As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
December 19, 2006
Registration
No. 333-132575
U.S. SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.
20549
Form N-2
þ
REGISTRATION
STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
o
PRE-EFFECTIVE
AMENDMENT NO.
þ
POST-EFFECTIVE
AMENDMENT NO. 3
PROSPECT ENERGY
CORPORATION
(Exact Name of Registrant as
Specified in Charter)
10 East 40th Street,
44th Floor
New York, NY 10016
(Address of Principal Executive
Offices)
Registrants Telephone
Number, including Area Code:
(212) 448-0702
John F. Barry III
M. Grier Eliasek
c/o Prospect Capital
Management, LLC
10 East 40th Street,
44th Floor
New York, NY 10016
(212) 448-0702
(Name and Address of Agent for
Service)
Copies of information
to:
Leonard B.
Mackey, Jr., Esq.
Clifford Chance US LLP
31 West
52nd Street
New York, NY
10019-6131
(212) 878-8000
This filing will become effective immediately upon filing
pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.
EXPLANATORY
NOTE
This Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 to the Registration
Statement on
Form N-2
(File
No. 333-132575)
of Prospect Energy Corporation (the Registration
Statement) is being filed pursuant to Rule 462(d)
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
Securities Act), solely for the purpose of filing an
exhibit to the Registration Statement. Accordingly, this
Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 consists only of a facing
page, this explanatory note and Part C of the Registration
Statement on
Form N-2
setting forth the exhibits to the Registration Statement. This
Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 does not modify any other
part of the Registration Statement. Pursuant to Rule 462(d)
under the Securities Act, this Post-Effective Amendment
No. 3 shall become effective immediately upon filing with
the Securities and Exchange Commission. The contents of the
Registration Statement are hereby incorporated by reference.
PART C
OTHER INFORMATION
|
|
ITEM 25.
|
FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
|
(1) Financial Statements
The following statements of Prospect Energy Corporation (the
Company or the Registrant) are included
in Part A of this Registration Statement:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Page
|
|
UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
|
|
|
Balance Sheets as of
March 31, 2006 and June 30, 2005
|
|
|
F-2
|
Schedule of Investments as of
March 31, 2006
|
|
|
F-3
|
Schedule of investments as of
June 30, 2005
|
|
|
F-6
|
Statements of Operations for the
three and nine months ended March 31, 2006, for the three
months ended March 31, 2005, for the Nine months ended
March 31, 2006, for the Nine months ended March 31,
2005 and for the twelve months ended June 30, 2005
|
|
|
F-8
|
Statement of Stockholders
Equity
|
|
|
F-9
|
Statements of Cash Flows for the
three months ended March 31, 2006, for the Nine months
ended March 31, 2005 and for the twelve months ended
June 30, 2005
|
|
|
F-10
|
Notes to Unaudited Financial
Statements
|
|
|
F-11
|
AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
|
|
|
Report of Independent Registered
Public Accounting Firm
|
|
|
F-18
|
Balance Sheets as of June 30,
2005 and June 30, 2004
|
|
|
F-19
|
Schedule of Investments as of
June 30, 2005
|
|
|
F-20
|
Statements of Operations for the
year ended June 30, 2005 and for the period from
April 13, 2004* through June 30, 2004
|
|
|
F-22
|
Statement of Stockholders
Equity for the period from April 13, 2004* through
June 30, 2005
|
|
|
F-23
|
Statements of Cash Flows for the
year ended June 30, 2005 and for the period from
April 13, 2004* through June 30, 2004
|
|
|
F-24
|
Notes to Financial Statements
|
|
|
F-25
|
* Commencement of operations
C-1
(2) Exhibits
|
|
|
Exhibit No.
|
|
Description
|
|
(a)(1)
|
|
Articles of Incorporation**
|
(a)(2)
|
|
Articles of Amendment and
Restatement***
|
(b)(1)
|
|
Bylaws***
|
(b)(2)
|
|
Amended and Restated Bylaws***
|
(c)
|
|
Not Applicable
|
(d)(1)
|
|
Form of Stock Certificate***
|
(d)(2)
|
|
Form of Indenture
|
(e)
|
|
Form of Dividend Reinvestment
Plan***
|
(f)
|
|
Not Applicable
|
(g)
|
|
Form of Investment Advisory
Agreement between Registrant and Prospect Capital Management,
LLC***
|
(h)
|
|
Underwriting Agreement between
Registrant, Prospect Administration, LLC, Prospect Capital
Management, LLC and Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc.
|
(i)
|
|
Not Applicable
|
(j)
|
|
Form of Custodian Agreement****
|
(k)(1)
|
|
Form of Administration Agreement
between Registrant and Prospect Administration, LLC***
|
(k)(2)
|
|
Form of Transfer Agency and
Registrar Services Agreement****
|
(k)(3)
|
|
Form of Trademark License
Agreement between the Registrant and Prospect Capital
Management***
|
(k)(4)
|
|
Credit Agreement between
Registrant, its domestic subsidiaries, certain Lenders and HSH
Nordbank AG*****
|
(l)(1)
|
|
Opinion and Consent of Clifford
Chance US LLP, counsel for Registrant*****
|
(l)(2)
|
|
Opinion and Consent of Venable
LLP, as special Maryland counsel for Registrant*****
|
(m)
|
|
Not Applicable
|
(n)
|
|
Consent of independent registered
public accounting firm for Registrant******
|
(o)
|
|
Not Applicable
|
(p)
|
|
Not Applicable
|
(q)
|
|
Not Applicable
|
(r)
|
|
Code of Ethics***
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Incorporated by reference to the corresponding exhibit number to
the Registrants Pre-effective Amendment No. 1 to the
Registration Statement under the securities Act of 1933, as
amended, on Form N-2 (File
No. 333-1322575),
filed on June 29, 2006.
|
|
**
|
|
Incorporated by reference to the corresponding exhibit number to
the Registrants Registration Statement under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on
Form N-2
(File
No. 333-114552),
filed on April 16, 2004.
|
|
***
|
|
Incorporated by reference to the corresponding exhibit number to
the Registrants Pre-effective Amendment No. 2 to the
Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, on
Form N-2
(File
No. 333-114552),
filed on July 6, 2004.
|
|
****
|
|
Incorporated by reference to the corresponding exhibit number to
the Registrants Pre-effective Amendment No. 3 to the
Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, on
Form N-2
(File
No. 333-114552),
filed on July 23, 2004.
|
|
*****
|
|
Incorporated by reference to the corresponding exhibit number to
the Registrants Pre-effective Amendment No. 2 to the
Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, on
Form N-2
(File
No. 333-132575),
filed on August 1, 2006.
|
C-2
|
|
|
******
|
|
Incorporated by reference to the corresponding exhibit number to
the Registrants Post-effective Amendment No. 2 to the
Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, on
Form N-2
(File
No. 333-132575),
filed on December 14, 2006.
|
|
|
|
*******
|
|
Filed herewith.
|
|
|
|
Filed herewith.
|
|
|
|
To be filed by amendment.
|
|
|
ITEM 26.
|
MARKETING
ARRANGEMENTS
|
The information contained under the heading Plan of
Distribution on this Registration Statement is
incorporated herein by reference and any information concerning
any underwriters will be contained in the accompanying
prospectus supplement, if any.
|
|
ITEM 27.
|
OTHER
EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commission registration fee
|
|
$
|
32,000
|
|
NASD filing fee
|
|
$
|
31,000
|
|
Accounting fees and expenses
|
|
$
|
50,000
|
|
Legal fees and expenses
|
|
$
|
250,000
|
|
Printing and engraving
|
|
$
|
100,000
|
|
Miscellaneous fees and expenses
|
|
$
|
100,000
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
563,000
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
|
These amounts are estimates.
|
All of the expenses set forth above shall be borne by the
Company.
|
|
ITEM 28.
|
PERSONS
CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL
|
The Registrant owns 100% of the outstanding common stock of Gas
Solutions Holdings, Inc. and therefore has a controlling
interest.
Prospect Capital Management, LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company, owns shares of the Registrant, representing 0.14% of
the common stock outstanding. Without conceding that Prospect
Capital Management controls the Registrant, an affiliate of
Prospect Capital Management is the general partner of, and may
be deemed to control, the following entities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jurisdiction
|
|
Name
|
|
of Organization
|
|
|
Prospect Street Ventures I,
LLC
|
|
|
Delaware
|
|
Prospect Management Group LLC
|
|
|
Delaware
|
|
Prospect Street Broadband LLC
|
|
|
Delaware
|
|
Prospect Street Energy LLC
|
|
|
Delaware
|
|
Prospect Administration LLC
|
|
|
Delaware
|
|
ITEM 29. NUMBER
OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES
The following table sets forth the approximate number of record
holders of our common stock at May 27, 2006.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of
|
|
Title of Class
|
|
Record Holders
|
|
|
Common Stock, par value
$.001 per share
|
|
|
7,100
|
|
C-3
ITEM 30. INDEMNIFICATION
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 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 ourselves 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 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 or
other enterprise as a director, officer, partner or trustee and
who is made, or threatened to be made, a party to the 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 persons willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard
of the duties involved in the conduct of his 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 corporations 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.
The Investment Advisory 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, Prospect Capital Management, LLC (the
Adviser) and its officers, managers, agents,
employees, controlling persons, members and any other person or
entity affiliated with it are entitled to indemnification from
the Company for any damages, liabilities, costs and expenses
(including reasonable attorneys fees and amounts
C-4
reasonably paid in settlement) arising from the rendering of the
Advisers services under the Investment Advisory Agreement
or otherwise as an Investment Adviser of the Company.
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, Prospect Administration, LLC and its officers,
manager, agents, employees, controlling persons, members and any
other person or entity affiliated with it are entitled to
indemnification from the Company for any damages, liabilities,
costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys fees
and amounts reasonably paid in settlement) arising from the
rendering of Prospect Administration, LLCs services under
the Administration Agreement or otherwise as administrator for
the Company.
The Administrator is authorized to enter into one or more
sub-administration agreements with other service providers (each
a
Sub-Administrator)
pursuant to which the Administrator may obtain the services of
the service providers in fulfilling its responsibilities
hereunder. Any such sub-administration agreements shall be in
accordance with the requirements of the 1940 Act and other
applicable federal and state law and shall contain a provision
requiring the
Sub-Administrator
to comply with the same restrictions applicable to the
Administrator.
The Underwriting Agreement provides that each Underwriter
severally agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the
Company, its directors and officers, and any person who controls
the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or
Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and the successors and
assigns of all of the foregoing persons, from and against any
loss, damage, expense, liability or claim (including the
reasonable cost of investigation) which, jointly or severally
the Company or any such person may incur under the Act, the
Exchange Act, the 1940 Act, the common law or otherwise, insofar
as such loss, damage, expense, liability or claim arises out of
or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in and in conformity with
information concerning such Underwriter furnished in writing by
or on behalf of such Underwriter through the managing
Underwriter to the Company expressly for use in this
Registration Statement (or in the Registration Statement as
amended by any post-effective amendment hereof by the Company)
or in the Prospectus contained in this Registration Statement,
or arises out of or is based upon any omission or alleged
omission to state a material fact in connection with such
information required to be stated in this Registration Statement
or such Prospectus or necessary to make such information not
misleading.
