☐ | Check box if the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans. |
☒ | Check box if any securities being registered on this Form will be offered on a delayed or continuous basis in reliance on Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933 (“Securities Act”), other than securities offered in connection with a dividend reinvestment plan. |
☐ | Check box if this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction A.2 or a post-effective amendment thereto. |
☐ | Check box if this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction B or a post-effective amendment thereto that will become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act. |
☐ | Check box if this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction B to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act. |
☐ | when declared effective pursuant to Section 8(c) of the Securities Act. |
☐ | This [post-effective] amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed [post-effective amendment] [registration statement]. |
☐ | This Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, and the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering is: . |
☐ | This Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, and the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering is: . |
☐ | This Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, and the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering is: . |
☐ | This Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, and the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering is: . |
☐ | Registered Closed-End Fund (closed-end company that is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“1940 Act”)). |
☒ | Business Development Company (closed-end company that intends or has elected to be regulated as a business development company under the 1940 Act). |
☐ | Interval Fund (Registered Closed-End Fund or a Business Development Company that makes periodic repurchase offers under Rule 23c-3 under the 1940 Act). |
☐ | A.2 Qualified (qualified to register securities pursuant to General Instruction A.2 of this Form). |
☐ | Well-Known Seasoned Issuer (as defined by Rule 405 under the Securities Act). |
☒ | Emerging Growth Company (as defined by Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“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 7(a)(2)(B) of Securities Act. |
☒ | New Registrant (registered or regulated under the 1940 Act for less than 12 calendar months preceding this filing). |
Title of securities being registered | | | Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering price(1) | | | Amount of Registration fee(1) |
Common shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value per share | | | $2,000,000,000 | | | $218,200 |
(1) | Estimated pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933 solely for the purpose of determining the registration fee. |
• | We have no prior operating history and there is no assurance that we will achieve our investment objective. |
• | This is a “blind pool” offering and thus you will not have the opportunity to evaluate our investments before we make them. |
• | You should not expect to be able to sell your shares regardless of how we perform. |
• | You should consider that you may not have access to the money you invest for an extended period of time. |
• | We do not intend to list our shares on any securities exchange, and we do not expect a secondary market in our shares to develop prior to any listing. |
• | Because you may be unable to sell your shares, you will be unable to reduce your exposure in any market downturn. |
• | We intend to implement a share repurchase program, but only a limited number of shares will be eligible for repurchase and repurchases will be subject to available liquidity and other significant restrictions. |
• | An investment in our Common Shares is not suitable for you if you need access to the money you invest. See “Suitability Standards” and “Share Repurchase Program.” |
• | We cannot guarantee that we will make distributions, and if we do we may fund such distributions from sources other than cash flow from operations, including, without limitation, the sale of assets, borrowings, or return of capital, and we have no limits on the amounts we may pay from such sources. |
• | Distributions may also be funded in significant part, directly or indirectly, from temporary waivers or expense reimbursements borne by the Adviser or its affiliates, that may be subject to reimbursement to the Adviser or its affiliates. The repayment of any amounts owed to the Adviser or its affiliates will reduce future distributions to which you would otherwise be entitled. |
• | We expect to use leverage, which will magnify the potential for loss on amounts invested in us. |
• | We qualify as an “emerging growth company” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act and we cannot be certain if the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies will make our Common Shares less attractive to investors. |
• | We intend to invest primarily in securities that are rated below investment grade by rating agencies or that would be rated below investment grade if they were rated. Below investment grade securities, which are often referred to as “junk,” have predominantly speculative characteristics with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal. They may also be illiquid and difficult to value. |
| | Price to the Public(1) | | | Proceeds to Us, Before Expenses(2) | |
Maximum Offering(3) | | | $2,000,000,000 | | | $2,000,000,000 |
Class S Shares, per Share | | | $25.00 | | | $500,000,000 |
Class D Shares, per Share | | | $25.00 | | | $500,000,000 |
Class I Shares, per Share | | | $25.00 | | | $500,000,000 |
Class F Shares, per Share | | | $25.00 | | | $500,000,000 |
Minimum Offering | | | $100,000,000 | | | $100,000,000 |
(1) | The price per share shown will apply until funds are released to us from the escrow account. Thereafter, shares of each class of our Common Shares will be issued on a monthly basis at a price per share equal to the NAV per share for such class. |
(2) | No upfront sales load will be paid with respect to Class S shares, Class D shares, Class I shares or Class F shares; however, if you buy Class S shares, Class D shares or Class F shares through certain financial intermediaries, they may directly charge you transaction or other fees, including upfront placement fees or brokerage commissions, in such amount as they may determine, provided that they limit such charges to a 3.5% cap on NAV for Class S shares, a 2.0% cap on NAV for Class D shares and a 2.0% cap on NAV for Class F shares. Selling agents will not charge such fees on Class I shares. We will also pay the following shareholder servicing and/or distribution fees to the Managing Dealer and/or a participating broker, subject to Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) limitations on underwriting compensation: (a) for Class S shares, a shareholder servicing and/or distribution fee equal to 0.85% per annum of the aggregate NAV as of the beginning of the first calendar day of the month for the Class S shares, (b) for Class D shares, a shareholder servicing fee equal to 0.25% per annum of the aggregate NAV as of the beginning of the first calendar day of the month for the Class D shares, and (c) for Class F shares, a shareholder servicing and/or distribution fee equal to 0.50% per annum of the aggregate NAV as of the beginning of the first calendar day of the month for the Class F shares, in each case, payable monthly. No shareholder servicing or distribution fees will be paid with respect to the Class I shares. The total amount that will be paid over time for other underwriting compensation depends on the average length of time for which shares remain outstanding, the term over which such amount is measured and the performance of our investments. We will also pay or reimburse certain organization and offering expenses, including, subject to FINRA limitations on underwriting compensation, certain wholesaling expenses. See “Plan of Distribution” and “Estimated Use of Proceeds.” The total underwriting compensation and total organization and offering expenses will not exceed 10% and 15%, respectively, of the gross proceeds from this offering. Proceeds are calculated before deducting shareholder servicing or distribution fees or organization and offering expenses payable by us, which are paid over time. |
(3) | The table assumes that all shares are sold in the primary offering, with 1/4 of the gross offering proceeds from the sale of Class S shares, 1/4 from the sale of Class D shares, 1/4 from the sale of Class I shares and 1/4 from the sale of Class F shares. The number of shares of each class sold and the relative proportions in which the classes of shares are sold are uncertain and may differ significantly from this assumption. |
• | a gross annual income of at least $70,000 and a net worth of at least $70,000, or |
• | a net worth of at least $250,000. |
• | meets the minimum income and net worth standards established in the investor’s state; |
• | can reasonably benefit from an investment in our Common Shares based on the investor’s overall investment objectives and portfolio structure; |
• | is able to bear the economic risk of the investment based on the investor’s overall financial situation, including the risk that the investor may lose its entire investment; and |
• | has an apparent understanding of the following: |
• | the fundamental risks of the investment; |
• | the lack of liquidity of our shares; |
• | the background and qualification of our Adviser; and |
• | the tax consequences of the investment. |
Q: | What is HPS Corporate Lending Fund (“HLEND”)? |
A: | HLEND (or the Fund) is a new fund externally managed by HPS Investment Partners, LLC (“HPS” or the “Adviser”) that seeks to invest primarily in newly originated senior secured debt and other securities of private U.S. companies within the middle market and upper middle market. We are a Delaware statutory trust and a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company that intends to elect to be regulated as a business development company (“BDC”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). We also intend to elect to be treated as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). |
Q: | Who is HPS Investment Partners, LLC? |
A: | HPS is a leading global alternative investment manager with $68 billion of total assets under management as of March 31, 2021. HPS invests primarily in non-investment grade credit and manages various strategies across the capital structure that include privately negotiated senior secured debt and mezzanine investments, syndicated leveraged loans and high yield bonds, asset-based leasing and private equity. Established in 2007, HPS has approximately 160 investment professionals and over 400 total employees and is headquartered in New York with eleven additional offices globally. HPS was established as a unit of Highbridge Capital Management, LLC (“HCM”), a subsidiary of J.P. Morgan Asset Management (“JPMAM”). In March 2016, the principals of HPS acquired HPS from JPMAM, which retained HCM’s hedge fund strategies. In June 2018, affiliates of Dyal Capital Partners, a division of Neuberger Berman, made a passive minority investment in HPS. |
Q: | What is your investment objective? |
A: | Our investment objective is to generate attractive risk adjusted returns, predominately in the form of current income, with select investments exhibiting the ability to capture long-term capital appreciation. |
Q: | What is your investment strategy? |
A: | Our investment strategy focuses primarily on newly originated, privately negotiated senior credit investments in high-quality, established middle market and upper middle market companies and, in select situations, companies in special situations. We use the term “upper middle market companies” to generally mean companies with earnings before interest expense, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization (or “EBITDA”) between $50 million to $350 million annually at the time of investment. We may from time to time invest in smaller or larger companies if the opportunity presents attractive investment characteristics and risk adjusted returns. While our investment strategy primarily focuses on companies in the United States, we also intend to leverage HPS’s global presence to invest in companies in Europe, Australia and other locations outside the U.S., subject to compliance with BDC requirements to invest at least 70% of assets in “eligible portfolio companies.” In addition to corporate level obligations, our investments in these companies may also opportunistically include private asset-based financings such as equipment financings, financings against mission-critical corporate assets and mortgage loans. We may also selectively make investments that represent equity in portfolios of loans, receivables or other debt instruments. We may also participate in programmatic investments in partnership with one or more unaffiliated banks or other financial institutions, where our partner assumes senior exposure to each investment, and we participate in the junior exposure. |
1 | Data as of March 31, 2021. HPS statistics include investments across Core Senior Lending, Specialty Direct Lending and Mezzanine strategies. |
Q: | What types of investments do you intend to make? |
A: | Under normal circumstances, we will invest at least 80% of our total assets (net assets plus borrowings for investment purposes) in credit and credit-related instruments issued by corporate issuers (including loans, notes, bonds and other corporate debt securities). |
Q: | What is an originated loan? |
A: | An originated loan is a loan where we lend directly to the borrower and hold the loan generally on our own or in a small group with other HPS advised funds and accounts and/or third-party investors. This is distinct from a syndicated loan, which is generally originated by a bank and then syndicated, or sold, in several pieces to other investors. Originated loans are generally held until maturity or until they are refinanced by the borrower. Syndicated loans often have liquid markets and can be traded by investors. |
Q: | Why do you intend to invest in liquid credit investments in addition to originated loans? |
A: | We expect the allocation to liquid credit investments within the Fund’s portfolio (i) to provide the Fund with sufficient liquidity in order to meet the Fund’s share repurchase requirements, and (ii) to seek attractive investment returns prior to investing subscription proceeds into newly originated loans. |
Q: | What relative competitive strengths does the Adviser offer? |
A: | HPS is a leading global, credit-focused alternative investment firm that seeks to provide creative capital solutions and generate attractive risk-adjusted returns for its clients. The scale and breadth of HPS’s platform offers the flexibility to invest in companies large and small across the capital structure through both standard and highly customized structures. At its core, HPS shares a common thread of intellectual rigor and investment discipline that enables it to create value for its clients, who have entrusted HPS with approximately $68 billion of assets under management as of March 31, 2021. |
• | Breadth of HPS’s Credit Investment Platform. HPS is a global investment firm with strategies that seek to capitalize on credit opportunities across the capital structure. As a multi-strategy credit platform, seeking opportunities across both private and public credit, HPS employs an open-architecture framework under which investment teams can apply shared knowledge and insights when evaluating new investment opportunities. HPS’s team of approximately 160 investment professionals managed approximately $68 billion across multiple strategies focusing on non-investment grade corporate credit as of March 31, 2021. HPS believes that its multi-strategy approach provides a unique vantage point to evaluate relative value and better positions the firm to provide borrowers with a comprehensive and diverse set of potential financing solutions, which may enable the Fund to see more investment opportunities. |
• | Scaled Capital with an Ability to Speak for the Full Debt Quantum. Scaled capital has been a key factor in enabling previous funds managed by HPS to access attractive potential investment opportunities. The scale of HPS’s corporate lending platform, including managed accounts and similar investment vehicles, provides the capacity to commit to loans of $500 million to $1 billion, or greater. HPS believes that there are a finite number of competitors who can provide and solely hold investments of this size. For borrowers in the upper end of the middle market, who value confidentiality, efficiency and execution certainty, this capability can be very differentiating and drive investment opportunities. Additionally, due to favorable competitive dynamics associated with fewer capital providers with the ability to deliver scaled capital solutions, HPS believes that it has, to date, been successful in capturing attractive returns relative to the generally lower risk profile of larger, more diversified borrowers. HPS also believes that being the sole or majority investor in a debt tranche also provides the Fund with enhanced downside protection via enhanced control over covenants and loan structure. |
• | Focus on the Upper Middle Market. HPS’s corporate lending strategy generally targets the upper end of the middle market. As HPS believes that the market is in the later stages of the existing credit cycle, HPS intends to position the portfolio by primarily focusing on larger, more resilient companies that generally generate $50 million to $350 million of EBITDA annually. HPS believes that the upper end |
6 | Data as of March 31, 2021. HPS statistics include investments across Core Senior Lending, Specialty Direct Lending and Mezzanine strategies. |
• | Proven Ability to Source Non-Sponsor Investments. HPS believes its non-sponsor lending capabilities sets its platform apart from many of its peers. While the vast majority of peers focus exclusively on lending to private equity owned businesses, HPS has historically sourced approximately 50% – 60% of its investments from non-sponsor borrowers (which are non-private-equity-backed businesses) by building a strong relationship network across a breadth of companies, management teams, banks, debt advisors and other financial intermediaries. HPS believes its non-sponsor tilt significantly reduces the level of competitive intensity and allows it to focus on structuring improved economics, stricter financial covenants and stronger loan documentation. In addition, the direct dialogue with management teams results in a better understanding of the underlying borrowers and better positioning to actively manage investments throughout their life. While HPS is principally focused on the non-sponsor channel, its exposure to sponsor transactions tends to increase in times of public market dislocation (when certainty of capital and speed of execution with a single counterparty is often sought after and highly valued). The ability to flex in and out of both sponsor and non-sponsor markets will allow the Fund to remain nimble across different market dynamics. |
• | Ability to Navigate Complex Investment Opportunities. HPS believes that its willingness to embrace complexity, such as complicated business models, esoteric underlying collateral, strained capital structures, and/or timing pressures, is a key differentiating factor relative to its competitors. HPS believes that perceived risk is often mispriced by the market in more complex situations, which can result in disproportionate return opportunities for the smaller number of willing lenders with the requisite expertise to analyze and finance these investments. It has been HPS’s experience that these complicated transactions are often less competitive given the extra work, level of analysis and structuring required and therefore, borrowers particularly value the ability to execute and are willing to pay a premium for it. HPS believes that complexity can be effectively addressed through a combination of incremental effort, creative structuring and compensatory pricing, resulting in opportunities that often can offer attractive, uncorrelated returns for the Fund. |
