consumer Products

 

   

Containers, Packaging, & Glass

 

   

Education

 

   

Energy/Utilities

 

   

Healthcare, Education & Childcare

 

   

Home & Office Furnishings, Housewares, Durable Consumer Products

 

   

Leisure, Amusement, Motion Pictures, Entertainment

 

   

Manufacturing/Basic Industry

 

   

Media

 

   

Oil & Gas

 

   

Other Media

 

   

Printing & Publishing

 

   

Telecommunications

 

   

Retail Store

 

   

Transportation

 

   

Utilities


We may invest in other industries if we are presented with attractive opportunities.

Listed below are our top ten portfolio companies and industries represented as a percentage of portfolio assets (excluding cash equivalents) as of:

 

Portfolio Company

   March 31,
2008
 

Brand Energy

   7 %

UP Acquisition Sub Inc.

   7 %

Interdynamics Holdings, Inc.

   6 %

Specialized Technology Resources, Inc.

   6 %

Advanstar, Inc.

   4 %

Affinion Group Holdings, Inc.

   4 %

Charter Communications Operating, L.L.C.

   4 %

Performance Holdings, Inc.

   4 %

Questex Media Group, Inc.

   4 %

Realogy Crop.

   4 %

Portfolio Company

   September 30,
2007
 
Realogy Corp.    7 %
Saint Acquisition Corp.    7 %
Advanstar, Inc.    6 %
Affinion Group Holding, Inc.    6 %
Performance Holdings, Inc.    6 %

Specialized Technology Resources, Inc.

   6 %

Charter Communications Operating, L.L.C.

   5 %
Questex Media Group, Inc.    5 %
Univision Communications, Inc.    5 %
TransFirst Holdings, Inc.    4 %

 

53


Industry

   March 31,
2008
 

Other Media

   11 %

Healthcare, Education & Childcare

   9 %

Oil and Gas

   8 %

Auto Sector

   6 %

Chemical, Plastics & Rubber

   6 %

Consumer Products

   6 %

Energy/Utilities

   6 %

Home and Office Furnishings, Housewares, & Durable Consumer Products

   5 %

Business Services

   4 %

Leisure, Amusement, Motion Picture, Entertainment

   4 %

Industry

   September 30,
2007
 
Other Media    15 %
Consumer Products    8 %
Buildings & Real Estate    7 %
Business Services    7 %

Home & Office Furnishings, Housewares & Durable Consumer Products

   7 %
Transportation    7 %
Chemical, Plastics, & Rubber    6 %

Leisure, Amusement, Motion Pictures, Entertainment

   6 %
Broadcasting & Entertainment    5 %
Cable Television    5 %

 

 

We may invest, to the extent permitted by law, in the securities and instruments of other investment companies and companies that would be investment companies but are excluded from the definition of investment company provided in Section 3(c) of the 1940 Act. We may also co-invest in the future on a concurrent basis with affiliates of PennantPark, subject to compliance with applicable regulations and our allocation procedures. Some types of negotiated co-investments may be made only if we receive an order from the SEC permitting us to do so. There can be no assurance that any such order will be obtained.

On March 31, 2008, our portfolio consisted of forty companies and was invested 28% in subordinated debt, 30% in second lien secured debt, 2% in equity investments and 40% in senior secured loans.

 

54


PORTFOLIO COMPANIES

The following is a listing of each portfolio company or its affiliate, together referred to as portfolio companies, in which we had an investment at March 31, 2008. Percentages shown for class of investment securities held by us represent percentage of the class owned and do not necessarily represent voting ownership or economic ownership. Percentages shown for equity securities, other than warrants or options held, if any, represent the actual percentage of the class of security held before dilution. Percentages shown for warrants or options held, if any, represent the percentage of class of security we may own on a fully diluted basis assuming we exercise our warrants or options.

The portfolio companies are presented in three categories: “companies more than 25% owned” which represent portfolio companies where we directly or indirectly own more than 25% of the outstanding voting securities of such portfolio company and, therefore, are presumed to be controlled by us under the 1940 Act; “companies owned 5% to 25%” which represent portfolio companies where we directly or indirectly own 5% to 25% of the outstanding voting securities of such portfolio company or where we hold one or more seats on the portfolio company’s board of directors and, therefore, are deemed to be an affiliated person under the 1940 Act; and “companies less than 5% owned” which represent portfolio companies where we directly or indirectly own less than 5% of the outstanding voting securities of such portfolio company and where we have no other affiliations with such portfolio company. We make available significant managerial assistance to our portfolio companies. As of March 31, 2008 we held no seats on any of our portfolio companies’ board of directors.

 

Name and Address of Portfolio
Company

  

Nature of Business

  

Type of Investment

   Percentage
of Class
Held(1)

Companies More Than 25% Owned

        

None

        

Companies 5% to 25% Owned

        

PERFORMANCE HOLDINGS , INC. / PERFORMANCE INC.

ONE PERFORMANCE WAY

CHAPEL HILL, NC 27514

   LEISURE, AMUSEMENT, MOTION PICTURES, ENTERTAINMENT   

Subordinated Debt,

Second Lien Secured Debt, Common Equity

   6.3%

Companies Less Than 5% Owned

        

ADVANSTAR, INC. / VSS-AHC HOLDINGS, LLC

   OTHER MEDIA   

Subordinated Debt

Common Equity

   0.9%

641 LEXINGTON AVENUE

        

8TH FLOOR

        

NEW YORK, NY 10022

        

AFFINION GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.

   CONSUMER PRODUCTS    Subordinated Debt   

100 CONNECTICUT AVENUE

        

NORWALK, CA 06850

        

BERRY PLASTICS GROUP, INC.

101 OAKLEY STREET

EVANSVILLE, IN 47710

   CONTAINERS, PACKAGING & GLASS    First Lien Secured Debt   

BRAND ENERGY & INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES, INC.

   ENERGY / UTILITIES    First Lien Secured Debt Second Lien Secured Debt   

2505 SOUTH MAIN STREET

        

KENNESAW, GA 30144

        

 

55


Name and Address of Portfolio
Company

  

Nature of Business

  

Type of Investment

   Percentage
of Class
Held(1)
 

BURLINGTON COAT FACTORY WAREHOUSE CORP.

   RETAIL STORE    First Lien Secured Debt     

1830 RT. 130

        

BURLINGTON, NJ 08016

        

CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS OPERATING, L.L.C.

   CABLE TELEVISION    First Lien Secured Debt     

12405 POWERSCOURT DRIVE

        

ST. LOUIS, MO 63131

        

COHR HOLDINGS, INC.

21540 PLUMMER STREET

SUITE 400

CHATSWORTH, CA 91311

   HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION & CHILDCARE    First Lien Secured Debt     

CONSOLIDATED FOUNDRIES, INC.

   AEROSPACE & DEFENSE   

Subordinate Debt

   0.7 %

4200 VALLEY BLVD.

      Preferred Equity   

POMONA, CA 91766

      Common Equity   

GATEHOUSE MEDIA OPERATING, INC.

   MEDIA    First Lien Secured Debt     

350 WILLOWBROOK OFFICE PARK

        

FAIRPORT, NY 14450

        

GENERAL NUTRITION CENTERS, INC.

   RETAIL STORE    First Lien Secured Debt     

300 SIXTH AVENUE

        

PITTSBURGH, PA 15222

        

GENERICS INTERNATIONAL (U.S.), INC.

   HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION & CHILDCARE    Second Lien Secured Debt     

130 VINTAGE DRIVE

        

HUNTSVILLE, AL 35811

        

GREATWIDE LOGISTICS SERVICES, INC.

   CARGO TRANSPORT    First Lien Secured Debt     

12404 PARK CENTRAL DR.

        

SUITE 3000

        

SOUTH DALLAS, TX 75251

        

HANLEY-WOOD, L.L.C.

   OTHER MEDIA    First Lien Secured Debt     

ONE THOMAS CIRCLE, NW

        

SUITE 600

        

WASHINGTON, DC 20005

        

HAWKER BEECHCRAFT, INC.

   AEROSPACE & DEFENSE    First Lien Secured Debt     

P.O. BOX 85

        

WICHITA, KS 67201

        

HEALTH MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES, INC.

   HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION & CHILDCARE    First Lien Secured Debt     

5811 PELICAN BAY BLVD.

        

SUITE 500

        

NAPLES, FL 34108

        

 

56


Name and Address of Portfolio
Company

  

Nature of Business

  

Type of Investment

   Percentage
of Class
Held(1)

HUGHES NETWORK SYSTEMS, L.L.C.

   TELECOMMUNICATIONS    First Lien Secured Debt   

11717 EXPLORATION LANE

        

GERMANTOWN, MD 20876

        

INTERDYNAMICS HOLDINGS, INC.

   AUTO SECTOR    Subordinated Debt   

560 WHITE PLAINS ROAD

        

6TH FLOOR

        

TARRYTOWN, NY 10591

        

JACUZZI BRANDS CORP.

777 S. FLAGLER DRIVE

SUITE 1100-WEST

WEST PALM BEACH, FL. 33401

   HOME & OFFICE FURNISHINGS, HOUSEWARES, & DURABLE CONSUMER PRODUCTS    First Lien Secured Debt   
LEVLAD, L.L.C.    CONSUMER PRODUCTS    First Lien Secured Debt   
C/O HARVEST PARTNERS, INC.         
280 PARK AVENUE         
NEW YORK, NY 10017         
LONGVIEW POWER, L.L.C.    UTILITIES    First Lien Secured Debt   
1040 GREAT PLAIN AVENUE         
NEEDHAM, MA 02492         
MACH GEN, L.L.C.    UTILITIES    First Lien Secured Debt   
9300 US HIGHWAY 9W         
ATHENS, NY 12015         

MATTRESS HOLDING CORP.

5815 GULF FREEWAY

HOUSTON, TX 77023

   HOME & OFFICE FURNISHINGS, HOUSEWARES, & DURABLE CONSUMER PRODUCTS    First Lien Secured Debt   
MITCHELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.    BUSINESS SERVICES    First Lien Secured Debt   
9889 WILLOW CREEK ROAD         
SAN DIEGO, CA 92131         

NATIONAL BEDDING CO., L.L.C.

5401 TRILLIUM BLVD.

SUITE 250

HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL 60192

   HOME & OFFICE FURNISHINGS, HOUSEWARES, & DURABLE CONSUMER PRODUCTS    First Lien Secured Debt   
PENTON MEDIA, INC.    OTHER MEDIA    First Lien Secured Debt   
249 W. 17TH STREET         
FOURTH FLOOR         
NEW YORK, NY 10011         
PHILOSOPHY, INC.    CONSUMER PRODUCTS    First Lien Secured Debt   
4602 EAST HAMMOND LANE         
PHOENIX, AZ 85034         
QUESTEX MEDIA GROUP, INC.    OTHER MEDIA    First Lien Secured Debt   
275 GROVE STREET       Second Lien Secured Debt   
SUITE 2-130         
NEWTON, MA 02466         

READERS DIGEST ASSOCIATION, INC.

   PRINTING & PUBLISHING    First Lien Secured Debt   

READERS DIGEST ROAD

PLEASANTVILLE, NY 10570

        

 

57


Name and Address of Portfolio
Company

  

Nature of Business

  

Type of Investment

   Percentage
of Class
Held(1)
 
REALOGY CORP.    BUILDINGS & REAL ESTATE    Subordinated Debt     
ONE CAMPUS DRIVE         
PARSIPPANY, NJ 07054         

REXNORD, L.L.C.

5555 S. WOODLAND ROAD

NEW BERLIN, WI 53151

   MANUFACTURING/ BASIC INDUSTRIES    First Lien Secured Debt     
SAINT ACQUISITION CORP.    TRANSPORTATION    Second Lien Secured Debt     
2200 SOUTH 75TH AVENUE         
PHOENIX, AZ 85043         

SHERIDAN HOLDINGS, INC.

1613 N. HARRISON PARKWAY

SUITE 200

SUNRISE, FL 33323

   HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION & CHILDCARE    Second Lien Secured Debt     
SITEL, L.L.C.    BUSINESS SERVICES    First Lien Secured Debt     
TWO AMERICAN CENTER         
3102 WEST END AVENUE         
SUITE 1000         
NASHVILLE, TN 37203         
SPECIALIZED TECHNOLOGY     RESOURCES, INC.    CHEMICAL, PLASTICS & RUBBER    Second Lien Secured Debt     
10 WATER STREET         
ENFIELD, CT 06082         
TRANSFIRST HOLDINGS, INC.    BUSINESS SERVICES    Second Lien Secured Debt     
5950 BERKSHIRE LANE         
SUITE 1100         
DALLAS, TEXAS 75225         

UNIVISION COMMUNICATIONS INC.

   BROADCASTING & ENTERTAINMENT    First Lien Secured Debt     
1999 AVENUE OF THE STARS         
LOS ANGELES, CA 90067         

UP ACQUISITION SUB, INC.

1515 ARAPAHOE STREET

TOWER ONE, SUITE 1500

DENVER, CO. 80202

   OIL & GAS   

Subordinate Debt

Common Equity

   1.4 %

VALASSIS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

   PRINTING & PUBLISHING    First Lien Secured Debt     
19975 VICTOR PARKWAY         
LIVONIA, MI 48152         
WESTERN REFINING, INC.    OIL & GAS    First Lien Secured Debt     
23733 NORTH SCOTTSDALE RD.         
SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85255         

 

(1) Percentage of class held refers only to common equity, preferred equity and warrants held, if any.

 

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Set forth below is a brief description of each portfolio company in which we have made an investment that represents greater than 5% of our total assets at March 31, 2008.

Brand Energy & Infrastructure Services, Inc.

The company is a diversified provider of specialty services, including scaffolding, industrial coatings, insulation, refractory, and forming and shoring solutions, to North America’s energy markets.

Specialized Technology Resources, Inc.

The company is a leader in the consumer testing and inspection market, as well as the leading global provider of solar encapsulants.

UP Acquisition Sub Inc.

UP Acquisition is a leading independent pipeline engineering services firm in the United States, providing engineering, project management and survey services.

 

59


The industry composition of the portfolio at fair value on September 30, 2007 and March 31, 2008 was as follows, excluding unearned income:

 

Industry Classification

   March 31,
2008
    September 30,
2007
 

Other Media

   11 %   15 %

Healthcare, Education & Childcare

   9     4  

Oil and Gas

   8     2  

Auto Sector

   6     —    

Chemical, Plastic & Rubber

   6     6  

Consumer Products

   6     8  

Energy/Utilities

   6     —    

Home and Office Furnishings, Housewares, & Durable Consumer Products

   5     7  

Broadcasting and Entertainment

   4     5  

Buildings and Real Estate

   4     7  

Business Services

   4     7  

Cable Television

   4     5  

Leisure, Amusement, Motion Picture, Entertainment

   4     6  

Retail Store

   4     5  

Transportation

   4     7  

Aerospace and Defense

   3     —    

Printing and Publishing

   3     3  

Cargo Transport

   2     2  

Containers, Packaging and Glass

   2     2  

Utilities

   2     2  

Manufacturing/Basic Industry

   1     2  

Media

   1     2  

Telecommunications

   1     2  

Other

   —       1  
            

Total

   100 %   100 %
            

 

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MANAGEMENT

Our business and affairs are managed under the direction of our board of directors. The board of directors currently consists of five members, four of whom are not “interested persons” of PennantPark as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act. We refer to these individuals as our independent directors. Our board of directors elects our officers, who serve at the discretion of the board of directors.

Board of Directors

Under our charter, our directors are divided into three classes. Each class of directors holds office for a three-year term. However, the initial members of classes II and III have initial terms of two and three years, respectively. At each annual meeting of our stockholders, the successors to the class of directors whose terms expire at such meeting will be elected to hold office for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders held in the third year following the year of their election. Each director holds office for the term to which he or she is elected and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualifies.

Information regarding the board of directors is as follows:

 

Name

   Age   

Position

   Director
Since
   Expiration
of Term

Independent directors

           

Adam K. Bernstein

   44    Director    2007    2009

Marshall Brozost

   40    Director    2007    2011

Jeffrey Flug

   45    Director    2007    2009

Samuel L. Katz

   42    Director    2007    2011

Interested directors

           

Arthur H. Penn

   44   

Chairman of Board and Chief Executive Officer

   2007    2010

 

The address for each director is 590 Madison Avenue, 15th Floor, New York, New York 10022.

 

Executive Officers Who are Not Directors

 

Information regarding our executive officers who are not directors is as follows:

 

Name

   Age   

Position

         

Aviv Efrat

   44    Chief Financial Officer      

Guy Talarico

   51    Chief Compliance Officer      

 

The address for each executive officer is 590 Madison Avenue, 15th Floor, New York, New York 10022, or by telephone at (212) 905-1000.

Biographical Information

Our directors have been divided into two groups—interested directors and independent directors. Interested directors are “interested persons” as defined in the 1940 Act.

Independent Directors

Adam K. Bernstein (44), Director. Mr. Bernstein became a director of PennantPark in February 2007. Mr. Bernstein is currently President of The Bernstein Companies, a Washington, D.C.-based real estate firm which he founded in 1985. Mr. Bernstein also serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Consortium Atlantic Realty Trust, Inc., a private real estate investment trust operating in the Mid-Atlantic region since its formation in 2000. Mr. Bernstein is the President of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Advisory Board of the University of Pennsylvania.

 

61


Marshall Brozost (40), Director. Mr. Brozost became a director of PennantPark in February 2007. Since 2007, Mr. Brozost has been Partner at the international law firm of Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP, where he practices in the real estate and private equity groups. Prior to his tenure at Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP which began in 2005, Mr. Brozost practiced law at O’Melveny & Myers LLP from 2001 to 2004 and Solomon & Weinberg LLP from 2004 to 2005. Mr. Brozost also served as a vice president of Nomura Asset Capital Corporation from 1997 through 2000.

Jeffrey Flug (45), Director. Mr. Flug became a director of PennantPark in February 2007. Mr. Flug has been the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of Millennium Promise Alliance, Inc. since 2006. Millennium Promise is a non-profit organization whose mission is to eradicate extreme global poverty. Prior to joining Millennium Promise, Mr. Flug was Managing Director and Head of North American Institutional Sales at JP Morgan’s Investment Bank from 2000 to 2006. From 1988 to 2000, Mr. Flug was Managing Director for Goldman Sachs & Co. in its Fixed Income Division.

Samuel L. Katz (42), Director. Mr. Katz became a director of PennantPark in February 2007. Since 2007, Mr. Katz is the Managing Partner of TZP Group LLC, a private equity fund. He served as Chief Executive Officer of MacAndrews & Forbes Acquisition Holdings, Inc. from 2006 to 2007. From 1996 to 2006, Mr. Katz held a variety of senior positions at Cendant Corporation including, most recently, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Cendant Travel Distribution Services Division from 2001 to 2005. Mr. Katz was also Co-Chairman of Cendant’s Marketing Services Division as well as Chief Strategic Officer.

Interested Director

Arthur H. Penn (44) Founder, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors. Mr. Penn became the chief executive officer and a director of PennantPark at its inception in January 2007. He also founded and became Managing Member of PennantPark Investment Advisers in January 2007. Mr. Penn co-founded Apollo Investment Management in 2004, where he was a Managing Partner from 2004 to 2006. He also served as Chief Operating Officer of Apollo Investment Corporation from its inception in 2004 to 2006 and served as President and Chief Operating Officer of that company in 2006. Mr. Penn was formerly a Managing Partner of Apollo Value Fund L.P. (formerly Apollo Distressed Investment Fund, L.P.) from 2003 to 2006. From 2002 to 2003, prior to joining Apollo, Mr. Penn was a Managing Director of CDC-IXIS Capital Markets. Mr. Penn previously served as Global Head of Leveraged Finance at UBS Warburg LLC (now UBS Investment Bank) from 1999 through 2001. Prior to joining UBS Warburg, Mr. Penn was Global Head of Fixed Income Capital markets for BT Securities and BT Alex. Brown Incorporated from 1994 to 1999. From 1992 to 1994, Mr. Penn served as Head of High-Yield Capital Markets at Lehman Brothers.

Executive Officers who are not Directors

Aviv Efrat (44), Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. Mr. Efrat joined PennantPark in February 2007 as its Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. Mr. Efrat is also a Managing Director of PennantPark Investment Administration, LLC. Mr. Efrat was a Director at BlackRock, Inc., a leading investment firm, where he was responsible for a variety of administrative, operational, and financial aspects of closed-end and open-end registered investment companies from 1997 to 2007. From 1994 to 1997, Mr. Efrat was in the Investment Companies Business Unit at Deloitte & Touche LLP. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants. Mr. Efrat earned his B.S. in Economics from Bringham Young University in 1991 and an M.B.A. from New York University in 1999.

Guy Talarico (51) Chief Compliance Officer. Mr. Talarico became PennantPark’s Chief Compliance Officer in 2008. Mr. Talarico has served as Chief Compliance Officer for investment advisers, private funds and investment companies since 2004. From 2001 to 2004 Mr. Talarico was senior director at Investors Bank & Trust Company where he was servicing investment advisers, mutual funds and institutions. From 1986 to 2001 Mr. Talarico was a division executive with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., servicing equity and fixed-income portfolio management, money market trading and custody functions, as well as overseeing compliance. Mr. Talarico has been admitted to practice law in the States of New Jersey and New York.

 

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Committees of the Board of Directors

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007, we held six board meetings, three Audit Committee meetings and one Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee meeting. All directors attended at least 75% of the aggregate number of meetings of the board of directors and of the respective committees on which they served. We require each director to make a diligent effort to attend all board and committee meetings and encourage directors to attend the annual meeting of stockholders.

Audit Committee

The members of the Audit Committee are Messrs. Bernstein, Brozost, Flug and Katz, each of whom is independent for purposes of the 1940 Act and NASDAQ corporate governance regulations. Mr. Flug serves as chairman of the audit committee. The Audit Committee operates pursuant to an Audit Committee Charter approved by the Board of Directors. The charter sets forth the responsibilities of the Audit Committee, which include selecting or retaining each year an independent registered public accounting firm (the “auditors”) to audit the accounts and records of the Company; reviewing and discussing with management and the auditors the annual audited financial statements of the Company, including disclosures made in management’s discussion and analysis, and recommending to the Board of Directors whether the audited financial statements should be included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K; reviewing and discussing with management and the auditors the Company’s quarterly financial statements prior to the filings of its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q; pre-approving the auditors’ engagement to render audit and/or permissible non-audit services; and evaluating the qualifications, performance and independence of the auditors. The Audit Committee is also responsible for aiding our board of directors in fair value pricing debt and equity securities that are not publicly traded or for which current market values are not readily available. The board of directors and Audit Committee may use the services of nationally recognized independent valuation firms to help them determine the fair value of these securities. The Company’s Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Flug is our “Audit Committee financial expert” as that term is defined under Item 401 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). The Audit Committee Charter is available on the Company’s website: http://www.pennantpark.com.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

The members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are Messrs. Bernstein, Brozost, Flug and Katz, each of whom is independent for purposes of the 1940 Act and the corporate governance regulations of the NASDAQ Global Market. Messrs. Bernstein and Brozost serve as co-chairmen of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for selecting, researching and nominating directors for election by our stockholders, selecting nominees to fill vacancies on the Board or a committee of the Board, developing and recommending to the Board a set of corporate governance principles and overseeing the evaluation of the Board and our management. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee has adopted a written Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Charter that is available on the Company’s website: http://www.pennantpark.com.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider stockholder recommendations for possible nominees for election as directors when such recommendations are submitted in accordance with the Company’s bylaws, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Charter and any applicable law, rule or regulation regarding director nominations. Nominations should be sent to Thomas Friedmann, Secretary, c/o PennantPark Investment Corporation, 590 Madison Avenue, 15th Floor, New York, New York 10022. When submitting a nomination to the Company for consideration, a stockholder must provide all information that would be required under applicable SEC rules to be disclosed in connection with election of a director, including the following minimum information for each director nominee: full name, age and address; principal occupation during the past five years; current directorships on publicly held companies and investment companies; number of shares of the Company’s common stock owned, if any; and, a written consent of the individual to stand for election if nominated by the Board of Directors and to serve if elected by the stockholders.

 

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Criteria considered by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee in evaluating the qualifications of individuals for election as members of the Board of Directors include compliance with the independence and other applicable requirements of the NASDAQ Listing Standards and the 1940 Act, and all other applicable laws, rules, regulations and listing standards, the criteria, policies and principles set forth in the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Charter, and the ability to contribute to the effective management of the Company, taking into account the needs of the Company and such factors as the individual’s experience, perspective, skills and knowledge of the industry in which the Company operates. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee also may consider such other factors as it may deem are in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. The Board of Directors also believes it is appropriate for a key member of the Company’s management to participate as a member of the Board of Directors.

Compensation Committee

We do not have a compensation committee because our executive officers do not receive compensation from us.

Compensation of Directors

The following table shows information regarding the compensation paid by us to our directors for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007. No compensation is paid by us to any interested director or executive officer.

 

Name

   Aggregate
compensation
from the
Company
   Pension or
retirement
benefits
accrued as
part of our
expense(1)
   Total
paid to
director /
officer

Independent directors

        

Adam K. Bernstein

   29,375    None    29,375

Marshall Brozost

   29,375    None    29,375

Jeffrey Flug

   30,625    None    30,625

Samuel L. Katz

   28,750    None    28,750

Interested director

        

Arthur H. Penn

   None    None    None

Executive officers

        

Aviv Eftrat(2)

   None    None    None

Guy Talarico

   None    None    None

 

(1) We do not have a profit sharing or retirement plan, and directors do not receive any pension or retirement benefits from us.

 

(2) Mr. Efrat is an employee of PennantPark Investment Administration, LLC.

Independent directors each receive an annual fee of $75,000. The independent directors also receive $2,500 plus reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with attending each board meeting and receive $1,000 plus reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with attending each committee meeting (unless combined with a board meeting). In addition, the Chairman of the Audit Committee receives an annual fee of $7,500 and each chairman/co-chairman of any other committee receives an annual fee of $2,500 for their additional services in these capacities. Also, we have purchased directors’ and officers’ liability insurance on behalf of our directors and officers. Independent directors have the option to receive their directors’ fees paid in shares of our common stock issued at a price per share equal to the greater of net asset value or the market price at the time of payment. No compensation is paid to directors who are “interested persons.”

 

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CONTROL PERSONS AND PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS

As of March 31, 2008, to our knowledge, no person would be deemed to control us, as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”).

Our directors consist of an interested director and independent directors. An interested director is an “interested person” of the Company, as defined in the 1940 Act.

The following table sets forth, as of March 31, 2008, certain ownership information with respect to our common stock for those persons who directly or indirectly own, control or hold with the power to vote, 5 percent or more of our outstanding common stock and all officers and directors, as a group.

Name and address(1)

   Type of ownership(4)    Shares
owned
   Percentage
of Common
Stock
Outstanding
 

Alpine Total Dynamic Dividend Fund

   Beneficial    1,400,000    6.64 %

2500 Westchester Avenue, Suite 215

        

Purchase, NY 10577

        

Bank of America Corporation

   Beneficial    1,826,800    8.67 %

100 North Tryon Street, Floor 25

        

Bank of America Corporate Center

        

Charlotte, NC 28255

        

Clough Capital Partners

   Beneficial    1,248,618    5.93 %

One Post Office Square, 40th Floor

        

Boston, MA 02109

        

Credit Suisse

   Beneficial    1,493,287    7.09 %

Uetlibergstrasse 231

        

P.O. Box 900

        

CH 8070 Zurich, Switzerland

        

UBS AG

   Beneficial    2,298,452    10.91 %

c/o UBS Global Asset Management (Americas), Inc.

        

One North Wacker

        

Chicago, Illinois 60606

        

Wellington Management Company

   Beneficial    1,748,008    8.30 %

75 State Street

        

Boston, MA 02109

        

Independent directors

        

Adam K. Bernstein(2)

   Record/Beneficial    71,601    *  

Marshall Brozost

   Record    7,168    *  

Jeffrey Flug

   Record    71,676    *  

Samuel L. Katz

   Record    10,751    *  

Interested director

        

Arthur H. Penn(3)

   Record/Beneficial    259,065    1.23 %

Executive officers

        

Aviv Efrat

   Record    13,318    *  

Guy Talarico

   —      —      —    

All Directors and Officers as a group (7 persons)

   Record/Beneficial    433,579    2.06 %

 

(1)

The address for each officer and director is c/o PennantPark Investment Corporation, 590 Madison Avenue, 15th Floor, New York, New York 10022

 

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(2) Mr. Bernstein is the President of JAM Investments, LLC and may therefore be deemed to own beneficially the 64,434 shares held by JAM Investments, LLC

 

(3) Mr. Penn is the Managing Member of PennantPark Investment Advisers, LLC, and may therefore be deemed to own beneficially the 223,733 shares held by PennantPark Investment Advisers, LLC.

 

(4) Sole Voting Power

 

 * Less than 1 percent.

Dollar Range of Securities Beneficially Owned by Director, Officers and Portfolio Managers

The following table sets forth the dollar range of our equity securities beneficially owned by each of our directors as of March 31, 2008. Information as to the beneficial ownerships based on information furnished to the company by such persons. We are not part of a “family of investment companies,” as that term is defined in the 1940 Act.

 

Directors of PennantPark

 

Dollar Range of Equity Securities in PennantPark(1)

Independent directors

 

Adam K. Bernstein

  $500,001 - $1,000,000(2)

Marshall Brozost

  $50,001 - $100,000

Jeffrey Flug

  $500,001 - $1,000,000

Samuel L. Katz

 

$50,001 - $100,000

Interested directors

 

Arthur H. Penn

  Over $1,000,000(3)

Executive officers who are not directors

 

Aviv Efrat

  $100,001 - $500,000

Guy Talarico

  None

Portfolio managers

 

Geoffrey S. Chang

  $100,001 - $500,000

Salvatore Giannetti III

 

$50,001 - $100,000

P. Whitridge Williams, Jr.

 

$100,001 - $500,000

 

(1) Dollar ranges are as follows: None; $1-$10,000; $10,001-$50,000; $50,001-$100,000; $100,001-$500,000; $500,001-$1,000,000 or over $1,000,000.

 

(2) Also reflects holdings of JAM Investments, LLC.

 

(3) Also reflects holdings of PennantPark Investment Advisers, LLC

 

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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND TRANSACTIONS

Investment Management Agreement

PennantPark has entered into the Investment Management Agreement with the Investment Adviser under which the Investment Adviser, subject to the overall supervision of PennantPark Investment’s board of directors, manages the day-to-day operations of and provides investment advisory services to, PennantPark. Under the terms of our Investment Management Agreement, PennantPark Investment Advisers:

 

   

determines the composition of our portfolio, the nature and timing of the changes to our portfolio and the manner of implementing such changes;

 

   

identifies, evaluates and negotiates the structure of the investments we make (including performing due diligence on our prospective portfolio companies); and

 

   

closes and monitors the investments we make.

PennantPark Investment Advisers’ services under our Investment Management Agreement are not exclusive, and it is free to furnish similar services to other entities so long as its services to us are not impaired. The Investment Adviser has not yet undertaken any such services, but may do so at any time and without the prior approval of our stockholders or our board of directors. Our board of directors would monitor any potential conflicts that may arise upon such a development. For providing these services, the Investment Adviser receives a fee from PennantPark, consisting of two components—a base management fee and an incentive fee (collectively, “Management Fees”).

Investment Advisory Fees

The base management fee is calculated at an annual rate of 2.00% of our gross assets (net of U.S. Treasury Bills (“average adjusted gross total assets”)). Although the base management fee is 2.00% of our average adjusted gross total assets, the Investment Adviser waived a portion of the base management fee such that the base management fee equaled 1.50% from the consummation of the initial public offering through September 30, 2007. The base management fee is 1.75% from October 1, 2007 through March 31, 2008. Our base management fee will be 2.00% after March 31, 2008. For services rendered under our Investment Management Agreement during the period commencing from the closing of the initial public offering through and including September 30, 2007, the base management fee was payable monthly in arrears. For services rendered under our Investment Management Agreement after September 30, 2007, the base management fee is payable quarterly in arrears. The base management fee is calculated based on the average value of our average adjusted gross total assets at the end of the two most recently completed calendar quarters, and appropriately adjusted for any share issuances or repurchases during the current calendar quarter. Base investment advisory fees for any partial month or quarter are appropriately pro rated. For the six months ended March 31, 2008 and the period January 11, 2007 (inception) to September 30, 2007, the Investment Adviser earned a base management fee, after fee waiver, of $2.9 million and $1.9 million, respectively.

The incentive fee has two parts, as follows:

One part is calculated and payable quarterly in arrears based on our Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income for the immediately preceding calendar quarter. For this purpose, “Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income” means interest income, distribution income and any other income (including any other fees (other than fees for providing managerial assistance), such as commitment, origination, structuring, diligence and consulting fees or other fees that we receive from portfolio companies) accrued during the calendar quarter, minus our operating expenses for the quarter (including the base management fee, expenses payable under our Administration Agreement, and any interest expense and distributions paid on any issued and outstanding preferred stock, but excluding the incentive fee). Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income includes, in the case of investments with a deferred interest feature (such as original issue discount, debt instruments with pay in kind interest and zero coupon securities), accrued income that we have not yet received in cash. Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income does not include any realized capital gains, realized capital losses or unrealized capital

 

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appreciation or depreciation. Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income, expressed as a rate of return on the value of our net assets at the end of the immediately preceding calendar quarter, will be compared to a Hurdle of 1.75% per quarter (7.00% annualized). Our net investment income used to calculate this part of the incentive fee is also included in the amount of our average adjusted gross total assets used to calculate the 2.00% base management fee. We have agreed to pay PennantPark Investment Advisers an incentive fee with respect to our Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income in each calendar quarter as follows:

 

   

no incentive fee in any calendar quarter in which our Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income does not exceed the Hurdle of 1.75%;

 

   

100% of our Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income with respect to that portion of such Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income, if any, that exceeds the Hurdle but is less than 2.1875% in any calendar quarter (8.75% annualized). We refer to this portion of our Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income (which exceeds the Hurdle but is less than 2.1875%) as the “catch-up.” The “catch-up” is meant to provide our Investment Adviser with 20% of our Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income as if a Hurdle did not apply if this net investment income exceeds 2.1875% in any calendar quarter; and

 

   

20% of the amount of our Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income, if any, that exceeds 2.1875% in any calendar quarter (8.75% annualized) is payable to our Investment Adviser (once the Hurdle is reached and the catch-up is achieved, 20% of all Pre-Incentive Fee Investment Income thereafter is allocated to our Investment Adviser). These calculations are appropriately pro rated for any period of less than three months and adjusted for any share issuances or repurchases during the current quarter.

Table Demonstrating Quarterly Income-Related Incentive Fee

Quarterly pre-incentive fee net investment income

(expressed as a rate of return of the value of net assets)

  

Portion of pre-incentive fee net investment income

allocated to income-related incentive fee

0 – 1.75%

   0%

1.75% – 2.1875%

   100%

More than 2.1875%

   20%

The second part of the incentive fee is determined and payable in arrears as of the end of each calendar year (or upon termination of the investment advisory and management agreement, as of the termination date), commencing on March 31, 2008, and will equal 20.0% of our realized capital gains, if any, on a cumulative basis from inception through the end of each calendar year, computed net of all realized capital losses and unrealized capital depreciation on a cumulative basis, less the aggregate amount of any previously paid capital gain incentive fees. For the six months ended March 31, 2008 and the period January 11, 2007 (inception) to September 30, 2007, the Investment Adviser earned $1.4 million and zero, respectively, in incentive fees.

 

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Examples of Quarterly Incentive Fee Calculation

Example 1: Income Related Portion of Incentive Fee (*):

Alternative 1

Assumptions

Investment income (including interest, distributions, fees, etc.) = 1.25%

Hurdle(1) = 1.75%

Base management fee(2) = 0.50%

Other expenses (legal, accounting, custodian, transfer agent, etc.)(3) = 0.20%

Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income

(investment income—(base management fee + other expenses)) = 0.55%

Pre-incentive net investment income does not exceed Hurdle; therefore there is no incentive fee.

Alternative 2

Assumptions

Investment income (including interest, distributions, fees, etc.) = 2.70%

Hurdle(1) = 1.75%

Base management fee(2) = 0.50%

Other expenses (legal, accounting, custodian, transfer agent, etc.)(3) = 0.20%

Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income

(investment income—(base management fee + other expenses)) = 2.00%

 

Incentive fee

   = 20% x Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income, subject to “catch-up”
   = 2.00% - 1.75%
   = 0.25%
   = 100% x 0.25%
   = 0.25%

Alternative 3

Assumptions

Investment income (including interest, distributions, fees, etc.) = 3.00%

Hurdle(1) = 1.75%

Base management fee(2) = 0.50%

Other expenses (legal, accounting, custodian, transfer agent, etc.)(3) = 0.20%

Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income

(investment income—(base management fee + other expenses)) = 2.30%

Incentive fee = 20% x Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income, subject to “catch-up”

Incentive fee = 100% x “catch-up” + (20% x (Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income – 2.1875%))

 

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Catch-up = 2.1875% - 1.75%

= 0.4375%

= (100% x 0.4375%) + (20% x (2.3% - 2.1875%))

= 0.4375% + (20% x 0.1125%)

= 0.4375% + 0.0225%

= 0.46%

Example 2: Capital Gains Portion of Incentive Fee:

Assumptions

Year 1 = no net realized capital gains or losses

Year 2 = 6% net realized capital gains and 1% realized capital losses and unrealized capital depreciation Capital gain incentive fee = 20% x (realized capital gains for year computed net of all realized capital losses and unrealized capital depreciation at year end)

Management

 

Year 1 incentive fee

   = 20% x (0)
   = 0
   = no incentive fee

Year 2 incentive fee

   = 20% x (6% - 1%)
   = 20% x 5%
   = 1%

 

(*) The hypothetical amount of Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income shown is based on a percentage of total net assets.

 

(1) Represents 7.0% annualized Hurdle.

 

(2) Represents 2.0% annualized base management fee. Although the management fee will be 2.00% of our average adjusted gross total assets, the Investment Adviser has agreed to waive a portion of the base management fee such that the base management fee will equal 1.50% from the consummation of the initial public offering through September 30, 2007, 1.75% from October 1, 2007 through March 31, 2008, and 2.00% thereafter.

 

(3) Excludes organizational and offering expenses.

Duration and Termination

The Investment Management Agreement was approved by our board of directors, including a majority of our directors who are not interested persons of PennantPark, on February 13, 2007. Unless terminated earlier as described below, our Investment Management Agreement will continue in effect for a period of two years from its execution date through April 17, 2009. It will remain in effect from year to year thereafter if approved annually by our board of directors, or by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of our outstanding voting securities, including, in either case, approval by a majority of our directors who are not interested persons. The Investment Management Agreement will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment. The Investment Management Agreement may be terminated by either party without penalty upon not more than 60 days’ written notice to the other. See “Risk Factors-Risks relating to our business and structure—We are dependent upon PennantPark Investment Advisers’ key personnel for our future success, and if we are unable to hire and retain qualified personnel or if we lose any member of our management team, our ability to achieve our investment objectives could be significantly harmed.”

 

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Indemnification

Our Investment Management Agreement provides that, absent willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or by reason of the reckless disregard of its duties and obligations, PennantPark Investment Advisers and its officers, managers, partners, agents, employees, controlling persons, members and any other person or entity affiliated with it are entitled to indemnification from PennantPark for any damages, liabilities, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and amounts reasonably paid in settlement) arising from the rendering of PennantPark Investment Advisers’ services under each respective agreement or otherwise as an Investment Adviser of PennantPark.

Organization of the Investment Adviser

PennantPark Investment Advisers is a registered Investment Adviser under the Advisers Act of 1940. The principal executive offices of PennantPark Investment Advisers are located at 590 Madison Avenue, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10022.

Administration Agreement

Pursuant to the Administration Agreement, the Administrator furnishes us with office facilities, equipment and clerical, bookkeeping and record keeping services at such facilities. Under our Administration Agreement, the Administrator performs, or oversees the performance of, our required administrative services, which include, among other things, being responsible for the financial records which we are required to maintain and preparing reports to our stockholders and reports filed with the SEC. In addition, the Administrator assists us in determining and publishing our net asset value, oversees the preparation and filing of our tax returns and the printing and dissemination of reports to our stockholders, and generally oversees the payment of our expenses and the performance of administrative and professional services rendered to us by others. Payments under our Administration Agreement are equal to an amount based upon our allocable portion of the Administrator’s overhead in performing its obligations under our Administration Agreement, including rent and our allocable portion of the cost of compensation and related expenses of our Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Financial Officer and their respective staffs. Under our Administration Agreement, the Administrator provides on our behalf managerial assistance to those portfolio companies to which we are required to provide such assistance. The Administration Agreement may be terminated by either party without penalty upon 60 days’ written notice to the other party. To the extent that our Administrator outsources any of its functions, we will pay the fees associated with such functions on a direct basis without profit to the Administrator. For the six months ended March 31, 2008 and the period January 11, 2007 (inception) to September 30, 2007, the Investment Adviser was reimbursed $1.1 million and approximately $490,000, respectively, from the Company, including expenses it incurred on behalf of the Administrator for the services described above.

Indemnification

The Administration Agreement provides that, absent willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence in the performance of its duties or by reason of the reckless disregard of its duties and obligations, PennantPark Investment Administration and its officers, manager, partners, agents, employees, controlling persons, members and any other person or entity affiliated with it are entitled to indemnification from PennantPark for any damages, liabilities, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and amounts reasonably paid in settlement) arising from the rendering of PennantPark Investment Administration’s services under our Administration Agreement or otherwise as Administrator for PennantPark.

License Agreement

We have entered into the License Agreement with PennantPark Investment Advisers pursuant to which PennantPark Investment Advisers has granted us a royalty-free, non-exclusive license to use the name “PennantPark.” Under this agreement, we have a right to use the PennantPark name, for so long as PennantPark Investment Advisers or one of its affiliates remains our Investment Adviser. Other than with respect to this limited license, we have no legal right to the “PennantPark” name.

 

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DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE

The net asset value per share of our outstanding shares of common stock is determined quarterly by dividing the value of total assets minus liabilities by the total number of shares outstanding.

As a business development company, we generally invest in illiquid securities including debt and equity investments of middle-market companies. All of our investments are recorded using broker/dealers quotes, or at fair value as determined in good faith by our board of directors. Our board of directors generally uses market quotations to assess the value of our investments for which market quotations are readily available. We obtain these market values from an independent pricing service or at the bid prices obtained from at least two broker/dealers if available, otherwise by a principal market maker or a primary market dealer. If the board of directors has a bona fide reason to believe any such market quote does not reflect the fair value of an investment, it may independently value such investments by using the valuation procedure that it uses with respect to assets for which market quotations are not readily available. Debt and equity investments that are not publicly traded or whose market prices are not readily available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by or under the direction of our board of directors. Such determination of fair values involves subjective judgments and estimates. Investments purchased within 60 days of maturity will be valued at cost plus accreted discount, or minus amortized premium, which approximates value. With respect to unquoted securities, our board of directors, together with our independent third party valuation firms, values each investment considering, among other measures, discounted cash flow models, comparisons of financial ratios of peer companies that are public and other factors.

When an external event such as a purchase transaction, public offering or subsequent equity sale occurs in connection with one of our portfolio companies, our board uses the pricing indicated by the external event to corroborate and/or assist us in our valuation of our investment in such portfolio company. Because there are not always readily available markets for many of the investments in our portfolio, we value certain of our portfolio investments at fair value as determined in good faith by our board of directors using a documented valuation policy and a consistently applied valuation process. Due to the inherent uncertainty of determining the fair value of investments that do not have a readily available market value, the fair value of our investments may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had a readily available market value existed for such investments, and the differences could be material.

With respect to investments for which market quotations are not readily available or are readily available but believed not to reflect the fair value of an investment, our board of directors undertakes a multi-step valuation process each quarter, as described below:

 

   

Our quarterly valuation process begins with each portfolio company or investment being initially valued by the investment professionals of our Investment Adviser responsible for the portfolio investment;

 

   

Preliminary valuation conclusions are then documented and discussed with the management of our Investment Adviser;

 

   

Our board of directors also engages one or more independent valuation firms to conduct independent appraisals of our investments for which market quotations are not readily available or are readily available but believed not to reflect the fair value of an investment. The independent valuation firm reviews management’s preliminary valuations and its own independent assessment;

 

   

The audit committee of our board of directors reviews the preliminary valuations of our Investment Adviser and that of the independent valuation firms and responds and supplements the valuation recommendations of the independent valuation firms to reflect any comments; and

 

   

The board of directors discusses the valuations and determines the fair value of each investment in our portfolio in good faith, based on the input of our Investment Adviser, the independent valuation firms and the audit committee.

 

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The types of factors that we may take into account in fair value pricing our investments include, as relevant, the nature and realizable value of any collateral, the portfolio company’s ability to make payments and its earnings and discounted cash flow, the markets in which the portfolio company does business, comparison to publicly traded securities and other relevant factors.

Determination of fair values involves subjective judgments and estimates not susceptible to substantiation by auditing procedures. Accordingly, under current auditing standards, the notes to our financial statements will refer to the uncertainty with respect to the possible effect of such valuations, and any change in such valuations, on our financial statements.

Determinations In Connection With Offerings

In connection with each offering of shares of our common stock, our board of directors or a committee thereof will be required to make the determination that we are not selling shares of our common stock at a price below net asset value of our common stock at the time at which the sale is made unless we receive the consent of the majority of our common stockholders to do so, and the board of directors decides that such an offering is in the best interests of our common stockholders. Our board of directors will consider the following factors, among others, in making such determination:

 

   

the net asset value of our common stock disclosed in the most recent periodic report that we filed with the SEC;

 

   

our management’s assessment of whether any change in the net asset value of our common stock has occurred (including through the realization of gains on the sale of our portfolio securities) during the period beginning on the date of the most recent public filing with the SEC that discloses the net asset value of our common stock and ending two days prior to the date of the sale of our common stock; and

 

   

the magnitude of the difference between the offering price of the shares of our common stock in the proposed offering and management’s assessment of any change in the net asset value of our common stock during the period discussed above.

Importantly, this determination will not necessarily require that we calculate the net asset value of our common stock in connection with each offering of shares of our common stock, but instead it will involve the determination by our board of directors or a committee thereof that we are not selling shares of our common stock at a price below the then current net asset value of our common stock at the time at which the sale is made or otherwise in violation of the 1940 Act.

To the extent that the above procedures result in even a remote possibility that we may (i) issue shares of our common stock at a price below the then current net asset value of our common stock at the time at which the sale is made or (ii) trigger our undertaking to suspend the offering of shares of our common stock pursuant to this prospectus if the net asset value fluctuates by certain amounts in certain circumstances until the prospectus is amended (see Part C—“Undertakings”), the Board of Directors or a committee thereof will elect, in the case of clause (i) above, either to postpone the offering until such time that there is no longer the possibility of the occurrence of such event or to undertake to determine net asset value within two days prior to any such sale to ensure that such sale will not be below our then current net asset value, and, in the case of clause (ii) above, to comply with such undertaking or to undertake to determine net asset value to ensure that such undertaking has not been triggered.

We may, however, subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act, issue rights to acquire our common stock at a price below the current net asset value of the common stock if our board of directors determines that such sale is in our best interests and the best interests of our common stockholders. In any such case, the price at which our securities are to be issued and sold may not be less than a price, that in the determination of our Board of Directors, closely approximates the market value of such securities. We will not offer transferable subscription

 

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rights to our stockholders at a price equivalent to less than the then current net asset value per share of common stock, taking into account underwriting commissions, unless we first file a post-effective amendment that is declared effective by the SEC with respect to such issuance and the common stock to be purchased in connection with the rights represents no more than one-third of our outstanding common stock at the time such rights are issued. If we raise additional funds by issuing more common stock or warrants or senior securities convertible into, or exchangeable for, our common stock, the percentage ownership of our common stockholders at that time would decrease, and our common stockholders may experience dilution.

These processes and procedures are part of our compliance policies and procedures. Records will be made contemporaneously with all determinations of the board of directors described in this section, and we will maintain these records with other records that we are required to maintain under the 1940 Act.

 

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DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN

We have adopted a dividend reinvestment plan that provides for reinvestment of our dividends and other distributions on behalf of our stockholders, unless a stockholder elects to receive cash as provided below. As a result, if our board of directors authorizes, and we declare, a cash dividend or other distribution, then our stockholders who have not ‘opted out’ of our dividend reinvestment plan will have their cash distribution automatically reinvested in additional shares of our common stock, rather than receiving the cash distribution.

No action is required on the part of registered stockholders to have their cash dividend or other distribution reinvested in shares of our common stock. A registered stockholder may elect to receive an entire distribution in cash by notifying American Stock Transfer and Trust Company, the plan Administrator and our transfer agent and registrar, in writing so that such notice is received by the plan Administrator no later than the record date for distributions to stockholders. The plan Administrator will set up an account for shares acquired through the plan for each stockholder who has not elected to receive dividends or other distributions in cash and hold such shares in non-certificated form. Upon request by a stockholder participating in the plan, received in writing not less than 10 days prior to the record date, the plan Administrator will, instead of crediting shares to the participant’s account, issue a certificate registered in the participant’s name for the number of whole shares of our common stock and a check for any fractional share.

Those stockholders whose shares are held by a broker or other financial intermediary may receive dividends and other distributions in cash by notifying their broker or other financial intermediary of their election.

We intend to use primarily newly issued shares to implement the plan, whether our shares are trading at a premium or at a discount to net asset value. However, we reserve the right to purchase shares in the open market in connection with our implementation of the plan. The number of shares to be issued to a stockholder is determined by dividing the total dollar amount of the distribution payable to such stockholder by the market price per share of our common stock at the close of regular trading on NASDAQ on the valuation date for such distribution. Market price per share on that date will be the closing price for such shares on NASDAQ or, if no sale is reported for such day, at the average of their reported bid and asked prices. The number of shares of our common stock to be outstanding after giving effect to payment of the dividend or other distribution cannot be established until the value per share at which additional shares will be issued has been determined and elections of our stockholders have been tabulated.

There will be no brokerage charges or other charges to stockholders who participate in the plan. The plan Administrator’s fees will be paid by us. If a participant elects by written notice to the plan Administrator to have the plan Administrator sell part or all of the shares held by the plan Administrator in the participant’s account and remit the proceeds to the participant, the plan Administrator is authorized to deduct a $15.00 transaction fee plus a $0.10 per share brokerage commissions from the proceeds.

Stockholders who receive dividends and other distributions in the form of stock are subject to the same federal, state and local tax consequences as are stockholders who elect to receive their distributions in cash. A stockholder’s basis for determining gain or loss upon the sale of stock received in a dividend or other distribution from us will be equal to the total dollar amount of the distribution payable to the stockholder. Any stock received in a dividend or other distribution will have a new holding period for tax purposes commencing on the day following the day on which the shares are credited to the U.S. stockholder’s account.

Participants may terminate their accounts under the plan by notifying the plan Administrator via its website at www.amstock.com, by filling out the transaction request form located at bottom of their statement and sending it to the plan Administrator.

The plan may be terminated by us upon notice in writing mailed to each participant at least 30 days prior to any record date for the payment of any dividend by us. All correspondence concerning the plan should be directed to the plan Administrator by mail at American Stock Transfer and Trust Company, P.O. Box 922, Wall Street Station, New York, New York 10269, or by the Plan Administrator’s Interactive Voice Response System at 1-888-777-0324.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF OUR CAPITAL STOCK

The following description is based on relevant portions of the Maryland General Corporation Law and on our charter and bylaws. This summary is not necessarily complete, and we refer you to the Maryland General Corporation Law and our charter and bylaws for a more detailed description of the provisions summarized below.

Capital Stock

On March 31, 2008 our authorized capital stock consisted of 100,000,000 shares of stock, par value $0.001 per share, all of which is classified as common stock. Our common stock is quoted on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol “PNNT”. There are no outstanding options or warrants to purchase our stock. No stock has been authorized for issuance under any equity compensation plans. Under Maryland law, our stockholders generally are not personally liable for our debts or obligations.

The last reported closing market price of our common stock on May 21, 2008 was $8.15 per share. As of May 21, 2008, we had 15 stockholders of record.

The following are our outstanding classes of securities as of May 21, 2008:

 

Title of Class

   Amount
Authorized
   Amount Held by
Us or for Our
Account
   Amount
Outstanding

Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share

   100,000,000       21,068,772

Under our charter, our board of directors is authorized to classify and reclassify any unissued shares of stock into other classes or series of stock and authorize the issuance of shares of stock without obtaining stockholder approval. As permitted by the Maryland General Corporation Law, our charter provides that the board of directors, without any action by our stockholders, may amend the charter from time to time to increase or decrease the aggregate number of shares of stock or the number of shares of stock of any class or series that we have authority to issue.

Common stock

All shares of our common stock have equal rights as to earnings, assets, distributions and voting and, when they are issued, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. Distributions may be paid to the holders of our common stock if, as and when authorized by our board of directors and declared by us out of funds legally available. Shares of our common stock have no preemptive, exchange, conversion or redemption rights and are freely transferable, except where their transfer is restricted by federal and state securities laws or by contract. In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of PennantPark, each share of our common stock would be entitled to share ratably in all of our assets that are legally available for distribution after we pay all debts and other liabilities and subject to any preferential rights of holders of our preferred stock, if any preferred stock is outstanding at such time. Each share of our common stock is entitled to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders, including the election of directors. Except as provided with respect to any other class or series of stock, the holders of our common stock will possess exclusive voting power. There is no cumulative voting in the election of directors, which means that holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock can elect all of our directors, and holders of less than a majority of such shares will be unable to elect any director.

Limitation on Liability of Directors and Officers; Indemnification and Advance of Expenses

Maryland law permits a Maryland corporation to include in its charter a provision limiting the liability of its directors and officers to the corporation and its stockholders for money damages except for liability resulting

 

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from (a) actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services or (b) active and deliberate dishonesty established by a final judgment as being material to the cause of action. Our charter contains such a provision which eliminates directors’ and officers’ liability to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law, subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act.

Our charter authorizes us, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law and subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act, to obligate us to indemnify any present or former director or officer or any individual who, while a director or officer and at our request, serves or has served another corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, limited liability company or other enterprise as a director, officer, partner or trustee, from and against any claim or liability to which that person may become subject or which that person may incur by reason of his or her service in any such capacity and to pay or reimburse their reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding.

Our bylaws obligate us, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law and subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act, to indemnify any present or former director or officer or any individual who, while a director or officer and at our request, serves or has served another corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, limited liability company or other enterprise as a director, officer, partner or trustee and who is made, or threatened to be made, a party to a proceeding by reason of his or her service in any such capacity from and against any claim or liability to which that person may become subject or which that person may incur by reason of his or her service in any such capacity and to pay or reimburse their reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding. The charter and bylaws also permit us to indemnify and advance expenses to any person who served a predecessor of us in any of the capacities described above and any of our employees or agents or any employees or agents of our predecessor. In accordance with the 1940 Act, we will not indemnify any person for any liability to which such person would be subject by reason of such person’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office.

Maryland law requires a corporation (unless its charter provides otherwise, which our charter does not) to indemnify a director or officer who has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding to which he or she is made, or threatened to be made, a party by reason of his or her service in that capacity. Maryland law permits a corporation to indemnify its present and former directors and officers, among others, against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by them in connection with any proceeding to which they may be made, or threatened to be made, a party by reason of their service in those or other capacities unless it is established that (a) the act or omission of the director or officer was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and (1) was committed in bad faith or (2) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty, (b) the director or officer actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services or (c) in the case of any criminal proceeding, the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful. However, under Maryland law, a Maryland corporation may not indemnify for an adverse judgment in a suit by or in the right of the corporation or for a judgment of liability on the basis that a personal benefit was improperly received unless, in either case, a court orders indemnification, and then only for expenses. In addition, Maryland law permits a corporation to advance reasonable expenses to a director or officer upon the corporation’s receipt of (a) a written affirmation by the director or officer of his or her good faith belief that he or she has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the corporation and (b) a written undertaking by him or her or on his or her behalf to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by the corporation if it is ultimately determined that the standard of conduct was not met.

Provisions of the Maryland General Corporation Law and our Charter and Bylaws

The Maryland General Corporation Law and our charter and bylaws contain provisions that could make it more difficult for a potential acquirer to acquire us by means of a tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise. These provisions are expected to discourage certain coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids and to

 

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encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to negotiate first with our board of directors. We believe that the benefits of these provisions outweigh the potential disadvantages of discouraging any such acquisition proposals because, among other things, the negotiation of such proposals may improve their terms.

Classified board of directors

Our board of directors is divided into three classes of directors serving staggered three-year terms. The initial terms of the first, second and third classes will expire in 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively, and in each case, those directors will serve until their successors are duly elected and qualify. Beginning in 2008, upon expiration of their current terms, directors of each class will be elected to serve for three-year terms and until their successors are duly elected and qualify and each year one class of directors will be elected by the stockholders. A classified board may render a change in control of us or removal of our incumbent management more difficult. We believe, however, that the longer time required to elect a majority of a classified board of directors will help to ensure the continuity and stability of our management and policies.

Election of directors

Our charter and bylaws provide that the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote in the election of directors will be required to elect a director. Pursuant to the charter, our board of directors may amend the bylaws to alter the vote required to elect directors.

Number of directors; vacancies; removal

Our charter provides that the number of directors will be set only by the board of directors in accordance with our bylaws. Our bylaws provide that a majority of our entire board of directors may at any time increase or decrease the number of directors. However, unless our bylaws are amended, the number of directors may never be less than four nor more than eight. We have elected to be subject to the provision of Subtitle 8 of Title 3 of the Maryland General Corporation Law regarding the filling of vacancies on the board of directors. Accordingly, except as may be provided by the board of directors in setting the terms of any class or series of preferred stock, any and all vacancies on the board of directors may be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors in office, even if the remaining directors do not constitute a quorum, and any director elected to fill a vacancy will serve for the remainder of the full term of the directorship in which the vacancy occurred and until a successor is elected and qualifies, subject to any applicable requirements of the 1940 Act.

Our charter provides that a director may be removed only for cause, as defined in our charter, and then only by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast in the election of directors.

Action by stockholders

Under the Maryland General Corporation Law, stockholder action can be taken only at an annual or special meeting of stockholders or by unanimous written consent in lieu of a meeting (unless the charter provides for stockholder action by less than unanimous consent, which our charter does not). These provisions, combined with the requirements of our bylaws regarding the calling of a stockholder-requested special meeting of stockholders discussed below, may have the effect of delaying consideration of a stockholder proposal until the next annual meeting.

Advance notice provisions for stockholder nominations and stockholder proposals

Our bylaws provide that with respect to an annual meeting of stockholders, nominations of persons for election to the board of directors and the proposal of business to be considered by stockholders may be made only (1) pursuant to our notice of the meeting, (2) by the board of directors or (3) by a stockholder who is entitled

 

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to vote at the meeting and who has complied with the advance notice procedures of the bylaws. With respect to special meetings of stockholders, only the business specified in our notice of the meeting may be brought before the meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the board of directors at a special meeting may be made only (1) pursuant to our notice of the meeting, (2) by the board of directors or (3) provided that the board of directors has determined that directors will be elected at the meeting, by a stockholder who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has complied with the advance notice provisions of the bylaws.

The purpose of requiring stockholders to give us advance notice of nominations and other business is to afford our board of directors a meaningful opportunity to consider the qualifications of the proposed nominees and the advisability of any other proposed business and, to the extent deemed necessary or desirable by our board of directors, to inform stockholders and make recommendations about such qualifications or business, as well as to provide a more orderly procedure for conducting meetings of stockholders. Although our bylaws do not give our board of directors any power to disapprove stockholder nominations for the election of directors or proposals recommending certain action, they may have the effect of precluding a contest for the election of directors or the consideration of stockholder proposals if proper procedures are not followed and of discouraging or deterring a third party from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect its own slate of directors or to approve its own proposal without regard to whether consideration of such nominees or proposals might be harmful or beneficial to us and our stockholders.

Calling of special meetings of stockholders

Our bylaws provide that special meetings of stockholders may be called by our board of directors and certain of our officers. Additionally, our bylaws provide that, subject to the satisfaction of certain procedural and informational requirements by the stockholders requesting the meeting, a special meeting of stockholders will be called by the secretary of the corporation upon the written request of stockholders entitled to cast not less than a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting.

Approval of extraordinary corporate action; amendment of charter and bylaws

Under Maryland law, a Maryland corporation generally cannot dissolve, amend its charter, merge, sell all or substantially all of its assets, engage in a share exchange or engage in similar transactions outside the ordinary course of business, unless approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. However, a Maryland corporation may provide in its charter for approval of these matters by a lesser percentage, but not less than a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Our charter generally provides for approval of charter amendments and extraordinary transactions by the stockholders entitled to cast at least a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Our charter also provides that certain charter amendments and any proposal for our conversion, whether by merger or otherwise, from a closed-end company to an open-end company or any proposal for our liquidation or dissolution requires the approval of the stockholders entitled to cast at least 80 percent of the votes entitled to be cast on such matter. However, if such amendment or proposal is approved by at least two-thirds of our continuing directors (in addition to approval by our board of directors), such amendment or proposal may be approved by a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on such a matter. The “continuing directors” are defined in our charter as our current directors as well as those directors whose nomination for election by the stockholders or whose election by the directors to fill vacancies is approved by a majority of the continuing directors then on the board of directors.

Our charter and bylaws provide that the board of directors will have the exclusive power to adopt, alter or repeal any provision of our bylaws and to make new bylaws.

No appraisal rights

Except with respect to appraisal rights arising in connection with the Maryland Control Share Acquisition Act discussed below, as permitted by the Maryland General Corporation Law, our charter provides that stockholders will not be entitled to exercise appraisal rights.

 

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Control share acquisitions

The Control Share Acquisition Act provides that control shares of a Maryland corporation acquired in a control share acquisition have no voting rights except to the extent approved by a vote of two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Shares owned by the acquirer, by officers or by directors who are employees of the corporation are excluded from shares entitled to vote on the matter. Control shares are voting shares of stock which, if aggregated with all other shares of stock owned by the acquirer or in respect of which the acquirer is able to exercise or direct the exercise of voting power (except solely by virtue of a revocable proxy), would entitle the acquirer to exercise voting power in electing directors within one of the following ranges of voting power:

 

   

one-tenth or more but less than one-third;

 

   

one-third or more but less than a majority; or

 

   

a majority or more of all voting power.

The requisite stockholder approval must be obtained each time an acquirer crosses one of the thresholds of voting power set forth above. Control shares do not include shares the acquiring person is then entitled to vote as a result of having previously obtained stockholder approval. A control share acquisition means the acquisition of control shares, subject to certain exceptions.

A person who has made or proposes to make a control share acquisition may compel the board of directors of the corporation to call a special meeting of stockholders to be held within 50 days of demand to consider the voting rights of the shares. The right to compel the calling of a special meeting is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including an undertaking to pay the expenses of the meeting. If no request for a meeting is made, the corporation may itself present the question at any stockholders meeting.

If voting rights are not approved at the meeting or if the acquiring person does not deliver an acquiring person statement as required by the statute, then the corporation may repurchase for fair value any or all of the control shares, except those for which voting rights have previously been approved. The right of the corporation to repurchase control shares is subject to certain conditions and limitations, including, as provided in our bylaws, compliance with the 1940 Act. Fair value is determined, without regard to the absence of voting rights for the control shares, as of the date of the last control share acquisition by the acquirer or of any meeting of stockholders at which the voting rights of the shares are considered and not approved. If voting rights for control shares are approved at a stockholders meeting and the acquirer becomes entitled to vote a majority of the shares entitled to vote, all other stockholders may exercise appraisal rights. The fair value of the shares as determined for purposes of appraisal rights may not be less than the highest price per share paid by the acquirer in the control share acquisition.

The Control Share Acquisition Act does not apply (a) to shares acquired in a merger, consolidation or share exchange if the corporation is a party to the transaction or (b) to acquisitions approved or exempted by the charter or bylaws of the corporation.

Our bylaws contain a provision exempting from the Control Share Acquisition Act any and all acquisitions by any person of our shares of stock. There can be no assurance that such provision will not be amended or eliminated at any time in the future. However, we will amend our bylaws to be subject to the Control Share Acquisition Act only if the board of directors determines that it would be in our best interests based on our determination that our being subject to the Control Share Acquisition Act does not conflict with the 1940 Act.

 

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Business combinations

Under Maryland law, “business combinations” between a Maryland corporation and an interested stockholder or an affiliate of an interested stockholder are prohibited for five years after the most recent date on which the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. These business combinations include a merger, consolidation, share exchange or, in circumstances specified in the statute, an asset transfer or issuance or reclassification of equity securities. An interested stockholder is defined as:

 

   

any person who beneficially owns 10% or more of the voting power of the corporation’s shares; or

 

   

an affiliate or associate of the corporation who, at any time within the two-year period prior to the date in question, was the beneficial owner of 10% or more of the voting power of the then outstanding voting stock of the corporation.

A person is not an interested stockholder under this statute if the board of directors approved in advance the transaction by which he otherwise would have become an interested stockholder. However, in approving a transaction, the board of directors may provide that its approval is subject to compliance, at or after the time of approval, with any terms and conditions determined by the board.

After the five-year prohibition, any business combination between the corporation and an interested stockholder generally must be recommended by the board of directors of the corporation and approved by the affirmative vote of at least:

 

   

80% of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of outstanding shares of voting stock of the corporation; and

 

   

two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of voting stock of the corporation other than shares held by the interested stockholder with whom or with whose affiliate the business combination is to be effected or held by an affiliate or associate of the interested stockholder.

These super-majority vote requirements do not apply if the corporation’s common stockholders receive a minimum price, as defined under Maryland law, for their shares in the form of cash or other consideration in the same form as previously paid by the interested stockholder for its shares.

The statute permits various exemptions from its provisions, including business combinations that are exempted by the board of directors before the time that the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. Our board of directors has adopted a resolution that any business combination between us and any other person is exempted from the provisions of the Business Combination Act, provided that the business combination is first approved by the board of directors, including a majority of the directors who are not interested persons as defined in the 1940 Act. This resolution, however, may be altered or repealed in whole or in part at any time. If this resolution is repealed, or the board of directors does not otherwise approve a business combination, the statute may discourage others from trying to acquire control of us and increase the difficulty of consummating any offer.

Conflict with 1940 Act

Our bylaws provide that, if and to the extent that any provision of the Maryland General Corporation Law, including the Control Share Acquisition Act (if we amend our bylaws to be subject to such Act) and the Business Combination Act, or any provision of our charter or bylaws conflicts with any provision of the 1940 Act, the applicable provision of the 1940 Act will control.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF OUR PREFERRED STOCK

Our charter authorizes our board of directors to classify and reclassify any unissued shares of stock into other classes or series of stock, including preferred stock. Prior to issuance of shares of each class or series, the board of directors is required by Maryland law and by our charter to set the terms, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms or conditions of redemption for each class or series. Thus, the board of directors could authorize the issuance of shares of preferred stock with terms and conditions which could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a transaction or a change in control that might involve a premium price for holders of our common stock or otherwise be in their best interest. You should note, however, that any issuance of preferred stock must comply with the requirements of the 1940 Act.

The 1940 Act generally requires, among other things, that (1) immediately after issuance and before any distribution is made with respect to our common stock and before any purchase of common stock is made, such preferred stock together with all other senior securities must not exceed an amount equal to 50% of our total assets less liabilities not represented by indebtedness, and (2) the holders of shares of preferred stock, if any are issued, must be entitled as a class to elect two directors at all times and to elect a majority of the directors if distributions on such preferred stock are in arrears by two years or more. Certain matters under the 1940 Act require the separate vote of the holders of any issued and outstanding preferred stock. For example, holders of preferred stock would vote separately from the holders of common stock on a proposal to cease operations as a business development company. We believe that the availability for issuance of preferred stock will provide us with increased flexibility in structuring future financings and acquisitions.