Insofar as indemnification for liability arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers
and controlling persons of the Company pursuant to the foregoing
provisions, or otherwise, the Company has been advised that in
the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.
In the event that a claim for indemnification against such
liabilities (other than the payment by the Company of expenses
incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of
the Company in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling
person in connection with the securities being registered, the
Company will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of
appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in
the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such
issue.
|
|
ITEM 31.
|
BUSINESS
AND OTHER CONNECTIONS OF INVESTMENT ADVISER
|
A description of any other business, profession, vocation or
employment of a substantial nature in which the Adviser, and
each managing member, director or executive officer of the
Adviser, is or has been during the past two fiscal years,
engaged in for his or her own account or in the capacity of
director, officer, employee, partner or trustee, is set forth in
Part A of this Registration Statement in the section
entitled Management. 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. 801-62969),
and is incorporated herein by reference.
C-5
|
|
ITEM 32.
|
LOCATION
OF ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS
|
All accounts, books and other documents required to be
maintained by Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act
of 1940, and the rules thereunder are maintained at the offices
of:
(1) the Registrant, Prospect Energy Corporation, 10 East
40th Street, 44th Floor, New York, NY 10016;
(2) the Transfer Agent, American Stock Transfer &
Trust Company;
(3) the Custodian, U.S. Bank National
Association; and
(4) the Adviser, Prospect Capital Management, LLC, 10 East
40th Street, 44th Floor, New York, NY 10016.
|
|
ITEM 33.
|
MANAGEMENT
SERVICES
|
Not Applicable.
1. The Registrant undertakes to suspend the offering of
shares until the prospectus is amended if (1) subsequent to
the effective date of its registration statement, the net asset
value declines more than ten percent from its net asset value as
of the effective date of the registration statement; or
(2) the net asset value increases to an amount greater than
the net proceeds as stated in the prospectus.
2. Any securities not taken in a rights offering by
shareholders are to be reoffered to the public, an undertaking
to supplement the prospectus, after the expiration of the
subscription period, to set forth the results of the
subscription offer, the transactions by underwriters during the
subscription period, the amount of unsubscribed securities to be
purchased by underwriters, and the terms of any subsequent
reoffering thereof. If any public offering by the underwriters
of the securities being registered is to be made on terms
differing from those set forth on the cover page of the
prospectus, we will file a post-effective amendment to set forth
the terms of such offering.
3. The Registrant undertakes that:
(a) to file, during any period in which offers or sales are
being made, a post-effective amendment to the registration
statement:
(1) to include any prospectus required by
Section 10(a)(3) of the 1933 Act;
(2) 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
(3) 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.
(b) that, for the purpose of determining any liability
under the 1933 Act, each such post-effective amendment
shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to
the securities offered therein, and the offering of those
securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof;
(c) 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;
(d) that, for the purpose of determining liability under
the 1933 Act to any purchaser, each prospectus filed pursuant to
Rule 497(b), (c), (d) or (e) under the
1933 Act as part of a registration statement relating to an
offering, other than prospectuses filed in reliance on
Rule 430A under the
C-6
1933 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; and
(e) that, for the purpose of determining liability of the
Registrant under the 1933 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 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: (1) any preliminary prospectus
or prospectus of the undersigned Registrant relating to the
offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 497 under
the 1933 Act; (2) the portion of any advertisement
pursuant to Rule 482 under the 1933 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 (3) any other
communication that is an offer in the offering made by the
undersigned Registrant to the purchaser.
(f) if the Registrant intends to issue securities other
than its shares of common stock, at or before the time the
Registrant files a prospectus supplement regarding the offering
of such securities pursuant to Rule 497 under the
Securities Act of 1933, it will file a post-effective amendment
with an opinion regarding the validity of such securities
included as an exhibit.
(g) that, the Registrant will only use this registration
statement to issue common stock unless and until there is
further guidance from the Commission indicating that
registration statements of this sort may be used to issue other
types of securities.
C-7
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement on
Form N-2
to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of New York, in the State of New York,
on the 19th day of December 2006.
PROSPECT ENERGY CORPORATION
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/ John
F. Barry III
|
John F. Barry III
Chief Executive Officer and
Chairman of the Board of Directors
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons
in the capacities indicated on December 19, 2006. This
document may be executed by the signatories hereto on any number
of counterparts, all of which constitute one and the same
instrument.
|
|
|
Signature
|
|
Title
|
|
/s/ John F.
Barry III
John
F. Barry III
|
|
Chief Executive Officer and
Chairman of the Board of Directors
(principal executive officer)
|
C-8
EXHIBIT
INDEX
(2) Exhibits
|
|
|
Exhibit No.
|
|
Description
|
|
(a)(1)
|
|
Articles of Incorporation**
|
(a)(2)
|
|
Articles of Amendment and
Restatement***
|
(b)(1)
|
|
Bylaws***
|
(b)(2)
|
|
Amended and Restated Bylaws***
|
(c)
|
|
Not Applicable
|
(d)(1)
|
|
Form of Stock Certificate***
|
(d)(2)
|
|
Form of Indenture
|
(e)
|
|
Form of Dividend Reinvestment
Plan***
|
(f)
|
|
Not Applicable
|
(g)
|
|
Form of Investment Advisory
Agreement between Registrant and Prospect Capital Management,
LLC***
|
(h)
|
|
Underwriting Agreement between
Registrant, Prospect Administration, LLC, Prospect Capital
Management, LLC and Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc.
|
(i)
|
|
Not Applicable
|
(j)
|
|
Form of Custodian Agreement****
|
(k)(1)
|
|
Form of Administration Agreement
between Registrant and Prospect Administration, LLC***
|
(k)(2)
|
|
Form of Transfer Agency and
Registrar Services Agreement****
|
(k)(3)
|
|
Form of Trademark License
Agreement between the Registrant and Prospect Capital
Management***
|
(k)(4)
|
|
Credit Agreement between
Registrant, its domestic subsidiaries, certain Lenders and HSH
Nordbank AG*****
|
(l)(1)
|
|
Opinion and Consent of Clifford
Chance US LLP, counsel for Registrant*****
|
(l)(2)
|
|
Opinion and Consent of Venable
LLP, as special Maryland counsel for Registrant*****
|
(m)
|
|
Not Applicable
|
(n)
|
|
Consent of independent registered
public accounting firm for Registrant******
|
(o)
|
|
Not Applicable
|
(p)
|
|
Not Applicable
|
(q)
|
|
Not Applicable
|
(r)
|
|
Code of Ethics***
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Incorporated by reference to the corresponding exhibit number to
the Registrants Pre-effective Amendment No. 1 to the
Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, on Form N-2 (File
No. 333-1322575),
filed on June 29, 2006.
|
|
**
|
|
Incorporated by reference to the corresponding exhibit number to
the Registrants Registration Statement under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on
Form N-2
(File
No. 333-114552),
filed on April 16, 2004.
|
|
***
|
|
Incorporated by reference to the corresponding exhibit number to
the Registrants Pre-effective Amendment No. 2 to the
Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, on
Form N-2
(File
No. 333-114552),
filed on July 6, 2004.
|
|
****
|
|
Incorporated by reference to the corresponding exhibit number to
the Registrants Pre-effective Amendment No. 3 to the
Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, on
Form N-2
(File
No. 333-114552),
filed on July 23, 2004.
|
|
*****
|
|
Incorporated by reference to the corresponding exhibit number to
the Registrants Pre-effective Amendment No. 2 to the
Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, on
Form N-2
(File
No. 333-132575),
filed on August 1, 2006.
|
C-9
|
|
|
******
|
|
Incorporated by reference to the corresponding exhibit number to
the Registrants Post-effective Amendment No. 2 to the
Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, on
Form N-2
(File
No. 333-132575),
filed on December 14, 2006.
|
|
|
|
*******
|
|
Filed herewith.
|
|
|
|
Filed herewith.
|
|
|
|
To be filed by amendment.
|
C-10
Exhibit (h)
Prospect Energy Corporation
(a Maryland Corporation)
6,000,000 Shares of Common Stock
Par Value $.001 per Share
Underwriting Agreement
December 14, 2006
Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc.
50 North Front Street
Memphis, TN 38103
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Prospect Energy Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the Company) confirms its agreement
with Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc. (the Underwriter), with respect to the issue and sale by the
Company and the purchase by the Underwriter of 6,000,000 of shares of common stock, par value $.001
per share of the Company (the Common Shares), and with respect to the grant by the Company to the
Underwriter of the option described in Section 3(b) hereof to purchase all or any part of 900,000
additional Common Shares to cover over-allotments, if any. The aforesaid 6,000,000 Common Shares
(the Firm Shares) to be purchased by the Underwriter and all or any part of the 900,000 Common
Shares subject to the option described in Section 3(b) hereof (the Option Shares) are
collectively referred to as the Shares.
The Company understands that the Underwriter proposes to make a public offering of the Shares
as soon as the Underwriter deems advisable after this Agreement has been executed and delivered.
The Company has entered into an investment advisory agreement, dated as of June 24, 2004, as
renewed on May 15, 2006 by the Board of Directors (the Board) of the Company (the Investment
Advisory Agreement), with Prospect Capital Management LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
registered as an investment adviser (the 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 administration agreement, dated as of June 24, 2004, as renewed on May 15, 2006
by the Board (the Administration Agreement), with Prospect Administration, LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company (the Administrator).
The Company has filed, pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the 1933 Act), with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the Commission) a registration statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-132575), which
registers the offer and sale of certain securities to be issued from time to time by the Company,
including the Shares. The Company filed a Form N-54A Notification of Election to be Subject to
Sections 55 through 65 of the 1940 Act Filed Pursuant to Section 54(a) of the
1940 Act (File No. 814-00659) with the Commission on April 16, 2004, under the Investment Company
Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the
1940 Act).
The registration statement as amended, including the exhibits and schedules thereto, at the
time it became effective (or is deemed effective pursuant to Rule 430A or Rule 430C under the 1933
Act), including the information, if any, omitted from the registration statement pursuant to Rule
430A (the Rule 430A Information), any registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under
the 1933 Act, and any post-effective amendment thereto, is hereinafter referred to as the
Registration Statement. The prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the time it
became effective is hereinafter referred to as the Base Prospectus. The Base Prospectus and any
prospectus or prospectus supplement that omitted the Rule 430A Information that was used prior to
the execution and delivery of this Agreement and filed pursuant to Rule 497(a) under the 1933 Act,
including in each case any statement of additional information incorporated therein by reference,
is herein called a Preliminary Prospectus.
The Company has prepared and will file with the Commission in accordance with Rule 497 under
the 1933 Act, a prospectus supplement (the Prospectus Supplement) supplementing the Base
Prospectus in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares. The Base Prospectus and Prospectus
Supplement filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 497 under the 1933 Act (including the
information, if any, deemed to be a part of the Registration Statement at the time of effectiveness
pursuant to Rule 430A or Rule 430C under the 1933 Act) are hereinafter referred to collectively as
the Prospectus.
The Preliminary Prospectus, together with the information set forth in the oral pricing script
included on
Schedule A
hereto (which information the Underwriter has informed the Company
is being conveyed orally by the Underwriter to prospective purchasers at or prior to the
Underwriters confirmation of sales of the Shares in the public offering) is hereinafter referred
to as the Disclosure Package.