• | Emphasis on Capital Preservation. Capital preservation is a core component of HPS’s investment philosophy. In addition to its focus on stable, established middle and upper middle market companies, HPS employs a highly selective and rigorous “private equity like” diligence and investment evaluation process focused on identification of potential risks. HPS believes tight credit structuring is a fundamental part of the risk and recovery calculus, as the illiquidity in private credit means that secondary market liquidity is not a reliable risk mitigant. HPS has also built a deep bench of restructuring, workout and value enhancement professionals with an average of 28 years of workout experience, who work on an integrated basis to actively manage each investment throughout its life. |
Q: | What is the market opportunity? |
A: | Private credit as an asset class has grown considerably since the global financial crisis of 2008, and it is estimated that global commitments to private debt represented more than $1 trillion as of the end of 20203. We expect this growth to continue and, along with the factors outlined below, to provide a robust backdrop to what HPS believes will be a significant number of attractive investment opportunities aligned to our investment strategy. |
• | Senior Secured Loans Offer Attractive Investment Characteristics. HPS believes that senior secured loans benefit from their relative priority position, typically sitting as the most senior obligation in an issuer’s capital structure, often with a direct security interest in the issuer’s (or its subsidiaries’) assets. |
3 | Source: Preqin as of December 31, 2020. |
• | Regulatory Actions Continue to Drive Demand towards Private Financing. The direct lending market has seen notable growth and has become a viable alternative solution for middle to upper middle market borrowers seeking financing capital. Global regulatory actions that followed the 2008 financial crisis have significantly increased the cost of capital requirements for commercial banks, limiting the willingness of commercial banks to originate and retain illiquid, non-investment grade credit commitments on their balance sheets, particularly with respect to middle and upper-middle-market sized issuers. Instead, many commercial banks have adopted an “underwrite-and-distribute” approach, which HPS believes is often less attractive to corporate borrowers seeking certainty of capital. As a result, commercial banks’ share of the leveraged loan market declined from approximately 71% in 1994 to approximately 14% in 20205. Access to the syndicated leveraged loan market has also become challenging for both first time issuers and smaller scale issuers, who previously had access to the capital markets. Issuers of tranche sizes representing less than $500 million account for just 9.5% of the new issue market as of December 31, 2020 as compared to over 45% in 20016. HPS believes that these regulatory actions have caused a shift in the role that commercial banks play in the direct lending market for middle to upper middle market borrowers, creating a void in the financing marketplace. This void has been filled by direct lending platforms which seek to provide borrowers an alternative “originate and retain” solution. In response, corporate borrower behavior has increasingly shifted to a more conscious assessment of the benefits that private capital from strategic financing partners can offer. |
• | Volatility in Credit Markets has made Availability of Capital Less Predictable. HPS believes that the value of direct lending platforms for borrowers hinges on providing certainty of capital at a fair economic price. Volatility in the credit markets, coupled with changes to the regulatory framework over the past several years, has resulted in an imbalance between the availability of new loans to middle market borrowers and the demand from borrowers requiring capital for acquisitions, capital expenditures, recapitalizations, refinancings and restructurings. HPS believes that the scarcity of the supply of traditional loan capital relative to the demand has created an environment where direct lenders can often negotiate loans with attractive returns and creditor protections. |
• | Increasingly Larger Borrowers Are Finding Value in Private Solutions. HPS believes the opportunity set has subtly shifted toward larger borrowers in recent times. The private credit focus on the middle market was traditionally driven by borrowers’ inefficient access to capital, and the fact that such borrowers were too small to have a syndicated loan or high yield bond. At the upper end of the middle market, companies have traditionally had the option to pursue a broadly syndicated loan, but recent volatility has increased the value they appear to be placing on the confidentiality, efficiency and execution certainty that is available in the private credit market. HPS believes that as borrowers and debt advisors become more aware of the depth in the private debt space that has been created by scaled providers, they will increasingly weigh this option against public market alternatives for larger companies. HPS believes the benefits of this growing opportunity set at the upper end of the market will accrue to the largest direct lending players, like HPS, as scale is a prerequisite for providing certainty. |
4 | Source: Moody’s Investors Service Ultimate Recovery Rates Data; “Corporate Defaults and Recoveries - US” as of May 18, 2021. |
5 | Source: S&P LCD Quarterly Leveraged Lending Review 4Q 2020, Primary Investor Market: Banks vs. Non-banks. |
6 | Source: S&P LCD Middle Market Deal Size Category Factsheet 4Q 2020. |
Q: | How will you identify investments? |
A: | We believe that much of the value HPS will create for our private investment portfolio will come on the front end through the diversity of its sourcing capabilities. To source transactions, HPS will leverage the breadth of its global credit platform, and its shared knowledge and insights gleaned across both private and public credit, to cast a wide net to drive significant transaction flow. HPS will seek to generate investment opportunities across its various sourcing channels, including financial intermediaries such as investment banks and debt advisory firms, direct relationships with companies and management teams, private equity sponsors and formal partnerships and strategic arrangements with select financial institutions. We believe that this multi-pronged approach to sourcing will provide a significant pipeline of investment opportunities for us that could contribute to a portfolio for the Fund with attractive investment economics and risk/reward profiles. |
Q: | How will you evaluate and manage investments? |
A: | HPS will evaluate and manage investments by adhering to the core principles of rigorous fundamental analysis, thorough due diligence, active portfolio monitoring and risk management. |
• | Rigorous Investment Screening and Selection. HPS expects the Fund to benefit from HPS’s global sourcing platforms and will seek to build a strong pipeline of investment opportunities. From this pipeline, certain investments proceed to an initial screening discussion that focuses on establishing the framework for the viability of the investment opportunity and the reasons to make the investment (i.e., leading market share, sustainable franchise and brand value, and value-add products or services). When evaluating a loan, the Fund’s investment team (the “Investment Team”) will focus on a combination of business stability, asset values and contractual loan protections. This process seeks to screen out companies that do not meet our risk criteria, while simultaneously prioritizing opportunities where the borrower may place greater emphasis on certain non-economic characteristics, such as certainty of scaled capital, creative financing solutions, an ability to understand complexity of capital structure or business risk and/or confidentiality of operating and financial performance. HPS believes that it has the greatest potential competitive edge over certain syndicated financing solutions or other competitive direct lending platforms to extract compelling risk-adjusted returns in these situations. |
• | Fundamental Analysis and Due Diligence. The Investment Team’s approach to investment selection is anchored around conducting rigorous upfront, “private equity style” due diligence. The Investment Team’s due diligence and risk management processes will utilize and benefit from the substantial resources within HPS, as well as the Investment Team’s extensive relationships with management teams, industry experts, consultants, and outside advisors. In addition, the Investment Team employs a comprehensive investment process, which may include in-depth due diligence and full credit analysis on transaction drivers, investment thesis, review of business, industry and borrower risks and mitigants, competitive analysis, management calls/meetings, financial analysis of historical results, detailed financial forecasting, examination of legal structure/terms/collateral, relative value analysis, consulting with external experts and other considerations that the Investment Team deems appropriate. HPS generally seeks to employ a “cradle to grave” approach with respect to its investments such that the Investment Team is responsible for sourcing the investment, investment due diligence, and monitoring the investment until the investment is exited. HPS believes that this distinctive approach leads to greater connectivity between HPS and a borrower’s management teams, improved access to the borrower details and increased accountability, while simultaneously reducing the inherent risk of knowledge loss that exists where the sourcing, diligence and monitoring roles are bifurcated. |
• | Structuring and Negotiating Downside Protection Mechanisms. From an investment process perspective, the Investment Team spends a significant amount of time and resources on structuring prior to committing to an investment, integrating both business-specific due diligence and risk findings into the overall structure and covenants of a particular transaction. The upfront structuring of these mechanisms, as well as the establishment of “early warning” information indicators, is critical to providing HPS with the tools needed to manage underperforming investments while seeking to preserve principal. This approach allows HPS to have early discussions, typically before a payment default, with |
• | Disciplined Approach. The Investment Team expects to apply a highly selective, disciplined investment approach to the substantial transaction sourcing pipeline. As a result, the Investment Team expects to identify and invest in only a select number of attractive investment opportunities relative to the entire opportunity set. By adhering to the platform’s core principles of rigorous fundamental analysis, significant due diligence and active risk management, the Investment Team seeks to build an investment portfolio consisting primarily of senior secured loan investments that it believes will generate an attractive risk-adjusted return profile. |
Q: | How will investments be allocated to the Fund? |
A: | HPS provides investment management services to investment funds and client accounts. HPS will share any investment and sale opportunities with its other clients and the Fund in accordance with applicable law, including the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”), firm-wide allocation policies, and an exemptive order from the SEC permitting co-investment activities (as further described below), which generally provide for sharing eligible investments pro rata among the eligible participating funds and accounts, subject to certain allocation factors. |
Q: | Will the Fund use leverage? |
A: | Yes, we intend to use leverage to seek to enhance our returns. Our leverage levels will vary over time in response to general market conditions, the size and compositions of our investment portfolio and the views of our Adviser and Board. Once we have established a scaled and diversified investment portfolio, we expect that our debt to equity ratio will generally range between 1.0x and 1.5x. While our leverage employed may be greater or less than these levels from time to time, it will never exceed the limitations set forth in the 1940 Act, which currently allows us to borrow up to a 2:1 debt to equity ratio. |
Q: | What is a BDC? |
A: | Congress created the business development company, or BDC, through the Small Business Investment Incentive Act of 1980 to facilitate capital investment in small and middle market companies. Closed-end investment companies organized in the U.S. that elect to be treated as BDCs under the 1940 Act are subject to specific provisions of the law, most notably that at least 70% of their total assets must be “qualifying assets”. Qualifying assets are generally defined as privately offered debt or equity securities of U.S. private companies or U.S. publicly traded companies with market capitalizations less than $250 million. |
Q: | What is a non-exchange traded, perpetual-life BDC? |
A: | A non-exchange traded BDC’s shares are not listed for trading on a stock exchange or other securities market. The term “perpetual-life” is used to differentiate our structure from other BDCs who have a finite offering period and/or have a predefined time period to pursue a liquidity event or to wind down the fund. In contrast, in a perpetual-life BDC structure like ours, we expect to offer common shares continuously at a price equal the monthly net asset value (“NAV”) per share and we have an indefinite duration, with no obligation to effect a liquidity event at any time. We generally intend to offer our common shareholders an opportunity to have their shares repurchased on a quarterly basis, subject to an aggregate cap of 5% of shares outstanding. However, the determination to repurchase shares in any given quarter is fully at the Board’s discretion, so investors may not always have access to liquidity when they desire it. See “Risk Factors.” |
Q: | How will an investment in HLEND differ from an investment in a listed BDC or private BDC with a finite life? |
A: | An investment in our common shares of beneficial interest (“Common Shares”) differs from an investment in a listed or exchange traded BDC in several ways, including: |
• | Pricing. Following our initial public offering, the value at which our new Common Shares may be offered, or our Common Shares may be repurchased, will be equal to our monthly NAV per share. In contrast, shares of listed BDCs are priced by the trading market, which can be influenced by a variety of factors, including many that are not directly related to the underlying value of an entity’s assets and liabilities. The prices of listed BDCs are often higher or lower than the fund’s NAV per share and can be subject to volatility, particularly during periods of market stress. |
• | Liquidity. An investment in our Common Shares has limited or no liquidity beyond our share repurchase program, and our share repurchase program can be modified, suspended or terminated at the Board’s discretion. In contrast, a listed BDC is a liquid investment, as shares can be sold on the exchange at any time the exchange is open. |
• | Oversight. Both listed BDCs and non-traded BDCs are subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Unlike the offering of a listed BDC, the Fund’s offering will be registered in every state in which we are offering and selling shares. As a result, we include certain limits in our governing documents that are not typically provided for in the charter of a listed BDC. For example, out charter limits the fees we can pay to the Adviser. |
• | Eligible Investors. Our Common Shares may be purchased by any investor who meets the minimum suitability requirements described under “Suitability Standards” in this prospectus. While the standard |
• | Investment funding. Purchases of our Common Shares must be fully funded at the time of subscription. In contrast, investors typically make an upfront commitment in the context of a privately placed BDC and their capital is subsequently called over time as investments are made. |
• | Investment period. We have a perpetual life and may continue to take in new capital on a continuous basis at a value generally equal to our NAV per share. We will be continually originating new investments to the extent we raise additional capital. We will also be regularly recycling capital from our existing investors into new investments. In contrast, privately placed BDCs generally have a finite offering period and an associated designated time period for investment. In addition, many privately placed BDCs have either a finite life or time period by which a liquidity event must occur or fund operations must be wound down, which may limit the ability of the fund to recycle investments. |
Q: | For whom may an investment in the Fund be appropriate? |
A: | An investment in our shares may be appropriate for you if you: |
• | meet the minimum suitability requirements described under “Suitability Standards” above, which generally require that a potential investor has either (i) both net worth and annual net income of $70,000 or (ii) net worth of at least $250,000; |
• | seek to allocate a portion of your financial assets to a direct investment vehicle with an income-oriented portfolio of primarily U.S. credit investments; |
• | seek to receive current income through regular distribution payments while obtaining the potential benefit of long-term capital appreciation; and |
• | can hold your shares as a long-term investment without the need for near-term or rapid liquidity. |
Q: | Will HPS be investing in the Fund? |
A: | Yes, an affiliate of HPS plans to invest up to $25 million in our Common Shares through one or more private placement transactions. In addition, officers and employees of HPS and its affiliates may also purchase our Common Shares. Purchases made by HPS, its affiliates and their respective officers and directors will not count towards satisfaction of our minimum offering amount. |
Q: | Is there any minimum investment required? |
A: | Yes, to purchase Class S, Class D or Class F shares in this offering, you must make a minimum initial investment in our Common Shares of $2,500. To purchase Class I shares in this offering, you must make a minimum initial investment of $1,000,000. All subsequent purchases of Class S, Class D, Class F or Class I shares, except for those made under our distribution reinvestment plan, are subject to a minimum investment size of $500 per transaction. The Managing Dealer can waive the initial or subsequent minimum investment at its discretion. |
Q: | How will the Fund’s value be established? |
A: | Immediately upon the conclusion of the escrow period, the Fund’s NAV will be equal to the net proceeds received by us from purchases of Common Shares during the escrow period, less our liabilities. Thereafter, our NAV will be determined based on the value of our assets less our liabilities, including accrued fees and expenses, as of any date of determination. |
Q: | How can I purchase shares? |
A: | Subscriptions to purchase our Common Shares may be made on an ongoing basis, but after the time that we break escrow for this offering, investors may only purchase our Common Shares pursuant to accepted subscription orders as of the first business day of each month. A subscription must be received in good order at least five business days prior to the first business day of the month (unless waived by the Managing Dealer) and include the full subscription funding amount to be accepted. |
Q: | When will my subscription be accepted? |
A: | Completed subscription requests will not be accepted by us any earlier than two business days before the first day of each month. |
Q: | Can I withdraw a subscription to purchase shares once I have made it? |
A: | Yes, you may withdraw a subscription after submission at any time before we have accepted the subscription, which we will generally not do any earlier than two business days before the first day of each month. You may withdraw your purchase request by notifying the transfer agent, through your financial intermediary or directly on the toll-free, automated telephone line at 1-888-484-1944. |
Q: | What is the per share purchase price? |
A: | During the escrow period, the per share purchase price for our Common Shares will be $25.00. After the close of the escrow period, shares will be sold at the then-current NAV per share, as described above. |
Q: | When will the NAV per share be available after the escrow period? |
A: | We will report our NAV per share as of the last day of each month on our website within 20 business days of the last day of each month. Because subscriptions must be submitted at least five business days prior to the first day of each month, you will not know the NAV per share at which you will be subscribing at the time you subscribe. |