For any series of preferred stock that we may issue, our Board of Directors will determine and the prospectus supplement relating to such series will describe:

 

   

the designation and number of shares of such series;

 

   

the rate and time at which, and the preferences and conditions under which, any dividends will be paid on shares of such series, as well as whether such dividends are cumulative or non-cumulative and participating or non-participating;

 

   

any provisions relating to convertibility or exchangeability of the shares of such series;

 

   

the rights and preferences, if any, of holders of shares of such series upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs;

 

   

the voting powers, if any, of the holders of shares of such series;

 

   

any provisions relating to the redemption of the shares of such series;

 

   

any limitations on our ability to pay dividends or make distributions on, or acquire or redeem, other securities while shares of such series are outstanding;

 

   

any conditions or restrictions on our ability to issue additional shares of such series or other securities;

 

   

if applicable, a discussion of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations; and

 

   

any other relative power, preferences and participating, optional or special rights of shares of such series, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof.

All shares of preferred stock that we may issue will be identical and of equal rank except as to the particular terms thereof that may be fixed by our board of directors, and all shares of each series of preferred stock will be identical and of equal rank except as to the dates from which cumulative dividends, if any, thereon will be cumulative. If we issue shares of preferred stock, holders of such preferred stock will be entitled to receive cash dividends at an annual rate that will be fixed or will vary for the successive dividend periods for each series. In general, the dividend periods for fixed rate preferred stock will be quarterly and for any auction rate preferred stock, or ARPS, will be weekly or monthly and subject to extension. With respect to ARPS, we expect the dividend rate to be variable and determined for each dividend period.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF OUR WARRANTS

The following is a general description of the terms of the warrants we may issue from time to time. Particular terms of any warrants we offer will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to such warrants.

We may issue warrants to purchase shares of our common stock, preferred stock or debt securities. Such warrants may be issued independently or together with shares of common or preferred stock or a specified principal amount of debt securities and may be attached or separate from such securities. We will issue each series of warrants under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a warrant agent. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency for or with holders or beneficial owners of warrants.

A prospectus supplement will describe the particular terms of any series of warrants we may issue, including the following:

 

   

the title of such warrants;

 

   

the aggregate number of such warrants;

 

   

the price or prices at which such warrants will be issued;

 

   

the currency or currencies, including composite currencies, in which the price of such warrants may be payable;

 

   

if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities with which the warrants are issued and the number of warrants issued with each such security or each principal amount of such security;

 

   

in the case of warrants to purchase debt securities, the principal amount of debt securities purchasable upon exercise of one warrant and the price at which and the currency or currencies, including composite currencies, in which this principal amount of debt securities may be purchased upon such exercise;

 

   

in the case of warrants to purchase common stock or preferred stock, the number of shares of common stock or preferred stock, as the case may be, purchasable upon exercise of one warrant and the price at which and the currency or currencies, including composite currencies, in which these shares may be purchased upon such exercise;

 

   

the date on which the right to exercise such warrants shall commence and the date on which such right will expire;

 

   

whether such warrants will be issued in registered form or bearer form;

 

   

if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of such warrants which may be exercised at any one time;

 

   

if applicable, the date on and after which such warrants and the related securities will be separately transferable;

 

   

information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any;

 

   

the terms of the securities issuable upon exercise of the warrants;

 

   

if applicable, a discussion of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations; and

 

   

any other terms of such warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of such warrants.

We and the warrant agent may amend or supplement the warrant agreement for a series of warrants without the consent of the holders of the warrants issued thereunder to effect changes that are not inconsistent with the provisions of the warrants and that do not materially and adversely affect the interests of the holders of the warrants.

 

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Prior to exercising their warrants, holders of warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the securities purchasable upon such exercise, including, in the case of warrants to purchase debt securities, the right to receive principal, premium, if any, or interest payments, on the debt securities purchasable upon exercise or to enforce covenants in the applicable indenture or, in the case of warrants to purchase common stock or preferred stock, the right to receive dividends, if any, or payments upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up or to exercise any voting rights.

Under the 1940 Act, we may generally only offer warrants provided that (1) the warrants expire by their terms within ten years; (2) the exercise or conversion price is not less than the current market value at the date of issuance; (3) our stockholders authorize the proposal to issue such warrants, and our Board of Directors approves such issuance on the basis that the issuance is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders; and (4) if the warrants are accompanied by other securities, the warrants are not separately transferable unless no class of such warrants and the securities accompanying them has been publicly distributed. The 1940 Act also provides that the amount of our voting securities that would result from the exercise of all outstanding warrants at the time of issuance may not exceed 25% of our outstanding voting securities.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF OUR SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS

We may issue subscription rights to purchase common stock. Subscription rights may be issued independently or together with any other offered security and may or may not be transferable by the person purchasing or receiving the subscription rights. In connection with any subscription rights offering to our stockholders, we may enter into a standby underwriting or other arrangement with one or more underwriters or other persons pursuant to which such underwriters or other persons would purchase any offered securities remaining unsubscribed for after such subscription rights offering. We will not offer transferable subscription rights to our stockholders at a price equivalent to less than the then current net asset value per share of common stock, taking into account underwriting commissions, unless we first file a post-effective amendment that is declared effective by the SEC with respect to such issuance and the common stock to be purchased in connection with the rights represents no more than one-third of our outstanding common stock at the time such rights are issued. In connection with a subscription rights offering to our stockholders, we would distribute certificates evidencing the subscription rights and a prospectus supplement to our stockholders on the record date that we set for receiving subscription rights in such subscription rights offering.

The applicable prospectus supplement would describe the following terms of subscription rights in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered:

 

   

the title of such subscription rights;

 

   

the exercise price or a formula for the determination of the exercise price for such subscription rights;

 

   

the number or a formula for the determination of the number of such subscription rights issued to each stockholder;

 

   

the extent to which such subscription rights are transferable;

 

   

if applicable, a discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the issuance or exercise of such subscription rights;

 

   

the date on which the right to exercise such subscription rights would commence, and the date on which such rights shall expire (subject to any extension);

 

   

the extent to which such subscription rights include an over-subscription privilege with respect to unsubscribed securities;

 

   

if applicable, the material terms of any standby underwriting or other purchase arrangement that we may enter into in connection with the subscription rights offering; and

 

   

any other terms of such subscription rights, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of such subscription rights.

Exercise of Subscription Rights

Each subscription right would entitle the holder of the subscription right to purchase for cash such amount of shares of common stock or other securities at such exercise price as shall in each case be set forth in, or be determinable as set forth in, the prospectus supplement relating to the subscription rights offered thereby or another report filed with the SEC. Subscription rights may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date for such subscription rights set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, all unexercised subscription rights would become void.

Subscription rights may be exercised as set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the subscription rights offered thereby. Upon receipt of payment and the subscription rights certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the subscription rights agent or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement, we will forward, as soon as practicable, the shares of common stock or other securities purchasable upon such exercise. We may determine to offer any unsubscribed offered securities directly to stockholders, persons other than stockholders, to or through agents, underwriters or dealers or through a combination of such methods, including pursuant to standby underwriting or other arrangements, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF OUR DEBT SECURITIES

We may issue debt securities in one or more series. The specific terms of each series of debt securities will be described in the particular prospectus supplement relating to that series. The prospectus supplement may or may not modify the general terms found in this prospectus and will be filed with the SEC. For a complete description of the terms of a particular series of debt securities, you should read both this prospectus and the prospectus supplement relating to that particular series.

As required by federal law for all bonds and notes of companies that are publicly offered, the debt securities are governed by a document called an “indenture.” An indenture is a contract between us and a financial institution acting as trustee on your behalf, and is subject to and governed by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. The trustee has two main roles. First, the trustee can enforce your rights against us if we default. There are some limitations on the extent to which the trustee acts on your behalf, described in the second paragraph under “Description of our Debt Securities—Events of Default.” Second, the trustee performs certain administrative duties for us, such as sending interest and principal payments to holders.

Because this section is a summary, it does not describe every aspect of the debt securities and the indenture. We urge you to read the indenture because it, and not this description, defines your rights as a holder of debt securities. For example, in this section, we use capitalized words to signify terms that are specifically defined in the indenture. Some of the definitions are repeated in this prospectus, but for the rest you will need to read the indenture. We have filed the form of the indenture with the SEC. See “Description of our Debt Securities—Additional Information” for information on how to obtain a copy of the indenture.

The prospectus supplement, which will accompany this prospectus, will describe the particular series of debt securities being offered by including:

 

   

the designation or title of the series of debt securities;

 

   

the total principal amount of the series of debt securities and whether or not the offering may be reopened for additional securities of that series and on what terms;

 

   

the percentage of the principal amount at which the series of debt securities will be offered;

 

   

the date or dates on which principal will be payable;

 

   

the rate or rates (which may be either fixed or variable) and/or the method of determining such rate or rates of interest, if any;

 

   

the date or dates from which any interest will accrue, or the method of determining such date or dates, and the date or dates on which any interest will be payable;

 

   

the terms for redemption, extension or early repayment, if any;

 

   

the currencies in which the series of debt securities are issued and payable;

 

   

whether the amount of payments of principal, premium or interest, if any, on a series of debt securities will be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method (which could be based on one or more currencies, commodities, equity indices or other indices) and how these amounts will be determined;

 

   

the place or places, if any, other than or in addition to The City of New York, of payment, transfer, conversion and/or exchange of the debt securities;

 

   

the denominations in which the offered debt securities will be issued;

 

   

the provision for any sinking fund;

 

   

any restrictive covenants;

 

   

any Events of Default;

 

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whether the series of debt securities are issuable in certificated form;

 

   

any provisions for defeasance or covenant defeasance;

 

   

any special federal income tax implications, including, if applicable, federal income tax considerations relating to original issue discount;

 

   

whether and under what circumstances we will pay additional amounts in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge and, if so, whether we will have the option to redeem the debt securities rather than pay the additional amounts (and the terms of this option);

 

   

any provisions for convertibility or exchangeability of the debt securities into or for any other securities;

 

   

whether the debt securities are subject to subordination and the terms of such subordination;

 

   

the listing, if any, on a securities exchange; and

 

   

any other terms.

The debt securities may be secured or unsecured obligations. Under the provisions of the 1940 Act, we are permitted, as a business development company, to issue debt only in amounts such that our asset coverage, as defined in the 1940 Act, equals at least 200% after each issuance of debt. Unless the prospectus supplement states otherwise, principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, will be paid by us in immediately available funds.

General

The indenture provides that any debt securities proposed to be sold under this prospectus and the attached prospectus supplement (“offered debt securities”) and any debt securities issuable upon the exercise of warrants or upon conversion or exchange of other offered securities (“underlying debt securities”) may be issued under the indenture in one or more series.

For purposes of this prospectus, any reference to the payment of principal of, or premium or interest, if any, on, debt securities will include additional amounts if required by the terms of the debt securities.

The indenture limits the amount of debt securities that may be issued thereunder from time to time. Debt securities issued under the indenture, when a single trustee is acting for all debt securities issued under the indenture, are called the “indenture securities.” The indenture also provides that there may be more than one trustee thereunder, each with respect to one or more different series of indenture securities. See “Description of our Debt Securities—Resignation of Trustee” below. At a time when two or more trustees are acting under the indenture, each with respect to only certain series, the term “indenture securities” means the one or more series of debt securities with respect to which each respective trustee is acting. In the event that there is more than one trustee under the indenture, the powers and trust obligations of each trustee described in this prospectus will extend only to the one or more series of indenture securities for which it is trustee. If two or more trustees are acting under the indenture, then the indenture securities for which each trustee is acting would be treated as if issued under separate indentures.

The indenture does not contain any provisions that give you protection in the event we issue a large amount of debt or we are acquired by another entity.

We refer you to the prospectus supplement for information with respect to any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the Events of Default or our covenants that are described below, including any addition of a covenant or other provision providing event risk or similar protection.

 

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We have the ability to issue indenture securities with terms different from those of indenture securities previously issued and, without the consent of the holders thereof, to reopen a previous issue of a series of indenture securities and issue additional indenture securities of that series unless the reopening was restricted when that series was created.

Conversion and Exchange

If any debt securities are convertible into or exchangeable for other securities, the prospectus supplement will explain the terms and conditions of the conversion or exchange, including the conversion price or exchange ratio (or the calculation method), the conversion or exchange period (or how the period will be determined), if conversion or exchange will be mandatory or at the option of the holder or us, provisions for adjusting the conversion price or the exchange ratio and provisions affecting conversion or exchange in the event of the redemption of the underlying debt securities. These terms may also include provisions under which the number or amount of other securities to be received by the holders of the debt securities upon conversion or exchange would be calculated according to the market price of the other securities as of a time stated in the prospectus supplement.

Issuance of Securities in Registered Form

We may issue the debt securities in registered form, in which case we may issue them either in book-entry form only or in “certificated” form. Debt securities issued in book-entry form will be represented by global securities. We expect that we will issue debt securities in book-entry only form represented by global securities.

We also will have the option of issuing debt securities in non-registered form as bearer securities if we issue the securities outside the United States to non-U.S. persons. In that case, the prospectus supplement will set forth the mechanics for holding the bearer securities, including the procedures for receiving payments, for exchanging the bearer securities, including the procedures for receiving payments, for exchanging the bearer securities for registered securities of the same series, and for receiving notices. The prospectus supplement will also describe the requirements with respect to our maintenance of offices or agencies outside the United States and the applicable U.S. federal tax law requirements.

Book-Entry Holders

We will issue registered debt securities in book-entry form only, unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement. This means debt securities will be represented by one or more global securities registered in the name of a depositary that will hold them on behalf of financial institutions that participate in the depositary’s book-entry system. These participating institutions, in turn, hold beneficial interests in the debt securities held by the depositary or its nominee. These institutions may hold these interests on behalf of themselves or customers.

Under the indenture, only the person in whose name a debt security is registered is recognized as the holder of that debt security. Consequently, for debt securities issued in book-entry form, we will recognize only the depositary as the holder of the debt securities and we will make all payments on the debt securities to the depositary. The depositary will then pass along the payments it receives to its participants, which in turn will pass the payments along to their customers who are the beneficial owners. The depositary and its participants do so under agreements they have made with one another or with their customers; they are not obligated to do so under the terms of the debt securities.

As a result, investors will not own debt securities directly. Instead, they will own beneficial interests in a global security, through a bank, broker or other financial institution that participates in the depositary’s book-entry system or holds an interest through a participant. As long as the debt securities are represented by one or more global securities, investors will be indirect holders, and not holders, of the debt securities.

 

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Street Name Holders

In the future, we may issue debt securities in certificated form or terminate a global security. In these cases, investors may choose to hold their debt securities in their own names or in “street name.” Debt securities held in street name are registered in the name of a bank, broker or other financial institution chosen by the investor, and the investor holds a beneficial interest in those debt securities through the account he or she maintains at that institution.

For debt securities held in street name, we will recognize only the intermediary banks, brokers and other financial institutions in whose names the debt securities are registered as the holders of those debt securities, and we will make all payments on those debt securities to them. These institutions will pass along the payments they receive to their customers who are the beneficial owners, but only because they agree to do so in their customer agreements or because they are legally required to do so. Investors who hold debt securities in street name will be indirect holders, and not holders, of the debt securities.

Legal Holders

Our obligations, as well as the obligations of the applicable trustee and those of any third parties employed by us or the applicable trustee, run only to the legal holders of the debt securities. We do not have obligations to investors who hold beneficial interests in global securities, in street name or by any other indirect means. This will be the case whether an investor chooses to be an indirect holder of a debt security or has no choice because we are issuing the debt securities only in book-entry form.

For example, once we make a payment or give a notice to the holder, we have no further responsibility for the payment or notice even if that holder is required, under agreements with depositary participants or customers or by law, to pass it along to the indirect holders but does not do so. Similarly, if we want to obtain the approval of the holders for any purpose (for example, to amend an indenture or to relieve us of the consequences of a default or of our obligation to comply with a particular provision of an indenture), we would seek the approval only from the holders, and not the indirect holders, of the debt securities. Whether and how the holders contact the indirect holders is up to the holders.

When we refer to you, we mean those who invest in the debt securities being offered by this prospectus, whether they are the holders or only indirect holders of those debt securities. When we refer to your debt securities, we mean the debt securities in which you hold a direct or indirect interest.

Special Considerations for Indirect Holders

If you hold debt securities through a bank, broker or other financial institution, either in book-entry form or in street name, we urge you to check with that institution to find out:

 

   

how it handles securities payments and notices,

 

   

whether it imposes fees or charges,

 

   

how it would handle a request for the holders’ consent, if ever required,

 

   

whether and how you can instruct it to send you debt securities registered in your own name so you can be a holder, if that is permitted in the future for a particular series of debt securities,

 

   

how it would exercise rights under the debt securities if there were a default or other event triggering the need for holders to act to protect their interests, and

 

   

if the debt securities are in book-entry form, how the depositary’s rules and procedures will affect these matters.

 

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Global Securities

As noted above, we expect that we will issue debt securities as registered securities in book-entry form only. A global security represents one or any other number of individual debt securities. Generally, all debt securities represented by the same global securities will have the same terms.

Each debt security issued in book-entry form will be represented by a global security that we deposit with and register in the name of a financial institution or its nominee that we select. The financial institution that we select for this purpose is called the depositary. Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, known as DTC, will be the depositary for all debt securities issued in book-entry form.

A global security may not be transferred to or registered in the name of anyone other than the depositary or its nominee, unless special termination situations arise. We describe those situations below under “Description of our Debt Securities—Special Situations when a Global Security Will Be Terminated.” As a result of these arrangements, the depositary, or its nominee, will be the sole registered owner and holder of all debt securities represented by a global security, and investors will be permitted to own only beneficial interests in a global security. Beneficial interests must be held by means of an account with a broker, bank or other financial institution that in turn has an account with the depositary or with another institution that has an account with the depositary. Thus, an investor whose security is represented by a global security will not be a holder of the debt security, but only an indirect holder of a beneficial interest in the global security.

Special Considerations for Global Securities

As an indirect holder, an investor’s rights relating to a global security will be governed by the account rules of the investor’s financial institution and of the depositary, as well as general laws relating to securities transfers. The depositary that holds the global security will be considered the holder of the debt securities represented by the global security.

If debt securities are issued only in the form of a global security, an investor should be aware of the following:

 

   

an investor cannot cause the debt securities to be registered in his or her name and cannot obtain certificates for his or her interest in the debt securities, except in the special situations we describe below.

 

   

an investor will be an indirect holder and must look to his or her own bank or broker for payments on the debt securities and protection of his or her legal rights relating to the debt securities, as we describe under “Description of our Debt Securities—Issuance of Securities in Registered Form” above.

 

   

an investor may not be able to sell interests in the debt securities to some insurance companies and other institutions that are required by law to own their securities in non-book-entry form.

 

   

an investor may not be able to pledge his or her interest in a global security in circumstances where certificates representing the debt securities must be delivered to the lender or other beneficiary of the pledge in order for the pledge to be effective.

 

   

the depositary’s policies, which may change from time to time, will govern payments, transfers, exchanges and other matters relating to an investor’s interest in a global security. We and the trustee have no responsibility for any aspect of the depositary’s actions or for its records of ownership interests in a global security. We and the trustee also do not supervise the depositary in any way.

 

   

if we redeem less than all the debt securities of a particular series being redeemed, DTC’s practice is to determine by lot the amount to be redeemed from each of its participants holding that series.

 

   

an investor is required to give notice of exercise of any option to elect repayment of its debt securities, through its participant, to the applicable trustee and to deliver the related debt securities by causing its participant to transfer its interest in those debt securities, on DTC’s records, to the applicable trustee.

 

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DTC requires that those who purchase and sell interests in a global security deposited in its book-entry system use immediately available funds. Your broker or bank may also require you to use immediately available funds when purchasing or selling interests in a global security.

 

   

financial institutions that participate in the depositary’s book-entry system, and through which an investor holds its interest in a global security, may also have their own policies affecting payments, notices and other matters relating to the debt securities. There may be more than one financial intermediary in the chain of ownership for an investor. We do not monitor and are not responsible for the actions of any of those intermediaries.

Special Situations when a Global Security Will Be Terminated

In a few special situations described below, a global security will be terminated and interests in it will be exchanged for certificates in non-book-entry form (certificated securities). After that exchange, the choice of whether to hold the certificated debt securities directly or in street name will be up to the investor. Investors must consult their own banks or brokers to find out how to have their interests in a global security transferred on termination to their own names, so that they will be holders. We have described the rights of holders and street name investors under “Description of our Debt Securities—Holders of Registered Debt Securities” above.

The special situations for termination of a global security are as follows:

 

   

if the depositary notifies us that it is unwilling, unable or no longer qualified to continue as depositary for that global security, and we are unable to appoint another institution to act as depositary,

 

   

if we notify the trustee that we wish to terminate that global security, or

 

   

if an event of default has occurred with regard to the debt securities represented by that global security and has not been cured or waived; we discuss defaults later under “Description of our Debt Securities—Events of Default.”

The prospectus supplement may list situations for terminating a global security that would apply only to the particular series of debt securities covered by the prospectus supplement. If a global security is terminated, only the depositary, and not we or the applicable trustee, is responsible for deciding the names of the institutions in whose names the debt securities represented by the global security will be registered and, therefore, who will be the holders of those debt securities.

Payment and Paying Agents

We will pay interest to the person listed in the applicable trustee’s records as the owner of the debt security at the close of business on a particular day in advance of each due date for interest, even if that person no longer owns the debt security on the interest due date. That day, often about two weeks in advance of the interest due date, is called the “record date.” Because we will pay all the interest for an interest period to the holders on the record date, holders buying and selling debt securities must work out between themselves the appropriate purchase price. The most common manner is to adjust the sales price of the debt securities to prorate interest fairly between buyer and seller based on their respective ownership periods within the particular interest period. This prorated interest amount is called “accrued interest.”

Payments on Global Securities

We will make payments on a global security in accordance with the applicable policies of the depositary as in effect from time to time. Under those policies, we will make payments directly to the depositary, or its nominee, and not to any indirect holders who own beneficial interests in the global security. An indirect holder’s right to those payments will be governed by the rules and practices of the depositary and its participants, as described under “Description of our Debt Securities—Global Securities.”

 

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Payments on Certificated Securities

We will make payments on a certificated debt security as follows. We will pay interest that is due on an interest payment date by check mailed on the interest payment date to the holder at his or her address shown on the trustee’s records as of the close of business on the regular record date. We will make all payments of principal and premium, if any, by check at the office of the applicable trustee in New York, New York and/or at other offices that may be specified in the prospectus supplement or in a notice to holders against surrender of the debt security.

Alternatively, if the holder asks us to do so, we will pay any amount that becomes due on the debt security by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account at a bank in the City of New York, on the due date. To request payment by wire, the holder must give the applicable trustee or other paying agent appropriate transfer instructions at least 15 business days before the requested wire payment is due. In the case of any interest payment due on an interest payment date, the instructions must be given by the person who is the holder on the relevant regular record date. Any wire instructions, once properly given, will remain in effect unless and until new instructions are given in the manner described above.

Payment When Offices Are Closed

If any payment is due on a debt security on a day that is not a business day, we will make the payment on the next day that is a business day. Payments made on the next business day in this situation will be treated under the indenture as if they were made on the original due date, except as otherwise indicated in the attached prospectus supplement. Such payment will not result in a default under any debt security or the indenture, and no interest will accrue on the payment amount from the original due date to the next day that is a business day.

Book-entry and other indirect holders should consult their banks or brokers for information on how they will receive payments on their debt securities.

Events of Default

You will have rights if an Event of Default occurs in respect of the debt securities of your series and is not cured, as described later in this subsection.

The term “Event of Default” in respect of the debt securities of your series means any of the following:

 

   

we do not pay the principal of, or any premium on, a debt security of the series within five days of its due date.

 

   

we do not pay interest on a debt security of the series within 30 days of its due date.

 

   

we do not deposit any sinking fund payment in respect of debt securities of the series on its due date and we do not cure this default within five days.

 

   

we remain in breach of a covenant in respect of debt securities of the series for 60 days after we receive a written notice of default stating we are in breach. The notice must be sent by either the trustee or holders of at least 25% of the principal amount of debt securities of the series.

 

   

we file for bankruptcy or certain other events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur.

 

   

any other Event of Default in respect of debt securities of the series described in the prospectus supplement occurs.

An Event of Default for a particular series of debt securities does not necessarily constitute an Event of Default for any other series of debt securities issued under the same or any other indenture. The trustee may withhold notice to the holders of debt securities of any default, except in the payment of principal, premium or interest, if it considers the withholding of notice to be in the best interests of the holders.

 

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Remedies if an Event of Default Occurs

If an Event of Default has occurred and has not been cured or waived, the trustee or the holders of not less than 66.66% in principal amount of the debt securities of the affected series may declare the entire principal amount of all the debt securities of that series to be due and immediately payable. This is called a declaration of acceleration of maturity. A declaration of acceleration of maturity may be canceled by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of the affected series if the default is cured or waived and certain other conditions are satisfied.

Except in cases of default, where the trustee has some special duties, the trustee is not required to take any action under the indenture at the request of any holders unless the holders offer the trustee reasonable protection from expenses and liability (called an “indemnity”). If reasonable indemnity is provided, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the relevant series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any lawsuit or other formal legal action seeking any remedy available to the trustee. The trustee may refuse to follow those directions in certain circumstances. No delay or omission in exercising any right or remedy will be treated as a waiver of that right, remedy or Event of Default.

Before you are allowed to bypass your trustee and bring your own lawsuit or other formal legal action or take other steps to enforce your rights or protect your interests relating to the debt securities, the following must occur:

 

   

you must give the trustee written notice that an Event of Default has occurred and remains uncured.

 

   

the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of all outstanding debt securities of the relevant series must make a written request that the trustee take action because of the default and must offer reasonable indemnity to the trustee against the cost and other liabilities of taking that action.

 

   

the trustee must not have taken action for 60 days after receipt of the above notice and offer of indemnity.

 

   

the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities must not have given the trustee a direction inconsistent with the above notice during that 60-day period.

However, you are entitled at any time to bring a lawsuit for the payment of money due on your debt securities on or after the due date.

Book-entry and other indirect holders should consult their banks or brokers for information on how to give notice or direction to or make a request of the trustee and how to declare or cancel an acceleration of maturity.

Each year, we will furnish to each trustee a written statement of certain of our officers certifying that to their knowledge we are in compliance with the indenture and the debt securities, or else specifying any default.

Waiver of Default

The holders of a majority in principal amount of the relevant series of debt securities may waive a default for all the relevant series of debt securities. If this happens, the default will be treated as if it had not occurred. No one can waive a payment default on a holder’s debt security, however, without the holder’s approval.

 

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Merger or Consolidation

Under the terms of the indenture, we are generally permitted to consolidate or merge with another entity. We are also permitted to sell all or substantially all of our assets to another entity. However, we may not take any of these actions unless all the following conditions are met:

 

   

if we do not survive such transaction or we convey, transfer or lease our properties and assets substantially as an entirety, the acquiring company must be a corporation, limited liability company, partnership or trust, or other corporate form, organized under the laws of any state of the United States or the District of Columbia, any country comprising the European Union, the United Kingdom or Japan and such company must agree to be legally responsible for our debt securities, and, if not already subject to the jurisdiction of any state of the United States or the District of Columbia, the new company must submit to such jurisdiction for all purposes with respect to the debt securities and appoint an agent for service of process;

 

   

alternatively, we must be the surviving company;

 

   

immediately after the transaction no event of default will exist;

 

   

we must deliver certain certificates and documents to the trustee; and

 

   

we must satisfy any other requirements specified in the prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of debt securities.

Modification or Waiver

There are three types of changes we can make to the indenture and the debt securities issued thereunder.

Changes Requiring Your Approval

First, there are changes that we cannot make to your debt securities without your specific approval. The following is a list of those types of changes:

 

   

change the stated maturity of the principal of or interest on a debt security;

 

   

reduce any amounts due on a debt security;

 

   

reduce the amount of principal payable upon acceleration of the maturity of a security following a default;

 

   

at any time after a change of control has occurred, reduce the premium payable upon a change of control;

 

   

change the place or currency of payment on a debt security (except as otherwise described in the prospectus or prospectus supplement);

 

   

impair your right to sue for payment;

 

   

adversely affect any right to convert or exchange a debt security in accordance with its terms;

 

   

reduce the percentage of holders of debt securities whose consent is needed to modify or amend the indenture;

 

   

reduce the percentage of holders of debt securities whose consent is needed to waive compliance with certain provisions of the indenture or to waive certain defaults;

 

   

modify any other aspect of the provisions of the indenture dealing with supplemental indentures, modification and waiver of past defaults, changes to the quorum or voting requirements or the waiver of certain covenants; and

 

   

change any obligation we have to pay additional amounts.

 

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Changes Not Requiring Approval

The second type of change does not require any vote by the holders of the debt securities. This type is limited to clarifications and certain other changes that would not adversely affect holders of the outstanding debt securities in any material respect. We also do not need any approval to make any change that affects only debt securities to be issued under the indenture after the change takes effect.

Changes Requiring Majority Approval

Any other change to the indenture and the debt securities would require the following approval:

 

   

if the change affects only one series of debt securities, it must be approved by the holders of a majority in principal amount of that series.

 

   

if the change affects more than one series of debt securities issued under the same indenture, it must be approved by the holders of a majority in principal amount of all of the series affected by the change, with all affected series voting together as one class for this purpose.

In each case, the required approval must be given by written consent.

The holders of a majority in principal amount of all of the series of debt securities issued under an indenture, voting together as one class for this purpose, may waive our compliance with some of our covenants in that indenture. However, we cannot obtain a waiver of a payment default or of any of the matters covered by the bullet points included above under “Description of our Debt Securities—Changes Requiring Your Approval.”

Further Details Concerning Voting

When taking a vote, we will use the following rules to decide how much principal to attribute to a debt security:

 

   

for original issue discount securities, we will use the principal amount that would be due and payable on the voting date if the maturity of these debt securities were accelerated to that date because of a default.

 

   

for debt securities whose principal amount is not known (for example, because it is based on an index), we will use a special rule for that debt security described in the prospectus supplement.

 

   

for debt securities denominated in one or more foreign currencies, we will use the U.S. dollar equivalent.

Debt securities will not be considered outstanding, and therefore not eligible to vote, if we have deposited or set aside in trust money for their payment or redemption. Debt securities will also not be eligible to vote if they have been fully defeased as described later under “Description of our Debt Securities—Defeasance—Full Defeasance.”

We will generally be entitled to set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the holders of outstanding indenture securities that are entitled to vote or take other action under the indenture. If we set a record date for a vote or other action to be taken by holders of one or more series, that vote or action may be taken only by persons who are holders of outstanding indenture securities of those series on the record date and must be taken within eleven months following the record date.

Book-entry and other indirect holders should consult their banks or brokers for information on how- approval may be granted or denied if we seek to change the indenture or the debt securities or request a waiver.

 

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Defeasance

The following provisions will be applicable to each series of debt securities unless we state in the applicable prospectus supplement that the provisions of covenant defeasance and full defeasance will not be applicable to that series.

Covenant Defeasance

Under current U.S. federal tax law, we can make the deposit described below and be released from some of the restrictive covenants in the indenture under which the particular series was issued. This is called “covenant defeasance.” In that event, you would lose the protection of those restrictive covenants but would gain the protection of having money and government securities set aside in trust to repay your debt securities. If applicable, you also would be released from the subordination provisions described under “Description of our Debt Securities—Indenture Provisions—Subordination” below. In order to achieve covenant defeasance, we must do the following:

 

   

If the debt securities of the particular series are denominated in U.S. dollars, we must deposit in trust for the benefit of all holders of such debt securities a combination of money and U.S. government or U.S. government agency notes or bonds that will generate enough cash to make interest, principal and any other payments on the debt securities on their various due dates.

 

   

We may be required to deliver to the trustee a legal opinion of our counsel confirming that, under current U.S. federal income tax law, we may make the above deposit without causing you to be taxed on the debt securities any differently than if we did not make the deposit and just repaid the debt securities ourselves at maturity.

We must deliver to the trustee a legal opinion of our counsel stating that the above deposit does not require registration by us under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and a legal opinion and officers’ certificate stating that all conditions precedent to covenant defeasance have been complied with.

If we accomplish covenant defeasance, you can still look to us for repayment of the debt securities if there were a shortfall in the trust deposit or the trustee is prevented from making payment. In fact, if one of the remaining Events of Default occurred (such as our bankruptcy) and the debt securities became immediately due and payable, there might be a shortfall. Depending on the event causing the default, you may not be able to obtain payment of the shortfall.

Full Defeasance

If there is a change in U.S. federal tax law, as described below, we can legally release ourselves from all payment and other obligations on the debt securities of a particular series (called “full defeasance”) if we put in place the following other arrangements for you to be repaid:

 

   

If the debt securities of the particular series are denominated in U.S. dollars, we must deposit in trust for the benefit of all holders of such debt securities a combination of money and U.S. government or U.S. government agency notes or bonds that will generate enough cash to make interest, principal and any other payments on the debt securities on their various due dates.

 

   

We may be required to deliver to the trustee a legal opinion confirming that there has been a change in current U.S. federal tax law or an Internal Revenue Service ruling that allows us to make the above deposit without causing you to be taxed on the debt securities any differently than if we did not make the deposit and just repaid the debt securities ourselves at maturity. Under current U.S. federal tax law, the deposit and our legal release from the debt securities would be treated as though we paid you your share of the cash and notes or bonds at the time the cash and notes or bonds were deposited in trust in exchange for your debt securities and you would recognize gain or loss on the debt securities at the time of the deposit.

 

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We must deliver to the trustee a legal opinion of our counsel stating that the above deposit does not require registration by us under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and a legal opinion and officers’ certificate stating that all conditions precedent to defeasance have been complied with.

If we ever did accomplish full defeasance, as described above, you would have to rely solely on the trust deposit for repayment of the debt securities. You could not look to us for repayment in the unlikely event of any shortfall. Conversely, the trust deposit would most likely be protected from claims of our lenders and other creditors if we ever became bankrupt or insolvent. If applicable, you would also be released from the subordination provisions described later under “Description of our Debt Securities—Indenture Provisions—Subordination.”

Form, Exchange and Transfer of Certificated Registered Securities

If registered debt securities cease to be issued in book-entry form, they will be issued:

 

   

only in fully registered certificated form,

 

   

without interest coupons, and

 

   

unless we indicate otherwise in the prospectus supplement, in denominations of $1,000 and amounts that are multiples of $1,000.

Holders may exchange their certificated securities for debt securities of smaller denominations or combined into fewer debt securities of larger denominations, as long as the total principal amount is not changed.

Holders may exchange or transfer their certificated securities at the office of their trustee. We have appointed the trustee to act as our agent for registering debt securities in the names of holders transferring debt securities. We may appoint another entity to perform these functions or perform them ourselves.

Holders will not be required to pay a service charge to transfer or exchange their certificated securities, but they may be required to pay any tax or other governmental charge associated with the transfer or exchange. The transfer or exchange will be made only if our transfer agent is satisfied with the holder’s proof of legal ownership.

If we have designated additional transfer agents for your debt security, they will be named in the prospectus supplement. We may appoint additional transfer agents or cancel the appointment of any particular transfer agent. We may also approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts.

If any certificated securities of a particular series are redeemable and we redeem less than all the debt securities of that series, we may block the transfer or exchange of those debt securities during the period beginning 15 days before the day we mail the notice of redemption and ending on the day of that mailing, in order to freeze the list of holders to prepare the mailing. We may also refuse to register transfers or exchanges of any certificated securities selected for redemption, except that we will continue to permit transfers and exchanges of the unredeemed portion of any debt security that will be partially redeemed.

If a registered debt security is issued in book-entry form, only the depositary will be entitled to transfer and exchange the debt security as described in this subsection, since it will be the sole holder of the debt security.

Resignation of Trustee

Each trustee may resign or be removed with respect to one or more series of indenture securities provided that a successor trustee is appointed to act with respect to these series. In the event that two or more persons are acting as trustee with respect to different series of indenture securities under the indenture, each of the trustees will be a trustee of a trust separate and apart from the trust administered by any other trustee.

 

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Indenture Provisions—Subordination

Upon any distribution of our assets upon our dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization, the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on any indenture securities denominated as subordinated debt securities is to be subordinated to the extent provided in the indenture in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, but our obligation to you to make payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such subordinated debt securities will not otherwise be affected. In addition, no payment on account of principal (or premium, if any), sinking fund or interest, if any, may be made on such subordinated debt securities at any time unless full payment of all amounts due in respect of the principal (and premium, if any), sinking fund and interest on Senior Indebtedness has been made or duly provided for in money or money’s worth.

In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment by us is received by the trustee in respect of subordinated debt securities or by the holders of any of such subordinated debt securities before all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full, the payment or distribution must be paid over to the holders of the Senior Indebtedness or on their behalf for application to the payment of all the Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid until all the Senior Indebtedness has been paid in full, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to the holders of the Senior Indebtedness. Subject to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness upon this distribution by us, the holders of such subordinated debt securities will be subrogated to the rights of the holders of the Senior Indebtedness to the extent of payments made to the holders of the Senior Indebtedness out of the distributive share of such subordinated debt securities.

By reason of this subordination, in the event of a distribution of our assets upon our insolvency, certain of our senior creditors may recover more, ratably, than holders of any subordinated debt securities. The indenture provides that these subordination provisions will not apply to money and securities held in trust under the defeasance provisions of the indenture.

Senior Indebtedness is defined in the indenture as the principal of (and premium, if any) and unpaid interest on:

 

   

our indebtedness (including indebtedness of others guaranteed by us), whenever created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed, for money borrowed (other than indenture securities issued under the indenture and denominated as subordinated debt securities), unless in the instrument creating or evidencing the same or under which the same is outstanding it is provided that this indebtedness is not senior or prior in right of payment to the subordinated debt securities, and

 

   

renewals, extensions, modifications and refinancings of any of this indebtedness.

If this prospectus is being delivered in connection with the offering of a series of indenture securities denominated as subordinated debt securities, the accompanying prospectus supplement will set forth the approximate amount of our Senior Indebtedness outstanding as of a recent date.

The Trustee under the Indenture

We intend to use Bank of New York Mellon to serve as the trustee under the indenture.

Certain Considerations Relating to Foreign Currencies

Debt securities denominated or payable in foreign currencies may entail significant risks. These risks include the possibility of significant fluctuations in the foreign currency markets, the imposition or modification of foreign exchange controls and potential illiquidity in the secondary market. These risks will vary depending upon the currency or currencies involved and will be more fully described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

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REGULATION

We are a business development company under the 1940 Act and intend to elect to be treated as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code. The 1940 Act contains prohibitions and restrictions relating to transactions between business development companies and their affiliates (including any investment advisers or sub-advisers), principal underwriters and affiliates of those affiliates or underwriters and requires that a majority of the directors be persons other than “interested persons,” as that term is defined in the 1940 Act. In addition, the 1940 Act provides that we may not change the nature of our business so as to cease to be, or to withdraw our election as, a business development company unless approved by a majority of our outstanding voting securities.

We may invest up to 100% of our assets in securities acquired directly from issuers in privately negotiated transactions. With respect to such securities, we may, for the purpose of public resale, be deemed an “underwriter” as that term is defined in the Securities Act. Our intention is to not write (sell) or buy put or call options to manage risks associated with the publicly traded securities of our portfolio companies, except that we may enter into hedging transactions to manage the risks associated with interest rate fluctuations. However, we may purchase or otherwise receive warrants to purchase the common stock of our portfolio companies in connection with acquisition financing or other investment. Similarly, in connection with an acquisition, we may acquire rights to require the issuers of acquired securities or their affiliates to repurchase them under certain circumstances. We also do not intend to acquire securities issued by any investment company that exceed the limits imposed by the 1940 Act. Under these limits, we generally cannot acquire more than 3% of the voting stock of any registered investment company, invest more than 5% of the value of our total assets in the securities of one investment company or invest more than 10% of the value of our total assets in the securities of more than one investment company. With regard to that portion of our portfolio invested in securities issued by investment companies, it should be noted that such investments might subject our stockholders to additional expenses. None of these policies is fundamental and may be changed without stockholder approval.

Qualifying Assets

Under the 1940 Act, a business development company may not acquire any asset other than assets of the type listed in Section 55(a) of the 1940 Act, which are referred to as qualifying assets, unless, at the time the acquisition is made, qualifying assets represent at least 70% of the company’s total assets. The principal categories of qualifying assets relevant to our proposed business are the following:

(1) Securities purchased in transactions not involving any public offering from the issuer of such securities, which issuer (subject to certain limited exceptions) is an eligible portfolio company, or from any person who is, or has been during the preceding 13 months, an affiliated person of an eligible portfolio company, or from any other person, subject to such rules as may be prescribed by the SEC. An eligible portfolio company is defined under the 1940 Act to include any issuer which:

(a) is organized under the laws of, and has its principal place of business in, the United States;

(b) is not an investment company (other than a small business investment company wholly owned by the business development company) or a company that would be an investment company but is excluded from the definition of an investment company by Section 3(c) of the 1940 Act; and

(c) does not have any class of securities listed on a national securities exchange; has any class of Securities listed on a national securities exchange subject to a market capitalization maximum; or is controlled by the Company which has an affiliated person who is a director of such portfolio company.

(2) Securities of any eligible portfolio company which we control.

(3) Securities purchased in a private transaction from a U.S. operating company or from an affiliated person of the issuer, or in transactions incident thereto, if such issuer is in bankruptcy and subject to reorganization or if the issuer, immediately prior to the purchase of its securities was unable to meet its obligations as they came due without material assistance other than conventional lending or financing arrangements.

 

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(4) Securities of an eligible portfolio company purchased from any person in a private transaction if there is no ready market for such securities and we already own 60% of the outstanding equity of the eligible portfolio company.

(5) Securities received in exchange for or distributed on or with respect to securities described in (1) through (4) above, or pursuant to the exercise of warrants or rights relating to such securities.

(6) Cash, cash equivalents, U.S. Government securities or high-quality debt securities maturing in one year or less from the time of investment.

Effective mid-July, 2008, the definition of eligible portfolio company will be expanded to include any domestic operating company that has a class of securities listed on a national securities exchange provided it has a market capitalization of less than $250 million. Market capitalization will be calculated using the price at which the portfolio company’s common equity is last sold, or the average of the bid and ask prices of the portfolio company’s common equity, in the principal market for such common equity on any day in the 60-day period immediately before the acquisition of its securities.

Managerial Assistance to Portfolio Companies

In addition, a business development company must have been organized and have its principal place of business in the United States and must be operated for the purpose of making investments in the types of securities described in (1), (2) or (3) above. However, in order to count portfolio securities as qualifying assets for the purpose of the 70% test, the business development company must either control the issuer of the securities or must offer to make available to the issuer of the securities (other than small and solvent companies described above) significant managerial assistance; except that, where the business development company purchases such securities in conjunction with one or more other persons acting together, one of the other persons in the group may make available such managerial assistance. Making available managerial assistance means, among other things, any arrangement whereby the business development company, through its directors, officers or employees, offers to provide, and, if accepted, does so provide, significant guidance and counsel concerning the management, operations or business objectives and policies of a portfolio company.

Temporary Investments

Pending investment in other types of “qualifying assets,” as described above, our investments may consist of cash, cash equivalents, U.S. Government securities or high-quality debt securities maturing in one year or less from the time of investment, which we refer to, collectively, as temporary investments, so that 70% of our assets are qualifying assets. Typically, we will invest in U.S. Treasury bills or in repurchase agreements, provided that such agreements are fully collateralized by cash or securities issued by the U.S. Government or its agencies. A repurchase agreement involves the purchase by an investor, such as us, of a specified security and the simultaneous agreement by the seller to repurchase it at an agreed-upon future date and at a price which is greater than the purchase price by an amount that reflects an agreed-upon interest rate. There is no percentage restriction on the proportion of our assets that may be invested in such repurchase agreements. However, if more than 25% of our total assets constitute repurchase agreements from a single counterparty, we would not meet the Diversification Tests in order to qualify as a RIC for federal income tax purposes. Thus, we do not intend to enter into repurchase agreements with a single counterparty in excess of this limit. Our Investment Adviser will monitor the creditworthiness of the counterparties with which we enter into repurchase agreement transactions.

Senior Securities

We are permitted, under specified conditions, to issue multiple classes of indebtedness and one class of stock senior to our common stock if our asset coverage, as defined in the 1940 Act, is at least equal to 200%

 

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immediately after each such issuance. In addition, while any senior securities remain outstanding, we must make provisions to prohibit any distribution to our stockholders or the repurchase of such securities or shares unless we meet the applicable asset coverage ratios at the time of the distribution or repurchase. We may also borrow amounts up to 5% of the value of our total assets for temporary or emergency purposes without regard to asset coverage. For a discussion of the risks associated with leverage, see “Risk Factors—Risks relating to our business and structure—Regulations governing our operation as a business development company will affect our ability to, and the way in which we, raise additional capital.”

Code of Ethics

We and PennantPark Investment Advisers have each adopted a code of ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act that establishes procedures for personal investments and restricts certain personal securities transactions. Personnel subject to each code may invest in securities for their personal investment accounts, including securities that may be purchased or held by us, so long as such investments are made in accordance with the code’s requirements. You may read and copy the code of ethics at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at (202) 551-8090. In addition, the code of ethics is attached as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and is available on the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s Internet site at http://www.sec.gov. You may also obtain copies of the code of ethics, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following Email address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the SEC’s Public Reference Section, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549.

Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures

We have delegated our proxy voting responsibility to our Investment Adviser. The Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures of our Investment Adviser are set forth below. The guidelines are reviewed periodically by our Investment Adviser and our non-interested directors, and, accordingly, are subject to change. For purposes of these Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures described below, “we” “our” and “us” refers to our Investment Adviser.

Introduction

As an Investment Adviser registered under the Advisers Act, we have a fiduciary duty to act solely in the best interests of our clients. As part of this duty, we recognize that we must vote client securities in a timely manner free of conflicts of interest and in the best interests of our clients.

These policies and procedures for voting proxies for our investment advisory clients are intended to comply with Section 206 of, and Rule 206(4)-6 under, the Advisers Act.

Proxy Policies

We vote proxies relating to our portfolio securities in what we perceive to be the best interest of our clients’ stockholders. We review on a case-by-case basis each proposal submitted to a shareholder vote to determine its impact on the portfolio securities held by our clients. Although we will generally vote against proposals that may have a negative impact on our clients’ portfolio securities, we may vote for such a proposal if there exists compelling long-term reasons to do so.

Our proxy voting decisions are made by the senior officers who are responsible for monitoring each of clients’ investments. To ensure that our vote is not the product of a conflict of interest, we require that: (1) anyone involved in the decision making process disclose to our Chief Compliance Officer any potential conflict that he or she is aware of and any contact that he or she has had with any interested party regarding a proxy vote; and (2) employees involved in the decision making process or vote administration are prohibited from revealing how we intend to vote on a proposal in order to reduce any attempted influence from interested parties.

 

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Proxy Voting Records

You may obtain information about how we voted proxies by making a written request for proxy voting information to: Aviv Efrat, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, 590 Madison Avenue, 15th Floor, New York, New York 10022.

Privacy Principles

We are committed to maintaining the privacy of our stockholders and to safeguarding their non-public personal information. The following information is provided to help you understand what personal information we collect, how we protect that information and why, in certain cases, we may share information with select other parties.

Generally, we do not receive any non-public personal information relating to our stockholders, although certain non-public personal information of our stockholders may become available to us. We do not disclose any non-public personal information about our stockholders or former stockholders to anyone, except as permitted by law or as is necessary in order to service stockholder accounts (for example, to a transfer agent or third party Administrator).

We restrict access to non-public personal information about our stockholders to employees of our Investment Adviser and its affiliates with a legitimate business need for the information. We will maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards designed to protect the non-public personal information of our stockholders.

Other

We may also be prohibited under the 1940 Act from knowingly participating in certain transactions with our affiliates without the prior approval of our board of directors who are not interested persons and, in some cases, prior approval by the SEC.

We will be periodically examined by the SEC for compliance with the 1940 Act.

We are required to provide and maintain a bond issued by a reputable fidelity insurance company to protect us against larceny and embezzlement. Furthermore, as a business development company, we are prohibited from protecting any director or officer against any liability to PennantPark or our stockholders arising from willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such person’s office.

We and PennantPark Investment Advisers will each be required to adopt and implement written policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent violation of the federal securities laws, review these policies and procedures annually for their adequacy and the effectiveness of their implementation, and designate a chief compliance officer to be responsible for administering the policies and procedures.

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 imposes a wide variety of new regulatory requirements on publicly held companies and their insiders. Many of these requirements affect us. For example:

 

   

pursuant to Rule 13a-14 of the Exchange Act, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer must certify the accuracy of the financial statements contained in our periodic reports;

 

   

pursuant to Item 307 of Regulation S-K, our periodic reports must disclose our conclusions about the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures;

 

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pursuant to Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act, our management must prepare an annual report regarding its assessment of our internal control over financial reporting, which must be audited by our independent registered public accounting firm; and

 

   

pursuant to Item 308 of Regulation S-K and Rule 13a-15 of the 1934 Act, our periodic reports must disclose whether there were significant changes in our internal controls over financial reporting or in other factors that could significantly affect these controls subsequent to the date of their evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires us to review our current policies and procedures to determine whether we comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the regulations promulgated there under. We will continue to monitor our compliance with all regulations that are adopted under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and will take actions necessary to ensure that we are in compliance with that act.

 

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BROKERAGE ALLOCATIONS AND OTHER PRACTICES

Since we generally acquire and dispose of our investments in privately negotiated transactions, we infrequently use brokers in the normal course of our business. Subject to policies established by our board of directors, the Investment Adviser is primarily responsible for the execution of the publicly traded securities portion of our portfolio transactions and the allocation of brokerage commissions. The Investment Adviser does not expect to execute transactions through any particular broker or dealer, but seeks to obtain the best net results for PennantPark, taking into account such factors as price (including the applicable brokerage commission or dealer spread), size of order, difficulty of execution, and operational facilities of the brokerage firm and the firm’s risk and skill in positioning blocks of securities. While the Investment Adviser generally seeks reasonably competitive trade execution costs, PennantPark will not necessarily pay the lowest spread or commission available. Subject to applicable legal requirements, the Investment Adviser may select a broker based partly upon brokerage or research services provided to the Investment Adviser and PennantPark and any other clients. In return for such services, we may pay a higher commission than other brokers would charge if the Investment Adviser determines in good faith that such commission is reasonable in relation to the services provided.

 

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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

The following discussion is a general summary of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to us and to an investment in our shares. This summary does not purport to be a complete description of the income tax considerations applicable to such an investment. For example, we have not described tax consequences that we assume to be generally known by investors or certain considerations that may be relevant to certain types of holders subject to special treatment under U.S. federal income tax laws, including stockholders subject to the alternative minimum tax, tax-exempt organizations, insurance companies, dealers in securities, pension plans and trusts, and financial institutions. This summary assumes that investors hold our common stock as capital assets (within the meaning of the Code). The discussion is based upon the Code, Treasury regulations, and administrative and judicial interpretations, each as of the date of this prospectus and all of which are subject to change, possibly retroactively, which could affect the continuing validity of this discussion. We have not sought and will not seek any ruling from the Internal Revenue Service regarding this offering. This summary does not discuss any aspects of U.S. estate or gift tax or foreign, state or local tax. It does not discuss the special treatment under U.S. federal income tax laws that could result if we invested in tax-exempt securities or certain other investment assets.

A “U.S. stockholder” generally is a beneficial owner of shares of our common stock that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

 

   

a citizen or individual resident of the United States;

 

   

a corporation, or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia; or

 

   

a trust or an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source.

A “Non-U.S. stockholder” is a beneficial owner of shares of our common stock that is not a U.S. stockholder.

If a partnership (including an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds shares of our common stock, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. A prospective stockholder that is a partner of a partnership holding shares of our common stock should consult its tax advisors with respect to the purchase, ownership and disposition of shares of our common stock.

Tax matters are very complicated and the tax consequences to an investor of an investment in our shares will depend on the facts of his, her or its particular situation. We encourage investors to consult their own tax advisors regarding the specific consequences of such an investment, including tax reporting requirements, the applicability of federal, state, local and foreign tax laws, eligibility for the benefits of any applicable tax treaty and the effect of any possible changes in the tax laws.

Taxation in Connection with Holding Securities other than our Common Stock

We intend to describe in any prospectus supplement related to the offering of preferred stock, debt securities, warrants or rights offerings to purchase our common stock, the U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to such securities as will be sold by us pursuant to that supplement, including the taxation of any debt securities that will be sold at an original issue discount or acquired with market discount or amortizable bond premium and the tax treatment of sales, exchanges or retirements of our debt securities. In addition, we may describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to holders of our debt securities who are not “U.S. persons.”

 

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Election to be Taxed as a RIC

We have elected to be treated, and intend to qualify annually, as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code. For a short period ending April 30, 2007, we were not a RIC and were subject to corporate-level income tax. To maintain RIC tax benefits, we must, among other requirements, meet certain source-of-income and asset diversification requirements (as described below). We also must distribute at least 90% of our ordinary income and realized net short-term capital gains in excess of realized net long-term capital losses, if any, out of the assets legally available for distribution. In order to avoid certain excise taxes imposed on RICs, we currently intend to distribute during each calendar year an amount at least equal to the sum of (1) 98% of our ordinary income for the calendar year, (2) 98% of our capital gains in excess of capital losses for the one-year period ending on October 31 of the calendar year and (3) any ordinary income and net capital gains for preceding years that were not distributed during such years. In addition, although we currently intend to distribute realized net capital gains (i.e., net long-term capital gains in excess of short-term capital losses), if any, at least annually, out of the assets legally available for such distributions, we may in the future decide to retain such capital gains for investment.

In order to qualify as a RIC for federal income tax purposes, we must:

 

   

qualify to be treated as a business development company under the 1940 Act at all times during each taxable year;

 

   

derive in each taxable year at least 90% of our gross income from distributions, interest, payments with respect to certain securities loans, gains from the sale of stock or other securities, net income from certain qualified publicly traded partnerships or other income derived with respect to our business of investing in such stock or securities (the “90% Income Test”); and

 

   

diversify our holdings so that at the end of each quarter of the taxable year:

 

   

at least 50% of the value of our assets consists of cash, cash equivalents, U.S. Government securities, securities of other RICs, and other securities if such other securities of any one issuer do not represent more than 5% of the value of our assets or more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of the issuer; and

 

   

no more than 25% of the value of our assets is invested in the securities, other than U.S. Government securities or securities of other RICs, of one issuer or of two or more issuers that are controlled, as determined under applicable tax rules, by us and that are engaged in the same or similar or related trades or businesses or in certain qualified publicly traded partnerships (the “Diversification Tests”).

Taxation as a RIC

If we:

 

   

qualify as a RIC; and

 

   

satisfy the Annual Distribution Requirement;

then we will not be subject to federal income tax on the portion of our investment company taxable income and net capital gain (i.e., realized net long-term capital gains in excess of realized net short-term capital losses) we distribute to stockholders. We will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the regular corporate rates on any income or capital gain not distributed (or deemed distributed) to our stockholders.

We will be subject to a 4% nondeductible federal excise tax on certain undistributed income of RICs unless we distribute in a timely manner an amount at least equal to the sum of (1) 98% of our ordinary income for each calendar year, (2) 98% of our capital gain net income for the one-year period ending October 31 in that calendar year and (3) any income realized, but not distributed or taxed, in preceding years (the “Excise Tax Avoidance Requirement”). We currently intend to make sufficient distributions each taxable year to satisfy the Excise Tax Avoidance Requirement.

 

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In order to qualify as a RIC for federal income tax purposes, we must, among other things:

 

   

qualify to be treated as a business development company under the 1940 Act at all times during each taxable year;

 

   

derive in each taxable year at least 90% of our gross income from distributions, interest, payments with respect to certain securities loans, gains from the sale of stock or other securities, net income from certain qualified publicly traded partnerships or other income derived with respect to our business of investing in such stock or securities (the “90% Income Test”); and

 

   

diversify our holdings so that at the end of each quarter of the taxable year:

 

   

at least 50% of the value of our assets consists of cash, cash equivalents, U.S. Government securities, securities of other RICs, and other securities if such other securities of any one issuer do not represent more than 5% of the value of our assets or more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of the issuer; and

 

   

no more than 25% of the value of our assets is invested in the securities, other than U.S. Government securities or securities of other RICs, of one issuer or of two or more issuers that are controlled, as determined under applicable tax rules, by us and that are engaged in the same or similar or related trades or businesses or in certain qualified publicly traded partnerships (the “Diversification Tests”).

We may be required to recognize taxable income in circumstances in which we do not receive cash. For example, if we hold debt obligations that are treated under applicable tax rules as having original issue discount (such as debt instruments with pay in kind interest or, in certain cases, increasing interest rates or issued with warrants), we must include in income each year a portion of the original issue discount that accrues over the life of the obligation, regardless of whether cash representing such income is received by us in the same taxable year. Because any original issue discount accrued will be included in our investment company taxable income for the year of accrual, we may be required to make a distribution to our stockholders in order to satisfy the Annual Distribution Requirement, even though we will not have received any corresponding cash amount.

Gain or loss realized by us from warrants acquired by us as well as any loss attributable to the lapse of such warrants generally will be treated as capital gain or loss. Such gain or loss generally will be long-term or short-term, depending on how long we held a particular warrant.

Although we do not presently expect to do so, we are authorized to borrow funds and to sell assets in order to satisfy distribution requirements. However, under the 1940 Act, we are not permitted to make distributions to our stockholders while our debt obligations and other senior securities are outstanding unless certain “asset coverage” tests are met. See “Regulation—Senior securities.” Moreover, our ability to dispose of assets to meet our distribution requirements may be limited by (1) the illiquid nature of our portfolio and/or (2) other requirements relating to our status as a RIC, including the Diversification Tests. If we dispose of assets in order to meet the Annual Distribution Requirement or the Excise Tax Avoidance Requirement, we may make such dispositions at times that, from an investment standpoint, are not advantageous.

If we fail to satisfy the Annual Distribution Requirement or fail to qualify as a RIC in any taxable year, we will be subject to tax in that year on all of our taxable income, regardless of whether we make any distributions to our stockholders. In that case, all of our income will be subject to corporate-level federal income tax, reducing the amount available to be distributed to our stockholders. In contrast, assuming we qualify as a RIC, our corporate-level federal income tax should be substantially reduced or eliminated. See “Election to be taxed as a RIC” above.

The remainder of this discussion assumes that we qualify as a RIC and have satisfied the Annual Distribution Requirement.

 

107


Failure to Qualify as a RIC

If we are unable to maintain our status as a RIC, we would be subject to tax on all of our taxable income at regular corporate rates. We would not be able to deduct distributions to stockholders, nor would they be required to be made. Distributions would generally be taxable to our stockholders as ordinary distribution income eligible for the 15% maximum rate to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits. Subject to certain limitations under the Code, corporate distributees would be eligible for the distributions received deduction. Distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits would be treated first as a return of capital to the extent of the stockholder’s tax basis, and any remaining distributions would be treated as a capital gain.

Taxation of U.S. Stockholders

Distributions by us generally are taxable to U.S. stockholders as ordinary income or capital gains. Distributions of our “investment company taxable income” (which is, generally, our ordinary income plus realized net short-term capital gains in excess of realized net long-term capital losses) will be taxable as ordinary income to U.S. stockholders to the extent of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, whether paid in cash or reinvested in additional common stock. To the extent such distributions paid by us to non-corporate stockholders (including individuals) are attributable to dividends from U.S. corporations and certain qualified foreign corporations, such distributions generally will be eligible for a maximum tax rate of 15%, if certain holding period requirements are satisfied. In this regard, it is anticipated that distributions paid by us will generally not be attributable to dividends and, therefore, generally will not qualify for the 15% maximum rate. Distributions of our net capital gains (which is generally our realized net long-term capital gains in excess of realized net short-term capital losses) properly designated by us as “capital gain distributions” will be taxable to a U.S. stockholder as long-term capital gains at a maximum rate of 15% in the case of individuals, trusts or estates, regardless of the U.S. stockholder’s holding period for his, her or its common stock and regardless of whether paid in cash or reinvested in additional common stock. Distributions in excess of our earnings and profits first will reduce a U.S. stockholder’s adjusted tax basis in such stockholder’s common stock and, after the adjusted basis is reduced to zero, will constitute capital gains to such U.S. stockholder.

Although we currently intend to distribute any long-term capital gains at least annually, we may in the future decide to retain some or all of our long-term capital gains, but designate the retained amount as a “deemed distribution.” In that case, among other consequences, we will pay tax on the retained amount, each U.S. stockholder will be required to include his, her or its share of the deemed distribution in income as if it had been actually distributed to the U.S. stockholder, and the U.S. stockholder will be entitled to claim a credit equal to his, her or its allocable share of the tax paid thereon by us. The amount of the deemed distribution net of such tax will be added to the U.S. stockholder’s tax basis for his, her or its common stock. Since we expect to pay tax on any retained capital gains at our regular corporate tax rate, and since that rate is in excess of the maximum rate currently payable by individuals on long-term capital gains, the amount of tax that individual stockholders will be treated as having paid and for which they will receive a credit will exceed the tax they owe on the retained net capital gain. Such excess generally may be claimed as a credit against the U.S. stockholder’s other federal income tax obligations or may be refunded to the extent it exceeds a stockholder’s liability for federal income tax. A stockholder that is not subject to federal income tax or otherwise required to file a federal income tax return would be required to file a federal income tax return on the appropriate form in order to claim a refund for the taxes we paid. In order to use the deemed distribution approach, we must provide written notice to our stockholders prior to the expiration of 60 days after the close of the relevant taxable year. We cannot treat any of our investment company taxable income as a “deemed distribution.”

For purposes of determining (1) whether the Annual Distribution Requirement is satisfied for any year and (2) the amount of capital gain distributions paid for that year, we may, under certain circumstances, elect to treat a distribution that is paid during the following taxable year as if it had been paid during the taxable year in question. If we make such an election, the U.S. stockholder will still be treated as receiving the distribution in the

 

108


taxable year in which the distribution is made. However, any distribution declared by us in October, November or December of any calendar year, payable to stockholders of record on a specified date in such a month and actually paid during January of the following year, will be treated as if it had been received by our U.S. stockholders on December 31 of the year in which the distribution was declared.

If an investor purchases shares of our common stock shortly before the record date of a distribution, the price of the shares will include the value of the distribution and the investor will be subject to tax on the distribution even though economically it represents a return of his, her or its investment.

A stockholder generally will recognize taxable gain or loss if the stockholder sells or otherwise disposes of his, her or its shares of our common stock. Any gain arising from such sale or disposition generally will be treated as capital gain or loss if the stockholder has held his, her or its shares for more than one year. Otherwise, it would be classified as short-term capital gain or loss. However, any capital loss arising from the sale or disposition of shares of our common stock held for six months or less will be treated as long-term capital loss to the extent of the amount of capital gain distributions received, or undistributed capital gain deemed received, with respect to such shares. In addition, all or a portion of any loss recognized upon a disposition of shares of our common stock may be disallowed if other shares of our common stock are purchased (whether through reinvestment of dividends or other distributions or otherwise) within 30 days before or after the disposition.

In general, individual U.S. stockholders currently are subject to a maximum federal income tax rate of 15% on their net capital gain, i.e., the excess of realized net long-term capital gain over realized net short-term capital loss for a taxable year, including a long-term capital gain derived from an investment in our shares. Such rate is lower than the maximum rate on ordinary income currently payable by individuals. Corporate U.S. stockholders currently are subject to federal income tax on net capital gain at the maximum 35% rate also applied to ordinary income. Non-corporate stockholders with net capital losses for a year (i.e., capital losses in excess of capital gains) generally may deduct up to $3,000 of such losses against their ordinary income each year; any net capital losses of a non-corporate stockholder in excess of $3,000 generally may be carried forward and used in subsequent years as provided in the Code. Corporate stockholders generally may not deduct any net capital losses for a year, but may carryback such losses for three years or carry forward such losses for five years.

We will send to each of our U.S. stockholders, as promptly as possible after the end of each calendar year, a notice detailing, on a per share and per distribution basis, the amounts includible in such U.S. stockholder’s taxable income for such year as ordinary income and as long-term capital gain. In addition, the federal tax status of each year’s distributions generally will be reported to the Internal Revenue Service (including the amount of distributions, if any, eligible for the 15% maximum rate). Distributions may also be subject to additional state, local and foreign taxes depending on a U.S. stockholder’s particular situation. Distributions distributed by us generally will not be eligible for the distributions-received deduction or the preferential rate applicable to qualifying distributions.

We may be required to withhold federal income tax (“backup withholding”) currently at a rate of 28% from all taxable distributions to any non-corporate U.S. stockholder (1) who fails to furnish us with a correct taxpayer identification number or a certificate that such stockholder is exempt from backup withholding, or (2) with respect to whom the IRS notifies us that such stockholder has failed to properly report certain interest and distribution income to the IRS and to respond to notices to that effect. An individual’s taxpayer identification number is his or her social security number. Any amount withheld under backup withholding is allowed as a credit against the U.S. stockholder’s federal income tax liability and may entitle such stockholder to a refund, provided that proper information is timely provided to the IRS.

Taxation of Non-U.S. Stockholders

Whether an investment in the shares is appropriate for a Non-U.S. stockholder will depend upon that person’s particular circumstances. An investment in the shares by a Non-U.S. stockholder may have adverse tax consequences. Non-U.S. stockholders should consult their tax advisers before investing in our common stock.

 

109


Distributions of our “investment company taxable income” to Non-U.S. stockholders (including interest income and net short-term capital gain, which generally would be free of withholding if paid to Non-U.S. stockholders directly) are expected to be subject to withholding of federal tax at a 30% rate (or lower rate provided by an applicable treaty) to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits unless the distributions are effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of the Non-U.S. stockholder, and, if an income tax treaty applies, attributable to a permanent establishment in the United States, in which case the distributions will be subject to federal income tax at the rates applicable to U.S. persons. In that case, we will not be required to withhold federal tax if the Non-U.S. stockholder complies with applicable certification and disclosure requirements. Special certification requirements apply to a Non-U.S. stockholder that is a foreign partnership or a foreign trust, and such entities are urged to consult their own tax advisors.

Actual or deemed distributions of our net capital gains to a Non-U.S. stockholder, and gains realized by a Non-U.S. stockholder upon the sale of our common stock, will not be subject to federal withholding tax and generally will not be subject to federal income tax unless the distributions or gains, as the case may be, are effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of the Non-U.S. stockholder and, if an income tax treaty applies, are attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the Non-U.S. stockholder in the United States.

If we distribute our net capital gains in the form of deemed rather than actual distributions (which we may do in the future), a Non-U.S. stockholder will be entitled to a federal income tax credit or tax refund equal to the stockholder’s allocable share of the tax we pay on the capital gains deemed to have been distributed. In order to obtain the refund, the Non-U.S. stockholder must obtain a U.S. taxpayer identification number and file a federal income tax return even if the Non-U.S. stockholder would not otherwise be required to obtain a U.S. taxpayer identification number or file a federal income tax return. For a corporate Non-U.S. stockholder, distributions (both actual and deemed), and gains realized upon the sale of our common stock that are effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business may, under certain circumstances, be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” at a 30% rate (or at a lower rate if provided for by an applicable treaty). Accordingly, investment in the shares may not be appropriate for a Non-U.S. stockholder.