All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information
which is contained, disclosed, included, filed as part of or stated in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus (and all other references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and
include all such financial statements and schedules and other information which are or are deemed
to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may
be; and all references in this Agreement to amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement
or the Prospectus shall be deemed to mean and include the filing of any document under the
Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the 1934 Act) which is or is deemed to be
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as
the case may be. All references in this Agreement to the Registration Statement, Disclosure
Package, the Prospectus or any amendments or supplements to any of the foregoing, shall include any
copy thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and
Retrieval System (EDGAR).
Section 1.
Representations and Warranties of the Company.
The Company represents and warrants to and agrees with the Underwriter, and the
2
Adviser and the Administrator, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to and agree with the
Underwriter, as of the date hereof, the Applicable Time (defined below), the Closing Time referred
to in Section 3(c) hereof, and as of each Date of Delivery (if any) referred to in Section 3(b)
hereof, as follows:
(a)
Compliance with Registration Requirements
.
(i) The Company meets the requirements for use of Form N-2 under the 1933 Act. The
Registration Statement has become effective under the 1933 Act and no stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued under the
1933 Act, and no proceedings for any such purpose, have been instituted or are
pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, are contemplated by the Commission, and
any request on the part of the Commission for additional information has been
complied with.
(ii) At the respective times the Registration Statement, and any post-effective
amendment thereto, became effective and at the Closing Time, as hereinafter defined
(and, if any Option Shares are purchased, at the Date of Delivery), the Registration
Statement, and all amendments and supplements thereto complied and will comply in
all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder, and did not and will 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. Neither the
Prospectus nor any amendment or supplement thereto, at the time the Prospectus or
any such amendment or supplement was issued and at the Closing Time (and, if any
Option Shares are purchased, at the Date of Delivery), included or will include an
untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or will 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. The representations and warranties in
this subsection shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration
Statement or Prospectus made in reliance upon and in conformity with information
furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Underwriter for use in the
Registration Statement or Prospectus it being understood and agreed that the only
such information furnished to the Company in writing by the Underwriter consists of
the information described in Section 7(g) below.
(iii) The Disclosure Package as of the Applicable Time does not include any 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, not misleading. The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or
omissions from the Disclosure Package based upon and in conformity with information
relating to the Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by the Underwriter
or its representative expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that
the only such information furnished by the Underwriter to the Company consists of
the information described in
3
Section 7(g) below. As used in this subsection and elsewhere in this Agreement
Applicable Time means 9:00 a.m. (New York City time) on December 15, 2006 or such
other time as agreed by the Company and the Underwriter; provided that, if,
subsequent to the date of this Agreement, the Company and the Underwriter have
determined that the Disclosure Package included an untrue statement of material fact
or omitted a statement of material fact necessary to make the information therein
not misleading, and have agreed, in connection with the public offering of the
Shares, to provide an opportunity to purchasers to terminate their old contracts and
enter into new contracts, then Applicable Time will refer to the information
available to purchasers at the time of entry into the first such new contract.
(iv) The Prospectus when filed, and as of the date of the Prospectus Supplement,
complied in all material respects with the 1933 Act, and if filed by electronic
transmission pursuant to EDGAR (except as may be permitted by Regulation S-T under
the 1933 Act), will be substantially identical to the copy thereof delivered to the
Underwriters for use in connection with this offering.
(b)
Independent Accountant
. BDO Seidman, LLP, who has expressed its opinion with
respect to certain of the financial statements (which term as used in this Agreement includes the
related notes thereto) and supporting schedules filed with the Commission as a part of the
Registration Statement and included in the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package, is an independent
registered public accounting firm as required by the 1933 Act and 1934 Act.
(c)
Preparation of the Financial Statements
. The financial statements filed with the
Commission as a part of the Registration Statement and included in the Prospectus and the
Disclosure Package present fairly the consolidated financial position of the Company as of and at
the dates indicated and the results of its operations and cash flows for the periods specified.
Such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States (GAAP) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods
involved, except as may be expressly stated in the related notes thereto. No other financial
statements or supporting schedules are required to be included in the Registration Statement. The
consolidated selected financial data included in the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package presents
fairly in all material respects the information shown therein and has been compiled on a basis
consistent with the consolidated financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement. All disclosures contained in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure
Package or the Prospectus regarding non-GAAP financial measures (as such term is defined by the
rules and regulations of the Commission) comply with Regulation G under the 1934 Act and Item 10 of
Regulation S-K of the 1933 Act Regulations, to the extent applicable.
(d)
Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
. The Company maintains a system of
internal control over financial reporting sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that
financial reporting is reliable and financial statements for external purposes are prepared in
accordance with GAAP and includes policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of
records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions
of the assets of the Company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as
4
necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that
receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with applicable law and
the authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and (iii) provide reasonable
assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition
of the Companys assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
(e)
Disclosure Controls
. The Company has established and maintains disclosure controls
and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the 1934 Act); such
disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that material information relating to the
Company, including material information pertaining to the Companys operations and assets managed
by the Adviser, is made known to the Companys Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
by others within the Company and the Adviser, and such disclosure controls and procedures are
effective to perform the functions for which they were established.
(f)
No Material Adverse Change
. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Disclosure
Package and the Prospectus, subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in
the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus: (i) there has been no material adverse change, or any
development that could reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse change, in the
condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, net asset value, prospects, business or
operations, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, of the
Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one entity (any such change or effect, where the
context so requires is called a Material Adverse Change or a Material Adverse Effect); (ii) the
Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one entity, have not incurred any material liability or
obligation, indirect, direct or contingent, not in the ordinary course of business or entered into
any material transaction or agreement not in the ordinary course of business; and (iii) except for
regular quarterly dividends on the Common Shares in amounts per share consistent with past
practice, there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the
Company or, except for dividends paid to the Company or other subsidiaries, any of its subsidiaries
on any class of capital stock or repurchase or redemption by the Company or any of its subsidiaries
of any class of capital stock.
(g)
Good Standing of the Company and its Subsidiaries
. The Company and each
subsidiary that is a corporation have been duly incorporated and are validly existing as
corporations in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of their incorporation and have
the corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate their properties and to conduct their
business as described in the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package and, in the case of the Company,
to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement. Each of the Company and each
subsidiary that is a corporation is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business
and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by
reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except for such
jurisdictions where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not, individually or
in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change. All of the issued and outstanding capital
stock of each subsidiary that is a corporation has been duly authorized and validly issued, is
fully paid and non-assessable and is owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, free
and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance or claim.
5
(h)
Subsidiaries of the Company
. The Company does not own, directly or indirectly,
any shares of stock or any other equity or long-term debt securities of any corporation or other
entity other than (i) 100% of the equity interests in Gas Solutions Holdings, Inc. (Gas Solutions
Holdings) and (ii) those corporations or other entities described in the Disclosure Package and
the Prospectus under the caption Portfolio Companies (each a Portfolio Company and
collectively, the Portfolio Companies). Except as otherwise disclosed in the Disclosure Package
and the Prospectus, the Company does not control (as such term is defined in Section 2(a)(9) of the
1940 Act) any of the Portfolio Companies. In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation S-X under the
1933 Act, the Company is not required to consolidate the financial statements of any corporation,
association or other entity with the Companys financial statements other than Gas Solutions
Holdings.
(i)
Portfolio Companies
. The Company has duly authorized, executed and delivered
agreements required to make the investments described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus
under the caption Portfolio Companies (each a Portfolio Company Agreement). Except as otherwise
disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and to the Companys knowledge, each
Portfolio Company is current, in all material respects with all its obligations under the
applicable Portfolio Company Agreements, no event of default (or a default which with the giving of
notice or the passage of time would become an event of default) has occurred under such agreements,
except to the extent that any such failure to be current in its obligations and any such default
would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.
(j)
BDC Election; Regulated Investment Company
. The Company has elected to be
regulated as a business development company under the 1940 Act and has filed with the Commission,
pursuant to Section 54(a) of the 1940 Act, a duly completed and executed Form N-54A (the Company
BDC Election); the Company has not filed with the Commission any notice of withdrawal of the BDC
Election pursuant to Section 54(c) of the 1940 Act; the Companys BDC Election remains in full
force and effect, and, to the Companys knowledge, no order of suspension or revocation of such
election under the 1940 Act has been issued or proceedings therefore initiated or threatened by the
Commission. The operations of the Company are in compliance in all material respects with the
provisions of the 1940 Act, including the provisions applicable to business development companies
and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, including the provisions applicable to
business development companies.
(k)
Authorization and Description of Common Shares
. The authorized, issued and
outstanding capital stock of the Company is as set forth in the Prospectus and the Disclosure
Package as of the date thereof under the caption Capitalization and Selected Condensed Financial
and Other Data. The Common Shares (including the Shares) conform in all material respects to the
description thereof contained in the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package. All issued and
outstanding Common Shares of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully
paid and non-assessable, and have been offered and sold or exchanged by the Company in compliance
with all applicable laws (including, without limitation, federal and state securities laws). None
of the outstanding Common Shares of the Company was issued in
6
violation of the preemptive or other similar rights of any security holder of the Company. No
shares of preferred stock of the Company have been designated, offered, sold or issued and none of
such shares of preferred stock are currently outstanding. The description of the Companys stock
option, stock bonus and other stock plans or arrangements, if any, and the options or other rights
granted thereunder, set forth in the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package accurately and fairly
presents the information required to be shown with respect to such plans, arrangements, options and
rights. The Shares to be purchased by the Underwriter from the Company have been duly authorized
for issuance and sale to the Underwriter pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued and delivered
by the Company pursuant to this Agreement against payment of the consideration set forth herein,
will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
(l)
Non-Contravention of Existing Instruments; No Further Authorizations or Approvals
Required
. Neither the Company nor any subsidiary is in violation of or default under its (i)
charter, articles or certificate of incorporation, by-laws, or similar organizational documents;
(ii) under any indenture, mortgage, loan or credit agreement, note, contract, franchise, lease or
other instrument, including any Portfolio Company Agreement, the Investment Advisory Agreement and
the Administration Agreement, to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or bound
or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject; or
(iii) any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any court, regulatory body,
administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over
the Company or such subsidiary or any of its properties, as applicable, except for such violations
or defaults as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. The
Companys execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and by the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package (i) have been
duly authorized by all necessary corporate action, have been effected in accordance with Sections
15(c) and 23(b) of the 1940 Act and will not result in any violation of the provisions of the
charter, articles or certificate of incorporation or by-laws of the Company or similar
organizational documents of any subsidiary, (ii) will not conflict with or constitute a breach of,
or default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon
any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to, or require the
consent of any other party to, any existing instrument, except for such conflicts, breaches,
defaults, liens, charges or encumbrances as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in
a Material Adverse Effect and (iii) will not result in any violation of any law, administrative
regulation or administrative or court decree applicable to the Company or any subsidiary. No
consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or registration or filing with, any court or
other governmental or regulatory authority or agency, is required for the Companys execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement or consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby
and by the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package, except such as have already been obtained or made
under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act and such as may be required under any applicable state
securities or blue sky laws or from the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the
NASD).
