UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019

OR

For the transition period from                  to                 

Commission file number 814-01196

AB Private Credit Investors Corporation

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (212) 969-1000

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

Title of each class

Common stock, par value $0.01 per share

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes ☐    No ☒

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.    Yes ☐    No ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes ☒    No ☐     

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).    Yes ☒    No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.    ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934).    Yes ☐    No ☒

There is no established public market for the issuer’s common stock.

The issuer had 14,627,400.975 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, outstanding as of March 30, 2020.

AB PRIVATE CREDIT INVESTORS CORPORATION

FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2019

Table of Contents

CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

Except as otherwise specified in this Annual Report on Form 10-K (“Annual Report”), the terms “we,” “us,” “our,” and the “Fund” refer to AB Private Credit Investors Corporation.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Annual Report contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, and undue reliance should not be placed thereon. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts, but rather are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about us, our current and prospective portfolio investments, our industry, our beliefs and opinions, and our assumptions. Words such as “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “will,” “may,” “continue,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “targets,” “projects,” “outlook,” “potential,” “predicts” and variations of these words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond our control and difficult to predict and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in the forward-looking statements, including without limitation:

Although we believe that the assumptions on which these forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, any of those assumptions could prove to be inaccurate, and as a result, the forward-looking statements based on those assumptions also could be inaccurate. In light of these and other uncertainties, the inclusion of a projection or forward-looking statement in this report should not be regarded as a representation by us that our plans and objectives will be achieved. These risks and uncertainties include those described or identified in the section entitled

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“Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this report. These forward-looking statements apply only as of the date of this report. Moreover, we assume no duty and do not undertake to update the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements and projections contained in this Annual Report are excluded from the safe harbor protection provided by Section  21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) because we are an investment company.

PART I

The Fund was formed on February 6, 2015 as a corporation under the laws of the State of Maryland. The Fund is structured as an externally managed, non-diversified, closed-end management investment company. The Fund was formed to invest primarily in primary-issue middle-market credit opportunities that are directly sourced and privately negotiated. The Fund commenced investment operations on November 15, 2017 (“Commencement”). We are advised by AB Private Credit Investors LLC (the “Adviser”), which is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”). The Adviser is responsible for sourcing potential investments, conducting due diligence on prospective investments, analyzing investment opportunities, structuring investments and monitoring our portfolio on an ongoing basis. State Street Bank and Trust Company (the “Administrator”) provides the administrative services necessary for the Fund to operate.

We have elected to be treated as a BDC under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). We have also elected to be treated and intend to qualify annually as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As a BDC and a RIC, respectively, we are and will be required to comply with certain regulatory requirements. See “Business — Regulation as a Business Development Company” and “Business — Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations.”

We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”). We will remain an emerging growth company for up to five years following our initial public offering, if any, although if the market value of our common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of any June 30 before that time, we would cease to be an emerging growth company as of the following December 31. For so long as we remain an emerging growth company under the JOBS Act, we will be subject to reduced public company reporting requirements.

The Private Offering

We enter into separate subscription agreements with investors providing for the private placement of our common stock (the “Shares”) in reliance on exemptions from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act,” and such offering, the “Private Offering”). Each investor makes a capital commitment (a “Capital Commitment”) to purchase Shares pursuant to a subscription agreement. Investors are required to make capital contributions to purchase Shares each time we deliver a capital call notice, which is issued based on our anticipated investment activities and capital needs, delivered at least 10 business days prior to the required funding date, provided that investors may fund such requirements sooner than the deadline as agreed between the Fund and the investor. Generally, purchases of our Shares are made pro rata in accordance with each investor’s Capital Commitment, in an amount not to exceed each investor’s remaining capital commitment (“Remaining Commitment”), at a per-Share price equal to the net asset value per share of our common stock subject to any adjustments. Pursuant to the Private Offering, our initial closing occurred on September 29, 2017, and the Fund commenced investment operations on November 15, 2017.

The Fund may accept additional Capital Commitments quarterly (“Subsequent Closings”) from new investors as well as existing investors that wish to increase their commitment and shareholding in the Fund. These Subsequent Closings are expected to occur on a calendar-quarter end based on investor interest as well as the state of the market and our capacity to invest the additional capital within a reasonable period. Each Capital Commitment is for the life of the Fund or for a shorter period based on the investor’s liquidation election, subject to the Fund’s receipt of exemptive relief that would permit stockholders to liquidate their investments pursuant to transactions that are currently prohibited by the 1940 Act and would require an SEC order in order to be established.

We entered into a credit agreement (the “HSBC Credit Agreement”) to establish a revolving credit facility (the “HSBC Credit Facility”) with HSBC Bank USA, National Association (“HSBC”) as administrative agent (the “Administrative Agent”) and any other lender that becomes a party to the HSBC Credit Facility in accordance with the terms of the HSBC Credit Facility, as lenders. As part of the HSBC Credit Facility and any other future credit facility we enter into, the right to make capital calls of stockholders may be pledged as collateral to a lender, which will be able to call for capital contributions upon the occurrence of an event of default under such related credit facility. To the extent such an event of default does occur, stockholders could therefore be required to fund any shortfall up to their Remaining Capital Commitments, without regard to the underlying value of their investment. See “Risk Factors — The right to make capital calls of stockholders may be pledged as collateral under the Credit Facilities or any other future borrowing facility.”

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On January 30, 2019, ABPCIC Funding I LLC (“ABPCIC Funding”) entered into a credit agreement (the “Barclays Credit Agreement,” together with all ancillary documents thereto, the “Barclays Credit Facility”) with Barclays Bank PLC, New York Branch (“Barclays”) as facility agent (in such capacity, the “Facility Agent”) and U.S. Bank National Association (“U.S. Bank”) as collateral agent (in such capacity, the “Collateral Agent”), collateral administrator (in such capacity, the “Collateral Administrator”) and custodian (in such capacity, the “Custodian”). The Barclays Credit Facility provided for borrowings in an aggregate amount up to $150 million. The Barclays Credit Facility was in effect during 2019, but was terminated on August 9, 2019.

On August 9, 2019, ABPCI Direct Lending Fund CLO VI Ltd (the “Issuer”) and ABPCI Direct Lending Fund CLO VI LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Co-Issuer,” and together with the Issuer, the “Co-Issuers”), each a newly formed special purpose vehicle, completed a $300,500,000 term debt securitization (the “CLO Transaction”). The stated reinvestment date is August 9, 2022. The CLO Transaction was executed through a private placement and the notes offered (the “Notes”). See “Item 7 — Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Debt Securitization.”

General

We are structured as an externally managed, non-diversified closed-end management investment company. We expect to operate as a “private” BDC and to conduct a private offering to investors in reliance on exemptions from the registration requirements of the Securities Act while we invest the proceeds of the Private Offering. We are an “emerging growth company” under the JOBS Act. For so long as we remain an emerging growth company under the JOBS Act, we will be subject to reduced public company reporting requirements.

Our investment objective is to generate current income and prioritize capital preservation through a portfolio that primarily invests in directly-originated, privately-negotiated, secured, middle market loans. We will invest at least 80% of our assets in debt instruments. We intend to invest in middle-market businesses based in the United States, which we generally define as having enterprise values between $75 million and $500 million. However, from time to time, we may invest in larger or smaller companies. We expect that the primary use of proceeds by the companies in which the Fund invests will be for leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, mergers and acquisitions and growth capital. As of December 31, 2019, our investment portfolio totaled $345,025,318 and consisted primarily of senior debt.

We will seek to build the Fund’s portfolio in a defensive manner that minimizes cyclical and correlated risks across individual names and sector verticals by targeting companies with strong underlying business models and durable intrinsic value.

We expect to continue to make investments primarily through direct originations as well as secondary purchases. Our credit investments will principally take the form of first lien, stretch senior, unitranche, and second lien loans, although the actual mix of instruments pursued will vary over time depending on our views on how best to optimize risk-adjusted returns. We will also consider unsecured mezzanine debt, structured preferred stock, and non-control equity co-investment opportunities, typically alongside a leading middle market financial sponsor and/or in partnership with a strong management group. We expect our loans will generally carry contractual maturities between four and six years.

We pursue opportunities across a broad range of sectors, including but not limited to, the following end markets: alarm monitoring; communications and IT infrastructure; energy; enterprise software (including software-as-a-service); equipment finance; financial technology/transaction processing; franchisors, franchisees, and restaurants; healthcare and healthcare IT; non-discretionary consumer (including certain multi-site retailers); specialized, value-added manufacturing; specialty finance; technology-enabled services; transportation and logistics; consumer non-cyclical; business services; and education.

The Board of Directors

Our business and affairs are managed under the direction of the board of directors (the “Board”). The Board consists of five members. A majority of the Board will at all times consist of directors who are not “interested persons” of the Fund, of the Adviser or of any of their respective affiliates, as defined in the 1940 Act (“Independent Directors”). The Board is divided into three classes, each serving staggered, three-year terms. The terms of our Class I directors will expire in 2020, and if reelected by our stockholders, our Class I directors will serve new terms to expire at the 2023 annual meeting of stockholders; the terms of our Class II directors will expire at the 2021 annual meeting of stockholders; and the term of our Class III director will expire at the 2022 annual meeting of stockholders. See “Part III, Item 10 — Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.” The Board elects our officers, who serve at the discretion of the Board. The responsibilities of the Board include quarterly determinations of fair value of our assets, corporate governance activities, oversight of our financing arrangements and oversight of our investment activities.

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About Our Investment Adviser

Our investment activities are managed by our external investment adviser, AB Private Credit Investors LLC. We benefit from the Adviser’s ability to identify attractive investment opportunities, conduct due diligence to determine credit risk, and structure and price investments accordingly, as well as manage a diversified portfolio of investments. The Adviser, a wholly-owned subsidiary of AllianceBernstein L.P. (“AB”), was formed in April 2014. AB is one of the world’s largest investment management firms, with approximately $623 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2019, and a global client base that includes institutions, private clients and retail investors. The Adviser can leverage AB’s dedicated economic, fundamental equity, fixed income, and quantitative research groups, as well as experts focused on multi-asset and alternatives strategies.

The Adviser is part of AB’s alternative private credit business which, in addition to the Fund and other private corporate credit strategies managed by the Adviser, consists of investment products and strategies involving commercial real estate debt and residential mortgage credit. AB’s private credit business is also part of AB’s larger Alternatives Division, which includes hedge funds of funds, nontraditional bond strategies, and long/short equity strategies for a range of products and strategies in public mutual fund and private fund vehicles. The Adviser benefits from the resources afforded to it by AB’s robust global infrastructure, namely risk management, compliance and investor relations, as well the AB’s established public and private credit franchises. The Adviser draws on these resources throughout its operational and investment processes, as it benefits from the knowledge and oversight of its investment committee (the “Investment Committee”), which includes individuals from other areas within AB. This creates a forum through which AB’s global perspectives inform our investment efforts in private middle market corporate credit.

Approval of Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement

Our Board, at a meeting held on March 28, 2019, approved, and recommended that our stockholders approve, a new investment advisory agreement between the Company and the Adviser (the “Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement”). Our stockholders, at a meeting held on September 26, 2019, approved the Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement. On November 13, 2019, the Fund entered into the Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement with the Adviser, replacing the advisory agreement we entered into with the Adviser on July 27, 2017 (the “Advisory Agreement”) concurrently with the effectiveness of the Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement. The Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement is identical in all material respects to the Advisory Agreement, except that (i) it reflects new effective and termination dates and (ii) the income-based incentive fee has been revised to calculate Pre-incentive Fee Net Investment Income (as defined below), which is expressed as a rate of return on the value of the Fund’s net assets, using the Fund’s average monthly net assets as of the first day of each month in the calendar quarter, rather than using the Fund’s net assets at the end of the immediately preceding fiscal quarter.

The Adviser, for its services to us, will be entitled to receive base management and incentive fees. In addition, under the Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement and to the extent permitted by applicable law and in the discretion of our Board, we indemnify the Adviser and certain of its affiliates. See “Risk Factors —Risks Related to our Business and Structure — There are significant potential conflicts of interest which could impact our investment returns; — Our incentive fee may induce the Adviser to pursue speculative investments and to use leverage when it may be unwise to do so; — The compensation we will pay to the Adviser was not determined on an arm’s-length basis. Thus, the terms of such compensation may be less advantageous to us than if such terms had been the subject of arm’s-length negotiations; — We may borrow money, which would magnify the potential for gain or loss on amounts invested and may increase the risk of investing in us.”

Base Management Fee

The base management fee is payable quarterly in arrears and calculated at an annual rate of 1.50%. The base management fee is calculated based on a percentage of the average outstanding assets of the Fund (which equals the gross value of equity and debt instruments, including investments made utilizing leverage), excluding cash and cash equivalents, during such fiscal quarter. The average outstanding assets is calculated by taking the average of the amount of assets of the Fund at the beginning and end of each month that occurs during the calculation period. The base management fee is calculated and paid quarterly in arrears, but is accrued monthly by the Fund over the fiscal quarter for which such base management fee is paid.

The base management fee for any partial month or quarter will be appropriately prorated.

Incentive Fee

The incentive fee, which provides the Adviser with a share of the income that the Adviser generates for us, consists of an income-based incentive fee component and a capital-gains component, which are largely independent of each other, with the result that one component may be payable even if the other is not.

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Income-Based Incentive Fee: The income-based incentive fee is calculated and payable quarterly in arrears based on our net investment income prior to any deductions with respect to such income-based incentive fees and capital gains incentive fees (“Pre-incentive Fee Net Investment Income” or “PIFNII”) for the quarter, as further described below. PIFNII means interest income, dividend income and any other income (including any other fees, such as commitment, origination, structuring, due diligence, managerial and consulting fees or other fees we receive from portfolio companies) that we accrue during the fiscal quarter, minus our operating expenses for the quarter (including the base management fee, expenses payable under the administration agreement (the “Administration Agreement”) we have entered into with the Administrator, and any interest expense and dividends paid on any issued and outstanding indebtedness or preferred stock, respectively, but excluding, for avoidance of doubt, the income-based incentive fee accrued under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). PIFNII also includes, in the case of investments with a deferred interest feature (such as original issue discount, debt instruments with pay in kind interest and zero-coupon securities), accrued income that we have not yet received in cash. Our Adviser is not under any obligation to reimburse us for any part of the income-based incentive fees it received that was based on accrued interest that we never actually received. See “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Our Business — There are significant potential conflicts of interest which could impact our investment returns” and “Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Our Business — Even in the event the value of your investment declines, the base management fee and, in certain circumstances, the incentive fee will still be payable to the Adviser.”

PIFNII does not include any realized capital gains, realized capital losses or unrealized capital appreciation or depreciation. Because of the structure of the income-based incentive fee, it is possible that we may accrue such fees in a quarter where we incur a net loss. For example, if we receive PIFNII in excess of the hurdle rate (as defined below) for a quarter, we will accrue the applicable income-based incentive fee even if we have incurred a realized and/or unrealized capital loss in that quarter. However, cash payment of the income-based incentive fee may be deferred in this situation, subject to the restrictions detailed at the end of this section.

PIFNII, expressed as a rate of return on the average value of the Fund’s net assets (defined as total assets, less indebtedness and before taking into account any incentive fees payable during the period) as of the first day of each month during the course of the immediately preceding calendar quarter, will be compared to various “hurdle rates,” with the income-based incentive fee rate of return increasing at each hurdle rate.

Description of Quarterly Incentive Fee Calculations

We pay our Adviser an income-based incentive fee with respect to PIFNII in each calendar quarter as follows:

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Capital Gains Incentive Fee: The capital gains incentive fee is determined and payable at the end of each fiscal year as 20% of our aggregate cumulative realized capital gains from the date of our election to be regulated as a BDC through the end of that year, computed net of all aggregate cumulative realized capital losses and aggregate cumulative unrealized depreciation through the end of such year, less the aggregate amount of any previously paid capital gain incentive fees. For the foregoing purpose, our “aggregate cumulative realized capital gains” will not include any unrealized appreciation. For accounting purposes only, we are required under GAAP to accrue a hypothetical capital gains incentive fee based upon net realized gains and unrealized depreciation for that calendar year (in accordance with the terms of the Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement), plus unrealized appreciation on investments held at the end of the period. The accrual of this hypothetical capital gains incentive fee assumes all unrealized capital gain and loss is realized in order to reflect a hypothetical capital gains incentive fee that would be payable to the Adviser at each measurement date. The capital gains incentive fee is not subject to any minimum return to stockholders. If such amount is negative, then no capital gains incentive fee will be payable for such year. Additionally, if the Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement is terminated as of a date that is not a calendar year end, the termination date will be treated as though it were a calendar year end for purposes of calculating and paying the capital gains incentive fee.

The amount of capital gains incentive fee expense related to a hypothetical liquidation of the portfolio (and assuming no other changes in realized or unrealized gains and losses) would only become payable to the Adviser in the event of a complete liquidation of the Fund’s portfolio as of period end and the termination of the Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement on such date. Also, it should be noted that the capital gains incentive fee expense fluctuates with the Fund’s overall investment results.

We will defer cash payment of any income-based incentive fee and/or any capital gains incentive fee otherwise earned by the Adviser if, during the most recent four full fiscal quarter periods ending on or prior to the date such payment is to be made, the sum of (a) the PIFNII, (b) the realized capital gain/loss and (c) unrealized capital appreciation/depreciation, expressed as a rate of return on the value of our net assets, is less than 6.0%. Any such deferred fees are carried over for payment in subsequent calculation periods to the extent such payment is payable under the Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement.

Examples of Quarterly Incentive Fee Calculations

Example 1—Income Based Fee⁽¹⁾:

Assumptions

6% Catch-up = 0.17%

6% Catch-up Cap = 1.67%

7% Hurdle Rate⁽³⁾ = 1.94%

7% Catch-up = 0.11%

7% Catch-up Cap = 2.06%

8% Hurdle Rate⁽⁴⁾ = 2.35%

8% Catch-up = 0.18%

8% Catch-up Cap = 2.50%

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Alternative 1

Additional Assumptions

(investment income – (management fee + other expenses)) = 0.65%

PIFNII does not exceed the hurdle rate, therefore there is no income based fee.

Alternative 2

Additional Assumptions

(investment income – (management fee + other expenses)) = 1.60%

PIFNII exceeds 6% Hurdle Rate, therefore there is an income based incentive fee.

Alternative 3

Additional Assumptions

(investment income — (management fee + other expenses)) = 1.80%

PIFNII exceeds 6% Hurdle Rate and 6% Catch-up Cap, but is less than the 7% Hurdle Rate. See detailed formula in Alternative 2.

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Alternative 4

Additional Assumptions

(investment income – (management fee + other expenses)) = 2.0%

PIFNII exceeds 7% Hurdle Rate, but is less than the 7% Catch-up Cap. See detailed formula in Alternative 2.

Alternative 5

Additional Assumptions

(investment income – (management fee + other expenses)) = 2.20%

PIFNII exceeds 7% Catch-up Cap, but is less than the 8% Hurdle Rate. See detailed formula in Alternative 2.

Alternative 6

Additional Assumptions

(investment income – (management fee + other expenses)) = 2.40%

PIFNII exceeds 8% Hurdle Rate, but is less than the 8% Catch-up Cap. See detailed formula in Alternative 2.

Alternative 7

Additional Assumptions

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(investment income – (management fee + other expenses)) = 2.60%

PIFNII exceeds 8% Hurdle Rate, but is less than the 8% Catch-up Cap. See detailed formula in Alternative 2.

Example 2—Capital Gains Incentive Fee:

Alternative 1:

Assumptions

The capital gains incentive fee, if any, would be:

Alternative 2

Assumptions

The capital gains incentive fee, if any, would be:

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Example 3—Deferral of Cash Payment of Incentive Fees:

Assumptions

Most recent four full fiscal quarter period ending Year 2, Quarter 4:

Sum of a), b) and c) = 3.8%, therefore the income-based incentive fee for Year 2, Quarter 4 will not be paid and will be carried over for payment in subsequent periods

Payment of Our Expenses

All professionals of the Adviser and/or the Administrator, while engaged in providing investment advisory and management services to us, and the compensation and routine overhead expenses of personnel allocable to these services to us, will be provided and paid for by the Adviser and not by us. We will pay all organizational expenses, operating expenses and other expenses incurred by the Adviser related to the Fund and the execution of our investment strategy, including, without limitation, those relating to:

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Duration and Termination

Unless terminated earlier as described below, the Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement will continue in effect for a period of two years from its effective date. It will remain in effect from year to year thereafter if approved annually (i) (A) by our Board or (B) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of our outstanding voting securities and (ii) by a majority of our Independent Directors. The Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement automatically terminates in the event of its assignment, as defined in the 1940 Act, by the Adviser and may be terminated by either party without penalty upon 60 days’ written notice to the other. The holders of a majority of our outstanding voting securities may also terminate the Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement without penalty upon 60 days’ written notice. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to our Business and Structure —the Adviser and the Administrator have the right to resign on 60 days’ notice, and we may not be able to find a suitable replacement for either within that time, or at all, resulting in a disruption in our operations that could adversely affect our financial condition, business and results of operations.”

The Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement provides that, absent criminal conduct, 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 under the Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement, the Adviser and its professionals and any other person or entity affiliated with it are entitled to indemnification from us for any damages, liabilities, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and amounts reasonably paid in settlement) arising from the rendering of the Adviser’s services under the Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement or otherwise as our investment adviser.

Deferral of Incentive Fees in Certain Instances

The terms of the Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement provide that we will defer cash payment of any income-based incentive fee and/or any capital gains incentive fee otherwise earned by the Adviser if during the most recent four full fiscal quarter periods ending on or prior to the date such payment is to be made the sum of (a) the PIFNII, (b) the realized capital gain/loss and (c) the unrealized capital appreciation/depreciation, expressed as a rate of return on the value of our net assets, is less than 6.0%. Any such deferred fees are carried over for payment in subsequent calculation periods to the extent such payment is payable under the Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement. In February 2020, we and an affiliate of Abbott Capital Management, LLC (“Abbott”) made capital contributions to, and became members of, ABPCIC Equity Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a special purpose vehicle designed to invest in private equity investments sourced by Abbott (“ABPCIC Equity Holdings”). ABPCIC Equity Holdings is a consolidated subsidiary of the Fund. The Adviser intends to annually waive a portion of the capital gains incentive fee otherwise payable to the Adviser by the Fund by an amount equal to that amount of cash distributed during such year by ABPCIC Equity Holdings to Abbott. This fee waiver is intended to ensure that Abbott’s participation in investments through ABPCIC Equity Holdings has no effect on the economics received by the Fund’s stockholders in respect of their shares of Fund common stock.

Expense Support and Conditional Reimbursement Agreement

On September 29, 2017, we entered into an agreement with the Adviser (the “Expense Support and Conditional Reimbursement Agreement”) to limit certain of the Fund’s Operating Expenses, as defined in the Expense Support and Conditional Reimbursement Agreement, to no more than 1.5% of our average quarterly gross assets. To achieve this percentage limitation, the Adviser has agreed to reimburse us for certain Operating Expenses on a quarterly basis (any such payment by the Adviser, an “Expense Payment”), and we have agreed to later repay such amounts (any such payment by the

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Fund, a “Reimbursement Payment”), pursuant to the terms of the Expense Support and Conditional Reimbursement Agreement. The actual percentage of Operating Expenses paid by us in any quarter after deducting any Expense Payment, as a percentage of the Fund’s average quarterly gross assets, is referred to as the “Percentage Limit.”

Any Expense Payment by the Adviser pursuant to the Expense Support and Conditional Reimbursement Agreement will be subject to repayment by us on a quarterly basis within the three years following the fiscal quarter of the Fund in which the Operating Expenses were paid or absorbed, if the total Operating Expenses for the current quarter, including Reimbursement Payments, expressed as a percentage of our average gross assets during such quarter is less than the then-current Percentage Limit, if any, and the Percentage Limit that was in effect at the time when the Adviser reimbursed the Operating Expenses that are the subject of the repayment, subject to certain provisions of the Expense Support and Conditional Reimbursement Agreement, as described below. For purposes of the Expense Support and Conditional Reimbursement Agreement, “Operating Expenses” means the Fund’s Total Operating Expenses (as defined below), excluding base management fees, incentive fees, distribution and stockholder servicing fees, financing fees and costs, interest expense, brokerage commissions and extraordinary expenses and “Total Operating Expenses” means all of the Fund’s operating costs and expenses incurred, as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for investment companies. The calculation of average net assets will be consistent with such periodic calculations of average net assets in the Fund’s consolidated financial statements.