A Non-U.S. stockholder who is a non-resident alien individual, and who is otherwise subject to withholding of federal income tax, may be subject to information reporting and backup withholding of federal income tax on distributions unless the Non-U.S. stockholder provides us or the distribution paying agent with an IRS Form W-8BEN (or an acceptable substitute form) or otherwise meets documentary evidence requirements for establishing that it is a Non-U.S. stockholder or otherwise establishes an exemption from backup withholding.

Non-U.S. persons should consult their own tax advisors with respect to the U.S. federal income tax and withholding tax, and state, local and foreign tax consequences of an investment in the shares.

 

110


PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the securities in any of three ways (or in any combination): (a) through underwriters or dealers; (b) directly to a limited number of purchasers or to a single purchaser; or (c) through agents. The securities may be sold “at-the-market” to or through a market maker or into an existing trading market for the securities, on an exchange or otherwise. The prospectus supplement will set forth the terms of the offering of such securities, including:

 

   

the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents and the amounts of securities underwritten or purchased by each of them;

 

   

the offering price of the securities and the proceeds to us and any discounts, commissions or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and

 

   

any securities exchanges on which the securities may be listed.

Any offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

If underwriters are used in the sale of any securities, the securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own accounts and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The securities may be either offered to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters, or directly by underwriters. Generally, the underwriters’ obligations to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent. The underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities if they purchase any of the securities.

In compliance with the guidelines of FINRA, the maximum compensation to the underwriters or dealers in connection with the sale of our securities pursuant to this prospectus and the accompanying supplement to this prospectus may not exceed 8% of the aggregate offering price of the securities as set forth on the cover page of the supplement to this prospectus.

We may sell the securities through agents from time to time. The prospectus supplement will name any agent involved in the offer or sale of the securities and any commissions we pay to them. Generally, any agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.

We may authorize underwriters, dealers or agents to solicit offers by certain purchasers to purchase the securities from us at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. The contracts will be subject only to those conditions set forth in the prospectus supplement, and the prospectus supplement will set forth any commissions we pay for soliciting these contracts.

Agents and underwriters may be entitled to indemnification by us against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or to contribution with respect to payments which the agents or underwriters may be required to make in respect thereof. Agents and underwriters may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business.

We may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open

 

111


borrowings of stock. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and, if not identified in this prospectus, will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective amendment). We or one of our affiliates may loan or pledge securities to a financial institution or other third party that in turn may sell the securities using this prospectus. Such financial institution or third party may transfer its short position to investors in our securities or in connection with a simultaneous offering of other securities offered by this prospectus or otherwise.

 

112


CUSTODIAN, TRANSFER AGENT AND TRUSTEE

PFPC, Inc., a subsidiary of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc., provides administrative and accounting services to us under a sub-administration and accounting services agreement. PFPC Trust Company, a subsidiary of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc., provides custodian services to us pursuant to a custodian services agreement. American Stock Transfer & Trust Company acts as our transfer agent, distribution paying agent and registrar. The principal business address of American Stock Transfer & Trust Company is P.O. Box 922, Wall Street Station, New York, New York 10269, telephone number: (800) 937-5449. Bank of New York Mellon may also serve as trustee for offerings of our debt securities.

LEGAL MATTERS

Certain legal matters regarding the securities offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for PennantPark by Dechert LLP, Washington, D.C.

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

KPMG LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm, is located at 345 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10154.

With respect to the unaudited interim financial information as of March 31, 2008, and for the six-month period then ended, included herein, KPMG LLP has reported that they applied limited procedures in accordance with professional standards for a review of such information. However, their separate report included herein states that they did not audit and they do not express an opinion on that interim financial information. Accordingly, the degree of reliance on their report on such information should be restricted in light of the limited nature of the review procedures applied. The accountants are not subject to the liability provisions of Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933 for their report on the unaudited interim financial information because that report is not a “report” or a “part” of the registration statement prepared or certified by the accountants within the meaning of Sections 7 and 11 of the Securities Act of 1933.

PRIVACY PRINCIPLES

We are committed to maintaining the privacy of securityholders and to safeguarding our non-public personal information. The following information is provided to help you understand what personal information we collect, how we protect that information and why, in certain cases, we may share information with select other parties.

Generally, we do not receive any nonpublic personal information relating to our securityholders, although certain nonpublic personal information of our stockholders may become available to us. We do not disclose any nonpublic personal information about our securityholders or former securityholders to anyone, except as permitted by law or as is necessary in order to service securityholders accounts (for example, to a transfer agent or third party administrator).

We restrict access to nonpublic personal information about our securityholders to our Investment Adviser’s employees with a legitimate business need for the information. We maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards designed to protect the nonpublic personal information of our securityholders.

 

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I NDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

PennantPark Investment Corporation

Annual Financial Statements

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   F-2

Statements of Assets and Liabilities at September 30, 2007

   F-3

Statements of Operations for the period from January 11, 2007 (inception) through September 30, 2007

   F-4

Statements of Changes in Net Assets for the period from January 11, 2007 (inception) through September 30, 2007

  

F-5

Statements of Cash Flows for the period from January 11, 2007 (inception) through September 30, 2007

  

F-6

Schedules of Investments at September 30, 2007

   F-7

Notes to Financial Statements

   F-11

Interim Financial Statements

  

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   F-20

Statements of Assets and Liabilities at March 31, 2008 (unaudited) and September 30, 2007

   F-21

Statements of Operations (unaudited) for the three and six months ended March 31, 2008 and period from January 11, 2007 (inception) through March 31, 2007

   F-22

Statements of Changes in Net Assets for the three and six months ended March 31, 2008 (unaudited) and period from January 11, 2007 (inception) through September 30, 2007

   F-23

Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) for the six months ended March 31, 2008 and for the period from January 11, 2007 (inception) through March 31, 2007

   F-24

Schedules of Investments at March 31, 2008 (unaudited) and September 30, 2007

   F-25

Notes to Financial Statements

   F-34

 

F-1


Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of

PennantPark Investment Corporation

We have audited the accompanying consolidated statement of assets and liabilities of PennantPark Investment Corporation (the “Company”), including the schedule of investments, as of September 30, 2007 and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows for the period from January 11, 2007 (inception) through September 30, 2007. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the auditing standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). These standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of PennantPark Investment Corporation as of September 30, 2007, and the results of its operations, changes in its net assets and its cash flows for the period from January 11, 2007 (inception) through September 30, 2007 in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

LOGO

New York, New York

December 12, 2007

 

F-2


PENNANTPARK INVESTMENT CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

 

     September 30,
2007
 

Assets

  

Investments, at fair value (cost—$314,881,870)1

   $ 291,016,608  

Cash equivalents (cost—$258,016,351)

     257,959,635  

Interest receivable

     4,517,850  

Prepaid expenses and other assets

     1,513,583  
        

Total assets

     555,007,676  
        

Liabilities

  

Payable for cash equivalents purchased

     252,759,931  

Payable for investments purchased

     16,583,921  

Unfunded investments

     3,989,948  

Credit facility payable

     10,000,000  

Interest payable

     170,989  

Accrued other expenses

     1,109,793  
        

Total liabilities

     284,614,582  
        

Net Assets

  

Common stock, par value $.001 per share, 100,000,000 shares authorized and 21,068,772 shares issued and outstanding

     21,069  

Paid-in capital in excess of par

     294,586,604  

Distributions in excess of net investment income

     (196,769 )

Accumulated net realized loss

     (95,832 )

Net unrealized depreciation on investments and cash equivalents

     (23,921,978 )
        

Total net assets

   $ 270,393,094  
        

Total liabilities and net assets

   $ 555,007,676  
        

Net asset value per share

   $ 12.83  
        

 

1 None of our portfolio companies is controlled by, or affiliated with, PennantPark Investment Corporation as defined by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

F-3


PENNANTPARK INVESTMENT CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

 

     Period from
January 11,
2007
(inception)
through
September 30,
2007
 

Investment Income:

  

Interest

   $ 13,107,341  
        

Total investment income

     13,107,341  
        

Expenses:

  

Management fees

     2,565,085  

Interest and other credit facility expenses

     1,835,816  

Administrative services expenses

     778,587  

Professional fees

     420,186  

Directors’ fees

     211,128  

Organizational expenses

     207,126  

Insurance

     162,387  

Other general and administrative expenses

     157,923  
        

Expenses before management fee waiver and income tax

     6,338,238  
        

Management fee waiver

     (641,273 )

Income tax

     105,880  
        

Net expenses

     5,802,845  
        

Net investment income

     7,304,496  
        

Realized and unrealized loss on investments and cash equivalents:

  

Net realized loss on investments and cash equivalents

     (81,769 )

Change in net unrealized depreciation on investments and cash equivalents

     (23,921,978 )
        

Net realized and unrealized loss from investments and cash equivalents

     (24,003,747 )
        

Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations

   $ (16,699,251 )
        

Earnings per common share (See note 6)

   $ (0.80 )
        

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

F-4


PENNANTPARK INVESTMENT CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

 

     Period from
January 11,
2007 (inception)
through
September 30,
2007
 

Decrease in net assets from operations:

  

Net investment income

   $ 7,304,496  

Net realized loss on investments and cash equivalents

     (81,769 )

Net change in unrealized depreciation on investments and cash equivalents

     (23,921,978 )
        

Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations

     (16,699,251 )
        

Dividends and distributions:

  

Dividends from net investment income

     (7,545,458 )

Return of capital

     (28,356 )
        

Total dividends and distributions

     (7,573,814 )
        

Capital share transactions:

  

Issuance of shares of common stock

     315,375,000  

Offering costs related to public share offerings

     (21,309,375 )

Reinvestment of dividends (43,772 shares of common stock)

     600,534  
        

Net increase in net assets resulting from capital share transactions

     294,666,159  
        

Total increase in net assets

     270,393,094  

Net Assets:

  

Beginning of period

     —    
        

End of period

   $ 270,393,094  
        

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

F-5


PENNANTPARK INVESTMENT CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

 

     Period from
January 11,
2007 (inception)
through
September 30,
2007
 

Cash flows from operating activities:

  

Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations

   $ (16,699,251 )

Adjustments to reconcile net decrease in net assets resulting from operations to net cash used by operating activities:

  

Change in net unrealized depreciation on investments and cash equivalents

     23,921,978  

Net realized loss on investments and cash equivalents

     81,769  

Net accretion of discount and amortization of premium

     (15,875 )

Purchase of investments

     (414,640,441 )

Proceeds from disposition of investments

     99,635,961  

Increase in interest receivable

     (4,517,850 )

Increase in prepaid expenses and other assets

     (252,287 )

Increase in payables for cash equivalents purchased

     252,759,931  

Increase in payables for investments purchased

     16,583,921  

Increase in unfunded investments

     3,989,948  

Increase in accrued expenses

     1,280,782  
        

Net cash used by operating activities

     (37,871,414 )
        

Cash flows from financing activities:

  

Issuance of shares of common stock

     315,375,000  

Offering costs

     (21,309,375 )

Capitalized borrowing costs

     (1,261,296 )

Borrowings under credit facility (See note 12)

     271,913,786  

Repayments under credit facility (See note 12)

     (261,913,786 )

Dividends and distributions to stockholders (net of dividends reinvested)

     (6,973,280 )
        

Net cash provided by financing activities

     295,831,049  
        

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

     257,959,635  
        

Cash equivalents, beginning of period

     —    

Cash equivalents, end of period

   $ 257,959,635  

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

  

Interest paid during the period January 11, 2007 (inception) through September 30, 2007

   $ 1,598,055  
        

Non-cash financing activities consist of the reinvestment of dividends

   $ 600,534  
        

Payment-in-kind interest

   $ 668,268  
        

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

F-6


PENNANTPARK INVESTMENT CORPORATION

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

SEPTEMBER 30, 2007

 

Issuer name(1)

  Maturity  

Industry

  Current
Coupon
    Basis
Point
Spread
Above
Index(3)
 

Par

 

Cost

 

Value(\2)

Subordinated Debt / Corporate Notes—21.2%

             

ADVANSTAR, INC.

  11/30/2015   OTHER MEDIA   12.20 %*   L+700   $ 14,580,690   $ 14,580,690   $ 14,580,690

AFFINION GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.

  03/01/2012   CONSUMER PRODUCTS   11.68 %*   L+625     18,500,000     18,106,103     17,760,000

PERFORMANCE HOLDINGS, INC.

  07/02/2014   LEISURE, AMUSEMENT,
MOTION PICTURES &
ENTERTAINMENT
  14.25 %*   —       3,837,578     3,592,573     3,837,578

REALOGY CORP.(5)

  04/15/2015   BUILDINGS & REAL
ESTATE
  12.38 %   —       28,000,000     26,117,780     21,140,000
                         

Total Subordinated Debt / Corporate Notes

            64,918,268     62,397,146     57,318,268
                         
            Shares    
                 

common equity**—2.6%

             

VSS-AHC HOLDINGS, L.L.C.

  —     OTHER MEDIA   —       —       3,000     3,000,000     3,269,685

PERFORMANCE HOLDINGS, INC.

  —     LEISURE, AMUSEMENT,
MOTION PICTURES &
ENTERTAINMENT
  —       —       37,500     3,750,000     3,750,000
                         

Total Common Equity

            40,500     6,750,000     7,019,685
                         
            Par    
                 

Second Lien secured Debt—25.0%

             

PERFORMANCE, INC.

  07/02/2014   LEISURE, AMUSEMENT,
MOTION PICTURES &
ENTERTAINMENT
  11.11 %   L+575     8,750,000     8,750,000     8,750,000

QUESTEX MEDIA GROUP, INC.

  11/04/2014   OTHER MEDIA   12.08 %   L+650     10,000,000     10,000,000     9,800,000

SAINT ACQUISITION CORP.(5)

  05/15/2015   TRANSPORTATION   13.31 %   L+775     10,000,000     9,932,321     6,800,000

SAINT ACQUISITION CORP.(5)

  05/15/2017   TRANSPORTATION   12.50 %   —       19,000,000     16,198,167     12,730,000

SPECIALIZED TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES, INC.

  12/15//
2014
  CHEMICAL, PLASTICS
& RUBBER
  12.13 %   L+700     17,500,000     17,493,750     17,237,500

TRANSFIRST HOLDINGS, INC.

  06/15/2015   BUSINESS SERVICES   11.30 %*   L+600     13,000,000     12,886,250     12,431,250
                         

Total second Lien secured Debt

            78,250,000     75,260,488     67,748,750
                         

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

F-7


PENNANTPARK INVESTMENT CORPORATION

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

SEPTEMBER 30, 2007

 

Issuer name(1)

 

Maturity

 

Industry

  Current
Coupon
    Basis Point
Spread
Above
Index(3)
 

Par

 

Cost

 

Value(2)

First Lien secured Debt—58.8%

             

BERRY PLASTICS GROUP, INC.

 

  04/03/2015

 

 

 

CONTAINERS, PACKAGING
& GLASS

  7.34

%

 

  L+200

 

  $

7,462,500

 

  $

7,462,500

 

  $

7,274,602

 

BURLINGTON COAT FACTORY WAREHOUSE CORP.

  05/28/2013   RETAIL STORE   7.76 %   L+225     7,896,473     7,887,537     7,571,975

CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS OPERATING, L.L.C.

  03/06/2014   CABLE TELEVISION   7.13 %   L+200     15,000,000     14,992,740     14,468,310

COHR HOLDINGS, INC.

 

  01/31/2013

 

 

 

HEALTH CARE,
EDUCATION & CHILDCARE

  8.04

%

 

  L+250

 

   

2,985,000

 

   

2,985,000

 

   

2,388,000

 

FR BRAND ACQUISITION CORP.

  02/07/2014   ENERGY / UTILITIES   7.53 %   L+225     1,990,000     1,990,000     1,887,183

GATEHOUSE MEDIA OPERATING, INC.

  08/28/2014   MEDIA   7.47 %   L+200     7,000,000     7,000,000     6,405,000

GENERAL NUTRITION CENTERS, INC.

  09/16/2013   RETAIL STORE   7.61 %   L+225     6,483,750     6,487,788     6,147,405

GREATWIDE LOGISTICS SERVICES, INC.

  12/19/2013   CARGO TRANSPORT   8.70 %   L+350     6,947,500     6,947,500     6,079,062

HANLEY-WOOD, L.L.C.

  03/08/2014   OTHER MEDIA   7.60 %   L+225     9,000,000     9,000,000     7,845,003

HAWKER BEECHCRAFT, INC.

  03/28/2014   AEROSPACE/DEFENSE   7.21 %   L+200     1,990,780     1,990,780     1,930,226

HEALTH MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES, INC.

 

  02/28/2014

 

  HEALTH CARE,
EDUCATION & CHILDCARE
  6.95

%

 

  L+175

 

   

9,950,000

 

   

9,950,000

 

   

9,441,615

 

HUGHES NETWORK SYSTEMS, L.L.C.

  04/15/2014   TELECOMMUNICATIONS   8.06 %   L+250     5,000,000     5,000,000     4,625,000

JACUZZI BRANDS CORP.

 

  02/07/2014

 

 

 

HOME & OFFICE
FURNISHINGS,
HOUSEWARES &
DURABLES

  7.44

%

 

  L+225

 

   

9,963,514

 

   

9,963,514

 

   

8,947,235

 

LEVEL 3 FINANCING, INC.

  03/13/2014   TELECOMMUNICATIONS   7.61 %   L+225     2,000,000     2,000,000     1,939,642

LEVLAD, L.L.C.

  03/08/2014   CONSUMER PRODUCTS   7.58 %   L+225     4,842,920     4,842,920     3,357,757

LONGVIEW POWER, L.L.C.

  02/28/2014   UTILITIES   7.56 %   L+225     2,020,000     2,020,000     1,939,200

LONGVIEW POWER, L.L.C.(4)

  02/28/2014   UTILITIES   —       —       980,000     980,000     940,800

MACH GEN, L.L.C.

  02/22/2014   UTILITIES   7.34 %   L+200     3,972,813     3,971,545     3,845,683

MATTRESS HOLDING CORP.

 

  01/18/2014

 

 

 

HOME & OFFICE
FURNISHINGS,
HOUSEWARES &
DURABLES

  7.61

%

 

  L+225

 

   

3,990,000

 

   

3,990,000

 

   

3,740,625

 

MCJUNKIN CORP.

  01/31/2014   OIL & GAS   7.45 %   L+225     982,525     982,525     965,331

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

F-8


PENNANTPARK INVESTMENT CORPORATION

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

SEPTEMBER 30, 2007

 

Issuer name(1)

  Maturity  

Industry

  Current
Coupon
    Basis Point
Spread
Above
Index(3)
  Par   Cost   Value(2)

First Lien secured Debt—(continued)

             

MITCHELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.

  03/28/2014   BUSINESS SERVICES   7.20 %   L+200   $ 3,980,000   $ 3,980,000   $ 3,835,725

 

NATIONAL BEDDING CO., L.L.C.

  08/31/2011  

 

HOME & OFFICE
FURNISHINGS,
HOUSEWARES &
DURABLES

  7.43 %   L+200     6,965,000     6,971,653     6,668,988

PENTON MEDIA, INC.

  02/01/2013   OTHER MEDIA   7.59 %   L+225     4,975,000     4,975,000     4,716,922

PHILOSOPHY, INC.

  03/16/2014   CONSUMER PRODUCTS   7.36 %   L+200     1,493,333     1,493,333     1,344,000

PROQUEST CSA, L.L.C.

  02/09/2014   EDUCATION   8.20 %   L+300     955,833     955,833     936,716

QUESTEX MEDIA GROUP, INC.

  05/04/2014   OTHER MEDIA   8.56 %   L+300     4,974,167     4,974,167     4,839,742

READERS DIGEST ASSOCIATION, INC.

  03/02/2014   PRINTING & PUBLISHING   7.43 %   L+200     995,006     995,006     940,281

REXNORD, L.L.C.

  07/19/2013   MANUFACTURING/
BASIC INDUSTRIES
  7.64 %   L+225     4,937,500     4,937,500     4,835,664

SITEL, L.L.C.

  01/30/2014   BUSINESS SERVICES   7.78 %   L+250     2,867,302     2,867,302     2,680,927

UNIVISION COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

  09/29/2014   BROADCASTING &
ENTERTAINMENT
  7.57 %   L+225     14,093,960     14,093,960     13,389,262

UNIVISION COMMUNICATIONS, INC.(4)

  09/29/2014   BROADCASTING &
ENTERTAINMENT
  —       —       906,040     906,040     860,738

VALASSIS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

  03/02/2014   PRINTING & PUBLISHING   6.95 %   L+175     7,061,899     7,061,899     6,549,911

VALASSIS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.(4)

  03/02/2014   PRINTING & PUBLISHING   —       —       2,103,908     2,103,908     1,951,375

WESTERN REFINING, INC.

  05/30/2014   OIL & GAS   6.88 %   L+175     3,714,286     3,714,286     3,640,000
                         

Total first Lien secured Debt

            170,481,009     170,474,236     158,929,905
                         

Total investments – 107.6%

            $ 314,881,870   $ 291,016,608
                     

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

F-9


PENNANTPARK INVESTMENT CORPORATION

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

SEPTEMBER 30, 2007

 

Issuer name(1)

  Maturity   Industry   Current
Coupon
    Basis Point
Spread
Above
Index(3)
  Par   Cost   Value(2)  

Cash equivalents—95.4%

             

U.S. TREASURY BILL

  12/27/2007     3.64 %   —     $ 255,000,000   $ 252,759,931   $ 252,703,215  

MONEY MARKETMUTUAL FUNDS

      —       —       5,256,420     5,256,420     5,256,420  
                           

Total cash equivalents

            260,256,420     258,016,351     257,959,635  
                           

Total investments and cash equivalents

            $ 572,898,221   $ 548,976,243  
                       

Liabilities in excess of other assets—(103.0%)

                (278,583,149 )
                   

Net assets—100.0%

              $ 270,393,094  
                   

 

(1) We do not “control” and are not an “affiliate” of any of our portfolio companies, each as defined in the 1940 Act. In general, under the 1940 Act, we would be presumed to “control” a portfolio company if we owned 25% or more of its voting securities and would be deemed to be an “affiliate” of a portfolio company if we owned 5% or more of its voting securities.

 

(2) Valued based on our accounting policy. (See note 2)

 

(3) Represents floating rate instruments that accrue interest at a predetermined spread relative to an index, typically the applicable London Interbank Offer Rate (LIBOR , or, “L”).

 

(4) Represents purchases of securities with delayed draws. These securities do not have a basis point spread above index.

 

(5) Security is exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. The security may be resold in transactions that are exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers.

 

 * Coupon payable in cash or payment in kind.

 

** Non-income producing.

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

 

F-10


PENNANTPARK INVESTMENT CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

SEPTEMBER 30, 2007

1. ORGANIZATION

PennantPark Investment Corporation (“PennantPark” or “Company”) was organized as a Maryland corporation on January 11, 2007. PennantPark Investment’s objective is to generate both current income and capital appreciation through debt and equity investments. PennantPark Investment invests primarily in U.S. middle-market companies in the form of mezzanine debt, first lien secured debt and equity investments. As of September 30, 2007 PennantPark Investment had sold and issued 21,068,772 shares of its common stock, with gross proceeds of $316.0 million. Before the completion of its initial public offering on April 24, 2007, PennantPark Investment had limited operations other than the sale and issuance of 80,000 shares of common stock at an aggregate purchase price of $1.2 million to PennantPark Investment Advisers, LLC (the “Investment Adviser” or “PennantPark Investment Advisers”) and the purchase of first lien secured debt.

On April 24, 2007 PennantPark Investment closed its initial public offering, selling 20,000,000 shares of its common stock, resulting in net proceeds of approximately $279.6 million. Also on April 24, PennantPark Investment closed a private placement of common stock pursuant to Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933. This private placement of 320,000 shares was made to officers, directors, the Investment Adviser and managers of the Investment Adviser, for $15 per share, resulting in net proceeds of approximately $4.8 million. On May 21, the underwriters of the initial public offering exercised their over-allotment option to them under the Underwriting Agreement. The Underwriters elected to purchase 625,000 shares of our common stock, resulting in net proceeds of $8.8 million.

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of PennantPark Investment and its wholly owned special purpose subsidiary, Pennant SPV Company, LLC (“Pennant SPV”) a Delaware corporation. On April 24, 2007, Pennant SPV transferred all of its assets to PennantPark Investment.

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reported period. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

The financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP and pursuant to the requirements for reporting on Form 10-K and Article 6 or 10 of Regulation S-X, as appropriate. In accordance with Article 6-09 of Regulation S-X under the Exchange Act, we are providing a Statement of Changes in Net Assets in lieu of a Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity.

The significant accounting policies consistently followed by PennantPark Investment are:

 

  (a)

Security transactions are recorded on a trade-date basis. Our board of directors generally uses market quotations to assess the value of our investments for which market quotations are readily available. We obtain these market values from independent pricing services or at the bid prices obtained from at least two broker/dealers if available, otherwise by a principal market maker or a primary market dealer. If the board of directors has a bona fide reason to believe any such market quote does not reflect the fair value of an investment, it may independently value such investments by using the valuation procedure that it uses with respect to assets for which market quotations are not readily available. Subordinated debt, first lien secured debt and other debt securities with maturities greater than 60 days generally are valued by an independent pricing service or at the bid prices from at least two broker/dealers (if available, otherwise by a principal market maker or a primary market dealer). We expect that there will

 

F-11


 

not be readily available market values for many of the investments which are or will be in our portfolio, and we value such investments at fair value as determined in good faith by or under the direction of our board of directors using a documented valuation policy and a consistently applied valuation process. With respect to investments for which there is no readily available market value, valuation methods may include comparisons of financial ratios of the portfolio companies that issued such private securities to peer companies that are public. When an external event such as a purchase transaction, public offering or subsequent equity sale occurs in connection with one of our portfolio companies, our board uses the pricing indicated by the external event to corroborate and/or assist us in our valuation of our investment in such portfolio company. Due to the inherent uncertainty of determining the fair value of investments that do not have a readily available market value, the fair value of our investments may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had a readily available market value existed for such investments, and the differences could be material.

With respect to investments for which market quotations are not readily available or are readily available but believed to be inaccurate, our board of directors undertakes a multi-step valuation process each quarter, as described below:

 

  (1) Our quarterly valuation process begins with each portfolio company or investment being initially valued by the investment professionals of our Investment Adviser responsible for the portfolio investment;

 

  (2) Preliminary valuation conclusions are then documented and discussed with the management of our Investment Adviser;

 

  (3) Our board of directors also engages one or more independent valuation firms to conduct independent appraisals of our investments for which market quotations are not readily available or are readily available but believed to be inaccurate. The independent valuation firm reviews management’s preliminary valuations in light of its own independent assessment and also in light of any market quotations obtained from an independent pricing service, broker, dealer or market maker.

 

  (4) The audit committee of our board of directors reviews the preliminary valuations of our Investment Adviser and that of the independent valuation firms and responds and supplements the valuation recommendations of the independent valuation firms to reflect any comments; and

 

  (5) The board of directors discusses the valuations and determines the fair value of each investment in our portfolio in good faith based on the input of the Investment Adviser, the respective independent valuation firms and the audit committee.

The types of factors that the board of directors may take into account in pricing our investments at fair value include, as relevant, the nature and realizable value of any collateral, the portfolio company’s ability to make payments and its earnings and discounted cash flow, the markets in which the portfolio company does business, comparison to publicly traded securities and other relevant factors.

 

  (b) Investments purchased within 60 days of maturity are valued at cost plus accreted discount, or minus amortized premium, which approximates value.

 

  (c) We measure realized gains or losses by the difference between the net proceeds from the repayment or sale and the amortized cost basis of the investment, using the specific identification method, without regard to unrealized appreciation or depreciation previously recognized, but considering unamortized upfront fees and prepayment penalties. Net change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation reflects the change in portfolio investment values during the reporting period, including any reversal of previously recorded unrealized appreciation or depreciation, when gains or losses are realized.

 

  (d)

We record interest income on an accrual basis to the extent that we expect to collect such amounts. For loans and debt securities with contractual payment-in-kind, or “PIK,” interest, which represents contractual interest accrued and added to the loan balance that generally becomes due at maturity, we

 

F-12


 

will generally not accrue PIK interest if the portfolio company valuation indicates that such PIK interest is not collectible. We do not accrue as a receivable interest on loans and debt securities if we have reason to doubt our ability to collect such interest. Loan origination fees, original issue discount and market discount or premium are capitalized, and we then accrete or amortize such amounts using the effective interest method as interest income. We record prepayment premiums on loans and debt securities as interest income. Dividend income, if any, is recognized on the ex-dividend date.

 

  (e) Before May 1, 2007 PennantPark Investment was taxed as a corporation under Subchapter C of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and subject to corporate-level federal, state and local taxes. Starting May 1, 2007 PennantPark Investment intends to comply with the requirements of Subchapter M of the Code, and expects to be subject to tax as a regulated investment company, or “RIC”. As a corporation, PennantPark Investment accounted for income taxes using the asset liability method prescribed by FASB Statement No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes.” Under this method, income taxes were provided for amounts currently payable and for amounts deferred as tax assets and liabilities based on differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of existing assets and liabilities. Federal, state and local taxes of $105,880 were accrued and included in PennantPark Investment’s statement of operations. Based upon PennantPark Investment’s qualification and election to be subject to tax as a RIC as of its next taxable year-end, we do not anticipate any material taxes in the future. The Company will recognize in its financial statements the effect of a tax position when it is more likely than not, based on the technical merits, that the position will be sustained upon examination.

 

  (f) Dividends and distributions to common stockholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The amount, if any to be paid as a dividend is determined by the board of directors each quarter and is generally based upon the earnings estimated by management. Net realized capital gains, if any, are distributed at least annually.

 

  (g) In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) 157, Fair Value Measurements, which clarifies the definition of fair value and requires companies to expand their disclosure about the use of fair value to measure assets and liabilities in interim and annual periods subsequent to initial recognition. Adoption of SFAS 157 requires the use of the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. SFAS 157 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years. At this time, PennantPark Investment is in the process of reviewing the Standard against its valuation policies to determine future applicability.

 

  (h) In February 2007, the FASB issued Statement No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities—Including an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 115. This statement permits an entity to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value. This statement applies to all reporting entities, and contains financial statement presentation and disclosure requirements for assets and liabilities reported at fair value as a consequence of the election. This statement is effective for fiscal years beginning November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company does not expect the adoption of this statement to have a significant effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or its result of operations.

3. AGREEMENTS

PennantPark Investment has entered into an Investment Management Agreement with PennantPark Investment Advisers under which the Investment Adviser, subject to the overall supervision of PennantPark Investment’s board of directors, manages the day-to-day operations of and provides investment advisory services to, PennantPark Investment. For providing these services, the Investment Adviser receives a fee from PennantPark Investment, consisting of two components—a base management fee and an incentive fee (collectively, “Management Fees”).

 

F-13


The base management fee is calculated at an annual rate of 2.00% on PennantPark Investment’s gross assets (net of U.S. Treasury Bills (“adjusted gross assets”)) (See note 9). Although the base management fee is 2.00% of adjusted gross assets, the Investment Adviser has agreed to waive a portion of the base management fee such that the base management fee will equal 1.50% from the consummation of the initial public offering through September 30, 2007; 1.75% from October 1, 2007 through March 31, 2008; and 2.00% thereafter. For the period from the commencement of operations to the consummation of the initial public offering there were no Management Fees. For services rendered under our Investment Management Agreement during the period commencing from the closing of the initial public offering through and including the first six months of operations, the base management fee is payable monthly in arrears. For services rendered under our Investment Management Agreement after that time, the base management fee will be payable quarterly in arrears. For the first quarter of operations, the base management fee was calculated based on the initial value of adjusted gross assets. Subsequently, the base management fee is calculated based on the average value of adjusted gross assets at the end of the two most recently completed calendar quarters, and appropriately adjusted for any share issuances or repurchases during the current calendar quarter. Base investment advisory fees for any partial month or quarter are appropriately pro rated. For the period from the consummation of the initial public offering to September 30, 2007, the Investment Adviser received $1.9 million in base management fee.

The incentive fee has two parts, as follows:

One part is calculated and payable quarterly in arrears based on PennantPark Investment’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income for the immediately preceding calendar quarter. For this purpose, Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income means interest income, distribution income and any other income, including any other fees other than fees for providing managerial assistance, such as commitment, origination, structuring, diligence and consulting fees or other fees received from portfolio companies accrued during the calendar quarter, minus PennantPark Investment’s operating expenses for the quarter (including the base management fee, any expenses payable under our Administration Agreement, and any interest expense and distribution paid on any issued and outstanding preferred stock, but excluding the incentive fee). Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income includes, in the case of investments with deferred interest feature (such as original issue discount, debt instruments with pay in kind interest and zero coupon securities), accrued income not yet received in cash. Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income does not include any realized capital gains, realized capital losses or unrealized capital appreciation or depreciation. Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income, expressed as a rate of return on the value of PennantPark Investment’s net assets at the end of the immediately preceding calendar quarter, is compared to the hurdle rate of 1.75% per quarter (7.00% annualized). PennantPark Investment pays the Investment Adviser an incentive fee with respect to PennantPark Investment’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income in each calendar quarter as follows:

(1) no incentive fee in any calendar quarter in which PennantPark Investment’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income does not exceed the hurdle rate of 1.75%; (2) 100% of PennantPark Investment’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income with respect to that portion of such Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income, if any, that exceeds the hurdle rate but is less than 2.1875% in any calendar quarter (8.75% annualized); and (3) 20% of the amount of PennantPark Investment’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income, if any, that exceeds 2.1875% in any calendar quarter. These calculations are pro rated for any period of less than three months and adjusted for any share issuances or repurchases during the current quarter.

The second part of the incentive fee is determined and payable in arrears as of the end of each calendar year (or upon termination of our Investment Management Agreement, as of the termination date), commencing on December 31, 2007, and equals 20.0% of PennantPark Investment’s realized capital gains, if any, on a cumulative basis from inception through the end of each calendar year, computed net of all realized capital losses and unrealized capital depreciation on a cumulative basis, less the aggregate amount of any previously paid capital gain incentive fees. However, the incentive fee determined as of December 31, 2007 will be calculated for a period of shorter than twelve calendar months to take into account any realized capital gains computed net of all realized capital losses and unrealized capital depreciation from inception.

 

F-14


For the period from January 11, 2007 (inception) to September 30, 2007, the Investment Adviser did not receive an Incentive Fee.

PennantPark Investment has also entered into an Administration Agreement with PennantPark Investment Administration, LLC (the “Administrator” or “PennantPark Investment Administration”) under which PennantPark Investment Administration provides administrative services for PennantPark Investment. For providing these services, facilities and personnel, PennantPark Investment reimburses the Administrator for PennantPark Investment’s allocable portion of overhead and other expenses incurred by the Administrator in performing its obligations under our Administration Agreement, including rent, technology systems, insurance and PennantPark Investment’s allocable portion of the costs of the compensation and related expenses for its chief compliance officer, chief financial officer and their respective staffs. The Administrator also provides on PennantPark Investment’s behalf managerial assistance to portfolio companies to which PennantPark Investment is required to provide such assistance. Reimbursement for certain of these costs is included in administrative services expenses in the consolidated statement of operations. For the period from January 11, 2007 (inception) through September 30, 2007, the Investment Adviser was reimbursed approximately $490,000 from the Company, including expenses it incurred on behalf of the Administrator for services described above.

4. ORGANIZATIONAL AND OFFERING EXPENSES

A portion of the net proceeds of the Company’s initial public offering was used for organizational, offering and other expenses. Organizational expenses were treated as expenses incurred. Offering costs of $21,309,375 were charged to net assets after the completion of the initial public offering on April 24, 2007.

5. NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE

On September 30, 2007, PennantPark Investment’s total net assets and net asset value per share were $270,393,094 and $12.83, respectively.

6. EARNINGS PER SHARE

The following information sets forth the computation of basic per share net decrease in net assets resulting from operations:

 

     Period from
January 11, 2007
(inception)
through
September 30,
2007
 

Numerator for net decrease in net assets per share resulting from operations:

   $ (16,699,251 )

Denominator for basic weighted average shares:*

     20,936,149  

Basic net decrease in net assets per share resulting from operations:

   $ (0.80 )

 

* Since completion of IPO on April 24, 2007

 

F-15


7. INVESTMENTS

Investments consisted of subordinated debt/corporate notes, common equity, second lien secured debt, and first lien secured debt, as of September 30, 2007. The table below describes investments by industry classification and enumerates the percentage, by market value, of the total portfolio assets (excluding cash equivalents) in such industries as of September 30, 2007.

 

Industry Classification

   Percentage at Market
Value
 

Other Media

   15 %

Consumer Products

   8 %

Buildings & Real Estate

   7 %

Business Services

   7 %

Home & Office Furnishings, Housewares, & Durable Consumer Products

   7 %

Transportation

   7 %

Chemical, Plastics & Rubber

   6 %

Leisure, Amusement, Motion Pictures, Entertainment

   6 %

Broadcasting & Entertainment

   5 %

Cable Television

   5 %

Retail Store

   5 %

Healthcare, Education & Childcare

   4 %

Printing & Publishing

   3 %

Containers, Packaging & Glass

   2 %

Media

   2 %

Telecommunications

   2 %

Utilities

   2 %

Cargo Transport

   2 %

Manufacturing / Basic Industries

   2 %

Oil & Gas

   2 %

Other

   1 %
      

Total Investments

   100 %
      

8. TAXES AND DISTRIBUTIONS

For the period from inception through April 30, 2007, the Company was taxed as a corporation. As such federal, state and local taxes of $105,880 were accrued and included in PennantPark Investment’s statement of operations. Based upon PennantPark Investment’s expected qualification and election to be subject to tax as RIC as of its next taxable year-end, the company does not anticipate paying any corporate level taxes in the future.

As a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, the Company’s income generally will not be subject to taxation to the extent such income is distributed to stockholders. However, certain of the Company’s investments may be owned by wholly owned subsidiaries that are subject to corporate level federal, state, and local income tax in their respective jurisdictions. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the enacted tax rates expected to apply to the taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.

Since consummation of the initial public offering, through September 30, 2007, the Company has declared distributions totaling $0.36 per share. Each year a statement on Form 1099-DIV shall be issued identifying the source of the distribution (i.e., paid from ordinary income, paid from net capital gains on the sale of securities, and/or a return of paid-in-capital surplus which is a nontaxable distribution). To the extent the Company’s taxable earnings fall below the total amount of its distributions for that fiscal year, a portion of those distributions may be deemed a tax return of capital to the Company’s stockholders. For the fiscal years ended September 30,

 

F-16


2007 a portion of the distributions to the Company’s stockholders was deemed a return of capital. The determination of the tax attributes of the Company’s distributions is made annually as of the end of the Company’s fiscal year based upon its taxable income for the full year and distributions paid for the full year, therefore a determination made on a quarterly basis may not be representative of the actual tax attributes of its distributions for a full year. If the Company determined the tax attributes of its distributions for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007, 99.6% would be from taxable net investment income and 0.4% would be a return of capital for stockholders, however there can be no certainty to stockholders that this determination is representative of what the tax attributes of its 2007 distributions to stockholders will actually be.

During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007, as a result of permanent book-to-tax differences primarily due to adjustments relating to: federal and state tax expenses, and net earnings derived during the period prior to qualification as a RIC, the Company decreased distributions in excess of net investment income by $72,549, increased accumulated net realized loss by $14,063 and decreased paid-in capital in excess of par value by $58,486. Aggregate stockholders’ equity was not affected by this reclassification. As of September 30, 2007, the cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $572,898,221 resulting in a gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation of $514,690 and $24,436,668, respectively. The following reconciles net increase in stockholders’ equity resulting from operations to taxable income for the year ended September 30, 2007:

 

Net decrease in stockholders’ equity resulting from operations    $(16,699,251)  

Net unrealized depreciation on investments transactions not taxable

     23,921,978  

Net income derived during the period prior to qualification as a RIC

     12,720  

Expenses not currently deductible

     201,262  

Other deductible expenses

     (5,753 )
        

Taxable income before deductions for distributions

   $ 7,430,956  
        

9. CASH EQUIVALENTS

Pending investment in longer-term portfolio holdings, PennantPark Investment may invest temporarily in U.S. Treasury Bills (of varying maturities), repurchase agreements, money markets or repo-like treasury securities. These temporary investments with maturities of 90 days or less will be deemed cash equivalents and are included in the Schedule of Investments. At the end of each fiscal quarter, PennantPark Investment typically takes proactive steps to preserve investment flexibility in the next quarter, which is dependent upon the composition of its total assets at quarter end. PennantPark Investment may accomplish this in several ways, including purchasing U.S. Treasury Bills and closing out its positions on a net cash basis after quarter-end or by utilizing repurchase agreements or other balance sheet transactions as it deems appropriate for this purpose. These amounts are excluded from adjusted gross assets for purposes of computing the asset base upon which the management fee is determined. U.S. Treasury Bills with maturities greater than 60 days from the time of purchase are marked-to-market consistent with PennantPark Investment’s valuation policy.

10. REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS

PennantPark Investment may enter into repurchase agreements as part of its investment program. In these transactions, PennantPark Investment’s custodian takes possession of collateral pledged by the counterparty. The collateral is marked-to-market daily to ensure that the value, plus accrued interest, is at least equal to the repurchase price. In the event of default of the obligor to repurchase, PennantPark Investment will have the right to liquidate the collateral and apply the proceeds in satisfaction of the obligation. Under certain circumstances, in the event of default or bankruptcy by the counterparty to the agreement, realization and/or retention of the collateral or proceeds may be subject to legal proceedings. There were no repurchase agreements outstanding at September 30, 2007.

 

F-17


11. FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The following is a schedule of financial highlights for the period from January 11, 2007 (inception) through September 30, 2007:

 

Per Share Data:

  

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 0.00  

Net investment income

     0.35  

Net realized and unrealized loss

     (1.15 )
        

Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations

     (0.80 )

Distributions to stockholders(1)

     (0.36 )

Offering costs related to public offerings

     (1.01 )

Issuance of common stock

     15.00  
        

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 12.83  
        

Per share market value at end of period

   $ 13.40  

Total return(2)*

     (8.29 )%

Shares outstanding at end of period

     21,068,772  

Ratio/Supplemental Data:

  

Net assets at end of period

   $ 270,393,094  

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets(3)*

     2.60 %

Ratio of operating expenses before management fee waiver to average net assets(3)*

     2.21 %

Ratio of operating expenses after management fee waiver to average net assets(3)*

     1.98 %

Ratio of credit facility related expenses to average net assets(3)*

     0.08 %
        

Ratio of total expenses to average net assets(3)*

     2.06 %

Average debt outstanding(3)

   $ 817,610  

Average debt per share(3)

   $ 0.04  

Portfolio turnover ratio*

     44.7 %

 

 * Percentage has not been annualized.

 

(1) Dividends and distributions are determined based on taxable income calculated in accordance with income tax regulations which may differ from amounts determined under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

(2) Total return is based on the change in market price per share during the reporting period based on stock issuance price of $15.00. It also takes into account distributions, if any, reinvested in accordance with the Company’s dividend reinvestment plan.

 

(3) Since completion of initial public offering on April 24, 2007.

12. CREDIT FACILITY

On June 25, 2007, PennantPark Investment entered into a Senior Secured Revolving Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) among PennantPark Investment, various lenders and SunTrust Bank, as administrative agent for the lenders. SunTrust Robinson Humphrey Capital Markets acted as the joint lead arranger and book-runner, and Bear Stearns Corporate Lending Inc. acted as joint lead arranger and syndication agent. As of September 30, there was $10.0 million in outstanding borrowings under the Credit Agreement, with an average interest rate of 6.15%.

Under the Credit Agreement, the lenders agreed to extend credit to PennantPark Investment in an initial aggregate principal or face amount not exceeding $300,000,000 at any one time outstanding. The Credit Agreement is a five-year revolving facility (with a stated maturity date of June 25, 2012) and is secured by substantially all of the assets in PennantPark Investment’s portfolio. Pricing is set at 100 basis points over LIBOR.

 

F-18


The Credit Agreement contains affirmative and restrictive covenants, including: (a) periodic financial reporting requirements, (b) maintenance of a minimum stockholders’ equity of the greater of (i) 40% of the total assets of PennantPark Investment and its subsidiaries as at the last day of any fiscal quarter and (ii) the sum of (A) $120,000,000 plus (B) 25% of the net proceeds from the sale of equity interests in PennantPark Investment and its subsidiaries after the closing date of the Credit Agreement, (c) maintenance of a ratio of total assets (less total liabilities other than indebtedness) to total indebtedness, in each case of PennantPark Investment, of not less than 2.0:1.0, (d) maintenance of minimum liquidity standards, (e) limitations on the incurrence of additional indebtedness, (f) limitations on liens, (g) limitations on fundamental corporate changes, (h) limitations on investments (other than PennantPark Investment’s portfolio investments and certain other ordinary course investments), (i) limitations on payments and distributions (other than distributions to PennantPark Investment’s stockholders as contemplated to maintain Regulated Investment Company status), (j) limitations on transactions with affiliates, (k) limitations on engaging in business not contemplated by PennantPark Investment’s investment objectives, and (l) limitations on the creation or existence of agreements that prohibit liens on properties of PennantPark Investment and its subsidiaries. In addition to the asset coverage ratio described in clause (c) of the preceding sentence, borrowings under the Credit Agreement (and the incurrence of certain other permitted debt) will be subject to compliance with a borrowing base that will apply different advance rates to different types of assets in PennantPark Investment’s portfolio. See our Credit Agreement, Exhibit 10.5, to this Report (incorporated by reference), for the definitions of capitalized terms used by us relating to the Credit Agreement but not defined in this note. The Credit Agreement will be used to supplement our equity capital to make additional portfolio investments and for other general corporate purposes.

Separately, Pennant SPV entered into a senior secured credit facility on February 6, 2007 with Bear Stearns Investment Products Inc., as lender. Under the terms of this credit agreement, as amended on March 26, 2007, Bear Stearns Investment Products Inc. agreed to extend credit to Pennant SPV in an aggregate principal of up to $250 million at any one time outstanding. Borrowings under this credit agreement were used to finance investments made by PennantPark Investment prior to the closing of the initial public offering. By its terms this credit agreement matured on the closing date of the initial public offering on April 24, 2007, and accordingly PennantPark Investment caused Pennant SPV to repay the credit facility with Bear Stearns Investment Products Inc. in full.

13. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

From time to time, we, the Investment Adviser or Administrator, may be a party to certain legal proceedings in the ordinary course of business, including proceedings relating to the enforcement of our rights under contracts with our portfolio companies. While the outcome of these legal proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty, we do not expect that these proceedings will have a material effect upon our financial condition of results of operations.

Unfunded debt investments described in the consolidated statement of assets and liabilities represent unfunded delayed draws on investments in first lien secured debt.

 

F-19


Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders

PennantPark Investment Corporation

We have reviewed the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of PennantPark Investment Corporation (the “Company”) including the schedules of investments as of March 31, 2008 and the related statements of operations for the three and six month periods ended March 31, 2008, and the period from January 11, 2007 (inception) through March 31, 2007 and the Statements of changes in net assets for the six months period ended March 31, 2008 and the period January 11, 2007 (inception) through September 30, 2007 and the Statements of cash flows for the six months ended March 31, 2008. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.

We conducted our review in accordance with standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.

Based on our review, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the financial statements referred to above for them to be in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

We have previously audited, in accordance with standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the statement of assets and liabilities of PennantPark Investment Corporation, including the schedule of investments, as of September 30, 2007, and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in net assets and cash flows for the period from January 11, 2007 (inception) through September 30, 2007; and in our report dated December 12, 2007, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.

LOGO

New York, New York

May 7, 2008

 

F-20


PENNANTPARK INVESTMENT CORPORATION

STATEMENTS OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

 

     March 31,
2008
(Unaudited)
    September 30,
2007
 

Assets

    

Investments, at fair value (cost—$413,632,567 and $314,881,870 respectively)1

   $ 335,883,881     $ 291,016,608  

Cash equivalents (cost—$81,249,903 and $258,016,351 respectively)

     81,249,903       257,959,635  

Interest receivable

     5,070,891       4,517,850  

Prepaid expenses and other assets

     1,494,991       1,513,583  
                

Total assets

     423,699,666       555,007,676  
                

Liabilities

    

Payable for cash equivalents purchased

     —         252,759,931  

Payable for investments purchased

     8,620,000       16,583,921  

Unfunded investments

     2,607,264       3,989,948  

Credit facility payable

     194,500,000       10,000,000  

Interest payable

     765,233       170,989  

Accrued other expenses

     949,664       1,109,793  
                

Total liabilities

     207,442,161       284,614,582  
                

Net Assets

    

Common stock, par value $.001 per share, 100,000,000 shares authorized and 21,068,772 shares issued and outstanding

     21,069       21,069  

Paid-in capital in excess of par

     294,586,604       294,586,604  

Distributions in excess of net investment income

     (286,276 )     (196,769 )

Accumulated net realized loss

     (315,206 )     (95,832 )

Net unrealized depreciation on investments and cash equivalents

     (77,748,686 )     (23,921,978 )
                

Total net assets

   $ 216,257,505     $ 270,393,094  
                

Total liabilities and net assets

   $ 423,699,666     $ 555,007,676  
                

Net asset value per share

   $ 10.26     $ 12.83  
                

 

1

None of our portfolio companies are controlled by, or affiliated with, PennantPark Investment Corporation as defined by the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

F-21


PENNANTPARK INVESTMENT CORPORATION

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

 

     Three
months ended
March 31, 2008
    Period from
January 11,
2007
(inception)
through
March 31, 2007
    Six
months ended
March 31, 2008
 

Investment income:

      

Interest

   $ 9,678,012     $ 772,983     $ 18,661,648  

Other

     35,910       —         55,882  
                        

Total investment income

     9,713,922       772,983       18,717,530  
                        

Expenses:

      

Base management fee

     1,725,466       —         3,365,841  

Performance-based incentive fee (see note 3)

     1,000,725       —         1,448,107  

Interest and other credit facility expenses

     1,669,296       740,975       2,766,403  

Administrative services expenses

     548,631       —         1,212,321  

Professional fees

     227,571       —         522,411  

Directors’ fees

     116,257       —         272,015  

Organizational expenses

     —         283,228       —    

Insurance

     89,813       —         180,593  

Other general and administrative expenses

     102,973       —         189,817  
                        

Expenses before base management fee waiver

     5,480,732       1,024,203       9,957,508  
                        

Base management fee waiver

     (215,684 )     —         (420,731 )
                        

Net expenses

     5,265,048       1,024,203       9,536,777  
                        

Net investment income (loss)

     4,448,874       (251,220 )     9,180,753  
                        

Realized and unrealized loss on investments and cash equivalents:

      

Net realized loss on investments and cash equivalents

     (8,483 )     19,375       (219,374 )

Change in net unrealized depreciation on investments and cash equivalents

     (37,769,064 )     (1,701 )     (53,826,708 )
                        

Net realized and unrealized loss from investments and cash equivalents

     (37,777,547 )     17,764       (54,046,082 )
                        

Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations

   $ (33,328,673 )   $ (233,546 )   $ (44,865,329 )
                        

Loss per common share (see note 6)

   $ (1.58 )   $ (2.92 )   $ (2.13 )
                        

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

F-22


PENNANTPARK INVESTMENT CORPORATION

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

 

     Six
months ended
March 31, 2008
(unaudited)
    Period from
January 11,
2007

(inception)
through
September 30,
2007
 

Decrease in net assets from operations:

    

Net investment income

   $ 9,180,753     $ 7,304,496  

Net realized loss on investments and cash equivalents

     (219,374 )     (81,769 )

Net change in unrealized depreciation on investments and cash equivalents

     (53,826,708 )     (23,921,978 )
                

Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations

     (44,865,329 )     (16,699,251 )
                

Dividends and distributions to Stockholders:

    

Dividends from net investment income

     (9,270,260 )     (7,545,458 )

Return of capital

     —         (28,356 )
                

Total dividends and distributions

     (9,270,260 )     (7,573,814 )
                

Capital share transactions:

    

Issuance of shares of common stock

     —         315,375,000  

Offering costs related to public share offerings

     —         (21,309,375 )

Reinvestment of dividends

     —         600,534  
                

Net increase in net assets resulting from capital share transactions

     —         294,666,159  

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

     (54,135,589 )     270,393,094  

Net Assets:

    

Beginning of period

     270,393,094       —    
                

End of period

   $ 216,257,505     $ 270,393,094  
                

Capital Share Activity:

    

Shares issued from subscriptions

     —         21,025,000  

Shares issued from reinvestment of dividend

     —         43,772  
                

Total increase in capital shares

     —         21,068,772  
                

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

F-23


PENNANTPARK INVESTMENT CORPORATION

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

(UNAUDITED)

 

      Six
months ended
March 31, 2008
    For the period
January 11, 2007
(inception) through
March 31, 2007
 

Cash flows from operating activities:

    

Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations

   $ (44,865,329 )   $ (233,546 )

Adjustments to reconcile net decrease in net assets resulting from operations to net cash used by operating activities:

    

Change in net unrealized depreciation on investments and cash equivalents

     53,826,708       1,701  

Net realized loss (gain) on investments and cash equivalents

     219,374       (19,375 )

Net accretion of discount and amortization of premium

     (503,258 )     —    

Purchase of investments

     (102,445,311 )     (243,686,040 )

Payment-in-kind interest

     (1,177,816 )     —    

Proceeds from disposition of investments

     5,213,030       7,769,375  

Increase in receivable for investments sold

     —         (6,764,375 )

Increase in interest receivable

     (553,041 )     (390,497 )

Increase in interest payable on credit facility

     594,244       —    

Decrease in prepaid expenses and other assets

     18,592       —    

Decrease in payables for cash equivalents purchased

     (252,759,931 )     —    

(Decrease) increase in payables for investments purchased

     (7,963,921 )     88,230,749  

(Decrease) increase in unfunded investments

     (1,382,684 )     7,976,040  

(Decrease) increase in accrued expenses

     (160,129 )     283,228  
                

Net cash used by operating activities

     (351,939,472 )     (146,832,740 )
                

Cash flows from financing activities:

    

Increase in issuance of common stock

     —         1,200,000  

Dividends and distributions to stockholders

     (9,270,260 )     —    

Borrowings under credit facility (see note 11)

     243,500,000       147,320,007  

Repayments under credit facility (see note 11)

     (59,000,000 )     —    
                

Net cash provided by financing activities

     175,229,740       148,520,007  
                

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

     (176,709,732 )     1,687,267  

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

     257,959,635       —    
                

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

   $ 81,249,903     $ 1,687,267  
                

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

    

Interest paid

   $ 1,759,321     $ —    
                

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

F-24


PENNANTPARK INVESTMENT CORPORATION

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

MARCH 31, 2008

(UNAUDITED)

 

Issuer name(1)

 

Maturity

 

Industry

  Current
Coupon
   

Basis
Point
Spread
Above
Index(3)

  Par   Cost   Value(2)

Subordinated Debt / Corporate Notes – 42.8%

             

ADVANSTAR, INC.

  11/30/2015   OTHER MEDIA   9.67 %*   L+700   $ 15,480,208   $ 15,480,208   $ 12,384,166

AFFINION GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.

  03/01/2012   CONSUMER PRODUCTS   9.27 %*   L+625     18,500,000     18,150,501     14,615,000

CONSOLIDATED FOUNDRIES, INC.

  04/17/2015  

AEROSPACE &

DEFENSE

  14.25 %*   —       8,000,000     7,820,000     8,000,000

INTERDYNAMICS HOLDINGS, INC.

  05/20/2012   AUTO SECTOR   13.75 %   —       20,000,000     19,494,522     20,000,000

PERFORMANCE HOLDINGS, INC.

  07/02/2014  

LEISURE, AMUSEMENT,

MOTION PICTURES,

ENTERTAINMENT

  14.25 %*   —       4,115,876     3,882,232     4,115,876

REALOGY CORP.

  04/15/2015  

BUILDINGS & REAL

ESTATE

  12.38 %   —       28,000,000     26,223,603     12,460,000

UP ACQUISITION SUB INC.

  02/08/2015   OIL & GAS   13.50 %   —       21,000,000     20,383,058     21,000,000
                         

Total Subordinated Debt / Corporate Notes

            115,096,084     111,434,124     92,575,042
                         

Second Lien Secured Debt – 46.5%

             

BRAND ENERGY & INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES, INC.

  02/07/2015   ENERGY / UTILITIES   9.24 %   L+600     11,600,000     11,257,394     10,382,000

BRAND ENERGY & INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES, INC.

  02/07/2015   ENERGY / UTILITIES   10.13 %   L+700     12,000,000     11,657,774     9,840,000

GENERICS INTERNATIONAL (U.S.), INC.

  05/19/2015  

HEALTHCARE,

EDUCATION &

CHILDCARE

  10.20 %   L+750     12,000,000     11,943,020     11,880,000

PERFORMANCE, INC.

  07/02/2013  

LEISURE, AMUSEMENT,

MOTION PICTURES,

ENTERTAINMENT

  9.00 %   L+575     8,750,000     8,750,000     7,726,250

QUESTEX MEDIA GROUP, INC.

  11/04/2014   OTHER MEDIA   9.56 %   L+650     10,000,000     10,000,000     9,000,000

SAINT ACQUISITION CORP.(5)

  05/15/2015   TRANSPORTATION   10.82 %   L+775     10,000,000     9,941,689     3,975,000

SAINT ACQUISITION CORP.(5)

  05/15/2017   TRANSPORTATION   12.50 %   —       19,000,000     16,381,661     7,742,500

SHERIDAN HOLDINGS, INC.

  06/15/2015  

HEALTHCARE,

EDUCATION &

CHILDCARE

  9.81 %*   L+575     12,500,000     11,788,635     9,375,000

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

F-25


PENNANTPARK INVESTMENT CORPORATION

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

MARCH 31, 2008

(UNAUDITED)

 

Issuer name(1)

 

Maturity

 

Industry

  Current
Coupon
    Basis
Point
Spread
Above
Index(3)
  Par   Cost   Value(2)

Second Lien Secured Debt - (Continued)

             

SPECIALIZED TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES, INC.

  12/15/2014   CHEMICAL, PLASTICS & RUBBER   9.70 %*   L+700   $ 22,500,000   $ 22,484,756   $ 21,600,000

TRANSFIRST HOLDINGS, INC.

  06/15/2015   BUSINESS SERVICES   8.70 %*   L+600     13,000,000     12,893,473     9,100,000
                         

Total Second Lien Secured Debt

            131,350,000     127,098,402     100,620,750
                         
PREFERRED EQUITY
0.4%
                    Shares        

CFHC HOLDINGS, INC. , CLASS A (CONSOLIDATED FOUNDRIES, INC.)

  —     AEROSPACE & DEFENSE   12.00 %*   —       784     784,000     784,000
                         

Total Preferred Equity

            784     784,000     784,000
                         

COMMON EQUITY/PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS ** – 3.6%

             
             

CFHC HOLDINGS, INC. (CONSOLIDATED FOUNDRIES, INC.)

  —     AEROSPACE & DEFENSE   —       —       1,600     16,000     16,000

NCP-PERFORMANCE (PERFORMANCE HOLDINGS, INC.)

  —     LEISURE, AMUSEMENT, MOTION PICTURES, ENTERTAINMENT   —       —       37,500     3,750,000     2,511,876

UP HOLDINGS INC.

  —     OIL & GAS   —       —       91,608     2,500,000     3,548,690

AHC MEZZANINE (ADVANSTAR, INC.)

  —     OTHER MEDIA   —       —       3,000     3,000,000     1,701,231
                         

Total Common Equity/Partnership Interests

            133,708     9,266,000     7,777,797
                         
First Lien Secured Debt –
62.0%
                    Par        

BERRY PLASTICS GROUP, INC.

  04/03/2015   CONTAINERS, PACKAGING & GLASS   5.10 %   L+200   $ 7,425,000     7,425,000     6,309,186

BRAND ENERGY & INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES, INC.

  02/07/2014   ENERGY /UTILITIES   5.03 %   L+225     1,980,000     1,980,000     1,841,400

BURLINGTON COAT FACTORY WAREHOUSE CORP.

  05/28/2013   RETAIL STORE   5.34 %   L+225     7,896,473     7,888,328     6,556,544

CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS OPERATING, L.L.C.

  03/06/2014   CABLE TELEVISION   5.26 %   L+200     14,962,500     14,955,821     12,627,722

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

F-26


PENNANTPARK INVESTMENT CORPORATION

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

MARCH 31, 2008

(UNAUDITED)

 

Issuer name(1)

   Maturity    Industry    Current
Coupon
    Basis
Point
Spread
Above
Index(3)
   Par    Cost    Value(2)

First Lien Secured Debt—(Continued)

                   

COHR HOLDINGS, INC.

   01/31/2013    HEALTHCARE,
EDUCATION &
CHILDCARE
   5.59 %   L+250    $ 2,970,000    $ 2,970,000    $ 1,871,100

GATEHOUSE MEDIA OPERATING, INC.

   08/28/2014    MEDIA    5.43 %   L+200      7,000,000      7,000,000      4,760,000

GENERAL NUTRITION CENTERS, INC.

   09/16/2013    RETAIL STORE    5.86 %   L+225      6,435,000      6,438,701      5,212,350

GREATWIDE LOGISTICS SERVICES, INC.

   12/19/2013    CARGO TRANSPORT    6.20 %   L+350      6,912,500      6,912,500      5,391,750

HANLEY-WOOD, L.L.C.

   03/08/2014    OTHER MEDIA    6.74 %   L+225      8,955,000      8,955,000      6,626,700

HAWKER BEECHCRAFT, INC.

   03/28/2014    AEROSPACE &
DEFENSE
   4.91 %   L+200      1,931,915      1,931,915      1,796,078

HEALTH MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES, INC.

   02/28/2014    HEALTHCARE,
EDUCATION &
CHILDCARE
   4.45 %   L+175      9,718,182      9,718,182      8,388,006

HUGHES NETWORK SYSTEMS, L.L.C.

   04/15/2014    TELECOMMUNICATIONS    5.63 %   L+250      5,000,000      5,000,000      4,150,000

JACUZZI BRANDS CORP.

   02/07/2014    HOME & OFFICE
FURNISHINGS,
HOUSEWARES, &
DURABLE CONSUMER
PRODUCTS
   5.45 %   L+225      9,927,027      9,927,027      7,882,059

LEVLAD, L.L.C.

   03/08/2014    CONSUMER PRODUCTS    5.05 %   L+225      4,818,584      4,818,584      2,939,336

LONGVIEW POWER, L.L.C.

   02/28/2014    UTILITIES    4.98 %   L+225      3,000,000      3,000,000      2,550,000

MACH GEN, L.L.C.

   02/22/2014    UTILITIES    5.06 %   L+200      3,949,309      3,948,139      3,643,237

MATTRESS HOLDING CORP.

   01/18/2014    HOME & OFFICE
FURNISHINGS,
HOUSEWARES, &
DURABLE CONSUMER
PRODUCTS
   5.50 %   L+225      3,970,050      3,970,050      2,659,934

MITCHELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.

   03/28/2014    BUSINESS SERVICES    4.67 %   L+200      3,960,000      3,960,000      3,484,800

NATIONAL BEDDING CO., L.L.C.

   02/28/2013    HOME & OFFICE
FURNISHINGS,
HOUSEWARES, &
DURABLE CONSUMER
PRODUCTS
   4.74 %   L+200      6,912,500      6,918,718      5,633,688

PENTON MEDIA, INC.

   02/01/2013    OTHER MEDIA    4.95 %   L+225      4,950,000      4,950,000      3,762,000

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

F-27


PENNANTPARK INVESTMENT CORPORATION

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

MARCH 31, 2008

(UNAUDITED)

 

Issuer name(1)

 

Maturity

 

Industry

  Current
Coupon
    Basis
Point
Spread
Above
Index(3)
  Par   Cost   Value(2)  

First Lien Secured Debt - (Continued)

             

PHILOSOPHY, INC.

  03/16/2014   CONSUMER PRODUCTS   5.16 %   L+200   $ 1,482,133   $ 1,482,133   $ 1,215,349  

QUESTEX MEDIA GROUP, INC.

  05/04/2014   OTHER MEDIA   6.58 %   L+300     4,949,167     4,949,167     4,528,487  

READERS DIGEST ASSOCIATION, INC.

  03/02/2014   PRINTING & PUBLISHING   5.08 %   L+200     990,000     990,000     810,810  

REXNORD , L.L.C.

  07/19/2013   MANUFACTURING/ BASIC INDUSTRY   5.33 %   L+225     4,937,500     4,937,500     4,468,438  

SITEL, L.L.C.

  01/30/2014   BUSINESS SERVICES   5.14 %   L+250     2,867,302     2,867,302     2,265,169  

UNIVISION COMMUNICATIONS INC.

  09/29/2014   BROADCASTING & ENTERTAINMENT   5.48 %   L+225     14,496,644     14,496,644     11,389,752  

UNIVISION Communications Inc.(4)

  09/29/2014   BROADCASTING & ENTERTAINMENT   —       —       503,356     503,356     395,478  

VALASSIS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

  03/02/2014   PRINTING & PUBLISHING   4.45 %   L+175     6,365,637     6,365,637     5,856,386  

VALASSIS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.(4)

  03/02/2014   PRINTING & PUBLISHING   —       —       2,103,908     2,103,908     1,935,596  

WESTERN REFINING, INC.

  05/30/2014   OIL & GAS   4.99 %   L+175     3,686,429     3,686,429     3,174,937  
                           

Total First Lien Secured Debt

            165,056,116     165,050,041     134,126,292  
                           

TOTAL INVESTMENTS – 155.3%

            $ 413,632,567   $ 335,883,881  
                       

Cash Equivalents – 37.6%

             

MONEY MARKET – MUTUAL FUNDS

      —       —       81,249,903     81,249,903     81,249,903  
                           

Total Cash Equivalents

            81,249,903     81,249,903     81,249,903  
                           

Total Investments and Cash Equivalents – 192.9%

            $ 494,882,470   $ 417,133,784  
                       

Liabilities In Excess of Other Assets – (92.9%)

                (200,876,279 )
                   

Net Assets – 100.0%

              $ 216,257,505  
                   

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

F-28


PENNANTPARK INVESTMENT CORPORATION

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

MARCH 31, 2008

(UNAUDITED)

 

(1) We do not “control” and are not an “affiliate” of any of our portfolio companies, each as defined in the 1940 Act. In general, under the 1940 Act, we would be presumed to “control” a portfolio company if we owned 25% or more of its voting securities and would be deemed to be an “affiliate” of a portfolio company if we owned 5% or more of its voting securities.

 

(2) Valued based on our accounting policy (see note 2 to our financial statements).

 

(3) Represents floating rate instruments that accrue interest at a predetermined spread relative to an index, typically the applicable London Interbank Offer Rate (LIBOR or “L”).

 

(4) Represents purchases of securities with delayed draws. These securities do not have a basis point spread above index.

 

(5) Security is exempt from registration under Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933. The security may be resold in transactions that are exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers.

 

* Coupon payable in cash or payment-in-kind (“PIK”).

 

** Non-income producing.

 

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

F-29


PENNANTPARK INVESTMENT CORPORATION

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

SEPTEMBER 30, 2007

 

Issuer name(1)

 

Maturity

 

Industry

  Current
Coupon
    Basis
Point
Spread
Above
Index(3)
  Par   Cost   Value(2)

Subordinated Debt / Corporate Notes – 21.2%

             

ADVANSTAR, INC.

  11/30/2015   OTHER MEDIA   12.20 %*   L+700   $ 14,580,690   $ 14,580,690   $ 14,580,690

AFFINION GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.