(m)
Intellectual Property Rights
. The Company and its subsidiaries own or possess
sufficient trademarks, trade names, patent rights, copyrights, domain names, licenses, approvals,
trade secrets and other similar rights (collectively, Intellectual Property Rights) reasonably
necessary to conduct their businesses as described in the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package;
7
and the expected expiration of any of such Intellectual Property Rights would not result in a
Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of
infringement or conflict with asserted Intellectual Property Rights of others, which infringement
or conflict, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, would result in a Material Adverse Effect.
To the Companys knowledge, none of the technology employed by the Company has been obtained or is
being used by the Company in violation of any contractual obligation binding on the Company or any
of its officers, directors or employees or otherwise in violation of the rights of any persons.
(n)
Compliance with Environmental Law.
To the knowledge of the Company, the Advisor
and the Administrator, the Company, its subsidiaries and each Portfolio Company (i) are in
compliance with any and all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations
relating to the protection of human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic
substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (Environmental Laws); (ii) have received all
permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to
conduct their respective businesses; and (iii) are in compliance with all terms and conditions of
any such permit, license or approval, except where such noncompliance with Environmental Laws,
failure to receive required permits, licenses or other approvals or failure to comply with the
terms and conditions of such permits, licenses or approvals would not, singly or in the aggregate,
have a Material Adverse Effect.
(o)
All Necessary Permits, etc
. The Company and each subsidiary possess such valid
and current certificates, authorizations or permits issued by the appropriate state, federal or
foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct their respective businesses, and the
Company has not received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of,
or non-compliance with, any such certificate, authorization or permit which, singly or in the
aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, could result in a Material
Adverse Effect.
(p)
Investment Advisory Agreement
. (i) The terms of the Investment Advisory Agreement,
including compensation terms, comply in all material respects with all applicable provisions of the
1940 Act and the Advisers Act and (ii) the approvals by the board of directors and the stockholders
of the Company of the Investment Advisory Agreement have been made in accordance with the
requirements of Section 15 of the 1940 Act applicable to companies that have elected to be
regulated as business development companies under the 1940 Act.
(q)
Absence of Proceedings
. There is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or
investigation 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 the Company, which is
required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Disclosure Package
(other than as disclosed therein), or which might reasonably be expected to result in a Material
Adverse Effect, or which might reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the
consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement or the performance by the Company
of its obligations hereunder. The aggregate of all pending legal or governmental proceedings to
which the Company is a party or of which any of its property or assets is the subject which are not
described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the
8
Disclosure Package, including ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business, could
not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(r)
Accuracy of Exhibits
. There are no contracts or documents that are required to be
described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Disclosure Package or to be filed as
exhibits thereto by the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act or by the rules and regulations thereunder that have
not been so described and filed as required. Notwithstanding the foregoing, as of the date hereof,
the Company has not filed certain contracts and documents as exhibits to the Registration
Statement, although all such exhibits will be filed by post-effective amendment pursuant to Rule
462(d) under the 1933 Act within twenty-four (24) hours of the execution of this Agreement.
(s)
Advertisements
. Any advertising, sales literature or other promotional material
(including prospectus wrappers, broker kits, road show slides and road show scripts and
electronic road show presentations) authorized in writing by or prepared by the Company used in
connection with the public offering of the Shares (collectively, Sales Material) 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 in light of the circumstances under which they
were made not misleading. Moreover, all Sales Material complied and will comply in all material
respects with the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act and the rules and
interpretations of the NASD (except that this representation and warranty does not apply to
statements in or omissions from the Sales Material made in reliance upon and in conformity with
information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter
expressly for use therein).
(t)
Subchapter M
. During the past fiscal year, the Company has been organized and
operated, and is currently organized and operates, in compliance in all material respects with the
requirements to be taxed as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (Subchapter M of the Code and the Code, respectively). The
Company intends to direct the investment of the proceeds of the offering described in the
Registration Statement in such a manner as to comply with the requirements of Subchapter M of the
Code.
(u)
Tax Law Compliance
. The Company and its subsidiaries have filed all necessary
federal, state and foreign income and franchise tax returns and have paid all taxes required to be
paid by any of them and, if due and payable, any related or similar assessment, fine or penalty
levied against any of them. The Company has made adequate charges, accruals and reserves in the
applicable financial statements referred to in the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package in respect
of all federal, state and foreign income and franchise taxes for all periods as to which the tax
liability of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has not been finally determined. The Company is
not aware of any tax deficiency that has been or might be asserted or threatened against the
Company or any subsidiary that could result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(v)
Distribution of Offering Materials
. The Company has not distributed and will not
distribute any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares other than
the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the Disclosure Package or other materials, if any,
permitted by the 1933 Act or the 1940 Act.
9
(w)
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 1933 Act.
(x)
Nasdaq Global Market
. The Shares are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) or 12(g)
of the 1934 Act and have been approved for quotation on the Nasdaq Global Market (NASDAQ) upon
notice of issuance, and the Company has taken no action designed to, or likely to have the effect
of, terminating the registration of the Common Shares under the 1934 Act or delisting the Common
Shares from the NASDAQ, nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission or the
NASD is contemplating terminating such registration or listing. The Company has continued to
satisfy, in all material respects, all requirements for listing the Shares for trading on the
NASDAQ.
(y)
No Price Stabilization or Manipulation
. The Company has not taken and will not
take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that might be reasonably 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 Common Shares.
(z)
Compliance with the 1934 Act; Reports Filed
. The documents filed by the Company
with the Commission under the 1934 Act, including all such documents incorporated by reference in
the Registration Statement, complied, and will comply in all material respects, with the
requirements of the 1934 Act, and, when read together with the other information in the Disclosure
Package and the Prospectus, at the time the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto
became effective (or are deemed effective) and at the Applicable Time, the Closing Time or on any
Date of Delivery, as the case may be, did not and will 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, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading. The Company has filed all reports required to be filed pursuant to the 1933 Act, the
1940 Act and the 1934 Act.
(aa)
Interested Persons
. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the
Prospectus and the Disclosure Package (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 except as otherwise disclosed in the
Registration Statement.
(bb)
No Unlawful Contributions or Other Payments
. Neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries nor, to the Companys knowledge, any employee or agent of the Company or any
subsidiary, has made any contribution or other payment to any official of, or candidate for, any
federal, state or foreign office in violation of any law or of the character required to be
disclosed in the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package.
10
(cc)
No Outstanding Loans or Other Indebtedness
. There are no outstanding loans,
advances (except normal advances for business expenses in the ordinary course of business) or
guarantees or indebtedness by the Company to or for the benefit of any of the officers or directors
of the Company or any of the members of any of them, except as disclosed in the Prospectus and the
Disclosure Package.
(dd)
Compliance with Laws
. The Company has not been advised, and has no knowledge,
that it and each of its subsidiaries are not conducting business in compliance with all applicable
laws, rules and regulations of the jurisdictions in which it is conducting business, except where
failure to be so in compliance would not result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material
Adverse Effect.
(ee)
Compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
. The Company has complied in all
material respects with Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and has made the evaluations
of the Companys disclosure controls and procedures required under Rule 13a-15 under the 1934 Act.
(ff) Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company or the Adviser and delivered to the
Underwriter or to counsel for the Underwriter shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the
Company or the Adviser (as applicable), to the Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.
Section 2.
Representations And Warranties Of The Adviser and the Administrator.
The Adviser and the Administrator, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to the
Underwriter as of the date hereof, as of the Applicable Time, the Closing Time referred to in
Section 3(c) hereof, and as of each Date of Delivery (if any) referred to in Section 3(b) hereof,
and agree with the Underwriter as follows:
(a)
No Material Adverse Change in Business
. Since the respective dates as of which
information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package,
except as otherwise stated therein, there has been no material adverse change in the financial
condition, or in the earnings, business affairs, operations or regulatory status of the Adviser or
the Administrator or any of their respective subsidiaries, whether or not arising in the ordinary
course of business, that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or
would otherwise reasonably be expected to prevent the Adviser or the Administrator from carrying
out its obligations under the Investment Advisory Agreement (an Adviser Material Adverse Change
or an Adviser Material Adverse Effect, where the context so requires) or the Administration
Agreement (an Administrator Material Adverse Change or an Administrator Material Adverse
Effect, where the context so requires).
(b)
Good Standing
. Each of the Adviser and the Administrator (and each of their
subsidiaries) has been duly organized and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of the State of Delaware, with full power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties
and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package and to enter
into and perform its obligations under this Agreement; the Adviser has full power and
11
authority to execute and deliver and perform its obligations under the Investment Advisory
Agreement; the Administrator has full power and authority to execute and deliver the Administration
Agreement; and each of the Adviser and the Administrator is duly qualified to do business as a
foreign entity and is in good standing in each jurisdiction where the ownership or leasing of its
properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to
qualify or be in good standing would not otherwise reasonably be expected to result in an Adviser
Material Adverse Effect or an Administrator Material Adverse Effect, as applicable.
(c)
Registration Under Advisers Act
. The 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 Advisory Agreement for the Company as
contemplated by the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package. There does not exist any proceeding or,
to the Advisers knowledge, any facts or circumstances the existence of which could lead to any
proceeding, which might adversely affect the registration of the Adviser with the Commission.
(d)
Absence of Proceedings
. There is no action, suit or proceeding or, to the
knowledge of the Adviser or the Administrator, inquiry or investigation before or brought by any
court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, now pending, or, to the knowledge of the
Adviser or the Administrator, threatened, against or affecting either the Adviser or the
Administrator, which is required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement (other than as
disclosed therein), or which would reasonably be expected to result in an Adviser 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 Advisory Agreement or the
Administration Agreement; the aggregate of all pending legal or governmental proceedings to which
the Adviser or the Administrator is a party or of which any of its respective property or assets is
the subject which are not described in the Registration Statement, including ordinary routine
litigation incidental to their business, would not reasonably be expected to result in an Adviser
Material Adverse Effect.
(e)
Absence of Defaults and Conflicts
. Neither the Adviser nor the Administrator is in
violation of its certificate of incorporation or in default in the performance or observance of any
obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed
of trust, loan or credit agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the
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 Adviser or the Administrator is subject, 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 an Adviser Material Adverse Effect or an
Administrator Material Adverse Effect, as applicable; and the execution, delivery and performance
of this Agreement, the Investment Advisory Agreement and the Administration Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and therein and in the Registration Statement
(including the issuance and sale of the Shares and the use of the proceeds from the sale of the
Shares as described in the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package under the caption Use of
Proceeds) and compliance by the Adviser with its obligations hereunder and under the Investment
Advisory Agreement and by the Administrator with its obligations
12
hereunder and under the Administration Agreement 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, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any
property or assets of the Adviser or the Administrator pursuant to such Agreement except for such
violations or defaults that would not reasonably be expected to result in an Adviser Material
Adverse Effect or an Administrator Material Adverse Effect, as applicable, nor will such action
result in any violation of the provisions of the limited liability company operating agreement of
the Adviser or Administrator, respectively; nor will such action result in any violation of any
applicable law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any government,
government instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Adviser, the
Administrator, or any of their respective assets, properties or operations except for such
violations that would not reasonably be expected to result in an Adviser Material Adverse Effect or
an Administrator Material Adverse Effect, as applicable.