However, no Reimbursement Payment for any quarter will be made if: (1) the Effective Rate of Distributions Per Share (as defined below) declared by us at the time of such Reimbursement Payment is less than or equal to the Effective Rate of Distributions Per Share at the time the Expense Payment was made to which such Reimbursement Payment relates, or (2) our Operating Expense Ratio at the time of such Reimbursement Payment is greater than or equal to the Operating Expense Ratio (as defined below) at the time the Expense Payment was made to which such Reimbursement Payment relates. For purposes of the Expense Support and Conditional Reimbursement Agreement, “Effective Rate of Distributions Per Share” means the annualized rate (based on a 365-day year) of regular cash distributions per share exclusive of returns of capital, distribution rate reductions due to distribution and stockholder fees, and declared special dividends or special distributions, if any. The “Operating Expense Ratio” is calculated by dividing Operating Expenses in any quarter by our average net assets in such quarter.

The specific amount of expenses paid by the Adviser, if any, will be determined at the end of each quarter. The Fund or the Adviser may terminate the Expense Support and Conditional Reimbursement Agreement at any time, with or without notice. The Expense Support and Conditional Reimbursement Agreement will automatically terminate in the event of (a) the termination of the Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement, or (b) the Board makes a determination to dissolve or liquidate the Fund. Upon termination of the Expense Support and Conditional Reimbursement Agreement, the Fund will be required to fund any Expense Payments, subject to the aforementioned requirements per the Expense Support and Conditional Reimbursement Agreement that have not been reimbursed by the Fund to the Adviser.

As of December 31, 2019, the amount of Expense Payments provided by the Adviser since inception is $4,784,382. The following table reflects the Expense Payments that may be subject to reimbursement pursuant to the Expense Agreement:

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Expense Reimbursement Agreement and Administration Agreement

On September 29, 2017, the Fund and the Administrator entered into the Administration Agreement. Pursuant to the Administration Agreement, the Administrator will perform, or oversee the performance of, our required administrative services except those that are provided by the Adviser or an affiliate of the Adviser, and which includes being responsible for the financial records which we are required to maintain and preparing reports to our stockholders and reports filed with the SEC. In addition, the Administrator will assist us in determining and publishing our net asset value, overseeing the preparation and filing of our tax returns and the printing and dissemination of reports to our stockholders, and generally overseeing the payment of our expenses and the performance of administrative and professional services rendered to us by others. Payments under the Administration Agreement will be determined based on arms-length negotiations with the Administrator and will be based upon expenses incurred by the Administrator in performing its obligations under the Administration Agreement. Also on September 29, 2017, the Fund and the Adviser entered into the Expense Reimbursement Agreement. Payments under the Expense Reimbursement Agreement will be based upon the compensation of our Chief Financial Officer and Chief Compliance Officer and other staff of the Adviser providing administrative services to the Fund as well as our allocable portion of overhead expenses. In accordance with the terms of the Administration Agreement and the Expense Reimbursement Agreement, we expect that overhead and other administrative expenses will be generally allocated between us and the Adviser by reference to the relative time spent by personnel in performing administrative and similar functions on our behalf as compared to performing investment advisory or administrative functions on behalf of the Adviser. The Administration Agreement and the Expense Reimbursement Agreement may be terminated by each party thereto without penalty upon 60 days’ written notice to the other party.

The Administration Agreement provides that absent negligence or willful misconduct, the Administrator and its directors, officers, employees and agents shall be held harmless from all loss, cost, damage and expense, including reasonable fees and expenses for counsel, incurred by the Administrator in connection with the Administrator’s performance of the its duties under the Administration Agreement. The Expense Reimbursement Agreement provides that, absent criminal conduct, willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of the Adviser’s duties or by reason of the reckless disregard of the Adviser’s duties and obligations, the Adviser and its officers, managers, agents, employees, controlling persons, members and any other person or entity affiliated with it is entitled to indemnification from us for any damages, liabilities, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and amounts reasonably paid in settlement) arising from the rendering of the Adviser’s services under the Expense Reimbursement Agreement.

Competition

Our primary competitors for investments include public and private credit investment funds, other BDCs, commercial and investment banks, commercial financing companies and, to the extent they engage in making private loans to middle market companies, investment advisors that also manage private equity and hedge funds. Some of our competitors are larger and have greater financial, technical and marketing resources than we do. For example, we believe some competitors may have access to funding sources that are not available to us. In addition, some of our competitors may have higher risk tolerances or different risk assessments, which could allow them to consider a wider variety of investments and establish relationships in areas that differ from ours. Furthermore, many of our competitors are not subject to the regulatory restrictions that the 1940 Act imposes on us as a BDC or to the source of income, asset diversification, distribution and other requirements we must satisfy to maintain our qualification as a RIC.

Notwithstanding these risks, we believe that the Adviser’s experience in middle market corporate lending, combined with its access to AB’s institutional infrastructure and established public and private credit franchises, provide us with market-leading competencies in the private corporate credit sector. We believe the Adviser has developed a best-in-class reputation due to the long-standing presence of its investment professionals in the middle market lending community and the significant relationships, skills and experience of its individual members, particularly as it relates to sourcing, structuring, and negotiating investment opportunities.

As it relates to strategy, we view the Adviser as being differentiated by its focus on what we believe is a less competitive segment of the market. There are a number of industry participants that finance middle market companies, but many of them focus on a particular area of the capital structure or industry sector. We believe the Adviser’s flexibility to invest across the capital structure, as well as its investing experience across industries, will optimize the relative risk / return profile for investors. Further, as opposed to traditional lenders such as banks and collateralized loan obligations that must structure loans to meet regulatory or contractual

guidelines, we believe the Adviser has greater flexibility to tailor solutions for borrowers and, ideally, receive premium pricing for doing this.

The Adviser’s collective investment philosophy and process provide a demonstrated track record of success. The Adviser is committed to the consistent application of its proven approach throughout the investment lifecycle, from deal selection to portfolio management, combining fundamental and valuation-based analytical tools and principles with proven underwriting frameworks to strive to achieve superior outcomes. We believe that the Adviser is highly selective and focuses on pursuing companies that we believe exhibit strong underlying business models and durable intrinsic value.

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We believe the Adviser’s qualifications, experience, and track record of success will render us competitive in the BDC marketplace.

For additional information concerning the competitive risks we face, see “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Business and Structure — We may face increasing competition for investment opportunities.”

Managerial Assistance

As a BDC, we will offer, and must provide upon request, managerial assistance to our portfolio companies. This assistance could involve, among other things, monitoring the operations of our portfolio companies, participating in board and management meetings, consulting with and advising officers of portfolio companies and providing other organizational and financial guidance. We may also receive fees for these services. The Adviser will provide, or arrange for the provision of, such managerial assistance on our behalf to portfolio companies that request this assistance, subject to reimbursement of any fees or expenses incurred on our behalf by the Adviser in accordance with the Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement.

Dividend Reinvestment Plan

On September 26, 2017, we adopted a dividend reinvestment plan, which was amended and restated on August 6, 2018 (the “DRIP”). Pursuant to the DRIP, stockholders receive dividends or other distributions in cash unless a stockholder elects to reinvest his or her dividends and other distributions as provided below. As a result of adopting the DRIP, if our Board authorizes, and we declare, a cash dividend or distribution, our stockholders who have opted into the DRIP will have their cash dividends or distributions automatically reinvested in additional shares of our common stock, rather than receiving cash.

No action will be required on the part of a registered stockholder to have his or her cash dividends and distributions received in cash. A stockholder can instead elect to have a dividend or distribution reinvested in shares of our common stock by notifying the Administrator in writing. A stockholder may elect to change its election by providing written notice to the Administrator no later than ten days prior to the record date fixed by the Board for the first distribution for which such stockholder wishes its new election to take effect.

Stockholders who receive dividends and distributions in the form of stock are generally subject to the same U.S. federal, state and local tax consequences as are stockholders who elect to receive their dividends and distributions in cash. However, since an electing stockholder’s cash dividends and distributions will be reinvested in our common stock, such stockholder will not receive cash with which to pay applicable taxes on reinvested dividends and distributions. A stockholder’s basis for determining gain or loss upon the sale of stock received in a dividend or distribution from us will generally be equal to the cash that would have been received if the stockholder had received the dividend or distribution in cash, unless we were to issue new shares that are trading at or above net asset value, in which case, the stockholder’s basis in the new shares will generally be equal to their fair market value. Any stock received in a dividend or distribution will have a new holding period for tax purposes commencing on the day following the day on which the shares are credited to the U.S. stockholder’s account.

The plan is terminable by the Fund upon notice in writing mailed to each stockholder of record at least 30 days prior to any record date for the payment of any distribution by the Fund.

Staffing

We do not currently have any employees and do not expect to have any employees. Services necessary for our business will be provided by individuals who are employees of the Administrator, the Adviser or its affiliates, pursuant to the terms of the Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement, the Administration Agreement and the Expense Reimbursement Agreement. Each of our executive officers described under “Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance” is an employee of the Adviser or its affiliates. Our day-to-day investment operations are managed by the Adviser. The services necessary for the origination and administration of our investment portfolio are provided by investment professionals employed by the Adviser or its affiliates. This investment team focuses on origination and transaction development and the ongoing monitoring of our investments. In addition, we may reimburse the Adviser for any allocable portion of the compensation paid by the Adviser (or its affiliates) to the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Financial Officer (based on the percentage of time such individuals devote, on an estimated basis, to the business and affairs of the Fund) and any internal audit staff, to the extent internal audit performs a role in our Sarbanes-Oxley internal control assessment. See “Business — General — Investment Advisory Agreement; Administration Agreement.”

Our day-to-day investment and administrative operations are managed by the Adviser and its affiliates and the Administrator. The Adviser’s Investment Committee is supported by a team of additional experienced investment professionals. The Adviser and the Administrator may hire

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additional investment and administrative professionals in the future to provide services to us, based upon our needs. See “Business — General — Investment Advisory Agreement; Administration Agreement.”

Financial Information about Industry Segments and Geographic Areas

Our primary objectives include investing in and originating a portfolio of loans, bonds and equity investments to commercial businesses located throughout the United States. We presently do not evaluate our investments by industry segment but rather, we review performance on an individual basis. Accordingly, we do not report industry or geographic area segment information.

Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations

The following discussion is a general summary of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to us and to an investment in shares of our common stock. This discussion is based on the provisions of the Code and the regulations of the U.S. Department of Treasury promulgated thereunder, or “Treasury regulations,” each as in effect as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

These provisions are subject to differing interpretations and change by legislative or administrative action, and any change may be retroactive. This discussion does not constitute a detailed explanation of all U.S. federal income tax aspects affecting us and our stockholders and does not purport to deal with the U.S. federal income tax consequences that may be important to particular stockholders in light of their individual investment circumstances or to some types of stockholders subject to special tax rules, such as financial institutions, broker dealers, insurance companies, tax-exempt organizations, partnerships or other pass-through entities, persons holding our common stock in connection with a hedging, straddle, conversion or other integrated transaction, non-U.S. stockholders (as defined below) engaged in a trade or business in the United States, persons who have ceased to be U.S. citizens or to be taxed as resident aliens or individual non-U.S. stockholders present in the United States for 183 days or more during a taxable year. This discussion also does not address any aspects of U.S. estate or gift tax, the net investment income tax, alternative minimum tax or foreign, state or local tax. This discussion assumes that our stockholders hold their shares of our common stock as capital assets for U.S. federal income tax purposes (generally, assets held for investment). No ruling has been or will be sought from the IRS regarding any matter discussed herein.

A “U.S. stockholder” is a beneficial owner of shares of our common stock that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

A “non-U.S. stockholder” means a beneficial owner of shares of our common stock that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes not a U.S. stockholder.

If a partnership or other entity classified as a partnership, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, holds our shares, the U.S. tax treatment of the partnership and each partner generally will depend on the status of the partner, the activities of the partnership and certain determinations made at the partner level. A partnership considering an investment in our common stock should consult its own tax advisers regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of shares by the partnership.

Taxation of the Fund

We have elected to be treated and intend to qualify each year as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code. As a RIC, we generally will not be required to pay corporate-level U.S. federal income taxes on any ordinary income or capital gains that we timely distribute to our stockholders as dividends.

To qualify as a RIC, we must, among other things:

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As a RIC, we generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on net income and net realized capital gains that we distribute to stockholders in any taxable year with respect to which we distribute an amount equal to at least 90% of the sum of our (i) investment company taxable income (i.e., our taxable ordinary income, which includes, among other items, dividends, and interest, plus the excess (if any) of our net realized short-term capital gains over net realized long-term capital losses, reduced by deductible expenses) determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and (ii) net tax-exempt interest income (which is the excess of our gross tax-exempt interest income over certain disallowed deductions), or the “Annual Distribution Requirement.” We intend to timely distribute all or substantially all of our investment company taxable income in order to satisfy the Annual Distribution Requirement. Generally, if we fail to meet this Annual Distribution Requirement for any taxable year, we will fail to qualify as a RIC for such taxable year and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at regular corporate rates on all of our net income and net realized capital gains regardless of any distributions made to stockholders. To the extent we meet the Annual Distribution Requirement for a taxable year, but retain our net capital gains (i.e., our net realized long-term capital gains in excess of net realized short-term capital losses) for investment or any investment company taxable income, we will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on such retained capital gains and investment company taxable income. We may choose to retain our net capital gains for investment or any investment company taxable income, and pay the associated U.S. federal corporate income tax.

If we qualify as a RIC and meet the Annual Distribution Requirement, we will be subject to a nondeductible 4% U.S. federal excise tax on undistributed income, unless we timely distribute (or are deemed to have timely distributed) each calendar year an amount equal to the sum of:

While we intend to make sufficient distributions to satisfy the Annual Distribution Requirement as discussed above, we may choose to defer certain distributions of net income or net realized capital gains. If we do so, we will be subject to this 4% U.S. federal excise tax only on the amount by which we do not meet the foregoing distribution requirement.

We are authorized to borrow funds and to sell assets in order to satisfy distribution requirements. However, under the 1940 Act, we are not permitted to make distributions to our stockholders while any senior securities are outstanding unless we meet the applicable asset coverage ratios. See “Business — Regulation as a Business Development Company — Senior Securities.” Moreover, our ability to dispose of assets to meet our distribution requirements may be limited by (1) the illiquid nature of our portfolio and/or (2) other requirements relating to our status as a RIC, including the Diversification Tests. If we dispose of assets in order to meet the Annual Distribution Requirement or to avoid the 4% U.S. federal excise tax, we may make such dispositions at times that, from an investment standpoint, are not advantageous. For example, we may have to sell assets at times when their fair market value is lower than cost due to temporary market conditions. In the absence of a need to sell assets to generate cash to satisfy our distributions requirements, we may believe that it would be better from an investment standpoint to retain such assets until they matured or market conditions improved.

A RIC is limited in its ability to deduct expenses in excess of its investment company taxable income. If our expenses in a given year exceed investment company taxable income, we would experience a net operating loss for that year. However, a RIC is not permitted to carry forward net operating losses to subsequent years. In addition, expenses can be used only to offset investment company taxable income, not net capital gain. Due to these limits on the deductibility of expenses, we may, for tax purposes, have aggregate taxable income for several years that we are required to distribute and that is taxable to our stockholders even if such income is greater than the aggregate net income we actually earned during those years. Such required distributions may be made from our cash assets or by liquidation of investments, if necessary. We may realize gains or losses from such liquidations. In

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the event we realize net capital gains from such transactions, stockholders may receive a larger capital gain distribution than they would have received in the absence of such transactions.

Failure to Qualify as a RIC

We have elected to be treated as a RIC with respect to our taxable year ending in 2019. To the extent that we have net taxable income prior to our qualification as RIC, we will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on such income at regular corporate rates. In addition, we would not be able to deduct distributions to stockholders, nor would they be required to be made. Distributions, including distributions of net long-term capital gain, would generally be taxable to our stockholders as ordinary dividend income to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits. Subject to certain limitations under the Code, corporate stockholders would be eligible to claim a dividend received deduction with respect to such dividend; non-corporate stockholders would generally be able to treat such dividends as “qualified dividend income,” which is subject to reduced rates of U.S. federal income tax. Distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits would be treated first as a return of capital to the extent of the stockholder’s tax basis, and any remaining distributions would be treated as a capital gain. In order to qualify as a RIC, in addition to the other requirements discussed above, we would be required to distribute all of our previously undistributed earnings attributable to any period prior to us becoming a RIC by the end of the first year that we intend to qualify as a RIC. To the extent that we have any net built-in gains in our assets (i.e., the excess of the aggregate gains, including items of income, over aggregate losses that would have been realized with respect to such assets if we had been liquidated) as of the beginning of the first year that we qualify as a RIC, we would be subject to a corporate-level U.S. federal income tax on such built-in gains when recognized over the next five years. Alternatively, we may choose to recognize such built-in gains immediately prior to our qualification as a RIC.

If we have previously qualified as RIC, but were subsequently unable to qualify for treatment as a RIC, and certain cure provisions are not applicable, we would be subject to tax on all of our taxable income (including net capital gains) at regular corporate rates for any year in which we fail to qualify as a RIC. We would not be able to deduct distributions to stockholders, nor would they be required to be made. Distributions, including distributions of net long-term capital gain, would generally be taxable to our stockholders as ordinary dividend income to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits. Subject to certain limitations under the Code, corporate stockholders would be eligible to claim a dividend received deduction with respect to such dividend; non-corporate stockholders would generally be able to treat such dividends as “qualified dividend income,” which is subject to reduced rates of U.S. federal income tax. Distributions in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits would be treated first as a return of capital to the extent of the stockholder’s tax basis, and any remaining distributions would be treated as a capital gain. In order to requalify as a RIC, in addition to the other requirements discussed above, we would be required to distribute all of our previously undistributed earnings attributable to the period we failed to qualify as a RIC by the end of the first year that we intend to requalify as a RIC. If we fail to requalify as a RIC for a period greater than two taxable years, we may be subject to regular corporate tax on any net built-in gains with respect to certain of our assets (i.e., the excess of the aggregate gains, including items of income, over aggregate losses that would have been realized with respect to such assets if we had been liquidated) that we elect to recognize on requalification or when recognized over the next five years.

The remainder of this discussion assumes that we qualify as a RIC for each future taxable year.

Fund Investments

Certain of our investment practices including investments in debt instruments, warrants and foreign investments, are subject to special and complex U.S. federal income tax provisions that may, among other things, (i) disallow, suspend or otherwise limit the allowance of certain losses or deductions, including the dividends received deduction, (ii) convert lower taxed long-term capital gains and qualified dividend income into higher taxed short-term capital gains or ordinary income, (iii) convert ordinary loss or a deduction into capital loss (the deductibility of which is more limited), (iv) cause us to recognize income or gain without a corresponding receipt of cash, (v) adversely affect the time as to when a purchase or sale of stock or securities is deemed to occur, (vi) adversely alter the characterization of certain complex financial transactions and (vii) produce income that will not qualify as good income for purposes of the 90% Gross Income Test. We monitor our transactions and may make certain tax elections and may be required to borrow money or dispose of securities to mitigate the effect of these rules and to prevent disqualification of us as a RIC but there can be no assurance that we will be successful in this regard.

Debt Instruments. In certain circumstances, we may be required to recognize taxable income prior to when we receive cash. For example, if we hold debt instruments that are treated under applicable tax rules as having original issue discount (such as debt instruments with an end-of-term payment and/or a payment-in-kind (“PIK”) interest payment or, in certain cases, increasing interest rates or issued with warrants), we must include in taxable income each year a portion of the original issue discount that accrues over the life of the obligation, regardless of whether cash representing such income is received by us in the same taxable year. Because any original issue discount accrued will be included in our investment company taxable income for

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the year of accrual, we may be required to make a distribution to our stockholders in order to satisfy the Annual Distribution Requirement and to avoid the 4% U.S. federal excise tax, even though we will not have received any corresponding cash amount.

Warrants. Gain or loss realized by us from the sale or exchange of warrants acquired by us as well as any loss attributable to the lapse of such warrants generally are treated as capital gain or loss. The treatment of such gain or loss as long-term or short-term generally depends on how long we held a particular warrant and on the nature of the disposition transaction.

Foreign Investments. Although investing in foreign investments will not be our primary investment objective, we are authorized to make foreign investments. In the event we invest in foreign securities, we may be subject to withholding and other foreign taxes with respect to those securities. We do not expect to satisfy the requirement to pass through to our stockholders their share of the foreign taxes paid by us.

If we invest in the stock of a foreign corporation that is classified as a “passive foreign investment company” (within the meaning of Section 1297 of the Code), or “PFIC,” we would be subject to a penalty tax at ordinary income rates on any gains and “excess distributions” with respect to PFIC stock as if such items had been realized ratably over the period during which we held the PFIC stock, plus an interest charge. A PFIC is any foreign corporation if (i) 75 percent or more of the gross income of such corporation for the taxable year is passive income, or (ii) at least 50 percent of the average percentage of assets held by such corporation during the taxable year produce passive income or are held for the production of passive income. Under certain circumstances, we may be eligible to make a special election to ameliorate the effects of the penalty tax by electing to treat the PFIC as a qualifying electing fund, or “QEF,” or by electing to mark to market the PFIC stock. If we make a QEF election, we would not be subject to the penalty tax, but any increases in the earnings and profits of the PFIC would be includable in our taxable income even if the PFIC makes no distributions. If we make the mark-to-market election, we would recognize ordinary income or loss each year on a mark-to-market basis based on changes in the value of the PFIC stock. If we do invest in a PFIC, no assurances can be given that we will be eligible to or will make a QEF election or a mark-to-market election with respect to such PFIC.

Under the Code, gains or losses attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates which occur between the time we accrue income or other receivables or accrue expenses or other liabilities denominated in a foreign currency and the time we actually collect such receivables or pay such liabilities generally are treated as ordinary income or loss. Similarly, on disposition of debt instruments and certain other instruments denominated in a foreign currency, gains or losses attributable to fluctuations of the value of the foreign currency between the date of acquisition of the instrument and the date of disposition also are treated as ordinary gain or loss. These currency fluctuations related gains and losses may increase or decrease the amount of our investment company taxable income to be distributed to our stockholders as ordinary income.

Taxation of U.S. Stockholders

Distributions by us generally are taxable to U.S. stockholders as ordinary income or long-term capital gains. Distributions of our investment company taxable income will be taxable as ordinary income to U.S. stockholders to the extent of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, whether paid in cash or reinvested in additional shares of our common stock. To the extent such distributions paid by us to non-corporate stockholders (including individuals) are attributable to dividends from U.S. corporations and certain qualified foreign corporations and if certain holding period requirements are met, such distributions generally will be treated as qualified dividend income and eligible for a maximum U.S. federal tax rate of 20%. In this regard, it is anticipated that distributions paid by us will generally not be attributable to dividends and, therefore, generally will not qualify for the 20% maximum U.S. federal tax rate.

Distributions of our net capital gain (which is generally our realized net long-term capital gains in excess of realized net short- term capital losses) properly reported by us as “capital gain dividends” will be taxable to a U.S. stockholder as long-term capital gains (currently at a maximum U.S. federal tax rate of 20%) in the case of individuals, trusts or estates, regardless of the U.S. stockholder’s holding period for his, her or its common stock and regardless of whether paid in cash or reinvested in additional common stock. Distributions in excess of our earnings and profits first will reduce a U.S. stockholder’s adjusted tax basis in such stockholder’s common stock and, after the adjusted basis is reduced to zero, will constitute capital gains to such U.S. stockholder. Stockholders receiving dividends or distributions in the form of additional shares of our common stock purchased in the market should be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as receiving a distribution in an amount equal to the amount of money that the stockholders receiving cash dividends or distributions will receive, and should have a cost basis in the shares received equal to such amount. Stockholders receiving dividends in newly issued shares of our common stock will be treated as receiving a distribution equal to the value of the shares received, and should have a cost basis of such amount.