  03/01/2012   CONSUMER PRODUCTS   11.68 %*   L+625     18,500,000     18,106,103     17,760,000

PERFORMANCE HOLDINGS, INC.

  07/02/2014  

LEISURE, AMUSEMENT,

MOTION PICTURES, ENTERTAINMENT

  14.25 %*   —       3,837,578     3,592,573     3,837,578

REALOGY CORP.(5)

  04/15/2015  

BUILDINGS & REAL

ESTATE

  12.38 %   —       28,000,000     26,117,780     21,140,000
                         

Total Subordinated Debt / Corporate Notes

            64,918,268     62,397,146     57,318,268
                         

Second Lien Secured Debt – 25.0%

             

PERFORMANCE, INC.

  07/02/2014  

LEISURE, AMUSEMENT,

MOTION PICTURES,

ENTERTAINMENT

  11.11 %   L+575     8,750,000     8,750,000     8,750,000

QUESTEX MEDIA GROUP, INC.

  11/04/2014   OTHER MEDIA   12.08 %   L+650     10,000,000     10,000,000     9,800,000

SAINT ACQUISITION CORP.(5)

  05/15/2015   TRANSPORTATION   13.31 %   L+775     10,000,000     9,932,321     6,800,000

SAINT ACQUISITION CORP.(5)

  05/15/2017   TRANSPORTATION   12.50 %   —       19,000,000     16,198,167     12,730,000

SPECIALIZED TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES, INC.

  12/15/2014  

CHEMICAL, PLASTICS

& RUBBER

  12.13 %   L+700     17,500,000     17,493,750     17,237,500

TRANSFIRST HOLDINGS, INC.

  06/15/2015   BUSINESS SERVICES   11.30 %*   L+600     13,000,000     12,886,250     12,431,250
                         

Total Second Lien Secured Debt

            78,250,000     75,260,488     67,748,750
                         
COMMON EQUITY/
PARTNERSHIP INTEREST**
2.6%
                    Shares        

AHC MEZZANINE (ADVANSTAR, INC.)

  —     OTHER MEDIA   —       —       3,000     3,000,000     3,269,685

NCP-PERFORMANCE (PERFORMANCE HOLDINGS, INC.)

  —    

LEISURE, AMUSEMENT,

MOTION PICTURES,

ENTERTAINMENT

  —       —       37,500     3,750,000     3,750,000
                         

Total Common Equity/Partnership Interest

            40,500     6,750,000     7,019,685
                         

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

F-30


PENNANTPARK INVESTMENT CORPORATION

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

SEPTEMBER 30, 2007

 

Issuer name(1)

 

Maturity

 

Industry

  Current
Coupon
    Basis
Point
Spread
Above
Index(3)
  Par   Cost   Value(2)

First Lien Secured Debt – 58.8%

             

BERRY PLASTICS GROUP, INC.

  04/03/2015   CONTAINERS, PACKAGING & GLASS   7.34 %   L+200   $ 7,462,500   $ 7,462,500   $ 7,274,602

BURLINGTON COAT FACTORY WAREHOUSE CORP.

  05/28/2013   RETAIL STORE   7.76 %   L+225     7,896,473     7,887,537     7,571,975

CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS OPERATING, L.L.C.

  03/06/2014   CABLE TELEVISION   7.13 %   L+200     15,000,000     14,992,740     14,468,310

COHR HOLDINGS, INC.

  01/31/2013   HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION & CHILDCARE   8.04 %   L+250     2,985,000     2,985,000     2,388,000

FR BRAND ACQUISITION CORP.

  02/07/2014   ENERGY / UTILITIES   7.53 %   L+225     1,990,000     1,990,000     1,887,183

GATEHOUSE MEDIA OPERATING, INC.

  08/28/2014   MEDIA   7.47 %   L+200     7,000,000     7,000,000     6,405,000

GENERAL NUTRITION CENTERS, INC.

  09/16/2013   RETAIL STORE   7.61 %   L+225     6,483,750     6,487,788     6,147,405

GREATWIDE LOGISTICS SERVICES, INC.

  12/19/2013   CARGO TRANSPORT   8.70 %   L+350     6,947,500     6,947,500     6,079,062

HANLEY-WOOD, L.L.C.

  03/08/2014   OTHER MEDIA   7.60 %   L+225     9,000,000     9,000,000     7,845,003

HAWKER BEECHCRAFT, INC.

  03/28/2014   AEROSPACE & DEFENSE   7.21 %   L+200     1,990,780     1,990,780     1,930,226

HEALTH MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES, INC.

  02/28/2014   HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION & CHILDCARE   6.95 %   L+175     9,950,000     9,950,000     9,441,615

HUGHES NETWORK SYSTEMS, L.L.C.

  04/15/2014   TELECOMMUNICATIONS   8.06 %   L+250     5,000,000     5,000,000     4,625,000

JACUZZI BRANDS CORP.

  02/07/2014   HOME & OFFICE FURNISHINGS, HOUSEWARES, & DURABLE CONSUMER PRODUCTS   7.44 %   L+225     9,963,514     9,963,514     8,947,235

LEVEL 3 FINANCING, INC.

  03/13/2014   TELECOMMUNICATIONS   7.61 %   L+225     2,000,000     2,000,000     1,939,642

LEVLAD, L.L.C.

  03/08/2014   CONSUMER PRODUCTS   7.58 %   L+225     4,842,920     4,842,920     3,357,757

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

F-31


PENNANTPARK INVESTMENT CORPORATION

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

SEPTEMBER 30, 2007

 

Issuer name(1)

 

Maturity

 

Industry

  Current
Coupon
    Basis
Point
Spread
Above
Index(3)
  Par   Cost   Value(2)

First Lien Secured Debt - (Continued)

             

LONGVIEW POWER, L.L.C.

  02/28/2014   UTILITIES   7.56 %   L+225   $ 2,020,000   $ 2,020,000   $ 1,939,200

LONGVIEW POWER, L.L.C.(4)

  02/28/2014   UTILITIES   —       —       980,000     980,000     940,800

MACH GEN, L.L.C.

  02/22/2014   UTILITIES   7.34 %   L+200     3,972,813     3,971,545     3,845,683

MATTRESS HOLDING CORP.

  01/18/2014  

HOME & OFFICE

FURNISHINGS,

HOUSEWARES, &

DURABLE CONSUMER

PRODUCTS

  7.61 %   L+225     3,990,000     3,990,000     3,740,625

MCJUNKIN CORP.

  01/31/2014   OIL & GAS   7.45 %   L+225     982,525     982,525     965,331

MITCHELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.

  03/28/2014   BUSINESS SERVICES   7.20 %   L+200     3,980,000     3,980,000     3,835,725

NATIONAL BEDDING CO., L.L.C.

  08/31/2011  

HOME & OFFICE

FURNISHINGS,

HOUSEWARES, &

DURABLE CONSUMER

PRODUCTS

  7.43 %   L+200     6,965,000     6,971,653     6,668,988

PENTON MEDIA, INC.

  02/01/2013   OTHER MEDIA   7.59 %   L+225     4,975,000     4,975,000     4,716,922

PHILOSOPHY, INC.

  03/16/2014   CONSUMER PRODUCTS   7.36 %   L+200     1,493,333     1,493,333     1,344,000

PROQUEST CSA, L.L.C.

  02/09/2014   EDUCATION   8.20 %   L+300     955,833     955,833     936,716

QUESTEX MEDIA GROUP, INC.

  05/04/2014   OTHER MEDIA   8.56 %   L+300     4,974,167     4,974,167     4,839,742

READERS DIGEST ASSOCIATION, INC.

  03/02/2014  

PRINTING &

PUBLISHING

  7.43 %   L+200     995,006     995,006     940,281

REXNORD , L.L.C.

  07/19/2013  

MANUFACTURING/

BASIC INDUSTRY

  7.64 %   L+225     4,937,500     4,937,500     4,835,664

SITEL, L.L.C.

  01/30/2014   BUSINESS SERVICES   7.78 %   L+250     2,867,302     2,867,302     2,680,927

UNIVISION COMMUNICATIONS INC.

  09/29/2014  

BROADCASTING &

ENTERTAINMENT

  7.57 %   L+225     14,093,960     14,093,960     13,389,262

UNIVISION COMMUNICATIONS INC.(4)

  09/29/2014  

BROADCASTING &

ENTERTAINMENT

  —       —       906,040     906,040     860,738

VALASSIS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

  03/02/2014  

PRINTING &

PUBLISHING

  6.95 %   L+175     7,061,899     7,061,899     6,549,911

VALASSIS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.(4)

  03/02/2014  

PRINTING &

PUBLISHING

  —       —       2,103,908     2,103,908     1,951,375

WESTERN REFINING, INC.

  05/30/2014   OIL & GAS   6.88 %   L+175     3,714,286     3,714,286     3,640,000
                         

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

F-32


PENNANTPARK INVESTMENT CORPORATION

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

SEPTEMBER 30, 2007

 

Issuer name(1)

   Maturity    Industry    Current
Coupon
    Basis
Point
Spread
Above
Index(3)
   Par    Cost    Value(2)  

Total First Lien Secured Debt

              $ 170,481,009    $ 170,474,236    $ 158,929,905  
                                 

TOTAL INVESTMENTS – 107.6%

                 $ 314,881,870    $ 291,016,608  
                             

Cash Equivalents – 95.4%

                   

U.S. TREASURY BILL

   12/27/2007       3.64 %   —        255,000,000      252,759,931      252,703,215  

MONEY MARKET – MUTUAL FUNDS

         —       —        5,256,420      5,256,420      5,256,420  
                                 

Total Cash Equivalents

                260,256,420      258,016,351      257,959,635  
                                 

Total Investments and Cash Equivalents – 203.03%

                 $ 572,898,221    $ 548,976,243  
                             

Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets – (103.0%)

                      (278,583,149 )
                         

Net Assets – 100.0%

                    $ 270,393,094  
                         

 

(1) We do not “control” and are not an “affiliate” of any of our portfolio companies, each as defined in the 1940 Act. In general, under the 1940 Act, we would be presumed to “control” a portfolio company if we owned 25% or more of its voting securities and would be deemed to be an “affiliate” of a portfolio company if we owned 5% or more of its voting securities.

 

(2) Valued based on our accounting policy (see note 2 to our financial statements).

 

(3) Represents floating rate instruments that accrue interest at a predetermined spread relative to an index, typically the applicable London Interbank Offer Rate (LIBOR or “L”).

 

(4) Represents purchases of securities with delayed draws. These securities do not have a basis point spread above index.

 

(5) Security is exempt from registration under Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933. The security may be resold in transactions that are exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers.

 

* Coupon payable in cash or payment-in-kind (“PIK”).

 

** Non-income producing.

SEE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

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PENNANTPARK INVESTMENT CORPORATION

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

March 31, 2008

(UNAUDITED)

1. ORGANIZATION

PennantPark Investment Corporation (“PennantPark Investment” or “Company”) was organized as a Maryland corporation on January 11, 2007. PennantPark Investment’s objective is to generate both current income and capital appreciation through debt and equity investments. PennantPark Investment invests primarily in U.S. middle-market companies in the form of mezzanine debt, first lien secured debt and equity investments. Before the completion of its initial public offering on April 24, 2007, PennantPark Investment had limited operations other than the sale and issuance of 80,000 shares of common stock at a price of $15.00 per share to PennantPark Investment Advisers, LLC (the “Investment Adviser” or “PennantPark Investment Advisers”), resulting in net proceeds of $1.2 million, and the purchase of first lien secured debt.

On April 24, 2007 PennantPark Investment closed its Initial Public Offering and sold 20,000,000 shares of common stock at a price of $15.00 per share, resulting in net proceeds of $279.6 million. Also, on April 24, 2007 PennantPark Investment closed a private placement to officers, directors, the Investment Adviser and managers of the Investment Adviser, pursuant to Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, and issued an additional 320,000 shares of common stock at a price of $15.00 per share, resulting in net proceeds of $4.8 million. On May 21, 2007, the underwriters of the initial public offering exercised their over-allotment option under the Underwriting Agreement and elected to purchase 625,000 shares of common stock at a price of $15.00 per share, resulting in net proceeds of $8.8 million.

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reported period. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

The financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP and pursuant to the requirements for reporting on Form 10-Q and Article 6 or 10 of Regulation S-X, as appropriate. In accordance with Article 6-09 of Regulation S-X under the Exchange Act, we are providing a Statement of Changes in Net Assets in lieu of a Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity.

The significant accounting policies consistently followed by PennantPark Investment are:

(a) Security transactions are recorded on a trade-date basis. Our board of directors generally uses market quotations to assess the value of our investments for which market quotations are readily available. We obtain these market values from independent pricing services or at the bid prices obtained from at least two broker/dealers if available, otherwise by a principal market maker or a primary market dealer. If the board of directors has a bona fide reason to believe any such market quote does not reflect the fair value of an investment, it may independently value such investments by using the valuation procedure that it uses with respect to assets for which market quotations are not readily available. Subordinated debt, first lien secured debt and other debt securities with maturities greater than 60 days generally are valued by an independent pricing service or at the bid prices from at least two broker/dealers (if available, otherwise by a principal market maker or a primary market dealer). We expect that there will not be readily available market values for many of the investments which are or will be in our portfolio, and we value such investments at fair value as determined in good faith by or under the direction of our board of directors using a documented valuation policy and a consistently applied valuation process. With respect to investments for which there is no readily available market value, valuation methods include comparisons of

 

F-34


financial ratios of the portfolio companies that issued such private securities to peer companies that are public. When an external event such as a purchase transaction, public offering or subsequent equity sale occurs, we consider the pricing indicated by the external event to corroborate or revise our valuation. Due to the inherent uncertainty of determining the fair value of investments that do not have a readily available market value, the fair value of our investments may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had a readily available market value existed for such investments, and the differences could be material. With respect to investments for which market quotations are not readily available or are readily available but are believed to be inaccurate, our board of directors undertakes a multi-step valuation process each quarter, as described below:

(1) Our quarterly valuation process begins with each portfolio company or investment being initially valued by the investment professionals of the Investment Adviser responsible for the portfolio investment;

(2) Preliminary valuation conclusions are then documented and discussed with the management of our Investment Adviser;

(3) Our board of directors also engages one or more independent valuation firms to conduct independent appraisals of our investments for which market quotations are not readily available or are readily available but believed to be inaccurate. The independent valuation firm reviews management’s preliminary valuations in light of its own independent assessment and also in light of any market quotations obtained from an independent pricing service, broker, dealer or market maker.

(4) The audit committee of our board of directors reviews the preliminary valuations of the Investment Adviser and that of the independent valuation firms and responds and supplements the valuation recommendations of the independent valuation firms to reflect any comments; and

(5) The board of directors discusses these valuations and determines the fair value of each investment in our portfolio in good faith based on the input of our Investment Adviser, the respective independent valuation firms and the audit committee.

The factors that the board of directors may take into account in pricing our investments at fair value include, as relevant, the nature and realizable value of any collateral, the portfolio company’s ability to make payments and its earnings and discounted cash flow, the markets in which the portfolio company does business, comparison to publicly traded securities and other relevant factors.

(b) Investments purchased within 60 days of maturity are valued at cost plus accreted discount, or minus amortized premium, which approximates value.

(c) We measure realized gains or losses by the difference between the net proceeds from the repayment or sale and the amortized cost basis of the investment, using the specific identification method, without regard to unrealized appreciation or depreciation previously recognized, but considering unamortized upfront fees and prepayment penalties. Net change in unrealized appreciation or depreciation reflects the change in portfolio investment values during the reporting period, including any reversal of previously recorded unrealized appreciation or depreciation, when gains or losses are realized.

(d) We record interest income on an accrual basis to the extent that we expect to collect such amounts. For loans and debt securities with contractual payment-in-kind, or “PIK,” interest, which represents contractual interest accrued and added to the loan balance that generally becomes due at maturity, we will generally not accrue PIK interest if the portfolio company valuation indicates that such PIK interest is not collectible. We do not accrue as a receivable interest on loans and debt securities if we have reason to doubt our ability to collect such interest. Loan origination fees, original issue discount and market discount or premium are capitalized, and we then accrete or amortize such amounts using the effective interest method as interest income. We record prepayment premiums on loans and debt securities as interest income. Dividend income, if any, is recognized on the ex-dividend date.

 

F-35


(e) Before May 1, 2007 PennantPark Investment was taxed as a corporation under Subchapter C of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and subject to corporate-level federal, state and local taxes. From May 1, 2007, PennantPark Investment has complied with the requirements of Subchapter M of the Code, and expects to be subject to tax as a regulated investment company, or “RIC”. As a corporation, PennantPark Investment accounted for income taxes using the asset liability method prescribed by FASB Statement No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes.” Under this method, income taxes were provided for amounts currently payable and for amounts deferred as tax assets and liabilities based on differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of existing assets and liabilities. Based upon PennantPark Investment’s qualification and election to be subject to tax as a RIC as of its next taxable year-end, we do not anticipate paying any material corporate-level taxes in the future. The Company recognizes in its financial statements the effect of a tax position when it is more likely than not, based on the technical merits, that the position will be sustained upon examination.

(f) Dividends and distributions to common stockholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The amount, if any to be paid as a dividend is determined by the board of directors each quarter and is generally based upon the earnings estimated by management. Net realized capital gains, if any, are distributed at least annually.

(g) In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) 157, Fair Value Measurements, which clarifies the definition of fair value and requires companies to expand their disclosure about the use of fair value to measure assets and liabilities in interim and annual periods subsequent to initial recognition. Adoption of SFAS 157 requires the use of the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. SFAS 157 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years. At this time, PennantPark Investment is in the process of reviewing SFAS 157 against its valuation policies to determine its future applicability.

(h) In February 2007, the FASB issued Statement No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities—Including an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 115. This statement permits an entity to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value. This statement applies to all reporting entities, and contains financial statement presentation and disclosure requirements for assets and liabilities reported at fair value as a consequence of the election. This statement is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years. At this time, PennantPark Investment is in the process of reviewing SFAS 159 against its valuation policies to determine its future applicability.

3. AGREEMENTS

PennantPark Investment has entered into an Investment Management Agreement with PennantPark Investment Advisers, LLC. Under this agreement the Investment Adviser, subject to the overall supervision of PennantPark Investment’s board of directors, manages the day-to-day operations of and provides investment advisory services to, PennantPark Investment. For providing these services, the Investment Adviser receives a fee from PennantPark Investment, consisting of two components—a base management fee and an incentive fee (collectively, “Management Fees”).

The base management fee is calculated at an annual rate of 2.00% on PennantPark Investment’s gross assets (net of U.S. Treasury Bills and/or temporary draws on the Revolving Credit Facility (“adjusted gross assets”), if any) (see note 8). Although the base management fee is 2.00% of adjusted gross assets, the Investment Adviser agreed to waive a portion of the base management fee such that the base management fee equaled 1.50% from the consummation of the initial public offering through September 30, 2007 and 1.75% from October 1, 2007 through March 31, 2008. The base management fee will equal 2.00% after March 31, 2008 and is payable quarterly in arrears. The base management fee is calculated based on the average value of adjusted gross assets at

 

F-36


the end of the two most recently completed calendar quarters, and appropriately adjusted for any share issuances or repurchases during the current calendar quarter. For the three and six months ended March 31, 2008, the Investment Adviser received a net base management fee of $1.5 million and $2.9 million, respectively, from the Company. For the period January 11, 2007 (inception) to March 31, 2007, the Investment Adviser did not receive a base management fee from the Company.

The incentive fee has two parts, as follows:

One part is calculated and payable quarterly in arrears based on PennantPark Investment’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income for the immediately preceding calendar quarter. For this purpose, Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income means interest income, distribution income and any other income, including any other fees other than fees for providing managerial assistance, such as commitment, origination, structuring, diligence and consulting fees or other fees received from portfolio companies accrued during the calendar quarter, minus PennantPark Investment’s operating expenses for the quarter (including the base management fee, any expenses payable under the Administration Agreement, and any interest expense and distribution paid on any issued and outstanding preferred stock, but excluding the incentive fee). Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income includes, in the case of investments with deferred interest feature (such as original issue discount, debt instruments with pay in kind interest and zero coupon securities), accrued income not yet received in cash. Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income does not include any realized capital gains, realized capital losses or unrealized capital appreciation or depreciation. Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income, expressed as a rate of return on the value of PennantPark Investment’s net assets at the end of the immediately preceding calendar quarter, is compared to the hurdle rate of 1.75% per quarter (7.00% annualized). PennantPark Investment pays the Investment Adviser an incentive fee with respect to PennantPark Investment’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income in each calendar quarter as follows:

(1) no incentive fee in any calendar quarter in which PennantPark Investment’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income does not exceed the hurdle rate of 1.75%; (2) 100% of PennantPark Investment’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income with respect to that portion of such Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income, if any, that exceeds the hurdle rate but is less than 2.1875% in any calendar quarter (8.75% annualized); and (3) 20% of the amount of PennantPark Investment’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income, if any, that exceeds 2.1875% in any calendar quarter. These calculations are pro rated for any period of less than three months and adjusted for any share issuances or repurchases during the current quarter.

The second part of the incentive fee is determined and payable in arrears as of the end of each calendar year (or upon termination of the Investment Management Agreement, as of the termination date), commencing on December 31, 2007, and equals 20.0% of PennantPark Investment’s realized capital gains, if any, on a cumulative basis from inception through the end of each calendar year, computed net of all realized capital losses and unrealized capital depreciation on a cumulative basis, less the aggregate amount of any previously paid capital gain incentive fees. However, the incentive fee determined as of December 31, 2007 was calculated for a period of shorter than twelve calendar months to take into account any realized capital gains computed net of all realized capital losses and unrealized capital depreciation from inception. For the three and six months ended March 31, 2008, the Adviser received an incentive fee of $1.0 million and $1.4 million, respectively, from the Company. For the period January 11, 2007 (inception) to March 31, 2007, the Investment Adviser did not receive an Incentive Fee from the Company.

PennantPark Investment has also entered into an Administration Agreement with PennantPark Investment Administration, LLC (the “Administrator” or “PennantPark Investment Administration”) under which PennantPark Investment Administration provides administrative services for PennantPark Investment. For providing these services, facilities and personnel, PennantPark Investment reimburses the Administrator for PennantPark Investment’s allocable portion of overhead and other expenses incurred by the Administrator in performing its obligations under the Administration Agreement, including rent, technology systems, insurance and PennantPark Investment’s allocable portion of the costs of the compensation and related expenses for its

 

F-37


chief compliance officer, chief financial officer and their respective staffs. The Administrator also provides on PennantPark Investment’s behalf managerial assistance to portfolio companies to which PennantPark Investment is required to provide such assistance. Reimbursement for certain of these costs is included in administrative services expenses in the statement of operations. For the three and six months ended March 31, 2008, the Investment Adviser was reimbursed $0.5 million and $1.1 million, respectively, from the Company, including expenses it incurred on behalf of the Administrator, for services described above. For the period January 11, 2007 (inception) to March 31, 2007, the Investment Adviser was not reimbursed from the Company for services described above.

4. ORGANIZATIONAL AND OFFERING EXPENSES

A portion of the net proceeds of the Company’s initial public offering was used for organizational, offering and other expenses. Organizational expenses were treated as expenses incurred. Offering costs of $21.3 million were charged to net assets after the completion of the initial public offering on April 24, 2007.

5. NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE

On March 31, 2008, PennantPark Investment’s total net assets and net asset value per share were $216.3 million and $10.26, respectively. On September 30, 2007, PennantPark Investment’s total net assets and net assets value per share were $270.4 million and $12.83, respectively.

6. LOSS PER SHARE

The following information sets forth the computation of basic and diluted per share net decrease in net assets resulting from operations:

 

Class and Year

   Three months ended
March 31, 2008
    Period from
January 11, 2007
(inception) through
March 31, 2007
    Six months ended
March 31, 2008
 

Numerator for net decrease in net assets per share resulting from operations:

   $ (33,328,673 )   $ (233,546 )   $ (44,865,329 )

Denominator for basic and diluted weighted average shares:

     21,068,772       80,000       21,068,772  

Basic and diluted net decrease in net assets per share resulting from operations:

   $ (1.58 )   $ (2.92 )   $ (2.13 )

7. INVESTMENTS

Purchases and sales/repayments of long-term investments for the three months ended March 31, 2008 totaled $31.5 million and $0.9 million, respectively. In addition, for the six months ended March 31, 2008 purchase and sales/repayments of long-term investments totaled $102.5 million and $5.2 million, respectively.

Investments and cash equivalents consisted of the following:

 

     March 31, 2008    September 30, 2007
     Cost    Fair Value    Cost    Fair Value

Cash equivalents

   $ 81,249,903    $ 81,249,903    $ 258,016,351    $ 257,959,635

First lien

     165,050,041      134,126,292      170,474,236      158,929,905

Second lien

     127,098,402      100,620,750      75,260,488      67,748,750

Subordinated debt / corporate notes

     111,434,124      92,575,042      62,397,146      57,318,268

Preferred equity

     784,000      784,000      —        —  

Common equity

     9,266,000      7,777,797      6,750,000      7,019,685
                           

Total

   $ 494,882,470    $ 417,133,784    $ 572,898,221    $ 548,976,243
                           

 

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The cost represents the original cost adjusted for the accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums on debt investments, if any.

The table below describes investments by industry classification and enumerates the percentage, by market value, of the total portfolio assets (excluding cash equivalents) in such industries as of March 31, 2008 and September 30, 2007.

 

Industry Classification

   March 31, 2008     September 30, 2007  

Other Media

   11 %   15 %

Healthcare, Education & Childcare

   9     4  

Oil and Gas

   8     2  

Auto Sector

   6      

Chemical, Plastic & Rubber

   6     6  

Consumer Products

   6     8  

Energy /Utilities

   6      

Home and Office Furnishings, Housewares, & Durable Consumer Products

   5     7  

Broadcasting and Entertainment

   4     5  

Buildings and Real Estate

   4     7  

Business Services

   4     7  

Cable Television

   4     5  

Leisure, Amusement, Motion Picture, Entertainment

   4     6  

Retail Store

   4     5  

Transportation

   4     7  

Aerospace and Defense

   3      

Printing and Publishing

   3     3  

Cargo Transport

   2     2  

Containers, Packaging and Glass

   2     2  

Utilities

   2     2  

Manufacturing / Basic Industry

   1     2  

Media

   1     2  

Telecommunications

   1     2  

Other

       1  
            

Total

   100 %   100 %
            

8. CASH EQUIVALENTS

Pending investment in longer-term portfolio holdings, PennantPark Investment may invest temporarily in U.S. Treasury Bills (of varying maturities), repurchase agreements, money markets or repo-like treasury securities. These temporary investments with maturities of 90 days or less will be deemed cash equivalents and are included in the Schedule of Investments. At the end of each fiscal quarter, PennantPark Investment typically takes proactive steps to preserve investment flexibility for the next quarter, which is dependent upon the composition of its total assets at quarter end. We may accomplish this in several ways, including purchasing U.S. Treasury Bills and closing out its positions on a net cash basis after quarter-end, temporarily drawing down on our Revolving Credit Facility, or utilizing repurchase agreements or other balance sheet transactions as we deem appropriate for this purpose. These amounts are excluded from adjusted gross assets for purposes of computing management fee. U.S. Treasury Bills with maturities greater than 60 days from the time of purchase are marked-to-market consistent with PennantPark Investment’s valuation policy.

9. REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS

PennantPark Investment may enter into repurchase agreements as part of its investment program. In these transactions, PennantPark Investment’s custodian takes possession of collateral pledged by the counterparty. The collateral is marked-to-market daily to ensure that the value, plus accrued interest, is at least equal to the

 

F-39


repurchase price. In the event of default of the obligor to repurchase, PennantPark Investment will have the right to liquidate the collateral and apply the proceeds in satisfaction of the obligation. Under certain circumstances, in the event of default or bankruptcy by the counterparty to the agreement, realization and/or retention of the collateral or proceeds may be subject to legal proceedings. There were no repurchase agreements outstanding on March 31, 2008 or September 30, 2007.

10. FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Per Share Data:

 

     Six months ended
March 31, 2008
    Period from January 11,
2007 (inception) through
September 30, 2007
 

Net asset value, beginning of period

   $ 12.83     $ —    

Net investment income

     0.44       0.35  

Net realized and unrealized loss

     (2.57 )     (1.15 )
                

Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations

     (2.13 )     (0.80 )

Dividends and distributions to stockholders(1)

     (0.44 )     (0.36 )

Offering costs related to public offering

     —         (1.01 )

Issuance of common stock

     —         15.00  
                

Net asset value, end of period

   $ 10.26     $ 12.83  
                

Per share market value, end of period

   $ 8.51     $ 13.40  

Total return(2)*

     (33.44 )%     (8.29 )%

Shares outstanding at end of period

     21,068,772       21,068,772  

Ratio/Supplemental Data:

    

Ratio of operating expenses to average net assets**(3)

     5.42 %     3.76 %(4)

Ratio of credit facility related expenses to average net assets**

     2.21 %     1.50 %(4)
                

Total expenses to average net assets**(3)

     7.63 %     5.26 %(4)
                

Ratio of net investment income to average net assets**

     7.35 %     5.96 %(4)

Net assets at end of period

   $ 216,257,505     $ 270,393,094  

Average debt outstanding

   $ 80,568,306     $ 817,610 (4)

Average debt per share

   $ 3.82     $ 0.04 (4)

Portfolio turnover ratio**

     3.26 %     62.2 %

 

* Not annualized

 

** Annualized

 

(1) Dividends and distributions are determined based on taxable income calculated in accordance with income tax regulations which may differ from amounts determined under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

(2) Total return is based on the change in market price per share during the period and takes into account dividends and distributions, if any, reinvested in accordance with the Company’s dividend reinvestment plan.

 

(3) For the six months ended March 31, 2008, the ratio of operating expenses before management fee waiver to average net assets was 5.76%, and the ratio of total expenses before management fee waiver to average net assets was 7.97%. For the period from April 24, 2007 (initial public offering) through September 30, 2007, the ratio of operating expenses before management fee waiver to average net assets was 4.28%, and the ratio of total expenses before management fee waiver to average net assets was 5.78%.

 

(4) Since inception of initial public offering on April 24, 2007.

 

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11. CREDIT FACILITY

On June 25, 2007, PennantPark Investment entered into a Senior Secured Revolving Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) among PennantPark Investment, various lenders and SunTrust Bank, as administrative agent for the lenders. SunTrust Robinson Humphrey Capital Markets acted as the joint lead arranger and book-runner, and Bear Stearns Corporate Lending Inc. acted as joint lead arranger and syndication agent. As of March 31, 2008, there was $194.5 million in outstanding borrowings under the Credit Agreement, with an average interest rate of 5.41%.

Under the Credit Agreement, the lenders agreed to extend credit to PennantPark Investment in an initial aggregate principal or face amount not exceeding $300,000,000 at any one time outstanding. The Credit Agreement is a five-year revolving facility (with a stated maturity date of June 25, 2012) and is secured by substantially all of the assets in PennantPark Investment’s portfolio. Pricing is set at 100 basis points over LIBOR.

The Credit Agreement contains affirmative and restrictive covenants, including: (a) periodic financial reporting requirements, (b) maintenance of a minimum stockholders’ equity of the greater of (i) 40% of the total assets of PennantPark Investment and its subsidiaries as at the last day of any fiscal quarter and (ii) the sum of (A) $120,000,000 plus (B) 25% of the net proceeds from the sale of equity interests in PennantPark Investment and its subsidiaries after the closing date of the Credit Agreement, (c) maintenance of a ratio of total assets (less total liabilities other than indebtedness) to total indebtedness, in each case of PennantPark Investment, of not less than 2.0:1.0, (d) maintenance of minimum liquidity standards, (e) limitations on the incurrence of additional indebtedness, (f) limitations on liens, (g) limitations on fundamental corporate changes, (h) limitations on investments (other than PennantPark Investment’s portfolio investments and certain other ordinary course investments), (i) limitations on payments and distributions (other than distributions to PennantPark Investment’s stockholders as contemplated to maintain Regulated Investment Company status), (j) limitations on transactions with affiliates, (k) limitations on engaging in business not contemplated by PennantPark Investment’s investment objectives, and (l) limitations on the creation or existence of agreements that prohibit liens on properties of PennantPark Investment and its subsidiaries. In addition to the asset coverage ratio described in clause (c) of the preceding sentence, borrowings under the Credit Agreement (and the incurrence of certain other permitted debt) will be subject to compliance with a borrowing base that will apply different advance rates to different types of assets in PennantPark Investment’s portfolio. See our Credit Agreement, Exhibit 10.5, to this Report (incorporated by reference), for the definitions of capitalized terms used by us relating to the Credit Agreement but not defined in this note. The Credit Agreement will be used to supplement our equity capital to make additional portfolio investments and for other general corporate purposes.

12. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

From time to time, we, the Investment Adviser or the Administrator may be a party to legal proceedings in the ordinary course of business, including proceedings relating to the enforcement of our rights under contracts with our portfolio companies. While the outcome of these legal proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty, we do not expect that these proceedings will have a material effect upon our financial condition or results of operations. Unfunded debt investments described in the statement of assets and liabilities represent unfunded delayed draws on investments in first lien secured debt.

 

F-41


PART C

OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 25. Financial statements and exhibits

 

1.

   Financial Statements
   The Index to Financial Statements on page F-1 of this Registration Statement is hereby incorporated by reference.

2.

   Exhibits

(a)

   Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99(a) to the Registrant’s Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form N-2/A (File No. 333-140092), filed on March 5, 2007).

(b)

   Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Registrant (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Registrant’s Report on Form 10-K (File No. 814-00736), filed on December 13, 2007).

(d)(1)*

   Specimen Stock Certificate.

(d)(2)**

   Form of Subscription Certificate.

(d)(3)**

   Form of Indenture.

(d)(4)**

   Form of Subscription Agent Agreement.

(d)(5)**

   Form of Warrant Agreement.

(e)*

   Dividend Reinvestment Plan.

(g)*

   Investment Management Agreement between the Registrant and PennantPark Investment Advisers, LLC.

(h)(1)**

   Form of Underwriting Agreement for equity.

(h)(2)**

   Form of Underwriting Agreement for debt.

(j)(1)*

   Custodian Agreement between the Registrant and PFPC Trust Company.

(k)(1)*

   Administration Agreement between the Registrant and PennantPark Investment Administration, LLC.

(k)(2)*

   Stock Transfer Agency Agreement between the Registrant and American Stock Transfer and Trust Company.

(k)(3)*

   Trademark License Agreement.

(k)(4)

   Senior Secured Revolving Credit Agreement between Registrant and various lenders (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the Registrant’s Report on Form 8-K (File No. 814-00736), filed on June 28, 2007).

(k)(5)*

   Registration Rights Agreement among the Registrant and the purchasers in a private placement of 320,000 shares of common stock of the Registrant.

(l)**

   Opinion and Consent of Venable LLP.

(n)(1)**

   Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

(n)(2)**

   Awareness Letter of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

(r)(1)

   Joint Code of Ethics of the Registrant and PennantPark Investment Advisers, LLC (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 14.1 to the Registrant’s Report on Form 10-K (File No. 814-00736), filed on December 13, 2007).

 

* Previously filed.

 

** Filed herewith.

 

C-1


Item 26. Marketing arrangements

The information contained under the heading “Plan of Distribution” in this Registration Statement is hereby incorporated by reference.

 

Item 27. Other expenses of issuance and distribution

The following table sets forth the estimated expenses to be incurred by the Registrant in connection with the offering described in this registration statement:

 

SEC registration fee

   $ 9,825  

NASDAQ listing fee

   $ 5,000  

FINRA filing fee

   $ 25,500  

Printing (other than certificates)

   $ 250,000  

Legal fees and expenses

   $ 500,000  

Accounting fees and expenses

   $ 50,000  

Miscellaneous fees and expenses

   $ 159,675  
        

Total

   $ 1,000,000  
        

All of the expense set forth above shall be borne by the Registrant.

 

Item 28. Persons controlled by or under common control with the registrant

Not Applicable.

 

Item 29. Number of holders of shares

As of May 21, 2008

 

Title of Class

  

Number of Record Holders

Common Stock, $0.001 par value

   15

 

Item 30. Indemnification

The information contained under the heading “Limitation on Liability of Directors and Officers; Indemnification and Advance of Expenses” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 31. Business and other connections of Investment Adviser

Neither the Investment Adviser nor any officer, director or partner of the Investment Adviser has been substantially engaged in any business, profession, vocation or employment since the inception of the Investment Adviser other than as set forth under the headings “Management” and “Business—Our Investment Adviser and Administrator” which are hereby incorporated by reference. Additional information regarding the Adviser and its officers and directors is set forth in its Form ADV, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC File No. 801-67622), and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 32. Location of accounts and records

All accounts, books and other documents required to be maintained by Section 31(a) of the 1940 Act, and the rules thereunder are maintained at the offices of:

(1) the Registrant, PennantPark Investment Corporation, 590 Madison Avenue, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10022

 

C-2


(2) the Transfer Agent, American Stock Transfer and Trust Company, 59 Maiden Lane, New York, NY 10038;

(3) the Custodian, PFPC Trust Company, 8800 Tinicum Boulevard, 4th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19153;

(4) the Adviser, PennantPark Investment Advisers, LLC, 590 Madison Avenue, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10022

 

Item 33. Management services

Not Applicable.

 

Item 34. Undertakings

The Registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) to suspend the offering of its units until it amends its prospectus if (a) subsequent to the effective date of its registration statement, the net asset value declines more than 10 percent from its net asset value as of the effective date of the Registration Statement or (b) the net asset value increases to an amount greater than its net proceeds as stated in the prospectus.

(2) to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to the registration statement:

(i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

(ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement; and

(iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement.

(3) that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered herein, and the offering of those securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; and

(4) to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering; and

(5) that, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser, if the Registrant is subject to Rule 430C: Each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 497(b), (c), (d) or (e) under the Securities Act as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A under the Securities Act, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness; provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.

(6) that, for the purpose of determining liability of the Registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of securities, the undersigned Registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned Registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such

 

C-3


purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned Registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to the purchaser:

(i) any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned Registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 497 under the Securities Act;

(ii) the portion of any advertisement pursuant to Rule 482 under the Securities Act relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned Registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant; and

(iii) any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned Registrant to the purchaser.

 

C-4


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant has duly caused this amendment no. 1 to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, and State of New York, on the 30th day of May, 2008.

 

By:   /s/    ARTHUR H. PENN        
Name:   Arthur H. Penn
Title:   Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this amendment no. 1 to the Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities set forth below on the 30th day of May, 2008.

 

Name

  

Title

/s/    ARTHUR H. PENN        

Arthur H. Penn

   Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/    AVIV EFRAT        

Aviv Efrat

   Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

*

  
Adam K. Bernstein    Director

*

  
Jeffrey Flug    Director

*

  
Marshall Brozost    Director

*

  
Samuel L. Katz    Director

 

* Signed by Aviv Efrat on behalf of those identified pursuant to his designation as an attorney-in-fact signed by each on April 1, 2008.

 

C-5

Form of Subscription Certificate

Exhibit (d)(2)

PENNANTPARK INVESTMENT CORPORATION

SUBSCRIPTION CERTIFICATE FOR COMMON STOCK

Each registered holder of this Subscription Certificate (a “Rights Holder”) is entitled to the number of transferable subscription rights (each, a “Right”) to subscribe for the number of shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Common Stock”), of PennantPark Investment Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), as specified herein, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Company’s prospectus dated                     , 20         and the accompanying prospectus supplement dated                     , 20         (collectively, the “Prospectus”), which are incorporated herein by reference. Pursuant to the rights offering described in the Prospectus (the “Offering”), each stockholder owning Common Stock of the Company as of                     , 20         (such date, the “Record Date” and, such stockholder, a “Record Date Stockholder”) is entitled to receive             Right[s] for each             share[s] of Common Stock owned on the Record Date. The Company shall not issue any fractional Rights. Each Rights Holder is entitled to subscribe for share[s] of Common Stock for each Right held by such Rights Holder (the “Basic Subscription”) at the subscription price (the “Subscription Price”), to be calculated as described in the Prospectus. The Rights may be exercised at any time during the subscription period, which commences on                     , 20         and ends at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on                     , 20         , unless extended by the Company in its sole discretion (each such date, the “Expiration Date”). Set forth below is the number of Rights evidenced by this Subscription Certificate that the Rights Holder is entitled to exercise pursuant to the Basic Subscription.

[If any shares of Common Stock available for purchase in the Offering are not subscribed for by Rights Holders pursuant to the Basic Subscription (“Remaining Shares”), a Record Date Stockholder that has exercised fully its Rights pursuant to the Basic Subscription may subscribe for a number of Remaining Shares, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Prospectus, including as to proration. In addition, any Rights Holder other than a Record Date Stockholder who exercises Rights is entitled to subscribe for any Remaining Shares that are not otherwise subscribed for by Record Date Stockholders pursuant to their over-subscription privilege, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Prospectus, including as to proration. We refer to these over-subscription privileges as the “Over-Subscription Privilege.”]

THE RIGHTS ARE TRANSFERABLE

The Rights are transferable until the Expiration Date (or if the Offering is extended, until the extended Expiration Date). The Rights are expected to be listed for trading on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “            ” until and including the Expiration Date (or if the Offering is extended, until the extended Expiration Date). Rights Holders who do not wish to exercise any or all of their Rights may instruct the Subscription Agent to sell any Rights they do not intend to exercise themselves through or to a Dealer Manager. Subscription Certificates representing the Rights to be sold through or to a Dealer Manager must be received by the Subscription Agent on or before             , 20         (or, if the offer is extended,             prior to the extended Expiration Date).


   Control No:
   Cusip No.:
   Rights Represented by this
   Subscription
   Certificate:
   Maximum Shares Available for
   Purchase
   Pursuant to the Basic Subscription:

[THE OFFERING IS TERMINABLE BY THE COMPANY

The Company reserves the right to terminate the Offering prior to delivery of Common Stock.]

ESTIMATED SUBSCRIPTION PRICE

The estimated subscription price (the “Estimated Subscription Price”) is $                  per share of Common Stock.

THE SUBSCRIPTION PRICE

The Subscription Price for the shares of Common Stock to be issued pursuant to the Offering shall be [insert price or formula].


METHOD OF EXERCISE OF RIGHTS

You must exercise any Rights held under this Certificate by the third business day prior to the Expiration Date of the Offering.

To exercise your Rights,                                 (the “Subscription Agent”), must receive, in the manner specified herein, at or before 5:00 P.M., New York City Time on the Expiration Date, either (i) a properly completed and duly executed Subscription Certificate and a money order or check or bank draft drawn on a bank or branch located in the United States and payable to “[PennantPark Investment Corporation]” for an amount equal to the number of shares of Common Stock subscribed for pursuant to the Basic Subscription [and the Over-Subscription Privilege] multiplied by the Estimated Subscription Price (the “Exercise Price”); or (ii) a Notice of Guaranteed Delivery guaranteeing delivery of (A) a properly completed and duly executed Subscription Certificate and (B) a money order or check or bank draft drawn on a bank or branch located in the United States and payable to “[PennantPark Investment Corporation]” for an amount equal to the Exercise Price. Payment must be made in U.S. dollars.

The method of delivery of this Subscription Certificate and the payment of the Estimated Subscription Price and, if required, any additional payment is at the election and risk of the Rights Holder, but if sent by mail it is recommended that the Subscription Certificate and payment be sent by registered mail, properly insured, with return receipt requested, and that a sufficient number of days be allowed to ensure delivery to the Subscription Agent and clearance of payment at least three business days prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Expiration Date, or the date guaranteed payments are due under a Notice of Guaranteed Delivery (as applicable). Because uncertified personal checks may take at least five business days to clear, you are strongly urged to pay, or arrange for payment, by means of certified or cashier’s check or money order.


Because Rights Holders must only pay the Estimated Subscription Price per share to exercise their Rights pursuant to the Offering and the Subscription Price may be higher or lower than the Estimated Subscription Price [(and because a Rights Holder may not receive all the shares for which they subscribe pursuant to the Over-Subscription Privilege)], Rights Holders may receive a refund or be required to pay an additional amount equal to: the difference between the Estimated Subscription Price and the Subscription Price, multiplied by the total number of shares for which they have subscribed and been issued [(including pursuant to the Over-Subscription Privilege)]. Any additional payment required from a Rights Holder must be received by the Subscription Agent within ten business days after the confirmation date in order to receive all the shares of Common Stock subscribed for. Any excess payment to be refunded by the Company to a Rights Holder shall be mailed by the Subscription Agent as promptly as practicable. No interest shall be paid on any amounts refunded.

Stock certificates shall not be issued for shares of the Company’s Common Stock offered in the Offering. Stockholders who are record owners shall have the shares they acquire credited to their account with the Company’s transfer agent. Stockholders whose Common Stock are held by a nominee shall have the shares they acquire credited to the account of such nominee holder.

A Rights Holder exercising Rights shall have no right to rescind their subscription after receipt of their payment for shares or a Notice of Guaranteed Delivery by the Subscription Agent. [Rights may be transferred in the same manner and with the same effect as with a negotiable instrument payable to specific persons, by duly completing this Subscription Certificate. Rights Holders should be aware that if they choose to exercise, assign, transfer or sell only part of their Rights, they may not receive a new Subscription Certificate in sufficient time to exercise, assign, transfer or sell the remaining Rights evidenced thereby.]


To subscribe for shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Basic Subscription, please complete line “A” and Section 1 below. [To subscribe for shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Over-Subscription Privilege, please complete lines “A” and “B” and Section 1 below.]

[If you want the Subscription Agent to attempt to sell any of your unexercised Rights, check box “D” below and complete Section 1 below. If you want a new Subscription Certificate evidencing any unexercised Rights delivered to you, check box “E” below and indicate the address to which the shares should be delivered in Section 1 below. If you want some or all of your unexercised rights transferred to a designated transferee, or to a bank or broker to sell for you, check box “F” below and complete Section 2 below.]

FOR A MORE COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE OFFERING, PLEASE REFER TO THE PROSPECTUS, WHICH IS INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE. COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST FROM THE INFORMATION AGENT,                 , TOLL-FREE AT         .

 

A. Basic Subscription

 

x        $        =        $__________

 

(No. of Shares) (Estimated Subscription Price)

   [D. Sell any unexercised Rights 9]

[B. Over-Subscription Privilege*

 

x        $        =        $__________

 

(No. of Shares) (Estimated Subscription Price)]

   [E. Deliver a certificate representing _____ unexercised Rights to the address in Section 1]

[C.] Total Amount Enclosed = $________

 

[*If a Rights Holder is a Record Date Stockholder, the Over-Subscription Privilege may only be exercised if its Basic Subscription is exercised in full.]

   [F. Transfer _____ Rights to the transferee designated in Section 2]


SECTION 1. TO SUBSCRIBE: I acknowledge that I have received the Prospectus for the Offering and I hereby irrevocably subscribe for the number of shares of Common Stock indicated as the total of A [and B] above upon the terms and conditions specified in the Prospectus and incorporated by reference herein. I understand and agree that I will be obligated to pay an additional amount if the Subscription Price as determined on the Expiration Date, as it may be extended, is in excess of the Estimated Subscription Price. I hereby agree that if I fail to pay in full for the shares of Common Stock for which I have subscribed, the Company may exercise any of the remedies provided for in the Prospectus.

 

[TO SELL: If I have checked the box on line D, I authorize the sale of Rights by the Subscription Agent according to the procedures described in the Prospectus.]

  

[SECTION 2. TO TRANSFER RIGHTS (Per Line F): For value received, ________________ of the Rights represented by this Subscription Certificate are assigned to:

 

______________________________________________

 

(Print full name of Assignee and Social Security Number)

 

______________________________________________

 

(Print full address)

 

______________________________________________

 

(Signature(s) of Assignor(s))

 

The signature(s) on the Subscription Certificate must correspond with the name(s) of the registered holder(s) exactly as it appears on the Subscription Certificate without any alteration or change whatsoever. In the case of joint registered holders, each person must sign the Subscription Certificate in accordance with the foregoing. If you sign the


 

________________________________________________

 

Signature(s) of Subscriber(s)

[

 

________________________________________________

 

Address for delivery of certificate representing unexercised Rights

 

If permanent change of address, check here 9

 

Daytime telephone number (            )

 

_________________

 

Evening telephone number (            )

 

_________________

 

Email address: _________________

 

_________________]

  

Subscription Certificate in your capacity as a trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, attorney-in-fact, agent, officer of a corporation or other fiduciary or representative, you must indicate the capacity in which you are signing when you sign and, if requested by the Subscription Agent in its sole and absolute discretion, you must present to the Subscription Agent satisfactory evidence of your authority to sign in that capacity.

 

The signature must be guaranteed by an Eligible Guarantor Institution, as that term is defined in Rule 17Ad-15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which may include: (a) a commercial bank or trust company; (b) a member firm of a domestic stock exchange; or (c) a savings bank or credit union.

 

Signature (name of bank or firm):___________

 

Guaranteed by (signature/title):

 

________________________]

Please complete all applicable information and BY FIRST CLASS MAIL ONLY: BY OVERNIGHT DELIVERY: return to:
Any questions regarding this Subscription Certificate and the Offering may be directed to the Information Agent,                 , toll free at             .   

DELIVERY OF THIS SUBSCRIPTION CERTIFICATE TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN AS

SET FORTH ABOVE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A VALID DELIVERY.

Form of Indenture

Exhibit (d)(3)

FORM OF INDENTURE

PENNANTPARK INVESTMENT CORPORATION,

Issuer,

and

[                                             ],

Trustee

Indenture

Dated as of [                ]

Providing for the Issuance

of

Debt Securities


PENNANTPARK INVESTMENT CORPORATION

Reconciliation and tie between Trust Indenture Act of 1939

and Indenture dated as of [            ]

 

Trust Indenture Act Section

  

Indenture Section

§310

   (a)(1)    607
   (a)(2)    607
   (b)    609

§312

   (c)    701

§314

   (a)    704
   (a)(4)    1005
   (c)(1)    102
   (c)(2)    102
   (e)    102

§315

   (b)    601

§316

   (a) (last sentence)    101 (“Outstanding”)
   (a)(1)(A)    502, 512
   (a)(1)(B)    513
   (b)    508

§317

   (a)(1)    503
   (a)(2)    504

§318

   (a)    111
   (c)    111

 

NOTE: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture.


TABLE OF CONENTS

 

          Page
  

ARTICLE ONE

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

  

Section 101.

   Definitions    1

Section 102.

   Compliance Certificates and Opinions    10

Section 103.

   Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee    10

Section 104.

   Acts of Holders    11

Section 105.

   Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company    12

Section 106.

   Notice to Holders; Waiver    12

Section 107.

   Effect of Headings and Table of Contents    13

Section 108.

   Successors and Assigns    13

Section 109.

   Separability Clause    13

Section 110.

   Benefits of Indenture    13

Section 111.

   Governing Law    14

Section 112.

   Legal Holidays    14

Section 113.

   Submission to Jurisdiction    14
  

ARTICLE TWO

SECURITIES FORMS

  

Section 201.

   Forms of Securities    14

Section 202.

   Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication    15

Section 203.

   Securities Issuable in Global Form    15
  

ARTICLE THREE

THE SECURITIES

  

Section 301.

   Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series    16

Section 302.

   Denominations    19

Section 303.

   Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating    19

Section 304.

   Temporary Securities    21

Section 305.

   Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange    23

Section 306.

   Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities    26

Section 307.

   Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved; Optional Interest Reset    27

Section 308.

   Optional Extension of Maturity    29

Section 309.

   Persons Deemed Owners    30

Section 310.

   Cancellation    30

Section 311.

   Computation of Interest    31

 

-i-


TABLE OF CONENTS

(continued)

 

          Page

Section 312.

   Currency and Manner of Payments in Respect of Securities    31

Section 313.

   Appointment and Resignation of Successor Exchange Rate Agent    34

Section 314.

   CUSIP Numbers    34
  

ARTICLE FOUR

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

  

Section 401.

  

Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture

   35

Section 402.

   Application of Trust Funds    36
  

ARTICLE FIVE

REMEDIES

  

Section 501.

   Events of Default    36

Section 502.

   Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment    37

Section 503.

   Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee    38

Section 504.

   Trustee May File Proofs of Claim    39

Section 505.

   Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities or Coupons    40

Section 506.

   Application of Money Collected    40

Section 507.

   Limitation on Suits    40

Section 508.

   Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest    41

Section 509.

   Restoration of Rights and Remedies    41

Section 510.

   Rights and Remedies Cumulative    41

Section 511.

   Delay or Omission Not Waiver    41

Section 512.

   Control by Holders of Securities    42

Section 513.

   Waiver of Past Defaults    42

Section 514.

   Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws    42
  

ARTICLE SIX

THE TRUSTEE

  

Section 601.

   Notice of Defaults    42

Section 602.

   Certain Rights of Trustee    43

Section 603.

   Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities    44

Section 604.

   May Hold Securities    44

Section 605.

   Money Held in Trust    44

Section 606.

   Compensation and Reimbursement and Indemnification of Trustee    44

Section 607.

   Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility    45

Section 608.

   Disqualification; Conflicting Interests    45

 

-ii-


TABLE OF CONENTS

(continued)

 

          Page

Section 609.

   Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor    45

Section 610.

   Acceptance of Appointment by Successor    47

Section 611.

   Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business    48

Section 612.

   Appointment of Authenticating Agent    48
  

ARTICLE SEVEN

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

  

Section 701.

   Disclosure of Names and Addresses of Holders    50

Section 702.

   Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders    50

Section 703.

   Reports by Trustee    50

Section 704.

   Reports by Company    50

Section 705.

   Calculation of Original Issue Discount    51
  

ARTICLE EIGHT

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE OR TRANSFER

  

Section 801.

   Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms    51

Section 802.

   Successor Person Substituted    52
  

ARTICLE NINE

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

  

Section 901.

   Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders    52

Section 902.

   Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders    53

Section 903.

   Execution of Supplemental Indentures    54

Section 904.

   Effect of Supplemental Indentures    54

Section 905.

   Conformity with Trust Indenture Act    55

Section 906.

   Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures    55
  

ARTICLE TEN

COVENANTS

  
     

Section 1001.

   Payment of Principal, Premium, if any, and Interest    55

Section 1002.

   Maintenance of Office or Agency    55

Section 1003.

   Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust    57

Section 1004.

   Additional Amounts    58

Section 1005.

   Statement as to Compliance    58

Section 1006.

   Limitations on Liens    59

Section 1007.

   Waiver of Certain Covenants    60

 

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TABLE OF CONENTS

(continued)

 

          Page
  

ARTICLE ELEVEN

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

  

Section 1101.

   Applicability of Article    60

Section 1102.

   Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee    60

Section 1103.

   Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed    60

Section 1104.

   Notice of Redemption    61

Section 1105.

   Deposit of Redemption Price    62

Section 1106.

   Securities Payable on Redemption Date    62

Section 1107.

   Securities Redeemed in Part    63
  

ARTICLE TWELVE

SINKING FUNDS

  

Section 1201.

   Applicability of Article    63

Section 1202.

   Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities    64

Section 1203.

   Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund    64

ARTICLE THIRTEEN

REPAYMENT AT THE OPTION OF HOLDERS

  

Section 1301.

   Applicability of Article    64

Section 1302.

   Repayment of Securities    65

Section 1303.

   Exercise of Option    65

Section 1304.

   When Securities Presented for Repayment Become Due and Payable    65

Section 1305.

   Securities Repaid in Part    66

ARTICLE FOURTEEN

DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

  

Section 1401.

   Applicability of Article; Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance    66

Section 1402.

   Defeasance and Discharge    67

Section 1403.

   Covenant Defeasance    67

Section 1404.

   Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance    68

Section 1405.

   Deposited Money and Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions    69

ARTICLE FIFTEEN

MEETINGS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

  

Section 1501.

   Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called    70

Section 1502.

   Call, Notice and Place of Meetings    70

Section 1503.

   Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings    70

Section 1504.

   Quorum; Action    70

 

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TABLE OF CONENTS

(continued)

 

          Page

Section 1505.

   Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings    71

Section 1506.

   Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings    72
  

ARTICLE SIXTEEN

SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES

  

Section 1601.

   Agreement to Subordinate    72

Section 1602.

   Distribution on Dissolution, Liquidation and Reorganization; Subrogation of Subordinated Securities    73

Section 1603.

   No Payment on Subordinated Securities in Event of Default on Senior Indebtedness    74

Section 1604.

   Payments on Subordinated Securities Permitted    74

Section 1605.

   Authorization of Holders to Trustee to Effect Subordination    75

Section 1606.

   Notices to Trustee    75

Section 1607.

   Trustee as Holder of Senior Indebtedness    75

Section 1608.

   Modifications of Terms of Senior Indebtedness    76

Section 1609.

   Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent    76

 

EXHIBIT A-1:    FORM OF CERTIFICATE TO BE GIVEN BY PERSON ENTITLED TO RECEIVE BEARER SECURITY OR
TO OBTAIN INTEREST PAYABLE PRIOR TO THE EXCHANGE DATE

EXHIBIT A-2:

   FORM OF CERTIFICATE TO BE GIVEN BY EUROCLEAR AND CLEARSTREAM IN CONNECTION WITH THE EXCHANGE OF A PORTION OF A TEMPORARY GLOBAL SECURITY OR TO OBTAIN INTEREST PAYABLE PRIOR TO THE EXCHANGE DATE

 

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Exhibit (d)(3)

INDENTURE, dated as of [                    ], 2005, between PENNANTPARK INVESTMENT CORPORATION, a Maryland corporation (hereinafter called the “Company”), having its principal office at 590 Madison Avenue, 15th Floor, New York, New York 10022, and [                    ], trustee (hereinafter called the “Trustee”), having its Corporate Trust Office at [                    ].

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

The Company deems it necessary to issue from time to time for its lawful purposes debt securities (hereinafter called the “Securities”) evidencing its unsecured indebtedness, which may or may not be convertible into or exchangeable for any securities of any Person (including the Company), and has duly authorized the execution and delivery of the Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of the Securities, to be issued in one or more series, unlimited as to principal amount, to bear such rates of interest, to mature at such times and to have such other provisions as shall be fixed as hereinafter provided.

This Indenture (as defined herein) is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, that are required to be part of this Indenture and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.

All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the Holders (as defined herein) thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities and coupons, or of a series thereof, as follows:

ARTICLE ONE

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

Section 101. Definitions.

For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this Article, and include the plural as well as the singular and, pursuant to Section 301, any such item may, with respect to any particular series of Securities, be amended or modified or specified as being inapplicable;

(2) all other terms used herein which are defined in the Trust Indenture Act (as defined herein), either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them therein, and the terms “cash transaction” and “self-liquidating paper,” as used in Section 311 of the Trust Indenture Act, shall have the meanings assigned to them in the rules of the Commission (as defined herein) adopted under the Trust Indenture Act;


(3) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America; and

(4) the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision.

Certain terms, used principally in Article Three, Article Five, Article Six and Article Ten, are defined in those Articles.

Act”, when used with respect to any Holder of a Security, has the meaning specified in Section 104.

Additional Amounts” means any additional amounts which are required by a Security or by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, under circumstances specified therein, to be paid by the Company in respect of certain taxes imposed on certain Holders and which are owing to such Holders.

Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

Authenticating Agent” means any authenticating agent appointed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 612 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of one or more series.

Authorized Newspaper” means a newspaper, in the English language or in an official language of the country of publication, customarily published on each Business Day, whether or not published on Saturdays, Sundays or holidays, and of general circulation in each place in connection with which the term is used or in the financial community of each such place. Where successive publications are required to be made in Authorized Newspapers, the successive publications may be made in the same or in different newspapers in the same city meeting the foregoing requirements and in each case on any Business Day.

Bearer Security” means any Security established pursuant to Section 201 which is payable to bearer.

Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company, the executive committee or any committee of that board duly authorized to act hereunder.

Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.

Business Day”, when used with respect to any Place of Payment or any other particular location referred to in this Indenture or in the Securities, means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in that Place of Payment or particular location are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

Clearstream” means Clearstream International or its successor.

 

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Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or, if at any time after execution of this instrument, such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties on such date.

Common Depositary” has the meaning specified in Section 304.

Company” means the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this Indenture until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Company” shall mean such successor corporation.

Company Request” and “Company Order” mean, respectively, a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by the Chairman, the President or a Vice President, and by the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Operating Officer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee.

Conversion Date” has the meaning specified in Section 312(d).

Conversion Event” means the cessation of use of (i) a Foreign Currency both by the government of the country which issued such currency and for the settlement of transactions by a central bank or other public institutions of or within the international banking community, (ii) the Euro both within the European Monetary System and for the settlement of transactions by public institutions of or within the European Communities or (iii) any currency unit (or composite currency) other than the Euro for the purposes for which it was established.

Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which, at any particular time, its corporate trust business shall be principally administered, which office at the date hereof is located at the address set forth in the preamble hereto.

corporation” includes corporations, associations, companies and business trusts.

coupon” means any interest coupon appertaining to a Bearer Security.

Currency” means any currency or currencies, composite currency or currency unit or currency units, including, without limitation, the Euro, issued by the government of one or more countries or by any reorganized confederation or association of such governments.

Default” means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.

Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 307.

Dollar” or “$” means a U.S. dollar or other equivalent unit in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.

Euro” means the euro or other equivalent unit in such official coin or currency of European Union.

“Election Date” has the meaning specified in Section 312(h).

 

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Euroclear” means Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, Brussels Office, or its successor as operator of the Euroclear System.

European Communities” means the European Union, the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Atomic Energy Community.

European Monetary System” means the European Monetary System established by the Resolution of December 5, 1978 of the Council of the European Communities.

Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Article Five.

Exchange Date” has the meaning specified in Section 304.

Exchange Rate Agent”, with respect to Securities of or within any series, means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, a New York Clearing House bank designated pursuant to Section 301 or Section 313.

Exchange Rate Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate setting forth (i) the applicable Market Exchange Rate or the applicable bid quotation and (ii) the Dollar or Foreign Currency amounts of principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any (on an aggregate basis and on the basis of a Security having the lowest denomination principal amount determined in accordance with Section 302 in the relevant Currency), payable with respect to a Security of any series on the basis of such Market Exchange Rate or the applicable bid quotation signed by the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer or any Vice President of the Company.

Foreign Currency” means any Currency, including, without limitation, the Euro issued by the government of one or more countries other than the United States of America or by any recognized confederation or association of such governments.

Government Obligations” means securities which are (i) direct obligations of the United States of America or the government which issued the Foreign Currency in which the Securities of a particular series are payable, for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America or such government which issued the Foreign Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable, the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America or such other government, which, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of any such Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depository receipt; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Government Obligation or the specific payment of interest on or principal of the Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt.

Holder” means, in the case of a Registered Security, the Person in whose name a Security is registered in the Security Register and, in the case of a Bearer Security, the bearer thereof and, when used with respect to any coupon, shall mean the bearer thereof.

Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, and shall include the terms of particular series of Securities established as

 

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contemplated by Section 301; provided, however, that, if at any time more than one Person is acting as Trustee under this instrument, “Indenture” shall mean, with respect to any one or more series of Securities for which such Person is Trustee, this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and shall include the terms of the or those particular series of Securities for which such Person is Trustee established as contemplated by Section 301, excluding, however, any provisions or terms which relate solely to other series of Securities for which such Person is not Trustee, regardless of when such terms or provisions were adopted, and exclusive of any provisions or terms adopted by means of one or more indentures supplemental hereto executed and delivered after such Person had become such Trustee but to which such Person, as such Trustee, was not a party.

Indexed Security” means a Security as to which all or certain interest payments and/or the principal amount payable at Maturity are determined by reference to prices, changes in prices, or differences between prices, of securities, Currencies, intangibles, goods, articles or commodities or by such other objective price, economic or other measures as are specified in Section 301 hereof.

Interest”, when used with respect to an Original Issue Discount Security which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest payable after Maturity, and, when used with respect to a Security which provides for the payment of Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 1004, includes such Additional Amounts.

Interest Payment Date”, when used with respect to any Security, means the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such Security.

Junior Subordinated Security” or “Junior Subordinated Securities” means any Security or Securities designated pursuant to Section 301 as a Junior Subordinated Security.

Junior Subordinated Indebtedness” means the principal of (and premium, if any) and unpaid interest on (a) indebtedness of the Company (including indebtedness of others guaranteed by the Company), whether outstanding on the date hereof or thereafter created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed, for money borrowed, which in the instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding it is provided that such indebtedness is expressly subordinated and ranks junior in right of payment to the Company’s Senior Indebtedness and Senior Subordinated Indebtedness and equally and pari passu in right of payment to any other Junior Subordinated Indebtedness, (b) Junior Subordinated Securities and (c) renewals, extensions, modifications and refinancings of any such indebtedness.

Market Exchange Rate” means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, (i) for any conversion involving a currency unit on the one hand and Dollars or any Foreign Currency on the other, the exchange rate between the relevant currency unit and Dollars or such Foreign Currency calculated by the method specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of the relevant series, (ii) for any conversion of Dollars into any Foreign Currency, the noon buying rate for such Foreign Currency for cable transfers quoted in New York City as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and (iii) for any conversion of one Foreign Currency into Dollars or another Foreign Currency, the spot rate at noon local time in the relevant market at which, in accordance with normal banking procedures, the Dollars or Foreign Currency into which conversion is being made could be purchased with the Foreign Currency from which conversion is being made from major banks located in either New York City, London or any other principal market for Dollars or such purchased Foreign Currency, in each case determined by the Exchange Rate Agent. Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, in the event of the unavailability of any of the exchange rates provided for in the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), the Exchange Rate Agent shall use, in its sole discretion and without liability on its part, such quotation of the Federal Reserve

 

5


Bank of New York as of the most recent available date, or quotations from one or more major banks in New York City, London or other principal market for such currency or currency unit in question, or such other quotations as the Exchange Rate Agent shall deem appropriate. Unless otherwise specified by the Exchange Rate Agent, if there is more than one market for dealing in any currency or currency unit by reason of foreign exchange regulations or otherwise, the market to be used in respect of such currency or currency unit shall be that upon which a nonresident issuer of securities designated in such currency or currency unit would purchase such currency or currency unit in order to make payments in respect of such securities.

Maturity”, when used with respect to any Security, means the date on which the principal of such Security or an installment of principal becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, notice of redemption, notice of option to elect repayment, notice of exchange or conversion or otherwise.

Notice of Default” has the meaning provided in Section 501.

Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed by the Chairman, the Chief Executive Officers, the President, or any Vice President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Operating Officer, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee.

Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel, who may be counsel for the Company or who may be an employee of, or other counsel for, the Company.

Original Issue Discount Security” means any Security which provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502.

Outstanding”, when used with respect to Securities or any series of Securities, means, as of the date of determination, all Securities or all Securities of such series, as the case may be, theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:

(i) Securities theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

(ii) Securities, or portions thereof, for whose payment or redemption or repayment at the option of the Holder money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Company) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent) for the Holders of such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto, provided that, if such Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made;

(iii) Securities, except to the extent provided in Sections 1402 and 1403, with respect to which the Company has effected defeasance and/or covenant defeasance as provided in Article Fourteen; and

(iv) Securities which have been paid pursuant to Section 306 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Securities are held by a protected purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company;

 

6


provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder or are present at a meeting of Holders for quorum purposes, and for the purpose of making the calculations required by TIA Section 313, (i) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that may be counted in making such determination or calculation and that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purpose shall be equal to the amount of principal thereof that would be (or shall have been declared to be) due and payable, at the time of such determination, upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502, (ii) the principal amount of any Security denominated in a Foreign Currency that may be counted in making such determination or calculation and that shall be deemed Outstanding for such purpose shall be equal to the Dollar equivalent, determined as of the date such Security is originally issued by the Company as set forth in an Exchange Rate Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee, of the principal amount (or, in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security or Indexed Security, the Dollar equivalent as of such date of original issuance of the amount determined as provided in clause (i) above or (iii) below, respectively) of such Security, (iii) the principal amount of any Indexed Security that may be counted in making such determination or calculation and that shall be deemed outstanding for such purpose shall be equal to the principal face amount of such Indexed Security at original issuance, unless otherwise provided with respect to such Security pursuant to Section 301, and (iv) Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, provided that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in making such calculation or in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver or upon any such determination as to the presence of a quorum, only Securities which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor.

