PROSPECTUS
Hercules Capital, Inc.
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Warrants
Subscription Rights
Debt Securities
Units
This prospectus relates to the offer, from time to time, in one or more offerings or series of shares of our common stock, par value $0.001 per share, preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share, warrants representing rights to purchase shares of our common stock, preferred stock or debt securities, subscription rights, debt securities, or units comprised of any combination of the foregoing, which we refer to, collectively, as the “securities.” The preferred stock, debt securities, subscription rights and warrants (including as part of a unit) offered hereby may be convertible or exchangeable into shares of our common stock. We may sell our securities through underwriters or dealers, “at-the-market” to or through a market maker into an existing trading market or otherwise directly to one or more purchasers, including existing stockholders in a rights offering, or through agents or through a combination of methods of sale, including auctions. The identities of such underwriters, dealers, market makers or agents, as the case may be, will be described in one or more supplements to this prospectus. The securities may be offered at prices and on terms to be described in one or more supplements to this prospectus.
In the event we offer common stock, the offering price per share will not be less than the net asset value per share of our common stock at the time we make the offering except (1) in connection with a rights offering to our existing stockholders, (2) with the consent of the holders of the majority of our voting securities and approval of our Board of Directors, or (3) under such circumstances as the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, may permit. See “Risk Factors” and “Sales of Common Stock Below Net Asset Value” below for more information.
We are a specialty finance company focused on providing senior secured loans to high-growth, innovative venture capital-backed and institutional-backed companies in a variety of technology and life sciences industries. We source our investments through our principal office located in San Mateo, CA, as well as through additional offices in Boston, MA, New York, NY, San Diego, CA, Denver, CO and London, United Kingdom. Our primary business objectives are to increase our net income, net investment income, and net asset value through our investments. We principally invest in debt securities and, to a lesser extent, equity securities, with a particular emphasis on Structured Debt. We use the term “Structured Debt” to refer to a debt investment that is structured with an equity, warrant, option, or other right to purchase or convert into common or preferred stock. We aim to achieve our business objectives by maximizing our portfolio total return through generation of current income from our debt investments and capital appreciation from our warrant and equity investments.
We are an internally-managed, non-diversified closed-end investment company that has elected to be regulated as a business development company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange, or NYSE, under the symbol “HTGC.” On December 9, 2024, the last reported sale price of a share of our common stock on the NYSE, was $19.39. The net asset value per share of our common stock as of September 30, 2024 (the last date prior to the date of this prospectus on which we determined net asset value) was $11.40.
An investment in our securities may be speculative and involves risks including a heightened risk of total loss of investment. In addition, the companies in which we invest are subject to special risks. See “Risk Factors” on page 13 of this prospectus, in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, in any of our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and in any applicable prospectus supplement and in any free writing prospectus to read about risks that you should consider before investing in our securities, including the risk of leverage.
Please read this prospectus and any free writing prospectus before investing and keep it for future reference. It contains important information about us that a prospective investor ought to know before investing in our securities. We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information about us with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The information is available free of charge by contacting us at 1 N B Street, Suite 2000, San Mateo, California 94401 or by telephone calling collect at (650) 289-3060 or on our website at www.htgc.com. The Securities and Exchange Commission also maintains a website at www.sec.gov that contains such information.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
This prospectus may not be used to consummate sales of any securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.
The date of this prospectus is December 11, 2024
RISK FACTORS
You should carefully consider the risk factors described below, and in the section titled “Risk Factors” in the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, and the risks discussed in the section titled “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, the section titled “Item 1A. Risk Factors,” which are incorporated by reference herein, in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which are incorporated by reference herein, and any subsequent filings we have made with the SEC that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, together with all of the other information included in this prospectus, the accompanying prospectus supplement and any documents incorporated by reference herein, including our consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto, before you decide whether to make an investment in our securities. The risks set out below and described in such documents are not the only risks we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and/or operating results. If any of the following events occur, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected. In such case, the net asset value of our common stock and the trading price, if any, of our securities could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment.
Investors in offerings of our common stock will likely incur immediate dilution upon the closing of such offering.
We generally expect the public offering price of any offering of shares of our common stock to be higher than the book value per share of our outstanding common stock (unless we offer shares pursuant to a rights offering or after obtaining prior approval for such issuance from our stockholders and our independent directors). Accordingly, investors purchasing shares of our common stock in offerings pursuant to this prospectus may pay a price per share that exceeds the tangible book value per share after such offering.
Your interest in us may be diluted if you do not fully exercise your subscription rights in any rights offering. In addition, if the subscription price is less than our NAV per share, then you will experience an immediate dilution of the aggregate NAV of your shares.
In the event we issue subscription rights, stockholders who do not fully exercise their subscription rights should expect that they will, at the completion of a rights offering pursuant to this prospectus, own a smaller proportional interest in us than would otherwise be the case if they fully exercised their rights. We cannot state precisely the amount of any such dilution in share ownership because we do not know at this time what proportion of the shares will be purchased as a result of such rights offering.
In addition, if the subscription price is less than the NAV per share of our common stock, then our stockholders would experience an immediate dilution of the aggregate NAV of their shares as a result of the offering. The amount of any decrease in NAV is not predictable because it is not known at this time what the subscription price and NAV per share will be on the expiration date of a rights offering or what proportion of the shares will be purchased as a result of such rights offering. Such dilution could be substantial. See “Item 1A. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Securities—We have received the approval from our stockholders to issue shares of our common stock at prices below the then current NAV per share of our common stock, subject to certain limitations and with the approval from our independent directors. If we receive such approval from the independent directors, we may periodically issue shares of our common stock at a price below the then current NAV per share of common stock. Any such issuance could materially dilute your interest in our common stock and reduce our NAV per share” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and “Sales of Common Stock Below Net Asset Value” below.
We may initially invest a portion of the net proceeds of offerings pursuant to this prospectus primarily in high-quality short-term investments, which will generate lower rates of return than those expected from the interest generated on first and second lien senior secured loans, mezzanine debt, including “unitranche” loans, as well as returns generated by other investments permitted by our investment objective.
We may initially invest a portion of the net proceeds of offerings pursuant to this prospectus primarily in cash, cash equivalents, U.S. government securities and other high-quality short-term investments. These securities generally earn yields substantially lower than the income that we anticipate receiving once we are fully invested in accordance with our investment objective. As a result, we may not, for a time, be able to achieve our investment objective and/or we may need
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DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN
The Company has adopted the following plan (the “Plan”) with respect to dividends and distributions declared by our Board of Directors on shares of our common stock:
Unless a stockholder specifically elects to receive cash as set forth below, all cash dividends and distributions hereafter declared by our Board of directors shall be payable in shares of common stock, and no action shall be required on such stockholder’s part to receive a distribution in stock.
Such cash dividends and distributions shall be payable on such date or dates as may be fixed from time to time by our Board of Directors to stockholders of record at the close of business on the record date(s) established by our Board of Directors for the dividend and/or distribution involved.
The Company intends to use primarily newly-issued shares of common stock to implement the Plan, whether its shares are trading at a premium or at a discount to NAV; however, the Company reserves the right to purchase shares in the open market in connection with its obligations under the Plan. If dividends and distributions are reinvested in newly-issued shares, then the number of shares to be issued to a stockholder shall be determined by dividing the total dollar amount of the distribution payable to such stockholder by the market price per share of our common stock at the close of regular trading on the NYSE on the record date fixed by our Board of Directors for such distribution on the NYSE or, if no sale is reported for such day, at the average of their reported bid and asked prices. If dividends and distributions are reinvested in shares purchased on the open market, then the number of shares received by a stockholder shall be determined by dividing the total dollar amount of the distribution payable to such stockholder by the weighted average price per share for all shares purchased by the Plan Administrator on the open market in connection with such distribution.
A stockholder may, however, elect to receive his, her or its dividends and distributions in cash. To exercise this option, such stockholder shall notify Computershare Trust Company, N.A., the plan administrator (the “Plan Administrator”), so that such notice is received by the Plan Administrator prior to the record date fixed by our Board of Directors for the dividend and/or distribution involved for the payment to be paid in cash. If such notice is received by the Plan Administrator after the record date, then that dividend will be reinvested pursuant to the terms of the Plan and any subsequent dividends will be paid in cash.
The Plan Administrator will set up an account for shares acquired pursuant to the Plan for each stockholder who has not so elected to receive dividends and distributions in cash (each a “Participant”). The Plan Administrator may hold each Participant’s shares, together with the shares of other Participants, in non-certificated form in the Plan Administrator’s name or that of its nominee. Upon request by a Participant, received prior to a record date, the Plan Administrator will promptly terminate the Participant’s account and, instead of crediting shares to and/or carrying shares in a Participant’s account, will issue a certificate registered in the Participant’s name for the number of whole shares registered to the value of which will be calculated using the market value of the Company’s shares determined in accordance with Section 3 hereof, less any fees. If a request to terminate a Participant’s account is received by the Plan Administrator after a payment date, the Plan Administrator, in its sole discretion, may either distribute such dividends and distributions in cash or reinvest them in shares on behalf of the terminating Participant. If such dividends are reinvested, the Plan Administrator will process the termination as soon as practicable, but in no event later than five business days after the reinvestment is completed.
Upon request by a Participant, the Plan Administrator will issue a certificate registered in the Participant’s name for the number of whole shares registered to the Participant without terminating the Participant’s account. Issuance of certificates may be subject to a transaction fee. Please contact the Plan Administrator at www.computershare.com/investor or at 1-800-736-3001 to determine if there is a certificate issuance fee.
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The Plan Administrator will confirm to each Participant each acquisition made pursuant to the Plan as soon as practicable after the date of each acquisition. Although each Participant may from time to time have an undivided fractional interest (computed to six decimal places) in a share of Common Stock of the Company, no certificates for a fractional share will be issued. However, dividends and distributions on fractional shares will be credited to each Participant’s account. In the event of termination of a Participant’s account under the Plan, the Plan Administrator will adjust for any such undivided fractional interest in cash at the market value of the Company’s shares at the time of termination.
The Plan Administrator will forward to each Participant any Company-related proxy solicitation materials and each Company report or other communication to stockholders and will vote any shares held by it under the Plan in accordance with the instructions set forth on proxies returned by Participants to the Company.
In the event that the Company makes available to its stockholders rights to purchase additional shares or other securities, the shares held by the Plan Administrator for each Participant under the Plan will be added to any other shares held by the Participant in certificated form in calculating the number of rights to be issued to the Participant.
The Plan Administrator’s fees, if any, for purchases made pursuant to the Plan, and expenses for administering the Plan will be paid for by the Company.
Each Participant may terminate his, her or its account under the Plan by so notifying the Plan Administrator via the Plan Administrator’s website at www.computershare.com/investor, by filling out the transaction request form located at the bottom of the Participant’s Statement and sending it to Computershare Trust Company, N.A., Attn: Investment Services Department, P.O. Box 43006 , Providence, RI 02940-3006 or by calling the Plan Administrator at 1-800-736-3001. See sixth paragraph of these terms and conditions for termination procedures. The Plan may be terminated by the Company upon notice in writing mailed to each Participant at least 30 days prior to any record date for the payment of any dividend or distribution by the Company. Upon any termination, the Plan Administrator will cause a certificate or certificates to be issued for the full shares held for the Participant under the Plan and a cash adjustment for any fractional share to be delivered to the Participant less any applicable fees.
You may sell some or all of your shares of Hercules Capital, Inc. common stock held in your Plan account, even if you are not withdrawing from this Plan. You may sell your shares either through your broker or through the Plan Administrator. If you elect to sell through a broker that you have selected, you must first request the Plan Administrator to move your shares to the Direct Registration System and then have your broker request the Plan Administrator to electronically transfer the number of whole shares you want to sell through the DRS Profile System.
Alternatively, you may request the Plan Administrator to send you a certificate representing the number of shares you want to sell. Issuance of a stock certificate may be subject to a transaction fee. The Plan Administrator will generally move your shares to DRS or issue certificates for your shares approximately three business days after your request is received. Alternatively, you may send the Plan Administrator a request to sell some or all of the shares held in your Plan account.
You have the following choices when making a sale:
Batch Order: A batch order is an accumulation of all sale requests by any security holder for a security submitted together as a collective request. Batch orders are submitted on each trading day, to the extent that there are sale requests. Sale instructions for batch orders received by the Plan Administrator will be processed no later than five business days after the date on which the order is received (except where deferral is required under applicable federal or state laws or regulations), assuming the applicable market is open for trading and sufficient market liquidity exists. All sales requests received in writing will be submitted as batch order sales. The Plan Administrator will cause your shares to be sold in the open market within five business days of its receipt of your request. To maximize cost savings for batch order sale requests, the Plan Administrator will seek to sell shares in round lot transactions. For this purpose, the Plan Administrator may combine each selling Plan Participant’s shares with those of other selling Plan Participants. In every case of a batch order sale, the price to each selling Plan Participant will be the weighted average sale price obtained by the Plan Administrator’s broker for each aggregate order placed by the Plan Administrator and executed by the broker, less a service fee of $25 and a fee of $0.12 per share sold.
Market Order: A market order is a request to sell shares promptly at the then current market price. You may request a market order sale only online at www.computershare.com/investor by calling the Plan Administrator directly at 1-800-736-3001. Market order sale requests made in writing will be submitted as batch order sales. Market order sale requests received online or by telephone will be placed promptly upon receipt during normal market hours (9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
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Eastern Time). Any orders received after 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time will be placed promptly on the next trading day. The price will be the market price for shares obtained by the Plan Administrator’s broker, less a service fee of $25 and a fee of $0.12 per share sold. The Plan Administrator will use commercially reasonable efforts to honor requests by Participants to cancel market orders placed outside of market hours. Depending on the number of shares being sold and current trading volume in the shares, a market order may only be partially filled or not filled at all on the trading day in which it is placed, in which case the order, or remainder of the order, as applicable, will be cancelled at the end of such day. To determine if your shares were sold, you should check your account online at www.computershare.com/investor or call the Plan Administrator directly at 1-800-736-3001. If your market order sale was not filled and you still want the shares to be sold, you will need to re-enter the sale request.
Day Limit Order: A day limit order is an order to sell shares when and if they reach a specific trading price on a specific day. The order is automatically cancelled if the price is not met by the end of that day (or, for orders placed during aftermarket hours, the next trading day the market is open). Depending on the number of shares of common stock being sold and the current trading volume in the shares, such an order may only be partially filled, in which case the remainder of the order will be cancelled. The order may be cancelled by the applicable stock exchange, by the Plan Administrator at its sole discretion or, if the Plan Administrator’s broker has not filled the order, at your request made online at www.computershare.com/investor or by calling the Plan Administrator directly at 1-800-736-3001. There is a service fee of $25 and a fee of $0.12 per share sold for each Day Limit Order sale.
Good-Til-Cancelled (“GTC”) Limit Order: A GTC limit order is an order to sell shares of common stock when and if the shares reach a specific trading price at any time while the order remains open (generally up to 30 days). Depending on the number of shares being sold and current trading volume in the shares, sales may be executed in multiple transactions and over more than one day. If shares are traded on more than one day during which the market is open a separate fee will be charged for each such day. The order (or any unexecuted portion thereof) is automatically cancelled if the trading price is not met by the end of the order period. The order may be cancelled by the applicable stock exchange, by the Plan Administrator at its sole discretion or, if the Plan Administrator’s broker has not filled the order, at your request made online at www.computershare.com/investor or by calling the Plan Administrator directly at 1-800-736-3001. There is a service fee of $25 and a fee of $0.12 per share sold for each Good-til-Cancelled Limit Order sale.
General: All sales requests processed over the telephone by a customer service representative entail an additional fee of $15. All per share fees include any brokerage commissions the Plan Administrator is required to pay. Any fractional share will be rounded up to a whole share for purposes of calculating the per share fee. Fees are deducted from the proceeds derived from the sale. The Plan Administrator may, under certain circumstances, require a transaction request to be submitted in writing. Please contact The Plan Administrator to determine if there are any limitations applicable to your particular sale request. Proceeds are normally paid by check, which are distributed within 24 hours of after your sale transaction has settled. The Plan Administrator reserves the right to decline to process a sale if it determines, in its sole discretion, that supporting legal documentation is required. In addition, no one will have any authority or power to direct the time or price at which shares for the Plan are sold (except for prices specified for day limit orders or GTC limit orders), and no one, other than The Plan Administrator, will select the broker(s) or dealer(s) through or from whom sales are to be made. Participants should be aware that the price may fluctuate during the period between a request for sale, its receipt by the Plan Administrator and the ultimate sale on the open market. Instructions sent to the Plan Administrator to sell shares for a market order or a batch order sale are binding and may not be rescinded.
Any shares issued in connection with a stock dividend or stock split declared by the Company will be added to the Participant’s account with the Plan Administrator. Transaction processing may be curtailed or suspended until the completion of such stock split or payment of such stock dividend.
These terms and conditions may be amended or supplemented by the Company at any time but, except when necessary or appropriate to comply with applicable law or the rules or policies of the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other regulatory authority, only by mailing to each Participant appropriate written notice at least 30 days prior to the effective date thereof. The amendment or supplement shall be deemed to be accepted by each Participant unless, prior to the effective date thereof, the Plan Administrator receives written notice of the termination of his, her or its account under the Plan. Any such amendment may include an appointment by the Plan Administrator in its place of a successor agent
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under these terms and conditions, with full power and authority to perform all or any of the acts to be performed by the Plan Administrator under these terms and conditions. Upon any such appointment of any agent for the purpose of receiving dividends and distributions, the Company will be authorized to pay to such successor agent, for each Participant’s account, all dividends and distributions payable on shares of the Company held in the Participant’s name or under the Plan for retention or application by such successor agent as provided in these terms and conditions.
The Plan Administrator will at all times act in good faith for all purchases and sales and will use its commercially reasonable best efforts to ensure its full and timely performance of all services to be performed by it under this Plan and to comply with applicable law, but assumes no responsibility and shall not be liable for loss or damage due to errors unless such error is caused by the Plan Administrator’s gross negligence, bad faith, or willful misconduct or that of its employees or agents. In no event shall the Company, the Plan Administrator or their agents have any liability as to any inability to purchase shares or as to the timing of any purchase.
A Participant may request to have some or all of the Participant’s shares certificated or sold without terminating his, her or its account with the Plan Administrator.
A Participant may deposit certificated shares into the Participant’s account with the Plan Administrator at any time. Certificated shares may be deposited into the plan, to be held in book-entry form by the Plan Administrator, by delivering with a letter of instruction and such certificates to the Plan Administrator. These certificates should not be endorsed. We strongly recommend that certificates be sent by registered or certified mail, with adequate insurance. However, the method used to submit certificates to the Plan Administrator is at your option and risk.
These terms and conditions shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York, including without limitation, Section 5-1401 of the New York General Obligations Law.
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
The following description is based on relevant portions of the Maryland General Corporation Law and on our charter and bylaws. This summary may not contain all of the information that is important to you, and we refer you to the Maryland General Corporation Law and our charter and bylaws for a more detailed description of the provisions summarized below. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you related to any shares of our capital stock being offered.
Under the terms of our charter, our authorized capital stock consists of 300,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of which 167,582,250 shares are outstanding as of December 9, 2024. Under our charter, our Board of Directors is authorized to classify and reclassify any unissued shares of stock into other classes or series of stock, and to cause the issuance of such shares, without obtaining stockholder approval. In addition, as permitted by the Maryland General Corporation Law, but subject to the 1940 Act, our charter provides that the Board of Directors, without any action by our stockholders, may amend the charter from time to time to increase or decrease the aggregate number of shares of stock or the number of shares of stock of any class or series that we have authority to issue. Under Maryland law, our stockholders generally are not personally liable for our debts or obligations.
Common Stock
All shares of our common stock have equal rights as to earnings, assets, distributions and voting privileges, except as described below and, when they are issued, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
Distributions may be paid to the holders of our common stock if, as and when authorized by our Board of Directors and declared by us out of assets legally available therefor. Shares of our common stock have no conversion, exchange, preemptive or redemption rights. In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Hercules each share of our common stock would be entitled to share ratably in all of our assets that are legally available for distribution after we pay all debts and other liabilities and subject to any preferential rights of holders of our preferred stock, if any preferred stock is outstanding at such time. Each share of our common stock is entitled to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders, including the election of directors. Except as provided with respect to any other class or series of stock, the holders of our common stock will possess exclusive voting power. There is no cumulative voting in the election of directors.
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| Title of Class |
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Amount
Authorized |
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Amount Held by
Company for its
Account |
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Amount
Outstanding |
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| Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share |
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300,000,000 |
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— |
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167,582,250 |
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Preferred Stock
Our charter authorizes our Board of Directors to classify and reclassify any unissued shares of stock into other classes or series of stock, including preferred stock. Prior to issuance of shares of each class or series, the Board of Directors is required by Maryland law and by our charter to set the terms, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms or conditions of redemption for each class or series. Thus, the Board of Directors could authorize the issuance of shares of preferred stock with terms and conditions which could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a transaction or a change in control that might involve a premium price for holders of our common stock or otherwise be in their best interest. You should note, however, that any issuance of preferred stock must comply with the requirements of the 1940 Act. The 1940 Act requires, among other things, that (1) immediately after issuance and before any dividend or other distribution is made with respect to our common stock and before any purchase of common stock is made, such preferred stock together with all other senior securities must not exceed an amount equal to 50% of our total assets after deducting the amount of such dividend, distribution or purchase price, as the case may be, and (2) the holders of shares of preferred stock, if any are issued, must be entitled as a class to elect two directors at all times and to elect a majority of the directors if distributions on such preferred stock are in arrears by two years or more. Certain matters under the 1940 Act require the separate vote of the holders of any issued and outstanding preferred stock. We believe that the availability for issuance of preferred stock will provide us with increased flexibility in structuring future financings and acquisitions.
Limitation on Liability of Directors and Officers; Indemnification and Advance of Expenses
Maryland law permits a Maryland corporation to include in its charter a provision limiting the liability of its directors and officers to the corporation and its stockholders for money damages except for liability resulting from (a) actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services or (b) active and deliberate dishonesty established by a final judgment as being material to the cause of action. Our charter contains such a provision which eliminates directors’ and officers’ liability to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law, subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act.
Our charter authorizes us, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law and subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act, to indemnify any present or former director or officer or any individual who, while a director or officer and at our request, serves or has served another corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise as a director, officer, partner or trustee, from and against any claim or liability to which such person may become subject or which such person may incur by reason of his or her service in any such capacity, except with respect to any matter as to which such person shall have been finally adjudicated in any proceeding not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that their action was in our best interest or to be liable to us or our stockholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such person’s office. Our charter also provides that, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law, with the approval of our Board of Directors and provided that certain conditions described in our charter are met, we may pay certain expenses incurred by any such indemnified person in advance of the final disposition of a proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such indemnified person to repay amounts we have so paid if it is ultimately determined that indemnification of such expenses is not authorized under our charter. Our bylaws obligate us, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law and subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act, to indemnify any present or former director or officer or any individual who, while a director or officer and at our request, serves or has served another corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise as a director, officer, partner or trustee and who is made, or threatened to be made, a party to the proceeding by reason of his or her service in any such capacity from and against any claim or liability to which that person may become subject or which that person may incur by reason of his or her service in any such capacity, except with respect to any matter as to which such person shall have been finally adjudicated in any proceeding not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that their action was in our best interest or to be liable to us or our stockholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith,
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gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such person’s office. Our bylaws also provide that, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law, with the approval of our Board of Directors and provided that certain conditions described in our bylaws are met, we may pay certain expenses incurred by any such indemnified person in advance of the final disposition of a proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such indemnified person to repay amounts we have so paid if it is ultimately determined that indemnification of such expenses is not authorized under our bylaws.
Maryland law requires a corporation (unless its charter provides otherwise, which our charter does not) to indemnify a director or officer who has been successful in the defense of any proceeding to which he or she is made, or threatened to be made, a party by reason of his or her service in that capacity. Maryland law permits a corporation to indemnify its present and former directors and officers, among others, against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by them in connection with any proceeding to which they may be made, or threatened to be made, a party by reason of their service in those or other capacities unless it is established that (a) the act or omission of the director or officer was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and (1) was committed in bad faith or (2) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty, (b) the director or officer actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services or (c) in the case of any criminal proceeding, the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful. However, under Maryland law, a Maryland corporation may not indemnify for an adverse judgment in a suit by or in the right of the corporation or for a judgment of liability on the basis that a personal benefit was improperly received, unless in either case a court orders indemnification, and then only for expenses. In addition, Maryland law permits a corporation to advance reasonable expenses to a director or officer upon the corporation’s receipt of (a) a written affirmation by the director or officer of his or her good faith belief that he or she has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the corporation and (b) a written undertaking by him or her or on his or her behalf to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by the corporation if it is ultimately determined that the standard of conduct was not met.
We currently have in effect a directors’ and officers’ insurance policy covering our directors and officers and us for any acts and omissions committed, attempted or allegedly committed by any director or officer during the policy period. The policy is subject to customary exclusions.
Provisions of the Maryland General Corporation Law and Our Charter and Bylaws
The Maryland General Corporation Law and our charter and bylaws contain provisions that could make it more difficult for a potential acquiror to acquire us by means of a tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise. These provisions are expected to discourage certain coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids and to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to negotiate first with our Board of Directors. We believe that the benefits of these provisions outweigh the potential disadvantages of discouraging any such acquisition proposals because, among other things, the negotiation of such proposals may improve their terms.
Classified Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors is divided into three classes of directors serving staggered three-year terms. The terms of the first, second and third classes will expire in 2026, 2027 and 2025, respectively. Upon expiration of their current terms, directors of each class are eligible to serve for three-year terms or until their successors are duly elected and qualify. Each year one class of directors will be elected by the stockholders. A classified board may render a change in control or removal of our incumbent management more difficult. We believe, however, that the longer time required to elect a majority of a classified Board of Directors will help to ensure the continuity and stability of our management and policies.
Election of Directors
Our charter provides that, except as otherwise provided in the bylaws, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote in the election of directors will be required to elect each director. Our bylaws currently provide a nominee for director shall be elected as a directly only if such nominee receives the affirmative vote of a majority of the total votes cast for and votes cast against such nominee at a meeting of stockholders duly called and at which a quorum is present. Our bylaws further provide that, in a Contested Election (as defined in our bylaws), directors shall be elected by a plurality of votes cast at a meeting of stockholders that is duly called and at which a quorum is present. Pursuant to our charter and bylaws, our Board of Directors may amend the bylaws to alter the vote required to elect directors.
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Number of Directors; Vacancies; Removal
Our charter provides that the number of directors will be set only by the Board of Directors in accordance with our bylaws. Our bylaws provide that a majority of our entire Board of Directors may at any time increase or decrease the number of directors. However, unless the bylaws are amended, the number of directors may never be less than one nor more than 12. We have elected to be subject to the provision of Subtitle 8 of Title 3 of the Maryland General Corporation Law, as amended (the “Maryland General Corporation Law”), regarding the filling of vacancies on the Board of Directors. Accordingly, at such time, except as may be provided by the Board of Directors in setting the terms of any class or series of preferred stock, any and all vacancies on the Board of Directors may be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors in office, even if the remaining directors do not constitute a quorum, and any director elected to fill a vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the full term of the directorship in which the vacancy occurred and until a successor is elected and qualifies, subject to any applicable requirements of the 1940 Act.
Our charter provides that a director may be removed only for cause, as defined in the charter, and then only by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast in the election of directors.
Action by Stockholders
Under the Maryland General Corporation Law, stockholder action may be taken only at an annual or special meeting of stockholders or by unanimous consent in lieu of a meeting (unless the charter provides for stockholder action by less than unanimous written consent, which our charter does not). These provisions, combined with the requirements of our bylaws regarding the calling of a stockholder-requested special meeting of stockholders discussed below, may have the effect of delaying consideration of a stockholder proposal until the next annual meeting.
Advance Notice Provisions for Stockholder Nominations and Stockholder Proposals
Our bylaws provide that with respect to an annual meeting of stockholders, nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors and the proposal of business to be considered by stockholders may be made only (1) pursuant to our notice of the meeting, (2) by the Board of Directors or (3) by a stockholder who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has complied with the advance notice procedures of the bylaws. With respect to special meetings of stockholders, only the business specified in our notice of the meeting may be brought before the meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors at a special meeting may be made only (1) pursuant to our notice of the meeting, (2) by the Board of Directors or (3) provided that the Board of Directors has determined that directors will be elected at the meeting, by a stockholder who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has complied with the advance notice provisions of the bylaws.
The purpose of requiring stockholders to give us advance notice of nominations and other business is to afford our Board of Directors a meaningful opportunity to consider the qualifications of the proposed nominees and the advisability of any other proposed business and, to the extent deemed necessary or desirable by our Board of Directors, to inform stockholders and make recommendations about such qualifications or business, as well as to provide a more orderly procedure for conducting meetings of stockholders. Although our bylaws do not give our Board of Directors any power to disapprove stockholder nominations for the election of directors or proposals recommending certain action, they may have the effect of precluding a contest for the election of directors or the consideration of stockholder proposals if proper procedures are not followed and of discouraging or deterring a third party from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect its own slate of directors or to approve its own proposal without regard to whether consideration of such nominees or proposals might be harmful or beneficial to us and our stockholders.
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Approval of Extraordinary Corporate Action; Amendment of Charter and Bylaws
Under Maryland law, a Maryland corporation generally cannot dissolve, amend its charter, merge, sell all or substantially all of its assets, engage in a share exchange or engage in similar transactions outside the ordinary course of business, unless approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. However, a Maryland corporation may provide in its charter for approval of these matters by a lesser percentage, but not less than a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Our charter generally provides for approval of charter amendments and extraordinary transactions by the stockholders entitled to cast at least a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Our charter also provides that certain charter amendments and any proposal for our conversion, whether by merger or otherwise, from a closed-end company to an open-end company or any proposal for our liquidation or dissolution requires the approval of the stockholders entitled to cast at least 75% of the votes entitled to be cast on such matter. However, if such amendment or proposal is approved by at least 75% of our continuing directors (in addition to approval by our Board of Directors), such amendment or proposal may be approved by the stockholders entitled to cast a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on such a matter. The “continuing directors” are defined in our charter as our current directors, as well as those directors whose nomination for election by the stockholders or whose election by the directors to fill vacancies is approved by a majority of the continuing directors then on the Board of Directors.
Our charter and bylaws provide that the Board of Directors will have the exclusive power to make, alter, amend or repeal any provision of our bylaws.
No Appraisal Rights
Except with respect to appraisal rights arising in connection with the Control Share Act discussed below, as permitted by the Maryland General Corporation Law, our charter provides that stockholders will not be entitled to exercise appraisal rights.
Control Share Acquisitions
The Maryland Control Share Acquisition Act (the “Control Share Act”) provides that control shares of a Maryland corporation acquired in a control share acquisition have no voting rights except to the extent approved by a vote of two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Shares owned by the acquiror, by officers or by directors who are employees of the corporation are excluded from shares entitled to vote on the matter. Control shares are voting shares of stock which, if aggregated with all other shares of stock owned by the acquiror or in respect of which the acquiror is able to exercise or direct the exercise of voting power (except solely by virtue of a revocable proxy), would entitle the acquiror to exercise voting power in electing directors within one of the following ranges of voting power:
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one-tenth or more but less than one-third; |
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one-third or more but less than a majority; or |
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a majority or more of all voting power. |
The requisite stockholder approval must be obtained each time an acquiror crosses one of the thresholds of voting power set forth above. Control shares do not include shares the acquiring person is then entitled to vote as a result of having previously obtained stockholder approval. A control share acquisition means the acquisition of control shares, subject to certain exceptions.
A person who has made or proposes to make a control share acquisition may compel the Board of Directors of the corporation to call a special meeting of stockholders to be held within 50 days of demand to consider the voting rights of the shares. The right to compel the calling of a special meeting is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including an undertaking to pay the expenses of the meeting. If no request for a meeting is made, the corporation may itself present the question at any stockholders meeting.
Business Combinations
Under the Maryland Business Combination Act (the “Business Combination Act”), “business combinations” between a Maryland corporation and an interested stockholder or an affiliate of an interested stockholder are prohibited for five years after the most recent date on which the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. These business combinations include a merger, consolidation, share exchange or, in circumstances specified in the statute, an asset transfer or issuance or reclassification of equity securities. An interested stockholder is defined as:
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any person who beneficially owns 10% or more of the voting power of the corporation’s shares; or |
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We are permitted, under specified conditions, to issue multiple classes of indebtedness if our asset coverage, as defined in the 1940 Act, is at least equal to 150%, subject to certain disclosure requirements, immediately after each such issuance. In addition, while any indebtedness and other senior securities remain outstanding, we must make provisions to prohibit any distribution to our stockholders or the repurchase of such securities or shares unless we meet the applicable asset coverage ratios at the time of the distribution or repurchase. We may also borrow amounts up to 5% of the value of our total assets for temporary or emergency purposes without regard to asset coverage.
General
The indenture provides that any debt securities proposed to be sold under this prospectus and the attached prospectus supplement (“offered debt securities”) and any debt securities issuable upon the exercise of warrants or upon conversion or exchange of other offered securities (“underlying debt securities”), may be issued under the indenture in one or more series.
For purposes of this prospectus, any reference to the payment of principal of or premium or interest, if any, on debt securities will include additional amounts if required by the terms of the debt securities.
The indenture does not limit the amount of debt securities that may be issued thereunder from time to time. Debt securities issued under the indenture, when a single trustee is acting for all debt securities issued under the indenture, are called the “indenture securities.” The indenture also provides that there may be more than one trustee thereunder, each with respect to one or more different series of indenture securities. See “Resignation of Trustee” section below. At a time when two or more trustees are acting under the indenture, each with respect to only certain series, the term “indenture securities” means the one or more series of debt securities with respect to which each respective trustee is acting. In the event that there is more than one trustee under the indenture, the powers and trust obligations of each trustee described in this prospectus will extend only to the one or more series of indenture securities for which it is trustee. If two or more trustees are acting under the indenture, then the indenture securities for which each trustee is acting would be treated as if issued under separate indentures.
We refer you to the prospectus supplement for information with respect to any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the Events of Default or our covenants that are described below, including any addition of a covenant or other provision providing event risk or similar protection.
We have the ability to issue indenture securities with terms different from those of indenture securities previously issued and, without the consent of the holders thereof, to reopen a previous issue of a series of indenture securities and issue additional indenture securities of that series unless the reopening was restricted when that series was created.
Conversion and Exchange
If any debt securities are convertible into or exchangeable for other securities, the prospectus supplement will explain the terms and conditions of the conversion or exchange, including the conversion price or exchange ratio (or the calculation method), the conversion or exchange period (or how the period will be determined), if conversion or exchange will be mandatory or at the option of the holder or us, provisions for adjusting the conversion price or the exchange ratio and provisions affecting conversion or exchange in the event of the redemption of the underlying debt securities. These terms may also include provisions under which the number or amount of other securities to be received by the holders of the debt securities upon conversion or exchange would be calculated according to the market price of the other securities as of a time stated in the prospectus supplement.
Issuance of Securities in Registered Form
We may issue the debt securities in registered form, in which case we may issue them either in book-entry form only or in “certificated” form. Debt securities issued in book-entry form will be represented by global securities. We expect that we will usually issue debt securities in book-entry only form represented by global securities.
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Book-Entry Holders
We will issue registered debt securities in book-entry form only, unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement. This means debt securities will be represented by one or more global securities registered in the name of a depositary that will hold them on behalf of financial institutions that participate in the depositary’s book-entry system. These participating institutions, in turn, hold beneficial interests in the debt securities held by the depositary or its nominee. These institutions may hold these interests on behalf of themselves or customers.
Under the indenture, only the person in whose name a debt security is registered is recognized as the holder of that debt security. Consequently, for debt securities issued in book-entry form, we will recognize only the depositary as the holder of the debt securities and we will make all payments on the debt securities to the depositary. The depositary will then pass along the payments it receives to its participants, which in turn will pass the payments along to their customers who are the beneficial owners. The depositary and its participants do so under agreements they have made with one another or with their customers; they are not obligated to do so under the terms of the debt securities.
As a result, investors will not own debt securities directly. Instead, they will own beneficial interests in a global security, through a bank, broker or other financial institution that participates in the depositary’s book- entry system or holds an interest through a participant. As long as the debt securities are represented by one or more global securities, investors will be indirect holders, and not holders, of the debt securities.
Street Name Holders
In the future, we may issue debt securities in certificated form or terminate a global security. In these cases, investors may choose to hold their debt securities in their own names or in “street name.” Debt securities held in street name are registered in the name of a bank, broker or other financial institution chosen by the investor, and the investor would hold a beneficial interest in those debt securities through the account he or she maintains at that institution.
For debt securities held in street name, we will recognize only the intermediary banks, brokers and other financial institutions in whose names the debt securities are registered as the holders of those debt securities and we will make all payments on those debt securities to them. These institutions will pass along the payments they receive to their customers who are the beneficial owners, but only because they agree to do so in their customer agreements or because they are legally required to do so. Investors who hold debt securities in street name will be indirect holders, and not holders, of the debt securities.
Legal Holders
Our obligations, as well as the obligations of the applicable trustee and those of any third parties employed by us or the applicable trustee, run only to the legal holders of the debt securities. We do not have obligations to investors who hold beneficial interests in global securities, in street name or by any other indirect means. This will be the case whether an investor chooses to be an indirect holder of a debt security or has no choice because we are issuing the debt securities only in book-entry form.
For example, once we make a payment or give a notice to the holder, we have no further responsibility for the payment or notice even if that holder is required, under agreements with depositary participants or customers or by law, to pass it along to the indirect holders but does not do so. Similarly, if we want to obtain the approval of the holders for any purpose (for example, to amend an indenture or to relieve us of the consequences of a default or of our obligation to comply with a particular provision of an indenture), we would seek the approval only from the holders, and not the indirect holders, of the debt securities. Whether and how the holders contact the indirect holders is up to the holders.
When we refer to you, we mean those who invest in the debt securities being offered by this prospectus, whether they are the holders or only indirect holders of those debt securities. When we refer to your debt securities, we mean the debt securities in which you hold a direct or indirect interest.
Special Considerations for Indirect Holders
If you hold debt securities through a bank, broker or other financial institution, either in book-entry form or in street name, we urge you to check with that institution to find out:
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how it handles securities payments and notices, |
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whether it imposes fees or charges, |
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An investor is required to give notice of exercise of any option to elect repayment of its debt securities, through its participant, to the applicable trustee and to deliver the related debt securities by causing its participant to transfer its interest in those debt securities, on DTC’s records, to the applicable trustee. |
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DTC requires that those who purchase and sell interests in a global security deposited in its book-entry system use immediately available funds. Your broker or bank may also require you to use immediately available funds when purchasing or selling interests in a global security. |
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Financial institutions that participate in the depositary’s book-entry system, and through which an investor holds its interest in a global security, may also have their own policies affecting payments, notices and other matters relating to the debt securities. There may be more than one financial intermediary in the chain of ownership for an investor. We do not monitor and are not responsible for the actions of any of those intermediaries. |
Special Situations when a Global Security will be Terminated
In a few special situations described below, a global security will be terminated and interests in it will be exchanged for certificates in non-book-entry form (certificated securities). After that exchange, the choice of whether to hold the certificated debt securities directly or in street name will be up to the investor. Investors must consult their own banks or brokers to find out how to have their interests in a global security transferred on termination to their own names, so that they will be holders. We have described the rights of legal holders and street name investors under “Issuance of Securities in Registered Form” above.
The prospectus supplement may list situations for terminating a global security that would apply only to the particular series of debt securities covered by the prospectus supplement. If a global security is terminated, only the depositary, and not we or the applicable trustee, is responsible for deciding the names of the institutions in whose names the debt securities represented by the global security will be registered and, therefore, who will be the holders of those debt securities.
Payment and Paying Agents
We will pay interest to the person listed in the applicable trustee’s records as the owner of the debt security at the close of business on a particular day in advance of each due date for interest, even if that person no longer owns the debt security on the interest due date. That day, often approximately two weeks in advance of the interest due date, is called the “record date.” Because we will pay all the interest for an interest period to the holders on the record date, holders buying and selling debt securities must work out between themselves the appropriate purchase price. The most common manner is to adjust the sales price of the debt securities to prorate interest fairly between buyer and seller based on their respective ownership periods within the particular interest period. This prorated interest amount is called “accrued interest.”
Payments on Global Securities
We will make payments on a global security in accordance with the applicable policies of the depositary as in effect from time to time. Under those policies, we will make payments directly to the depositary, or its nominee, and not to any indirect holders who own beneficial interests in the global security. An indirect holder’s right to those payments will be governed by the rules and practices of the depositary and its participants.
Payments on Certificated Securities
We will make payments on a certificated debt security as follows. We will pay interest that is due on an interest payment date by check mailed on the interest payment date to the holder at his or her address shown on the trustee’s records as of the close of business on the regular record date. We will make all payments of principal and premium, if any, by check at the office of the applicable trustee in New York, New York and/or at other offices that may be specified in the prospectus supplement or in a notice to holders against surrender of the debt security.
Alternatively, if the holder asks us to do so, we will pay any amount that becomes due on the debt security by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account at a bank in New York City, on the due date. To request payment by wire, the holder must give the applicable trustee or other paying agent appropriate transfer instructions at least 15 business days before the requested wire payment is due. In the case of any interest payment due on an interest payment date, the instructions must be given by the person who is the holder on the relevant regular record date. Any wire instructions, once properly given, will remain in effect unless and until new instructions are given in the manner described above.
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Indenture Provisions—Subordination
Upon any distribution of our assets upon our dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization, the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on any indenture securities denominated as subordinated debt securities is to be subordinated to the extent provided in the indenture in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all senior indebtedness (as defined below), but our obligation to you to make payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such subordinated debt securities will not otherwise be affected. In addition, no payment on account of principal (or premium, if any), sinking fund or interest, if any, may be made on such subordinated debt securities at any time unless full payment of all amounts due in respect of the principal (and premium, if any), sinking fund and interest on senior indebtedness has been made or duly provided for in money or money’s worth.
In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment by us is received by the trustee in respect of subordinated debt securities or by the holders of any of such subordinated debt securities before all senior indebtedness is paid in full, the payment or distribution must be paid over to the holders of the senior indebtedness or on their behalf for application to the payment of all the senior indebtedness remaining unpaid until all the senior indebtedness has been paid in full, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to the holders of the senior indebtedness. Subject to the payment in full of all senior indebtedness upon this distribution by us, the holders of such subordinated debt securities will be subrogated to the rights of the holders of the senior indebtedness to the extent of payments made to the holders of the senior indebtedness out of the distributive share of such subordinated debt securities.
By reason of this subordination, in the event of a distribution of our assets upon our insolvency, certain of our senior creditors may recover more, ratably, than holders of any subordinated debt securities. The indenture provides that these subordination provisions will not apply to money and securities held in trust under the defeasance provisions of the indenture.
Senior indebtedness is defined in the indenture as the principal of (and premium, if any) and unpaid interest on:
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our indebtedness (including indebtedness of others guaranteed by us), whenever created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed, for money borrowed (other than indenture securities issued under the indenture and denominated as subordinated debt securities), unless in the instrument creating or evidencing the same or under which the same is outstanding it is provided that this indebtedness is not senior or prior in right of payment to the subordinated debt securities; and |
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renewals, extensions, modifications and refinancings of any of this indebtedness. |
If this prospectus is being delivered in connection with the offering of a series of indenture securities denominated as subordinated debt securities, the accompanying prospectus supplement to this prospectus will set forth the approximate amount of our senior indebtedness outstanding as of a recent date.
Secured Indebtedness
Certain of our indebtedness, including certain series of indenture securities, may be secured. The prospectus supplement for each series of indenture securities will describe the terms of any security interest for such series and will indicate the approximate amount of our secured indebtedness as of a recent date. In the event of a distribution of our assets upon our insolvency, the holders of unsecured indenture securities may recover less, ratably, than holders of any of our secured indebtedness.
The Trustee under the Indenture
U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association will serve as the trustee under the indenture.
Certain Considerations Relating to Foreign Currencies
Debt securities denominated or payable in foreign currencies may entail significant risks. These risks include the possibility of significant fluctuations in the foreign currency markets, the imposition or modification of foreign exchange controls and potential illiquidity in the secondary market. These risks will vary depending upon the currency or currencies involved and will be more fully described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We may offer, from time to time, in one or more offerings or series, our common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, subscription rights to purchase shares of our common stock or warrants representing rights to purchase shares of our common stock, preferred stock or debt securities in one or more underwritten public offerings, at-the-market offerings, to or through a market maker or into an existing trading market for the securities, on an exchange, or otherwise, negotiated transactions, block trades, best efforts, auctions or a combination of these methods. The holders of our common stock will indirectly bear any fees and expenses in connection with any such offerings. We may sell the securities through underwriters or dealers, directly to one or more purchasers, including existing stockholders in a rights offering, through agents or through a combination of any such methods of sale. Any underwriter or agent involved in the offer and sale of the securities will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement. A prospectus supplement or supplements will also describe the terms of the offering of the securities, including: the purchase price of the securities and the proceeds we will receive from the sale; any over-allotment options under which underwriters may purchase additional securities from us; any agency fees or underwriting discounts and other items constituting agents’ or underwriters’ compensation; any expenses we incur in connection with the sale of such securities; the public offering price; any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers; and any securities exchange or market on which the securities may be listed. Only underwriters named in the applicable prospectus supplement will be underwriters of the securities offered by the applicable prospectus supplement.
The distribution of the securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, at prevailing market prices at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices, at negotiated prices, or at prices determined by an auction process, provided, however, that the offering price per share of our common stock, less any underwriting commissions or discounts, must equal or exceed the NAV per share of our common stock at the time of the offering except (1) in connection with a rights offering to our existing stockholders, (2) with the consent of the majority of our voting securities or (3) under such circumstances as the SEC may permit. The price at which securities may be distributed may represent a discount from prevailing market prices. Pursuant to approval granted at an Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on August 15, 2024, we are permitted to sell or otherwise issue shares of the common stock not exceeding 25% of our then outstanding common stock, at a price not more than 25% below the then-current NAV per share, if our Board of Directors, subject to its fiduciary duties and regulatory requirements, determines that such sale or issuance is in our best interests and the best interests of our stockholders. Such stockholder approval expires on August 15, 2025. See “Sales of Common Stock Below Net Asset Value” above for more information.
In connection with the sale of our securities, underwriters or agents may receive compensation from us or from purchasers of our securities, for whom they may act as agents, in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions. Underwriters may sell our securities to or through dealers and such dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agents. Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of our securities may be deemed to be underwriters under the Securities Act, and any discounts and commissions they receive from us and any profit realized by them on the resale of our securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. Any such underwriter or agent will be identified and any such compensation received from us will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
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Any underwriter may engage in over-allotment, stabilizing transactions, short-covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act. Over-allotment involves sales in excess of the offering size, which create a short position. Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum price. Syndicate-covering or other short-covering transactions involve purchases of the securities, either through exercise of the over-allotment option or in the open market after the distribution is completed, to cover short positions. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a dealer when the securities originally sold by the dealer are purchased in a stabilizing or covering transaction to cover short positions. Those activities may cause the price of the securities to be higher than it would otherwise be. If commenced, the underwriters may discontinue any of the activities at any time.
Any underwriters that are qualified market makers on the NYSE may engage in passive market making transactions in our common stock on the NYSE in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act, during the business day prior to the pricing of the offering, before the commencement of offers or sales of our common stock. Passive market makers must comply with applicable volume and price limitations and must be identified as passive market makers. In general, a passive market maker must display its bid at a price not in excess of the highest independent bid for such security; if all independent bids are lowered below the passive market maker’s bid, however, the passive market maker’s bid must then be lowered when certain purchase limits are exceeded. Passive market making may stabilize the market price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.
We may sell securities directly or through agents we designate from time to time. We will name any agent involved in the offering and sale of securities and we will describe any commissions we will pay the agent in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, our agent will act on a best-efforts basis for the period of its appointment.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, each class or series of securities will be a new issue with no trading market, other than our common stock, which is traded on the NYSE. We may elect to list any other class or series of securities on any exchanges, but we are not obligated to do so. We cannot guarantee the liquidity of the trading markets for any securities.
Under agreements that we may enter, underwriters, dealers and agents who participate in the distribution of our securities may be entitled to indemnification by us against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or contribution with respect to payments that the agents or underwriters may make with respect to these liabilities. Underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary course of business.
If so indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will authorize underwriters or other persons acting as our agents to solicit offers by certain institutions to purchase our securities from us pursuant to contracts providing for payment and delivery on a future date. Institutions with which such contracts may be made include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions and others, but in all cases such institutions must be approved by us. The obligations of any purchaser under any such contract will be subject to the condition that the purchase of our securities shall not at the time of delivery be prohibited under the laws of the jurisdiction to which such purchaser is subject. The underwriters and such other agents will not have any responsibility in respect of the validity or performance of such contracts. Such contracts will be subject only to those conditions set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, and the applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the commission payable for solicitation of such contracts.
We may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third parties in such sale transactions will be underwriters and, if not identified in this prospectus, will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement.
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In compliance with the guidelines of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, the maximum compensation to the underwriters or dealers in connection with the sale of our securities pursuant to this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement may not exceed 8% of the aggregate offering price of the securities as set forth on the cover page of the applicable prospectus supplement.
In order to comply with the securities laws of certain states, if applicable, our securities offered hereby will be sold in such jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers.
CUSTODIAN, TRANSFER AND DIVIDEND PAYING AGENT AND REGISTRAR
Securities we hold in connection with our investments are held under a custody agreement with State Street Bank and Trust Company located at 1776 Heritage Drive, North Quincy, MA 02171 and City National Bank located at 555 S. Flower St, Los Angeles, CA 90071. The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock, Computershare Trust Company, N.A., will act as our transfer agent, dividend paying and reinvestment agent and registrar. The principal business address of the transfer agent is 150 Royall Street, Canton, MA.
LEGAL MATTERS
Certain legal matters regarding the securities offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Dechert LLP, New York, NY. Certain legal matters will be passed upon for underwriters, if any, by the counsel named in the prospectus supplement.
EXPERTS
The financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this Prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the SEC. Pursuant to the Small Business Credit Availability Act, we are allowed to “incorporate by reference” the information that we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus, and later information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information.
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| Cover [Abstract] |
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| Entity Central Index Key |
0001280784
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| Amendment Flag |
false
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| Document Type |
424B2
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| Entity Registrant Name |
Hercules Capital, Inc.
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| Fee Table [Abstract] |
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| Shareholder Transaction Expenses [Table Text Block] |
The following table is intended to assist you in understanding the various costs and expenses that an investor in our common stock will bear directly or indirectly. However, we caution you that some of the percentages indicated in the table below are estimates and may vary. The footnotes to the fee table state which items are estimates. Except where the context suggests otherwise, whenever this prospectus contains a reference to fees or expenses paid by “you” or “us” or that “we” will pay fees or expenses, stockholders will indirectly bear such fees or expenses as investors in Hercules Capital, Inc.
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Stockholder Transaction Expenses (as a percentage of the public offering price): |
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Sales load (as a percentage of offering price) (1) |
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2.00 |
% |
Offering expenses |
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0.06 |
% (2) |
Dividend reinvestment plan fees |
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— |
(3) |
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Total stockholder transaction expenses (as a percentage of the public offering price) |
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2.06 |
% |
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| (1) |
Represents the estimated commission with respect to the shares of common stock being sold in this offering. Each Sales Agent will be entitled to compensation up to 2.0% of the gross proceeds of the sale of any shares of our common stock under the applicable Equity Distribution Agreement, with the exact amount of such compensation to be mutually agreed upon by the Company and the Sales Agent from time to time. There is no guarantee that there will be any sales of our common stock pursuant to this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. |
| (2) |
The percentage reflects estimated offering expenses of approximately $350,000, assuming all shares are sold under this prospectus supplement. |
| (3) |
The expenses associated with the administration of our dividend reinvestment plan are included in “Operating expenses.” We pay all brokerage commissions incurred with respect to open market purchases, if any, made by the administrator under the plan. For more details about the plan, see “Dividend Reinvestment Plan” In the accompanying prospectus. |
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| Sales Load [Percent] |
2.00%
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[1] |
| Other Transaction Expenses [Abstract] |
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| Other Transaction Expense 1 [Percent] |
0.06%
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[2] |
| Other Transaction Expense 2 [Percent] |
0.00%
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[3] |
| Other Transaction Expenses [Percent] |
2.06%
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| Annual Expenses [Table Text Block] |
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Annual Expenses (as a percentage of net assets attributable to common stock): (4) |
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Operating expenses |
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4.57 |
% (5)(6) |
Interest and fees paid in connection with borrowed funds |
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4.61 |
% (7) |
Acquired fund fees and expenses |
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0.01 |
% (9) |
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Total annual expenses |
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9.19 |
% (8) |
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| (4) |
“Net assets attributable to common stock” equals the weighted average net assets for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, which is approximately $1,846.2 million. |
| (5) |
“Operating expenses” represent our estimated operating expenses by annualizing our actual expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, including all fees and expenses of our consolidated subsidiaries and excluding interest and fees on our debt. |
| (6) |
We do not have an investment adviser and are internally managed by our executive officers under the supervision of our Board. As a result, we do not pay investment advisory fees, but instead we pay the operating costs associated with employing investment management professionals. |
| (7) |
“Interest and fees paid in connection with borrowed funds” represent our estimated interest, fees, and credit facility expenses by annualizing our actual interest, fees and credit facility expenses incurred for the nine months ended September 30, 2024. |
(8) |
“Total annual expenses” is the sum of “Operating expenses”, “Interest and fees paid in connection with borrowed funds”, and “Acquired fund fees and expenses”. “Total annual expenses” is presented as a percentage of weighted average net assets attributable to common stockholders, because the holders of |
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shares of our common stock (and not the holders of our debt securities or preferred stock, if any) bear all of our fees and expenses, including the fees and expenses of our wholly-owned consolidated subsidiaries, all of which are included in this fee table presentation. |
| (9) |
“Acquired fund fees and expenses” represent the estimated indirect expenses by annualizing our actual indirect expenses incurred due to investments in other investment companies and private funds for the nine months ended September 30, 2024. |
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| Interest Expenses on Borrowings [Percent] |
4.61%
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[4] |
| Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses [Percent] |
0.01%
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[5] |
| Other Annual Expenses [Abstract] |
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| Other Annual Expenses [Percent] |
4.57%
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[6],[7] |
| Total Annual Expenses [Percent] |
9.19%
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[8] |
| Expense Example [Table Text Block] |
The below example is intended to help you understand the cumulative expenses that you would pay on a $1,000 investment in our common stock over a 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-year period. These hypothetical expenses assume a 5% annual return on your investment, annual operating expenses of 4.57% (from the above table) and that we incur no additional leverage and that all dividends are reinvested in additional shares of common stock. Actual expenses, returns, operating expenses, leverage levels, dividend amounts and dividend treatment may all differ.
The example and the expenses in the tables above should not be considered a representation of our future expenses, and actual expenses may be greater or lesser than those shown. Moreover, while the example assumes, as required by the applicable rules of the SEC, a 5% annual return, our performance will vary and may result in a return greater or lesser than 5%. In addition, while the example assumes reinvestment of all distributions at NAV, participants in our dividend reinvestment plan may receive shares valued at the market price in effect at that time. This price may be at, above or below NAV. See “Dividend Reinvestment Plan” in the accompanying prospectus for additional information regarding our dividend reinvestment plan.
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| Expense Example, Year 01 | $ |
$ 109
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| Expense Example, Years 1 to 3 | $ |
274
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| Expense Example, Years 1 to 5 | $ |
427
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| Expense Example, Years 1 to 10 | $ |
$ 756
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| Basis of Transaction Fees, Note [Text Block] |
as a percentage of offering price
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[1] |
| Other Expenses, Note [Text Block] |
“Operating expenses” represent our estimated operating expenses by annualizing our actual expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, including all fees and expenses of our consolidated subsidiaries and excluding interest and fees on our debt.We do not have an investment adviser and are internally managed by our executive officers under the supervision of our Board. As a result, we do not pay investment advisory fees, but instead we pay the operating costs associated with employing investment management professionals.
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| Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, Note [Text Block] |
“Acquired fund fees and expenses” represent the estimated indirect expenses by annualizing our actual indirect expenses incurred due to investments in other investment companies and private funds for the nine months ended September 30, 2024.
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| General Description of Registrant [Abstract] |
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| Investment Objectives and Practices [Text Block] |
Our investment objective is to maximize our portfolio total return by generating current income from our debt investments and capital appreciation from our warrant and equity-related investments.
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| Risk Factors [Table Text Block] |
An investment in our common stock may be speculative and involves risks, including total loss of investment. The companies in which we invest are also subject to special risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 12 of the accompanying prospectus, in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, in any of our other filings with the SEC, and in any free writing prospectus to read about risks that you should consider before investing in our common stock, including the risk of leverage. |
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| Capital Stock, Long-Term Debt, and Other Securities [Abstract] |
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| Outstanding Securities [Table Text Block] |
OUTSTANDING SECURITIES AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2024
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Amount Held by
Company for its Account |
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Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share |
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200,000,000 |
* |
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— |
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162,505,144 shares |
SBA Debentures |
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350,000,000 |
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$175.0** |
4.28% Notes due February 2025 |
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50,000,000 |
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— |
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$50.0** |
4.31% Notes due June 2025 |
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70,000,000 |
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— |
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$70.0** |
6.00% Notes due June 2025 |
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50,000,000 |
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— |
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$50.0** |
4.50% Notes A due March 2026 |
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50,000,000 |
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— |
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$50.0** |
4.55% Notes B due March 2026 |
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50,000,000 |
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— |
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$50.0** |
2.625% Notes due September 2026 |
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325,000,000 |
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— |
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$325.0** |
3.375% Notes due January 2027 |
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350,000,000 |
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— |
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$350.0** |
4.95% Notes due July 2031 |
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150,000,000 |
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— |
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$150.0** |
6.25% Notes due 2033 |
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40,000,000 |
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— |
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$40.0** |
| * |
On October 28, 2024, the Company filed Articles of Amendment (the “Charter Amendment”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Maryland. The Charter Amendment amended the Company’s Articles of |
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Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of Company stock from 200.0 million shares to 300.0 million shares, as approved by the Company’s Board. The Charter Amendment is effective as of October 28, 2024. |
| ** |
Aggregate principal amount (in millions) |
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| RISK FACTORS [Member] |
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| General Description of Registrant [Abstract] |
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| Risk [Text Block] |
An investment in our common stock may be speculative and involves risks, including total loss of investment. The companies in which we invest are also subject to special risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 12 of the accompanying prospectus, in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, in any of our other filings with the SEC, and in any free writing prospectus to read about risks that you should consider before investing in our common stock, including the risk of leverage. |
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| Common Stocks [Member] |
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| Other Annual Expenses [Abstract] |
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| Basis of Transaction Fees, Note [Text Block] |
as a percentage of net assets attributable to common stock
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[9] |
| Capital Stock, Long-Term Debt, and Other Securities [Abstract] |
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| Outstanding Security, Title [Text Block] |
Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share
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| Outstanding Security, Authorized [Shares] |
200,000,000
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[10] |
| Outstanding Security, Held [Shares] |
0
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| Outstanding Security, Not Held [Shares] |
162,505,144
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| 6.00% Notes due June 2025 [Member] |
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| Capital Stock, Long-Term Debt, and Other Securities [Abstract] |
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| Outstanding Security, Title [Text Block] |
6.00% Notes due June 2025
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| Outstanding Security, Authorized [Shares] |
50,000,000
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| Outstanding Security, Held [Shares] |
0
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| Outstanding Security, Not Held [Shares] |
50,000,000
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[11] |
| 6.25% Notes due 2033 [Member] |
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| Capital Stock, Long-Term Debt, and Other Securities [Abstract] |
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| Outstanding Security, Title [Text Block] |
6.25% Notes due 2033
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| Outstanding Security, Authorized [Shares] |
40,000,000
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| Outstanding Security, Held [Shares] |
0
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| Outstanding Security, Not Held [Shares] |
40,000,000
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[11] |
| 4.28% Notes due February 2025 [Member] |
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| Capital Stock, Long-Term Debt, and Other Securities [Abstract] |
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| Outstanding Security, Title [Text Block] |
4.28% Notes due February 2025
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| Outstanding Security, Authorized [Shares] |
50,000,000
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| Outstanding Security, Held [Shares] |
0
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| Outstanding Security, Not Held [Shares] |
50,000,000
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[11] |
| 4.55% Notes B due March 2026 [Member] |
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| Capital Stock, Long-Term Debt, and Other Securities [Abstract] |
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| Outstanding Security, Title [Text Block] |
4.55% Notes B due March 2026
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| Outstanding Security, Authorized [Shares] |
50,000,000
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| Outstanding Security, Held [Shares] |
0
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| Outstanding Security, Not Held [Shares] |
50,000,000
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[11] |
| 3.375% Notes due January 2027 [Member] |
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| Capital Stock, Long-Term Debt, and Other Securities [Abstract] |
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| Outstanding Security, Title [Text Block] |
3.375% Notes due January 2027
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| Outstanding Security, Authorized [Shares] |
350,000,000
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| Outstanding Security, Held [Shares] |
0
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| Outstanding Security, Not Held [Shares] |
350,000,000
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[11] |
| 2.625% Notes due September 2026 [Member] |
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| Capital Stock, Long-Term Debt, and Other Securities [Abstract] |
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| Outstanding Security, Title [Text Block] |
2.625% Notes due September 2026
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| Outstanding Security, Authorized [Shares] |
325,000,000
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| Outstanding Security, Held [Shares] |
0
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| Outstanding Security, Not Held [Shares] |
325,000,000
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[11] |
| 4.31% Notes due June 2025 [Member] |
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| Capital Stock, Long-Term Debt, and Other Securities [Abstract] |
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| Outstanding Security, Title [Text Block] |
4.31% Notes due June 2025
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| Outstanding Security, Authorized [Shares] |
70,000,000
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| Outstanding Security, Held [Shares] |
0
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| Outstanding Security, Not Held [Shares] |
70,000,000
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[11] |
| SBA Debentures [Member] |
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| Capital Stock, Long-Term Debt, and Other Securities [Abstract] |
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| Outstanding Security, Title [Text Block] |
SBA Debentures
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| Outstanding Security, Authorized [Shares] |
350,000,000
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| Outstanding Security, Not Held [Shares] |
175,000,000
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[11] |
| 4.50% Notes A due March 2026 [Member] |
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| Capital Stock, Long-Term Debt, and Other Securities [Abstract] |
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| Outstanding Security, Title [Text Block] |
4.50% Notes A due March 2026
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| Outstanding Security, Authorized [Shares] |
50,000,000
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| Outstanding Security, Held [Shares] |
0
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| Outstanding Security, Not Held [Shares] |
50,000,000
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[11] |
| 4.95% Notes due July 2031 [Member] |
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| Capital Stock, Long-Term Debt, and Other Securities [Abstract] |
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| Outstanding Security, Title [Text Block] |
4.95% Notes due July 2031
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| Outstanding Security, Authorized [Shares] |
150,000,000
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| Outstanding Security, Held [Shares] |
0
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| Outstanding Security, Not Held [Shares] |
150,000,000
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[11] |
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