Although we currently intend to timely distribute any net long-term capital gains in order to eliminate our liability for U.S. federal corporate income tax on such gains, we may in the future decide to retain some or all of our net long-term capital gains but designate the retained amount as a

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“deemed distribution.” In that case, among other consequences, we will pay tax on the retained amount, each U.S. stockholder will be required to include their share of the deemed distribution in income as if it had been distributed to the U.S. stockholder, and the U.S. stockholder will be entitled to claim a credit equal to their allocable share of the tax paid on the deemed distribution by us. The amount of the deemed distribution net of such tax will be added to the U.S. stockholder’s tax basis for their common stock. Since we expect to pay tax on any retained capital gains at our regular corporate tax rate, and since that rate is in excess of the maximum rate currently payable by individuals on long-term capital gains, the amount of tax that individual stockholders will be treated as having paid and for which they will receive a credit will exceed the tax they owe on the retained net capital gain. Such excess generally may be claimed as a credit against the U.S. stockholder’s other U.S. federal income tax obligations or may be refunded to the extent it exceeds a stockholder’s liability for U.S. federal income tax. A stockholder that is not subject to U.S. federal income tax or otherwise required to file a U.S. federal income tax return would be required to file a U.S. federal income tax return on the appropriate form in order to claim a refund for the taxes we paid. In order to utilize the deemed distribution approach, we must provide written notice to our stockholders prior to the expiration of 60 days after the close of the relevant taxable year. We cannot treat any of our investment company taxable income as a “deemed distribution.”

We or the applicable withholding agent will provide you with a notice reporting the amount of any ordinary income dividends (including the amount of such dividend, if any, eligible to be treated as qualified dividend income) and capital gain dividends by January 31. For purposes of determining (i) whether the Annual Distribution Requirement is satisfied for any year and (ii) the amount of capital gain dividends paid for that year, we may, under certain circumstances, elect to treat a dividend that is paid during the following taxable year as if it had been paid during the taxable year in question. If we make such an election, the U.S. stockholder will still be treated as receiving the dividend in the taxable year in which the distribution is made. However, if we pay you a dividend in January that was declared in the previous October, November or December to stockholders of record on a specified date in one of these months, then the dividend will be treated for tax purposes as being paid by us and received by you on December 31 of the year in which the dividend was declared. If a stockholder purchases shares of our stock shortly before the record date of a distribution, the price of the shares will include the value of the distribution and the stockholder will be subject to tax on the distribution even though it represents a return of its investment.

Dividend Reinvestment Plan. Under the DRIP, if a U.S. stockholder owns shares of common stock registered in its own name, the U.S. stockholder will have all cash distributions automatically reinvested in additional shares of common stock if the U.S. stockholder opts in to our dividend reinvestment plan by delivering a written notice to the Administrator, as applicable, in accordance with the terms of the dividend reinvestment plan. See “Business — Dividend Reinvestment Plan.” Any distributions reinvested under the plan will nevertheless remain taxable to the U.S. stockholder. The U.S. stockholder will have an adjusted basis in the additional common shares purchased through the plan equal to the amount of the reinvested distribution. The additional shares will have a new holding period commencing on the day following the day on which the shares are credited to the U.S. stockholder’s account.

Dispositions. A U.S. stockholder generally will recognize gain or loss on the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of shares of our common stock in an amount equal to the difference between the U.S. stockholder’s adjusted basis in the shares disposed of and the amount realized on their disposition. Generally, gain recognized by a U.S. stockholder on the disposition of shares of our common stock will result in capital gain or loss to a U.S. stockholder, and will be a long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than one year at the time of sale. Any loss recognized by a U.S. stockholder upon the disposition of shares of our common stock held for six months or less will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any capital gain dividends received (including amounts credited as an undistributed capital gain dividend) by the U.S. stockholder. A loss recognized by a U.S. stockholder on a disposition of shares of our common stock will be disallowed as a deduction if the U.S. stockholder acquires additional shares of our common stock (whether through the automatic reinvestment of dividends or otherwise) within a 61-day period beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the date that the shares are disposed. In this case, the basis of the shares acquired will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.

Tax Shelter Reporting Regulations. Under applicable Treasury regulations, if a U.S. stockholder recognizes a loss with respect to shares of $2 million or more for a non-corporate U.S. stockholder or $10 million or more for a corporate U.S. stockholder in any single taxable year (or a greater loss over a combination of years), the U.S. stockholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on Form 8886. Direct U.S. stockholders of portfolio securities are in many cases excepted from this reporting requirement, but under current guidance, U.S. stockholders of a RIC are not excepted. Future guidance may extend the current exception from this reporting requirement to U.S. stockholders of most or all RICs. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper. U.S. stockholders should consult their own tax advisers to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.

Backup Withholding. We are required in certain circumstances to backup withhold on taxable dividends or distributions paid to non-corporate U.S. stockholders who do not furnish us or the dividend-paying agent with their correct taxpayer identification number (in the case of individuals, their social security number) and certain certifications, or who are otherwise subject to backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld from payments made to you may be refunded or credited against your U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

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Limitation on Deduction for Certain Expenses. For any period that we do not qualify as a “publicly offered regulated investment company,” as defined in the Code, stockholders will be taxed as though they received a distribution of some of our expenses. A “publicly offered regulated investment company” is a RIC whose shares are either (i) continuously offered pursuant to a public offering, (ii) regularly traded on an established securities market or (iii) held by at least 500 persons at all times during the taxable year. We anticipate that we will not qualify as a publicly offered RIC immediately after the Private Offering; we may qualify as a publicly offered RIC for future taxable years. If we are not a publicly offered RIC for any period, a non-corporate stockholder’s allocable portion of our affected expenses, including our management fees, will be treated as an additional distribution to the stockholder and will be deductible by such stockholder only to the extent permitted under the limitations described below. For non-corporate stockholders, including individuals, trusts, and estates, significant limitations generally apply to the deductibility of certain expenses of a non-publicly offered RIC, including advisory fees. In particular, for taxable years beginning before 2026, these expenses, referred to as miscellaneous itemized deductions, generally are not deductible by an individual. For taxable years beginning in 2026 or later, these expenses are deductible to an individual only to the extent they exceed 2% of such stockholder’s adjusted gross income, and are not deductible for alternative minimum tax purposes.

U.S. Taxation of Tax-Exempt U.S. Stockholders. A U.S. stockholder that is a tax-exempt organization for U.S. federal income tax purposes and therefore generally exempt from U.S. federal income taxation may nevertheless be subject to taxation to the extent that it is considered to derive unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”). The direct conduct by a tax-exempt U.S. stockholder of the activities we propose to conduct could give rise to UBTI. However, a BDC is a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes and its business activities generally will not be attributed to its stockholders for purposes of determining their treatment under current law. Therefore, a tax-exempt U.S. stockholder generally should not be subject to U.S. taxation solely as a result of the stockholder’s ownership of shares of common stock and receipt of dividends with respect to such shares. Moreover, under current law, if we incur indebtedness, such indebtedness will not be attributed to a tax-exempt U.S. stockholder. Therefore, a tax-exempt U.S. stockholder should not be treated as earning income from “debt-financed property” and dividends we pay should not be treated as “unrelated debt-financed income” solely as a result of indebtedness that we incur. Proposals periodically are made to change the treatment of “blocker” investment vehicles interposed between tax-exempt investors and non-qualifying investments. In the event that any such proposals were to be adopted and applied to BDCs, the treatment of dividends payable to tax-exempt investors could be adversely affected. In addition, special rules would apply, however, if we were to invest in certain real estate investment trusts or other taxable mortgage pools, which we do not currently plan to do, that could result in a tax-exempt U.S. stockholder recognizing income that would be treated as UBTI.

Taxation of Non-U.S. Stockholders

The following discussion only applies to non-U.S. stockholders that are not engaged in a U.S. trade or business. Non-U.S. stockholders engaged in a U.S. trade or business should consult their own tax advisers to determine the tax consequences to such non-U.S. investors of acquiring, holding, and disposing of Shares. Whether an investment in Shares is appropriate for a non-U.S. stockholder will depend upon that person’s particular circumstances. The tax consequences to non-U.S. stockholders entitled to claim the benefits of an applicable tax treaty or that are individuals that are present in the U.S. for 183 days or more during a taxable year may be different from those described herein. Non-U.S. investors should consult their own tax advisers before investing in shares of our common stock.

Actual and Deemed Distributions; Dispositions. Distributions to non-U.S. stockholders are not generally subject to U.S. income tax. Such distributions are subject to U.S. federal withholding tax at a 30% rate (or lower rate provided by an applicable treaty) to the extent of our current or accumulated earnings and profits unless one of the exceptions discussed below are applicable. In this respect, no withholding is required with respect to a distribution if (i) the distributions are properly reported to our stockholders as “interest-related dividends” or “short-term capital gain dividends,” (ii) the distributions are derived from sources specified in the Code for such dividends (i.e., net interest income or net short-term capital gains) and (iii) certain other requirements are satisfied. In addition, no withholding is required with respect to distributions of our net capital gains properly reported as capital gain dividends. We anticipate that a significant portion of our distributions will be eligible for one of these exceptions from withholding. No certainty can be provided, however, that all of our distributions will be eligible for such exceptions and we cannot provide any certainty as to what percentage of our distributions (if any) that would not be eligible for such exceptions. Moreover, in the case of shares held through an intermediary, the intermediary may withhold amounts even if we reported all or a portion of our distribution as exempt from U.S. federal withholding tax.

If we distribute net capital gains in the form of deemed rather than actual distributions, a non-U.S. stockholder will be entitled to a federal income tax credit or tax refund equal to the stockholder’s allocable share of the tax we pay on the capital gains deemed to have been distributed. In order to obtain the refund, the non-U.S. stockholder must obtain a U.S. taxpayer identification number and file a federal income tax return even if the non-U.S. stockholder is not otherwise required to obtain a U.S. taxpayer identification number or file a federal income tax return.

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Gain from the Sale or Redemption of Shares. Gains realized by a non-U.S. stockholder upon the sale of Shares generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax.

Dividend Reinvestment Plan. Under the dividend reinvestment plan, if a non-U.S. stockholder owns shares of common stock registered in its own name, the non-U.S. stockholder will have all cash distributions automatically reinvested in additional shares of common stock if it opts in to the dividend reinvestment plan by delivering a written notice to the Adviser or our dividend paying agent, as applicable, in accordance with the terms of the dividend reinvestment plan. If the distribution is a distribution of our investment company taxable income, and is not reported by us as a short-term capital gains dividend or interest-related dividend, the amount distributed (to the extent of our current or accumulated earnings and profits) will be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax at a 30% rate (or lower rate provided by an applicable treaty) as discussed above and only the net after-tax amount will be reinvested in common shares. The non-U.S. stockholder will have an adjusted basis in the additional common shares purchased through the plan equal to the amount reinvested. The additional shares will have a new holding period commencing on the day following the day on which the shares are credited to the non-U.S. stockholder’s account.

Backup Withholding. A non-U.S. stockholder who is a nonresident alien individual, and who is otherwise subject to withholding of federal income tax, will be subject to information reporting, but may not be subject to backup withholding of federal income tax on taxable dividends or distributions if the non-U.S. stockholder provides us or the dividend paying agent with an IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or an acceptable substitute form). Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld from payments made to a non-U.S. stockholder may be refunded or credited against such stockholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

Foreign Account Tax Compliance

The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, or FATCA, generally imposes a 30% withholding tax on payments of certain types of income to foreign financial institutions that fail to enter into an agreement with the U.S. Treasury to report certain required information with respect to accounts held by U.S. persons (or held by foreign entities that have U.S. persons as substantial owners). The types of income subject to the tax include U.S. source interest and dividends. The information required to be reported includes the identity and taxpayer identification number of each account holder that is a U.S. person and transaction activity within the holder’s account. In addition, subject to certain exceptions, this legislation also imposes a 30% withholding on payments to foreign entities that are not financial institutions unless the foreign entity certifies that it does not have a greater than 10% U.S. owner or provides the withholding agent with identifying information on each greater than 10% U.S. owner. Depending on the status of a non-U.S. stockholder and the status of the intermediaries through which they hold their shares, non-U.S. stockholders could be subject to this 30% withholding tax with respect to distributions on their shares and proceeds from the sale of their shares. Under certain circumstances, a non-U.S. stockholder might be eligible for refunds or credits of such taxes. U.S. stockholders that hold their shares through foreign intermediaries could also be subject to this 30% withholding tax with respect to distributions on their shares and proceeds from the sale of their shares.

Each prospective investor is urged to consult its tax adviser regarding the applicability of FATCA and any other reporting requirements with respect to the prospective investor’s own situation, including investments through an intermediary.

Tax Consequences of Possible Spin-Off or Liquidating Share Class

We intend to apply for exemptive relief from the SEC which, if granted, would provide a liquidity option to allow investors to exchange their Shares for shares of common stock in a newly formed entity (the “New BDC”) that will elect to be treated as a BDC under the 1940 Act, and that will effectuate an orderly wind down after the third anniversary of the initial closing of the Fund’s private placement, and every three years thereafter.¹ Investors will also be able to retain their existing Shares and investments in the Fund and to receive distributions in the ordinary course. In order to effectuate this option, the Fund expects it would need to, among other things, transfer to the New BDC, in exchange for newly issued shares of the New BDC, a pro rata portion of its assets and liabilities corresponding to the aggregate net asset value of the Shares of the investors that have elected to invest in the New BDC (the “Transfer Assets”), and thereafter exchange the New BDC shares received for the Shares of the electing investors. Such transfer of assets and liabilities and the mechanics relating thereto are referred to herein as the “New BDC Spin-Off.” Upon execution of the New BDC Spin-Off, investors owning shares of the New BDC will be released from any further obligation to purchase additional Shares but their Remaining Commitment, if any, may be called in exchange for additional shares of the New BDC. Such Remaining Commitments will not be called to fund new investments in the New BDC and investors owning shares of the New BDC will not be required to fund their respective Remaining Commitments with respect to such shares of the New BDC except to the extent necessary to cover any required post commitment period obligations.

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The Fund may also apply for exemptive relief from the SEC which, if granted, would allow the Fund to offer its stockholders the option to exchange their Shares, in whole or in part, for shares of a liquidating class of common stock (each share, a “Liquidation Share” and the class, the “Liquidating Share Class”). This offer would be made after the third anniversary of the initial closing of the Fund’s private placement, and every year thereafter.² This offer will be made with respect to each stockholder beginning on the end of each calendar year that falls on or after the third anniversary of the date of the acceptance of the Investor’s commitment, and each subsequent calendar year end thereafter (an Investor holding matured Shares per this timeline being deemed an “Eligible Stockholder”). The Liquidation Shares will therefore have a series for each year that this is offered (e.g., 2020 Series, 2021 Series, etc.). If exemptive relief for the Liquidating Share Class is granted by the SEC, the Fund intends to continue operations in perpetuity (or until the Adviser determines an alternative liquidity option is in the best interest of the stockholders). Eligible Stockholders will have the right to obtain one Liquidation Share for each Share owned as of the last day of each calendar year (each, a “Liquidating Share Exchange Date”) by providing at least 90 days’ prior written notice to the Fund. Eligible Stockholders may also have the right as part of the process for electing (or declining) to exchange Shares for Liquidation Shares (each exchange, a “Liquidating Share Exchange,”) to call, in whole or in part, any Remaining Commitments pursuant to their subscription agreement, and may do so after the Liquidating Share Exchange. Such Remaining Commitments will not be called to fund new investments in the Fund and Investors owning shares of the Liquidating Share Class will not be required to fund their respective Remaining Commitments with respect to such Liquidation Shares except to the extent necessary to cover any required post commitment period obligations.

In the event exemptive relief for the Spin-off or Liquidating Share Class is granted by the SEC, we will determine the tax consequences of such transaction to our liquidating stockholders and the Fund at that time and such tax consequences will be disclosed in a subsequent disclosure.

In the event we offer stockholders the option to elect to either (i) retain their ownership of our Shares or (ii) exchange their Shares for shares of common stock in the New BDC, we will determine the tax consequences of such transaction to our stockholders and the Fund at that time and such tax consequences will be disclosed in a subsequent disclosure describing such options. The tax consequences of any such transaction will depend on, among other things, the manner in which the transaction is effectuated, our status as a RIC, and the tax laws in effect at that time of transaction.

Regulation as a Business Development Company

General

A BDC is a closed-end fund that elects to be treated as a business development company under the 1940 Act. As a BDC, we have greater flexibility under the 1940 Act than other investment companies in, among other things, dealing with portfolio companies, issuing securities, and compensating advisors. If we were to lose our status as a BDC, we would be subject to more onerous requirements under the 1940 Act applicable to non-BDC closed-end investment companies. A BDC must be organized in the United States for the purpose of investing in or lending to primarily private companies and making significant managerial assistance available to them. A BDC may use capital provided by private or public stockholders and from other sources to make long-term, private investments in businesses.

The 1940 Act provides that we may not change the nature of our business so as to cease to be, or withdraw our election as, a BDC unless authorized by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities, as required by the 1940 Act. A majority of the outstanding voting securities of a company is defined under the 1940 Act as the lesser of: (a) 67% or more of such company’s voting securities present at a meeting if the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of such company are present or represented by proxy, or (b) more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of such company. We do not anticipate any substantial change in the nature of our business.

As with other companies regulated by the 1940 Act, a BDC must adhere to certain substantive regulatory requirements. A majority of our directors must be persons who are not “interested persons,” as that term is defined in the 1940 Act. Additionally, we are required to provide and maintain a bond issued by a reputable fidelity insurance company to protect the BDC. Furthermore, as a BDC, we are prohibited from protecting any director or officer against any liability to us or our stockholders arising from willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such person’s office.

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As a BDC, we are required to meet an asset coverage ratio, defined under the 1940 Act, as amended by the Small Business Credit Availability Act (the “SBCAA”), as the ratio of our gross assets (less all liabilities and indebtedness not represented by senior securities) to our outstanding senior securities, of at least 150% after each issuance of senior securities. On July 5, 2018, the Board voted to approve the adoption of the reduced asset coverage ratio and separately recommended that stockholders approve the reduced asset coverage requirements at our 2018 annual meeting of stockholders. On September 26, 2018, at our 2018 annual meeting of stockholders, stockholders approved the reduction of the required minimum asset coverage ratio applicable to the Fund from 200% to 150%, which took effect on September 27, 2018. This reduction in the required minimum asset coverage ratio increases the amount of debt that we are permitted to incur. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Business and Structure — The SBCAA allows us to incur additional leverage, which may increase the risk of investing with us.”

We are prohibited under the 1940 Act from knowingly participating in certain transactions with our affiliates without the prior approval of our Independent Directors and, in some cases, prior approval by the SEC. We do not intend to acquire securities issued by any investment company that exceed the limits imposed by the 1940 Act. Under these limits, except for registered money market funds, we generally cannot acquire more than 3% of the voting stock of any investment company, invest more than 5% of the value of our total assets in the securities of one investment company or invest more than 10% of the value of our total assets in the securities of investment companies in the aggregate. The portion of our portfolio invested in securities issued by investment companies ordinarily will subject our stockholders to additional expenses. Our investment portfolio is also subject to diversification requirements by virtue of our intention to qualify as a RIC for U.S. tax purposes.

We are generally not able to issue and sell our common stock at a price below net asset value per share. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Business and Structure — Regulations governing our operation as a BDC affect our ability to raise additional capital and the way in which we do so. As a BDC, the necessity of raising additional capital may expose us to risks, including the typical risks associated with leverage.” We may, however, sell our common stock, or warrants, options or rights to acquire our common stock, at a price below the then-current net asset value of our common stock if our Board determines that such sale is in our best interests and the best interests of our stockholders, and our stockholders approve such sale. In addition, we may issue new shares of our common stock at a price below net asset value in rights offerings to existing stockholders, in payment of dividends and in certain other limited circumstances.

As a BDC, we are limited in our ability to invest in any portfolio company of a fund which the Adviser manages or in which our affiliates currently is investing, or to make any co-investments with the Adviser or such of its affiliates without an exemptive order from the SEC, subject to certain exceptions.

We are subject to periodic examination by the SEC for compliance with the 1940 Act.

As a BDC, we are subject to certain risks and uncertainties. See “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Business and Structure.”

Qualifying Assets

Under the 1940 Act, a BDC may not acquire any asset other than assets of the type listed in Section 55(a) of the 1940 Act, which are referred to as qualifying assets, unless, at the time the acquisition is made, qualifying assets represent at least 70% of the BDC’s gross assets. The principal categories of qualifying assets relevant to our business are the following:

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If at any time less than 70% of our gross assets are comprised of qualifying assets, including as a result of an increase in the value of any non-qualifying assets or decrease in the value of any qualifying assets, we would generally not be permitted to acquire any additional non-qualifying assets, other than office furniture and equipment, interests in real estate and leasehold improvements and facilities maintained to conduct the business operations of the BDC, deferred organization and operating expenses, and other non-investment assets necessary and appropriate to its operations as a BDC, until such time as 70% of our then current gross assets were comprised of qualifying assets. We would not be required, however, to dispose of any non-qualifying assets in such circumstances.

Managerial Assistance to Portfolio Companies

A BDC must have been organized and have its principal place of business in the United States and must be operated for the purpose of making investments in the types of securities described above in Qualifying Assets categories 1, 2 or 3. However, in order to count portfolio securities as qualifying assets for the purpose of the 70% test, the BDC must either control the issuer of the securities or must offer to make available to the issuer of the securities significant managerial assistance (other than small and solvent companies described above in Qualifying Assets category 1.c.iv.); except that, where the BDC purchases such securities in conjunction with one or more other persons acting together, one of the other persons in the group may make available such managerial assistance. Making available managerial assistance means, among other things, any arrangement whereby the BDC, through its directors, officers or employees, offers to provide, and, if accepted, does so provide, significant guidance and counsel concerning the management, operations or business objectives and policies of a portfolio company.

Temporary Investments

Pending investment in other types of “qualifying assets,” as described above, our investments may consist of cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government securities or high-quality debt securities maturing in one year or less from the time of investment, which we refer to, collectively, as temporary investments, so that 70% of our assets are qualifying assets. While it is unlikely, we may also invest in repurchase agreements, provided that such agreements are fully collateralized by cash or securities issued by the U.S. government or its agencies. A repurchase agreement involves the purchase by an investor, such as us, of a specified security and the simultaneous agreement by the seller to repurchase it at an agreed-upon future date and at a price which is greater than the purchase price by an amount that reflects an agreed-upon interest rate. There is no percentage restriction on the proportion of our assets that may be invested in such repurchase agreements. However, if more than 25% of our gross assets constitute repurchase agreements from a single counterparty, we would generally not meet the diversification tests in order to qualify as a RIC for federal income tax purposes. Thus, we do not intend to enter into repurchase agreements with a single counterparty in excess of this limit. The Adviser will monitor the creditworthiness of the counterparties with which we enter into repurchase agreement transactions.

Senior Securities

We are permitted, under specified conditions, to issue multiple classes of indebtedness and one class of stock senior to our common stock if our asset coverage, as defined in the 1940 Act, is at least equal to 150% immediately after each such issuance. In addition, while any senior securities remain outstanding, we must make provisions to prohibit any distribution to our stockholders or the repurchase of such securities or shares unless we meet the applicable asset coverage ratios at the time of the distribution or repurchase. We may also borrow amounts up to 5% of the value of our gross assets for temporary or emergency purposes without regard to asset coverage. For a discussion of the risks associated with leverage, see “Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Business and Structure — We may borrow money, which would magnify the potential for gain or loss on amounts invested and may increase the risk of investing in us.”

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The 1940 Act imposes limitations on a BDC’s issuance of preferred shares, which are considered “senior securities” and thus are subject to the 150% asset coverage requirement described above. In addition, (i) preferred shares must have the same voting rights as the common stockholders (one share, one vote); and (ii) preferred stockholders must have the right, as a class, to appoint directors to the Board.