Paying Agent” means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Securities or coupons on behalf of the Company.

Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity.

Place of Payment” means, when used with respect to the Securities of or within any series, the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such Securities are payable as specified and as contemplated by Sections 301 and 1002.

Predecessor Security” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 306 in exchange for or in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security or a Security to which a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen coupon appertains shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security or the Security to which the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen coupon appertains.

Redemption Date”, when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, in whole or in part, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.

Redemption Price”, when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture.

 

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Registered Security” means any Security which is registered in the Security Register.

Regular Record Date” for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date on the Registered Securities of or within any series means the date specified for that purpose as contemplated by Section 301, whether or not a Business Day.

Repayment Date” means, when used with respect to any Security to be repaid at the option of the Holder, means the date fixed for such repayment by or pursuant to this Indenture.

Repayment Price” means, when used with respect to any Security to be repaid at the option of the Holder, means the price at which it is to be repaid by or pursuant to this Indenture.

Responsible Officer”, when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer of the Trustee assigned by the Trustee to administer its corporate trust matters and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

Security” or “Securities” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and, more particularly, means any Security or Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture; provided, however, that, if at any time there is more than one Person acting as Trustee under this Indenture, “Securities” with respect to the Indenture as to which such Person is Trustee shall have the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and shall more particularly mean Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, exclusive, however, of Securities of any series as to which such Person is not Trustee.

Security Register” and “Security Registrar” have the respective meanings specified in Section 305.

Senior Indebtedness” means the principal of (and premium, if any) and unpaid interest on (a) indebtedness of the Company (including indebtedness of others guaranteed by the Company), whether outstanding on the date hereof or thereafter created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed, for money borrowed, unless in the instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding it is provided that such indebtedness is expressly subordinated, and is not senior or prior in right of payment, to Subordinated Indebtedness, (b) Senior Securities and (c) renewals, extensions, modifications and refinancings of any such indebtedness.

Senior Security” or “Senior Securities” means any Security or Securities designated pursuant to Section 301 as a Senior Security.

Senior Subordinated Indebtedness” means the principal of (and premium, if any) and unpaid interest on (a) indebtedness of the Company (including indebtedness of others guaranteed by the Company), whether outstanding on the date hereof or thereafter created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed, for money borrowed, which in the instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding it is provided that such indebtedness is expressly subordinated, and ranks junior in right of payment, to the Company’s Senior Indebtedness, equally and pari passu in right of payment with all other Senior Subordinated Indebtedness and senior in right of payment to any Junior Subordinated Indebtedness, (b) Senior Subordinated Securities and (c) renewals, extensions, modifications and refinancings of any such indebtedness.

Senior Subordinated Security” or “Senior Subordinated Securities” means any Security or Securities designated pursuant to Section 301 as a Senior Subordinated Security.

 

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Special Record Date” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Registered Securities of or within any series means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 307.

Stated Maturity” means, when used with respect to any Security or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, the date specified in such Security or a coupon representing such installment of interest as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal or interest is due and payable, as such date may be extended pursuant to the provisions of Section 308.

Subordinated Indebtedness” means any Senior Subordinated Indebtedness or Junior Subordinated Indebtedness.

Subsidiary” means any corporation a majority of the outstanding voting stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or more other Subsidiaries of the Company. For the purposes of this definition, “voting stock” means stock having voting power for the election of directors, whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of stock has such voting power by reason of any contingency.

Trust Indenture Act” or “TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, as in force at the date as of which this Indenture was executed, except as provided in Section 905.

Trustee” means the Person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this Indenture until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder; provided, however, that if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean only the Trustee with respect to Securities of that series.

United States” means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, the United States of America (including the states and the District of Columbia), its territories, its possessions and other areas subject to its jurisdiction.

United States person” means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, any individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States, a corporation, partnership or other entity created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia (other than a partnership that is not treated as a United States Person under any applicable Treasury regulations), any estate the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source, or any trust if a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more United States persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, to the extent provided in the Treasury regulations, certain trusts in existence on August 20, 1996, and treated as United States persons prior to such date that elect to continue to be treated as United States Persons, will also be United States persons.

Valuation Date” has the meaning specified in Section 312(c).

Yield to Maturity” means the yield to maturity, computed at the time of issuance of a Security (or, if applicable, at the most recent redetermination of interest on such Security) and as set forth in such Security in accordance with generally accepted United States bond yield computation principles.

 

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Section 102. Compliance Certificates and Opinions.

Upon any application or request by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent, if any, have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or request as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or request, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.

Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than pursuant to Section 1005) shall include:

(1) a statement that each individual signing such certificate or opinion has read such condition or covenant and the definitions herein relating thereto;

(2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

(3) a statement that, in the opinion of each such individual, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable such individual to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such condition or covenant has been complied with; and

(4) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such individual, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

Section 103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.

In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion as to some matters and one or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.

Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon an Opinion of Counsel, or a certificate or representations by counsel, unless such officer knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the opinion, certificate or representations with respect to the matters upon which his certificate or opinion is based are erroneous. Any such Opinion of Counsel or certificate or representations may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an officer or officers of the Company stating that the information as to such factual matters is in the possession of the Company, unless such counsel knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations as to such matters are erroneous.

Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.

 

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Section 104. Acts of Holders.

(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders of the Outstanding Securities of all series or one or more series, as the case may be, may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by agents duly appointed in writing. If Securities of a series are issuable as Bearer Securities, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders of Securities of such series may, alternatively, be embodied in and evidenced by the record of Holders of Securities of such series voting in favor thereof, either in person or by proxies duly appointed in writing, at any meeting of Holders of Securities of such series duly called and held in accordance with the provisions of Article Fifteen, or a combination of such instruments and any such record. Except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments or record or both are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments and any such record (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments or so voting at any such meeting. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent, or of the holding by any Person of a Security, shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company and any agent of the Trustee or the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section. The record of any meeting of Holders of Securities shall be proved in the manner provided in Section 1506.

(b) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him or her the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner that the Trustee deems reasonably sufficient.

(c) The ownership of Registered Securities shall be proved by the Security Register.

(d) The ownership of Bearer Securities may be proved by the production of such Bearer Securities or by a certificate executed, as depositary, by any trust company, bank, banker or other depositary, wherever situated, if such certificate shall be deemed by the Trustee to be satisfactory, showing that at the date therein mentioned such Person had on deposit with such depositary, or exhibited to it, the Bearer Securities therein described; or such facts may be proved by the certificate or affidavit of the Person holding such Bearer Securities, if such certificate or affidavit is deemed by the Trustee to be satisfactory. The Trustee and the Company may assume that such ownership of any Bearer Security continues until (1) another certificate or affidavit bearing a later date issued in respect of the same Bearer Security is produced, or (2) such Bearer Security is produced to the Trustee by some other Person, or (3) such Bearer Security is surrendered in exchange for a Registered Security, or (4) such Bearer Security is no longer Outstanding. The ownership of Bearer Securities may also be proved in any other manner that the Trustee deems reasonably sufficient.

(e) If the Company shall solicit from the Holders of Registered Securities any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, the Company may, at its option, in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. Notwithstanding TIA Section 316(c), such record date shall

 

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be the record date specified in or pursuant to such Board Resolution, which shall be a date not earlier than the date 30 days prior to the first solicitation of Holders generally in connection therewith and not later than the date such solicitation is completed. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act may be given before or after such record date, but only the Holders of record at the close of business on such record date shall be deemed to be Holders for the purposes of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of Outstanding Securities have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, and for that purpose the Outstanding Securities shall be computed as of such record date; provided that no such authorization, agreement or consent by the Holders on such record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than eleven months after the record date.

(f) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act of the Holder of any Security shall bind every future Holder of the same Security and the Holder of every Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustee, any Security Registrar, any Paying Agent, any Authenticating Agent or the Company in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Security.

Section 105. Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company.

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or Act of Holders or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with:

(1) the Trustee by any Holder or by the Company shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished, filed or mailed, first-class postage prepaid in writing to or with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office, Attention: [                    ]; or

(2) the Company by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to the Company addressed to it at the address of its principal office specified in the first paragraph of this Indenture, to the attention of its Chief Financial Officer or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company.

Section 106. Notice to Holders; Waiver.

Where this Indenture provides for notice of any event to Holders of Registered Securities by the Company or the Trustee, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each such Holder affected by such event, at his address as it appears in the Security Register, not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders of Registered Securities is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders of Registered Securities or the sufficiency of any notice to Holders of Bearer Securities given as provided herein. Any notice mailed to a Holder in the manner herein prescribed shall be conclusively deemed to have been received by such Holder, whether or not such Holder actually receives such notice.

If by reason of the suspension of or irregularities in regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail, then such notification to Holders of Registered Securities as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification to such Holders for every purpose hereunder.

 

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Except as otherwise expressly provided herein or otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of Bearer Securities of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given if published in an Authorized Newspaper in The City of New York and in such other city or cities as may be specified in such Securities on a Business Day, such publication to be not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the giving of such notice. Any such notice shall be deemed to have been given on the date of such publication or, if published more than once, on the date of the first such publication.

If by reason of the suspension of publication of any Authorized Newspaper or Authorized Newspapers or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to publish any notice to Holders of Bearer Securities as provided above, then such notification to Holders of Bearer Securities as shall be given with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute sufficient notice to such Holders for every purpose hereunder. Neither the failure to give notice by publication to Holders of Bearer Securities as provided above nor any defect in any notice so published shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders of Bearer Securities or the sufficiency of any notice to Holders of Registered Securities given as provided herein.

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver required or permitted under this Indenture shall be in the English language, except that any published notice may be in an official language of the country of publication.

Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

Section 107. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.

The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

Section 108. Successors and Assigns.

All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

Section 109. Separability Clause.

In case any provision in this Indenture or in any Security or coupon shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

Section 110. Benefits of Indenture.

Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities or coupons, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto, any Security Registrar, any Paying Agent, any Authenticating Agent and their successors hereunder and the Holders any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

 

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Section 111. Governing Law.

This Indenture and the Securities and coupons shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York. This Indenture is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of this Indenture and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.

Section 112. Legal Holidays.

In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Repayment Date, sinking fund payment date, Stated Maturity or Maturity of any Security shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or any Security or coupon other than a provision in the Securities of any series which specifically states that such provision shall apply in lieu of this Section), payment of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Repayment Date or sinking fund payment date, or at the Stated Maturity or Maturity; provided that no interest shall accrue on the amount so payable for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Repayment Date, sinking fund payment date, Stated Maturity or Maturity, as the case may be.

Section 113. Submission to Jurisdiction.

The Company hereby irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any New York state or federal court sitting in The City of New York in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to the Indenture and the Securities of any series, and the Company hereby irrevocably agrees that all claims in respect of such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such state or federal court in New York. The Company hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent it may effectively do so, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding.

ARTICLE TWO

SECURITIES FORMS

Section 201. Forms of Securities.

The Registered Securities, if any, of each series and the Bearer Securities, if any, of each series and related coupons, the temporary global Securities of each series, if any, and the permanent global Securities of each series, if any, to be endorsed thereon shall be in substantially the forms as shall be established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto or approved from time to time by or pursuant to a Board Resolution in accordance with Section 301, shall have such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture or any indenture supplemental hereto, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification or designation and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which the Securities may be listed, or to conform to usage.

Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, Bearer Securities shall have interest coupons attached.

 

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The definitive Securities and coupons shall be printed, lithographed, engraved, photocopied, produced by any combination of these methods on a steel engraved border or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the officers executing such Securities or coupons, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities or coupons.

Section 202. Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication.

Subject to Section 611, the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:

This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

  [                    ], Trustee

By:

   
  Authorized Officer

Section 203. Securities Issuable in Global Form.

If Securities of or within a series are issuable in global form, as specified as contemplated by Section 301, then, notwithstanding clause (8) of Section 301 and the provisions of Section 302, any such Security shall represent such of the Outstanding Securities of such series as shall be specified therein and may provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities of such series from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities of such series represented thereby may from time to time be increased or decreased to reflect exchanges. Any endorsement of a Security in global form to reflect the amount, or any increase or decrease in the amount, of Outstanding Securities represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee or the Security Registrar in such manner and upon instructions given by such Person or Persons as shall be specified therein or in the Company Order to be delivered to the Trustee pursuant to Section 303 or 304. Subject to the provisions of Section 303 and, if applicable, Section 304, the Trustee or the Security Registrar shall deliver and redeliver any Security in permanent global form in the manner and upon instructions given by the Person or Persons specified therein or in the applicable Company Order. If a Company Order pursuant to Section 303 or 304 has been, or simultaneously is, delivered, any instructions by the Company with respect to endorsement, delivery or redelivery of a Security in global form shall be in writing but need not comply with Section 102 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel.

The provisions of the last sentence of Section 303 shall apply to any Security represented by a Security in global form if such Security was never issued and sold by the Company and the Company delivers to the Trustee or the Security Registrar the Security in global form together with written instructions (which need not comply with Section 102 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) with regard to the reduction in the principal amount of Securities represented thereby, together with the written statement contemplated by the last sentence of Section 303.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 307, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on any Security in permanent global form shall be made to the Person or Persons specified therein.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 309 and except as provided in the preceding paragraph, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company and the Trustee shall treat as the Holder of such principal amount of Outstanding Securities represented by a permanent global Security (i) in the case of a

 

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permanent global Security in registered form, the Holder of such permanent global Security in registered form or (ii) in the case of a permanent global Security in bearer form, Euroclear or Clearstream.

ARTICLE THREE

THE SECURITIES

Section 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series.

The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.

The Securities may be issued in one or more series and shall be designated as Senior Securities, Senior Subordinated Securities or Junior Subordinated Securities. Senior Securities are unsubordinated, shall rank equally and pari passu with all of the Company’s Senior Indebtedness and senior to all Subordinated Securities. Senior Subordinated Securities be expressly subordinated and shall rank junior to the Company’s Senior Indebtedness, equally and pari passu with all other Senior Subordinated Indebtedness and senior to any Junior Subordinated Indebtedness. Junior Subordinated Securities shall be expressly subordinated and rank junior to the Company’s Senior Indebtedness and any Senior Subordinated Indebtedness and equally and pari passu with all other Junior Subordinated Indebtedness. There shall be established in one or more Board Resolutions or pursuant to authority granted by one or more Board Resolutions and, subject to Section 303, set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in an Officer’s Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series, any or all of the following, as applicable (each of which (except for the matters set forth in clauses (1), (2) and (15) below), if so provided, may be determined from time to time by the Company with respect to unissued Securities of the series when issued from time to time):

(1) the title of the Securities of the series including CUSIP numbers (which shall distinguish the Securities of such series from all other series of Securities);

(2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the series that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the series pursuant to Section 304, 305, 306, 906, 1107 or 1305, and except for any Securities which, pursuant to Section 303, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder);

(3) the date or dates, or the method by which such date or dates shall be determined or extended, on which the principal of the Securities of the series shall be payable;

(4) the rate or rates at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, or the method by which such rate or rates shall be determined, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue or the method by which such date or dates shall be determined, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest shall be payable and the Regular Record Date, if any, for the interest payable on any Registered Security on any Interest Payment Date, or the method by which such date shall be determined, and the basis upon which such interest shall be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months;

(5) the place or places, if any, other than or in addition to the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on Securities of the series shall be payable, any Registered Securities of the series may be surrendered for registration of transfer, Securities of the series may be surrendered for exchange, where Securities of that series that are

 

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convertible or exchangeable may be surrendered for conversion or exchange, as applicable, and where notices or demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of the series and this Indenture may be served;

(6) the period or periods within which, or the date or dates on which, the price or prices at which, the Currency or Currencies in which, and other terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company, if the Company is to have the option;

(7) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem, repay or purchase Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provision or at the option of a Holder thereof, and the period or periods within which or the date or dates on which, the price or prices at which, the Currency or Currencies in which, and other terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series shall be redeemed, repaid or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

(8) if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denomination or denominations in which any Registered Securities of the series shall be issuable and, if other than denominations of $5,000, the denomination or denominations in which any Bearer Securities of the series shall be issuable;

(9) if other than the Trustee, the identity of each Security Registrar and/or Paying Agent;

(10) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of the series that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502, upon redemption of the Securities of the series which are redeemable before their Stated Maturity, upon surrender for repayment at the option of the Holder, or which the Trustee shall be entitled to claim pursuant to Section 504 or the method by which such portion shall be determined;

(11) if other than Dollars, the Currency or Currencies in which payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Securities of the series shall be made or in which the Securities of the series shall be denominated and the particular provisions applicable thereto in accordance with, in addition to or in lieu of any of the provisions of Section 312;

(12) whether the amount of payments of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method (which index, formula or method may be based, without limitation, on one or more Currencies, commodities, equity indices or other indices), and the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

(13) whether the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Securities of the series are to be payable, at the election of the Company or a Holder thereof, in one or more Currencies other than that in which such Securities are denominated or stated to be payable, the period or periods within which (including the Election Date), and the terms and conditions upon which, such election may be made, and the time and manner of determining the exchange rate between the Currency or Currencies in which such Securities are denominated or stated to be payable and the Currency or Currencies in which such Securities are to be paid, in each case in accordance with, in addition to or in lieu of any of the provisions of Section 312;

(14) provisions, if any, granting special rights to the Holders of Securities of the series upon the occurrence of such events as may be specified;

 

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(15) any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the Events of Default or covenants (including any deletions from, modifications of or additions to any of the provisions of Section 1007) of the Company with respect to Securities of the series, whether or not such Events of Default or covenants are consistent with the Events of Default or covenants set forth herein;

(16) whether Securities of the series are to be issuable as Registered Securities, Bearer Securities (with or without coupons) or both, any restrictions applicable to the offer, sale or delivery of Bearer Securities and the terms upon which Bearer Securities of the series may be exchanged for Registered Securities of the series and vice versa (if permitted by applicable laws and regulations), whether any Securities of the series are to be issuable initially in temporary global form with or without coupons and whether any Securities of the series are to be issuable in permanent global form with or without coupons and, if so, whether beneficial owners of interests in any such permanent global Security may exchange such interests for Securities of such series in certificated form and of like tenor of any authorized form and denomination and the circumstances under which any such exchanges may occur, if other than in the manner provided in Section 305, whether Registered Securities of the series may be exchanged for Bearer Securities of the series (if permitted by applicable laws and regulations), whether Bearer Securities of the series may be exchanged for Registered Securities of the series, and the circumstances under which and the place or places where such exchanges may be made and if Securities of the series are to be issuable as a global Security, the identity of the depository for such series;

(17) the date as of which any Bearer Securities of the series and any temporary global Security representing Outstanding Securities of the series shall be dated if other than the date of original issuance of the first Security of the series to be issued;

(18) the Person to whom any interest on any Registered Security of the series shall be payable, if other than the Person in whose name such Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, the manner in which, or the Person to whom, any interest on any Bearer Security of the series shall be payable, if otherwise than upon presentation and surrender of the coupons appertaining thereto as they severally mature, and the extent to which, or the manner in which, any interest payable on a temporary global Security on an Interest Payment Date will be paid if other than in the manner provided in Section 304; and the extent to which, or the manner in which, any interest payable on a permanent global Security on an Interest Payment Date shall be paid if other than in the manner provided in Section 307;

(19) the applicability, if any, of Sections 1402 and/or 1403 to the Securities of the series and any provisions in modification of, in addition to or in lieu of any of the provisions of Article Fourteen;

(20) if the Securities of such series are to be issuable in definitive form (whether upon original issue or upon exchange of a temporary Security of such series) only upon receipt of certain certificates or other documents or satisfaction of other conditions, then the form and/or terms of such certificates, documents or conditions;

(21) whether, under what circumstances and the Currency in which, the Company shall pay Additional Amounts as contemplated by Section 1004 on the Securities of the series to any Holder who is not a United States Person (including any modification to the definition of such term) in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge and, if so, whether the Company will have the option to redeem such Securities rather than pay such Additional Amounts (and the terms of any such option);

(22) the designation of the initial Exchange Rate Agent, if any;

 

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(23) if the Securities of the series are to be issued upon the exercise of warrants, the time, manner and place for such Securities to be authenticated and delivered;

(24) if the Securities of the series are to be convertible into or exchangeable for any securities of any Person (including the Company), the terms and conditions upon which such Securities shall be so convertible or exchangeable; and

(25) any other terms of the series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture or the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act).

All Securities of any one series and the coupons appertaining to any Bearer Securities of such series shall be substantially identical except, in the case of Registered Securities, as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to the Board Resolution referred to above (subject to Section 303) and set forth in the Officer’s Certificate referred to above or in any such indenture supplemental hereto. All Securities of any one series need not be issued at the same time and, unless otherwise provided, a series may be reopened, without the consent of the Holders, for issuances of additional Securities of such series.

If any of the terms of the Securities of any series are established by action taken pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions, a copy of an appropriate record of such action(s) shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officer’s Certificate setting forth the terms of the Securities of such series.

Section 302. Denominations.

The Securities of each series shall be issuable in such denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 301. With respect to Securities of any series denominated in Dollars, in the absence of any such provisions with respect to the Securities of any series, the Registered Securities of such series, other than Registered Securities issued in global form (which may be of any denomination) shall be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, and the Bearer Securities of such series, other than Bearer Securities issued in global form (which may be of any denomination), shall be issuable in a denomination of $5,000.

Section 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.

The Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, its President or one of its Vice Presidents, under its corporate seal reproduced thereon, and attested by its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries. The signature of any of these officers on the Securities and coupons may be manual or facsimile signatures of the present or any future such authorized officer and may be imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Securities.

Securities or coupons bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper officers of the Company shall bind the Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold such offices at the date of such Securities or coupons.

At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series, together with any coupon appertaining thereto, executed by the Company, to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, Upon delivery of the Company Order, the Trustee shall authenticate

 

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and deliver such Securities in accordance there with ; provided, however, that, in connection with its original issuance, no Bearer Security shall be mailed or otherwise delivered to any location in the United States; and provided further that, unless otherwise specified with respect to any series of Securities pursuant to Section 301, a Bearer Security may be delivered in connection with its original issuance only if the Person entitled to receive such Bearer Security shall have furnished a certificate in the form set forth in Exhibit A-1 to this Indenture or such other certificate as may be specified with respect to any series of Securities pursuant to Section 301, dated no earlier than 15 days prior to the earlier of the date on which such Bearer Security is delivered and the date on which any temporary Security first becomes exchangeable for such Bearer Security in accordance with the terms of such temporary Security and this Indenture. If any Security shall be represented by a permanent global Bearer Security, then, for purposes of this Section and Section 304, the notation of a beneficial owner’s interest therein upon original issuance of such Security or upon exchange of a portion of a temporary global Security shall be deemed to be delivery in connection with its original issuance of such beneficial owner’s interest in such permanent global Security. Except as permitted by Section 306, the Trustee shall not authenticate and deliver any Bearer Security unless all appurtenant coupons for interest then matured have been detached and cancelled.

If all the Securities of any series are not to be issued at one time and if the Board Resolution or supplemental indenture establishing such series shall so permit, such Company Order may set forth procedures acceptable to the Trustee for the issuance of such Securities and determining the terms of particular Securities of such series, such as interest rate, maturity date, date of issuance and date from which interest shall accrue. In authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to TIA Section 315(a) through 315(d)) shall be fully protected in relying upon,

(i) an Opinion of Counsel stating,

(a) that the form or forms of such Securities and any coupons have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

(b) that the terms of such Securities and any coupons have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; and

(c) that such Securities, together with any coupons appertaining thereto, when completed by appropriate insertions and executed and delivered by the Company to the Trustee for authentication in accordance with this Indenture, authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in accordance with this Indenture and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights, to general equitable principles and to such other qualifications as such counsel shall conclude do not materially affect the rights of Holders of such Securities and any coupons; and

(ii) an Officer’s Certificate stating, to the best of the knowledge of the signers of such certificate, that no Event of Default with respect to any of the Securities shall have occurred and be continuing.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 301 and of this Section 303, if all the Securities of any series are not to be issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver an Officer’s Certificate otherwise required pursuant to Section 301 or the Company Order, Opinion of Counsel or Officer’s Certificate otherwise required pursuant to the preceding paragraph at the time of issuance of each Security

 

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of such series, but such order, opinion and certificates, with appropriate modifications to cover such future issuances, shall be delivered at or before the time of issuance of the first Security of such series.

If such form or terms have been so established, the Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Securities if the issue of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties, obligations or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner which is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing, the Trustee shall not be required to authenticate Securities denominated in a Foreign Currency if the Trustee reasonably believes that it would be unable to perform its duties with respect to such Securities.

Each Registered Security shall be dated the date of its authentication and each Bearer Security shall be dated as of the date specified as contemplated by Section 301.

No Security or coupon shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security or Security to which such coupon appertains a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein duly executed by the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent by manual signature of an authorized signatory, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security shall have been authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the Company, and the Company shall deliver such Security to the Trustee for cancellation as provided in Section 310 together with a written statement (which need not comply with Section 102 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) stating that such Security has never been issued and sold by the Company, for all purposes of this Indenture such Security shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

Section 304. Temporary Securities.

(a) Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities which are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued, in registered form, or, if authorized, in bearer form with one or more coupons or without coupons, and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Securities may determine, as conclusively evidenced by their execution of such Securities. In the case of Securities of any series, such temporary Securities may be in global form.

Except in the case of temporary Securities in global form (which shall be exchanged in accordance with Section 304(b) or as otherwise provided in or pursuant to a Board Resolution), if temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause definitive Securities of that series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Securities of such series, the temporary Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for definitive Securities of such series upon surrender of the temporary Securities of such series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities of any series (accompanied by any non-matured coupons appertaining thereto), the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount and like tenor of definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations; provided, however, that no definitive Bearer Security shall be delivered in exchange for a temporary Registered Security; and provided further that a definitive Bearer Security shall be delivered in exchange for a temporary Bearer Security only in compliance with the conditions set forth in Section 303. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series.

 

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(b) Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, this Section 304(b) shall govern the exchange of temporary Securities issued in global form. If temporary Securities of any series are issued in global form, any such temporary global Security shall, unless otherwise provided therein, be delivered to the London office of a depositary or common depositary (the “Common Depositary”), for the benefit of Euroclear and Clearstream, for credit to the respective accounts of the beneficial owners of such Securities (or to such other accounts as they may direct).

Without unnecessary delay but in any event not later than the date specified in, or determined pursuant to the terms of, any such temporary global Security (the “Exchange Date”), the Company shall deliver to the Trustee definitive Securities, in aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such temporary global Security, executed by the Company. On or after the Exchange Date, such temporary global Security shall be surrendered by the Common Depositary to the Trustee, as the Company’s agent for such purpose, or to the Security Registrar, to be exchanged, in whole or from time to time in part, for definitive Securities without charge, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for each portion of such temporary global Security, an equal aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor as the portion of such temporary global Security to be exchanged. The definitive Securities to be delivered in exchange for any such temporary global Security shall be in bearer form, registered form, permanent global bearer form or permanent global registered form, or any combination thereof, as specified as contemplated by Section 301, and, if any combination thereof is so specified, as requested by the beneficial owner thereof; provided, however, that, unless otherwise specified in such temporary global Security, upon such presentation by the Common Depositary, such temporary global Security is accompanied by a certificate dated the Exchange Date or a subsequent date and signed by Euroclear as to the portion of such temporary global Security held for its account then to be exchanged and a certificate dated the Exchange Date or a subsequent date and signed by Clearstream as to the portion of such temporary global Security held for its account then to be exchanged, each in the form set forth in Exhibit A-2 to this Indenture or in such other form as may be established pursuant to Section 301; and provided further that definitive Bearer Securities shall be delivered in exchange for a portion of a temporary global Security only in compliance with the requirements of Section 303.

Unless otherwise specified in such temporary global Security, the interest of a beneficial owner of Securities of a series in a temporary global Security shall be exchanged for definitive Securities of the same series and of like tenor following the Exchange Date when the account holder instructs Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, to request such exchange on his behalf and delivers to Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, a certificate in the form set forth in Exhibit A-1 to this Indenture (or in such other form as may be established pursuant to Section 301), dated no earlier than 15 days prior to the Exchange Date, copies of which certificate shall be available from the offices of Euroclear and Clearstream, the Trustee, any Authenticating Agent appointed for such series of Securities and each Paying Agent. Unless otherwise specified in such temporary global Security, any such exchange shall be made free of charge to the beneficial owners of such temporary global Security, except that a Person receiving definitive Securities must bear the cost of insurance, postage, transportation and the like unless such Person takes delivery of such definitive Securities in person at the offices of Euroclear or Clearstream. Definitive Securities in bearer form to be delivered in exchange for any portion of a temporary global Security shall be delivered only outside the United States.

Until exchanged in full as hereinabove provided, the temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of the same series and of like tenor authenticated and delivered hereunder, except that, unless otherwise specified as

 

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contemplated by Section 301, interest payable on a temporary global Security on an Interest Payment Date for Securities of such series occurring prior to the applicable Exchange Date shall be payable to Euroclear and Clearstream on such Interest Payment Date upon delivery by Euroclear and Clearstream to the Trustee or the applicable Paying Agent of a certificate or certificates in the form set forth in Exhibit A-2 to this Indenture (or in such other forms as may be established pursuant to Section 301), for credit without further interest on or after such Interest Payment Date to the respective accounts of Persons who are the beneficial owners of such temporary global Security on such Interest Payment Date and who have each delivered to Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, a certificate dated no earlier than 15 days prior to the Interest Payment Date occurring prior to such Exchange Date in the form set forth as Exhibit A-1 to this Indenture (or in such other forms as may be established pursuant to Section 301). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein contained, the certifications made pursuant to this paragraph shall satisfy the certification requirements of the preceding two paragraphs of this Section 304(b) and of the third paragraph of Section 303 of this Indenture and the interests of the Persons who are the beneficial owners of the temporary global Security with respect to which such certification was made will be exchanged for definitive Securities of the same series and of like tenor on the Exchange Date or the date of certification if such date occurs after the Exchange Date, without further act or deed by such beneficial owners. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, no payments of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, owing with respect to a beneficial interest in a temporary global Security will be made unless and until such interest in such temporary global Security shall have been exchanged for an interest in a definitive Security. Any interest so received by Euroclear and Clearstream and not paid as herein provided shall be returned to the Trustee or the applicable Paying Agent immediately prior to the expiration of two years after such Interest Payment Date in order to be repaid to the Company.

Section 305. Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange.

The Company shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee or in any office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment a register for each series of Securities (the registers maintained in such office or in any such office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment being herein sometimes referred to collectively as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Registered Securities and of transfers of Registered Securities. The Security Register shall be in written form or any other form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable time. The Trustee, at its Corporate Trust Office, is hereby initially appointed “Security Registrar” for the purpose of registering Registered Securities and transfers of Registered Securities on such Security Register as herein provided, and for facilitating exchanges of temporary global Securities for permanent global Securities or definitive Securities, or both, or of permanent global Securities for definitive Securities, or both, as herein provided. In the event that the Trustee shall cease to be Security Registrar, it shall have the right to examine the Security Register at all reasonable times.

Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Registered Security of any series at any office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Registered Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount, bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding and containing identical terms and provisions.

At the option of the Holder, Registered Securities of any series may be exchanged for other Registered Securities of the same series, of any authorized denomination or denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount, containing identical terms and provisions, upon surrender of the Registered Securities to be exchanged at any such office or agency. Whenever any Registered Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the

 

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Registered Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive. Unless otherwise specified with respect to any series of Securities as contemplated by Section 301, Bearer Securities may not be issued in exchange for Registered Securities.

If (but only if) permitted by the applicable Board Resolution and (subject to Section 303) set forth in the applicable Officer’s Certificate, or in any indenture supplemental hereto, delivered as contemplated by Section 301, at the option of the Holder, Bearer Securities of any series may be exchanged for Registered Securities of the same series of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor, upon surrender of the Bearer Securities to be exchanged at any such office or agency, with all unmatured coupons and all matured coupons in default thereto appertaining. If the Holder of a Bearer Security is unable to produce any such unmatured coupon or coupons or matured coupon or coupons in default, any such permitted exchange may be effected if the Bearer Securities are accompanied by payment in funds acceptable to the Company in an amount equal to the face amount of such missing coupon or coupons, or the surrender of such missing coupon or coupons may be waived by the Company and the Trustee if there is furnished to them such security or indemnity as they may require to save each of them and any Paying Agent harmless. If thereafter the Holder of such Security shall surrender to any Paying Agent any such missing coupon in respect of which such a payment shall have been made, such Holder shall be entitled to receive the amount of such payment; provided, however, that, except as otherwise provided in Section 1002, interest represented by coupons shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of those coupons at an office or agency located outside the United States. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in case a Bearer Security of any series is surrendered at any such office or agency in a permitted exchange for a Registered Security of the same series and like tenor after the close of business at such office or agency on (i) any Regular Record Date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the relevant Interest Payment Date, or (ii) any Special Record Date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the related proposed date for payment of Defaulted Interest, such Bearer Security shall be surrendered without the coupon relating to such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, and interest or Defaulted Interest, as the case may be, will not be payable on such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, in respect of the Registered Security issued in exchange for such Bearer Security, but will be payable only to the Holder of such coupon when due in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, any permanent global Security shall be exchangeable only as provided in this paragraph. If any beneficial owner of an interest in a permanent global Security is entitled to exchange such interest for Securities of such series and of like tenor and principal amount of another authorized form and denomination, as specified as contemplated by Section 301 and provided that any applicable notice provided in the permanent global Security shall have been given, then without unnecessary delay but in any event not later than the earliest date on which such interest may be so exchanged, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee definitive Securities in aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such beneficial owner’s interest in such permanent global Security, executed by the Company. On or after the earliest date on which such interests may be so exchanged, such permanent global Security shall be surrendered by the Common Depositary or such other depositary as shall be specified in the Company Order with respect thereto to the Trustee, as the Company’s agent for such purpose, or to the Security Registrar, to be exchanged, in whole or from time to time in part, for definitive Securities of the same series without charge and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for each portion of such permanent global Security, an equal aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor as the portion of such permanent global Security to be

 

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exchanged which, unless the Securities of the series are not issuable both as Bearer Securities and as Registered Securities, in which case the definitive Securities exchanged for the permanent global Security shall be issuable only in the form in which the Securities are issuable, as specified as contemplated by Section 301, shall be in the form of Bearer Securities or Registered Securities, or any combination thereof, as shall be specified by the beneficial owner thereof; provided, however, that no such exchanges may occur during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before any selection of Securities to be redeemed and ending on the relevant Redemption Date if the Security for which exchange is requested may be among those selected for redemption; and provided further that no Bearer Security delivered in exchange for a portion of a permanent global Security shall be mailed or otherwise delivered to any location in the United States. If a Registered Security is issued in exchange for any portion of a permanent global Security after the close of business at the office or agency where such exchange occurs on (i) any Regular Record Date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the relevant Interest Payment Date, or (ii) any Special Record Date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the related proposed date for payment of Defaulted Interest, interest or Defaulted Interest, as the case may be, will not be payable on such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, in respect of such Registered Security, but will be payable on such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, only to the Person to whom interest in respect of such portion of such permanent global Security is payable in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

All Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities shall be valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Securities surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

Every Registered Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Security Registrar or any transfer agent) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar, duly executed by the Holder thereof or his attorney or any transfer agent duly authorized in writing.

No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company or the Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 304, 906, 1107 or 1305 not involving any transfer.

The Company shall not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Security if such Security may be among those selected for redemption during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before selection of the Securities to be redeemed under Section 1103 and ending at the close of business on (A) if such Securities are issuable only as Registered Securities, the day of the mailing of the relevant notice of redemption and (B) if such Securities are issuable as Bearer Securities, the day of the first publication of the relevant notice of redemption or, if such Securities are also issuable as Registered Securities and there is no publication, the mailing of the relevant notice of redemption, or (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Registered Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except, in the case of any Registered Security to be redeemed in part, the portion thereof not to be redeemed, or (iii) to exchange any Bearer Security so selected for redemption except that such a Bearer Security may be exchanged for a Registered Security of that series and like tenor, provided that such Registered Security shall be simultaneously surrendered for redemption, or (iv) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Security which has been surrendered for repayment at the option of the Holder, except the portion, if any, of such Security not to be so repaid.

 

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Section 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.

If any mutilated Security or a Security with a mutilated coupon appertaining to it is surrendered to the Trustee or the Company, together with, in proper cases, such security or indemnity as may be required by the Company or the Trustee to save each of them or any agent of either of them harmless, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same series and principal amount, containing identical terms and provisions and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, with coupons corresponding to the coupons, if any, appertaining to the surrendered Security.

If there shall be delivered to the Company and to the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security or coupon, and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security or coupon has been acquired by a protected purchaser, the Company shall, subject to the following paragraph, execute and upon its request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security or in exchange for the Security to which a destroyed, lost or stolen coupon appertains (with all appurtenant coupons not destroyed, lost or stolen), a new Security of the same series and principal amount, containing identical terms and provisions and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, with coupons corresponding to the coupons, if any, appertaining to such destroyed, lost or stolen Security or to the Security to which such destroyed, lost or stolen coupon appertains.

Notwithstanding the provisions of the previous two paragraphs, in case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security or coupon has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, with coupons corresponding to the coupons, if any, appertaining to such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security or to the Security to which such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen coupon appertains, pay such Security or coupon, as the case may be; provided, however, that payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on Bearer Securities shall, except as otherwise provided in Section 1002, be payable only at an office or agency located outside the United States and, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, any interest on Bearer Securities shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of the coupons appertaining thereto.

Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.

Every new Security of any series with its coupons, if any, issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security, or in exchange for a Security to which a destroyed, lost or stolen coupon appertains, shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security and its coupons, if any, or the destroyed, lost or stolen coupon shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that series and their coupons, if any, duly issued hereunder.

The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities or coupons.

 

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Section 307. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved; Optional Interest Reset.

(a) Except as otherwise specified with respect to a series of Securities in accordance with the provisions of Section 301, interest, if any, on any Registered Security that is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose pursuant to Section 1002; provided, however, that each installment of interest, if any, on any Registered Security may at the Company’s option be paid by (i) mailing a check for such interest, payable to or upon the written order of the Person entitled thereto pursuant to Section 309, to the address of such Person as it appears on the Security Register or (ii) transfer to an account maintained by the payee located in the United States.

Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to the Securities of any series, payment of interest, if any, may be made, in the case of a Bearer Security, by transfer to an account maintained by the payee with a bank located outside the United States.

Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301, every permanent global Security will provide that interest, if any, payable on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to each of Euroclear and Clearstream with respect to that portion of such permanent global Security held for its account by the Common Depositary, for the purpose of permitting each of Euroclear and Clearstream to credit the interest, if any, received by it in respect of such permanent global Security to the accounts of the beneficial owners thereof.

In case a Bearer Security of any series is surrendered in exchange for a Registered Security of such series after the close of business (at an office or agency in a Place of Payment for such series) on any Regular Record Date and before the opening of business (at such office or agency) on the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, such Bearer Security shall be surrendered without the coupon relating to such Interest Payment Date and interest will not be payable on such Interest Payment Date in respect of the Registered Security issued in exchange for such Bearer Security, but shall be payable only to the Holder of such coupon when due in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

Except as otherwise specified with respect to a series of Securities in accordance with the provisions of Section 301, any interest on any Registered Security of any series that is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered Holder thereof on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (1) or (2) below:

(1) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Registered Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Registered Security of such series and the date of the proposed payment (which shall not be less than 20 days after such notice is received by the Trustee), and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of such series and except, if applicable, as provided in Sections 312(b), 312(d) and 312(e)) equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit on or prior to the date of the proposed

 

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payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder of Registered Securities of such series at his address as it appears in the Security Register not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Registered Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (2). In case a Bearer Security of any series is surrendered at the office or agency in a Place of Payment for such series in exchange for a Registered Security of such series after the close of business at such office or agency on any Special Record Date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the related proposed date for payment of Defaulted Interest, such Bearer Security shall be surrendered without the coupon relating to such proposed date of payment and Defaulted Interest will not be payable on such proposed date of payment in respect of the Registered Security issued in exchange for such Bearer Security, but will be payable only to the Holder of such coupon when due in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

(2) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Registered Securities of any series in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

(b) The provisions of this Section 307(b) may be made applicable to any series of Securities pursuant to Section 301 (with such modifications, additions or substitutions as may be specified pursuant to such Section 301). The interest rate (or the spread or spread multiplier used to calculate such interest rate, if applicable) on any Security of such series may be reset by the Company on the date or dates specified on the face of such Security (each an “Optional Reset Date”). The Company may exercise such option with respect to such Security by notifying the Trustee of such exercise at least 45 but not more than 60 days prior to an Optional Reset Date for such Security. Not later than 40 days prior to each Optional Reset Date, the Trustee shall transmit, in the manner provided for in Section 106, to the Holder of any such Security a notice (the “Reset Notice”) indicating whether the Company has elected to reset the interest rate (or the spread or spread multiplier used to calculate such interest rate, if applicable), and if so (i) such new interest rate (or such new spread or spread multiplier, if applicable) and (ii) the provisions, if any, for redemption during the period from such Optional Reset Date to the next Optional Reset Date or if there is no such next Optional Reset Date, to the Stated Maturity of such Security (each such period a “Subsequent Interest Period”), including the date or dates on which or the period or periods during which and the price or prices at which such redemption may occur during the Subsequent Interest Period.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, not later than 20 days prior to the Optional Reset Date, the Company may, at its option, revoke the interest rate (or the spread or spread multiplier used to calculate such interest rate, if applicable) provided for in the Reset Notice and establish a higher interest rate (or a spread or spread multiplier providing for a higher interest rate, if applicable) for the Subsequent Interest

 

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Period by causing the Trustee to transmit, in the manner provided for in Section 106, notice of such higher interest rate (or such higher spread or spread multiplier providing for a higher interest rate, if applicable) to the Holder of such Security. Such notice shall be irrevocable. All Securities with respect to which the interest rate (or the spread or spread multiplier used to calculate such interest rate, if applicable) is reset on an Optional Reset Date, and with respect to which the Holders of such Securities have not tendered such Securities for repayment (or have validly revoked any such tender) pursuant to the next succeeding paragraph, will bear such higher interest rate (or such higher spread or spread multiplier providing for a higher interest rate, if applicable).

The Holder of any such Security will have the option to elect repayment by the Company of the principal of such Security on each Optional Reset Date at a price equal to the principal amount thereof plus interest accrued to such Optional Reset Date. In order to obtain repayment on an Optional Reset Date, the Holder must follow the procedures set forth in Article Thirteen for repayment at the option of Holders except that the period for delivery or notification to the Trustee shall be at least 25 but not more than 35 days prior to such Optional Reset Date and except that, if the Holder has tendered any Security for repayment pursuant to the Reset Notice, the Holder may, by written notice to the Trustee, revoke such tender or repayment until the close of business on the tenth day before such Optional Reset Date.

Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section and Section 305, each Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.

Section 308. Optional Extension of Maturity.

The provisions of this Section 308 may be made applicable to any series of Securities pursuant to Section 301 (with such modifications, additions or substitutions as may be specified pursuant to such Section 301). The Stated Maturity of any Security of such series may be extended at the option of the Company for the period or periods specified on the face of such Security (each an “Extension Period”) up to but not beyond the date (the “Final Maturity”) set forth on the face of such Security. The Company may exercise such option with respect to any Security by notifying the Trustee of such exercise at least 45 but not more than 60 days prior to the Stated Maturity of such Security in effect prior to the exercise of such option (the “Original Stated Maturity”). If the Company exercises such option, the Trustee shall transmit, in the manner provided for in Section 106, to the Holder of such Security not later than 40 days prior to the Original Stated Maturity a notice (the “Extension Notice”), prepared by the Company, indicating (i) the election of the Company to extend the Stated Maturity, (ii) the new Stated Maturity, (iii) the interest rate (or spread, spread multiplier or other formula to calculate such interest rate, if applicable), if any, applicable to the Extension Period and (iv) the provisions, if any, for redemption during such Extension Period. Upon the Trustee’s transmittal of the Extension Notice, the Stated Maturity of such Security shall be extended automatically and, except as modified by the Extension Notice and as described in the next paragraph, such Security will have the same terms as prior to the transmittal of such Extension Notice.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, not later than 20 days before the Original Stated Maturity of such Security, the Company may, at its option, revoke the interest rate (or spread, spread multiplier or other formula to calculate such interest rate, if applicable) provided for in the Extension Notice and establish a higher interest rate (or spread, spread multiplier or other formula to calculate such higher interest rate, if applicable) for the Extension Period by causing the Trustee to transmit, in the manner provided for in Section 106, notice of such higher interest rate (or spread, spread multiplier or other formula to calculate such interest rate, if applicable) to the Holder of such Security. Such notice shall be irrevocable. All Securities with respect to which the Stated Maturity is extended will bear such higher interest rate.

 

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If the Company extends the Stated Maturity of any Security, the Holder will have the option to elect repayment of such Security by the Company on the Original Stated Maturity at a price equal to the principal amount thereof, plus interest accrued to such date. In order to obtain repayment on the Original Stated Maturity once the Company has extended the Stated Maturity thereof, the Holder must follow the procedures set forth in Article Thirteen for repayment at the option of Holders, except that the period for delivery or notification to the Trustee shall be at least 25 but not more than 35 days prior to the Original Stated Maturity and except that, if the Holder has tendered any Security for repayment pursuant to an Extension Notice, the Holder may by written notice to the Trustee revoke such tender for repayment until the close of business on the tenth day before the Original Stated Maturity.

Section 309. Persons Deemed Owners.

Prior to due presentment of a Registered Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Registered Security is registered as the owner of such Registered Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Sections 305 and 307) interest, if any, on such Registered Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Registered Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

Title to any Bearer Security and any coupons appertaining thereto shall pass by delivery. The Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the bearer of any Bearer Security and the bearer of any coupon as the absolute owner of such Security or coupon for the purpose of receiving payment thereof or on account thereof and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security or coupon be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

None of the Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent or the Security Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a Security in global form or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any global temporary or permanent Security, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee, from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by any depositary, as a Holder, with respect to such global Security or impair, as between such depositary and owners of beneficial interests in such global Security, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of such depositary (or its nominee) as Holder of such global Security.

Section 310. Cancellation.

All Securities and coupons surrendered for payment, redemption, repayment at the option of the Holder, registration of transfer or exchange or for credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee, and any such Securities and coupons and Securities and coupons surrendered directly to the Trustee for any such purpose shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and may deliver to the Trustee (or to any other Person for delivery to the Trustee) for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated hereunder which the Company has not issued and sold, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee. If the Company shall so acquire any of the Securities, however, such acquisition shall not operate as a

 

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redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Securities unless and until the same are surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities cancelled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. Cancelled Securities and coupons held by the Trustee shall be destroyed by the Trustee in accordance with its customary procedures, unless by a Company Order the Company directs the Trustee to deliver a certificate of such destruction to the Company or to return them to the Company.

Section 311. Computation of Interest.

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to Securities of any series, interest, if any, on the Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.

Section 312. Currency and Manner of Payments in Respect of Securities.

(a) Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, with respect to Registered Securities of any series not permitting the election provided for in paragraph (b) below or the Holders of which have not made the election provided for in paragraph (b) below, and with respect to Bearer Securities of any series, except as provided in paragraph (d) below, payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on any Registered or Bearer Security of such series will be made in the Currency in which such Registered Security or Bearer Security, as the case may be, is payable. The provisions of this Section 312 may be modified or superseded with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301.

(b) It may be provided pursuant to Section 301 with respect to Registered Securities of any series that Holders shall have the option, subject to paragraphs (d) and (e) below, to receive payments of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on such Registered Securities in any of the Currencies which may be designated for such election by delivering to the Trustee for such series of Registered Securities a written election with signature guarantees and in the applicable form established pursuant to Section 301, not later than the close of business on the Election Date immediately preceding the applicable payment date. If a Holder so elects to receive such payments in any such Currency, such election will remain in effect for such Holder or any transferee of such Holder until changed by such Holder or such transferee by written notice to the Trustee for such series of Registered Securities (but any such change must be made not later than the close of business on the Election Date immediately preceding the next payment date to be effective for the payment to be made on such payment date and no such change of election may be made with respect to payments to be made on any Registered Security of such series with respect to which an Event of Default has occurred or with respect to which the Company has deposited funds pursuant to Article Four or Fourteen or with respect to which a notice of redemption has been given by the Company or a notice of option to elect repayment has been sent by such Holder or such transferee). Any Holder of any such Registered Security who shall not have delivered any such election to the Trustee of such series of Registered Securities not later than the close of business on the applicable Election Date will be paid the amount due on the applicable payment date in the relevant Currency as provided in Section 312(a). The Trustee for each such series of Registered Securities shall notify the Exchange Rate Agent as soon as practicable after the Election Date of the aggregate principal amount of Registered Securities for which Holders have made such written election.

(c) Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301, if the election referred to in paragraph (b) above has been provided for pursuant to Section 301, then, unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301, not later than the fourth Business Day after the Election Date for each payment date for Registered Securities of any series, the Exchange Rate Agent shall deliver to the Company a written notice specifying the Currency in which Registered Securities of such series are payable, the

 

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respective aggregate amounts of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Registered Securities to be paid on such payment date, specifying the amounts in such Currency so payable in respect of the Registered Securities as to which the Holders of Registered Securities denominated in any Currency shall have elected to be paid in another Currency as provided in paragraph (b) above. If the election referred to in paragraph (b) above has been provided for pursuant to Section 301 and if at least one Holder has made such election, then, unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301, on the second Business Day preceding such payment date the Company shall deliver to the Trustee for such series of Registered Securities an Exchange Rate Officer’s Certificate in respect of the Dollar or Foreign Currency or Currencies payments to be made on such payment date. Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301, the Dollar or Foreign Currency or Currencies amount receivable by Holders of Registered Securities who have elected payment in a Currency as provided in paragraph (b) above shall be determined by the Company on the basis of the applicable Market Exchange Rate in effect on the second Business Day (the “Valuation Date”) immediately preceding each payment date, and such determination shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

(d) If a Conversion Event occurs with respect to a Foreign Currency in which any of the Securities are denominated or payable other than pursuant to an election provided for pursuant to paragraph (b) above, then with respect to each date for the payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any on the applicable Securities denominated or payable in such Foreign Currency occurring after the last date on which such Foreign Currency was used (the “Conversion Date”), the Dollar shall be the currency of payment for use on each such payment date. Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301, the Dollar amount to be paid by the Company to the Trustee of each such series of Securities and by such Trustee or any Paying Agent to the Holders of such Securities with respect to such payment date shall be, in the case of a Foreign Currency other than a currency unit, the Dollar Equivalent of the Foreign Currency or, in the case of a currency unit, the Dollar Equivalent of the Currency Unit, in each case as determined by the Exchange Rate Agent in the manner provided in paragraph (f) or (g) below.

(e) Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301, if the Holder of a Registered Security denominated in any Currency shall have elected to be paid in another Currency as provided in paragraph (b) above, and a Conversion Event occurs with respect to such elected Currency, such Holder shall receive payment in the Currency in which payment would have been made in the absence of such election; and if a Conversion Event occurs with respect to the Currency in which payment would have been made in the absence of such election, such Holder shall receive payment in Dollars as provided in paragraph (d) of this Section 312.

(f) The “Dollar Equivalent of the Foreign Currency” shall be determined by the Exchange Rate Agent and shall be obtained for each subsequent payment date by converting the specified Foreign Currency into Dollars at the Market Exchange Rate on the Conversion Date.

(g) The “Dollar Equivalent of the Currency Unit” shall be determined by the Exchange Rate Agent and subject to the provisions of paragraph (h) below shall be the sum of each amount obtained by converting the Specified Amount of each Component Currency into Dollars at the Market Exchange Rate for such Component Currency on the Valuation Date with respect to each payment.

(h) For purposes of this Section 312, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

A “Component Currency” shall mean any currency which, on the Conversion Date, was a component currency of the relevant currency unit, including, but not limited to, the Euro.

 

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A “Specified Amount” of a Component Currency shall mean the number of units of such Component Currency or fractions thereof which were represented in the relevant currency unit, including, but not limited to, the Euro, on the Conversion Date. If after the Conversion Date the official unit of any Component Currency is altered by way of combination or subdivision, the Specified Amount of such Component Currency shall be divided or multiplied in the same proportion. If after the Conversion Date two or more Component Currencies are consolidated into a single currency, the respective Specified Amounts of such Component Currencies shall be replaced by an amount in such single currency equal to the sum of the respective Specified Amounts of such consolidated Component Currencies expressed in such single currency, and such amount shall thereafter be a Specified Amount and such single currency shall thereafter be a Component Currency. If after the Conversion Date any Component Currency shall be divided into two or more currencies, the Specified Amount of such Component Currency shall be replaced by amounts of such two or more currencies, having an aggregate Dollar Equivalent value at the Market Exchange Rate on the date of such replacement equal to the Dollar Equivalent of the Specified Amount of such former Component Currency at the Market Exchange Rate immediately before such division, and such amounts shall thereafter be Specified Amounts and such currencies shall thereafter be Component Currencies. If, after the Conversion Date of the relevant currency unit, including, but not limited to, the Euro, a Conversion Event (other than any event referred to above in this definition of “Specified Amount”) occurs with respect to any Component Currency of such currency unit and is continuing on the applicable Valuation Date, the Specified Amount of such Component Currency shall, for purposes of calculating the Dollar Equivalent of the Currency Unit, be converted into Dollars at the Market Exchange Rate in effect on the Conversion Date of such Component Currency.

An “Election Date” shall mean the Regular Record Date for the applicable series of Registered Securities or at least 16 days prior to Maturity, as the case may be, or such other prior date for any series of Registered Securities as specified pursuant to clause 13 of Section 301 by which the written election referred to in Section 312(b) may be made.

All decisions and determinations of the Exchange Rate Agent regarding the Dollar Equivalent of the Foreign Currency, the Dollar Equivalent of the Currency Unit, the Market Exchange Rate and changes in the Specified Amounts as specified above shall be in its sole discretion and shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive for all purposes and irrevocably binding upon the Company, the Trustee for the appropriate series of Securities and all Holders of such Securities denominated or payable in the relevant Currency. The Exchange Rate Agent shall promptly give written notice to the Company and the Trustee for the appropriate series of Securities of any such decision or determination.

In the event that the Company determines in good faith that a Conversion Event has occurred with respect to a Foreign Currency, the Company shall immediately give written notice thereof to the Trustee of the appropriate series of Securities and to the Exchange Rate Agent (and such Trustee shall promptly thereafter give notice in the manner provided in Section 106 to the affected Holders) specifying the Conversion Date. In the event the Company so determines that a Conversion Event has occurred with respect to the Euro or any other currency unit in which Securities are denominated or payable, the Company shall immediately give written notice thereof to the Trustee of the appropriate series of Securities and to the Exchange Rate Agent (and such Trustee shall promptly thereafter give notice in the manner provided in Section 106 to the affected Holders) specifying the Conversion Date and the Specified Amount of each Component Currency on the Conversion Date. In the event the Company determines in good faith that any subsequent change in any Component Currency as set forth in the definition of Specified Amount above has occurred, the Company shall similarly give written notice to the Trustee of the appropriate series of Securities and to the Exchange Rate Agent.

 

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The Trustee of the appropriate series of Securities shall be fully justified and protected in relying and acting upon information received by it from the Company and the Exchange Rate Agent and shall not otherwise have any duty or obligation to determine the accuracy or validity of such information independent of the Company or the Exchange Rate Agent.

Section 313. Appointment and Resignation of Successor Exchange Rate Agent.

(a) Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301, if and so long as the Securities of any series (i) are denominated in a Foreign Currency or (ii) may be payable in a Foreign Currency, or so long as it is required under any other provision of this Indenture, then the Company shall maintain with respect to each such series of Securities, or as so required, at least one Exchange Rate Agent. The Company shall cause the Exchange Rate Agent to make the necessary foreign exchange determinations at the time and in the manner specified pursuant to Section 301 for the purpose of determining the applicable rate of exchange and, if applicable, for the purpose of converting the issued Foreign Currency into the applicable payment Currency for the payment of principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, pursuant to Section 312.

(b) No resignation of the Exchange Rate Agent and no appointment of a successor Exchange Rate Agent pursuant to this Section shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Exchange Rate Agent as evidenced by a written instrument delivered to the Company and the Trustee of the appropriate series of Securities accepting such appointment executed by the successor Exchange Rate Agent.

(c) If the Exchange Rate Agent shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of the Exchange Rate Agent for any cause, with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company, by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Exchange Rate Agent or Exchange Rate Agents with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Exchange Rate Agent may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that, unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301, at any time there shall only be one Exchange Rate Agent with respect to the Securities of any particular series that are originally issued by the Company on the same date and that are initially denominated and/or payable in the same Currency).

Section 314. CUSIP Numbers.

The Company in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall indicate the respective “CUSIP” numbers of the Securities in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers, either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of redemption, and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities, and that any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company shall advise the Trustee as promptly as practicable in writing of any change in the CUSIP numbers.

 

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ARTICLE FOUR

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

Section 401. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

Except as set forth below, this Indenture shall upon Company Request cease to be of further effect with respect to any series of Securities specified in such Company Request (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Securities of such series expressly provided for herein or pursuant hereto, any surviving rights of tender for repayment at the option of the Holders and any right to receive Additional Amounts, as provided in Section 1004), and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order, and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as to such series when:

(1) either

(A) all Securities of such series theretofore authenticated and delivered and all coupons, if any, appertaining thereto (other than (i) coupons appertaining to Bearer Securities surrendered for exchange for Registered Securities and maturing after such exchange, whose surrender is not required or has been waived as provided in Section 305, (ii) Securities and coupons of such series which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 306, (iii) coupons appertaining to Securities called for redemption and maturing after the relevant Redemption Date, whose surrender has been waived as provided in Section 1106, and (iv) Securities and coupons of such series for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust with the Trustee or any Paying Agent or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 1003) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

(B) all Securities of such series and, in the case of (i) or (ii) below, any coupons appertaining thereto not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (i) have become due and payable, or (ii) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year, or (iii) if redeemable at the option of the Company, are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company,

and the Company, in the case of clause B (i), (ii) or (iii) above, has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for such purpose, solely for the benefit of the Holders, an amount in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable, sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities and such coupons not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be;

(2) the Company has irrevocably paid or caused to be irrevocably paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company; and

 

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(3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as to such series have been complied with.

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee under Section 606, the obligations of the Company to any Authenticating Agent under Section 612 and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of clause (1) of this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 402 and the last paragraph of Section 1003 shall survive any termination of this Indenture.

Section 402. Application of Trust Funds.

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities, the coupons and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, for whose payment such money has been deposited with or received by the Trustee, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

ARTICLE FIVE

REMEDIES

Section 501. Events of Default.

“Event of Default”, wherever used herein with respect to any particular series of Securities, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether or not it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body), unless it is either inapplicable to a particular series or is specifically deleted or modified in or pursuant to the supplemental indenture or a Board Resolution establishing such series of Securities or is in the form of Security for such series:

(1) default in the payment of any interest upon any Security of that series or of any coupon appertaining thereto, when such interest or coupon becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or

(2) default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) any Security of that series when it becomes due and payable at its Maturity; or

(3) default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when and as due by the terms of any Security of that series; or

(4) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or agreement of the Company in this Indenture with respect to any Security of that series (other than a covenant or agreement a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with or which has expressly been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of a series of Securities other than that series), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder;

 

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(5) the Company, pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

(A) commences a voluntary case or proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law,

(B) consents to the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding against it, or files a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief against it,

(C) consents to the entry of a decree or order for relief against it in an involuntary case or proceeding,

(D) consents to the filing of such petition or to the appointment of, or taking possession by, a Custodian of the Company or for all or substantially all of the Company’s property, or

(E) makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or admits in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due or takes any corporate action in furtherance of any such action; or

(6) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:

(A) is for relief against the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding, or

(B) adjudges the Company bankrupt or insolvent, or approves as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company, or

(C) appoints a Custodian of the Company or for all or substantially all of its property, or

(D) orders the winding up or liquidation of the Company,

and the continuance of any such decree or order for relief or any such other decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 123 consecutive days; or

(7) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that series.

The term “Bankruptcy Law” means title 11, U.S. Code or any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law. The term “Custodian” means any custodian, receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

Section 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then and in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series may declare the principal (or, if any Securities are Original Issue Discount Securities or Indexed Securities, such portion of the principal as may be specified in the terms thereof) of all the Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by the Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal or specified portion thereof shall become immediately due and payable.

 

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At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to Securities of any series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter provided in this Article, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:

(1) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of such series and except, if applicable, as provided in Sections 312(b), 312(d) and 312(e)):

(A) all overdue installments of interest, if any, on all Outstanding Securities of that series and any related coupons,

(B) the principal of (and premium, if any) all Outstanding Securities of that series which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and interest thereon at the rate or rates borne by or provided for in such Securities,

(C) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue installments of interest at the rate or rates borne by or provided for in such Securities, and

(D) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel; and

(2) all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series, other than the nonpayment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on Securities of that series which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 513.

No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.

Section 503. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.

The Company covenants that if:

(1) default is made in the payment of any installment of interest on any Security of any series and any related coupon when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days, or

(2) default is made in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) any Security of any series at its Maturity,

then the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the Holders of Securities of such series and coupons, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities and coupons for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, with interest upon any overdue principal (and premium, if any) and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, upon any overdue installments of interest, if any, at the rate or rates borne by or provided for in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

 

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If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon Securities of such series and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities of such series, wherever situated.

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series and any related coupons by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.

Section 504. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or the property of the Company or of such other obligor or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities of any series shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company for the payment of any overdue principal, premium or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

(i) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal (or in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities or Indexed Securities, such portion of the principal as may be provided for in the terms thereof) (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding, and

(ii) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator (or other similar official) in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder of Securities of such series and coupons to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee, their agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee or any predecessor Trustee under Section 606.

Subject to Article Eight and Section 902 and unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301, nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder of a Security or coupon any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or coupons or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder of a Security or coupon in any such proceeding.

 

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Section 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities or Coupons.

All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or any of the Securities or coupons may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or coupons or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities and coupons in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

Section 506. Application of Money Collected.

Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money on account of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, upon presentation of the Securities or coupons, or both, as the case may be, and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee under Section 606;

SECOND: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon the Securities and coupons for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the aggregate amounts due and payable on such Securities and coupons for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, respectively; and

THIRD: To the payment of the remainder, if any, to the Company or any other Person or Persons entitled thereto.

Section 507. Limitation on Suits.

No Holder of any Security of any series or any related coupon shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless:

(1) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of that series;

(2) the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder;

(3) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;

(4) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and

 

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(5) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series;

it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other of such Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all such Holders.

Section 508. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest.

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security or coupon shall have the right which is absolute and unconditional to receive payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Sections 305 and 307) interest, if any, on such Security or payment of such coupon on the Stated Maturity or Maturities expressed in such Security or coupon (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date or, in the case of repayment at the option of the Holders on the Repayment Date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

Section 509. Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

If the Trustee or any Holder of a Security or coupon has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of Securities and coupons shall, subject to any determination in such proceeding, be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.

Section 510. Rights and Remedies Cumulative.

Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities or coupons in the last paragraph of Section 306, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders of Securities or coupons is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

Section 511. Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Security or coupon to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders of Securities or coupons, as the case may be.

 

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Section 512. Control by Holders of Securities.

The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series, provided that

(1) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture,

(2) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction, and

(3) the Trustee need not take any action which might involve it in personal liability or be unjustly prejudicial to the Holders of Securities of such series not consenting.

Section 513. Waiver of Past Defaults.

Subject to Section 502, the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such series and any related coupons waive any past default hereunder with respect to Securities of such series and its consequences, except a default

(1) in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Security of such series or any related coupons, or

(2) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under Article Nine cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected.

Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

Section 514. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws.

The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

ARTICLE SIX

THE TRUSTEE

Section 601. Notice of Defaults.

Within 90 days after the occurrence of any Default hereunder with respect to the Securities of any series, the Trustee shall transmit in the manner and to the extent provided in TIA Section 313(c), notice of

 

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such Default hereunder known to the Trustee, unless such Default shall have been cured or waived; provided, however, that, except in the case of a Default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Security of such series, or in the payment of any sinking or purchase fund installment with respect to the Securities of such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the Holders of the Securities and coupons of such series; and provided further that in the case of any Default or breach of the character specified in Section 501(4) with respect to the Securities and coupons of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 60 days after the occurrence thereof.

Section 602. Certain Rights of Trustee.

Subject to the provisions of TIA Section 315(a) through 315(d):

(1) The Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, coupon or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.

(2) Any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order (other than delivery of any Security, together with any coupons appertaining thereto, to the Trustee for authentication and delivery pursuant to Section 303 which shall be sufficiently evidenced as provided therein) and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution.

(3) Whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, rely upon a Board Resolution, an Opinion of Counsel or an Officer’s Certificate.

(4) The Trustee may consult with counsel and the written advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon.

(5) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders of Securities of any series or any related coupons pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

(6) The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, coupon or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled upon reasonable notice and at reasonable times during normal business hours to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney.

(7) The Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder.

 

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(8) The Trustee shall not deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Securities and this Indenture.

(9) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder.

(10) The permissive rights of the Trustee enumerated herein shall not be construed as duties.

The Trustee shall not be required to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

Section 603. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.

The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, and in any coupons shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent assumes any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities or coupons, except that the Trustee represents that it is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Indenture, authenticate the Securities and perform its obligations hereunder and that the statements made by it in a Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 supplied to the Company are true and accurate, subject to the qualifications set forth therein. Neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent shall be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof.

Section 604. May Hold Securities.

The Trustee, any Paying Agent, Security Registrar, Authenticating Agent or any other agent of the Company, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and coupons and, subject to TIA Sections 310(b) and 311, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Paying Agent, Security Registrar, Authenticating Agent or such other agent.

Section 605. Money Held in Trust.

Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed with the Company.

Section 606. Compensation and Reimbursement and Indemnification of Trustee.

The Company agrees:

(1) To pay to the Trustee or any predecessor Trustee from time to time such reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder as has been agreed upon from time to time in writing (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust).

 

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(2) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse each of the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee or any predecessor Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence or bad faith.

(3) To indemnify each of the Trustee or any predecessor Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on its own part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder.

As security for the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Section, the Trustee shall have a claim prior to the Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the payment of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on particular Securities or any coupons.

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 501 occurs, the expenses and compensation for such services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under Title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar Federal, State or analogous foreign law for the relief of debtors.

The provisions of this Section 606 shall survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee and the satisfaction, termination or discharge of this Indenture.

Section 607. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.

There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder which shall be eligible to act as Trustee under TIA Section 310(a)(1) and shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of Federal, State, Territorial or District of Columbia supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.

Section 608. Disqualification; Conflicting Interests.

If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture.

Section 609. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

(a) No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 610.

 

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(b) The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company.