Q: | Can I invest through my Individual Retirement Account (“IRA”), Simplified Employee Pension Plan (“SEP”) or other after-tax deferred account? |
A: | Yes, if you meet the suitability standards described under “Suitability Standards” above, you may invest via an IRA, SEP or other after-tax deferred account. If you would like to invest through one of these account types, you should contact your custodian, trustee or other authorized person for the account to subscribe. They will process the subscription and forward it to us, and we will send the confirmation and notice of our acceptance back to them. |
Q: | How often will the Fund pay distributions? |
A: | We expect to pay regular monthly distributions commencing with the first full calendar quarter after the escrow period concludes. Any distributions we make will be at the discretion of our Board, who will consider, among other things, our earnings, cash flow, capital needs and general financial condition, as well as our desire to comply with the RIC requirements, which generally require us to make aggregate annual distributions to our shareholders of at least 90% of our net investment income. As a result, our distribution rates and payment frequency may vary from time to time and there is no assurance we will pay distributions in any particular amount, if at all. See “Description of our Common Shares” and “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations.” |
Q: | Can I reinvest distributions in the Fund? |
A: | Yes, we have adopted a distribution reinvestment plan whereby shareholders (other than those located in specific states or who are clients of selected participating brokers, as outlined below) will have their cash distributions automatically reinvested in additional shares of the same class of our Common Shares to which the distribution relates unless they elect to receive their distributions in cash. The purchase price for shares purchased under our distribution reinvestment plan will be equal to the then current NAV per share of the relevant class of Common Shares. Shareholders will not pay transaction related charges when purchasing shares under our distribution reinvestment plan, but all outstanding Class S, Class D and Class F shares, including those purchased under our distribution reinvestment plan, will be subject to ongoing servicing fees. |
Q: | How can I change my distribution reinvestment plan election? |
A: | Participants may terminate their participation in the distribution reinvestment plan or shareholders may elect to participate in our distribution reinvestment plan with five business days’ prior written notice by contacting our Transfer Agent, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC (d/b/a U.S. Bank Global Fund Services) (“U.S. Bank Global Fund Services”), at HPS Corporate Lending Fund, c/o U.S. Bank Global Fund Services, 615 East Michigan Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202. |
Q: | How will distributions be taxed? |
A: | We intend to elect to be treated for federal income tax purposes, and intend to qualify annually thereafter, as a RIC under the Code. A RIC is generally not subject to U.S. federal corporate income taxes on the net taxable income that it currently distributes to its shareholders. |
Q: | Can I sell, transfer or otherwise liquidate my shares post purchase? |
A: | The purchase of our Common Shares is intended to be a long-term investment. We do not intend to list our shares on a national securities exchange, and do not expect a public market to develop for our shares in the foreseeable future. We also do not intend to complete a liquidity event within any specific period, and there can be no assurance that we will ever complete a liquidity event. We do intend to conduct quarterly share repurchase offers in accordance with the 1940 Act to provide limited liquidity to our shareholders. Our share repurchase program will be the only liquidity initiative that we offer to our shareholders. |
Q: | Can I request that my shares be repurchased? |
A: | Yes, you can request that your shares be repurchased subject to the following limitations. Beginning no later than the first full calendar quarter from the date on which we break escrow for this offering, and subject to the discretion of the Board, we intend to commence a share repurchase program pursuant to which we |
Q: | What fees do you pay to the Adviser? |
A: | Pursuant to the advisory agreement between us and the Adviser (the “Advisory Agreement”), the Adviser is responsible for, among other things, identifying investment opportunities, monitoring our investments and determining the composition of our portfolio. We will pay the Adviser a fee for its services under the Advisory Agreement consisting of two components: a management fee and an incentive fee. |
• | The management fee is payable monthly in arrears at an annual rate of 1.25% of the value of our net assets as of the beginning of the first calendar day of the applicable month. For the first calendar month in which the Fund has operations, net assets will be measured as the beginning net assets as of the date on which the Fund breaks escrow. In addition, the Adviser has agreed to waive its management fee for the first six months following the date on which we break escrow for this offering. The longer an investor holds our Common Shares during this period, the longer such investor will receive the benefit of this management fee waiver. |
• | The incentive fee will consist of two components as follows: |
• | The first part of the incentive fee is based on income, whereby we will pay the Adviser quarterly in arrears 12.5% of its Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income Returns (as defined below), attributable to each class of the Fund’s Common Shares, for each calendar quarter subject to a 5.0% annualized hurdle rate, with a catch-up. The Adviser has agreed to waive the incentive fee based on income for the first six months following the date on which we break escrow for this offering. The longer an investor holds our Common Shares during this period, the longer such investor will receive the benefit of this income based incentive fee waiver. |
• | The second part of the incentive fee is based on realized capital gains, whereby we will pay the Adviser at the end of each calendar year in arrears 12.5% of cumulative realized capital gains, attributable to each class of the Fund’s Common Shares, from inception through the end of such calendar year, computed net of all realized capital losses and unrealized capital depreciation on a cumulative basis, less the aggregate amount of any previously paid incentive fee on capital gains. |
Q: | How will I be kept up to date about how my investment is doing? |
A: | We and/or your financial advisor, participating broker or financial intermediary, as applicable, will provide you with periodic updates on the performance of your investment with us, including: |
• | three quarterly financial reports and an annual report; |
• | quarterly investor statements; |
• | in the case of certain U.S. shareholders, an annual Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) Form 1099-DIV or IRS Form 1099-B, if required, and, in the case of non-U.S. shareholders, an annual IRS Form 1042-S; and |
• | confirmation statements (after transactions affecting your balance, except reinvestment of distributions in us and certain transactions through minimum account investment or withdrawal programs). |
Q: | What type of tax reporting will I receive on the Fund, and when will I receive it? |
A: | As promptly as possible after the end of each calendar year, we intend to send to each of our U.S. shareholders an annual IRS Form 1099-DIV or IRS Form 1099-B, if required, and, in the case of non-U.S. shareholders, an annual IRS Form 1042-S. |
Q: | What are the tax implications for non-U.S. investors in the Fund? |
A: | Because we are a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a non-U.S. investor in the Fund will generally not be treated as engaged in a trade or business in the U.S. solely as a result of investing in the Fund, unless the Fund is treated as a “United States real property holding corporation” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Although there can be no assurance in this regard, we do not currently expect to be a United States real property holding corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. |
Q: | What are the tax implications for non-taxable U.S. investors in the Fund? |
A: | Because we are a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, U.S. tax-exempt investors in the Fund will generally not derive “unrelated business taxable income” for U.S. federal income tax purposes (“UBTI”) solely as a result of their investment in the Fund. A U.S. tax-exempt investor, however, may derive UBTI from its investment in the Fund if the investor incurs indebtedness in connection with its purchase of shares in the Fund. Tax-exempt investors should consult their tax advisors with respect to the consequences of investing in the Fund. |
Q: | What is the difference between the four classes of Common Shares being offered? |
A: | We are offering to the public four classes of Common Shares - Class S shares, Class D shares, Class I shares and Class F shares. The differences among the share classes relate to ongoing shareholder servicing and/or distribution fees, with Class S shares, Class D shares and Class F shares subject to ongoing and shareholder servicing and/or distribution fee of 0.85%, 0.25% and 0.50%, respectively and Class I shares not subject to a shareholder servicing and/or distribution fee. In addition, although no upfront sales loads will be paid with respect to Class S shares, Class D shares, Class I shares or Class F shares, if you buy Class S shares, Class D shares or Class F shares through certain financial intermediaries, they may directly charge you transaction or other fees, including upfront placement fees or brokerage commissions, in such amount as they may determine, provided that they limit such charges to a 3.5% cap on NAV for Class S shares, a 2.0% cap on NAV for Class D shares and a 2.0% cap on NAV for Class F shares. Selling agents will not charge such fees on Class I shares. See “Description of Our Common Shares” and “Plan of Distribution” in our N-2 registration statement for a discussion of the differences between our Class S, Class D, Class I and Class F shares. See “Description of Our Common Shares” and “Plan of Distribution” for a discussion of the differences between our Class S, Class D, Class I and Class F shares. |
| | Annual Shareholder Servicing and/or Distribution Fees | | | Total Over Five Years | |
Class S | | | $85 | | | $425 |
Class D | | | $25 | | | $125 |
Class I | | | $0 | | | $0 |
Class F | | | $50 | | | $250 |
Q: | Are there ERISA considerations in connection with investing in the Fund? |
A: | We intend to conduct our affairs so that our assets should not be deemed to constitute “plan assets” under the ERISA, and certain U.S. Department of Labor regulations promulgated thereunder, as modified by Section 3(42) of ERISA (the “Plan Asset Regulations”). In this regard, until such time as all classes of the |
Q: | What is the role of the Fund’s Board of Trustees? |
A: | We operate under the direction of our Board, the members of which are accountable to us and our shareholders as fiduciaries. We have five Trustees, three of whom have been determined to be independent of us, the Adviser and its affiliates (“Independent Trustees”). Our Independent Trustees are responsible for, among other things, reviewing the performance of the Adviser, approving the compensation paid to the Adviser and its affiliates, oversight of the valuation process used to establish the Fund’s NAV and oversight of the investment allocation process to the Fund. The names and biographical information of our Trustees are provided under “Management of the Fund—Trustees and Executive Officers.” |
Q: | Are there any risks involved in buying your shares? |
A: | Investing in our Common Shares involves a high degree of risk. If we are unable to effectively manage the impact of these risks, we may not meet our investment objective and, therefore, you should purchase our shares only if you can afford a complete loss of your investment. An investment in our Common Shares involves significant risks and is intended only for investors with a long-term investment horizon and who do not require immediate liquidity or guaranteed income. Some of the more significant risks relating to an investment in our Common Shares include those listed below: |
• | We have no prior operating history and there is no assurance that we will achieve our investment objective. |
• | This is a “blind pool” offering and thus you will not have the opportunity to evaluate our investments before we make them. |
• | You should not expect to be able to sell your shares regardless of how we perform. |
• | You should consider that you may not have access to the money you invest for an extended period of time. |
• | We do not intend to list our shares on any securities exchange, and we do not expect a secondary market in our shares to develop prior to any listing. |
• | Because you may be unable to sell your shares, you will be unable to reduce your exposure in any market downturn. |
• | We intend to implement a share repurchase program, but only a limited number of shares will be eligible for repurchase and repurchases will be subject to available liquidity and other significant restrictions. |
• | An investment in our Common Shares is not suitable for you if you need access to the money you invest. See “Suitability Standards” and “Share Repurchase Program.” |
• | We cannot guarantee that we will make distributions, and if we do we may fund such distributions from sources other than cash flow from operations, including, without limitation, the sale of assets, borrowings, or return of capital, and we have no limits on the amounts we may pay from such sources. |
• | Distributions may also be funded in significant part, directly or indirectly, from temporary waivers or expense reimbursements borne by the Adviser or its affiliates, that may be subject to reimbursement to the Adviser or its affiliates. The repayment of any amounts owed to the Advisor or its affiliates will reduce future distributions to which you would otherwise be entitled. |
• | We expect to use leverage, which will magnify the potential for loss on amounts invested in us. |
• | We qualify as an “emerging growth company” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (the “JOBS Act”), and we cannot be certain if the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies will make our Common Shares less attractive to investors. |
• | We intend to invest primarily in securities that are rated below investment grade by rating agencies or that would be rated below investment grade if they were rated. Below investment grade securities, which are often referred to as “junk,” have predominantly speculative characteristics with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal. They may also be illiquid and difficult to value. |
Q: | Do you currently own any investments? |
A: | No. |
Q: | At what point will the initial proceeds of this offering be released from escrow? |
A: | We will take purchase orders and hold investors’ funds in an interest-bearing escrow account until we receive purchase orders for at least $100 million (excluding any shares purchased by our Adviser, its affiliates and our Trustees and officers but including any shares purchased in any private offerings), and our Board has authorized the release of the escrowed purchase order proceeds to us so that we can commence operations. Even if we receive purchase orders for $100 million, our Board may elect to wait a substantial amount of time before authorizing, or may elect not to authorize, the release of the escrowed proceeds. If we do not raise the minimum amount and commence operations by [ ], 2022 (one year following the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part), this offering will be terminated and our escrow agent will promptly send you a full refund of your investment with interest and without deduction for escrow expenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you may elect to withdraw your purchase order and request a full refund of your investment with interest and without deduction for escrow expenses at any time before the escrowed funds are released to us. If we break escrow for this offering and commence operations, interest earned on funds in escrow will be released to our account and constitute part of our net assets. |
Q: | What is a “best efforts” offering? |
A: | This is our initial public offering of our Common Shares on a “best efforts” basis. A “best efforts” offering means the Managing Dealer and the participating brokers are only required to use their best efforts to sell the shares. When shares are offered to the public on a “best efforts” basis, no underwriter, broker or other person has a firm commitment or obligation to purchase any of the shares. Therefore, we cannot guarantee that any minimum number of shares will be sold. |
Q: | What is the expected term of this offering? |
A: | We have registered $2,000,000,000 in Common Shares. It is our intent, however, to conduct a continuous offering for an extended period of time, by filing for additional offerings of our shares, subject to regulatory approval and continued compliance with the rules and regulations of the SEC and applicable state laws. |
Q: | What is a regulated investment company, or RIC? |
A: | We intend to elect to be treated for federal income tax purposes, and intend to qualify annually thereafter, as a regulated investment company (a “RIC”) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). |
• | is a BDC or registered investment company that combines the capital of many investors to acquire securities; |
• | offers the benefits of a securities portfolio under professional management; |
• | satisfies various requirements of the Code, including an asset diversification requirement; and |
• | is generally not subject to U.S. federal corporate income taxes on its net taxable income that it currently distributes to its shareholders, which substantially eliminates the “double taxation” (i.e., taxation at both the corporate and shareholder levels) that generally results from investments in a C corporation. |
Q: | Who will administer the Fund? |
A: | HPS, in its capacity as our administrator (the “Administrator”), will provide, or oversee the performance of, administrative and compliance services. We will reimburse the Administrator for its costs, expenses and the Fund’s allocable portion of compensation of the Administrator’s personnel and the Administrator’s overhead (including rent, office equipment and utilities) and other expenses incurred by the Administrator in performing its administrative obligations under the administration agreement (the “Administration Agreement”). See “Advisory Agreement and Administration Agreement—Administration Agreement.” |
Q: | What are the offering and servicing costs? |
A: | No upfront sales load will be paid with respect to Class S shares, Class D shares, Class I or Class F shares; however, if you buy Class S shares, Class D shares or Class F shares through certain financial intermediaries, they may directly charge you transaction or other fees, including upfront placement fees or brokerage commissions, in such amount as they may determine, provided that they limit such charges to a 3.5% cap on NAV for Class S shares, a 2.0% cap on NAV for Class D shares and a 2.0% cap on NAV for Class F shares. Selling agents will not charge such fees on Class I shares. Please consult your selling agent for additional information. |
Q: | What are our expected operating expenses? |
A: | We expect to incur operating expenses in the form of our management and incentive fees, shareholder servicing and/or distribution fees, interest expense on our borrowings and other expenses, including the fees we pay to our Administrator. See “Fees and Expenses.” |
Q: | What are our policies related to conflicts of interests with HPS and its affiliates? |
A: | The Adviser and its affiliates will be subject to certain conflicts of interest with respect to the services HPS (in its capacity as the Adviser and the Administrator) provide for us. These conflicts will arise primarily from the involvement of HPS in other activities that may conflict with our activities. You should be aware that individual conflicts will not necessarily be resolved in favor of our interest. |