(f)
Authorization of Agreements
. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Adviser and the Administrator; the Investment Advisory Agreement has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by the Adviser; and the Administration Agreement has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by the Administrator; the Investment Advisory Agreement and the
Administration Agreement constitute valid and legally binding agreements of the Adviser and the
Administrator, respectively, except as (i) the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency (including, without limitation, all laws relating to fraudulent transfers) or similar
laws affecting creditors rights generally and (ii) rights to indemnification and contribution may
be limited to equitable principles of general applicability or by state or federal securities laws
or the policies underlying such law.
(g)
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 Adviser or the
Administrator of its obligations hereunder, in connection with the offering, issuance or sale of
the Shares hereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the
Investment Advisory Agreement, the Administration Agreement, the Disclosure Package or the
Prospectus (including the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Shares as described in the
Prospectus and the Disclosure Package under the caption Use of Proceeds), except (i) such as have
been already obtained under the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act or the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder, (ii) such as may be required under state securities laws, (iii) the filing of the
Notification of Election under the 1940 Act, which has been effected and (iv) such as have been
obtained under the laws and regulations of jurisdictions outside the United States in which the
Shares are offered.
(h)
Description of the Adviser and the Administrator
. The description of the Adviser
and the Administrator contained in the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package 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.
(i)
Possession of Licenses and Permits
. Each of the Adviser and the Administrator
possesses such Governmental Licenses issued by the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign
13
regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct the business now operated by it, except
where the failure so to possess would not reasonably be expected to, singly or in the aggregate,
result in an Adviser Material Adverse Effect or an Administrator Material Adverse Effect, as
applicable; each of the Adviser and Administrator is in compliance with the terms and conditions of
all such Governmental Licenses, except where the failure so to comply would not, singly or in the
aggregate, result in an Adviser Material Adverse Effect or an Administrator Material Adverse
Effect, as applicable; all of the Governmental Licenses are valid and in full force and effect,
except when the invalidity of such Governmental Licenses or the failure of such Governmental
Licenses to be in full force and effect would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in an Adviser
Material Adverse Effect or an Administrator Material Adverse Effect, as applicable; and neither the
Adviser nor the Administrator has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or
modification of any such Governmental Licenses which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of
an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would reasonably be expected to result in an Adviser
Material Adverse Effect or an Administrator Material Adverse Effect, as applicable.
(j)
Employment Status
. The Adviser is not aware that (i) any executive, key employee
or significant group of employees of the Company, if any, the Adviser or the Administrator, as
applicable, plans to terminate employment with the Company, the Adviser or the Administrator or
(ii) any such executive or key employee is subject to any non-compete, nondisclosure,
confidentiality, employment, consulting or similar agreement that would be violated by the present
or proposed business activities of the Company or the Adviser except where such termination or
violation would not reasonably be expected to have an Adviser Material Adverse Effect.
Section 3.
Sale and Delivery to Underwriters; Closing.
(a)
Firm Shares
. On the basis of the representations, warranties and covenants
contained herein and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Company agrees to
sell to the Underwriter and the Underwriter agrees to purchase from the Company, at the price of
$16.85 per share (representing a public offering price of $17.70 per share, less an underwriting
discount of $0.85 per share), 6,000,000 shares.
(b)
Option Shares
. In addition, on the basis of the representations and warranties
contained herein and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Company hereby
grants an option to the Underwriter to purchase up to an additional 900,000 Common Shares in the
aggregate, at the price per share set forth in Paragraph (a) above, less an amount per share equal
to any dividends or distributions declared by the Company and payable on the Firm Shares but not
payable on the Option Shares. The option hereby granted will expire 30 days after the date hereof
and may be exercised in whole or in part from time to time only for the purpose of covering
over-allotments which may be made in connection with the offering and distribution of the Firm
Shares upon notice by the Underwriter to the Company setting forth the number of Option Shares as
to which the Underwriter is then exercising the option and the time and date of payment and
delivery for such Option Shares. Any such time and date of delivery (a Date of Delivery) shall
be determined by the Underwriter, but shall not be later than seven (7) full
14
business days and no earlier than three (3) full business days after the exercise of said
option, nor in any event prior to the Closing Time.
(c)
Payment
. Payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of certificates, if any,
for the Firm Shares shall be made at the offices of Clifford Chance LLP, 31 West 52nd Street, New
York, New York 10019, or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Underwriter and the
Company, at 10:00 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 or such other time not later
than ten (10) business days after such date as shall be agreed upon by the Underwriter 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 Shares are purchased by the Underwriter,
payment of the purchase price for such Option Shares shall be made at the above-mentioned offices,
or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Underwriter and the Company, on each Date of
Delivery as specified in the notice from the Underwriter 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 Underwriter of the Shares.
(d)
Denominations; Registration
. Certificates for the Firm Shares and the Option
Shares, if any, shall be in such denominations and registered in such names as the Underwriter may
request in writing at least three (3) full business days before the Closing Time or the relevant
Date of Delivery, as the case may be. The certificates for the Firm Shares and the Option Shares,
if the Company determines to issue any such certificates, will be made available for examination
and packaging by the Underwriter in the City of New York no later than 10:00 a.m. (Eastern time) on
the business day prior to the Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be.
The Firm Shares and the Option Shares to be purchased hereunder shall be delivered to you at the
Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be, through the facilities of the
Depository Trust Company or another mutually agreeable facility, against payment of the purchase
price therefore in immediately available funds to the order of the Company.
Section 4.
Covenants.
The Company agrees, and the Adviser and the Administrator, jointly and severally, agree with
the Underwriter as follows:
(a)
Compliance with Securities Regulations and Commission Requests
. The Company,
subject to Section 4(a)(ii), will comply with the requirements of Rule 497, and will notify the
Underwriter as soon as practicable, and, in the cases of Sections 4(a)(ii)-(iv), confirm the notice
in writing, (i) when any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement shall become
effective, or any supplement to the Prospectus or any amended Prospectus shall have been filed,
(ii) of the receipt of any comments from the Commission, (iii) of any request by the Commission for
any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or for
additional information, and (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of
15
any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any order
preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus, or of the suspension of the qualification of
the Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any
proceedings for any of such purposes. The Company will promptly effect the filings necessary
pursuant to Rule 497 and will take such steps as it deems necessary to ascertain promptly whether
the form of prospectus transmitted for filing under Rule 497 was received for filing by the
Commission and, in the event that it was not, it will promptly file such prospectus. The Company
will make every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement pursuant to Section 8(d) of the 1933 Act, and, if any
such stop order is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible moment.
(b)
Filing of Amendments
. The Company will give the Underwriter notice of its
intention to file or prepare any amendment to the Registration Statement, or any supplement or
revision to either the Base Prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the time it became
effective or to the Prospectus Supplement, and will furnish the Underwriter with copies of any such
documents a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing or use, as the case may be, and
will not file or use any such document to which the Underwriter or counsel for the Underwriter
shall reasonably object.
(c)
Delivery of Registration Statements
. The Company has furnished or will deliver to
the Underwriter and counsel for the Underwriter, without charge, signed copies of the Registration
Statement as originally filed and of each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed therewith or
incorporated by reference therein) and signed copies of all consents and certificates of experts,
and will also deliver to the Underwriter, without charge, a conformed copy of the Registration
Statement as originally filed and of each amendment thereto (without exhibits) for the Underwriter.
The copies of the Registration Statement and each amendment thereto furnished to the Underwriter
will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission
pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
(d)
Delivery of Prospectuses
. The Company has delivered to the Underwriter, without
charge, as many copies of the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package as the Underwriter reasonably
requested, and the Company hereby consents to the use of such copies for purposes permitted by the
1933 Act. The Company will furnish to the Underwriter, without charge, during the period when the
Prospectus is required to be delivered under the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act, such number of copies of
the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) as the Underwriter may reasonably request. The
Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto furnished to the Underwriter will be identical
to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR,
except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
(e)
Continued Compliance with Securities Laws
. If at any time when a prospectus is
required by the 1933 Act to be delivered in connection with sales of the Shares, any event shall
occur or condition shall exist as a result of which it is necessary, in the reasonable opinion of
counsel for the Underwriter or for the Company, to amend the Registration Statement or amend or
supplement the Prospectus in order that the Prospectus will not include any untrue statements of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein
16
not misleading in the light of the circumstances existing at the time it is delivered to a
purchaser, or if it shall be necessary, in the opinion of such counsel, at any such time to amend
the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to comply with the
requirements of the 1933 Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the Company will
promptly prepare and file with the Commission, subject to Section 4(a)(ii), such amendment or
supplement as may be necessary to correct such statement or omission or to make the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus comply with such requirements, and the Company will furnish to the
Underwriter such number of copies of such amendment or supplement as the Underwriter may reasonably
request.
(f)
Amendments or Supplements to the Disclosure Package
. If there occurs an event or
development as a result of which the Disclosure Package would include an untrue statement of a
material fact or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances then prevailing, not misleading, the Company will promptly
notify the Underwriter so that any use of the Disclosure Package may cease until it is amended or
supplemented (at the sole cost and expense of the Company).
(g)
Blue Sky Qualifications
. The Company will use its best efforts, in cooperation
with the Underwriter, to qualify the Shares for offering and sale under the applicable securities
laws of such states and other jurisdictions of the United States as the Underwriter may designate
and to maintain such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution of the
Shares; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not apply to the extent that the Shares are
covered securities that are exempt from state regulation of securities offerings pursuant to
Section 18 of the 1933 Act; and provided, further, that the Company shall not be obligated to file
any general consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in
securities in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or to subject itself to taxation in
respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject.
(h)
Rule 158
. The Company will timely file such reports pursuant to the 1934 Act as
are necessary in order to make generally available to its security holders as soon as practicable,
but in any event not later than 16 months after the date hereof, an earnings statement for the
purposes of, and to provide the benefits contemplated by, the last paragraph of Section 11(a) of
the 1933 Act.
(i)
Use of Proceeds
. The Company will use the net proceeds received by it from the
sale of the Shares in the manner specified in the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package under Use
of Proceeds.
(j)
Restriction on Sale of Shares
. During a period of 90 days from the date of the
Prospectus Supplement (the Lock-Up Period), the Company will not, without the prior written
consent of the Underwriter, (i) directly or indirectly, offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell
any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option,
right or warrant to purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of Common Shares or any securities
convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Shares or file any registration
statement under the 1933 Act with respect to any of the foregoing or (ii) enter into any swap or
any other agreement or any transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly,
17
the economic consequence of ownership of the Common Shares, whether any such swap or
transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Shares or
such other securities, in cash or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (1) during the last
17 days of the Lock-Up Period, the Company issued an earnings release or material news or a
material event relating to the Company occurs; or (2) prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up
Period, the Company announces that it will release earnings results during the 16-day period
beginning on the last day of the Lock-Up Period, the restrictions imposed by this Agreement shall
continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the
earnings release or the occurrence of the material news or material event. The restrictions in
this Section shall not apply to the Shares to be sold hereunder or the Common Shares issued
pursuant to the Companys Dividend Reinvestment Plan.