(c) The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Securities of any series by (i) the Company, by an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee, provided that contemporaneously therewith (x) the Company immediately appoints a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series meeting the requirements of Section 607 hereof and (y) the terms of Section 610 hereof are complied with in respect of such appointment (the Trustee being removed hereby agreeing to execute the instrument contemplated by Section 610(b) hereof, if applicable, under such circumstances); provided that no Default with respect to such Securities shall have occurred and then be continuing at such time, or (ii) Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Trustee and to the Company.

(d) If at any time:

(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of TIA Section 310(b) after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder of a Security who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months, or

(2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 607 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder of a Security who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months, or

(3) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation,

then, in any such case, (i) the Company by or pursuant to a Board Resolution may remove the Trustee and appoint a successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, or (ii) subject to TIA Section 315(e), any Holder of a Security who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

(e) If an instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of a notice of resignation or the delivery of an Act of removal, the Trustee resigning or being removed may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

(f) If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company, by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series). If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any

 

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series shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Holders of Securities and accepted appointment in the manner hereinafter provided, any Holder of a Security who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to Securities of such series.

(g) The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series in the manner provided for notices to the Holders of Securities in Section 106. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

Section 610. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.

(a) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, every such successor Trustee shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee. However, on request of the Company or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee, and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder, subject nevertheless to its claim, if any, provided for in Section 606.

(b) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (1) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (2) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on request of the Company or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates. Whenever there is a successor Trustee with respect to one or more (but less than all) series of securities issued pursuant to this Indenture, the terms “Indenture” and “Securities” shall have the meanings specified in the provisos to the respective definition of those terms in Section 101 which contemplate such situation.

 

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(c) Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, as the case may be.

(d) No successor Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this Article.

Section 611. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.

Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided that such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case any Securities or coupons shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities or coupons so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities or coupons. In case any Securities or coupons shall not have been authenticated by such predecessor Trustee, any such successor Trustee may authenticate and deliver such Securities or coupons, in either its own name or that of its predecessor Trustee, with the full force and effect which this Indenture provides for the certificate of authentication of the Trustee; provided, however, that the right to adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee or to authenticate Securities in the name of any predecessor Trustee shall apply only to its successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation.

Section 612. Appointment of Authenticating Agent.

At any time when any of the Securities remain Outstanding, the Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents (which may be an Affiliate or Affiliates of the Company) with respect to one or more series of Securities which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon original issue or upon exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption thereof, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. Any such appointment shall be evidenced by an instrument in writing signed by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, a copy of which instrument shall be promptly furnished to the Company. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and, except as may otherwise be provided pursuant to Section 301, shall at all times be a bank or trust company or corporation organized and doing business and in good standing under the laws of the United States of America or of any State or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $5,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authorities. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or the requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. In case at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.

 

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Any corporation into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate agency or corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be an Authenticating Agent, provided such corporation shall be otherwise eligible under this Section, without the execution or filing of any paper or further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.

An Authenticating Agent for any series of Securities may at any time resign by giving written notice of resignation to the Trustee for such series and to the Company. The Trustee for any series of Securities may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice of termination to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee for such series may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall promptly give written notice of such appointment to all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve in the manner set forth in Section 106. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent herein. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section.

The Company agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation including reimbursement of its reasonable expenses for its services under this Section.

If an appointment with respect to one or more series is made pursuant to this Section, the Securities of such series may have endorsed thereon, in addition to or in lieu of the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternate certificate of authentication substantially in the following form:

This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

[                    ], Trustee
By:    
  Authenticating Agent
  By:    
    Authorized Officer

If all of the Securities of a series may not be originally issued at one time, and the Trustee does not have an office capable of authenticating Securities upon original issuance located in a Place of Payment where the Company wishes to have Securities of such series authenticated upon original issuance, the Trustee, if so requested by the Company in writing (which writing need not comply with Section 102 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel), shall appoint in accordance with this Section an Authenticating Agent (which, if so requested by the Company, shall be an Affiliate of the Company) having an office in a Place of Payment designated by the Company with respect to such series of Securities, provided that the terms and conditions of such appointment are acceptable to the Trustee.

 

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ARTICLE SEVEN

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

Section 701. Disclosure of Names and Addresses of Holders.

Every Holder of Securities or coupons, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent nor any Paying Agent nor any Security Registrar nor any agent of any of them shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any information as to the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities in accordance with TIA Section 312, regardless of the source from which such information was derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under TIA Section 312(b).

Section 702. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders.

(a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders contained in the most recent list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 701 and the names and addresses of Holders received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 701 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

(b) The rights of Holders to communicate with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities, and the corresponding rights and duties of the Trustee, shall be as provided by the Trust Indenture Act.

(c) Every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of any disclosure of information as to names and addresses of Holders made pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act.

Section 703. Reports by Trustee.

Within 60 days after May 15 of each year commencing with the first May 15 after the first issuance of Securities pursuant to this Indenture, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Holders of Securities as provided in TIA Section 313(c) a brief report dated as of such May 15 which meets the requirements of TIA Section 313(a).

A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange, if any, upon which the Securities are listed, with the Commission and with the Company. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of the listing of the Securities on any stock exchange.

Section 704. Reports by Company.

The Company shall:

(1) file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company is required to file the same with the Commission, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents, and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company may be required to file with the Commission pursuant to

 

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Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; or, if the Company is not required to file information, documents or reports pursuant to either of such Sections, then it shall file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such of the supplementary and periodic information, documents and reports which may be required pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 in respect of a security listed and registered on a national securities exchange as may be prescribed from time to time in such rules and regulations;

(2) file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such additional information, documents and reports with respect to compliance by the Company with the conditions and covenants of this Indenture as may be required from time to time by such rules and regulations; and

The Trustee shall transmit by mail to the Holders of Securities, within 30 days after the filing thereof with the Trustee, in the manner and to the extent provided in TIA Section 313(c), such summaries of any information, documents and reports required to be filed by the Company pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of this Section as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission.

Section 705. Calculation of Original Issue Discount.

Upon request of the Trustee, the Company shall file with the Trustee promptly at the end of each calendar year a written notice specifying the amount of original issue discount (including daily rates and accrual periods), if any, accrued on Outstanding Securities as of the end of such year.

ARTICLE EIGHT

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE OR TRANSFER

Section 801. Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms.

The Company shall not consolidate with or merge with or into any other corporation or convey or transfer its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, unless:

(1) either the Company shall be the continuing corporation, or the corporation (if other than the Company) formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance or transfer the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on all the Securities and the performance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed;

(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default shall have happened and be continuing;

(3) if as a result thereof any property or assets of the Company or a Subsidiary would become subject to any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge or other encumbrance not permitted by (1) through (10) of Section 1006, compliance shall be effected with the first clause of Section 1006; and

(4) the Company and the successor Person have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer and such supplemental indenture comply with this Article and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.

 

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Section 802. Successor Person Substituted.

Upon any consolidation or merger, or any conveyance or transfer of the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety in accordance with Section 801, the successor corporation formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the successor Person to which such conveyance or transfer is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor had been named as the Company herein; and in the event of any such conveyance or transfer, the Company shall be discharged from all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities and coupons and may be dissolved and liquidated.

ARTICLE NINE

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

Section 901. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders.

Without the consent of any Holders of Securities or coupons, the Company, when authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following purposes:

(1) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company herein and in the Securities contained; or

(2) to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities or any coupon appertaining thereto (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company; or

(3) to add any additional Events of Default for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such Events of Default are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such Events of Default are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series); provided, however, that in respect of any such additional Events of Default such supplemental indenture may provide for a particular period of grace after default (which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of other defaults) or may provide for an immediate enforcement upon such default or may limit the remedies available to the Trustee upon such default or may limit the right of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of that or those series of Securities to which such additional Events of Default apply to waive such default; or

(4) to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to provide that Bearer Securities may be registrable as to principal, to change or eliminate any restrictions on the payment of principal of or any premium or interest on Bearer Securities, to permit Bearer Securities to be issued in exchange for Registered Securities, to permit Bearer Securities to be issued in exchange for Bearer Securities of other authorized denominations or to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in uncertificated form; provided that any such action shall not materially adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series or any related coupons in any material respect; or

 

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(5) to change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture; provided that any such change or elimination shall become effective only when there is no Security Outstanding of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture which is entitled to the benefit of such provision; or

(6) to secure the Securities pursuant to the requirements of Section 801 or 1006, or otherwise; or

(7) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series and any related coupons as permitted by Sections 201 and 301, including the provisions and procedures relating to Securities convertible into or exchangeable for any securities of any Person (including the Company); or

(8) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee; or

(9) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture; provided that such action shall not materially adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series or any related coupons in any material respect; or

(10) to supplement any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance and discharge of any series of Securities pursuant to Sections 401, 1402 and 1403; provided that any such action shall not materially adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of such series and any related coupons or any other series of Securities in any material respect.

Section 902. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders.

With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of all Outstanding Securities affected by such supplemental indenture, by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company, when authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture which affects such series of Securities or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of such series of Securities and any related coupons under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby:

(1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of (or premium, if any) or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Security, subject to the provisions of Section 308; or the terms of any sinking fund with respect to any Security; or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest (or change the manner of calculating the rate of interest, thereon, or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or change any obligation of the Company to pay Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 1004 (except as contemplated by Section 801(1) and permitted by Section 901(1)), or reduce the portion of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security or Indexed Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502, or upon the redemption thereof or the amount thereof provable in bankruptcy pursuant to Section 504, or adversely affect any right of repayment at the option of the Holder of any Security, or change any Place of Payment where, or the Currency in which, any Security or any premium or interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption or repayment at the option of the Holder, on or after the Redemption Date or the Repayment Date, as the case may be), or adversely affect any right to convert or exchange any Security as may be provided pursuant to Section 301 herein, or

 

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(2) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver with respect to such series (of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or certain defaults hereunder and their consequences) provided for in this Indenture, or reduce the requirements of Section 1504 for quorum or voting, or

(3) modify any of the provisions of this Section, Section 513 or Section 1007, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby; provided, however, that this clause shall not be deemed to require the consent of any Holder of a Security or coupon with respect to changes in the references to “the Trustee” and concomitant changes in this Section, or the deletion of this proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Sections 610(b) and 901(8).

It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.

A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.

The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Persons entitled to consent to any indenture supplemental hereto. If a record date is fixed, the Holders on such record date, or their duly designated proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to consent to such supplemental indenture, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that unless such consent shall have become effective by virtue of the requisite percentage having been obtained prior to the date which is 90 days after such record date, any such consent previously given shall automatically and without further action by any Holder be cancelled and of no further effect.

Section 903. Execution of Supplemental Indentures.

In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modification thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and shall be fully protected in relying upon, in addition to the documents required by Section 102 of this Indenture, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

Section 904. Effect of Supplemental Indentures.

Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder and of any coupon appertaining thereto shall be bound thereby.

 

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Section 905. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.

Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.

Section 906. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.

Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article may, and shall, if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Company, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities of such series.

ARTICLE TEN

COVENANTS

Section 1001. Payment of Principal, Premium, if any, and Interest.

The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of each series of Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Securities of that series in accordance with the terms of such series of Securities, any coupons appertaining thereto and this Indenture. Any interest due on Bearer Securities on or before Maturity, other than Additional Amounts, if any, payable as provided in Section 1004 in respect of principal of (or premium, if any) such a Security, shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of the several coupons for such interest installments as are evidenced thereby as they severally mature. Unless otherwise specified with respect to Securities of any series pursuant to Section 301, at the option of the Company, all payments of principal may be paid by check to the registered Holder of the Registered Security or other person entitled thereto against surrender of such Security. Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to any series of Securities, any interest due on Bearer Securities on or before Maturity shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of the several coupons for such interest installments as are evidenced thereby as they severally mature.

Section 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency.

If Securities of a series are issuable only as Registered Securities, the Company shall maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Securities an office or agency where Securities of that series may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities of that series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, where Securities of that series that are convertible or exchangeable may be surrendered for conversion or exchange, as applicable, and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be served. If Securities of a series are issuable as Bearer Securities, the Company will maintain (A) in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, an office or agency where any Registered Securities of that series may be presented or surrendered for payment, where any Registered Securities of that series may be surrendered for registration of transfer, where Securities of that series may be surrendered for exchange, where Securities of that series that are convertible or exchangeable may be surrendered for conversion or exchange, as applicable, and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that

 

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series and this Indenture may be served and where Bearer Securities of that series and related coupons may be presented or surrendered for payment in the circumstances described in the following paragraph (and not otherwise), (B) subject to any laws or regulations applicable thereto, in a Place of Payment for that series which is located outside the United States, an office or agency where Securities of that series and related coupons may be presented and surrendered for payment (including payment of any Additional Amounts payable on Securities of that series pursuant to Section 1004); provided, however, that if the Securities of that series are listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange or any other stock exchange located outside the United States and such stock exchange shall so require, the Company shall maintain a Paying Agent for the Securities of that series in Luxembourg or any other required city located outside the United States, as the case may be, so long as the Securities of that series are listed on such exchange, and (C) subject to any laws or regulations applicable thereto, in a Place of Payment for that series located outside the United States an office or agency where any Registered Securities of that series may be surrendered for registration of transfer, where Securities of that series may be surrendered for exchange, where Securities of that series that are convertible or exchangeable may be surrendered for conversion or exchange, as applicable and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be served. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of each such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency in respect of any series of Securities or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee; provided that Bearer Securities of that series and the related coupons may be presented and surrendered for payment (including payment of any Additional Amounts payable on Bearer Securities of that series pursuant to Section 1004) at the offices specified in the Security, in London, England, and the Company hereby appoints the same as its agent to receive such respective presentations, surrenders, notices and demands, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, no payment of principal, premium or interest on Bearer Securities shall be made at any office or agency of the Company in the United States or by check mailed to any address in the United States or by transfer to any account maintained with a financial institution located in the United States; provided, however, that, if the Securities of a series are denominated and payable in Dollars, payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on any Bearer Security (including payment of any Additional Amounts payable on Bearer Securities of that series pursuant to Section 1004) shall be made at the office of the Company’s Paying Agent in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, if (but only if) payment in Dollars of the full amount of such principal, premium, if any, interest or Additional Amounts, as the case may be, at all offices or agencies outside the United States maintained for such purpose by the Company in accordance with this Indenture, is illegal or effectively precluded by exchange controls or other similar restrictions.

The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Securities of one or more series may be presented or surrendered for any or all of such purposes, and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in accordance with the requirements set forth above for Securities of any series for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency. Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301 with respect to a series of Securities, the Company hereby designates as a Place of Payment for each series of Securities the office or agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, and initially appoints the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office as Paying Agent in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York and as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

 

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Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, if and so long as the Securities of any series (i) are denominated in a currency other than Dollars or (ii) may be payable in a currency other than Dollars, or so long as it is required under any other provision of the Indenture, then the Company shall maintain with respect to each such series of Securities, or as so required, at least one Exchange Rate Agent.

Section 1003. Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust.

If the Company at any time act, as its own Paying Agent with respect to any series of any Securities and any related coupons, it shall, on or before each due date of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any of the Securities of that series, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of such series and except, if applicable, as provided in Sections 312(b), 312(d) and 312(e)) sufficient to pay the principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on Securities of such series so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided, and shall promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

Whenever the Company has one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities and any related coupons, it shall, on or before each due date of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Securities of that series, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum (in the Currency or Currencies described in the preceding paragraph) sufficient to pay the principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, so becoming due, such sum of money to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal, premium or interest and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums of money held in trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such sums.

Except as otherwise provided in the Securities of any series, any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Security of any series, or any coupon appertaining thereto, and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company upon Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security or any coupon appertaining thereto shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such money held in trust, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment may, at the expense of the Company, cause to be published once, in an Authorized Newspaper, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining shall be repaid to the Company.

 

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Section 1004. Additional Amounts.

If the Securities of a series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts, the Company shall pay to the Holder of any Security of such series or any coupon appertaining thereto such Additional Amounts as may be specified as contemplated by Section 301. Whenever in this Indenture there is mentioned, in any context, the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Security of any series or payment of any related coupon or the net proceeds received on the sale or exchange of any Security of any series, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of Additional Amounts provided for by the terms of such series established pursuant to Section 301 to the extent that, in such context, Additional Amounts are, were or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to such terms and express mention of the payment of Additional Amounts (if applicable) in any provisions hereof shall not be construed as excluding Additional Amounts in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made.

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, if the Securities of a series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts, at least 10 days prior to the first Interest Payment Date with respect to that series of Securities (or if the Securities of that series shall not bear interest prior to Maturity, the first day on which a payment of principal premium is made), and at least 10 days prior to each date of payment of principal, premium or interest if there has been any change with respect to the matters set forth in the below-mentioned Officer’s Certificate, the Company shall furnish the Trustee and the Company’s principal Paying Agent or Paying Agents, if other than the Trustee, with an Officer’s Certificate instructing the Trustee and such Paying Agent or Paying Agents whether such payment of principal, premium or interest on the Securities of that series shall be made to Holders of Securities of that series or any related coupons who are not United States persons without withholding for or on account of any tax, assessment or other governmental charge described in the Securities of that series. If any such withholding shall be required, then such Officer’s Certificate shall specify by country the amount, if any, required to be withheld on such payments to such Holders of Securities of that series or related coupons and the Company shall pay to the Trustee or such Paying Agent the Additional Amounts required by the terms of such Securities. In the event that the Trustee or any Paying Agent, as the case may be, shall not so receive the above-mentioned certificate, then the Trustee or such Paying Agent shall be entitled (i) to assume that no such withholding or deduction is required with respect to any payment of principal or interest with respect to any Securities of a series or related coupons until it shall have received a certificate advising otherwise and (ii) to make all payments of principal and interest with respect to the Securities of a series or related coupons without withholding or deductions until otherwise advised. The Company covenants to indemnify the Trustee and any Paying Agent for, and to hold them harmless against, any loss, liability or expense reasonably incurred without negligence or bad faith on their part arising out of or in connection with actions taken or omitted by any of them in reliance on any Officer’s Certificate furnished pursuant to this Section or in reliance on the Company’s not furnishing such an Officer’s Certificate.

Section 1005. Statement as to Compliance.

(a) The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year ending after the date hereof so long as any Security is Outstanding hereunder, a brief certificate from the principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer of the Company as to his or her knowledge of the Company’s compliance with all conditions and covenants under this Indenture. For purposes of this Section 1005, such compliance shall be determined without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice under this Indenture.

(b) The Company shall, so long as any series of Securities are Outstanding, deliver to the Trustee, as promptly as practicable upon any officer listed in (a) above becoming aware of any Default,

 

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Event of Default or default in the performance of any covenant, agreement or condition contained in this Indenture, an Officer’s Certificate specifying such Default, Event of Default, default or event of default and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto and the status thereof.

Section 1006. Limitations on Liens.

Except as hereinbelow in this Section provided, the Company shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, at any time pledge or otherwise subject to any lien any of its property or assets, or any of the property or assets of a Subsidiary, without thereby expressly securing the due and punctual payment of the principal of and the interest on the Securities equally and ratably with any and all other obligations and indebtedness secured by such pledge or other lien, so long as any such other obligations and indebtedness shall be so secured, and the Company covenants that if and when any such pledge or other lien is created, the Securities shall be so secured thereby; provided, however, that this restriction shall not apply to:

1. liens to secure debt incurred under the $300 million revolving senior secured credit facility entered into by the Company on June 25, 2007;

2. liens to secure the purchase or lease of fixed assets or other physical properties and purchase money debt incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Company or any Subsidiary; provided that any such lien may not extend to any property of the Company or any Subsidiary other than the property acquired, constructed or leased and any improvements or accessions to such property (including, in the case of the acquisition of capital stock of a person that becomes a Subsidiary, liens on the property of the person whose capital stock was acquired), and such lien is incurred within 180 days of the acquisition, construction or lease of such property;

3. liens or levies on the property of the Company or any Subsidiary for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges, if the same are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently concluded, provided that any reserve or other appropriate provision shall have been made therefor;

4. liens imposed by law, such as carriers’, warehousemen’s, landlord’s, repairmen’s and mechanics’ liens and other similar liens, on the property of the Company or any Subsidiary arising in the ordinary course of business and securing payment of obligations that are not more than 60 days past due or are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings, provided that any reserve or other appropriate provision shall have been made therefor;

5. liens on property in place at the time the Company or a Subsidiary acquired such property, including any acquisition by means of a merger or consolidation with or into the Company or any Subsidiary; provided, however, that any such lien may not extend to any other property of the Company or any Subsidiary; provided further, that such liens shall not have been incurred in anticipation of or in connection with the transaction or series of transactions pursuant to which such property was acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary;

6. liens on the property of a person at the time such person becomes a Subsidiary; provided, however, that any such lien may not extend to any other property of the Company or any other Subsidiary that is not a direct Subsidiary of such person; provided further, that any such lien was not incurred in anticipation of or in connection with the transaction or series of transactions pursuant to which such person became a Subsidiary;

7. mortgages, pledges, liens or charges existing on property acquired by the Company or a Subsidiary through the exercise of rights arising out of defaults on receivables acquired in the ordinary course of business;

8. pledges or deposits by the Company or any Subsidiary under workers’ compensation laws, social security, unemployment insurance laws, old-age pensions or similar legislation, or good faith deposits in connection with bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the payment of Debt) or leases to which the Company or any Subsidiary is party, or deposits to secure public or statutory obligations of the Company, or deposits for the payment of rent, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business;

9. utility easements, building restrictions and such other encumbrances or charges against real property as are of a nature generally existing with respect to properties of a similar character;

 

10. liens on the property of the Company or any Subsidiary to secure any refinancing debt in respect of debt secured by liens described under clause (1)-(3) and (5)-(7) of this definition; provided, however, that any such lien shall be limited to all or part of the same property that secured the original lien (together with improvements and accessions to such property), and the aggregate principal amount of debt that is secured by such lien shall not be increased to an amount greater than the sum of (i) the outstanding principal amount, or, if greater, the committed amount, of the debt being refinanced at the time the original lien became a Permitted Lien under the Indenture, and (ii) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums and defeasance costs, incurred by the Company or such Subsidiary in connection with such refinancing;

11. liens on property used to defease or to satisfy and discharge debt; provided that (i) the incurrence of such debt was not prohibited by the Indenture and (ii) such defeasance or satisfaction and discharge is not prohibited by the Indenture;

12. liens in favor of the Company or any Subsidiary;

13. rights of banks to set off deposits against Debt owed to said bank;

14. liens securing reimbursement obligations with respect to commercial letters of credit which encumber documents and other assets relating to such letters of credit and products and proceeds thereof;

15. any deposit or pledge of assets with any surety company or clerk of any court, or in escrow, as collateral in connection with, or in lieu of, any bond on appeal from any judgment or decree against the Company or a Subsidiary, or in connection with other proceedings or actions at law or in equity by or against the Company or a Subsidiary;

16. mortgages and pledges, liens or charges by a Subsidiary as security for indebtedness owed to the Company;

17. judgment liens, so long as the finality of such judgment is being contested in good faith and execution thereon is stayed;

18. any claim in favor of the Trustee or any predecessor, pursuant to Section 607;

 

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19. any pledge or lien (other than directly or indirectly to secure borrowed money) if, after giving effect thereto, the aggregate principal sums secured by pledges or liens otherwise within the restrictions in this Section 1006 contained do not exceed $10,000,000; and

20. any transaction characterized as a sale of receivables (retail or wholesale) but reflected as secured indebtedness on a balance sheet in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles then in effect.

Section 1007. Waiver of Certain Covenants.

The Company may omit in any particular instance to comply with any covenant or condition set forth in Section 1006, and, as specified pursuant to Section 301(15) for Securities of any series, in any covenants of the Company added to Article Ten pursuant to Section 301(14) or Section 301 (15) in connection with the Securities of a series, if before or after the time for such compliance the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of all Outstanding Securities of such series, by Act of such Holders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such covenant or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such covenant or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such covenant or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

ARTICLE ELEVEN

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

Section 1101. Applicability of Article.

Securities of any series which are redeemable before their Stated Maturity shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article.

Section 1102. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.

The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by or pursuant to a Board Resolution. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of less than all of the Securities of any series, the Company shall, at least 60 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee in writing of such Redemption Date and of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed, and, if applicable, of the tenor of the Securities to be redeemed, and shall deliver to the Trustee such documentation and records as shall enable the Trustee to select the Securities to be redeemed pursuant to Section 1103. In the case of any redemption of Securities of any series prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officer’s Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction.

Section 1103. Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed.

If less than all the Securities of any series issued on the same day with the same terms are to be redeemed, the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series issued on such date with the same terms not previously called for redemption, by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and

 

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appropriate; provided that such method complies with the rules of any national securities exchange or quotation system on which the Securities are listed, and may provide for the selection for redemption of portions (equal to the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series or any integral multiple thereof) of the principal amount of Securities of such series of a denomination larger than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series; provided, however, that no such partial redemption shall reduce the portion of the principal amount of a Security not redeemed to less than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of such series.

The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company and the Security Registrar (if other than itself) in writing of the Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Securities selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.

For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate, in the case of any Security redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Security which has been or is to be redeemed.

Section 1104. Notice of Redemption.

Notice of redemption shall be given in the manner provided in Section 106, not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, unless a shorter period is specified by the terms of such series established pursuant to Section 301, to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed, but failure to give such notice in the manner herein provided to the Holder of any Security designated for redemption as a whole or in part, or any defect in the notice to any such Holder, shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other such Security or portion thereof.

Any notice that is mailed to the Holders of Registered Securities in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Holder receives the notice.

All notices of redemption shall state:

(1) the Redemption Date,

(2) the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any, to the Redemption Date payable as provided in Section 1106,

(3) if less than all Outstanding Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the principal amount) of the particular Security or Securities to be redeemed,

(4) in case any Security is to be redeemed in part only, the notice which relates to such Security shall state that on and after the Redemption Date, upon surrender of such Security, the Holder will receive, without a charge, a new Security or Securities of authorized denominations for the principal amount thereof remaining unredeemed,

(5) that on the Redemption Date, the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any, to the Redemption Date payable as provided in Section 1106 will become due and payable upon each such Security, or the portion thereof, to be redeemed and, if applicable, that interest thereon shall cease to accrue on and after said date,

 

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(6) the Place or Places of Payment where such Securities, together in the case of Bearer Securities with all coupons appertaining thereto, if any, maturing after the Redemption Date, are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any,

(7) that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case,

(8) that, unless otherwise specified in such notice, Bearer Securities of any series, if any, surrendered for redemption must be accompanied by all coupons maturing subsequent to the Redemption Date or the amount of any such missing coupon or coupons will be deducted from the Redemption Price, unless security or indemnity satisfactory to the Company, the Trustee for such series and any Paying Agent is furnished,

(9) if Bearer Securities of any series are to be redeemed and any Registered Securities of such series are not to be redeemed, and if such Bearer Securities may be exchanged for Registered Securities not subject to redemption on this Redemption Date pursuant to Section 305 or otherwise, the last date, as determined by the Company, on which such exchanges may be made, and

(10) the CUSIP number of such Security, if any.

A notice of redemption published as contemplated by Section 106 need not identify particular Registered Securities to be redeemed. Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company.

Section 1105. Deposit of Redemption Price.

On or prior to 10:00 am, New York City time, on any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, which it may not do in the case of a sinking fund payment under Article Twelve, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 1003) an amount of money in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of such series and except, if applicable, as provided in Sections 312(b), 312(d) and 312(e)) sufficient to pay on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price of, and (unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301) accrued interest on, all the Securities or portions thereof which are to be redeemed on that date.

Section 1106. Securities Payable on Redemption Date.

Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of such series and except, if applicable, as provided in Sections 312(b), 312(d) and 312(e)) (together with accrued interest, if any, to the Redemption Date), and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any) such Securities shall, if the same were interest-bearing, cease to bear interest, and the coupons for such interest appertaining to any Bearer Securities so to be redeemed, except to the extent provided below, shall be void. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, together with all coupons, if any, appertaining thereto maturing after the Redemption Date, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued interest, if any, to the Redemption Date; provided, however, that installments of interest on Bearer Securities whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable only at an office or agency located outside the United States (except as otherwise provided in Section 1002) and, unless otherwise specified

 

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as contemplated by Section 301, only upon presentation and surrender of coupons for such interest; and provided further that, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, installments of interest on Registered Securities whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 307.

If any Bearer Security surrendered for redemption shall not be accompanied by all appurtenant coupons maturing after the Redemption Date, such Security may be paid after deducting from the Redemption Price an amount equal to the face amount of all such missing coupons, or the surrender of such missing coupon or coupons may be waived by the Company and the Trustee if there be furnished to them such security or indemnity as they may require to save each of them and any Paying Agent harmless. If thereafter the Holder of such Security shall surrender to the Trustee or any Paying Agent any such missing coupon in respect of which a deduction shall have been made from the Redemption Price, such Holder shall be entitled to receive the amount so deducted; provided, however, that interest represented by coupons shall be payable only at an office or agency located outside the United States (except as otherwise provided in Section 1002) and, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, only upon presentation and surrender of those coupons.

If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the Redemption Price shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate of interest set forth in such Security or, in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security, at the Yield to Maturity of such Security.

Section 1107. Securities Redeemed in Part.

Any Registered Security which is to be redeemed only in part (pursuant to the provisions of this Article or of Article Twelve) shall be surrendered at a Place of Payment therefor (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing) and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge a new Security or Securities of the same series and of like tenor, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered. If a temporary global Security or permanent global Security is so surrendered, such new Security so issued shall be a new temporary global Security or permanent global Security, respectively. However, if less than all the Securities of any series with differing issue dates, interest rates and stated maturities are to be redeemed, the Company in its sole discretion shall select the particular Securities to be redeemed and shall notify the Trustee in writing thereof at least 45 days prior to the relevant redemption date.

ARTICLE TWELVE

SINKING FUNDS

Section 1201. Applicability of Article.

The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of such series.

The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any payment in excess of such

 

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minimum amount provided for by the terms of such Securities of any series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment.” If provided for by the terms of any Securities of any series, the cash amount of any mandatory sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 1202. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of Securities of such series.

Section 1202. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.

The Company may, in satisfaction of all or any part of any mandatory sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of a series, (1) deliver Outstanding Securities of such series (other than any previously called for redemption) together in the case of any Bearer Securities of such series with all unmatured coupons appertaining thereto and (2) apply as a credit Securities of such series which have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, as provided for by the terms of such Securities; provided that such Securities so delivered or applied as a credit have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the applicable Redemption Price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such mandatory sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.

Section 1203. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.

Not less than 60 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for Securities of any series, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of such series and except, if applicable, as provided in Sections 312(b), 312(d) and 312(e)) and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities of that series pursuant to Section 1202, and the optional amount, if any, to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment, and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered and credited. If such Officer’s Certificate shall specify an optional amount to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment, the Company shall thereupon be obligated to pay the amount therein specified. Not less than 30 days before each such sinking fund payment date, the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 1103 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 1104. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 1106 and 1107.

ARTICLE THIRTEEN

REPAYMENT AT THE OPTION OF HOLDERS

Section 1301. Applicability of Article.

Repayment of Securities of any series before their Stated Maturity at the option of Holders thereof shall be made in accordance with the terms of such Securities and (except as otherwise specified by the terms of such series established pursuant to Section 301) in accordance with this Article.

 

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Section 1302. Repayment of Securities.

Securities of any series subject to repayment in whole or in part at the option of the Holders thereof shall, unless otherwise provided in the terms of such Securities, be repaid at the Repayment Price thereof, together with interest, if any, thereon accrued to the Repayment Date specified in or pursuant to the terms of such Securities. The Company covenants that on or before 10:00 am, New York City time, on the Repayment Date it shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 1003) an amount of money in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of such series and except, if applicable, as provided in Sections 312(b), 312(d) and 312(e)) sufficient to pay the Repayment Price of, and (unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301) accrued interest on, all the Securities or portions thereof, as the case may be, to be repaid on such date.

Section 1303. Exercise of Option.

Securities of any series subject to repayment at the option of the Holders thereof shall contain an “Option to Elect Repayment” form on the reverse of such Securities. To be repaid at the option of the Holder, any Security so providing for such repayment, with the “Option to Elect Repayment” form on the reverse of such Security duly completed by the Holder (or by the Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing), must be received by the Company at the Place of Payment therefor specified in the terms of such Security (or at such other place or places of which the Company shall from time to time notify the Holders of such Securities) not earlier than 45 days nor later than 30 days prior to the Repayment Date. If less than the entire Repayment Price of such Security is to be repaid in accordance with the terms of such Security, the portion of the Repayment Price of such Security to be repaid, in increments of the minimum denomination for Securities of such series, and the denomination or denominations of the Security or Securities to be issued to the Holder for the portion of such Security surrendered that is not to be repaid, must be specified. Any Security providing for repayment at the option of the Holder thereof may not be repaid in part if, following such repayment, the unpaid principal amount of such Security would be less than the minimum authorized denomination of Securities of the series of which such Security to be repaid is a part. Except as otherwise may be provided by the terms of any Security providing for repayment at the option of the Holder thereof, exercise of the repayment option by the Holder shall be irrevocable unless waived by the Company.

Section 1304. When Securities Presented for Repayment Become Due and Payable.

If Securities of any series providing for repayment at the option of the Holders thereof shall have been surrendered as provided in this Article and as provided by or pursuant to the terms of such Securities, such Securities or the portions thereof, as the case may be, to be repaid shall become due and payable and shall be paid by the Company on the Repayment Date therein specified, and on and after such Repayment Date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of such Securities on such Repayment Date) such Securities shall, if the same were interest-bearing, cease to bear interest and the coupons for such interest appertaining to any Bearer Securities so to be repaid, except to the extent provided below, shall be void. Upon surrender of any such Security for repayment in accordance with such provisions, together with all coupons, if any, appertaining thereto maturing after the Repayment Date, the Repayment Price of such Security so to be repaid shall be paid by the Company, together with accrued interest, if any, to the Repayment Date; provided, however, that coupons whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Repayment Date shall be payable only at an office or agency located outside the United States (except as otherwise provided in Section 1002) and, unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301, only upon presentation and surrender of such coupons; and provided further that installments of interest on Registered Securities, whose Stated Maturity is prior to (or, if specified pursuant to Section

 

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301, on) the Repayment Date shall be payable (but without interest thereon, unless the Company shall default in the payment thereof) to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 307.

If any Bearer Security surrendered for repayment shall not be accompanied by all appurtenant coupons maturing after the Repayment Date, such Security may be paid after deducting from the amount payable therefor as provided in Section 1302 an amount equal to the face amount of all such missing coupons, or the surrender of such missing coupon or coupons may be waived by the Company and the Trustee if there be furnished to them such security or indemnity as they may require to save each of them and any Paying Agent harmless. If thereafter the Holder of such Security shall surrender to the Trustee or any Paying Agent any such missing coupon in respect of which a deduction shall have been made as provided in the preceding sentence, such Holder shall be entitled to receive the amount so deducted; provided, however, that interest represented by coupons shall be payable only at an office or agency located outside the United States (except as otherwise provided in Section 1002) and, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, only upon presentation and surrender of those coupons.

If any Security surrendered for repayment shall not be so repaid upon surrender thereof, the Repayment Price shall, until paid, bear interest from the Repayment Date at the rate of interest set forth in such Security or, in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security, at the Yield to Maturity of such Security.

Section 1305. Securities Repaid in Part.

Upon surrender of any Registered Security which is to be repaid in part only, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security, without service charge and at the expense of the Company, a new Registered Security or Securities of the same series, and of like tenor, of any authorized denomination specified by the Holder, in an aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the portion of the principal of such Security so surrendered which is not to be repaid. If a temporary global Security or permanent global Security is so surrendered, such new Security so issued shall be a new temporary global Security or a new permanent global Security, respectively.

ARTICLE FOURTEEN

DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

Section 1401. Applicability of Article; Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

If pursuant to Section 301 provision is made for either or both of (a) defeasance of the Securities of or within a series under Section 1402 or (b) covenant defeasance of the Securities of or within a series under Section 1403, then the provisions of such Section or Sections, as the case may be, together with the other provisions of this Article (with such modifications thereto as may be specified pursuant to Section 301 with respect to any Securities), shall be applicable to such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto, and the Company may, at its option by Board Resolution at any time, with respect to such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto, elect to have either Section 1402 (if applicable) or Section 1403 (if applicable) be applied to such Outstanding Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article.

 

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Section 1402. Defeasance and Discharge.

Upon the Company’s exercise of the above option applicable to this Section with respect to any Securities of or within a series, the Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to such Outstanding Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 1404 are satisfied (hereinafter, “defeasance”). For this purpose, such defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by such Outstanding Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto, which shall thereafter be deemed to be “Outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 1405 and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in clauses (A) and (B) of this Section, and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto and this Indenture insofar as such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto are concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (A) the rights of Holders of such Outstanding Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto to receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 1404 and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto when such payments are due, (B) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Securities under Sections 305, 306, 1002 and 1003 and with respect to the payment of Additional Amounts, if any, on such Securities as contemplated by Section 1004, (C) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and (D) this Article. Subject to compliance with this Article Fourteen, the Company may exercise its option under this Section notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 1403 with respect to such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto. Following a defeasance, payment of such Securities may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default.

Section 1403. Covenant Defeasance.

Upon the Company’s exercise of the above option applicable to this Section with respect to any Securities of or within a series, the Company shall be released from its obligations under Section 1006, and, if specified pursuant to Section 301, its obligations under any other covenant, with respect to such Outstanding Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 1404 are satisfied (hereinafter, “covenant defeasance”), and such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto shall thereafter be deemed to be not “Outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or Act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with Section 1006, or such other covenant, but shall continue to be deemed “Outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder. For this purpose, such covenant defeasance means that, with respect to such Outstanding Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto, the Company may omit to comply with, and shall have no liability in respect of, any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such Section or such other covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such Section or such other covenant or by reason of reference in any such Section or such other covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 501(4) or 501(7) or otherwise, as the case may be, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto shall be unaffected thereby. Following a covenant defeasance, payment of such Securities may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default solely by reference to such Sections specified above in this Section 1503.

 

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Section 1404. Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

The following shall be the conditions to application of either Section 1402 or Section 1403 to any Outstanding Securities of or within a series and any coupons appertaining thereto:

(a) The Company shall have irrevocably deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee satisfying the requirements of Section 607 who shall agree to comply with the provisions of this Article Fourteen applicable to it) as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for the benefit of, and dedicated solely to, the Holders of such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto, (1) an amount (in such Currency in which such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto are then specified as payable at Stated Maturity), or (2) Government Obligations applicable to such Securities and coupons appertaining thereto (determined on the basis of the Currency in which such Securities and coupons appertaining thereto are then specified as payable at Stated Maturity) which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto, money in an amount, or (3) a combination thereof in an amount, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, (i) the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such Outstanding Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto on the Stated Maturity of such principal or installment of principal or interest and (ii) any mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments applicable to such Outstanding Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and of such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto.

(b) Such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other material agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.

(c) No Default or Event of Default with respect to such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or, insofar as Sections 501(5) and 501(6) are concerned, at any time during the period ending on the 123rd day after the date of such deposit (it being understood that this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until the expiration of such period).

(d) In the case of an election under Section 1402, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (i) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (ii) since the date of execution of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable U.S. federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of such Outstanding Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance had not occurred.

U(e) In the case of an election under Section 1403, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of such Outstanding Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such covenant defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such covenant defeasance had not occurred.

(f) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to either the defeasance under Section 1402 or the covenant defeasance under Section 1403 (as the case may be) have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that either (i) as a result of a deposit pursuant to subsection (a) above and the related

 

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exercise of the Company’s option under Section 1402 or Section 1403 (as the case may be), registration is not required under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, by the Company, with respect to the trust funds representing such deposit or by the trustee for such trust funds or (ii) all necessary registrations under said Act have been effected.

(g) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section, such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall be effected in compliance with any additional or substitute terms, conditions or limitations which may be imposed on the Company in connection therewith pursuant to Section 301.

Section 1405. Deposited Money and Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all money and Government Obligations (or other property as may be provided pursuant to Section 301) (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 1405, the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 1404 in respect of any Outstanding Securities of any series and any coupons appertaining thereto shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Security pursuant to Section 301, if, after a deposit referred to in Section 1404(a) has been made, (a) the Holder of a Security in respect of which such deposit was made is entitled to, and does, elect pursuant to Section 312(b) or the terms of such Security to receive payment in a Currency other than that in which the deposit pursuant to Section 1404(a) has been made in respect of such Security, or (b) a Conversion Event occurs as contemplated in Section 312(d) or 312(e) or by the terms of any Security in respect of which the deposit pursuant to Section 1404(a) has been made, the indebtedness represented by such Security and any coupons appertaining thereto shall be deemed to have been, and will be, fully discharged and satisfied through the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such Security as the same becomes due out of the proceeds yielded by converting (from time to time as specified below in the case of any such election) the amount or other property deposited in respect of such Security into the Currency in which such Security becomes payable as a result of such election or Conversion Event based on the applicable Market Exchange Rate for such Currency in effect on the second Business Day prior to each payment date, except, with respect to a Conversion Event, for such Currency in effect (as nearly as feasible) at the time of the Conversion Event.

The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the money or Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 1404 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of such Outstanding Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto.

Anything in this Article to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any money or Government Obligations (or other property and any proceeds therefrom) held by it as provided in Section 1404 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect a defeasance or covenant defeasance, as applicable, in accordance with this Article.

 

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ARTICLE FIFTEEN

MEETINGS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

Section 1501. Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called.

If Securities of a series are issuable as Bearer Securities, a meeting of Holders of Securities of such series may be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to this Article to make, give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders of Securities of such series.

Section 1502. Call, Notice and Place of Meetings.

(a) The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of Holders of Securities of any series for any purpose specified in Section 1501, to be held at such time and at such place in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York or in London as the Trustee shall determine. Notice of every meeting of Holders of Securities of any series, setting forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be given, in the manner provided in Section 106, not less than 21 nor more than 180 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.

(b) In case at any time the Company, pursuant to a Board Resolution, or the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have requested the Trustee to call a meeting of the Holders of Securities of such series for any purpose specified in Section 1501, by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have made the first publication or mailing of the notice of such meeting within 21 days after receipt of such request or shall not thereafter proceed to cause the meeting to be held as provided herein, then the Company or the Holders of Securities of such series in the amount above specified, as the case may be, may determine the time and the place in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York or in London for such meeting and may call such meeting for such purposes by giving notice thereof as provided in subsection (a) of this Section.

Section 1503. Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings.

To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series, a Person shall be (1) a Holder of one or more Outstanding Securities of such series, or (2) a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy for a Holder or Holders of one or more Outstanding Securities of such series by such Holder or Holders. The only Persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be the Persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel, any representatives of the Trustee and its counsel and any representatives of the Company and its counsel.

Section 1504. Quorum; Action.

The Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of Holders of Securities of such series; provided, however, that if any action is to be taken at such meeting with respect to a consent, waiver, request, demand, notice, authorization, direction or other action which this Indenture expressly provides may be made, given or taken by the Holders of not less than a specified percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series, the Persons entitled to vote such specified percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall constitute a quorum. In the absence of a quorum within 30 minutes of the time appointed for any such meeting, the meeting shall, if convened at the request of Holders of Securities of such series, be dissolved. In any other case the meeting may be adjourned for a

 

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period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such meeting. In the absence of a quorum at any such adjourned meeting, such adjourned meeting may be further adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such adjourned meeting. Notice of the reconvening of any adjourned meeting shall be given as provided in Section 1502(a), except that such notice need be given only once not less than five days prior to the date on which the meeting is scheduled to be reconvened. Notice of the reconvening of any adjourned meeting shall state expressly the percentage, as provided above, of the principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series which shall constitute a quorum.

Except as limited by the proviso to Section 902, any resolution presented to a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present as aforesaid may be adopted by the affirmative vote of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series; provided, however, that, except as limited by the proviso to Section 902, any resolution with respect to any consent, waiver, request, demand, notice, authorization, direction or other action which this Indenture expressly provides may be made, given or taken by the Holders of a specified percentage, which is less than a majority, in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series may be adopted at a meeting or an adjourned meeting duly reconvened and at which a quorum is present as aforesaid by the affirmative vote of the Holders of such specified percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series.

Any resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series duly held in accordance with this Section shall be binding on all the Holders of Securities of such series and the related coupons, whether or not present or represented at the meeting.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1504, if any action is to be taken at a meeting of Holders of Securities of any series with respect to any consent, waiver, request, demand, notice, authorization, direction or other action that this Indenture expressly provides may be made, given or taken by the Holders of a specified percentage in principal amount of all Outstanding Securities affected thereby, or of the Holders of such series and one or more additional series:

(i) there shall be no minimum quorum requirement for such meeting; and

(ii) the principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series that vote in favor of such consent, waiver, request, demand, notice, authorization, direction or other action shall be taken into account in determining whether such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action has been made, given or taken under this Indenture.

Section 1505. Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee may make such reasonable regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting of Holders of Securities of a series in regard to proof of the holding of Securities of such series and of the appointment of proxies and in regard to the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes, the submission and examination of proxies, certificates and other evidence of the right to vote, and such other matters concerning the conduct of the meeting as it shall deem appropriate. Except as otherwise permitted or required by any such regulations, the holding of Securities shall be proved in the manner specified in Section 104 and the appointment of any proxy shall be proved in the manner specified in Section 104 or by having the signature of the Person executing the proxy witnessed or guaranteed by any trust company, bank or banker authorized by Section 104 to certify to the holding of Bearer Securities. Such regulations may provide that written instruments appointing proxies, regular on their face, may be presumed valid and genuine without the proof specified in Section 104 or other proof.

 

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(b) The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing appoint a temporary chairman of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the Company or by Holders of Securities as provided in Section 1502(b), in which case the Company or the Holders of Securities of the series calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary chairman. A permanent chairman and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by vote of the Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series represented at the meeting.

(c) At any meeting of Holders, each Holder of a Security of such series or proxy shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series held or represented by such Holder; provided, however, that no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Security challenged as not Outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not Outstanding. The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote, except as a Holder of a Security of such series or proxy.

(d) Any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series duly called pursuant to Section 1502 at which a quorum is present may be adjourned from time to time by Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series represented at the meeting, and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice.

Section 1506. Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings.

The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be by written ballots on which shall be subscribed the signatures of the Holders of Securities of such series or of their representatives by proxy and the principal amounts and serial numbers of the Outstanding Securities of such series held or represented by them. The permanent chairman of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with the secretary of the meeting their verified written reports in duplicate of all votes cast at the meeting. A record, at least in duplicate, of the proceedings of each meeting of Holders of Securities of any Series shall be prepared by the secretary of the meeting and there shall be attached to said record the original reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more persons having knowledge of the fact, setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was given as provided in Section 1502 and, if applicable, Section 1504. Each copy shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairman and secretary of the meeting and one such copy shall be delivered to the Company and another to the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee, the latter to have attached thereto the ballots voted at the meeting. Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the matters therein stated.

ARTICLE SIXTEEN

SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES

Section 1601. Agreement to Subordinate.

The Company, for itself, its successors and assigns, covenants and agrees, and each Holder of Senior Subordinated Securities by his acceptance thereof, likewise covenants and agrees, that the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on each and all of the Senior Subordinated Securities is hereby expressly subordinated, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth, in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness.

The Company, for itself, its successors and assigns, covenants and agrees, and each Holder of Junior Subordinated Securities by his acceptance thereof, likewise covenants and agrees, that the payment

 

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of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on each and all of the Junior Subordinated Securities is hereby expressly subordinated, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth, in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness and Senior Subordinated Indebtedness.

Section 1602. Distribution on Dissolution, Liquidation and Reorganization; Subrogation of Subordinated Securities.

Upon any distribution of assets of the Company upon any dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization of the Company, whether in bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or receivership proceedings or upon an assignment for the benefit of creditors or any other marshalling of the assets and liabilities of the Company or otherwise (subject to the power of a court of competent jurisdiction to make other equitable provision reflecting the rights conferred in this Indenture upon the Senior Indebtedness and the holders thereof with respect to the Securities and the holders thereof by a lawful plan of reorganization under applicable bankruptcy law):

(a) the holders of all Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled to receive payment in full of the principal thereof (and premium, if any) and interest due thereon before the Holders of the Subordinated Securities are entitled to receive any payment upon the principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on indebtedness evidenced by the Subordinated Securities; and

(b) the holders of all Senior Subordinated Indebtedness shall be entitled to receive payment in full of the principal thereof (and premium, if any) and interest due thereon before the Holders of the Junior Subordinated Securities are entitled to receive any payment upon the principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on indebtedness evidenced by the Junior Subordinated Securities; and

(c) any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to which the Holders of the Securities or the Trustee would be entitled except for the provisions of this Article Sixteen shall be paid by the liquidating trustee or agent or other person making such payment or distribution, whether a trustee in bankruptcy, a receiver or liquidating trustee or otherwise, directly to the holders of Senior Indebtedness or their representative or representatives or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture under which any instruments evidencing any of such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, ratably according to the aggregate amounts remaining unpaid on account of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Senior Indebtedness held or represented by each, to the extent necessary to make payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness; and

(d) in the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, shall be received by the Trustee or the Holders of the Subordinated Securities before all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full, such payment or distribution shall be paid over, upon written notice to the Trustee, to the holder of such Senior Indebtedness or their representative or representatives or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture under which any instrument evidencing any of such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, ratably as aforesaid, for application to payment of all Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid until all such Senior Indebtedness shall have been paid in full, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.

Subject to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, the Holders of the Subordinated Securities shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or distributions of cash, property or securities of the Company applicable to Senior Indebtedness until the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Subordinated Securities shall be paid in full

 

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and no such payments or distributions to the Holders of the Subordinated Securities of cash, property or securities otherwise distributable to the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall, as between the Company, its creditors other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, and the Holders of the Subordinated Securities be deemed to be a payment by the Company to or on account of the Subordinated Securities. It is understood that the provisions of this Article Sixteen are and are intended solely for the purpose of defining the relative rights of the Holders of the Subordinated Securities, on the one hand, and the holders of the Senior Indebtedness, on the other hand. Nothing contained in this Article Sixteen or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the Subordinated Securities is intended to or shall impair, as between the Company, its creditors other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, and the Holders of the Subordinated Securities, the obligation of the Company, which is unconditional and absolute, to pay to the Holders of the Subordinated Securities the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Subordinated Securities as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms, or to affect the relative rights of the Holders of the Subordinated Securities and creditors of the Company other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, nor shall anything herein or in the Subordinated Securities prevent the Trustee or the Holder of any Subordinated Security from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under this Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article Sixteen of the holders of Senior Indebtedness in respect of cash, property or securities of the Company received upon the exercise of any such remedy. Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article Sixteen, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 601, shall be entitled to rely upon a certificate of the liquidating trustee or agent or other person making any distribution to the Trustee for the purpose of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of Senior Indebtedness and other indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article Sixteen.

If the Trustee or any Holder of Subordinated Securities does not file a proper claim or proof of debt in the form required in any proceeding referred to above prior to 30 days before the expiration of the time to file such claim in such proceeding, then the holder of any Senior Indebtedness is hereby authorized, and has the right, to file an appropriate claim or claims for or on behalf of such Holder of Subordinated Securities.

With respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants or obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. The Trustee does not owe any fiduciary duties to the holders of Securities other than Securities issued under this Indenture.

Section 1603. No Payment on Subordinated Securities in Event of Default on Senior Indebtedness.

No payment by the Company on account of principal (or premium, if any), sinking funds or interest, if any, on the Subordinated Securities shall be made unless full payment of amounts then due for principal (premium, if any), sinking funds and interest on Senior Indebtedness has been made or duly provided for in money or money’s worth.

Section 1604. Payments on Subordinated Securities Permitted.

Nothing contained in this Indenture or in any of the Subordinated Securities shall (a) affect the obligation of the Company to make, or prevent the Company from making, at any time except as provided in Sections 1602 and 1603, payments of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Subordinated Securities or (b) prevent the application by the Trustee of any moneys deposited with it

 

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hereunder to the payment of or on account of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Subordinated Securities, unless the Trustee shall have received at its Corporate Trust Office written notice of any event prohibiting the making of such payment more than three Business Days prior to the date fixed for such payment.

Section 1605. Authorization of Holders to Trustee to Effect Subordination.

Each Holder of Subordinated Securities by his acceptance thereof authorizes and directs the Trustee on his behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination as provided in this Article Sixteen and appoints the Trustee his attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.

Section 1606. Notices to Trustee.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article or any other provisions of this Indenture, neither the Trustee nor any Paying Agent (other than the Company) shall be charged with knowledge of the existence of any Senior Indebtedness or of any event which would prohibit the making of any payment of moneys to or by the Trustee or such Paying Agent, unless and until the Trustee or such Paying Agent shall have received (in the case of the Trustee, at its Corporate Trust Office) written notice thereof from the Company or from the holder of any Senior Indebtedness or from the trustee for any such holder, together with proof satisfactory to the Trustee of such holding of Senior Indebtedness or of the authority of such trustee; provided, however, that if at least three Business Days prior to the date upon which by the terms hereof any such moneys may become payable for any purpose (including, without limitation, the payment of either the principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Subordinated Security) the Trustee shall not have received with respect to such moneys the notice provided for in this Section 1606, then, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to receive such moneys and to apply the same to the purpose for which they were received, and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary, which may be received by it within three Business Days prior to such date. The Trustee shall be entitled to rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a Person representing himself to be a holder of Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee on behalf of such holder) to establish that such a notice has been given by a holder of Senior Indebtedness or a trustee on behalf of any such holder. In the event that the Trustee determines in good faith that further evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of Senior Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article Sixteen, the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of Senior Indebtedness held by such Person, the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and any other facts pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article Sixteen and, if such evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive such payment.

Section 1607. Trustee as Holder of Senior Indebtedness.

The Trustee in its individual capacity shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article Sixteen in respect of any Senior Indebtedness at any time held by it to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Indebtedness and nothing in Section 613 or elsewhere in this Indenture shall be construed to deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder.

Nothing in this Article Sixteen shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 606.

 

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Section 1608. Modifications of Terms of Senior Indebtedness.

Any renewal or extension of the time of payment of any Senior Indebtedness or the exercise by the holders of Senior Indebtedness of any of their rights under any instrument creating or evidencing Senior Indebtedness, including, without limitation, the waiver of default thereunder, may be made or done all without notice to or assent from the Holders of the Subordinated Securities or the Trustee.

No compromise, alteration, amendment, modification, extension, renewal or other change of, or waiver, consent or other action in respect of, any liability or obligation under or in respect of, or of any of the terms, covenants or conditions of any indenture or other instrument under which any Senior Indebtedness is outstanding or of such Senior Indebtedness, whether or not such release is in accordance with the provisions of any applicable document, shall in any way alter or affect any of the provisions of this Article Sixteen or of the Subordinated Securities relating to the subordination thereof.

Section 1609. Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent.

Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article Sixteen, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities shall be entitled to rely upon any order or decree entered by any court of competent jurisdiction in which such insolvency, bankruptcy, receivership, liquidation, reorganization, dissolution, winding up or similar case or proceeding is pending, or a certificate of the trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, custodian, receiver, assignee for the benefit of creditors, agent or other person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to the Holders of Subordinated Securities, for the purpose of ascertaining the persons entitled to participate in such payment or distribution, the holders of Senior Indebtedness and other indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article Sixteen.

* * * * *

This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same Indenture.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed, as of the day and year first above written.

 

PENNANTPARK INVESTMENT CORPORATION
By:    
  Name:
  Title:
[                                         ],
Trustee
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

 

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EXHIBIT A

FORMS OF CERTIFICATION

EXHIBIT A-1

FORM OF CERTIFICATE TO BE GIVEN BY PERSON ENTITLED

TO RECEIVE BEARER SECURITY OR TO OBTAIN INTEREST

PAYABLE PRIOR TO THE EXCHANGE DATE

CERTIFICATE

[Insert title or sufficient description of Securities

to be delivered]

This is to certify that, as of the date hereof, and except as set forth below, the above-captioned Securities held by you for our account (i) are owned by person(s) that are not citizens or residents of the United States, domestic partnerships, domestic corporations or any estate or trust the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source (“United States person(s)”), (ii) are owned by United States person(s) that are (a) foreign branches of United States financial institutions (financial institutions, as defined in United States Treasury Regulations Section 1.165-12(c)(1)(v) are herein referred to as “financial institutions”) purchasing for their own account or for resale, or (b) United States person(s) who acquired the Securities through foreign branches of United States financial institutions and who hold the Securities through such United States financial institutions on the date hereof (and in either case (a) or (b), each such United States financial institution hereby agrees, on its own behalf or through its agent, that you may advise PennantPark Investment Corporation or its agent that such financial institution will comply with the requirements of Section 165(j)(3)(A), (B) or (C) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations thereunder), or (iii) are owned by United States or foreign financial institution(s) for purposes of resale during the restricted period (as defined in United States Treasury Regulations Section 1.163-5(c)(2)(i)(D)(7)), and, in addition, if the owner is a United States or foreign financial institution described in clause (iii) above (whether or not also described in clause (i) or (ii)), this is to further certify that such financial institution has not acquired the Securities for purposes of resale directly or indirectly to a United States person or to a person within the United States or its possessions.

As used herein, “United States” means the United States of America (including the States and the District of Columbia); and its “possessions” include Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Wake Island and the Northern Mariana Islands.

We undertake to advise you promptly by tested telex on or prior to the date on which you intend to submit your certification relating to the above-captioned Securities held by you for our account in accordance with your Operating Procedures if any applicable statement herein is not correct on such date, and in the absence of any such notification it may be assumed that this certification applies as of such date.

This certificate excepts and does not relate to [U.S.$]                      of such interest in the above-captioned Securities in respect of which we are not able to certify and as to which we understand an exchange for an interest in a Permanent Global Security or an exchange for and delivery of definitive Securities (or, if relevant, collection of any interest) cannot be made until we do so certify.

 

A-1-1


We understand that this certificate may be required in connection with certain tax legislation in the United States. If administrative or legal proceedings are commenced or threatened in connection with which this certificate is or would be relevant, we irrevocably authorize you to produce this certificate or a copy thereof to any interested party in such proceedings.

 

Dated:                     , 20__
[To be dated no earlier than the 15th day prior to (i) the Exchange Date or (ii) the relevant Interest Payment Date occurring prior to the Exchange Date, as applicable]

 

[Name of Person Making Certification]
 
(Authorized Signatory)
Name:
Title:

 

A-1-2


EXHIBIT A-2

FORM OF CERTIFICATE TO BE GIVEN BY EUROCLEAR AND

CLEARSTREAM IN CONNECTION WITH THE EXCHANGE OF

A PORTION OF A TEMPORARY GLOBAL SECURITY

OR TO OBTAIN INTEREST PAYABLE PRIOR

TO THE EXCHANGE DATE

CERTIFICATE

[Insert title or sufficient description of Securities

to be delivered]

This is to certify that, based solely on written certifications that we have received in writing, by tested telex or by electronic transmission from each of the persons appearing in our records as persons entitled to a portion of the principal amount set forth below (our “Member Organizations”) substantially in the form attached hereto, as of the date hereof, [U.S.$] principal amount of the above-captioned Securities (i) is owned by person(s) that are not citizens or residents of the United States, domestic partnerships, domestic corporations or any estate or trust the income of which is subject to United States Federal income taxation regardless of its source (“United States person(s)”), (ii) is owned by United States person(s) that are (a) foreign branches of United States financial institutions (financial institutions, as defined in U.S. Treasury Regulations Section 1.165-12(c)(1)(v) are herein referred to as “financial institutions”) purchasing for their own account or for resale, or (b) United States person(s) who acquired the Securities through foreign branches of United States financial institutions and who hold the Securities through such United States financial institutions on the date hereof (and in either case (a) or (b), each such financial institution has agreed, on its own behalf or through its agent, that we may advise PennantPark Investment Corporation or its agent that such financial institution shall comply with the requirements of Section 165(j)(3)(A), (B) or (C) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations thereunder), or (iii) is owned by United States or foreign financial institution(s) for purposes of resale during the restricted period (as defined in United States Treasury Regulations Section 1.163-5(c)(2)(i)(D)(7)), and, to the further effect, that financial institutions described in clause (iii) above (whether or not also described in clause (i) or (ii)) have certified that they have not acquired the Securities for purposes of resale directly or indirectly to a United States person or to a person within the United States or its possessions.

As used herein, “United States” means the United States of America (including the States and the District of Columbia); and its “possessions” include Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Wake Island and the Northern Mariana Islands.

We further certify that (i) we are not making available herewith for exchange (or, if relevant, collection of any interest) any portion of the temporary global Security representing the above-captioned Securities excepted in the above-referenced certificates of Member Organizations and (ii) as of the date hereof we have not received any notification from any of our Member Organizations to the effect that the statements made by such Member Organizations with respect to any portion of the part submitted herewith for exchange (or, if relevant, collection of any interest) are no longer true and cannot be relied upon as of the date hereof.

 

A-2-1


We understand that this certification is required in connection with certain tax legislation in the United States. If administrative or legal proceedings are commenced or threatened in connection with which this certificate is or would be relevant, we irrevocably authorize you to produce this certificate or a copy thereof to any interested party in such proceedings.

 

Dated:                     , 20__
[To be dated no earlier than the Exchange Date or the relevant Interest Payment Date occurring prior to the Exchange Date, as applicable]

 

[________________], as Operator of the
Euroclear System
By:    
Name:  
Title:  

 

A-2-2

Form of Subscription Agent Agreement

Exhibit (d)(4)

SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

By and Among

PENNANTPARK INVESTMENT CORPORATION

and

[            ]

This Subscription Rights Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made as of                  among PENNANTPARK INVESTMENT CORPORATION, a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), and             , a [state] corporation, (the “Subscription Agent”), and relates to the base prospectus included in the Registration Statement on Form N-2, File No. 333-150033, filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 4, 2008, as amended by any amendment filed with respect thereto (the “Registration Statement”) and any supplemental prospectus (together with the base prospectus, the “Prospectus”). Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Subscription Certificate (as defined below).

WHEREAS, the Company proposes to make a subscription offer by issuing subscription certificates in the form designated by the Company (“Subscription Certificates”) to stockholders of record (the “Record Date Stockholders”) of its common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Common Stock”), as of a record date specified by the Company (the “Record Date”) in the Prospectus, pursuant to which each Record Date Stockholder, or any transferee of a Record Date Stockholder (such Record Date Stockholders and transferees thereof, the “Rights Holders”) shall have certain rights (the “Rights”) to subscribe for shares of Common Stock, as described in and upon such terms as are set forth in the Prospectus, a final copy of which has been or, upon availability shall promptly be, delivered to the Subscription Agent; and


WHEREAS, the Company wishes the Subscription Agent to perform certain acts on behalf of the Company, and the Subscription Agent is willing to so act, in connection with the distribution of the Subscription Certificates and the issuance and exercise of the Rights, all upon the terms and conditions set forth herein.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the mutual agreements set forth herein, each of the parties agrees as follows:

 

1. Appointment.

The Company hereby appoints the Subscription Agent to act as subscription and distribution agent in connection with the distribution of Subscription Certificates and the issuance and exercise of the Rights (the “Offering”) in accordance with the terms set forth in the Agreement, and the Subscription Agent hereby accepts such appointment.

 

2. Form and Execution of Subscription Certificates.

Each Subscription Certificate shall be irrevocable and transferable upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus. The Subscription Agent shall maintain a register of Subscription Certificates and of the Rights Holders.

 

3. Rights and Issuance of Subscription Certificates.

 

  A. Each Subscription Certificate shall evidence the Rights of the Rights Holders therein named to purchase Common Stock upon the terms and conditions therein set forth.

 

  B.

Upon the written advice of the Company, signed by any of its duly authorized officers, as to the Record Date, the Subscription Agent shall, from a list of the Record Date

 

2


 

Stockholders to be prepared by the Subscription Agent, prepare and record Subscription Certificates in the names of such Record Date Stockholders, setting forth the number of Rights to subscribe for shares of Common Stock calculated on the basis of one Right for each [three (3)] shares of Common Stock recorded on the books in the name of each such Record Date Stockholder as of the Record Date. No fractional Rights shall be issued. Each Subscription Certificate shall be dated as of the Record Date and shall be executed manually or by facsimile signature of a duly authorized officer of the Subscription Agent.

 

  C. Upon receipt of such written advice, signed as aforesaid, as to the effective date of the Registration Statement, the Subscription Agent shall promptly countersign and deliver the Subscription Certificates, together with a copy of the Prospectus, instruction letter and any other documents as the Company deems necessary or appropriate, to all Record Date Stockholders with record addresses in the United States (including its territories and possessions and the District of Columbia). Delivery shall be by first class mail (without registration or insurance).

 

  D.

The Subscription Agent shall mail a copy of the Prospectus, instruction letter, a special notice and such other documents as the Company may deem necessary or appropriate, if any, but not Subscription Certificates to Record Date Stockholders whose record addresses are outside the United States (including its territories and possessions and the District of Columbia) (“Foreign Record Date Stockholders”). Those Record Date Stockholders having a registered address outside the United States (who shall only receive copies of the Prospectus, instruction letter and such other documents as the Company may deem necessary or appropriate, if any) delivery shall be by air mail (without registration or insurance) or by first class mail (without registration or

 

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insurance) to those Record Date Stockholders having an APO or FPO address. The Rights to which such Subscription Certificates relate shall be held by the Subscription Agent for such Foreign Record Date Stockholders’ accounts until instructions are received to exercise, sell or transfer such Rights.

 

  E. The Subscription Agent shall perform their respective duties hereunder in accordance with the terms and provisions of the Fee and Service Schedule attached hereto as Exhibit B, and shall act at all times in accordance with the description of the offering and the Subscription Agent’ duties set forth herein and in the Prospectus.

 

4. [Over-Subscription Privilege.

If any shares of Common Stock available for purchase pursuant to the Rights offering are not subscribed for by Rights Holders pursuant to the Basic Subscription, the Subscription Agent shall allot such shares to Rights Holders who have properly subscribed for such shares pursuant to an over-subscription privilege on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Prospectus, including as to proration. In addition, any Rights Holder other than a Record Date Stockholder who exercises Rights is entitled to subscribe for any Remaining Shares that are not otherwise subscribed for by Record Date Stockholders pursuant to their over-subscription privilege, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Prospectus, including as to proration. We refer to these over-subscription privileges as the “Over-Subscription Privilege.”]

 

5. Exercise.

 

  A.

Rights Holders may acquire shares of Common Stock by delivery to the Subscription Agent no later than 5:00 pm on the Expiration Date, as defined below, or on any extended Expiration Date, of (i) a properly completed and duly executed Subscription Certificate

 

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and a money order or check or bank draft drawn on a bank or branch located in the United States and payable to “PennantPark Investment Corporation” for an amount equal to the number of shares of Common Stock subscribed for pursuant to the Basic Subscription [and the Over-Subscription Privilege] multiplied by the Estimated Subscription Price, each as defined in the Subscription Certificate (the “Exercise Price”); or (ii) a Notice of Guaranteed Delivery guaranteeing delivery of (A) a properly completed and duly executed Subscription Certificate and (B) a money order or check or bank draft drawn on a bank or branch located in the United States and payable to “PennantPark Investment Corporation” for an amount equal to the Exercise Price. Payment must be made in U.S. dollars. For the purposes of the Prospectus and this Agreement, “Business Day” shall mean any day on which trading is conducted on The NASDAQ Global Select Market.

 

  B. The Offering shall terminate, on such date as the Company shall designate to the Subscription Agent in writing (the “Expiration Date”). For the purpose of determining the time of the exercise of any Rights, delivery of any materials to the Subscription Agent shall be deemed to occur when such materials are received by the Subscription Agent specified in the Prospectus.

