0001838126falseNYNYNo upfront sales load is 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, Class I 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, a 2.0% cap on NAV for Class I shares and a 2.0% cap on NAV for Class F shares. Please consult your selling agent for additional information.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 will 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, at our discretion, 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.Total net assets as of December 31, 2022 employed as the denominator for expense ratio computation is $[ ].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.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, 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 7.16%. Our ability to incur leverage depends, in large part, 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.Subject to FINRA limitations on underwriting compensation, we 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 or distribution fees are 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 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 shares or Class F shares. See “Plan of Distribution” and “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.We may have capital gains and investment income that could result in the payment of an incentive fee. The incentive fees, if any, are divided into two parts: The first part of the incentive fee is based on income, whereby we 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 our 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 pay the Adviser at the end of each calendar year in arrears 12.5% of cumulative realized capital gains, attributable to each class of our 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. As we cannot predict whether we will meet the necessary performance targets, we have assumed no incentive fee for this chart. We expect the incentive fees we pay to increase to the extent we earn greater income or generate capital gains through our investments in portfolio companies. If we achieved an annualized total return of 5.0% for each quarter made up entirely of net investment income, no incentive fees would be payable to the Adviser because the hurdle rate was not exceeded. If instead we achieved a total return of 5.0% in a calendar year made up of entirely realized capital gains net of all realized capital losses and unrealized capital depreciation, an incentive fee equal to 0.63% of our net assets would be payable. See “Advisory Agreement and Administration Agreement” for more information concerning the incentive fees.The amount to which such class of senior security would be entitled upon our involuntary liquidation in preference to any security junior to it. The “—” in this column indicates information that the SEC expressly does not require to be disclosed for certain types of senior securities.Average net assets employed as the denominator for expense ratio computation is $4.0 billion. 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.Total amount of each class of senior securities outstanding at the end of the period presented.Asset coverage per unit is the ratio of the carrying value of our total assets, less all liabilities excluding indebtedness represented by senior securities in this table, to the aggregate amount of senior securities representing indebtedness. Asset coverage per unit is expressed in terms of dollar amounts per $1,000 of indebtedness and is calculated on a consolidated basis.Not applicable because the senior securities are not registered for public trading.In order to compute the “Corresponding Return to Common Shareholders,” the “Assumed Return on Portfolio” is multiplied by the total value of our assets at December 31, 2022 to obtain an assumed return to us. From this amount, the interest expense (calculated by multiplying the weighted average stated interest rate of 7.16% (excluding deferred financing costs, deferred issuance costs and unused fees) by the approximately $2,344.6 million of principal debt outstanding) is subtracted to determine the return available to shareholders. The return available to shareholders is then divided by the total value of our net assets as of December 31, 2022 to determine the “Corresponding Return to Common Shareholders.” The assumed portfolio return is required by SEC regulations and is not a prediction of, and does not represent, our projected or actual performance. Actual returns may be greater or less than those appearing in the table. Pursuant to SEC regulations, this table is calculated as of December 31, 2022. As a result, it has not been updated to take into account any changes in assets or leverage since December 31, 2022. 0001838126 2022-12-31 2022-12-31 0001838126 cik0001838126:CommonSharesMember 2022-12-31 2022-12-31 0001838126 cik0001838126:ClassSMember 2022-12-31 2022-12-31 0001838126 cik0001838126:ClassDMember 2022-12-31 2022-12-31 0001838126 cik0001838126:ClassIMember 2022-12-31 2022-12-31 0001838126 cik0001838126:ClassFMember 2022-12-31 2022-12-31 0001838126 cik0001838126:PreferredSharesMember 2022-12-31 2022-12-31 0001838126 cik0001838126:RisksRelatingToOurBusinessAndStructureMember 2022-12-31 2022-12-31 0001838126 cik0001838126:RisksRelatingToTheFundsInvestmentsMember 2022-12-31 2022-12-31 0001838126 cik0001838126:RisksRelatingToCertainRegulatoryMattersMember 2022-12-31 2022-12-31 0001838126 cik0001838126:FederalIncomeTaxRisksMember 2022-12-31 2022-12-31 0001838126 dei:BusinessContactMember 2022-12-31 2022-12-31 0001838126 cik0001838126:ClassSMember cik0001838126:InvestmentIncomeMember 2022-12-31 2022-12-31 0001838126 cik0001838126:ClassSMember cik0001838126:CapitalGainsMember 2022-12-31 2022-12-31 0001838126 cik0001838126:ClassFMember cik0001838126:InvestmentIncomeMember 2022-12-31 2022-12-31 0001838126 cik0001838126:ClassFMember cik0001838126:CapitalGainsMember 2022-12-31 2022-12-31 0001838126 cik0001838126:ClassDMember cik0001838126:InvestmentIncomeMember 2022-12-31 2022-12-31 0001838126 cik0001838126:ClassDMember cik0001838126:CapitalGainsMember 2022-12-31 2022-12-31 0001838126 cik0001838126:ClassIMember cik0001838126:InvestmentIncomeMember 2022-12-31 2022-12-31 0001838126 cik0001838126:ClassIMember cik0001838126:CapitalGainsMember 2022-12-31 2022-12-31 0001838126 cik0001838126:ClassSMember 2023-03-03 2023-03-03 0001838126 cik0001838126:ClassDMember 2023-03-03 2023-03-03 0001838126 cik0001838126:ClassIMember 2023-03-03 2023-03-03 0001838126 cik0001838126:ClassFMember 2023-03-03 2023-03-03 0001838126 cik0001838126:HlendBFundingFacilityMember 2022-01-01 2022-12-31 0001838126 cik0001838126:RevolvingCreditFacilityMember 2022-01-01 2022-12-31 0001838126 cik0001838126:NovemberTwoThousandTwentyFiveNotesMember 2022-01-01 2022-12-31 0001838126 cik0001838126:NovemberTwentyThousandTwentySevenNotesMember 2022-01-01 2022-12-31 0001838126 cik0001838126:ShortTermBorrowingsMember 2022-01-01 2022-12-31 0001838126 cik0001838126:HlendAFundingFacilityMember 2022-01-01 2022-12-31 xbrli:pure iso4217:USD xbrli:shares iso4217:USD xbrli:shares
As filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on March 17, 2023
Securities Act File No.
File
No. 333-            
 
 
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
 
FORM
N-2
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
  
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
  
☒
  
Pre-Effective Amendment No.
  
☐
  
Post-Effective Amendment No.
  
☐
 
 
HPS Corporate Lending Fund
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
 
 
40 West 57
th
Street, 33
rd
Floor
New York, NY 10019
212-287-6767
(Address and telephone number, including area code, of principal executive offices)
 
 
Yoohyun K. Choi
HPS Investment Partners, LLC
40 West 57
th
Street, 33
rd
Floor
New York, NY 10019
(Name and address of agent for service)
 
 
COPIES TO:
Richard Horowitz, Esq.
Dechert LLP
1095 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036
 
 
Approximate Date of Commencement of Proposed Public Offering
: As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
 
  ☐
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.
It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box):
 
  ☐
when declared effective pursuant to Section 8(c) of the Securities Act.
 
  ☐
immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 486.
 
  ☒
on April 25, 2023 pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 486.
 
  ☐
60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a) of Rule 486.
 
  ☐
on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a) of Rule 486.
If appropriate, check the following box:
 
  ☐
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:                 .
Check each box that appropriately characterizes the Registrant:
 
  ☐
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).
Explanatory Note
Pursuant to a registration statement (File
No. 333-259453)
dated January 26, 2022, as amended, on Form
N-2
filed by HPS Corporate Lending Fund (the “Registrant”), a total of $4,000,000,0000 common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.01 per share, were previously registered. This Registration Statement has registered an additional $4,000,000,000 of common shares, resulting in a total of $8,000,000,000 in registered common shares.
 
 
 
Prospectus
 
HPS Corporate Lending Fund
Class S, Class D, Class I and Class F Shares
Maximum Offering of $8,000,000,000
 
 
HPS Corporate Lending Fund is a Delaware statutory trust that seeks to invest primarily in newly originated senior secured debt and other securities of private U.S. companies within the upper middle market. 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. Throughout this prospectus, we refer to HPS Corporate Lending Fund as the “Fund,” “HLEND,” “we,” “us” or “our.”
We are a
non-diversified,
closed-end
management investment company that has elected to be regulated as a business development company (“BDC”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). We are externally managed by our adviser, HPS Investment Partners, LLC (“HPS”). We intend to elect to be treated for federal income tax purposes, and intend to qualify annually thereafter, as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
We are offering on a continuous basis up to $8,000,000,000 of our common shares of beneficial interest (the “Common Shares”). We are offering to sell any combination of four classes of Common Shares, Class S shares, Class D shares, Class I shares and Class F shares, with a dollar value up to the maximum offering amount. The share classes have different ongoing shareholder servicing and/or distribution fees. The purchase price per share for each class of Common Shares will equal our net asset value (“NAV”) per share, as of the effective date of the monthly share purchase date. This is a “best efforts” offering, which means that Emerson Equity LLC, the managing dealer (the “Managing Dealer”) for this offering, will use its best efforts to sell shares, but is not obligated to purchase or sell any specific amount of shares in this offering.
The Fund has been granted exemptive relief by the SEC to offer multiple classes of our Common Shares.
Investing in our Common Shares involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 32 of this prospectus. Also consider the following:
 
 
•
 
We have limited 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 have implemented 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.”
 
 
•
 
You will bear substantial fees and expenses in connection with your investment. See “Fees and Expenses.”
 
 
•
 
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 use and continue to expect to use leverage, which will magnify the potential for loss on amounts invested and may increase the risk of investing in us. The risks of investment in a highly leverage fund include volatility and possible distribution restrictions.
 
 
•
 
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.
 
 
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities regulator has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. Securities regulators have also not passed upon whether this offering can be sold in compliance with existing or future suitability or conduct standards including the ‘Regulation Best Interest’ standard to any or all purchasers.
The use of forecasts in this offering is prohibited. Any oral or written predictions about the amount or certainty of any cash benefits or tax consequences that may result from an investment in our Common Shares is prohibited. No one is authorized to make any statements about this offering different from those that appear in this prospectus.
 
 
  
Price to the
Public
(1)
 
  
Proceeds to Us,
Before Expenses
(2)
 
Maximum Offering
(3)
  
$
 8,000,000,000
 
  
$
 8,000,000,000
 
Class S Shares, per Share
  
$
24.36
 
  
$
2,000,000,000
 
Class D Shares, per Share
  
$
24.36
 
  
$
2,000,000,000
 
Class I Shares, per Share
  
$
24.36
 
  
$
2,000,000,000
 
Class F Shares, per Share
  
$
24.36
 
  
$
2,000,000,000
 
 
(1)
Class S shares, Class D shares, Class I shares and Class F shares were initially offered at $25.00 per share, and are currently being offered on a monthly basis at a price per share equal to the NAV per share for such class. The table reflects the NAV per share of each class as of January 31, 2023.
(2)
No upfront sales load is 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, Class I 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, a 2.0% cap on NAV for Class I shares and a 2.0% cap on NAV for Class F shares. We 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 are 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 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 “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.
This prospectus contains important information you should know before investing in the Common Shares. Please read this prospectus before investing and keep it for future reference. We also file periodic and current reports, proxy statements and other information about us with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). This information is available free of charge by contacting us at 40 West 57
th
Street, 33
rd
Floor, New York, NY 10019, calling us at
212-287-6767
or visiting our corporate website located at
www.hlend.com
. Information on our website is not incorporated into or a part of this prospectus. The SEC also maintains a website at
http://www.sec.gov
that contains this information.
 
 
The date of this prospectus is March 17, 2023
SUITABILITY STANDARDS
Common Shares offered through this prospectus are suitable only as a long-term investment for persons of adequate financial means such that they do not have a need for liquidity in this investment. We have established financial suitability standards for initial shareholders in this offering which require that a purchaser of shares have either:
 
 
•
 
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.
For purposes of determining the suitability of an investor, net worth in all cases should be calculated excluding the value of an investor’s home, home furnishings and automobiles. In the case of sales to fiduciary accounts, these minimum standards must be met by the beneficiary, the fiduciary account or the donor or grantor who directly or indirectly supplies the funds to purchase the shares if the donor or grantor is the fiduciary.
In addition, we will not sell shares to investors in the states named below unless they meet special suitability standards set forth below:
Alabama
—In addition to the suitability standards set forth above, an investment in us will only be sold to Alabama residents that have a liquid net worth of at least 10 times their investment in us and our affiliates.
California
—California residents may not invest more than 10% of their liquid net worth in us and must have either (a) a liquid net worth of $350,000 and annual gross income of $65,000 or (b) a liquid net worth of $500,000.
Idaho
—Purchasers residing in Idaho must have either (a) a liquid net worth of $85,000 and annual gross income of $85,000 or (b) a liquid net worth of $300,000. Additionally, the total investment in us shall not exceed 10% of their liquid net worth.
Iowa
—Iowa investors must (i) have either (a) an annual gross income of at least $100,000 and a net worth of at least $100,000, or (b) a net worth of at least $350,000 (net worth should be determined exclusive of home, auto and home furnishings); and (ii) limit their aggregate investment in this offering and in the securities of other
non-traded
BDCs to 10% of such investor’s liquid net worth (liquid net worth should be determined as that portion of net worth that consists of cash, cash equivalents and readily marketable securities).
Kansas
—It is recommended by the Office of the Securities Commissioner that Kansas investors limit their aggregate investment in our securities and other
non-traded
business development companies to not more than 10% of their liquid net worth. For these purposes, liquid net worth shall be defined as that portion of total net worth (total assets minus total liabilities) that is comprised of cash, cash equivalents and readily marketable securities.
Kentucky
—A Kentucky investor may not invest more than 10% of its liquid net worth in us or our affiliates. “Liquid net worth” is defined as that portion of net worth that is comprised of cash, cash equivalents and readily marketable securities.
Maine
—The Maine Office of Securities recommends that an investor’s aggregate investment in this offering and similar direct participation investments not exceed 10% of the investor’s liquid net worth. For this purpose, “liquid net worth” is defined as that portion of net worth that consists of cash, cash equivalents and readily marketable securities.
Massachusetts
—In addition to the suitability standards set forth above, Massachusetts residents may not invest more than 10% of their liquid net worth in us and in other illiquid direct participation programs.
 
iv
Missouri
—In addition to the suitability standards set forth above, no more than ten percent (10%) of any one (1) Missouri investor’s liquid net worth shall be invested in the securities being registered in this offering.
Nebraska
—In addition to the suitability standards set forth above, Nebraska investors must limit their aggregate investment in this offering and the securities of other business development companies to 10% of such investor’s net worth. Investors who are accredited investors as defined in Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), are not subject to the foregoing investment concentration limit.
New Jersey
—New Jersey investors must have either (a) a minimum liquid net worth of $100,000 and a minimum annual gross income of $85,000, or (b) a minimum liquid net worth of $350,000. For these purposes, “liquid net worth” is defined as that portion of net worth (total assets exclusive of home, home furnishings and automobiles, minus total liabilities) that consists of cash, cash equivalents and readily marketable securities. In addition, a New Jersey investor’s investment in us, our affiliates and other
non-publicly-traded
direct investment programs (including real estate investment trusts, business development companies, oil and gas programs, equipment leasing programs and commodity pools, but excluding unregistered, federally and state exempt private offerings) may not exceed 10% of his or her liquid net worth.
New Mexico
—In addition to the general suitability standards listed above, a New Mexico investor may not invest, and we may not accept from an investor more than ten percent (10%) of that investor’s liquid net worth in shares of us, our affiliates and in other
non-traded
business development companies. Liquid net worth is defined as that portion of net worth which consists of cash, cash equivalents and readily marketable securities.
North Dakota
—Purchasers residing in North Dakota must have a net worth of at least ten times their investment in us.
Ohio
—It is unsuitable for Ohio residents to invest more than 10% of their liquid net worth in the issuer, affiliates of the issuer and in any other
non-traded
BDC. “Liquid net worth” is defined as that portion of net worth (total assets exclusive of primary residence, home furnishings and automobiles, minus total liabilities) comprised of cash, cash equivalents and readily marketable securities.
Oklahoma
—Purchasers residing in Oklahoma may not invest more than 10% of their liquid net worth in us.
Oregon—
In addition to the suitability standards set forth above, Oregon investors may not invest more than 10% of their liquid net worth in us and our affiliates. Liquid net worth is defined as net worth excluding the value of the investor’s home, home furnishings and automobile.
Pennsylvania—
Purchasers residing in Pennsylvania may not invest more than 10% of their liquid net worth in us.
Puerto Rico—
Purchasers residing in Puerto Rico may not invest more than 10% of their liquid net worth in us, our affiliates and other
non-traded
business development companies. For these purposes, “liquid net worth” is defined as that portion of net worth (total assets exclusive of primary residence, home furnishings and automobiles minus total liabilities) consisting of cash, cash equivalents and readily marketable securities.
Tennessee
—Purchasers residing in Tennessee must have a liquid net worth of at least ten times their investment in us.
Vermont
—Accredited investors in Vermont, as defined in 17 C.F.R. §230.501, may invest freely in this offering. In addition to the suitability standards described above,
non-accredited
Vermont investors may not purchase an amount in this offering that exceeds 10% of the investor’s liquid net worth. For these purposes, “liquid net worth” is defined as an investor’s total assets (not including home, home furnishings or automobiles) minus total liabilities.
 
v
You should purchase these securities only if you can afford the complete loss of your investment. The Adviser, those selling shares on our behalf and participating brokers and registered investment advisers recommending the purchase of shares in this offering are required to make every reasonable effort to determine that the purchase of shares in this offering is a suitable and appropriate investment for each investor based on information provided by the investor regarding the investor’s financial situation and investment objectives and must maintain records for at least six years after the information is used to determine that an investment in our shares is suitable and appropriate for each investor. In making this determination, the participating broker, registered investment adviser, authorized representative or other person selling shares will, based on a review of the information provided by the investor, consider whether the investor:
 
 
•
 
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; and
 
 
•
 
has an apparent understanding of the following:
 
 
•
 
the fundamental risks of the investment;
 
 
•
 
the risk that the investor may lose its entire investment;
 
 
•
 
the lack of liquidity of our shares;
 
 
•
 
the background and qualification of our Adviser; and
 
 
•
 
the tax consequences of the investment.
In addition to investors who meet the minimum income and net worth requirements set forth above, our shares may be sold to financial institutions that qualify as “institutional investors” under the state securities laws of the state in which they reside. “Institutional investor” is generally defined to include banks, insurance companies, investment companies as defined in the 1940 Act, pension or profit sharing trusts and certain other financial institutions. A financial institution that desires to purchase shares will be required to confirm that it is an “institutional investor” under applicable state securities laws.
In addition to the suitability standards established herein, (i) a participating broker may impose additional suitability requirements and investment concentration limits to which an investor could be subject and (ii) various states may impose additional suitability standards, investment amount limits and alternative investment limitations.
Broker-dealers must comply with Regulation Best Interest, which, among other requirements, enhances the existing standard of conduct for broker-dealers and establishes a “best interest” obligation for broker-dealers and their associated persons when making recommendations of any securities transaction or investment strategy involving securities to a retail customer. The obligations of Regulation Best Interest are in addition to, and may be more restrictive than, the suitability requirements listed above. Certain states, including Massachusetts, have adopted or may adopt state-level standards that seek to further enhance the broker-dealer standard of conduct to a fiduciary standard for all broker-dealer recommendations made to retail customers in their states. In comparison to the standards of Regulation Best Interest, the Massachusetts fiduciary standard, for example, requires broker-dealers to adhere to the duties of utmost care and loyalty to customers. The Massachusetts standard requires a broker-dealer to make recommendations without regard to the financial or any other interest of any party other than the retail customer, and that broker-dealers must make all reasonably practicable efforts to avoid conflicts of interest, eliminate conflicts that cannot reasonably be avoided, and mitigate conflicts that cannot reasonably be avoided or eliminated. When making such a recommendation to a retail customer, a broker-dealer must, among other things, act in the best interest of the retail customer at the time a recommendation is made, without placing
 
vi
its interests ahead of its retail customer’s interests. A broker-dealer may satisfy the best interest standard imposed by Regulation Best Interest by meeting disclosure, care, conflict of interest and compliance obligations. Regulation Best Interest and state fiduciary standards of care also require registered investment advisers and registered broker-dealers to provide a brief summary to retail investors. This relationship summary, referred to as Form CRS, is not a prospectus. Regulation Best Interest imposes a duty of care for broker-dealers to evaluate reasonably available alternatives in the best interests of their clients. There are likely alternatives to us that are reasonably available to you, through your broker or otherwise, and those alternatives may be less costly or have a lower investment risk. Among other alternatives, listed BDCs may be reasonable alternatives to an investment in our Common Shares, and may feature characteristics like lower cost, less complexity, and lesser or different risks. Investments in listed securities also often involve nominal or zero commissions at the time of initial purchase. Investors should refer to this prospectus for detailed information about this offering before deciding to purchase Common Shares. Currently, there is no administrative or case law interpreting Regulation Best Interest and the full scope of its applicability on brokers participating in our offering cannot be determined at this time.
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
Please carefully read the information in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplements, which we refer to collectively as the “prospectus.” You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. This prospectus may only be used where it is legal to sell these securities. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus is accurate as of any date later than the date hereof or such other dates as are stated herein or as of the respective dates of any documents or other information incorporated herein by reference.
We disclose the NAV per share of each class of our Common Shares for each month when available on our website at
www.hlend.com
. Information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and you should not consider that information to be part of this prospectus.
The words “we,” “us,” “our” and the “Fund” refer to HPS Corporate Lending Fund, together with its consolidated subsidiaries.
Unless otherwise noted, numerical information relating to HPS is approximate as of December 31, 2022.
Citations included herein to industry sources are used only to demonstrate third-party support for certain statements made herein to which such citations relate. Information included in such industry sources that do not relate to supporting the related statements made herein are not part of this prospectus and should not be relied upon.
MULTI-CLASS EXEMPTIVE RELIEF
This prospectus relates to our Common Shares of Class S, Class D, Class I and Class F. We have been granted exemptive relief by the SEC to offer multiple classes of Common Shares.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus contains forward-looking statements about our business, including, in particular, statements about our plans, strategies and objectives. You can generally identify forward-looking statements by our use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “believe,” “continue” or other similar words. These statements include our plans and objectives for future operations, including plans and objectives relating to future growth and availability of funds, and are based on current
 
vii
expectations that involve numerous risks and uncertainties. Assumptions relating to these statements involve judgments with respect to, among other things, future economic, competitive and market conditions and future business decisions, all of which are difficult or impossible to accurately predict and many of which are beyond our control. Although we believe the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements, and the forward- looking statements themselves, are reasonable, any of the assumptions could be inaccurate and, therefore, there can be no assurance that these forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and our actual results, performance and achievements may be materially different from that expressed or implied by these forward- looking statements. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in these forward looking statements, the inclusion of this information should not be regarded as a representation by us or any other person that our objectives and plans, which we consider to be reasonable, will be achieved.
You should carefully review the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus for a discussion of the risks and uncertainties that we believe are material to our business, operating results, prospects and financial condition. Except as otherwise required by federal securities laws, we do not undertake to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
 
 
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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
This prospectus summary highlights certain information contained elsewhere in this prospectus and contains a summary of material information that a prospective investor should know before investing in our common shares. This is only a summary and it may not contain all of the information that is important to you. Before deciding to invest in this offering, you should carefully read this entire prospectus, including the “Risk Factors” section.
 
Q:
What is HPS Corporate Lending Fund (“HLEND”)?
 
A:
HLEND (or the Fund) is a 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 upper middle market. We are a Delaware statutory trust and a
non-diversified,
closed-end
management investment company that has elected 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 credit-focused alternative investment firm with $97 billion of total assets under
management
as of January 1, 2023. HPS invests primarily in
non-investment
grade credit and manages various strategies across the capital structure that include privately negotiated senior debt; privately negotiated junior capital solutions in debt, preferred equity and common equity formats; liquid credit, including syndicated leveraged loans, collateralized loan obligations and high yield bonds; asset-based finance; and real estate. Established in 2007, HPS has 193 investment professionals and over 550 total employees and is headquartered in New York with fourteen additional offices globally as of December 31, 2022. 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. In February 2022, an affiliate of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America made a passive minority investment in HPS.
Since its formation, HPS has invested more than $115 billion in directly originated private credit transaction across more than 690 companies
1
. Our objective is to bring HPS’s leading credit investment platform to the
non-exchange
traded BDC industry.
 
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 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”) of
 
1
 
Data as of December 31, 2022. Based on all private credit investments (at committed cost) made since inception by funds and accounts across HPS’s Private Credit Platform, including Specialty Direct Lending, Core Senior Lending, Strategic Investment Partners, and HLEND strategies, as well as accounts that do not directly track the forementioned strategies but are part of HPS’s Private Credit Platform.
 
1
  $75 million to $1 billion annually or $250 million to $5 billion in revenue annually, at the time of investment. We have and may continue to 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.
Our investment strategy also includes a smaller allocation to more liquid credit investments such as broadly syndicated loans and corporate bonds. We intend to use these investments to maintain liquidity for our share repurchase program and manage cash before investing subscription proceeds into originated loans, while also seeking attractive investment returns. We may also invest in publicly traded securities of larger corporate issuers on an opportunistic basis when market conditions create compelling potential return opportunities, subject to compliance with BDC requirements to invest at least 70% of assets in “eligible portfolio companies.”
 
Q:
What types of investments do you make?
 
A:
Under normal circumstances, we 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).
Our investments in newly originated secured debt may take the form of loans, notes, bonds, other corporate debt securities, assignments, participations, total return swaps and other derivatives. We seek to invest primarily in first lien senior secured debt and unitranche loans but may also invest in second lien and subordinated debt. A portion of the Fund’s investments may also be composed of “covenant-lite loans,” although such loans are not expected to comprise a significant portion of the Fund’s portfolio. We also have the ability to acquire investments through secondary transactions, including through loan portfolios, receivables, contractual obligations to purchase subsequently originated loans and other debt instruments. Although not expected to be a primary component of our investment strategy, we may also make certain opportunistic investments in instruments other than secured debt with a view to enhancing returns, such as mezzanine debt,
payment-in-kind
notes, convertible debt and other unsecured debt instruments, structured debt that is not secured by financial or other assets,
debtor-in-possession
financings and equity in loan portfolios or portfolios of receivables (“Opportunistic Investments”), in each case taking into account availability of leverage for such investments and our target risk/return profile. We may, to a limited extent, invest in junior debt (whether secured or unsecured), including mezzanine loans, as part of our investment strategy and upon approval of each such investment by our portfolio management team. We may also invest in preferred equity, or our debt investments may be accompanied by equity-related securities (such as options or warrants) and/or select common equity investments. While we expect our assets to be primarily directly originated, we may also invest in structured products or broadly syndicated transactions where HPS seeks an anchor-like or otherwise influential role in certain traded instruments as part of our liquid portfolio.
Our liquid credit instruments may include senior secured loans, senior secured bonds, high yield bonds and structured credit instruments.
The loans within the portfolio are typically floating rate instruments that often pay current income on a quarterly basis, and we look to generate return from a combination of ongoing interest income, original issue discount, closing payments, commitment fees, prepayments and related fees. Our investments generally have stated terms of three to seven years, and the expected average life of our investments is
 
2
generally two to three years. However, there is no limit to the maturity or duration of any investment that we may hold in our portfolio. We expect most of our debt investments to be unrated. When rated by a nationally recognized statistical ratings organization, our investments would generally carry a rating below investment grade (rated lower than “Baa3” by Moody’s Investor Service, Inc. or lower than
“BBB-”
by Standard & Poor’s Rating Services). 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.
We may enter into interest rate, foreign exchange, and/or other derivative arrangements to hedge against interest rate, currency, and / or other credit related risks through the use of futures, swaps, options and forward contracts. These hedging activities are subject to the applicable legal and regulatory compliance requirements; however, there can be no assurance any hedging strategy employed will be successful. We may also seek to borrow capital in local currency as a means of hedging
non-U.S.
dollar denominated investments.
Our investments are subject to a number of risks. See “Investment Objective and Strategies” and “Risk Factors.”
 
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 invest in liquid credit investments in addition to originated loans?
 
A:
The allocation to liquid credit investments within the Fund’s portfolio is expected to (i) provide the Fund with sufficient liquidity in order to meet the Fund’s share repurchase requirements, and (ii) allow the Fund to seek attractive investment returns prior to investing subscription proceeds into newly originated loans.
 
Q:
What potential 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 $97 billion of assets under management as of January 1, 2023.
HPS is a leading provider of credit solutions to middle and upper middle market companies. Since its inception in 2007, HPS has committed approximately $115 billion in privately originated transactions across more than 690 companies
2
. We benefit from the following key competitive strengths of HPS in pursuing our investment strategy:
 
  •  
Scaled Capital with an Ability to Speak for the Full Debt Quantum
. Scaled capital has been a key factor in capturing investment opportunities for prior funds managed by HPS. The scale of the HPS Direct Lending platform, including managed accounts and similar investment vehicles,
 
2
 
Data as of December 31, 2022. Based on all private credit investments (at committed cost) made since inception by funds and accounts across HPS’s Private Credit Platform, including Specialty Direct Lending, Core Senior Lending, Strategic Investment Partners and HLEND strategies, as well as accounts that do not directly track the forementioned strategies but are part of HPS’s Private Credit Platform.
 
3
 
allows it to commit to loans of up to approximately $1 billion. HPS believes that there is a finite set of competitors who can provide and solely hold investments of this size and service these larger scale borrowers. HPS believes that many borrowers in this segment value the confidentiality, efficiency and execution certainty available in the private credit market. HPS also believes that being the sole or majority investor in a debt tranche can also provide the funds it advises with enhanced downside protection. Additionally, due to favorable competitive dynamics with fewer capital providers with the ability to deliver scaled capital solutions, HPS believes that the HPS Direct Lending platform has, to date, been successful in capturing attractive risk-adjusted returns for providing solutions to larger, more diversified borrowers. Having the scale to provide a complete capital solution to larger borrowers has also been an important factor in HPS’s ability to make investments in an increasingly competitive market environment.
 
  •  
Diversified Sourcing Network
. HPS believes its diversified sourcing approach sets its platform apart from many of its peers. While the vast majority of peers focus their sourcing almost exclusively on financial sponsors and lending to businesses controlled by them, HPS has built an extensive relationship network across a breadth of private and public companies, management teams, banks, debt advisors, other financial intermediaries and financial sponsors. As a result, HPS has historically sourced a majority of its private credit investments from channels other than financial sponsors.
3
HPS believes that its ability to source from
non-sponsor
channels 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 can result in a better understanding of the underlying borrowers and better positioning to actively manage investments throughout their life. HPS is also actively engaged with financial sponsors, and 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). HPS believes that the ability to flex in and out of both sponsor and
non-sponsor
markets allows the Fund to remain nimble and optimize its opportunity set across different market dynamics. While HPS seeks to source investments from
non-sponsor
channels for the Fund, as of December 31, 2022, the Fund has sourced only a minority of its overall private credit investments from
non-sponsor
channels. The Fund may not, in the future, obtain its desired allocation to investments from the
non-sponsor
channel, which could adversely impact returns.
 
  •  
Breadth of HPS’s Credit Investment Platform
. HPS is a global alternative investment firm with strategies that seek to capitalize on
non-investment
grade credit opportunities across the capital structure. As a multi-strategy credit platform, seeking opportunities across both private and liquid 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 193 investment professionals managed approximately $97 billion as of January 1, 2023. HPS believes that its multi-strategy approach provides a differentiated 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. In addition, HPS believes that its global footprint enables the Fund to view and potentially benefit from relative value opportunities across geographies.
 
  •  
Willingness to Navigate Complexity to Evaluate a Mispriced Opportunity.
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. In these situations, risk is often mispriced by the market, which HPS believes may offer a disproportionate return opportunity as there may be fewer willing lenders
 
3
 
As of December 31, 2022. Based on all investments made since inception by funds and accounts across HPS’s Direct Lending Platform, including Specialty Direct Lending, Core Senior Lending and HLEND strategies.
 
4
 
with the requisite expertise to underwrite these investment opportunities and borrowers tend to be more willing to pay for secured financing. HPS seeks to use its understanding of market structures to pursue these investment opportunities, identifying structures or deal dynamics that dissuade competing capital that view the opportunities as more “complex.” HPS believes that addressing complexity through creative pricing and structure can generate potential investment opportunities that can offer attractive, uncorrelated returns taking into account the additional work that is required. Leveraging HPS’s multi-strategy approach to credit may provide the Fund with distinctive vantage points in determining the relative value of, as well as insight into appropriately pricing, the investment opportunity in light of the risk. HPS believes that the capability to navigate complexity to identify a potentially mispriced investment opportunity is important in environments where volatility and uncertainty around economic growth is common.
 
  •  
Focus on the Upper Middle Market
. HPS Direct Lending generally targets the
upper-end
of the middle market. As HPS believes that the market is in its later stages of the existing credit cycle, HPS intends to position the portfolio by focusing on larger, more resilient companies that generally generate $75 million to $1 billion of EBITDA annually or $250 million to $5 billion in revenue annually. In comparison, the S&P LCD definition of middle market is defined as companies with $50 million of EBITDA or less. HPS believes the upper end of the middle market has a favorable supply/demand dynamic, with substantial demand resulting from regulatory driven structural shifts in the financial landscape and limited supply as most other direct lending providers focus on small to middle market borrowers. 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 it can generally negotiate commensurate or better terms with respect to borrowers in that segment and that those borrowers can provide the Fund with increased downside protection, resulting in attractive risk-adjusted returns compared to the
smaller-end
and core-middle market.
 
  •  
Emphasis on Capital Preservation.
Capital preservation is a core component of HPS’s investment philosophy. In addition to its focus on stable, established 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, when underwriting its directly originated investments. 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 the total market size of private credit has grown five-fold to reach $1.2 trillion in 2021
4
. 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. 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
 
4
 
Source: Preqin, Private Debt global AUM tracked as of December 31, 2021.
 
5
 
discount, closing payments, commitment fees, SOFR (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, help mitigate downside risk. These attributes have contributed to senior secured loans’ comparatively strong record of recovery after a default, as such loans have historically realized a higher recovery rate than unsecured parts of an issuer’s capital structure.
5
 
  •  
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 less than 25% in 2022
6
. 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 approximately 7% of the new issue market as of December 31, 2022 as compared to over 49% in 2000
7
. 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 direct lending platforms of 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
 
5
 
Source: Moody’s Investors Service Ultimate Recovery Rates Data; “Corporate Defaults and Recoveries—US” as of May 18, 2021.
6
 
Source: S&P LCD Quarterly Leveraged Lending Review 4Q 2022, Primary Investor Market: Banks vs.
Non-bank.
7
 
Source: S&P LCD Middle Market Deal Size Category Factsheet 4Q 2022.
 
6
 
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.
 
Q:
How do you identify investments?
 
A:
We believe that much of the value HPS creates for our private investment portfolio comes on the front end through the diversity of its sourcing capabilities. To source transactions, HPS leverages 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 transaction flow. HPS seeks 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 provides a significant pipeline of investment opportunities for us that could contribute to our portfolio with attractive investment economics and risk/reward profile.
 
Q:
How do you evaluate and manage directly originated investments?
 
A:
HPS evaluates and manages directly originated 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 us to benefit from its global sourcing platforms and seeks 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 (
e.g.
, leading market share, sustainable franchise and brand value, and
value-add
products or services). When evaluating a loan, our investment team (the “Investment Team”) expects to focus on a combination of business stability, asset values and contractual loan protections. This process seeks to prioritize the Investment Team’s time spent and resources allocated by focusing on screening for 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 when facing these characteristics, we have a competitive edge over certain syndicated financing solutions or other competitive direct lending platforms (both of which typically have a lower cost of capital). This rigorous selection process helps the Investment Team focus on situations where the Adviser believes we have a competitive edge to capitalize on an investment opportunity.
 
  •  
Fundamental Analysis and Due Diligence.
The Investment Team’s approach to investment selection is anchored around seeking to conduct rigorous upfront, “private equity-like” due diligence. The Investment Team’s due diligence and risk management processes seek to 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 seeks to employ 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, undertaking a competitive analysis, management calls/meetings, reviewing and performing financial analysis of historical results, preparing detailed models with financial forecasts, examining legal structure/terms/collateral, performing relative value analysis, employing external consultants and/or 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 is a distinctive approach that can lead to (i) greater connectivity between HPS and a borrower’s
 
7
 
management teams, (ii) enhanced access to the borrower details and (iii) increased accountability to help reduce the inherent risk of knowledge loss in circumstances where the sourcing, diligence and monitoring roles are fragmented.
 
  •  
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.
 
  •  
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 are investments allocated to the Fund?
 
A:
HPS provides investment management services to investment funds and client accounts. HPS shares any investment and sale opportunities with its other clients and us 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.
As a BDC regulated under the 1940 Act, we are subject to certain limitations relating to
co-investments
and joint transactions with affiliates, which, in certain circumstances, limit the Fund’s ability to make investments or enter into other transactions alongside other clients. We and the Adviser have received an exemptive order from the SEC that permits us, among other things, to
co-invest
with certain other persons, including certain affiliates of the Adviser and certain funds managed and controlled by the Adviser and its affiliates, subject to certain terms and conditions. Pursuant to such order, our board of trustees (the “Board” and each member of the Board, a “Trustee”) has established objective criteria (“Board Criteria”) clearly defining
co-investment
opportunities in which the Fund will have the opportunity to participate with other public or private HPS funds that target similar assets. If an investment falls within the Board Criteria, HPS must offer an opportunity for us to participate. We may determine to participate or not to participate, depending on whether HPS determines that the investment is appropriate for us (
e.g.
, based on investment strategy). The
co-investment
would generally be allocated to us and the other HPS funds that target similar assets
pro rata
based on available capital in the asset class being allocated. If the Adviser determines that such investment is not appropriate for us, the investment will not be allocated to us, but the Adviser will be required to report such investment and the rationale for its determination for us to not participate in the investment to the Board at the next quarterly board meeting.
 
Q:
Does the Fund use leverage?
 
A:
Yes, we currently use and intend to continue 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. We expect that our debt to equity ratio will generally range between 1.0x and 1.25x. 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.
 
8
Our leverage may take the form of revolving or term loans from financial institutions, secured or unsecured bonds, securitization of portions of our investment portfolio via collateralized loan obligations or preferred shares. When determining whether to borrow money and assessing the various borrowing structure alternatives, we analyze the maturity, rate structure and covenant package of the proposed borrowings in the context of our investment portfolio,
pre-existing
borrowings and market outlook.
The use of leverage magnifies returns, including losses. See “Risk Factors.”
 
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.
BDCs may be exchange-traded, public
non-traded,
or private placements. They can be internally or externally managed. BDCs typically elect to be treated as “regulated investment companies” for U.S. tax purposes, which are generally not subject to entity level taxes on distributed income. See “Investment Objective and Strategies— Regulation as a BDC.”
 
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 does 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.
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
 
9
 
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, our Declaration of Trust (as amended or restated from time to time, the “Declaration of Trust”) limits the fees we can pay to the Adviser.
A listed BDC is subject to the governance requirements of the exchange on which its shares are traded, including requirements relating to its board, audit committee, independent trustee oversight of executive compensation and the trustee nomination process, code of conduct, shareholder meetings, related party transactions, shareholder approvals and voting rights. Although we expect to follow many of these same governance guidelines, there is no requirement that we do so.
An investment in our Common Shares differs from an investment in a BDC offered through private placement in several ways, including:
 
  •  
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 varies by state, it generally requires 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 (for this purpose, net worth does not include an investor’s home, home furnishings and personal automobiles). In contrast, privately placed BDCs are generally only sold to investors that qualify as either an “accredited investor” as defined under Regulation D under the Securities Act, or as a “qualified purchaser” as defined under the 1940 Act.
 
  •  
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.
We cannot assure you that an investment in our shares will allow you to realize any of these objectives. An investment in our shares is only intended for investors who do not need the ability to sell their shares quickly in the future since we are not obligated to offer to repurchase any of our Common Shares in any particular quarter. See “Share Repurchase Program.”
 
10
Q:
Is HPS investing in the Fund? 
 
A:
Yes, HPS, its affiliates and employees plan to invest up to $25 million in our Common Shares. As of December 31, 2022, HPS, its affiliates and employees held approximately $17.4 million of our Common Shares.
 
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, unless waived or reduced by the Managing Dealer. The Managing Dealer waives or reduces to $10,000 or less Class I investment minimums for certain categories of investors. See “Plan of Distribution.” 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 is the Fund’s value established?
 
A:
The Fund’s NAV is determined based on the value of our assets less the carrying value of our liabilities, including accrued fees and expenses, as of any date of determination.
The Adviser, as the Fund’s valuation designee pursuant to Rule
2a-5
under the 1940 Act, subject to the Board’s oversight, is responsible for the determination of the fair value of each of our investments and the NAV per share of each of our outstanding classes of shares each month. Investments for which market quotations are readily available will typically be valued at those market quotations. We utilize several factors, including source and number of quotations, to validate that the market quotations are representative of fair value. Investments that are not publicly traded or for which market prices are not readily available are valued based on the input of the Adviser and independent third-party valuation firms engaged at the direction of the Board to review our investments. The Adviser and independent valuation firms use a variety of approaches to establish the fair value these investments in good faith. The approaches used generally include an analysis of discounted cash flows, publicly traded comparable companies and comparable transactions to establish the enterprise value and also consider recent transaction prices and other factors in the valuation. Independent valuation firms retained by the Fund prepare
quarter-end
valuations of each 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 NAV per share of a class of our outstanding Common Shares is determined by dividing the NAV of that share class by the total number of Common Shares outstanding in that class as of the date of determination. The NAV per share of each share class varies due to, among other things, differences in the amount of servicing fees carried by each class and the number of Common Shares outstanding in each class. See “Determination of Net Asset Value.”
 
Q:
How can I purchase shares?
 
A:
Subscriptions to purchase our Common Shares may be made on an ongoing basis, but 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.
A shareholder will not know our NAV per share applicable on the effective date of the share purchase. However, the NAV per share applicable to a purchase of shares will generally be available within 20 business days after the effective date of the share purchase. At that time, the actual number of shares purchases based on the shareholder’s subscription amount will be determined, and the shares will be
 
11
credited to the shareholder’s account as of the effective date of the share purchase. Notice of each share transaction, together with information relevant for personal and tax records, will be furnished to shareholders (or their financial representatives) as soon as practicable, but no later than seven business days after our NAV is determined.
Investors, in determining which class of shares to purchase, should consider any ongoing account-based fees payable to outside financial service providers that may apply to shares held in
fee-based
accounts, as well as the total length of time that the investor will hold the shares.
See “How to Subscribe” for more details.
 
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:
Shares will be sold at the then-current NAV per share, as described above.
 
Q:
When is the NAV per share available?
 
A:
We 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.
For example, if you are subscribing on November 1, your subscription must be submitted at least five business days prior to November 1. The purchase price for your shares will be the NAV per share determined as of October 31. The NAV per share as of October 31 will generally be available within 20 business days from October 31.
 
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.
Please be aware that in purchasing shares, custodians or directors of, or any other person providing advice to, employee pension benefit plans or IRAs may be subject to the fiduciary duties imposed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), or other applicable laws. These additional fiduciary duties may require the custodian, trustee, director, or any other person providing investment advice to employee pension benefit plans or IRAs to provide information about the services provided and fees received, separate and apart from the disclosures in this prospectus. In addition, prior to purchasing shares, the trustee or custodian of an employee pension benefit plan or an IRA should determine that such an investment would be permissible under the governing instruments of such plan or account and applicable law.
 
12
Q:
How often does the Fund pay distributions?
 
A:
We have declared distributions each month beginning in February 2022 through the date of this prospectus and expect to continue to pay regular monthly distributions. 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.”
The per share amount of distributions on Class S, Class D, Class I and Class F shares will generally differ because of different class-specific shareholder servicing and/or distribution fees that are deducted from the gross distributions for each share class.
 
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.
Shareholders located in Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, Vermont and Washington, as well as those who are clients of certain participating brokers that do not permit automatic enrollment in our distribution reinvestment plan, will automatically receive their distributions in cash unless they elect to participate in our distribution reinvestment plan and have their cash distributions reinvested in additional Common Shares. See “Description of Our Common Shares” and “Distribution Reinvestment Plan.”
 
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.
Distributions of ordinary income and of net short-term capital gains, if any, will generally be taxable to U.S. shareholders as ordinary income to the extent such distributions are paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits. Distributions, if any, of net capital gains properly reported as “capital gain dividends” will be taxable as long-term capital gains, regardless of the length of time the shareholder has owned our shares. A distribution of an amount in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits (as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes) will be treated by a shareholder as a return of capital which will be applied against and reduce the shareholder’s basis in his or her shares. To the extent that the
 
13
amount of any such distribution exceeds the shareholder’s basis in his or her shares, the excess will be treated by the shareholder as gain from a sale or exchange of the shares. Distributions paid by us will generally not be eligible for the dividends received deduction allowed to corporations or for the reduced rates applicable to certain qualified dividend income received by
non-corporate
shareholders.
Distributions will be treated in the manner described above regardless of whether such distributions are paid in cash or invested in additional shares pursuant to our distribution reinvestment plan. Shareholders receiving distributions in the form of additional shares will generally be treated as receiving a distribution in the amount of the fair market value of the distributed shares. The additional shares received by a shareholder pursuant to our distribution reinvestment plan will have a new holding period commencing on the day following the day on which the shares were credited to the shareholder’s account.
Because each investor’s tax position is different, you should consult with your tax advisor on the tax consequences to you of investing in the Fund. In particular,
non-U.S.
investors should consult their tax advisors regarding potential withholding taxes on distributions that they receive. See “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations.”
 
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 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.
Because of the lack of a trading market for our shares, you may not be able to sell your shares promptly or at a desired price. If you are able to sell your shares, you may have to sell them at a discount to the purchase price of your shares.
Our Common Shares are freely transferable, except where a transfer is restricted by federal and state securities laws or by contract. We will generally not charge you to facilitate transfers of your shares, other than for necessary and reasonable costs actually incurred by us.
 
Q:
Can I request that my shares be repurchased?
 
A:
Yes, subject to limitations. We have commenced a share repurchase program pursuant to which we intend to conduct quarterly repurchase offers to allow our shareholders to tender their shares at a price equal to the NAV per share for the applicable class of shares on each date of repurchase. Our Board may amend, suspend or terminate the share repurchase program at any time if it deems such action to be in our best interest and the best interest of our shareholders. As a result, share repurchases may not be available each quarter. Upon a suspension of our share repurchase program, our Board will consider at least quarterly whether the continued suspension of our share repurchase program remains in our best interest and the best interest of our shareholders. However, our Board is not required to authorize the recommencement of our share repurchase program within any specified period of time. Our Board may also determine to terminate our share repurchase program if required by applicable law or in connection with a transaction in which our shareholders receive liquidity for their Common Shares, such as a sale or merger of the Fund or listing of our Common Shares on a national securities exchange.
Under our share repurchase program, to the extent we offer to repurchase shares in any particular quarter, we intend to limit the number of shares to be repurchased to no more than 5% of our outstanding Common Shares as of the last day of the immediately preceding quarter. In the event the number of shares tendered exceeds the repurchase offer amount, shares will be repurchased on a pro rata basis. All unsatisfied repurchase requests must be resubmitted in the next quarterly tender offer, or upon the recommencement of the share repurchase program, as applicable.
 
14
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 will be repurchased at 98% of such NAV (an “Early Repurchase Deduction”). 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, at our discretion, 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. We intend to conduct the repurchase offers in accordance with the requirements of Rule
13e-4
promulgated under the Exchange Act and the 1940 Act. All shares purchased by us pursuant to the terms of each tender offer will be retired and thereafter will be authorized and unissued shares.
Most of our assets consist of instruments that cannot generally be readily liquidated without impacting our ability to realize full value upon their disposition. Therefore, we may not always have sufficient liquid resources to make repurchase offers. In order to provide liquidity for share repurchases, we intend to generally maintain under normal circumstances an allocation to syndicated loans and other liquid investments. We may fund repurchase requests from sources other than cash flow from operations, including, without limitation, the sale of assets, borrowings, return of capital or offering proceeds, and we have no limits on the amounts we may pay from such sources. Should making repurchase offers, in our judgment, place an undue burden on our liquidity, adversely affect our operations or risk having an adverse impact on us as a whole, or should we otherwise determine that investing our liquid assets in originated loans or other illiquid investments rather than repurchasing our shares is in the best interests of the Fund as a whole, then we may choose to offer to repurchase fewer shares than described above, or none at all. See “Share Repurchase Program.”
 
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 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.
 
  •  
The incentive fee consists of two components as follows:
 
  •  
The first part of the incentive fee is based on income, whereby we pay the Adviser quarterly in arrears 12.5% of its
Pre-Incentive
Fee Net Investment Income Returns (as defined below) for each calendar quarter subject to a 5.0% annualized hurdle rate, with a
catch-up.
“Pre-Incentive
Fee Net Investment Income Returns” means dividends, cash interest or other distributions or other cash income and any third-party fees received from portfolio companies (such as upfront fees, commitment fees, origination fee, amendment fees, ticking fees and
break-up
fees, as well as prepayments premiums, but excluding fees for providing managerial assistance and fees earned by the Adviser or an affiliate in its capacity as an administrative agent, syndication agent, collateral agent, loan servicer or other similar capacity) accrued during the month, minus operating expenses for the month (including the management fee, taxes, any expenses payable under the Advisory Agreement and an administration agreement with our administrator, any expense of securitizations, and interest expense or other financing fees and any dividends paid on preferred shares, but excluding incentive fees and shareholder servicing and/or distribution fees).
Pre-Incentive
Fee Net Investment Income Returns includes, in the case of investments with a deferred interest feature (such as original issue discount, debt instruments with
payment-in-kind
(“PIK”) interest and
zero-coupon
securities), accrued income that we have not yet received in cash.
Pre-Incentive
Fee Net
 
15
Investment Income Returns do not include any realized capital gains, realized capital losses or unrealized capital appreciation or depreciation. The impact of expense support payments and recoupments are also excluded from
Pre-Incentive
Fee Net Investment Income Returns.
 
  •  
The second part of the incentive fee is based on realized capital gains, whereby we pay the Adviser at the end of each calendar year in arrears 12.5% of cumulative realized capital gains 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.
For purposes of computing the Fund’s incentive fee on income and the incentive fee on capital gains, the calculation methodology looks through derivative financial instruments or swaps as if we owned the reference assets directly.
See “Advisory Agreement and Administrative Agreement.”
 
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).
Depending on legal requirements, we may post this information on our website,
www.hlend.com
, when available, or provide this information to you via U.S. mail or other courier, electronic delivery, or some combination of the foregoing. Information about us is also available on the SEC’s website at
www.sec.gov
. In addition, our monthly NAV per share will be posted on our website promptly after it has become available (in all cases prior to the twentieth business day of the following month).
 
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.
Subject to the exceptions described below, dividends paid to a
non-U.S.
investor in the Fund will generally be subject to a U.S. tax of 30% (or lower treaty rate), which will generally be withheld from such dividends. However, dividends paid by the Fund that are “interest-related dividends”, “capital gain dividends” or “short-term capital gain dividends” will generally be exempt from such withholding tax to the extent we properly report such dividends to shareholders. For these purposes, interest-related dividends, capital gain
 
16
dividends and short-term capital gain dividends generally represent distributions of certain U.S.-source interest or capital gains that would not have been subject to U.S. federal withholding tax at source if received directly by a
non-U.S.
investor, and that satisfy certain other requirements. Notwithstanding the above, the Fund may be required to withhold from dividends that are otherwise exempt from U.S. federal withholding tax (or taxable at a reduced treaty rate) unless the
non-U.S.
investor certifies its status under penalties of perjury or otherwise establishes an exemption.
A
non-U.S.
investor is generally exempt from U.S. federal income tax on capital gain dividends and any gains realized upon the sale or exchange of shares in the Fund.
This section assumes that income from the Fund is not “effectively connected” with a U.S. trade or business carried on by a
non-U.S.
investor.
Non-U.S.
investors, and in particular,
non-U.S.
investors who are engaged in a U.S. trade or business, should consult with their tax advisors on the consequences to them of investing in the Fund. See “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations.”
 
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 are 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, Class I 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, a 2.0% cap on NAV for Class I shares and a 2.0% cap on NAV for Class F 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.
Assuming a constant net asset value per share of $25.00, we expect that a
one-time
investment in 400 shares of each class of our shares (representing an aggregate net asset value of $10,000 for each class) would be subject to the following shareholder servicing and/or distribution fees:
 
    
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  
Class S shares are available through brokerage and transaction-based accounts. Class D shares are generally available for purchase in this offering only (1) through
fee-based
programs, also known as wrap accounts, sponsored by participating brokers or other intermediaries that provide access to Class D shares,
 
17
(2) through participating brokers that have alternative fee arrangements with their clients to provide access to Class D shares, (3) through transaction/ brokerage platforms at participating brokers, (4) through certain registered investment advisers, (5) through bank trust departments or any other organization or person authorized to act in a fiduciary capacity for its clients or customers or (6) other categories of investors that we name in an amendment or supplement to this prospectus. Class F shares are generally available for purchase in this offering only through the participating broker with whom the Fund was launched on an exclusive basis in 2022 (the “Founding Distributor”). In this context, Class F Shares can be purchased (1) through
fee-based
programs, also known as wrap accounts, sponsored by the Founding Distributor, (2) in instances where the Founding Distributor has alternative fee arrangements with its clients to provide access to Class F shares, (3) through transaction/brokerage platforms at the Founding Distributor, or (4) by other categories of investors that we name in an amendment or supplement to this prospectus. Class I shares are generally available for purchase in this offering only (1) through
fee-based
programs, also known as wrap accounts, sponsored by participating brokers or other intermediaries that provide access to Class I shares, (2) by endowments, foundations, pension funds and other institutional investors, (3) through participating brokers that have alternative fee arrangements with their clients to provide access to Class I shares, (4) through transaction/brokerage platforms at participating brokers, (5) by our executive officers and Trustees and their immediate family members, as well as officers and employees of the Adviser or other affiliates and their immediate family members, and, if approved by our Board, joint venture partners, consultants and other service providers, or (6) by other categories of investors that we name in an amendment or supplement to this prospectus. In certain cases, where a holder of Class S, Class D or Class F shares exits a relationship with a participating broker for this offering and does not enter into a new relationship with a participating broker for this offering, such holder’s shares may be exchanged into an equivalent NAV amount of Class I shares. We may also offer Class I shares to certain feeder vehicles primarily created to hold our Class I shares, which in turn offer interests in themselves to investors; we expect to conduct such offerings pursuant to exceptions to registration under the Securities Act and not as a part of this offering. Such feeder vehicles may have additional costs and expenses, which would be disclosed in connection with the offering of their interests. We may also offer Class I shares to other investment vehicles. Before making your investment decision, please consult with your investment adviser regarding your account type and the classes of Common Shares you may be eligible to purchase.
If you are eligible to purchase all four classes of shares, you should be aware that Class I shares have no shareholder servicing or distribution fees, which will reduce the NAV or distributions of the other share classes. However, Class I shares do not receive shareholder services. Before making your investment decision, please consult with your investment adviser regarding your account type and the classes of Common Shares you may be eligible to purchase.
 
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, generally, we intend to take one of the following approaches: (1) in the event that each class of Common Shares is considered a “publicly-offered security” within the meaning of the Plan Asset Regulations (“Publicly-Offered Security”), we will not limit “benefit plan investors” from investing in the Common Shares, and (2) in the event one or more classes of Common Shares does not constitute a Publicly-Offered Security, (a) we will limit investment in each class of Common Shares by “benefit plan investors” to less than 25% of the total value of each class of our Common Shares, within the meaning of the Plan Asset Regulations (including any class that constitutes a Publicly-Offered Security), or (b) we will prohibit “benefit plan investors” from owning any class that does not constitute a Publicly-Offered Security.
In addition, each prospective investor that is, or is acting on behalf of any individual retirement account, employee benefit plan, or similar plan or account that is subject to ERISA, or any entity whose underlying assets are considered to include the foregoing (each a “Plan”), must independently determine that our
 
18
Common Shares are an appropriate investment for the Plan, taking into account its obligations under ERISA, and applicable similar laws, and the facts and circumstances of each investing Plan.
Prospective investors should carefully review the matters discussed under “Risk Factors” and “Restrictions on Share Ownership” and should consult with their own advisors as to the consequences of making an investment in the Fund.
 
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 six Trustees, four 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 limited 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 have implemented 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.”
 
  •  
You will bear substantial fees and expenses in connection with your investment. See “Fees and Expenses.”
 
  •  
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. A return of capital (1) is a return of the original amount invested, (2) does not constitute earnings or profits and (3) will have the effect of reducing a shareholder’s tax basis such that when a shareholder sells its shares the sale may be subject to taxes even if the shares are sold for less than the original purchase price.
 
19
  •  
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 use and continue to expect to use leverage, which will magnify the potential for loss on amounts invested and may increase the risk of investing in us. The risks of investment in a highly leverage fund include volatility and possible distribution restrictions.
 
  •  
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:
Yes. Please see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” the financial statements included herein, our periodic reports under the Exchange Act and
 www.hlend.com
 for information on our investments.
 
Q:
What is a “best efforts” offering?
 
A:
Our Common Shares are offered 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 a total of $8,000,000,000 in Common Shares and have sold approximately $3,700,000,000 in Common Shares as of the date of this prospectus. 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.
We endeavor to take all reasonable actions to avoid interruptions in the continuous offering of our Common Shares. There can be no assurance, however, that we will not need to suspend our continuous offering while the SEC and, where required, state securities regulators, review such filings for additional offerings of our Common Shares until such filings are declared effective, if at all.
 
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”).
In general, a RIC is a company that:
 
  •  
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;
 
20
 
•
 
s
atisfies 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 administers the Fund?
 
A:
HPS, in its capacity as our administrator (the “Administrator”), provides or oversees the performance of administrative and compliance services. We reimburse the Administrator for its costs, expenses and our allocable portion of compensation (including salaries, bonuses and benefits) 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 is 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, Class I 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, a 2.0% cap on NAV for Class I shares and a 2.0% cap on NAV for Class F shares. Please consult your selling agent for additional information.
Subject to Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) limitations on underwriting compensation, we 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 or distribution fees are paid with respect to the Class I shares. The shareholder servicing and/or distribution fees are payable to the Managing Dealer, but the Managing Dealer anticipates that all or a portion of the shareholder servicing and/or distribution fees will be retained by, or reallowed (paid) to, participating brokers. 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 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 “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.
The Adviser agreed to advance all of our organization and offering expenses on our behalf (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 our participating brokers, reasonable bona fide due diligence expenses of participating brokers 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 our escrow agent and transfer agent, fees to attend retail seminars sponsored by participating brokers and costs, expenses and reimbursements for travel,
 
21
meals, accommodations, entertainment and other similar expenses related to meetings or events with prospective investors, brokers, registered investment advisors or financial or other advisors, but excluding the shareholder servicing and/or distribution fee) through February 3, 2022, the date on which we broke escrow for our initial offering of Common Shares. On such date, the Fund became obligated to reimburse the Adviser for such advanced expenses and the Adviser subsequently requested reimbursement of these expenses and was paid pursuant to the Expense Support and Conditional Reimbursement Agreement we have entered into with the Adviser (the “Expense Support Agreement”). After such date, the Fund bears all such expenses, subject to the Expense Support Agreement. Pursuant to the Expense Support Agreement, the Adviser is obligated to advance all of our Other Operating Expenses (as defined below) to the effect that such expenses do not exceed 1.00% (on an annualized basis) of the Fund’s NAV. We are obligated to reimburse the Adviser for such advanced expenses only if certain conditions are met. See “Plan of Distribution” and “Expense Support and Conditional Reimbursement Agreement.” For purposes hereof, “Other Operating Expenses” means our total organization and offering expenses, professional fees, trustee fees, administration fees, and other general and administrative expenses (including our allocable portion of compensation (including salaries, bonuses and benefits), overhead (including rent, office equipment and utilities) and other expenses incurred by the Administrator in performing its administrative obligations under the Administration Agreement).
 
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 are 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 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.
 
22
HPS or its affiliates, principals or employees (the “Affiliated Group”) will invest for their own accounts and manage accounts for other individuals or entities, including entities in which the Affiliated Group or its trustees or employees may hold an interest, either directly in managed accounts or indirectly through investments in private investment entities. Any of such accounts will pay different fees, invest with leverage or utilize different investment strategies than the Fund. In addition, the Fund may enter into transactions with such accounts, and the Affiliated Group may invest in the same securities and instruments on behalf of such accounts that the Fund invests in, in each case to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act. The Affiliated Group or its personnel will have income or other incentives to favor such accounts.    
 
 
•
 
Co-Investment
Transactions.
The Fund and the Adviser have received an exemptive order from the SEC that permits the Fund 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 the
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.
To the extent consistent with applicable law and/or exemptive relief issued to the Fund, in addition to such
co-investments,
the Fund and HPS or an affiliated account may, as part of unrelated transactions, invest in either the same or different tiers of a portfolio company’s capital structure or in an affiliate of such portfolio company. To the extent the Fund holds investments in the same portfolio company or in an affiliate thereof that are different (including with respect to their relative seniority) than those held by HPS or an affiliated account, the Adviser may be presented with decisions when the interests of the two
co-investors
are in conflict.
 
 
•
 
Competition among the Accounts Sponsored or 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.
Conflicts could arise after the Affiliated Group Account, on the one hand, and the Fund, on the other hand, make investments in the same issuer with respect to the issuer’s strategy, growth and financing alternatives and with respect to the manner and timing of the Fund’s exit from the investment compared to the Affiliated Group Account’s exit. The Affiliated Group Accounts may make decisions that are more beneficial to themselves than to the Fund. Further, investments may benefit one or more of the Affiliated Group Accounts disproportionately to their benefit to the Fund. Conversely, the interests of one or more of the Affiliated Group Accounts in one or more investments may, in the future, be adverse to that of the Fund, and the Adviser may be incentivized not to undertake certain actions on behalf of the Fund in connection with such investments, including the exercise of certain rights the Fund may have, in view of the investment by the Affiliated Group in such investments.
In addition, subject to applicable law, the Affiliated Group and one or more Affiliated Group Accounts (including the Fund), expect to invest, from time to time, in different instruments or classes of securities of the same issuer, including where the Fund and/or any Affiliated Group Account control the majority of such instrument or class of securities. In these circumstances, actions taken on behalf of the Fund may be adverse to the mezzanine investors, and vice versa, creating a conflict of interest for
 
23
the Adviser. In addition, if an Affiliated Group Account holds voting securities (for example, equity) of an issuer in which the Fund holds
non-voting
securities (for example, secured debt) of such issuer, the Adviser, acting on behalf of such Affiliated Group Account may vote on certain matters in a manner that has an adverse effect on the positions held by the Fund (
e.g.
, regarding whether an Affiliate Group Account agrees to waive certain covenants or make certain amendments). Conversely, if the Fund holds voting securities of an issuer, the Adviser’s vote on behalf of the Fund on a matter may end up benefiting Affiliated Group Accounts and harming the Fund, especially with the benefit of hindsight (
e.g.
, if the Fund agrees to certain covenants, waivers or amendments, but the issuer and the Fund’s investment in such issuer end up getting further impaired).
For the foregoing reasons, among others, the Affiliated Group and its portfolio managers, including the Investment Team, are generally expected to have a conflict of interest between acting in the best interests of the Fund and such other Affiliated Group Accounts. HPS has developed policies and procedures that provide that it will allocate investment opportunities and make purchase and sale decisions among the Fund and its other clients in a manner that it considers, in its discretion and consistent with its fiduciary obligation to its clients, to be reasonable.
Future investment activities by HPS on behalf of other clients may give rise to additional conflicts of interest and demands on HPS’s time and resources.
See “Conflicts of Interest” for additional information about conflicts of interest that could impact the Fund.
 
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.
In addition, the JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth company may take advantage of an extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards that have different effective dates for public and private companies. This means that an emerging growth company can delay adopting certain accounting standards until such standards are otherwise applicable to private companies.
We will remain an emerging growth company for up to five years, or until the earliest of: (1) the last date of the fiscal year during which we had total annual gross revenues of $1.235 billion or more; (2) the date on which we have, during the previous three-year period, issued more than $1 billion in
non-convertible
debt; or (3) the date on which we are deemed to be a “large accelerated filer” as defined under Rule
12b-2
under the Exchange Act.
We do not believe that being an emerging growth company will have a significant impact on our business or this offering. We have elected to opt in to the extended transition period for complying with new or revised
 
24
accounting standards available to emerging growth companies. Also, because we are not a large accelerated filer or an accelerated filer under
Section 12b-2
of the Exchange Act, and will not be for so long as our Common Shares are not traded on a securities exchange, we will not be subject to auditor attestation requirements of Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act even once we are no longer an emerging growth company.
 
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.
 
25
FEES AND EXPENSES
The following table is intended to assist you in understanding the costs and expenses that an investor in Common Shares will bear, directly or indirectly. Other expenses are estimated and may vary. Actual expenses may be greater or less than shown.
 
     Class S
Shares		     Class F
Shares		     Class D
Shares		     Class I
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 %      0.50 %      0.25 %      —   % 
Interest payment on borrowed funds
(7)
      7.46 %      7.46 %      7.46 %      7.46 % 
Other expenses
(8)
      0.39 %      0.39 %      0.39 %      0.39 % 
Total annual expenses
      9.95 %      9.60 %      9.35 %      9.10 % 
 
(1)
No upfront sales load is 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, Class I 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, a 2.0% cap on NAV for Class I 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 will 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, at our discretion, 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)
Estimated average net assets of $4.0 billion for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023 was employed as the denominator for the expense ratio computation. 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. The incentive fees, if any, are divided into two parts:
 
  •  
The first part of the incentive fee is based on income, whereby we pay the Adviser quarterly in arrears 12.5% of our Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income Returns (as defined below) 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 pay the Adviser at the end of each calendar year in arrears 12.5% of cumulative realized capital gains 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.
 
26
As we cannot predict whether we will meet the necessary performance targets, we have assumed no incentive fee for this chart. We expect the incentive fees we pay to increase to the extent we earn greater income or generate capital gains through our investments in portfolio companies. If we achieved an annualized total return of 5.0% for each quarter made up entirely of net investment income, no incentive fees would be payable to the Adviser because the hurdle rate was not exceeded. If instead we achieved a total return of 5.0% in a calendar year made up of entirely realized capital gains net of all realized capital losses and unrealized capital depreciation, an incentive fee equal to 0.63% of our net assets would be payable. See “Advisory Agreement and Administration Agreement” for more information concerning the incentive fees.
 
(6)
Subject to FINRA limitations on underwriting compensation, we 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 or distribution fees are 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 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 shares or Class F shares. See “Plan of Distribution” and “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.
(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 estimated average net assets for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023, 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 7.46%. Our ability to incur leverage depends, in large part, 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
 
27
 
fees payable to our Trustees, as discussed in “Advisory Agreement and Administration Agreement.” Other expenses represent the estimated annual other expenses of the Fund and its subsidiaries based on annualized other expenses for the current fiscal year ending December 31, 2023 and estimated average net assets of $4.0 billion for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023.
We have entered into the Expense Support Agreement with the Adviser. Pursuant to the Expense Support Agreement, the Adviser is obligated to advance all of our Other Operating Expenses (each, a “Required Expense Payment”) to the effect that such expenses do not exceed 1.00% (on an annualized basis) of the Fund’s NAV. Any Required Expense Payment must be paid by the Adviser to us in any combination of cash or other immediately available funds and/or offset against amounts due from us to the Adviser or its affiliates. The Adviser may elect to pay certain additional expenses on our behalf (each, a “Voluntary Expense Payment” and together with a Required Expense Payment, the “Expense Payments”), provided that no portion of the payment will be used to pay any interest expense or distribution and/or shareholder servicing fees of the Fund. Any Voluntary Expense Payment that the Adviser has committed to pay must be paid by the Adviser to us in any combination of cash or other immediately available funds no later than forty-five days after such commitment was made in writing, and/or offset against amounts due from us to the Adviser or its affiliates. The Adviser will be entitled to reimbursement of an Expense Payment from us if Available Operating Funds (as defined below under “Expense Support and Conditional Reimbursement Agreement”) exceed the cumulative distributions accrued to the Fund’s shareholders, among other conditions. See “Expense Support and Conditional Reimbursement Agreement” for additional information regarding the Expense Support Agreement. Because the Adviser’s obligation to make Voluntary Expense Payments is voluntary, the table above does not reflect the impact of any Voluntary Expense Payments from the Adviser.
Example:
We have provided an example of the projected dollar amount of total expenses that would be incurred over various periods with respect to a hypothetical $1,000 investment in each class of our Common Shares. In calculating the following expense amounts, we have assumed that: (1) that our annual operating expenses and offering expenses remain at the levels set forth in the table above, after application of the Adviser’s obligation to make Required Expense Payments as described above, except to reduce annual expenses upon completion of organization and offering expenses, (2) that the annual return after management fees and other expenses, but before incentive fees is 5.0%, (3) that the net return after payment of incentive fees is distributed to shareholders net of the shareholder servicing and/or distributions fees and such amount is reinvested at NAV and (4) your financial intermediary does not directly charge you transaction or other fees.
Class S shares
 
     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:
    $ 100      $ 284      $ 451      $ 800  
Total cumulative expenses you would pay on a $1,000 investment assuming a reinvested 5.0% net return comprised solely of capital gains:
    $ 106      $ 300      $ 473      $ 828  
Class F shares

 
 
  
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:
    $ 96      $ 275      $ 438      $ 784  
Total cumulative expenses you would pay on a $1,000 investment assuming a reinvested 5.0% net return comprised solely of capital gains:
    $ 102      $ 291      $ 461      $ 813  

28
Class D shares
 
 
  
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:
    $ 94      $ 269      $ 429      $ 772  
Total cumulative expenses you would pay on a $1,000 investment assuming a reinvested 5.0% net return comprised solely of capital gains:
    $ 100      $ 285      $ 452      $ 802  
Class I shares
 
     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:
    $ 91      $ 262      $ 419      $ 759  
Total cumulative expenses you would pay on a $1,000 investment assuming a reinvested 5.0% net return comprised solely of capital gains:
    $ 97      $ 278      $ 443      $ 790  
While the examples assume a 5.0% annual return on investment after management fees and expenses, but before incentive fees, our performance will vary and may result in an annual return that is greater or less than this.
These examples should not be considered a representation of your future expenses.
If we achieve sufficient returns on our investments to trigger a quarterly incentive fee on income and/or if we achieve net realized capital gains in excess of 5.0%, both our returns to our shareholders and our expenses would be higher. See “Advisory Agreement and Administration Agreement” for information concerning incentive fees.
 
29
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The following table of financial highlights is intended to help a prospective investor understand the Fund’s financial performance for the periods shown. The financial data set forth in the following table as of and for the year ended December 31, 2022 are derived from our consolidated financial statements, which have been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm whose reports thereon are included in this prospectus or the Fund’s Annual Report on Form
10-K
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, which may be obtained from
www.sec.gov
or upon request. You should read these financial highlights in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included in this prospectus.
The following are the financial highlights for the year ended December 31, 2022:
 
    
Year Ended December 31, 2022
  
    
Class I
    
Class D
    
Class F
  
Per Share Data:
                         
Net asset value, beginning of period
    $ 25.00     $ 25.00     $ 25.00  
Net investment income
(1)
      2.21       2.19       2.20  
Net unrealized and realized gain (loss)
(2)
      (1.50 )      (1.49 )      (1.51 ) 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations
     
 0.71
  
     0.70       0.69  
Distributions from net investment income
(3)
      (1.83 )      (1.82 )      (1.81 ) 
Distributions from net realized gains
(3)
      —         —         —    
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Net increase (decrease) in net assets from shareholders’ distributions
      (1.83 )      (1.82 )      (1.81 ) 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Total increase (decrease) in net assets
      (1.12 )      (1.12 )      (1.12 ) 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Net asset value, end of period
    $ 23.88     $ 23.88     $ 23.88  
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
Shares outstanding, end of period
      35,101,879      
 17,538,259
  
     92,059,512  
Total return based on NAV
(4)
      2.93 %      2.89 %      2.85 % 
Ratios:
                         
Ratio of net expenses to average net assets
(5)
      3.11 %      3.09 %      3.28 % 
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets 
(5)
      9.95 %      9.88 %      9.91 % 
Portfolio turnover rate
      6.82 %      6.82 %      6.82 % 
Supplemental Data:
                         
Net assets, end of period
    $ 838,207     $ 418,798     $ 2,198,267  
Asset coverage ratio
      247.4 %      247.4 %      247.4 % 
 
(1)
The per share data was derived by using the weighted average shares outstanding during the period.
(2)
The amount shown does not correspond with the aggregate amount for the period as it includes the effect of the timing of capital transactions.
(3)
The per share data for distributions was derived by using the actual shares outstanding at the date of the relevant transactions (please refer to “Note 9. Net Assets” to the consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus).
(4)
Total return is calculated as the change in NAV per share during the period, plus distributions per share (assuming distributions are reinvested in accordance with the Fund’s distribution reinvestment plan) divided by the beginning NAV per share. Total return does not include upfront transaction fee, if any.
 
30
(5)
For the year ended December 31, 2022, amounts are annualized except for
non-recurring
expenses. For the year ended December 31, 2022, the ratio of total operating expenses to average net assets was 5.42%, 5.55% and 5.93% on Class I, Class D and Class F respectively, on an annualized basis, excluding the effect of expense support/(recoupment), distribution and shareholder servicing fees waiver, and management fee and income based incentive fee waivers by the Adviser which represented 2.30%, 2.46% and 2.66% on Class I, Class D and Class F, respectively, of average net assets.
 
31
RISK FACTORS
Investing in our Common Shares involves a number of significant risks. The following information is a discussion of the material risk factors associated with an investment in our Common Shares specifically, as well as those factors generally associated with an investment in a company with investment objectives, investment policies, capital structure or trading markets similar to ours. In addition to the other information contained in this prospectus, you should consider carefully the following information before making an investment in our Common Shares. The risks below are not the only risks we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or not presently deemed material by us may also impair our operations and performance. If any of the following events occur our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. In such cases, the NAV of our Common Shares could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment.
Risks Relating to Our Business and Structure
The Fund Has Limited Operating History.
The Fund is a
non-diversified,
closed-end
management investment company that has elected to be regulated as a BDC with limited operating history. As a result, prospective investors have a limited track record or history on which to base their investment decision. There can be no assurance that the results achieved by similar strategies managed by HPS or its affiliates will be achieved for the Fund. Past performance should not be relied upon as an indication of future results. Moreover, the Fund is subject to all of the business risks and uncertainties associated with any new business, including the risk that it will not achieve its investment objective and that the value of an investor’s investment could decline substantially or that the investor will suffer a complete loss of its investment in the Fund.
Prior to the commencement of the Fund’s operations, the Adviser and the members of the Investment Team had no prior experience managing a BDC, and the investment philosophy and techniques used by the Adviser to manage a BDC may differ from the investment philosophy and techniques previously employed by the Adviser, its affiliates, and the members of the Investment Team in identifying and managing past investments. In addition, the 1940 Act and the Code impose numerous constraints on the operations of BDCs and RICs that do not apply to the other types of investment vehicles. For example, under the 1940 Act, BDCs are required to invest at least 70% of their total assets primarily in securities of qualifying U.S. private companies or thinly traded public companies, cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government securities and other high-quality debt investments that mature in one year or less from the time of investment. The Adviser’s and the members of the Investment Team’s limited experience in managing a portfolio of assets under such constraints may hinder their respective ability to take advantage of attractive investment opportunities and, as a result, achieve the Fund’s investment objective.
The Fund May Not
be
Able to Meet
its
Investment Objective
.
The Adviser cannot provide assurances that it will be able to identify, choose, make or realize investments of the type targeted for the Fund. There is also no guarantee that the Adviser will be able to source attractive investments for the Fund within a reasonable period of time. There can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to generate returns for the investors or that returns will be commensurate with the risks of the investments. The Fund may not be able to achieve its investment objective and investors may lose some or all of their invested capital. The failure by the Fund to obtain indebtedness on favorable terms or in the desired amount will adversely affect the returns realized by the Fund and impair the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective.
The Fund is Dependent on the Investment Team.
The success of the Fund depends in substantial part on the skill and expertise of the Investment Team. Although the Adviser believes the success of the Fund is not dependent upon any particular individual, there can be no assurance that the members of the Investment Team will continue to be affiliated with the Adviser throughout the life of the Fund or will continue to be available to manage the Fund. The unavailability of members of the Investment Team to manage the Fund’s investment program could have a material adverse effect on the Fund.
 
32
An Investment in the Fund is Illiquid and There
are
Restrictions on Withdrawal.
An investment in the Fund is suitable only for certain sophisticated investors that have no need for immediate liquidity in respect of their investment and who can accept the risks associated with investing in illiquid investments.
Our Common Shares are illiquid investments for which there is not and will likely not be a secondary market. Liquidity for our Common Shares will be limited to participation in our share repurchase program, which we have no obligation to maintain. When we make quarterly repurchase offers pursuant to the share repurchase program, we will offer to repurchase Common Shares at a price that is estimated to be equal to our net asset value per share on the last day of such quarter, which may be lower than the price that you paid for our Common Shares. As a result, to the extent you paid a price that includes the related sales load and to the extent you have the ability to sell your Common Shares pursuant to our share repurchase program, the price at which you may sell Common Shares may be lower than the amount you paid in connection with the purchase of Common Shares in this offering.
Shareholders Have No Right to Control the Fund
’
s Operations.
The Fund is managed exclusively by the Adviser. Shareholders will not make decisions with respect to the management, disposition or other realization of any investment, the
day-to-day
operations of the Fund, or any other decisions regarding the Fund’s business and affairs, except for limited circumstances. Specifically, shareholders will not have an opportunity to evaluate for themselves the relevant economic, financial and other information regarding investments by the Fund or receive any financial information issued directly by the portfolio companies that is available to the Adviser. Shareholders should expect
to
rely solely on the ability of the Adviser with respect to the Fund’s operations.
The Fund
’
s Assets
are
Subject to Recourse.
The assets of the Fund, including
any
investments made by and any capital held by the Fund are available to satisfy all liabilities and other obligations of the Fund, as applicable. If the Fund becomes subject to a liability, parties seeking to have the liability satisfied may have recourse to the Fund’s assets generally and may not be limited to any particular asset, such as the investment giving rise to the liability.
The Fund Borrows Money, Which Magnifies the Potential for Gain or Loss on Amounts and May Increase the Risk of Investing With Us.
Borrowings, also known as leverage, magnify the potential for gain or loss on amounts invested and, therefore, increase the risks associated with investing in our securities. We currently borrow under credit facilities and have issued or assumed other senior securities, including unsecured notes, and in the future may borrow from, or issue additional senior securities to, banks, insurance companies, funds, institutional investors and other lenders and investors. Lenders and holders of such senior securities have fixed dollar claims on our consolidated assets that are superior to the claims of our common shareholders or any preferred shareholders. If the value of our consolidated assets increases, then leveraging would cause the net asset value per share of our Common Shares to increase more sharply than it would have had we not incurred leverage.
Conversely, if the value of our consolidated assets decreases, leveraging would cause net asset value to decline more sharply than it otherwise would have had we not incurred leverage. Similarly, any increase in our consolidated income in excess of consolidated interest payable on the borrowed funds would cause our net income to increase more than it would had we not incurred leverage, while any decrease in our consolidated income would cause net income to decline more sharply than it would have had we not incurred leverage. Such a decline could negatively affect our ability to make distribution payments on our Common Shares. There can be no assurance that a leveraging strategy will be successful.
As of December 31, 2022, we had approximately $1,640.6 million of outstanding borrowings under our credit facilities, $325.0 million in aggregate principal amount outstanding of senior unsecured notes comprised of $170.0 million in aggregate principal amount of its Series A Senior Notes, Tranche A (the “November 2025 Notes”) and $155.0 million in aggregate principal amount of its Series A Senior Notes, Tranche B (the “November 2027 Notes” and together with the November 2025 Notes, the “Unsecured Notes”), and short-term
 
33
borrowings of $379.1 million. The weighted average stated interest rate on our principal amount of outstanding indebtedness as of December 31, 2022 was 7.16% (excluding deferred financing costs, deferred issuance costs and unused fees). We intend to continue borrowing under the credit facilities in the future and we may increase the size of the credit facilities or issue additional debt securities or other evidences of indebtedness (although there can be no assurance that we will be successful in doing so). For more information on our indebtedness, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources.” Our ability to service our debt depends largely on our financial performance and is subject to prevailing economic conditions and competitive pressures. The amount of leverage that we employ at any particular time will depend on our Adviser’s and our Board’s assessments of market and other factors at the time of any proposed borrowing. We are currently allowed to borrow amounts such that our asset coverage, as calculated pursuant to the 1940 Act, equals at least 150% after such borrowing (
i.e.
, we are able to borrow up to two dollars for every dollar we have in assets less all liabilities and indebtedness not represented by senior securities issued by us).
The credit facilities and the Unsecured Notes impose financial and operating covenants that restrict our business activities, including limitations that could hinder our ability to finance additional loans and investments or to make the distributions required to maintain our status as a RIC. A failure to renew the credit facilities or to add new or replacement debt facilities or to issue additional debt securities or other evidences of indebtedness could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The following table illustrates the effect on return to a holder of our Common Shares of the leverage created by
our
use of borrowing at the weighted average stated interest rate of 7.16% (excluding deferred financing costs, deferred issuance costs and unused fees) as of December 31, 2022, together with (a) our total value of net assets as of December 31, 2022; (b) approximately $2,344.6 million in aggregate principal amount of indebtedness outstanding as of December 31, 2022 and (c) hypothetical annual returns on our portfolio of minus 10% to plus 10%.
 
    
Assumed Return on Portfolio (Net of Expenses)
(1)
  
    
-10%
    
-5%
    
0%
    
5%
    
10%
  
Corresponding Return to Common Shareholders
(2)
     
(21.86
 )%     
(13.36
 )%      (4.86 )%      3.64 %      12.14 % 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
    
 
 
  
 
(1)
The assumed portfolio return is required by SEC regulations and is not a prediction of, and does not represent, our projected or actual performance. Actual returns may be greater or less than those appearing in the table. Pursuant to SEC regulations, this table is calculated as of December 31, 2022. As a result, it has not been updated to take into account any changes in assets or leverage since December 31, 2022.
(2)
In order to compute the “Corresponding Return to Common Shareholders,” the “Assumed Return on Portfolio” is multiplied by the total value of our assets at December 31, 2022 to obtain an assumed return to us. From this amount, the interest expense (calculated by multiplying the weighted average stated interest rate of 7.16% (excluding deferred financing costs, deferred issuance costs and unused fees) by the approximately $2,344.6 million of principal debt outstanding) is subtracted to determine the return available to shareholders. The return available to shareholders is then divided by the total value of our net assets as of December 31, 2022 to determine the “Corresponding Return to Common Shareholders.” 
Based on our outstanding indebtedness of $2,344.6 million as of December 31, 2022 and the effective weighted average annual interest rate of 7.16% as of that date (excluding deferred financing costs, deferred issuance costs and unused fees), our investment portfolio would have been required to experience an annual return of at least 2.86% to cover annual interest payments on the outstanding debt.
There Can
be
No Assurance the Fund Will be Able to Obtain Leverage.
The Fund has and will continue to seek to regularly employ a significant amount of direct or indirect leverage in a variety of forms through borrowings, derivatives and other financial instruments as part of its investment program. However, there can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to obtain indebtedness at all or to the desired degree or that indebtedness will be accessible by the Fund at any time or in connection with any particular investment. If indebtedness is
 
34
available to the Fund, there can be no assurance that such indebtedness will be available in the desired amount or on terms favorable to the Fund and/or terms comparable to terms obtained by competitors. The terms of any indebtedness are expected to vary based on the counterparty, timing, size, market interest rates, other fees and costs, duration, advance rates, eligible investments, and the ability to borrow in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Moreover, market conditions or other factors may cause or permit the amount of leverage employed by the Fund to fluctuate over the Fund’s life. Furthermore, the Fund may seek to obtain indebtedness on an
investment-by-investment
basis, and leverage may not be available or may be available on less desirable terms in connection with particular investments. The instruments and borrowing utilized by the Fund to leverage its investments may be collateralized by other assets of the Fund.
The Fund has incurred and expects in the future that it will continue to incur indebtedness collateralized by the Fund’s assets. As a BDC, with certain limited exceptions, the Fund will only be permitted to borrow amounts such that the Fund’s asset coverage ratio, as defined in the 1940 Act, equals at least 150% (equivalent to $2 of debt outstanding for each $1 of equity) after such borrowing. If the Fund is unable to obtain and maintain the desired amount of borrowings on favorable terms, the Adviser may seek to realize the Fund’s investments earlier than originally expected.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Relating to the Availability of Asset-Based Leverage.
The Fund has utilized and expects to continue to utilize asset-based leverage in acquiring investments on a
deal-by-deal
basis. However, there can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to obtain indebtedness with respect to any particular investment. If indebtedness is available in connection with a particular investment, there can be no assurance that such indebtedness will be on terms favorable to the Fund and/or terms comparable to terms obtained by competitors, including with respect to costs, duration, size, advance rates and interest rates. Moreover, market conditions or other factors may cause or permit the amount of leverage employed by the Fund to fluctuate over its life. For example, if leverage is obtained later in the Fund’s life, the Fund may immediately deploy such leverage in order to achieve the desired borrowing ratio, which may involve making distributions of borrowed funds. If the Fund is unable to, or not expected to be able to, obtain indebtedness in connection with a particular investment, the Fund may determine not to make the investment or may invest a different proportion of its available capital in such investment. This may affect the ability of the Fund to make investments, could adversely affect the returns of the Fund and may impair its ability to achieve its investment objective. In addition, the lender may impose certain diversification or other requirements in connection with asset-based leverage, and these restrictions are expected to impact the ability of the Fund to participate in certain investments or the amount of the Fund’s participation in certain investments.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Relating to Use of Leverage.
The Fund has sought and will continue to seek to employ direct or indirect leverage in a variety of forms, including through borrowings, derivatives, and other financial instruments as part of its investment program, which leverage has been and is expected to be secured by the Fund’s assets. The greater the total leverage of the Fund relative to its assets, the greater the risk of loss and possibility of gain due to changes in the values of its investments. The extent to which the Fund uses leverage may have other significant consequences to shareholders, including, the following: (i) greater fluctuations in the net assets of the Fund; (ii) use of cash flow (including capital contributions) for debt service and related costs and expenses, rather than for additional investments, distributions, or other purposes; (iii) to the extent that the Fund’s cash proceeds are required to meet principal payments, the shareholders may be allocated income (and therefore incur tax liability) in excess of cash available for distribution; (iv) in certain circumstances the Fund may be required to harvest investments prematurely or in unfavorable market conditions to service its debt obligations, and in such circumstances the recovery the Fund receives from such harvests may be significantly diminished as compared to the Fund’s expected return on such investments; (v) limitation on the Fund’s flexibility to make distributions to shareholders or result in the sale of assets that are pledged to secure the indebtedness; (vi) increased interest expense if interest rate levels were to increase significantly; (vii) during the term of any borrowing, the Fund’s returns may be materially reduced by increased costs attributable to regulatory changes; and (viii) banks and dealers that provide financing to the Fund may apply discretionary margin, haircut, financing and collateral valuation policies. Changes by banks and dealers in any of the foregoing may result in
 
35
large margin calls, loss of financing and forced liquidations of positions at disadvantageous prices. There can also be no assurance that the Fund will have sufficient cash flow or be able to liquidate sufficient assets to meet its debt service obligations. As a result, the Fund’s exposure to losses, including a potential loss of principal, as a result of which shareholders could potentially lose all or a portion of their investments in the Fund, may be increased due to the use of leverage and the illiquidity of the investments generally. Similar risks and consequences apply with respect to indebtedness related to a particular asset or portfolio of assets.
To the extent that the Fund enters into multiple financing arrangements, such arrangements may contain cross-default provisions that could magnify the effect of a default. If a cross-default provision were exercised, this could result in a substantial loss for the Fund.
As a BDC, we generally are required to meet a coverage ratio of total assets to total borrowings and other senior securities, which include all of our borrowings and any preferred shares that we may issue in the future, of at least 150%. As defined in the 1940 Act, asset coverage of 150% means that for every $100 of net assets we hold, we may raise $200 from borrowing and issuing senior securities. In addition, while any senior securities remain outstanding, we are required to make provisions to prohibit any distribution to our shareholders or the repurchase of such securities or shares unless we meet the applicable asset coverage ratios at the time of the distribution or repurchase. If this ratio were to fall below 150%, we could not incur additional debt and could be required to sell a portion of our investments to repay some debt when it is disadvantageous to do so. This could have a material adverse effect on our operations and investment activities. Moreover, our ability to make distributions to you may be significantly restricted or we may not be able to make any such distributions whatsoever. The amount of leverage that we employ is subject to oversight by our Board, a majority of whom are Independent Trustees with no material interests in such transactions.
Although borrowings by the Fund have the potential to enhance overall returns that exceed the Fund’s cost of funds, they will further diminish returns (or increase losses on capital) to the extent overall returns are less than the Fund’s cost of funds. In addition, borrowings by the Fund may be secured by the shareholders’ investments as well as by the Fund’s assets and the documentation relating to such borrowing may provide that during the continuance of a default under such borrowing, the interests of the investors may be subordinated to such borrowing.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Relating to Seller Financing.
The Fund may utilize seller financing (
i.e.
, make investments that are financed, in whole or in part, by the Fund borrowing from the sellers of said investments or their affiliates) and other
one-off
financing solutions on a
case-by-case
basis. Providers of seller financing may be motivated to sell a particular asset, and may be willing to provide a prospective purchaser of such asset with more favorable pricing and/or greater amounts of leverage than would otherwise be the case if such purchaser sought financing from unrelated, third-party providers of leverage. To the extent that the Fund is able to obtain seller financing in connection with a particular investment, the Fund may seek to employ more leverage than would otherwise be the case in the absence of such seller financing. While the Fund’s use of seller financing could increase the potential return to shareholders to the extent that there are gains associated with such investment, such use of seller financing will increase risks associated with the use of leverage generally, including the risks associated with such investment and the exposure of such investment to adverse economic factors such as deteriorations in overall conditions in the economy or in the condition of the particular issuer.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Relating to Obtaining a Rating from One or More Credit Rating Agencies.
The Fund may apply to one or more credit rating agencies to rate the Fund and/or its assets in order to provide the Fund access to different sources of indebtedness or capital as well as to help meet the Fund’s risk/return objectives, its overall target indebtedness ratio or other considerations as determined by the Adviser. In connection with such rating or ratings, the credit rating agency or credit rating agencies may review and analyze the Fund’s counterparties, HPS (in its capacity as the Adviser and the Administrator), the investments and expected investments of the Fund, the legal structure of the Fund, the historical and current shareholders and Fund performance data. There can be no assurance that the Fund will apply for such a rating or ratings, that a
 
36
credit rating agency will provide a rating or that such a rating will be beneficial to the Fund. In addition, when making investment decisions for the Fund (including establishing the Fund’s investment portfolio), the Adviser may consider the implications of the investment portfolio on a credit rating agency or credit rating agencies’ rating or ratings of the Fund and tailor the Fund’s investment portfolio taking into account such considerations. There is a risk that a rating agency could incorrectly rate, or downgrade ratings which could have a material effect on the Fund, including its assets and its ability to acquire indebtedness.
The Adviser May
be
Required to Expedite Investment Decisions.
Investment analyses and decisions by the Adviser may be required to be undertaken on an expedited basis to take advantage of investment opportunities. In such cases, the information available to the Adviser at the time of making an investment decision may be limited. Therefore, no assurance can be given that the Adviser will have knowledge of all circumstances that may adversely affect an investment. In addition, the Adviser may rely upon independent consultants and other sources in connection with its evaluation of proposed investments, and no assurance can be given as to the accuracy or completeness of the information provided by such independent consultants or other sources or to the Fund’s right of recourse against them in the event errors or omissions do occur.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Relating to Insurance.
The Fund purchased and maintains insurance policies, which include coverage in respect of the Fund and certain other indemnified persons. The premiums for the insurance policies are borne by the Fund, and the insurance policies have overall caps on coverage. To the extent an insurable event results in claims in excess of such a cap, the Fund may not achieve a full recovery. Similarly, insurable events may occur sequentially in time while subject to a single overall cap. To the extent insurance proceeds for one such event are applied towards a cap and the Fund experiences an insurable loss after such event, the Fund’s receipts from such insurance policy may also be diminished. Insurance policies covering the Fund may provide insurance coverage to indemnified persons for conduct that would not be covered by indemnification. In addition, the Fund may need to initiate litigation in order to collect from an insurance provider, which may be lengthy and expensive for the Fund and which ultimately may not result in a financial award.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Relating to Indemnification.
The Fund is required to indemnify the Adviser, the members of the Board and each other person indemnified under the Declaration of Trust and the Bylaws of the Fund (as amended or restated from time to time, the “Bylaws”) for liabilities incurred in connection with the Declaration of Trust, the Bylaws, the Advisory Agreement and the Fund’s activities, except in certain circumstances. Subject to the limits on indemnification under Section 17(h) of the 1940 Act, the Declaration of Trust provides that the Fund shall not indemnify such persons to the extent liability and losses are the result of, negligence or misconduct in the case of an Interested Trustee, officer, employee, controlling person or agent of the Fund, or gross negligence or willful misconduct in the case of an Independent Trustee. Subject to the limits on indemnification under Section 17(i) of the 1940 Act, the Advisory Agreement provides that the Adviser shall not be protected against any liability to the Fund or its shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the Adviser’s part in the performance of its duties or by reason of the reckless disregard of its duties and obligations. The Fund also indemnifies certain service providers, including the Administrator and the Fund’s auditors, as well as consultants and sourcing, operating and joint venture partners. Such liabilities may be material and may have an adverse effect on the returns to the shareholders. The indemnification obligation of the Fund would be payable from the assets of the Fund. The application of the indemnification and exculpation standards may result in shareholders bearing a broader indemnification obligation in certain cases than they would in the absence of such standards. As a result of these considerations, even though such provisions will not act as a waiver on the part of any investor of any of its rights which are not permitted to be waived under applicable law, the Fund may bear significant financial losses even where such losses were caused by the negligence or other conduct of such indemnified persons.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Relating to Certain Proceedings and Investigations.
The Adviser and its affiliates and/or the Fund may be subject to claims (or threats of claims), and governmental investigations, examinations, requests for information, audits, inquiries, subpoenas and other regulatory or civil proceedings.
 
37
The outcome of any investigation, action or proceeding may materially adversely affect the value of the Fund, including by virtue of reputational damage to the Adviser and may be impossible to anticipate. Any such investigation, action or proceeding may continue without resolution for long periods of time and may consume substantial amounts of the Adviser’s time and attention, and that time and the devotion of these resources to any investigation, action or proceeding may, at times, be disproportionate to the amounts at stake in such investigation, action or proceeding. The unfavorable resolution of such items could result in criminal or civil liability, fines, settlements, charges, penalties or other monetary or
non-monetary
remedies or sanctions that could negatively impact the Adviser and/or the Fund. In addition, such actions and proceedings may involve claims of strict liability or similar risks against the Fund in certain jurisdictions or in connection with certain types of activities. In some cases, the expense of such investigations, actions or proceedings and paying any amounts pursuant to settlements or judgments would be borne by the Fund.
The Fund is Not Registered as an Investment Company Under the 1940 Act
.
While the Fund is not registered as an investment company under the 1940 Act, it is subject to regulation as a BDC under the 1940 Act and is required to adhere to the provisions of the 1940 Act applicable to BDCs. The Common Shares have not been recommended by any U.S. federal or state, or any
non-U.S.,
securities commission or regulatory authority. Furthermore, the foregoing authorities have not confirmed the accuracy or determined the adequacy of this registration statement. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Relating to Portfolio Valuation.
The Adviser, subject at all times to the oversight of the Board, determines the valuation of the Fund’s investments. It is expected that the Adviser will have a limited ability to obtain accurate market quotations for purposes of valuing most of the Fund’s investments, which may require the Adviser to estimate, in accordance with valuation policies established by the Board, the value of the Fund’s debt and other investments on a valuation date. Further, because of the overall size and concentrations in particular markets, the maturities of positions that may be held by the Fund from time to time and other factors, the liquidation values of the Fund’s investments may differ significantly from the interim valuations of these investments derived from the valuation methods described herein. If the Adviser’s valuation should prove to be incorrect, the stated value of the Fund’s investments could be adversely affected. Absent bad faith or manifest error, valuation determinations of the Adviser will be conclusive and binding on the shareholders.
Valuation of the types of assets in which the Fund invests are inherently subjective. In addition, the Adviser may have an interest in determining higher valuations in order to be able to present better performance to prospective investors. In certain cases, the Fund may hold an investment in an issuer experiencing distress or going through bankruptcy. In such a situation, the Adviser may continue to place a favorable valuation on such investment due to the Adviser’s determination that the investment is sufficiently secured despite the distressed state or bankruptcy of the issuer. However, no assurances can be given that this assumption is justified or that such valuations will be accurate in the long term. In addition, an investment in a portfolio company may not be permanently
written-off
or permanently written down despite its distressed state or covenant breach until such portfolio company experiences a material corporate event (
e.g.
, bankruptcy or partial sale) which establishes an objective basis for such revised valuation. In these circumstances, the Adviser has an interest in delaying any such write-offs or write-downs to maintain a higher management fee base and thus, management fees paid to the Adviser.
In addition, the Adviser relies on third-party valuation agents to verify the value of certain investments. An investment may not have a readily ascertainable market value and accordingly, could potentially make it difficult to determine a fair value of an investment and may yield an inaccurate valuation. Further, because of the Adviser’s knowledge of the investment, the valuation agent may defer to the Adviser’s valuation even where such valuation may not be accurate or the determination thereof involved a conflict of interest. An inaccurate valuation of one or more investments could have a substantial impact on the Fund.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Relating to Rights Against Third Parties, Including Third-Party Service Providers.
The Fund is reliant on the performance of third-party service providers, including HPS (in its capacity
 
38
as the Adviser and the Administrator), auditors, legal advisors, lenders, bankers, brokers, consultants, sourcing, operating and joint venture partners and other service providers (collectively, “Service Providers”). Further information regarding the duties and roles of certain of these Service Providers is provided in this registration statement and the Fund’s other publicly available reports. The Fund may bear the risk of any errors or omissions by such Service Providers. In addition, misconduct by such Service Providers may result in reputational damage, litigation, business disruption and/or financial losses to the Fund. Each shareholder’s contractual relationship in respect of its investment in Common Shares of the Fund is with the Fund only and shareholders are not in contractual privity with the Service Providers. Therefore, generally, no shareholder will have any contractual claim against any Service Provider with respect to such Service Provider’s default or breach. Accordingly, shareholders must generally rely upon the Adviser and/or Administrator to enforce the Fund’s rights against Service Providers. In certain circumstances, which are generally not expected to prevail, shareholders may have limited rights to enforce the Fund’s rights on a derivative basis or may have rights against Service Providers if they can establish that such Service Providers owe duties to the shareholders. In addition, shareholders will have no right to participate in the
day-to-day
operation of the Fund and decisions regarding the selection of Service Providers. Rather, the Adviser and/or Administrator will select the Fund’s Service Providers and determine the retention and compensation of such providers without the review by or consent of the shareholders. The shareholders must therefore rely on the ability of the Adviser and/or Administrator to select and compensate Service Providers and to make investments and manage and dispose of investments.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Relating to Lack of Diversification.
The Fund is classified as a
non-diversified
investment company within the meaning of the 1940 Act, which means that the Fund is not limited by the 1940 Act with respect to the proportion of its assets that it may invest in securities of a single issuer. To the extent that the Fund assumes large positions in the securities of a small number of issuers, its net asset value may fluctuate to a greater extent than that of a diversified investment company as a result of changes in the financial condition or the market’s assessment of the issuer. The Fund may also be more susceptible to any single economic or regulatory occurrence than a diversified investment company. Beyond the Fund’s asset diversification requirements as a RIC under the Code, the Fund does not have fixed guidelines for diversification, and its investments could be concentrated in relatively few portfolio companies. Although the Fund is classified as a
non-diversified
investment company within the meaning of the 1940 Act, it maintains the flexibility to operate as a diversified investment company. To the extent that the Fund operates as a
non-diversified
investment company, it may be subject to greater risk.
The Fund does not have fixed guidelines for diversification by industry or type of security, and investments may be concentrated in only a few industries or types of securities. Further, if the expected amount of leverage is not obtained or deployed, the Fund may be more concentrated in an investment than originally anticipated. As a result, the Fund’s investments may be concentrated and the poor performance of a single investment may have pronounced negative consequences to the Fund and the aggregate returns realized by the shareholders.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Relating to Consultation with Sourcing and Operating Partners.
In certain circumstances, sourcing and operating partners may be aware of and consulted in advance in relation to certain investments made by the Fund. While sourcing and operating partners will be subject to confidentiality obligations, they are not restricted from engaging in any activities or businesses that may be similar to the business of the Fund or competitive with the Fund. In particular, sourcing and operating partners may use information available to them as sourcing and operating partners of the Adviser in a manner that conflicts with the interests of the Fund. Except in limited circumstances, the sourcing and operating partners are generally not obligated to account to the Adviser for any profits or income earned or derived from their activities or businesses or inform the Adviser of any business opportunity that may be appropriate for the Fund.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Relating to the Timing of Realization of Investments.
The Adviser, in its discretion, may seek to realize the Fund’s investments earlier than originally expected, which may be accomplished through one or more transactions, including, to the extent permitted by applicable law, transactions with another investment fund or account sponsored or managed by HPS (collectively “Other HPS Investors”),
 
39
which will be for a price equal to the fair value of such investment. The value of such investment, subject to approval by the Board, will be determined by the Adviser and verified by one or more third-party valuation agents. The Adviser may seek such realizations in order to support the Fund’s target risk/return profile with respect to the Fund’s unrealized investments, taking into account such factors as the Fund’s expense ratio relative to such assets and the availability of, or repayment obligations with respect to, any credit facilities.
The Fund May
be
Required to Disclose Information Regarding Shareholders.
The Fund, the Adviser or their respective affiliates, Service Providers, or agents may from time to time be required or may, in their discretion, determine that it is advisable to disclose certain information about the Fund and the shareholders, including investments held directly or indirectly by the Fund and the names and level of beneficial ownership of certain of the shareholders, to regulatory or taxing authorities of certain jurisdictions, which have or assert jurisdiction over the disclosing party or in which the Fund directly or indirectly invests. Disclosure of confidential information under such circumstances will not be regarded as a breach of any duty of confidentiality and, in certain circumstances, the Fund, the Adviser or any of their affiliates, Service Providers or agents, may be prohibited from disclosing to any shareholder that any such disclosure has been made.
The Fund is Subject to Operational Risks.
The Fund is subject to operational risk, including the possibility that errors may be made by the Adviser or its affiliates and Service Providers in certain transactions, calculations or valuations on behalf of, or otherwise relating to, the Fund. Shareholders may not be notified of the occurrence of an error or the resolution of any error. Generally, the Adviser, its affiliates and Service Providers will not be held accountable for such errors, and the Fund may bear losses resulting from such errors.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Relating to Exposure to Material
Non-Public
Information.
HPS conducts a broad range of private and public debt investment businesses generally without internal information barriers in the ordinary course. As a result, from time to time, HPS (in its capacity as investment manager of investment vehicles, funds or accounts or in connection with investment activities on its own behalf) receives material
non-public
information with respect to issuers of publicly-traded securities or other securities in connection with, among other examples, acquisitions, refinancings, restructurings of such issuers which HPS reviews or participates in, oftentimes unrelated to its management of the Fund. In such circumstances, the Fund may be prohibited, by law, contract or by virtue of HPS’s policies and procedures, from (i) selling all or a portion of a position in such issuer, thereby potentially incurring trading losses as a result, (ii) establishing an initial position or taking any greater position in such issuer, and (iii) pursuing other investment opportunities related to such issuer.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Relating to Technology Systems.
The Fund depends on the Adviser to develop and implement appropriate systems for its activities. The Fund may rely on computer programs to evaluate certain securities and other investments, to monitor their portfolios, to trade, clear and settle securities transactions and to generate asset, risk management and other reports that are utilized in the oversight of the Fund’s activities. In addition, certain of the Fund’s and the Adviser’s operations interface with or depend on systems operated by third parties, including loan servicers, custodians and administrators, and the Adviser may not always be in a position to verify the risks or reliability of such third-party systems. For example, the Fund and the Adviser generally expect to provide statements, reports, notices, updates, requests and any other communications in electronic form, such as
e-mail
or posting on a
web-based
reporting site or other internet service, in lieu of or in addition to sending such communications as hard copies via fax or mail. These programs or systems may be subject to certain defects, failures or interruptions, including, but not limited to, those caused by ‘hacking’ or other security breaches, computer ‘worms,’ viruses and power failures. Such failures could cause settlement of trades to fail, lead to inaccurate accounting, recording or processing of trades and cause inaccurate reports, which may affect the Fund’s ability to monitor its investment portfolio and its risks. Any such defect or failure could cause the Fund to suffer financial loss, disruption of its business, liability to clients or third parties, regulatory intervention or reputational damage.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Relating to Cybersecurity.
The Fund, the Adviser and their Service Providers are subject to risks associated with a breach in cybersecurity. Cybersecurity is a generic term used to describe the
 
40
technology, processes and practices designed to protect networks, systems, computers, programs and data from both intentional cyber-attacks and hacking by other computer users as well as unintentional damage or interruption that, in either case, can result in damage and disruption to hardware and software systems, loss or corruption of data and/or misappropriation of confidential information. For example, information and technology systems are vulnerable to damage or interruption from computer viruses, network failures, computer and telecommunication failures, infiltration by unauthorized persons and security breaches, usage errors by their respective professionals, power outages and catastrophic events such as fires, tornadoes, floods, hurricanes and earthquakes. Such damage or interruptions to information technology systems may cause losses to a shareholder by interfering with the processing of investor transactions, affecting the Fund’s ability to calculate net asset value or impeding or sabotaging the investment process. The Fund may also incur substantial costs as the result of a cybersecurity breach, including those associated with forensic analysis of the origin and scope of the breach, increased and upgraded cybersecurity, identity theft, unauthorized use of proprietary information, litigation, adverse investor reaction, the dissemination of confidential and proprietary information and reputational damage. Any such breach could expose the Fund and the Adviser to civil liability as well as regulatory inquiry and/or action (and the Adviser may be indemnified by the Fund in connection with any such liability, inquiry or action). In addition, any such breach could cause substantial withdrawals from the Fund. Shareholders could also be exposed to losses resulting from unauthorized use of their personal information.
Moreover, the increased use of mobile and cloud technologies due to the proliferation of remote work resulting from the
COVID-19
pandemic could heighten these and other operational risks as certain aspects of the security of such technologies may be complex and unpredictable. Reliance on mobile or cloud technology or any failure by mobile technology and cloud service providers to adequately safeguard their systems and prevent cyber-attacks could disrupt our operations, the operations of a portfolio company or the operations of our or their service providers and result in misappropriation, corruption or loss of personal, confidential or proprietary information or the inability to conduct ordinary business operations. In addition, there is a risk that encryption and other protective measures may be circumvented, particularly to the extent that new computing technologies increase the speed and computing power available. Extended periods of remote working, whether by us, our portfolio companies, or our service providers, could strain technology resources, introduce operational risks and otherwise heighten the risks described above. Remote working environments may be less secure and more susceptible to hacking attacks, including phishing and social engineering attempts. Accordingly, the risks described above are heightened under the current conditions.
While the Adviser has implemented various measures to manage risks associated with cybersecurity breaches, including establishing a business continuity plan and systems designed to prevent cyber-attacks, there are inherent limitations in such plans and systems, including the possibility that certain risks (including any ongoing breaches) have not been identified. Similar types of cybersecurity risks also are present for portfolio companies in which the Fund invests, which could affect their business and financial performance, resulting in material adverse consequences for such issuers, and causing the Fund’s investments in such portfolio companies to lose value.
In addition, cybersecurity has become a top priority for global lawmakers and regulators around the world, and some jurisdictions have proposed or enacted laws requiring companies to notify regulators and individuals of data security breaches involving certain types of personal data. Compliance with such laws and regulations may result in cost increases due to system changes and the development of new administrative processes. If the Fund or the Adviser or certain of their affiliates, fail to comply with the relevant and increasing laws and regulations, the Fund could suffer financial losses, a disruption of our businesses, liability to investors, regulatory intervention or reputational damage.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Associated with Sourcing, Operating or Joint Venture Partners.
HPS has historically, and expects in the future to, work with sourcing, operating and/or joint venture partners, including with respect to particular types of investments or particular sectors or regions. These arrangements may be structured as joint ventures or contractual service provider relationships. Where such a partner is engaged, the
 
41
Adviser may not have the opportunity to diligence the individual investments in which the Fund participates and, instead, will be relying on its contractual relationship with, and ongoing diligence of, the sourcing or joint venture partner whose interests may differ from those of the Fund. In certain circumstances, the Adviser may commit to invest in a
pre-agreed
amount of investments negotiated by the sourcing partner and/or joint venture partner and/or the Adviser may commit to invest in one or more transactions for which the sourcing partner and/or joint venture partner led the due diligence and negotiation processes and the Adviser is given only a limited opportunity to perform due diligence and participate in negotiation of transactional terms. Shareholders should be aware that sourcing, operating and joint venture partners are not expected to owe any fiduciary duties to the Fund or the shareholders.
The Fund may pay retainers, closing, monitoring, performance or other fees to sourcing, operating and joint venture partners. Such retainer fees may be netted against a closing fee, if applicable, in connection with the related investment. However, if no such investment is consummated, the Fund will bear any retainer amounts as an expense. In addition, to the extent the compensation of a sourcing, operating or joint venture partner is based on the performance of the relevant investments, the sourcing, operating or joint venture partner may have an incentive to seek riskier investments than it would have under a different compensation structure. In this regard, a sourcing, operating or joint venture partner may receive incentive compensation at the expense of the Fund. The expenses of sourcing, operating and joint venture partners may be substantial. In certain circumstances, the Fund or a portfolio company in which the Fund invests may pay fees to sourcing, operating and/or joint venture partners in consideration for services, including where the Adviser may have otherwise provided those services without charge. In other circumstances, sourcing, operating and/or joint venture partners may receive certain third-party fees (such as upfront fees, commitment fees, origination fees, amendment fees, ticking fees and
break-up
fees as well as prepayment premiums) in respect of an investment, and no such fees will offset or otherwise reduce the management fee payable by shareholders. The existence of such fees may result in the Fund paying fees twice, once to the Adviser in the form of management fees and once to the sourcing, operating or joint venture partners to service or manage the same assets.
Sourcing, operating and/or joint venture partners may invest in the Fund. Joint venture investments involve various risks, including the risk that the Fund will not be able to implement investment decisions or exit strategies because of limitations on the Fund’s control under applicable agreements with joint venture partners, the risk that a joint venture partner may become bankrupt or may at any time have economic or business interests or goals that are inconsistent with those of the Fund, the risk that a joint venture partner may be in a position to take action contrary to the Fund’s objectives, the risk of liability based upon the actions of a joint venture partner and the risk of disputes or litigation with such partner and the inability to enforce fully all rights (or the incurrence of additional risk in connection with enforcement of rights) one partner may have against the other, including in connection with foreclosure on partner loans, because of risks arising under applicable law, and tax and regulatory risks related to the joint venture’s structure, which may adversely affect the Fund’s
pre-tax
returns. In addition, the Fund may, in certain cases, be liable for actions of its joint venture partners. The joint ventures in which we participate may sometimes be allocated investment opportunities that might have otherwise gone entirely to the Fund, which may reduce our return on equity. Additionally, our joint venture investments may be held on an unconsolidated basis and at times may be highly leveraged. Such leverage would not count toward the investment limits imposed on us by the 1940 Act.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Relating to Electronic Delivery of Certain Documents.
The shareholders will be deemed to consent to electronic delivery or posting to the Administrator’s website or other service of: (i) certain closing documents such as the Declaration of Trust, the Bylaws and the Subscription Agreements; (ii) any notices or communications required or contemplated to be delivered to the shareholders by the Fund, the Adviser, or any of their respective affiliates, pursuant to applicable law or regulation; (iii) certain
tax-related
information and documents; and (iv) drawdown notices and other notices, requests, demands, consents or other communications and any financial statements, reports, schedules, certificates or opinions required to be provided to the shareholders under any agreements. There are certain costs and possible risks associated with electronic delivery. Moreover, the Adviser cannot provide any assurance that these communication methods are secure and
 
42
will not be responsible for any computer viruses, problems or malfunctions resulting from the use of such communication methods. See “
–
Technology Systems
”
and
“
Cybersecurity
” above.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Relating to Handling of Mail.
Mail addressed to the Fund and received at its registered office will be forwarded unopened to the forwarding address supplied by the Fund to be processed. None of the Fund, the Adviser or any of their trustees, officers, advisors or Service Providers will bear any responsibility for any delay howsoever caused in mail reaching the forwarding address.
The Fund is Subject to General Credit Risks
.
The Fund may be exposed to losses resulting from default and foreclosure of any such loans or interests in loans in which it has invested. Therefore, the value of underlying collateral, the creditworthiness of borrowers and the priority of liens are each of great importance in determining the value of the Fund’s investments. In the event of foreclosure, the Fund or an affiliate thereof may assume direct ownership of any assets collateralizing such foreclosed loans. The liquidation proceeds upon the sale of such assets may not satisfy the entire outstanding balance of principal and interest on such foreclosed loans, resulting in a loss to the Fund. Any costs or delays involved in the effectuation of loan foreclosures or liquidation of the assets collateralizing such foreclosed loans will further reduce proceeds associated therewith and, consequently, increase possible losses to the Fund. In addition, no assurances can be made that borrowers or third parties will not assert claims in connection with foreclosure proceedings or otherwise, or that such claims will not interfere with the enforcement of the Fund’s rights.
The
Prices of the Fund
’
s Investments Can
be
Volatile
.
The prices of the Fund’s investments can be volatile. In addition, price movements may also be influenced by, among other things, changing supply and demand relationships, trade, fiscal, monetary and exchange control programs and national and international political and economic events and policies. In addition, governments from time to time intervene in certain markets. Such intervention often is intended directly to influence prices and may cause or contribute to rapid fluctuations in asset prices, which may adversely affect the Fund’s returns.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Relating to Syndication and/or Transfer of Investments
.
The Fund, directly or through the use of one or more subsidiary investment vehicles, may originate and/or purchase certain debt assets, including ancillary equity assets (“Assets”). The Fund may also purchase certain Assets (including, participation interests or other indirect economic interests) that have been originated by other affiliated or unaffiliated parties and/or trading on the secondary market. The Fund may, in certain circumstances, originate or purchase such Assets with the intent of syndicating and/or otherwise transferring a significant portion thereof. In such instances, the Fund will bear the risk of any decline in value prior to such syndication and/or other transfer. In addition, the Fund will also bear the risk of any inability to syndicate or otherwise transfer such Assets or such amount thereof as originally intended, which could result in the Fund owning a greater interest therein than anticipated.
The Fund May Need to Raise Additional Capital
.
The Fund may need additional capital to fund new investments and grow its portfolio of investments once it has fully invested the net proceeds of this offering. Unfavorable economic conditions could increase the Fund’s funding costs or limit its access to the capital. A reduction in the availability of new capital could limit the Fund’s ability to grow. In addition, the Fund is required to distribute at least 90% of its net ordinary income and net short-term capital gains in excess of net long-term capital losses, if any, to investors to maintain its qualification as a RIC. As a result, these earnings will not be available to fund new investments. An inability on the Fund’s part to access the capital successfully could limit its ability to grow its business and execute its business strategy fully and could decrease its earnings, if any, which would have an adverse effect on the value of its securities.
The Fund is Subject to Counterparty Risks
.
To the extent that contracts for investment will be entered into between the Fund and a market counterparty as principal (and not as agent), the Fund is exposed to the risk that the market counterparty may, in an insolvency or similar event, be unable to meet its contractual obligations to the Fund. The Fund may have a limited number of potential counterparties for certain of its investments, which
 
43
may significantly impair the Fund’s ability to reduce its exposure to counterparty risk. In addition, difficulty reaching an agreement with any single counterparty could limit or eliminate the Fund’s ability to execute such investments altogether. Because certain purchases, sales, hedging, financing arrangements and other instruments in which the Fund will engage are not traded on an exchange but are instead traded between counterparties based on contractual relationships, the Fund is subject to the risk that a counterparty will not perform its obligations under the related contracts. Although the Fund intends to pursue its remedies under any such contracts, there can be no assurance that a counterparty will not default and that the Fund will not sustain a loss on a transaction as a result.
The Fund is Dependent on Key Personnel
.
The Fund depends on the continued services of its Investment Team and other key management personnel. If the Fund were to lose any of these officers or other management personnel, such a loss could result in operating inefficiencies and lost business opportunities, which could have a negative effect on the Fund’s operating performance. Further, we do not intend to separately maintain key person life insurance on any of these individuals.
Investors May
be
Required to Return Distributions to Satisfy Unpaid Debts of the Fund
.
Under Delaware law, the investors could, under certain circumstances, be required to return distributions made by the Fund to satisfy unpaid debts of the Fund that were in existence at the time the distributions were made.
The Board May Make Certain Changes in the Fund
’
s Investment Objective, Operating Policies or Strategies Without Prior Notice or Investor Approval.
The Fund’s Board has the authority to modify or waive certain of the Fund’s operating policies and strategies without prior notice (except as required by the 1940 Act) and without investor approval. However, absent investor approval, the Fund may not change the nature of its business so as to cease to be, or withdraw its election as, a BDC. Under Delaware law, the Fund also cannot be dissolved without prior investor approval. The Fund cannot predict the effect any changes to its current operating policies and strategies would have on its business, operating results and value of its shares. Nevertheless, the effects may adversely affect the Fund’s business and impact its ability to make distributions.
The Board May Make Certain Changes to the Fund’s Declaration of Trust Without Prior Investor Approval.
Our Board may, without shareholder vote, subject to certain exceptions, amend or otherwise supplement the Declaration of Trust by making an amendment, a Declaration of Trust supplemental thereto or an amended and restated Declaration of Trust, including without limitation to classify the Board, to impose advance notice bylaw provisions for Trustee nominations or for shareholder proposals, to require super- majority approval of transactions with significant shareholders or other provisions that may be characterized as anti-takeover in nature.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Relating to Allocation of Investment Opportunities and Related Conflicts.
The Fund generally is prohibited under the 1940 Act from participating in certain transactions with its affiliates without prior approval of the Independent Trustees and, in some cases, the SEC. Any person that owns, directly or indirectly, 5% or more of the Fund’s outstanding voting securities is an affiliate of the Fund for purposes of the 1940 Act, and the Fund generally is prohibited from buying or selling any security from or to such affiliate, absent the prior approval of the Independent Trustees. The 1940 Act also prohibits certain “joint” transactions with certain of the Fund’s affiliates, which could include investments in the same issuers (whether at the same or different times), without prior approval of the Independent Trustees and, in some cases, the SEC. If a person acquires more than 25% of the Fund’s voting securities, the Fund will be prohibited from buying or selling any security from or to such person or certain of that person’s affiliates, or entering into prohibited joint transactions with such persons, absent the prior approval of the SEC. Similar restrictions limit the Fund’s ability to transact business with the Fund’s officers or Trustees or their affiliates. These prohibitions will affect the manner in which investment opportunities are allocated between the Fund and other funds managed by HPS or its affiliates. Most importantly, the Fund generally is prohibited from
co-investing
with Other HPS Investors or affiliates of the Adviser in
HPS-originated
loans and financings except for pursuant to the
co-investment
exemptive relief granted by the SEC which delineates the requirements the Adviser must comply with for the Fund to invest with Other HPS Investors.
 
44
Any such
co-investments
are subject to certain conditions, including that
co-investments
are made in a manner consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives and strategies, certain Board-established criteria, and the other applicable conditions of the
co-investment
exemptive relief. Under the terms of the relief, a “required majority” (as defined in Section 57(o) of the 1940 Act) of our Independent Trustees must reach certain conclusions in connection with a
co-investment
transaction, including that: (i) the terms of the proposed transaction are reasonable and fair to the Fund and its shareholders and do not involve overreaching in respect of the Fund or its shareholders on the part of any person concerned; and (ii) the transaction is consistent with the interests of the Fund’s shareholders and is consistent with the Fund’s then-current investment objectives and strategies.
As a result of the relief, there could be significant overlap in the Fund’s investment portfolio and the investment portfolios of Other HPS Investors, including, in some cases, proprietary accounts of HPS. Because investments are allocated across multiple HPS Accounts, the Fund will at times receive a lower allocation to an investment than desired; likewise, the Fund may also be limited in the degree to which it is able to participate in selling opportunities that it may otherwise wish to pursue due to allocations, including
non-pro
rata allocations, to Other HPS Investors.
If the Adviser identifies an investment and the Fund is unable to rely on the
co-investment
relief for that particular opportunity, the Adviser will be required to determine which accounts should make the investment at the potential exclusion of other accounts. In such circumstances, the Adviser will adhere to its investment allocation policy in order to determine the account to which to allocate investment opportunities. Accordingly, it is possible that the Fund may not be given the opportunity to participate in investments made by other accounts.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Relating to Distributions.
The Fund intends to pay monthly distributions to shareholders out of assets legally available for distribution. The Fund cannot guarantee that it will achieve investment results that will allow it to make a specified level of cash distributions or
year-to-year
increases in cash distributions. If the Fund is unable to satisfy the asset coverage test applicable to it as a BDC, or if the Fund violates certain debt financing agreements, its ability to pay distributions to shareholders could be limited. All distributions will be paid at the discretion of the Fund’s Board and will depend on the Fund’s earnings, financial condition, maintenance of RIC status, compliance with applicable BDC regulations, compliance with debt financing agreements and such other factors as the Board may deem relevant from time to time. The distributions the Fund pays to investors in a year may exceed the Fund’s taxable income for that year and, accordingly, a portion of such distributions may constitute a return of capital for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Investors who periodically receive the payment of a distribution from a RIC consisting of a return of capital for U.S. federal income tax purposes may be under the impression that they are receiving a distribution of RIC’s net ordinary income or capital gains when they are not. Accordingly, investors should read carefully any written disclosure accompanying a distribution from the Fund and the information about the specific tax characteristics of the Fund’s distributions provided to investors after the end of each calendar year, and should not assume that the source of any distribution is the Fund’s net ordinary income or capital gains. To the extent that the Fund’s distributions contain a return of capital, such distributions should not be considered the dividend yield or total return of an investment in the Common Shares. The amount treated as a
tax-free
return of capital will reduce a shareholder’s adjusted tax basis in the Common Shares, thereby increasing the shareholder’s potential taxable gain or reducing the potential taxable loss on the sale of Common Shares.
The Board has the Discretion to Not Repurchase Common Shares, to Suspend the Share Repurchase Program, and to Cease Repurchases.
Our Board has adopted a share repurchase program, which the Board may amend, suspend or terminate the share repurchase program at any time in its discretion. You may not be able to sell your shares at all in the event our Board amends, suspends or terminates the share repurchase program, absent a liquidity event, and we currently do not intend to undertake a liquidity event, and we are not obligated by our Declaration of Trust or otherwise to effect a liquidity event at any time. We will notify you of such developments in our quarterly reports or other filings. If less than the full amount of Common Shares requested
 
45
to be repurchased in any given repurchase offer are repurchased, funds will be allocated pro rata based on the total number of Common Shares being repurchased without regard to class. The share repurchase program has many limitations and should not be relied upon as a method to sell shares promptly or at a desired price.
The Timing of Repurchase May be Disadvantageous.
In the event a shareholder chooses to participate in our share repurchase program, the shareholder will be required to provide us with notice of intent to participate prior to knowing what the NAV per share of the class of shares being repurchased will be on the repurchase date. Although a shareholder will have the ability to withdraw a repurchase request prior to the repurchase date, to the extent a shareholder seeks to sell shares to us as part of our periodic share repurchase program, the shareholder will be required to do so without knowledge of what the repurchase price of our shares will be on the repurchase date.
Investing in Large Private U.S. Borrowers May Limit Our Ability to Achieve High Growth Rates During Times of Economic Expansion.
Investing in originated assets made to large private U.S. borrowers may result in our underperforming other segments of the market, particularly during times of economic expansion, because large private U.S. borrowers may be less responsive to competitive challenges and opportunities in the financial markets. As a result, our value may not rise at the same rate, if at all, as other funds that invest in smaller market capitalization companies that are more capable of responding to economic and industrial changes.
We Face Risks Associated With the Deployment of Our Capital.
In light of the nature of our continuous offering as well as ongoing and periodic private offerings in relation to our investment strategy and the need to be able to deploy potentially large amounts of capital quickly to capitalize on potential investment opportunities, if we have difficulty identifying investments on attractive terms, there could be a delay between the time we receive net proceeds from the sale of shares of our Common Shares in the offering or any private offering and the time we invest the net proceeds. Our proportion of privately-negotiated investments may be lower than expected. We may also from time to time hold cash pending deployment into investments or have less than our targeted leverage, which cash or shortfall in target leverage may at times be significant, particularly at times when we are receiving high amounts of offering proceeds and/or times when there are few attractive investment opportunities. Such cash may be held in an account for the benefit of our shareholders that may be invested in money market accounts or other similar temporary investments.
In the event we are unable to find suitable investments such cash may be maintained for longer periods which would be dilutive to overall investment returns. This could cause a substantial delay in the time it takes for your investment to realize its full potential return and could adversely affect our ability to pay regular distributions of cash flow from operations to shareholders. It is not anticipated that the temporary investment of such cash into money market accounts or other similar temporary investments pending deployment into investments will generate significant interest, and investors should understand that such low interest payments on the temporarily invested cash may adversely affect overall returns. In the event we fail to timely invest the net proceeds of sales of our Common Shares or do not deploy sufficient capital to meet our targeted leverage, our results of operations and financial condition may be adversely affected.
Transactions Denominated in Foreign Currencies Subject Us to Foreign Currency Risks.
We hold assets and have made borrowings denominated in foreign currencies including British Pounds Sterling, Euros, Canadian Dollars and Australian Dollars, and may acquire assets or make borrowings denominated in other foreign currencies, which exposes us to foreign currency risk. As a result, a change in foreign currency exchange rates may have an adverse impact on the valuation of our assets or liabilities, as well as our income and cash flows. As a result of foreign currency fluctuations, the value of our liabilities and expenses may increase or the value of our assets and income may decrease due to factors outside of our control, which can have a negative effect on our net asset value and cash available for distribution. Any such changes in foreign currency exchange rates may impact the measurement of such assets or liabilities for purposes of maintaining RIC tax treatment or the requirements under the 1940 Act. We may seek to hedge against currency exchange rate fluctuations by borrowing in foreign currencies or by using financial instruments such as futures, options, swaps and forward contracts, subject to the
 
46
requirements of the 1940 Act, but there is no guarantee such efforts will be successful and such hedging strategies create additional costs.
Our Investments in Foreign Companies or Investments Denominated in Foreign Currencies May Involve Significant Risks in Addition to the Risks Inherent in U.S. and U.S.
 Dollar Denominated Investments.
Our investment strategy contemplates potential investments in foreign companies. Investing in foreign companies may expose us to additional risks not typically associated with investing in U.S. companies. These risks include changes in exchange control regulations, political and social instability, expropriation, imposition of foreign taxes (potentially at confiscatory levels), less liquid markets, less available information than is generally the case in the U.S., higher transaction costs, less government supervision of exchanges, brokers and issuers, less developed bankruptcy laws, difficulty in enforcing contractual obligations, lack of uniform accounting and auditing standards and greater price volatility.
The Fund is Currently Operating in a Period of Capital Markets Disruption, Significant Volatility and Economic Uncertainty.
The global capital markets are experiencing a period of disruption and instability resulting in increasing spreads between the yields realized on riskier debt securities and those realized on risk-free securities, lack of liquidity in parts of the debt capital markets, significant write-offs in the financial services sector and the
re-pricing
of credit risk in the broadly syndicated market. Highly disruptive market conditions have resulted in increasing volatility and illiquidity in the global credit, debt and equity markets generally. The duration and ultimate effect of such market conditions cannot be accurately forecasted. Extreme uncertainty regarding economic markets is resulting in declines in the market values of potential investments and declines in the market values of investments after they are made or acquired by the Fund and affecting the potential for liquidity events involving such investments or portfolio companies. During periods of market disruption, portfolio companies may be more likely to seek to draw on unfunded commitments the Fund has made, and the risk of being unable to fund such commitments is heightened during such periods. Applicable accounting standards require the Fund to determine the fair value of its investments as the amount that would be received in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. While most of the Fund’s investments are not publicly traded, as part of the Fund’s valuation process the Fund considers a number of measures, including comparison to publicly traded securities. As a result, volatility in the public capital markets can adversely affect the Fund’s investment valuations.
Various social and political tensions around the world may contribute to increased market volatility, may have long-term effects on the worldwide financial markets and may cause further economic uncertainties worldwide. In particular, the consequences of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, including international sanctions, the potential impact on inflation and increased disruption to supply chains and a potential global recession may impact portfolio companies. Because Russia is a major exporter of oil and natural gas, the invasion and related sanctions have reduced the supply, and increased the price, of energy, which is accelerating inflation and may exacerbate ongoing supply chain issues. There is also the risk of retaliatory actions by Russia against countries which have enacted sanctions, including cyberattacks against financial and governmental institutions, which could result in business disruptions and further economic turbulence. Such consequences also may increase the Fund’s funding cost or limit its access to the capital markets.
A prolonged period of market illiquidity may cause the Fund to reduce the volume of loans and debt securities originated and/or fund and adversely affect the value of the Fund’s portfolio investments, which could have a material and adverse effect on the Fund’s business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
We are Exposed to Risks Associated With Changes in Interest Rates, Including the Current Rising Interest Rate Environment.
General interest rate fluctuations may have a substantial negative impact on our investments and our investment returns and, accordingly, may have a material adverse effect on our investment objective and our net investment income.
 
47
Because we borrow money and may issue debt securities or preferred shares to make investments, our net investment income is dependent upon the difference between the rate at which we borrow funds or pay interest or dividends on such debt securities or preferred shares and the rate at which we invest these funds. In this period of rising interest rates, our interest income will increase as the majority of our portfolio bears interest at variable rates while our cost of funds will also increase, to a lesser extent, with the net impact being an increase to our net investment income. Conversely, if interest rates decrease we may earn less interest income from investments and our cost of funds will also decrease, potentially resulting in lower net investment income. In the current economic environment, we may take on fixed rate liabilities, such as the November 2025 Notes and November 2027 Notes, which will remain at the elevated interest rate even if interest rates decrease. Thus, the decrease in our investment income would not be offset by decreased borrowing costs, potentially affecting the Fund’s future distributions to shareholders. From time to time, we may also enter into certain hedging transactions to mitigate our exposure to changes in interest rates and to more closely align the interest rates of the Fund’s liabilities with the Fund’s investment portfolio. In the past, we have entered into certain hedging transactions, such as interest rate swap agreements, to mitigate our exposure to adverse fluctuations in interest rates, and we may do so again in the future. However, we cannot assure you that such transactions will be successful in mitigating our exposure to interest rate risk. There can be no assurance that a significant change in market interest rates will not have a material adverse effect on our net investment income.
Rising interest rates may also increase the cost of debt for our underlying portfolio companies, which could adversely impact their financial performance and ability to meet ongoing obligations to us. Also, an increase in interest rates available to investors could make an investment in our Common Shares less attractive if we are not able to pay distributions at a level that provides a similar return, which could reduce the value of our Common Shares.
Risks Relating to the Fund’s Investments
Our investments may be risky and, subject to compliance with our 80% test, there is no limit on the amount of any such investments in which we may invest.
The Fund is Subject to 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.
The Fund’s Portfolio Companies May be Highly Leveraged.
Portfolio companies may be highly leveraged, and there may be 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
 
48
leveraged company’s income and net assets will tend to increase or decrease at a greater rate than if borrowed money were not used.
If a portfolio company is unable to generate sufficient cash flow to meet principal and interest payments to its lenders, it may be forced to take other actions to satisfy such obligations under its indebtedness. These alternative measures may include reducing or delaying capital expenditures, selling assets, seeking additional capital, or restructuring or refinancing indebtedness. Any of these actions could significantly reduce the value of the Fund’s investment(s) in such portfolio company. If such strategies are not successful and do not permit the portfolio company to meet its scheduled debt service obligations, the portfolio company may also be forced into liquidation, dissolution or insolvency, and the value of the Fund’s investment in such portfolio company could be significantly reduced or even eliminated.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Relating to 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.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Due to its Reliance on Portfolio 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 and/or by maintaining an ongoing dialogue with the company’s management and/or sponsor team. However, the Fund generally will not be in a position to control any borrower by virtue of investing in its debt and the portfolio company’s management will be primarily responsible for the operations of the company on a
day-to-day
basis. Although it is the intent of the Fund to invest in companies with strong management teams, there can be no assurance that the existing management team, or any new one, will be able to operate the company successfully. In addition, the Fund is subject to the risk that a borrower in which it invests may make business decisions with which the Fund disagrees and the management of such borrower, as representatives of the common equity holders, may take risks or otherwise act in ways that do not serve the interests of the debt investors, including the Fund. Furthermore, in exercising its investment discretion, the Adviser may in certain circumstances commit funds of the Fund to other entities that will be given a mandate to make certain investments consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and that may earn a performance-based fee on those investments. Once such a commitment is made, such entities will have full control over the investment of such funds, and the Adviser will cease to have such control.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Relating to 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 shareholders) 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 “
–
The Fund is Subject to Risks from Provision of Managerial Assistance and Control Person Liability
” below.
The Value of Certain Portfolio Investments May Not
be
Readily Determinable
. 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
 
49
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 were materially higher than the values that the Fund ultimately realizes upon the disposal of such loans and securities. In addition, the method of calculating the management fee and incentive fee may result in conflicts of interest between the Adviser, on the one hand, and investors on the other hand, with respect to the valuation of investments.
The Fund May Elect Not to or May be Unable 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 voting 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.
The Fund may elect not to make
follow-on
investments or otherwise lack sufficient funds to make those investments.
The Fund has the discretion to make any
follow-on
investments, subject to the availability of capital resources. The failure to make
follow-on
investments may, in some circumstances, jeopardize the continued viability of a portfolio company and the Fund’s initial investment, or may result in a missed opportunity for the Fund to increase its participation in a successful operation. Even if the Fund has sufficient capital to make a desired
follow-on
investment, it may elect not to make a
follow-on
investment because it may not want to increase its concentration of risk, because it prefers other opportunities or because it is inhibited by compliance with BDC requirements, or compliance with the requirements for maintenance of its RIC status.
The Fund May Be Subject to Risks Due to 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
 
50
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.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Relating to 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.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Relating to 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 generally be borne by the Fund (to the extent not borne by the portfolio companies) and would reduce net assets. The Adviser and others are indemnified in connection with such litigation, subject to certain conditions.
Inflation May Adversely Affect the Business, Results of Operations and Financial Condition of Our Portfolio Companies.
Certain of our portfolio companies may be impacted by inflation. If such portfolio companies are unable pass any increases in their costs along to their customers, it could adversely affect their results and their ability to pay interest and principal on our loans. In addition, any projected future decreases in our portfolio companies’ operating results due to inflation could adversely impact the fair value of those investments. Any decreases in the fair value of our investments could result in future unrealized losses and therefore reduce our net assets resulting from operations.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Related to Reliance on Projections.
The Fund may rely upon projections developed by the Adviser concerning an investment’s future performance, outcome and cash flow. Projections are inherently subject to uncertainty and factors beyond the control of the Adviser. The inaccuracy of certain assumptions, the failure to satisfy certain requirements and the occurrence of other unforeseen events could impair the ability of an investment to realize projected values, outcomes and cash flow.
Economic Conditions May Have Adverse Effects on the Fund and the Portfolio Companies.
The Fund and the portfolio companies in which the Fund invests may be adversely affected by deterioration in the financial markets and economic conditions throughout the world, some of which may magnify the risks described herein and have other adverse effects. Deteriorating market conditions could result in increasing volatility and illiquidity in the global credit, debt and equity markets generally. The duration and ultimate effect of adverse market conditions cannot be accurately forecast, nor is it known whether or the degree to which such conditions may remain stable or worsen. Deteriorating market conditions and uncertainty regarding economic markets generally could result in declines in the market values of potential investments or declines in the market values of investments after they are acquired by the Fund. Such declines could lead to weakened investment opportunities for the Fund, could prevent the Fund from successfully meeting its investment objective or could require the Fund to dispose of investments at a loss while such unfavorable market conditions prevail. In addition, the investment opportunities of the Fund may be dependent in part upon the consummation of leveraged buyouts and other private equity sponsored transactions, recapitalizations, refinancings, acquisitions and structured transactions. If fewer of these transactions occur than the Adviser expects, there may be limited investment opportunities for the Fund. Periods of prolonged market stability may also adversely affect the investment opportunities available to the Fund.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Relating to Reduced Investment Opportunities.
The Adviser believes that volatility and instability in the credit markets can create significant investment opportunities for the Fund. If the
 
51
credit markets stabilize, in particular, in the Fund’s target upper middle market sector, there may be reduced investment opportunities for the Fund and/or the Fund may not be able acquire investments on favorable terms. Periods of prolonged market stability may also adversely affect the investment opportunity set available to the Fund.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Relating to Investments in Undervalued
Assets
.
The Fund may invest in undervalued loans and other assets as part of its investment strategy. The identification of investment opportunities in undervalued loans and other assets is a difficult task, and there is no assurance that such opportunities will be successfully recognized or acquired. While investments in undervalued assets offer the opportunity for above-average capital appreciation, these investments involve a high degree of financial risk and can result in substantial or complete losses.
The Fund may incur substantial losses related to assets purchased on the belief that they were undervalued by their sellers, if they were not in fact undervalued at the time of purchase. In addition, the Fund may be required to hold such assets for a substantial period of time before realizing their anticipated value, and there is no assurance that the value of the assets would not decline further during such time. Moreover, during this period, a portion of the Fund’s assets would be committed to those assets purchased, thus preventing the Fund from investing in other opportunities. In addition, the Fund may finance such purchases with borrowed funds and thus will have to pay interest on such borrowed amounts during the holding period.
The Fund Operates in a Competitive Debt Environment.
The business of investing in debt investments is highly competitive and involves a high degree of uncertainty. Market competition for investment opportunities includes traditional lending institutions, including commercial and investment banks, as well as a growing number of
non-traditional
participants, such as hedge funds, private equity funds, mezzanine funds, and other private investors, as well as BDCs, and debt-focused competitors, such as issuers of collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”) and other structured loan funds. In addition, given the Fund’s target investment size and investment type, the Adviser expects a large number of competitors for investment opportunities. Some of these competitors may have access to greater amounts of capital and to capital that may be committed for longer periods of time or may have different return thresholds than the Fund, and thus these competitors may have advantages not shared by the Fund. In addition, competitors may have incurred, or may in the future incur, leverage to finance their debt investments at levels or on terms more favorable than those available to the Fund. Furthermore, competitors may offer loan terms that are more favorable to borrowers, such as less onerous borrower financial and other covenants, borrower rights to cure defaults, and other terms more favorable to borrowers than current or historical norms. Strong competition for investments could result in fewer investment opportunities for the Fund, as certain of these competitors have established or are establishing investment vehicles that target the same or similar investments that the Fund intends to purchase.
Over the past several years, many investment funds have been formed with investment objectives similar to those of the Fund, and many such existing funds have grown in size and have added larger successor funds to their platform. These and other investors may make competing offers for investment opportunities identified by the Adviser which may affect the Fund’s ability to participate in attractive investment opportunities and/or cause the Fund to incur additional risks when competing for investment opportunities. Moreover, identifying attractive investment opportunities is difficult and involves a high degree of uncertainty. The Adviser may identify an investment that presents an attractive investment opportunity but may not be able to complete such investment in a manner that meets the objectives of the Fund. The Fund may incur significant expenses in connection with the identification of investment opportunities and investigating other potential investments that are ultimately not consummated, including expenses related to due diligence, transportation and legal, accounting and other professional services as well as the fees of other third-party service providers.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Relating to Illiquidity of the Fund
’
s Assets and Distributions
In
Kind.
The Fund invests primarily in private illiquid debt, loans and other assets for which no (or only a limited) liquid market exists or that are subject to legal or other restrictions on transfer and are difficult to sell in a secondary
 
52
market. In some cases, the Fund may be prohibited from selling such investments for a period of time or otherwise be restricted from disposing of such investments. The market prices, if any, for such assets tend to be volatile, and may fluctuate due to a variety of factors that are inherently difficult to predict. Furthermore, the types of investments made may require a substantial length of time to liquidate due to the lack of an established market for such investments or other factors. As a result, there is a significant risk that the Fund may be unable to realize its investment objective by sale or other disposition at attractive prices or will otherwise be unable to complete any exit strategy. Accordingly, the Adviser is unable to predict with confidence what, if any, exit strategies will ultimately be available for any given asset. Exit strategies which appear to be viable when an investment is initiated may be precluded by the time the investment is ready to be realized due to economic, legal or other reasons, and the Fund may not be able to sell assets when the Fund desires to do so or to realize what the Adviser perceives to be the fair value of its assets in the event of a sale. Further, although the Adviser may at the time of making investments expect a certain portion of such investments to be refinanced or repaid before maturity, depending on economic conditions, interest rates and other variables, borrowers may not finance or repay loans early. Restricted securities may sell at a price lower than similar securities that are not subject to restrictions on resale. In addition, in times of extreme market disruption, there may be no market at all for one or more asset classes, potentially resulting in the inability of the Fund to dispose of its assets for an indefinite period of time. Even if investments are successful, they are unlikely to produce a realized return to shareholders for a period of years. Furthermore, a portion of interest on investments is paid in kind rather than in cash to the Fund.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Relating to Priority of Repayment of Debt Investments
.
The characterization of an investment as senior debt or senior secured debt does not mean that such debt will necessarily have repayment priority with respect to all other obligations of a portfolio company. Portfolio companies may have, and/or may be permitted to incur, other debt and liabilities that rank equally with or senior to the senior loans in which the Fund invests. If other indebtedness is incurred that ranks in parity in right of payment or proceeds of collateral with respect to debt securities in which the Fund invests, the Fund would have to share on an equal basis any distributions with other creditors in the event of a liquidation, reorganization, insolvency, dissolution or bankruptcy of such a portfolio company. Where the Fund holds a first lien to secure senior indebtedness, the portfolio companies may be permitted to issue other senior loans with liens that rank junior to the first liens granted to the Fund. The intercreditor rights of the holders of such other junior lien debt may, in any liquidation, reorganization, insolvency, dissolution or bankruptcy of such a portfolio company, affect the recovery that the Fund would have been able to achieve in the absence of such other debt.
Even where the senior loans held by the Fund are secured by a perfected lien over a substantial portion of the assets of a portfolio company and its subsidiaries, the portfolio company and its subsidiaries will often be able to incur a substantial amount of additional indebtedness, which may have an exclusive lien over particular assets. For example, debt and other liabilities incurred by
non-guarantor
subsidiaries of portfolio companies will be structurally senior to the debt held by the Fund. Accordingly, any such debt and other liabilities of such subsidiaries would, in the event of liquidation, dissolution, insolvency, reorganization or bankruptcy of such subsidiary, be repaid in full before any distributions to an obligor of the loans held by the Fund. Furthermore, these other assets over which other lenders have a lien may be substantially more liquid or valuable than the assets over which the Fund has a lien. The Fund invests in second-lien secured debt, which compounds the risks described in this paragraph.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Relating to Certain Guarantees
.
The
Fund may invest in debt that is guaranteed by a subsidiary of the issuer. In some circumstances, guarantees of secured debt issued by subsidiaries of a portfolio company and held by the Fund may be subject to fraudulent conveyance or similar avoidance claims made by other creditors of such subsidiaries under applicable insolvency laws. As a result, such creditors may take priority over the claims of the Fund under such guarantees. Under federal or state fraudulent transfer law, a court may void or otherwise decline to enforce such debt and the Fund would no longer have any claim against such portfolio company or the applicable guarantor. In addition, the court might direct the Fund to disgorge any amounts already received from the portfolio company or a guarantor. In some cases, significant subsidiaries of portfolio companies may not guarantee the obligations of the portfolio company; in other cases, a
 
53
portfolio company may have the ability to release subsidiaries as guarantors of the portfolio company’s obligations. The repayment of such investments may depend on cash flow from subsidiaries of a portfolio company that are not themselves guarantors of the portfolio company’s obligations.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Relating to Secured Loans
.
Most of the loans held by the Fund are secured. These investments may be subject to the risk that the Fund’s security interests in the underlying collateral are not properly or fully perfected. Compounding these risks, the collateral securing debt investments will often be subject to casualty or devaluation risks.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Relating to Senior Secured Debt and Unitranche Debt.
When the Fund invests in senior secured term debt and unitranche debt, it will generally take a security interest in the available assets of these portfolio companies, including equity interests in their subsidiaries. There is a risk that the collateral securing the Fund’s investments may decrease in value over time or lose its entire value, may be difficult to sell in a timely manner, may be difficult to appraise and may fluctuate in value based upon the success of the business and market conditions, including as a result of the inability of the portfolio company to raise additional capital. Also, in some circumstances, the Fund’s security interest could be subordinated to claims of other creditors. In addition, any deterioration in a portfolio company’s financial condition and prospects, including any inability on its part to raise additional capital, may result in the deterioration in the value of the related collateral. Consequently, the fact that debt is secured does not guarantee that the Fund will receive principal and interest payments according to the investment terms or at all, or that the Fund will be able to collect on the investment should the Fund be forced to enforce its remedies.
The Fund is Subject to Business and Credit Risks
.
Investments made by the Fund generally will involve a significant degree of financial and/or business risk. The securities in which the Fund invests may pay fixed, variable or floating rates of interest, and may include
zero-coupon
obligations or interest that is
paid-in-kind
(which tend to increase business and credit risks if an investment becomes impaired because there would be little to no realized proceeds through cash interest payments prior to such impairment). These types of securities are subject to the risk of the issuer’s inability to make principal and interest payments on its obligations (
i.e.
, credit risk) and are also subject to price volatility due to such factors as interest rate sensitivity, market perception of the creditworthiness of the issuer and general market liquidity (
i.e.
, market risk).
Business risks may be more significant in smaller portfolio companies or those that are embarking on a
build-up
or operating turnaround strategy. Such companies may have no or short operating histories, new technologies and products and their management teams may have limited experience working together, all of which enhance the difficulty of evaluating these investment opportunities. The management of such companies will need to implement and maintain successful finance personnel and other operational strategies and resources in order to become and remain successful. Other substantial operational risks to which such companies are subject include uncertain market acceptance of the company’s services, a potential regulatory risk for new or untried and/or untested business models (if applicable), products and services to the extent they relate to regulated activities in the relevant jurisdiction, high levels of competition among similarly situated companies, lower capitalizations and fewer financial resources and the potential for rapid organizational or strategic change. Such companies will have no or short operating histories on which to judge future performance and in many cases, if operating, will have negative cash flow.
The Fund
’
s Investments May
be
Affected by Force Majeure Events.
The instruments in which the Fund invests may be affected by force majeure events (
i.e.
, events beyond the control of the party claiming that the event has occurred, including, without limitation, acts of God, fire, flood, earthquakes, outbreaks of an infectious disease, pandemic or any other serious public health concern, war, terrorism and labor strikes). Some force majeure events may adversely affect the ability of a portfolio company to perform its obligations until it is able to remedy the force majeure event. In addition, the cost to a portfolio company of repairing or replacing damaged assets resulting from such force majeure event could be considerable. Additionally, a major governmental intervention into industry, including the nationalization of an industry or the assertion of control over one or
 
54
more companies or its assets, could result in a loss, including if the Fund’s investment in such issuer is cancelled, unwound or acquired (which could be without what the Adviser considers to be adequate compensation). Certain force majeure events (such as war or an outbreak of an infectious disease) could have a broader negative impact on the world economy and international business activity generally, or in any of the countries in which the Fund may invest specifically. To the extent the Fund is exposed to investments in issuers that as a group are exposed to such force majeure events, the Fund’s risks and potential losses are enhanced.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Relating to Infectious Disease and Pandemics
. Certain illnesses spread rapidly and have the potential to significantly adversely affect the global economy. Outbreaks such as the severe acute respiratory syndrome, avian influenza, H1N1/09, and, most recently, the coronavirus
(COVID-19),
or other similarly infectious diseases may have material adverse impacts on the Fund, the Adviser, their respective affiliates and portfolio companies. Actual pandemics, or fear of pandemics, can trigger market disruptions or economic turndowns with the consequences described above. The Adviser cannot predict the likelihood of disease outbreaks occurring in the future nor how such outbreaks may affect the Fund’s investments.
The outbreak of disease epidemics may result in the closure of the Adviser’s and/or a portfolio company’s offices or other businesses, including office buildings, retail stores and other commercial venues and could also result in (a) the lack of availability or price volatility of raw materials or component parts necessary to a portfolio company’s business which may adversely affect the ability of a portfolio company to perform its obligations, (b) disruption of regional or global trade markets and/or the availability of capital, (c) the availability of leverage, including an inability to obtain indebtedness at all or to the Fund’s desired degree, and less favorable timing of repayment and other terms with respect to such leverage, (d) trade or travel restrictions which impact a portfolio company’s business and/or (e) a general economic decline and have an adverse impact on the Fund’s value, the Fund’s investments, or the Fund’s ability to make new investments.
If a future pandemic occurs (including a recurrence of
COVID-19)
during a period when the Fund expects to be harvesting its investments, the Fund may not achieve its investment objective or may not be able to realize its investments within the Fund’s term.
The Fund May Invest in Loans with Limited Amortization Requirements
.
The Fund may invest in loans that have limited mandatory amortization requirements. While such a loan may obligate a portfolio company to repay the loan out of asset sale proceeds or with annual excess cash flow, such requirements may be subject to substantial limitations and/or “baskets” that would allow a portfolio company to retain such proceeds or cash flow, thereby extending the expected weighted average life of the investment. In addition, a low level of amortization of any debt over the life of the investment may increase the risk that a portfolio company will not be able to repay or refinance the loans held by the Fund when they come due at their final stated maturity.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Relating to Potential Early Redemption of Some Investments.
The terms of loans in which the Fund invests may be subject to early redemption features, refinancing options, prepayment options or similar provisions which, in each case, could result in the issuer repaying the principal of an obligation held by the Fund earlier than expected, either with no or a nominal prepayment premium. This may happen when there is a decline in interest rates, or when the borrower’s improved credit or operating or financial performance allows the refinancing of certain classes of debt with lower cost debt or when general credit market conditions improve. Assuming an improvement in the credit market conditions, early repayments of the debt held by the Fund could increase. There is no assurance that the Fund will be able to reinvest proceeds received from prepayments in assets that satisfy its investment objective, and any delay in reinvesting such proceeds may materially affect the performance of the Fund. Conversely, if the prepayment does not occur within the expected timeframe or if the debt does not otherwise become liquid, the term of the Fund may be longer than expected or the Fund may make distributions in kind.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Relating to Licensing Requirements
.
Certain banking and regulatory bodies or agencies in or outside the United States may require the Fund, the Adviser and/or certain employees of HPS to
 
55
obtain licenses or authorizations to engage in many types of lending activities including the origination of loans. It may take a significant amount of time and expense to obtain such licenses or authorizations and the Fund may be required to bear the cost of obtaining such licenses and authorizations. There can be no assurance that any such licenses or authorizations would be granted or, if granted, whether any such licenses or authorizations would impose restrictions on the Fund. Such licenses or authorizations may require the disclosure of confidential information about the Fund, shareholders or their respective affiliates, including the identity, financial information and/or information regarding the shareholders and their officers and trustees. The Fund may not be willing or able to comply with these requirements. Alternatively, the Adviser may be compelled to structure certain potential investments in a manner that would not require such licenses and authorizations, although such transactions may be inefficient or otherwise disadvantageous for the Fund and/or any relevant portfolio company, including because of the risk that licensing authorities would not accept such structuring alternatives in lieu of obtaining a license or authorization. The inability of the Fund or the Adviser to obtain necessary licenses or authorizations, the structuring of an investment in an inefficient or otherwise disadvantageous manner, or changes in licensing regulations, could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to implement its investment program and achieve its intended results.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Relating to Minority Investments and Joint Ventures
.
The Fund may make minority equity investments in entities in which the Fund does not control the business or affairs of such entities. In addition, the Fund intends to
co-invest
with other parties through partnerships, joint ventures or other entities and the Adviser may share management fees, incentive fees and/or other forms of compensation with such parties. The Adviser expects that in some cases the Fund will have control over, or significant influence on, the decision making of joint ventures. However, in other cases, in particular with respect to certain terms, amendments and waivers related to the underlying loans, the joint venture partner may have controlling or blocking rights (including because certain decisions require unanimous approval of the joint venture partners) or a tie vote among joint venture partners may be resolved by an appointed third party. Where a joint venture partner or third party has controlling or blocking rights or decision-making power with respect to a joint venture matter, there can be no assurance that the matter will be resolved in the manner desired by the Fund. In addition, these types of voting arrangements may slow the decision-making process and hinder the joint venture’s ability to act quickly.
Cooperation among joint venture partners or
co-investors
on existing and future business decisions will be an important factor for the sound operation and financial success of any joint venture or other business in which the Fund is involved. In particular, a joint venture partner or
co-investor
may have economic or business interests or goals that are inconsistent with those of the Fund, and the Fund may not be in a position to limit or otherwise protect the value of one or more of the Fund’s investments. Disputes among joint venture partners or
co-investors
over obligations, expenses or other matters could have an adverse effect on the financial conditions or results of operations of the relevant businesses. In addition, the Fund may in certain circumstances be liable for actions of its joint venture partners.
In certain cases, conflicts of interest may arise between the Fund and a joint venture partner, for example, because the joint venture partner has invested in a different level of the issuer’s capital structure or because the joint venture partner has different investment goals or timelines. There can be no assurance that a joint venture partner with divergent interests from the Fund will cause the joint venture to be managed in a manner that is favorable to the Fund. In addition, it is anticipated that the Fund could be invested in debt instruments issued by a joint venture entity while one or more other clients managed by HPS will be invested in equity interests in such entity or vice versa, which presents certain potential conflicts of interest with respect to the capital structure of such entity.
The Fund is Subject to Risks from Provision of Managerial Assistance and Control Person Liability
.
The Fund may obtain rights to participate in the governance of certain of the Fund’s portfolio companies. In such instances, the Fund typically will designate board members to serve on the boards of portfolio companies. The designation of representatives and other measures contemplated could expose the assets of the Fund to claims by
 
56
a portfolio company, its security holders and its creditors, including claims that the Fund is a controlling person and thus is liable for securities laws violations and other liabilities of a portfolio company. The exercise of control over a company may impose additional risks of liability for environmental damage, product defects, failure to supervise management, violation of governmental regulations (including securities laws) or other types of liability in which the limited liability generally characteristic of business ownership may be ignored. If these liabilities were to arise, the Fund might suffer a significant loss. These measures also could result in certain liabilities in the event of the bankruptcy or reorganization of a portfolio company, could result in claims against the Fund if the designated board members violate their fiduciary or other duties to a portfolio company or fail to exercise appropriate levels of care under applicable corporate or securities laws, environmental laws or other legal principles, and could expose the Fund to claims that it has interfered in management to the detriment of a portfolio company. While the Adviser intends to operate the Fund in a way that will minimize the exposure to these risks, the possibility of successful claims cannot be precluded, nor can there be any assurance as to whether laws, rules, regulations and court decisions will be expanded or otherwise applied in a manner that is adverse to portfolio companies and the Fund and the shareholders.
The Fund is Subject to Risks of Investments in Certain Countries.
The Fund makes investments in a number of different countries, some of which may prove unstable. Depending on the country in which a portfolio company is located, such investments may involve a number of risks, including the risk of adverse political developments such as nationalization, confiscation without fair compensation or war, and the risk of regulations which might prevent the implementation of cost cutting or other operational improvements.
A portion of the Fund’s assets have been and continue to be invested in loans denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar or the price of which is determined with references to such currencies. As a result, any fluctuation in exchange rates will affect the value of investments. The Fund generally expects to employ hedging techniques designed to reduce the risk of adverse movements in currency exchange rates. Furthermore, the Fund may incur costs in connection with conversions between various currencies.
Investments in corporations or assets in certain countries may require significant government approvals under corporate, securities, exchange control, foreign investment and other similar laws. In addition, such investments may give rise to taxes in local jurisdictions, for which a shareholder may not be entitled to any corresponding credit or tax benefit to a shareholder. Such investments may also give rise to tax filing obligations for shareholders in these jurisdictions, although the Adviser may structure such investments so as to prevent such obligations from being imposed on shareholders. Also, some governments from time to time may impose restrictions intended to prevent capital flight, which may, for example, involve punitive taxation (including high withholding taxes) on certain securities or asset transfers or the imposition of exchange controls making it difficult or impossible to exchange or repatriate the local currency. In addition, the laws of various countries governing business organizations, bankruptcy and insolvency may make legal action difficult and provide little, if any, legal protection for investors.
The availability of information within developing countries and emerging market jurisdictions, including information concerning their economies and the securities of companies in such countries, and the amount of government supervision and regulation of private companies in developing countries, generally is more limited than is the case in more developed countries. The accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards and practices of certain countries may not be equivalent to those employed in more developed countries and may differ in fundamental respects. Accordingly, the Fund’s ability to conduct due diligence in connection with their investments and to monitor the investments may be adversely affected by these factors. The Fund may not be in a position to take legal or management control of its investments in certain countries. It may have limited legal recourse in the event of a dispute, and remedies might have to be pursued in the courts of the country in question where it may be difficult to obtain and enforce a judgment.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Relating to the Euro, the Eurozone and
Brexit
.
The United Kingdom left the European Union single market and customs union under the terms of a new trade agreement on December 31,
 
57
2020 (“Brexit”). The agreement governs the new relationship between the United Kingdom and European Union with respect to trading goods and services, but critical aspects of the relationship remain unresolved and subject to further negotiation and agreement. It is not currently possible to determine the full extent to which Brexit will impact financial markets and potentially, Fund investments. Political and economic uncertainty and periods of exacerbated volatility in both the United Kingdom and in wider European markets may continue for some time. In particular, the United Kingdom’s decision to leave the European Union may lead to a call for similar referenda in other European jurisdictions, which may cause increased economic volatility in the European and global markets.
This
mid-
to long-term uncertainty may have an adverse effect on the economy generally and on the ability of the Fund to execute its strategy and to receive attractive returns. In particular, currency volatility may mean that the returns of the Fund are adversely affected by market movements and may make it more difficult, or more expensive, for the Fund to execute prudent currency hedging policies. Potential decline in the value of the British pound sterling and/or the euro against other currencies, along with the potential downgrading of the United Kingdom’s sovereign credit rating, may also have an impact on the performance of investments located in the United Kingdom or Europe.
In light of the above, no definitive assessment can currently be made regarding the impact that Brexit will have on the Fund, the portfolio companies or the investments.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Relating to its Hedging Strategy and Policies.
The Fund generally expects to employ hedging or other risk management techniques designed to reduce the risk of adverse interest rate or currency movements, credit market risk and certain other risks. There can be no assurance that any hedging transactions will be successful or comprehensive. For example, the Fund may not be able to or may elect not to hedge interest payments in foreign currencies. Similarly, the Fund may hedge certain credit markets generally in order to seek to provide overall risk reduction to the Fund. The variable degree of correlation between price movements of hedging instruments and price movements in the position being hedged creates the possibility that losses on the hedge may be greater, or gains smaller, than losses or gains, as the case may be, in the value of the underlying position. While the transactions implementing such hedging strategies may reduce certain risks, such transactions themselves may entail certain other risks, such as the risk that counterparties to such transactions may default on their obligations and the risk that the prices and/or cash flows being hedged behave differently than expected. Thus, while the Fund may benefit from the use of hedging mechanisms, unanticipated changes in interest rates, currency exchange rates, commodity prices, securities prices or credit market movements may result in a poorer overall performance for the Fund than if it had not entered into such hedging transactions. Additionally, hedging transactions will add to the cost of an investment, may require ongoing cash payments to counterparties, may subject the Fund to the risk that the counterparty defaults on its obligations, and may produce different economic or tax consequences to the shareholders than would apply if the Fund had not entered into such hedging transactions. The Fund may engage in short selling and use derivative instruments (including commodities hedging instruments) in implementing hedging transactions, including futures contracts, swaps, forward contracts, and options. Furthermore, upon the bankruptcy, insolvency or liquidation of any counterparty, the Fund may be deemed to be a general unsecured creditor of such counterparty and could suffer a total loss with respect to any positions and/or transactions with such counterparty.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Relating to Derivatives.
Generally, derivatives are financial contracts whose value depends on, or is derived from, the value of an underlying asset, reference rate or index, and may relate to individual debt or equity instruments, interest rates, currencies or currency exchange rates, commodities, related indexes and other assets. The Fund may, directly or indirectly, use various derivative instruments including options contracts, futures contracts, swaps, forward contracts, options on futures contracts, indexed securities and swap agreements for hedging and risk management purposes. The Fund also may use derivative instruments to approximate or achieve the economic equivalent of an otherwise permitted investment (as if the Fund directly invested in the loans, claims or securities of the subject issuer) or if such instruments are related to an otherwise permitted investment. The Fund’s use of derivative instruments involves investment risks and transaction costs to
 
58
which the Fund would not be subject absent the use of these instruments and, accordingly, may result in losses that would not occur if such instruments had not been used. The use of derivative instruments may entail risks including, among others, leverage risk, volatility risk, duration mismatch risk, correlation risk and counterparty risk.
The Fund’s Ability to Enter into Transactions Involving Derivatives and Financial Commitment Transactions May be Limited.
In August 2022, Rule
18f-4
under the 1940 Act, regarding the ability of a BDC (or a registered investment company) to use derivatives and other transactions that create future payment or delivery obligations (including reverse repurchase agreements and similar financing transactions), became effective. Under the newly adopted rule, BDCs that make significant use of derivatives are subject to a
value-at-risk
leverage limit, a derivatives risk management program, testing requirements, and requirements related to board reporting. These new requirements will apply unless the BDC qualifies as a “limited derivatives user,” as defined in the rule. Under the new rule, a BDC may enter into an unfunded commitment agreement that is not a derivatives transaction, such as an agreement to provide financing to a portfolio company, if the BDC has, among other things, a reasonable belief, at the time it enters into such an agreement, that it will have sufficient cash and cash equivalents to meet its obligations with respect to all of its unfunded commitment agreements, in each case as it becomes due. Under the final rule, when the Fund trades reverse repurchase agreements or similar financing transactions, including certain tender option bonds, the Fund needs to aggregate the amount of indebtedness associated with the reverse repurchase agreements or similar financing transactions with the aggregate amount of any other senior securities representing indebtedness (
e.g.
, bank borrowings, if applicable) when calculating our asset coverage ratio. The Fund currently operates as a “limited derivatives user,” and these requirements may limit the Fund’s ability to use derivatives and/or enter into certain other financial contracts.
Changes in Interest Rates May Adversely Affect the Fund
’
s Investments.
Many loans, especially fixed rate loans, decline in value when long-term interest rates increase. Declines in market value may ultimately reduce earnings or result in losses to the Fund, which may negatively affect cash available for distribution to shareholders. In addition, in a low interest rate environment, borrowers may be less likely to prepay their debts and loans may therefore remain outstanding for a longer period of time.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Relating to Contingent Liabilities.
The Fund is expected to incur contingent liabilities in connection with an investment from time to time. For example, in connection with the disposition of an investment, the Fund may be required to make representations about the business and financial affairs of the underlying assets or business, or be responsible for the contents of disclosure documents. These arrangements may result in the incurrence of accrued expenses, liabilities or contingencies for which the Fund may establish reserves or escrow accounts. The Fund also expects to invest in a delayed draw or revolving credit facility. If the borrower subsequently draws down on the facility, the Fund would be obligated to fund the amounts due. The Fund may incur numerous other types of contingent liabilities. There can be no assurance that the Fund will adequately reserve for its contingent liabilities and that such liabilities will not have an adverse effect on the Fund.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Relating to High Yield Debt.
The Fund invests in “higher yielding” (and, therefore, generally higher risk) debt securities. In most cases, such debt will be rated below “investment grade” or will be unrated and face ongoing uncertainties and exposure to adverse business, financial or economic conditions and the issuer’s failure to make timely interest and principal payments. There are no restrictions on the credit quality of the Fund’s loans. The market for high-yield securities has experienced periods of volatility and reduced liquidity. The market values of certain of these debt securities may reflect individual corporate developments. It is likely that a general economic recession or a major decline in the demand for products and services, in which the obligor operates, could have a materially adverse impact on the value of such securities. In addition, adverse publicity and investor perceptions, whether or not based on fundamental analysis, may also decrease the value and liquidity of these debt securities.
 
59
The Fund is Subject to Risks Relating to Investments in Unsecured Debt.
The Fund invests a portion of its investment portfolio in unsecured indebtedness, whereas all or a significant portion of the issuer’s senior indebtedness may be secured. In such situations, the ability of the Fund to influence a portfolio company’s affairs, especially during periods of financial distress or following an insolvency, is likely to be substantially less than that of senior creditors.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Relating to Subordinated Loans.
The Fund may acquire and/or originate subordinated loans. If a borrower defaults on a subordinated loan or on debt senior to the Fund’s loan, or in the event of the bankruptcy of a borrower, the loan held by the Fund will be satisfied only after the senior loans are repaid in full. Under the terms of typical subordination agreements, senior creditors may be able to block the acceleration of the subordinated debt or the exercise by holders of subordinated debt of other rights they may have as creditors. Accordingly, the Fund may not be able to take the steps necessary or sufficient to protect its investments in a timely manner or at all. In addition, subordinated loans may not always be protected by financial covenants or limitations upon additional indebtedness, may have limited liquidity and may not be rated by a credit rating agency. If a borrower declares bankruptcy, the Fund may not have full or any recourse to the assets of the borrower, or the assets of the borrower may not be sufficient to satisfy the loan. Further, the Adviser’s ability to amend the terms of the Fund’s loans, assign its loans, accept prepayments, exercise its remedies (through “standstill periods”) and control decisions made in bankruptcy proceedings may be limited by intercreditor arrangements. In addition, the risks associated with subordinated loan securities include a greater possibility that adverse changes in the financial condition of the obligor or in general economic conditions (including a sustained period of rising interest rates or an economic downturn) may adversely affect the borrower’s ability to pay principal and interest on its loan. Many obligors on subordinated loan securities are highly leveraged, and specific developments affecting such obligors, including reduced cash flow from operations or the inability to refinance debt at maturity, may also adversely affect such obligors’ ability to meet debt service obligations. The level of risk associated with investments in subordinated loans increases if such investments are loans of distressed or below investment grade issuers. Default rates for subordinated loan securities have historically been higher than has been the case for investment grade securities.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Relating to
Non-Recourse
Obligations
.
The Fund may invest in
non-recourse
obligations of issuers. Such obligations are payable solely from proceeds collected in respect of collateral pledged by an issuer to secure such obligations. None of the owners, officers, directors or incorporators of the issuers, board members, any of their respective affiliates or any other person or entity will be obligated to make payments on the obligations. Consequently, the Fund, as holder of the obligations, must rely solely on distributions of proceeds of collateral debt obligations and other collateral pledged to secure obligations for payments due in respect of principal thereof and interest thereon. If distributions of such proceeds are insufficient to make payments on the obligations, no other assets will be available for such payments and following liquidation of all the collateral, the obligations of the issuers to make such payments will be extinguished.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Relating to Publicly-Traded Securities.
Although not the investment focus of the Fund, the Fund may invest in publicly traded equity and debt securities. These investments are subject to certain risks, including the risk of loss from counterparty defaults, the risks arising from the volatility of the global fixed-income and equity markets, movements in the stock market and trends in the overall economy, increased obligations to disclose information regarding such companies, increased likelihood of shareholder litigation against such companies’ board members, which may include HPS personnel, regulatory action by the SEC and increased costs associated with each of the aforementioned risks. When buying a publicly traded security or other publicly traded instruments, the Fund may be unable to obtain financial covenants or other contractual rights that the Fund might otherwise be able to obtain in making privately-negotiated investments. Moreover, the Fund may not have the same access to information in connection with investments in publicly traded securities or other publicly traded instruments, either when investigating a potential investment or after making an investment, as compared to a privately-negotiated investment. Publicly traded securities that are rated by rating agencies are often reviewed and may be subject to downgrade, which generally results in a decline in the market value of such security. Furthermore, the Fund may be limited in its ability to make investments and to
 
60
sell existing investments in public securities or other publicly traded instruments because HPS may have material,
non-public
information regarding the issuers of those securities or as a result of other HPS policies. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the Fund will make investments in public securities or other publicly traded instruments or, if it does, as to the amount it will invest. The inability to sell such securities or instruments in these circumstances could materially adversely affect the investment results of the Fund.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Associated with Originating Loans to Companies in Distressed Situations.
As part of its lending activities, the Fund or its affiliates may originate loans to companies that are experiencing significant financial or business difficulties, including companies involved in bankruptcy or other reorganization and liquidation proceedings. Although the terms of such financing may result in significant financial returns to the Fund, they involve a substantial degree of risk. Issuers of lower-rated securities generally are more vulnerable to real or perceived economic changes, political changes or adverse industry developments. If an issuer’s financial condition deteriorates, accurate financial and business information may be limited or unavailable. In addition, lower-rated investments may be thinly traded and there may be no established secondary or public market. The level of analytical sophistication, both financial and legal, necessary for successful financing to companies experiencing significant business and financial difficulties is unusually high. There is no assurance that the Fund will correctly evaluate the value of the assets collateralizing the Fund’s loans or the prospects for a successful reorganization or similar action.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Associated with Investments that May Become Distressed.
The Fund may make investments that become distressed due to factors outside the control of the Adviser. There is no assurance that there will be sufficient collateral to cover the value of the loans and/or other investments purchased by the Fund or that there will be a successful reorganization or similar action of the company or investment which becomes distressed. In any reorganization or liquidation proceeding relating to a company in which the Fund invests, the Fund may lose its entire investment, may be required to accept cash or securities with a value less than the Fund’s original investment and/or may be required to accept payment over an extended period of time. Under such circumstances, the returns generated from the Fund’s investments may not compensate the shareholders adequately for the risks assumed. For example, under certain circumstances, a lender who has inappropriately exercised control of the management and policies of a debtor may have its claims subordinated, or disallowed, or may be found liable for damage suffered by parties as a result of such actions. In addition, under circumstances involving a portfolio company’s insolvency, payments to the Fund and distributions by the Fund to the shareholders may be reclaimed if any such payment or distribution is later determined to have been a fraudulent conveyance or a preferential payment. Investments in restructurings involving
non-U.S.
portfolio companies may be subject to various laws enacted in the countries of their issuance for the protection of creditors. These considerations will differ depending on the country in which each portfolio company is located or domiciled.
Troubled company and other asset-based investments require active monitoring and may, at times, require participation in business strategy or reorganization proceedings by the Adviser. To the extent that the Adviser becomes involved in such proceedings, the Fund may have participated more actively in the affairs of the company than that assumed generally by a passive investor. In addition, involvement by the Adviser in an issuer’s or portfolio company’s reorganization proceedings could result in the imposition of restrictions limiting the Fund’s ability to liquidate its position in the issuer and/or portfolio company. Such investments would likely take more time to realize before generating any returns and may not generate income during the course of reorganization.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Associated with Management of Distressed Investments.
The Affiliated Group is actively engaged in advisory and management services for multiple Affiliated Group Accounts. Certain investments of the Fund may become distressed (a “Distressed Investment”), including as a result of an underlying portfolio company or issuer of an investment undergoing financial stress, restructuring or bankruptcy. In such an event, the Adviser may supplement the investment team generally responsible for the management of the Fund’s portfolio with other investment professionals of the Adviser that are generally responsible for
 
61
managing distressed and opportunistic investments on behalf of Affiliated Group Accounts (the “Distressed Investment Team”). The Distressed Investment Team may employ different investment or trading strategies with respect to the Distressed Investments than those that would otherwise have been employed by the investment team. In addition, the investment or trading strategies employed by the Distressed Investment Team with respect to the Distressed Investments may be influenced by investment decisions it makes, or strategies it employs, in managing similar investments for the benefit of the Affiliated Group Accounts. However, the investment or trading strategy for the Fund may be different than the strategy it employs in managing distressed or opportunistic investments in the Affiliated Group Accounts and, accordingly, such investments may produce different investment results for the Fund and the Affiliated Group Accounts. The Adviser will seek to manage the Fund and the Affiliated Group Accounts in accordance with their respective investment objectives and guidelines; however, the Affiliated Group including the Distressed Investment Team, may give advice and take action with respect to any current or future Affiliated Group Accounts that may compete or conflict with the advice given to the Fund, including with respect to the timing or nature of actions relating to certain investments.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Associated with Acquisitions of Portfolios of Loans
.
The Fund may invest in portfolios of loans. The Fund is unlikely to be able to evaluate the credit or other risks associated with each of the underlying borrowers or negotiate the terms of underlying loans as part of its acquisition but instead must evaluate and negotiate with respect to the entire portfolio of loans or, in the case where the Fund invests in contractual obligations to purchase portfolios of loans subsequently originated by a third party, with respect to the origination and credit selection processes of such third party rather than based on characteristics of a static portfolio of loans. As a result, one or more of the underlying loans in a portfolio may not include some of the characteristics, covenants and/or protections generally sought when the Fund acquires or originates individual loans. Furthermore, while some amount of defaults are expected to occur in portfolios, defaults in or declines in the value of investments in excess of these expected amounts may have a negative impact on the value of the portfolio and may reduce the return that the Fund receives in certain circumstances.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Associated with Revolver, Delayed-Draw and Line of Credit Investments
. The Fund is expected to, from time to time, incur contingent liabilities in connection with an investment. For example, the Fund makes investments that are structured as “revolvers,” “delayed-draws” or “lines of credit.” These types of investments generally have funding obligations that extend over a period of time, and if the portfolio company subsequently draws down on the revolver or delayed-draw facility or on the line of credit, the Fund would be obligated to fund the amounts due. However, there can be no assurance that a borrower will ultimately draw down on any such loan, in which case the Fund may never fund the investment (in full or in part), which may result in inefficient deployment of capital. There can be no assurance that the Fund will adequately reserve for its contingent liabilities and that such liabilities will not have an adverse effect on the Fund.
It is possible that a revolver, delayed-draw or line of credit investment would be bifurcated by HPS into separate investments, with certain investors (which may or may not include the Fund) participating in the initial drawdowns and other investors (which may or may not include the Fund) participating in the later drawdowns. In this situation, it is possible that investors that participate in the initial funding of an investment may receive certain economic benefits in connection with such initial funding, such as original issue discount, closing payments, or commitment fees and these benefits are expected to be allocated based on participation in the initial funding, regardless of participation in future funding obligations. Conversely, the investors participating only in the later funding obligations will have the benefit of the most recent portfolio company performance information in evaluating their investment whereas the investors that participated in the initial drawdowns (which may or may not include the Fund) will be obligated in any event to fund such later funding obligations. In certain cases, the Fund may participate in the initial funding of an investment, but may not participate in later-arising funding obligations (
i.e.
, the revolver, delayed-draw or line of credit portions) related to such investment, including because of capacity limitations that an investment vehicle may have for making new revolver, delayed-draw investments or lines of credit or because HPS forms a new investment fund focused on investing in revolvers, delayed-draw investments and lines of credit. As a result, the Fund may be allocated a smaller or larger portion
 
62
of revolver, delayed-draw investments or lines of credit than other investors participating in the loan. Where the Fund and any other participating investors have not participated in each funding of an investment on a pro rata basis, conflicts of interest may arise between the Fund and the other investors as the interests of the Fund and the other investors may not be completely aligned with respect to such investment. In addition, a revolver, delayed draw investment or line of credit may be senior to the rest of the loan or to the initial funding, and as a result, the interests of the Fund may not be aligned with other participating investors. There can be no assurance that the Fund will adequately reserve for its contingent liabilities and that such liabilities will not have an adverse effect on the Fund.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Associated with Subordinated Debt Tranches.
The Fund makes investments in securities, including senior or subordinated and equity tranches, issued by CLOs, including CLOs for which HPS or its subsidiary acts the collateral manager. Investments in CLO securities are complex and are subject to a number of risks related to, among other things, changes in interest rates, the rate of defaults and recoveries in the collateral pool, prepayment rates, terms of loans purchased to replace loans in the collateral pool which have
pre-paid,
the exercise of remedies by more senior tranches and the possibility that no market will exist when the Fund seeks to sell its interests in CLO securities. If a CLO fails to satisfy one of the coverage tests provided in its indenture, all distributions on those CLO securities held by the Fund will cease until that CLO brings itself back into compliance with such coverage tests. CLO securities represent leveraged investments in the underlying collateral held by the CLO issuer. The use of leverage creates risk for the holders because the leverage increases their exposure to losses with respect to the collateral. As a result, the occurrence of defaults with respect to only a small portion of the collateral could result in the substantial or complete loss of the investment in the CLO securities. Payments of principal of, and interest on, debt issued by CLOs, and dividends and other distributions on subordinated and equity tranches of a CLO, are subject to priority of payments. CLO equity is subordinated to the prior payment of all obligations under debt securities. Further, in the event of default under any debt securities issued by a CLO, and to the extent that any elimination, deferral or reduction in payments on debt securities occurs, such elimination will be borne first by CLO equity and then by the debt securities in reverse order of seniority. Thus, the greatest risk of loss relating to defaults on the collateral held by CLOs is borne by the CLO equity.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Associated with Forming CLOs.
To finance investments, we may securitize certain of our secured loans or other investments, including through the formation of one or more CLOs, while retaining all or most of the exposure to the performance of these investments. This would involve contributing a pool of assets to a special purpose entity, and selling debt interests in such entity on a
non-recourse
or limited-recourse basis to purchasers.
If we create a CLO, we will depend in part on distributions from the CLO’s assets out of its earnings and cash flows to enable us to make distributions to shareholders. The ability of a CLO to make distributions will be subject to various limitations, including the terms and covenants of the debt it issues. Also, a CLO may take actions that delay distributions in order to preserve ratings and to keep the cost of present and future financings lower or the CLO may be obligated to retain cash or other assets to satisfy over-collateralization requirements commonly provided for holders of the CLO’s debt, which could impact our ability to receive distributions from the CLO. If we do not receive cash flow from any such CLO that is necessary to satisfy the annual distribution requirement for maintaining RIC status, and we are unable to obtain cash from other sources necessary to satisfy this requirement, we may not maintain our qualification as a RIC, which would have a material adverse effect on an investment in the shares.
In addition, a decline in the credit quality of loans in a CLO due to poor operating results of the relevant borrower, declines in the value of loan collateral or increases in defaults, among other things, may force a CLO to sell certain assets at a loss, reducing their earnings and, in turn, cash potentially available for distribution to us for distribution to shareholders. To the extent that any losses are incurred by the CLO in respect of any collateral, such losses will be borne first by us as owner of equity interests in the CLO.
 
63
The collateral manager for a CLO that we create may be the Fund, the Adviser or an affiliate, and such collateral manager may be entitled to receive compensation for structuring and/or management services. To the extent the Adviser or an affiliate other than the Fund serves as collateral manager and the Fund is obligated to compensate the Adviser or the affiliate for such services, we, the Adviser or the affiliate will implement offsetting arrangements to assure that we, and indirectly, our shareholders, pay no additional fees to the Adviser or the affiliate in connection therewith. To the extent the Fund serves as collateral manager, the Fund will receive no fees for providing such collateral management services.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Associated with Covenant-Lite Loans.
Although the Fund generally expects the transaction documentation of some portion of the Fund’s investments to include covenants and other structural protections, a portion of the Fund’s investments may be composed of
so-called
“covenant-lite loans.” Generally, covenant-lite loans either do not have certain maintenance covenants that would require the issuer to maintain debt service or other financial ratios or do not contain common restrictions on the ability of the issuer to change significantly its operations or to enter into other significant transactions that could affect its ability to repay such loans. Ownership of covenant-lite loans may expose the Fund to different risks, including with respect to liquidity, price volatility and ability to restructure loans, than is the case with loans that have financial maintenance covenants. As a result, the Fund’s exposure to losses may be increased, which could result in an adverse impact on the issuer’s ability to comply with its obligations under the loan.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Associated with Investing in Equity.
The Fund may make certain equity investments. The value of these securities generally will vary with the performance of the issuer and movements in the equity markets. As a result, the Fund may suffer losses if it invests in equity of issuers whose performance diverges from the Adviser’s expectations or if equity markets generally move in a single direction and the Fund has not hedged against such a general move. Equity investments generally will not feature any structural or contractual protections or payments that the Fund may seek in connection with its debt investments. In addition, investments in equity may give rise to additional taxes and/or risks and the Fund may hold these investments through entities treated as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes or other taxable structures which may reduce the return from such investments.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Associated with Investing in Convertible Securities.
Convertible securities are bonds, debentures, notes, preferred stocks or other securities that may be converted into or exchanged for a specified amount of common stock of the same or different issuer within a particular period of time at a specified price or formula. A convertible security entitles its holder to receive interest that is generally paid or accrued on debt or a dividend that is paid or accrued on preferred stock, in each case, until the convertible security matures or is redeemed, converted or exchanged. Because of their embedded equity component, the value of convertible securities is sensitive to changes in equity volatility and price and a decrease in equity volatility and price could result in a loss for the Fund. The debt characteristic of convertible securities also exposes the Fund to changes in interest rates and credit spreads. The value of the convertible securities may fall when interest rates rise or credit spreads widen. The conversion value of a convertible security is determined by the market price of the underlying common stock. If the conversion value is low relative to the investment value, the price of the convertible security is governed principally by its investment value. To the extent the market price of the underlying common stock approaches or exceeds the conversion price, the price of the convertible security will be increasingly influenced by its conversion value. A convertible security generally will sell at a premium over its conversion value by the extent to which investors place value on the right to acquire the underlying common stock while holding a fixed income security. Generally, the amount of the premium decreases as the convertible security approaches maturity. A convertible security may be subject to redemption at the option of the issuer at a price established in the convertible security’s governing instrument. If a convertible security held by the Fund is called for redemption, the Fund will be required to permit the issuer to redeem the security, convert it into the underlying common stock or sell it to a third party. Any of these actions could have an adverse effect on the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective. The Fund’s exposure to these risks may be unhedged or only partially hedged.
 
64
The Fund is Subject to Risks Associated with Investing in Structured Credit Instruments.
The Fund may invest in structured credit instruments. Structured securities are extremely complex and are subject to risks related to, among other things, changes in interest rates, the rate of defaults in the collateral pool, the exercise of redemption rights by more senior tranches and the possibility that a liquid market will not exist in when the Fund seeks to sell its interest in a structured security.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Associated with Assignments and Participations
. The Fund may acquire investments directly, by way of assignment or indirectly by way of participation. The purchaser of an assignment of a loan obligation typically succeeds to all the rights and obligations of the selling institution and becomes a lender under the loan or credit agreement with respect to the loan obligation. In contrast, participations acquired in a portion of a loan obligation held by a selling institution typically result in a contractual relationship only with such selling institution, not with the obligor. Therefore, holders of indirect participation interests are subject to additional risks not applicable to a holder of a direct assignment interest in a loan. In purchasing a participation, the Fund generally would have no right to enforce compliance by the obligor with the terms of the loan or credit agreement or other instrument evidencing such loan obligation, nor any rights of
set-off
against the obligor, and the Fund may not directly benefit from the collateral supporting the loan obligation in which it has purchased the participation. As a result, the Fund would assume the credit risk of both the obligor and the selling institution, which would remain the legal owner of record of the applicable loan. In the event of the insolvency of the selling institution, the Fund may be treated as a general creditor of the selling institution in respect of the participation, may not benefit from any
set-off
exercised by the selling institution against the obligor and may be subject to any
set-off
exercised by the obligor against the selling institution. Assignments and participations are typically sold strictly without recourse to the selling institution, and the selling institution generally will make no representations or warranties about the underlying loan, the portfolio companies, the terms of the loans or any collateral securing the loans. Certain loans have restrictions on assignments and participations which may negatively impact the Fund’s ability to exit from all or part of its investment in a loan. In addition, if a participation interest is purchased from a selling institution that does not itself retain any portion of the applicable loan, such selling institution may have limited interests in monitoring the terms of the loan agreement and the continuing creditworthiness of the borrower.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Relating to Fraudulent Conveyances and Voidable Preferences by Issuers.
Under U.S. legal principles, in a lawsuit brought by an unpaid creditor or representative of creditors of an issuer of indebtedness (including a bankruptcy trustee), if a court were to find that the issuer did not receive fair consideration or reasonably equivalent value for incurring the indebtedness or for granting security, and that after giving effect to such indebtedness or such security, the issuer (a) was insolvent, (b) was engaged in a business for which the remaining assets of such issuer constituted unreasonably small capital or (c) intended to incur, or believed that it would incur, debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature, such court could determine to invalidate and avoid, in whole or in part, the obligation underlying an investment of the Fund as a constructive fraudulent conveyance. The measure of insolvency for purposes of the foregoing will vary. Generally, an issuer would be considered insolvent at a particular time if the sum of its debts was then greater than all of its property at a fair valuation, or if the present fair saleable value of its assets was then less than the amount that would be required to pay its probable liabilities on its existing debts as they became absolute and matured. There can be no assurance as to what standard a court would apply to determine whether the issuer was “insolvent” after giving effect to the incurrence of the indebtedness in which the Fund invested or that, regardless of the method of valuation, a court would not determine that the issuer was “insolvent” upon giving effect to such incurrence.
In addition, it is possible a court may invalidate, in whole or in part, the indebtedness underlying an investment of the Fund as a fraudulent conveyance, subordinate such indebtedness to existing or future creditors of the obligor or recover amounts previously paid by the obligor in satisfaction of such indebtedness. Moreover, in the event of the insolvency of an issuer of a portfolio company, payments made on its indebtedness could be subject to avoidance as a “preference” if made within a certain period of time (which may be as long as one year) before the portfolio company becomes a debtor in a bankruptcy case.
 