(k)
Reporting Requirements
. The Company, during the period when the Prospectus is
required to be delivered under the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act, will file all documents required to be
filed with the Commission pursuant to the 1940 Act and the 1934 Act within the time periods
required by the 1940 Act and the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder, respectively.
(l)
Subchapter M
. The Company will use its best efforts to maintain its qualification
as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code.
(m)
No Manipulation of Market for Shares
. Except for the authorization of actions
permitted to be taken by the Underwriter as contemplated herein or in the Prospectus, the Company
will not (a) take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or to result in, or that
might reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any
security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares in violation of federal or
state securities laws, and (b) until the Closing Time, or the Date of Delivery, if any, (i) except
for Share repurchases permitted in accordance with applicable laws and issuances of Shares or
purchases of Shares in the open market pursuant to the Companys dividend reinvestment plan, sell,
bid for or purchase the Shares or pay any person any compensation for soliciting purchases of the
Shares or (ii) pay or agree to pay to any person any compensation for soliciting another to
purchase any other securities of the Company.
The Company and Underwriters covenant to one another as follows:
(m)
NASD No Objection Letter
. The Company and the Underwriter agree to use their best
efforts to obtain a no objection letter from the NASD regarding the fairness and reasonableness of
the underwriting terms and arrangements.
Section 5.
Payment of Expenses.
(a)
Expenses
. The Company will pay all expenses incident to the performance of its
obligations under this Agreement, including (i) the preparation, printing and filing of the
Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits) as originally filed and of
each amendment thereto, (ii) the preparation, printing and delivery to the Underwriter of this
Agreement and such other documents as may be required in connection with the offering,
18
purchase, sale, issuance or delivery of the Shares, (iii) the preparation, issuance and
delivery of the certificates for the Shares, if any, to the Underwriter, including any stock or
other transfer taxes and any stamp or other duties payable upon the sale, issuance or delivery of
the Shares to the Underwriter, (iv) the fees and disbursements of the Companys counsel,
accountants and other advisers, (v) the printing and delivery to the Underwriter of copies of each
preliminary prospectus, Prospectus and the Disclosure Package and any amendments or supplements
thereto, (vi) the fees and expenses of any transfer agent or registrar for the Shares, (vii) the
filing fees incident to the review by the NASD of the terms of the sale of the Shares, (viii) the
fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Shares on the NASDAQ and (ix) the
transportation, lodging, graphics and other expenses of the Company and its officers related to the
preparation for and participation by the Company and its officers in the road show.
(b)
Termination of Agreement
. If this Agreement is terminated by the Underwriter in
accordance with the provisions of Section 6 or Section 10(a) hereof, the Company shall reimburse,
or arrange for an affiliate to reimburse, the Underwriter for its of their out-of-pocket expenses,
including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriter.
Section 6.
Conditions of Underwriters Obligations.
The obligations of the Underwriter hereunder are subject to the accuracy of the
representations and warranties of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator contained in
Sections 1 and 2 hereof or in certificates of any officer of the Company, the Adviser and the
Administrator delivered pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company, the
Adviser and the Administrator of their 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 1933 Act, no stop order pursuant to Section 8(d) of the
1933 Act shall have been issued, and no proceedings with respect to either shall have been
initiated or, to the Companys knowledge, threatened by the Commission, and any request on the part
of the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the reasonable
satisfaction of counsel to the Underwriter. A prospectus containing the Rule 430A Information
shall have been filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 497 (or a post-effective
amendment providing such information shall have been filed and declared effective in accordance
with the requirements of Rule 430A).
(b)
Opinions of Counsel for the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator
. At
Closing Time, the Underwriter shall have received the opinion, dated as of Closing Time, from
Clifford Chance US LLP, counsel for the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator as to matters
set forth in
Schedule B
hereto.
(c)
Opinion of Counsel for Underwriter
. At Closing Time, the Underwriter shall have
received the favorable opinion, dated as of Closing Time, from Bass, Berry & Sims PLC, counsel for
the Underwriter with respect to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and other related
matters as the Underwriter may reasonably require. In giving such opinion such counsel
19
may rely, as to all matters governed by the laws of jurisdictions other than the law of the
State of Tennessee and the federal law of the United States, upon the opinions of counsel
satisfactory to the Underwriter. 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 certificates of public officials.
(d)
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 and
the Disclosure Package, any Material Adverse Change (with respect to the Adviser, an Adviser
Material Adverse Change) (with respect to the Administrator, an Administrator Material Adverse
Change) or any development involving a prospective Material Adverse Change, and the Underwriter
shall have received a certificate of a duly authorized officer of the Company, the Adviser and of
the Administrator and of the chief financial or chief accounting officer of the Company, the
Adviser and of the Administrator, dated as of Closing Time, to the effect that (i) there has been
no such material adverse change, (ii) the representations and warranties in Section 1 (and Section
2 by the Adviser and the Administrator) hereof are true and correct with the same force and effect
as though expressly made at and as of Closing Time, (iii) each of the Company, the Adviser, and the
Administrator, as applicable, has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its
part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to Closing Time, and (iv) no stop order suspending
the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, pursuant to Section 8(d) of the 1933 Act, has been
issued and no proceedings for any such purpose have been instituted or, to the knowledge of the
Company, are pending or are contemplated by the Commission.
(e)
Accountants Comfort Letter
. At the time of the execution of this Agreement, the
Underwriter shall have received from BDO Seidman, LLP a letter, dated such date, in form and
substance satisfactory to the Underwriter, 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, the
Prospectus and the Disclosure Package.
(f)
Bring-down Comfort Letter
. At Closing Time, the Underwriter shall have received
from BDO Seidman, LLP a letter, dated as of Closing Time, to the effect that they reaffirm the
statements made in the letter furnished pursuant to Section 6(e) of this Agreement.
(g)
No Objection
. The NASD has confirmed that it has not raised any objection with
respect to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms and arrangements.
(h)
Conditions to Purchase of Option Shares
. In the event that the Underwriter
exercises its option provided in Section 3(b) hereof to purchase all or any portion of the Option
Shares, the representations and warranties of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator
contained herein and the statements in any certificates furnished by the Company, the Adviser and
the Administrator hereunder shall be true and correct as of each Date of Delivery and, at the
relevant Date of Delivery, the Underwriter shall have received:
(i)
Officers Certificates
. Certificates, dated such Date of Delivery, of a
duly authorized officer of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator and of the
20
chief financial or chief accounting officer of the Company, the Adviser and the
Administrator confirming that the information contained in the certificate delivered
by each of them at the Closing Time pursuant to Section 6(d) hereof remains true and
correct as of such Date of Delivery.
(ii)
Opinions of Counsel for the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator
.
The opinion of Clifford Chance US LLP, acting as counsel for the Company, the
Adviser and the Administrator, dated such Date of Delivery, relating to the Option
Shares to be purchased on such Date of Delivery and otherwise to the same effect as
the opinion required by Section 6(b) hereof.
(iii)
Opinion of Counsel for the Underwriters
. The opinion of Bass, Berry &
Sims PLC, counsel for the Underwriter, dated such Date of Delivery, relating to the
Option Shares to be purchased on such Date of Delivery and otherwise to the same
effect as the opinion required by Section 6(c) hereof.
(iv)
Bring-down Comfort Letter
. A letter from BDO Seidman, LLP in form and
substance satisfactory to the Underwriter and dated such Date of Delivery,
substantially in the same form and substance as the letter furnished to the
Underwriter pursuant to Section 6(f) hereof.
(i)
Lock-Up Agreements
. The Company shall have procured for the benefit of the
Underwriter lock-up agreements, in the form of
Schedule C
attached hereto, from certain of
the Companys officers and directors, the Adviser and certain of the officers and directors of the
Adviser.
(j)
Additional Documents
. At Closing Time and at each Date of Delivery, counsel for
the Underwriter shall have been furnished with such documents and opinions as they may reasonably
require for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Shares as herein
contemplated, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations or warranties, or
the fulfillment of any of the conditions herein contained; and all proceedings taken by the Company
in connection with issuance and sale of the Shares as herein contemplated shall be reasonably
satisfactory in form and substance to the Underwriter and counsel for the Underwriter.
(k)
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 Shares, on a Date of Delivery which is after the Closing Time,
the obligations of the Underwriter to purchase the relevant Option Shares, may be terminated by the
Underwriter by notice to the Company at any time at or prior to Closing Time or such Date of
Delivery, as the case may be, and such termination shall be without liability of any party to any
other party except as provided in Section 5 and except that Sections 1, 7, 8, 9 and 13 shall
survive any such termination and remain in full force and effect.
21
Section 7.
Indemnification.
(a)
Indemnification of Underwriter
. The Company agrees to indemnify, defend and hold
harmless the Underwriter, its partners, directors and officers, and any person who controls the
Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, and the
successors and assigns of all of the foregoing persons, from and against:
(i) any and all loss, damage, expense, liability or claim whatsoever (including the
reasonable cost of any investigation incurred in connection therewith) which, the
Underwriter or any such person may incur under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, the
common law or otherwise, insofar as such loss, damage, expense, liability or claim
arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto),
including the Rule 430A Information, 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 Disclosure Package or the Prospectus
(or any amendment or supplement thereto), 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;
(ii) 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 (subject to Section 7(e) below) any such settlement is effected with the
written consent of the Company; and
(iii) against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including the fees and
disbursements of counsel chosen by the Underwriter), reasonably incurred in
investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation (including the fees and
disbursements of counsel chosen by the Underwriter), 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.
Provided, however, that the indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 7(a) shall
not apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out
of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in
reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by
the Underwriter or its counsel expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or
any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information, the Disclosure Package
or the Prospectus (or any amendment or
22
supplement thereto); and provided further that the Company will not be liable to the
Underwriter with respect to the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package to the extent
that the Company shall sustain the burden of proving that any such loss, liability,
claim, damage or expense resulted from the fact that the Underwriter, in
contravention of a requirement of this Agreement or applicable law, sold Shares to a
person to whom the Underwriter failed to send or give, at or prior to the Closing
Time, a copy of the final Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented if: (i) the
Company has previously furnished copies thereof (sufficiently in advance of the
Closing Time to allow for distribution by the Closing Time) to the Underwriter and
the loss, liability, claim, damage or expense of the Underwriter resulted from an
untrue statement or omission of a material fact contained in or omitted from the
Prospectus which was corrected in the Prospectus Supplement as, if applicable,
amended or supplemented prior to the Closing Time and such final Prospectus was
required by law to be delivered at or prior to the written confirmation of sale to
such person and (ii) such failure to give or send such final Prospectus by the
Closing Time to the party or parties asserting such loss, liability, claim, damage
or expense would have constituted a defense to the claim asserted by such person.
(b)
Indemnification of Company, Directors and Officers
. The Underwriter agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator, their respective
directors, officers, and each person, if any, who controls the Company, the Adviser or the
Administrator within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act
against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained
in subsection (a) of this Section, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or
omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement (or any
amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus
(or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by the Underwriter or its counsel expressly for use in the
Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or
any amendment or supplement thereto).
(c)
Indemnification for Sales Materials
. In addition to the foregoing
indemnification, the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriter and each person,
if any, who controls the Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20
of the 1934 Act, against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the
indemnity contained in Section 7(a), as limited by the provision set forth therein, with respect to
any Sales Material in the form approved by the Company for use by the Underwriter and securities
firms to whom the Company shall have disseminated materials in connection with the public offering
of the Shares.
(d)
Actions against Parties; Notification
. Each indemnified party shall give notice
as promptly as reasonably practicable to each indemnifying party of any action commenced against it
in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, but failure to so notify an indemnifying
party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability hereunder to the extent it is
not materially prejudiced as a result thereof and in any event shall not relieve it from
23
any liability which it may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity agreement. In the
case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 7(a) above, counsel to the indemnified parties
shall be selected by the Underwriter, and, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section
7(b) above, counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by the Company. An indemnifying
party may participate at its own expense in the defense of any such action; provided, however, that
counsel to the indemnifying party shall not (except with the consent of the indemnified party) also
be counsel to the indemnified party. In no event shall the indemnifying parties be liable for fees
and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) separate from their own
counsel for all indemnified parties 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. 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 7 or Section 8 hereof (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual
or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an
unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such litigation,
investigation, proceeding or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of
fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
(e)
Settlement without Consent if Failure to Reimburse
. If at any time an indemnified
party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and
expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of
the nature contemplated by Section 7(a)(ii) effected without its written consent if (i) such
settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the
aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such
settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying
party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the
date of such settlement; provided that an indemnifying party shall not be liable for any such
settlement effected without its consent if such indemnifying party, prior to the date of such
settlement, (1) reimburses such indemnified party in accordance with such request for the amount of
such fees and expenses of counsel as the indemnifying party believes in good faith to be
reasonable, and (2) provides written notice to the indemnified party that the indemnifying party
disputes in good faith the reasonableness of the unpaid balance of such fees and expenses.
(f)
Limitations on Indemnification
. Any indemnification by the Company shall be
subject to the requirements and limitations of Section 17(i) of the 1940 Act and 1940 Act Release
11330.
(g)
Information Provided By Underwriter
. The Company and the Underwriter acknowledge
and agree that (i) the concession and reallowance figures appearing in the third paragraph under
the caption Underwriting in the Prospectus Supplement; (ii) the information appearing under the
caption Stabilization, Short Positions and Penalty Bids Underwriting in the Prospectus
Supplement; and (iii) the number of Shares to be purchased by the Underwriter in any Preliminary
Prospectus and the Prospectus constitute the only information furnished in
24
writing by or on behalf of the Underwriter for inclusion in the Disclosure Package or the
Prospectus.
Section 8.
Contribution.
If the indemnification provided for in Section 7 hereof is for any reason unavailable to or
insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims,
damages or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the
aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by such
indemnified party, as incurred, (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative
benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriter on the other hand from the
offering of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i)
is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the
relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company, the
Adviser and the Administrator on the one hand and of the Underwriter on the other hand in
connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims,
damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriter on the other
hand in connection with the offering of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be
in the same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Shares
pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the total
underwriting discount received by the Underwriter (whether from the Company or otherwise), in each
case as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus bear to the aggregate public offering price of the
Shares as set forth on such cover.
The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriter on the other hand shall
be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to
information supplied by the Company or by the Underwriter and the parties relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The Company and the Underwriter agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution
pursuant to this Section 8 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of
allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this
Section 8. The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by
an indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 8 shall be deemed to include any legal
or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party 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 or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission.
The Underwriter shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by
which the total price at which the Shares underwritten by it and distributed to the public were
offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which the Underwriter has otherwise
25
been required to pay by reason of any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or
alleged omission.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, no person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be entitled to
contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
For purposes of this Section 8, each person, if any, who controls the Underwriter within the
meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to
contribution as the Underwriter, and each director and officer of the Company, and each person, if
any, who controls the Company, within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of
the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company.
Any contribution by the Company shall be subject to the requirements and limitations of
Section 17(i) of the 1940 Act and 1940 Act Release 11330.
Section 9.
Representations and Warranties to Survive Delivery.
All representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement or in certificates
of officers of the Company submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain operative and in full force and
effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Underwriter or controlling
person, or by or on behalf of the Company, and shall survive delivery of the Shares to the
Underwriter.
Section 10.
Termination of Agreement.
(a)
Termination; General
. The Underwriter may terminate this Agreement, by notice to
the Company, at any time at or prior to Closing Time (i) if there has been, since the time of
execution of this Agreement or since the date of the Prospectus Supplement, any material adverse
change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings or business affairs of the
Company, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, or (ii) if there has occurred
any material adverse change in the financial markets in the United States or the international
financial markets, any material outbreak of hostilities or material escalation thereof or other
calamity or crisis or any change or development involving a prospective change in national or
international political, financial or economic conditions, in each case the effect of which is such
as to make it, in the judgment of the Underwriter, impracticable or inadvisable to market the
Shares or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Shares, or (iii) if trading in the Common Shares
of the Company has been suspended or materially limited by the Commission or the NASDAQ, or if
trading generally on the New York Stock Exchange 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 any of said exchanges or by such system or by order of the Commission, the NASD or any
other governmental authority, or a material disruption has occurred in commercial banking or
securities settlement or clearance services in the United States, or (iv) if a banking moratorium
has been declared by either Federal or New York state authorities.
26
(b)
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 5 hereof, and provided further that Sections 1, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13 and 14 shall survive such
termination and remain in full force and effect.
Section 11.
Tax Disclosure.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, from the commencement of discussions
with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby, the Company (and each employee,
representative or other agent of the Company) may disclose to any and all persons, without
limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure (as such terms are used in Sections
6011, 6111 and 6112 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder) of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and all materials of any kind (including opinions or
other tax analyses) that are provided relating to such tax treatment and tax structure.
Section 12.
Notices.
All communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be mailed, hand delivered or
telecopied and confirmed to the parties hereto as follows:
|
|
|
If to the Underwriter:
|
|
with a copy to:
|
|
|
|
Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc.
|
|
Bass, Berry & Sims PLC
|
50 North Front Street
|
|
100 Peabody Place, Suite 900
|
Memphis, Tennessee 38103
|
|
Memphis, Tennessee 38103
|
Facsimile: (901) 579-4388
|
|
Facsimile: (901) 543-5999
|
Attention: Brit Stephens
|
|
Attention: John A. Good, Esq.
|
|
|
|
If to the Company or the Adviser:
|
|
with a copy to:
|
|
|
|
10 East 40th Street
|
|
Clifford Chance US LLP
|
New York, New York 10016
|
|
31 West 52nd Street
|
Facsimile: (212) 448-9652
|
|
New York, New York 10019
|
Attention: John F. Barry III
|
|
Facsimile: (212) 878-8375
|
|
|
Attention: Leonard Mackey, Esq.
|
Any party hereto may change the address for receipt of communications by giving written notice to
the others.
Section 13.
Parties.
This Agreement shall each inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Underwriter, the
Company, the Adviser, the Administrator and their respective partners and successors. Nothing
expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person, firm
or corporation, other than the Underwriter, the Company, the Adviser, the
27
Administrator and their respective successors and the controlling persons and officers and
directors referred to in Sections 7 and 8 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 Underwriter, the Company, the Adviser, the Administrator and their
respective partners and successors, and said controlling persons and officers, directors and their
heirs and legal representatives, and for the benefit of no other person, firm or corporation. No
purchaser of Shares from the Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor by reason merely of such
purchase.
Section 14.
No Fiduciary Obligation.
The Company, the Adviser and the Administrator acknowledge and agree that the Underwriter has
acted, and is acting, solely in the capacity of an arms-length contractual counterparty to the
Company with respect to the offering of the Shares contemplated hereby (including in connection
with determining the terms of the offering) and not as a financial advisor or a fiduciary to, or an
agent of, the Company, the Adviser, the Administrator or any other person. Additionally, the
Underwriter has not advised, and is not advising, the Company, the Adviser, the Administrator or
any other person as to any legal, tax, investment, accounting or regulatory matter in any
jurisdiction with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby. The Company shall consult with
its own advisors concerning such matters and shall be responsible for making its own independent
investigation and appraisal of the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Underwriter shall have
no responsibility or liability to the Company with respect thereto. Any review by the Underwriter
of the Company, the Adviser, or the Administrator, the transactions contemplated hereby or other
matters relating to such transactions has been and will be performed solely for the benefit of the
Underwriter and have not been and shall not be on behalf of the Company, the Adviser, the
Administrator or any other person. It is understood that the offering price was arrived at through
arms-length negotiations between the Underwriter and the Company, and that such price was not set
or otherwise determined as a result of expert advice rendered to the Company by the Underwriter.
The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriter is acting as an independent contractor,
and any duty of the Underwriter arising out of this Agreement and the transactions completed hereby
shall be contractual in nature and expressly set forth herein. Notwithstanding anything in this
Underwriting Agreement to the contrary, the Company acknowledges that the Underwriter may have
financial interests in the success of the offering contemplated hereby that are not limited to the
difference between the price to the public and the purchase price paid to the Company by the
Underwriter for the Shares.
Section 15.
Governing Law and Time.
THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF
NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED IN SAID STATE. UNLESS OTHERWISE
EXPLICITLY PROVIDED, SPECIFIED TIMES OF DAY REFER TO NEW YORK CITY TIME.
28
Section 16.
Effect of Headings.
The Article and Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the
construction hereof.
29
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and
return to us a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts, will
become a binding agreement among the Company, the Adviser, the Administrator and the Underwriter
and in accordance with its terms.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Very truly yours,
Prospect Energy Corporation
|
|
|
By:
|
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Prospect Capital Management LLC
|
|
|
By:
|
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Prospect Administration LLC
|
|
|
By:
|
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
|
|
|
Confirmed and Accepted
,
as of the date first above written:
Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc.
By:
Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
Brit Stephens
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
Managing Director
|
|
|
30
SCHEDULE A
Members of the Underwriters selling group orally communicated the following information to their
respective customers:
The Company proposes to sell 6,000,000 shares of common stock to the Underwriters (6,900,000 shares
including the underwriters over-allotment option). The last reported sale price of the Companys
common stock on the NASDAQ on December 14, 2006 was $18.43 per share.
The purchase price for the common shares will be $16.85 per share, which represents a price to the
public of $17.70 per share, less an underwriting discount of $0.85 per share. The Company expects
to invest all of the net proceeds from this offering within 120 days of the date of the completion
of the offering.