• | Conflicts of Interest Generally. In the ordinary course of its business activities, HPS will engage in activities where the interests of certain of its own interests or the interests of its clients will conflict with the interests of the shareholders in the Fund. Other present and future activities of the Firm will give rise to additional conflicts of interest. In the event that a conflict of interest arises, the Adviser will attempt to resolve such conflict in a fair and equitable manner. Subject to applicable law, including the 1940 Act, and the Board of Trustees’ oversight, the Adviser will have the power to resolve, or consent to the resolution of, conflicts of interest on behalf of the Fund. Investors should be aware that conflicts will not necessarily be resolved in favor of the Fund’s interests. In addition, the Adviser may in certain situations choose to consult with or obtain the consent of the Board of Trustees with respect to any specific conflict of interest, including with respect to the approvals required under the 1940 Act, including Section 57(f), and the Advisers Act. The Fund may enter into joint transactions or cross-trades with clients or affiliates of the Adviser to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act and any applicable co-investment order from the SEC. Subject to the limitations of the 1940 Act, the Fund may invest in loans or other securities, the proceeds of which may refinance or otherwise repay debt or securities of companies whose debt is owned by other HPS funds and accounts. |
• | Relationship among the Fund, the Adviser and the Investment Team. The Adviser has a conflict of interest between its responsibility to act in the best interests of the Fund, on the one hand, and any benefit, monetary or otherwise, that results to it or its affiliates from the operation of the Fund, on the other hand. For example, the incentive fee creates an incentive for the Adviser to recommend more speculative investments for the Fund than it would otherwise in the absence of such performance-based compensation. |
• | Co-Investment Transactions. The Fund has applied for an exemptive order from the SEC that permits it to co-invest with certain other persons, including certain affiliated accounts managed and controlled by the Adviser. Subject to the 1940 Act and the conditions of any such co-investment order issued by the SEC, the Fund may, under certain circumstances, co-invest with certain affiliated accounts in investments that are suitable for the Fund and one or more of such affiliated accounts. Even though the Fund and any such affiliated account co-invest in the same securities, conflicts of interest may still arise. If the Adviser is presented with co-investment opportunities that generally fall within the Fund’s investment objective and other Board-established criteria and those of one or more affiliated accounts advised by the Adviser, whether focused on a debt strategy or otherwise, the Adviser will allocate such opportunities among the Fund and such affiliated accounts in a manner consistent with the exemptive order and the Adviser’s allocation policies and procedures. There is no assurance that the co-investment exemptive order will be granted by the SEC. |
• | Competition among the Accounts Managed by the Adviser and Its Affiliates. The Affiliated Group is actively engaged in advisory and management services for multiple collective investment vehicles and managed accounts (each, an “Affiliated Group Account” and together, the “Affiliated Group Accounts”). The Affiliated Group expects to sponsor or manage additional collective investment vehicles and managed accounts in the future. The Affiliated Group may employ the same or different investment strategies for the various Affiliated Group Accounts it manages or otherwise advises. |
Q: | What is the impact of being an “emerging growth company”? |
A: | We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined by the JOBS Act. As an emerging growth company, we are eligible to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting and disclosure requirements that are applicable to public companies that are not emerging growth companies. For so long as we remain an emerging growth company, we will not be required to: |
• | have an auditor attestation report on our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“Sarbanes-Oxley Act”); |
• | submit certain executive compensation matters to shareholder advisory votes pursuant to the “say on frequency” and “say on pay” provisions (requiring a non-binding shareholder vote to approve compensation of certain executive officers) and the “say on golden parachute” provisions (requiring a non-binding shareholder vote to approve golden parachute arrangements for certain executive officers in connection with mergers and certain other business combinations) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010; or |
• | disclose certain executive compensation related items, such as the correlation between executive compensation and performance and comparisons of the chief executive officer’s compensation to median employee compensation. |
Q: | Who can help answer my questions? |
A: | If you have more questions about this offering or if you would like additional copies of this prospectus, you should contact your financial advisor or our transfer agent at HPS Corporate Lending Fund, c/o U.S. Bank Global Fund Services, 615 East Michigan Street Milwaukee, WI 53202, or at 1-888-484-1944. |
| | Class S Shares | | | Class D Shares | | | Class I Shares | | | Class F Shares | |
Shareholder transaction expense (fees paid directly from your investment) | | | | | | | | | ||||
Maximum sales load(1) | | | —% | | | —% | | | —% | | | —% |
Maximum Early Repurchase Deduction(2) | | | 2.0% | | | 2.0% | | | 2.0% | | | 2.0% |
| | | | | | | | |||||
Annual expenses (as a percentage of net assets attributable to our Common Shares)(3) | | | | | | | | | ||||
Base management fees(4) | | | 1.25% | | | 1.25% | | | 1.25% | | | 1.25% |
Incentive fees(5) | | | —% | | | —% | | | —% | | | —% |
Shareholder servicing and/or distribution fees(6) | | | 0.85% | | | 0.25% | | | —% | | | 0.50% |
Interest payment on borrowed funds(7) | | | 3.25% | | | 3.25% | | | 3.25% | | | 3.25% |
Other expenses(8) | | | 1.30% | | | 1.30% | | | 1.30% | | | 1.30% |
Total annual expenses | | | 6.65% | | | 6.05% | | | 5.80% | | | 6.30% |
Expense Support(8) | | | (0.30)% | | | (0.30)% | | | (0.30)% | | | (0.30)% |
Total annual expenses (after expense support)(8) | | | 6.35% | | | 5.75% | | | 5.50% | | | 6.00% |
(1) | No upfront sales load will be paid with respect to Class S shares, Class D shares, Class I shares or Class F shares; however, if you buy Class S shares, Class D shares or Class F shares through certain financial intermediaries, they may directly charge you transaction or other fees, including upfront placement fees or brokerage commissions, in such amount as they may determine, provided that they limit such charges to a 3.5% cap on NAV for Class S shares, a 2.0% cap on NAV for Class D shares and a 2.0% cap on NAV for Class F shares. Please consult your selling agent for additional information. |
(2) | Under our share repurchase program, to the extent we offer to repurchase shares in any particular quarter, we expect to repurchase shares pursuant to tender offers using a purchase price equal to the NAV per share as of the last calendar day of the applicable quarter, except that shares that have not been outstanding for at least one year may be subject to a fee of 2.0% of such NAV. The one-year holding period is measured as of the subscription closing date immediately following the prospective repurchase date. The Early Repurchase Deduction may be waived in the case of repurchase requests arising from the death, divorce or qualified disability of the holder. The Early Repurchase Deduction will be retained by the Fund for the benefit of remaining shareholders. |
(3) | Weighted average net assets employed as the denominator for expense ratio computation is $902 million. This estimate is based on the assumption that we sell $1,500,000,000 of our Common Shares in the initial 12-month period of the offering. Actual net assets will depend on the number of shares we actually sell, realized gains/losses, unrealized appreciation/ depreciation and share repurchase activity, if any. |
(4) | The base management fee paid to our Adviser is calculated at an annual rate of 1.25% of the value of our net assets as of the beginning of the first calendar day of the applicable month. |
(5) | We may have capital gains and investment income that could result in the payment of an incentive fee in the first year of investment operations. The incentive fees, if any, are divided into two parts: |
• | The first part of the incentive fee is based on income, whereby we will pay the Adviser quarterly in arrears 12.5% of our Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income Returns (as defined below), attributable to each class of the Fund’s Common Shares, for each calendar quarter subject to a 5.0% annualized hurdle rate, with a catch-up. |
• | The second part of the incentive is based on realized capital gains, whereby we will pay the Adviser at the end of each calendar year in arrears 12.5% of cumulative realized capital gains, attributable to each class of the Fund’s Common Shares, from inception through the end of such calendar year, computed net of all realized capital losses and unrealized capital depreciation on a cumulative basis, less the aggregate amount of any previously paid incentive fee on capital gains. |
(6) | Subject to FINRA limitations on underwriting compensation, we will also pay the following shareholder servicing and/or distribution fees to the Managing Dealer and/or a participating broker: (a) for Class S shares, a shareholder servicing and/or distribution fee equal to 0.85% per annum of the aggregate NAV as of the beginning of the first calendar day of the month for the Class S shares, (b) for Class D shares, a shareholder servicing fee equal to 0.25% per annum of the aggregate NAV as of the beginning of the first calendar day of the month for the Class D shares, and (c) for Class F shares, a shareholder servicing and/or distribution fee equal to 0.50% per annum of the aggregate NAV as of the beginning of the first calendar day of the month for the Class F shares, in each case, payable monthly. No shareholder servicing fees |
(7) | We may borrow funds to make investments, including before we have fully invested the proceeds of this continuous offering. To the extent that we determine it is appropriate to borrow funds to make investments, the costs associated with such borrowing will be indirectly borne by shareholders. The figure in the table assumes that we borrow for investment purposes an amount equal to 100% of our weighted average net assets in the initial 12-month period of the offering, and that the average annual cost of borrowings, including the amortization of cost associated with obtaining borrowings and unused commitment fees, on the amount borrowed is 3.25%. Our ability to incur leverage during the 12 months following the commencement of this offering depends, in large part, on whether we meet our minimum offering requirement, the amount of money we are able to raise through the sale of shares registered in this offering and the availability of financing in the market. |
(8) | “Other expenses” include accounting, legal and auditing fees, custodian and transfer agent fees, reimbursement of expenses to our Administrator, organization and offering expenses, insurance costs and fees payable to our Trustees, as discussed in “Plan of Operation.” The amount presented in the table estimates the amounts we expect to pay during the initial 12-month period of the offering prior to any expense support, as described below. |
| | 1 Year | | | 3 Years | | | 5 Years | | | 10 Years | |
Total cumulative expenses you would pay on a $1,000 investment assuming a reinvested 5.0% net return comprised solely of investment income: | | | $64 | | | $199 | | | $345 | | | $765 |
Total cumulative expenses you would pay on a $1,000 investment assuming a reinvested 5.0% net return comprised solely of capital gains: | | | $70 | | | $217 | | | $374 | | | $819 |
| | 1 Year | | | 3 Years | | | 5 Years | | | 10 Years | |
Total cumulative expenses you would pay on a $1,000 investment assuming a reinvested 5.0% net return comprised solely of investment income: | | | $58 | | | $181 | | | $316 | | | $715 |
Total cumulative expenses you would pay on a $1,000 investment assuming a reinvested 5.0% net return comprised solely of capital gains: | | | $64 | | | $199 | | | $346 | | | $770 |
| | 1 Year | | | 3 Years | | | 5 Years | | | 10 Years | |
Total cumulative expenses you would pay on a $1,000 investment assuming a reinvested 5.0% net return comprised solely of investment income: | | | $55 | | | $173 | | | $304 | | | $692 |
Total cumulative expenses you would pay on a $1,000 investment assuming a reinvested 5.0% net return comprised solely of capital gains: | | | $61 | | | $192 | | | $334 | | | $748 |
| | 1 Year | | | 3 Years | | | 5 Years | | | 10 Years | |
Total cumulative expenses you would pay on a $1,000 investment assuming a reinvested 5.0% net return comprised solely of investment income: | | | $60 | | | $188 | | | $328 | | | $737 |
Total cumulative expenses you would pay on a $1,000 investment assuming a reinvested 5.0% net return comprised solely of capital gains: | | | $66 | | | $207 | | | $358 | | | $791 |
• | General Risks. A fundamental risk associated with the Fund’s investment strategy is that the companies in whose debt the Fund invests will be unable to make regular payments (e.g., principal and interest payments) when due, or at all, or otherwise fail to perform. Portfolio companies could deteriorate as a result of, among other factors, an adverse development in their business, poor performance by their management teams, a change in the competitive environment, an economic downturn or legal, tax or regulatory changes. Portfolio companies that the Adviser expects to remain stable may in fact operate at a loss or have significant variations in operating results, may require substantial additional capital to support their operations or to maintain their competitive position, or may otherwise have a weak financial condition or be experiencing financial distress. |
• | Portfolio Companies May be Highly Leveraged. Portfolio companies may be highly leveraged, and there is no restriction on the amount of debt a portfolio company can incur. Substantial indebtedness may add additional risk with respect to a portfolio company, and could (i) limit its ability to borrow money for its working capital, capital expenditures, debt service requirements, strategic initiatives or other purposes; (ii) require it to dedicate a substantial portion of its cash flow from operations to the repayment of its indebtedness, thereby reducing funds available to it for other purposes; (iii) make it more highly leveraged than some of its competitors, which may place it at a competitive disadvantage; and/or (iv) subject it to restrictive financial and operating covenants, which may preclude it from favorable business activities or the financing of future operations or other capital needs. In some cases, proceeds of debt incurred by a portfolio company could be paid as a dividend to stockholders rather than retained by the portfolio company for its working capital. Leveraged companies are often more sensitive to declines in revenues, increases in expenses, and adverse business, political, or financial developments or economic factors such as a significant rise in interest rates, a severe downturn in the economy or deterioration in the condition of such companies or their industries. A leveraged company’s income and net assets will tend to increase or decrease at a greater rate than if borrowed money were not used. |
• | Issuer/Borrower Fraud. Of paramount concern in originating loans is the possibility of material misrepresentation or omission on the part of borrowers or guarantors. Such inaccuracy or incompleteness may adversely affect the valuation of the collateral underlying the loans or may adversely affect the ability of the Fund or its affiliates to perfect or effectuate a lien on the collateral securing the loan. The Fund or its affiliates will rely upon the accuracy and completeness of representations made by borrowers to the extent reasonable, but cannot guarantee such accuracy or completeness. |
• | Reliance on Company Management. The Adviser generally will seek to monitor the performance of investments in operating companies either through interaction with the board of the applicable company |
• | Environmental Matters. Ordinary operation or the occurrence of an accident with respect to the portfolio companies in which the Fund invest could cause major environmental damage, which may result in significant financial distress to the Fund’ investments and any portfolio company holding such assets, even if covered by insurance. Certain environmental laws and regulations may require that an owner or operator of an asset address prior environmental contamination, which could involve substantial cost and other liabilities. The Fund (and the Fund investors) may therefore be exposed to substantial risk of loss from environmental claims arising in respect of its investments. Furthermore, changes in environmental laws or regulations or the environmental condition of an investment may create liabilities that did not exist at the time of its acquisition and that could not have been foreseen. Even in cases where the Fund are indemnified by the seller with respect to an investment against liabilities arising out of violations of environmental laws and regulations, there can be no assurance as to the financial viability of the seller to satisfy such indemnities or the ability of the Fund to achieve enforcement of such indemnities. See also “—Risk Arising from Provision of Managerial Assistance; Control Person Liability” below. |
• | Uncertainty as to the Value of Certain Portfolio Investments. The Fund expects that many of its portfolio investments will take the form of securities that are not publicly traded. The fair value of loans, securities and other investments that are not publicly traded may not be readily determinable, and will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser, including to reflect significant events affecting the value of the Fund’s investments. Most, if not all, of the Fund’s investments (other than cash and cash equivalents) will be classified as Level 3 assets under Topic 820 of the U.S. Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Accounting Standards Codification, as amended, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (“ASC Topic 820”). This means that the Fund’s portfolio valuations will be based on unobservable inputs and the Fund’s assumptions about how market participants would price the asset or liability in question. The Fund expects that inputs into the determination of fair value of portfolio investments will require significant management judgment or estimation. Even if observable market data are available, such information may be the result of consensus pricing information or broker quotes, which include a disclaimer that the broker would not be held to such a price in an actual transaction. The non-binding nature of consensus pricing and/or quotes accompanied by disclaimers materially reduces the reliability of such information. The Fund expects to retain the services of one or more independent service providers to review the valuation of these loans and securities. The types of factors that may be taken into account in determining the fair value of investments generally include, as appropriate, comparison to publicly-traded securities including such factors as yield, maturity and measures of credit quality, the enterprise value of a portfolio company, the nature and realizable value of any collateral, the portfolio company’s ability to make payments and its earnings and discounted cash flow, the markets in which the portfolio company does business and other relevant factors. Because such valuations, and particularly valuations of private securities and private companies, are inherently uncertain, may fluctuate over short periods of time and may be based on estimates, determinations of fair value may differ materially from the values that would have been used if a ready market for these loans and securities existed. The Fund’s net asset value could be adversely affected if determinations regarding the fair value of the Fund’s investments |