 

  C.

Within ten Business Days following the Expiration Date (the “Confirmation Date”), the Subscription Agent shall send to each exercising Rights Holder (or, if rights are held by Cede & Co. or any other depository or nominee, to Cede & Co. or such other depository or nominee, as applicable) a confirmation showing (i) the number of shares purchased pursuant to the Basic Subscription; [(ii) the number of shares, if any, acquired pursuant to the Over-Subscription Privilege;] (iii) the per share and total purchase price for such

 

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shares; and (iv) any additional amount payable to the Company by such Rights Holder or any excess to be refunded by the Company to such Rights Holder, in each case based on the Subscription Price as determined on the Expiration Date, [along with a letter explaining the allocation of shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Over-Subscription Privilege, if applicable].

 

  D. Any additional payment required from an exercising Rights Holder must be received by the Subscription Agent within ten Business Days after the Confirmation Date and any excess payment to be refunded by the Company to an exercising Rights Holder shall be mailed by the Subscription Agent as promptly as practicable after the Confirmation Date and, in no event, later than ten Business Days after the Confirmation Date. If a Rights Holder does not make timely payment of any additional amounts due in accordance with this Section 4, the Subscription Agent shall consult with the Company in accordance with Section 5 as to the appropriate action to be taken. The Subscription Agent shall not issue shares of Common Stock for shares of Common Stock subscribed for until payment in full therefor has been received by the Subscription Agent, including clearance of checks and payment pursuant to Notices of Guaranteed Delivery.

 

  E. As soon as practicable after the exercise of any Rights and the clearance of the funds in payment of the Exercise Price, the Company shall issue to the Rights Holder in book entry form the number of full shares of Common Stock to which such holder is entitled upon exercise of the Rights, registered in such name or names as may be directed by him, her or it, and if the Rights Holder shall not have exercised all Rights held by such holder, a new Subscription Certificate for such number of Rights as were not exercised.

 

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6. Validity of Subscriptions.

Irregular, incomplete or unpaid subscriptions not otherwise covered by specific instructions herein shall be submitted to an appropriate officer of the Company and handled in accordance with his or her instructions. Such instructions shall be reasonably documented by the Subscription Agent indicating, among other things, the instructing officer and the date thereof.

 

7. Delivery of Shares.

The Subscription Agent shall deliver Statements of Holding reflecting new shares of Common Stock purchased pursuant to the Basic Subscription [and, if applicable, those shares purchased pursuant to the exercise of the Over-Subscription Privilege] as soon as practicable after the Expiration Date, after all allocations have been effected and full payment for such shares has been received and cleared.

 

8. Holding Proceeds of Rights Offering.

 

  A. All proceeds received by the Subscription Agent from Rights Holders in respect of the exercise of Rights pursuant to the Basic Subscription [and the Over-Subscription Privilege] shall be held by the Subscription Agent on behalf of the Company in a segregated account (the “Account”). Interest shall accrue for the benefit of the Company at              and not for the benefit of the Subscription Agent or any Rights Holders, on funds held in the Account pending disbursement in the manner described in Section 4 above.

 

  B. The Subscription Agent shall deliver all proceeds received in respect of the exercise of Rights, other than those to be refunded to exercising Rights Holders pursuant to Section 4 above, to the Company as promptly as practicable, but in no event later than one Business Day after the Confirmation Date.

 

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  C. The Company acknowledges that the bank accounts maintained by             in connection with the services provided under this Agreement shall be in its name, in a segregated account and held in trust for the benefit of the Company.

 

9. Reports.

Daily, during the period commencing on the date of mailing the Subscription Certificates until and including the Confirmation Date, the Subscription Agent shall report by telephone, facsimile or electronic mail to a designated representative(s) of the Company, as instructed by such designated representative, the following information:

 

  (i) the names of all Rights Holders exercising Rights pursuant to the Basic Subscription [and the Over-Subscription Privilege];

 

  (ii) the total number of Rights exercised by each Rights Holder during the immediately preceding day pursuant to the Basic Subscription [and the Over-Subscription Privilege];

 

  (iii) the total number of Rights verified to be in proper form for exercise, rejected for exercise and being processed, and all payments received in connection therewith;

 

  (iv) with respect to the Dealer Managers and each soliciting dealer, the number of Rights exercised on forms indicating the Dealer Manager or such soliciting dealer, as the case may be, as the broker-dealer with respect to such exercise; and

 

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  (v) such other information as may be reasonably requested by the Company or such designated representative;

The Subscription Agent shall report by telephone, facsimile or electronic mail, as instructed by such designated representative, not later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the first business day following the Expiration Date, (i) the total number of Rights exercised by each Rights Holder pursuant to the Basic Subscription [and the Over-Subscription Privilege and shares of Common Stock related thereto], (ii) the total number of Rights verified to be in proper form for exercise, rejected for exercise and being processed, and all payments received in connection therewith, (iii) with respect to the Dealer Managers and each soliciting dealer, the number of Rights exercised on forms indicating the Dealer Manager or such soliciting dealer, as the case may be, as the broker-dealer with respect to such exercise, and (iv) any such other information as may be reasonably requested by the Company or such designated representative.

In addition, the Subscription Agent shall perform the services set forth in Exhibit A.

 

10. Loss or Mutilation.

If any Subscription Certificate is lost, stolen, mutilated or destroyed, the Subscription Agent may, on such terms as will serve to indemnify and protect the Company and the Subscription Agent as the Subscription Agent may in its reasonable discretion impose on the relevant Rights Holder (which shall, in the case of a mutilated Subscription Certificate, include the surrender and cancellation thereof), issue a new Subscription Certificate to such Rights Holder of like denomination in substitution for the Subscription Certificate so lost, stolen, mutilated or destroyed.

 

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11. Compensation for Services.

The Company agrees that it shall pay to the Subscription Agent compensation for their respective services hereunder in accordance with the Fee and Service Schedule attached hereto as Exhibit B. The Company further agrees that it shall reimburse the Subscription Agent for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in the performance of its respective duties as such; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to reimburse the Subscription Agent for any such expenses incurred which exceed $10,000 in the aggregate without its prior written consent.

 

12. Instructions, Indemnification and Limitation of Liability.

The Subscription Agent undertakes the respective duties and obligations imposed by this Agreement upon the following terms and conditions:

 

  A. The Subscription Agent shall be entitled to rely upon any instructions or directions furnished to it by an officer of the Company listed on the attached Schedule A (an “Appropriate Officer”). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing or any other provision of this Agreement, each Agent, in connection with its duties hereunder, shall not be under any duty or obligation to inquire into the validity or invalidity or authority or lack thereof of any instruction or direction from an Appropriate Officer of the Company and which such Agent reasonably believes to be genuine.

 

  B.

The Company shall indemnify the Subscription Agent and its partners, directors, officers, managers, employees, attorneys and representatives against, and hold them harmless from, all liability and expense for any claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation (each, a “Claim”) against any such party that arises out of or in connection with the services described in this Agreement to be performed by the Subscription Agent or the instructions or directions furnished to the Subscription Agent relating to this Agreement

 

10


 

by an Appropriate Officer of the Company; provided that the Company shall not be so obligated for any liability or expense (i) which shall arise out of the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of the Subscription Agent or the partners, directors, officers, managers, employees, attorneys or representatives of the Subscription Agent or (ii) for any liability or expense arising out of a settlement of any Claim unless such settlement has been made with the prior written consent of the Company.

Promptly after the receipt by the Subscription Agent of notice of any Claim, the Subscription Agent shall notify the Company thereof in writing. In no case shall the Company be liable under this Section 12 to the extent it is materially prejudiced by failure of any indemnified party to deliver prompt notice of any Claim. The Company shall be entitled to participate at its own expense in the defense of any Claim, and, if it so elects at any time after receipt of such notice, it may assume the defense of any suit brought to enforce any Claim. For the purposes of this Section 12, the term “liability and expense” shall include all reasonable costs and expenses, including, but not limited to, reasonable counsel fees (including one local counsel, if necessary) and disbursements, paid or incurred in investigating or defending against any such claim, demand, action, suit, proceeding or investigation.

 

  C.

The Subscription Agent shall at all times act in good faith and agree to use its commercially reasonable efforts to insure the accuracy of all services provided under this Agreement and shall indemnify and hold the Company and its subsidiaries and other affiliates and their respective partners, directors, officers, managers, employees, attorneys and representatives harmless from and against any and all liability and expenses directly or indirectly arising out of or in connection with the services described in this Agreement

 

11


 

to be performed by the Subscription Agent or the instructions or directions furnished to the Subscription Agent relating to this Agreement by an Appropriate Officer of the Company; provided that the Subscription Agent shall not be so obligated for any liability or expense which shall arise out of the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of the Company or the partners, directors, officers, managers, employees, attorneys or representatives of the Company.

 

13. Assignment/Delegation.

 

  A. Except as provided in Section 14(B) below, neither this Agreement nor any rights or obligations hereunder may be assigned or delegated by any party without the prior written consent of the other parties.

 

  B. The Subscription Agent may, without further consent on the part of the Company, subcontract with other parties for such systems, processing, telephone and mailing services and post-exchange activities as may be required from time to time; provided, however, that (i) the Subscription Agent shall be as fully responsible to the Company for the acts and omissions of any subcontractor in the same manner and to the same extent as it is for its own acts and omissions, and (ii) no such subcontracting shall relieve the Subscription Agent of any of its obligations hereunder.

 

14. Relationship/Third Party Beneficiaries.

This Agreement does not constitute an agreement for a partnership or joint venture among the parties. The Subscription Agent shall act hereunder as agent of the Company solely to the limited extent set forth in this Agreement, but shall not assume any fiduciary duties to, or have any rights, power or authority on behalf of, the Company or any of its affiliates, equity holders or creditors or of any other

 

12


person or entity not expressly set forth in this Agreement. Any duties of the Subscription Agent arising out of its engagements pursuant to this Agreement shall be owed solely to the Company. No party shall make any commitments with third parties that are binding on any other party without such other party’s prior written consent, and none of the Subscription Agent, employees, or representatives or contractors of the Subscription Agent shall be deemed to be employees of the Company or any of its affiliates.

Except as explicitly stated elsewhere in this Agreement, nothing under this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any rights, benefits, remedies or claims under or by reason of this Agreement or any part thereof to anyone other than the Subscription Agent and the Company, and the duties and responsibilities undertaken pursuant to this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Subscription Agent and the Company.

 

15. Force Majeure.

In the event any party is unable to perform its obligations under the terms of this Agreement because of acts of God, strikes, terrorist acts, equipment or transmission failure or damage reasonably beyond its control or other cause reasonably beyond its control, such party shall not be liable for damages to any other party resulting from such failure to perform or otherwise from such causes. Performance under this Agreement shall resume when the affected party or parties are able to perform substantially its or their duties.

 

16. Consequential Damages.

No party to this Agreement shall be liable to any other party for any consequential, indirect, penal, special or incidental damages under any provisions of this Agreement or for any consequential, indirect, penal, special or incidental damages arising out of any act or failure to act hereunder even if that party has been advised of or has foreseen the possibility of such damages.

 

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17. Severability.

If any provision of this Agreement shall be held invalid, unlawful or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired.

 

18. Captions.

The captions and descriptive headings herein are for the convenience of the parties only. They do not in any way modify, amplify, alter or give full notice of the provisions hereof.

 

19. Confidentiality.

 

  A. Under this Agreement, each party shall have access to certain confidential information belonging to the other parties, which information shall include nonpublic information pertaining to the disclosing party, its parent, subsidiaries, affiliates, employees, customers, representatives and vendors (including without limitation information furnished prior to the date of this Agreement) furnished by or on behalf of the disclosing party or its representatives to the receiving party, directly or indirectly, by any means (“Confidential Information”).

 

  B. Each of the parties acknowledges that except as necessary for any party to perform its respective obligations under the Agreement: (i) all Confidential Information is confidential; (ii) all Confidential Information is proprietary to the disclosing party; (iii) it shall keep all Confidential Information confidential and shall not disclose the same; (iv) it shall use Confidential Information only as required by this Agreement; (v) it shall not create a list or other compilation containing any Confidential Information for any purpose other than to perform its obligations under this Agreement; and (vi) except as expressly provided for herein, it shall not provide, directly or indirectly, the Confidential Information to any other person or entity for any purpose.

 

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  C. Each of the parties acknowledges that this Agreement shall be filed by the Company as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and that the contents of this Agreement will be accessible to the public.

 

  D. In the event that any party receives a request or becomes legally compelled to disclose any Confidential Information belonging to any other party, such party shall provide the other party with prompt notice of such request (provided such notice is not otherwise prohibited by applicable law or court order) and shall disclose only that portion of the Confidential Information that it is legally obligated to disclose.

 

20. Term and Termination.

The Agreement shall remain in effect until the earlier of (i) thirty (30) days after the Expiration Date; (ii) it is terminated by the Company, on the one hand, or the Subscription Agent with respect to the service provided by such Subscription Agent, on the other, upon a material breach of this Agreement by the other which remains uncured for fifteen (15) days after written notice of such breach has been provided to such other party; or (iii) thirty (30) days’ written notice has been provided by the Company, on the one hand, or the Subscription Agent, on the other. Upon termination of the Agreement, the Subscription Agent shall retain a copy of all canceled Subscription Certificates and related documentation as required by applicable law; all documentation and information related to the services performed under the Agreement shall be promptly delivered to the Company.

 

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21. Notices.

Until further notice in writing by any party hereto to the other parties, all written reports, notices and other communications between any Subscription Agent, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other, required or permitted hereunder shall be delivered or mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, facsimile or overnight courier guaranteeing next day delivery, addressed as follows:

If to the Company, to:

PENNANTPARK INVESTMENT CORPORATION

590 Madison Ave.

15th Floor

New York, NY 10022

ATTN: Chief Financial Officer

With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

DECHERT LLP

1775 I Street, NW

Washington, DC 20006

If to the Subscription Agent, to:

 

22. Survival.

The provisions of Paragraphs 8, 12, 19, 24-28 shall survive any termination, for any reason, of this Agreement.

 

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23. Merger of Agreement.

This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby and supersedes any prior agreement with respect to the subject matter hereof, whether oral or written.

 

24. Amendment.

No term or provision of this Agreement may be amended, changed, altered or modified except by written instrument executed by the each of the parties to this Agreement.

The Subscription Agent may, without the consent or concurrence of the Rights Holders in whose names Subscription Certificates are registered but with the prior written consent of the Company, by supplemental agreement or otherwise, make any change or correction in a Subscription Certificate that it shall have been advised by counsel (who may be counsel for the Company) is appropriate to cure any ambiguity or to correct any defective or inconsistent provision or clerical omission or mistake or manifest error therein or herein contained, and which shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of the Subscription Certificate except insofar as any such change may confer additional rights upon the Rights Holder.

 

25. Extension; Waiver.

At any time, each of the parties hereto may, to the extent legally allowed, (i) extend the time for, or waive, the performance of any of the covenants, obligations or agreements of the other parties hereto, (ii) waive any inaccuracies or breaches in the representations and warranties contained herein or in any certificate delivered by another party pursuant hereto or (iii) waive compliance with any of the conditions of another party contained in this Agreement. Any agreement on the part of any of the parties hereto to any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in a written instrument signed by the party or parties against whom such extension or waiver is to be enforced. Any waiver of any term or condition

 

17


shall not be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach or a subsequent waiver of the same term or condition, or as a waiver of any other term or condition, of this Agreement. The failure of any of the parties hereto to assert any of its rights under this Agreement shall not constitute a waiver of such rights or any other rights.

 

26. Jurisdiction.

Each of the parties hereto: (i) irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York or, if such court does not have jurisdiction, the New York State Supreme Court in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, in any action arising out of or relating to this Agreement, (ii) agrees that all claims in respect of the action may be heard and determined in any such court and (iii) agrees not to bring any action arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any other court.

In any such action, each of the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to assert by way of motion, as a defense or otherwise, any claims that it is not subject to the jurisdiction of the above court, that such action is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such action is improper. Each of the parties hereto also agrees that any final and nonappealable judgment against a party hereto in connection with any action shall be conclusive and binding on such party and that such award or judgment may be enforced in any court of competent jurisdiction, either within or outside of the United States. A certified or exemplified copy of such award or judgment shall be conclusive evidence of the fact and amount of such award or judgment.

Without limiting the foregoing, each party hereto agrees that service of process on such party at the address provided in Section 24 shall be deemed effective service of process on such party.

 

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27. Waiver of Jury Trial.

Each of the parties hereto irrevocably waives any and all right to trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim (whether based upon contract, tort or otherwise) in any way arising out of or relating to this Agreement.

 

28. Governing Law.

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

29. Counterparts.

This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts (including by facsimile or electronic transmission), each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall be considered one and the same agreement.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their respective officers, hereunto duly authorized, as of the day and year first above written.

 

PENNANTPARK INVESTMENT CORPORATION
By:    
Title:    

 

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[SUBSCRIPTION AGENT]
By:    
Title:    

 

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EXHIBIT A

ADDITIONAL SERVICES

TO BE PERFORMED BY SUBSCRIPTION AGENT

 

   

Advance Review of Offering Materials—Review and comment on all Offering materials in advance of final printing and dissemination.

 

   

Financial Printer—Work directly with the financial printer, providing format suggestions and delivery instructions.

 

   

Financial Public Relations—Assist in the preparation and placement of advertisements/tombstones in newspapers (at prevailing market rates).

 

   

Bank and Broker Communications and Mailings—Survey the bank and brokerage communities to obtain material requirements and to ensure that they are aware of the Offering. Coordinate the mailing of the Offering materials to them for forwarding to their beneficial owners.

 

   

Registered Holder Mailings—Coordinate the mailing of the Offering materials to registered holders.

 

   

Incoming Telephone Calls—Set up a toll-free telephone number to enable security holders and their advisors to call with questions. Keep a record of all incoming calls and notify the appropriate individual at the Company upon the receipt of calls outside the normal course.

 

   

Outgoing Telephone Calls—As requested by the Company, initiate follow-up calls to a targeted group of security holders in order to maximize participation in the Offering.


   

Depositary Communications—Initiate and maintain communications with the Company’s Depositary and the reorganization departments of bank and brokerage firms to monitor the progress of the Offering.

 

   

Progress Updates—Inform the Company of security holder comments and reactions to the Offering, and gauge the expected level of participation in the Offering. Track shifts in the ownership of shares through the use of Depository Trust Company (DTC) listings, and analyze those shifts.

Form of Warrant Agreement

Exhibit (d)(5)

WARRANT AGREEMENT

By and Among

PENNANTPARK INVESTMENT CORPORATION

and

[            ]

Agreement made as of             , 2008 between PENNANTPARK INVESTMENT CORPORATION, a Maryland corporation, with offices at 590 Madison Ave., 15th Floor, New York, NY 10022 (“Company”), and         , a         corporation, with offices at              (“Warrant Agent”).

WHEREAS, the Company is engaged in a public offering (“Public Offering”) of         and warrants (“Warrants”) to public investors, each of such Warrants evidencing the right of the holder thereof to purchase one share of the Company’s common stock, par value $.0001 per share (“Common Stock”), for $            , subject to adjustment as described herein; and

WHEREAS, the Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission a Registration Statement on Form S-1, No. 333-150033 (“Registration Statement”), for the registration, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Act”) of, among other securities, the Warrants and the Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants; and

WHEREAS, the Company desires the Warrant Agent to act on behalf of the Company, and the Warrant Agent is willing to so act, in connection with the issuance, registration, transfer, exchange, redemption and exercise of the Warrants; and

WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide for the form and provisions of the Warrants, the terms upon which they shall be issued and exercised and the respective rights, limitation of rights and immunities of the Company, the Warrant Agent and the holders of the Warrants; and

WHEREAS, all acts and things have been done and performed which are necessary to make the Warrants, when executed on behalf of the Company and countersigned by or on behalf of the Warrant Agent, as provided herein, the valid, binding and legal obligations of the Company, and to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement.


NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1. Appointment of Warrant Agent. The Company hereby appoints the Warrant Agent to act as agent for the Company for the Warrants, and the Warrant Agent hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to perform the same in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

2. Warrants.

2.1 Form of Warrant. Each Warrant shall be issued to its holder in registered form, and each such holder’s Warrants shall be represented by a certificate (a “Warrant Certificate”) in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto, the provisions of which are incorporated herein and shall be signed by, or bear the facsimile signature of, the Chairman of the Board, President, Treasurer, or the Secretary of the Company. In the event the person whose facsimile signature has been placed upon any Warrant Certificate shall have ceased to serve in the capacity in which such person signed the Warrant before such Warrant is issued, it may be issued with the same effect as if he or she had not ceased to hold such office at the date of issuance.

2.2 Effect of Countersignature. Unless and until countersigned by the Warrant Agent pursuant to this Agreement, a Warrant shall be invalid and of no effect and may not be exercised by the holder thereof.

2.3 Registration.

2.3.1 Warrant Register. The Warrant Agent shall maintain books (“Warrant Register”), for the registration of original issuance and the registration of transfer of the Warrants. Upon the initial issuance of the Warrants, the Warrant Agent shall issue and register the Warrants in the names of the respective holders thereof in such denominations and otherwise in accordance with instructions delivered to the Warrant Agent by the Company.

2.3.2 Registered Holder. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Warrant, the Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name such Warrant shall be registered upon the Warrant Register (“registered holder”) as the absolute owner of such

 

2


Warrant and of each Warrant represented thereby (notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing on the Warrant Certificate made by anyone other than the Company or the Warrant Agent), for the purpose of any exercise thereof, and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

3. Terms and Exercise of Warrants.

3.1 Warrant Price. Each Warrant shall, when countersigned by the Warrant Agent, entitle the registered holder thereof, subject to the provisions of such Warrant and of this Warrant Agreement, to purchase from the Company the number of shares of Common Stock stated therein, at the price of $             per whole share, subject to the adjustments provided in Section 4 hereof and in the last sentence of this Section 3.1. The term “Warrant Price” as used in this Warrant Agreement refers to the price per share at which Common Stock may be purchased at the time a Warrant is exercised. The Company in its sole discretion may lower the Warrant Price at any time prior to the Expiration Date for a period of not less than 10 business days.

3.2 Duration of Warrants. A Warrant may be exercised only during the period (“Exercise Period”) commencing on         , and terminating at 5:00 p.m., New York City time on the date fixed for redemption of the Warrants as provided in Section 6 of this Agreement (“Expiration Date”). Except with respect to the right to receive the Redemption Price (as set forth in Section 6 hereunder), each Warrant not exercised on or before the Expiration Date shall become void, and all rights thereunder and all rights in respect thereof under this Agreement shall cease at the close of business on the Expiration Date. The Company in its sole discretion may extend the duration of the Warrants by delaying the Expiration Date; provided, that the Company shall provide notice to registered holders of the Warrants of any such extension of 20 days or more.

3.3 Exercise of Warrants.

3.3.1 Payment. Subject to the provisions of the Warrant Certificate and this Warrant Agreement, a Warrant may be exercised by the registered holder thereof by surrendering the Warrant Certificate, countersigned by the Warrant Agent, at the office of the Warrant Agent, or, if applicable, at the office of its successor as Warrant Agent with the subscription form, as set forth in the Warrant Certificate, duly executed, and by paying in full the Warrant Price for each full share of Common Stock as to which the Warrant is exercised and any and all applicable taxes due in connection with the exercise of the Warrant, the exchange of the Warrant for shares of Common Stock, and the issuance of the Common Stock, as follows:

(a) in cash;

 

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(b) by certified or official bank check payable to the order of the Company;

3.3.2 Issuance of Certificates. As soon as practicable after the exercise of any Warrants and the clearance of the funds in payment of the Warrant Price, the Company shall issue to the registered holder of such Warrants in book entry form the number of full shares of Common Stock to which such holder is entitled, registered in such name or names as may be directed by him, her or it, and if the holder of such Warrants shall not have exercised all Warrants held by such holder, a new countersigned Warrant Certificate for the number of shares as to which such Warrants shall not have been exercised. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be obligated to deliver any securities pursuant to the exercise of a Warrant and shall have no obligation to settle such Warrant exercise unless a registration statement under the Act with respect to the Common Stock is effective. In the event that a registration statement with respect to the Common Stock underlying a Warrant is not effective under the Act, the holder of such Warrant shall not be entitled to exercise such Warrant and such Warrant may have no value and expire worthless. In no event shall the Company be required to net cash settle the warrant exercise. Warrants may not be exercised by, or securities issued to, any registered holder in any state in which such exercise would be unlawful.

3.3.3 Valid Issuance. All shares of Common Stock issued upon the proper exercise of a Warrant in conformity with this Agreement shall be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

3.3.4 Date of Issuance. Each person in whose name any such certificate for shares of Common Stock is issued shall be deemed for all purposes to have become the holder of record of such shares on the date on which the Warrant was surrendered and payment of the Warrant Price was made; provided, however, that, if the date of such surrender and payment is a date when the stock transfer books of the Company are closed, such person shall be deemed to have become the holder of such shares at the close of business on the next succeeding date on which such stock transfer books are open.

 

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4. Adjustments.

4.1 Stock Dividends – Split-Ups. If after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 4.6 below, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock is increased by a stock dividend payable in shares of Common Stock, by a split of shares of Common Stock, or by any other similar event, then, on the effective date of such stock dividend, split-up or similar event, the number of shares of Common Stock issuable on exercise of each Warrant shall be increased in proportion to such increase in outstanding shares of Common Stock.

4.2 Aggregation of Shares. If after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 4.6, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock is decreased by a consolidation, combination, reverse stock split or reclassification of shares of Common Stock or any other similar event, then, on the effective date of such consolidation, combination, reverse stock split, reclassification or similar event, the number of shares of Common Stock issuable on exercise of each Warrant shall be decreased in proportion to such decrease in outstanding shares of Common Stock.

4.3 Adjustments in Exercise Price. Whenever the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants is adjusted, as provided in Section 4.1 and 4.2 above, the Warrant Price shall be adjusted (to the nearest cent) by multiplying such Warrant Price immediately prior to such adjustment by a fraction (x) the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants immediately prior to such adjustment, and (y) the denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock so purchasable immediately thereafter.

4.4 Replacement of Securities upon Reorganization, etc. In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (other than a change covered by Section 4.1 or 4.2 hereof or that solely affects the par value of such shares of Common Stock), or in the case of any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation (other than a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing corporation and that does not result in any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding shares of Common Stock), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another corporation or entity of the assets or other property of the Company as an entirety or substantially as an entirety in connection with which the Company is dissolved, the Warrant holders shall thereafter have the right to purchase and receive, upon the basis and upon the terms and conditions specified in the Warrants and in lieu of the shares of Common Stock immediately theretofore purchasable and receivable upon the exercise of the rights represented thereby,

 

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the kind and amount of shares of stock or other securities or property (including cash) receivable upon such reclassification, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or upon a dissolution following any such sale or transfer, that the Warrant holder would have received if such Warrant holder had exercised his, her or its Warrant(s) immediately prior to such event; and if any reclassification also results in a change in shares of Common Stock covered by Section 4.1 or 4.2, then such adjustment shall be made pursuant to Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 and this Section 4.4. The provisions of this Section 4.4 shall similarly apply to successive reclassifications, reorganizations, mergers or consolidations, sales or other transfers.

4.5 Notices of Changes in Warrant. Upon every adjustment of the Warrant Price or the number of shares issuable upon exercise of a Warrant, the Company shall give written notice thereof to the Warrant Agent, which notice shall state the Warrant Price resulting from such adjustment and the increase or decrease, if any, in the number of shares purchasable at such price upon the exercise of a Warrant, setting forth in reasonable detail the method of calculation and the facts upon which such calculation is based. Upon the occurrence of any event specified in Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 or 4.4, then, in any such event, the Company shall give written notice to each Warrant holder, at the last address set forth for such holder in the warrant register, of the record date or the effective date of the event. Failure to give such notice, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of such event.

4.6 No Fractional Shares. Notwithstanding any provision contained in this Warrant Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall not issue fractional shares upon exercise of Warrants. If, by reason of any adjustment made pursuant to this Section 4, the holder of any Warrant would be entitled, upon the exercise of such Warrant, to receive a fractional interest in a share, the Company shall, upon such exercise, round up or down to the nearest whole number the number of the shares of Common Stock to be issued to the Warrant holder.

4.7 Form of Warrant Certificate. The form of Warrant Certificate need not be changed because of any adjustment pursuant to this Section 4, and Warrants issued after such adjustment may state the same Warrant Price and the same number of shares as is stated in the Warrants initially issued pursuant to this Agreement. However, the Company may at any time in its sole discretion make any change in the form of Warrant Certificate that the Company may deem appropriate and that does not affect the substance thereof, and any Warrant Certificate thereafter issued or countersigned, whether in exchange or substitution for an outstanding Warrant Certificate or otherwise, may be in the form as so changed.

 

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5. Transfer and Exchange of Warrants.

5.1 Registration of Transfer. The Warrant Agent shall register the transfer, from time to time, of any outstanding Warrant upon the Warrant Register, upon surrender of the Warrant Certificate representing such Warrant, for transfer, properly endorsed with signatures properly guaranteed and accompanied by appropriate instructions for transfer. Upon any such transfer, a new Warrant Certificate representing an equal aggregate number of Warrants shall be issued and the old Warrant Certificate shall be cancelled by the Warrant Agent. The Warrants so cancelled shall be delivered by the Warrant Agent to the Company from time to time upon request.

5.2 Procedure for Surrender of Warrant Certificates. Warrant Certificates may be surrendered to the Warrant Agent, together with a written request for exchange or transfer, and thereupon the Warrant Agent shall issue in exchange therefor one or more new Warrant Certificates as requested by the registered holder of the Warrants so surrendered, representing an equal aggregate number of Warrants represented by such Warrant Certificate; provided, however, that in the event that a Warrant Certificate surrendered for transfer bears a restrictive legend, the Warrant Agent shall not cancel such Warrant Certificate and issue new Warrant Certificate(s) in exchange therefor until the Warrant Agent has received an opinion of counsel for the Company stating that such transfer may be made and indicating whether the new Warrant Certificate(s) must also bear a restrictive legend.

5.3 Fractional Warrants. The Warrant Agent shall not be required to effect any registration of transfer or exchange which would result in the issuance of a warrant certificate for a fraction of a Warrant.

5.4 Service Charges. No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Warrants.

5.5 Warrant Execution and Countersignature. The Warrant Agent is hereby authorized to countersign and to deliver, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Warrant Certificates required to be issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5, and the Company, whenever required by the Warrant Agent, shall supply the Warrant Agent with Warrant Certificates duly executed on behalf of the Company for such purpose.

 

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6. Redemption.

6.1 Redemption. Subject to Section 6.4 hereof, not less than all of the outstanding Warrants (excluding the Insider Warrants, so long as such Insider Warrants are held by the Insiders or their affiliates) may be redeemed, at the option of the Company, at any time while they are exercisable and prior to their expiration, at the office of the Warrant Agent, upon the notice referred to in Section 6.2, at the price of $.001 per Warrant (“Redemption Price”), provided that the last sales price of the Common Stock has been at least $ per share, on each of twenty (20) trading days within any thirty (30) trading-day period ending on the third business day prior to the date on which notice of redemption is given.

6.2 Date Fixed for, and Notice of, Redemption. In the event the Company shall elect to redeem all of the Warrants, the Company shall fix a date for the redemption. Notice of redemption shall be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, by the Company not less than 30 days prior to the date fixed for redemption to the registered holders of the Warrants to be redeemed at their last addresses as they shall appear on the registration books. Any notice mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given whether or not the registered holder received such notice.

6.3 Exercise After Notice of Redemption. The Warrants may be exercised in accordance with Section 3.3.1 of this Agreement at any time after notice of redemption shall have been given by the Company pursuant to Section 6.2 hereof and prior to the time and date fixed for redemption. On and after the redemption date, the record holder of the Warrants shall have no further rights except to receive, upon surrender of the Warrants, the Redemption Price.

6.4 Intentionally Omitted.

7. Other Provisions Relating to Rights of Holders of Warrants.

7.1 No Rights as Stockholder. A Warrant does not entitle the registered holder thereof to any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to receive dividends, or other distributions, exercise any preemptive rights to vote or to consent or to receive notice as stockholders in respect of the meetings of stockholders or the election of directors of the Company or any other matter.

 

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7.2 Lost, Stolen, Mutilated, or Destroyed Warrants. If any Warrant Certificate is lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed, the Company and the Warrant Agent may on such terms as to indemnity or otherwise as they may in their discretion impose (which shall, in the case of a mutilated Warrant, include the surrender thereof), issue a new Warrant Certificate of like denomination, tenor and date as the Warrant Certificate so lost, stolen, mutilated or destroyed. Any such new Warrant Certificate shall constitute a substitute contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the allegedly lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed Warrant Certificate shall be at any time enforceable by anyone.

7.3 Reservation of Common Stock. The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available a number of its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock that will be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Warrants issued pursuant to this Agreement.

7.4 Registration of Common Stock. The Company agrees that prior to the commencement of the Exercise Period, it shall file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement, or a new registration statement, for the registration, under the Act, of, and it shall use its best efforts to take such action as is necessary to qualify for sale, in those states in which the Warrants were initially offered by the Company, the Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants. In either case, the Company shall use its best efforts to cause the same to become effective and to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement until the expiration of the Warrants in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

8. Concerning the Warrant Agent and Other Matters.

8.1 Payment of Taxes. The Company shall from time to time promptly pay all taxes and charges that may be imposed upon the Company or the Warrant Agent in respect of the issuance or delivery of shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of Warrants, but the Company shall not be obligated to pay any transfer taxes in respect of the Warrants or such shares.

8.2 Resignation, Consolidation, or Merger of Warrant Agent.

8.2.1 Appointment of Successor Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent, or any successor to it hereafter appointed, may resign its duties and be discharged from all further duties and liabilities hereunder after giving sixty (60) days’ notice in writing to the Company. If the office of the Warrant Agent becomes vacant by resignation or incapacity to act or otherwise, the Company shall appoint in writing a successor Warrant Agent in place of the Warrant Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of 30 days after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the Warrant Agent or by the holder of the Warrant (who shall, with such notice, submit

 

9


his Warrant for inspection by the Company), then the holder of any Warrant may apply to the Supreme Court of the State of New York for the County of New York for the appointment of a successor Warrant Agent at the Company’s cost. Any successor Warrant Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such court, shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, in good standing and having its principal office in the Borough of Manhattan, The City and State of New York, and authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers and subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority. After appointment, any successor Warrant Agent shall be vested with all the authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties and obligations of its predecessor Warrant Agent with like effect as if originally named as Warrant Agent hereunder, without any further act or deed. If for any reason it becomes necessary or appropriate, the predecessor Warrant Agent shall execute and deliver, at the expense of the Company, an instrument transferring to such successor Warrant Agent all the authority, powers and rights of such predecessor Warrant Agent hereunder; and upon request of any successor Warrant Agent, the Company shall make, execute, acknowledge and deliver any and all instruments in writing for more fully and effectually vesting in and confirming to such successor Warrant Agent all such authority, powers, rights, immunities, duties and obligations.

8.2.2 Notice of Successor Warrant Agent. In the event a successor Warrant Agent shall be appointed, the Company shall give notice thereof to the predecessor Warrant Agent and the transfer agent for the Common Stock not later than the effective date of any such appointment.

8.2.3 Merger or Consolidation of Warrant Agent. Any corporation into which the Warrant Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated or any corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Warrant Agent shall be a party shall be the successor Warrant Agent under this Agreement without any further act.

8.3 Fees and Expenses of Warrant Agent.

8.3.1 Remuneration. The Company agrees to pay the Warrant Agent reasonable remuneration for its services as such Warrant Agent hereunder and shall reimburse the Warrant Agent upon demand for all expenditures that the Warrant Agent may reasonably incur in the execution of its duties hereunder.

8.3.2 Further Assurances. The Company agrees to perform, execute, acknowledge and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered all such further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be required by the Warrant Agent for the carrying out or performing of the provisions of this Agreement.

 

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8.4 Liability of Warrant Agent.

8.4.1 Reliance on Company Statement. Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Warrant Agreement, the Warrant Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a statement signed by the President, Chief Executive Officer or Chairman of the Board of the Company and delivered to the Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent may rely upon such statement for any action taken or suffered in good faith by it pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement.

8.4.2 Indemnity. The Warrant Agent shall be liable hereunder only for its own negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith. The Company agrees to indemnify the Warrant Agent and save it harmless against any and all liabilities, including judgments, costs and reasonable counsel fees, for anything done or omitted by the Warrant Agent in the execution of this Agreement except as a result of the Warrant Agent’s negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith.

8.4.3 Exclusions. The Warrant Agent shall have no responsibility with respect to the validity of this Agreement or with respect to the validity or execution of any Warrant (except its countersignature thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any Warrant; nor shall it be responsible to make any adjustments required under the provisions of Section 4 hereof or responsible for the manner, method or amount of any such adjustment or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such adjustment; nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any shares of Common Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement or any Warrant or as to whether any shares of Common Stock will when issued be valid and fully paid and nonassessable.

8.5 Acceptance of Agency. The Warrant Agent hereby accepts the agency established by this Agreement and agrees to perform the same upon the terms and conditions herein set forth and, among other things, shall account promptly to the Company with respect to Warrants exercised and concurrently account for, and pay to the Company, all moneys received by the Warrant Agent for the purchase of shares of Common Stock through the exercise of Warrants.

 

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9. Miscellaneous Provisions.

9.1 Successors. All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Warrant Agent shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns.

9.2 Notices. Any notice, statement or demand authorized by this Warrant Agreement to be given or made by the Warrant Agent or by the holder of any Warrant to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given when so delivered if by hand or overnight delivery or if sent by certified mail or private courier service within five days after deposit of such notice, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Company with the Warrant Agent), as follows:

PennantPark Investment Corporation

590 Madison Ave.

15th Floor

New York, NY 10022

Attn: Chief Financial Officer

Any notice, statement or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the holder of any Warrant or by the Company to or on the Warrant Agent shall be sufficiently given when so delivered if by hand or overnight delivery or if sent by certified mail or private courier service within five days after deposit of such notice, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Warrant Agent with the Company), as follows:

with a copy in each case to:

Dechert LLP

1775 I Street, NW

Washington, D.C. 20006

Attn: Thomas J. Friedmann

and

 

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9.3 Applicable law. The validity, interpretation, and performance of this Agreement and of the Warrants shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of New York. The Company hereby agrees that any action, proceeding or claim against it arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive. The Company hereby waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum. Any such process or summons to be served upon the Company may be served by transmitting a copy thereof by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to it at the address set forth in Section 9.2 hereof. Such mailing shall be deemed personal service and shall be legal and binding upon the Company in any action, proceeding or claim.

9.4 Persons Having Rights under this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement expressed and nothing that may be implied from any of the provisions hereof is intended, or shall be construed, to confer upon, or give to, any person or corporation other than the parties hereto and the registered holders of the Warrants and, for the purposes of Sections 7.4 and 9.2 hereof, any right, remedy, or claim under or by reason of this Warrant Agreement or of any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise, or agreement hereof. [              shall be deemed to be a third-party beneficiary of this Agreement with respect to Sections 7.4 and 9.2 hereof.] All covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises, and agreements contained in this Warrant Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto [(and          with respect to the Sections 7.4 and 9.2 hereof)] and their successors and assigns and of the registered holders of the Warrants. [This Section 9.4 shall not be modified or amended without the prior written consent of             .]

9.5 Examination of the Warrant Agreement. A copy of this Agreement shall be available at all reasonable times at the office of the Warrant Agent in the Borough of Manhattan, The City and State of New York, for inspection by the registered holder of any Warrant. The Warrant Agent may require any such holder to submit his Warrant for inspection by it.

9.6 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of original or facsimile counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

9.7 Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and are not part of this Warrant Agreement and shall not affect the interpretation thereof.

 

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9.8 Amendments. This Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto without the consent of any registered holder for the purpose of curing any ambiguity, or of curing, correcting or supplementing any defective provision contained herein or adding or changing any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Agreement as the parties may deem necessary or desirable and that the parties deem shall not to materially and adversely affect the interest of the registered holders. All other modifications or amendments, including any amendment to increase the Warrant Price or shorten the Exercise Period, shall require the written consent of the registered holders of a majority of the then outstanding Warrants. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may lower the Warrant Price or extend the duration of the Exercise Period pursuant to Sections 3.1 and 3.2, respectively, without the consent of the registered holders.

9.9 This Agreement does not constitute an agreement for a partnership or joint venture among the parties. The Warrant Agent shall act hereunder as agent of the Company solely to the limited extent set forth in this Agreement, but shall not assume any fiduciary duties to, or have any rights, power or authority on behalf of, the Company or any of its affiliates, equity holders or creditors or of any other person or entity not expressly set forth in this Agreement. Any duties of the Warrant Agent arising out of its engagements pursuant to this Agreement shall be owed solely to the Company. No party shall make any commitments with third parties that are binding on any other party without such other party’s prior written consent, and none of the Warrant Agent, employees, or representatives or contractors of the Warrant Agent shall be deemed to be employees of the Company or any of its affiliates.

9.10 Except as explicitly stated elsewhere in this Agreement, nothing under this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any rights, benefits, remedies or claims under or by reason of this Agreement or any part thereof to anyone other than the Warrant Agent and the Company, and the duties and responsibilities undertaken pursuant to this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Warrant Agent and the Company.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed by the parties hereto as of the day and year first above written.

 

PENNANTPARK INVESTMENT CORP.
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

 

[                                    ]
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

 

[[                                    ]
By:    
  Name:
  Title:        ]

 

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Form of Underwriting Agreement for equity

Exhibit (h)(1)

PENNANTPARK INVESTMENT CORPORATION

(a Maryland corporation)

Shares of Common Stock

Shares of Preferred Stock

and

Warrants to Common Stock or Preferred Stock

PURCHASE AGREEMENT

Dated:


PENNANTPARK INVESTMENT CORPORATION

(a Maryland corporation)

Shares of Common Stock

Shares of Preferred Stock

and

Warrants to Purchase Common Stock or Preferred Stock

PURCHASE AGREEMENT

Dated:

[Date]

[Name of Underwriter]

[Address]

Ladies and Gentlemen:

PennantPark Investment Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), confirms its agreement with [                     ] (“ [                     ]”) and each of the other Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto (collectively, the “Underwriters,” which term shall also include any underwriter substituted as hereinafter provided in Section 10 hereof), for whom [                     ] are acting as representatives (in such capacity, the “Representatives”), with respect to the issue and sale by the Company and the purchase by the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the respective numbers of shares of common stock, par value $.001 per share (“Common Stock”), or preferred stock, par value $ per share (“Preferred Stock”), or both, and/or warrants (the “Warrants”) to purchase Common Stock or Preferred Stock, or both, of the Company set forth in said Schedule A and with respect to the grant by the Company to the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the option described in Section 2(2) hereof to purchase additional Securities (as hereinafter defined) to cover overallotments, if any. The Preferred Stock may be offered in the form of depositary shares (the “Depositary Shares”) represented by depositary receipts (the “Depositary Receipts”).

The Warrants will be issued under one or more warrant agreements (the warrant agreement relating to any issue of Warrants to be sold pursuant to this Agreement is referred to herein as the “Warrant Agreement”), between the Company and the Warrant Agent identified in such Warrant Agreement (the “Warrant Agent”). The Common Stock and, if applicable, the Preferred Stock or the Warrants, [together, with the Depositary Shares and the Depositary Receipts] are hereinafter referred to as the “Securities.” The aforesaid Securities (the “Initial Securities”) to be purchased by the Underwriters and all or any part of the Securities subject to the option described in Section 2(2) hereof (the “Option Securities”) are hereinafter called, collectively, the “Underwritten Securities” and “Warrant Securities” shall mean the Common Stock or Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants. The Common Stock, Preferred Stock and Warrants may be offered either together or separately. Each issue of Preferred Stock may vary, as applicable, as to the specific number of shares, title, issuance price, any redemption or sinking fund requirements, any conversion provisions and sinking fund requirements, if any, and any other variable terms as set forth in the applicable certificate of designation (each, a “Certificate of Designation”) relating to such Preferred Stock. Each issue of Warrants may vary, as applicable, as to the title, specific number of shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock receivable upon exercise, issuance price, exercise dates, exercise conditions and any other variable terms as set forth in the applicable Warrant Agreement relating to such Warrants.

The Company understands that the Underwriters propose to make a public offering of the Underwritten Securities as soon as the Representatives deem advisable after this Agreement has been executed and delivered.

 

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The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a shelf registration statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-150033) containing a base prospectus dated (the “Base Prospectus”) to be used in connection with the public offering and sale of the Underwritten Securities and certain of the Company’s debt securities and warrants to purchase debt securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), which registration statement has been declared effective by the Commission. The Company has also filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 497 a preliminary prospectus supplement to the Base Prospectus dated , (the “Pre-pricing Prospectus Supplement” and together with the Base Prospectus, the “Pre-pricing Prospectus”). Within two (2) days after execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company will prepare and file a final prospectus supplement to the Base Prospectus in accordance with the provisions of Rule 497 under the Securities Act (the “Prospectus Supplement” and together with the Base Prospectus, the “Prospectus”). Such registration statement, as amended, including all exhibits and schedules thereto, at the time it became effective, including any information deemed to be a part of the registration statement at the time of its effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A and Rule 497 under the Securities Act, is hereinafter referred to as the “Registration Statement.”

The Company has entered into an investment management agreement, dated as of April 17, 2007 (the “Investment Management Agreement”), with PennantPark Investment Advisers, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company registered as an investment adviser (the “Investment Adviser”), under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “Advisers Act”).

The Company has entered into an investment administration agreement, dated as of April 17, 2007 (the “Administration Agreement”), with PennantPark Investment Administration, LLC, a Delaware limited liability Company (the “Administrator”).

SECTION 1. Representations and Warranties.

1. Representations and Warranties of the Company.

The Company, the Investment Adviser and the Administrator, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to each Underwriter as of the date hereof, as of the Closing Time referred to in Section 2(3) hereof and as of each Date of Delivery (if any) referred to in Section 2(2) hereof, and agrees with each Underwriter:

 

  (a) Compliance with Registration Requirements.

(i) The Company has filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 54(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “Investment Company Act”), a completed and executed Form N-54A, pursuant to which the Company has elected to be subject to the provisions of Sections 55 through 65 of the Investment Company Act (the “BDC Election”); the Company has not filed with the Commission any notice of withdrawal of the BDC Election; the BDC Election remains in full force and effect, and, to the Company’s knowledge, no order of suspension or revocation of such election under the Investment Company Act has been issued or proceedings therefore initiated or threatened by the Commission.

(ii) The Company is eligible to use Form N-2. The Registration Statement has become effective under the Securities Act and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued under the Securities Act and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, are contemplated by the Commission.

(iii) The Registration Statement complies in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the 1940 Act and does not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

(iii) As of the Applicable Time, as defined below, the Prospectus and the Pre-pricing Prospectus, or any amendment thereto, complied when so filed in all material respects with the Securities Act and the 1940 Act except for any corrections to the Pre-pricing Prospectus that were made in the Prospectus or any

 

3


amendment thereto. The Prospectus and any amendment thereto does not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

As used in this subsection and elsewhere in this Agreement, “Applicable Time” means             [a.m.][p.m.] (Eastern time) on             or such other time as agreed by the Company and the Representatives.

(iv) The Company and its officers and directors, in their capacities as such, are in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

The representations and warranties in this subsection shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Prospectus, Pre-pricing Prospectus or any amendments thereto made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), the Prospectus, the Pre-pricing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto.

 

  (b) Independent Accountants.

The accountants who certified the financial statements included in the Registration Statement are independent public accountants as required by the Securities Act, the Securities Act Regulations and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Securities Exchange Act”).

 

  (c) Financial Statements.

The financial statements of the Company, together with related notes, as set forth in the Registration Statement present fairly in all material respects the financial position and the results of operations of the Company at the indicated dates and for the indicated periods; such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied throughout the periods presented except as noted in the notes thereon, and all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation in all material respects of results for such periods have been made; and the selected financial information included in the Prospectus presents fairly in all material respects the information shown therein and has been compiled on a basis consistent with the financial statements presented therein.

 

  (d) No Material Adverse Change in Business.

Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus, the Pre-pricing Prospectus and any amendments thereto, except as otherwise stated therein, (i) there has been no material adverse change in the financial condition, earnings, business or operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business (a “Material Adverse Effect”), (ii) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has incurred any material liability or obligation, indirect, direct or contingent, not in the ordinary course of business nor entered into any material transaction or agreement no in the ordinary course of business; and (iii) except as disclosed in the Pre-pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus, as the case may be, there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company or repurchase or redemption by the Company of any class of capital stock.

 

  (e) Good Standing of the Company.

The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland and has corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement; and the Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, except where the failure so to qualify or to be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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  (f) Subsidiaries.

(i) The Company’s only subsidiaries are [insert subsidiaries] (each, a “Subsidiary” and collectively, the “Subsidiaries”).

(ii) Each of the Subsidiaries has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation, limited liability company or limited partnership in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, has power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Pre-pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus, as the case may be, and is duly qualified as a foreign corporation, limited liability company or limited partnership to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, except where the failure to be so qualified or to be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(iii) Except as otherwise disclosed in the Pre-pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus, as the case may be, all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each such Subsidiary has been duly authorized and validly issued, is fully paid and non-assessable and is owned directly or indirectly by the Company free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien encumbrance, claim or equity; none of the outstanding shares of capital stock of any of the Subsidiaries was issued in violation of the preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of such Subsidiary.

(iv) Except as (a) otherwise disclosed in the Pre-pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus, as the case may be, and (b) portfolio investments made after , the Company does not own, directly or indirectly, any shares of stock or any other equity or debt securities of any corporation or have any equity or debt interest in any firm, partnership, joint venture, association or other entity.

 

  (g) Capitalization.

The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company is as set forth in the Pre-pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus in the column entitled “Actual” under the caption “Capitalization” (except for subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to this Agreement or pursuant to the Company’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan. The shares of issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; none of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company was issued in violation of preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company.

 

  (h) Authorization of Agreements.

(i) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

(ii) The Investment Management Agreement and the Administration Agreement have each been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, and assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the Investment Adviser and Administrator, respectively, each are valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited subject to the effect of (i) any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally (including without limitation all laws relating to fraudulent transfers), (ii) general principles of equity, including without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) any principles of public policy.

(iii) The Warrant Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company prior to the issuance of any applicable Warrants and when executed and delivered by the Warrant Agent will

 

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constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be to the effect of (i) any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally (including without limitation all laws relating to fraudulent transfers), (ii) general principles of equity, including without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) any principles of public policy.

(iv) [The deposit agreement (the “Deposit Agreement”), pursuant to which Preferred Stock is deposited among the Company, the financial institution named in the Deposit Agreement (the “Deposit Agent”) and the holders of the Depositary Receipts issued thereunder, will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company prior to the issuance of any applicable Underwritten Securities, and when executed by the Deposit Agent, will constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be subject to the effect of (i) any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally (including without limitation all laws relating to fraudulent transfers), (ii) general principles of equity, including without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) any principles of public policy.]

 

  (i) Authorization and Description of Underwritten Securities.

(i) The Underwritten Securities being sold pursuant to this Agreement and the Warrant Securities issuable upon exercise of the Warrants have been duly authorized by the Company and, when issued and delivered by the Company pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, the Warrant Agreement [or the Deposit Agreement] relating thereto, against payment of the consideration set forth in this Agreement and such Warrant Agreement [or Deposit Agreement], will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

(ii) The Underwritten Securities being sold pursuant to this Agreement conform in all material respects to the statements relating thereto contained in the Prospectus, and the issuance of the Underwritten Securities is not subject to preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company.

 

  (j) No Defaults or Violations.

(i) Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is in violation of its charter, by-laws or other organizational documents.

(ii) Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is in default in the performance or observance of any of (A) the terms of any agreement filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, (B) any federal or state statute, law, rule, regulation, or any judgment, order or decree of any federal or state court, regulatory body, administrative agency or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company, its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties, as applicable, except any such default or observance which would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

  (k) Absence of Proceedings.

Other than as disclosed in the Prospectus and Pre-pricing Prospectus, there are no actions, suits or proceedings or, to the knowledge of the Company, inquiries or investigations, before or brought by any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, now pending, or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, against or affecting the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, which are required to be disclosed in the Prospectus and the Pre-pricing Prospectus, or which would, individually or in the aggregate result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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  (l) Possession of Intellectual Property.

(i) The Company and the Subsidiaries own or possess, or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate patents, patent rights, licenses, inventions, copyrights, know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks, trade names or other intellectual property (collectively, “Intellectual Property”) necessary to carry on the business now operated by them or proposed to be operated by them immediately following the offering of the Underwritten Securities as described in the Prospectus, except where the failure to own or possess or otherwise be able to acquire such rights in a timely manner would not otherwise reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(ii) Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries has received any notice of or is otherwise aware of any infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any Intellectual Property or of any facts or circumstances which would render any Intellectual Property invalid or inadequate to protect the interest of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries therein, and which infringement or conflict (if the subject of any unfavorable decision, ruling or finding) or invalidity or inadequacy, singly or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

  (m) Absence of Further Requirements.

No filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration, qualification or decree of, any court or governmental authority or agency is necessary or required for the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder, in connection with the offering, issuance or sale of the Underwritten Securities hereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, [the Deposit Agreement] or the Warrant Agreement, as applicable, except (i) such as have been already obtained under the Securities Act, the Securities Act or the 1940 Act and (ii) such as may be required by the various state Blue Sky or securities laws, the rules and regulations of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) or the securities laws of any jurisdiction outside of the United States in connection with the offer and sale of the Underwritten Securities.

 

  (n) Absence of Manipulation.

Neither the Company nor to its knowledge any affiliate of the Company has taken, nor will the Company or any affiliate take, directly or indirectly, any action which is designed to or which has constituted or which would be expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Underwritten Securities in violation of any law, statute, regulation or rule applicable to the Company or its affiliates.

 

  (o) Possession of Licenses and Permits.

The Company owns, or has obtained valid and enforceable licenses for, or other rights to use, the inventions, patent applications, patents, trademarks (both registered and unregistered), tradenames, copyrights, trade secrets and other proprietary information described in the Prospectus as being licensed by it or which are necessary for the conduct of its businesses, except where the failure to own, license or have such rights would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

  (p) Investment Company Act.

The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of Underwritten Securities, will not be a “registered management investment company” or an entity “controlled” by a “registered management investment company,” as such terms are used under the Investment Company Act.

 

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  (q) Registration Rights.

There are no persons with registration rights or other similar rights to have any securities registered pursuant to the Registration Statement or otherwise registered by the Company under the Securities Act other than as set forth in the Prospectus.

 

  (r) Investment Management Agreement.

The terms of the Investment Management Agreement, including compensation terms, comply in all material respects with all applicable provisions of the 1940 Act and the Advisers Act.

 

  (s) Interested Persons.

Except as disclosed in the Prospectus and the Pre-pricing Prospectus, (i) no person is serving or acting as an officer, director or investment adviser of the Company, except in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act and the Advisers Act, and (ii) to the knowledge of the Company, no director of the Company is an “interested person” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Company or an “affiliated person” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any of the Underwriters.

 

  (t) Accounting Controls.

The Company has established and maintained a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s authorization, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s authorization and (iv) the recorded accountability for inventory assets is compared with the existing inventory assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences, except, in each of the foregoing cases, where the failure to establish and maintain such controls would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

  (u) Disclosure Controls.

The Company has established and employs disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act is (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms and (ii) accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer or officers and principal financial officer or officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure, except, in each of the foregoing cases, where failure to establish and employ such controls and procedures would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

  (v) Tax Returns.

(i) The Company and the Subsidiaries have filed all federal, state, local and foreign tax returns that are required to have been filed by them pursuant to applicable foreign, federal, state, local or other law or have duly requested extensions thereof, except insofar as the failure to file such returns or request such extensions would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(ii) The Company and the Subsidiaries have paid all taxes shown as due pursuant to such returns or pursuant to any assessment received by the Company and the Subsidiaries, except for such taxes or assessments, if any, as are being contested in good faith and as to which adequate reserves have been provided or where the failure to pay would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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  (w) Insurance.

The Company maintains insurance covering its properties, operations, personnel and businesses as the Company deems adequate; such insurance insures against such losses and risks to an extent which is adequate in accordance with customary industry practice to protect the Company and its business; all such insurance is fully in force on the date hereof and will be fully in force at the time of purchase and any additional time of purchase.

 

  (x) Transactions with Insiders.

(i) The Company has not, directly or indirectly, extended credit, arranged to extend credit, or renewed any extension of credit, in the form of a personal loan, to or for any director or executive officer of the Company, or to or for any family member or affiliate of any director or executive officer of the Company.

(ii) Neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any employee or agent of the Company has made any payment of funds of the Company or received or retained any funds in violation of any law, rule or regulation, which payment, receipt or retention of funds is of a character required to be disclosed in the Prospectus.

 

  (y) Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and OFAC.

(i) Neither the Company nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, employee or affiliate of the Company is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such entities or persons of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

(ii) Neither the Company nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”).

(iii) The Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

2. Representations and Warranties of the Investment Adviser and the Administrator.

The Investment Adviser and the Administrator, jointly and severally, represent to each Underwriter as of the date hereof, as of the Applicable Time, as of the Closing Time referred to in Section 2(3) hereof, and as of each Date of Delivery (if any) referred to in Section 2(2) hereof, and agrees with each Underwriter as follows:

 

  (a) No Material Adverse Change in Business.

Since the respective dates as of which information is in the Prospectus and Pre-pricing Prospectus, except as otherwise stated therein, there has been no material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs, business prospects or regulatory status of the Investment Adviser or the Administrator, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

  (b) Good Standing.

Each of the Investment Adviser and the Administrator has been duly organized and is validly existing as a limited liability company in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, and has limited liability company power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement; the Investment Adviser has limited liability company power and authority to execute and deliver and perform its obligations under the Investment Management Agreement; the Administrator has limited liability

 

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company power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under the Administration Agreement; and each of the Investment Adviser and the Administrator is duly qualified to transact business as a foreign entity and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of ownership or leasing of its property or the conduct of business, except where the failure to qualify or be in good standing would not otherwise reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

  (c) Registration Under Advisers Act.

The Investment Adviser is duly registered with the Commission as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act and is not prohibited by the Advisers Act or the 1940 Act from acting under the Investment Management Agreement for the Company as contemplated by the Prospectus.

 

  (d) Absence of Proceedings.

There is no action, suit or proceeding, or to the knowledge of the Investment Adviser or the Administrator, inquiry or investigation before or brought by any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, now pending against or affecting either the Investment Adviser or the Administrator, which is required to be disclosed in the Prospectus or Pre-pricing Prospectus (other than as disclosed therein), or which would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or which would reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement, the Investment Management Agreement or the Administration Agreement.

 

  (e) Authorization of Agreements.

This Agreement, the Investment Management Agreement and the Administration Agreement have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Investment Adviser and the Administrator, as applicable. This Agreement, the Investment Management Agreement and the Administration Agreement are valid and binding obligations of the Investment Adviser or the Administrator, as applicable, enforceable against them in accordance with their terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be subject to to the effect of (i) any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally (including without limitation all laws relating to fraudulent transfers), (ii) general principles of equity, including without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) any principles of public policy.

 

  (f) Absence of Defaults and Conflicts.

Neither the Investment Adviser nor the Administrator is in violation of its limited liability company operating agreement or in default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract, loan or credit agreement, lease or other instrument to which the Investment Adviser or the Administrator is a party or by which it or any of them may be bound, or to which any of the property or assets of the Investment Adviser or the Administrator is subject (collectively, the “Adviser/Administrator Agreements and Instruments”), or in violation of any law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree except for such violations or defaults that would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Investment Management Agreement and the Administration Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and therein and in the Prospectus and Pre-pricing Prospectus do not and will not, whether with or without the giving of notice or passage of time or both, conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default under, the Adviser/Administrator Agreements and Instruments except for such violations or defaults that would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of the limited liability company operating agreement of the Investment Adviser or Administrator, respectively.

 

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  (g) Description of Investment Adviser and Administrator.

The description of the Investment Adviser and the Administrator contained in the Pre-pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.

 

  (h) Possession of Licenses and Permits.

The Investment Adviser and the Administrator each owns, or has obtained valid and enforceable licenses for, or other rights to use, the inventions, patent applications, patents, trademarks (both registered and unregistered), tradenames, copyrights, trade secrets and other proprietary information described in the Prospectus as being licensed by it or which are necessary for the conduct of its businesses, except where the failure to own, license or have such rights would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

  (i) Internal Controls.

The Investment Adviser has used its commercially reasonable efforts to establish and maintain a system of internal controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions effectuated by it under the Investment Management Agreement are executed in accordance with its management’s general or specific authorization and (ii) access to the Company’s assets that are in its possession or control is permitted only in accordance with its management’s general or specific authorization, except, in each of the foregoing cases, where the failure to establish and maintain such controls would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

  (j) Accounting Controls.

The Administrator has used its commercially reasonable efforts to operate a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions for which it has bookkeeping and record keeping responsibility under the Administration Agreement are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of the Company’s financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for the Company’s assets and (ii) the recorded accountability for such assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences, except, in each of the foregoing cases, where the failure to operate such controls would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

  (k) Officer’s Certificates.

Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and any of the Subsidiaries delivered to the Representatives or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company and such Subsidiary, as applicable, to each Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.

SECTION 2. Sale and Delivery to Underwriters; Closing.

1. Initial Securities.

On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, and each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Company, at the price set forth in Schedule B, the aggregate principal amount of Initial Securities set forth in Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter, plus any additional aggregate principal amount of Initial Securities which such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of Section 10 hereof.

 

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2. Option Securities.

On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company hereby grants an option to the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, to purchase up to an additional                     Securities at the price per share set forth in Schedule B, less an amount per share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Company and payable on the Initial Securities but not payable on the Option Securities. The option hereby granted will expire 30 days after the date hereof and may be exercised in whole or in part on no more than two occasions and only for the purpose of covering overallotments which may be made in connection with the offering and distribution of the Initial Securities upon notice by the Representatives to the Company setting forth the number of Option Securities as to which the several Underwriters are then exercising the option and the time and date of payment and delivery for such Option Securities. Any such time and date of delivery (a “Date of Delivery”) shall be determined by the Representatives, but shall not be later than seven full business days after the exercise of said option, nor in any event prior to the Closing Time, as hereinafter defined. If the option is exercised as to all or any portion of the Option Securities, each of the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, will purchase that proportion of the total number of Option Securities then being purchased which the number of Initial Securities set forth in Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of Initial Securities, subject in each case to such adjustments as the Representatives in their discretion shall make to eliminate any sales or purchases of fractional shares.

3. Payment.

Payment of the purchase price for the Initial Securities or against delivery of certificates [or the Depositary Receipts evidencing the Depositary Shares,] for the Initial Securities shall be made at the offices of                    or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company, at 9:00 A.M. (Eastern time) on the third (fourth, if the pricing occurs after 4:30 P.M. (Eastern time) on any given day) business day after the date hereof (unless postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 10), or such other time not later than ten business days after such date as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company (such time and date of payment and delivery being herein called “Closing Time”).

In addition, in the event that any or all of the Option Securities are purchased by the Underwriters, payment of the purchase price for the Initial Securities or against delivery of certificates [or the Depositary Receipts evidencing the Depositary Shares,] for such Option Securities shall be made at the above-mentioned offices, or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company, on each Date of Delivery as specified in the notice from the Representatives to the Company.

Payment shall be made to the Company by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account designated by the Company, against delivery to the Representatives through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) for the respective accounts of the Underwriters of certificates or receipts for the Underwritten Securities to be purchased by them. It is understood that each Underwriter has authorized the Representatives, for its account, to accept delivery of, receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price for, the Initial Securities and the Option Securities, if any, which it has agreed to purchase. The Representatives, individually and not as representatives of the Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment of the purchase price for the Initial Securities and the Option Securities, if any, to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds have not been received by the Closing Time, or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be, but such payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from its obligations hereunder.

4. Denominations; Registration. The certificates or receipts for the Initial Securities and the Option Securities, if any, shall be transferred electronically at the Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be, in such denominations and registered in such names as the Representatives may request; provided that any such request must be received in writing at least one full business day before the Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be.

 

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SECTION 3. Covenants of the Company. The Company, the Investment Adviser and the Administrator, jointly and severally, covenant with each Underwriter as follows:

1. Notices.

 

  (a) to advise the Underwriters, promptly after the Company receives notice thereof, of the time when any amendment to the Registration Statement relating to or affecting the Underwritten Securities has been filed or becomes effective or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus relating to or affecting the Underwritten Securities has been filed;

 

  (b) to advise the Underwriters, promptly after the Company receives notice thereof, of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, of the suspension of the qualification of the Underwritten Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose, or of any request by the Commission for the amending or supplementing of the Registration Statement, Pre-pricing Prospectus or Prospectus relating to or affecting the Underwritten Securities or for additional information regarding such Registration Statement, Pre-pricing Prospectus or Prospectus, and, in the event of the issuance of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, promptly to use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of such order;

2. Blue Sky Laws.

to promptly from time to time to take such action as the Underwriters may reasonably request (i) to qualify the Underwritten Securities for offering and sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as the Underwriters may reasonably request and (ii) to comply with such laws so as to permit the continuance of sales and dealings in such jurisdictions for as long as may be necessary to complete the distribution of the Underwritten Securities, provided that in connection therewith the Company shall not be required to (A) qualify to do business, (B) be subject to taxation, (C) qualify as a foreign corporation, (D) be subject to the jurisdiction of courts, or (E) file a general consent to service of process, in any jurisdiction;

3. Filing and Provision of Copies of Registration Statement, Pre-pricing Prospectus and Prospectus

 

  (a) to furnish to the Underwriters, without charge, signed copies of the Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto), and to furnish the Underwriters, without charge, prior to [            ] a.m., [            ] time, on the Business Day next succeeding the date of this Agreement and as soon as practicable as many copies of the Pre-pricing Prospectus and Prospectus relating to or affecting the Underwritten Securities and any supplements and amendments thereto or to the Registration Statement relating to or affecting the Underwritten Securities prior to such proposed filing or use, as the Underwriters may reasonably request;

 

  (b) before amending or supplementing the Registration Statement relating to or affecting the Underwritten Securities or the Prospectus relating to or affecting the Underwritten Securities, to furnish the Underwriters with a copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement, and to file with the Commission within the applicable period specified in Rule 497 under the Securities Act any prospectus required to be filed pursuant to such rule;

 

  (c) if, during any time when the Prospectus is required by law to be delivered in connection with sales by the Underwriters or a dealer, any event shall have occurred as a result of which the Prospectus relating to or affecting the Underwritten Securities as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made when such Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary during such period to amend or supplement the Prospectus relating to or affecting the Underwritten Securities in order to comply with the Securities Act, to notify the Underwriters, and upon the Underwriters’ written request to prepare and furnish without charge to the Underwriters and to the dealers (whose names and addresses the Underwriters will furnish in writing to the Company) to which Underwritten Securities may have been sold by the Underwriters and to any other dealers upon request, as many written and electronic copies as the Underwriters may from time to time reasonably request of an amended Prospectus relating to or affecting the Underwritten Securities or a supplement to the Prospectus relating to or affecting the Underwritten Securities which will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance;

 

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4. Rule 158

to make generally available to the Company’s securityholders as soon as practicable an earnings statement of the Company (which need not be audited) complying with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (including, at the option of the Company, Rule 158); (h) to use its best efforts to maintain the Company’s qualification as a “regulated investment company” under Subchapter M of the Code; and

5. DTC.

to cooperate with the Representatives and use commercially reasonable efforts to permit the Underwritten Securities to be eligible for clearance and settlement through the facilities of DTC;

6. [Reservation of Shares of Common Stock.

if applicable, to at all times reserve and keep available, free of preemptive rights, enough shares of Common Stock for the purpose of enabling the Company to satisfy any obligations to issue shares of Common Stock upon conversion of the Underwritten Securities; ]

7. Use of Proceeds.

to use the net proceeds received by it from the sale of the Underwritten Securities materially in the manner specified in Pre-pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus under “Use of Proceeds”;

8. Listing.

to use commercially reasonable efforts to effect and maintain the quotation of the Company’s common stock on the NASDAQ Global Select Market;

9. Restriction on Sale of Underwritten Securities.

to not, directly or indirectly, sell, offer to sell, enter into any agreement to sell, or otherwise dispose of, any equity or equity related securities of the Company or securities convertible into such securities, other than the Underwritten Securities and Common Stock issued in connection with the reinvestment of dividends or distributions, for a period of 90 days from the date of this Agreement without the prior consent of the Representatives; and

10. Accounting Controls.

to use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i) material information relating to the Company and the assets managed by the Investment Adviser is promptly made known to the officers responsible for establishing and maintaining the system of internal accounting controls and (ii) any significant deficiencies or weaknesses in the design or operation of internal accounting controls which could adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data, and any fraud whether or not material that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in internal controls, are adequately and promptly disclosed to the Company’s independent auditors and the audit committee of the Company’s board of directors.

 

14


SECTION 4. Payment of Expenses.

1. Expenses.

The Company shall pay all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including:

(a) the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits) as originally filed and of each amendment thereto;

(b) the delivery to the Underwriters of this Agreement, the Warrant Agreement [and the Deposit Agreement], any Agreement among Underwriters and such other documents as may be required in connection with the offering, purchase, sale, issuance or delivery of the Underwritten Securities;

(c) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the certificates for the Underwritten Securities and any Warrant Securities issuable upon exercise of the Warrants to the Underwriters, including any stock or other transfer taxes and any stamp or other duties payable upon the sale, issuance or delivery of the Underwritten Securities and any Warrant Securities to the Underwriters;

(d) the fees and disbursements of the Company’s, the Investment Adviser’s and the Administrator’s counsel, accountants and other advisers;

(e) up to $10,000 for (A) the qualification of the Underwritten Securities and any Warrant Securities issuable upon exercise of the Warrants under securities laws in accordance with the provisions of Section 3(2) hereof, (B) in connection with the preparation of any blue sky surveys and any supplements thereto and (C) the filing fees incident to, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters in connection with, the review by the FINRA of the terms of the sale of the Underwritten Securities

(f) the printing and delivery to the Underwriters of copies of the Pre-pricing Prospectus and of the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto;

(g) the fees and expenses of any transfer agent or registrar for the Underwritten Securities; and

(h) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the inclusion of the Underwritten Securities or any Warrant Securities, if applicable, in the NASDAQ Global Select Market.

SECTION 5. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations.

1. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations.

The obligations of the several Underwriters hereunder are subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company, the Investment Adviser and the Administrator contained in Section 1 hereof or in certificates of any officer of the Company, the Investment Adviser or the Administrator, to the performance by the Company, the Investment Adviser and the Administrator of their respective covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to the following further conditions:

 

  (a) Effectiveness of Registration Statement.

The Registration Statement has become effective and at Closing Time no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued under the Securities Act or proceedings therefor initiated or threatened by the Commission.

 

  (b) Opinions of Counsel for Company.

At Closing Time, the Representatives shall have received a signed favorable opinion, dated as of Closing Time, of Dechert LLP, counsel for the Company, and            , special Maryland counsel for the Company, together with reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other

 

15


Underwriters, substantially in the form set forth in Exhibits A and B hereto. Such counsel may state that, insofar as such opinion involves factual matters, they have relied upon certificates of officers of the Company and/or any of the Subsidiaries and certificates of public officials.

 

  (c) Opinion of Counsel for Underwriters.

At Closing Time, the Representatives shall have received the signed favorable opinion, dated as of Closing Time, of             , counsel for the Underwriters, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters, substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit C hereto. Such counsel may also state that, insofar as such opinion involves factual matters, they have relied, to the extent they deem proper, upon certificates of officers of the Company and/or any of the Subsidiaries and certificates of public officials.

 

  (d) No Material Adverse Effect; Officers’ Certificates.

At Closing Time, there shall not have been, since the date hereof or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus or the Pre-pricing Prospectus, any Material Adverse Effect, and the Representatives shall have received a certificate of the president of the Company and of the chief financial or chief accounting officer of the Company, dated as of Closing Time, to the effect that (A) there has been no Material Adverse Effect, (B) the representations and warranties in Section 1 hereof are true and correct with the same force and effect as though expressly made at and as of Closing Time, (C) the Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to Closing Time and (D) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to their knowledge, contemplated by the Commission.

 

  (e) Accountant’s Comfort Letter.

At the time of the execution of this Agreement, the Representatives shall have received from KPMG LLP a signed letter, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, together with reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

 

  (f) Bring-down Comfort Letter.

At Closing Time, the Representatives shall have received from KPMG LLP a signed letter, dated as of Closing Time, to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in the letter furnished pursuant to subsection (e) of this Section, except that the specified date referred to shall be a date not more than three business days prior to Closing Time.

 

  (g) Approval of Listing.

At Closing Time, the [if applicable, describe Securities] shall have been approved for inclusion in [describe applicable stock exchange or quotation service], subject only to official notice of issuance.

 

  (h) No Objection.

FINRA has not raised any objection with respect to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms and arrangements.

 

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  (i) Lock-up Agreements.

At the date of this Agreement, the Representatives shall have received an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto signed by the persons listed on Schedule C hereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any lock-up agreement delivered in connection with this Section 5(i) to the contrary, the Investment Adviser may pledge shares of Common Stock of the Company that it owns in one or more bona fide lending transactions.

 

  (j) Conditions to Purchase of Option Securities.

In the event that the Underwriters exercise their option provided in Section 2(2) hereof to purchase all or any portion of the Option Securities, the representations and warranties of the Company, the Investment Adviser and the Administrator contained herein and the statements in any certificates furnished by the Company, the Investment Adviser and the Administrator hereunder shall be true and correct as of each Date of Delivery.

 

  (k) Additional Officers’ Certificates and Opinions and Comfort Letters.

Upon purchase of the overallotment option, at each relevant Date of Delivery, the Representatives shall have received:

(i) a certificate, dated such Date of Delivery, of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and of the Chief Financial Officer of the Company confirming that the certificate delivered at the Closing Time pursuant to Section 5(1)(d) hereof remains true and correct as of such Date of Delivery;

(ii) a signed favorable opinion of Dechert LLP, counsel for the Company, and             , special Maryland counsel for the Company, dated such Date of Delivery, relating to the Option Securities to be purchased on such Date of Delivery and otherwise to the same effect as the opinions required by Section 5(1)(b) hereof.

(iii) a signed favorable opinion of             , counsel for the Underwriters, dated such Date of Delivery, relating to the Option Securities to be purchased on such Date of Delivery and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 5(1)(c) hereof.

(iv) a signed letter from KPMG LLP, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives and dated such Date of Delivery, substantially in the same form and substance as the letter furnished to the Representatives pursuant to Section 5(1)(f) hereof, except that the “specified date” in the letter furnished pursuant to this paragraph shall be a date not more than five days prior to such Date of Delivery.

 

  (l) Additional Documents.

At Closing Time and at each Date of Delivery counsel for the Underwriters shall have been furnished with such documents as they may reasonably require for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Underwritten Securities as herein contemplated.

 

  (m) Termination of Agreement.

If any condition specified in this Section shall not have been fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled, this Agreement, or, in the case of any condition to the purchase of Option Securities on a Date of Delivery which is after the Closing Time, the obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase the relevant Option Securities, may be terminated by the Representatives by notice to the Company at any time at or prior to Closing Time, or such Date of Delivery, as the case may be,

 

17


and such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 4 and except that Sections 6 and 7 shall survive any such termination and remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 6. Indemnification.

1. Indemnification of Underwriters by the Company.

The Company, Investment Adviser and Administrator agrees, jointly and severally, to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates, as such term is defined in Rule 501(b) under the Securities Act, its selling agents and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Securities Exchange Act as follows:

 

  (a) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in the Pre-pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

 

  (b) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission; provided that any such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company; and

 

  (c) against any and all expense whatsoever (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by the Representatives), as reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such expense is not paid under (i) or (ii) above.

In no case shall the Company, the Investment Adviser or the Administrator be liable under this indemnity agreement with respect to any claim made against any Underwriter or any other indemnified party specified in this Section 6 unless the Company, the Investment Adviser and the Administrator, as applicable, shall be notified in writing of the nature of the claim within a reasonable time after the assertion thereof, but failure so to notify the Company, the Investment Adviser and the Administrator shall not relieve them from any liability to the extent each is not materially prejudiced as a result thereof and which they may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity agreement. Each of the Company, the Investment Adviser and the Administrator shall be entitled to participate at its own expense in the defense, or if it so elects within a reasonable time after receipt of such notice, to assume the defense for any suit brought to enforce any such claim, but if the Company, the Investment Adviser or the Administrator elects to assume such defense, such defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by it and satisfactory to the Underwriter or Underwriters or controlling person or persons, defendant or defendant in any suit so brought. In the event that the Company, the Investment Adviser or the Administrator elects to assume the defense of any such suit and retains such counsel, the Underwriter or Underwriters or controlling person or persons, defendant or defendant in the suit shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel thereafter retained by them. In the event that the parties to any such action (including impleaded parties) include the Company, the Investment Adviser or Administrator and one or more Underwriter or Underwriters and any such Underwriter shall have been advised by counsel chosen by it and satisfactory to the Company, the Investment Adviser or the Administrator that there may be one or more legal defenses available to it which are different from or additional to those available to the Company, the Investment Adviser and the Administrator, the Company, the Investment Adviser or the Administrator, as applicable, shall not have the right to assume the defense of such action on behalf

 

18


of such Underwriter and shall reimburse such Underwriter and any person controlling such Underwriter as aforesaid for the reasonable fees and expenses of any counsel retained by them, it being understood that the Company, the Investment Adviser and the Administrator shall not, in connection with any one action or separate but similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys for all such indemnified parties, which firm shall be designated in writing by the Representatives. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, neither the assumption of the defense of any claim nor the payment of any fees or expenses related thereto shall be deemed to be an admission by the indemnifying party that it has the obligation to indemnify any person pursuant to this Agreement.

2. Indemnification of Company, Directors, Officers, Investment Adviser and Administrator.

Each Underwriter severally agrees that it shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Investment Adviser, the Administrator and each of their officers, directors and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Securities Exchange Act to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company, the Investment Adviser and Administrator, as applicable, but only with respect to statements or omissions made in the Pre-pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Pre-pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto). In case any action shall be brought against the Company, the Investment Adviser, the Administrator or any person so indemnified based on the Pre-pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) and in respect of which indemnity may be sought against any Underwriter, such Underwriter shall have the right and duties given to the Company, the Investment Adviser and the Administrator, and the Company, the Investment Adviser, the Administrator and each person so indemnified shall have the right and duties given to the Underwriters, by the provisions of Section 6(1).

3. Settlement of Claims.

No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought under this Section 6 or Section 7 hereof (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto).

SECTION 7. Contribution.

If the indemnification provisions provided in Section 6 above should under applicable law be unenforceable in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefit received by the Company, the Investment Adviser, the Administrator and the Underwriters from the offering of the Underwritten Securities and also the relative fault of the Company, the Investment Adviser, the Administrator and the Underwriters in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses (or actions in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.

The relative benefits received by the Company, the Investment Adviser, the Administrator and the Underwriters shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company, the Investment Adviser and the Administrator and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate public offering price of the Underwritten Securities.

The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the indemnified party failed to give the notice required under Section 6 above including the consequences of such failure, and whether the

 

19


untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company, the Investment Adviser, the Administrator or the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission of the Company, the Investment Adviser, the Administrator and the Underwriters, directly or through the Representatives of the Underwriters. The Company, the Investment Adviser, the Administrator and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by per capita allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 7. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above in this Section 7 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Underwritten Securities underwritten by it and offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

SECTION 8. Termination of Agreement.

1. Termination; General.

The Representatives may terminate this Agreement, by notice to the Company, at any time at or prior to Closing Time if:

 

  (a) there has been, since the time of execution of this Agreement or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the prospectus in the form first used to confirm sales of the Underwritten Securities, any material adverse change in the financial condition, capitalization or regulatory status of the Company and the Subsidiaries considered as one enterprise or the Investment Adviser, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business;

 

  (b) there has occurred any outbreak of hostilities or escalation thereof or other calamity, the effect of which is such as to make it, in the judgment of the Representatives, impracticable or inadvisable to enforce contracts for the sale of the Underwritten Securities;

 

  (c) trading in any securities of the Company has been suspended or materially limited by the Commission or the NASDAQ Global Select Market or if trading generally on the NASDAQ Global Select Market has been suspended or materially limited, or minimum or maximum prices for trading have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices have been required by said exchange or by order of the Commission or any other governmental authority; or

 

  (d) if a banking moratorium has been declared by either Federal or New York authorities.

2. Liabilities.

If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section, such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party, except as provided in Section 4 hereof, and provided, further, that Sections 6 and 7 shall survive such termination and remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 9. Default by One or More of the Underwriters.

If one or more of the Underwriters shall fail at Closing Time or a Date of Delivery to purchase the Underwritten Securities which it or they are obligated to purchase under this Agreement (the “Defaulted

 

20


Securities”), the Representatives shall have the right, within 24 hours thereafter, to make arrangements for one or more of the non-defaulting Underwriters, or any other underwriters, to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Defaulted Securities in such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the terms herein set forth; if, however, the Representatives shall not have completed such arrangements within such 24-hour period, then:

 

  (a) if the number of Defaulted Securities does not exceed 10% of the aggregate principal amount of Underwritten Securities to be purchased on such date, each of the non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated, severally and not jointly, to purchase the full amount thereof in the proportions that their respective underwriting obligations hereunder bear to the underwriting obligations of all non-defaulting Underwriters, or

 

  (b) if the number of Defaulted Securities exceeds 10% of the aggregate principal amount of Underwritten Securities to be purchased on such date, this Agreement or, with respect to any Date of Delivery which occurs after the Closing Time, the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase and of the Company to sell the Option Securities to be purchased and sold on such Date of Delivery, shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter.

As used in this Section only, if the Defaulted Securities include Warrants, the aggregate amount or aggregate principal amount of Securities shall mean the aggregate principal amount of any Securities plus the public offering price of any Warrants included in the relevant Securities.

No action taken pursuant to this Section shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of its default.

In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination of this Agreement or, in the case of a Date of Delivery which is after the Closing Time, which does not result in a termination of the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase and the Company to sell the relevant Option Securities, as the case may be, either the Representatives or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be, for a period not exceeding seven days in order to effect any required changes in the Registration Statement, the Pre-pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements. As used herein, the term “Underwriter” includes any person substituted for an Underwriter under this Section 9.

SECTION 10. Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the Underwriters shall be directed to the Representatives at                     , with a copy to                     ; and notices to the Company, the Investment Adviser and Administrator shall be directed to them care of the company at 590 Madison Avenue, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10022, attention: Chief Financial Officer, with a copy to Dechert LLP, 1775 I Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20006, attention: Thomas J. Friedmann.

SECTION 11. Parties. This Agreement shall each inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Underwriters and the Company and their respective successors. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person, firm or corporation, other than the Underwriters, the Company, the Investment Adviser and the Administrator and their respective successors and the controlling persons and officers and directors referred to in Sections 6 and 7 and their heirs and legal representatives, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. This Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof are intended to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Underwriters, the Company, the Investment Adviser and the Administrator and their respective successors, and said controlling persons and officers and directors and their heirs and legal representatives, and for the benefit of no other person, firm or corporation. No purchaser of Underwritten Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor by reason merely of such purchase.

SECTION 12. GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

21


SECTION 13. TIME. TIME SHALL BE OF THE ESSENCE OF THIS AGREEMENT. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE SET FORTH HEREIN, SPECIFIED TIMES OF DAY REFER TO NEW YORK CITY TIME.

SECTION 14. Submission to Jurisdiction. Except as set forth below, no claim or action may be commenced, prosecuted or continued in any court other than the courts of the State of New York located in The City and County of New York or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, which courts shall have jurisdiction over the adjudication of such matters, and both the Underwriters and the Company consent to the jurisdiction of such courts and personal service with respect thereto. Each of the Underwriters and the Company (on its behalf and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, on behalf of its stockholders and affiliates) waives all right to trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim (whether based upon contract, tort or otherwise) in any way arising out of or relating to this Agreement

SECTION 15. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same Agreement.

SECTION 16. Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

22


If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to the Company a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts, shall become a binding agreement between the Underwriters, the Company, the Investment Adviser and the Administrator in accordance with its terms.

 

Very truly yours,
PENNANTPARK INVESTMENT CORPORATION
By    
  Name:
  Title:
PENNANTPARK INVESTMENT ADVISERS, LLC
By    
  Name:
  Title:
PENNANTPARK INVESTMENT ADMINISTRATION, LLC
By    
  Name:
  Title:

 

CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED,

as of the date first above written:

[NAME OF REPRESENTATIVES]
By    
  Authorized Signatory
For themselves and as Representatives of the other Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto.

 

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SCHEDULE A

 

Name of Underwriter

   Number of Shares
Of
Common Stock
   Number of Shares
Of
Preferred Stock
   Number of
Warrants

 

Sch A-1


SCHEDULE B

PENNANTPARK INVESTMENT CORPORATION

Shares of Common Stock (Par Value $.001 Per Share)

Shares of Preferred Stock (Par Value $             Per Share)

and

Warrants to Purchase Common Stock and Preferred Stock

1. The public offering price per share for the Underwritten Securities, determined as provided in said Section 2, shall be $        .

2. The purchase price for the Underwritten Securities to be paid by the several Underwriters shall be $        , being an amount equal to the public offering price set forth above less $             per share; provided that the purchase price per share for any Option Securities purchased upon the exercise of the overallotment option described in Section 2(2) shall be reduced by an amount per share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Company and payable on the Initial Securities but not payable on the Option Securities.

 

Sch B-1


SCHEDULE C

LIST OF PERSONS AND ENTITIES SUBJECT TO LOCK-UP

Officers of the Corporation

Directors of the Corporation

Portfolio Managers of PennantPark Investment Administration

 

Sch C-1

Form of Underwriting Agreement for debt

Exhibit (h)(2)

PENNANTPARK INVESTMENT CORPORATION

(a Maryland corporation)

$         Aggregate Principal Amount Senior Securities

$         Aggregate Principal Amount Subordinated Securities

and

Warrants to Purchase Debt Securities

PURCHASE AGREEMENT

Dated:


PENNANTPARK INVESTMENT CORPORATION

(a Maryland corporation)

$         Aggregate Principal Amount Senior Securities

$         Aggregate Principal Amount Subordinated Securities

and

Warrants to Purchase Debt Securities

PURCHASE AGREEMENT

Dated:

[Date]

[Name of Underwriter]

[Address]

Ladies and Gentlemen:

PennantPark Investment Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), confirms its agreement with [                     ] (“ [                     ]”) and each of the other Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto (collectively, the “Underwriters,” which term shall also include any underwriter substituted as hereinafter provided in Section 10 hereof), for whom [                     ] are acting as representatives (in such capacity, the “Representatives”), with respect to the issue and sale by the Company and the purchase by the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of $ • aggregate principal amount of senior debt securities (the “Senior Securities”) or subordinated debt securities (the “Subordinated Securities”), or both, and/or Warrants (the “Debt Warrants”) to purchase Senior Securities or Subordinated Securities, or both, of the Company set forth in said Schedule A.

The [Senior Securities][Subordinated Securities] will be issued under an indenture dated as of • , as supplemented by a Supplemental Indenture dated as of • (collectively, the “Indenture”), between the Company and [Name of Trustee for Indenture], as trustee (the “Trustee”). The Debt Warrants will be issued under one or more warrant agreements (the warrant agreement relating to any issue of Debt Warrants to be sold pursuant to this Agreement is referred to herein as the “Warrant Agreement”), between the Company and the Warrant Agent identified in such Warrant Agreement (the “Warrant Agent”). The Senior Securities, Subordinated Securities or Debt Warrants or any combination thereof are hereinafter referred to as the “Underwritten Securities” and “Warrant Securities” shall mean the Senior Securities or Subordinated Securities issuable upon exercise of Debt Warrants. The Senior Securities, Subordinated Securities and the Debt Warrants may be offered either together or separately. Each issue of Senior Securities, Subordinated Securities and Debt Warrants may vary, as applicable, as to aggregate principal amount, maturity date, interest rate or formula and timing of payments thereof, redemption provisions, conversion provisions and sinking fund requirements, if any, and any other variable terms which the Indenture or any Warrant Agreement, as the case may be, contemplates may be set forth in the Senior Securities, Subordinated Securities and Debt Warrants as issued from time to time. Securities issued in book-entry form will be issued to Cede & Co. as nominee of the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) pursuant to a blanket letter of representations, to be dated on or prior to the Closing Time (the “DTC Agreement”), between the Company and DTC.

The Company understands that the Underwriters propose to make a public offering of the Underwritten Securities as soon as the Representatives deem advisable after this Agreement has been executed and delivered.

 

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The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a shelf registration statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-150033) containing a base prospectus dated             (the “Base Prospectus”) to be used in connection with the public offering and sale of the Underwritten Securities and certain of the Company’s equity securities and warrants to purchase equity securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), which registration statement has been declared effective by the Commission, and the Indenture has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the “1939 Act”). The Company has also filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 497 a preliminary prospectus supplement to the Base Prospectus dated , (the “Pre-pricing Prospectus Supplement” and together with the Base Prospectus, the “Pre-pricing Prospectus”). Within two (2) days after execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company will prepare and file a final prospectus supplement to the Base Prospectus in accordance with the provisions of Rule 497 under the Securities Act (the “Prospectus Supplement” and together with the Base Prospectus, the “Prospectus”). Such registration statement, as amended, including all exhibits and schedules thereto, at the time it became effective, including any information deemed to be a part of the registration statement at the time of its effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A and Rule 497 under the Securities Act, is hereinafter referred to as the “Registration Statement.”

The Company has entered into an investment management agreement, dated as of April 17, 2007 (the “Investment Management Agreement”), with PennantPark Investment Advisers, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company registered as an investment adviser (the “Investment Adviser”), under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “Advisers Act”).

The Company has entered into an investment administration agreement, dated as of April 17, 2007 (the “Administration Agreement”), with PennantPark Investment Administration, LLC, a Delaware limited liability Company (the “Administrator”).

SECTION 1. Representations and Warranties.

1. Representations and Warranties of the Company.

The Company, the Investment Adviser and the Administrator, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to each Underwriter as of the date hereof, as of the Closing Time referred to in Section 2(2) hereof, and agrees with each Underwriter:

 

  (a) Compliance with Registration Requirements.

(i) The Company has filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 54(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “Investment Company Act”), a completed and executed Form N-54A, pursuant to which the Company has elected to be subject to the provisions of Sections 55 through 65 of the Investment Company Act (the “BDC Election”); the Company has not filed with the Commission any notice of withdrawal of the BDC Election; the BDC Election remains in full force and effect, and, to the Company’s knowledge, no order of suspension or revocation of such election under the Investment Company Act has been issued or proceedings therefore initiated or threatened by the Commission.

(ii) The Company is eligible to use Form N-2. The Registration Statement has become effective under the Securities Act and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued under the Securities Act and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, are contemplated by the Commission.

(iii) The Registration Statement complies in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the 1940 Act and does not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

(iii) As of the Applicable Time, as defined below, the Prospectus and the Pre-pricing Prospectus, or any amendment thereto, complied when so filed in all material respects with the Securities Act and the 1940

 

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Act except for any corrections to the Pre-pricing Prospectus that were made in the Prospectus or any amendment thereto. The Prospectus and any amendment thereto does not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

As used in this subsection and elsewhere in this Agreement, “Applicable Time” means             [a.m.][p.m.] (Eastern time) on             or such other time as agreed by the Company and the Representatives.

(iv) The Company and its officers and directors, in their capacities as such, are in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

The representations and warranties in this subsection shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Prospectus, Pre-pricing Prospectus or any amendments thereto made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), the part of the Registration Statement that constitutes the Statement of Eligibility and Qualification under the 1939 Act (Form T-1) of the Trustee under the Indenture, the Prospectus, the Pre-pricing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto.

 

  (b) Independent Accountants.

The accountants who certified the financial statements included in the Registration Statement are independent public accountants as required by the Securities Act, the Securities Act Regulations and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Securities Exchange Act”).

 

  (c) Financial Statements.

The financial statements of the Company, together with related notes, as set forth in the Registration Statement present fairly in all material respects the financial position and the results of operations of the Company at the indicated dates and for the indicated periods; such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied throughout the periods presented except as noted in the notes thereon, and all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation in all material respects of results for such periods have been made; and the selected financial information included in the Prospectus presents fairly in all material respects the information shown therein and has been compiled on a basis consistent with the financial statements presented therein.

 

  (d) No Material Adverse Change in Business.

Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus, the Pre-pricing Prospectus and any amendments thereto, except as otherwise stated therein, (i) there has been no material adverse change in the financial condition, earnings, business or operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business (a “Material Adverse Effect”), (ii) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has incurred any material liability or obligation, indirect, direct or contingent, not in the ordinary course of business nor entered into any material transaction or agreement no in the ordinary course of business; and (iii) except as disclosed in the Pre-pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus, as the case may be, there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company or repurchase or redemption by the Company of any class of capital stock.

 

  (e) Good Standing of the Company.

The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland and has corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its

 

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properties and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement; and the Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, except where the failure so to qualify or to be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

  (f) Subsidiaries.

(i) The Company’s only subsidiaries are [insert subsidiaries] (each, a “Subsidiary” and collectively, the “Subsidiaries”).

(ii) Each of the Subsidiaries has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation, limited liability company or limited partnership in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, has power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Pre-pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus, as the case may be, and is duly qualified as a foreign corporation, limited liability company or limited partnership to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, except where the failure to be so qualified or to be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(iii) Except as otherwise disclosed in the Pre-pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus, as the case may be, all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each such Subsidiary has been duly authorized and validly issued, is fully paid and non-assessable and is owned directly or indirectly by the Company free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien encumbrance, claim or equity; none of the outstanding shares of capital stock of any of the Subsidiaries was issued in violation of the preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of such Subsidiary.

(iv) Except as (a) otherwise disclosed in the Pre-pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus, as the case may be, and (b) portfolio investments made after             , the Company does not own, directly or indirectly, any shares of stock or any other equity or debt securities of any corporation or have any equity or debt interest in any firm, partnership, joint venture, association or other entity.

 

  (g) Capitalization.

The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company is as set forth in the Pre-pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus in the column entitled “Actual” under the caption “Capitalization” (except for subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to this Agreement or pursuant to the Company’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan. The shares of issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; none of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company was issued in violation of preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company.

 

  (h) Authorization of Agreements.

(i) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

(ii) The Investment Management Agreement and the Administration Agreement have each been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, and assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the Investment Adviser and Administrator, respectively, each are valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited subject to the effect of (i) any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally (including without limitation all laws relating to fraudulent transfers), (ii) general principles of equity, including without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) any principles of public policy.

 

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(iii) [The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and when executed and delivered by the Trustee, will constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be to the effect of (i) any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally (including without limitation all laws relating to fraudulent transfers), (ii) general principles of equity, including without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) any principles of public policy.]

(iv) [The Warrant Agreement will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company prior to the issuance of any applicable Debt Warrants, and when executed and delivered by the Warrant Agent, will constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be subject to the effect of (i) any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally (including without limitation all laws relating to fraudulent transfers), (ii) general principles of equity, including without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) any principles of public policy.]

 

  (i) Authorization and Description of Underwritten Securities.

(i) The Underwritten Securities being sold pursuant to this Agreement [and the Warrant Securities issuable upon exercise of the Debt Warrants] have been duly authorized by the Company and, when issued and delivered by the Company pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement [the Indenture and the Warrant Agreement, as the case may be], relating thereto, against payment of the consideration therefor, will be fully paid, non-assessable and legally binding obligations on the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be subject to the effect of (i) any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally (including without limitation all laws relating to fraudulent transfers), (ii) general principles of equity, including without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) any principles of public policy, [and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture or Warrant Agreement, or both, as the case may be, relating thereto].

(ii) The Underwritten Securities, [the Indenture and the Warrant Agreement], if any, conform in all material respects to the statements relating thereto contained in the Prospectus.

(iii) [If applicable, upon issuance and delivery of the Underwritten Securities in accordance with this Agreement and the Indenture, the Underwritten Securities will be convertible at the option of the holder thereof into shares of Common Stock, par value $.001 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”), and such shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance upon such conversion by all necessary corporate action and, when issued and delivered in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement relating thereto, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.]

 

  (j) No Defaults or Violations.

(i) Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is in violation of its charter, by-laws or other organizational documents.

(ii) Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is in default in the performance or observance of any of (A) the terms of any agreement filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, (B) any federal or state statute, law, rule, regulation, or any judgment, order or decree of any federal or state court, regulatory body, administrative agency or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company, its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties, as applicable, except any such default or observance which would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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  (k) Absence of Proceedings.

Other than as disclosed in the Prospectus and Pre-pricing Prospectus, there are no actions, suits or proceedings or, to the knowledge of the Company, inquiries or investigations, before or brought by any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, now pending, or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, against or affecting the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, which are required to be disclosed in the Prospectus and the Pre-pricing Prospectus, or which would, individually or in the aggregate result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

  (l) Possession of Intellectual Property.

(i) The Company and the Subsidiaries own or possess, or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate patents, patent rights, licenses, inventions, copyrights, know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks, trade names or other intellectual property (collectively, “Intellectual Property”) necessary to carry on the business now operated by them or proposed to be operated by them immediately following the offering of the Underwritten Securities as described in the Prospectus, except where the failure to own or possess or otherwise be able to acquire such rights in a timely manner would not otherwise reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(ii) Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries has received any notice of or is otherwise aware of any infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any Intellectual Property or of any facts or circumstances which would render any Intellectual Property invalid or inadequate to protect the interest of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries therein, and which infringement or conflict (if the subject of any unfavorable decision, ruling or finding) or invalidity or inadequacy, singly or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

  (m) Absence of Further Requirements.

No filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration, qualification or decree of, any court or governmental authority or agency is necessary or required for the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder, in connection with the offering, issuance or sale of the Underwritten Securities hereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, [the Indenture, or the Warrant Agreement, as applicable,] except (i) such as have been already obtained under the Securities Act, the Securities Act or the 1940 Act and (ii) such as may be required by the various state Blue Sky or securities laws, the rules and regulations of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) or the securities laws of any jurisdiction outside of the United States in connection with the offer and sale of the Underwritten Securities.

 

  (n) Absence of Manipulation.

Neither the Company nor to its knowledge any affiliate of the Company has taken, nor will the Company or any affiliate take, directly or indirectly, any action which is designed to or which has constituted or which would be expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Underwritten Securities in violation of any law, statute, regulation or rule applicable to the Company or its affiliates.

 

  (o) Possession of Licenses and Permits.

The Company owns, or has obtained valid and enforceable licenses for, or other rights to use, the inventions, patent applications, patents, trademarks (both registered and unregistered), tradenames,

 

7


copyrights, trade secrets and other proprietary information described in the Prospectus as being licensed by it or which are necessary for the conduct of its businesses, except where the failure to own, license or have such rights would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

  (p) Investment Company Act.

The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Underwritten Securities, will not be a “registered management investment company” or an entity “controlled” by a “registered management investment company,” as such terms are used under the Investment Company Act.

 

  (q) Registration Rights.

There are no persons with registration rights or other similar rights to have any securities registered pursuant to the Registration Statement or otherwise registered by the Company under the Securities Act other than as set forth in the Prospectus.

 

  (r) Investment Management Agreement.

The terms of the Investment Management Agreement, including compensation terms, comply in all material respects with all applicable provisions of the 1940 Act and the Advisers Act.

 

  (s) Interested Persons.

Except as disclosed in the Prospectus and the Pre-pricing Prospectus, (i) no person is serving or acting as an officer, director or investment adviser of the Company, except in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act and the Advisers Act, and (ii) to the knowledge of the Company, no director of the Company is an “interested person” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Company or an “affiliated person” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any of the Underwriters.

 

  (t) Accounting Controls.

The Company has established and maintained a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s authorization, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s authorization and (iv) the recorded accountability for inventory assets is compared with the existing inventory assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences, except, in each of the foregoing cases, where the failure to establish and maintain such controls would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

  (u) Disclosure Controls.

The Company has established and employs disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act is (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms and (ii) accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer or officers and principal financial officer or officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure, except, in each of the foregoing cases, where failure to establish and employ such controls and procedures would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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  (v) Tax Returns.

(i) The Company and the Subsidiaries have filed all federal, state, local and foreign tax returns that are required to have been filed by them pursuant to applicable foreign, federal, state, local or other law or have duly requested extensions thereof, except insofar as the failure to file such returns or request such extensions would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(ii) The Company and the Subsidiaries have paid all taxes shown as due pursuant to such returns or pursuant to any assessment received by the Company and the Subsidiaries, except for such taxes or assessments, if any, as are being contested in good faith and as to which adequate reserves have been provided or where the failure to pay would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

  (w) Insurance.

The Company maintains insurance covering its properties, operations, personnel and businesses as the Company deems adequate; such insurance insures against such losses and risks to an extent which is adequate in accordance with customary industry practice to protect the Company and its business; all such insurance is fully in force on the date hereof and will be fully in force at the time of purchase and any additional time of purchase.

 

  (x) Transactions with Insiders.

(i) The Company has not, directly or indirectly, extended credit, arranged to extend credit, or renewed any extension of credit, in the form of a personal loan, to or for any director or executive officer of the Company, or to or for any family member or affiliate of any director or executive officer of the Company.

(ii) Neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any employee or agent of the Company has made any payment of funds of the Company or received or retained any funds in violation of any law, rule or regulation, which payment, receipt or retention of funds is of a character required to be disclosed in the Prospectus.

 

  (y) Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and OFAC.

(i) Neither the Company nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, employee or affiliate of the Company is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such entities or persons of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

(ii) Neither the Company nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”).

(iii) The Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

2. Representations and Warranties of the Investment Adviser and the Administrator.

The Investment Adviser and the Administrator, jointly and severally, represent to each Underwriter as of the date hereof, as of the Applicable Time, as of the Closing Time referred to in Section 2(2) hereof, and agrees with each Underwriter as follows:

 

  (a) No Material Adverse Change in Business.

Since the respective dates as of which information is in the Prospectus and Pre-pricing Prospectus, except as otherwise stated therein, there has been no material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs, business prospects or regulatory status of the Investment Adviser or the Administrator, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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  (b) Good Standing.

Each of the Investment Adviser and the Administrator has been duly organized and is validly existing as a limited liability company in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, and has limited liability company power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement; the Investment Adviser has limited liability company power and authority to execute and deliver and perform its obligations under the Investment Management Agreement; the Administrator has limited liability company power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under the Administration Agreement; and each of the Investment Adviser and the Administrator is duly qualified to transact business as a foreign entity and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of ownership or leasing of its property or the conduct of business, except where the failure to qualify or be in good standing would not otherwise reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

  (c) Registration Under Advisers Act.

The Investment Adviser is duly registered with the Commission as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act and is not prohibited by the Advisers Act or the 1940 Act from acting under the Investment Management Agreement for the Company as contemplated by the Prospectus.

 

  (d) Absence of Proceedings.

There is no action, suit or proceeding, or to the knowledge of the Investment Adviser or the Administrator, inquiry or investigation before or brought by any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, now pending against or affecting either the Investment Adviser or the Administrator, which is required to be disclosed in the Prospectus or Pre-pricing Prospectus (other than as disclosed therein), or which would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or which would reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement, [the Indenture,] the Investment Management Agreement or the Administration Agreement.

 

  (e) Authorization of Agreements.

This Agreement, the Investment Management Agreement and the Administration Agreement have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Investment Adviser and the Administrator, as applicable. This Agreement, the Investment Management Agreement and the Administration Agreement are valid and binding obligations of the Investment Adviser or the Administrator, as applicable, enforceable against them in accordance with their terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be subject to to the effect of (i) any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally (including without limitation all laws relating to fraudulent transfers), (ii) general principles of equity, including without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and (iii) any principles of public policy.

 

  (f) Absence of Defaults and Conflicts.

Neither the Investment Adviser nor the Administrator is in violation of its limited liability company operating agreement or in default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant

 

10


or condition contained in any contract, loan or credit agreement, lease or other instrument to which the Investment Adviser or the Administrator is a party or by which it or any of them may be bound, or to which any of the property or assets of the Investment Adviser or the Administrator is subject (collectively, the “Adviser/Administrator Agreements and Instruments”), or in violation of any law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree except for such violations or defaults that would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Investment Management Agreement and the Administration Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and therein and in the Prospectus and Pre-pricing Prospectus do not and will not, whether with or without the giving of notice or passage of time or both, conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default under, the Adviser/Administrator Agreements and Instruments except for such violations or defaults that would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of the limited liability company operating agreement of the Investment Adviser or Administrator, respectively.

 

  (g) Description of Investment Adviser and Administrator.

The description of the Investment Adviser and the Administrator contained in the Pre-pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.

 

  (h) Possession of Licenses and Permits.

The Investment Adviser and the Administrator each owns, or has obtained valid and enforceable licenses for, or other rights to use, the inventions, patent applications, patents, trademarks (both registered and unregistered), tradenames, copyrights, trade secrets and other proprietary information described in the Prospectus as being licensed by it or which are necessary for the conduct of its businesses, except where the failure to own, license or have such rights would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

  (i) Internal Controls.

The Investment Adviser has used its commercially reasonable efforts to establish and maintain a system of internal controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions effectuated by it under the Investment Management Agreement are executed in accordance with its management’s general or specific authorization and (ii) access to the Company’s assets that are in its possession or control is permitted only in accordance with its management’s general or specific authorization, except, in each of the foregoing cases, where the failure to establish and maintain such controls would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

  (j) Accounting Controls.

The Administrator has used its commercially reasonable efforts to operate a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions for which it has bookkeeping and record keeping responsibility under the Administration Agreement are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of the Company’s financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for the Company’s assets and (ii) the recorded accountability for such assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences, except, in each of the foregoing cases, where the failure to operate such controls would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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  (k) Officer’s Certificates.

Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and any of the Subsidiaries delivered to the Representatives or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company and such Subsidiary, as applicable, to each Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.

SECTION 2. Sale and Delivery to Underwriters; Closing.

1. Underwritten Securities.

On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, and each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Company, at the price set forth in Schedule B, the aggregate principal amount of Underwritten Securities set forth in Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter, plus any additional aggregate principal amount of Underwritten Securities which such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of Section 10 hereof.

2. Payment.

Payment of the purchase price for and delivery of the Underwritten Securities shall be made at the offices of                     or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company, at 9:00 A.M. (Eastern time) on the third (fourth, if the pricing occurs after 4:30 P.M. (Eastern time) on any given day) business day after the date hereof (unless postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 10), or such other time not later than ten business days after such date as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company (such time and date of payment and delivery being herein called “Closing Time”).

Payment shall be made to the Company by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account designated by the Company, against delivery to the Representatives through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) for the respective accounts of the Underwriters of certificates for the Underwritten Securities to be purchased by them. It is understood that each Underwriter has authorized the Representatives, for its account, to accept delivery of, receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price for, the Underwritten Securities which it has agreed to purchase. The Representatives, individually and not as Representatives of the Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment of the purchase price for the Underwritten Securities to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds have not been received by the Closing Time, but such payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from its obligations hereunder.

3. Denominations; Registration. The certificates or receipts for the Underwritten Securities shall be transferred electronically at the Closing Time in such denominations and registered in such names as the Representatives may request; provided that any such request must be received in writing at least one full business day before the Closing Time.

SECTION 3. Covenants of the Company. The Company, the Investment Adviser and the Administrator, jointly and severally, covenant with each Underwriter as follows:

1. Notices.

 

  (a) to advise the Underwriters, promptly after the Company receives notice thereof, of the time when any amendment to the Registration Statement relating to or affecting the Underwritten Securities has been filed or becomes effective or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus relating to or affecting the Underwritten Securities has been filed;

 

  (b)

to advise the Underwriters, promptly after the Company receives notice thereof, of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, of the suspension of the qualification of the Underwritten Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose, or of any request by the Commission for the amending or supplementing of the Registration Statement, Pre-

 

12


 

pricing Prospectus or Prospectus relating to or affecting the Underwritten Securities or for additional information regarding such Registration Statement, Pre-pricing Prospectus or Prospectus, and, in the event of the issuance of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, promptly to use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of such order;

2. Blue Sky Laws.

to promptly from time to time to take such action as the Underwriters may reasonably request (i) to qualify the Underwritten Securities for offering and sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as the Underwriters may reasonably request and (ii) to comply with such laws so as to permit the continuance of sales and dealings in such jurisdictions for as long as may be necessary to complete the distribution of the Underwritten Securities, provided that in connection therewith the Company shall not be required to (A) qualify to do business, (B) be subject to taxation, (C) qualify as a foreign corporation, (D) be subject to the jurisdiction of courts, or (E) file a general consent to service of process, in any jurisdiction;

3. Filing and Provision of Copies of Registration Statement, Pre-pricing Prospectus and Prospectus

 

  (a) to furnish to the Underwriters, without charge, signed copies of the Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto), and to furnish the Underwriters, without charge, prior to [            ] a.m., [            ] time, on the Business Day next succeeding the date of this Agreement and as soon as practicable as many copies of the Pre-pricing Prospectus and Prospectus relating to or affecting the Underwritten Securities and any supplements and amendments thereto or to the Registration Statement relating to or affecting the Underwritten Securities prior to such proposed filing or use, as the Underwriters may reasonably request;

 

  (b) before amending or supplementing the Registration Statement relating to or affecting the Underwritten Securities or the Prospectus relating to or affecting the Underwritten Securities, to furnish the Underwriters with a copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement, and to file with the Commission within the applicable period specified in Rule 497 under the Securities Act any prospectus required to be filed pursuant to such rule;

 

  (c) if, during any time when the Prospectus is required by law to be delivered in connection with sales by the Underwriters or a dealer, any event shall have occurred as a result of which the Prospectus relating to or affecting the Underwritten Securities as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made when such Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary during such period to amend or supplement the Prospectus relating to or affecting the Underwritten Securities in order to comply with the Securities Act, to notify the Underwriters, and upon the Underwriters’ written request to prepare and furnish without charge to the Underwriters and to the dealers (whose names and addresses the Underwriters will furnish in writing to the Company) to which Underwritten Securities may have been sold by the Underwriters and to any other dealers upon request, as many written and electronic copies as the Underwriters may from time to time reasonably request of an amended Prospectus relating to or affecting the Underwritten Securities or a supplement to the Prospectus relating to or affecting the Underwritten Securities which will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance;

4. Rule 158

to make generally available to the Company’s securityholders as soon as practicable an earnings statement of the Company (which need not be audited) complying with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (including, at the option of the Company, Rule 158); (h) to use its best efforts to maintain the Company’s qualification as a “regulated investment company” under Subchapter M of the Code; and

 

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5. DTC.

to cooperate with the Representatives and use commercially reasonable efforts to permit the Underwritten Securities to be eligible for clearance and settlement through the facilities of DTC;

6. [Reservation of Shares of Common Stock.

if applicable, to at all times reserve and keep available, free of preemptive rights, enough shares of Common Stock for the purpose of enabling the Company to satisfy any obligations to issue shares of Common Stock upon conversion of the Underwritten Securities; ]

7. Use of Proceeds.

to use the net proceeds received by it from the sale of the Underwritten Securities materially in the manner specified in Pre-pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus under “Use of Proceeds”;

8. Listing.

to use commercially reasonable efforts to effect and maintain the quotation of the Company’s common stock on the NASDAQ Global Select Market;

9. Restriction on Sale of Underwritten Securities.

to not, directly or indirectly, sell, offer to sell, enter into any agreement to sell, or otherwise dispose of, any equity or equity related securities of the Company or securities convertible into such securities, other than the Underwritten Securities and the Common Stock issued in connection with the reinvestment of dividends or distributions, for a period of 90 days from the date of this Agreement without the prior consent of the Representatives; and

10. Accounting Controls.

to use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i) material information relating to the Company and the assets managed by the Investment Adviser is promptly made known to the officers responsible for establishing and maintaining the system of internal accounting controls and (ii) any significant deficiencies or weaknesses in the design or operation of internal accounting controls which could adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data, and any fraud whether or not material that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in internal controls, are adequately and promptly disclosed to the Company’s independent auditors and the audit committee of the Company’s board of directors.

SECTION 4. Payment of Expenses.

1. Expenses.

The Company shall pay all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including:

(a) the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits) as originally filed and of each amendment thereto;

(b) the delivery to the Underwriters of this Agreement, the Indenture, the Warrant Agreement, if applicable, any Agreement among Underwriters and such other documents as may be required in connection with the offering, purchase, sale, issuance or delivery of the Underwritten Securities;

 

14


(c) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the certificates for the Underwritten Securities and any Warrant Securities issuable upon exercise of the Debt Warrants to the Underwriters, including any stock or other transfer taxes and any stamp or other duties payable upon the sale, issuance or delivery of the Underwritten Securities and any Warrant Securities to the Underwriters;

(d) the fees and disbursements of the Company’s, the Investment Adviser’s and the Administrator’s counsel, accountants and other advisers;

(e) up to $10,000 for (A) the qualification of the Underwritten Securities and any Warrant Securities issuable upon exercise of the Debt Warrants under securities laws in accordance with the provisions of Section 3(2) hereof, (B) in connection with the preparation of any blue sky surveys and any supplements thereto and (C) the filing fees incident to, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters in connection with, the review by the FINRA of the terms of the sale of the Underwritten Securities

(f) the printing and delivery to the Underwriters of copies of the Pre-pricing Prospectus and of the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto;

(g) the fees and expenses of any transfer agent or registrar for the Underwritten Securities; and

(h) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the inclusion of the Underwritten Securities or any Warrant Securities, if applicable, in the NASDAQ Global Select Market.

SECTION 5. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations.

1. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations.

The obligations of the several Underwriters hereunder are subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company, the Investment Adviser and the Administrator contained in Section 1 hereof or in certificates of any officer of the Company, the Investment Adviser or the Administrator, to the performance by the Company, the Investment Adviser and the Administrator of their respective covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to the following further conditions:

 

  (a) Effectiveness of Registration Statement.

The Registration Statement has become effective and at Closing Time no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued under the Securities Act or proceedings therefor initiated or threatened by the Commission.

 

  (b) Opinions of Counsel for Company.

At Closing Time, the Representatives shall have received the signed favorable opinion, dated as of Closing Time, of Dechert LLP, counsel for the Company, and             , special Maryland counsel for the Company, together with reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters, substantially in the form set forth in Exhibits A and B hereto. Such counsel may state that, insofar as such opinion involves factual matters, they have relied upon certificates of officers of the Company and/or any of the Subsidiaries and certificates of public officials.

 

  (c) Opinion of Counsel for Underwriters.

At Closing Time, the Representatives shall have received the signed favorable opinion, dated as of Closing Time, of             , counsel for the Underwriters, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters, substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit C hereto. Such counsel may also state that, insofar as such opinion involves factual matters, they have relied, to the extent they deem proper, upon certificates of officers of the Company and/or any of the Subsidiaries and certificates of public officials.

 

15


  (d) No Material Adverse Effect; Officers’ Certificates.

At Closing Time, there shall not have been, since the date hereof or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus or the Pre-pricing Prospectus, any Material Adverse Effect, and the Representatives shall have received a certificate of the president of the Company and of the chief financial or chief accounting officer of the Company, dated as of Closing Time, to the effect that (A) there has been no Material Adverse Effect, (B) the representations and warranties in Section 1 hereof are true and correct with the same force and effect as though expressly made at and as of Closing Time, (C) the Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to Closing Time and (D) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to their knowledge, contemplated by the Commission.

 

  (e) Accountant’s Comfort Letter.

At the time of the execution of this Agreement, the Representatives shall have received from KPMG LLP a signed letter, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, together with reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

 

  (f) Bring-down Comfort Letter.

At Closing Time, the Representatives shall have received from KPMG LLP a signed letter, dated as of Closing Time, to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in the letter furnished pursuant to subsection (e) of this Section, except that the specified date referred to shall be a date not more than three business days prior to Closing Time.

 

  (g) Approval of Listing.

At Closing Time, the [if applicable, describe Securities] shall have been approved for inclusion in [describe applicable stock exchange or quotation service], subject only to official notice of issuance.

 

  (h) No Objection.

FINRA has not raised any objection with respect to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms and arrangements.

 

  (i) [ Indenture.

At or prior to the Closing Time, the Company and the Trustee shall have executed and delivered the Indenture. ]

 

  (j) Lock-up Agreements.

At the date of this Agreement, the Representatives shall have received an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto signed by the persons listed on Schedule C hereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any lock-up agreement delivered in connection with this Section 5(j) to the contrary, the Investment Adviser may pledge shares of Common Stock of the Company that it owns in one or more bona fide lending transactions.

 

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  (k) [Ratings.

On the Closing Date, the Underwritten Securities shall be rated at least by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and by Standard & Poor’s and since the date of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred a downgrading in the rating assigned to the Underwritten Securities by any “nationally recognized statistical rating agency,” as that term is defined by the Commission for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the 1933 Act, and no such organization shall have publicly announced it has under surveillance or review its rating of the Underwritten Securities.]

 

  (l) Additional Documents.

At Closing Time, counsel for the Underwriters shall have been furnished with such documents as they may reasonably require for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Underwritten Securities as herein contemplated.

 

  (m) Termination of Agreement.

If any condition specified in this Section shall not have been fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled, this Agreement, may be terminated by the Representatives by notice to the Company at any time at or prior to Closing Time, and such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 4 and except that Sections 6 and 7 shall survive any such termination and remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 6. Indemnification.

1. Indemnification of Underwriters by the Company.

The Company, Investment Adviser and Administrator agrees, jointly and severally, to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates, as such term is defined in Rule 501(b) under the Securities Act, its selling agents and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Securities Exchange Act as follows:

 

  (a) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in the Pre-pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

 

  (b) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission; provided that any such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company; and

 

  (c) against any and all expense whatsoever (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by the Representatives), as reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such expense is not paid under (i) or (ii) above.

 

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In no case shall the Company, the Investment Adviser or the Administrator be liable under this indemnity agreement with respect to any claim made against any Underwriter or any other indemnified party specified in this Section 6 unless the Company, the Investment Adviser and the Administrator, as applicable, shall be notified in writing of the nature of the claim within a reasonable time after the assertion thereof, but failure so to notify the Company, the Investment Adviser and the Administrator shall not relieve them from any liability to the extent each is not materially prejudiced as a result thereof and which they may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity agreement. Each of the Company, the Investment Adviser and the Administrator shall be entitled to participate at its own expense in the defense, or if it so elects within a reasonable time after receipt of such notice, to assume the defense for any suit brought to enforce any such claim, but if the Company, the Investment Adviser or the Administrator elects to assume such defense, such defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by it and satisfactory to the Underwriter or Underwriters or controlling person or persons, defendant or defendant in any suit so brought. In the event that the Company, the Investment Adviser or the Administrator elects to assume the defense of any such suit and retains such counsel, the Underwriter or Underwriters or controlling person or persons, defendant or defendant in the suit shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel thereafter retained by them. In the event that the parties to any such action (including impleaded parties) include the Company, the Investment Adviser or Administrator and one or more Underwriter or Underwriters and any such Underwriter shall have been advised by counsel chosen by it and satisfactory to the Company, the Investment Adviser or the Administrator that there may be one or more legal defenses available to it which are different from or additional to those available to the Company, the Investment Adviser and the Administrator, the Company, the Investment Adviser or the Administrator, as applicable, shall not have the right to assume the defense of such action on behalf of such Underwriter and shall reimburse such Underwriter and any person controlling such Underwriter as aforesaid for the reasonable fees and expenses of any counsel retained by them, it being understood that the Company, the Investment Adviser and the Administrator shall not, in connection with any one action or separate but similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys for all such indemnified parties, which firm shall be designated in writing by the Representatives. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, neither the assumption of the defense of any claim nor the payment of any fees or expenses related thereto shall be deemed to be an admission by the indemnifying party that it has the obligation to indemnify any person pursuant to this Agreement.

2. Indemnification of Company, Directors, Officers, Investment Adviser and Administrator.

Each Underwriter severally agrees that it shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Investment Adviser, the Administrator and each of their officers, directors and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Securities Exchange Act to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company, the Investment Adviser and Administrator, as applicable, but only with respect to statements or omissions made in the Pre-pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Pre-pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto). In case any action shall be brought against the Company, the Investment Adviser, the Administrator or any person so indemnified based on the Pre-pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) and in respect of which indemnity may be sought against any Underwriter, such Underwriter shall have the right and duties given to the Company, the Investment Adviser and the Administrator, and the Company, the Investment Adviser, the Administrator and each person so indemnified shall have the right and duties given to the Underwriters, by the provisions of Section 6(1).

3. Settlement of Claims.

No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought under this Section 6 or Section 7 hereof (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto).

 

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SECTION 7. Contribution.

If the indemnification provisions provided in Section 6 above should under applicable law be unenforceable in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefit received by the Company, the Investment Adviser, the Administrator and the Underwriters from the offering of the Underwritten Securities and also the relative fault of the Company, the Investment Adviser, the Administrator and the Underwriters in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses (or actions in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.

The relative benefits received by the Company, the Investment Adviser, the Administrator and the Underwriters shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company, the Investment Adviser and the Administrator and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate public offering price of the Underwritten Securities.

The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the indemnified party failed to give the notice required under Section 6 above including the consequences of such failure, and whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company, the Investment Adviser, the Administrator or the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission of the Company, the Investment Adviser, the Administrator and the Underwriters, directly or through the Representatives of the Underwriters. The Company, the Investment Adviser, the Administrator and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by per capita allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 7. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above in this Section 7 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Underwritten Securities underwritten by it and offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

SECTION 8. Termination of Agreement.

1. Termination; General.

The Representatives may terminate this Agreement, by notice to the Company, at any time at or prior to Closing Time if:

 

  (a) there has been, since the time of execution of this Agreement or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the prospectus in the form first used to confirm sales of the Underwritten Securities, any material adverse change in the financial condition, capitalization or regulatory status of the Company and the Subsidiaries considered as one enterprise or the Investment Adviser, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business;

 

19


  (b) there has occurred any outbreak of hostilities or escalation thereof or other calamity, the effect of which is such as to make it, in the judgment of the Representatives, impracticable or inadvisable to enforce contracts for the sale of the Underwritten Securities;

 

  (c) trading in any securities of the Company has been suspended or materially limited by the Commission or the NASDAQ Global Select Market or if trading generally on the NASDAQ Global Select Market has been suspended or materially limited, or minimum or maximum prices for trading have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices have been required by said exchange or by order of the Commission or any other governmental authority; or

 

  (d) if a banking moratorium has been declared by either Federal or New York authorities.

2. Liabilities.

If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section, such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party, except as provided in Section 4 hereof, and provided, further, that Sections 6 and 7 shall survive such termination and remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 9. Default by One or More of the Underwriters.

If one or more of the Underwriters shall fail at Closing Time to purchase the Underwritten Securities which it or they are obligated to purchase under this Agreement (the “Defaulted Securities”), the Representatives shall have the right, within 24 hours thereafter, to make arrangements for one or more of the non-defaulting Underwriters, or any other underwriters, to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Defaulted Securities in such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the terms herein set forth; if, however, the Representatives shall not have completed such arrangements within such 24-hour period, then:

 

  (a) if the aggregate principal amount of Defaulted Securities does not exceed 10% of the aggregate principal amount of Underwritten Securities to be purchased on such date, each of the non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated, severally and not jointly, to purchase the full amount thereof in the proportions that their respective underwriting obligations hereunder bear to the underwriting obligations of all non-defaulting Underwriters, or

 

  (b) if the aggregate principal amount of Defaulted Securities exceeds 10% of the aggregate principal amount of Underwritten Securities to be purchased on such date, this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter.

As used in this Section only, if the Defaulted Securities include Debt Warrants, the aggregate amount or aggregate principal amount of Securities shall mean the aggregate principal amount of any Securities plus the public offering price of any Debt Warrants included in the relevant Securities.

No action taken pursuant to this Section shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of its default.

In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination of this Agreement either the Representatives or the Company shall have the right to postpone Closing Time for a period not exceeding seven days in order to effect any required changes in the Registration Statement, the Pre-pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements. As used herein, the term “Underwriter” includes any person substituted for an Underwriter under this Section 9.

SECTION 10. Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the Underwriters shall be directed to the Representatives at                     , with a copy to                     ; and notices to the Company, the Investment Adviser and Administrator shall be directed to them care of the company at 590 Madison Avenue, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10022, attention: Chief Financial Officer, with a copy to Dechert LLP, 1775 I Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20006, attention: Thomas J. Friedmann.

 

20


SECTION 11. Parties. This Agreement shall each inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Underwriters and the Company and their respective successors. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person, firm or corporation, other than the Underwriters, the Company, the Investment Adviser and the Administrator and their respective successors and the controlling persons and officers and directors referred to in Sections 6 and 7 and their heirs and legal representatives, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. This Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof are intended to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Underwriters, the Company, the Investment Adviser and the Administrator and their respective successors, and said controlling persons and officers and directors and their heirs and legal representatives, and for the benefit of no other person, firm or corporation. No purchaser of Underwritten Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor by reason merely of such purchase.

SECTION 12. GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

SECTION 13. TIME. TIME SHALL BE OF THE ESSENCE OF THIS AGREEMENT. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE SET FORTH HEREIN, SPECIFIED TIMES OF DAY REFER TO NEW YORK CITY TIME.

SECTION 14. Submission to Jurisdiction. Except as set forth below, no claim or action may be commenced, prosecuted or continued in any court other than the courts of the State of New York located in The City and County of New York or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, which courts shall have jurisdiction over the adjudication of such matters, and both the Underwriters and the Company consent to the jurisdiction of such courts and personal service with respect thereto. Each of the Underwriters and the Company (on its behalf and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, on behalf of its stockholders and affiliates) waives all right to trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim (whether based upon contract, tort or otherwise) in any way arising out of or relating to this Agreement.

SECTION 15. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same Agreement.

SECTION 16. Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

21


If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to the Company a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts, shall become a binding agreement between the Underwriters, the Company, the Investment Adviser and the Administrator in accordance with its terms.

 

Very truly yours,
PENNANTPARK INVESTMENT CORPORATION
By    
  Name:
  Title:
PENNANTPARK INVESTMENT ADVISERS, LLC
By    
  Name:
  Title:
PENNANTPARK INVESTMENT ADMINISTRATION, LLC
By    
  Name:
  Title:

 

CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED,

as of the date first above written:

[NAME OF REPRESENTATIVES]
By    
  Authorized Signatory
For themselves and as Representatives of the other Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto.

 

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SCHEDULE A

 

Name of Underwriter

   Aggregate Principal
Amount of
Senior Securities
   Aggregate Principal
Amount of
Subordinated Securities
   Number of
Debt Warrants

 

Sch A-1


SCHEDULE B

PENNANTPARK INVESTMENT CORPORATION

$ Aggregate Principal Amount Senior Securities

$ Aggregate Principal Amount Subordinated Securities

and

Warrants to Purchase Debt Securities

1. The public offering price for the Underwritten Securities, determined as provided in said Section 2, shall be             % of the aggregate principal amount thereof.

2. The purchase price for the Underwritten Securities to be paid by the several Underwriters shall be % of the aggregate principal amount thereof, being an amount equal to the public offering price set forth above less % of the aggregate principal amount thereof.

 

Sch B-1


SCHEDULE C

LIST OF PERSONS AND ENTITIES SUBJECT TO LOCK-UP

Officers of the Corporation

Directors of the Corporation

Portfolio Managers of PennantPark Investment Administration

 

Sch C-1

Opinion and Consent of Venable LLP

Exhibit (l)

LOGO

May 19, 2008

PennantPark Investment Corporation

590 Madison Avenue

15th Floor

New York, New York 10022

 

  Re: Registration Statement on Form N-2:
       1933 Act File No.: 333-150033
       1940 Act File No.: 814-00736

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have served as Maryland counsel to PennantPark Investment Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), and a business development company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), in connection with certain matters of Maryland law arising out of the registration of the offering by the Company of up to $250,000,000 aggregate initial offering price of the following securities (collectively, the “Securities”): (a) shares (the “Common Shares”) of its common stock, $.001 par value per share (the “Common Stock”); (b) shares (the “Preferred Shares”) of its preferred stock, $.001 par value per share (the “Preferred Stock”); (c) warrants (the “Warrants”) to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock or Debt Securities (as defined below), (d) subscription rights (the “Subscription Rights”) to purchase Common Stock; or (e) debt securities (the “Debt Securities”), covered by the above-referenced Registration Statement, and all amendments thereto (the “Registration Statement”), filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”).

In connection with our representation of the Company, and as a basis for the opinion hereinafter set forth, we have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the following documents (hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Documents”):

1. The Registration Statement and the related form of prospectus included therein, in the form transmitted to the Commission for filing pursuant to the 1933 Act;

2. The charter of the Company (the “Charter”), certified as of a recent date by the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland (the “SDAT”);

3. The Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (the “Bylaws”), certified as of the date hereof by an officer of the Company;

 


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PennantPark Investment Corporation

May 19, 2008

Page 2

 

4. A certificate of the SDAT as to the good standing of the Company, dated as of a recent date;

5. Resolutions (the “Resolutions”) adopted by the Board of Directors (the “Board of Directors”) of the Company relating to the registration and issuance of the Securities, certified as of the date hereof by an officer of the Company;

6. A certificate executed by an officer of the Company, dated as of the date hereof; and

7. Such other documents and matters as we have deemed necessary or appropriate to express the opinion set forth below, subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications stated herein.

In expressing the opinion set forth below, we have assumed the following:

1. Each individual executing any of the Documents, whether on behalf of such individual or any other person, is legally competent to do so.

2. Each individual executing any of the Documents on behalf of a party (other than the Company) is duly authorized to do so.

3. Each of the parties (other than the Company) executing any of the Documents has duly and validly executed and delivered each of the Documents to which such party is a signatory, and such party’s obligations set forth therein are legal, valid and binding and are enforceable in accordance with all stated terms.

4. All Documents submitted to us as originals are authentic. The form and content of all Documents submitted to us as unexecuted drafts do not differ in any respect relevant to this opinion from the form and content of such Documents as executed and delivered. All Documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies conform to the original documents. All signatures on all such Documents are genuine. All public records reviewed or relied upon by us or on our behalf are true and complete. All representations, warranties, statements and information contained in the Documents are true and complete. There has been no oral or written modification of or amendment to any of the Documents, and there has been no waiver of any provision of any of the Documents, by action or omission of the parties or otherwise.

5. The issuance of, and certain terms of, the Securities to be issued by the Company from time to time will be authorized and approved by the Board of Directors, or a duly


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PennantPark Investment Corporation

May 19, 2008

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authorized committee thereof, in accordance with the Maryland General Corporation Law, the Charter, the Bylaws and the Resolutions prior to the issuance of such Securities (such approval referred to herein as the “Corporate Proceedings”).

6. Upon the issuance of any Securities that are Common Shares, including Common Shares that may be issued upon the conversion or exercise of any other Securities convertible into or exercisable into Common Shares, the total number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding will not exceed the total number of shares of Common Stock that the Company is then authorized to issue under the Charter.

7. Articles Supplementary classifying and designating the number of shares and the terms of any class or series of Preferred Shares to be issued by the Company will be filed with and accepted for record by the SDAT prior to the issuance of such Preferred Shares.

8. Upon the issuance of any Securities that are Preferred Shares, including Preferred Shares which may be issued upon the conversion or exercise of any other Securities convertible into or exercisable for Preferred Shares, the total number of shares of Preferred Stock issued and outstanding, and the total number of issued and outstanding shares of the applicable class or series of Preferred Stock designated pursuant to the Charter, will not exceed the total number of shares of Preferred Stock or the number of shares of such class or series of Preferred Stock that the Company is then authorized to issue under the Charter.

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications stated herein, it is our opinion that:

1. The Company is a corporation duly incorporated and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the State of Maryland and is in good standing with the SDAT.

2. Upon the completion of all Corporate Proceedings relating to the Common Shares, the issuance of the Common Shares will be duly authorized and, when and if issued and delivered against payment therefor in accordance with the Registration Statement, the Resolutions and the Corporate Proceedings, the Common Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

3. Upon the completion of all Corporate Proceedings relating to the Preferred Shares, the issuance of the Preferred Shares will be duly authorized and, when and if issued and delivered against payment therefor in accordance with the Registration Statement, the Resolutions and the Corporate Proceedings, the Preferred Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

 


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PennantPark Investment Corporation

May 19, 2008

Page 4

 

4. Upon the completion of all Corporate Proceedings relating to the Warrants, the issuance of the Warrants will be duly authorized.

5. Upon the completion of all the Corporate Proceedings relating to the Subscription Rights, the issuance of the Subscription Rights will be duly authorized.

6. Upon the completion of all Corporate Proceedings relating to the Debt Securities, the issuance of the Debt Securities will be duly authorized.

The foregoing opinion is limited to the laws of the State of Maryland and we do not express any opinion herein concerning any other law. We express no opinion as to the applicability or effect of the 1940 Act, any federal or state securities laws, including the securities laws of the State of Maryland or as to federal or state laws regarding fraudulent transfer. To the extent that any matter as to which our opinion is expressed herein would be governed by the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Maryland, we do not express any opinion on such matter.

The opinion expressed herein is limited to the matters specifically set forth herein and no other opinion shall be inferred beyond the matters expressly stated. We assume no obligation to supplement this opinion if any applicable law changes after the date hereof or if we become aware of any fact that might change the opinion expressed herein after the date hereof.

This opinion is being furnished to you solely for submission to the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and, accordingly, may not be relied upon by, quoted in any manner to, or delivered to any other person or entity without, in each instance, our prior written consent. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the use of the name of our firm therein. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required by Section 7 of the 1933 Act.

Very truly yours,

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Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Exhibit (n)(1)

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders

PennantPark Investment Corporation

We consent to the use of our report dated December 12, 2007 for the PennantPark Investment Corporation and to the references to our firm under the headings “Selected Financial Data”, “Senior Securities”, and “Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” in Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form N-2.

/s/ KPMG LLP

New York, New York

May 29, 2008

Awareness Letter of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Exhibit (n)(2)

 

Awareness Letter of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

The Board of Directors and Shareholders

PennantPark Investment Corporation:

Re: Securities Act Registration No. 333-150033 and Investment Company Act of 1940 File No. 814-00736.

With respect to the amendment to the subject registration statement, we acknowledge our awareness of the use therein of our report dated May 7, 2008 related to our review of interim financial information.

Pursuant to Rule 436 under the Securities Act of 1933 (the Act), such report is not considered part of a registration statement prepared or certified by an independent registered public accounting firm, or a report prepared or certified by an independent registered public accounting firm within the meaning of Sections 7 and 11 of the Act.

 

/s/ KPMG LLP

New York, New York

May 29, 2008