SCHEDULE B
Form(s) of Opinion from Clifford Chance US LLP
With respect to Prospect Energy Corporation (the Company):
1.
|
|
The Company has been duly incorporated and validly exists as a corporation in good standing
under the laws of the State of Maryland with requisite corporate power to own or lease, as the
case may be, and to operate its properties and conduct its business as described in the
Prospectus.
|
|
2.
|
|
The Company is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing
under the laws of the State of New York.
|
|
3.
|
|
The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company was as set forth in the
Prospectus Supplement under the caption Capitalization and the issued and outstanding shares
of capital stock set forth in the Prospectus Supplement under the caption Capitalization
have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and nonassessable.
|
|
4.
|
|
The Shares have been duly authorized for issuance and sale to the Underwriters pursuant to
the Underwriting Agreement and, when issued and delivered by the Company against payment of
the consideration set forth in the Underwriting Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid
and nonassessable. The holders of outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are not
entitled to preemptive or, to our knowledge, rights of first refusal or other similar rights
to subscribe for the Shares. As of the date of the Prospectus, to such counsels knowledge,
there were no options, warrants or other rights to purchase or acquire any shares of capital
stock of the Company.
|
|
5.
|
|
To such counsels knowledge, no holders of securities of the Company have rights to require
the registration under the 1933 Act of resales of such securities.
|
|
6.
|
|
To such counsels knowledge, (i) there are no actions, suits, claims, investigations or
proceedings pending, threatened or contemplated to which the Company or its directors or
officers is or would be a party or to which any of their respective properties is or would be
subject at law or in equity, before or by any federal, state, local or foreign governmental or
regulatory commission, board, body, authority or agency which are required to be described in
the Registration Statement or the Prospectus but are not so described, and (ii) there are no
indentures, contracts, leases, mortgages, deeds of trust, note agreements, loans or other
agreements or instruments of a character required to be described in the Prospectus or filed
as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, which are not so described or filed, as required
by the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.
|
|
7.
|
|
The statements in the Prospectus under the headings Description of Our Capital Stock and
Regulation and in the Registration Statement under Item 30, insofar as such statements
purport to summarize legal matters, agreements or documents discussed
|
therein, fairly present, in all material respects, such legal matters, agreements or
documents. The statements in the Prospectus under the heading Material U.S. Federal Income
Tax Considerations, to the extent that they constitute matters of U.S. federal income tax
law or legal conclusions with respect thereto, are accurate in all material respects.
8.
|
|
The Registration Statement has become effective under the 1933 Act; to the best of such
counsels knowledge, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement
has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or overtly
threatened. Any required filing of the Prospectus, and any supplement thereto, pursuant to
Rule 497 under the 1933 Act, has been made in the manner and within the time period required
by Rule 497.
|
|
9.
|
|
The Registration Statement and the Prospectus Supplement, as of their respective effective or
issue dates, comply as to form in all material respects (other than the financial statements
and supporting schedules included or incorporated by reference therein or omitted therefrom as
to which such counsel need not express such opinion) with the requirements of Form N-2, the
applicable requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act.
|
|
10.
|
|
Each of the Underwriting Agreement, Investment Advisory Agreement and the Administration
Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the
Company and has been duly executed and delivered by the Company.
|
|
11.
|
|
No consent, approval, authorization or filing with or order of any court or governmental
agency or body in the United States having jurisdiction over the Company is required for the
consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement,
except such as have been obtained under the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act, and the rules and
regulations thereunder, and except such as may be required under the blue sky laws of any
jurisdiction in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by the
Underwriters in the manner contemplated in the Underwriting Agreement, as to which we need
express no opinion, and in the Prospectus, or under the bylaws, rules and regulations of the
NASD.
|
|
12.
|
|
Neither the execution and delivery by the Company of the Underwriting Agreement nor the
issuance and sale of the Shares to the Underwriter, conflict with or constitute a breach or
violation of, or default under or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or
encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company, pursuant to any of the agreements
listed on Schedule A to such counsels opinion (except for such conflicts, breaches, defaults,
liens, charges or encumbrances that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect), nor will
such action result in any violation of the provisions of the amended and restated articles of
incorporation or bylaws of the Company, or any applicable law, statute, rule or regulation or,
to the knowledge of such counsel, any judgment, order, writ or decree, of any government,
government instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the
Company, or any of its properties, assets or operations.
|
13.
|
|
The Company has duly elected to be treated under the 1940 Act as a business development
company and such election is effective. The provisions of the Companys amended and restated
articles of incorporation and bylaws and the investment objectives, policies and restrictions
described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus Supplement are not inconsistent
with the provisions of the 1940 Act applicable to the Company as a business development
company thereunder.
|
|
14.
|
|
By virtue of its election as a business development company, the Company is not, and upon
the sale of the Shares as contemplated under the Underwriting Agreement will not be, an
investment company that is required to register under the 1940 Act.
|
|
15.
|
|
The terms of the Underwriting Agreement, the Investment Advisory Agreement and the
Administration Agreement comply in all material respects with, and such agreements have been
duly approved and the issuance and sale of the Shares has been effected in accordance with all
applicable provisions of the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder,
and, with respect to the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Advisers Act and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder, except that such counsel need not express any opinion
regarding the amount of fees provided for in such agreements; and to the best of our knowledge
after reasonably inquiry, the Company has not received any notice from the Commission pursuant
to Section 8(e) of the 1940 Act with respect to the 1940 Act Notification or the Registration
Statement.
|
With respect to Prospect Capital Management LLC (the Adviser) and Prospect Administration, LLC
(the Administrator):
1.
|
|
The Adviser has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a limited liability company
in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware with requisite corporate power to own
or lease, as the case may be, and to operate its properties and conduct its business as
described in the Prospectus and the Adviser is duly qualified to do business as a foreign
corporation and is in good standing under the laws of the State of New York (which such
counsel has been advised is the only jurisdiction in which the Adviser owns or leases property
or operates or conducts its business).
|
|
2.
|
|
The Administrator has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a limited liability
company in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware with requisite corporate
power to own or lease, as the case may be, and to operate its properties and conduct its
business as described in the Prospectus and the Administrator is duly qualified to do business
as a foreign corporation and is in good standing under the laws of the State of New York
(which such counsel has been advised is the only jurisdiction in which the Administrator owns
or leases property or operates or conducts its business).
|
|
3.
|
|
The Adviser is duly registered with the Commission as an investment adviser under the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the Advisers Act) and, to such counsels
knowledge, is not prohibited by the Advisers Act, the 1940 Act or the
|
applicable rules and regulations thereunder from acting under the Investment Advisory
Agreement as an investment adviser to the Company and, to such counsels knowledge, no order
of suspension or revocation of such registration under the Advisers Act has been issued and
no proceedings are pending or threatened, which could reasonably be expected to adversely
affect the registration of the Adviser with the Commission.
4.
|
|
Each of the Underwriting Agreement and the Investment Advisory Agreement has been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Adviser and has been duly
executed and delivered by the Adviser.
|
|
5.
|
|
Each of the Underwriting Agreement and the Administration Agreement has been duly authorized
by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Administrator and has been duly executed
and delivered by the Administrator.
|
|
6.
|
|
To such counsels knowledge, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or
threatened to which the Adviser or the Administrator is a party or to which the properties of
the Adviser or the Administrator are subject that are required under the 1933 Act to be
described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and are not so described, or which
seek to restrain, enjoin or prevent the consummation of the issuance or sale of the Shares to
be sold under the Underwriting Agreement.
|
|
7.
|
|
To such counsels knowledge, no consent, approval, authorization or filing with or order of
any court or governmental agency or body in the United States having jurisdiction over the
Adviser and the Administrator is required for the consummation by the Adviser and the
Administrator of the transactions contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement, except such as
have been obtained under the 1933 Act and except such as may be required under the blue sky
laws of any jurisdiction in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by the
Underwriter in the manner contemplated in the Underwriting Agreement and in the Prospectus, or
under the bylaws, rules and regulations of the NASD.
|
*************
In addition to the matters set forth above, counsel shall also provide a statement to the
effect that nothing has come to such counsels attention that would lead them to believe that:
(i) the Registration Statement, when it became effective (or is deemed effective), contained
an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
(ii) as of the Applicable Time, the Disclosure Package contained an untrue statement of a
material fact or omitted 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, or
(iii) the Prospectus Supplement, as of its date and as of the Closing Time, contained an
untrue statement of a material fact or omitted 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,
except that in each of clauses (i) through (iii) we do not express any view with respect to the
financial statements and the related notes and schedules or as to any other financial or accounting
information.
SCHEDULE C
Form of Lock-Up Agreement
December 14, 2006
Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc.
50 North Front Street
Memphis, TN 38103
Re: Lock-Up Agreement for shares of Prospect Energy Corporation
Ladies & Gentlemen:
The undersigned is an owner of record or beneficially of certain shares of common stock
(Common Stock) of Prospect Energy Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the Company) or
securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of Common Stock
(collectively, the Securities). The Company proposes to carry out a public offering of Common
Stock (the Offering) for which you will act as the underwriters. The undersigned recognizes that
the Offering will be of benefit to the undersigned and will benefit the Company by, among other
things, raising additional capital for its operations. The undersigned acknowledges that you are
relying on the representations and agreements of the undersigned contained in this letter agreement
(this Agreement) in carrying out the Offering and in entering into underwriting arrangements with
the Company with respect to the Offering.
In consideration of the foregoing, the undersigned hereby agrees that the undersigned will not
(and will cause any spouse or immediate family member of the spouse or the undersigned living in
the undersigneds household and any trustee of any trust that holds Securities for the benefit of
the undersigned or such spouse or family member not to), without the prior written consent of
Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc. (which consent may be withheld in its sole discretion), directly or
indirectly, sell, offer, contract or grant any option to sell (including without limitation any
short sale), loan, pledge, transfer, establish an open put equivalent position within the meaning
of Rule 16a-1(h) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), or
otherwise dispose of, or grant any rights with respect to, any Common Stock, options or warrants to
acquire Common Stock, or Securities currently or hereafter owned either of record or beneficially
(as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 16a-1(a) under the Exchange Act) by the undersigned (or such spouse
or family member), or publicly announce an intention to do any of the foregoing, for a period
commencing on the date hereof and continuing through the close of trading on the date 90 days after
the date hereof (the Lock-up Period). The foregoing restrictions have been expressly agreed to
by the undersigned so as to preclude the undersigned (or such spouse, family member or trustee)
from engaging in any hedging or other transaction that is designed to or reasonably expected to
lead to or result in a disposition of Securities during the Lock-up Period, even if such Securities
would be disposed of by someone other than such holder. Such prohibited hedging or other
transactions would include, without limitation, any short sale (whether or not against the box) or
any purchase, sale or grant of any right (including, without limitation, any put or call option)
with respect to any Securities.
The foregoing shall not apply to bona fide gifts or transfers to trusts (without
consideration) for the benefit of the undersigned, any spouse, immediate family member or a
charitable, educational or religious institution by the undersigned, provided that the donee(s)
agree in writing prior to such disposition to be bound by the restrictions set forth herein and to
the extent any interest in the Securities is retained by the undersigned (or such spouse or family
member), the Securities shall remain subject to the restrictions contained in this Agreement.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (1) during the last 17 days of the Lock-up Period, the
Company issued an earnings release or material news or a material event relating to the Company
occurs; or (2) prior to the expiration of the Lock-up Period, the Company announces that it will
release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the Lock-up Period,
the restrictions imposed by this Agreement shall continue to apply until the expiration of the
18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the material
news or material event.
The undersigned also agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the
Companys transfer agent and registrar against the transfer of Securities held by the undersigned
or such spouse or family member as described herein except in compliance with this Agreement.
This agreement is irrevocable and will be binding on the undersigned and the respective
successors, heirs, personal representatives and assigns of the undersigned.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yours very truly,
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
|
|
|