• | Potential Failure to Make Follow-On Investments in Portfolio Companies. Following an initial investment in a portfolio company, the Fund may make additional investments in that portfolio company as “follow-on” investments, in order to: |
○ | increase or maintain in whole or in part the Fund’s equity ownership percentage; |
○ | exercise warrants, options or convertible securities that were acquired in the original or subsequent financing; or |
○ | attempt to preserve or enhance the value of the Fund’s investment. |
• | Potential Impact of Not Holding Controlling Equity Interests in Portfolio Companies. The Fund does not generally intend to take controlling equity positions in the Fund’s portfolio companies. To the extent that the Fund does not hold a controlling equity interest in a portfolio company, it will be subject to the risk that such portfolio company may make business decisions with which the Fund disagrees, and the stockholders and management of such portfolio company may take risks or otherwise act in ways that are adverse to the Fund’s interests. Due to the lack of liquidity for the debt and equity investments that the Fund typically holds in portfolio companies, the Fund may not be able to dispose of its investments in the event it disagrees with the actions of a portfolio company, and may therefore suffer a decrease in the value of its investments. |
• | Defaults by Portfolio Companies. A portfolio company’s failure to satisfy financial or operating covenants imposed by the Fund or other lenders could lead to defaults and, potentially, acceleration of the time when the loans are due and foreclosure on the portfolio company’s assets representing collateral for its obligations. This could trigger cross defaults under other agreements and jeopardize the portfolio company’s ability to meet its obligations under the debt that the Fund holds and the value of any equity securities the Fund owns. The Fund may incur expenses to the extent necessary to seek recovery upon default or to negotiate new terms with a defaulting portfolio company. |
• | Third Party Litigation. The Fund’s investment activities subject it to the normal risks of becoming involved in litigation initiated by third parties. This risk is somewhat greater where the Fund exercises control or influence over a company’s direction. The expense of defending against claims by third parties and paying any amounts pursuant to settlements or judgments would, absent willful misconduct or gross negligence by the Adviser, be borne by the Fund (to the extent not borne by the portfolio companies) and would reduce net assets or could require Fund investors to return to the Fund distributed capital and earnings. The Adviser and others are indemnified in connection with such litigation, subject to certain conditions. |
• | the higher interest rates on PIK instruments reflect the payment deferral and increased credit risk associated with these instruments, and PIK instruments generally represent a significantly higher credit risk than coupon loans; |
• | original issue discount and PIK instruments may have unreliable valuations because the accruals require judgments about collectability of the deferred payments and the value of any associated collateral; |
• | an election to defer PIK interest payments by adding them to the principal on such instruments increases our future investment income which increases our net assets and, as such, increases the Adviser’s future base management fees which, thus, increases the Adviser’s future income incentive fees at a compounding rate; |
• | market prices of PIK instruments and other zero coupon instruments are affected to a greater extent by interest rate changes, and may be more volatile than instruments that pay interest periodically in cash. While PIK instruments are usually less volatile than zero coupon debt instruments, PIK instruments are generally more volatile than cash pay securities; |
• | the deferral of PIK interest on an instrument increases the loan-to-value ratio, which is a measure of the riskiness of a loan, with respect to such instrument; |
• | even if the conditions for income accrual under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) are satisfied, a borrower could still default when actual payment is due upon the maturity of such loan; |
• | for accounting purposes, cash distributions to investors representing original issue discount income do not come from paid-in capital, although they may be paid from the offering proceeds. Thus, although a distribution of original issue discount income may come from the cash invested by investors, the 1940 Act does not require that investors be given notice of this fact; |
• | the required recognition of original issue discount or PIK interest for U.S. federal income tax purposes may have a negative impact on liquidity, as it represents a non-cash component of our investment company taxable income that may require cash distributions to shareholders in order to maintain our ability to maintain tax treatment as a RIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes; and |
• | original issue discount may create a risk of non-refundable cash payments to the Adviser based on non-cash accruals that may never be realized. |
| | Minimum Offering of $25,000,000 in Class S Shares | | | Maximum Offering of $500,000,000 in Class S Shares | |||||||
Gross Proceeds(1) | | | $25,000,000 | | | 100.00% | | | $500,000,000 | | | 100.00% |
Upfront Sales Load(2) | | | $— | | | —% | | | $— | | | —% |
Organization and Offering Expenses(3) | | | $633,096 | | | 2.53% | | | $670,596 | | | 0.13% |
Net Proceeds Available for Investment | | | $24,366,904 | | | 97.47% | | | $499,329,404 | | | 99.87% |
| | Minimum Offering of $25,000,000 in Class D Shares | | | Maximum Offering of $500,000,000 in Class D Shares | |||||||
Gross Proceeds(1) | | | $25,000,000 | | | 100.00% | | | $500,000,000 | | | 100.00% |
Upfront Sales Load(2) | | | $— | | | —% | | | $— | | | —% |
Organization and Offering Expenses(3) | | | $633,096 | | | 2.53% | | | $670,596 | | | 0.13% |
Net Proceeds Available for Investment | | | $24,366,904 | | | 97,47% | | | $499,329,404 | | | 99.87% |
| | Minimum Offering of $25,000,000 in Class I Shares | | | Maximum Offering of $500,000,000 in Class I Shares | |||||||
Gross Proceeds(1) | | | $25,000,000 | | | 100.00% | | | $500,000,000 | | | 100.00% |
Upfront Sales Load(2) | | | $— | | | —% | | | $— | | | —% |
Organization and Offering Expenses(3) | | | $633,096 | | | 2.53% | | | $670,596 | | | 0.13% |
Net Proceeds Available for Investment | | | $24,366,904 | | | 97.47% | | | $499,329,404 | | | 99.87% |
| | Minimum Offering of $25,000,000 in Class I Shares | | | Maximum Offering of $500,000,000 in Class I Shares | |||||||
Gross Proceeds(1) | | | $25,000,000 | | | 100.00% | | | $500,000,000 | | | 100.00% |
Upfront Sales Load(2) | | | $— | | | —% | | | $— | | | —% |
Organization and Offering Expenses(3) | | | $633,096 | | | 2.53% | | | $670,596 | | | 0.13% |
Net Proceeds Available for Investment | | | $24,366,904 | | | 97.47% | | | $499,329,404 | | | 99.87% |
(1) | We intend to conduct a continuous offering of an unlimited number of Common Shares over an unlimited time period by filing a new registration statement prior to the end of the three-year period described in Rule 415 under the Securities Act; however, in certain states this offering is subject to annual extensions. |
(2) | No upfront sales load will be paid with respect to Class S shares, Class D shares, Class I shares or Class F shares; however, if you buy Class S shares, Class D shares or Class F shares through certain financial intermediaries, they may directly charge you transaction or other fees, including upfront placement fees or brokerage commissions, in such amount as they may determine, provided that they limit such charges to a 3.5% cap on NAV for Class S shares, a 2.0% cap on NAV for Class D shares and a 2.0% cap on NAV for Class F shares. Selling agents will not charge such fees on Class I shares. We will pay the following shareholder servicing and/or distribution fees to the Managing Dealer and/or a participating broker, subject to FINRA limitations on underwriting compensation: (a) for Class S shares only, a shareholder servicing and/or distribution fee equal to 0.85% per annum of the aggregate NAV for the Class S shares, (b) for Class D shares, a shareholder servicing fee equal to 0.25% per annum of the aggregate NAV for the Class D shares, and (c) for Class F shares only, a shareholder servicing and/or distribution fee equal to 0.50% per annum of the aggregate NAV for the Class F shares, in each case, payable monthly. The total amount that will be paid over time for shareholder servicing and/or distribution fees depends on the average length of time for which shares remain outstanding, the term over which such amount is measured and the performance of our investments, and is not expected to be paid from sources other than cash flow from operating activities. We will cease paying the shareholder servicing and/or distribution fee on the Class S shares, Class D shares and Class F shares on the earlier to occur of the following: (i) a listing of Class I shares, (ii) our merger or consolidation with or into another entity, or the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of our assets or (iii) the date following the completion of the primary portion of this offering on which, in the aggregate, underwriting compensation from all sources in connection with this offering, including the shareholder servicing and/or distribution fee and other underwriting compensation, is equal to 10% of the gross proceeds from our primary offering. In addition, as required by exemptive relief that allows us to offer multiple classes of shares, at the end of the month in which the Managing Dealer in conjunction with the transfer agent determines that total transaction or other fees, including upfront placement fees or brokerage commissions, and shareholder servicing and/or distribution fees paid with respect to any single share held in a shareholder’s account would exceed, in the aggregate, 10% of the gross proceeds from the sale of such share (or a lower limit as determined by the Managing Dealer or the applicable selling agent), we will cease paying the shareholder servicing and/or distribution fee on either (i) each such share that would exceed such limit or (ii) all Class S shares, Class D shares and Class F shares in such shareholder’s account. We may modify this requirement if permitted by applicable exemptive relief. At the end of such month, the applicable Class S shares, Class D shares or Class F shares in such shareholder’s account will convert into a number of Class I shares (including any fractional shares), with an equivalent aggregate NAV as such Class S, Class D or Class F shares. See “Plan of Distribution.” |
(3) | The organization and offering expense numbers shown above represent our estimates of expenses to be incurred by us in connection with this offering and include estimated wholesaling expenses reimbursable by us. See “Plan of Distribution” for examples of the types of organization and offering expenses we may incur. |
1) | investment advisory fees, including management fees and incentive fees, to the Adviser, pursuant to the Advisory Agreement; |
2) | the Fund’s allocable portion of compensation, overhead (including rent, office equipment and utilities) and other expenses incurred by the Administrator in performing its administrative obligations under the Administration Agreement, including but not limited to: (i) the Fund’s chief compliance officer, chief financial officer and their respective staffs; (ii) investor relations, legal, operations and other non-investment professionals at the Administrator that perform duties for the Fund; and (iii) any internal audit group personnel of HPS or any of its affiliates; and |
3) | all other expenses of the Fund’s operations, administrations and transactions including, without limitation, those relating to: |
(i) | organization and offering expenses associated with this offering (including legal, accounting, printing, mailing, subscription processing and filing fees and expenses and other offering expenses, including costs associated with technology integration between the Fund’s systems and those of participating intermediaries, reasonable bona fide due diligence expenses of participating intermediaries supported by detailed and itemized invoices, costs in connection with preparing sales materials and other marketing expenses, design and website expenses, fees and expenses of the Fund’s escrow agent and transfer agent, fees to attend retail seminars sponsored by participating intermediaries and costs, expenses and reimbursements for travel, meals, accommodations, entertainment and other similar expenses related to meetings or events with prospective investors, intermediaries, registered investment advisors or financial or other advisors, but excluding the shareholder servicing fee); |
(ii) | all taxes, fees, costs, and expenses, retainers and/or other payments of accountants, legal counsel, advisors (including tax advisors), administrators, auditors (including with respect |
(iii) | the cost of calculating the Fund’s net asset value, including the cost of any third-party valuation services; |
(iv) | the cost of effecting any sales and repurchases of the Common Shares and other securities; |
(v) | fees and expenses payable under any managing dealer and selected intermediary agreements, if any; |
(vi) | interest and fees and expenses arising out of all borrowings, guarantees and other financings or derivative transactions (including interest, fees and related legal expenses) made or entered into by the Fund, including, but not limited to, the arranging thereof and related legal expenses; |
(vii) | all fees, costs and expenses of any loan servicers and other service providers and of any custodians, lenders, investment banks and other financing sources; |
(viii) | costs incurred in connection with the formation or maintenance of entities or vehicles to hold the Fund’s assets for tax or other purposes; |
(ix) | costs of derivatives and hedging; |
(x) | expenses, including travel, entertainment, lodging and meal expenses, incurred by the Adviser, or members of its investment team, or payable to third parties, in evaluating, developing, negotiating, structuring and performing due diligence on prospective portfolio companies, including such expenses related to potential investments that were not consummated, and, if necessary, enforcing the Fund’s rights; |
(xi) | expenses (including the allocable portions of compensation and out-of-pocket expenses such as travel expenses) or an appropriate portion thereof of employees of the Adviser to the extent such expenses relate to attendance at meetings of the Board or any committees thereof; |
(xii) | all fees, costs and expenses, if any, incurred by or on behalf of the Fund in developing, negotiating and structuring prospective or potential investments that are not ultimately made, including, without limitation any legal, tax, administrative, accounting, travel, meals, accommodations and entertainment, advisory, consulting and printing expenses, reverse termination fees and any liquidated damages, commitment fees that become payable in connection with any proposed investment that is not ultimately made, forfeited deposits or similar payments; |
(xiii) | the allocated costs incurred by HPS (in its capacity as the Adviser and the Administrator) in providing managerial assistance to those portfolio companies that request it; |
(xiv) | all brokerage costs, hedging costs, prime brokerage fees, custodial expenses, agent bank and other bank service fees; private placement fees, commissions, appraisal fees, commitment fees and underwriting costs; costs and expenses of any lenders, investment banks and other financing sources, and other investment costs, fees and expenses actually incurred in connection with evaluating, making, holding, settling, clearing, monitoring or disposing of actual investments (including, without limitation, travel, meals, accommodations and entertainment expenses and any expenses related to attending trade association and/or industry meetings, conferences or similar meetings, any costs or expenses relating to currency conversion in the case of investments denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars) and expenses arising out of trade settlements (including any delayed compensation expenses); |
(xv) | investment costs, including all fees, costs and expenses incurred in sourcing, evaluating, developing, negotiating, structuring, trading (including trading errors), settling, monitoring and holding prospective or actual investments or investment strategies including, without limitation, any financing, legal, filing, auditing, tax, accounting, compliance, loan administration, travel, meals, accommodations and entertainment, advisory, consulting, engineering, data-related and other professional fees, costs and expenses in connection therewith (to the extent the Adviser is not reimbursed by a prospective or actual issuer of the applicable investment or other third parties or capitalized as part of the acquisition price of the transaction) and any fees, costs and expenses related to the organization or maintenance of any vehicle through which the Fund directly or indirectly participates in the acquisition, holding and/or disposition of investments or which otherwise facilitate the Fund’s investment activities, including without limitation any travel and accommodations expenses related to such vehicle and the salary and benefits of any personnel (including personnel of Adviser or its affiliates) reasonably necessary and/or advisable for the maintenance and operation of such vehicle, or other overhead expenses (including any fees, costs and expenses associated with the leasing of office space (which may be made with one or more affiliates of HPS as lessor in connection therewith)); |
(xvi) | transfer agent, dividend agent and custodial fees; |
(xvii) | fees and expenses associated with marketing efforts; |
(xviii) | federal and state registration fees, franchise fees, any stock exchange listing fees and fees payable to rating agencies; |
(xix) | Independent Trustees’ fees and expenses including reasonable travel, entertainment, lodging and meal expenses, and any legal counsel or other advisors retained by, or at the discretion or for the benefit of, the Independent Trustees; |
(xx) | costs of preparing financial statements and maintaining books and records, costs of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 compliance and attestation and costs of preparing and filing reports or other documents with the SEC, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) and other regulatory bodies and |
(xxi) | all fees, costs and expenses associated with the preparation and issuance of the Fund’s periodic reports and related statements (e.g., financial statements and tax returns) and other internal and third-party printing (including a flat service fee), publishing (including time spent performing such printing and publishing services) and reporting-related expenses (including other notices and communications) in respect of the Fund and its activities (including internal expenses, charges and/or related costs incurred, charged or specifically attributed or allocated by the Fund or the Adviser or its affiliates in connection with such provision of services thereby); |
(xxii) | the costs of any reports, proxy statements or other notices to shareholders (including printing and mailing costs) and the costs of any shareholder or Trustee meetings; |
(xxiii) | proxy voting expenses; |
(xxiv) | costs associated with an exchange listing; |
(xxv) | costs of registration rights granted to certain investors; |
(xxvi) | any taxes and/or tax-related interest, fees or other governmental charges (including any penalties incurred where the Adviser lacks sufficient information from third parties to file a timely and complete tax return) levied against the Fund and all expenses incurred in connection with any tax audit, investigation, litigation, settlement or review of the Fund and the amount of any judgments, fines, remediation or settlements paid in connection therewith; |
(xxvii) | all fees, costs and expenses of any litigation, arbitration or audit involving the Fund any vehicle or its portfolio companies and the amount of any judgments, assessments fines, remediations or settlements paid in connection therewith, Trustees and officers, liability or other insurance (including costs of title insurance) and indemnification (including advancement of any fees, costs or expenses to persons entitled to indemnification) or extraordinary expense or liability relating to the affairs of the Fund; |
(xxviii) | all fees, costs and expenses associated with the Fund’s information, obtaining and maintaining technology (including the costs of any professional service providers), hardware/software, data-related communication, market data and research (including news and quotation equipment and services and including costs allocated by the Adviser’s or its affiliates’ internal and third-party research group (which are generally based on time spent, assets under management, usage rates, proportionate holdings or a combination thereof or other reasonable methods determined by the Administrator) and expenses and fees (including compensation costs) charged or specifically attributed or allocated by Adviser and/or its affiliates for data-related services provided to the Fund and/or its portfolio companies (including in connection with prospective investments), each including expenses, charges, fees and/or related costs of an internal nature; provided, that any such expenses, charges or related costs shall not be greater than what would be paid to an unaffiliated third party for substantially similar services) reporting costs (which includes notices and other communications and internally allocated charges), and dues and expenses incurred in connection with membership in industry or trade organizations; |
(xxix) | the costs of specialty and custom software for monitoring risk, compliance and the overall portfolio, including any development costs incurred prior to the filing of the Fund’s election to be treated as a business development company; |
(xxx) | costs associated with individual or group shareholders; |
(xxxi) | fidelity bond, trustees and officers errors and omissions liability insurance and other insurance premiums; |
(xxxii) | direct costs and expenses of administration, including printing, mailing, long distance telephone, copying and secretarial and other staff; |
(xxxiii) | all fees, costs and expenses of winding up and liquidating the Fund’s assets; |
(xxxiv) | extraordinary expenses (such as litigation or indemnification); |
(xxxv) | all fees, costs and expenses related to compliance-related matters (such as developing and implementing specific policies and procedures in order to comply with certain regulatory requirements) and regulatory filings; notices or disclosures related to the Fund’s activities (including, without limitation, expenses relating to the preparation and filing of filings required under the Securities Act, TIC Form SLT filings, Internal Revenue Service filings under FATCA and FBAR reporting requirements applicable to the Fund or reports to be filed with the CFTC, reports, disclosures, filings and notifications prepared in connection with the laws and/or regulations of jurisdictions in which the Fund engages in activities, including any notices, reports and/or filings required under the AIFMD, European Securities and Markets Authority and any related regulations, and other regulatory filings, notices or disclosures of the Adviser relating to the Fund and its affiliates relating to the Fund, and their activities) and/or other regulatory filings, notices or disclosures of the Adviser and its affiliates relating to the Fund including those pursuant to applicable disclosure laws and expenses relating to FOIA requests, but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any expenses incurred for general compliance and regulatory matters that are not related to the Fund and its activities; |
(xxxvi) | costs and expenses (including travel) in connection with the diligence and oversight of the Fund’s service providers; |
(xxxvii) | costs and expenses, including travel, meals, accommodations, entertainment and other similar expenses, incurred by the Adviser or its affiliates for meetings with existing investors and any intermediaries, registered investment advisors, financial and other advisors representing such existing investors; and |
(xxxviii) | all other expenses incurred by the Administrator in connection with administering the Fund’s business. |
• | Senior Secured Loans Offer Attractive Investment Characteristics. HPS believes that senior secured loans benefit from their relative priority position, typically sitting as the most senior obligation in an issuer’s capital structure, often with a direct security interest in the issuer’s (or its subsidiaries’) assets. Senior secured loans generally consist of floating rate cash interest coupons that HPS believes can be an attractive return attribute in a rising interest rate environment. In addition to a current income component, senior secured loans typically include original issue discount, closing payments, commitment fees, LIBOR (or similar rate) floors, call protection, and/or prepayment penalties and related fees that are additive components of total return. The relative seniority and security of a senior secured loan, coupled with the privately negotiated nature of direct lending, are helpful mitigants in reducing downside risk. These attributes have contributed to the comparatively strong record of recovery after a default, as senior secured loans have historically demonstrated a higher recovery rate than unsecured parts of an issuer’s capital structure.8 |
• | Regulatory Actions Continue to Drive Demand towards Private Financing. The direct lending market has seen notable growth and has become a viable alternative solution for middle to upper middle market borrowers seeking financing capital. Global regulatory actions that followed the 2008 financial crisis have significantly increased the cost of capital requirements for commercial banks, limiting the willingness of commercial banks to originate and retain illiquid, non-investment grade credit commitments on their balance sheets, particularly with respect to middle and upper-middle-market sized issuers. Instead, many commercial banks have adopted an “underwrite-and-distribute” approach, which HPS believes is often less attractive to corporate borrowers seeking certainty of capital. As a result, commercial banks’ share of the leveraged loan market declined from approximately 71% in 1994 to approximately 14% in 20209. Access to the syndicated leveraged loan market has also become challenging for both first time issuers and smaller scale issuers, who previously had access to the capital markets. Issuers of tranche sizes representing less than $500 million account for just 9.5% of the new issue market as of December 31, 2020 as compared to over 45% in 200110. HPS believes that these regulatory actions have caused a shift in the role that commercial banks play in the direct lending market for middle to upper middle market borrowers, creating a void in the financing marketplace. This void has been filled by direct lending platforms which seek to provide borrowers an alternative “originate and retain” solution. In response, corporate borrower behavior has increasingly shifted to a more conscious assessment of the benefits that private capital from strategic financing partners can offer. |
• | Volatility in Credit Markets has made Availability of Capital Less Predictable. HPS believes that the value of direct lending platforms for borrowers hinges on providing certainty of capital at a fair economic price. Volatility in the credit markets, coupled with changes to the regulatory framework over the past several years, has resulted in an imbalance between the availability of new loans to middle market borrowers and the demand from borrowers requiring capital for acquisitions, capital |
7 | Source: Preqin as of December 31, 2020. |
8 | Source: Moody’s Investors Service Ultimate Recovery Rates Data; “Corporate Defaults and Recoveries - US” as of May 18, 2021. |
9 | Source: S&P LCD Quarterly Leveraged Lending Review 4Q 2020, Primary Investor Market: Banks vs. Non-banks. |
10 | Source: S&P LCD Middle Market Deal Size Category Factsheet 4Q 2020. |
• | Increasingly Larger Borrowers Are Finding Value in Private Solutions. HPS believes the opportunity set has subtly shifted toward larger borrowers in recent times. The private credit focus on the middle market was traditionally driven by borrowers’ inefficient access to capital, and the fact that such borrowers were too small to have a syndicated loan or high yield bond. At the upper end of the middle market, companies have traditionally had the option to pursue a broadly syndicated loan, but recent volatility has increased the value they appear to be placing on the confidentiality, efficiency and execution certainty that is available in the private credit market. HPS believes that as borrowers and debt advisors become more aware of the depth in the private debt space that has been created by scaled providers, they will increasingly weigh this option against public market alternatives for larger companies. HPS believes the benefits of this growing opportunity set at the upper end of the market will accrue to the largest direct lending players, like HPS, as scale is a prerequisite for providing certainty. |
• | Breadth of HPS’s Credit Investment Platform. HPS is a global investment firm with strategies that seek to capitalize on credit opportunities across the capital structure. As a multi-strategy credit platform, seeking opportunities across both private and public credit, HPS employs an open-architecture framework under which investment teams can apply shared knowledge and insights when evaluating new investment opportunities. HPS’s team of approximately 160 investment professionals managed approximately $68 billion across multiple strategies focusing on non-investment grade corporate credit as of March 31, 2021. HPS believes that its multi-strategy approach provides a unique vantage point to evaluate relative value and better positions the firm to provide borrowers with a comprehensive and diverse set of potential financing solutions, which may enable the Fund to see more investment opportunities. |
• | Scaled Capital with an Ability to Speak for the Full Debt Quantum. Scaled capital has been a key factor in enabling previous funds managed by HPS to access attractive potential investment opportunities. The scale of HPS’s corporate lending platform, including managed accounts and similar investment vehicles, provides the capacity to commit to loans of $500 million to $1 billion or greater. HPS believes that there are a finite number of competitors who can provide and solely hold investments of this size. For borrowers in the upper end of the middle market, who value confidentiality, efficiency and execution certainty, this capability can be very differentiating and drive investment opportunities. Additionally, due to favorable competitive dynamics associated with fewer capital providers with the ability to deliver scaled capital solutions, HPS believes that it has, to date, been successful in capturing attractive returns relative to the generally lower risk profile of larger, more diversified borrowers. HPS also believes that being the sole or majority investor in a debt tranche also provides the Fund with enhanced downside protection via enhanced control over covenants and loan structure. |
11 | Data as of March 31, 2021. HPS statistics include investments across Core Senior Lending, Specialty Direct Lending and Mezzanine strategies. |
• | Focus on the Upper Middle Market. HPS’s corporate lending strategy generally targets the upper end of the middle market. As HPS believes that the market is in the later stages of the existing credit cycle, HPS intends to position the portfolio by primarily focusing on larger, more resilient companies that generally generate $50 million to $350 million of EBITDA annually. HPS believes that the upper end of the middle market may have a favorable supply/demand dynamic, with regulatory driven structural shifts in the financial landscape driving substantial demand for alternative capital sources that is being met by limited supply, as other direct lending providers focus on small to middle market borrowers (companies that generally generate less than $50 million of EBITDA annually). HPS also believes that this segment of the market can offer greater downside protection, as larger businesses typically possess the benefits of scale and a greater critical mass through diversification of customers and supplier base. As a result of these dynamics, HPS believes that the upper end of the middle market potentially offers the Fund increased downside protection and attractive risk-adjusted returns compared to the smaller end and core portion of the middle market. |
• | Proven Ability to Source Non-Sponsor Investments. HPS believes its non-sponsor lending capabilities sets its platform apart from many of its peers. While the vast majority of peers focus exclusively on lending to private equity owned businesses, HPS has historically sourced approximately 50% – 60% of its investments from non-sponsor borrowers by building a strong relationship network across a breadth of companies, management teams, banks, debt advisors and other financial intermediaries. HPS believes its non-sponsor tilt significantly reduces the level of competitive intensity and allows it to focus on structuring improved economics, stricter financial covenants and stronger loan documentation. In addition, the direct dialogue with management teams results in a better understanding of the underlying borrowers and better positioning to actively manage investments throughout their life. While HPS is principally focused on the non-sponsor channel, its exposure to sponsor transactions tends to increase in times of public market dislocation (when certainty of capital and speed of execution with a single counterparty is often sought after and highly valued). The ability to flex in and out of both sponsor and non-sponsor markets will allow the Fund to remain nimble across different market dynamics. |
• | Ability to Navigate Complex Investment Opportunities. HPS believes that its willingness to embrace complexity, such as complicated business models, esoteric underlying collateral, strained capital structures, and/or timing pressures, is a key differentiating factor relative to its competitors. HPS believes that perceived risk is often mispriced by the market in more complex situations, which can result in disproportionate return opportunities for the smaller number of willing lenders with the requisite expertise to analyze and finance these investments. It has been HPS’s experience that these complicated transactions are often less competitive given the extra work, level of analysis and structuring required and therefore, borrowers particularly value the ability to execute and are willing to pay a premium for it. HPS believes that complexity can be effectively addressed through a combination of incremental effort, creative structuring and compensatory pricing, resulting in opportunities that often can offer attractive, uncorrelated returns for the Fund. |
• | Emphasis on Capital Preservation. Capital preservation is a core component of HPS’s investment philosophy. In addition to its focus on stable, established middle and upper middle market companies, HPS employs a highly selective and rigorous “private equity like” diligence and investment evaluation process focused on identification of potential risks. HPS believes tight credit structuring is a fundamental part of the risk and recovery calculus, as the illiquidity in private credit means that secondary market liquidity is not a reliable risk mitigant. HPS has also built a deep bench of restructuring, workout and value enhancement professionals with an average of 28 years of workout experience, who work on an integrated basis to actively manage each investment throughout its life. |
(i) | Review of historical filings, financial information and other publicly-available information; |
(i) | Assessment of monthly, quarterly and annual financial projections; |
(ii) | In-depth business and industry diligence including meetings with senior management team, often in conjunction with retained third party experts; |
(iii) | Site/plant visits (where relevant), in certain cases in conjunction with retained industry-specific independent engineers; |
(iv) | Accounting and quality of earnings review, often through retained external accountants; |
(v) | “Channel checks” on the company, industry and management team, utilizing the Investment Team’s relationships as well as the institutional relationships of HPS; |
(vi) | Background checks on senior management and members of the board using external providers; and/or |
(vii) | Detailed legal and structural analysis of the borrower and negotiation of the investment documentation. |
• | have an auditor attestation report on our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act; |
• | submit certain executive compensation matters to shareholder advisory votes pursuant to the “say on frequency” and “say on pay” provisions (requiring a non-binding shareholder vote to approve compensation of certain executive officers) and the “say on golden parachute” provisions (requiring a non-binding shareholder vote to approve golden parachute arrangements for certain executive officers in connection with mergers and certain other business combinations) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010; or |
• | disclose certain executive compensation related items, such as the correlation between executive compensation and performance and comparisons of the chief executive officer’s compensation to median employee compensation. |
(1) | Securities purchased in transactions not involving any public offering from the issuer of such securities, which issuer (subject to certain limited exceptions) is an Eligible Portfolio Company (as defined below), or from any person who is, or has been during the preceding 13 months, an affiliated person of an Eligible Portfolio Company, or from any other person, subject to such rules as may be prescribed by the SEC. An “Eligible Portfolio Company” is defined in the 1940 Act as any issuer which: |
(a) | is organized under the laws of, and has its principal place of business in, the United States; |
(b) | is not an investment company (other than a small business investment company wholly owned by the BDC) or a company that would be an investment company but for certain exclusions under the 1940 Act; and |
(c) | satisfies any of the following: |
(i) | does not have any class of securities that is traded on a national securities exchange; |
(ii) | has a class of securities listed on a national securities exchange, but has an aggregate market value of outstanding voting and non-voting common equity of less than $250 million; |
(iii) | is controlled by a BDC or a group of companies, including a BDC and the BDC has an affiliated person who is a director of the Eligible Portfolio Company; or |
(iv) | is a small and solvent company having total assets of not more than $4 million and capital and surplus of not less than $2 million. |
(2) | Securities of any Eligible Portfolio Company controlled by the Fund. |
(3) | Securities purchased in a private transaction from a U.S. issuer that is not an investment company or from an affiliated person of the issuer, or in transactions incident thereto, if the issuer is in bankruptcy and subject to reorganization or if the issuer, immediately prior to the purchase of its securities was unable to meet its obligations as they came due without material assistance other than conventional lending or financing arrangements. |
(4) | Securities of an Eligible Portfolio Company purchased from any person in a private transaction if there is no ready market for such securities and the Fund already owns 60% of the outstanding equity of the Eligible Portfolio Company. |
(5) | Securities received in exchange for or distributed on or with respect to securities described in (1) through (4) above, or pursuant to the exercise of warrants or rights relating to such securities. |
(6) | Cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government securities or high-quality debt securities maturing in one year or less from the time of investment. |
Name | | | Year of Birth | | | Position | | | Length of Time Served | | | Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years | | | Other Trusteeships Held by Trustee |
Interested Trustees | | | | | | | | | | | |||||
Michael Patterson | | | 1974 | | | Chief Executive Officer | | | Since 2021 | | | Governing Partner of HPS and the Portfolio Manager for the Specialty Loan Funds and Core Senior Lending Funds. | | | None. |