Compliance Policies and Procedures

We and the Adviser have adopted and implemented written policies and procedures reasonably designed to detect and prevent violation of the federal securities laws and are required to review these compliance policies and procedures annually for their adequacy and the effectiveness of their implementation and designate a chief compliance officer to be responsible for administering the policies and procedures. Mark Manley currently serves as our Chief Compliance Officer.

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”) imposes a wide variety of regulatory requirements on publicly held companies and their insiders. Many of these requirements affect us. For example:

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires us to review our current policies and procedures to determine whether we comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder. We will continue to monitor our compliance with all regulations that are adopted under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and will take actions necessary to ensure that we are in compliance therewith.

Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures

We will generally not own publicly traded equity securities and will primarily invest in securities that do not have voting rights. To the extent that we invest in securities that do have voting rights, we have delegated our proxy voting responsibility to the Adviser. The Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures will be reviewed periodically by the Adviser and our non-interested directors, and, accordingly, are subject to change.

As an investment adviser registered under the Advisers Act, our Adviser has a fiduciary duty to act solely in the best interests of its clients. As part of this duty, it recognizes that it must vote client securities in a timely manner, free of conflicts of interest and in the best interests of its clients.

The Adviser’s policies and procedures for voting proxies are intended to comply with Section 206 of, and Rule 206(4)-6 under, the Advisers Act.

Proxy Policies

Our Adviser will vote proxies relating to our portfolio securities in what the Adviser perceives to be the best interest of our stockholders. It will review on a case-by-case basis each proposal submitted to a stockholder vote to determine its impact on the portfolio securities held by our clients. Although it will generally vote against proposals that may have a negative impact on our portfolio securities, it may vote for such a proposal if there exist compelling long-term reasons to do so.

Our proxy-voting decisions will be made by the senior officers who are responsible for monitoring our investments. To ensure that our vote is not the product of a conflict of interest, the Adviser will require that: (1) anyone involved in the decision-making process disclose to management any potential conflict that he or she is aware of and any contact that he or she has had with any interested party regarding a proxy vote; and (2) employees involved in the decision-making process or vote administration are prohibited from revealing how we intend to vote on a proposal in order to reduce any attempted influence from interested parties.

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Proxy Voting Records

You may obtain information about how we voted proxies by making a written request for proxy voting information to: AllianceBernstein L.P., Proxy Voting & Investment Governance Team, 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10105.

Privacy Principles

Protecting the privacy and confidentiality of investors’ personal information is a priority. The following sets forth details of our approach to ensuring the confidentiality of investors’ information.

Reporting Obligations

We will furnish our stockholders with annual reports containing audited consolidated financial statements, quarterly reports and such other periodic reports as we determine to be appropriate or as may be required by law. We are required to comply with all periodic reporting, proxy solicitation and other applicable requirements under the Exchange Act.

Stockholders and the public may also read and copy any materials we file with the SEC at www.sec.gov.

An investment in our securities involves certain risks relating to our structure and investment objective. The risks set forth below are not the only risks we face, and we may face other risks that we have not yet identified, which we do not currently deem material or which are not yet predictable. If any of the following risks occur, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected. In such case, our net asset value and the price of our common stock could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment.

Risks Related to Our Business and Structure

Limited operating history as a BDC.

The Fund commenced investment operations on November 15, 2017. As a result, we are subject to many of the business risks and uncertainties associated with recently formed businesses, including the risk that we will not achieve our investment objective and that the value of your investment could decline substantially. As a BDC, we will be subject to the regulatory requirements of the SEC, in addition to the specific regulatory requirements applicable to BDCs under the 1940 Act and RICs under the Code. From time to time, the Adviser may pursue investment opportunities in which it has more limited experience. We may also be unable to replicate the historical performance of the members of the Adviser’s Investment Committee in prior investment funds. In addition, we may be unable to generate sufficient revenue from our operations to make or sustain distributions to our stockholders.

The Adviser has no prior experience managing a BDC or a RIC.

Although AB has experience managing RICs, the Adviser has no experience managing a BDC or a RIC other than the Fund. Therefore, the Adviser may not be able to successfully operate our business or achieve our investment objective. As a result, an investment in shares of our common stock may entail more risk than shares of common stock of a comparable company with a substantial operating history.

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The 1940 Act and the Code impose numerous constraints on the operations of BDCs and RICs that do not apply to the other types of investment vehicles. For example, under the 1940 Act, BDCs are required to invest at least 70% of their total assets primarily in securities of qualifying U.S. private or thinly traded companies. Moreover, qualification for RIC tax treatment under Subchapter M of the Code requires, among other things, satisfaction of source-of-income, diversification and other requirements. The failure to comply with these provisions in a timely manner could prevent us from qualifying as a BDC or RIC or could force us to pay unexpected taxes and penalties, which could be material. The Adviser’s lack of experience in managing a portfolio of assets under such constraints may hinder its ability to take advantage of attractive investment opportunities and, as a result, achieve our investment objective.

Our investment portfolio will be recorded at fair value, with our Board having final responsibility for overseeing, reviewing and approving, in good faith, its estimate of fair value and, as a result, there will be uncertainty as to the value of our portfolio investments.

Under the 1940 Act, we are required to carry our portfolio investments at market value or, if there is no readily available market value, at fair value as determined by us with our Board having final responsibility for overseeing, reviewing and approving, in good faith, our estimate of fair value. Typically, there will not be a public market for the securities of the privately held companies in which we will invest. As a result, we will value these securities quarterly at fair value based on input from management, a third-party independent valuation firm and our audit committee and with the oversight, review and approval of our Board.

The determination of fair value and consequently, the amount of unrealized gains and losses in our portfolio, are to a certain degree, subjective and dependent on a valuation process approved by our Board. Certain factors that may be considered in determining the fair value of our investments include external events, such as private mergers, sales and acquisitions involving comparable companies. Because such valuations, and particularly valuations of private securities and private companies, are inherently uncertain, they may fluctuate over short periods of time and may be based on estimates. Our determinations of fair value may differ materially from the values that would have been used if a ready market for these securities existed. Due to this uncertainty, our fair value determinations may cause our net asset value on a given date to materially understate or overstate the value that we may ultimately realize on one or more of our investments. As a result, investors purchasing our common stock based on an overstated net asset value would pay a higher price than the value of our investments might warrant. Conversely, investors selling shares during a period in which the net asset value understates the value of our investments will receive a lower price for their shares than the value of our investments might warrant.

When an external event such as a purchase transaction, public offering or subsequent equity sale occurs, we use the pricing indicated by the external event to corroborate our valuation. We record decreases in the market values or fair values of our investments as unrealized depreciation. Declines in prices and liquidity in the corporate debt markets may result in significant net unrealized depreciation in our portfolio. The effect of all these factors on our portfolio may reduce our net asset value by increasing unrealized depreciation in our portfolio. Depending on market conditions, we could incur substantial realized losses and may suffer additional unrealized losses in future periods, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Our financial condition and results of operations will depend on our ability to effectively manage and deploy capital.

Our ability to achieve our investment objective will depend on our ability to effectively manage and deploy capital, which will depend, in turn, on the Adviser’s ability to identify, evaluate and monitor, and our ability to finance and invest in, companies that meet our investment criteria.

Accomplishing our investment objective on a cost-effective basis will largely be a function of the Adviser’s handling of the investment process, its ability to provide competent, attentive and efficient services and our access to investments offering acceptable terms. In addition to monitoring the performance of our existing investments, the Adviser’s investment team may also be called upon, from time to time, to provide managerial assistance to some of our portfolio companies. These demands on their time may distract them or slow the rate of investment.

Even if we are able to grow and build upon our investment portfolio, any failure to manage our growth effectively could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. The results of our operations will depend on many factors, including the availability of opportunities for investment, readily accessible short and long-term funding alternatives in the financial markets and economic conditions. Furthermore, if we cannot successfully operate our business or implement our investment policies and strategies as described herein, it could negatively impact our ability to pay dividends.

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We may face increasing competition for investment opportunities.

We compete for investments with providers of capital with similar investment strategies including other BDCs, private equity funds, finance companies, and banks. Many of our competitors are larger and have greater financial, technical and marketing resources than us. For example, some competitors may have a lower cost of capital and access to funding sources that will not be available to us. In addition, some of our competitors may have higher risk tolerances or different risk assessments than we will have. These characteristics could allow our competitors to consider a wider variety of investments, establish more relationships and offer better pricing and more flexible structuring than we will be able to offer. We may lose investment opportunities if we do not match our competitors’ pricing, terms and structure. If we are forced to match our competitors’ pricing, terms and structure, we may not be able to achieve acceptable returns on our investments or may bear substantial risk of capital loss. A significant part of our competitive advantage stems from the fact that the market for investments in middle market companies is underserved by traditional commercial banks and other financing sources. A significant increase in the number and/or the size of our competitors in this target market could force us to accept less attractive investment terms. Furthermore, many of our competitors will have greater experience operating under, or will not be subject to, the regulatory restrictions that the 1940 Act will impose on us as a BDC.

The Adviser has incentives to favor its other accounts and clients over us, which may result in conflicts of interest that could be harmful to us.

Because the Adviser and its affiliates manage assets for other investment companies, pooled investment vehicles and/or other accounts (including institutional clients, pension plans and certain high net worth individuals), certain conflicts of interest are present. For instance, the Adviser and its affiliates may receive fees from certain accounts that are higher than the fees received by the Adviser from us, or receive a performance-based fee on certain accounts. In those instances, a portfolio manager for the Adviser has an incentive to favor the higher fee and/or performance-based fee accounts over us. Our Board monitors these conflicts.

Our business model depends to a significant extent upon strong referral relationships. Any inability of the Adviser to maintain or develop these relationships, or the failure of these relationships to generate investment opportunities, could adversely affect our business.

We depend upon the Adviser to maintain its relationships with companies, private equity sponsors, co-investors, intermediaries and other financial institutions, and we expect to rely to a significant extent upon these relationships to provide us with potential investment opportunities. If the Adviser fails to maintain such relationships, or to develop new relationships with other sources of investment opportunities, we will not be able to grow our investment portfolio. In addition, individuals with whom the Adviser has relationships are not obligated to provide us with investment opportunities, and we can offer no assurance that these relationships will generate investment opportunities for us in the future.

We will be dependent upon the Adviser’s key personnel for our future success.

We depend on the diligence, skill and investment acumen of J. Brent Humphries, our President and the Chairman of our Board, along with the other investment professionals at the Adviser. Mr. Humphries also serves as the President of the Adviser, and is Chairman of its Investment Committee. Mr. Humphries, together with the other members of the Adviser’s senior management, will evaluate, negotiate, structure, close and monitor our investments. Our future success will depend on the continued service of Mr. Humphries and the other members of the Adviser’s senior management. We cannot assure you that unforeseen business, medical, personal or other circumstances would not lead any such individual to terminate his or her relationship with us. The loss of Mr. Humphries or any of the other members of the Adviser’s senior management could have a material adverse effect on our ability to achieve our investment objective as well as on our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, we can offer no assurance that the Adviser will continue indefinitely as the Adviser. The members of the Adviser’s senior management are and may in the future become affiliated with entities engaged in business activities similar to those intended to be conducted by us, and may have conflicts of interest in allocating their time. We expect that Mr. Humphries will dedicate his time to the activities of the Fund as deemed necessary or appropriate but is, and may be, engaged in other business activities which could divert his time and attention.

Our success will depend on the ability of the Adviser to attract and retain qualified personnel in a competitive environment.

Our growth will require that the Adviser retain and attract new investment and administrative personnel in a competitive market. Its ability to attract and retain personnel with the requisite credentials, experience and skills will depend on several factors including, but not limited to, its ability to offer competitive wages, benefits and professional growth opportunities. Many of the entities, including investment funds (such as private equity funds and mezzanine funds) and traditional financial services companies, with which it will compete for experienced personnel will have greater resources than it will have.

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Misconduct by employees of the Adviser or by third-party service providers could cause significant losses to us.

Misconduct by employees of the Adviser or by third-party service providers could cause significant losses to us. Employee misconduct may include binding us to transactions that exceed authorized limits or present unacceptable risks and unauthorized investment activities or concealing unsuccessful investment activities (which, in either case, may result in unknown and unmanaged risks or losses). Losses could also result from actions by third-party service providers, including, without limitation, failing to recognize trades and misappropriating assets. In addition, employees and third-party service providers may improperly use or disclose confidential information, which could result in litigation or serious financial harm, including limiting our business prospects or future marketing activities. No assurances can be given that the due diligence performed by the Adviser will identify or prevent any such misconduct.

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

The Fund will be subject to a number of actual and potential conflicts of interest involving the Adviser and its affiliates, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the Fund and the stockholders’ investments therein.

Prospective stockholders should understand that (i) the relationships among the Fund, the Adviser and its affiliates are complex and dynamic and (ii) as the Adviser’s and the Fund’s businesses change over time, the Adviser and its affiliates may be subject, and the Fund may be exposed, to new or additional conflicts of interest. There can be no assurance that this document addresses or anticipates every possible current or future conflict of interest that may arise or that is or may be detrimental to the Fund or the stockholders. Prospective stockholders should consult with their own advisers regarding the possible implications on their investment in the Fund of the conflicts of interest described in this document.

The Adviser has undertaken to manage the Fund diligently in pursuit of its investment objectives. While conflicts of interest are inherent to the relationships among the Adviser and its affiliates, merely because an actual or potential conflict of interest exists does not mean that it will be acted upon to the detriment of the Fund. When a conflict of interest arises, the Adviser will endeavor to ensure that the conflict is resolved fairly.

The Adviser and its affiliates will devote as much of their time to the activities of the Fund as the Adviser and its affiliates deem necessary and appropriate. The terms of the Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement generally do not restrict any of those persons from forming additional investment funds, from entering into other investment advisory relationships, or from engaging in other business activities, even though such activities may be in competition with the Fund and/or may involve substantial time and resources of the Adviser and its affiliates. For instance, the Adviser has formed and in the future may form additional investment funds, including BDCs, or managed accounts that invest in financial instruments that are similar to the instruments in which the Fund will invest.

Mr. Humphries, our President and Chairman of our Board, currently serves as the President of the Adviser, which is responsible for all investment decisions for the Fund. In addition, our executive officers and directors, including our Chief Financial Officer and Chief Compliance Officer, as well as the current and future members of the Adviser, may serve as officers, directors or principals of other entities that operate in the same or a related line of business as we do. Accordingly, they may have obligations to our stockholders in those entities, the fulfillment of which obligations may not be in the best interests of us or our stockholders.

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

We have entered into a royalty-free license agreement with the Adviser pursuant to which the Adviser has granted us a non-exclusive royalty-free license to use the name “AB Private Credit Investors Corporation.” Under the license agreement, we have the right to use the “AB Private Credit Investors Corporation” name for so long as the Adviser or one of its affiliates remains our investment adviser.

In addition, we pay the Administrator the expenses incurred by the Administrator in performing its obligations under the Administration Agreement, including the fees and expenses associated with performing compliance functions. These arrangements will create conflicts of interest that our Board must monitor.

With respect to a loan transaction that is led by the Fund and syndicated to other lenders, the Adviser will be entitled to retain any arrangement fee attributable to that portion of the loan transaction syndicated to such other lenders. While the amount of such a loan transaction, if any, that is allocated to the Fund will be determined in accordance with the Adviser’s investment allocation policy and procedures, the Adviser’s entitlement to any

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arrangement fee attributable to that portion of the loan transaction syndicated to such other lenders may incentivize the Adviser to syndicate a loan transaction (or a greater portion thereof) to other lenders.

The recommendations given to us by the Adviser may differ from those rendered by the Adviser to its other clients.

The Adviser and its affiliates may give advice and recommend securities to other clients which may differ from advice given to, or securities recommended or bought for, us even though such other clients’ investment objectives may be similar to ours.

Our access to confidential information may restrict our ability to take action with respect to some investments, which, in turn, may negatively affect our results of operations.

We, directly or through the Adviser, may obtain confidential information about the companies in which we have invested or may invest. If we possess confidential information about such companies, there may be restrictions on our ability to make, dispose of, increase the amount of, or otherwise take action with respect to, an investment in those companies. The impact of these restrictions on our ability to take action with respect to our investments could have an adverse effect on our results of operations.

Our ability to enter into transactions with our affiliates is restricted.

We are prohibited under the 1940 Act from participating in certain transactions with certain of our affiliates without the prior approval of our independent directors and, in some cases, the SEC. Any person that owns, directly or indirectly, 5% or more of our outstanding voting securities is our affiliate for purposes of the 1940 Act, and we generally are prohibited from buying or selling any security from or to such affiliate, absent the prior approval of our independent directors.

The 1940 Act also prohibits certain “joint” transactions with certain of our affiliates, which could include investments in the same portfolio company (whether at the same or different times to the extent the transaction is deemed to be “joint”), without prior approval of our independent directors and, in some cases, the SEC. If a person acquires more than 25% of our voting securities, we are prohibited from buying or selling any security from or to such person or certain of that person’s affiliates, or entering into prohibited joint transactions with such persons, absent the prior approval of the SEC. Similar restrictions limit our ability to transact business with our officers or directors or their affiliates.

We also generally will be unable to co-invest in any issuer in which the Adviser and its affiliates or a fund managed by the Adviser or its affiliates is investing. The SEC has interpreted the BDC regulations governing transactions with affiliates to prohibit certain “joint transactions” involving entities that share a common investment advisor. As a result of these restrictions, we may be prohibited from buying or selling any security (other than any security of which the Fund is an issuer) from or to, as well as co-investing with, any fund managed by our affiliates without the prior approval of the SEC. The decision by the Adviser to allocate an opportunity to another entity could cause us to forgo an investment opportunity that we otherwise would have made. These restrictions may limit the scope of investment opportunities that would otherwise be available to us.

On August 6, 2018, the SEC granted us relief sought in a new exemptive application that expands the co-investment exemptive relief previously granted to us in October 2016 to allow the Fund and certain of its affiliates to co-invest in portfolio companies with certain of our affiliates that are managed by the Adviser (“Affiliated Funds”) in a manner consistent with our investment objective, positions, policies, strategies and restrictions as well as regulatory requirements and other pertinent factors, subject to compliance with certain conditions (the “Order”). Pursuant to the Order, we are permitted to co-invest with Affiliated Funds, which the new exemptive relief defines to include affiliated managed accounts, if, among other things, a “required majority” (as defined in Section 57(o) of the 1940 Act) of our independent directors make certain conclusions in connection with a co-investment transaction, including that (1) the terms of the transactions, including the consideration to be paid, are reasonable and fair to us and our investors and do not involve overreaching in respect of us or our investors on the part of any person concerned, and (2) the transaction is consistent with the interests of our investors and is consistent with our investment objective and strategies. We intend to co-invest with Affiliated Funds, subject to the conditions included in the Order.

We may, however, invest alongside other clients of the Adviser and its affiliates, including other entities they manage in certain circumstances where doing so is consistent with applicable law, the Order, or SEC staff interpretations and guidance. For example, we may co-invest with such accounts consistent with guidance promulgated by the SEC staff permitting us and such other funds to co-invest in privately placed securities so long as certain conditions are met, including that the Adviser, acting on our behalf and on behalf of other clients, negotiates no term other than price. We may also co-invest with the Adviser’s other clients as otherwise permissible under regulatory guidance, applicable regulations or the Adviser’s allocation policy.

In situations where co-investment with other clients of the Adviser or its affiliates is not permitted under the 1940 Act and related rules, existing or future staff guidance, or the terms and conditions of the Order, the Adviser will need to decide which client or clients will proceed with the

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investment. Under the Adviser’s allocation policy, such determinations will be made based on the principle that investment opportunities shall be offered to eligible clients on a basis that will be fair and equitable over time. As a result, we will not have an entitlement to make a co-investment in these circumstances, and to the extent that another client elects to proceed with the investment, we will not be permitted to participate. Moreover, except in certain circumstances, we will be unable to invest in any issuer in which a client of the Adviser or its affiliate holds a controlling interest. These restrictions may limit the scope of investment opportunities that would otherwise be available to us, and there can be no assurance that investment opportunities will be allocated to us fairly or equitably in the short term or over time.

The compensation we will pay to the Adviser was not determined on an arm’s-length basis. Thus, the terms of such compensation may be less advantageous to us than if such terms had been the subject of arm’s-length negotiations.

The compensation we will pay to the Adviser was not determined on an arm’s-length basis with an unaffiliated third party. As a result, the form and amount of such compensation may be less favorable to us than they might have been had the respective agreements been entered into through arm’s-length transactions with an unaffiliated third party. In addition, we may choose not to enforce, or to enforce less vigorously, our respective rights and remedies under the Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement because of our desire to maintain our ongoing relationship with the Adviser and its respective affiliates. Any such decision, however, could cause us to breach our fiduciary obligations to our stockholders.

Even in the event the value of your investment declines, the base management fee and, in certain circumstances, the incentive fee will still be payable to the Adviser.

Even in the event the value of your investment declines, the base management fee and, in certain circumstances, the incentive fee will still be payable to the Adviser. The base management fee is calculated as a percentage of the value of our gross assets at a specific time, which would include any borrowings for investment purposes, and may give the Adviser an incentive to use leverage to make additional investments. In addition, the base management fee is payable regardless of whether the value of our gross assets or your investment have decreased. The use of increased leverage may increase the likelihood of default, which would disfavor holders of our common stock, including investors in our common stock. Given the subjective nature of the investment decisions that the Adviser will make on our behalf, we may not be able to monitor this potential conflict of interest.

The income-based incentive fee is calculated as a percentage of PIFNII. Since PIFNII does not include any realized capital gains, realized capital losses or unrealized capital appreciation or depreciation, it is possible that we may pay an incentive fee in a quarter in which we incur a loss. For example, if we receive PIFNII in excess of the quarterly minimum hurdle rate, we will pay the applicable income-based incentive fee even if we have incurred a loss in that quarter due to realized and unrealized capital losses. In addition, because the quarterly minimum hurdle rates are calculated based on our net assets, decreases in our net assets due to realized or unrealized capital losses in any given quarter may increase the likelihood that the hurdle rates are reached in that quarter and, as a result, that an incentive fee is paid for that quarter. Our net investment income used to calculate this component of the incentive fee is also included in the amount of our gross assets used to calculate the base management fee.

Also, the capital gains component of the incentive fee is calculated annually based upon our realized capital gains, computed net of realized capital losses and unrealized capital depreciation on a cumulative basis. As a result, we may owe the Adviser an incentive fee during one year as a result of realized capital gains on certain investments, and then incur significant realized capital losses and unrealized capital depreciation on the remaining investments in our portfolio during subsequent years. Incentive fees earned in prior years cannot be clawed back even if we later incur losses.

Our incentive fee may induce the Adviser to pursue speculative investments and to use leverage when it may be unwise to do so.

The incentive fee payable by us to the Adviser may create an incentive for the Adviser to pursue investments on our behalf that are riskier or more speculative than would be the case in the absence of such compensation arrangement. The income-based incentive fee payable to the Adviser will be calculated based on a percentage of our return on invested capital. This may encourage the Adviser to use leverage to increase the return on our investments. Under certain circumstances, the use of leverage may increase the likelihood of default, which would impair the value of our common stock. In addition, the Adviser will receive the incentive fee based, in part, upon net capital gains realized on our investments. As a result, in certain situations the Adviser may have a tendency to invest more capital in investments that are likely to result in capital gains as compared to income producing securities. Such a practice could result in our investing in more speculative securities than would otherwise be the case, which could result in higher investment losses, particularly during economic downturns.

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The Small Business Credit Availability Act allows us to incur additional leverage, which may increase the risk of investing with us.

