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N-2 - USD ($)
3 Months Ended
May 17, 2023
Jun. 30, 2023
Mar. 31, 2023
Dec. 31, 2022
Sep. 30, 2022
Jun. 30, 2022
Mar. 31, 2022
Dec. 31, 2021
Sep. 30, 2021
Jun. 30, 2021
Mar. 31, 2021
Cover [Abstract]                      
Entity Central Index Key 0001496099                    
Amendment Flag false                    
Entity Inv Company Type N-2                    
Document Type N-2                    
Entity Registrant Name New Mountain Finance Corporation                    
Entity Address, Address Line One 1633 Broadway                    
Entity Address, Address Line Two 48th Floor                    
Entity Address, City or Town New York                    
Entity Address, State or Province NY                    
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code 10019                    
City Area Code 212                    
Local Phone Number 720-0300                    
Approximate Date of Commencement of Proposed Sale to Public From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.                    
Dividend or Interest Reinvestment Plan Only false                    
Delayed or Continuous Offering true                    
Primary Shelf [Flag] true                    
Effective Upon Filing, 462(e) true                    
Additional Securities Effective, 413(b) false                    
Effective when Declared, Section 8(c) false                    
New Effective Date for Previous Filing false                    
Additional Securities. 462(b) false                    
No Substantive Changes, 462(c) false                    
Exhibits Only, 462(d) false                    
Registered Closed-End Fund [Flag] false                    
Business Development Company [Flag] true                    
Interval Fund [Flag] false                    
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer Yes                    
Entity Emerging Growth Company false                    
New CEF or BDC Registrant [Flag] false                    
Fee Table [Abstract]                      
Shareholder Transaction Expenses [Table Text Block]
Stockholder transaction expenses (as a percentage of offering price):
Sales load paidN/A
(1)
Offering expenses borne by usN/A
(2)
Dividend reinvestment plan expenses$15.00 
(3)
Total stockholder transaction expenses
— %
Annual expenses (as a percentage of net assets attributable to common stock)
Base management fees 3.51 %
(4)
Incentive fees payable under the Investment Management Agreement 2.89 %
(5)
Interest payments on borrowed funds 8.97 %
(6)
Other expenses 0.78 %
(7)
Acquired fund fees and expenses 3.52 %
(8)
Total annual expenses19.67 %
(9)
Base management fee waiver (0.32)%
(10)
Total annual expenses after the base management fee waiver19.35 %
(9)(10)
                   
Dividend Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Fees $ 15.00                    
Other Transaction Expenses [Abstract]                      
Annual Expenses [Table Text Block]
Stockholder transaction expenses (as a percentage of offering price):
Sales load paidN/A
(1)
Offering expenses borne by usN/A
(2)
Dividend reinvestment plan expenses$15.00 
(3)
Total stockholder transaction expenses
— %
Annual expenses (as a percentage of net assets attributable to common stock)
Base management fees 3.51 %
(4)
Incentive fees payable under the Investment Management Agreement 2.89 %
(5)
Interest payments on borrowed funds 8.97 %
(6)
Other expenses 0.78 %
(7)
Acquired fund fees and expenses 3.52 %
(8)
Total annual expenses19.67 %
(9)
Base management fee waiver (0.32)%
(10)
Total annual expenses after the base management fee waiver19.35 %
(9)(10)
                   
Management Fees [Percent] 3.51%                    
Interest Expenses on Borrowings [Percent] 8.97%                    
Incentive Fees [Percent] 2.89%                    
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses [Percent] 3.52%                    
Other Annual Expenses [Abstract]                      
Other Annual Expenses [Percent] 0.78%                    
Total Annual Expenses [Percent] 19.67%                    
Waivers and Reimbursements of Fees [Percent] (0.32%)                    
Net Expense over Assets [Percent] 19.35%                    
Expense Example [Table Text Block]
Example
The following example, required by the SEC, demonstrates the projected dollar amount of total cumulative expenses that would be incurred over various periods with respect to a hypothetical investment in our common stock. In calculating the following expense amounts, we have assumed that our borrowings and annual operating expenses would remain at the levels set forth in the table above. In the event that shares to which this prospectus relates are sold to or through underwriters, a corresponding prospectus supplement will restate this example to reflect the applicable sales load and offering expenses. See footnote 6 above for additional information regarding certain assumptions regarding our level of leverage.
1 Year3 Years5 Years10 Years
You would pay the following expenses on a $1,000 investment, assuming a 5.0% annual return without realization of any capital gains$168 $443 $652 $985 
The example should not be considered a representation of future expenses, and actual expenses may be greater or less than those shown.
While the example assumes, as required by the applicable rules of the SEC, a 5.0% annual return, our performance will vary and may result in a return greater or less than 5.0%. The incentive fee under the Investment Management Agreement, which, assuming a 5.0% annual return, would either not be payable or would have an insignificant impact on the expense amounts shown above, is not included in the above example. The above illustration assumes that we will not realize any capital gains (computed net of all realized capital losses and unrealized capital depreciation) in any of the indicated time periods. If we achieve sufficient returns on our investments, including through the realization of capital gains, to trigger an incentive fee of a material amount, our expenses and returns to our investors would be higher. For example, if we assumed that we received our 5.0% annual return completely in the form of net realized capital gains on our investments, computed net of all cumulative
unrealized depreciation on our investments, the projected dollar amount of total cumulative expenses set forth in the above illustration would be as follows:
1 Year3 Years5 Years10 Years
You would pay the following expenses on a $1,000 investment, assuming a 5.0% annual return completely in the form of net realized capital gains $176 $460 $673 $1,001 
The example assumes no sales load. In addition, while the examples assume reinvestment of all distributions at NAV, participants in our dividend reinvestment plan will receive a number of shares of our common stock determined by dividing the total dollar amount of the distribution payable to a participant by the market price per share of our common stock at the close of trading on the dividend payment date. The market price per share of our common stock may be at, above or below NAV. See “Dividend Reinvestment Plan” in this prospectus for additional information regarding the dividend reinvestment plan.
                   
Expense Example, Year 01 $ 168                    
Expense Example, Years 1 to 3 443                    
Expense Example, Years 1 to 5 652                    
Expense Example, Years 1 to 10 $ 985                    
Purpose of Fee Table , Note [Text Block] The following table is intended to assist you in understanding the costs and expenses that you will bear directly or indirectly. We caution you that some of the percentages indicated in the table below are estimates and may vary. Actual costs and expenses incurred by investors in shares of our common stock may be greater than the percentage estimates in the table below. Except where the context suggests otherwise, whenever this prospectus contains a reference to fees or expenses paid by “you”, “NMFC”, or “us” or that “we”, “NMFC”, or the “Company” will pay fees or expenses, we will pay such fees and expenses out of our net assets and, consequently, you will indirectly bear such fees or expenses as an investor in us. However, you will not be required to deliver any money or otherwise bear personal liability or responsibility for such fees or expenses.                    
Basis of Transaction Fees, Note [Text Block] If a participant elects by written notice to the plan administrator to have the plan administrator sell part or all of the shares held by the plan administrator in the participant’s account and remit the proceeds to the participant, the plan administrator is authorized to deduct a $15.00 transaction fee plus a $0.10 per share brokerage commission from the proceeds. The expenses of the dividend reinvestment plan are included in “other expenses.” The plan administrator’s fees will be paid by us. There will be no brokerage charges or other charges to stockholders who participate in the plan. For additional information, see “Dividend Reinvestment Plan” in this prospectus.                    
Other Expenses, Note [Text Block] “Other expenses” include our overhead expenses, including payments by us under the Administration Agreement based on the allocable portion of overhead and other expenses incurred by the Administrator in performing its obligations to us under the Administration Agreement. Pursuant to the Administration Agreement, the Administrator may, in its own discretion, submit to us for reimbursement some or all of the expenses that the Administrator has incurred on our behalf during any quarterly period. As a result, the amount of expenses for which we will have to reimburse the Administrator may fluctuate in future quarterly periods and there can be no assurance given as to when, or if, the Administrator may determine to limit the expenses that the Administrator submits to us for reimbursement in the future. However, it is expected that the Administrator will continue to support part of our expense burden in the near future and may decide to not calculate and charge through certain overhead related amounts as well as continue to cover some of the indirect costs. The Administrator cannot recoup any expenses that the Administrator has previously waived. This expense ratio is calculated without deducting any expenses waived or reimbursed by the Administrator. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, the indirect administrative expenses that our Administrator did not waive of approximately $0.6 million represented approximately 0.02% of our gross assets. See “Item 1 — Financial Statements and Supplementary Data — Note 5. Agreements” in our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.                    
Management Fee not based on Net Assets, Note [Text Block] The base management fee pursuant to Amendment No. 1 to the Investment Management Agreement is based on an annual rate of 1.4% of our average gross assets for the two most recent quarters, which equals our total assets on the Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities, less cash and cash equivalents. We have not invested, and currently do not invest, in derivatives. To the extent we invest in derivatives in the future, we will use the actual value of the derivatives, as reported on our Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities, for purposes of calculating our base management fee. The base management fee reflected in the table above is based on the three months ended March 31, 2023 and is calculated without deducting any management fees waived.                    
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, Note [Text Block] The holders of shares of our common stock indirectly bear the expenses of our investment in NMFC Senior Loan Program III (“SLP III”) and NMFC Senior Loan Program IV, LLC (“SLP IV”). As SLP III and SLP IV are structured as private joint ventures, no management fees are paid by SLP III or SLP IV. Future expenses for SLP III and SLP IV may be substantially higher or lower because certain expenses may fluctuate over time.                    
Financial Highlights [Abstract]                      
Senior Securities, Note [Text Block] SENIOR SECURITIESInformation about our senior securities as of December 31, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015 and 2014 and information about NMF Holdings’ senior securities as of December 31, 2013 are located in Note 13 to our audited consolidated financial statements in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, and is incorporated by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.                    
General Description of Registrant [Abstract]                      
Investment Objectives and Practices [Text Block]
Our investment objective is to generate current income and capital appreciation through the sourcing and origination of debt securities at all levels of the capital structure, primarily consisting of senior secured loans, and select junior capital positions, to growing businesses in defensive industries that offer attractive risk-adjusted returns. The first lien debt may include traditional first lien senior secured loans or unitranche loans. We invest a significant portion of our portfolio in unitranche loans, which are loans that combine both senior and subordinated debt, generally in a first-lien position. Because unitranche loans combine characteristics of senior and subordinated debt, they have risks similar to the risks associated with secured debt and subordinated debt according to the combination of loan characteristics of the unitranche loan. Certain unitranche loan investments may include “last-out” positions, which generally heighten the risk of loss. Unitranche loans generally allow the borrower to make a large lump sum payment of principal at the end of the loan term and there is a heightened risk of loss if the borrower is unable to pay the lump sum or refinance the amount owed at maturity. In some cases, our investments may also include equity interests.
We make investments through both primary originations and open-market secondary purchases. We primarily target loans to, and invest in, U.S. middle market businesses, a market segment we believe continues to be underserved by other lenders. We define middle market businesses as those business with annual earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (“EBITDA”) between $10.0 million and $200.0 million. Our primary focus is in the debt of defensive growth companies, which are defined as generally exhibiting the following characteristics: (i) sustainable secular growth drivers, (ii) high barriers to competitive entry, (iii) high free cash flow after capital expenditure and working capital needs, (iv) high returns on assets and (v) niche market dominance. Similar to us, each of SBIC I’s and SBIC II’s investment objective is to generate current income and capital appreciation under our investment criteria. However, SBIC I’s and SBIC II’s investments must be in SBA eligible small businesses. Our portfolio may be concentrated in a limited number of industries. As of March 31, 2023, our top five industry concentrations were software, business services, healthcare, investment funds (which includes our investments in joint ventures) and education.
The investments that we invest in are almost entirely rated below investment grade or may be unrated, which are often referred to as “leveraged loans”, “high yield” or “junk” debt investments, and may be considered “high risk” or speculative compared to debt investments that are rated investment grade. Such issuers are considered more likely than investment grade issuers to default on their payments of interest and principal, and such risk of default could reduce our net asset value (“NAV”) and income distributions. Our investments are also primarily floating rate debt investments that contain interest reset provisions that may make it more difficult for borrowers to make debt repayments to us if interest rates rise. In addition, some of our debt investments will not fully amortize during their lifetime, which could result in a loss or a substantial amount of unpaid principal and interest due upon maturity. Our
debt investments may also lose significant market value before a default occurs. Furthermore, an active trading market may not exist for these securities. This illiquidity may make it more difficult to value our investments.
                   
Risk Factors [Table Text Block]
RISK FACTORS
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. In addition to the other information contained in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, you should consider carefully the following information before making an investment in our securities. Before deciding whether to invest in our securities, you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described in the section titled “Risk Factors” in the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, and discussed in the section titled “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, the section titled “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and any subsequent filings we have made with the SEC that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, together with other information in this prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize for use in connection with this offering. The risks and uncertainties described in these documents could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations. The risks described in these documents are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties that we are unaware of, or that we currently believe are not material, may also become important factors that adversely affect our business. Past financial performance may not be a reliable indicator of future performance, and historical trends should not be used to anticipate results or trends in future periods. If any of these risks actually occurs, our business, reputation, financial condition, results of operations, revenue, and future prospects could be seriously harmed. This could cause our NAV and the trading price of our securities to decline, resulting in a loss of all or part of your investment. Please also read carefully the section titled “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”
                   
Share Price [Table Text Block]
PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK AND DISTRIBUTIONS
Our common stock is traded on the NASDAQ under the symbol “NMFC”. The following table sets forth, for each fiscal quarter during the last two fiscal years and the current fiscal year to date, the NAV per share of our common stock, the high and low closing sale price for our common stock, the closing sale price as a percentage of NAV and the quarterly distributions per share.
NAV
Closing Sales Price(3)
Premium (Discount) of High Closing Sales toPremium (Discount) of Low Closing Sales toDeclared Distributions
Fiscal Year Ended
Per Share(2)
High Low
NAV(4)
NAV(4)
Per Share(5)(6)
December 31, 2023
Second Quarter(1)
*$12.25 $11.42 
*
*
$0.35 
(7)
First Quarter
$13.14 $13.11 $11.63 (0.26)%(11.52)%$0.32 
December 31, 2022
Fourth Quarter
$13.02 $12.80 $11.40 (1.71)%(12.46)%$0.32 
Third Quarter
$13.20 $13.50 $11.26 2.27 %(14.70)%$0.30 
Second Quarter
$13.42 $13.91 $11.20 3.65 %(16.54)%$0.30 
First Quarter
$13.56 $13.85 $12.94 2.14 %(4.57)%$0.30 
December 31, 2021
Fourth Quarter
$13.49 $14.07 $13.14 4.30 %(2.59)%$0.30 
Third Quarter
$13.26 $13.65 $12.83 2.94 %(3.24)%$0.30 
Second Quarter
$13.33 $13.68 $12.55 2.63 %(5.85)%$0.30 
First Quarter
$12.85 $13.39 $11.36 4.20 %(11.60)%$0.30 
__________________
(1)Period from April 1, 2023 through May 15, 2023.
(2)NAV is determined as of the last date in the relevant quarter and therefore may not reflect the NAV per share on the date of the high and low closing sales prices. The NAVs shown are based on outstanding shares at the end of each period.
(3)Closing sales price is determined as the high or low closing sales price noted within the respective quarter, not adjusted for distributions.
(4)Calculated as of the respective high or low closing sales price divided by the quarter end NAV.
(5)Represents the distributions declared or paid for the specified quarter.
(6)Tax characteristics of all distributions paid are reported to U.S. stockholders on Form 1099 after the end of the calendar year.
(7)Consists of a quarterly distribution of $0.32 per share and a supplemental distribution related to Q1 earnings of $0.03 per share, each payable on June 30, 2023 to holders of record as of June 16, 2023.
*Not determinable at the time of filing.
                   
Lowest Price or Bid   $ 11.42 $ 11.63 $ 11.40 $ 11.26 $ 11.20 $ 12.94 $ 13.14 $ 12.83 $ 12.55 $ 11.36
Highest Price or Bid   $ 12.25 $ 13.11 $ 12.80 $ 13.50 $ 13.91 $ 13.85 $ 14.07 $ 13.65 $ 13.68 $ 13.39
Highest Price or Bid, Premium (Discount) to NAV [Percent]     (0.26%) (1.71%) 2.27% 3.65% 2.14% 4.30% 2.94% 2.63% 4.20%
Lowest Price or Bid, Premium (Discount) to NAV [Percent]     (11.52%) (12.46%) (14.70%) (16.54%) (4.57%) (2.59%) (3.24%) (5.85%) (11.60%)
Latest Share Price $ 11.97                    
Latest Premium (Discount) to NAV [Percent]             8.90%        
Capital Stock, Long-Term Debt, and Other Securities [Abstract]                      
Capital Stock [Table Text Block]
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
The following description is based on relevant portions of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, and amended and restated bylaws. This summary is not necessarily complete, and we refer you to the DGCL, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, and amended and restated bylaws for a more detailed description of the provisions summarized below.
Capital Stock
Our authorized capital stock consists of 200,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of which 100,937,026 shares are outstanding as of May 15, 2023. Our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol “NMFC”. No stock has been authorized for issuance under any equity compensation plans. Under Delaware law, our stockholders generally will not be personally liable for our debts or obligations.
The following are our outstanding classes of securities as of May 15, 2023:
(1)
Title of Class
(2)
Amount Authorized
(3)
Amount Held by NMFC or for Its Account
(4)
Amount Outstanding Exclusive of Amount Under Column 3
Common Stock
200,000,000 — 100,937,026 
Preferred Stock
2,000,000 — — 
Common Stock
Under the terms of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, all shares of our common stock will have equal rights as to earnings, assets, dividends and voting 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 and declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available therefore. Shares of our common stock will have no preemptive, exchange, conversion or redemption rights and will be freely transferable, except where their transfer is restricted by federal and state securities laws or by contract. In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, 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 will be 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 will be no cumulative voting in the election of directors, which means that holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock will be able to elect all of our directors (other than directors to be elected solely by the holders of preferred stock), and holders of less than a majority of such shares will be unable to elect any director.
Preferred Stock
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorizes our board of directors to issue preferred stock. Prior to the issuance of shares of each class or series, the board of directors is required by Delaware law and by our amended and restated certificate of incorporation 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 our common stock is made, such preferred stock together with all other senior securities must not exceed an amount equal to 66.7% 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 dividends on such preferred stock are in arrears by two full years or more. Certain matters under the 1940 Act require the separate vote of the holders of any issued and outstanding preferred stock. For example, holders of preferred stock would vote separately from the holders of common stock on a proposal to cease operations as a BDC. We believe that the availability for issuance of preferred stock will provide us with increased flexibility in structuring future financings and acquisitions. However, we do not currently have any plans to issue preferred stock.
                   
Long Term Debt [Table Text Block]
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
We may issue debt securities in one or more series. The specific terms of each series of debt securities will be described in the particular prospectus supplement relating to that series. The prospectus supplement may or may not modify the general terms found in this prospectus and will be filed with the SEC. For a complete description of the terms of a particular series of debt securities, you should read this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you relating to that particular series of debt securities.
As required by federal law for all bonds and notes of companies that are publicly offered, the debt securities are governed by a document called an “indenture.” An indenture is a contract between us and the financial institution acting as trustee on your behalf, and is subject to and governed by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. The trustee has two main roles. First, the trustee can enforce your rights against us if we default. There are some limitations on the extent to which the trustee acts on your behalf, described in the second paragraph under “— Events of Default — Remedies if an Event of Default Occurs.” Second, the trustee performs certain administrative duties for us with respect to the debt securities.
This section includes a description of the material provisions of the indenture. Because this section is a summary, however, it does not describe every aspect of the debt securities and the indenture. We urge you to read the indenture because it, and not this description, defines your rights as a holder of debt securities. The base indenture has been attached, or incorporated by reference, as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. We will file a supplemental indenture with the SEC in connection with any debt offering, at which time the supplemental indenture would be publicly available. See “Available Information” in this prospectus for information on how to obtain a copy of the indenture.
The prospectus supplement, which will accompany this prospectus, will describe the particular series of debt securities being offered by including:
the designation or title of the series of debt securities;
the total principal amount of the series of debt securities;
the percentage of the principal amount at which the series of debt securities will be offered;
the date or dates on which principal will be payable;
the rate or rates (which may be either fixed or variable) and/or the method of determining such rate or rates of interest, if any;
the date or dates from which any interest will accrue, or the method of determining such date or dates, and the date or dates on which any interest will be payable;
whether any interest may be paid by issuing additional securities of the same series in lieu of cash (and the terms upon which any such interest may be paid by issuing additional securities);
the terms for redemption, extension or early repayment, if any;
the currencies in which the series of debt securities are issued and payable;
whether the amount of payments of principal, premium or interest, if any, on a series of debt securities will be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method (which could be based on one or more currencies, commodities, equity indices or other indices) and how these amounts will be determined;
the place or places, if any, other than or in addition to the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York, of payment, transfer, conversion and/or exchange of the debt securities;
the denominations in which the offered debt securities will be issued (if other than $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof);
the provision for any sinking fund;
any restrictive covenants;
any Events of Default (as defined in “Events of Default” below);
whether the series of debt securities are issuable in certificated form;
any provisions for defeasance or covenant defeasance;
any special U.S. federal income tax implications, including, if applicable, U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to original issue discount;
whether and under what circumstances we will pay additional amounts in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge and, if so, whether we will have the option to redeem the debt securities rather than pay the additional amounts (and the terms of this option);
any provisions for convertibility or exchangeability of the debt securities into or for any other securities;
whether the debt securities are subject to subordination and the terms of such subordination;
whether the debt securities are secured and the terms of any security interest;
the listing, if any, on a securities exchange; and
any other terms.
The debt securities may be secured or unsecured obligations. Under the provisions of the 1940 Act, we, as a BDC, are permitted to issue debt only in amounts such that our asset coverage, as defined in the 1940 Act, equals at least 150.0% after each issuance of debt (which means we can borrow $2 for every $1 of our equity), but giving effect to any exemptive relief granted to us by the SEC. See “Item 1A — Risk Factors — Risks Related to Our Operations — Recent legislation allows us to incur additional leverage, which could increase the risk of investing in our securities” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. Unless the prospectus supplement states otherwise, principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, will be paid by us in immediately available funds.
General
The indenture provides that any debt securities proposed to be sold under this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement (“offered 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” 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.
Except as described under “— Events of Default” and “— Merger or Consolidation” below, the indenture does not contain any provisions that give you protection in the event we issue a large amount of debt or we are acquired by another entity.
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, as applicable, that are described below, including any addition of a covenant or other provision providing event risk protection 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.
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 in this Description of Debt Securities, 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:
how it handles securities payments and notices;
whether it imposes fees or charges;
how it would handle a request for the holders’ consent, if ever required;
whether and how you can instruct it to send you debt securities registered in your own name so you can be a holder, if that is permitted in the future for a particular series of debt securities;
how it would exercise rights under the debt securities if there were a default or other event triggering the need for holders to act to protect their interests; and
if the debt securities are in book-entry form, how the depositary’s rules and procedures will affect these matters.
Global Securities
As noted above, we usually will issue debt securities as registered securities in book-entry form only. A global security represents one or any other number of individual debt securities. Generally, all debt securities represented by the same global securities will have the same terms.
Each debt security issued in book-entry form will be represented by a global security that we deposit with and register in the name of a financial institution or its nominee that we select. The financial institution that we select for this purpose is called the depositary. Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, known as DTC, will be the depositary for all debt securities issued in book-entry form.
A global security may not be transferred to or registered in the name of anyone other than the depositary or its nominee, unless special termination situations arise. We describe those situations below under “— Termination of a Global Security.” As a result of these arrangements, the depositary, or its nominee, will be the sole registered owner and holder of all debt securities represented by a global security, and investors will be permitted to own only beneficial interests in a global security. Beneficial interests must be held by means of an account with a broker, bank or other financial institution that in turn has an account with the depositary or with another institution that has an account with the depositary. Thus, an investor whose security is represented by a global security will not be a holder of the debt security, but only an indirect holder of a beneficial interest in the global security.
Special Considerations for Global Securities
As an indirect holder, an investor’s rights relating to a global security will be governed by the account rules of the investor’s financial institution and of the depositary, as well as general laws relating to securities transfers. The depositary that holds the global security will be considered the holder of the debt securities represented by the global security.
If debt securities are issued only in the form of a global security, an investor should be aware of the following:
an investor cannot cause the debt securities to be registered in his or her name and cannot obtain certificates for his or her interest in the debt securities, except in the special situations we describe below;
an investor will be an indirect holder and must look to his or her own bank or broker for payments on the debt securities and protection of his or her legal rights relating to the debt securities, as we describe under “— Issuance of Securities in Registered Form” above;
an investor may not be able to sell interests in the debt securities to some insurance companies and other institutions that are required by law to own their securities in non-book-entry form;
an investor may not be able to pledge his or her interest in a global security in circumstances where certificates representing the debt securities must be delivered to the lender or other beneficiary of the pledge in order for the pledge to be effective;
the depositary’s policies, which may change from time to time, will govern payments, transfers, exchanges and other matters relating to an investor’s interest in a global security. NMFC and the trustee have no responsibility for any aspect of the depositary’s actions or for its records of ownership interests in a global security. NMFC and the trustee also do not supervise the depositary in any way;
if we redeem less than all the debt securities of a particular series being redeemed, DTC’s practice is to determine by lot the amount to be redeemed from each of its participants holding that series;
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;
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;
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, nor are we responsible for the actions of, any of those intermediaries.
Termination of a Global Security
If a global security is terminated for any reason, 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 us or the applicable trustee, is responsible for deciding the investors 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, usually about two weeks in advance of the interest due date, is called the “record date.” Since 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, as described under “— Special Considerations for Global Securities.”
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 to the holder of debt securities as shown on the trustee’s records as of the close of business on the regular record date at our office in New York, New York, as applicable, and/or at other offices that may be specified in the prospectus supplement. 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, at our option we may pay any cash interest that becomes due on the debt security by mailing a check to the holder at his, her or its address shown on the trustee’s records as of the close of business on the regular record date or by transfer to an account at a bank in the U.S., in either case, on the due date.
Payment When Offices Are Closed
If any payment is due on a debt security on a day that is not a business day, we will make the payment on the next day that is a business day. Payments made on the next business day in this situation will be treated under the indenture as if they were made on the original due date, except as otherwise indicated in the attached prospectus supplement. Such payment will not result in a default under any debt security or the indenture, and no interest will accrue on the payment amount from the original due date to the next day that is a business day.
Book-entry and other indirect holders should consult their banks or brokers for information on how they will receive payments on their debt securities.
Events of Default
You will have rights if an Event of Default occurs in respect of the debt securities of your series and is not cured, as described later in this subsection.
The term “Event of Default” in respect of the debt securities of your series means any of the following:
we do not pay the principal of, or any premium on, a debt security of the series on its due date;
we do not pay interest on a debt security of the series within 30 days of its due date;
we do not deposit any sinking fund payment in respect of debt securities of the series within two business days of its due date;
we remain in breach of a covenant in respect of debt securities of the series for 60 days after we receive a written notice of default stating we are in breach (the notice must be sent by either the trustee or holders of at least 25.0% of the principal amount of debt securities of the series);
we file for bankruptcy or certain other events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur and remain undischarged or unstayed for a period of 90 days;
the series of debt securities has an asset coverage, as such term is defined in the 1940 Act, of less than 100.0% on the last business day of each of 24 consecutive calendar months, giving effect to any exemptive relief granted to us by the SEC; or
any other Event of Default in respect of debt securities of the series described in the prospectus supplement occurs.
An Event of Default for a particular series of debt securities does not necessarily constitute an Event of Default for any other series of debt securities issued under the same or any other indenture. The trustee may withhold notice to the holders of debt securities of any default, except in the payment of principal, premium, interest, or sinking or purchase fund installment, if it in good faith considers the withholding of notice to be in the interest of the holders.
Remedies if an Event of Default Occurs
If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the trustee or the holders of not less than 25.0% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the affected series may (and the trustee shall at the request of such holders) declare the entire principal amount of all the debt securities of that series to be due and immediately payable. This is called a declaration of acceleration of maturity. A declaration of acceleration of maturity may be canceled by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the affected series if (1) we have deposited with the trustee all amounts due and owing with respect to the securities (other than principal that has become due solely by reason of such acceleration) and certain other amounts, and (2) any other Events of Default have been cured or waived.
The trustee is not required to take any action under the indenture at the request of any holders unless the holders offer the trustee protection from expenses and liability reasonably satisfactory to it (called an “indemnity”). If indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the trustee is provided, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the relevant series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any lawsuit or other formal legal action seeking any remedy available to the trustee. The trustee may refuse to follow those directions in certain circumstances. No delay or omission in exercising any right or remedy will be treated as a waiver of that right, remedy or Event of Default.
Before you are allowed to bypass your trustee and bring your own lawsuit or other formal legal action or take other steps to enforce your rights or protect your interests relating to the debt securities, the following must occur:
you must give the trustee written notice that an Event of Default with respect to the relevant series of debt securities has occurred and remains uncured;
the holders of at least 25.0% in principal amount of all outstanding debt securities of the relevant series must make a written request that the trustee take action because of the default and must offer indemnity, security, or both reasonably satisfactory to the trustee against the costs, expenses, and other liabilities of taking that action;
the trustee must not have taken action for 60 days after receipt of the above notice and offer of indemnity and/or security; and
the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of that series must not have given the trustee a direction inconsistent with the above notice during that 60-day period.
However, you are entitled at any time to bring a lawsuit for the payment of money due on your debt securities on or after the due date.
Book-entry and other indirect holders should consult their banks or brokers for information on how to give notice or direction to or make a request of the trustee and how to declare or cancel an acceleration of maturity.
Each year, we will furnish to each trustee a written statement of certain of our officers certifying that to their knowledge we are in compliance with the indenture and the debt securities, or else specifying any default.
Waiver of Default
Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the affected series may waive any past defaults other than a default:
in the payment of principal, any premium or interest; or
in respect of a covenant that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of each holder.
Merger or Consolidation
Under the terms of the indenture, we are generally permitted to consolidate or merge with another entity. We are also permitted to sell all or substantially all of our assets to another entity. However, we may not take any of these actions unless all the following conditions are met:
where we merge out of existence or sell substantially all our assets, the resulting entity or transferee must agree to be legally responsible for our obligations under the debt securities;
the merger or sale of assets must not cause a default on the debt securities and we must not already be in default (unless the merger or sale would cure the default). For purposes of this no-default test, a default would include an Event of Default that has occurred and has not been cured, as described under “Events of Default” above. A default for this purpose would also include any event that would be an Event of Default if the requirements for giving us a notice of default or NMFC’s as applicable, having to exist for a specific period of time were disregarded;
we must deliver certain certificates and documents to the trustee; and
we must satisfy any other requirements specified in the prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of debt securities.
Modification or Waiver
There are three types of changes we can make to the indenture and the debt securities issued thereunder.
Changes Requiring Your Approval
First, there are changes that we cannot make to your debt securities without your specific approval. The following is a list of those types of changes:
change the stated maturity of the principal of or interest on a debt security or the terms of any sinking fund with respect to any security;
reduce any amounts due on a debt security;
reduce the amount of principal payable upon acceleration of the maturity of an original issue discount or indexed security following a default or upon the redemption thereof or the amount thereof provable in a bankruptcy proceeding;
adversely affect any right of repayment at the holder’s option;
change the place or currency of payment on a debt security (except as otherwise described in the prospectus or prospectus supplement);
impair your right to sue for payment;
adversely affect any right to convert or exchange a debt security in accordance with its terms;
modify the subordination provisions in the indenture in a manner that is adverse to outstanding holders of the debt securities;
reduce the percentage of holders of debt securities whose consent is needed to modify or amend the indenture;
reduce the percentage of holders of debt securities whose consent is needed to waive compliance with certain provisions of the indenture or to waive certain defaults;
modify any other aspect of the provisions of the indenture dealing with supplemental indentures with the consent of holders, waiver of past defaults, changes to the quorum or voting requirements or the waiver of certain covenants; and
change any obligation we have to pay additional amounts.
Changes Not Requiring Approval
The second type of change does not require any vote by the holders of the debt securities. This type is limited to clarifications, establishment of the form or terms of new securities of any series as permitted by the indenture and certain other changes that would not adversely affect holders of the outstanding debt securities in any material respect. We also do not need any approval to make any change that affects only debt securities to be issued under the indenture after the change takes effect.
Changes Requiring Majority Approval
Any other change to the indenture and the debt securities would require the following approval:
if the change affects only one series of debt securities, it must be approved by the holders of a majority in principal amount of that series; and
if the change affects more than one series of debt securities issued under the same indenture, it must be approved by the holders of a majority in principal amount of all of the series affected by the change, with all affected series voting together as one class for this purpose.
In each case, the required approval must be given by written consent.
The holders of a majority in principal amount of a series of debt securities issued under the indenture, voting together as one class for this purpose, may waive our compliance with some of the covenants applicable to that series of debt securities. However, we cannot obtain a waiver of a payment default or of any of the matters covered by the bullet points included above under “— Changes Requiring Your Approval.”
Further Details Concerning Voting
When taking a vote, we will use the following rules to decide how much principal to attribute to a debt security:
for original issue discount securities, we will use the principal amount that would be due and payable on the voting date if the maturity of these debt securities were accelerated to that date because of a default;
for debt securities whose principal amount is not known (for example, because it is based on an index), we will use the principal face amount at original issuance or a special rule for that debt security described in the prospectus supplement; and
for debt securities denominated in one or more foreign currencies, we will use the U.S. dollar equivalent.
Debt securities will not be considered outstanding, and therefore not eligible to vote, if we have deposited or set aside in trust money for their payment or redemption or if we, any other obligor, or any of our affiliates, or any obligor own such debt securities. Debt securities will also not be eligible to vote if they have been fully defeased as described later under “— Defeasance — Full Defeasance”.
We will generally be entitled to set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the holders of outstanding indenture securities that are entitled to vote or take other action under the indenture. However, the record date may not be more than 30 days before the date of the first solicitation of holders to vote on or take such action. If we set a record date for a vote or other action to be taken by holders of one or more series, that vote or action may be taken only by persons who are holders of outstanding indenture securities of those series on the record date and must be taken within 11 months following the record date.
Book-entry and other indirect holders should consult their banks or brokers for information on how approval may be granted or denied if we seek to change the indenture or the debt securities or requests a waiver.
Defeasance
The following provisions will be applicable to each series of debt securities unless we state in the applicable prospectus supplement that the provisions of covenant defeasance and full defeasance will not be applicable to that series.
Covenant Defeasance
Under current U.S. federal tax law and the indenture, we can make the deposit described below and be released from some of the restrictive covenants in the indenture under which the particular series was issued. This is called “covenant defeasance”. In that event, you would lose the protection of those restrictive covenants but would gain the protection of having money and government securities set aside in trust to repay your debt securities. If we achieve covenant defeasance and your debt securities were subordinated as described under “— Indenture Provisions — Subordination” below, such subordination would not prevent the trustee under the indenture from applying the funds available to it from the deposit described in the first bullet below to the payment of amounts due in respect of such debt securities for the benefit of the subordinated debt holders. In order to achieve covenant defeasance, we must do the following:
we must deposit in trust for the benefit of all holders of a series of debt securities a combination of cash (in such currency in which such securities are then specified as payable at stated maturity) or government obligations applicable to such securities (determined on the basis of the currency in which such securities are then specified as payable at stated maturity) that will generate enough cash to make interest, principal
and any other payments on the debt securities on their various due dates and any mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments;
we must deliver to the trustee a legal opinion of our counsel confirming that, under current U.S. federal income tax law, we may make the above deposit without causing you to be taxed on the debt securities any differently than if we did not make the deposit;
we must deliver to the trustee a legal opinion of our counsel stating that the above deposit does not require registration by us under the 1940 Act and a legal opinion and officers’ certificate stating that all conditions precedent to covenant defeasance have been complied with;
defeasance must not result in a breach or violation of, or result in a default under, of the indenture or any of our other material agreements or instruments, as applicable;
no default or event of default with respect to such debt securities shall have occurred and be continuing and no defaults or events of default related to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization shall occur during the next 90 days; and
satisfy the conditions for covenant defeasance contained in any supplemental indentures.
If we accomplish covenant defeasance, you can still look to us for repayment of the debt securities if there were a shortfall in the trust deposit or the trustee is prevented from making payment. For example, if one of the remaining Events of Default occurred (such as our bankruptcy) and the debt securities became immediately due and payable, there might be such a shortfall. However, there is no assurance that we would have sufficient funds to make payment of the shortfall.
Full Defeasance
If there is a change in U.S. federal tax law or we obtain IRS ruling, as described in the second bullet below, we can legally release ourselves from all payment and other obligations on the debt securities of a particular series (called “full defeasance”) if we put in place the following other arrangements for you to be repaid:
we must deposit in trust for the benefit of all holders of a series of debt securities a combination of cash (in such currency in which such securities are then specified as payable at stated maturity) or government obligations applicable to such securities (determined on the basis of the currency in which such securities are then specified as payable at stated maturity) that will generate enough cash to make interest, principal and any other payments on the debt securities on their various due dates and any mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments;
we must deliver to the trustee a legal opinion confirming that there has been a change in current U.S. federal tax law or an IRS ruling that allows us to make the above deposit without causing you to be taxed on the debt securities any differently than if we did not make the deposit. Under current U.S. federal tax law, the deposit and our legal release from the debt securities would be treated as though we paid you your share of the cash and notes or bonds at the time the cash and notes or bonds were deposited in trust in exchange for your debt securities and you would recognize gain or loss on the debt securities at the time of the deposit;
we must deliver to the trustee a legal opinion of our counsel stating that the above deposit does not require registration by us under the 1940 Act and a legal opinion and officers’ certificate stating that all conditions precedent to defeasance have been complied with;
defeasance must not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, of the indenture or any of our other material agreements or instruments, as applicable;
no default or event of default with respect to such debt securities shall have occurred and be continuing and no defaults or events of default related to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization shall occur during the next 90 days; and
satisfy the conditions for full defeasance contained in any supplemental indentures.
If we ever did accomplish full defeasance, as described above, you would have to rely solely on the trust deposit for repayment of the debt securities. You could not look to us for repayment in the unlikely event of any shortfall. Conversely, the trust deposit would most likely be protected from claims of our lenders and other creditors, as applicable, if we ever became bankrupt or insolvent. If your debt securities were subordinated as described later under “— Indenture Provisions — Subordination”, such subordination would not prevent the trustee under the indenture from applying the funds available to it from the deposit referred to in the first bullet of the preceding paragraph to the payment of amounts due in respect of such debt securities for the benefit of the subordinated debt holders.
Form, Exchange and Transfer of Certificated Registered Securities
If registered debt securities cease to be issued in book-entry form, they will be issued:
only in fully registered certificated form;
without interest coupons; and
unless we indicate otherwise in the prospectus supplement, in denominations of $1,000 and amounts that are multiples of $1,000.
Holders may exchange their certificated securities for debt securities of smaller denominations or combined into fewer debt securities of larger denominations, as long as the total principal amount is not changed and as long as the denomination is greater than the minimum denomination for such securities.
Holders may exchange or transfer their certificated securities at the office of the trustee. We have appointed the trustee to act as our agent for registering debt securities in the names of holders transferring debt securities. We may appoint another entity to perform these functions or perform them ourselves.
Holders will not be required to pay a service charge to transfer or exchange their certificated securities, but they may be required to pay any tax or other governmental charge associated with the transfer or exchange. The transfer or exchange will be made only if our transfer agent, as applicable, is satisfied with the holder’s proof of legal ownership.
If we have designated additional transfer agents for your debt security, they will be named in the prospectus supplement. We may appoint additional transfer agents or cancel the appointment of any particular transfer agent. We may also approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts.
If any certificated securities of a particular series are redeemable and we redeem less than all the debt securities of that series, we may block the transfer or exchange of those debt securities during the period beginning 15 days before the day we mail the notice of redemption and ending on the day of that mailing, in order to freeze the list of holders to prepare the mailing. We may also refuse to register transfers or exchanges of any certificated securities selected for redemption, except that we will continue to permit transfers and exchanges of the unredeemed portion of any debt security that will be partially redeemed.
If a registered debt security is issued in book-entry form, only the depositary will be entitled to transfer and exchange the debt security as described in this subsection, since it will be the sole holder of the debt security.
Resignation of Trustee
Each trustee may resign or be removed with respect to one or more series of indenture securities provided that a successor trustee is appointed to act with respect to these series and has accepted such appointment. In the event that two or more persons are acting as trustee with respect to different series of indenture securities under the indenture, each of the trustees will be a trustee of a trust separate and apart from the trust administered by any other trustee.
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, upon our dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization 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 or the holders of any indenture securities that are not Senior Indebtedness. 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:
our indebtedness (including indebtedness of others guaranteed by us), whenever created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed, for money borrowed, that we have designated as “Senior Indebtedness” for purposes of the indenture and in accordance with the terms of the indenture (including any indenture securities designated as Senior Indebtedness), and
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 will set forth the approximate amount of our Senior Indebtedness and of our other Indebtedness outstanding as of a recent date.
Secured Indebtedness and Ranking
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. Any unsecured indenture securities will effectively rank junior to any existing and future secured indebtedness, including any credit facilities or secured indenture securities, that we incur to the extent of the value of the assets securing such secured indebtedness. Our debt securities, whether secured or unsecured, will rank structurally junior to all existing and future indebtedness (including trade payables) incurred by our subsidiaries, financing vehicles or similar facilities, with respect to claims on the assets of any such subsidiaries, financing vehicles or similar facilities.
In the event of bankruptcy, liquidation, reorganization or other winding up, any of our assets that secure secured debt will be available to pay obligations on unsecured debt securities only after all indebtedness under such secured debt has been repaid in full from such assets. We advise you that there may not be sufficient assets remaining to pay amounts due on any or all unsecured debt securities then outstanding after fulfillment of this obligation. As a result,
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 (as successor in interest to U.S. Bank 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.
Book-Entry Procedures
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be issued in book-entry form, and the Depository Trust Company, or DTC, will act as securities depository for the debt securities. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be issued as fully registered securities registered in the name of Cede & Co. (DTC’s partnership nominee) or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. One fully-registered certificate will be issued for the debt securities, in the aggregate principal amount of such issue, and will be deposited with DTC.
DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC holds and provides asset servicing for over 3.5 million issues of U.S. and non-U.S. equity, corporate and municipal debt issues, and money market instruments from over 100 countries that DTC’s participants, or Direct Participants, deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the post-trade settlement among Direct Participants of sales and other securities transactions in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry transfers and pledges between Direct Participants’ accounts. This eliminates the need for physical movement of securities certificates. Direct Participants include both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations, and certain other organizations. DTC is a wholly- owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, or DTCC.
DTCC is the holding company for DTC, National Securities Clearing Corporation and Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, all of which are registered clearing agencies. DTCC is owned by the users of its regulated subsidiaries. Access to the DTC system is also available to others such as both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Direct Participant, either directly or indirectly, or Indirect Participants. DTC has a Standard & Poor’s rating of AA+. The DTC Rules applicable to its participants are on file with the SEC. More information about DTC can be found at www.dtcc.com and www.dtc.org.
Purchases of debt securities under the DTC system must be made by or through Direct Participants, which will receive a credit for the debt securities on DTC’s records. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser of each security, or the “Beneficial Owner,” is in turn to be recorded on the Direct and Indirect Participants’ records. Beneficial Owners will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchase. Beneficial Owners are, however, expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the transaction, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the Direct or Indirect Participant through which the Beneficial Owner entered into the transaction. Transfers of ownership interests in the debt securities are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of Direct and Indirect Participants acting on behalf of Beneficial Owners. Beneficial Owners will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in debt securities, except in the event that use of the book-entry system for the debt securities is discontinued.
To facilitate subsequent transfers, all debt securities deposited by Direct Participants with DTC are registered in the name of DTC’s partnership nominee, Cede & Co. or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. The deposit of debt securities with DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. or such other DTC nominee do not effect any change in beneficial ownership. DTC has no knowledge of the actual Beneficial Owners of the debt securities; DTC’s records reflect only the identity of the Direct Participants to whose accounts such debt securities are credited, which may or may not be the Beneficial Owners. The Direct and Indirect Participants will remain responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.
Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to Direct Participants, by Direct Participants to Indirect Participants, and by Direct Participants and Indirect Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time.
Redemption notices shall be sent to DTC. If less than all of the debt securities within an issue are being redeemed, DTC’s practice is to determine by lot the amount of the interest of each Direct Participant in such issue to be redeemed.
Redemption proceeds, distributions, and interest payments on the debt securities will be made to Cede & Co., or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. DTC’s practice is to credit Direct Participants’ accounts upon DTC’s receipt of funds and corresponding detail information from us or the trustee on the payment date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC’s records. Payments by Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name,” and will be the responsibility of such Participant and not of DTC nor its nominee, the trustee, or us, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time. Payment of redemption proceeds, distributions, and interest payments to Cede & Co. (or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC) is the responsibility of us or the trustee, but disbursement of such payments to Direct Participants will be the responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of such payments to the Beneficial Owners will be the responsibility of Direct and Indirect Participants.
DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities depository with respect to the debt securities at any time by giving reasonable notice to us or to the trustee. Under such circumstances, in the event that a successor securities depository is not obtained, certificates are required to be printed and delivered. We may decide to discontinue use of the system of book-entry-only transfers through DTC (or a successor securities depository). In that event, certificates will be printed and delivered to DTC.
The information in this section concerning DTC and DTC’s book-entry system has been obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we take no responsibility for the accuracy thereof.
                   
Outstanding Securities [Table Text Block]
(1)
Title of Class
(2)
Amount Authorized
(3)
Amount Held by NMFC or for Its Account
(4)
Amount Outstanding Exclusive of Amount Under Column 3
Common Stock
200,000,000 — 100,937,026 
Preferred Stock
2,000,000 — — 
                   
Business Contact [Member]                      
Cover [Abstract]                      
Entity Address, Address Line One New Mountain Finance Corporation 1633 Broadway                    
Entity Address, Address Line Two 48th Floor                    
Entity Address, City or Town New York                    
Entity Address, State or Province NY                    
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code 10019                    
Contact Personnel Name John R. Kline                    
Common Stock [Member]                      
Capital Stock, Long-Term Debt, and Other Securities [Abstract]                      
Security Title [Text Block] common stock, par value $0.01 per share                    
Security Dividends [Text Block] Distributions may be paid to the holders of our common stock if, as and when authorized and declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available therefore.                    
Security Voting Rights [Text Block] Each share of our common stock will be 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.                    
Security Liquidation Rights [Text Block] In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, 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.                    
Outstanding Security, Title [Text Block] Common Stock                    
Outstanding Security, Authorized [Shares] 200,000,000                    
Outstanding Security, Held [Shares] 0                    
Outstanding Security, Not Held [Shares] 100,937,026                    
Preferred Stock [Member]                      
Capital Stock, Long-Term Debt, and Other Securities [Abstract]                      
Capital Stock [Table Text Block]
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK
In addition to shares of common stock, we have 2,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01, authorized of which no shares are currently outstanding. If we offer preferred stock under this prospectus, we will issue an appropriate prospectus supplement. We may issue preferred stock from time to time in one or more classes or series, without stockholder approval. Prior to issuance of shares of each class or series, our board of directors is required by Delaware 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. Any such an issuance must adhere to the requirements of the 1940 Act, Delaware law and any other limitations imposed by law.
The following is a general description of the terms of the preferred stock we may issue from time to time. Particular terms of any preferred stock we offer will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to such preferred stock. If we issue preferred stock, it will pay dividends to the holders of the preferred stock at either a fixed rate or a rate that will be reset frequently based on short-term interest rates, as described in a prospectus supplement accompanying each preferred share offering.
The 1940 Act currently requires, among other things, that (a) immediately after issuance and before any distribution is made with respect to common stock, the liquidation preference of the preferred stock, together with all other senior securities, must not exceed an amount equal to 66.7% of our total assets (taking into account such distribution), (b) 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 dividends on the preferred stock are in arrears by two years or more and (c) such class of stock have complete priority over any other class of stock as to distribution of assets and payment of dividends, which dividends shall be cumulative.
For any series of preferred stock that we may issue, our board of directors will determine and the amendment to the charter and the prospectus supplement relating to such series will describe:
the designation and number of shares of such series;
the rate and time at which, and the preferences and conditions under which, any dividends will be paid on shares of such series, as well as whether such dividends are participating or non-participating;
any provisions relating to convertibility or exchangeability of the shares of such series, including adjustments to the conversion price of such series;
the rights and preferences, if any, of holders of shares of such series upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs;
the voting powers, if any, of the holders of shares of such series;
any provisions relating to the redemption of the shares of such series;
any limitations on our ability to pay dividends or make distributions on, or acquire or redeem, other securities while shares of such series are outstanding;
any conditions or restrictions on our ability to issue additional shares of such series or other securities;
if applicable, a discussion of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations; and
any other relative powers, preferences and participating, optional or special rights of shares of such series, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof.
All shares of preferred stock that we may issue will be identical and of equal rank except as to the particular terms thereof that may be fixed by our board of directors, and all shares of each series of preferred stock will be identical and of equal rank except as to the dates from which dividends, if any, thereon will be cumulative. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be
provided to you related to any preferred stock being offered, as well as the complete certificate of designation that contain the terms of the applicable series of preferred stock.
                   
Security Title [Text Block] preferred stock, par value $0.01                    
Outstanding Security, Title [Text Block] Preferred Stock                    
Outstanding Security, Authorized [Shares] 2,000,000                    
Outstanding Security, Held [Shares] 0                    
Outstanding Security, Not Held [Shares] 0                    
Subscription Rights [Member]                      
Capital Stock, Long-Term Debt, and Other Securities [Abstract]                      
Other Securities [Table Text Block]
DESCRIPTION OF SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS
General
We may issue subscription rights to our stockholders to purchase common stock. Subscription rights may be issued independently or together with any other offered security and may or may not be transferable by the person purchasing or receiving the subscription rights. In connection with a subscription rights offering to our stockholders, we would distribute certificates evidencing the subscription rights and a prospectus supplement to our stockholders on the record date that we set for receiving subscription rights in such subscription rights offering. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you related to any subscription rights offering.
The applicable prospectus supplement would describe the following terms of subscription rights in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered:
the period of time the offering would remain open (which shall be open a minimum number of days such that all record holders would be eligible to participate in the offering and shall not be open longer than 120 days);
the title of such subscription rights;
the exercise price for such subscription rights (or method of calculation thereof);
the ratio of the offering (which, in the case of transferable rights, will require a minimum of three shares to be held of record before a person is entitled to purchase an additional share);
the number of such subscription rights issued to each stockholder;
the extent to which such subscription rights are transferable and the market on which they may be traded if they are transferable;
if applicable, a discussion of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the issuance or exercise of such subscription rights;
the date on which the right to exercise such subscription rights shall commence, and the date on which such right shall expire (subject to any extension);
the extent to which such subscription rights include an over-subscription privilege with respect to unsubscribed securities and the terms of such over-subscription privilege;
any termination right we may have in connection with such subscription rights offering; and
any other terms of such subscription rights, including exercise, settlement and other procedures and limitations relating to the transfer and exercise of such subscription rights.
Exercise Of Subscription Rights
Each subscription right would entitle the holder of the subscription right to purchase for cash such amount of shares of common stock at such exercise price as shall in each case be set forth in, or be determinable as set forth in, the prospectus supplement relating to the subscription rights offered thereby. Subscription rights may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date for such subscription rights set forth in the prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, all unexercised subscription rights would become void.
Subscription rights may be exercised as set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the subscription rights offered thereby. Upon receipt of payment and the subscription rights certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the subscription rights agent or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement we will forward, as soon as practicable, the shares of common stock purchasable upon such exercise. To
the extent permissible under applicable law, we may determine to offer any unsubscribed offered securities directly to persons other than stockholders, to or through agents, underwriters or dealers or through a combination of such methods, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Dilutive Effects
Any stockholder who chooses not to participate in a rights offering should expect to own a smaller interest in us upon completion of such rights offering. Any rights offering will dilute the ownership interest and voting power of stockholders who do not fully exercise their subscription rights. Further, because the net proceeds per share from any rights offering may be lower than our current NAV per share, the rights offering may reduce our NAV per share. The amount of dilution that a stockholder will experience could be substantial, particularly to the extent we engage in multiple rights offerings within a limited time period. In addition, the market price of our common stock could be adversely affected while a rights offering is ongoing as a result of the possibility that a significant number of additional shares may be issued upon completion of such rights offering. All of our stockholders will also indirectly bear the expenses associated with any rights offering we may conduct, regardless of whether they elect to exercise any rights.
                   
Other Security, Title [Text Block] subscription rights                    
Warrants [Member]                      
Capital Stock, Long-Term Debt, and Other Securities [Abstract]                      
Other Securities [Table Text Block]
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
The following is a general description of the terms of the warrants we may issue from time to time. Particular terms of any warrants we offer will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to such warrants. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you related to any warrants offering.
We may issue warrants to purchase shares of our common stock, preferred stock or debt securities. Such warrants may be issued independently or together with shares of common stock, preferred stock or debt securities and may be attached or separate from such shares of common stock, preferred stock or debt securities. We will issue each series of warrants under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a warrant agent. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency for or with holders or beneficial owners of warrants.
A prospectus supplement will describe the particular terms of any series of warrants we may issue, including the following:
the title of such warrants;
the aggregate number of such warrants;
the price or prices at which such warrants will be issued;
the currency or currencies, including composite currencies, in which the price of such warrants may be payable;
if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities with which the warrants are issued and the number of warrants issued with each such security or each principal amount of such security;
in the case of warrants to purchase debt securities, the principal amount of debt securities purchasable upon exercise of one warrant and the price at which and the currency or currencies, including composite currencies, in which this principal amount of debt securities may be purchased upon such exercise;
in the case of warrants to purchase common stock or preferred stock, the number of shares of common stock or preferred stock, as the case may be, purchasable upon exercise of one warrant and the price at which and the currency or currencies, including composite currencies, in which these shares may be purchased upon such exercise;
the date on which the right to exercise such warrants shall commence and the date on which such right will expire;
whether such warrants will be issued in registered form or bearer form;
if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of such warrants which may be exercised at any one time;
if applicable, the number of such warrants issued with each share of common stock;
if applicable, the date on and after which such warrants and the related shares of common stock will be separately transferable;
information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any;
if applicable, a discussion of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations; and
any other terms of such warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of such warrants.
NMFC and the warrant agent may amend or supplement the warrant agreement for a series of warrants without the consent of the holders of the warrants issued thereunder to effect changes that are not inconsistent with the provisions of the warrants and that do not materially and adversely affect the interests of the holders of the warrants.
Prior to exercising their warrants, holders of warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the securities purchasable upon such exercise, including, in the case of warrants to purchase debt securities, the right to receive principal, premium, if any, or interest payments, on the debt securities purchasable upon exercise or to enforce covenants in the applicable indenture or, in the case of warrants to purchase common stock or preferred stock, the right to receive dividends, if any, or payments upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up or to exercise any voting rights.
Under the 1940 Act, we may generally only offer warrants provided that (1) the warrants expire by their terms within ten years; (2) the exercise or conversion price is not less than the current market value at the date of issuance; (3) our stockholders authorize the proposal to issue such warrants, and our board of directors approves such issuance on the basis that the issuance is in the best interests of us and our stockholders; and (4) if the warrants are accompanied by other securities, the warrants are not separately transferable unless no class of such warrants and the securities accompanying them has been publicly distributed. The 1940 Act also provides that the amount of our voting securities that would result from the exercise of all outstanding warrants at the time of issuance may not exceed 25.0% of our outstanding voting securities.
                   
Other Security, Title [Text Block] warrants