Grishma Parekh | | | 1980 | | | Portfolio Manager | | | Since 2021 | | | Managing Director at HPS and Co-Head of North American Core Senior Lending (2020-present); Partner at the Carlyle Group in Direct Lending. | | | None. |
Independent Trustees | | | | | | | | | | | |||||
Randall Lauer | | | 1959 | | | Trustee | | | Since 2021 | | | Managing Director at Citigroup, Head of Institutional Markets Sales – Midwest Region (2012-2021) and Head of Securitized Product Sales – North America (2018-2019). | | | Trustee, Lake Forest College (2016-Present); Trustee, St. John’s Northwestern Military Academy (2018-Present). |
Robin Melvin | | | 1963 | | | Trustee | | | Since 2021 | | | Director, Bank of New York Mellon Family of Funds (1995-Present); Co-Chair of Mentor Illinois (2014 – 2020). | | | Director, Bank of New York Mellon Family of (1995-Present); Trustee, Westover School (2019-Present); Director, JDRF Illinois (2021 – Present). |
Robert Van Dore | | | 1959 | | | Trustee | | | Since 2021 | | | Partner at Deloitte & Touche LLP (1981-2021). | | | None. |
Name | | | Year of Birth | | | Position | | | Length of Time Served | | | Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years |
Dohyun (Doris) Lee-Silvestri | | | 1977 | | | Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer | | | Since 2021. | | | Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer of Funds at HPS (2019-present); Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer of GSO Capital Partners, Blackstone’s credit investment platform. |
Name | | | Year of Birth | | | Position | | | Length of Time Served | | | Principal Occupation During Past 5 Years |
Gregory MacCordy | | | 1953 | | | Chief Compliance Officer | | | Since 2021. | | | Director at Alaric Compliance Services LLC. |
Yoohyun K. Choi | | | 1971 | | | Secretary | | | Since 2021. | | | General Counsel and a Managing Director at HPS. |
Tyler Thorn | | | 1978 | | | Assistant Secretary | | | Since 2021. | | | Managing Director and Attorney at HPS. |
| | | | Annual Committee Chair Cash Retainer | | |||||||
Annual Cash Retainer | | | Board Meeting Fee | | | Committee Meeting Fee | | | Audit | | | Nominating and Governance |
$125,000 | | | $2,500 | | | $1,000 | | | $15,000 | | | $10,000 |
Name of Portfolio Manager | | | Dollar Range of Equity Securities(1) |
Michael Patterson | | | None |
Colbert Cannon | | | None |
Michael Fenstermacher | | | None |
Jeffrey Fitts | | | None |
Vikas Keswani | | | None |
Grishma Parekh | | | None |
(1) | Dollar ranges are as follows: None, $1 – $10,000, $10,001 – $50,000, $50,001 – $100,000, $100,001 – $500,000, $500,001 – $1,000,000, or over $1,000,000. |
Type of Account | | | Number of Accounts | | | Assets of Accounts ($ millions) | | | Number of Accounts Subject to a performance Fee | | | Assets Subject to a performance Fee ($ millions) |
Registered Investment companies | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | — |
Other pooled investment vehicles: | | | 24 | | | 14,411 | | | 21 | | | 14,292 |
Other accounts | | | 36 | | | 16,087 | | | 33 | | | 15,093 |
• | determining the composition of our portfolio, the nature and timing of the changes to our portfolio and the manner of implementing such changes in accordance with our investment objective, policies and restrictions; |
• | identifying investment opportunities and making investment decisions for us, including negotiating the terms of investments in, and dispositions of, portfolio securities and other instruments on our behalf; |
• | monitoring our investments; |
• | performing due diligence on prospective portfolio companies; |
• | exercising voting rights in respect of portfolio securities and other investments for us; |
• | serving on, and exercising observer rights for, boards of directors and similar committees of our portfolio companies; |
• | negotiating, obtaining and managing financing facilities and other forms of leverage; and |
• | providing us with such other investment advisory and related services as we may, from time to time, reasonably require for the investment of capital. |
• | No incentive fee based on Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income Returns in any calendar quarter in which our Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income Returns attributable to the applicable share class do not exceed the hurdle rate of 1.25% per quarter (5.0% annualized); |
• | 100% of the dollar amount of our Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income Returns with respect to that portion of such Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income Returns attributable to the applicable share class, if any, that exceeds the hurdle rate but is less than a rate of return of 1.43% (5.72% annualized). We refer to this portion of our Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income Returns (which exceeds the hurdle rate but is less than 1.43%) as the “catch-up.” The “catch-up” is meant to provide the Adviser with approximately 12.5% of our Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income Returns as if a hurdle rate did not apply if this net investment income exceeds 1.43% in any calendar quarter; and |
• | 12.5% of the dollar amount of our Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income Returns attributable to the applicable share class, if any, that exceed a rate of return of 1.43% (5.72% annualized). This reflects that once the hurdle rate is reached and the catch-up is achieved, 12.5% of all Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income Returns thereafter are allocated to the Adviser. |
• | 12.5% of cumulative realized capital gains attributable to the applicable share class from inception through the end of such calendar year, computed net of all realized capital losses and unrealized capital depreciation on a cumulative basis, less the aggregate amount of any previously paid incentive fee on capital gains as calculated in accordance with GAAP. |
Scenarios expressed as a percentage of net asset value at the beginning of the quarter | | | Scenario 1 | | | Scenario 2 | | | Scenario 3 |
Pre-incentive fee net investment income for the quarter | | | 1.00% | | | 1.35% | | | 2.00% |
Catch up incentive fee (maximum of 0.18%) | | | 0.00% | | | -0.10% | | | -0.18% |
Split incentive fee (12.50% above 1.43%) | | | 0.00% | | | 0.00% | | | -0.07% |
Net Investment income | | | 1.00% | | | 1.25% | | | 1.75% |
Year 1: | No net realized capital gains or losses |
Year 2: | 6.00% realized capital gains and 1.00% realized capital losses and unrealized capital depreciation; capital gain incentive fee = 12.50% × (realized capital gains for year computed net of all realized capital losses and unrealized capital depreciation at year end) |
Year 1 Incentive Fee on Capital Gains | | | = 12.50% × (0) |
| | = 0 | |
| | = No Incentive Fee on Capital Gains | |
Year 2 Incentive Fee on Capital Gains | | | = 12.50% × (6.00% −1.00)% |
| | = 12.50% × 5.00% | |
| | = 0.63% |
1. | investment advisory fees, including management fees and incentive fees, to the Adviser, pursuant to the Advisory Agreement; |
2. | the Fund’s allocable portion of compensation, overhead and other expenses incurred by the Administrator in performing its administrative obligations under the Administration Agreement, including but not limited to: (i) the Fund’s chief compliance officer, chief financial officer and their respective staffs; (ii) investor relations, legal, operations and other non-investment professionals at the Administrator that perform duties for the Fund; and (iii) any internal audit group personnel of HPS or any of its affiliates, subject to the limitations described in “Advisory and Administration Agreement—Administration Agreement”; and |
3. | all other expenses of the Fund’s operations and transactions, including those listed in “Plan of Operation—Expenses.” |
• | the nature, quality and extent of the advisory and other services to be provided to the Fund by the Adviser; |
• | the proposed investment advisory fee rates to be paid by the Fund to the Adviser; |
• | the fee structures of comparable externally managed business development companies that engage in similar investing activities; |
• | our projected operating expenses and expense ratio compared to business development companies with similar investment objectives; |
• | information about the services to be performed and the personnel who would be performing such services under the Advisory Agreement; and |
• | the organizational capability and financial condition of the Adviser and its affiliates. |
• | We may not purchase or lease assets in which the Adviser or its affiliates has an interest unless (i) we disclose the terms of the transaction to our shareholders, the terms are reasonable to us and the price does not exceed the lesser of cost or fair market value, as determined by an independent expert or (ii) such purchase or lease of assets is consistent with the 1940 Act or an exemptive order under the 1940 Act issued to us by the SEC; |
• | We may not invest in general partnerships or joint ventures with affiliates and non-affiliates unless certain conditions are met; |
• | The Adviser and its affiliates may not acquire assets from us unless (i) approved by our shareholders entitled to cast a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter or (ii) such acquisition is consistent with the 1940 Act or an exemptive order under the 1940 Act issued to us by the SEC; |
• | We may not lease assets to the Adviser or its affiliates unless we disclose the terms of the transaction to our shareholders and such terms are fair and reasonable to us; |
• | We may not make any loans, credit facilities, credit agreements or otherwise to the Adviser or its affiliates except for the advancement of funds as permitted by our Declaration of Trust or unless otherwise permitted by the 1940 Act or applicable guidance or exemptive relief of the SEC; |
• | We may not acquire assets in exchange for our Common Shares; |
• | We may not pay a commission or fee, either directly or indirectly to the Adviser or its affiliates, except as otherwise permitted by our Declaration of Trust, in connection with the reinvestment of cash flows from operations and available reserves or of the proceeds of the resale, exchange or refinancing of our assets; |
• | The Adviser may not charge duplicate fees to us; and |
• | The Adviser may not provide financing to us with a term in excess of 12 months. |
• | each person known to us to be expected to beneficially own more than 5% of the outstanding Common Shares; |
• | each of our Trustees and each executive officers; and |
• | all of our Trustees and executive officers as a group. |
| | Common Shares Beneficially Owned | ||||
Name and Address | | | Number | | | Percentage |
Interested Trustees | | | | | ||
Michael Patterson | | | — | | | — |
Grishma Parekh | | | — | | | — |
Independent Trustees(1) | | | | | ||
Randall Lauer | | | — | | | — |
Robin Melvin | | | — | | | — |
Robert Van Dore | | | — | | | — |
Executive Officers who are not Trustees(1) | | | | | ||
Dohyun (Doris) Lee-Silvestri | | | — | | | — |
Greogory MacCordy | | | — | | | — |
Yoohyun K. Choi | | | — | | | — |
Tyler Thorn | | | — | | | — |
Other | | | | | ||
HPS Investment Partners, LLC(2) | | | 100 | | | 100% |
All officers and Trustees as a group (9 persons) | | | — | | | — |
* | Less than 1%. |
(1) | The address for all of the Fund’s officers and Trustees is HPS Corporate Lending Fund, c/o HPS Investment Partners, LLC, 40 West 57th Street, 33rd Floor New York, NY 10019. |
(2) | The address for HPS Investment Partners, LLC is 40 West 57th Street, 33rd Floor New York, NY 10019. |
Name and Address | | | Dollar Range of Equity Securities in Fund(1)(2) |
Interested Trustees | | | |
Michael Patterson | | | — |
Grishma Parekh | | | — |
Independent Trustees(1) | | | |
Randall Lauer | | | — |
Robin Melvin | | | — |
Robert Van Dore | | | — |
(1) | Beneficial ownership has been determined in accordance with Rule 16a-1(a)(2) of the Exchange Act. |
(2) | The dollar range of equities securities expected to be beneficially owned by our Trustees is based on the initial public offering price of $25.00 per share. |
(3) | The dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned are: none, $1 – $10,000, $10,001 – $50,000, $50,001 – $100,000 or over $100,000. |
Title of Class | | | Amount Authorized | | | Amount Held by Fund for its Account | | | Amount Outstanding as of July 23, 2021 |
Class S | | | Unlimited | | | — | | | — |
Class D | | | Unlimited | | | — | | | — |
Class I | | | Unlimited | | | — | | | 100 |
Class F | | | Unlimited | | | — | | | — |
• | modify the Declaration of Trust; |
• | remove the Adviser or appoint a new investment adviser; |
• | dissolve the Fund; or |
• | sell all or substantially all of our assets other than in the ordinary course of business. |
• | amend the investment advisory agreement except for amendments that would not adversely affect the rights of our shareholders; |
• | except as otherwise permitted under the Advisory Agreement, voluntarily withdraw as our investment adviser unless such withdrawal would not affect our tax status and would not materially adversely affect our shareholders; |
• | appoint a new investment adviser (other than a sub-adviser pursuant to the terms of the Advisory Agreement and applicable law); |
• | sell all or substantially all of our assets other than in the ordinary course of business; or |
• | cause the merger or similar reorganization of the Fund. |
• | accepting the securities of the entity that would be created or would survive after the successful completion of the roll-up transaction offered in the proposed roll-up transaction; or |
• | one of the following: |
• | remaining as shareholders and preserving their interests in us on the same terms and conditions as existed previously; or |
• | receiving cash in an amount equal to their pro rata share of the appraised value of our net assets. |
• | which would result in shareholders having voting rights in the entity that would be created or would survive after the successful completion of the roll-up transaction that are less than those provided in the charter, including rights with respect to the election and removal of Trustees, annual and special meetings, amendments to the charter and our dissolution; |
• | which includes provisions that would operate as a material impediment to, or frustration of, the accumulation of Common Shares by any purchaser of the securities of the entity that would be created or would survive after the successful completion of the roll-up transaction, except to the minimum extent necessary to preserve the tax status of such entity, or which would limit the ability of an investor to exercise the voting rights of its securities of the entity that would be created or would survive after the successful completion of the roll-up transaction on the basis of the number of shares held by that investor; |
• | in which shareholders’ rights to access to records of the entity that would be created or would survive after the successful completion of the roll-up transaction will be less than those provided in the charter; |
• | in which we would bear any of the costs of the roll-up transaction if the shareholders reject the roll-up transaction; or |
• | unless the organizational documents of the entity that would survive the roll-up transaction provide that neither its adviser nor its managing dealer may vote or consent on matters submitted to its shareholders regarding the removal of its adviser or any transaction between it and its adviser or any of its affiliates. |
• | The valuation process begins with each investment being preliminarily valued by the Adviser’s valuation team in conjunction with the Adviser’s investment professionals responsible for each portfolio investment; |
• | In addition, independent valuation firms engaged by the Board prepare quarter-end valuations of each such investment that was (i) originated or purchased prior to the first calendar day of the quarter and (ii) is not a de minimis investment, as determined by the Adviser. The independent valuation firms provide a final range of values on such investments to the Board and the Adviser. The independent valuation firms also provide analyses to support their valuation methodology and calculations; |
• | The Adviser’s Valuation Committee reviews each valuation recommendation to confirm they have been calculated in accordance with the valuation policy and compares such valuations to the independent valuation firms’ valuation ranges to ensure the Adviser’s valuations are reasonable; |
• | The Valuation Committee makes valuation recommendations to the Audit Committee; |
• | The Audit Committee reviews the valuation recommendations made by the Adviser’s Valuation Committee, including the independent valuation firms’ quarterly valuations, and once approved, recommends them for approval by the Board; and |
• | The Board reviews the valuation recommendations of the Audit Committee and determines the fair value of each investment in the portfolio in good faith based on the input of the Audit Committee, the Adviser’s Valuation Committee and, where applicable, the independent valuation firms or other external service providers. |
12 | A significant observable event generally refers to the material loss of physical assets, a payment default or payment deferral, a bankruptcy filing or a liquidity event relating to the interests held or the issuer. |
| | Shareholder Servicing and/or Distribution Fee as a % of NAV | |
Class S shares | | | 0.85% |
Class D shares | | | 0.25% |
Class I shares | | | — |
Class F share | | | 0.50% |
• | Read this entire prospectus and any appendices and supplements accompanying this prospectus. |
• | Complete the execution copy of the subscription agreement. A specimen copy of the subscription agreement, including instructions for completing it, is included in this prospectus as Appendix A. Subscription agreements may be executed manually or by electronic signature except where the use of such electronic signature has not been approved by the Managing Dealer. Should you execute the subscription agreement electronically, your electronic signature, whether digital or encrypted, included in the subscription agreement is intended to authenticate the subscription agreement and to have the same force and effect as a manual signature. |
• | Deliver a check, submit a wire transfer, instruct your broker to make payment from your brokerage account or otherwise deliver funds for the full purchase price of the Common Shares being subscribed for along with the completed subscription agreement to the participating broker. During the escrow period, checks should be made payable, or wire transfers directed, to “U.S. Bank National Association/HPS Corporate Lending Fund - Escrow Account.” After the escrow period, checks should be made payable, or wire transfers directed, to “HPS Corporate Lending Fund.” For Class S, Class D and Class F shares, after you have satisfied the applicable minimum purchase requirement of $2,500, additional purchases must be in increments of $500. For Class I shares, after you have satisfied the applicable minimum purchase requirement of $1,000,000, additional purchases must be in increments of $500, unless such minimums are waived by the Managing Dealer. The minimum subsequent investment does not apply to purchases made under our distribution reinvestment plan. |
• | By executing the subscription agreement and paying the total purchase price for the Common Shares subscribed for, each investor attests that he or she meets the suitability standards as stated in the subscription agreement and agrees to be bound by all of its terms. Certain participating brokers may require additional documentation. |
• | On each business day, our transfer agent will collect purchase orders. Notwithstanding the submission of an initial purchase order, we can reject purchase orders for any reason, even if a prospective investor meets the minimum suitability requirements outlined in our prospectus. Investors may only purchase our Common Shares pursuant to accepted subscription orders as of the first day of each month (based on the NAV per share as determined as of the previous day, being the last day of the preceding month), and to be accepted, a subscription request must be made with a completed and executed subscription agreement in good order and payment of the full purchase price of our Common Shares being subscribed at least five business days prior to the first day of the month. If a purchase order is received less than five business days prior to the first day of the month, unless waived by the Managing Dealer, the purchase order will be executed in the next month’s closing at the transaction price applicable to that month. As a result of this process, the price per share at which your order is executed may be different than the price per share for the month in which you submitted your purchase order. |
• | Generally, within 20 business days after the first calendar day of each month, we will determine our NAV per share for each share class as of the last calendar day of the immediately preceding month, which will be the purchase price for shares purchased with that effective date. |
• | Completed subscription requests will not be accepted by us before two business days before the first calendar day of each month. |
• | Subscribers are not committed to purchase shares at the time their subscription orders are submitted and any subscription may be canceled at any time before the time it has been accepted as described in the previous sentence. You may withdraw your purchase request by notifying the transfer agent, through your financial intermediary or directly on our toll-free, automated telephone line, 1-888-484-1944. |
• | You will receive a confirmation statement of each new transaction in your account from us or your financial advisor, participating broker or financial intermediary as soon as practicable but generally not later than seven business days after the shareholder transactions are settled when the applicable NAV per share is determined. |
(1) | Securities purchased in transactions not involving any public offering from the issuer of such securities, which issuer (subject to certain limited exceptions) is an Eligible Portfolio Company (as defined below), or from any person who is, or has been during the preceding 13 months, an affiliated person of an Eligible Portfolio Company, or from any other person, subject to such rules as may be prescribed by the SEC. An “Eligible Portfolio Company” is defined in the 1940 Act as any issuer which: |
(a) | is organized under the laws of, and has its principal place of business in, the United States; |
(b) | is not an investment company (other than a small business investment company wholly owned by the BDC) or a company that would be an investment company but for certain exclusions under the 1940 Act; and |
(c) | satisfies any of the following: |
(i) | does not have any class of securities that is traded on a national securities exchange; |
(ii) | has a class of securities listed on a national securities exchange, but has an aggregate market value of outstanding voting and non-voting common equity of less than $250 million; |
(iii) | is controlled by a BDC or a group of companies including a BDC and the BDC has an affiliated person who is a director of the Eligible Portfolio Company; or |
(iv) | is a small and solvent company having total assets of not more than $4 million and capital and surplus of not less than $2 million. |
(2) | Securities of any Eligible Portfolio Company controlled by the Fund. |
(3) | Securities purchased in a private transaction from a U.S. issuer that is not an investment company or from an affiliated person of the issuer, or in transactions incident thereto, if the issuer is in bankruptcy and subject to reorganization or if the issuer, immediately prior to the purchase of its securities was unable to meet its obligations as they came due without material assistance other than conventional lending or financing arrangements. |
(4) | Securities of an Eligible Portfolio Company purchased from any person in a private transaction if there is no ready market for such securities and the Fund already owns 60% of the outstanding equity of the Eligible Portfolio Company. |
(5) | Securities received in exchange for or distributed on or with respect to securities described in (1) through (4) above, or pursuant to the exercise of warrants or rights relating to such securities. |
(6) | Cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government securities or high-quality debt securities maturing in one year or less from the time of investment. |
FACTS | | | WHAT DOES HPS DO WITH YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION? | |||
Why? | | | Financial companies choose how they share your personal information. Federal law gives consumers the right to limit some but not all sharing. Federal law also requires us to tell you how we collect, share, and protect your personal information. Please read this notice carefully to understand what we do. | |||
What? | | | The types of personal information we collect and share depend on the product or service you have with us. This information can include: | |||
| • | | | Social Security number and income | ||
| • | | | Account balances and transaction history | ||
| • | | | Wire transfer instructions and assets | ||
How? | | | All financial companies need to share customers’ personal information to run their everyday business. In the section below, we list the reasons financial companies can share their customers’ personal information; the reasons HPS chooses to share; and whether you can limit this sharing. |
Reasons we can share your personal information | | | Does HPS share? | | | Can you limit this sharing? |
For our everyday business purposes – such as to process your transactions, maintain your account(s), respond to court orders and legal investigations, or report to credit bureaus | | | Yes | | | No |
| | | | |||
For our marketing purposes – to offer our products and services to you | | | Yes | | | No |
| | | | |||
For joint marketing with other financial companies | | | Yes | | | No |
| | | | |||
For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes – information about your transactions and experiences | | | Yes | | | No |
| | | | |||
For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes – information about your credit worthiness | | | Yes | | | Yes |
| | | | |||
For our affiliates to market to you | | | Yes | | | Yes |
| | | | |||
For nonaffiliates to market to you | | | Yes | | | Yes |
To limit our sharing | | | Call the Compliance Department at (833) 457-0279. |
| | ||
| | Please note: | |
| | If you are a new customer, we can begin sharing your information 30 days from the date we sent this notice. When you are no longer our customer, we continue to share your information as described in this notice. | |
| | ||
| | However, you can contact us at any time to limit our sharing. | |
| | ||
Questions? | | | Call (833) 457-0279 |
Who we are | ||||||
Who is providing this notice? | | | The HPS family of advisers, which includes the following entities: HPS Investment Partners (UK) LLP; HPS Investment Partners (HK) Limited; HPS Investment Partners (AUS) Pty Ltd.; HPS ALSC Management, LLC; HPS RE Management, LLC; HPS Investment Partners CLO (US), LLC; HPS Investment Partners CLO (UK) LLP; HPS Australia Partners Pty Ltd; HPS Investment Partners Lux Sarl; HPS Mezzanine Partners, LLC; HPS Mezzanine Partners II, LLC; HPS Mezzanine Management III, LLC; HPS Mezzanine Management 2019, LLC; HPS Strategic Investment Management V, LLC; HPS Opportunities SL Management, LLC; HPS EF GP, LLC; HPS EL SLF 2016 GP; CGC, LLC; and CGC III Partners, LLC. | |||
What we do | ||||||
How does HPS protect my personal information? | | | To protect your personal information from unauthorized access and use, we use security measures that comply with federal law. These measures include computer safeguards and secured files and buildings. | |||
| | | | |||
How does HPS collect my personal information? | | | We collect your personal information, for example, when you: | |||
| • | | | enter into an investment advisory contract | ||
| • | | | give us your income information or give us your contact information | ||
| • | | | make a wire transfer or provide account information | ||
| We also collect your personal information from others, such as affiliates, credit bureaus or other companies. | |||||
| | | | |||
Why can’t I limit all sharing? | | | Federal law gives you the right to limit only | |||
| • | | | sharing for affiliates’ everyday business purposes – information about your creditworthiness | ||
| • | | | affiliates from using your information to market to you | ||
| • | | | sharing for nonaffiliates to market to you | ||
| State laws and individual companies may give you additional rights to limit sharing. See below for more on your rights under state law. | |||||
| | | | |||
What happens when I limit sharing for an account I hold jointly with someone else? | | | Your choices will apply to everyone on your account. |
Definitions | ||||||
Affiliates | | | Companies related by common ownership or control. They can be financial and nonfinancial companies. | |||
| • | | | Our affiliates include financial companies such as those HPS entities with common ownership. | ||
| | | | |||
Nonaffiliates | | | Companies not related by common ownership or control. They can be financial and nonfinancial companies. | |||
| • | | | Nonaffiliates we share with can include placement agents and banks. | ||
| | | | |||
Joint marketing | | | A formal agreement between nonaffiliated financial companies that together market financial products or services to you. | |||
| • | | | Our joint marketing partners include other financial sponsors. | ||
| | | | |||
Other important information | ||||||
State laws: | | | NV: We are providing this notice pursuant to Nevada law. If you prefer not to receive marketing calls from us, you may be placed on our Internal Do Not Call List by calling the Compliance Department at (833) 457-0279 or by writing to us at privacy@hpspartners.com. | |||
| | | | |||
| | California Residents: In accordance with the California Financial Information Privacy Act, we will not share information we collect about California residents with nonaffiliates except as permitted by law, such as with the consent of the customer or to service the customer’s accounts. We also will limit the sharing of information about you with our affiliates to the extent required by applicable California law. | ||||
| | | | |||
| | Vermont Residents: In accordance with Vermont law, we will not share information we collect about Vermont residents with nonaffiliates except as permitted by law, such as with the consent of the customer or to service the customer’s accounts. We will not share creditworthiness information about Vermont residents among HPS’s affiliates except with the authorization or consent of the Vermont resident. |
| | As of July 23, 2021 | |
Assets | | | |
Cash | | | $2,500 |
Total assets | | | $2,500 |
| | ||
Commitments and contingencies (Note 5) | | | |
| | ||
Net Assets | | | |
Common stock: | | | |
Class D Shares, par value $0.01 per share, unlimited shares authorized, 0 shares issued and outstanding | | | $— |
Class F Shares, par value $0.01 per share, unlimited shares authorized, 0 shares issued and outstanding | | | — |
Class I Shares, par value $0.01 per share, unlimited shares authorized, 100 shares issued and outstanding | | | 1 |
Class S Shares, par value $0.01 per share, unlimited shares authorized, 0 shares issued and outstanding | | | — |
Paid-in-capital in excess of par value | | | 2,499 |
Total net assets | | | $2,500 |
| | ||
Net asset value per share of issued shares: | | | |
Class I Shares | | | $25.00 |
| | From December 23, 2020 (inception) to July 23, 2021 | |
Expenses: | | | |
Organization expenses (See Note 2) | | | $141,757 |
Total expenses | | | 141,757 |
Reimbursable organization expenses paid by Adviser (See Note 5. Commitments and Contingencies) | | | (141,757) |
Net Expenses | | | — |
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | | | $— |
(a) | is organized under the laws of, and has its principal place of business in, the United States; |
(b) | is not an investment company (other than a small business investment company wholly owned by the BDC) or a company that would be an investment company but for certain exclusions under the 1940 Act; and |
(c) | satisfies any of the following: |
(i) | does not have any class of securities that is traded on a national securities exchange; |
(ii) | has a class of securities listed on a national securities exchange, but has an aggregate market value of outstanding voting and non-voting common equity of less than $250 million; |
(iii) | is controlled by a BDC or a group of companies, including a BDC and the BDC has an affiliated person who is a director of the Eligible Portfolio Company; or |
(iv) | is a small and solvent company having total assets of not more than $4 million and capital and surplus of not less than $2 million. |
(i) | Income based incentive fee |
• | No incentive fee will be paid on Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income Returns in any calendar quarter in which the Pre- Incentive Fee Net Investment Income Returns attributable to the applicable share class do not exceed the Hurdle Rate; and |
• | 100% of the dollar amount of the Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income Returns with respect to that portion of such Pre- Incentive Fee Net Investment Income Returns attributable to the applicable share class, if any, that exceeds the Hurdle Rate but is less than a rate of return of 1.43% (5.72% annualized). This portion of the Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income Returns (which exceeds the Hurdle Rate but is less than 1.43%) is referred to as the “Catch-Up.” The Catch-Up is meant to provide the Adviser with approximately 12.5% of the Company’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income Returns as if a Hurdle Rate did not apply if this net investment income exceeds 1.43% in any calendar quarter; and |
• | 12.5% of the dollar amount of the Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income Returns attributable to the applicable share class, if any, that exceed a rate of return of 1.43% (5.72% annualized). This reflects that once the Hurdle Rate is reached and the Catch-Up is achieved, 12.5% of all Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income Returns thereafter are allocated to the Adviser. |
(ii) | Capital gains based incentive fee |
Item 25. | Financial Statements and Exhibits |
(1) | Financial Statements |
| | Page | |
| | ||
| | ||
| | ||
| |
(2) | Exhibits |
| | Amended and Restated Certificate of Trust of the Registrant (filed herewith) | |
| | Declaration of Trust of the Registrant (filed herewith) | |
| | Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Registrant (filed herewith) | |
| | Second Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust of the Registrant (filed herewith) | |
| | Bylaws of the Registrant (filed herewith) | |
| | Form of Subscription Agreement (included in the Prospectus as Appendix A) | |
| | Form of Distribution Reinvestment Plan (filed herewith) | |
| | Form of Advisory Agreement (filed herewith) | |
| | Form of Managing Dealer Agreement (filed herewith) | |
| | Form of Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Plan of the Registrant (filed herewith) | |
| | Form of Custody Agreement (filed herewith) | |
| | Form of Administration Agreement (filed herewith) | |
| | Form of Escrow Agreement (filed herewith) | |
| | Form of Transfer Agent Servicing Agreement (filed herewith) | |
| | Multiple Class Plan (filed herewith) | |
| | Form of Expense Support and Conditional Reimbursement Agreement (filed herewith) | |
| | Form of Sub-Administration Servicing Agreement (filed herewith) | |
| | Form of Fund Accounting Servicing Agreement (filed herewith) | |
| | Opinion of Dechert LLP (filed herewith) | |
| | Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (filed herewith) | |
| | Subscription Agreement for Seed Capital (filed herewith) | |
| | Code of Ethics of the Fund (filed herewith) | |
| | Code of Ethics of the Adviser (filed herewith) | |
| | Powers of Attorney (filed herewith) |
Item 26. | Marketing Arrangements |
Item 27. | Other Expenses Of Issuance And Distribution |
SEC registration fee | | | $218,200 |
FINRA filing fee | | | $225,500 |
Legal | | | $600,000 |
Printing | | | $50,000 |
Accounting | | | $25,000 |
Blue Sky Expenses | | | $156,809 |
Advertising and sales literature | | | $175,000 |
Due Diligence | | | $75,000 |
Miscellaneous fees and expenses | | | $523,375 |
Total | | | $2,048,884 |
Item 28. | Persons Controlled By Or Under Common Control |
Item 29. | Number Of Holders Of Securities |
Title of Class | | | Number of Record Holders |
Common shares of beneficial interest, $0.01 par value | | | 1 |
Item 30. | Indemnification |
Item 31. | Business and Other Connections of Adviser |
Item 32. | Location of Accounts and Records |
(1) | the Registrant; |
(2) | the transfer agent; |
(3) | the Custodian; |
(4) | the Adviser; and |
(5) | the Administrator. |
Item 33. | Management Services |
Item 34. | Undertakings |
(1) | to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement |
(i) | to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act; |
(ii) | to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement; and |
(iii) | to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement. |
(2) | that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment will be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of those securities at that time will be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; |
(3) | to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering; |
(4) | that, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser, if the Registrant is subject to Rule 430C 17 CFR 230.430C: Each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 497(b), (c), (d) or (e) under the Securities Act 17 CFR 230.497(b), (c), (d) or (e) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A under the Securities Act 17 CFR 230.430A, will be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use; and |
(5) | that for the purpose of determining liability of the Registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of securities. The undersigned Registrant undertakes that in an offering of securities of the undersigned Registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned Registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to the purchaser: |
(i) | any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned Registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 497 under the Securities Act 17 CFR 230.497; |
(ii) | the portion of any advertisement pursuant to Rule 482 under the Securities Act 17 CFR 230.482 relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned Registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant; and |
(iii) | any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned Registrant to the purchaser. |
| | HPS CORPORATE LENDING FUND | ||||
| | | | |||
| | By: | | | /s/ Michael Patterson | |
| | Name: | | | Michael Patterson | |
| | Title: | | | Chairperson, Chief Executive Officer and Trustee |
Signature | | | Title | | | Date |
| | | | |||
/s/ Michael Patterson | | | Chairperson, Chief Executive Officer and Trustee (Principal Executive Officer) | | | September 10, 2021 |
Michael Patterson | | |||||
| | | | |||
/s/ Dohyun (Doris) Lee-Silvestri | | | Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer | | | September 10, 2021 |
Dohyun (Doris) Lee-Silvestri | | |||||
| | | | |||
/s/ Grishma Parekh | | | Trustee | | | September 10, 2021 |
Grishma Parekh | | |||||
| | | | |||
/s/ Randall Lauer | | | Trustee | | | September 10, 2021 |
Randall Lauer* | | |||||
| | | | |||
/s/ Robin Melvin | | | Trustee | | | September 10, 2021 |
Robin Melvin* | | |||||
| | | | |||
/s/ Robert Van Dore | | | Trustee | | | September 10, 2021 |
Robert Van Dore* | | |||||
| | | |
*By: | | | /s/ Tyler Thorn | | | |
| | Tyler Thorn As Agent or Attorney-in-Fact | |
(a)(1) | | | Amended and Restated Certificate of Trust |
(a)(2) | | | Declaration of Trust |
(a)(3) | | | Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust |
(a)(4) | | | Second Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust |
(b) | | | Bylaws of the Registrant |
(e) | | | Form of Distribution Reinvestment Plan |
(g) | | | Form of Advisory Agreement |
(h)(1) | | | Form of Managing Dealer Agreement |
(h)(2) | | | Form of Distribution and Shareholder Servicing Plan |
(j) | | | Form of Custody Agreement |
(k)(1) | | | Form of Administration Agreement |
(k)(2) | | | Form of Escrow Agreement |
(k)(3) | | | Form of Transfer Agent Servicing Agreement |
(k)(4) | | | Multiple Class Plan |
(k)(5) | | | Form of Expense Support and Conditional Reimbursement Agreement |
(k)(6) | | | Form of Sub-Administration Servicing Agreement |
(k)(7) | | | Form of Fund Accounting Servicing Agreement |
(l) | | | Opinion of Dechert LLP |
(n) | | | Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
(p) | | | Subscription Agreement for Seed Capital |
(r)(1) | | | Code of Ethics of the Fund |
(r)(2) | | | Code of Ethics of the Adviser |
(s) | | | Powers of Attorney |