65
Even if the Fund does not engage in conduct that would form the basis for a successful cause of action based upon fraudulent conveyance or preference law, there can be no assurance as to whether any lending institution or other party from which the Fund may acquire such indebtedness, or any prior holder of such indebtedness, has not engaged in any such conduct (or any other conduct that would subject such indebtedness to disallowance or subordination under insolvency laws) and, if it did engage in such conduct, as to whether such creditor claims could be asserted in a U.S. court (or in the courts of any other country) against the Fund so that the Fund’s claim against the issuer would be disallowed or subordinated.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Related to Bankruptcy
.
One or more of the issuers of an investment held by the Fund may become involved in bankruptcy or similar proceedings. There are a number of significant risks inherent in the bankruptcy process. First, many events in a bankruptcy are adversarial and beyond the control of the creditors. While creditors generally are afforded an opportunity to object to significant actions, there can be no assurance that a court would not approve actions which may be contrary to the interests of the Fund. Reorganizations can be contentious and adversarial. Participants may use the threat of, as well as actual, litigation as a negotiating technique. Second, the duration of a bankruptcy case can only be roughly estimated. The bankruptcy process can involve substantial legal, professional and administrative costs to the company and the Fund, it is subject to unpredictable and lengthy delays, and during the process the company’s competitive position may erode, key management may depart and the company may not be able to invest adequately. In some cases, the company may not be able to reorganize and may be required to liquidate assets. Any of these factors may adversely affect the return on a creditor’s investment. Third, U.S. bankruptcy law permits the classification of “substantially similar” claims in determining the classification of claims in a reorganization for purpose of voting on a plan of reorganization. Because the standard for classification is vague, there exists a significant risk that the Fund’s influence with respect to a class of securities can be lost by the inflation of the number and the amount of claims in, or other gerrymandering of, the class. Fourth, in the early stages of the bankruptcy process it is often difficult to estimate the extent of, or even to identify, any contingent claims that might be made. In addition, certain administrative costs and claims that have priority by law over the claims of certain creditors (for example, claims for taxes) may be substantial. Fifth, a bankruptcy may result in creditors and equity holders losing their ranking and priority as such if they are considered to have taken over management and functional operating control of a debtor. Sixth, the Fund may purchase creditor claims subsequent to the commencement of a bankruptcy case, and it is possible that such purchase may be disallowed by a court if it determines that the purchaser has taken unfair advantage of an unsophisticated seller, which may result in the rescission of the transaction (presumably at the original purchase price) or forfeiture by the purchaser.
Further, several judicial decisions in the United States have upheld the right of borrowers to sue lenders or bondholders on the basis of various evolving legal theories (collectively termed “lender liability”). Generally, lender liability is founded upon the premise that an institutional lender or bondholder has violated an implied or contractual duty of good faith and fair dealing owed to the borrower or issuer or has assumed a degree of control over the borrower or issuer resulting in the creation of a fiduciary duty owed to the borrower or issuer or its other creditors or shareholders. Because of the nature of certain of the investments, the Fund could be subject to allegations of lender liability. Because of the potential of HPS or its affiliates to have investments in several positions in the same, different or overlapping levels of a portfolio company’s capital structure, the Fund may be subject to claims from creditors of a portfolio company that the investments should be equitably subordinated to the payment of other obligations of the portfolio company by reason of the conduct of the Fund or HPS and its affiliates. In addition, under certain circumstances, a U.S. bankruptcy court could also recharacterize claims held by the Fund as equity interests, and thereby subject such claims to the lower priority afforded equity claims in certain restructuring scenarios.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Related to Exit Financing.
The Fund may invest in portfolio companies that are in the process of exiting, or that have recently exited, the bankruptcy process. Post-reorganization securities typically entail a higher degree of risk than investments in securities that have not undergone a reorganization or restructuring. Moreover, post-reorganization securities can be subject to heavy selling or downward pricing
 
66
pressure after the completion of a bankruptcy reorganization or restructuring. If the Adviser’s evaluation of the anticipated outcome of an investment situation should prove incorrect, the Fund could experience a loss.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Related to Bankruptcy Involving
Non-U.S.
Companies.
Investment in the debt of financially distressed companies domiciled outside the United States involves additional risks. Bankruptcy law and process may differ substantially from that in the United States, resulting in greater uncertainty as to the rights of creditors, the enforceability of such rights, reorganization timing and the classification, seniority and treatment of claims. In certain developing countries, although bankruptcy laws have been enacted, the process for reorganization remains highly uncertain, while other developing countries may have no bankruptcy laws enacted, adding further uncertainty to the process for reorganization.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Relating to Creditors
’
Committee and/or Board Participation
.
In connection with some of the investments, the Fund may, but is not obligated to, seek representation on official and unofficial creditors’ committees and/or boards (or comparable governing bodies) of the portfolio companies. While such representation may enable the Adviser to enhance the value of the investments, it may also prevent the Fund from disposing of the investments in a timely and profitable manner, because serving on a creditors’ committee increases the possibility that the Fund will be deemed an “insider” or a “fiduciary” of the portfolio company. If the Adviser concludes that its obligations owed to the other parties as a committee or group member conflict with its duties owed to the Fund, it may resign from that committee or group, and the Fund may not realize the benefits, if any, of participation on the committee or group. If representation on a creditors’ committee or board causes the Fund or the Adviser to be deemed affiliates or related parties of the portfolio company, the securities of such portfolio company held by the Fund may become restricted securities, which are not freely tradable. Participation on a creditors’ committee and/or board representation may also subject the Fund to additional liability to which they would not otherwise be subject as an ordinary course, third-party investor. The Fund will indemnify the Adviser or any other person designated by the Adviser for claims arising from such board and/or committee representation, which could adversely affect the return on the investments. The Fund will attempt to balance the advantages and disadvantages of such representation when deciding whether and how to exercise its rights with respect to such portfolio companies, but changes in circumstances could produce adverse consequences in particular situations.
The Fund is Subject to Risks of Investments in Special Situations.
The Fund’s investments may involve investments in ‘event-driven’ special situations such as recapitalizations, spinoffs, corporate and financial restructurings, litigation or other liability impairments, turnarounds, management changes, consolidating industries and other catalyst-oriented situations. Investments in such securities are often difficult to analyze, have limited trading histories and have limited
in-depth
research coverage and, therefore, may present an increased risk of loss to the Fund.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Associated with Real Estate.
The Fund may invest in mortgage-backed securities, individual mortgages and other real estate credit investments. Investments in mortgage-backed securities are subject to the risks applicable to the risks described above in “
–
The Fund is Subject to Risks Associated with Subordinated Debt Tranches
,” as well as the risks applicable to real estate investments generally. With respect to particular real estate credit investments, real estate debt instruments that are in default may require a substantial amount of workout negotiations and/or restructuring, which may entail, among other things, a substantial reduction in the interest rate and/or a substantial write-down of the principal of such debt instruments. Even if a restructuring were successful, a risk exists that upon maturity of such real estate debt instrument, replacement “takeout” financing will not be available. It is possible that the Adviser may find it necessary or desirable to foreclose on collateral securing one or more real estate debt instruments purchased by the Fund. The foreclosure process can be lengthy, uncertain and expensive. Real estate risks typically include fluctuations in the real estate markets, slowdown in demand for the purchase or rental of properties, changes in the relative popularity of property types and locations, the oversupply of a certain type of property, changes in regional, national and international economic conditions, adverse local market conditions, the financial conditions of tenants, buyers and sellers of properties, changes in building, environmental, zoning and other laws
 
67
and other governmental rules and fiscal policies, changes in real property tax rates or the assessed values of the investments, changes in interest rates and the availability or terms of debt financing, changes in operating costs, risks due to dependence on cash flow, environmental claims arising in respect of real estate acquired with undisclosed or unknown environmental problems or as to which inadequate reserves had been established, uninsured casualties, risks due to dependence on cash flow and risks and operating problems arising out of the presence of certain construction materials, unavailability of or increased cost of certain types of insurance coverage, such as terrorism insurance, fluctuations in energy prices, acts of God, natural disasters and uninsurable losses, acts of war (declared and undeclared), terrorist acts, strikes and other factors which are not within the control of the Adviser.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Associated with Investments in Portfolio Companies in Regulated Industries.
Certain industries are heavily regulated. The Fund may make loans to borrowers operating in industries that are subject to greater amounts of regulation than other industries generally. These more highly regulated industries may include, among others, energy and power, gaming and healthcare. Investments in borrowers that are subject to a high level of governmental regulation pose additional risks relative to loans to other companies generally. Changes in applicable laws or regulations, or in the interpretations of these laws and regulations, could result in increased compliance costs or the need for additional capital expenditures. If a portfolio company fails to comply with these requirements, it could also be subject to civil or criminal liability and the imposition of fines. A portfolio company also could be materially and adversely affected as a result of statutory or regulatory changes or judicial or administrative interpretations of existing laws and regulations that impose more comprehensive or stringent requirements on such company. Governments have considerable discretion in implementing regulations that could impact a portfolio company’s business, and governments may be influenced by political considerations and may make decisions that adversely affect a portfolio company’s business. Additionally, certain portfolio companies may have a unionized workforce or employees who are covered by a collective bargaining agreement, which could subject any such portfolio company’s activities and labor relations matters to complex laws and regulations relating thereto. Moreover, a portfolio company’s operations and profitability could suffer if it experiences labor relations problems. A work stoppage at one or more of any such portfolio company’s facilities could have a material adverse effect on its business, results of operations and financial condition. Any such problems additionally may bring scrutiny and attention to the Fund, which could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to implement its investment objective.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Associated with Investments in Original Issue Discount and
Payment-In-Kind
Instruments.
To the extent that we invest in original issue discount or PIK instruments and the accretion of original issue discount or PIK interest income constitutes a portion of our income, we will be exposed to risks associated with the requirement to include such
non-cash
income in taxable and accounting income prior to receipt of cash, including the following:
 
  •  
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;
 
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  •  
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.
In addition, the part of the incentive fee payable by us that relates to our net investment income is computed and paid on income that may include interest that accrues prior to being received in cash, such as original issue discount, market discount, and income arising from debt instruments with PIK interest or
zero-coupon
securities. If a portfolio company defaults on a loan that provides for such accrued interest, it is possible that accrued interest previously used in the calculation of the incentive fee will become uncollectible, and the Adviser will have no obligation to refund any fees it received in respect of such accrued income.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Arising from Entering into a TRS Agreement.
A total return swap (“TRS”) is a contract in which one party agrees to make periodic payments to another party based on the change in the market value of the assets underlying the TRS, which may include a specified security, basket of securities or securities indices during a specified period, in return for periodic payments based on a fixed or variable interest rate. A TRS effectively adds leverage to a portfolio by providing investment exposure to a security or market without owning or taking physical custody of such security or investing directly in such market. Because of the unique structure of a TRS, a TRS often offers lower financing costs than are offered through more traditional borrowing arrangements. For purposes of computing the Fund’s incentive fee on income and the incentive fee on capital gains, the calculation methodology looks through derivative financial instruments or swaps as if we owned the reference assets directly.
A TRS is subject to market risk, liquidity risk and risk of imperfect correlation between the value of the TRS and the loans underlying the TRS. In addition, we may incur certain costs in connection with the TRS that could in the aggregate be significant. A TRS is also subject to the risk that a counterparty will default on its payment obligations thereunder or that we will not be able to meet our obligations to the counterparty.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Associated with Repurchase Agreements.
Subject to our investment objective and policies, we may invest in repurchase agreements as a buyer for investment purposes. Repurchase agreements typically involve the acquisition by the Fund of debt securities from a selling financial institution such as a bank, savings and loan association or broker-dealer. The agreement provides that the Fund will sell the securities back to the institution at a fixed time in the future for the purchase price plus premium (which often reflects the interests). The Fund does not bear the risk of a decline in the value of the underlying security unless the seller defaults under its repurchase obligation. In the event of the bankruptcy or other default of a seller of a repurchase agreement, the Fund could experience both delays in liquidating the underlying securities and losses, including (1) possible decline in the value of the underlying security during the period in which the Fund seeks to enforce its rights thereto; (2) possible lack of access to income on the underlying security during this period; and (3) expenses of enforcing its rights. In addition, as described above, the value of the collateral underlying the
 
69
repurchase agreement will be at least equal to the repurchase price, including any accrued interest earned on the repurchase agreement. In the event of a default or bankruptcy by a selling financial institution, the Fund generally will seek to liquidate such collateral. However, the exercise of the Fund’s right to liquidate such collateral could involve certain costs or delays and, to the extent that proceeds from any sale upon a default of the obligation to repurchase were less than the repurchase price, the Fund could suffer a loss.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Relating to Securities Lending Agreements.
We may from time to time make secured loans of our marginable securities to brokers, dealers and other financial institutions if our asset coverage, as defined in the 1940 Act, would at least equal 150% (equivalent to $2 of debt outstanding for each $1 of equity) immediately after each such loan. The risks in lending portfolio securities, as with other extensions of credit, consist of possible delay in recovery of the securities or possible loss of rights in the collateral should the borrower fail financially. However, such loans will be made only to brokers and other financial institutions that are believed by the Adviser to be of high credit standing. Securities loans are made to broker-dealers pursuant to agreements requiring that loans be continuously secured by collateral consisting of U.S. government securities, cash or cash equivalents (
e.g.
, negotiable certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances or letters of credit) maintained on a daily
mark-to-market
basis in an amount at least equal at all times to the market value of the securities lent. If the Fund enters into a securities lending arrangement, the Adviser, as part of its responsibilities under the Advisory Agreement, will invest the Fund’s cash collateral in accordance with the Fund’s investment objective and strategies. The Fund will pay the borrower of the securities a fee based on the amount of the cash collateral posted in connection with the securities lending program. The borrower will pay to the Fund, as the lender, an amount equal to any dividends or interest received on the securities lent.
The Fund may invest the cash collateral received only in accordance with its investment objective, subject to the Fund’s agreement with the borrower of the securities. In the case of cash collateral, the Fund expects to pay a rebate to the borrower. The reinvestment of cash collateral will result in a form of effective leverage for the Fund.
Although voting rights or rights to consent with respect to the loaned securities pass to the borrower, the Fund, as the lender, will retain the right to call the loans and obtain the return of the securities loaned at any time on reasonable notice, and it will do so in order that the securities may be voted by the Fund if the holders of such securities are asked to vote upon or consent to matters materially affecting the investment. The Fund may also call such loans in order to sell the securities involved. When engaged in securities lending, the Fund’s performance will continue to reflect changes in the value of the securities loaned and will also reflect the receipt of interest through investment of cash collateral by the Fund in
permissible
investments.
Risks Relating to Certain Regulatory Matters
The Fund is Subject to Risks Relating to Regulations Governing the Fund
’
s Operation as a BDC.
The
Fund will not generally be able to issue and sell its Common Shares at a price below net asset value per share. The Fund may, however, sell Common Shares, or warrants, options or rights to acquire the Fund’s Common Shares, at a price below the then-current net asset value per share of the Fund’s Common Shares if the Fund’s Board determines that such sale is in the Fund’s best interests, and if investors approve such sale. In any such case, the price at which the Fund’s securities are to be issued and sold may not be less than a price that, in the determination of the Fund’s Board, closely approximates the market value of such securities (less any distributing commission or discount). If the Fund raises additional funds by issuing Common Shares or senior securities convertible into, or exchangeable for, its Common Shares, then the percentage ownership of investors at that time will decrease, and investors may experience dilution.
The Fund Must Invest a Sufficient Portion of Assets in Qualifying Assets.
The Fund may not acquire any assets other than “qualifying assets” unless, at the time of and after giving effect to such acquisition, at least 70% of the Fund’s total assets are qualifying assets.
 
70
The Fund believes that most of the investments that it may acquire in the future will constitute qualifying assets. However, the Fund may be precluded from investing in what it believes to be attractive investments if such investments are not qualifying assets for purposes of the 1940 Act. If the Fund does not invest a sufficient portion of its assets in qualifying assets, it could violate the 1940 Act provisions applicable to BDCs. As a result of such violation, specific rules under the 1940 Act could prevent the Fund, for example, from making
follow-on
investments in existing portfolio companies (which could result in the dilution of its position) or could require the Fund to dispose of investments at inappropriate times in order to come into compliance with the 1940 Act. If the Fund needs to dispose of such investments quickly, it could be difficult to dispose of such investments on favorable terms. The Fund may not be able to find a buyer for such investments and, even if a buyer is found, the Fund may have to sell the investments at a substantial loss. Any such outcomes would have a material adverse effect on the Fund’s business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
If the Fund does not maintain its status as a BDC, it would be subject to regulation as a registered
closed-end
management investment company under the 1940 Act. As a registered
closed-end
management investment company, the Fund would be subject to substantially more regulatory restrictions under the 1940 Act which would significantly decrease its operating flexibility.
As a Public Company, We Are Subject to Regulations Not Applicable to Private Companies, Such as Provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Efforts to Comply With Such Regulations Will Involve Significant Expenditures, and
Non-Compliance
With Such Regulations May Adversely Affect Us
.
As a public company, we are subject to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and the related rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC. Following the transition period established by rules of the SEC, our management is required to report on our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. We are required to review on an annual basis our internal control over financial reporting, and on a quarterly and annual basis to evaluate and disclose changes in our internal control over financial reporting. As a relatively new company, developing and maintaining an effective system of internal controls may require significant expenditures, which may negatively impact our financial performance and our ability to make distributions. This process also will result in a diversion of our management’s time and attention. We cannot be certain of when our evaluation, testing and remediation actions will be completed or the impact of the same on our operations. In addition, we may be unable to ensure that the process is effective or that our internal controls over financial reporting are or will be effective in a timely manner. In the event that we are unable to develop or maintain an effective system of internal controls and maintain or achieve compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and related rules, we may be adversely affected.
Our independent registered public accounting firm will not be required to formally attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting until there is a public market for our shares, which is not expected to occur.
New or Modified Laws or Regulations Governing Our Operations May Adversely Affect Our Business.
The Fund’s portfolio companies and the Fund are subject to regulation
by-laws
at the U.S. federal, state, and local levels. These laws and regulations, as well as their interpretation, may change from time to time, including as the result of interpretive guidance or other directives from the U.S. President and others in the executive branch, and new laws, regulations, and interpretations may also come into effect. Any such new or changed laws or regulations could have a material adverse effect on the Fund’s business. The effects of such laws and regulations on the financial services industry will depend, in large part, upon the extent to which regulators exercise the authority granted to them and the approaches taken in implementing regulations. President Biden may support an enhanced regulatory agenda that imposes greater costs on all sectors and on financial services companies in particular.
Future legislative and regulatory proposals directed at the financial services industry that are proposed or pending in the U.S. Congress may negatively impact the operations, cash flows or financial condition of the Fund or its portfolio companies, impose additional costs on portfolio companies or the Fund intensify the regulatory
 
71
supervision of the Fund or its portfolio companies or otherwise adversely affect the Fund’s business or the business of its portfolio companies. Laws that apply to the Fund, either now or in the future, are often highly complex and may include licensing requirements. The licensing process can be lengthy and can be expected to subject the Fund to increased regulatory oversight. Failure, even if unintentional, to comply fully with applicable laws may result in sanctions, fines, or limitations on the ability of the Fund or the Adviser to do business in the relevant jurisdiction or to procure required licenses in other jurisdictions, all of which could have a material adverse effect on the Fund. In addition, if the Fund does not comply with applicable laws and regulations, it could lose any licenses that it then holds for the conduct of its business and may be subject to civil fines and criminal penalties.
Additionally, changes to the laws and regulations governing Fund operations, including those associated with RICs, may cause the Fund to alter its investment strategy in order to avail itself of new or different opportunities or result in the imposition of corporate-level taxes on us. Such changes could result in material differences to the Fund’s strategies and plans and may shift the Fund’s investment focus from the areas of expertise of the Adviser to other types of investments in which the Adviser may have little or no expertise or experience. Any such changes, if they occur, could have a material adverse effect on the Fund’s results of operations and the value of an investor’s investment. If the Fund invests in commodity interests in the future, the Adviser may determine not to use investment strategies that trigger additional regulation by the CFTC or may determine to operate subject to CFTC regulation, if applicable. If the Adviser or the Fund were to operate subject to CFTC regulation, the Fund may incur additional expenses and would be subject to additional regulation.
In addition, certain regulations applicable to debt securitizations implementing credit risk retention requirements that have taken effect in both the U.S. and in Europe may adversely affect or prevent the Fund from entering into securitization transactions. These risk retention rules will increase the Fund’s cost of funds under, or may prevent the Fund from completing, future securitization transactions. In particular, the U.S. Risk Retention Rules require the sponsor (directly or through a majority-owned affiliate) of a debt securitization, such as CLOs, in the absence of an exemption, to retain an economic interest in the credit risk of the assets being securitized in the form of an eligible horizontal residual interest, an eligible vertical interest, or a combination thereof, in accordance with the requirements of the U.S. Risk Retention Rules. Given the more attractive financing costs associated with these types of debt securitizations as opposed to other types of financing available (such as traditional senior secured facilities), this increases our financing costs, which increases the financing costs ultimately be borne by the Fund’s investors.
Over the last several years, there also has been an increase in regulatory attention to the extension of credit outside of the traditional banking sector, raising the possibility that some portion of the
non-bank
financial sector will be subject to new regulation. While it cannot be known at this time whether any regulation will be implemented or what form it will take, increased regulation of
non-bank
credit extension by the Biden Administration could negatively impact our operations, cash flows or financial condition, impose additional costs on us, intensify the regulatory supervision of the Fund or otherwise adversely affect the Fund’s business, financial condition and results of operations.
We Are Subject to Risks Related to Corporate Social Responsibility.
Our business faces increasing public scrutiny related to environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) activities, which are increasingly considered to contribute to the long-term sustainability of a company’s performance. A variety of organizations measure the performance of companies on ESG topics, and the results of these assessments are widely publicized. In addition, investment in funds that specialize in investing in companies that perform well in such assessments are increasingly popular, and major institutional investors have publicly emphasized the importance of such ESG measures to their investment decisions.
Our brand and reputation may be negatively impacted if we fail to act responsibly in a number of areas, such as considering ESG factors in our investment processes. Adverse incidents with respect to ESG activities could impact the value of our brand and our relationships with shareholders, which could adversely affect our business and results of operations.
 
72
Additionally, new regulatory initiatives related to ESG could adversely affect our business. The SEC has proposed rules that, in addition to other matters, would establish a framework for reporting of climate-related risks. For example, the SEC has announced that it may require disclosure of certain
ESG-related
matters. There is a risk that a significant reorientation in the market following the implementation of these and further measures could be adverse to our portfolio companies if they are perceived to be less valuable as a consequence of, for example, their carbon footprint or “greenwashing” (
i.e.
, the holding out of a product as having green or sustainable characteristics where this is not, in fact, the case). We are, and our portfolio companies may be, or could in the future become subject to the risk that similar measures might be introduced in other jurisdictions in the future. At this time, there is uncertainty regarding the scope of such proposals or when they would become effective (if at all). Compliance with any new laws or regulations increases our regulatory burden and could make compliance more difficult and expensive, affect the manner in which we or our portfolio companies conduct our businesses and adversely affect our profitability. On the other hand, certain state governments have begun to challenge the use of ESG factors in investment decisions, potentially setting up conflicting standards for the Fund to address.
Changes to the Dodd-Frank Act May Adversely Impact the Fund.
The enactment of the U.S. Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) and other financial regulations curtailed certain investment activities of U.S. banks. As a result, alternative providers of capital (such as the Fund) were able to access certain investment opportunities on a larger scale. If the restrictions under the Dodd-Frank Act are curtailed or repealed, banks may be subject to fewer restrictions on their investment activities, thereby increasing competition with the Fund for potential investment opportunities. As a result, any changes to the Dodd-Frank Act may adversely impact the Fund.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Relating to
Pay-to-Play
Laws, Regulations and Policies.
Many states, their subdivisions and associated pension plans have adopted
so-called
“pay-to-play”
laws, rules, regulations or policies which prohibit, restrict or require disclosure of payments to, and/or certain contacts with, certain politicians or officials associated with public entities by individuals and entities seeking to do business with related entities, including seeking investments by public retirement funds in collective investment funds such as the Fund. The SEC also has adopted rules that, among other things, prohibit an investment adviser from providing advisory services for compensation with respect to a government plan investor for two years after the adviser or certain of its executives or employees makes a contribution to certain elected officials or candidates for certain elected offices. If the Adviser or the Adviser’s respective employees or affiliates violate such
pay-to-play
laws, rules, regulations or policies, such
non-compliance
could have an adverse effect on the Fund by, for example, providing the basis for the ability of such government-affiliated pension plan investor to cease funding its obligations to the Fund or to withdraw from the Fund.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Relating to Government Policies, Changes in Laws, and International Trade.
Governmental regulatory activity, especially that of the Board of Governors of the U.S. Federal Reserve System, may have a significant effect on interest rates and on the economy generally, which in turn may affect the price of the securities in which the Fund plans to invest. High interest rates, the imposition of credit controls or other restraints on the financing of takeovers or other acquisitions could diminish the number of merger tender offers, exchange offers or other acquisitions, and as a consequence have a materially adverse effect on the activities of the Fund. Moreover, changes in U.S. federal, state, and local tax laws, U.S. federal or state securities and bankruptcy laws or in accounting standards may make corporate acquisitions or restructurings less desirable or make risk arbitrage less profitable. Amendments to the U.S. Bankruptcy Code or other relevant laws could also alter an expected outcome or introduce greater uncertainty regarding the likely outcome of an investment situation.
In addition, governmental policies could create uncertainty for the global financial system and such uncertainty may increase the risks inherent to the Fund and its activities. For example, in March 2018, the United States imposed an additional 25% tariff under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended, on steel products imported into the United States. Furthermore, in May 2019, the United States imposed a 25% tariff
 
73
on certain imports from China, and China reacted with tariffs on certain imports from the United States. These tariffs and restrictions, as well as other changes in U.S. trade policy, have resulted in, and may continue to trigger, retaliatory actions by affected countries, including imposing trade sanctions on certain U.S. products. A “trade war” of this nature has the potential to increase costs, decrease margins, reduce the competitiveness of products and services offered by current and future portfolio companies and adversely affect the revenues and profitability of companies whose businesses rely on imports and exports. Prospective shareholders should realize that any significant changes in governmental policies (including tariffs and other policies involving international trade) could have a material adverse impact on the Fund and its investments.
The Fund is Subject to Risks Relating to General Data Protection Regulations.
In Europe, the General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) was made effective on May 25, 2018, introducing substantial changes to current European privacy laws. It has superseded the existing Data Protection Directive, which is the key European legislation governing the use of personal data relating to living individuals. The GDPR provides enhanced rights to individuals with respect to the privacy of their personal data and applies not only to organizations with a presence in the European Union which use or hold data relating to living individuals, but also to those organizations that offer services to individual European Union investors. In addition, although regulatory behavior and penalties under the GDPR remain an area of considerable scrutiny, it does increase the sanctions for serious breaches to the greater of €20 million or 4% of worldwide revenue, the impact of which could be significant. Compliance with the GDPR may require additional measures, including updating policies and procedures and reviewing relevant IT systems, which may create additional costs and expenses for the Fund and therefore the shareholders. The Fund may have indemnification obligations in respect of, or be required to pay the expenses relating to, any litigation or action as a result of any purported breach of the GDPR. Shareholders other than individuals in the European Union may not be afforded the protections of the GDPR.
The Replacement of LIBOR With an Alternative Reference Rate May Result in an Overall Increase to Borrowing Costs or Cause Other Disruptions, Which Could Have a Material Adverse Effect on Our Results of Operations, Financial Condition and Cash Flow.
London Inter-Bank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) was widely used as a reference for setting the interest rate on loans, bonds and derivatives globally. However, by June 2023, LIBOR is expected to be completely phased out as a reference rate. The U.S. Federal Reserve, in conjunction with the Alternative Reference Rates Committee, has recommended a new reference rate derived from short-term repurchase agreements backed by Treasury securities, the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”).
Certain of the Fund’s investments and/or other indebtedness of the Fund’s portfolio companies have interest rates with a LIBOR reference. As a result, the transition away from LIBOR may adversely impact the Fund and/or the Fund’s portfolio companies. Even if replacement conventions (
e.g.
, SOFR) are adopted in the lending and bond markets, it is uncertain whether they might affect the Fund’s floating-rate investments, including by: