0001104659-14-079465.txt : 20141112 0001104659-14-079465.hdr.sgml : 20141111 20141112100441 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001104659-14-079465 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: POS EX PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 5 FILED AS OF DATE: 20141112 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20141112 EFFECTIVENESS DATE: 20141112 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: FS Energy & Power Fund II CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001599750 IRS NUMBER: 000000000 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: POS EX SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-195237 FILM NUMBER: 141211892 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: CIRA CENTRE, 2929 ARCH STREET, SUITE 675 CITY: PHILADELPHIA STATE: PA ZIP: 19104 BUSINESS PHONE: 215-495-1150 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: CIRA CENTRE, 2929 ARCH STREET, SUITE 675 CITY: PHILADELPHIA STATE: PA ZIP: 19104 POS EX 1 a14-23110_1posex.htm POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT FILED SOLELY TO ADD EXHIBITS

 

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 12, 2014.

 

Securities Act File No. 333-195237

 

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to

Form N-2

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

 

 

FS ENERGY AND POWER FUND II

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

 

 

Cira Centre

2929 Arch Street, Suite 675

Philadelphia, PA 19104

(215) 495-1150

(Address and telephone number, including area code, of principal executive offices)

 

Michael C. Forman

FS Energy and Power Fund II

Cira Centre

2929 Arch Street, Suite 675

Philadelphia, PA 19104

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

 

 

COPIES TO:

 

 

 

 

James A. Lebovitz, Esq.

David J. Harris, Esq.

Dechert LLP

Cira Centre

2929 Arch Street

Philadelphia, PA 19104

Tel: (215) 994-4000

Fax: (215) 994-2222

 

Rosemarie A. Thurston, Esq.

Martin H. Dozier, Esq.

Alston & Bird LLP

1201 West Peachtree Street

Atlanta, GA 30309-3424

Tel: (404) 881-7000

Fax: (404) 253-8447

 

 

 

 

Approximate date of proposed public offering: As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

 

If any securities being registered on this form will be offered on a delayed or continuous basis in reliance on Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, other than securities offered in connection with a distribution reinvestment plan, check the following box.  x

 



 

EXPLANATORY NOTE

 

This Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-195237) of FS Energy and Power Fund II (as amended, the “Registration Statement”) is being filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), solely for the purpose of filing Exhibits (h)(1), (h)(2), (j), (k)(1) and (k)(2) to the Registration Statement. No changes have been made to Part A, Part B or Part C of the Registration Statement, other than Item 25(2) of Part C as set forth below. Accordingly, this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 consists only of the facing page, this explanatory note and Item 25(2) of the Registration Statement setting forth the exhibits to the Registration Statement. Pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 shall become effective immediately upon filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The contents of the Registration Statement are hereby incorporated by reference.

 



 

PART C—OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 25.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

 

(2) Exhibits

 

(a)(1)

Certificate of Trust of the Registrant. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(1) filed with the Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-195237), filed on April 11, 2014.)

(a)(2)

Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Registrant. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(3) filed with Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-195237), filed on August 22, 2014.)

(b)

Bylaws of the Registrant. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (b) filed with Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-195237), filed on August 22, 2014.)

(d)

Form of Subscription Agreement. (Included in the Prospectus as Appendix A and incorporated herein by reference.)

(e)

Distribution Reinvestment Plan of the Registrant. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (e) filed with Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-195237), filed on August 22, 2014.)

(g)(1)

Investment Advisory and Administrative Services Agreement, dated as of July 31, 2014, by and between the Registrant and FSEP II Advisor, LLC. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (g)(1) filed with Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-195237), filed on August 22, 2014.)

(g)(2)

Form of Investment Sub-advisory Agreement by and between FSEP II Advisor, LLC and GSO Capital Partners LP. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (g)(2) filed with Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-195237), filed on August 22, 2014.)

(h)(1)*

Dealer Manager Agreement, dated as of July 31, 2014, by and between the Registrant, FSEP II Advisor, LLC and FS2 Capital Partners, LLC.

(h)(2)*

Form of Selected Dealer Agreement. (Included as Exhibit A to the Dealer Manager Agreement).

(j)*

Custodian Agreement, dated as of September 29, 2014, by and between the Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company.

(k)(1)*

Escrow Agreement, dated as of July 31, 2014, by and among the Registrant, UMB Bank, N.A. and FS2 Capital Partners, LLC.

(k)(2)*

Expense Support and Conditional Reimbursement Agreement, dated as of July 31, 2014, by and between the Registrant and Franklin Square Holdings, L.P.

(l)

Opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (l) filed with Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-195237), filed on August 22, 2014.)

(n)(1)

Consent of Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A. (Included in Opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A. and incorporated herein by reference.)

(n)(2)

Consent of McGladrey LLP. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (n)(2) filed with Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-195237), filed on August 22, 2014.)

(r)(1)

Code of Ethics of the Registrant. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (r)(1) filed with Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-195237), filed on August 22, 2014.)

(r)(2)

Code of Ethics of FSEP II Advisor, LLC. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (r)(2) filed with Pre-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registrant’s registration statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-195237), filed on August 22, 2014.)

 


*              Filed herewith.

 



 

Signatures

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form N-2 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Philadelphia and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, on the 12th day of November, 2014.

 

 

 

 

 

FS Energy and Power Fund II

 

 

 

 

BY:

/S/ MICHAEL C. FORMAN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

Michael C. Forman

 

Title:

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form N-2 has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated:

 

 

Signature

 

Title

 

Date

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ MICHAEL C. FORMAN

 

 

President and Chief Executive Officer and
Trustee (Principal Executive Officer)

 

 

November 12, 2014

Michael C. Forman

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ EDWARD T. GALLIVAN, JR.

 

 

Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial
and Accounting Officer)

 

 

November 12, 2014

Edward T. Gallivan, Jr.

 

 

 

 

 

 

*

 

 

Trustee

 

 

November 12, 2014

David J. Adelman

 

 

 

 

 

 

*

 

 

Trustee

 

 

November 12, 2014

 M. Walter D’Alessio

 

 

 

 

 

 

*

 

 

Trustee

 

 

November 12, 2014

Marc R. Lederman

 

 

 

 

 

 

*

 

 

Trustee

 

 

November 12, 2014

Judah C. Sommer

 

 

 

 

 

 

*By:

/s/ Michael C. Forman

 

 

 

 

 

Attorney-in-fact

 

 

 

 

 

 


EX-99.(H)(1) 2 a14-23110_1ex99dh1.htm EX-(H)(1)

Exhibit (h)(1)

 

FS ENERGY AND POWER FUND II

 

Up to 300,000,000 Common Shares of Beneficial Interest, $0.001 par value per share

 

DEALER MANAGER AGREEMENT

 

JULY 31, 2014

 

 

FS2 Capital Partners, LLC

Cira Centre

2929 Arch Street, Suite 675

Philadelphia, PA 19104-2867

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

FS Energy and Power Fund II, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Company”), has registered for public sale (the “Offering”) a maximum of 300,000,000 common shares of beneficial interest, $0.001 par value per share (the “Common Shares”), to be issued and sold to the public on a “best efforts” basis (the “Offered Shares”) through you as the managing dealer (the “Dealer Manager”) and the broker-dealers, registered investment advisors (“RIA”) and other financial intermediaries (the “Selected Dealers”) participating in the offering at an initial offering price of $10.00 per share (subject in certain circumstances to discounts based upon the volume of shares purchased). Terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meaning as in the Prospectus, as that term is defined in Section 1.1 below.

 

The Company has entered into an investment advisory and administrative services agreement, dated as of July 31, 2014 (the “Investment Advisory Agreement”), with FSEP II Advisor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company registered as an investment adviser (the “Adviser”) under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “Advisers Act”).

 

The Company and the Adviser hereby agree with you (this “Agreement”), the Dealer Manager, as follows:

 

1.                                    Representations and Warranties of the Company and the Adviser.

 

The Company and the Adviser hereby represent and warrant to the Dealer Manager and each Selected Dealer with whom the Dealer Manager has entered into or will enter into a Selected Dealer Agreement (the “Selected Dealer Agreement”) in the form attached as Exhibit A to this Agreement that, as of the date hereof and at all times during the Offering Period, as that term is defined in Section 4.1 below (provided that, to the extent such representations and warranties are given only as of a specified date or dates, the Company and the Adviser only make such representations and warranties as of such date or dates):

 

1.1                            The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a registration statement on Form N-2 (No. 333-195237) for the registration of the Offered Shares in accordance in all material respects with applicable requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder (the “Securities Act Regulations”). As used in this Agreement, the term “Registration Statement” means such registration statement, as may be supplemented or amended from

 



 

time to time; the term “Effective Date” means the applicable date upon which the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto is or was first declared effective by the SEC; the term “Prospectus” means the prospectus in the form constituting a part of the Registration Statement on the Effective Date, as well as in the form filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 497 after the Registration Statement becomes effective, except that the term “Prospectus” shall also include any amendment or supplement thereto; and the term “Filing Date” means the applicable date upon which the initial Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto is filed with the SEC. As of the date hereof, the SEC has not issued any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement and no notices have been received by the Company or the Adviser to the effect that any proceeding for that purpose has been instituted or is pending before or threatened by the SEC under the Securities Act.

 

1.2                            The Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and any further amendments or supplements thereto, will, as of the applicable Effective Date, comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations; the Registration Statement does not, and any amendments thereto will not, in each case as of the applicable Effective Date, contain an untrue statement of material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; provided, however, that the Company and the Adviser make no warranty or representation with respect to any statement contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or any amendments or supplements thereto, made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by the Dealer Manager or any Selected Dealer expressly for use in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or any amendments or supplements thereto.

 

1.3                            The Investment Advisory Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

 

1.4                            The Company is a statutory trust duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, and is in good standing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, with full power and authority to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and to enter into this Agreement and to perform the transactions contemplated hereby; this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the Adviser and the Dealer Manager, is a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, and by general equitable principles, and except to the extent that the enforceability of the indemnity and/or contribution provisions contained in Section 5 of this Agreement may be limited under applicable securities laws.

 

1.5                            Each of the Company and the Adviser has qualified to do business and is in good standing in every jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business, as described in the Prospectus, requires such qualification, except where the failure to do so would not have a material adverse effect on the condition, financial or otherwise, results of operations or cash flows of the Company and the Adviser taken as a whole or would materially and adversely affect the regulatory status of the Adviser such that the Adviser would be prevented from carrying out its obligations under the Investment Advisory Agreement (a “Material Adverse Effect”).

 

1.6                            The Adviser is a limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware with full power and authority to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and to enter into this Agreement and to perform the transactions contemplated hereby; this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Adviser and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the Company and the Dealer Manager, is a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Adviser enforceable against the

 

2



 

Adviser in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, and by general equitable principles, and except to the extent that the enforceability of the indemnity and/or contribution provisions contained in Section 5 of this Agreement may be limited under applicable securities laws.

 

1.7                            The Offered Shares conform in all material respects to the description of the Common Shares contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. The authorized, issued and outstanding Common Shares as of the date hereof are as set forth in the Prospectus under the caption “Description of Our Securities.” As of the date hereof, all the issued and outstanding Common Shares of the Company are fully paid and non-assessable.

 

1.8                            The Company is not in violation of its declaration of trust or its bylaws and the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the issuance, sale and delivery of the Offered Shares, the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated and compliance with the terms of this Agreement by the Company will not violate the terms of or constitute a default under: (a) its declaration of trust or bylaws; or (b) any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, lease, or other material agreement to which the Company is a party; or (c) any law, rule or regulation applicable to the Company; or (d) any writ, injunction or decree of any government, governmental instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company except, in the cases of clauses (b), (c) and (d), for such violations or defaults that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

1.9                            The Adviser is not in violation of its certificate of formation or its limited liability company agreement and the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated and compliance with the terms of this Agreement by the Adviser will not violate the terms of or constitute a default under: (a) its certificate of formation or limited liability company agreement; or (b) any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, lease, or other material agreement to which the Adviser is a party; or (c) any law, rule or regulation applicable to the Adviser; or (d) any writ, injunction or decree of any government, governmental instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Adviser except, in the cases of clauses (b), (c) and (d), for such violations or defaults that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

1.10                    Upon the commencement of the Offering, the Company will be a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company that has elected to be treated as a business development company (“BDC”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (the “Investment Company Act”), and has not withdrawn such election, and the SEC has not ordered that such election be withdrawn nor to the Company’s knowledge have proceedings to effectuate such withdrawal been initiated or threatened by the SEC.

 

1.11                    The terms of the Investment Advisory Agreement, including compensation terms, comply in all material respects with all applicable provisions of the Investment Company Act and the Advisers Act.

 

1.12                    The approval of the Investment Advisory Agreement by each of the board of trustees and the initial shareholders of the Company has been made in accordance with the requirements of Section 15 of the Investment Company Act applicable to companies that have elected to be regulated as BDCs under the Investment Company Act.

 

1.13                    Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (i) no person is serving or acting as an officer, trustee or investment adviser of the Company, except in

 

3



 

accordance with the applicable provisions of the Investment Company Act and the Advisers Act and the applicable published rules and regulations thereunder, and (ii) to the knowledge of the Company, no trustee of the Company is an “affiliated person” (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of the Dealer Manager.

 

1.14                    The Company’s current business operations and investments and contemplated business operations and investments are in compliance in all material respects with the provisions of the Investment Company Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder applicable to BDCs and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder, except as will not result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

1.15                    The provisions of the declaration of trust and bylaws of the Company and the investment objectives, policies and restrictions described in the Prospectus are not inconsistent with the requirements of the Investment Company Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder applicable to a BDC.

 

1.16                    Except as have been obtained or waived, no material consent, approval, authorization or other order of any governmental authority is required in connection with the execution or delivery by the Company of this Agreement or the issuance and sale by the Company of the Offered Shares, except (a) registration of the Offered Shares under the Securities Act; (b) election to be regulated as a BDC under the Investment Company Act; (c) any necessary qualification under the securities or blue sky laws of the jurisdictions in which the Offered Shares are being offered by the Dealer Manager and the Selected Dealers; and (d) any necessary qualification under the conduct rules set forth in the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) rulebook (the “FINRA Rules”).

 

1.17                    There are no actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Company or the Adviser, threatened against either the Company or the Adviser at law or in equity or before or by any federal or state commission, regulatory body or administrative agency or other governmental body, domestic or foreign, which would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

1.18                    The issuance and sale of the Offered Shares have been duly authorized by the Company, and, when issued and duly delivered against payment therefor as contemplated by this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, free and clear of any pledge, lien, encumbrance, security interest or other claim, and the issuance and sale of the Offered Shares by the Company are not subject to preemptive or other similar rights arising by operation of law, under the declaration of trust or bylaws of the Company or under any agreement to which the Company is a party or otherwise.

 

1.19                    The Company has entered into an escrow agreement (the “Escrow Agreement”) with UMB Bank, N.A. as escrow agent (the “Escrow Agent”) and the Dealer Manager, in the form included as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, which provides for the establishment of an escrow account into which subscribers’ funds will be deposited, prior to the Company raising gross offering proceeds of $2,500,000 from persons not affiliated with the Company or the Adviser (the “Minimum Offering”) as described in the Prospectus, pursuant to the subscription procedures described in Section 13 below (the “Escrow Account”).

 

1.20                    The financial statements of the Company included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, together with the related notes, present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company, as of the date specified, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis and in conformity with Regulation S-X of the SEC, except as

 

4



 

described in the notes thereto. No additional financial statements are required to be included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus.

 

1.21                    McGladrey LLP, whose report on the financial statements of the Company included in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, are, and during the period covered by the report included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, were independent registered public accountants as required by the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

 

1.22                    Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto, there has not been any event or development which could reasonably be seen as having a Material Adverse Effect.

 

1.23                    There are no contracts or other documents required by the Securities Act or the Securities Act Regulations to be described in or incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement which have not been accurately described in all material respects in the Prospectus or incorporated or filed as required. The agreements to which either the Company or the Adviser is a party which are described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus are valid and enforceable in all material respects by the Company and/or the Adviser except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforceability of creditors’ rights generally and rules of law governing specific performance, injunctive relief and other equitable remedies, and, to the best of the Company’s and the Adviser’s knowledge, no party thereto is in breach or default under any of such agreements except where such breach or default would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

1.24                    The Company has, and, to the knowledge of the Company, all of the Company’s trustees or officers in their capacities as such have, complied in all material respects with any applicable provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith.

 

1.25                    Neither the Company nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any trustee, officer, employee or affiliate of the Company is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such persons of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

1.26                    Each of the Company and the Adviser expects to implement and maintain controls and other procedures that will be designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its chief executive officer and chief financial officer, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure; and the Company will make and keep books, records and accounts which, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company and the Adviser; and the Company and the Adviser expect to implement and maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that: (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences; and, to the Company’s knowledge, neither the

 

5



 

Company nor the Adviser, nor any employee or agent thereof, has made any payment of funds of the Company or the Adviser, as the case may be, or received or retained any funds, and no funds of the Company have been set aside to be used for any payment, in each case in material violation of any law, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or the Adviser.

 

1.27                    No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company on the one hand, and the trustees, officers and security holders of the Company, the Adviser or their respective affiliates, on the other hand, which is required to be described in the Prospectus and which is not so described.

 

2.                                    Covenants of the Company and the Adviser.

 

The Company and the Adviser hereby jointly and severally covenant and agree with the Dealer Manager that:

 

2.1                            The Company will: (a) use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Registration Statement and any subsequent amendments thereto to become effective as promptly as possible; (b) promptly advise the Dealer Manager (i) of the receipt of any comments of, or requests for additional or supplemental information from, the SEC, (ii) of the time and date of any filing of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus, and (iii) of the time and date that any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement becomes effective; (c) timely file every amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus that may be required by the SEC or under the Securities Act; and (d) promptly notify the Dealer Manager if at any time the SEC shall issue any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and, to the extent the Company determines that such action is in its best interest, the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the lifting of such order at the earliest possible time.

 

2.2                            In addition to and apart from the Prospectus, the Company intends to furnish to all appropriate regulatory agencies and use printed sales literature or other materials in connection with the Offering prepared by the Company, the Adviser or the Dealer Manager. Such printed sales literature or other materials prepared by the Company, the Adviser or the Dealer Manager, provided that the use of said sales literature and other materials has been approved for use by the Company in writing and all appropriate regulatory agencies, are referred to hereinafter as the “Authorized Sales Materials.” In the event that the Company uses printed materials in connection with the Offering prepared by the Company, the Adviser or the Dealer Manager that is intended for “broker-dealer use only” or “advisor use only”, the Dealer Manager shall use such materials in accordance with Section 4.3 below.

 

2.3                            The Company will, at no expense to the Dealer Manager, furnish the Dealer Manager with such number of printed copies of the Registration Statement, including all amendments and exhibits thereto, as the Dealer Manager may reasonably request. The Company will similarly furnish to the Dealer Manager and Selected Dealers designated by the Dealer Manager as many copies as the Dealer Manager may reasonably request in connection with the Offering of the Offered Shares of (a) the Prospectus in preliminary and final form and every form of supplement to the Prospectus or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement; and (b) the Authorized Sales Materials.

 

2.4                            The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to (a) qualify the Offered Shares for offering and sale under, or to establish the exemption of the offering and sale of the Offered Shares from qualification or registration under, the applicable state securities or “blue sky” laws of each jurisdiction designated in Exhibit B hereto (the “Qualified Jurisdictions”) and (b) maintain such qualifications or exemptions in effect throughout the Offering. In connection therewith, the Company will prepare and file all such reports as may be required by the securities regulatory authorities in the

 

6



 

Qualified Jurisdictions in which the Offered Shares have been sold, provided that the Dealer Manager shall have provided the Company with any information required for such filings or reports that is in the Dealer Manager’s possession. The Company will notify the Dealer Manager promptly following each date of (i) the effectiveness of qualification or exemption of Offered Shares in any additional jurisdiction in which the offering and sale of Offered Shares has been authorized by appropriate state regulatory authorities; and (ii) a change in the status of the qualification or exemption of the Offered Shares in any jurisdiction in any respect. The Company will file and obtain clearance of the Authorized Sales Materials to the extent required by applicable state securities laws. The Company will furnish to the Dealer Manager a copy of such papers filed by the Company in connection with any such qualification.

 

2.5                            If at any time when a Prospectus is required to be delivered under the Securities Act any event occurs as a result of which, in the opinion of the Company, the Prospectus would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading, the Company will promptly notify the Dealer Manager thereof (unless the information shall have been received from the Dealer Manager) and the Dealer Manager and the Selected Dealers shall suspend the offering and sale of the Offered Shares in accordance with Section 4.3 hereof until such time as the Company, in its sole discretion (a) instructs the Dealer Manager to resume the offering and sale of the Offered Shares and (b) has prepared any required supplement to the Prospectus or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement as shall be necessary to correct such statement or omission and to comply with the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act.

 

2.6                            The Company will apply the proceeds from the sale of the Offered Shares as stated in the Prospectus.

 

2.7                            The Company will engage and maintain, at its expense, a registrar and transfer agent for the Offered Shares.

 

2.8                            The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain its status as a BDC under the Investment Company Act; provided, however, the Company may cease to be, or withdraw its election as a BDC under the Investment Company Act, with the approval of its board of trustees and a vote of its shareholders as required by Section 58 of the Investment Company Act, or a successor provision.

 

2.9                            The Company will operate in a manner so as to enable the Company to qualify as a regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, for each taxable year during which it elects to be treated as a BDC under the Investment Company Act; provided, however, that at the discretion of the Company’s board of trustees, it may elect to not be so treated.

 

3.                                    Payment of Expenses and Fees.

 

3.1                            The Company agrees to pay all costs and expenses incident to the Offering, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereunder are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, including expenses, fees and taxes in connection with: (a) the registration fee, the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement (including without limitation financial statements, exhibits, schedules and consents), the Prospectus, and any amendments or supplements thereto, and the printing and furnishing of copies of each thereof to the Dealer Manager and to Selected Dealers (including costs of mailing and shipment); (b) the preparation, issuance and delivery of certificates, if any, for the Offered Shares, including any stock or other transfer taxes or duties payable upon the sale of the Offered Shares; (c) all fees and expenses of the Company’s legal counsel and the independent registered public accounting firm; (d) the qualification of the Offered Shares for offering and sale under state laws in the

 

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states, including the Qualified Jurisdictions, that the Company shall designate as appropriate and the determination of their eligibility for investment under state law as aforesaid and the printing and furnishing of copies of any blue sky surveys or legal investment surveys to the Dealer Manager; (e) filing for review by FINRA of all necessary documents and information relating to the Offering and the Offered Shares (including the reasonable legal fees and filing fees and other disbursements of counsel relating thereto); (f) the fees and expenses of any transfer agent or registrar for the Offered Shares and miscellaneous expenses referred to in the Registration Statement; (g) all costs and expenses incident to the travel and accommodation of the Company’s employees in making road show presentations with respect to the offering of the Offered Shares; and (h) the performance of the Company’s other obligations hereunder.

 

3.2                            In addition, the Company shall reimburse the Dealer Manager for due diligence expenses of up to 0.5% of gross proceeds from the sale of the Offered Shares for bona fide accountable due diligence expenses incurred by the Dealer Manager or any Selected Dealer. Such due diligence expenses may include travel, lodging, meals and other reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Dealer Manager or any Selected Dealer and their personnel when visiting the Company’s offices to verify information relating to the Company. The Dealer Manager or any Selected Dealer shall provide to the Company a detailed and itemized invoice for any such due diligence expenses.