On March 23, 2018, the SBCAA was signed into law. The SBCAA, among other things, modifies the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act to reduce the required asset coverage ratio applicable to BDCs from 200% to 150% subject to certain approval, time and disclosure requirements (including either stockholder approval or approval of a majority of the directors who are not interested persons of the BDC and who have no financial interest in the proposal). On July 5, 2018, the Board voted to approve the adoption of the reduced asset coverage ratio and separately recommended that Investors approve the reduced asset coverage requirements at the 2018 annual meeting of stockholders. On September 26, 2018, the Fund’s stockholders voted to approve the adoption of the reduced asset coverage ratio, effective September 27, 2018.

Increased leverage could increase the risks associated with investing in the Fund. For example, if the value of the Fund’s assets decreases, although the asset base and expected revenues would be larger because increased leverage would permit the Fund to acquire additional assets, leverage will cause the Fund’s net asset value to decline more sharply than it otherwise would have without leverage or with lower leverage. Similarly, any decrease in the Fund’s revenue would cause its net income to decline more sharply, on a relative basis, than it would have if the Fund had not borrowed or had borrowed less (although, as noted above, the Fund’s asset base and expected revenues would likely be larger). However, since the Fund already uses leverage in optimizing its investment portfolio, there are no material new risks associated with increased leverage other than the amount of the leverage.

If the Fund’s asset coverage ratio falls below the required limit, the Fund will not be able to incur additional debt until it is able to comply with the asset coverage ratio. This could have a material adverse effect on the Fund’s operations, and the Fund may not be able to make distributions to stockholders. The actual amount of leverage that the Fund employs will depend on the Board’s and the Adviser’s assessment of market and other factors at the time of any proposed borrowing. The Fund currently anticipates being able to obtain sufficient credit on acceptable terms, although the Fund can make no assurance that this will be the case or that it will remain such in the future.

The following table illustrates the effect of leverage on returns from an investment in the shares of common stock assuming that we employ leverage such that our asset coverage equals (1) our actual asset coverage as of December 31, 2019 and (2) 150%, each at various annual returns, net of expenses and as of December 31, 2019.

The calculations in the tables below are hypothetical, and are provided for illustrative purposes only. Actual returns may be higher or lower than those appearing below.

Increased leverage may magnify our exposure to risks associated with changes in interest rates.

If we incur additional leverage, general interest rate fluctuations may have a more significant negative impact on our investments and investment opportunities than they would have absent such additional incurrence, and, accordingly, may have a material adverse effect on our investment objectives and rate of return on investment capital. Because we may borrow money to make investments in the form of debt securities, preferred stock or other securities, our net investment income is dependent upon the difference between the rate at which income from investments exceeds the rate at which we pay interest or dividends on such liabilities.

We principally invest in floating-rate assets and incur our indebtedness on a floating-rate basis as well. We plan to incur indebtedness, when possible, on the same floating base rate applicable to the assets in which we invest. Because the base rate of our assets and indebtedness are expected to generally be the same and will therefore fluctuate on largely the same basis, the primary risk that we face from interest rate fluctuations is a situation where the difference in the rate on investment income versus the base rate, which we refer to as the “spread,” falls and there is not a similar reduction in the spread on our indebtedness or losses exceed anticipated levels. In that situation, the investment income, net of losses, less the cost of our

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indebtedness would be reduced. This reduction could create a material adverse effect on our investment objectives if the spread compression was significant and persistent over long periods.

We expect that a majority of our investments in debt will continue to be at floating rates. However, as we make investments in debt at floating rates, a significant increase in market interest rates could also result in an increase in our non-performing assets and a decrease in the value of our portfolio because the portfolio companies paying interest at such increasing floating rates may be unable to meet higher payment obligations. In periods of rising interest rates, our cost of funds would increase, which, if not matched with the rising interest rates of our performing floating-rate assets, could result in a decrease in our net investment income. Incurring additional leverage will magnify the impact of an increase to our cost of funds. In addition, a decrease in interest rates may reduce net income, because new investments may be made at lower rates despite the increased demand for our capital that the decrease in interest rates may produce. To the extent our additional borrowings are in fixed-rate instruments, we may be required to invest in higher-yield securities in order to cover our interest expense and maintain our current level of return to stockholders, which may increase the risk of an investment in our shares.

A general increase in interest rates will likely have the effect of making it easier for the Adviser to receive incentive fees, without necessarily resulting in an increase in our net earnings.

Given the structure of our Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement with the Adviser, any general increase in interest rates will likely have the effect of making it easier for the Adviser to meet the quarterly hurdle rates for payment of income-based incentive fees under the Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement without any additional increase in relative performance on the part of the Adviser. In addition, in view of the catch-up provisions applicable to income-based incentive fees under the Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement, the Adviser could potentially receive a significant portion of the increase in our investment income attributable to such a general increase in interest rates. If that were to occur, our increase in net earnings, if any, would likely be significantly smaller than the relative increase in the Adviser’s income-based incentive fee resulting from such a general increase in interest rates.

The Adviser and the Administrator have the right to resign on 60 days’ notice, and we may not be able to find a suitable replacement for either within that time, or at all, resulting in a disruption in our operations that could adversely affect our financial condition, business and results of operations.

The Adviser has the right, under the Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement, to resign at any time upon 60 days’ written notice, regardless of whether we have found a replacement. Similarly, the Administrator has the right under the Administration Agreement to resign at any time upon 60 days’ written notice, regardless of whether we have found a replacement. If the Adviser or the Administrator were to resign, we may not be able to find a new investment adviser or administrator or hire internal management with similar expertise and ability to provide the same or equivalent services on acceptable terms within 60 days, or at all. If we are unable to do so quickly, our operations are likely to experience a disruption and our financial condition, business and results of operations, as well as our ability to pay distributions, are likely to be materially and adversely affected. In addition, the coordination of our internal management and investment or administrative activities, as applicable, are likely to suffer if we are unable to identify and reach an agreement with a single institution or group of executives having the expertise possessed by the Adviser, the Administrator and their respective affiliates. Even if we are able to retain comparable management, whether internal or external, the integration of such management and their lack of familiarity with our investment objective may result in additional costs and time delays that may adversely affect our financial condition, business, results of operations and cash flows.

The Adviser’s liability is limited under the Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement and we have agreed to indemnify the Adviser against certain liabilities, which may lead the Adviser to act in a riskier manner on our behalf than it would when acting for its own account.

Under the Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement, the Adviser has not assumed any responsibility to us other than to render the services called for under that agreement. It is not responsible for any action of our Board in following or declining to follow the Adviser’s advice or recommendations. Under the Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement, the Adviser and its professionals and any person controlling or controlled by the Adviser are not liable to us, any subsidiary of ours, our directors, our stockholders or any subsidiary’s stockholders or partners for acts or omissions performed in accordance with and pursuant to the Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement, except those resulting from acts constituting gross negligence, willful misfeasance, bad faith or reckless disregard of the duties that the Adviser owes to us under the Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement. In addition, as part of the Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement, we have agreed to indemnify the Adviser and its professionals from and against any claims or liabilities, including reasonable legal fees and other expenses reasonably incurred, arising out of or in connection with our business and operations or any action taken or omitted on our behalf pursuant to authority granted by the Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement, except where attributable to gross negligence, willful misfeasance, bad faith or reckless disregard of such person’s duties under the Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement.

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The Adviser may not be able to achieve the same or similar returns as those achieved by Mr. Humphries and the other members of the Adviser’s core investment team while they were employed at prior positions.

Although in the past Mr. Humphries and the other members of the Adviser’s core investment team have held senior positions at a number of investment firms, their achievements are not necessarily indicative of future results that will be achieved by the Adviser. We cannot assure you that we will be able to achieve the results realized by prior vehicles managed by Mr. Humphries and the other members of the Adviser’s core investment team.

Investors may default on Capital Calls.

Capital Calls (as defined in the subscription agreement) will be issued by the Fund from time to time at the discretion of the Adviser based upon the Adviser’s assessment of the needs and opportunities of the Fund. To satisfy such Capital Calls, investors are required to maintain their Capital Commitments in cash or other assets that can be readily converted to cash, within accounts under the control of AB or its affiliates. If such cash or other assets were not in such accounts and an investor fails to pay when due installments of its Capital Commitment to the Fund, and the Capital Commitments made by non-defaulting investors and borrowings by the Fund are inadequate to cover the defaulted Capital Commitment, the Fund may be unable to pay its obligations when due. As a result, the Fund may be subjected to significant penalties that could materially adversely affect the returns of the investor (including non-defaulting investors).

Any failure on our part to maintain our status as a BDC would reduce our operating flexibility.

We have elected to be regulated as a BDC under the 1940 Act. The 1940 Act imposes numerous constraints on the operations of BDCs. For example, BDCs are required to invest at least 70% of their gross assets in specified types of securities, primarily in private companies or thinly-traded U.S. public companies, cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government securities and other high-quality debt investments that mature in one year or less. Furthermore, any failure to comply with the requirements imposed on BDCs by the 1940 Act could cause the SEC to bring an enforcement action against us and/or expose us to claims of private litigants. In addition, upon approval of a majority of our stockholders, we may elect to withdraw our status as a BDC. If we decide to withdraw our election, or if we otherwise fail to qualify, or maintain our qualification, as a BDC, we will be subject to substantially greater regulation under the 1940 Act as a closed-end investment company. Compliance with such regulations would significantly decrease our operating flexibility, and could significantly increase our costs of doing business.

Regulations governing our operation as a BDC affect our ability to raise additional capital and the way in which we do so. As a BDC, the necessity of raising additional capital may expose us to risks, including the typical risks associated with leverage.

We may issue debt securities or preferred stock and/or borrow money from banks or other financial institutions, referred to collectively as “senior securities,” up to the maximum amount permitted by the 1940 Act. Under the provisions of the 1940 Act, we will be permitted, as a BDC, to issue senior securities in amounts such that our asset coverage ratio (as defined in the 1940 Act), equals at least 150% of gross assets less all liabilities and indebtedness not represented by senior securities, immediately after each issuance of senior securities. If the value of our assets declines, we may be unable to satisfy this test. If that happens, we may be required to sell a portion of our investments and, depending on the nature of our leverage, repay a portion of our indebtedness at a time when such sales may be disadvantageous. Also, any amounts that we use to service our indebtedness would not be available for distributions to our common stockholders. Furthermore, as a result of issuing senior securities, we would also be exposed to typical risks associated with leverage, including an increased risk of loss. If we issue preferred stock, the preferred stock would rank “senior” to common stock in our capital structure, preferred stockholders would have separate voting rights on certain matters and might have other rights, preferences, or privileges more favorable than those of our common stockholders, and the issuance of preferred stock could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a transaction or a change of control that might involve a premium price for holders of our common stock or otherwise be in your best interest.

We will not generally be able to issue and sell our common stock at a price below net asset value per share. We may, however, sell our common stock, or warrants, options or rights to acquire our common stock, at a price below the then-current net asset value per share of our common stock if our Board determines that such sale is in the best interests of our stockholders, and our stockholders approve such sale. In any such case, the price at which our securities are to be issued and sold may not be less than a price that, in the determination of our Board, closely approximates the market value of such securities (less any distributing commission or discount). If we raise additional funds by issuing more common stock or senior securities convertible into, or exchangeable for, our common stock, then the percentage ownership of our stockholders at that time will decrease, and you may experience dilution.

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We may borrow money, which would magnify the potential for gain or loss on amounts invested and may increase the risk of investing in us.

The use of leverage magnifies the potential for gain or loss on amounts invested and, therefore, increases the risks associated with investing in our securities. We may borrow from and issue senior debt securities to banks, insurance companies and other lenders in the future. Holders of these senior securities will have fixed dollar claims on our assets that are superior to the claims of our common stockholders, and we would expect such lenders to seek recovery against our assets in the event of a default. If the value of our assets decreases, leveraging would cause net asset value to decline more sharply than it otherwise would have had we not leveraged. Similarly, any decrease in our income would cause net income to decline more sharply than it would have had we not borrowed. Such a decline could also negatively affect our ability to make dividend payments on our common stock. Leverage is generally considered a speculative investment technique. Our ability to service any debt that we incur will depend largely on our financial performance and will be subject to prevailing economic conditions and competitive pressures. In addition, our common stockholders will bear the burden of any increase in our expenses as a result of leverage.

Under the provisions of the 1940 Act, we will generally be permitted, as a BDC, to issue senior securities in amounts such that our asset coverage ratio (as defined under the 1940 Act), equals at least 150% of our gross assets less all liabilities and indebtedness not represented by senior securities, immediately after each issuance of senior securities. If this ratio declines below 150%, we may not be able to incur additional debt and could be required by law to sell a portion of our investments to repay some debt when it is disadvantageous to do so, which could have a material adverse effect on our operations, and we may not be able to make distributions. The amount of leverage that we employ will depend on the Adviser’s and our Board’s assessment of market and other factors at the time of any proposed borrowing. We cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain credit at all or on terms acceptable to us.

In addition, any debt facility into which we may enter would likely impose financial and operating covenants that restrict our business activities, including limitations that could hinder our ability to finance additional loans and investments or to make the distributions required to maintain our qualification as a RIC.

To the extent that we borrow money, the potential for gain or loss on amounts invested in us will be magnified and may increase the risk of investing in us. Borrowed money may also adversely affect the return on our assets, reduce cash available to service our debt or for distribution to our stockholders, and result in losses.

The use of borrowings, also known as leverage, increases the volatility of investments by magnifying the potential for gain or loss on invested equity capital. Since we use leverage to partially finance our investments, through borrowing from banks and other lenders, you will experience increased risks of investing in our securities. If the value of our assets decreases, leveraging will cause our net asset value to decline more sharply than it otherwise would if we had not borrowed and employed leverage. Similarly, any decrease in our income would cause our net income to decline more sharply than it would have if we had not borrowed and employed leverage. Such a decline could negatively affect our ability to service our debt or make distributions to our stockholders. In addition, our stockholders will bear the burden of any increase in our expenses as a result of our use of leverage, including interest expenses and any increase in the management or incentive fees payable to the Adviser.

The amount of leverage that we employ depends on the Adviser’s and the Board’s assessment of market and other factors at the time of any proposed borrowing. There can be no assurance that additional leveraged financing will be available to us on favorable terms or at all. However, to the extent that we use leverage to finance our assets, our financing costs will reduce cash available for servicing our debt or distributions to stockholders. Moreover, we may not be able to meet our financing obligations and, to the extent that we cannot, we risk the loss of some or all of our assets to liquidation or sale to satisfy the obligations. In such an event, we may be forced to sell assets at significantly depressed prices due to market conditions or otherwise, which may result in losses.

As a business development company, we are required to meet a coverage ratio of total assets to total borrowings and other senior securities, which include all of our borrowings and any preferred stock that we may issue in the future, of at least 150%. If this ratio declines below 150%, we cannot incur additional debt and could be required to sell a portion of our investments to repay some debt when it is disadvantageous to do so. This could have a material adverse effect on our operations, and we may not be able to service our debt or make distributions.

We are subject to risks associated with the current interest rate environment and to the extent we use debt to finance our investments, changes in interest rates will affect our cost of capital and net investment income.

To the extent we borrow money or issue debt securities or preferred stock to make investments, our net investment income will depend, in part, upon the difference between the rate at which we borrow funds or pay interest or dividends on such debt securities or preferred stock and the rate at which we invest these funds. In addition, many of our debt investments and borrowings have floating rate interest rates that reset on a periodic basis, and many of our investments are subject to interest rate floors. As a result, a change in market interest rates could have a material adverse effect on our net

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investment income, in particular with respect to increases from current levels to the level of the interest rate floors on certain investments. In periods of rising interest rates, our cost of funds will increase because the interest rates on the majority of amounts we have borrowed are floating, which could reduce our net investment income to the extent any debt investments have fixed interest rates, and the interest rate on investments with an interest rate floor will not increase until interest rates exceed the applicable floor. We may use interest rate risk management techniques in an effort to limit our exposure to interest rate fluctuations. Such techniques may include various interest rate hedging activities to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and applicable commodities laws. These activities may limit our ability to participate in the benefits of lower interest rates with respect to the hedged borrowings. Adverse developments resulting from changes in interest rates or hedging transactions could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Investments in which we have a non-controlling interest may involve risks specific to third-party management of those investments.

We may also co-invest with third parties through partnerships, joint ventures or other entities, thereby acquiring jointly-controlled or non-controlling interests in certain investments in conjunction with participation by one or more third parties in such investment. Such joint venture partners or third-party managers may include former personnel of the Adviser or associated persons. As co-investors, we may have interests or objectives that are inconsistent with those of the third-party partners or co-venturers. Although we may not have full control over these investments and therefore, may have a limited ability to protect its position therein, we expect that we will negotiate appropriate rights to protect our interests. Nevertheless, such investments may involve risks not present in investments where a third party is not involved, including the possibility that a third-party partner or co-venturer may have financial difficulties, resulting in a negative impact on such investment, may have economic or business interests or goals which are inconsistent with ours, or may be in a position to take (or block) action in a manner contrary to the our investment objectives or the increased possibility of default by, diminished liquidity or insolvency of, the third party, due to a sustained or general economic downturn. Third-party partners or co-venturers may opt to liquidate an investment at a time during which such liquidation is not optimal for us. In addition, we may in certain circumstances be liable for the actions of its third-party partners or co-venturers. In those circumstances where such third parties involve a management group, such third parties may receive compensation arrangements relating to such investments, including incentive compensation arrangements.

We may experience fluctuations in our quarterly and annual results.

We may experience fluctuations in our quarterly and annual operating results due to a number of factors, including our ability or inability to make investments in companies that meet our investment criteria, the interest rate payable on the debt securities we acquire, the level of portfolio dividend and fee income, the level of our expenses, variations in and the timing of the recognition of realized and unrealized gains or losses, the degree to which we encounter competition in our markets and general economic conditions. As a result of these factors, results for any period should not be relied upon as being indicative of performance in future periods.

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

We are classified as a non-diversified investment company within the meaning of the 1940 Act, which means that we are not limited by the 1940 Act with respect to the proportion of our assets that we may invest in securities of a single issuer. To the extent that we hold large positions in the securities of a small number of issuers, or within a particular industry, our net asset value may fluctuate to a greater extent than that of a diversified investment company as a result of changes in the issuer’s financial condition or the market’s assessment of the issuer. We may also be more susceptible to any single economic or regulatory occurrence than a diversified investment company.

Our Board is authorized to reclassify any unissued shares of common stock into one or more classes of preferred stock, which could convey special rights and privileges to its owners.

Under the Maryland General Corporation Law (the “MGCL”) and our charter, the Board is authorized to classify and reclassify any authorized but unissued shares of stock into one or more classes of stock, including preferred stock. Prior to the issuance of shares of each class or series, the Board is required by Maryland law and our charter to set the terms, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms or conditions of redemption for each class or series. Thus, the Board could authorize the issuance of shares of preferred stock with terms and conditions which could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a transaction or a change in control that might involve a premium price for holders of our common stock or otherwise be in their best interest. The cost of any such reclassification would be borne by our existing common stockholders. Certain matters under the 1940 Act require the separate vote of the holders of any issued and outstanding preferred stock. For example, holders of preferred stock would vote separately from the holders of common stock on a proposal to cease operations

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as a BDC. In addition, the 1940 Act provides that holders of preferred stock are entitled to vote separately from holders of common stock to elect two preferred stock directors. We currently have no plans to issue preferred stock, but may determine to do so in the future. The issuance of preferred stock convertible into shares of common stock might also reduce the net income per share and net asset value per share of our common stock upon conversion, provided, that we will only be permitted to issue such convertible preferred stock to the extent we comply with the requirements of Section 61 of the 1940 Act, including obtaining common stockholder approval. These effects, among others, could have an adverse effect on an investment in our common stock.

Our Board may change our investment objective, operating policies and strategies without prior notice or stockholder approval, the effects of which may be adverse.

Our Board will have the authority to modify or waive our investment objective, current operating policies, investment criteria and strategies without prior notice (except as required by the 1940 Act) and without stockholder approval. However, absent stockholder approval, we may not change the nature of our business so as to cease to be, or withdraw our election as, a BDC. We cannot predict the effect any changes to our current operating policies, investment criteria and strategies would have on our business, net asset value, operating results and value of our stock. However, the effects might be adverse, which could negatively impact our ability to pay you dividends and cause you to lose all or part of your investment.

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

Although we have elected to be treated as a RIC, no assurance can be given that we will be able to maintain our qualification as a RIC. To maintain qualification as a RIC, we must meet the following source-of-income, asset diversification, and distribution requirements.

The income source requirement will be satisfied if we obtain at least 90% of our gross income for each year from dividends, interest, foreign currency, payments with respect to loans of certain securities, gains from the sale of stock or other securities, net income from certain “qualified publicly traded partnerships,” or similar sources.

The asset diversification requirement will be satisfied if we meet certain asset diversification requirements at the end of each quarter of our taxable year. Failure to meet those requirements may result in our having to dispose of certain investments quickly in order to prevent the loss of our qualification as a RIC. Because most of our investments will be in private companies, and therefore will be relatively illiquid, any such dispositions could be made at disadvantageous prices and could result in substantial losses. We may have difficulty satisfying the diversification requirement during our ramp-up phase until we have a portfolio of investments. We may also have difficulty satisfying the diversification requirements if we determine to wind up and liquidate our assets. We may be prevented from making follow-on investments in our portfolio companies in order to satisfy the diversification requirements.

The annual distribution requirement will be satisfied if we distribute to our stockholders on an annual basis at least 90% of our net ordinary income and realized net short-term capital gains in excess of realized net long-term capital losses, if any. Because we may use debt financing, we are subject to certain asset coverage ratio requirements under the 1940 Act and financial covenants under loan and credit agreements that could, under certain circumstances, restrict us from making distributions necessary to satisfy the distribution requirement. If we are unable to obtain cash from other sources, we could fail to qualify as a RIC. If we fail to qualify as a RIC for any reason and therefore become subject to corporate income tax, the resulting corporate taxes could substantially reduce our net assets, the amount of income available for distribution and the amount of our distributions.

There are risks that may arise in connection with the rules under ERISA related to investment by ERISA Plans.

We intend to operate so that we will be an appropriate investment for employee benefit plans subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”). We will use reasonable efforts to conduct the Fund’s affairs so that the assets of the Fund will not be deemed to be “plan assets” for purposes of ERISA. In this regard, prior to the completion of a Qualified IPO, we may be (and currently are) operated as an annual “venture capital operating company,” under the ERISA rules in order to avoid our assets being treated as “plan assets” for purposes of ERISA. Accordingly, there may be constraints on our ability to make or dispose of investments at optimal times (or to make certain investments at all).

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

For U.S. federal income tax purposes, we will include in our taxable income certain amounts that we have not yet received in cash, such as original issue discount, which may arise if we receive warrants in connection with the origination of a loan or possibly in other circumstances, or contractual “payment-in-kind,” or PIK interest, which represents contractual interest added to the loan balance and due at the end of the loan term. Such original issue discount or increases in loan balances as a result of contractual PIK arrangements will be included in our taxable income before we

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receive any corresponding cash payments. We also may be required to include in our taxable income certain other amounts that we will not receive in cash.

Since, in certain cases, we may recognize taxable income before or without receiving corresponding cash payments, we may have difficulty meeting the annual distribution requirement necessary to maintain our qualification as a RIC. Accordingly, to satisfy our RIC distribution requirements, we may have to sell some of our investments at times and/or at prices we would not consider advantageous, raise additional debt or equity capital or forgo new investment opportunities. If we are not able to obtain cash from other sources, we may fail to qualify as a RIC and thus become subject to corporate-level income tax. For additional discussion regarding the tax implications of our election to be taxed as a RIC, please see “Business — Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations.”

We may in the future choose to pay dividends in our own stock, in which case you may be required to pay tax in excess of the cash you receive.