 

4.                                    Obligations and Compensation of Dealer Manager.

 

The Dealer Manager hereby represents and warrants to, and covenants and agrees with the Company and the Adviser (provided that, to the extent representations and warranties of the Company and the Adviser are given only as of a specified date or dates, the Dealer Manager only makes such representations and warranties as of such date or dates), as follows:

 

4.1                            The Company hereby appoints the Dealer Manager as its exclusive agent and distributor during the period commencing with the date hereof and ending on the termination date of the Offering (the “Termination Date”) described in the Prospectus (the “Offering Period”) to solicit and to cause Selected Dealers to solicit subscriptions for the Offered Shares at the subscription price to be paid in accordance with, and otherwise upon the other terms and conditions set forth in, the Prospectus and the Subscription Agreement, and the Dealer Manager agrees to use its best efforts to procure subscribers for the Offered Shares during the Offering Period. The Offered Shares offered and sold through the Dealer Manager under this Agreement shall be offered and sold only by the Dealer Manager and, at the Dealer Manager’s sole option, (i) by any Selected Dealers whom the Dealer Manager may retain, each of which shall be members of FINRA in good standing, pursuant to an executed Selected Dealer Agreement with such Selected Dealer and (ii) by any RIA that the Dealer Manager may retain pursuant to an executed Selected Investment Adviser’s Agreement with such RIA . The Dealer Manager hereby accepts such agency and distributorship and agrees to use its best efforts to sell the Offered Shares on said terms and conditions. The Dealer Manager represents to the Company that (i) it is a member of FINRA in good standing, (ii) it and its employees and representatives have all required licenses and registrations to act under this Agreement and (iii) it has established and implemented anti-money laundering compliance programs in accordance with applicable law, including applicable FINRA rules, SEC rules and regulations (“Commission Rules”) and the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act (USA PATRIOT Act) of 2001, as amended by the USA Patriot Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 (the “USA PATRIOT Act”), specifically including, but not limited to, Section 352 of the International Money Laundering Abatement and Anti-Terrorist Financing Act of 2001 (the “Money Laundering Abatement Act” and together with the USA PATRIOT Act, the “AML Rules”) reasonably expected to detect and cause the reporting of suspicious transactions in connection with the offering and sale of the Offered Shares. In addition, the Dealer Manager represents that it has established and implemented a program for compliance with Executive

 

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Order 13224 and all regulations and programs administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control regulations (“OFAC Program”) and will continue to maintain its OFAC Program during the term of this Agreement.

 

The Dealer Manager further represents that it is currently in compliance with all AML Rules and OFAC requirements, specifically including, but not limited to, the Customer Identification Program requirements under Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act, and the Dealer Manager hereby agrees, upon request of the Company, to provide an annual certification to the Company that, as of the date of such certification (i) its AML Program and its OFAC Program are consistent with the AML Rules and OFAC requirements, (ii) it has continued to implement its AML Program and its OFAC Program, and (iii) it is currently in compliance with all AML Rules and OFAC requirements, specifically including, but not limited to, the Customer Identification Program requirements under Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act.

 

4.2                            With respect to its participation and the participation by each Selected Dealer in the offer and sale of the Offered Shares (including, without limitation any resales and transfers of Offered Shares), the Dealer Manager agrees, and, by virtue of entering into the Selected Dealer Agreement, each Selected Dealer shall have agreed, to comply and shall comply with any applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, the rules promulgated under each, the applicable state securities or blue sky laws, and FINRA Rules, specifically including, but not in any way limited to, FINRA Rules 2310 (including the obligations with respect to disclosure of certain information relating to liquidity and marketability of prior programs pursuant to FINRA Rules 2310(b)(3)(D)) and 5141, and NASD Rules 2340 and 2420 therein. The Dealer Manager agrees, and each Selected Dealer shall have agreed, to comply and shall comply with any applicable requirements with respect to its and each Selected Dealer’s participation in any resales or transfers of the Offered Shares. In addition, the Dealer Manager agrees, and each Selected Dealer shall have agreed, that should it or they assist with the resale or transfer of the Offered Shares, it and each Selected Dealer will fully comply with all applicable FINRA or Commission Rules or any other applicable Federal or state laws.

 

4.3                            The Dealer Manager shall cause the Offered Shares to be offered and sold only in the Qualified Jurisdictions, and in such additional jurisdictions as may be added thereto in which the offering and sale of Offered Shares has been authorized by appropriate state regulatory authorities. No Offered Shares shall be offered or sold for the account of the Company in any other jurisdictions. The Dealer Manager shall use and distribute in conjunction with the offer and sale of any Offered Shares only the Prospectus and the Authorized Sales Materials. The Authorized Sales Materials may only be furnished to prospective investors if accompanied or preceded by the Prospectus. The Dealer Manager represents and warrants to the Company that it will not use any sales literature not authorized and approved by the Company or use any “broker-dealer use only” or “advisor use only” materials with members of the public in connection with offers or sales or the Offered Shares. The Dealer Manager agrees, and will cause the Selected Dealers to each agree, to suspend or terminate offering and sale of the Offered Shares upon request of the Company at any time and to resume offering and sale of the Offered Shares upon subsequent request of the Company.

 

4.4                            In consideration for the services rendered by the Dealer Manager, the Company agrees that it will pay to the Dealer Manager:

 

(a)                               a dealer manager fee in the amount of up to 3.0% of the gross proceeds from the sale of the Offered Shares (the “Dealer Manager Fee”), a portion of which may be reallowed to Selected Dealers (as described more fully in the Selected Dealer Agreement entered into with such Selected Dealer), up to an aggregate maximum of 1.5% of the gross proceeds of the Offered Shares sold, which reallowance, if any, shall be determined by the Dealer Manager in its discretion based on factors

 

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including, but not limited to, the number of shares sold by such Selected Dealer, the assistance of such Selected Dealer in marketing the Offering and due diligence expenses incurred, and the extent to which similar fees are reallowed to selected broker-dealers in similar offerings being conducted during the Offering Period; provided, however, that the Dealer Manager Fee may be reduced in connection with certain sales by investment advisory representatives affiliated with a Selected Dealer who is paid on a fee-for-service basis by the investor, and no Dealer Manager Fee shall be payable in respect of the purchase of Offered Shares by an officer, trustee or employee of the Company, the Adviser or their respective affiliates; and

 

(b)                              subject to volume discounts and other special circumstances described in or otherwise provided in the “Plan of Distribution” section of the Prospectus, selling commissions in the amount of 7.0% of the gross proceeds of the Offered Shares sold, which commissions may be reallowed in whole or in part to the Selected Dealer who sold the Offered Shares giving rise to such commissions, as described more fully in the Selected Dealer Agreement entered into with such Selected Dealer; provided, however, that no commissions described in this clause (b) shall be payable in respect of the purchase of Offered Shares: (i) through an investment advisory representative affiliated with a Selected Dealer who is paid on a fee-for-service basis by the investor; (ii) by a Selected Dealer (or such Selected Dealer’s registered representative), in its individual capacity, or by a retirement plan of such Selected Dealer (or such Selected Dealer’s registered representative), or (iii) by an officer, trustee or employee of the Company, the Adviser or their respective affiliates.

 

4.5                            The Company will not be liable or responsible to any Selected Dealer for direct payment of commissions or the Dealer Manager Fee to such Selected Dealer, it being the sole and exclusive responsibility of the Dealer Manager for payment of commissions or the Dealer Manager Fee to Selected Dealers. Notwithstanding the above, the Company, in its sole discretion, either directly or through the Escrow Agent or such other agent appointed by it, may act as agent of the Dealer Manager by making direct payment of commissions or the Dealer Manager Fee to such Selected Dealers without incurring any liability therefor. The Dealer Manager Fee and all selling commissions payable to the Dealer Manager with respect to any Offered Shares sold will be paid or offered promptly following the acceptance of subscribers for such Offered Shares as shareholders by the Company.

 

4.6                            The Dealer Manager represents and warrants to the Company, the Adviser and each person that signs the Registration Statement that the information regarding the Offering in the Prospectus and all other information furnished to the Company by the Dealer Manager in writing expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

 

4.7                            The Dealer Manager represents and warrants to the Company and the Adviser that it will not represent or imply that the Escrow Agent has investigated the desirability or advisability of investment in the Company, or has approved, endorsed or passed upon the merits of the Offered Shares or the Company, nor will the Dealer Manager use the name of said Escrow Agent in any manner whatsoever in connection with the offer or sale of the Offered Shares other than by acknowledgment that it has agreed to serve as escrow agent.

 

5.                                    Indemnification.

 

5.1                            For the purposes of this Section 5, an entity’s “Indemnified Parties” shall include such entity’s officers, trustees, employees, members, partners, agents and representatives, and each

 

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person, if any, who controls such entity within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act.

 

5.2                            The Company and the Adviser, jointly and severally, will indemnify, defend (subject to Section 5.6) and hold harmless the Selected Dealers and the Dealer Manager, and their respective Indemnified Parties, from and against any losses, claims (including the reasonable cost of investigation), damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such Selected Dealers or Dealer Manager, or their respective Indemnified Parties, may become subject, under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (a) in whole or in part, any material inaccuracy in a representation or warranty contained herein by either the Company or the Adviser, any material breach of a covenant contained herein by either the Company or the Adviser, or any material failure by either the Company or the Adviser to perform its obligations hereunder or to comply with state or federal securities laws applicable to the Offering, or (b) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained (i) in the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or in the Prospectus or any supplement thereto, (ii) in any Authorized Sales Materials or (iii) in any blue sky application or other document executed by the Company or on its behalf specifically for the purpose of qualifying any or all of the Offered Shares for sale under the securities laws of any jurisdiction or based upon written information furnished by the Company or the Adviser under the securities laws thereof (any such application, document or information being hereinafter called a “Blue Sky Application”), or (c) the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated in the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereof or in the Prospectus or any supplement to the Prospectus as necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and the Company and the Adviser will reimburse each Selected Dealer or Dealer Manager, and/or their respective Indemnified Parties, for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Selected Dealer or Dealer Manager, and/or their respective Indemnified Parties, in connection with investigating or defending such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the Company or the Adviser will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of, or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished either (x) to the Company or the Adviser by the Dealer Manager or (y) to the Company, the Adviser or Dealer Manager by or on behalf of any Selected Dealer expressly for use in the Registration Statement or any such post-effective amendment thereto, or the Prospectus or any such supplement thereto. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which either the Company or the Adviser may otherwise have.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the indemnification and agreement to hold harmless provided in this Section 5.2 is further limited to the extent that no such indemnification by the Company or the Adviser of a Selected Dealer or the Dealer Manager, or their respective Indemnified Parties, shall be permitted under this Agreement for, or arising out of, an alleged violation of federal or state securities laws, unless one or more of the following conditions are met: (i) there has been a successful adjudication on the merits of each count involving alleged securities law violations as to the particular indemnitee; (ii) such claims have been dismissed with prejudice on the merits by a court of competent jurisdiction as to the particular indemnitee; or (iii) a court of competent jurisdiction approves a settlement of the claims against the particular indemnitee and finds that indemnification of the settlement and the related costs should be made, and the court considering the request for indemnification has been advised of the position of the SEC and of the published position of any state securities regulatory authority in which the securities were offered or sold as to indemnification for violations of securities laws.

 

5.3                            The Dealer Manager will indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Company and the Adviser, their respective Indemnified Parties and each person who has signed the Registration Statement, from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which any of the aforesaid parties

 

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may become subject, under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims (including the reasonable cost of investigation), damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (a) in whole or in part, any material inaccuracy in a representation or warranty contained herein by the Dealer Manager, any material breach of a covenant contained herein by the Dealer Manager, or any material failure by the Dealer Manager to perform its obligations hereunder or (b) any untrue statement or any alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained (i) in the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or in the Prospectus or any supplement thereto, (ii) in any Authorized Sales Materials or (iii) any Blue Sky Application, or (c) the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated in the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereof or in the Prospectus or any supplement to the Prospectus as necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided, however, that in each case described in clauses (b) and (c) to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company or the Adviser by the Dealer Manager specifically for use with reference to the Dealer Manager in the preparation of the Registration Statement or any such post-effective amendments thereof or the Prospectus or any such supplement thereto, or (c) any use of sales literature by the Dealer Manager not authorized or approved by the Company or any use of “broker-dealer use only” or “advisor use only” materials with members of the public concerning the Offered Shares by the Dealer Manager, or (d) any untrue statement made by the Dealer Manager or its representatives or agents or omission to state a fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading in connection with the offer and sale of the Offered Shares, or (e) any material violation by the Dealer Manager of this Agreement, or (f) any failure by the Dealer Manager to comply with applicable laws governing money laundry abatement and anti-terrorist financing efforts, including applicable FINRA Rules, SEC Rules and the USA PATRIOT Act, or (g) any other failure by the Dealer Manager to comply with applicable FINRA or Commission Rules. The Dealer Manager will reimburse the aforesaid parties in connection with investigation or defense of such loss, claim, damage, liability or action. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Dealer Manager may otherwise have.

 

5.4                            Each Selected Dealer severally will indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Company, the Adviser, the Dealer Manager, each of their respective Indemnified Parties and each person who signs the Registration Statement, from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company, the Adviser, the Dealer Manager, any of their respective Indemnified Parties, or any person who signed the Registration Statement, may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims (including the reasonable cost of investigation), damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (a) in whole or in part, any material inaccuracy in a representation or warranty by the Selected Dealer, any material breach of a covenant by the Selected Dealer, or any material failure by the Selected Dealer to perform its obligations hereunder or under the Selected Dealer Agreement, (b) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained (i) in the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or the Prospectus or any supplement thereto (ii) in any Authorized Sales Materials or (iii) any Blue Sky Application, or (c) the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated in the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereof or in the Prospectus or any supplement to the Prospectus or necessary to make statements therein not misleading, provided, however, that in each case described in clauses (b) and (c) to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company or the Adviser or the Dealer Manager by the Selected Dealer specifically for use with reference to the Selected Dealer in the Registration Statement or any such post-effective amendments thereof or the Prospectus or any such supplement thereto, or (d) any use of sales literature by the Selected Dealer not authorized or approved by the Company or use of “broker-dealer use only” or “advisor use only” materials with members of the public concerning the Offered Shares by such Selected Dealer or Selected Dealer’s representatives or

 

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agents, or (e) any untrue statement made by such Selected Dealer or its representatives or agents or omission to state a fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading in connection with the offer and sale of the Offered Shares, or (f) any failure by the Selected Dealer to comply with Section VII or Section X of the Selected Dealer Agreement or any other material violation of the Selected Dealer Agreement, or (f) any failure of the Selected Dealer to comply with applicable laws governing money laundry abatement and anti-terrorist financing efforts, including applicable FINRA Rules, Commission Rules and the USA PATRIOT Act, or (g) any other failure by the Selected Dealer to comply with applicable FINRA or Commission Rules or any other applicable Federal or state laws. Each Selected Dealer will reimburse the aforesaid parties in connection with investigation or defense of such loss, claim, damage, liability or action. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Selected Dealer may otherwise have.

 

5.5                            Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 5 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against any indemnifying party under this Section 5, notify in writing the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof and the omission to so notify the indemnifying party will relieve such indemnifying party from any liability under this Section 5 as to the particular item for which indemnification is then being sought, but not from any other liability which it may have to any indemnified party. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party, and it notifies an indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled, to the extent it may wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to participate in the defense thereof, with separate counsel. Such participation shall not relieve such indemnifying party of the obligation to reimburse the indemnified party for reasonable legal and other expenses (subject to Section 5.6) incurred by such indemnified party in defending itself, except for such expenses incurred after the indemnifying party has deposited funds sufficient to effect the settlement, with prejudice, of the claim in respect of which indemnity is sought. Any such indemnifying party shall not be liable to any such indemnified party on account of any settlement of any claim or action effected without the consent of such indemnifying party.

 

5.6                            An indemnifying party under Section 5 of this Agreement shall be obligated to reimburse an indemnified party for reasonable legal and other expenses as follows:

 

(a)                               In the case of the Company and/or the Adviser indemnifying the Dealer Manager, the advancement of funds of the Company to the Dealer Manager for legal expenses and other costs incurred as a result of any legal action for which indemnification is being sought shall be permissible only if all of the following conditions are satisfied: (i) the legal action relates to acts or omissions with respect to the performance of duties or services on behalf of the Company; (ii) the legal action is initiated by a third party who is not a shareholder of the Company or the legal action is initiated by a shareholder of the Company acting in his or her capacity as such and a court of competent jurisdiction specifically approves such advancement; and (iii) the Dealer Manager undertakes to repay the advanced funds to the Company, together with the applicable legal rate of interest thereon, in cases which the Dealer Manager is found not to be entitled to indemnification.

 

(b)                              In any case of indemnification other than that described in Section 5.6(a) above, the indemnifying party shall pay all legal fees and expenses of the indemnified party in the defense of such claims or actions; provided, however, that the indemnifying party shall not be obligated to pay legal expenses and fees to more than one law firm in connection with the defense of similar claims arising out of the same alleged acts or omissions giving rise to such claims notwithstanding that such actions or claims are alleged or brought by one or more parties against more than one indemnified party. If such claims or actions are alleged or brought against more than one indemnified party, then the indemnifying party shall only be obliged to reimburse the expenses and fees of the one law firm that has been selected

 

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by a majority of the indemnified parties against which such action is finally brought; and in the event a majority of such indemnified parties is unable to agree on which law firm for which expenses or fees will be reimbursable by the indemnifying party, then payment shall be made to the first law firm of record representing an indemnified party against the action or claim. Such law firm shall be paid only to the extent of services performed by such law firm and no reimbursement shall be payable to such law firm on account of legal services performed by another law firm.

 

5.7                            The indemnity agreements contained in this Section 5 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of: (a) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Selected Dealer, or any person controlling any Selected Dealer or by or on behalf of the Company, the Adviser, the Dealer Manager or any officer, trustee or director thereof, or by or on behalf of the Company or the Dealer Manager; (b) delivery of any Offered Shares and payment therefor; and (c) any termination of this Agreement or any Selected Dealer Agreement. A successor of any Selected Dealer or of any of the parties to this Agreement, as the case may be, shall be entitled to the benefits of the indemnity agreements contained in this Section 5.

 

5.8                            Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 5, no party shall be entitled to indemnification or contribution under this Agreement in violation of Section 17(i) of the Investment Company Act.

 

6.                                    Survival of Provisions.

 

The respective agreements, representations and warranties of the Company, the Adviser and the Dealer Manager set forth in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect until the Termination Date regardless of: (a) any investigation made by or on behalf of the Dealer Manager or any Selected Dealer or any person controlling the Dealer Manager or any Selected Dealer or by or on behalf of the Company, the Adviser or any person controlling the Company; and (b) the delivery of payment for the Offered Shares. Following the termination of this Agreement, this Agreement will become void and there will be no liability of any party to any other party hereto, except for obligations under Sections 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11 and 15, all of which will survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

7.                                    Applicable Law; Venue

 

This Agreement and any claim, counterclaim or dispute of any kind or nature whatsoever arising out of or in any way relating to this Agreement, directly or indirectly, shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts formed and to be formed entirely within the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflicts of laws principles and rules thereof, to the extent such principles would require or permit the application of the laws of another jurisdiction.

 

8.                                    Counterparts.

 

This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts. Each counterpart, when executed and delivered, shall be an original contract, but all counterparts, when taken together, shall constitute one and the same Agreement.

 

9.                                    Entire Agreement.

 

This Agreement and the Exhibits attached hereto constitute the entire agreement among the parties and supersede any prior understanding, whether written or oral, prior to the date hereof with respect to the Offering.

 

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10.                            Successors and Amendment.

 

10.1                    This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Dealer Manager, the Company, the Adviser and their respective successors and permitted assigns and shall inure to the benefit of the Selected Dealers to the extent set forth in Sections 1 and 5 hereof. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give to any other person any right, remedy or claim, except as otherwise specifically provided herein.

 

10.2                    This Agreement may be amended only by the written agreement of the Dealer Manager, the Company and the Adviser.

 

10.3                    Neither the Company or Adviser, nor the Dealer Manager may assign or transfer any of such party’s rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Dealer Manager, on the one hand, or the Company and the Adviser, acting together, on the other hand.

 

11.                            Term and Termination.

 

11.1                    This Agreement may be terminated by the Dealer Manager, on the one hand, or the Company and the Adviser acting together, on the other, in the event that (a) the Company or the Adviser, on the one hand, or the Dealer Manager, on the other, shall have materially failed to comply with any of the material provisions of this Agreement or (b) the Company or the Adviser, on the one hand, or the Dealer Manager, on the other, materially breaches any of its representations and warranties contained in this Agreement and, in the case of the Company or the Adviser, such breach or breaches, individually or in the aggregate, would have a Material Adverse Effect; provided, however, that no party may terminate this Agreement under this sentence unless such failure(s) or breach(es) under clause (a) or (b) above is or are not cured within thirty (30) days after such party has delivered notice of intent to terminate under this Section 11.1. In any case, this Agreement shall expire at the close of business on the Termination Date.

 

11.2                    The Dealer Manager, upon the expiration or termination of this Agreement, shall (i) promptly deposit any and all funds, if any, in its possession which were received from investors for the sale of Offered Shares into the appropriate account designated by the Company, (ii) promptly deliver to the Company all records and documents in its possession which relate to the Offering and are not designated as dealer copies, (iii) provide a list of all purchasers and broker-dealers with whom the Dealer Manager has initiated oral or written discussions regarding the Offering, and (iv) notify Selected Dealers of such termination. The Dealer Manager, at its sole expense, may make and retain copies of all such records and documents, but shall keep all such information confidential. The Dealer Manager shall use its best efforts to cooperate with the Company to accomplish an orderly transfer of management of the Offering to a party designated by the Company.

 

11.3                    Upon expiration or termination of this Agreement, the Company shall pay to the Dealer Manager all compensation to which the Dealer Manager is or becomes entitled under Section 4 at such time as such compensation becomes payable.

 

12.                            Confirmation.

 

The Company hereby agrees and assumes, or will arrange for a party designated by it, to assume the duty to confirm, on its behalf and on behalf of Selected Dealers, all orders for purchase of Offered Shares accepted by the Company. Such confirmations will comply with the rules of the SEC and FINRA, and will comply with applicable laws of such other jurisdictions to the extent the Company is advised of such laws in writing by the Dealer Manager.

 

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13.                            Submission of Orders.

 

13.1                    Each person desiring to purchase Offered Shares in the Offering will be required to complete and execute a Subscription Agreement substantially in the form attached as an Appendix to the Prospectus and to deliver to the Selected Dealer or Dealer Manager, as the case may be (the “Processing Broker-Dealer”), such completed Subscription Agreement, together with a check, draft, wire or money order (hereinafter referred to as a “Subscription Payment”) for the purchase price of the Offered Shares, subject to any discount that may apply based upon the volume of Offered Shares purchased pursuant to the schedule of discounts and procedures specified in the Prospectus. There shall be a minimum initial purchase by any one purchaser of $5,000 in Offered Shares (except as otherwise indicated in the Prospectus, or in any letter or memorandum from the Company to the Dealer Manager). Minimum subsequent purchases of Offered Shares shall be $500 per transaction, except for purchases made pursuant to the distribution reinvestment plan, as described in the Prospectus. Prior to the Company meeting the Minimum Offering, persons who purchase Offered Shares shall be directed to make their checks payable to “UMB Bank, N.A., as escrow agent for FS Energy and Power Fund II.” Subsequent to the Company raising the Minimum Offering, persons who purchase Offered Shares shall make their checks payable to FS Energy and Power Fund II.”

 

After meeting the Minimum Offering described throughout the Prospectus, the Company will sell the Offered Shares on a continuous basis at a price of $10.00 per Offered Share, subject to any adjustment described or otherwise provided in the “Plan of Distribution” section of the Prospectus. Each person desiring to purchase Offered Shares in the Offering must submit subscriptions for a certain dollar amount, rather than a number of Offered Shares and, as a result, may receive fractional Offered Shares.

 

The Processing Broker-Dealer receiving a Subscription Agreement and Subscription Payment not conforming to the foregoing instructions shall return such Subscription Agreement and Subscription Payment directly to such subscriber not later than the end of the second business day following receipt by the Processing Broker-Dealer of such materials. Subscription Agreements and Subscription Payments received by the Processing Broker-Dealer which conform to the foregoing instructions shall be transmitted for deposit pursuant to one of the methods described in this Section 13. Transmittal of received investor funds will be made in accordance with the following procedures. The Dealer Manager may authorize certain Selected Dealers that are “$250,000 broker-dealers” to instruct their customers to make their checks for Offered Shares subscribed for payable directly to the Selected Dealer. In such case, the Selected Dealer will collect the proceeds of the subscribers’ checks and issue a check or wire transfer for the aggregate amount of the subscription proceeds made payable (1) prior to the Company raising the Minimum Offering, to “UMB Bank, N.A., as escrow agent for FS Energy and Power Fund II” (“Escrow Agent”) and (2) subsequent to the Company raising the Minimum Offering, to FS Energy and Power Fund II.”

 

13.2                    If the Processing Broker-Dealer conducts its internal supervisory review at the same location at which Subscription Agreements and Subscription Payments are received from subscribers, then, by noon of the next business day following receipt by the Processing Broker-Dealer, the Processing Broker-Dealer will transmit the Subscription Agreements and Subscription Payment for deposit to the Escrow Agent, or after the Minimum Offering has been achieved, to the Company or its designated agent.

 

13.3                    If the Processing Broker-Dealer conducts its internal supervisory review at a different location (the “Final Review Office”), Subscription Agreements and Subscription Payments will be transmitted by the Processing Broker-Dealer to the Final Review Office by noon of the next business day following receipt by the Processing Broker-Dealer. The Final Review Office will in turn by noon of the next business day following receipt by the Final Review Office, transmit such Subscription

 

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Agreements and Subscription Payment for deposit to the Escrow Agent, or after the Minimum Offering has been achieved, to the Company or its designated agent.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Offered Shares to be purchased by a custodial account, the Processing Broker-Dealer shall cause the custodian of such account to deliver a completed Subscription Agreement and Subscription Payment for such account directly for deposit to the Escrow Agent, or after the Minimum Offering has been achieved, to the Company or its designated agent. The Processing Broker-Dealer shall furnish to the Escrow Agent, the Company or its designated agent, as applicable, with each delivery of Subscription Payments a list of the subscribers showing the name, address, tax identification number, state of residence, amount of Offered Shares subscribed for and the amount of money paid.

 

14.                            Suitability of Investors; Compliance with Privacy Laws

 

14.1                    The Dealer Manager will offer Offered Shares, and in its agreements with Selected Dealers will require that the Selected Dealers offer Offered Shares, only to those persons who meet the suitability standards set forth in the Prospectus or in any suitability letter or memorandum sent by the Company and will only make offers to persons in the jurisdictions in which it is advised in writing that the Offered Shares are qualified for sale or that such qualification is not required. Notwithstanding the qualification of the Offered Shares for sale in any respective jurisdiction (or the exemption therefrom), the Dealer Manager represents, warrants and covenants that it will not offer Offered Shares and will not permit any of its registered representatives to offer Offered Shares in any jurisdiction unless both the Dealer Manager and such registered representative are duly licensed to transact securities business in such jurisdiction. In offering Offered Shares, the Dealer Manager will comply, and in its agreements with Selected Dealers the Dealer Manager will require that the Selected Dealers comply, with the provisions of the FINRA Rules, as well as all other applicable rules and regulations relating to suitability of investors.

 

The Dealer Manager further represents, warrants and covenants that neither the Dealer Manager, nor any person associated with the Dealer Manager, shall offer or sell Offered Shares in any jurisdiction except to investors who satisfy the investor suitability standards and minimum investment requirements under the most restrictive of the following: (a) applicable provisions described in the Prospectus, including minimum income and net worth standards; (b) applicable laws of the jurisdiction of which such investor is a resident; or (c) applicable FINRA Rules. The Dealer Manager agrees to ensure that, in recommending the purchase, sale or exchange of Offered Shares to an investor, the Dealer Manager, or a person associated with the Dealer Manager, shall have reasonable grounds to believe, on the basis of information obtained from the investor (and thereafter maintained in the manner and for the period required by the SEC, any state securities commission, FINRA or the Company) concerning his age, investment objectives, other investments, financial situation and needs, and any other information known to the Dealer Manager, or person associated with the Dealer Manager, that (i) the investor can reasonably benefit from an investment in the Offered Shares based on the investor’s overall investment objectives and portfolio structure, (ii) the investor is able to bear the economic risk of the investment based on the investor’s overall financial situation, and (iii) the investor has an apparent understanding of (A) the fundamental risks of the investment, (B) the risk that the investor may lose his entire investment in the Offered Shares, (C) the lack of liquidity of the Offered Shares, (D) the background and qualifications of the Adviser or the persons responsible for directing and managing the Company, and (E) the tax consequences of an investment in the Offered Shares. In the case of sales to fiduciary accounts, the suitability standards must be met by the person who directly or indirectly supplied the funds for the purchase of the Offered Shares or by the beneficiary of such fiduciary account. The Dealer Manager further represents, warrants and covenants that the Dealer Manager, or a person associated with the Dealer Manager, will make every reasonable effort to determine the suitability and appropriateness of an investment in Offered Shares of each proposed investor by reviewing documents and records disclosing

 

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the basis upon which the determination as to suitability was reached as to each purchaser of Offered Shares pursuant to a subscription solicited by the Dealer Manager, whether such documents and records relate to accounts which have been closed, accounts which are currently maintained, or accounts hereafter established. The Dealer Manager agrees to retain such documents and records in the Dealer Manager’s records for a period of six years from the date of the applicable sale of Offered Shares and to make such documents and records available to (i) the Company upon request, and (ii) representatives of the SEC, FINRA and applicable state securities administrators upon the Dealer Manager’s receipt of an appropriate document subpoena or other appropriate request for documents from any such agency. The Dealer Manager shall not purchase any Offered Shares for a discretionary account without obtaining the prior written approval of the Dealer Manager’s customer and his or her signature on a Subscription Agreement.

 

14.2                    The Dealer Manager agrees, and in its agreements with Selected Dealers the Dealer Manager will require that the Selected Dealers to agree, (a) to abide by and comply with (i) the privacy standards and requirements of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 (“GLB Act”) and Regulation S-P, (ii) the privacy standards and requirements of any other applicable Federal or state law, and (iii) its own internal privacy policies and procedures, each as may be amended from time to time; (b) to refrain from the use or disclosure of nonpublic personal information (as defined under the GLB Act) of all customers who have opted out of such disclosures except as necessary to service the customers or as otherwise necessary or required by applicable law; and (c) to determine which customers have opted out of the disclosure of nonpublic personal information by periodically reviewing and, if necessary, retrieving a list of such customers (the “List”) as provided by each to identify customers that have exercised their opt-out rights.

 

In the event the Dealer Manager uses or discloses nonpublic personal information of any customer for purposes other than servicing the customer, or as otherwise required by applicable law, the Dealer Manager will consult the List to determine whether the affected customer has exercised his or her opt-out rights. The Dealer Manager understands that it is prohibited from using or disclosing any nonpublic personal information of any customer that is identified on the List as having opted out of such disclosures.

 

15.                            Notices.

 

Any notice, approval, request, authorization, direction or other communication under this Agreement shall be deemed given (a) when delivered personally, (b) on the first business day after delivery to a national overnight courier service, (c) upon receipt of confirmation if sent via facsimile, or (d) on the fifth business day after deposited in the U.S. mail, properly addressed and stamped with the required postage, registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, in each case to the intended recipient at the address set forth below:

 

If to the Company:

FS Energy and Power Fund II

 

Cira Centre

 

2929 Arch Street, Suite 675

 

Philadelphia, PA 19104-2867

 

Facsimile: (215) 495-1189

 

Attention: Michael C. Forman

 

 

If to the Adviser:

FSEP II Advisor, LLC

 

Cira Centre

 

2929 Arch Street, Suite 675

 

Philadelphia, PA 19104-2867

 

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Facsimile: (215) 495-1189

 

Attention: Michael C. Forman

 

 

If to the Dealer Manager:

FS2 Capital Partners, LLC
Cira Centre
2929 Arch Street, Suite 675
Philadelphia, PA 19104-2867
Facsimile: (215) 495-1189
Attention: President

 

Any party may change its address specified above by giving the other party notice of such change in accordance with this Section 15.

 

16.                            No Partnership.

 

Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed or interpreted to constitute the Dealer Manager as an employee, agent or representative of, or in association with or in partnership with, the Company; instead, this Agreement shall only constitute the Dealer Manager as a dealer authorized to sell the Offered Shares according to the terms set forth in the registration statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented and in this Agreement.

 

17.                            Severability.

 

The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the other provisions hereof, and this Agreement shall be construed in all respects as if such invalid or unenforceable provision was omitted.

 

[The remainder of the page is intentionally left blank.]

 

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If the foregoing correctly sets forth our understanding, please indicate your acceptance thereof in the space provided below for that purpose, whereupon this letter and your acceptance shall constitute a binding agreement between us as of the date first above written.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

“COMPANY”

 

 

 

FS ENERGY AND POWER FUND II

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Michael C. Forman

 

 

 

Name:

Michael C. Forman

 

 

Title:

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

“ADVISER”

 

 

 

FSEP II ADVISOR, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Michael C. Forman

 

 

 

Name:

Michael C. Forman

 

 

Title:

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

Accepted and agreed as of the date

 

first above written:

 

 

 

“DEALER MANAGER”

 

 

 

FS2 CAPITAL PARTNERS, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Lance Murphy

 

 

 

Name:

Lance Murphy

 

 

Title:

President

 

 



 

EXHIBIT A TO DEALER MANAGER AGREEMENT

 

FORM OF SELECTED DEALER AGREEMENT

 



Exhibit A

 

FS ENERGY AND POWER FUND II

 

Up to 300,000,000 Common Shares of Beneficial Interest, $0.001 par value per share

 

SELECTED DEALER AGREEMENT

 

Dated:                                      , 2014

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Subject to the terms described hereinbelow, FS2 Capital Partners, LLC, as the dealer manager (“Dealer Manager”) for FS Energy and Power Fund II, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Company”), invites you, (“Selected Dealer”) to participate in the distribution, on a “best efforts” basis, of up to 300,000,000 common shares of beneficial interest of the Company, $0.001 par value per share, to be issued and sold to the public on a “best efforts” basis (the “Offered Shares”) at an initial offering price of $10.00 per share (subject in certain circumstances to discounts based upon the volume of shares purchased) as set forth in the registration statement on Form N-2 filed by the Company (File No. 333-195237), which includes the Company’s prospectus, as amended or supplemented (the “Prospectus”).

 

I.                                      Dealer Manager Agreement

 

FSEP II Advisor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, is the investment adviser of the Company (the “Adviser”). The Dealer Manager has entered into a dealer manager agreement with the Company and the Adviser dated July 31, 2014, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Dealer Manager Agreement”). Upon effectiveness of this Selected Dealer Agreement (this “Agreement”) pursuant to Section XIV below, you will become one of the Selected Dealers referred to in the Dealer Manager Agreement and will be entitled and subject to the representations, warranties and covenants contained in the Dealer Manager Agreement relating to the rights and obligations of a Selected Dealer, including, but not limited to, the provisions of Sections 2.5 and 4.3 regarding suspension of offers and sales of Offered Shares, Section 4.1 regarding solicitation of subscriptions of Offered Shares, Section 4.2 regarding regulatory compliance, Section 5, wherein each of the Selected Dealers severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Adviser, the Dealer Manager and their respective officers,  trustees, employees, members, partners, agents and representatives, and each person, if any, who controls such entity within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or Section 20 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), Section 13 regarding submission of subscriptions for Offered Shares, and Section 14 regarding suitability of investors and compliance procedures for offers and sales of Offered Shares. Except as otherwise set forth herein, capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Dealer Manager Agreement. The Offered Shares are offered solely through broker-dealers who are members in good standing of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”).

 

Selected Dealer hereby agrees to use its best efforts to sell the Offered Shares for cash on the terms and conditions stated in the Prospectus. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed or construed to make Selected Dealer an employee, agent, representative, or partner of the Dealer Manager, the Company or the Adviser, and Selected Dealer is not authorized to act for the Dealer Manager, the Company or the Adviser or to make any representations on their behalf except as set forth in the Prospectus and any printed sales literature or other materials prepared by the Company, the Adviser or the Dealer Manager, provided that the use of said sales literature and other materials has been approved for use by the Company in writing and all appropriate regulatory agencies (the “Authorized Sales Materials”). In the event that the Company uses printed materials in connection with the Offering prepared by the Company,

 



 

the Adviser or the Dealer Manager intended for “broker-dealer use only,” Selected Dealer shall use such “broker-dealer use only” materials in accordance with Section VII below.

 

II.                                Submission of Orders

 

Each person desiring to purchase Offered Shares in the Offering will be required to complete and execute a Subscription Agreement in the form attached as an Appendix to the Prospectus and to deliver to Selected Dealer or Dealer Manager, as the case may be (the “Processing Broker-Dealer”), such completed Subscription Agreement, together with a check, draft, wire or money order (hereinafter referred to as a “Subscription Payment”) for the purchase price of the Offered Shares, subject to any discount that may apply based upon the volume of Offered Shares purchased pursuant to the schedule of discounts and procedures specified in the Prospectus. There shall be a minimum initial purchase by any one purchaser of $5,000 in Offered Shares (except as otherwise indicated in the Prospectus, or in any letter or memorandum from the Company to the Dealer Manager). Minimum subsequent purchases of Offered Shares shall be $500 per transaction, except for purchases made pursuant to the distribution reinvestment plan, as described in the Prospectus. Prior to the Company raising gross offering proceeds of $2,500,000 from persons not affiliated with the Company or the Adviser (the “Minimum Offering”), persons who purchase Offered Shares shall be directed to make their checks payable to “UMB Bank, N.A., as escrow agent for FS Energy and Power Fund II.” Subsequent to the Company raising the Minimum Offering, persons who purchase Offered Shares shall make their checks payable to “FS Energy and Power Fund II.” Each person desiring to purchase Offered Shares in the Offering must submit subscriptions for a certain dollar amount, rather than a number of Offered Shares and, as a result, may receive fractional Offered Shares.

 

The Processing Broker-Dealer receiving a Subscription Agreement and Subscription Payment not conforming to the foregoing instructions shall return such Subscription Agreement and Subscription Payment directly to such subscriber not later than the end of the second business day following receipt by the Processing Broker-Dealer of such materials. Subscription Agreements and Subscription Payments received by the Processing Broker-Dealer which conform to the foregoing instructions shall be transmitted for deposit pursuant to one of the methods described in this Section II. If Selected Dealer is a “$250,000 broker-dealer,” the Dealer Manager may authorize Selected Dealer to instruct its customers to make its check for Offered Shares subscribed for payable directly to Selected Dealer, in which case Selected Dealer will collect the proceeds of the subscriber’s check and issue a check for the aggregate amount of the subscription proceeds made payable to the order of “UMB Bank, N.A., as agent for FS Energy and Power Fund II.” Selected Dealer hereby agrees to be bound by the terms of the Escrow Agreement, dated July 31, 2014 (the “Escrow Agreement”), by and among UMB Bank, N.A. (the “Escrow Agent”) and the Company.

 

(a)                               If the Processing Broker-Dealer conducts its internal supervisory review at the same location at which Subscription Agreements and Subscription Payments are received from subscribers, then, by noon of the next business day following receipt by the Processing Broker-Dealer, the Processing Broker-Dealer will transmit the Subscription Agreements and Subscription Payment for deposit to the Escrow Agent, or after the Minimum Offering has been achieved, to the Company or its designated agent.

 

(b)                              If the Processing Broker-Dealer conducts its internal supervisory review at a different location (the “Final Review Office”), Subscription Agreements and Subscription Payments will be transmitted by the Processing Broker-Dealer to the Final Review Office by noon of the next business day following receipt by the Processing Broker-Dealer. The Final Review Office will in turn by noon of the next business day following receipt by the Final Review Office, transmit such Subscription Agreements and Subscription Payment for deposit to the Escrow Agent, or after the Minimum Offering has been achieved, to the Company or its designated agent.

 

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Selected Dealer understands that the Company reserves the unconditional right to reject any order, in whole or in part, for any or no reason.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Offered Shares to be purchased by a custodial account, the Processing Broker-Dealer shall cause the custodian of such account to deliver a completed Subscription Agreement and Subscription Payment for such account directly to the Transfer Agent. The Processing Broker-Dealer shall furnish with each delivery of Subscription Payments a list of the subscribers showing the name, address, tax identification number, state of residence, amount of Offered Shares subscribed for, and the amount of money paid.

 

III.                          Pricing

 

Except for volume discounts described in or as otherwise provided in the “Plan of Distribution” section of the Prospectus, the Offered Shares shall be offered to the public at an initial offering price of $10.00 per Offered Share payable in cash. Except as otherwise indicated in the Prospectus or in any letter or memorandum sent to Selected Dealer by the Company or Dealer Manager, a minimum initial purchase of $5,000 in Offered Shares is required. Minimum subsequent purchases of Offered Shares shall be $500 per transaction. After meeting the Minimum Offering, the Company will sell the Offered Shares on a continuous basis at a price of $10.00 per Offered Share, subject to the adjustments described in or otherwise provided in the “Plan of Distribution” section of the Prospectus. Each person desiring to purchase Offered Shares in the Offering must submit subscriptions for a certain dollar amount, rather than a number of Offered Shares and, as a result, may receive fractional Offered Shares.

 

The Offered Shares are nonassessable. Selected Dealer hereby agrees to place any order for the full purchase price except as otherwise provided in the Prospectus for volume discounts based upon the number of Offered Shares purchased by a subscriber through Selected Dealer.

 

Selected Dealer understands that from time to time the Company may provide or cause to be provided through its transfer agent or otherwise, price files with respect to the Offered Shares that may not reflect the actual value of the Offered Shares.  Selected Dealer acknowledges and agrees that, except as otherwise may be required by law or regulation, the portfolio value and estimated per share value set forth on account statements provided by the Company or its agent to Selected Dealer’s customers will reflect any discount to the current public offering price applicable to the purchase of the Offered Shares by such customer.

 

IV.                           Selected Dealer’s Compensation

 

Subject to volume discounts and other special circumstances described in or as otherwise provided in the “Plan of Distribution” section of the Prospectus and except as set forth in Schedule 1 to this Agreement, Selected Dealer’s selling commission applicable to the total public offering price of Offered Shares sold by Selected Dealer which it is authorized to sell hereunder is 7.0% of the gross proceeds of Offered Shares sold by it and accepted and confirmed by the Company, which commission will be paid by the Dealer Manager. For these purposes, a “sale of Offered Shares” shall occur following the release from escrow of the Offering proceeds received in connection with the sale of the minimum number of Offered Shares as set forth on the cover page of the Prospectus, and, if and only if, a transaction has closed with a securities purchaser pursuant to all applicable offering and subscription documents and the Company has thereafter distributed the commission to the Dealer Manager in connection with such transaction. Selected Dealer hereby waives any and all rights to receive payment of commissions due until such time as the Dealer Manager is in receipt of the commission from the Company. Selected Dealer affirms that the Dealer Manager’s liability for commissions payable is limited solely to the proceeds of commissions receivable associated therewith. In addition, as set forth in the

 

3



 

Prospectus, the Dealer Manager, in its sole discretion, may reallow a portion of the Dealer Manager Fee to Selected Dealer as marketing fees or to defray other distribution-related expenses, which reallowance, if any, shall be determined by the Dealer Manager in its sole discretion based on factors including, but not limited to, the number of shares sold by Selected Dealer, the assistance of Selected Dealer in marketing the offering and due diligence expenses incurred, and the extent to which similar fees are reallowed to selected broker-dealers in similar offerings being conducted during the Offering. Such reallowance shall be described in Schedule 1 to this Agreement.

 

Selected Dealer acknowledges and agrees that no commissions, payments or amount whatsoever will be paid to Selected Dealer in respect of the purchase of Offered Shares by a Selected Dealer (or its registered representative), in its individual capacity, or by a retirement plan of such Selected Dealer (or its registered representative), or by an officer, trustee or employee of the Company, the Adviser or their respective affiliates.

 

The parties hereby agree that the foregoing commission is not in excess of the usual and customary distributors’ or sellers’ commission received in the sale of securities similar to the Offered Shares, that Selected Dealer’s interest in the offering is limited to such commission from the Dealer Manager and Selected Dealer’s indemnity referred to in Section 5 of the Dealer Manager Agreement, and that the Company is not liable or responsible for the direct payment of such commission to Selected Dealer. In addition, as set forth in the Prospectus, the Dealer Manager may reimburse Selected Dealers up to 0.5% of gross proceeds for the Offered Shares for bona fide accountable due diligence expenses incurred by such Selected Dealers. Selected Dealer shall provide a detailed and itemized invoice for any such due diligence expenses.

 

V.                                 Payment

 

Payments of selling commissions will be made by the Dealer Manager (or by the Company as the agent of the Dealer Manager, as provided in the Dealer Manager Agreement) to Selected Dealer within 30 days of the receipt by the Dealer Manager of the gross commission payments from the Company.

 

Selected Dealer, in its sole discretion, may authorize Dealer Manager (or the Company as the agent of the Dealer Manager, as provided in the Dealer Manager Agreement) to deposit selling commissions, reallowances and other payments due to it pursuant to this Agreement directly to its bank account. If Selected Dealer so elects, Selected Dealer shall provide such deposit authorization and instructions in Schedule 2 to this Agreement.

 

VI.                           Right to Reject Orders or Cancel Sales

 

All orders, whether initial or additional, are subject to acceptance by and shall only become effective upon confirmation by the Company, which reserves the right to reject any order, in whole or in part, for any or no reason, including without limitation, orders not accompanied by a Subscription Agreement and executed signature page thereto, or orders not accompanied by the required Subscription Payment for the Offered Shares. Issuance and delivery of the Offered Shares will be made only after actual receipt of payment therefor. If any Subscription Payment is not paid upon presentment, or if the Company is not in actual receipt of clearinghouse funds or cash, certified or cashier’s check or the equivalent in payment for the Offered Shares within 15 days of sale, the Company reserves the right to cancel the sale without notice. In the event an order is rejected, canceled or rescinded for any reason, Selected Dealer agrees to return to the Dealer Manager within 30 days thereafter any commission or Dealer Manager Fee theretofore paid with respect to such order, and, if Selected Dealer fails to so return any such commission or Dealer Manager, the Dealer Manager shall have the right to offset amounts owed against future commissions or Dealer Manager Fees due and otherwise payable to Selected Dealer.

 

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VII.                     Prospectus and Authorized Sales Materials

 

Selected Dealer is not authorized or permitted to give, and will not give, any information or make any representation (written or oral) concerning the Offered Shares except as set forth in the Prospectus and the Authorized Sales Materials. The Dealer Manager will supply Selected Dealer with reasonable quantities of the Prospectus, any supplements thereto and any amended Prospectus, as well as any Authorized Sales Materials, for delivery to investors, and Selected Dealer will deliver a copy of the Prospectus and all supplements thereto and any amended Prospectus to each investor to whom an offer is made prior to or simultaneously with the first solicitation of an offer to sell the Offered Shares to an investor. Selected Dealer agrees that it will not send or give any supplements to the Prospectus, any amended Prospectus or any Authorized Sales Materials to that investor unless it has previously sent or given a Prospectus and all supplements thereto and any amended Prospectus to that investor or has simultaneously sent or given a Prospectus and all supplements thereto and any amended Prospectus with such Prospectus supplement, amended Prospectus or Authorized Sales Materials. Selected Dealer agrees that it will not show or give to any investor or prospective investor or reproduce any material or writing which is supplied to it by the Dealer Manager and marked “broker-dealer use only” or otherwise bearing a legend denoting that it is not to be used in connection with the offer or sale of Offered Shares to members of the public. Selected Dealer agrees that it will not use in connection with the offer or sale of Offered Shares any materials or writings which have not been previously approved by the Company in writing other than the Prospectus and the Authorized Sales Materials. Selected Dealer agrees to furnish a copy of any revised preliminary Prospectus to each person to whom it has furnished a copy of any previous preliminary Prospectus, and further agrees that it will itself mail or otherwise deliver all preliminary and final Prospectuses required for compliance with the provisions of Rule 15c2-8 under the Exchange Act. Regardless of the termination of this Agreement, Selected Dealer will deliver a Prospectus in transactions in the Offered Shares for a period of 90 days from the Effective Date of the Registration Statement or such longer period as may be required by the Exchange Act. Selected Dealer agrees to comply with all the applicable requirements under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act (including, to the extent applicable, with respect to the custody of funds and securities), conduct rules of FINRA or its predecessor, the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., and any other foreign, state or local securities or other laws or rules of FINRA or any other applicable self-regulatory agency in offering and selling Offered Shares.

 

VIII.               License and Association Membership

 

Selected Dealer’s acceptance of this Agreement constitutes a representation by the Selected Dealer to the Company and the Dealer Manager that Selected Dealer is a properly registered or licensed broker-dealer, duly authorized to sell Offered Shares under federal and state securities laws and regulations in all states where it offers or sells Offered Shares, and that it is a member in good standing of FINRA. Selected Dealer represents and warrants that it is currently licensed as a broker-dealer in the jurisdictions identified on Schedule 3 to this Agreement. This Agreement shall automatically terminate if Selected Dealer ceases to be a member in good standing of FINRA or with the securities commission of the state in which Selected Dealer’s principal office is located. Selected Dealer agrees to notify the Dealer Manager immediately if Selected Dealer ceases to be a member in good standing of FINRA or with the securities commission of any state in which Selected Dealer is currently registered or licensed, or in the case of a foreign dealer, so to conform. Selected Dealer also hereby agrees to abide by the conduct and other rules set forth in the FINRA rulebook (“FINRA Rules”), including, without limitation, FINRA Rules 2310 and 5141 and NASD Rules 2340 and 2420.

 

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IX.                           Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Programs

 

Selected Dealer’s acceptance of this Dealer Agreement constitutes a representation to the Company and the Dealer Manager that Selected Dealer has established and implemented an anti-money laundering compliance program (“AML Program”) in accordance with applicable law, including applicable FINRA Rules, Securities and Exchange Commission Rules (the “Commission Rules”) and the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act (USA PATRIOT Act) of 2001, as amended by the USA Patriot Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 (the “USA PATRIOT Act”), specifically including, but not limited to, Section 352 of the International Money Laundering Abatement and Anti-Terrorist Financing Act of 2001 (the “Money Laundering Abatement Act,” and together with the USA PATRIOT Act, the “AML Rules”), reasonably expected to detect and cause the reporting of suspicious transactions in connection with the sale of Offered Shares. In addition, Selected Dealer represents that it has established and implemented a program for compliance with Executive Order 13224 and all regulations and programs administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC Program”) and will continue to maintain its OFAC Program during the term of this Agreement. Upon request by the Dealer Manager at any time, Selected Dealer hereby agrees to (i) furnish a written copy of its AML Program and OFAC Program to the Dealer Manager for review, and (ii) furnish a copy of the findings and any remedial actions taken in connection with Selected Dealer’s most recent independent testing of its AML Program and/or its OFAC Program.

 

The parties acknowledge that for the purposes of FINRA Rules, the investors who purchase Offered Shares through Selected Dealer are “customers” of Selected Dealer and not the Dealer Manager. Nonetheless, to the extent that the Dealer Manager deems it prudent, Selected Dealer shall cooperate with the Dealer Manager’s reasonable requests for information, records and data related to the Company’s shareholders introduced to, and serviced by, Selected Dealer (the “Customers”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, Selected Dealer shall not be required to provide to the Dealer Manager any documentation that, in Selected Dealer’s reasonable judgment, would cause Selected Dealer to lose the benefit of attorney-client privilege or other privilege which it may be entitled to assert relating to the discoverability of documents in any civil or criminal proceedings. Selected Dealer hereby represents that it is currently in compliance with all AML Rules and all OFAC requirements, specifically including, but not limited to, the Customer Identification Program requirements under Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act. Selected Dealer hereby agrees, upon request by the Dealer Manager to (A) provide an annual certification to Dealer Manager that, as of the date of such certification (i) its AML Program and its OFAC Program are consistent with the AML Rules and OFAC requirements, (ii) it has continued to implement its AML Program and its OFAC Program, and (iii) it is currently in compliance with all AML Rules and OFAC requirements, specifically including, but not limited to, the Customer Identification Program requirements under Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act; and (B) perform and carry out, on behalf of both the Dealer Manager and the Company, the Customer Identification Program requirements in accordance with Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act and applicable SEC and Treasury Department Rules thereunder.

 

X.                                 Limitation of Offer; Suitability

 

Selected Dealer will offer Offered Shares only to persons who meet the suitability standards set forth in the Prospectus or in any suitability letter or memorandum sent to it by the Company or the Dealer Manager and will only make offers to persons in the jurisdictions in which it is advised in writing that the Offered Shares are qualified for sale or that such qualification is not required. Notwithstanding the qualification of the Offered Shares for sale in any respective jurisdiction (or the exemption therefrom), Selected Dealer represents, warrants and covenants that it will not offer Offered Shares and will not permit any of its registered representatives to offer Offered Shares in any jurisdiction unless both Selected Dealer and such registered representative are duly licensed to transact securities business in such

 

6



 

jurisdiction. In offering Offered Shares, Selected Dealer will comply with the provisions of FINRA Rules, as well as all other applicable rules and regulations relating to suitability of investors.

 

Selected Dealer further represents, warrants and covenants that neither Selected Dealer, nor any person associated with Selected Dealer, shall offer or sell Offered Shares in any jurisdiction except to investors who satisfy the investor suitability standards and minimum investment requirements under the most restrictive of the following: (a) applicable provisions described in the Prospectus, including minimum income and net worth standards; (b) applicable laws of the jurisdiction of which such investor is a resident; or (c) applicable FINRA Rules. Selected Dealer agrees to ensure that, in recommending the purchase, sale or exchange of Offered Shares to an investor, Selected Dealer, or a person associated with Selected Dealer, shall have reasonable grounds to believe, on the basis of information obtained from the investor (and thereafter maintained in the manner and for the period required by the Commission, any state securities commission, FINRA or the Company) concerning his age, investment objectives, investment experience, income, net worth, other investments, financial situation and needs, and any other information known to Selected Dealer, or person associated with Selected Dealer, that (i) the investor can reasonably benefit from an investment in the Offered Shares based on the investor’s overall investment objectives and portfolio structure, (ii) the investor is able to bear the economic risk of the investment based on the investor’s overall financial situation, and (iii) the investor has an apparent understanding of (A) the fundamental risks of the investment, (B) the risk that the investor may lose his entire investment in the Offered Shares, (C) the lack of liquidity of the Offered Shares, (D) the background and qualifications of the Adviser or the persons responsible for directing and managing the Company, and (E) the tax consequences of an investment in the Offered Shares. In the case of sales to fiduciary accounts, the minimum standards shall be met by the beneficiary, the fiduciary account or by the donor or grantor who directly or indirectly supplied the funds for the purchase of the Offered Shares if the donor or grantor is the fiduciary. Selected Dealer further represents, warrants and covenants that Selected Dealer, or a person associated with Selected Dealer, will make every reasonable effort to determine the suitability and appropriateness of an investment in Offered Shares of each proposed investor by reviewing documents and records disclosing the basis upon which the determination as to suitability was reached as to each purchaser of Offered Shares pursuant to a subscription solicited by Selected Dealer, whether such documents and records relate to accounts which have been closed, accounts which are currently maintained, or accounts hereafter established. Selected Dealer agrees to retain such documents and records in Selected Dealer’s records for a period of six years from the date of the applicable sale of Offered Shares, to otherwise comply with the record keeping requirements provided in Section XII below and to make such documents and records available to (i) the Dealer Manager and the Company upon request, and (ii) representatives of the Commission, FINRA and applicable state securities administrators upon Selected Dealer’s receipt of an appropriate document subpoena or other appropriate request for documents from any such agency. Selected Dealer shall not purchase any Offered Shares for a discretionary account without obtaining the prior written approval of Selected Dealer’s customer and his or her signature on a Subscription Agreement.

 

XI.                           Due Diligence; Adequate Disclosure

 

Prior to offering the Offered Shares for sale, Selected Dealer shall have conducted an inquiry (the “Diligence Review”) such that Selected Dealer has reasonable grounds to believe, based on information made available to Selected Dealer by the Company or the Dealer Manager through the Prospectus or other materials, that all material facts are adequately and accurately disclosed and provide a basis for evaluating a purchase of Offered Shares. In determining the adequacy of disclosed facts pursuant to the foregoing, Selected Dealer may obtain, upon request, information on material facts relating at a minimum to the following: (i) items of compensation; (ii) tax aspects; (iii) financial stability and experience of the Company and its Adviser; (iv) conflicts and risk factors; and (v) other pertinent reports. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Selected Dealer may rely upon the results of an inquiry conducted by an independent third

 

7



 

party retained for that purpose or another Selected Dealer, provided that: (i) such Selected Dealer has reasonable grounds to believe that such inquiry was conducted with due care by said independent third party or such other Selected Dealer; (ii) the results of the inquiry were provided to Selected Dealer with the consent of the other Selected Dealer conducting or directing the inquiry; and (iii) no Selected Dealer that participated in the inquiry is an affiliate of the Company or its Adviser. Prior to the sale of the Offered Shares, Selected Dealer shall inform each prospective purchaser of Offered Shares of pertinent facts relating to the Offered Shares including specifically the lack of liquidity and lack of marketability of the Offered Shares during the term of the investment but shall not, in any event, make any representation on behalf of the Company or the Adviser except as set forth in the Prospectus and any Authorized Sales Materials.

 

XII.                     Compliance with Record Keeping Requirements

 

Selected Dealer agrees to comply with the record keeping requirements of the Exchange Act, including but not limited to, Rules 17a-3 and 17a-4 promulgated under the Exchange Act. Selected Dealer further agrees to keep such records with respect to each customer who purchases Offered Shares, his suitability and the amount of Offered Shares sold, and to retain such records for such period of time as may be required by the Commission, any state securities commission, FINRA or the Company.

 

XIII.               Customer Complaints

 

Each party hereby agrees to provide to the other party copies of any written or otherwise documented customer complaints received by such party relating in any way to the Offering (including, but not limited to, the manner in which the Offered Shares are offered by the Dealer Manager or Selected Dealer), the Offered Shares or the Company.

 

XIV.                Effective Date

 

This Agreement will become effective upon the last date it is signed by either party hereto. Upon effectiveness of this Agreement, all offers and sales of Offered Shares by Selected Dealer will be made pursuant to this Agreement exclusively and not through any prior agreement between Selected Dealer and the Dealer Manager, if any.

 

XV.                      Termination; Survival; Amendment

 

Selected Dealer will immediately suspend or terminate its offer and sale of Offered Shares upon the request of the Company or the Dealer Manager at any time and will resume its offer and sale of Offered Shares hereunder upon subsequent request of the Company or the Dealer Manager. Any party may terminate this Agreement by written notice, which termination shall be effective 48 hours after such notice is given. This Agreement and the exhibits and schedules hereto are the entire agreement of the parties and supersedes all prior agreements, if any, between the parties hereto.

 

This Agreement may be amended at any time by the Dealer Manager by written notice to Selected Dealer, and any such amendment shall be deemed accepted by Selected Dealer upon placing an order for sale of Offered Shares after it has received such notice.

 

The respective agreements and obligations of Selected Dealer and the Dealer Manager set forth in Articles I, IV, V, VII, X, XII, XIII, XIV, XV, XVI, XVII, XVIII, XIX, XX, XXI, XXIII and XXIV of this Agreement and Section 5 of the Dealer Manager Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of the termination of this Agreement.

 

8



 

Notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement or the payment of any amount to Selected Dealer, Selected Dealer agrees to pay Selected Dealer’s proportionate share of any claim, demand or liability asserted against Selected Dealer and the other Selected Dealers on the basis that the Selected Dealers or any of them constitute an association, unincorporated business or other separate entity, including in each case Selected Dealer’s proportionate share of any expenses incurred in defending against any such claim, demand or liability.

 

XVI.                Privacy Laws

 

The Dealer Manager and Selected Dealer (each referred to individually in this section as a “party”) agree as follows:

 

(a)                               Each party agrees to abide by and comply with (i) the privacy standards and requirements of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 (“GLB Act”) and Regulation S-P, (ii) the privacy standards and requirements of any other applicable Federal or state law, and (iii) its own internal privacy policies and procedures, each as may be amended from time to time;

 

(b)                              Each party agrees to refrain from the use or disclosure of nonpublic personal information (as defined under the GLB Act) of all customers who have opted out of such disclosures except as necessary to service the customers or as otherwise necessary or required by applicable law; and

 

(c)                               Each party shall be responsible for determining which customers have opted out of the disclosure of nonpublic personal information by periodically reviewing and, if necessary, retrieving a list of such customers (the “List”) as provided by each to identify customers that have exercised their opt-out rights. In the event either party uses or discloses nonpublic personal information of any customer for purposes other than servicing the customer, or as otherwise required by applicable law, that party will consult the List to determine whether the affected customer has exercised his or her opt-out rights. Each party understands that each is prohibited from using or disclosing any nonpublic personal information of any customer that is identified on the List as having opted out of such disclosures.

 

XVII.          Notice

 

All notices will be in writing and will be duly given to the Dealer Manager when mailed to FS2 Capital Partners, LLC, Cira Centre, 2929 Arch Street, Suite 675, Philadelphia, PA 19104-2867, and to Selected Dealer when mailed to the address specified by Selected Dealer below.

 

XVIII.    Attorneys’ Fees; Applicable Law and Venue

 

This Agreement and any claim, counterclaim or dispute of any kind or nature whatsoever arising out of or in any way relating to this Agreement, directly or indirectly, shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts formed and to be formed entirely within the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflicts of laws principles and rules thereof, to the extent such principles would require or permit the application of the laws of another jurisdiction; provided, however, that the governing law for causes of action for violations of federal or state securities law shall be governed by the applicable federal or state securities law.

 

XIX.                Successors and Assigns

 

Selected Dealer shall not assign this Agreement or any right, interest or benefit under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Dealer Manager. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Dealer Manager and Selected Dealer and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

 

9



 

XX.                      Arbitration

 

In the event of a dispute concerning any provision of this Agreement (including any provisions of the Dealer Manager Agreement incorporated into this Agreement), either party may require the dispute to be submitted to binding arbitration, conducted on a confidential basis, under the then-current commercial arbitration rules of FINRA or the American Arbitration Association (at the discretion of the party requesting arbitration) in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (including the governing law provisions of this section) and pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act (9 U.S.C. §§ 1 – 16). The parties will request that the arbitrator or arbitration panel (“Arbitrator”) issue written findings of fact and conclusions of law. The Arbitrator shall not be empowered to make any award or render any judgment for punitive damages, and the Arbitrator shall be required to follow applicable law in construing this Agreement, making awards, and rendering judgments. The decision of the arbitration panel shall be final and binding, and judgment upon any arbitration award may be entered by any court having jurisdiction. All arbitration hearings will be held at the Philadelphia FINRA District Office or at another mutually agreed upon site. The parties may agree on a single arbitrator, or, if the parties cannot so agree, each party will have the right to choose one arbitrator, and the selected arbitrators will choose a third arbitrator. Each arbitrator must have experience and education that qualify him or her to competently address the specific issues to be designated for arbitration. Notwithstanding the preceding, no party will be prevented from immediately seeking provisional remedies in courts of competent jurisdiction, including but not limited to, temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions, but such remedies will not be sought as a means to avoid or stay arbitration. Except as provided otherwise in Section 5 of the Dealer Manager Agreement, in any action or arbitration to enforce the provisions of this Agreement or to secure damages for its breach, the prevailing party shall recover its costs and reasonable attorney’s fees. Each party to this Agreement hereby waives a trial by jury in any legal action or proceeding relating to this Agreement.

 

XXI.                Severability

 

The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the other provisions hereof, and this Agreement shall be construed in all respects as if such invalid or unenforceable provision was omitted.

 

XXII.          Counterparts

 

This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts. Each counterpart, when executed and delivered, shall be an original contract, but all counterparts, when taken together, shall constitute one and the same agreement. This Agreement will become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other parties, which delivery may be made by exchange of copies of the signature page by facsimile transmission.

 

XXIII.    No Partnership

 

Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed or interpreted to constitute Selected Dealer as an employee, agent or representative of, or in association with or in partnership with, the Dealer Manager, the Company or the other Selected Dealers; instead, this Agreement shall only constitute Selected Dealer as a dealer authorized by the Dealer Manager to sell the Offered Shares according to the terms set forth in the registration statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented and in this Agreement.

 

XXIV.     Confidentiality

 

Dealer Manager, the Company, Franklin Square Holdings, L.P. (“FSH”) or one of their affiliates or employees, agents or advisers (“Representatives”) (all such entities and persons, collectively, the “FS

 

10



 

Entities”) may have provided and will furnish to Selected Dealer or its affiliates or Representatives with certain information that is either non-public, confidential or proprietary in nature in order to enable Selected Dealer to perform a diligence review. This information furnished to Selected Dealer or its affiliates or Representatives, including the terms and conditions of any agreements entered into between Selected Dealer or its affiliates and any FS Entity, together with analyses, compilations, forecasts, studies or other documents prepared by Selected Dealer or its affiliates or Representatives which contain or otherwise reflect such information is hereinafter referred to as the “Information.” The term Information shall not include such portions of the Information which (i) are or become generally available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure by Selected Dealer or its affiliates or Representatives in violation of this Agreement, or (ii) become available to Selected Dealer on a non-confidential basis from a source other than an FS Entity that has a bona fide right to do so and which is not subject to any obligation to keep such information confidential. In consideration of the FS Entities furnishing Selected Dealer or its affiliates or Representatives with the Information, Selected Dealer agrees that:

 

(a)                               The Information will be kept confidential and shall not, without FSH’s prior written consent, be disseminated or disclosed by Selected Dealer or its affiliates or Representatives, in any manner whatsoever, in whole or in part, and shall not be used by Selected Dealer or its affiliates or Representatives, other than in connection with performing the diligence review contemplated by Section XI of this Agreement. Moreover, Selected Dealer agrees to reveal the Information only to such of its affiliates or Representatives who need to know the Information for the purpose of performing the diligence review contemplated by Section XI of this Agreement, who are informed by Selected Dealer of the confidential nature of the Information and who agree to act in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Section XXIV.

 

(b)                              All copies of the Information will be returned to FSH or destroyed upon FSH’s request.

 

(c)                               In the event that Selected Dealer or any of its affiliates or Representatives are requested or required (by oral questions, depositions, interrogatories, requests for information or documents, subpoena, civil investigative demand or other process) to disclose any of the Information, Selected Dealer will provide FSH with prompt written notice so that any of the FS Entities may seek a protective order, other appropriate remedy or waive compliance with the provisions of this Agreement. In the event that such protective order or other remedy is not obtained, or that FSH waives compliance with the provisions of this Agreement, Selected Dealer shall disclose such Information without liability hereunder; provided, however, that Selected Dealer will furnish only that portion of the Information which, in the opinion of its counsel, Selected Dealer is compelled to disclose and will not oppose any action by FSH to obtain reliable assurance that confidential treatment will be accorded the Information. Selected Dealer further agrees to exercise its reasonable efforts to otherwise preserve the confidentiality of the Information. Upon reasonable notice, Selected Dealer further agrees to cooperate with the FS Entities in obtaining a protective order or other appropriate remedy.

 

(d)                              In no event shall any of the FS Entities be liable for any losses, damages, claims or expenses incurred or actions undertaken by Selected Dealer or its affiliates or Representatives as a result of their receipt of the Information or their use thereof. Selected Dealer agrees that the Information is and shall remain the property of FSH and that none of the FS Entities has granted Selected Dealer or its affiliates or Representatives any license, copyright, or similar right with respect to any of the Information.

 

(e)                               Selected Dealer hereby acknowledges that Selected Dealer is aware, and that Selected Dealer will advise its affiliates or Representatives who have been provided with Information, that the United States securities laws prohibit any person who has received from an issuer material, non-public information from purchasing or selling securities of such issuer or from communicating such information to any other person under circumstances in which it is reasonably foreseeable that such person is likely to

 

11



 

purchase or sell such securities. Selected Dealer further acknowledges that some or all of the Information is or may be price-sensitive information and that the use of such Information may be regulated or prohibited by applicable legislation relating to insider dealing and Selected Dealer undertakes, on behalf of itself and its Representatives, not to use any Information for any unlawful purpose.

 

(f)                                FSH has the right to enforce this Section XXIV as a third-party beneficiary.

 

[Signatures Appear on Following Pages]

 

12



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed on its behalf by its duly authorized agent.

 

 

“DEALER MANAGER”

 

 

 

FS2 CAPITAL PARTNERS, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

We have read the foregoing Agreement and we hereby accept and agree to the terms and conditions therein set forth. We hereby represent that the jurisdictions identified below represent a true and correct list of all jurisdictions in which we are registered or licensed as a broker or dealer and are fully authorized to sell securities, and we agree to advise you of any change in such list during the term of this Agreement.

 

1.                                    Identity of Selected Dealer:

 

Full Legal Name:

 

 

 

(to be completed by Selected Dealer)

 

 

 

 

 

Type of Entity:

 

 

 

 

 

(to be completed by Selected Dealer)

 

 

 

 

 

Organized in the State of:

 

 

 

 

 

(to be completed by Selected Dealer)

 

 

 

 

 

Tax Identification Number:

 

 

 

 

 

(to be completed by Selected Dealer)

 

 

 

 

 

FINRA/CRD Number:

 

 

 

 

 

(to be completed by Selected Dealer)

 

 



 

2.                                    Any notice under this Agreement will be deemed given pursuant to Section XVII hereof when delivered to Selected Dealer as follows:

 

 

Company Name:

 

 

 

 

Attention to:

 

 

 

(Name)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Title)

 

 

 

Street Address:

 

 

 

 

City, State and Zip Code:

 

 

 

 

Telephone No.:

(           )

 

 

 

Facsimile No.:

(           )

 

 

 

Email Address:

 

 

 

 

Accepted and agreed as of the date below:

 

 

 

 

“SELECTED DEALER”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

             (Print Name of Selected Dealer)

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 Name:

 

 

 

 Title:

 

 

 

 Date:

 

 

 



 

SCHEDULE 1
TO
SELECTED DEALER AGREEMENT WITH
FS
2 CAPITAL PARTNERS, LLC (“DEALER MANAGER”)

 

NAME OF ISSUER:

FS ENERGY AND POWER FUND II

 

NAME OF SELECTED DEALER:

 

 

SCHEDULE TO AGREEMENT DATED:

 

 

BROKERAGE PLATFORM: SELLING COMMISSIONS AND DEALER MANAGER FEE REALLOWANCE FOR OFFERED SHARES SOLD IN TRANSACTIONS WHERE BROKERAGE COMMISSIONS ARE PAID

 

The Selected Dealer’s selling commission applicable to the total number of Offered Shares sold by it and confirmed by the Company will be 7.0% of the public offering price (“POP”) for such Offered Shares, subject to volume discounts and other special circumstances described in or as otherwise provided in the “Plan of Distribution” section of the Prospectus.

 

The Dealer Manager shall reallow to the Selected Dealer a portion of the Dealer Manager Fee applicable to the total number of Offered Shares sold by the Selected Dealer and confirmed by the Company in an amount equal to 100 basis points of the POP for such Offered Shares.  Such amount is due and payable at the same time as the Selected Dealer’s selling commission is due and payable pursuant to Section V of this Selected Dealer Agreement.

 

 

o Please check to indicate that Selected Dealer permits advisory pricing

 

o Please check to indicate that Selected Dealer DOES NOT permit advisory pricing

 

 

 

 

ADVISORY PLATFORM: PRICING AND DEALER MANAGER FEE REALLOWANCE FOR OFFERED SHARES SOLD TO INVESTORS NET OF BROKERAGE COMMISSIONS (to be completed if and only if Selected Dealer is authorized to sell on an advisory platform)

 

In this case, the Selected Dealer will not receive any selling commission.  The purchase price of the Offered Shares, if any, purchased by each client of the Selected Dealer through an advisory platform will be equal to 93.0 % of the POP.

 

The Dealer Manager shall reallow a portion of the Dealer Manager Fee to the Selected Dealer applicable to the total number of Offered Shares sold by the Selected Dealer and confirmed by the Company in an amount equal to 100 basis points of the POP for such Offered Shares.  Such amount is due and payable within 30 days of the receipt by the Dealer Manager of the Dealer Manager Fee from the Company.

 

[Signatures Appear on Following Page]

 



 

 

“DEALER MANAGER”

 

 

 

FS2 CAPITAL PARTNERS, LLC

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

 

“SELECTED DEALER”

 

 

 

 

 

       (Print Name of Selected Dealer)

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 



 

SCHEDULE 2
TO
SELECTED DEALER AGREEMENT WITH
FS
2 CAPITAL PARTNERS, LLC (“DEALER MANAGER”)

 

 

 

NAME OF ISSUER:

FS ENERGY AND POWER FUND II

 

 

NAME OF SELECTED DEALER:

 

 

 

SCHEDULE TO AGREEMENT DATED:

 

 

 

Selected Dealer hereby authorizes the Dealer Manager or its agent to deposit selling commissions, reallowances and other payments due to it pursuant to this Selected Dealer Agreement to its bank account specified below. This authority will remain in force until Selected Dealer notifies the Dealer Manager in writing to cancel it. In the event that the Dealer Manager deposits funds erroneously into Selected Dealer’s account, the Dealer Manager is authorized to debit the account with no prior notice to Selected Dealer for an amount not to exceed the amount of the erroneous deposit.

 

Bank Name:

 

 

 

 

Bank Address:

 

 

 

 

Bank Routing Number:

 

 

 

 

Account Number:

 

 

 

 

“SELECTED DEALER”

 

 

 

 

              (Print Name of Selected Dealer)

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

Date:

 

 

 



 

SCHEDULE 3
TO
SELECTED DEALER AGREEMENT WITH
FS
2 CAPITAL PARTNERS, LLC

 

Selected Dealer represents and warrants that it is currently licensed as a broker-dealer in the following jurisdictions:

 

 

       Alabama

       Montana

 

       Alaska

       Nebraska

 

       Arizona

       Nevada

 

       Arkansas

       New Hampshire

 

       California

       New Jersey

 

       Colorado

       New Mexico

 

       Connecticut

       New York

 

       Delaware

       North Carolina

 

       District of Columbia

       North Dakota

 

       Florida

       Ohio

 

       Georgia

       Oklahoma

 

       Guam

       Oregon

 

       Hawaii

       Pennsylvania

 

       Idaho

       Puerto Rico

 

       Illinois

       Rhode Island

 

       Indiana

       South Carolina

 

       Iowa

       South Dakota

 

       Kansas

       Tennessee

 

       Kentucky

       Texas

 

       Louisiana

       U.S. Virgin Islands

 

       Maine

       Utah

 

       Maryland

       Vermont

 

       Massachusetts

       Virginia

 

       Michigan

       Washington

 

       Minnesota

       West Virginia

 

       Mississippi

       Wisconsin

 

       Missouri

       Wyoming

 



 

EXHIBIT A TO SELECTED DEALER AGREEMENT

 

DEALER MANAGER AGREEMENT

 



 

EXHIBIT B TO DEALER MANAGER AGREEMENT

 

QUALIFIED JURISDICTIONS
AS OF [    ], 2014

 

       Alabama

       Montana

       Alaska

       Nebraska

       Arizona

       Nevada

       Arkansas

       New Hampshire

       California

       New Jersey

       Colorado

       New Mexico

       Connecticut

       New York

       Delaware

       North Carolina

       District of Columbia

       North Dakota

       Florida

       Ohio

       Georgia

       Oklahoma

       Guam

       Oregon

       Hawaii

       Pennsylvania

       Idaho

       Puerto Rico

       Illinois

       Rhode Island

       Indiana

       South Carolina

       Iowa

       South Dakota

       Kansas

       Tennessee

       Kentucky

       Texas

       Louisiana

       U.S. Virgin Islands

       Maine

       Utah

       Maryland

       Vermont

       Massachusetts

       Virginia

       Michigan

       Washington

       Minnesota

       West Virginia

       Mississippi

       Wisconsin

       Missouri

       Wyoming

 


EX-99.(J) 3 a14-23110_1ex99dj.htm EX-(J)

Exhibit (j)

 

CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT

 

This Agreement, dated as of September 29, 2014, is by and between FS ENERGY AND POWER FUND II, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Company”), and STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, a Massachusetts trust company (the “Custodian”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company has selected and desires to retain the Custodian to act as custodian of Company assets, and the Custodian is willing to provide such services to the Company upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

Section 1.    Employment of Custodian and Property to be Held by It

 

The Company hereby employs the Custodian as the custodian of its assets, including securities which the Company desires to be held in places within the United States (“domestic securities”) and securities it desires to be held outside the United States (“foreign securities”). The Custodian shall not be responsible for any property of the Company which is not received by it or which is delivered out in accordance with Proper Instructions (as such term is defined in Section 7 hereof).  With respect to uncertificated shares of or other interests (“Underlying Shares”) in collective investment vehicles including, inter alia, registered investment companies (“Underlying Funds”), the holding of confirmation statements which identify such Underlying Shares as being recorded in the Custodian’s name (or in the name of a nominee of the Custodian) for the benefit of the Company, shall be deemed custody for purposes of this Agreement.

 

Upon receipt of Proper Instructions, the Custodian shall from time to time employ one or more sub-custodians located in the United States as approved by the Company.  The Custodian shall have no more or less responsibility or liability to the Company on account of any actions or omissions of any sub-custodian so employed than any such sub-custodian has to the Custodian.  The Custodian may employ as sub-custodians for the Company’s securities and other assets the foreign banking institutions and foreign securities depositories designated in Schedules A and B hereto (as may be amended from time to time by the Custodian in accordance with the applicable provisions of Sections 3 and 4 hereof).

 

Section 2.    Duties of the Custodian with Respect to Property of the Company to be Held in the United States

 

2.1                   Holding Securities.  The Custodian shall hold and segregate for the account of the Company all non-cash property, to be held by it in the United States, including all domestic securities owned by the Company, other than (a) securities which are maintained pursuant to Section 2.8 in a clearing agency which acts as a securities

 



 

depository or in a book-entry system authorized by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and certain other federal agencies (each, a “U.S. Securities System”) and (b) Underlying Shares owned by the Company which are maintained pursuant to Section 2.10 hereof in an account with State Street Bank and Trust Company or such other entity which may from time to time act as a transfer agent, registrar, corporate secretary, general partner or other relevant third party for the Underlying Funds and with respect to which the Custodian is provided with Proper Instructions (the “Underlying Transfer Agent”).

 

2.2                   Delivery of Securities.  The Custodian shall release and deliver domestic securities owned by the Company held by the Custodian or in a U.S. Securities System account of the Custodian or in an account at the Underlying Transfer Agent, only upon receipt of Proper Instructions, which may be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties, and only in the following cases:

 

1)               Upon the sale of such securities for the account of the Company and receipt of payment therefor;

 

2)               Upon the receipt of payment in connection with any repurchase agreement related to such securities entered into by the Company;

 

3)               In the case of a sale effected through a U.S. Securities System, in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.8 hereof;

 

4)               To the depository agent in connection with tender or other similar offers for portfolio securities owned by the Company;

 

5)               To the issuer thereof or its agent when such securities are called, redeemed, retired or otherwise become payable; provided that, in any such case, the cash or other consideration is to be delivered to the Custodian;

 

6)               To the issuer thereof, or its agent, for transfer into the name of the Company or into the name of any nominee or nominees of the Custodian or into the name or nominee name of any agent appointed pursuant to Section 2.7 or into the name or nominee name of any sub-custodian appointed pursuant to Section 1; or for exchange for a different number of bonds, certificates or other evidence representing the same aggregate face amount or number of units; provided, that, in any such case, the new securities are to be delivered to the Custodian;

 

7)               Upon the sale of such securities for the account of the Company, to the broker or its clearing agent, against a receipt, for examination in accordance with “street delivery” custom; provided that in any such case, the Custodian shall have no responsibility or liability for any loss arising from the delivery of such

 

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                   securities prior to receiving payment for such securities except as may arise from the Custodian’s own negligence or willful misconduct;

 

8)               For exchange or conversion pursuant to any plan of merger, consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization or readjustment of the securities of the issuer of such securities, or pursuant to provisions for conversion contained in such securities, or pursuant to any deposit agreement; provided that, in any such case, the new securities and cash, if any, are to be delivered to the Custodian;

 

9)               In the case of warrants, rights or similar securities, the surrender thereof in the exercise of such warrants, rights or similar securities or the surrender of interim receipts or temporary securities for definitive securities; provided that, in any such case, the new securities and cash, if any, are to be delivered to the Custodian;

 

10)            For delivery as security in connection with any borrowing by the Company requiring a pledge of assets by the Company provided, however, that securities shall be released only upon payment to the Company of the monies borrowed, except that in cases where additional collateral is required to secure a borrowing already made subject to proper prior authorization, further securities may be released for that purpose upon receipt of Proper Instructions;

 

11)            For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the Company, the Custodian and a broker-dealer which is a member of The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA”), relating to compliance with the rules of The Options Clearing Corporation and of any registered national securities exchange, or of any similar organization or organizations, regarding escrow or other arrangements in connection with transactions by the Company;

 

12)            For delivery in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the Company, the Custodian, and a Futures Commission Merchant registered under the Commodity Exchange Act, relating to compliance with the rules of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) and/or any contract market, or any similar organization or organizations, regarding account deposits in connection with transactions by the Company;

 

13)            Upon receipt of instructions from the transfer agent or registrar of the Company, if any (“Transfer Agent”), or from the Company, if there is no such Transfer Agent, for delivery to such Transfer Agent or to holders of the Company’s common shares of beneficial interest (“Shares”) in connection with distributions in kind, in satisfaction of requests by holders of Shares for repurchase or redemption by the Company;

 

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14)            In the case of a sale processed through the Underlying Transfer Agent of Underlying Shares, in accordance with Section 2.11 hereof;

 

15)            For delivery to a broker in connection with the broker’s custody of margin collateral relating to futures or options on futures contracts; and

 

16)            For any other purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions specifying (a) the securities to be delivered and (b) the person(s) to whom delivery of such securities shall be made.

 

2.3                   Registration of Securities.  Domestic securities held by the Custodian (other than bearer securities) shall be registered in the name of the Company or in the name of any nominee of the Company or of any nominee of the Custodian which nominee shall be assigned exclusively to the Company, unless the Company has authorized in writing the appointment of a nominee to be used in common with other investment companies or funds having the same investment adviser as the Company, or in the name or nominee name of any agent appointed pursuant to Section 2.7 or in the name or nominee name of any sub-custodian appointed pursuant to Section 1.  All securities accepted by the Custodian on behalf of the Company under the terms of this Agreement shall be in “street name” or other good delivery form.  If, however, the Company directs the Custodian to maintain securities in “street name”, the Custodian shall utilize its best efforts only to timely collect income due the Company on such securities and to notify the Company on a best efforts basis only of relevant corporate actions including, without limitation, pendency of calls, maturities, tender or exchange offers.

 

2.4                   Bank Accounts.  The Custodian shall open and maintain separate bank accounts in the United States in the name of the Company, subject only to draft or order by the Custodian acting pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and shall hold in one or more accounts designated by the Company, subject to the provisions hereof, all cash received by it from or for the account of the Company.  Funds held by the Custodian for the Company may be deposited by it to its credit as Custodian in the banking department of the Custodian or in such other banks or trust companies as it may in its discretion deem necessary or desirable provided, however, that every such bank or trust company shall be qualified to act as a custodian under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and that each such bank or trust company to the extent required by law shall be approved by a vote of a majority of the Company’s board of trustees (the “Board”). Such funds shall be deposited by the Custodian in its capacity as Custodian and shall be withdrawable by the Custodian only in that capacity.

 

2.5                   Collection of Income.  The Custodian shall collect on a timely basis, and promptly advise the Company upon receipt thereof, all income and other payments with respect to securities held hereunder to which the Company shall be entitled either by law or pursuant to custom in the securities business and shall collect on a timely basis all income and other payments with respect to bearer domestic securities if, on the date of payment by the issuer, such securities are held by the Custodian or its agent thereof and

 

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                          shall credit such income, as collected, to the Company’s custodian account.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Custodian shall detach and present for payment all coupons and other income items requiring presentation as and when they become due and shall collect interest when due on securities held hereunder.

 

2.6                   Payment of Company Monies.  Upon receipt of Proper Instructions, which may be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties, the Custodian shall pay out monies of the Company in the following cases only:

 

1)               Upon the purchase of domestic securities, options, futures contracts or options on futures contracts for the account of the Company but only (a) against the delivery of such securities, or evidence of title to such options, futures contracts or options on futures contracts, to the Custodian (or any bank, banking firm or trust company doing business in the United States or abroad that is qualified under the 1940 Act to act as a custodian and has been designated by the Custodian as its agent for this purpose) registered in the name of the Company or in the name of a nominee of the Custodian referred to in Section 2.3 hereof or in proper form for transfer; (b) in the case of a purchase effected through a U.S. Securities System, in accordance with the conditions set forth in Section 2.8 hereof; (c) in the case of a purchase of Underlying Shares, in accordance with the conditions set forth in Section 2.10 hereof; (d) in the case of repurchase agreements entered into between the Company and the Custodian, or another bank, or a broker-dealer which is a member of FINRA, (i) against delivery of the securities either in certificated form or through an entry crediting the Custodian’s account at the Federal Reserve Bank with such securities or (ii) against delivery of the receipt evidencing purchase by the Company of securities owned by the Custodian along with written evidence of the agreement by the Custodian to repurchase such securities from the Company; or (e) for transfer to a time deposit account of the Company in any bank, whether domestic or foreign; such transfer may be effected prior to receipt of a confirmation from a broker and/or the applicable bank pursuant to Proper Instructions from the Company;

 

2)             In connection with conversion, exchange or surrender of securities owned by the Company as set forth in Section 2.2 hereof;

 

3)               For the repurchase or redemption of Shares by the Company as set forth in Section 6 hereof;

 

4)               For the payment of any expense or liability incurred by the Company, including but not limited to the following payments for the account of the Company:  interest, taxes, management, accounting, Transfer Agent and legal fees, and operating expenses of the Company whether or not such expenses are to be in whole or part capitalized or treated as deferred expenses;

 

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5)               For the payment of any distributions by the Company to the Transfer Agent, as agent for the Company’s shareholders, for further distribution thereto;

 

6)               For payment of the amount of dividends received in respect of securities sold short;

 

7)               For payment as initial or variation margin in connection with futures or options on futures contracts entered into by the Company;

 

8)               For payment in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the Company, the Custodian and a broker-dealer which is a member of FINRA, relating to compliance with the margin regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the rules of The Options Clearing Corporation and of any registered national securities exchange, or of any similar organization or organizations, regarding escrow, margin, or other arrangements in connection with transactions by the Company;

 

9)               For the repayment of any borrowing of the Company; and

 

10)            For any other purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions specifying (a) the amount of such payment and (b) the person(s) to whom such payment is to be made.

 

2.7                   Appointment of Agents.  The Custodian may at any time or times in its reasonable discretion appoint (and may at any time remove) any other bank or trust company which is itself qualified under the 1940 Act to act as a custodian, as its agent to carry out such of the provisions of this Section 2 as the Custodian may from time to time direct; provided, however, that the appointment of any agent shall not relieve the Custodian of its responsibilities or liabilities hereunder.  The Underlying Transfer Agent shall not be deemed an agent or sub-custodian of the Custodian for purposes of this Section 2.7 or any other provision of this Agreement.

 

2.8                   Deposit of Company Assets in U.S. Securities Systems.  The Custodian may deposit and/or maintain domestic securities owned by the Company in a U.S. Securities System in accordance with applicable Federal Reserve Board and Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rules and regulations, if any, and to the extent applicable hereto.

 

2.9                   Segregated Account.  The Custodian shall upon receipt of Proper Instructions establish and maintain a segregated account or accounts for and on behalf of the Company, into which account or accounts may be transferred cash and/or securities, including securities maintained in an account by the Custodian pursuant to Section 2.9 hereof, (a) in accordance with the provisions of any agreement among the Company, the Custodian and a broker-dealer which is registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and is a member of FINRA (or any Futures Commission Merchant registered under the Commodity Exchange Act), relating to

 

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compliance with the rules of The Options Clearing Corporation and of any registered national securities exchange (or the CFTC or any registered contract market), or of any similar organization or organizations, regarding escrow or other arrangements in connection with transactions by the Company, (b) for purposes of segregating cash or government securities in connection with options purchased, sold or written by the Company or commodity futures contracts or options thereon purchased or sold by the Company, (c) for the purposes of compliance by the Company with the procedures required by Investment Company Act Release No. 10666, or any subsequent release of the SEC, or interpretative opinion of the staff of the SEC, relating to the maintenance of segregated accounts by registered investment companies and (d) for any other purpose in accordance with Proper Instructions.

 

2.10                 Deposit of Underlying Shares with the Underlying Transfer Agent.  Underlying Shares beneficially owned by the Company shall be deposited and/or maintained in an account or accounts maintained with an Underlying Transfer Agent and the Custodian’s only responsibilities with respect thereto shall be limited to the following:

 

1)               Upon receipt of a confirmation or statement from an Underlying Transfer Agent that such Underlying Transfer Agent is holding or maintaining Underlying Shares in the name of the Custodian (or a nominee of the Custodian) for the benefit of the Company, the Custodian shall identify by book-entry that such Underlying Shares are being held by it as custodian for the benefit of the Company.

 

2)               In respect of the purchase of Underlying Shares for the account of the Company, upon receipt of Proper Instructions, the Custodian shall pay out monies of the Company as so directed, and record such payment from the account of the Company on the Custodian’s books and records.

 

3)               In respect of the sale or redemption of Underlying Shares for the account of the Company, upon receipt of Proper Instructions, the Custodian shall transfer such Underlying Shares as so directed, record such transfer from the account of the Company on the Custodian’s books and records and, upon the Custodian’s receipt of the proceeds therefor, record such payment for the account of the Company on the Custodian’s books and records.

 

The Custodian shall not be liable to the Company for any loss or damage to the Company resulting from the maintenance of Underlying Shares with Underlying Transfer Agent except for losses resulting directly from the fraud, negligence or willful misconduct of the Custodian or any of its agents or of any of its or their employees.

 

2.11                Ownership Certificates for Tax Purposes.  The Custodian shall execute ownership and other certificates and affidavits for all federal and state tax purposes in connection with receipt of income or other payments with respect to domestic securities of the Company held by it and in connection with transfers of such securities.

 

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2.12                Proxies, Consents and Other Instruments.  The Custodian shall, with respect to the domestic securities held hereunder, cause to be promptly executed by the registered holder of such securities, if the securities are registered otherwise than in the name of the Company or a nominee of the Company, all proxies (without indication of the manner in which such proxies are to be voted), consents, authorizations and other similar instruments, and shall promptly deliver the same to the Company, together with all proxy soliciting materials and all notices relating to such securities.

 

2.13                Communications Relating to Company Securities.  The Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Company all written information (including, without limitation, pendency of calls and maturities of domestic securities and expirations of rights in connection therewith and notices of exercise of call and put options written by the Company and the maturity of futures contracts purchased or sold by the Company) received by the Custodian from issuers of the securities being held for the Company.  With respect to tender or exchange offers, the Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Company all written information received by the Custodian from issuers of the securities whose tender or exchange is sought and from the party (or its agents) making the tender or exchange offer.  The Custodian shall not be liable for any untimely exercise of any tender, exchange or other right or power in connection with domestic securities or other property of the Company at any time held by it unless (i) the Custodian is in actual possession of such domestic securities or property and (ii) the Custodian receives Proper Instructions with regard to the exercise of any such right or power, and both (i) and (ii) occur at least three business days prior to the date on which the Custodian is to take action to exercise such right or power.  The Custodian shall also transmit promptly to the Company all written information received by the Custodian regarding any class action or other litigation in connection with securities or other assets issued in the United States and then held, or previously held, during the term of this Agreement by the Custodian for the account of the Company, including, but not limited to, opt-out notices and proof-of-claim forms. For avoidance of doubt, upon and after the effective date of any termination of this Agreement, the Custodian shall have no responsibility to so transmit any information under this Section 2.14.

 

2.14                Reports to Company.  The Custodian shall provide the Company, at such times as the Company may reasonably require, with reports by independent public accountants on the accounting system, internal accounting control and procedures for safeguarding securities, futures contracts and options on futures contracts, including domestic securities deposited and/or maintained in a U.S. Securities System, relating to the services provided by the Custodian under this Agreement; such reports shall be of sufficient scope and in sufficient detail, as may reasonably be required by the Company to provide reasonable assurance that any material inadequacies would be disclosed by such examination, and, if there are no such inadequacies, the reports shall so state.  In addition, the Custodian shall furnish to the Company such periodic and special reports as the Company may reasonably request, to the extent that such reports are not

 

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available in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company on the Custodian’s remote access website.

 

2.15                Excess Cash Sweep.  The Custodian will sweep any net excess cash balances daily into an investment vehicle or other instrument designated in Proper Instructions.

 

Section 3.    Provisions Relating to Rules 17f-5 and 17f-7

 

3.1.                  Definitions. As used throughout this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall have the indicated meanings:

 

Country Risk” means all factors reasonably related to the systemic risk of holding Foreign Assets in a particular country including, but not limited to, such country’s political environment, economic and financial infrastructure (including any Eligible Securities Depository operating in the country), prevailing or developing custody and settlement practices, and laws and regulations applicable to the safekeeping and recovery of Foreign Assets held in custody in that country.

 

Eligible Foreign Custodian” has the meaning set forth in section (a)(1) of Rule 17f-5, including a majority-owned or indirect subsidiary of a U.S. Bank (as defined in Rule 17f-5), a bank holding company meeting the requirements of an Eligible Foreign Custodian (as set forth in Rule 17f-5 or by other appropriate action of the SEC), or a foreign branch of a Bank (as defined in Section 2(a)(5) of the 1940 Act) meeting the requirements of a custodian under Section 17(f) of the 1940 Act; the term does not include any Eligible Securities Depository.

 

Eligible Securities Depository” has the meaning set forth in section (b)(1) of Rule 17f-7.

 

Foreign Assets” means any of the Company’s investments (including foreign currencies) for which the primary market is outside the United States and such cash and cash equivalents as are reasonably necessary to effect the Company’s transactions in such investments.

 

Foreign Custody Manager” has the meaning set forth in section (a)(3) of Rule 17f-5.

 

Rule 17f-5” means Rule 17f-5 promulgated under the 1940 Act.

 

Rule 17f-7” means Rule 17f-7 promulgated under the 1940 Act.

 

3.2.    The Custodian as Foreign Custody Manager.

 

3.2.1    Delegation to the Custodian as Foreign Custody Manager. The Company, by resolution adopted by its Board, hereby delegates to the Custodian, subject to section (b) of Rule 17f-5, the responsibilities set forth in this Section 3.2 with respect to

 

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Foreign Assets held outside the United States, and the Custodian hereby accepts such delegation as Foreign Custody Manager of the Company.

 

3.2.2    Countries Covered. The Foreign Custody Manager shall be responsible for performing the delegated responsibilities defined below only with respect to the countries and custody arrangements for each such country listed on Schedule A to this Agreement, which list of countries may be amended from time to time by the Company with the agreement of the Foreign Custody Manager. The Foreign Custody Manager shall list on Schedule A the Eligible Foreign Custodians selected by the Foreign Custody Manager to maintain the Company’s assets, which list of Eligible Foreign Custodians may be amended from time to time in the sole discretion of the Foreign Custody Manager. The Foreign Custody Manager will provide amended versions of Schedule A in accordance with Section 3.2.5 hereof.

 

Upon the receipt by the Foreign Custody Manager of Proper Instructions to open an account or to place or maintain Foreign Assets in a country listed on Schedule A, and the fulfillment by the Company of the applicable account opening requirements for such country, the Foreign Custody Manager shall be deemed to have been delegated by the Board responsibility as Foreign Custody Manager with respect to that country and to have accepted such delegation. Execution of this Agreement by the Company shall be deemed to be a Proper Instruction to open an account, or to place or maintain Foreign Assets, in each country listed on Schedule A. Following the receipt of Proper Instructions directing the Foreign Custody Manager to close the account of the Company with the Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the Foreign Custody Manager in a designated country, the delegation by the Board to the Custodian as Foreign Custody Manager for that country shall be deemed to have been withdrawn and the Custodian shall immediately cease to be the Foreign Custody Manager of the Company with respect to that country.

 

The Foreign Custody Manager may withdraw its acceptance of delegated responsibilities with respect to a designated country upon written notice to the Company.  Forty-five (45) days (or such longer period to which the parties agree in writing) after receipt of any such notice by the Company, the Custodian shall have no further responsibility in its capacity as Foreign Custody Manager to the Company with respect to the country as to which the Custodian’s acceptance of delegation is withdrawn.

 

3.2.3                                Scope of Delegated Responsibility:

 

(a)                               Selection of Eligible Foreign Custodians. Subject to the provisions of this Section 3.2, the Foreign Custody Manager may place and maintain the Foreign Assets in the care of the Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the Foreign Custody Manager in each country listed on Schedule A, as amended from time to time. In performing its delegated responsibilities as Foreign Custody

 

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Manager to place or maintain Foreign Assets with an Eligible Foreign Custodian, the Foreign Custody Manager shall determine that the Foreign Assets will be subject to reasonable care, based on the standards applicable to custodians in the country in which the Foreign Assets will be held by that Eligible Foreign Custodian, after considering all factors relevant to the safekeeping of such assets, including, without limitation, the factors specified in Rule 17f-5(c)(1).

 

(b)                              Contracts with Eligible Foreign Custodians.  The Foreign Custody Manager shall determine that the contract governing the foreign custody arrangements with each Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the Foreign Custody Manager will satisfy the requirements of Rule 17f-5(c)(2).

 

(c)                               Monitoring.  In each case in which the Foreign Custody Manager maintains Foreign Assets with an Eligible Foreign Custodian selected by the Foreign Custody Manager, the Foreign Custody Manager shall establish a system to monitor (i) the appropriateness of maintaining the Foreign Assets with such Eligible Foreign Custodian and (ii) the contract governing the custody arrangements established by the Foreign Custody Manager with the Eligible Foreign Custodian. In the event the Foreign Custody Manager determines that the custody arrangements with an Eligible Foreign Custodian it has selected are no longer appropriate, the Foreign Custody Manager shall notify the Board in accordance with Section 3.2.5 hereunder.

 

3.2.4                                   Guidelines for the Exercise of Delegated Authority. For purposes of this Section 3.2, the Board shall be deemed to have considered and determined to accept such Country Risk as is incurred by placing and maintaining the Foreign Assets in each country for which the Custodian is serving as Foreign Custody Manager of the Company.

 

3.2.5                                   Reporting Requirements. The Foreign Custody Manager shall report the withdrawal of the Foreign Assets from an Eligible Foreign Custodian and the placement of such Foreign Assets with another Eligible Foreign Custodian by providing to the Board an amended Schedule A at the end of the calendar quarter in which an amendment to such Schedule has occurred. The Foreign Custody Manager shall make written reports notifying the Board of any other material change in the foreign custody arrangements of the Company described in this Section 3.2 after the occurrence of the material change.

 

3.2.6                                   Standard of Care as Foreign Custody Manager of the Company. In performing the responsibilities delegated to it, the Foreign Custody Manager agrees to exercise reasonable care, prudence and diligence such as a person having responsibility for the safekeeping of assets of management investment companies registered under the 1940 Act would exercise.

 

3.2.7                                   Representations with respect to Rule 17f-5. The Foreign Custody Manager represents to the Company that it is a U.S. Bank as defined in section (a)(7) of Rule 17f-5. The Company represents to the Custodian that the Board has determined that it

 

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is reasonable for the Board to rely on the Custodian to perform the responsibilities delegated pursuant to this Agreement to the Custodian as the Foreign Custody Manager of the Company.

 

3.2.8                                   Effective Date and Termination of the Custodian as Foreign Custody Manager. The Board’s delegation to the Custodian as Foreign Custody Manager of the Company shall be effective as of the date hereof and shall remain in effect until terminated at any time, without penalty, by written notice from the terminating party to the non-terminating party. Termination will become effective thirty (30) days after receipt by the non-terminating party of such notice. The provisions of Section 3.2.2 hereof shall govern the delegation to and termination of the Custodian as Foreign Custody Manager of the Company with respect to designated countries.

 

3.3                            Eligible Securities Depositories.

 

3.3.1                                   Analysis and Monitoring. The Custodian shall (a) provide the Company (or its duly-authorized investment adviser or investment sub-adviser (collectively, the “investment adviser”)) with an analysis of the custody risks associated with maintaining assets with the Eligible Securities Depositories set forth on Schedule B hereto in accordance with section (a)(1)(i)(A) of Rule 17f-7, and (b) monitor such risks on a continuing basis, and promptly notify the Company (or its duly-authorized investment adviser) of any material change in such risks, in accordance with section (a)(1)(i)(B) of Rule 17f-7.

 

3.3.2                                   Standard of Care. The Custodian agrees to exercise reasonable care, prudence and diligence in performing the duties set forth in Section 3.3.1.

 

Section 4.              Duties of the Custodian with respect to Property of the Company Held Outside the United States.

 

4.1                                                          Definitions.  As used throughout this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall have the indicated meanings:

 

Foreign Securities System” means an Eligible Securities Depository listed on Schedule B hereto.

 

Foreign Sub-Custodian” means an Eligible Foreign Custodian.

 

4.2.                                                      Holding Securities. The Custodian shall identify on its books as belonging to the Company the foreign securities held by each Foreign Sub-Custodian or Foreign Securities System. The Custodian may hold foreign securities for all of its customers, including the Company, with any Foreign Sub-Custodian in an account that is identified as belonging to the Custodian for the benefit of its customers, provided however, that (i) the records of the Custodian with respect to foreign securities of the Company which are maintained in such account shall identify those securities as

 

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                                                                              belonging to the Company and (ii), to the extent permitted and customary in the market in which the account is maintained, the Custodian shall require that securities so held by the Foreign Sub-Custodian be held separately from any assets of such Foreign Sub-Custodian or of other customers of such Foreign Sub-Custodian.

 

4.3.                                                      Foreign Securities Systems. Foreign securities shall be maintained in a Foreign Securities System in a designated country through arrangements implemented by the Custodian or a Foreign Sub-Custodian, as applicable, in such country.

 

4.4.                                                      Transactions in Foreign Custody Account.

 

4.4.1.                               Delivery of Foreign Assets. The Custodian or a Foreign Sub-Custodian shall release and deliver foreign securities of the Company held by the Custodian or such Foreign Sub-Custodian, or in a Foreign Securities System account, only upon receipt of Proper Instructions, which may be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties, and only in the following cases:

 

(i)                                  upon the sale of such foreign securities for the Company in accordance with commercially reasonable market practice in the country where such foreign securities are held or traded, including, without limitation: (A) delivery against expectation of receiving later payment; or (B) in the case of a sale effected through a Foreign Securities System, in accordance with the rules governing the operation of the Foreign Securities System;

 

(ii)                              in connection with any repurchase agreement related to foreign securities;

 

(iii)                          to the depository agent in connection with tender or other similar offers for foreign securities of the Company;

 

(iv)                          to the issuer thereof or its agent when such foreign securities are called, redeemed, retired or otherwise become payable;

 

(v)                              to the issuer thereof, or its agent, for transfer into the name of the Custodian (or the name of the respective Foreign Sub-Custodian or of any nominee of the Custodian or such Foreign Sub-Custodian) or for exchange for a different number of bonds, certificates or other evidence representing the same aggregate face amount or number of units;

 

(vi)                          to brokers, clearing banks or other clearing agents for examination or trade execution in accordance with market custom; provided that in any such case the Foreign Sub-Custodian shall have no responsibility or liability for any loss arising from the delivery of such securities

 

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prior to receiving payment for such securities except as may arise from the Foreign Sub-Custodian’s own negligence or willful misconduct;

 

(vii)     for exchange or conversion pursuant to any plan of merger, consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization or readjustment of the securities of the issuer of such securities, or pursuant to provisions for conversion contained in such securities, or pursuant to any deposit agreement;

 

(viii)      in the case of warrants, rights or similar foreign securities, the surrender thereof in the exercise of such warrants, rights or similar securities or the surrender of interim receipts or temporary securities for definitive securities;

 

(ix)      for delivery as security in connection with any borrowing by the Company requiring a pledge of assets by the Company;

 

(x)                              for delivery as initial or variation margin in connection with futures or options on futures contracts entered into by the Company;

 

(xi)                          in connection with the lending of foreign securities; and

 

(xii)                      for any other purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions specifying the foreign securities to be delivered and naming the person or persons to whom delivery of such securities shall be made.

 

4.4.2.    Payment of Company Monies. Upon receipt of Proper Instructions, which may be continuing instructions when deemed appropriate by the parties, the Custodian shall pay out, or direct the respective Foreign Sub-Custodian or the respective Foreign Securities System to pay out, monies of the Company in the following cases only:

 

(i)        upon the purchase of foreign securities for the Company, unless otherwise directed by Proper Instructions, by (A) delivering money to the seller thereof or to a dealer therefor (or an agent for such seller or dealer) against expectation of receiving later delivery of such foreign securities; or (B) in the case of a purchase effected through a Foreign Securities System, in accordance with the rules governing the operation of such Foreign Securities System;

 

(ii)       in connection with the conversion, exchange or surrender of foreign securities of the Company;

 

(iii)      for the payment of any expense or liability of the Company, including but not limited to the following payments: interest, taxes,

 

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                                                investment advisory fees, transfer agency fees, fees under this Agreement, legal fees, accounting fees, and other operating expenses;

 

(iv)      for the purchase or sale of foreign exchange or foreign exchange contracts for the Company, including transactions executed with or through the Custodian or its Foreign Sub-Custodians;

 

(v)       for payment as initial or variation margin in connection with futures or options on futures contracts entered into by the Company;

 

(vi)      for payment of part or all of the dividends received in respect of securities sold short;

 

(vii)     in connection with the borrowing or lending of foreign securities; and

 

(viii)    for any other purpose, but only upon receipt of Proper Instructions specifying the amount of such payment and naming the person or persons to whom such payment is to be made.

 

4.4.3.    Market Conditions. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, settlement and payment for Foreign Assets received for the account of the Company and delivery of Foreign Assets maintained for the account of the Company may be effected in accordance with the customary established securities trading or processing practices and procedures in the country or market in which the transaction occurs, including, without limitation, delivering Foreign Assets to the purchaser thereof or to a dealer therefor (or an agent for such purchaser or dealer) with the expectation of receiving later payment for such Foreign Assets from such purchaser or dealer.

 

The Custodian shall provide to the Board the information with respect to custody and settlement practices in countries in which the Custodian employs a Foreign Sub-Custodian described on Schedule C hereto at the time or times set forth on such Schedule. The Custodian may revise Schedule C from time to time, provided that no such revision shall result in the Board being provided with substantively less information than had been previously provided hereunder.

 

4.5.                                                      Registration of Foreign Securities. The foreign securities maintained in the custody of a Foreign Sub-Custodian (other than bearer securities) shall be registered in the name of the Company or in the name of the Custodian or in the name of any Foreign Sub-Custodian or in the name of any nominee of the foregoing, and the Company agrees to hold any such nominee harmless from any liability as a holder of record of such foreign securities. The Custodian or a Foreign Sub-Custodian shall not be obligated to accept securities on behalf of the Company under the terms of this Agreement unless the form

 

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                                                                              of such securities and the manner in which they are delivered are in accordance with reasonable market practice.

 

4.6                                                          Bank Accounts. The Custodian shall identify on its books as belonging to the Company cash (including cash denominated in foreign currencies) deposited with the Custodian. Where the Custodian is unable to maintain, or market practice does not facilitate the maintenance of, cash on the books of the Custodian, a bank account or bank accounts shall be opened and maintained outside the United States on behalf of the Company with a Foreign Sub-Custodian. All accounts referred to in this Section shall be subject only to draft or order by the Custodian (or, if applicable, such Foreign Sub-Custodian) acting pursuant to the terms of this Agreement to hold cash received by or from or for the account of the Company. Cash maintained on the books of the Custodian (including its branches, subsidiaries and affiliates), regardless of currency denomination, is maintained in bank accounts established under, and subject to the laws of, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

 

4.7.                                                      Collection of Income. The Custodian shall use reasonable commercial efforts to collect all income and other payments with respect to the Foreign Assets held hereunder to which the Company shall be entitled and shall credit such income, as collected, to the Company. In the event that extraordinary measures are required to collect such income, the Company and the Custodian shall consult as to such measures and as to the compensation and expenses of the Custodian relating to such measures.

 

4.8                                                          Shareholder Rights. With respect to the foreign securities held pursuant to this Section 4, the Custodian will use reasonable commercial efforts to facilitate the exercise of voting and other shareholder rights, subject always to the laws, regulations and practical constraints that may exist in the country where such securities are issued. The Company acknowledges that local conditions, including lack of regulation, onerous procedural obligations, lack of notice and other factors may have the effect of severely limiting the ability of the Company to exercise shareholder rights.

 

4.9.                                                      Communications Relating to Foreign Securities. The Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Company written information with respect to materials received by the Custodian via the Foreign Sub-Custodians from issuers of the foreign securities being held for the account of the Company (including, without limitation, pendency of calls and maturities of foreign securities and expirations of rights in connection therewith). With respect to tender or exchange offers, the Custodian shall transmit promptly to the Company written information with respect to materials so received by the Custodian from issuers of the foreign securities whose tender or exchange is sought or from the party (or its agents) making the tender or exchange offer.  The Custodian shall not be liable for any untimely exercise of any tender, exchange or other right or power in connection with foreign securities or other property of the Company at any time held by it unless (i) the Custodian or the respective Foreign Sub-Custodian is in actual possession of such foreign securities or property and (ii) the Custodian receives Proper Instructions with regard to the exercise of any such right or power, and both (i) and

 

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                                                                              (ii) occur at least three business days prior to the date on which the Custodian is to take action to exercise such right or power. The Custodian shall also transmit promptly to the Company all written information received by the Custodian via the Foreign Sub-Custodians from issuers of the foreign securities being held for the account of the Company regarding any class action or other litigation in connection with foreign securities or other assets issued outside the United States and then held, or previously held, during the term of this Agreement by the Custodian for the account of the Company, including, but not limited to, opt-out notices and proof-of-claim forms. For avoidance of doubt, upon and after the effective date of any termination of this Agreement, the Custodian shall have no responsibility to so transmit any information under this Section 4.9.

 

4.10.                                              Liability of Foreign Sub-Custodians. Each agreement pursuant to which the Custodian employs a Foreign Sub-Custodian shall, to the extent possible, require the Foreign Sub-Custodian to exercise reasonable care in the performance of its duties, and to indemnify, and hold harmless, the Custodian from and against any loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim arising out of or in connection with the Foreign Sub-Custodian’s performance of such obligations.  At the Company’s election, it shall be entitled to be subrogated to the rights of the Custodian with respect to any claims against a Foreign Sub-Custodian as a consequence of any such loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim if and to the extent that the Company has not been made whole for any such loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim.

 

4.11                                                  Liability of Custodian. The Custodian shall be liable for the acts or omissions of a Foreign Sub-Custodian to the same extent as set forth with respect to sub-custodians generally in this Agreement and, regardless of whether assets are maintained in the custody of a Foreign Sub-Custodian or a Foreign Securities System, the Custodian shall not be liable for any loss, damage, cost, expense, liability or claim resulting from nationalization, expropriation, currency restrictions, or acts of war or terrorism, or any other loss where the Foreign Sub-Custodian has otherwise acted with reasonable care.

 

Section 5.                                Loan Servicing Provisions.

 

Section 5.1                                        General.  The following provisions shall apply with respect to investments, property or assets in the nature of loans, or interests or participations in loans, including without limitation interests in syndicated bank loans and bank loan participations, whether in the U.S. or outside the U.S. (collectively, “Loans”) entered into by the Company.

 

Section 5.2                                        Safekeeping.  Instruments, certificates, agreements and/or other documents which the Custodian may receive with respect to Loans, if any (collectively “Financing Documents”), from time to time, shall be held by the Custodian at its offices in Boston, Massachusetts in a separate account or accounts that physically segregates such Financing Documents of the Company or its subsidiaries from those relating to any other persons.

 

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Section 5.3          Duties of the Custodian.  The Custodian shall accept such Financing Documents, if any, with respect to Loans as may be delivered to it from time to time by the Company.  The Custodian shall be under no obligation to examine the contents or determine the sufficiency of any such Financing Documents or to provide any certification with respect thereto, whether received by the Custodian as original documents, photocopies, by facsimile or otherwise.  Without limiting the foregoing, the Custodian is under no duty to examine any such Financing Documents to determine whether necessary steps have been taken or requirements met with respect to the assignment or transfer of the related Loan or applicable interest or participation in such Loan.  The Custodian shall be entitled to assume the genuineness, sufficiency and completeness of any Financing Documents received, and the genuineness and due authority of any signature appearing on such documents.  Notwithstanding any term of this Agreement to the contrary, with respect to any Loans, (i) the Custodian shall be under no obligation to determine, and shall have no liability for, the sufficiency of, or to require delivery of, any instrument, document or agreement constituting, evidencing or representing such Loan, other than to receive such Financing Documents, if any, as may be delivered or caused to be delivered to it by the Company (or its investment adviser acting on its behalf), (ii) without limiting the generality of the foregoing, delivery of any such Loan (including without limitation, for purposes of Section 2.9 above) may be made to the Custodian by, and may be represented solely by, delivery to the Custodian of a facsimile or photocopy of an assignment or similar agreement (an “Assignment Agreement”) or a confirmation or certification from the Company (or the investment adviser) to the effect that it has acquired such Loan and/or has received or will receive, and will deliver to the Custodian, appropriate Financing Documents constituting, evidencing or representing such Loan (such confirmation or certification, together with any Assignment Agreement, collectively, an “Assignment Agreement or Confirmation”), in any case without delivery of any promissory note, participation certificate or similar instrument (collectively, an “Instrument”), (iii) if an original Instrument shall be or shall become available with respect to any such Loan, it shall be the sole responsibility of the Company (or the investment adviser acting on its behalf) to make or cause delivery thereof to the Custodian, and the Custodian shall be under no obligation at any time or times to determine whether any such original Instrument has been issued or made available with respect to such Loan, and shall not be under any obligation to compel compliance by the Company to make or cause delivery of such Instrument to the Custodian, and (iv) any reference to Financing Documents appearing in this Section 5 shall be deemed to include, without limitation, any such Instrument and/or Assignment Agreement or Confirmation.

 

If payments with respect to a Loan (“Loan Payment”) are not received by the Custodian on the date on which they are due, as reflected in the Payment Schedule (as such term is defined in Section 5.4 below) of the Loan (“Payment Date”), or in the case of interest payments, not received either on a scheduled interest payable date, as reported to the Custodian by the Company (or the investment adviser acting on its behalf) for the Loan (the “Interest Payable Date”), or in the amount of their accrued

 

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interest payable, the Custodian shall promptly, but in no event later than one business day after the Payment Date or the Interest Payable Date, notify the Company of such failure and give telephonic notice to the party obligated under the Financing Documents to make such Loan Payment (the “Obligor”) of its failure to make timely payment.  The Custodian shall have no responsibility with respect to the collection of Loan Payments which are past due, other than the duty to promptly notify the Obligor and the Company (or the investment adviser acting on its behalf) as provided herein.

 

The Custodian shall have no responsibilities or duties whatsoever under this Agreement, with respect to Loans or the Financing Documents, except for such responsibilities as are expressly set forth herein.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Custodian shall have no obligation to preserve any rights against prior parties or to exercise any right or perform any obligation in connection with the Loans or any Financing Documents (including, without limitation, no obligation to take any action in respect of or upon receipt of any consent solicitation, notice of default or similar notice received from any bank agent or Obligor, except that the Custodian shall forward any such notice to the Company or the investment adviser acting on its behalf).  In case any question arises as to its duties hereunder, the Custodian may request instructions from the Company and shall be entitled at all times to refrain from taking any action unless it has received Proper Instructions from the Company or the investment adviser and the Custodian shall in all events have no liability, risk or cost for any action taken, with respect to a Loan, pursuant to and in compliance with the Proper Instructions of such parties.

 

The Custodian shall be only responsible and accountable for Loan Payments actually received by it and identified as for the account of the Company; any and all credits and payments credited to the Company, with respect to Loans, shall be conditional upon clearance and actual receipt by the Custodian of final payment thereon.

 

The Custodian shall promptly, upon the Company’s request, provide to the Company’s investment adviser or to any party as the Company or the Company’s investment adviser may specify, copies of any Financing Documents being held on behalf of the Company.  Without limiting the foregoing, the Custodian shall not be deemed to have or be charged with knowledge of the sale of any Loan, unless and except to the extent it shall have received written notice and instruction from the Company (or the investment adviser acting on its behalf) with respect thereto, and except to the extent it shall have received the sale proceeds thereof.

 

In no event shall the Custodian be under any obligation or liability to make any advance of its own funds with respect to any Loan.

 

Section 5.4          Responsibility of the Company.  With respect to each Loan held by the Custodian hereunder in accordance with the provisions hereof, the Company shall (a) cause the Financing Documents evidencing such Loan to be delivered to the Custodian; (b) include with such Financing Documents an amortization schedule of

 

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payments (the “Payment Schedule”) identifying the amount and due dates of scheduled principal payments, the Interest Payable Date(s) and related payment amount information, and such other information with respect to the related Loan and Financing Documents as the Custodian reasonably may require in order to perform its services hereunder (collectively, “Loan Information”), in such form and format as the Custodian reasonably may require; (c) take, or cause the investment adviser to take, all actions necessary to acquire good title to such Loan (or the participation in such Loan, as the case may be), as and to the extent intended to be acquired; and (d) cause the Custodian to be named as its nominee for payment purposes under the Financing Documents or otherwise provide for the direct payment of the Loan Payments to the Custodian.  The Custodian shall be entitled to rely upon the Loan Information provided to it by the Company (or the investment adviser acting on its behalf) without any obligation on the part of the Custodian independently to verify, investigate, recalculate, update or otherwise confirm the accuracy or completeness thereof; and the Custodian shall have no liability for any delay or failure on the part of the Company in providing necessary Loan Information to the Custodian, or for any inaccuracy therein or incompleteness thereof.  With respect to each such Loan, the Custodian shall be entitled to rely on any information and notices it may receive from time to time from the related bank agent, Obligor or similar party with respect to the related Loan, and shall be entitled to update its records on the basis of such information or notices received, without any obligation on its part independently to verify, investigate or recalculate such information, provided that the Custodian notifies the Company of such changes.

 

Section 5.5          Instructions; Authority to Act.  The certificate of the Secretary, Assistant Secretary or other authorized officer of the Company, identifying certain individuals authorized to sign any such instructions, may be received and accepted as conclusive evidence of the incumbency and authority of such to act and may be considered by the Custodian to be in full force and effect until it receives written notice to the contrary from the Secretary, Assistant Secretary or other authorized officer of the Company.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Custodian shall have no responsibility to ensure that any investment by the Company with respect to Loans has been authorized.

 

Section 5.6          Attachment.  In case any portion of the Loans or the Financing Documents shall be attached or levied upon pursuant to an order of court, or the delivery or disbursement thereof shall be stayed or enjoined by an order of court, or any other order, judgment or decrees shall be made or entered by any court affecting the property of the Company or any act of the Custodian relating thereto, the Custodian is hereby expressly authorized in its reasonable discretion to obey and comply with all orders, judgments or decrees so entered or issued, without the necessity to inquire whether such court had jurisdiction, and, in case the Custodian obeys or complied with any such order, judgment or decree, it shall not be liable to anyone by reason of such compliance; provided, however, that the Custodian shall promptly notify the Company upon receipt of any such order, judgment or decree.

 

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Section 6.             Payments for Sales and Repurchases or Redemptions of Shares

 

The Custodian shall receive from the Transfer Agent or the agent bank for the Company and deposit into the Company’s account such payments as are received for Shares issued or sold from time to time by the Company.  The Custodian will provide timely notification to the Company and the Transfer Agent of any receipt by it of payments for Shares of the Company.

 

From such funds as may be available for the purpose, the Custodian shall, upon receipt of instructions from the Company, deliver to the Transfer Agent funds in an amount (as set forth in such instructions) sufficient for payment to holders of Shares who have delivered to the Transfer Agent a request for redemption or repurchase of their Shares. In connection with the redemption or repurchase of Shares, the Custodian is authorized, upon receipt of instructions from the Company, to wire the amount of funds specified therein to the Transfer Agent, as agent for, and for further distribution to, the redeeming shareholders.

 

Section 7.    Proper Instructions Defined

 

Proper Instructions,” as such term is used throughout this Agreement, means a writing signed or initialed by one or more person or persons as the Company shall have from time to time authorized.  Each such writing shall set forth the specific transaction or type of transaction involved.  Oral instructions will be considered Proper Instructions if the Custodian reasonably believes them to have been given by a person authorized to give such instructions with respect to the transaction involved.  The Company agrees to forward to the Custodian written confirmation with respect to any oral instructions so that the Custodian receives such confirmation by the close of business on the same day that such oral instructions are received. The fact that such written confirmation is not received by the Custodian or differs from the oral instructions shall in no way invalidate the transactions or enforceability of the transactions authorized by the oral instructions or the Custodian’s ability to rely upon such oral instructions.  Proper Instructions may include communications effected directly between electro-mechanical or electronic devices provided that the Company and the Custodian agree to security procedures including, but not limited to, the security procedures selected by the Company via the form of Funds Transfer Addendum attached hereto, the terms of which are hereby agreed to.  For purposes of this Section, Proper Instructions shall include instructions received by the Custodian pursuant to any three-party agreement which requires a segregated asset account in accordance with Section 2.10.

 

Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, and from time to time thereafter, as appropriate, the Company shall deliver to the Custodian (1) a certificate, duly certified by a duly authorized officer of the Company, and/or (2) resolutions of the Board, setting forth the names, titles, scope of authority and specimen signatures of all persons authorized to give Proper Instructions or any other notice, request, direction,

 

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instruction, certificate or instrument on behalf of the Company.  Such certificate or resolutions may be accepted and relied upon by the Custodian as conclusive evidence of the facts set forth therein and shall be considered to be in full force and effect until receipt by the Custodian of a similar certificate to the contrary.

 

Section 8.    Evidence of Authority

 

Subject to the limitations set forth in this Agreement, including the limitations on authority set forth in the certificate or resolutions delivered to the Custodian pursuant to Section 7 hereof, the Custodian shall be protected in acting upon any instructions, notice, request, consent, certificate or other instrument or paper reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to have been properly executed by or on behalf of the Company.  The Custodian may receive and accept a copy of a resolution of the Board, certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, as conclusive evidence (a) of the authority of any person to act in accordance with such resolution or (b) of any determination or of any action by the Board as described in such resolution, and such resolution may be considered as in full force and effect until receipt by the Custodian of written notice to the contrary.

 

Section 9.    Actions without Express Authority

 

The Custodian may in its discretion, without express authority from the Company:

 

1)                                            make payments to itself or others for minor expenses of handling securities or other similar items relating to its duties under this Agreement, provided that all such payments shall be accounted for to the Company;

 

2)                                            surrender securities in temporary form for securities in definitive form;

 

3)                                            endorse for collection, in the name of the Company, checks, drafts and other negotiable instruments;

 

4)                                            collect and receive for the account of the Company, all income, dividends, distributions, coupons, option premiums, other payments and similar items;

 

5)                                            present for payment and collect the amount payable upon all securities which may mature or be called, redeemed, retired or otherwise become payable (on a mandatory basis) on the date such securities become payable;

 

6)                                            take any action which may be necessary and proper in connection with the collection and receipt of the aforementioned income and other payments; and

 

7)                                            hold for the Company’s account all stock dividends, rights and similar securities issued with respect to any securities held.

 

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In addition, the Custodian may, in its sole discretion, without express authority from the Company in general, attend to all non-discretionary details in connection with the sale, exchange, substitution, purchase, transfer and other dealings with the securities and property of the Company except as otherwise directed by the Company.

 

Section 10.     Duties of Custodian with Respect to the Books of Account and Calculation of Net Asset Value and Net Income

 

The Custodian shall cooperate with and supply necessary information to the entity or entities appointed by the Company to keep the books of account of the Company and/or compute the net asset value per Share of the outstanding Shares or, if directed in writing to do so by the Company, shall itself keep such books of account and/or compute such net asset value per Share, but only on a “book basis,” and the Custodian shall have no responsibility under this Agreement for determining any tax accounting for the Company with respect to the Company or with respect to any holder’s interest in the Company.  If so directed, the Custodian shall also calculate the net income of the Company as may be agreed upon by the Custodian and the Company but likewise, only on a book basis, and shall advise the Company of the total amounts of such net income. The Company acknowledges and agrees that, with respect to investments maintained with the Underlying Transfer Agent, the Underlying Transfer Agent is the sole source of information on the number of shares or interests held by it on behalf of the Company and that the Custodian has the right to rely on holdings information furnished by the Underlying Transfer Agent to the Custodian in performing its duties under this Agreement, including without limitation, the duties set forth in this Section 10 and in Section 11 hereof; provided, however, that the Custodian shall be obligated to reconcile information as to purchases and sales of Underlying Shares contained in trade instructions and confirmations received by the Custodian and to report promptly any discrepancies to the Underlying Transfer Agent.  The calculations of the net asset value per Share and the income of the Company shall be made at such time or times as may be agreed upon by the Custodian and the Company.

 

Section 11.  Records

 

The Custodian shall create and maintain all records relating to its activities and obligations under this Agreement in such manner as will meet the obligations of the Company under the 1940 Act.  All such records shall be the property of the Company and shall at all times during the regular business hours of the Custodian be open for inspection by duly authorized officers, employees or agents of the Company or its affiliates and the employees or agents of any regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the Company or its affiliates.  The Custodian shall, at the Company’s request, supply the Company with a tabulation of securities owned by the Company and held by the Custodian, together with any additional information reasonably requested by the Company.

 

Section 12.  Opinion of Company’s Independent Accountant

 

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The Custodian shall cooperate reasonably with the Company’s independent accountants.  The Custodian shall take all reasonable action, as the Company may from time to time request, to obtain from year to year favorable opinions from the Company’s independent accountants with respect to its activities hereunder in connection with the preparation of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form N-2, and Annual Report on Form 10-K or other applicable periodic reports to the SEC and with respect to any other applicable requirements thereof.

 

Section 13.  Compensation of Custodian

 

The Custodian shall be entitled to reasonable compensation for its services and expenses as custodian hereunder, as agreed upon from time to time between the Company and the Custodian and set forth in a separate fee schedule executed by the parties (the “Fee Schedule”).

 

Section 14.  Responsibility of Custodian

 

So long as it is in the exercise of reasonable care, the Custodian shall not be responsible for the title, validity or genuineness of any property or evidence of title thereto received by it or delivered by it pursuant to this Agreement and shall be held harmless in acting upon any notice, request, consent, certificate or other instrument reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to be signed by the proper party or parties, including any futures commission merchant acting pursuant to the terms of a three-party futures or options agreement.  The Custodian shall be held to the exercise of reasonable care in carrying out the provisions of this Agreement, but shall be kept indemnified by and shall be without liability to the Company for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith without negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of the Custodian or its officers or employees, including, without limitation, acting in accordance with any Proper Instruction.  It shall be entitled to rely on and may act upon advice of counsel (who may be counsel for the Company) on all matters, and shall be without liability for any action reasonably taken or omitted pursuant to such advice.

 

Except as may arise from the Custodian’s negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct, or the negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of its sub-custodian, nominee or agent, the Custodian shall be without liability to the Company for any loss, liability, claim or expense resulting from or caused by: (i) events or circumstances beyond the reasonable control of the Custodian or any sub-custodian or Securities System or any agent or nominee of any of the foregoing, including, without limitation, nationalization or expropriation, imposition of currency controls or restrictions, the interruption, suspension or restriction of trading on or the closure of any securities market, power or other mechanical or technological failures or interruptions, computer viruses or communications disruptions, acts of war or terrorism, riots, revolutions, work stoppages, natural disasters or other similar events or acts; (ii) errors by the Company, any other third-party agent of the Company or its investment adviser in their respective

 

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instructions to the Custodian, provided such instructions have been in accordance with this Agreement; (iii) the insolvency of or acts or omissions by a Securities System; (iv) any delay or failure of any broker, agent or intermediary, central bank or other commercially prevalent payment or clearing system to deliver to the Custodian’s sub-custodian or agent securities purchased or in the remittance or payment made in connection with securities sold; (v) any delay or failure of any company, corporation, or other body in charge of registering or transferring securities in the name of the Custodian, the Company, the Custodian’s sub-custodians, nominees or agents or any consequential losses arising out of such delay or failure to transfer such securities including non-receipt of bonus, dividends and rights and other accretions or benefits; (vi) delays or inability to perform its duties due to any disorder in market infrastructure with respect to any particular security or Securities System; and (vii) any provision of any present or future law or regulation or order of the United States of America, or any state thereof, or any other country, or political subdivision thereof or of any court of competent jurisdiction.  The Custodian shall be liable for the acts or omissions of a Foreign Sub-Custodian to the same extent as set forth with respect to sub-custodians generally in this Agreement.  In no event shall either party be liable for indirect, special or consequential damages.

 

If the Company requires the Custodian to take any action with respect to securities not otherwise contemplated by this Agreement, which action involves the payment of money or which action may, in the reasonable opinion of the Custodian, result in the Custodian or its nominee assigned to the Company being liable for the payment of money or incurring liability of some other form, the Company, as a prerequisite to requiring the Custodian to take such action, shall provide indemnity to the Custodian in an amount and form satisfactory to it.

 

Except as may be required by applicable law or as otherwise agreed upon by the parties, if the Custodian, or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries or agents, advance cash or securities for any purpose (including but not limited to securities settlements, foreign exchange contracts and assumed settlement), or in the event that the Custodian or its nominee shall incur or be assessed any taxes, charges, expenses, assessments, claims or liabilities in connection with the performance of this Agreement, except such as may arise from its or its nominee’s negligence or willful misconduct, or if the Company fails to compensate the Custodian pursuant to Section 13 hereof, any property then held for the account of the Company shall be security therefor and should the Company fail to repay the Custodian promptly, the Custodian shall be entitled to utilize available cash and to dispose of the Company assets to the extent necessary to obtain reimbursement.

 

Section 15.  Tax Law

 

The Custodian shall have no responsibility or liability for any obligations now or hereafter imposed on the Company or the Custodian as custodian of the Company by the tax law of the United States or of any state or political subdivision thereof. It shall

 

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be the responsibility of the Company to notify the Custodian of the obligations imposed on the Company or the Custodian as custodian of the Company by the tax law of countries other than those mentioned in the above sentence, including responsibility for withholding and other taxes, assessments or other governmental charges, certifications and governmental reporting.  The sole responsibility of the Custodian with regard to such tax law shall be to use reasonable efforts to assist the Company with respect to any claim for exemption or refund under the tax law of countries for which the Company has provided such information.

 

Section 16.      Effective Period, Termination and Amendment

 

This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect for an initial term ending November 14, 2016 (the “Initial Term”).  After the expiration of the Initial Term, this Agreement shall automatically renew for successive one-year terms (each, a “Renewal Term”) unless a written notice of non-renewal is delivered by the non-renewing party no later than ninety (90) days prior to the expiration of the Initial Term or any Renewal Term, as the case may be.  During the Initial Term and thereafter, either party may terminate this Agreement: (i) in the event of the other party’s material breach of a material provision of this Agreement that the other party has failed to establish a remedial plan to cure that is reasonably acceptable, within forty-five (45) days’ written notice of such breach, or (ii) in the event of the appointment of a conservator or receiver for the other party or upon the happening of a like event to the other party at the direction of an appropriate agency or court of competent jurisdiction.  Upon termination of this Agreement pursuant to this paragraph with respect to the Company, the Company shall pay Custodian its compensation due and shall reimburse Custodian for its costs, expenses and disbursements.

 

In the event of: (i) a termination of this Agreement by the Company for any reason other than as set forth in the immediately preceding paragraph or (ii) a transaction not in the ordinary course of business pursuant to which the Custodian is not retained to continue providing services hereunder to the Company (or its successor), the Company shall pay the Custodian its compensation due through the end of the then-current term (based upon the average monthly compensation previously earned by the Custodian hereunder) and shall reimburse the Custodian for its reasonable costs, expenses and disbursements.  Upon receipt of such payment and reimbursement, the Custodian will deliver the Company’s securities and cash as set forth herein.  For the avoidance of doubt, no payment will be required pursuant to clause (ii) of this paragraph in the event of any transaction such as (a) the liquidation or dissolution of the Company and distribution of the Company’s assets as a result of the Board’s determination in its reasonable business judgment that the Company is no longer viable, (b) a merger of the Company into, or the consolidation of the Company with, another entity, or (c) the sale by the Company of all, or substantially all, of the Company’s assets to another entity, in each of (b) and (c) where the Custodian is retained to continue providing services to the Company (or its successor) on substantially the same terms as this Agreement.

 

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The provisions of Sections 13, 14, 15 and 19.9 of this Agreement shall survive termination of this Agreement for any reason.

 

This Agreement may be amended at any time in writing by mutual agreement of the parties hereto.

 

Section 17.      Successor Custodian

 

If a successor custodian shall be appointed by the Board, the Custodian shall, upon termination and receipt of Proper Instructions, deliver to such successor custodian at the office of the Custodian, duly endorsed and in the form for transfer, all securities then held by it hereunder and shall transfer to an account of the successor custodian all of the Company’s securities held in a Securities System or at an Underlying Transfer Agent.  Custodian shall also provide to the successor custodian the Company’s records (as described in Section 11 of this Agreement) as reasonably requested by the Company.

 

If no such successor custodian shall be appointed, the Custodian shall, in like manner, upon receipt of Proper Instructions, deliver at the office of the Custodian and transfer such securities, funds and other properties in accordance with such Proper Instructions.

 

In the event that no Proper Instructions designating a successor custodian or alternative arrangements shall have been delivered to the Custodian on or before the date when such termination shall become effective, then the Custodian shall have the right to deliver to a bank or trust company of its own selection (which bank or trust company shall be a “bank” as defined in the 1940 Act having an aggregate capital, surplus and undivided profits, as shown by its last published report, of not less than $25,000,000), all securities, funds and other properties held by the Custodian and all instruments held by the Custodian relative thereto and all other property held by it under this Agreement on behalf of the Company and to transfer to an account of such successor custodian all of the Company’s securities held in any Securities System or at an Underlying Transfer Agent.  Thereafter, such bank or trust company shall be the successor of the Custodian under this Agreement.

 

In the event that securities, funds and other properties remain in the possession of the Custodian after the date of termination hereof owing to failure of the Company to provide Proper Instructions as aforesaid, the Custodian shall be entitled to compensation for its services as provided herein during such period as the Custodian retains possession of such securities, funds and other properties and the provisions of this Agreement relating to the duties and obligations of the Custodian shall remain in full force and effect.

 

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Section 18. Anti-Money Laundering

 

The Company acknowledges that the Custodian is required to comply with a number of federal regulations and policies concerning matters such as the identity of its customers and the source of funds it handles, including the Bank Secrecy Act and the USA Patriot Act, and all regulations issued thereunder, and the regulations issued by the U.S. Department of Treasury, Office of Foreign Asset Control (together, the “U.S. Money Laundering and Investor Identification Requirements”).   Accordingly, the Company confirms that it has complied and shall continue to comply with all applicable U.S. Money Laundering and Investor Identity Requirements with respect to the account of the Company, including without limitation maintaining and effecting appropriate procedures to verify suspicious transactions and the source of funds for settlement of transactions.

 

Section 19.      General

 

Section 19.1  Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions thereof interpreted under and in accordance with laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

 

Section 19.2  Prior Contracts.  This Agreement supersedes and terminates, as of the date hereof, all prior contracts between the Company and the Custodian relating to the custody of the Company’s assets, except for the Fee Schedule, which shall remain in full force and effect until the termination or expiration of this Agreement.

 

Section 19.3  Assignment.  Neither this Agreement nor any rights or obligations hereunder may be assigned by either party, whether voluntarily, involuntarily or by operation of law, without the prior written consent of the other, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, except to entities controlled by, under common control with or controlling the assigning party, provided that such assignee has financial capacity at least equal to that of the assignor.

 

Section 19.4  Interpretive and Additional Provisions.  In connection with the operation of this Agreement, the Custodian and the Company may from time to time agree on such provisions interpretive of or in addition to the provisions of this Agreement as may in their joint opinion be consistent with the general tenor of this Agreement.  Any such interpretive or additional provisions shall be in a writing signed by both parties and shall be annexed hereto, provided that no such interpretive or additional provisions shall contravene any applicable federal or state regulations or any provision of the Company’s governing documents.  No interpretive or additional provisions made as provided in the preceding sentence shall be deemed to be an amendment of this Agreement.

 

Section 19.5  Remote Access Services Addendum.  The Custodian and the Company agree to be bound by the terms of the Remote Access Services Addendum attached hereto.

 

Section 19.6  Notices.  Any notice, instruction or other instrument required to be given hereunder may be delivered in person to the offices of the parties as set forth herein during normal

 

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business hours or delivered prepaid registered mail or by telex, cable or telecopy to the parties at the following addresses or such other addresses as may be notified by any party from time to time.

 

To the Company:

FS Energy and Power Fund II

 

Cira Centre

 

2929 Arch Street

 

Philadelphia, PA 19104

 

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

 

Telephone: (215) 495-1150

 

Facsimile: (215) 222-4649

 

 

To the Custodian:

State Street Bank and Trust Company

 

One Lincoln Street

 

Boston, MA 02111

 

Attention: Don Gignac, Senior Vice President

 

Telephone: (617) 662-7325

 

Facsimile: (212) 339-2886

 

Such notice, instruction or other instrument shall be deemed to have been served in the case of a registered letter at the expiration of five business days after posting, in the case of overnight courier, upon receipt, in the case of cable twenty-four hours after dispatch and, in the case of telex or telecopy, immediately upon dispatch and if delivered by cable, telex or telecopy outside normal business hours it shall be deemed to have been received at the next time after delivery when normal business hours commence.  Evidence that the notice was properly addressed, stamped and put into the post shall be conclusive evidence of posting.

 

Section 19.7  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed by the parties hereto on any number of counterparts, delivery of which may occur by facsimile or as an attachment to an electronic communication, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.

 

Section 19.8  Severability.  If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, unlawful or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired.

 

Section 19.9  Confidentiality.  The parties hereto agree that each shall treat confidentially all information provided by each party to the other party regarding its business and operations.  All confidential information provided by a party hereto shall be used by any other party hereto solely for the purpose of rendering or receiving services pursuant to this Agreement and, except as otherwise provided under Section 2.7 hereof and as may be required in carrying out this Agreement, shall not be disclosed to any third party.

 

The foregoing shall not be applicable to any information (i) that is publicly available when provided or thereafter becomes publicly available, other than through a breach of this Agreement, or that is independently derived by any party hereto without the use of any

 

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information provided by the other party hereto in connection with this Agreement, (ii) that is required in any legal or regulatory proceeding, investigation, audit, examination, subpoena, civil investigative demand or other similar process, or by operation of law or regulation, or (iii) where the party seeking to disclose such information has received the prior written consent of the party providing the information, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

The undertakings and obligations contained in this Section 19.9 shall survive the termination or expiration of this Agreement for a period of three (3) years.

 

Section 19.10  Reproduction of Documents.  This Agreement and all schedules, exhibits, addenda, attachments and amendments hereto may be reproduced by any photographic, photostatic, microfilm, micro-card, miniature photographic or other similar process.  The parties hereto all/each agree that any such reproduction shall be admissible in evidence as the original itself in any judicial or administrative proceeding, whether or not the original is in existence and whether or not such reproduction was made by a party in the regular course of business, and that any enlargement, facsimile or further reproduction of such reproduction shall likewise be admissible in evidence.

 

Section 19.11  Regulation GG.  The Company hereby represents and warrants that it does not engage in an “Internet gambling business,” as such term is defined in Section 233.2(r) of Federal Reserve Regulation GG (12 CFR 233) (“Regulation GG”).  The Company hereby covenants and agrees that it shall not engage in an Internet gambling business.  In accordance with Regulation GG, the Company is hereby notified that “restricted transactions,” as such term is defined in Section 233.2(y) of Regulation GG, are prohibited in any dealings with the Custodian pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise between or among any party hereto.

 

Section 19.12  Data Privacy. The Custodian will implement and maintain a written information security program that contains appropriate security measures to safeguard the personal information of the Company’s shareholders, employees, trustees and/or officers that the Custodian receives, stores, maintains, processes or otherwise accesses in connection with the provision of services hereunder.  For these purposes, “personal information” shall mean (i) an individual’s name (first initial and last name or first name and last name), address or telephone number plus (a) social security number, (b) drivers license number, (c) state identification card number, (d) debit or credit card number, (e) financial account number or (f) personal identification number or password that would permit access to a person’s account or (ii) any combination of the foregoing that would allow a person to log onto or access an individual’s account.  Notwithstanding the foregoing “personal information” shall not include information that is lawfully obtained from publicly available information, or from federal, state or local government records lawfully made available to the general public.

 

Section 19.13.  Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity.  The Custodian will implement and maintain reasonable disaster recovery and business continuity procedures that are reasonably designed to recover data processing systems, data communications facilities, information, data and other business related functions of the Custodian in a manner and time frame consistent with legal, regulatory and business requirements applicable to the Custodian in its provision of services hereunder.

 

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Section 19.14  Reserved.

 

Section 19.15  Shareholder Communications.  SEC Rule 14b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act requires banks which hold securities for the account of customers to respond to requests by issuers of securities for the names, addresses and holdings of beneficial owners of securities of that issuer held by the bank unless the beneficial owner has expressly objected to disclosure of this information.  In order to comply with the rule, the Custodian needs the Company to indicate whether it authorizes the Custodian to provide the Company’s name, address, and share position to requesting companies whose stock the Company owns.  If the Company tells the Custodian “no”, the Custodian will not provide this information to requesting companies.  If the Company tells the Custodian “yes” or do not check either “yes” or “no” below, the Custodian is required by the rule to treat the Company as consenting to disclosure of this information for all securities owned by the Company or any funds or accounts established by the Company.  For the Company’s protection, the Rule prohibits the requesting company from using the Company’s name and address for any purpose other than corporate communications.  Please indicate below whether the Company consents or objects by checking one of the alternatives below.

 

YES [  ]

The Custodian is authorized to release the Company’s name, address, and share positions.

 

 

NO  [X]

The Custodian is not authorized to release the Company’s name, address, and share positions.

 

 

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this instrument to be executed in its name and behalf by its duly authorized representative as of the date first above-written.

 

 

FS ENERGY AND POWER FUND II

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Michael C. Forman

 

Name:

Michael C. Forman

 

Title:

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ George Sullivan

 

Name:

George Sullivan

 

Title:

Executive Vice President

 

 


EX-99.(K)(1) 4 a14-23110_1ex99dk1.htm EX-(K)(1)

Exhibit (k)(1)

 

ESCROW AGREEMENT

 

This Escrow Agreement (this “Agreement”) made and entered into as of this 31st day of July, 2014 by and among FS Energy and Power Fund II, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Company”), UMB Bank, N.A., as escrow agent, a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America (the “Escrow Agent”), and FS2 Capital Partners, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Dealer Manager”), for itself and for and on behalf of its selected dealers (the “Selected Dealers”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Company proposes to offer and sell common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (“Common Shares”) to investors, including in a public offering of such Common Shares;

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Company’s public offering of Common Shares (the “Offering”), it is seeking gross offering proceeds from persons not affiliated with the Company or its investment adviser of at least $2.5 million (the “Minimum Offering Requirement”) and up to 300,000,000 Common Shares, at an initial purchase price of $10.00 per share pursuant to the Company’s registration statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-195237), as supplemented or amended from time to time (the “Offering Document”);

 

WHEREAS, the Dealer Manager and the Selected Dealers will sell Common Shares in the Offering on behalf of the Company on a “best efforts” basis;

 

WHEREAS, the Company has agreed that the subscription price paid by subscribers for Common Shares will be refunded to such subscribers if the Minimum Offering Requirement has not been met on or prior to the date that is one year from the date of the final prospectus filed prior to the commencement of the Offering (such one-year anniversary being referred to herein as the “Closing Date”);

 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Dealer Manager desire to establish an escrow account (the “Escrow Account”) as further described herein in which funds received from subscribers will be deposited and the Company and the Dealer Manager desire that UMB Bank, N.A. act as escrow agent to the Escrow Account and the Escrow Agent is willing to act in such capacity; and

 

WHEREAS, in order to subscribe for Common Shares, a subscriber must deliver the full amount of its subscription: (i) by check in U.S. dollars or (ii) by wire transfer of immediately available funds in U.S. dollars.

 

AGREEMENT

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Company, the Dealer Manager and the Escrow Agent agree to the terms of this Agreement as follows:

 



 

1.                                    Establishment of Escrow Account; Escrow Period.

 

(a)                               On or prior to the commencement of the Offering, the parties shall establish the Escrow Account with the Escrow Agent, which shall be entitled “UMB Bank as Agent for FS Energy and Power Fund II — Escrow Account.” Prior to meeting the Minimum Offering Requirement, the Dealer Manager and Selected Dealers will instruct subscribers to make checks for subscriptions payable to the order of “UMB Bank, N.A., as escrow agent for FS Energy and Power Fund II.”

 

(b)                              This Agreement shall be effective on the date on which the Offering Document is declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The escrow period shall commence upon the effectiveness of this Agreement and shall continue until the earlier of (i) the date upon which the Escrow Agent receives confirmation from the Company or the Dealer Manager that the Company has met the Minimum Offering Requirement, (ii) the Closing Date, or (iii) the termination of the Offering by the Company prior to meeting the Minimum Offering Requirement (the “Escrow Period”).

 

2.                                    Operation of the Escrow.

 

(a)                               Deposits in the Escrow Account. During the Escrow Period, the Dealer Manager will promptly deliver, but in no event later than noon of the second business day following receipt by the Dealer Manager, any monies received from subscribers for the payment of Common Shares to the Escrow Agent for deposit in the Escrow Account, and the Escrow Agent shall deposit and hold in the Escrow Account any monies received directly from subscribers for the payment of Common Shares (collectively, the “Escrowed Funds”). All monies deposited into the Escrow Account shall be held in the Escrow Account until such funds are disbursed in accordance with this Section 2. Prior to disbursement of the funds deposited in the Escrow Account, such funds shall not be subject to claims by creditors of the Company or any of its affiliates. If any of the instruments of payment are returned to the Escrow Agent for nonpayment prior to receipt of the Break Escrow Affidavit (as described below), the Escrow Agent shall promptly notify the Company in writing via mail, e-mail or facsimile of such nonpayment, and is authorized to debit the Escrow Account, as applicable in the amount of such returned payment as well as any interest earned on the amount of such payment. The Company will, or will cause its transfer agent, DST Systems, Inc. (the “Transfer Agent”), to maintain a written account of each sale, which account shall set forth, among other things, the following information: (i) the subscriber’s name and address; (ii) the number of Common Shares purchased by such subscriber; and (iii) the amount paid by such subscriber for such Common Shares. During the Escrow Period, neither the Company nor the Dealer Manager will be entitled to any principal funds deposited into the Escrow Account.

 

(b)                              Distribution of the Escrowed Funds. If at any time on or prior to the Closing Date the Minimum Offering Requirement has been met, then upon the happening of such event, the principal amount of the Escrowed Funds shall remain in the

 

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Escrow Account until the Escrow Agent receives written direction provided by the Company or the Dealer Manager instructing the Escrow Agent to deliver the principal amount, or a portion thereof, of such Escrowed Funds as the Company or the Dealer Manager, as the case may be, shall direct in writing. An affidavit or certification from an officer of the Company or the Dealer Manager to the Escrow Agent stating that the Minimum Offering Requirement has been timely met, shall constitute sufficient evidence for the purpose of this Agreement that such event has occurred (the “Break Escrow Affidavit”). The Break Escrow Affidavit shall indicate: (i) the date on which the Minimum Offering Requirement has been met (the “Break Escrow Date”); (ii) the actual total number of Common Shares sold as of the Break Escrow Date; and (iii) if not all, that portion of the Escrowed Funds to be transferred. Upon the receipt by the Escrow Agent of the Break Escrow Affidavit, the Escrow Agent will deliver to State Street Bank and Trust Company (the “Custodian”), as directed by the Company, on the date of the first weekly closing following the receipt of the Break Escrow Affidavit, the principal and interest earned on such Escrowed Funds to be transferred and the Escrow Agent shall from that point forward, transfer on the 1st business day following each subsequent closing all principal and interest earned on the Escrowed Funds for the prior subscription period to the Custodian, as directed by the Company. Additionally, the Company hereby directs the Escrow Agent to provide the Transfer Agent with all electronic files and information needed by the Transfer Agent to perform its duties as record keeper under its agreement with the Company.

 

If the Escrow Agent has not received a Break Escrow Affidavit on or prior to the Closing Date, the Escrow Agent shall promptly return the Escrowed Funds, including interest, if any, thereon, to the subscribers, per the name, address and in the amounts provided by the Company, the Dealer Manager or the Transfer Agent to the Escrow Agent without deduction, penalty or expense, and the Escrow Agent shall notify the Company and the Dealer Manager in writing of its distribution of the funds. The subscription payments returned to each subscriber shall be free and clear of any and all claims of the Company or any of its creditors. The parties hereto hereby agree that, for purposes of this Section 2(b), the term “promptly return” shall mean that the Escrow Agent shall return the Escrowed Funds to subscribers, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 2(b), by noon of the business day following the Closing Date, in compliance with Rules 10b-9 and 15c2-4 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

3.                                    Escrowed Funds. Upon receipt of the Escrowed Funds, the Escrow Agent shall hold the Escrowed Funds in escrow pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. Until such time as the Escrowed Funds shall be distributed by the Escrow Agent as provided herein, the Escrowed Funds shall be deposited by the Escrow Agent in an interest bearing account or as may otherwise be directed by the Company in writing.

 

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The Escrow Agent shall be entitled to sell or redeem any investment of the Escrowed Funds as necessary to make any distributions required under this Agreement and shall not be liable or responsible for any loss resulting from any such sale or redemption.

 

Interest, if any, resulting from any investment of the Escrowed Funds shall be retained by the Escrow Agent, and shall be distributed according to this Agreement.

 

4.                                    Duties of the Escrow Agent. The Escrow Agent shall have no duties or responsibilities other than those expressly set forth in this Agreement, and no implied duties or obligations shall be read into this Agreement against the Escrow Agent. The Escrow Agent is not a party to, or bound by, any other agreement among the other parties hereto, and the Escrow Agent’s duties shall be determined solely by reference to this Agreement. The Escrow Agent shall have no duty to enforce any obligation of any person, other than as provided herein. The Escrow Agent shall be under no liability to anyone by reason of any failure on the part of any other party hereto or any maker, endorser or other signatory of any document or any other person to perform such person’s obligations under any such document.

 

5.                                    Liability of the Escrow Agent; Indemnification. The Escrow Agent acts hereunder as a depository only. The Escrow Agent is not responsible or liable in any manner for the sufficiency, correctness, genuineness or validity of this Agreement or with respect to the form of execution of the same. The Escrow Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted by it, or any action suffered by it to be taken or omitted, in good faith, and in the exercise of its own best judgment, and may rely conclusively and shall be protected in acting upon any order, notice, demand, certificate, opinion or advice of counsel (including counsel chosen by the Escrow Agent), statement, instrument, report or other paper or document (not only as to its due execution and the validity and effectiveness of its provisions, but also as to the truth and acceptability of any information therein contained) which is reasonably believed by the Escrow Agent to be genuine and to be signed or presented by the proper person(s). The Escrow Agent shall not be held liable for any error in judgment made in good faith by an officer or employee of the Escrow Agent unless it shall be proved that the Escrow Agent was grossly negligent or reckless or acted intentionally in bad faith or with willful misconduct. The Escrow Agent shall not be bound by any notice of demand, or any waiver, modification, termination or rescission of this Agreement or any of the terms hereof, unless evidenced by a writing delivered to the Escrow Agent signed by the proper party or parties and, if the duties or rights of the Escrow Agent are affected, unless it shall give its prior written consent thereto.

 

The Escrow Agent may consult legal counsel and shall exercise reasonable care in the selection of such counsel, in the event of any dispute or question as to the construction of any provisions hereof or its duties hereunder, and it shall incur no liability and shall be fully protected in acting in accordance with the reasonable opinion or instructions of such counsel.

 

The Escrow Agent shall not be responsible, may conclusively rely upon and shall be protected, indemnified and held harmless by the Company, for the sufficiency or accuracy of the form of, or the execution, validity, value or genuineness of any document

 

4



 

or property received, held or delivered by it hereunder, or of the signature or endorsement thereon, or for any description therein; nor shall the Escrow Agent be responsible or liable in any respect on account of the identity, authority or rights of the persons executing or delivering or purporting to execute or deliver any document, property or this Agreement.

 

In the event that the Escrow Agent shall become involved in any arbitration or litigation relating to the Escrowed Funds, the Escrow Agent is authorized to comply with any final, binding and non-appealable decision reached through such arbitration or litigation.

 

The Company, hereby agrees to indemnify the Escrow Agent for, and to hold it harmless against any loss, liability or expense incurred in connection herewith without gross negligence, recklessness, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Escrow Agent, including, without limitation, reasonable legal or other fees arising out of or in connection with its entering into this Agreement and carrying out its duties hereunder, including, without limitation, the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim of liability in the premises or any action for interpleader. The Escrow Agent shall be under no obligation to institute or defend any action, suit, or legal proceeding in connection herewith, unless first indemnified and held harmless to its satisfaction in accordance with the foregoing, except that the Escrow Agent shall not be indemnified against any loss, liability or expense arising out of its own gross negligence, recklessness, bad faith or willful misconduct. Such indemnity shall survive the termination or discharge of this Agreement or resignation of the Escrow Agent.

 

6.                                    The Escrow Agent’s Fee. The Escrow Agent shall be entitled to fees and expenses for its regular services as the Escrow Agent as set forth in Exhibit A. Additionally, the Escrow Agent is entitled to reasonable fees for extraordinary services and reimbursement of any reasonable documented out-of-pocket and extraordinary costs and expenses related to its obligations as the Escrow Agent under this Agreement, including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys’ fees. All of the Escrow Agent’s compensation, costs and expenses shall be paid by the Company.

 

7.                                    Security Interests. No party to this Agreement shall grant a security interest in any monies or other property deposited with the Escrow Agent under this Agreement, or otherwise create a lien, encumbrance or other claim against such monies or borrow against the same.

 

8.                                    Dispute. In the event of any disagreement between the undersigned or the person or persons named in the instructions contained in this Agreement, or any other person, resulting in adverse claims and demands being made in connection with or for any papers, money or property involved herein, or affected hereby, the Escrow Agent shall be entitled to refuse to comply with any demand or claim, as long as such disagreement shall continue, and in so refusing to make any delivery or other disposition of any money, papers or property involved or affected hereby, the Escrow Agent shall not be or become liable to the undersigned or to any person named in such instructions for its refusal to comply with such conflicting or adverse demands, and the Escrow Agent shall be entitled to refuse and refrain to act until: (a) the rights of the adverse claimants shall have been

 

5



 

fully and finally adjudicated in a court assuming and having jurisdiction of the parties and money, papers and property involved herein or affected hereby; or (b) all differences shall have been adjusted by agreement and the Escrow Agent shall have been notified thereof in writing, signed by all the interested parties.

 

9.                                    Resignation of the Escrow Agent. The Escrow Agent may resign or be removed, at any time, for any reason, by written notice of its resignation or removal to the proper parties at their respective addresses as set forth herein, at least 60 days before the date specified for such resignation or removal to take effect. Upon the effective date of such resignation or removal:

 

(a)                               all cash and other payments and all other property then held by the Escrow Agent hereunder shall be delivered by it to such successor escrow agent as may be designated in writing by the Company, whereupon the Escrow Agent’s obligations hereunder shall cease and terminate;

 

(b)                              if no such successor escrow agent has been designated by such date, all obligations of the Escrow Agent hereunder shall, nevertheless, cease and terminate, and the Escrow Agent’s sole responsibility thereafter shall be to keep all property then held by it and to deliver the same to a person designated in writing by the Company or in accordance with the directions of a final order or judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction; and

 

(c)                               if no such successor escrow agent has been designated by such date, the Escrow Agent may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor agent; further the Escrow Agent may pay into court all monies and property deposited with the Escrow Agent under this Agreement.

 

10.                            Notices. All notices, demands and requests required or permitted to be given under the provisions hereof must be in writing and shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given, upon receipt, if (i) personally delivered, (ii) sent by telecopy and confirmed by phone, (iii) sent by electronic mail and confirmed by electronic mail confirmation of receipt or by telephone, or (iv) mailed by registered or certified mail, with return receipt requested, delivered as follows:

 

(1)

If to the Company:

 

FS Energy and Power Fund II

2929 Arch Street, Suite 675

Philadelphia, PA 19104

Telephone: (215) 495-1150

Facsimile: (215) 222-4649

Attn: Stephen S. Sypherd

 

 

 

 

(2)

If to the Escrow Agent:

 

UMB Bank, N.A.

1010 Grand Blvd., 4th Floor

Mail Stop: 1020409

Kansas City, Missouri 64106

Attention: Lara Stevens,

 

6



 

 

 

 

Corporate Trust & Escrow Services

Telephone: (816) 860-3017

Facsimile: (816) 860-3029

 

 

 

 

(3)

If to Dealer Manager:

 

FS2 Capital Partners, LLC

2929 Arch Street, Suite 675

Philadelphia, PA 19104

Telephone: (215) 495-1150

Facsimile: (215) 222-4649

Attn: Chief Compliance Officer

 

11.                            Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Missouri without regard to the principles of conflicts of law.

 

12.                            Binding Effect; Benefit. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the permitted successors and assigns of the parties hereto.

 

13.                            Modification. This Agreement may be amended, modified or terminated at any time by a writing executed by the Company and the Escrow Agent.

 

14.                            Assignability. This Agreement shall not be assigned by the Escrow Agent without the Company’s prior written consent.

 

15.                            Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument. Copies, telecopies, facsimiles, electronic files and other reproductions of original executed documents shall be deemed to be authentic and valid counterparts of such original documents for all purposes, including the filing of any claim, action or suit in the appropriate court of law.

 

16.                            Headings. The section headings contained in this Agreement are inserted for convenience only, and shall not affect in any way, the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

17.                            Severability. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the parties and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements and undertakings of the parties in connection herewith. No failure or delay of either party in exercising any right, power or remedy may be, or may be deemed to be, a waiver thereof; nor may any single or partial exercise of any right, power or remedy preclude any other or further exercise of any right, power or remedy. In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement, shall, for any reason, be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, then to the maximum extent permitted by law, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of this Agreement.

 

18.                            Earnings Allocation; Tax Matters; Patriot Act Compliance. The Company or its agent shall be responsible for all tax reporting under this Agreement. The Company shall provide to the Escrow Agent upon the execution of this Agreement any documentation

 

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requested and any information reasonably requested by the Escrow Agent to comply with the USA Patriot Act of 2001, as amended from time to time.

 

19.                            Miscellaneous. This Agreement shall not be construed against the party preparing it, and shall be construed without regard to the identity of the person who drafted it or the party who caused it to be drafted and shall be construed as if all parties had jointly prepared this Agreement and it shall be deemed their joint work product, and each and every provision of this Agreement shall be construed as though all of the parties hereto participated equally in the drafting hereof; and any uncertainty or ambiguity shall not be interpreted against any one party. As a result of the foregoing, any rule of construction that a document is to be construed against the drafting party shall not be applicable.

 

20.                            Termination of the Escrow Agreement. This Agreement, except for Sections 5 and 9 hereof, which shall continue in effect, shall terminate upon written notice from the Company to the Escrow Agent.

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

8



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized representatives as of the date first written hereinabove.

 

 

COMPANY:

 

 

 

FS Energy and Power Fund II

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Stephen S. Sypherd

 

Name:

Stephen Sypherd

 

Title:

Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary

 

 

 

DEALER MANAGER:

 

 

 

FS2 Capital Partners, LLC

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Lance Murphy

 

Name:

Lance Murphy

 

Title:

President

 

 

 

ESCROW AGENT:

 

 

 

UMB Bank, N.A.

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Lara L. Stevens

 

Name:

Lara L. Stevens

 

Title:

Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Escrow Agreement]

 


EX-99.(K)(2) 5 a14-23110_1ex99dk2.htm EX-(K)(2)

Exhibit (k)(2)

 

EXPENSE SUPPORT AND CONDITIONAL REIMBURSEMENT AGREEMENT

 

This Expense Support and Conditional Reimbursement Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made this 31st day of July, 2014, by and between FS ENERGY AND POWER FUND II, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Company”), and FRANKLIN SQUARE HOLDINGS, L.P., a Pennsylvania limited partnership (“FSH”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company is a newly organized, non-diversified, closed-end management investment company that intends to elect to be regulated as a business development company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”);

 

WHEREAS, FSEP II Advisor, LLC (“FSEP II Advisor”) is the Company’s investment adviser and is a subsidiary of FSH; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company and FSH have determined that it is appropriate and in the best interests of the Company to ensure that no portion of distributions made to the Company’s shareholders will be paid from offering proceeds or borrowings of the Company.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and for other good and valuable consideration, the parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1.                                    FSH Expense Payments to the Company

 

(a)        On a quarterly basis, FSH shall reimburse the Company in an amount equal to the difference between the Company’s cumulative distributions paid to the Company’s shareholders in each calendar quarter less Available Operating Funds (defined below) received by the Company on account of its investment portfolio during such calendar quarter.  Any payments required to be made by FSH pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be referred to herein as an “Expense Payment.”

 

(b)        FSH’s obligation to make an Expense Payment shall automatically become a liability of FSH and the right to such Expense Payment shall be an asset of the Company on the last business day of the applicable calendar quarter. The Expense Payment for any calendar quarter shall be paid by FSH to the Company in any combination of cash or other immediately available funds, and/or offset against amounts due from the Company to FSH or FSEP II Advisor, no later than the earlier of (i) the date on which the Company closes its books for such calendar quarter and (ii) forty-five days after the end of such calendar quarter.

 

(c)        For purposes of this Agreement, “Available Operating Funds” means the sum of (i) the Company’s net investment company taxable income (including net short-term capital gains reduced by net long-term capital losses), (ii) the Company’s net capital gains (including the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses) and (iii) dividends and other distributions paid to the Company on account of preferred and common equity investments in portfolio companies (to the extent such amounts listed in clause (iii) are not included under clauses (i) and (ii) above).

 



 

2.                                    Reimbursement of Expense Payments by the Company

 

(a)        Following any calendar quarter in which Available Operating Funds exceed the cumulative ordinary cash distributions paid by the Company in such calendar quarter (the amount of such excess being hereinafter referred to as “Excess Operating Funds”), the Company shall pay such Excess Operating Funds, or a portion thereof in accordance with Sections 2(b), 2(c) and 2(d), as applicable, to FSH until such time as all Expense Payments made by FSH to the Company within three years prior to the last business day of such calendar quarter have been reimbursed.  Any payments required to be made by the Company pursuant to this Section 2(a) shall be referred to herein as a “Reimbursement Payment.”

 

(b)        Subject to Sections 2(c) and 2(d), as applicable, the amount of the Reimbursement Payment for any calendar quarter shall equal the lesser of (i) the Excess Operating Funds in such quarter and (ii) the aggregate amount of all Expense Payments made by FSH to the Company within three years prior to the last business day of such calendar quarter that have not been previously reimbursed by the Company to FSH.

 

(c)        Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the amount of the Reimbursement Payment for any calendar quarter shall be reduced to the extent that such Reimbursement Payment, together with all other Reimbursement Payments paid during that fiscal year, would cause Other Operating Expenses (as defined below) (on an annualized basis and net of any Expense Payments received by the Company during such fiscal year) to exceed the lesser of (i) 1.75% of the Company’s average net assets attributable to the Company’s common shares of beneficial interest for the fiscal year-to-date period after taking such Expense Payments into account and (ii) the percentage of the Company’s average net assets attributable to the Company’s common shares of beneficial interest represented by Other Operating Expenses during the fiscal year in which such Expense Payment was made (provided, however, that this clause (ii) shall not apply to any Reimbursement Payment which relates to an Expense Payment made during the same fiscal year).  For purposes of this Agreement, “Other Operating Expenses” means the Company’s total Operating Expenses (as defined below), excluding base management fees, incentive fees, organization and offering expenses, financing fees and costs, interest expense, brokerage commissions and extraordinary expenses.  “Operating Expenses” means all operating costs and expenses incurred, as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for investment companies. The calculation of average net assets shall be consistent with such periodic calculations of average net assets in the Company’s financial statements.

 

(d)       Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, no Reimbursement Payment for any calendar quarter shall be made if the annualized rate of regular cash distributions declared by the Company at the time of such Reimbursement Payment is less than the annualized rate of regular cash distributions declared by the Company at the time the Expense Payment was made to which such Reimbursement Payment relates.

 

(e)        The Company’s obligation to make a Reimbursement Payment shall automatically become a liability of the Company and the right to such Reimbursement Payment shall be an asset of FSH on the last business day of the applicable calendar quarter. The Reimbursement Payment for any calendar quarter shall be paid by the Company to FSH in any

 

2



 

combination of cash or other immediately available funds as promptly as possible following such calendar quarter and in no event later than forty-five days after the end of such calendar quarter. Any Reimbursement Payments shall be deemed to have reimbursed FSH for Expense Payments in chronological order beginning with the oldest Expense Payment eligible for reimbursement under this Section 2.

 

(f)        All Reimbursement Payments hereunder shall be deemed to relate to the earliest unreimbursed Expense Payments made by FSH to the Company within three years prior to the last business day of the calendar quarter in which such Reimbursement Payment obligation is accrued.

 

3.                                    Termination and Survival

 

(a)        This Agreement shall become effective as of the date of this Agreement.

 

(b)        This Agreement may be terminated at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by the Company or FSH at any time, with or without notice.

 

(c)        This Agreement shall automatically terminate in the event of (i) the termination by the Company of the Investment Advisory and Administrative Services Agreement, dated July 31, 2014, between the Company and FSEP II Advisor; (ii) the board of trustees of the Company makes a determination to dissolve or liquidate the Company; or (iii) upon a liquidity event of the Company, including but not limited to (1) a listing of the Company’s common shares on a national securities exchange, (2) the sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either on a complete portfolio basis or individually followed by a liquidation or (3) a merger or another transaction approved by the board of trustees in which shareholders receive cash or shares of a publicly-traded company.

 

(d)       Sections 3 and 4 of this Agreement shall survive any termination of this Agreement.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, Section 2 of this Agreement shall survive any termination of this Agreement with respect to any Expense Payments that have not been reimbursed by the Company to FSH.

 

4.                                    Miscellaneous

 

(a)        The captions of this Agreement are included for convenience only and in no way define or limit any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect.

 

(b)        This Agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties and supersedes all prior agreements, understandings and arrangements with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

(c)        Notwithstanding the place where this Agreement may be executed by any of the parties hereto, this Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware. For so long as the Company is regulated as a business development company under the Investment Company Act, this Agreement shall also be construed in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Investment Company Act. In such case, to the extent the applicable laws of the State of Delaware or any of the provisions herein conflict with the provisions of the Investment Company Act, the latter shall control. Further, nothing in this Agreement shall be

 

3



 

deemed to require the Company to take any action contrary to the Company’s Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust or Bylaws, as each may be amended or restated, or to relieve or deprive the board of trustees of the Company of its responsibility for and control of the conduct of the affairs of the Company.

 

(d)       If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby and, to this extent, the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to be severable.

 

(e)        The Company shall not assign this Agreement or any right, interest or benefit under this Agreement without the prior written consent of FSH.

 

(f)        This Agreement may be amended in writing by mutual consent of the parties. This Agreement may be executed by the parties on any number of counterparts, delivery of which may occur by facsimile or as an attachment to an electronic communication, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.

 

 

 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank.]

 

4



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized representatives as of the date first written above.

 

 

FS ENERGY AND POWER FUND II

 

 

By:

/s/ Gerald F. Stahlecker

 

Name:

Gerald F. Stahlecker

 

Title:

Executive Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FRANKLIN SQUARE HOLDINGS, L.P.

 

 

 

 

By:

Franklin Square Holdings, G.P., LLC, its

 

 

general partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Gerald F. Stahlecker

 

Name:

Gerald F. Stahlecker

 

Title:

Executive Vice President

 

 

[Signature Page to Expense Support and Conditional Reimbursement Agreement]