We may distribute dividends that are payable predominantly in shares of our common stock. Under certain private rulings issued by the Internal Revenue Service, distributions payable to stockholders in cash or stock at the election of stockholders are treated as taxable dividends even if the total amount of the distribution payable in cash is limited, provided that at least 20% of the distribution is payable in cash. Taxable stockholders receiving such dividends will be required to include the full amount of the dividend as ordinary income (or as long-term capital gain to the extent such distribution is properly reported as a capital gain dividend) to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As a result, a U.S. stockholder may be required to pay tax with respect to such dividends in excess of any cash received. If a U.S. stockholder sells the stock it receives as a dividend in order to pay this tax, the sales proceeds may be less than the amount included in income with respect to the dividend, depending on the market price of our stock at the time of the sale. Furthermore, with respect to non-U.S. stockholders, we may be required to withhold U.S. federal tax with respect to such dividends, including in respect of all or a portion of such dividend that is payable in stock. In addition, if a significant number of our stockholders sell shares of our stock in order to pay taxes owed on dividends, it may put downward pressure on the trading price of our stock if we are publicly traded.

There is a risk that our stockholders may not receive any distributions.

We intend to make distributions on a quarterly basis to our stockholders out of assets legally available for distribution, or at other times, as determined by the Board in its discretion. We cannot assure you that we will achieve investment results that will allow us to make a specified level of cash distributions. In addition, due to the asset coverage test applicable to us as a BDC, we may be limited in our ability to make distributions. See “Business — Regulation as a Business Development Company.”

For any period that we do not qualify as a “publicly offered regulated investment company,” as defined in the Code, stockholders will be taxed as though they received a distribution of some of our expenses.

A “publicly offered regulated investment company” is a RIC whose shares are either (i) continuously offered pursuant to a public offering, (ii) regularly traded on an established securities market or (iii) held by at least 500 persons at all times during the taxable year. We anticipate that we will not qualify as a publicly offered RIC immediately after the Private Offering; we may qualify as a publicly offered RIC for future taxable years. If we are not a publicly offered RIC for any period, a non-corporate stockholder’s allocable portion of our affected expenses, including our management fees and incentive fees, will be treated as an additional distribution to the stockholder and will be deductible by such stockholder only to the extent permitted under the limitations described below. For non-corporate stockholders, including individuals, trusts and estates, significant limitations generally apply to the deductibility of certain expenses of a non-publicly offered RIC, including advisory fees. In particular, for taxable years beginning before 2026, these expenses, referred to as miscellaneous itemized deductions, generally are not deductible by an individual. For taxable years beginning in 2026 or later, these expenses are deductible to an individual only to the extent they exceed 2% of such a stockholder’s adjusted gross income, and are not deductible for alternative minimum tax purposes.

We are subject to risks in using custodians, administrators and other agents.

We will depend on the services of custodians, administrators and other agents to carry out certain securities transactions and administrative services for us. In the event of the insolvency of a custodian, we may not be able to recover equivalent assets in full as we will rank among the custodian’s unsecured creditors in relation to assets which the custodian borrows, lends or otherwise uses. In addition, our cash held with a custodian may not be segregated from the custodian’s own cash, and we therefore may rank as unsecured creditors in relation thereto. The inability to recover assets from the custodian could have a material impact on our performance.

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We expend significant financial and other resources to comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

We are subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. These requirements may place a strain on our systems and resources. The Exchange Act requires that we file annual, quarterly and current reports with respect to our business and financial condition. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires that we maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures and internal controls over financial reporting, which are discussed below. See “Business — Regulation as a Business Development Company — Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.” To maintain and improve the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures and internal controls, significant resources and management oversight are required. We will implement additional procedures, processes, policies and practices for the purpose of addressing the standards and requirements applicable to public companies. These activities may divert management’s attention from other business concerns, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. We expect to incur significant additional annual expenses related to these steps and, among other things, directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, director fees, reporting requirements of the SEC, transfer agent fees, additional administrative expenses payable to the Administrator to compensate them for hiring additional accounting, legal and administrative personnel, increased auditing and legal fees and similar expenses.

The systems and resources necessary to comply with public company reporting requirements will increase further once we cease to be an “emerging growth company” under the JOBS Act. As long as we remain an emerging growth company, we will take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies, including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (“Section 404”) and exemptions from the requirement to hold advisory votes on executive compensation. We will remain an emerging growth company for up to five years following an IPO, although if the market value of our common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of any June 30 before that time, we would cease to be an emerging growth company as of the following December 31.

We do not currently have comprehensive documentation of our internal controls and we have not yet tested our internal controls in accordance with Section 404, and failure to achieve and maintain effective internal controls over financial reporting in accordance with Section 404 could have a material adverse effect on our business.

We have not previously been required to comply with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, including the internal control evaluation and certification requirements of Section 404, and will not be required to comply with all of those requirements until five years after the Initial Closing (as defined herein). Accordingly, our internal controls over financial reporting do not currently meet all of the standards contemplated by Section 404 that we will eventually be required to meet. We are in the process of addressing our internal controls over financial reporting and are establishing formal procedures, policies, processes and practices related to financial reporting and to the identification of key financial reporting risks, assessment of their potential impact and linkage of those risks to specific areas and activities within the our organization.

Additionally, we intend to document our internal control procedures to satisfy the requirements of Section 404, which requires annual management assessments of the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting. Our independent registered public accounting firm is not currently required to formally attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. Because we do not currently have comprehensive documentation of internal controls and have not yet tested internal controls in accordance with Section 404, we cannot conclude in accordance with Section 404 that we do not have a material weakness in our internal controls or a combination of significant deficiencies that could result in the conclusion that we have a material weakness in internal controls. We will be required to complete our initial assessment in a timely manner. If we are not able to implement the requirements of Section 404 in a timely manner or with adequate compliance, our operations, financial reporting or financial results could be adversely affected. Matters impacting our internal controls may cause us to be unable to report our financial information on a timely basis and thereby subject us to adverse regulatory consequences, including sanctions by the SEC or violations of applicable stock exchange listing rules, and result in a breach of the covenants under the agreements governing any of the our financing arrangements. There could also be a negative reaction in the financial markets due to a loss of investor confidence in the Fund and the reliability of our consolidated financial statements. Confidence in the reliability of our consolidated financial statements could also suffer if the Fund or our independent registered public accounting firm were to report a material weakness in our internal controls over financial reporting. This could materially adversely affect the Fund and lead to a decline in the market price of our common stock, to the extent we have completed a Qualified IPO.

Stockholders may be subject to filing requirements under the Exchange Act as a result of an investment in us.

Because our common stock will be registered under the Exchange Act, ownership information for any person who beneficially owns 5% or more of our common stock will have to be disclosed in a Schedule 13D or other filings with the SEC. Beneficial ownership for these purposes is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC, and includes having voting or investment power over the securities. In some circumstances, stockholders who

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choose to reinvest their dividends may see their percentage stake in us increased to more than 5%, thus triggering this filing requirement. Although we will provide in our quarterly statements the amount of outstanding stock and the amount of the investor’s stock, the responsibility for determining the filing obligation and preparing the filing remains with the investor. In addition, owners of 10% or more of our common stock are subject to reporting obligations under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act.

Stockholders may be subject to the short-swing profits rules under the Exchange Act as a result of an investment in us.

Persons with the right to appoint a director or who hold more than 10% of a class of our shares may be subject to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, which recaptures for the benefit of the issuer profits from the purchase and sale of registered stock within a six-month period.

There may be state licensing requirements.

We may be required to obtain various state licenses in order to, among other things, originate commercial loans. Applying for and obtaining required licenses can be costly and take several months. There is no assurance that we will obtain all of the licenses that we need on a timely basis. Furthermore, we will be subject to various information and other requirements in order to obtain and maintain these licenses, and there is no assurance that we will satisfy those requirements. Our failure to obtain or maintain licenses might restrict investment options and have other adverse consequences.

Investors in the Private Offering will be subject to transfer restrictions.

Prior to the completion of a Qualified IPO, and other than in connection with a New BDC Spin-Off, creation of a Liquidating Share Class, a Limited Tender Offer, or pursuant to a share repurchase program of the Fund, investors who participate in the Private Offering may not sell, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of (in each case, a “Transfer”) any common stock unless (i) we give consent and (ii) the Transfer is made in accordance with applicable securities laws. No Transfer will be effectuated except by registration of the Transfer on our books. Each transferee must agree to be bound by these restrictions and all other obligations as an investor in us. Following completion of a Qualified IPO, stockholders will be restricted from selling or disposing of their shares of common stock contractually by a lock-up agreement with the underwriters of the IPO and secondary offerings, and by the terms of the subscription agreement.

The proposals to establish a Liquidating Share Class, New BDC or a Limited Tender Offer (together, the “Proposals”) would involve transactions that are currently prohibited by the 1940 Act and would require an SEC order in order to be put in place. The SEC has not previously granted orders with respect to a Liquidating Share Class or a New BDC, and it could take several years before the SEC determines whether relief is appropriate and it may ultimately deny the requests for any or all of the Proposals. If the SEC were to deny any of the requests for the exemptive relief required to effectuate the Proposals, the Board would need to consider other ways to permit stockholders to liquidate their investments. If you expect to need access to your investment in the near future, you should not invest in the Fund.

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

Legal, tax and regulatory changes could occur that may adversely affect us. For example, from time to time the market for private equity transactions has been (and is currently being) adversely affected by a decrease in the availability of senior and subordinated financings for transactions, in part in response to credit market disruptions and/or regulatory pressures on providers of financing to reduce or eliminate their exposure to the risks involved in such transactions.

In addition, as private equity firms become more influential participants in the U.S. and global financial markets and economy generally, there recently has been pressure for greater governmental scrutiny and/or regulation of the private equity industry, in part. It is uncertain as to what form and in what jurisdictions such enhanced scrutiny and/or regulation, if any, on the private equity industry may ultimately take. Therefore, there can be no assurance as to whether any such scrutiny or initiatives will have an adverse impact on the private equity industry, including our ability to effect operating improvements or restructurings of its portfolio companies or otherwise achieve its objectives.

On July 21, 2010, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”), was signed into law. Many of the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act have extended implementation periods and delayed effective dates and will require extensive rulemaking by regulatory authorities. While the impact of the Dodd-Frank Act on us and our portfolio companies may not be known for an extended period of time, the Dodd-Frank Act, including future rules implementing its provisions and the interpretation of those rules, along with other legislative and regulatory proposals directed at the financial services industry and the financial markets (including derivative markets) or affecting taxation that are proposed or pending in the U.S. Congress, may negatively impact the operations, cash flows or financial condition of us or our portfolio companies, impose

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additional costs on us or our portfolio companies, restrict or further regulate certain of our activities, including derivative trading and hedging activities, intensify the regulatory supervision of us or our portfolio companies or otherwise adversely affect our business or the business of our portfolio companies.

In addition, we and our portfolio companies will be subject to applicable local, state and U.S. federal laws and regulations, including, without limitation, U.S. federal immigration laws and regulations. New legislation may be enacted or new interpretations, rulings or regulations could be adopted, including those governing the types of investments we are permitted to make, any of which could harm us and our stockholders, potentially with retroactive effect. Additionally, any changes to the laws and regulations governing our operations relating to permitted investments may cause us to alter our investment strategy in order to avail ourselves of new or different opportunities. Such changes could result in material differences to the strategies and plans set forth herein and may result in our investment focus shifting from the areas of expertise of the Adviser’s investment team to other types of investments in which the investment team may have less expertise or little or no experience. Thus, any such changes, if they occur, could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and the value of your investment.

The impact of recently enacted federal tax legislation on us, our stockholders and our investments is uncertain.

Significant U.S. federal tax reform legislation was recently enacted that, among other things, permanently reduces the maximum federal corporate income tax rate, reduces the maximum individual income tax rate (effective for taxable years 2018 through 2025), restricts the deductibility of business interest expense, changes the rules regarding the calculation of net operating loss deductions that may be used to offset taxable income, expands the circumstances in which a foreign corporation will be treated as a “controlled foreign corporation” and, under certain circumstances, requires accrual method taxpayers to recognize income for U.S. federal income tax purposes no later than the income is taken into account as revenue in an applicable consolidated financial statement. The impact of this new legislation on us, our stockholders and entities in which we may invest is uncertain. Prospective investors are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the effects of the new legislation on an investment in us.

Future legislation or rules could modify how we treat derivatives and other financial arrangements for purposes of our compliance with the leverage limitations of the 1940 Act.

Future legislation or rules may modify how we treat derivatives and other financial arrangements for purposes of our compliance with the leverage limitations of the 1940 Act. For example, the SEC proposed a new rule in December 2015, which was re-released with certain modifications in November 2019, that was designed to enhance the regulation of the use of derivatives by registered investment companies and business development companies. While the adoption of the proposed rule is currently uncertain, the proposed rule, if adopted, or any future legislation or rules, may modify how leverage is calculated under the 1940 Act and, therefore, may increase or decrease the amount of leverage currently available to us under the 1940 Act, which may be materially adverse to us and our stockholders.

A disruption in the capital markets and the credit markets could impair our ability to borrow money and negatively affect our business.

As a BDC, we will have to maintain our ability to borrow money for investment purposes. Without sufficient access to the capital markets or credit markets, we may be forced to curtail our business operations or we may not be able to pursue new business opportunities. Capital markets and credit markets sometimes experience extreme volatility and disruption and, accordingly, there has been and may continue to be uncertainty in the financial markets in general. Any further disruptive conditions in the financial industry and the impact of new legislation in response to those conditions could restrict our business operations and could adversely impact our results of operations and financial condition.

If the fair value of our assets declines substantially, we may fail to maintain the asset coverage ratios imposed upon us by the 1940 Act. Any such failure would affect our ability to issue senior securities, including borrowings, and pay dividends, which could materially impair our business operations. Our liquidity could be impaired further by an inability to access the capital markets or to consummate new borrowing facilities to provide capital for normal operations, including new originations. In recent years, reflecting concern about the stability of the financial markets, many lenders and institutional investors have reduced or ceased providing funding to borrowers.

If we are unable to secure debt financing on commercially reasonable terms, our liquidity will be reduced significantly. If we are unable to repay amounts outstanding under any debt facilities we may obtain and are declared in default or are unable to renew or refinance these facilities, we would not be able to initiate significant originations or to operate our business in the normal course. These situations may arise due to circumstances that we may be unable to control, such as inaccessibility to the credit markets, a severe decline in the value of the U.S. dollar, another economic downturn or an operational problem that affects third parties or us, and could materially damage our business.

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Price declines and illiquidity in the corporate debt markets may adversely affect the fair value of our portfolio investments, reducing out net asset value through increased net unrealized depreciation.

As a BDC, we are required to carry out investments at market value or, if no market value is ascertainable, at fair value as determined in good faith by our Board. As part of the valuation process, we may take into account the following types of factors, if relevant, in determining the fair value of our investments:

Significant developments stemming from the United Kingdom’s referendum on membership in the European Union could have a material adverse effect on us.

On June 23, 2016, the United Kingdom (the “U.K.”) held a referendum in which a majority of voters voted in favor of leaving the European Union (the “E.U.,” and, the U.K’s departure from the E.U., “Brexit”), and, subsequently, on March 29, 2017, the U.K. government began the formal process of leaving the E.U. On October 17, 2019, the U.K. and the E.U. reached an agreement on the conditions for Brexit. The U.K.’s departure from the E.U. took place on Friday, January 31, 2020. Brexit has created political and economic uncertainty, particularly in the U.K. and the E.U., and this uncertainty may last for years. Negotiations have commenced to determine the future terms of the U.K.’s relationship with the E.U. Events that could occur in the future as a consequence of the U.K.’s withdrawal, including the possible breakup of the U.K., may continue to cause significant volatility in global financial markets, including in global currency and credit markets. This volatility could cause a slowdown in economic activity in the U.K., the E.U. or globally, which could adversely affect our operating results and growth prospects. Any of these effects of Brexit, and others we cannot anticipate, could have unpredictable consequences for credit markets and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial performance.

Terrorist attacks, acts of war, natural disasters or outbreaks of epidemic, pandemic or contagious diseases may affect any market for our common stock, impact the businesses in which we invest and harm our business, operating results and financial condition.

Terrorist acts, acts of war, natural disasters or outbreaks of epidemic, pandemic or contagious diseases may disrupt our operations, as well as the operations of the businesses in which we invest. Such acts have created, and continue to create, economic and political uncertainties and have contributed to global economic instability. Future terrorist activities, military or security operations, natural disasters or outbreaks of epidemic, pandemic or contagious diseases could further weaken the domestic/global economies and create additional uncertainties, which may negatively impact the businesses in which we invest directly or indirectly and, in turn, could have a material adverse impact on our business, operating results and financial condition. Losses from terrorist attacks and natural disasters are generally uninsurable.

In particular, outbreaks of epidemic, pandemic or contagious diseases may cause serious harm to our business, operating results and financial condition. Historically, disease pandemics such as the Ebola virus, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome or the H1N1 virus, have diverted resources and priorities towards the treatment of such diseases. In December 2019, COVID-19, a strain of novel coronavirus causing respiratory illness, emerged in the city of Wuhan in the Hubei province of China (“COVID-19”). The spread of COVID-19 has resulted in temporary closures of many corporate offices, retail stores, and manufacturing facilities and factories around the world, which could materially disrupt the demand for our portfolio companies’ products and services. In addition, as COVID-19 continues to spread across the globe, supply chains worldwide may be interrupted, slowed or rendered inoperable, and an increasing number of individuals may become ill, subject to quarantine, or otherwise unable to work and/or travel due to health reasons or governmental restrictions. Governmental mandates to control an outbreak may require forced shutdown of our portfolio companies’ facilities for extended or indefinite periods.

Any prolonged disruptions in the business of our portfolio companies, including disruptions to their supply chains, may adversely affect their ability to obtain the necessary raw materials or components to make their products or cause a decline in the demand for their products or services, leading to a negative impact on their operating results. The global impact of the COVID-19 outbreak is rapidly evolving. Many countries have reacted to the outbreak by instituting quarantines and restrictions on travel to and from the affected areas, which could make it more difficult for our portfolio companies to conduct their businesses. The outbreak could have a continued adverse impact on economic and market conditions and trigger a period of

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global economic slowdown. The potential impact on global markets from COVID-19, and its potential impact in turn on any market for our common stock, the portfolio companies we invest in, and harm to our business, operating results and financial conditions, is uncertain. Any potential impact to our business and results of operations will depend to a large extent on future developments and new information that may emerge regarding the duration and severity of COVID-19 and the actions taken by authorities and other entities to contain the spread of the virus, all of which are beyond our control. These potential impacts could adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition.

The failure in cyber security systems, as well as the occurrence of events unanticipated in our disaster recovery systems and management continuity planning could impair our ability to conduct business effectively.

The occurrence of a disaster such as a cyber-attack, a natural catastrophe, an industrial accident, a terrorist attack or war, events unanticipated in our disaster recovery systems, or a support failure from external providers, could have an adverse effect on our ability to conduct business and on our results of operations and financial condition, particularly if those events affect our computer-based data processing, transmission, storage, and retrieval systems or destroy data. If a significant number of our managers were unavailable in the event of a disaster, our ability to effectively conduct our business could be severely compromised.

Our business relies on secure information technology systems. We depend heavily upon computer systems to perform necessary business functions. These systems are subject to potential attacks, including through adverse events that threaten the confidentiality, integrity or availability of our information resources (i.e. cyber-attacks). Despite our implementation of a variety of security measures, our computer systems could be subject to cyber-attacks and unauthorized access, such as physical and electronic break-ins or unauthorized tampering. Like other companies, we may experience threats to our data and systems, including malware and computer virus attacks, unauthorized access, system failures and disruptions. If one or more of these events occurs, it could potentially jeopardize the confidential, proprietary and other information processed and stored in, and transmitted through, our computer systems, both those provided by the Adviser and third-party service providers, and networks, or otherwise cause interruptions or malfunctions in our operations, which could result in damage to our reputation, financial losses, litigation, increased costs, regulatory penalties and/or customer dissatisfaction or loss.

We can be highly dependent on information systems and systems failures could significantly disrupt our business, which may, in turn, negatively affect the market price of our common stock and our ability to pay distributions.

Our business is highly dependent on our and third parties’ communications and information systems. Any failure or interruption of those systems, including as a result of the termination of an agreement with any third-party service providers, could cause delays or other problems in our activities. Our financial, accounting, data processing, backup or other operating systems and facilities may fail to operate properly or become disabled or damaged as a result of a number of factors including events that are wholly or partially beyond our control and adversely affect our business. There could be:

These events, in turn, could have a material adverse effect on our operating results and negatively affect the market price of our common stock and our ability to pay distributions to our stockholders.

Risks Related to Our Investments

Our investments are very risky and highly speculative.

We invest primarily in primary issue, directly sourced and privately-negotiated secured debt issued by North American-based middle market firms. We will emphasize secured lending by focusing on first lien, stretch senior, unitranche and second lien loans, and will also consider mezzanine, structured preferred stock and non-control equity opportunities. Securities rated below investment grade are often referred to as “high yield” securities or “junk bonds,” and are considered “high risk” or speculative in nature compared to debt instruments that are rated above investment grade.

Senior Secured Loans. There is a risk that the collateral securing our loans may decrease in value over time, may be difficult to sell in a timely manner, may be difficult to appraise and may fluctuate in value based upon the success of the business and market conditions, including as a result of the inability of the portfolio company to raise additional capital. In some circumstances, our liens on the collateral securing our loans could be subordinated

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to claims of other creditors. In addition, deterioration in a portfolio company’s financial condition and prospects, including its inability to raise additional capital, may be accompanied by deterioration in the value of the collateral for the loan. Consequently, the fact that a loan is secured does not guarantee that we will receive principal and interest payments according to the loan’s terms, or at all, or that we will be able to collect on the loan should we be compelled to enforce our remedies.

Second Lien Secured Loans. In structuring our loans, we may subordinate our security interest in certain assets of a borrower to another lender, usually a bank. In these situations, all of the risks identified above in Senior Secured Loans would be true and additional risks inherent in holding a junior security position would also be present, including, but not limited to those outlined below in “Second priority liens on collateral securing loans that we make to our portfolio companies may be subject to control by senior creditors with first priority liens. If there is a default, the value of the collateral may not be sufficient to repay in full both the first priority creditors and us.”

Equity Investments. When we invest in secured loans, we may acquire equity securities, such as warrants, as well. In addition, we may invest directly in the equity securities of portfolio companies. The equity interests we receive may not appreciate in value and may in fact decline in value. Accordingly, we may not be able to realize gains from our equity interests, and any gains that we do realize on the disposition of any equity interests may not be sufficient to offset any other losses we experience.

In addition, investing in our portfolio companies involves a number of significant risks, including the following:

In addition, investments in private companies tend to be less liquid. The securities of private companies are not publicly traded or actively traded on the secondary market and are, instead, traded on a privately negotiated over-the-counter (“OTC”) secondary market for institutional investors. These OTC secondary markets may be inactive during an economic downturn or a credit crisis. In addition, the securities in these companies will be subject to legal and other restrictions on resale or will otherwise be less liquid than publicly traded securities. If there is no readily available market for these investments, we are required to carry these investments at fair value as determined by our Board. As a result, if we are required to liquidate all or a portion of our portfolio quickly, we may realize significantly less than the value at which we had previously recorded these investments. We may also face other restrictions on our ability to liquidate an investment in a portfolio company to the extent that we, the Adviser or any of its affiliates have material nonpublic information regarding such portfolio company or where the sale would be an impermissible joint transaction. The reduced liquidity of our investments may make it difficult for us to dispose of them at a favorable price, and, as a result, we may suffer losses.

Finally, little public information generally exists about private companies and these companies may not have third-party credit ratings or audited consolidated financial statements. We must therefore rely on the ability of the Adviser to obtain adequate information through due diligence to evaluate the creditworthiness and potential returns from investing in these companies. Additionally, these companies and their financial information will not generally be subject to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and other rules that govern public companies. If we are unable to uncover all material information about these companies, we may not make a fully informed investment decision, and we may lose money on our investments.

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An investment strategy focused primarily on privately held companies presents certain challenges, including the lack of available information about these companies and a greater vulnerability to economic downturns.

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

Our investment activities subject us to third party litigation risks.

In addition to litigation relating to the bankruptcy process, our investment activities subject us to the normal risks of becoming involved in litigation by third parties. This risk is somewhat greater where we exercise control or significant influence over a portfolio company’s direction. The expense of defending against claims by third parties and paying any amounts pursuant to settlements or judgments would generally be borne by us and would reduce net assets.

The Adviser and its affiliates, including our officers and some of our directors, may face conflicts of interest caused by compensation arrangements with us and our affiliates, which could result in increased risk-taking by us.

The Adviser and its affiliates will receive substantial fees from us in return for their services, including certain incentive fees based on the amount of appreciation of our investments. These fees could influence the advice provided to us. Generally, the more equity we sell in offerings and the greater the risk assumed by us with respect to our investments, the greater the potential for growth in our assets and profits (and, correlatively, the fees payable by us to the Adviser). These compensation arrangements could affect the Adviser’s or its affiliates’ judgment with respect to offerings of equity and investments made by us, which allow the Adviser to earn increased asset management fees.

The time and resources that individuals associated with the Adviser devote to us may be diverted, and we may face additional competition due to the fact that the Adviser is not prohibited from raising money for or managing other entities that make the same types of investments that we target.

The Adviser and its affiliates currently manage other investment entities and are not prohibited from raising money for and managing future investment entities that make the same types of investments as those we target. As a result, the time and resources that the Adviser devotes to us may be diverted, and during times of intense activity in other programs it may devote less time and resources to our business than is necessary or appropriate. In addition, we may compete with any such investment entity for the same investors and investment opportunities.

The Adviser will experience conflicts of interest in connection with the management of our business affairs.

The Adviser will experience conflicts of interest in connection with the management of our business affairs, including relating to the allocation of investment opportunities by the Adviser and its affiliates; compensation to the Adviser; services that may be provided by the Adviser and its affiliates to issuers in which we invest; investments by us and other clients of the Adviser, subject to the limitations of the 1940 Act; the formation of additional investment funds by the Adviser; differing recommendations given by the Adviser to us versus other clients; the Adviser’s use of information gained from issuers in our portfolio for investments by other clients, subject to applicable law; and restrictions on the Adviser’s use of “inside information” with respect to potential investments by us.

Certain investment analyses and decisions by the Adviser may be required to be undertaken on an expedited basis.

Investment analyses and decisions by the Adviser may be required to be undertaken on an expedited basis to take advantage of investment opportunities. While we generally will not seek to make an investment until the Adviser has conducted sufficient due diligence to make a determination as to the acceptability of the credit quality of the investment and the underlying issuer, in such cases, the information available to the Adviser at the time of making an investment decision may be limited. Therefore, no assurance can be given that the Adviser will have knowledge of all circumstances that may adversely affect an investment. In addition, the Adviser expects often to rely upon independent consultants in connection with its evaluation of proposed investments. No assurance can be given as to the accuracy or completeness of the information provided by such independent consultants and we may incur liability as a result of such consultants’ actions.

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A redemption of convertible securities held by us could have an adverse effect on our ability to achieve our investment objective.

A convertible security may be subject to redemption at the option of the issuer at a price established in the convertible security’s governing instrument. If a convertible security held by us is called for redemption, we will be required to permit the issuer to redeem the security, convert it into the underlying common stock or sell it to a third party. Any of these actions could have an adverse effect on our ability to achieve our investment objective.

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

We intend to invest primarily in first lien, stretch senior, unitranche and second lien loans issued by private companies. Our portfolio companies may have, or may be permitted to incur, other debt that ranks equally with, or in some cases senior to, the debt in which we invest. By their terms, such debt instruments may entitle the holders to receive payment of interest or principal on or before the dates on which we are entitled to receive payments with respect to the debt instruments in which we invest. Also, in the event of insolvency, liquidation, dissolution, reorganization, or bankruptcy of a portfolio company, holders of debt instruments ranking senior to our investment in that portfolio company would typically be entitled to receive payment in full before we receive any distribution. After repaying such senior creditors, such portfolio company may not have any remaining assets to use for repaying its obligation to us. In the case of debt ranking equally with debt instruments in which we invest, we would have to share on an equal or pro rata basis any distributions with other creditors holding such debt in the event of an insolvency, liquidation, dissolution, reorganization, or bankruptcy of the relevant portfolio company.

If we cannot obtain debt financing or equity capital on acceptable terms, our ability to acquire investments and to expand our operations will be adversely affected.

Any working capital reserves we maintain may not be sufficient for investment purposes, and we may require additional debt financing or equity capital to operate. Pursuant to tax rules that apply to us, we are required to distribute at least 90% of our net ordinary income and net short-term capital gains in excess of net long-term capital losses, if any, to our stockholders to maintain our RIC status. Accordingly, in the event that we need additional capital in the future for investments or for any other reason we may need to access the capital markets periodically to issue debt or equity securities or borrow from financial institutions in order to obtain such additional capital. These sources of funding may not be available to us due to unfavorable economic conditions, which could increase our funding costs, limit our access to the capital markets or result in a decision by lenders not to extend credit to us. Consequently, if we cannot obtain further debt or equity financing on acceptable terms, our ability to acquire additional investments and to expand our operations will be adversely affected. As a result, we would be less able to achieve portfolio diversification and our investment objective, which may negatively impact our results of operations and reduce our ability to make distributions to our stockholders.

We may invest in mezzanine securities. To the extent we invest in mezzanine securities, they and other investments are expected to be unsecured and made in companies whose capital structures have significant indebtedness ranking ahead of the investments, all or a significant portion of which may be secured.

Mezzanine debt is typically junior to the obligations of a company to senior creditors, trade creditors and employees. Our investments and mezzanine securities (if any) are expected to be unsecured and made in companies whose capital structures have significant indebtedness ranking ahead of the investments, all or a significant portion of which may be secured. While the securities and other investments may benefit from the same or similar financial and other covenants as those enjoyed by the indebtedness ranking ahead of the investments and may benefit from cross-default provisions and security over the portfolio company’s assets, some or all of such terms may not be part of particular investments. Default rates for mezzanine debt securities have historically been higher than for investment grade securities. Mezzanine securities and other investments generally are subject to various risks including, without limitation: (i) a subsequent characterization of an investment as a “fraudulent conveyance”; (ii) the recovery as a “preference” of liens perfected or payments made on account of a debt in the 90 days before a bankruptcy filing; (iii) equitable subordination claims by other creditors; (iv) so-called “lender liability” claims by the issuer of the obligations; and (v) environmental liabilities that may arise with respect to collateral securing the obligations. Mezzanine debt investments may also be subject to early redemption features, refinancing options, prepayment options or similar provisions which, in each case, could result in the issuer repaying the principal on an obligation earlier than expected. In addition, mezzanine debt investments may include enhanced information rights or other involvement with a company’s board of directors that could result in limiting our ability to liquidate positions in the company.

We may invest in debt securities and instruments that are rated below investment grade by recognized rating agencies or will be unrated and face ongoing uncertainties and exposure to adverse business, financial or economic conditions and the issuer’s failure to make timely interest and principal payments.

We may invest in debt securities and instruments that are rated below investment grade by recognized rating agencies or will be unrated and face ongoing uncertainties and exposure to adverse business, financial or economic conditions and the issuer’s failure to make timely interest and principal

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payments. Such securities and instruments are generally not exchange-traded and, as a result, trade in the OTC marketplace, which is less transparent than the exchange-traded marketplace. In addition, we may invest in bonds of issuers that do not have publicly traded equity securities, making it more difficult to hedge the risks associated with such investments. Our investments in below investment grade instruments exposes us to a substantial degree of credit risk and interest rate risk. The market for high yield securities has recently experienced periods of significant volatility and reduced liquidity. The market values of certain of these lower-rated and unrated debt investments may reflect individual corporate developments to a greater extent and tend to be more sensitive to economic conditions than those of higher-rated investments, which react primarily to fluctuations in the general level of interest rates. Companies that issue such securities are often highly leveraged and may not have available to them more traditional methods of financing. General economic recession or a major decline in the demand for products and services in which the borrower operates would likely have a materially adverse impact on the value of such securities and the ability of the issuers of such securities to repay principal and interest thereon, thereby increasing the incidence of default of such securities. In addition, adverse publicity and investor perceptions, whether or not based on fundamental analysis, may also decrease the value and liquidity of these high yield debt investments.

Certain of our investments are exposed to the credit risk of the counterparties with which, or the dealers, brokers and exchanges through which, our deals, whether in exchange-traded or OTC transactions.

Certain of our investments are exposed to the credit risk of the counterparties with which, or the dealers, brokers and exchanges through which, our deals, whether in exchange-traded or OTC transactions. If there is a default by the counterparty to such a transaction, we will, under most normal circumstances, have contractual remedies pursuant to the agreements related to the transaction. However, exercising such contractual rights may involve delays or costs which could result in losses to us. We may be subject to the risk of loss of our assets on deposit or being settled or cleared with a broker in the event of the broker’s bankruptcy, the bankruptcy of any clearing broker through which the broker executes and clears transactions on behalf of us, the bankruptcy of an exchange clearing house or the bankruptcy of any other counterparty. In the case of any such bankruptcy, we might recover, even in respect of property specifically traceable to us, only a pro rata share of all property available for distribution to all of the counterparty’s customers and counterparties. Such an amount may be less than the amounts owed to us. Such events would have an adverse effect on the net asset value of our funds. Certain counterparties may have general custody of, or title to, our assets. The failure of any such counterparty may result in adverse consequences to the net asset value of our fund.

In addition, we may from time to time use counterparties located in jurisdictions outside the U.S. Such counterparties usually are subject to laws and regulations in non-U.S. jurisdictions that are designed to protect customers in the event of their insolvency. However, the practical effect of these laws and their application to our assets may be subject to substantial limitations and uncertainties. Because of the range of possible factual scenarios involving the insolvency of a counterparty and the potential number of entities and jurisdictions that may be involved, it is impossible to generalize about the effect of such an insolvency on us and our assets. Investors should assume that the insolvency of any such counterparty would result in significant delays in recovering our financial instruments from or the payment of claims therefor by such counterparty and a loss to us, which could be material.

Our investments may be structured through the use of OTC options and swaps or other indirect investment transactions. Such transactions may be entered into with a small number of counterparties resulting in a concentration of counterparty risk. The exercise of counterparty rights under such arrangements, including forced sales of securities, may have a significant adverse impact on us and our fund’s net asset value.

Certain of our investments may be adversely affected by laws relating to fraudulent conveyance or voidable preferences.

Certain of our investments could be subject to federal bankruptcy law and state fraudulent transfer laws, which vary from state to state, if the debt obligations relating to such investments were issued with the intent of hindering, delaying or defrauding creditors or, in certain circumstances, if the issuer receives less than reasonably equivalent value or fair consideration in return for issuing such debt obligations. If the debt is used for a buyout of stockholders, this risk is greater than if the debt proceeds are used for day-to-day operations or organic growth. If a court were to find that the issuance of the debt obligations was a fraudulent transfer or conveyance, the court could void or otherwise refuse to recognize the payment obligations under the debt obligations or the collateral supporting such obligations, further subordinate the debt obligations or the liens supporting such obligations to other existing and future indebtedness of the issuer or require us to repay any amounts received by us with respect to the debt obligations or collateral. In the event of a finding that a fraudulent transfer or conveyance occurred, we may not receive any repayment on the debt obligations.

Under certain circumstances, payments to us and distributions by us to our stockholders may be reclaimed if any such payment or distribution is later determined to have been a fraudulent conveyance, preferential payment or similar transaction under applicable bankruptcy and insolvency laws. Furthermore, investments in restructurings may be adversely affected by statutes relating to, among other things, fraudulent conveyances, voidable preferences, lender liability and the court’s discretionary power to disallow, subordinate or disenfranchise particular claims or recharacterize investments made in the form of debt as equity contributions.

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There may be circumstances in which our debt investments could be subordinated to claims of other creditors or we could be subject to lender liability claims.

Even though we expect to structure most of our investments as secured loans, if one of our portfolio companies were to go bankrupt, depending on the facts and circumstances, and based upon principles of equitable subordination as defined by existing case law, a bankruptcy court could subordinate all or a portion of our claim to that of other creditors and transfer any lien securing such subordinated claim to the bankruptcy estate. The principles of equitable subordination defined by case law have generally indicated that a claim may be subordinated only if its holder is guilty of misconduct or where the senior loan is re-characterized as an equity investment and the senior lender has actually provided significant managerial assistance to the bankrupt debtor. We may also be subject to lender liability claims for actions taken by us with respect to a borrower’s business or instances where we exercise control over the borrower. It is possible that we could become subject to a lender’s liability claim, including as a result of actions taken in rendering significant managerial assistance or actions to compel and collect payments from the borrower outside the ordinary course of business.

Second priority liens on collateral securing loans that we make to our portfolio companies may be subject to control by senior creditors with first priority liens. If there is a default, the value of the collateral may not be sufficient to repay in full both the first priority creditors and us.

Certain loans that we intend to make are secured by a second priority security interest in the same collateral pledged by a portfolio company to secure senior debt owed by the portfolio company to commercial banks or other traditional lenders. Often the senior lender has procured covenants from the portfolio company prohibiting the incurrence of additional secured debt without the senior lender’s consent. Prior to and as a condition of permitting the portfolio company to borrow money from us secured by the same collateral pledged to the senior lender, the senior lender will require assurances that it will control the disposition of any collateral in the event of bankruptcy or other default. In many such cases, the senior lender will require us to enter into an intercreditor agreement prior to permitting the portfolio company to borrow from us. Typically the intercreditor agreements we will be requested to execute will expressly subordinate our debt instruments to those held by the senior lender and further provide that the senior lender shall control: (1) the commencement of foreclosure or other proceedings to liquidate and collect on the collateral; (2) the nature, timing, and conduct of foreclosure or other collection proceedings; (3) the amendment of any collateral document; (4) the release of the security interests in respect of any collateral; and (5) the waiver of defaults under any security agreement. Because of the control we may cede to senior lenders under intercreditor agreements we may enter, we may be unable to realize the proceeds of any collateral securing some of our loans.

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

Certain of our portfolio companies may be susceptible to economic downturns or recessions and may be unable to repay our loans during these periods. Therefore, during these periods our non-performing assets may increase and the value of our portfolio may decrease if we are required to write down the values of our investments. Adverse economic conditions also may decrease the value of collateral securing some of our loans and the value of our equity investments.

We principally invest in floating-rate assets and incur indebtedness on a floating-rate basis as well, and intend to incur indebtedness, when possible, on the same floating base rate applicable to the assets in which we invest, which is currently the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”). Regulators in the U.K. have set a 2021 deadline for a transition away from LIBOR. The discontinuation of LIBOR creates uncertainty around the indebtedness we will incur on a floating-rate basis in the future. Because the base rate of our assets and indebtedness are expected to be same and will therefore fluctuate on largely the same basis, the increased cost of our indebtedness (resulting from rising interest rates in the event of a recession or downturn) would be expected to be accompanied by increased revenues resulting from the same rising interest rates on our floating rate assets. Nonetheless, economic slowdowns or recessions could lead to financial losses in our portfolio and a decrease in revenues, net income and assets. Unfavorable economic conditions also could increase our funding costs, limit our access to the capital markets or result in a decision by lenders not to extend credit to us. These events could prevent us from increasing investments and harm our operating results.

A portfolio company’s failure to satisfy financial or operating covenants imposed by us or other lenders could lead to defaults and, potentially, acceleration of the time when the loans are due and foreclosure on its assets representing collateral for its obligations, which could trigger cross defaults under other agreements and jeopardize our portfolio company’s ability to meet its obligations under the debt investments that we hold and the value of any equity securities we own. We may incur expenses to the extent necessary to seek recovery upon default or to negotiate new terms with a defaulting portfolio company. Any extension or restructuring of our loans could adversely affect our cash flow. In addition, if one of our portfolio companies were to go bankrupt, even though we may have structured our interest as senior debt, depending on the facts and circumstances, including the extent to which we actually provided managerial assistance to that portfolio company, a bankruptcy court might re-characterize our debt holding and subordinate all or a portion of our claim to those other creditors.

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Uncertainty relating to the LIBOR calculation process may adversely affect the value of our portfolio of the LIBOR-indexed, floating-rate debt securities in our portfolio or the cost of our borrowings.

On July 27, 2017, the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates LIBOR, announced that it intends to phase out LIBOR by the end of 2021. It is unclear if at that time LIBOR will cease to exist or if new methods of calculating LIBOR will be established such that it continues to exist after 2021. In addition, in April 2018, the Federal Reserve System, in conjunction with the Alternative Reference Rates Committee, announced the replacement of LIBOR with a new index, calculated by short-term repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. Treasury securities, called the Secured Overnight Financing Rate, or the “SOFR.” At this time, it is not possible to predict whether SOFR will attain market traction as a LIBOR replacement. Additionally, the future of LIBOR at this time is uncertain. Potential changes, or uncertainty related to such potential changes, may adversely affect the market for LIBOR-based securities, including our portfolio of LIBOR-indexed, floating-rate debt securities, or the cost of our borrowings. In addition, changes or reforms to the determination or supervision of LIBOR may result in a sudden or prolonged increase or decrease in reported LIBOR, which could have an adverse impact on the market for LIBOR-based securities, including the value of the LIBOR-indexed, floating-rate debt securities in our portfolio, or the cost of our borrowings. Additionally, if LIBOR ceases to exist, we may need to renegotiate our credit arrangements extending beyond 2021 with our portfolio companies that utilize LIBOR as a factor in determining the interest rate and certain of our existing credit facilities to replace LIBOR with the new standard that is established. The potential effect of the phase-out or replacement of LIBOR on our cost of capital and net investment income cannot yet be determined.

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

We typically will invest in companies whose securities are not publicly traded, and whose securities will be subject to legal and other restrictions on resale or will otherwise be less liquid than publicly traded securities because there is no established trading market for our investments. Our investments will usually be subject to contractual or legal restrictions on resale or are otherwise illiquid. The illiquidity of these investments may make it difficult for us to sell these investments when desired or to dispose of them at a favorable price. In addition, if we are required to liquidate all or a portion of our portfolio quickly, we may realize significantly less than the value at which we had previously recorded these investments. As a result, we do not expect to achieve liquidity in our investments in the near-term.

The net asset value of our common stock may fluctuate significantly.

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

The right to make capital calls of stockholders may be pledged as collateral under the HSBC Credit Facility or any other future borrowing facility.

The HSBC Credit Facility, and any future borrowing facility, may be backed by all or a portion of our loans and securities on which the lenders may have a security interest. We may pledge up to 100% of our assets and may grant a security interest in all of our assets under the terms of any debt instrument we enter into with lenders. We expect that any security interests we grant will be set forth in a pledge and security agreement and evidenced by the filing of consolidated financing statements by the agent for the lenders. In addition, we expect that the custodian for our securities serving as collateral for such loan would include in its electronic systems notices indicating the existence of such security interests and, following notice of

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occurrence of an event of default, if any, and during its continuance, will only accept transfer instructions with respect to any such securities from the lender or its designee. If we were to default under the terms of any debt instrument, the agent for the applicable lenders would be able to assume control of the timing of disposition of any or all of our assets securing such debt, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

In addition, any security interests as well as negative covenants a credit facility or any other borrowing facility may provide may limit our ability to create liens on assets to secure additional debt and may make it difficult for us to restructure or refinance indebtedness at or prior to maturity or obtain additional debt or equity financing. In addition, if our borrowing base under a credit facility or any other borrowing facility were to decrease, we would be required to secure additional assets in an amount equal to any borrowing base deficiency. In the event that all of our assets are secured at the time of such a borrowing base deficiency, we could be required to repay advances under the relevant credit facility or any other borrowing facility or make deposits to a collection account, either of which could have a material adverse impact on our ability to fund future investments and to pay distributions.

In addition, we expect that under a credit facility we will be subject to limitations as to how borrowed funds may be used, which may include restrictions on geographic and industry concentrations, loan size, payment frequency and status, average life, collateral interests and investment ratings, as well as regulatory restrictions on leverage which may affect the amount of funding that may be obtained. There may also be certain requirements relating to portfolio performance, including required minimum portfolio yield and limitations on delinquencies and charge-offs, a violation of which could limit further advances and, in some cases, result in an event of default. An event of default under a credit facility or any other borrowing facility could result in an accelerated maturity date for all amounts outstanding thereunder, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition. This could reduce our revenues and, by delaying any cash payment allowed to us under the relevant credit facility or any other borrowing facility until the lenders have been paid in full, reduce our liquidity and cash flow and impair our ability to grow our business and maintain our ability to be subject to tax as a RIC.

We have not yet identified all of the portfolio companies we will invest in using the proceeds of the Private Offering.

We have not yet identified all of the potential investments for our portfolio that we will acquire with the proceeds of the Private Offering. As a result, you will be unable to evaluate any future portfolio company investments prior to purchasing our shares. Additionally, the Adviser will select our investments subsequent to the Initial Closing and Subsequent Closings, and our stockholders will have no input with respect to such investment decisions. These factors increase the uncertainty, and thus the risk, of investing in our common stock.

Our failure to make follow-on investments in our portfolio companies could impair the value of our portfolio.

Following an initial investment in a portfolio company, we may make additional investments in that portfolio company as “follow-on” investments, in order to: (1) increase or maintain in whole or in part our equity ownership percentage; (2) exercise warrants, options, or convertible securities that were acquired in the original or a subsequent financing; or (3) attempt to preserve or enhance the value of our investment. However, we may elect not to make follow-on investments or lack sufficient funds to make those investments. We will have the discretion to make any follow-on investments, subject to the availability of capital resources. The failure to make follow-on investments may, in some circumstances, jeopardize the continued viability of a portfolio company and our initial investment or may result in a missed opportunity for us to increase our participation in a successful operation. Even if we have sufficient capital to make a desired follow-on investment, we may elect not to make a follow-on investment because, among other reasons, we do not want to increase our concentration of risk, we prefer other opportunities, we are subject to BDC requirements that would prevent such follow-on investments, or the follow-on investment would affect our qualification as a RIC.

Our portfolio will lack diversification among portfolio companies, which will subject us to a risk of significant loss if one or more of these companies default on their obligations under any of their debt instruments.

Our portfolio may hold a limited number of portfolio companies. Beyond the asset diversification requirements associated with our qualification as a RIC, we will not have fixed guidelines for diversification, and our investments may be concentrated in relatively few companies. As our portfolio is less diversified than the portfolios of some larger funds, we are more susceptible to failure if a single loan fails. Similarly, the aggregate returns we realize may be significantly adversely affected if a small number of investments perform poorly or if we need to write down the value of any one investment.

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Our portfolio may be concentrated in a limited number of industries, which will subject us to a risk of significant loss if there is a downturn in a particular industry in which a number of our investments are concentrated.

Our portfolio may be concentrated in a limited number of industries. We expect to invest primarily in companies focused in alarm monitoring; communications and IT infrastructure; energy; enterprise software (including software-as-a-service); equipment finance; financial technology/transaction processing; franchisors, franchisees, and restaurants; healthcare and healthcare IT; non-discretionary consumer (including certain multi-site retailers); pharmaceutical; specialized, value-added manufacturing; specialty finance; technology-enabled services; transportation and logistics; consumer non-cyclical; business services; and education. A downturn in any particular industry in which we are invested could significantly impact the aggregate returns we realize.

We securitize certain of our investments, which may subject us to certain structured financing risks.

We securitize certain of our investments while retaining all or most of the exposure to the performance of these investments. This involves contributing a pool of assets to a special purpose entity, and selling debt interests in that entity on a non-recourse or limited-recourse basis to purchasers.

We depend on distributions from our securitization vehicles to make distributions to our stockholders. The ability of a securitization vehicle to make distributions is subject to various limitations, including the terms and covenants of the debt it issues. For example, tests (based on interest coverage or other financial ratios or other criteria) restrict our ability, as holder of a securitization vehicle equity interest, to receive cash flow from these investments. We cannot assure you that any such performance tests will be satisfied. Also, a securitization vehicle may take actions that delay distributions to preserve ratings and to keep the cost of present and future financings lower or the financing vehicle may be obligated to retain cash or other assets to satisfy over-collateralization requirements commonly provided for holders of its debt. As a result, there may be a lag, which could be significant, between the repayment or other realization on a loan or other assets in, and the distribution of cash out of, a securitization vehicle, or cash flow may be completely restricted for the life of the securitization vehicle.

In addition, a decline in the credit quality of loans in a securitization vehicle due to poor operating results of the relevant borrower, declines in the value of loan collateral or increases in defaults, among other things, may force the sale of certain assets at a loss, reducing their earnings and, in turn, cash potentially available for distribution to us for distribution to our stockholders. To the extent that any losses are incurred by the financing vehicle in respect of any collateral, these losses are be borne first by us as owners of its equity interests. Any equity interests that we retain in a securitization vehicle are not secured by its assets and we rank behind all of its creditors.

Nonetheless, our securitization vehicles are also consolidated in our consolidated financial statements and consequently affect our asset coverage ratio, which may limit our ability to incur additional leverage. See “Business — Regulation as a Business Development Company.”

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

Although we may do so in the future, we do not expect to hold controlling equity positions in our portfolio companies. As a result, we are subject to the risk that a portfolio company may make business decisions with which we disagree, and that the management and/or stockholders of a portfolio company may take risks or otherwise act in ways that are adverse to our interests. Due to the lack of liquidity of the debt and equity investments that we will typically hold in our portfolio companies, we may not be able to dispose of our investments in the event we disagree with the actions of a portfolio company and may therefore suffer a decrease in the value of our investments.

Changes to United States tariff and import/export regulations may have a negative effect on our portfolio companies and, in turn, harm us.

There has been ongoing discussion and commentary regarding potential significant changes to United States trade policies, treaties and tariffs. The current administration, along with Congress, has created significant uncertainty about the future relationship between the United States and other countries with respect to such trade policies, treaties and tariffs. These developments, or the perception that any of them could occur, may have a material adverse effect on global economic conditions and the stability of global financial markets, and may significantly reduce global trade and, in particular, trade between the impacted nations and the United States. Any of these factors could depress economic activity and restrict our portfolio companies’ access to suppliers or customers and have a material adverse effect on their business, financial condition and results of operations, which in turn would negatively impact us.

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Defaults by our portfolio companies will harm our operating results.

A portfolio company’s failure to satisfy financial or operating covenants imposed by us or other lenders could lead to defaults and, potentially, termination of its loans and foreclosure on its secured assets, which could trigger cross-defaults under other agreements and jeopardize a portfolio company’s ability to meet its obligations under the debt or equity securities that we hold. We may incur expenses to the extent necessary to seek recovery upon default or to negotiate new terms—which may include the waiver of certain financial covenants—with a defaulting portfolio company. These expenses could materially and adversely affect our operating results and cash flow.

Any unrealized losses we experience on our loan portfolio may be an indication of future realized losses, which could reduce our income available for distribution.

As a BDC, we will be required to carry our investments at market value or, if no market value is ascertainable, at the fair value as determined in good faith by our Board. Decreases in the market values or fair values of our investments will be recorded as unrealized depreciation. Any unrealized losses in our loan portfolio could be an indication of a portfolio company’s inability to meet its repayment obligations to us with respect to the affected loans. This could result in realized losses in the future and ultimately in reductions of our income available for distribution in future periods.

We may pay distributions from offering proceeds, borrowings or the sale of assets to the extent our cash flows from operations, net investment income or earnings are not sufficient to fund declared distributions.

We may fund distributions from the uninvested proceeds of an offering and borrowings, and we have not established limits on the amount of funds we may use from such proceeds or borrowings to make any such distributions. We have paid and may continue to pay distributions from the sale of assets to the extent distributions exceed our earnings or cash flows from operations. Distributions from offering proceeds or from borrowings could reduce the amount of capital we ultimately invest in our investment portfolio.

Prepayments of our debt investments by our portfolio companies could adversely impact our results of operations and reduce our return on equity.

We will be subject to the risk that the investments we make in our portfolio companies may be repaid prior to maturity. When this occurs, we may reinvest these proceeds in temporary investments, pending future investment in new portfolio companies, so that 70% of our assets are qualifying assets. These temporary investments will typically have substantially lower yields than the debt being prepaid and we could experience significant delays in reinvesting these amounts. Any future investment in a new portfolio company may also be at lower yields than the debt that was repaid. As a result, our results of operations could be materially adversely affected if one or more of our portfolio companies elect to prepay amounts owed to us. Additionally, prepayments could negatively impact our return on equity.

To the extent we use debt to finance our investments, changes in interest rates will affect our cost of capital and net investment income.

To the extent we use debt to finance our investments, our net investment income will depend, in part, upon the difference between the rate at which we borrow funds and the rate at which we invest those funds. In addition, many of our debt investments and borrowings have floating interest rates that reset on a periodic basis, and many of our investments are subject to interest rate floors. As a result, a change in market interest rates could have a material adverse effect on our net investment income, in particular with respect to increases from current levels to the level of the interest rate floors on certain investments. In periods of rising interest rates, our cost of funds will increase because the interest rates on the majority of amounts we have borrowed are floating, which could reduce our net investment income to the extent any debt investments have fixed interest rates, and the interest rate on investments with an interest rate floor will not increase until interest rates exceed the applicable floor.

While currently not anticipated, we may, to the extent deemed appropriate by the Adviser, use interest rate risk management techniques in an effort to limit our exposure to interest rate fluctuations. Such techniques may include various interest rate hedging activities to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act and applicable commodities laws. These activities may limit our ability to participate in the benefits of lower interest rates with respect to the hedged borrowings. Adverse developments resulting from changes in interest rates or hedging transactions could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

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

Investment in leveraged companies involves a number of significant risks. Leveraged companies in which we invest may have limited financial resources and may be unable to meet their obligations under their loans and debt securities that we hold. Such developments may be accompanied

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by deterioration in the value of any collateral and a reduction in the likelihood of our realizing any guarantees that we may have obtained in connection with our investment. Smaller leveraged companies also may have less predictable operating results and may require substantial additional capital to support their operations, finance their expansion or maintain their competitive position.

We may not realize gains from our equity investments.

Certain investments that we may make in the future include warrants or other equity securities. Investments in equity securities involve a number of significant risks, including the risk of further dilution as a result of additional issuances, inability to access additional capital and failure to pay current distributions. Investments in preferred securities involve special risks, such as the risk of deferred distributions, credit risk, illiquidity and limited voting rights. In addition, we may from time to time make non-control, equity investments in portfolio companies. Our goal is ultimately to realize gains upon our disposition of such equity interests. However, the equity interests we receive may not appreciate in value and, in fact, may decline in value. Accordingly, we may not be able to realize gains from our equity interests, and any gains that we do realize on the disposition of any equity interests may not be sufficient to offset any other losses we experience. We also may be unable to realize any value if a portfolio company does not have a liquidity event, such as a sale of the business, recapitalization or public offering, which would allow us to sell the underlying equity interests. We will sometimes seek puts or similar rights to give us the right to sell our equity securities back to the portfolio company issuer. We may be unable to exercise these put rights for the consideration provided in our investment documents if the issuer is in financial distress.

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

We do not expect to engage in hedging transactions, but if we do, we may expose ourselves to risks associated with such transactions. We may utilize instruments such as forward contracts, currency options and interest rate swaps, caps, collars and floors to seek to hedge against fluctuations in the relative values of our portfolio positions from changes in currency exchange rates and market interest rates. Hedging against a decline in the values of our portfolio positions does not eliminate the possibility of fluctuations in the values of such positions or prevent losses if the values of such positions decline. However, such hedging can establish other positions designed to gain from those same developments, thereby offsetting the decline in the value of such portfolio positions. Such hedging transactions may also limit the opportunity for gain if the values of the underlying portfolio positions increase. It may not be possible to hedge against an exchange rate or interest rate fluctuation that is so generally anticipated that we are not able to enter into a hedging transaction at an acceptable price. Moreover, for a variety of reasons, we may not seek to establish a perfect correlation between such hedging instruments and the portfolio holdings being hedged. Any such imperfect correlation may prevent us from achieving the intended hedge and expose us to risk of loss. In addition, it may not be possible to hedge fully or perfectly against currency fluctuations affecting the value of securities denominated in non-U.S. currencies because the value of those securities is likely to fluctuate as a result of factors not related to currency fluctuations.

Not applicable.

We maintain our principal executive office at 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10105. We do not own any real estate.

We are not currently subject to any material legal proceedings, nor, to our knowledge, is any material legal proceeding threatened against us. From time to time, we may be a party to certain legal proceedings in the ordinary course of business, including proceedings relating to the enforcement of our rights under contracts with our portfolio companies. Our business is also subject to extensive regulation, which may result in regulatory proceedings against us. While the outcome of these legal proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty, we do not expect that these proceedings will have a material effect upon our financial condition or results of operations.

Not applicable.

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PART II

Market Information

Our common stock will be offered and sold in transactions exempt from registration by Section 4(a)(2) under the Securities Act and Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act. There will be no public offering of our shares. There is no established public trading market for our common stock currently, nor can we give any assurance that one will develop. The shares of the Fund are offered only to prospective investors that are “accredited investors,” as defined in Regulation D.

Stockholders

We have entered into separate Subscription Agreements with a number of investors for the private placement of the Fund’s common shares. Investors will be required to make capital contributions to purchase shares of the Fund’s common stock each time the Fund delivers a drawdown notice, which will be delivered at least 10 business days prior to the required funding date, in an aggregate amount not to exceed their respective Capital Commitments, provided that investors may fund such requirements sooner than the deadline as agreed between the Fund and the investor. All purchases will generally be made pro rata in accordance with the investors’ Capital Commitments, at a per-share price equal to the net asset value per share in accordance with the limitations under Section 23 of the 1940 Act, subject to any adjustments. The Board may set the per-share price above the net asset value per share based on a variety of factors, including without limitation the total amount of the Fund’s organizational and other expenses. Upon the three-year anniversary of the Initial Closing, investors will be released from any further obligation to purchase additional shares, subject to certain exceptions. Subject to certain potential exceptions, no Investor who participated in the Private Offering will be permitted to sell, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of its Shares or Capital Commitment unless the Fund provides its prior consent and the transfer is otherwise made in accordance with applicable law.

The Initial Closing was September 29, 2017. Additional closings of the Private Offering may occur from time to time as determined by the Fund.

At December 31, 2018, we had received Capital Commitments totaling $308,504,110. At December 31, 2019, we had received Capital Commitments totaling $397,620,551.

Holders

As of March 30, 2020, there were 2,106 holders of record of our common stock.

Distribution Policy

To the extent that we have funds available, we intend to make quarterly distributions of current income to our stockholders. Our stockholder distributions, if any, will be determined by our Board. Any distribution to our stockholders will be declared out of assets legally available for distribution. We anticipate that distributions will be paid from income primarily generated by interest and dividend income earned on investments we make subsequent to the Initial Closing. We will not be able to determine whether any specific distribution will be treated as made out of our taxable earnings or as a return of capital until after the end of our taxable year. The amount treated as a tax-free return of capital will reduce a stockholder’s adjusted basis in his or her common stock, thereby increasing his or her potential gain or reducing his or her potential loss on the subsequent sale or other disposition of his or her common stock. At no time will such quarterly distributions of current income be added to a stockholder’s outstanding but undrawn Capital Commitments.

From time to time our Board, in its sole discretion, also may determine to issue special distributions returning all or a portion of stockholders’ previous capital contributions (each, a “Return of Capital”). The amount of any Return of Capital received by a stockholder will be added to such stockholder’s outstanding but undrawn Capital Commitments. Accordingly, we may deliver a capital call notice which includes the amount of a stockholder’s Return of Capital. If we receive exemptive relief allowing us to create a Liquidating Share Class, eligible stockholders may have the right as part of the process for electing (or declining) to exchange Shares for Liquidation Shares, to cancel, in whole or in part, any outstanding but undrawn Capital Commitments, including any undrawn amounts resulting from the receipt of a Return of Capital.

We have elected to be treated as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code. To maintain RIC tax treatment, we must distribute at least 90% of our net ordinary income and net realized short-term capital gains in excess of our net realized long-term capital losses, if any, to our stockholders. In order to avoid certain excise taxes imposed on RICs, we currently intend to distribute during each calendar year an amount at least equal to the sum of: (a) 98% of our ordinary income (not taking into account any capital gains or losses) for such calendar year; (b) 98.2% of the amount by which our capital gains exceed our capital losses (adjusted for certain ordinary losses) for a one-year period ending on October 31 of the calendar year; and (c) certain undistributed amounts from previous years on which we paid no U.S. federal income tax.

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We currently intend to distribute net long-term capital gains if any, at least annually out of the assets legally available for such distributions. However, we may in the future decide to retain some or all of our long-term capital gains but designate the retained amount as a “deemed distribution.” In that case, among other consequences, we will pay tax on the retained amount, each U.S. stockholder will be required to include their share of the deemed distribution in income as if it had been distributed to the U.S. stockholder, and the U.S. stockholder will be entitled to claim a credit equal to their allocable share of the tax paid on the deemed distribution by us. The amount of the deemed distribution net of such tax will be added to such stockholder’s tax basis in such stockholder’s common stock. Since we expect to pay tax on any retained capital gains at our regular corporate tax rate, and since that rate is in excess of the maximum rate currently payable by individuals on long-term capital gains, the amount of tax that individual stockholders will be treated as having paid and for which they will receive a credit will exceed the tax they owe on the retained net capital gain. Such excess generally may be claimed as a credit against such individual stockholder’s other U.S. federal income tax obligations or may be refunded to the extent it exceeds such individual stockholder’s liability for U.S. federal income tax. We cannot assure any stockholder that we will achieve results that will permit us to pay any cash distributions, and if we issue senior securities, we may be prohibited from making distributions if doing so would cause us to fail to maintain the asset coverage ratios stipulated by the 1940 Act or if such distributions are limited by the terms of any of our borrowings.

Unless a stockholder elects to reinvest distributions in shares of our common stock under our dividend reinvestment plan, we intend to make such distributions in cash. Although distributions paid in the form of additional shares of our common stock will generally be subject to U.S. federal, state and local taxes in the same manner as cash distributions, stockholders participating in our dividend reinvestment plan will not receive any corresponding cash distributions with which to pay any such applicable taxes. If a stockholder holds shares of our common stock in the name of a broker or financial intermediary, such stockholder should contact such broker or financial intermediary regarding the election to receive distributions in shares of our common stock in lieu of cash. Any distributions reinvested through the issuance of shares through our dividend reinvestment plan will increase our assets on which the base management fee and incentive fee is determined and paid to the Adviser.

SBCAA Tender Offer

As a result of the Fund’s stockholders approving the reduction of the asset coverage ratio applicable to the Fund from 200% to 150% on September 26, 2018, the SBCAA required the Fund to extend to its stockholders as of such date (the “Stockholder Vote Date”) the opportunity to sell the Shares held by that stockholder as of the Stockholder Vote Date, with 25% of those Shares to be repurchased in each of the four calendar quarters following the calendar quarter in which the approval was obtained. The requirement of the SBCAA is to extend to stockholders as of the Stockholder Vote Date the opportunity for the Fund to repurchase their shares owned on the Stockholder Vote Date. However, because we are continuously offering our Shares to stockholders, we extended the offers to the stockholders as of the Stockholder Vote Date with respect to all of the Shares owned as of the date of such offer.

On November 27, 2018, we extended to our stockholders as of such date the opportunity to sell the shares held by that stockholder as of such date, with 25% of those shares to be repurchased in each of the four calendar quarters following the calendar quarter in which the approval was obtained.

The following table summarizes shares repurchased during each tender offer period:

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Dividend Reinvestment Plan

The Fund has adopted a dividend reinvestment plan that provides for reinvestment of any distributions the Fund declares in cash on behalf of the Fund’s stockholders for those stockholders electing not to receive cash. As a result, if the Board authorizes, and the Fund declares, a cash distribution, then the Fund’s stockholders who have “opted in” to the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan will have their cash dividends and distributions automatically reinvested in additional shares of the Fund’s common stock, rather than receiving the cash dividend and distributions.

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities and Use of Proceeds

Except as previously reported by the Fund on its current reports on Form 8-K, we did not sell any securities during the period covered by this Annual Report that were not registered under the Securities Act.

The following selected consolidated financial data as of and for the years ended December 31, 2019, December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 should be read in conjunction with the information contained in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” the audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included elsewhere in this Annual Report.

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The following analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto contained elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Overview

We were formed on February 6, 2015 as a corporation under the laws of the State of Maryland. On June 27, 2016, we issued and sold 100 shares of our common stock to AB Private Credit Investors LLC, our Adviser, for an aggregate purchase price of $1,000. On May 26, 2017, we issued 2,400 shares of our common stock to the Adviser, for an aggregate purchase price of $24,000.

We have elected to be treated as a BDC under the 1940 Act. We have also elected, and plan to continue to elect and qualify annually, as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code for U.S. federal income tax purposes. To the extent that we have net taxable income prior to our qualification as RIC, we will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on such income. As a BDC and a RIC, respectively, we are and will be required to comply with various regulatory requirements, such as the requirement to invest at least 70% of our assets in “qualifying assets,” source of income limitations, asset diversification requirements, and the requirement to distribute annually at least 90% of our taxable income and tax-exempt interest.

Our investment activities are managed by our external investment adviser, AB Private Credit Investors LLC, an investment adviser that is registered under the Advisers Act. Our required administrative services are provided by State Street Bank and Trust Company.

We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act. We will remain an emerging growth company for up to five years following an initial public offering, if any, although if the market value of our common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of any June 30 before that time, we would cease to be an emerging growth company as of the following December 31. For so long as we remain an emerging growth company under the JOBS Act, we will be subject to reduced public company reporting requirements.

We are conducting private offerings of our common stock to investors in reliance on exemptions from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. At the closing of any Private Offering, each investor will make a Capital Commitment to purchase shares of our common stock pursuant to a subscription agreement entered into with the Fund. Investors will be required to fund drawdowns to purchase shares our common stock up to the amount of their respective Capital Commitment on an as needed basis each time we delivers a notice to our investors.

On September 29, 2017, we completed the Initial Closing of our Private Offering after entering into the Subscription Agreements with several investors, including the Adviser, providing for the private placement of our common shares. Under the terms of the Subscription Agreements, investors are required to fund drawdowns to purchase the Fund’s common shares up to the amount of their respective Capital Commitments on an as-needed basis upon the issuance for a capital drawn-down notice. At December 31, 2019, we had total Capital Commitments of $397,620,551. At December 31, 2018, we had total Capital Commitments of $308,504,110. Capital Commitments may be drawn down by the Fund on a pro rata basis, as needed (including follow-on investments), for paying the Fund’s expenses, including fees under the Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement, and/or maintaining a reserve account for the payment of future expenses or liabilities.

Revenues

Our investment objective is to generate current income and prioritize capital preservation through a portfolio that primarily invests in directly-sourced, privately-negotiated, secured, middle market loans. We intend to primarily invest in middle market businesses based in the United States. We expect that the primary use of proceeds by the companies in which we invest will be for leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, mergers and acquisitions and growth capital.

We will seek to build the Fund’s portfolio in a defensive manner that minimizes cyclical and correlated risks across individual names and sector verticals by targeting companies with strong underlying business models and durable intrinsic value.

We will primarily hold secured loans, which encompass traditional first lien, unitranche and second lien loans, but may also invest in mezzanine, structured preferred stock and non-control equity co-investment opportunities. We will seek to deliver attractive risk adjusted returns with lower volatility and low correlation relative to the public credit markets. The Adviser believes our flexibility to invest across the capital structure and liquidity spectrum will allow us to optimize investor risk-adjusted returns.

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Expenses

Expenses for the year ended December 31, 2019, were $17,121,122, which consisted of $1,156,419 in collateral management fees, $144,606 in directors’ fees, $1,507,579 in professional fees, $8,465,414 in interest and borrowing expenses, $3,688,293 in management fees, $261,351 in insurance expense, $981,757 in income-based incentive fees, $347,444 in administration and custodian fees, $28,600 in transfer agent fees, and $539,659 in other expenses.

Pursuant to the Expense Support and Conditional Reimbursement Agreement, our Adviser provided net expense support of $339,715, voluntarily waived collateral management fees of $1,156,419, voluntarily waived a portion of the Fund’s management fee of $380,701 and voluntarily waived a portion of the Fund’s incentive fee of $132,327, reducing our expenses to $15,111,960. See “Item 15. — Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — Note 3. Agreements and Related Party Transactions — Expense Support and Conditional Reimbursement Agreement.”

Organization and Offering Costs

Since the Fund’s inception, the Adviser and its affiliates have incurred organizational costs of $817,503 and offering costs of $209,458, all of which has been amortized prior to 2019.

Organization costs include, among other things, the cost of organizing as a Maryland corporation, including the cost of legal services, directors’ fees and other fees, including travel-related expenses, pertaining to our organization, all of which are expensed as incurred. Offering costs include, among other things, legal fees and other costs pertaining to the preparation of our private placement memorandum and other offering documents.

Operating Expenses

Under the Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement, our primary operating expenses will include the payment of fees to the Adviser our allocable portion of overhead expenses under the Expense Reimbursement Agreement and other operating costs described below. We bear all other out-of-pocket costs and expenses of our operations and transactions, including those relating to:

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Portfolio and Investment Activity

During the year ended December 31, 2019, we invested $218,609,270 in 54 portfolio companies, $31,444,355 was drawn down against the revolvers and delayed draw term loans, and we had $35,633,455 in aggregate amount of principal repayments, which includes $8,974,614 in revolver and delayed draw term loan paydowns, and $7,834,771 in sales, resulting in net investments of $206,585,399 for the period.

During the year ended December 31, 2018, we invested $115,864,835 in 36 portfolio companies, $14,290,960 was drawn down against the revolvers and delayed draw term loans, and we had $8,255,007 in aggregate amount of principal repayments, which included $3,034,789 in revolver and delayed draw term loan paydowns, and $7,557,059 in sales, resulting in net investments of $114,343,729 for the year.

The following table shows the composition of the investment portfolio and associated yield data as of December 31, 2019:

The following table shows the composition of the investment portfolio and associated yield data as of December 31, 2018:

The following table presents certain selected financial information regarding the debt investments in our portfolio as of December 31, 2019 and 2018:

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The following table shows the amortized cost and fair value of our performing and non-accrual debt investments as of December 31, 2019:

The following table shows the amortized cost and fair value of our performing and non-accrual debt investments as of December 31, 2018:

Generally, when interest and/or principal payments on a loan become past due, or if the Fund otherwise does not expect the borrower to be able to service its debt and other obligations, the Fund will place the loan on non-accrual status and will cease recognizing interest income on that loan for financial reporting purposes until all principal and interest have been brought current through payment or due to restructuring such that the interest income is deemed to be collectible. The Fund generally restores non-accrual loans to accrual status when past due principal and interest is paid and, in the management’s judgment, is likely to remain current. As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Fund had no investments that were on non-accrual status.

The following table shows the amortized cost and fair value of the investment portfolio and cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2019:

The following table shows the amortized cost and fair value of the investment portfolio and cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2018:

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The following table shows the composition of the investment portfolio by industry, at amortized cost and fair value as of December 31, 2019 (with corresponding percentage of total portfolio investments):

The following table shows the composition of the investment portfolio by industry, at amortized cost and fair value as of December 31, 2018 (with corresponding percentage of total portfolio investments):

The Adviser monitors our portfolio companies on an ongoing basis. It monitors the financial trends of each portfolio company to determine if they are meeting their respective business plans and to assess the appropriate course of action for each company. The Adviser has several methods of evaluating and monitoring the performance and fair value of our investments, which may include the following:

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Results of Operations

The following is a summary of our operating results for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018. For information regarding results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2017, see the Fund’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 filed with the SEC on March 20, 2018.

Investment Income

During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Fund’s investment income was comprised of $21,204,120 of interest income, which includes $1,390,648 from the net amortization of premium and accretion of discounts, $301,603 of payment-in-kind interest, and $229,144 of other fee income.

During the year ended December 31, 2018, the Fund’s investment income was comprised of $5,516,602 of interest income, which includes $262,280 from the accretion of discounts, $19,444 of payment-in-kind interest, and $191,375 of other fee income.

Operating Expenses

The composition of our operating expenses for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 were as follows: