As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 2, 2019
File No. 812-15019
U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
AMENDED AND RESTATED APPLICATION FOR AN ORDER PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 17(d) AND 57(i) OF THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 AND RULE 17d-1
THEREUNDER PERMITTING CERTAIN JOINT TRANSACTIONS OTHERWISE PROHIBITED BY SECTIONS 17(d) AND 57(a)(4) OF THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 AND RULE 17d-1 THEREUNDER
GREAT ELM CAPITAL CORP., GREAT ELM CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC., GREAT ELM OPPORTUNITIES FUND I, LP
All Communications, Notices and Orders to:
Adam M. Kleinman
Secretary
Great Elm Capital Corp.
800 South Street, Suite 230
Waltham, Massachusetts 02453
Telephone Number: (617) 375-3000
Copies to:
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Michael Hoffman
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Four Times Square
New York, NY 10036
Telephone Number: (212) 735-3000
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Kenneth E. Burdon
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
500 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02116
Telephone Number: (617) 573-4800
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October 2, 2019
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I.
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SUMMARY OF APPLICATION
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The following entities hereby request an order (the “Order”)
from the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) pursuant to Sections 17(d) and 57(i) and Rule 17d-11
under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Act”),2 authorizing certain joint transactions
that otherwise may be prohibited by either or both of Sections 17(d) and 57(a)(4) of the Act as modified by the exemptive rules adopted by the Commission under the Act:
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Great Elm Capital Corp. (“GECC”), a closed-end investment company that has elected to be treated as a
business development company (“BDC”) pursuant to Section 54 of the Act,3 on behalf of itself
and its successors,4
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Great Elm Opportunities Fund I, LP (“Existing Affiliated Fund”), which is a separate and distinct legal
entity and would be an investment company but for Section 3(c)(7) of the Act, and
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Great Elm Capital Management, Inc., GECC’s and the Existing Affiliated Fund's investment adviser (“Great Elm Adviser”),
on behalf of itself and its successors (GECC, the Existing Affiliated Fund and Great Elm Adviser are referred to collectively herein as the “Applicants”).
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The relief requested in this application (the “Application”)
would permit a Regulated Fund and one or more other Regulated Funds5 and/or one or more Affiliated Funds6 to (a) co-invest with each other in investment opportunities in which Great Elm Adviser negotiates terms in addition to price (“Private Placement Investments”)
and (b) make additional investments in such issuers, including through the exercise of warrants, conversion privileges, and other rights to purchase securities of the issuers (“Follow-On
Investments”) through a proposed co-investment program (the “Co-Investment Program”) where such participation would otherwise be prohibited under
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1
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Unless otherwise indicated, all rule references herein are to rules under the Act.
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2
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Unless otherwise indicated, all section references herein are to the Act.
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3
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Section 2(a)(48) of the Act defines a BDC to be any closed-end investment company that operates for the purpose of making investments in securities described in Sections 55(a)(1) through
55(a)(3) of the Act and makes available significant managerial assistance with respect to the issuers of such securities.
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4
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For the purposes of the requested Order, a “successor” includes an entity or entities that result from a reorganization into
another jurisdiction or a change in the type of business organization.
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5
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The term “Regulated Fund” refers to GECC and any Future Regulated Fund. The term “Future Regulated Fund” means any closed-end management investment company that (a) is registered under the Act or has elected to be regulated as a BDC under the Act, (b) whose investment adviser is an Adviser, and (c)
intends to participate in the Co-Investment Program. The term “Adviser” means (a) Great Elm Adviser and (b) any future investment adviser that (i) controls, is controlled by or
is under common control with Great Elm Adviser and (ii) (a) is registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”) or
(b) is a relying adviser of an investment adviser that is registered under the Advisers Act and that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, Great Elm Adviser.
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6
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The term “Affiliated Fund” means (a) the Existing Affiliated Fund and (b) any Future Affiliated Fund. The term “Future Affiliated Fund” means any entity (a) whose investment adviser is an Adviser, (b) that would be an investment company but for Section 3(c)(1), 3(c)(5)(C) or 3(c)(7) of the
Act, and (c) that intends to participate in the Co-Investment Program.
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Section 17(d) or Section 57(a)(4) and the rules under the Act. The term “Co-Investment Transaction” means any transaction in which a Regulated Fund (or its Wholly-Owned Investment Sub)7 participates together with one or
more other Regulated Funds and/or one or more Affiliated Funds in reliance on the requested Order.8 “Potential
Co-Investment Transaction” means any investment opportunity in which a Regulated Fund (or its Wholly-Owned Investment Sub) could not participate together with one or more other Regulated Funds and/or one or more Affiliated Funds without
obtaining and relying on the requested Order.
Any of the Regulated Funds may, from time to time, form one or more Wholly-Owned Investment Subs. A Wholly-Owned
Investment Sub would be prohibited from investing in a Co-Investment Transaction with any other Regulated Fund or Affiliated Fund because it would be a company controlled by its parent Regulated Fund for purposes of Section 57(a)(4) and Rule 17d-1.
Applicants request that each Wholly-Owned Investment Sub be permitted to participate in Co-Investment Transactions in lieu of its parent Regulated Fund and that the Wholly-Owned Investment Sub’s participation in any such transaction be treated, for
purposes of the requested Order, as though the Regulated Fund were participating directly. Applicants represent that this treatment is justified because a Wholly-Owned Investment Sub would have no purpose other than serving as a holding vehicle for
the Regulated Fund’s investments and, therefore, no conflicts of interest could arise between the Regulated Fund and the Wholly-Owned Investment Sub. The Regulated Fund’s Board would make all relevant determinations under the conditions with regard
to a Wholly-Owned Investment Sub’s participation in a Co-Investment Transaction, and the Regulated Fund’s Board would be informed of, and take into consideration, any proposed use of a Wholly-Owned Investment Sub in the Regulated Fund’s place. If
the Regulated Fund proposes to participate in the same Co-Investment Transaction with any of its Wholly-Owned Investment Subs, the Board will also be informed of, and take into consideration, the relative participation of the Regulated Fund and the
Wholly-Owned Investment Sub.
All existing entities that currently intend to rely upon the requested Order have been named as Applicants. Any other
existing or future entity that subsequently relies on the requested Order will comply with the terms and conditions of the Application. Applicants do not seek relief for
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7
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The term “Wholly-Owned Investment Sub” means an entity (a) whose sole business purpose is to hold one or more investments on
behalf of a Regulated Fund (and, in the case of an SBIC Subsidiary (as defined below), maintain a license under the SBA Act (as defined below) and issue debentures guaranteed by the SBA (as defined below)); (b) that is wholly-owned by
the Regulated Fund (with the Regulated Fund at all times holding, beneficially and of record, 100% of the voting and economic interests), (c) with respect to which the Regulated Fund’s Board of Directors has the sole authority to make
all determinations with respect to the entity’s participation under the conditions to this Application; and (d) that would be an investment company but for Section 3(c)(1) or 3(c)(7) of the Act. All subsidiaries of the Regulated Fund
participating in Co-Investment Transactions will be Wholly-Owned Investment Subs. The term “SBIC Subsidiary” means a Wholly-Owned Investment Sub that is licensed by the Small
Business Administration (the “SBA”) to operate under the Small Business Investment Act of 1958, as amended, (the “SBA Act”)
as a small business investment company (an “SBIC”).
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8
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No Non-Interested Director (as defined below) of a Regulated Fund will have a direct or indirect financial interest in any Co-Investment Transaction (other than indirectly through share
ownership in one of the Regulated Funds), including any interest in any company whose securities would be acquired in a Co-Investment Transaction.
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transactions that would be permitted under other regulatory or interpretive guidance, including, for example,
transactions effected consistent with Commission staff no-action positions.9
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A.
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Great Elm Capital Corp.
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GECC is a specialty finance company that is a closed-end, non-diversified management investment company incorporated in
Maryland. GECC was organized in April 2016 and commenced operations on November 3, 2016 when Full Circle Capital Corporation, a Maryland corporation, merged with and into GECC. Beginning with GECC’s tax year starting October 1, 2016, GECC elected
to be treated, and intends to continue to qualify annually, as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under Sub-Chapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). GECC has elected to be regulated as a BDC under Section 54(a) of the Act. GECC gave notice of its intent to be regulated as a BDC by filing a Form N-54A with the Commission on
September 27, 2016. GECC is an “emerging growth company” within the meaning of the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act. As of June 30, 2019, GECC had total assets of approximately $334.6 million.
GECC’s investment objective is to seek to generate both current income and capital appreciation, while seeking to protect
against risk of capital loss, by investing predominantly in the debt securities of middle market companies, which GECC defines as companies with enterprise values between $100.0 million and $2.0 billion.
GECC seeks to generate current interest and capital appreciation by primarily focusing on investing in secured and senior
unsecured debt instruments in middle-market companies that offer sufficient downside protection but with the opportunity to unlock substantial return potential (interest income plus capital appreciation and fees, if any) that appropriately
recognizes potential investment risks.
GECC targets investments that it perceives to be undervalued due to over-leveraging or which operate in industries
experiencing cyclical declines and may trade at discounts to their original issue prices. GECC sources these transactions in the secondary markets and occasionally directly with issuers. GECC seeks to protect against the risk of loss by investing
in borrowers with tangible and intangible assets, where Great Elm Adviser believes asset values are expected to, or do, exceed GECC’s investment and any debt that is senior to, or ranks in parity with, its investment. Great Elm Adviser’s investment
process includes a focus on an investment’s contractual documents, as it seeks to identify rights that enhance an investment’s risk protection and avoid contracts that compromise potential returns or recoveries. Although GECC intends to focus on
senior debt instruments of middle-market companies, it may make investments throughout a company’s capital structure, including subordinated debt, mezzanine debt, and equity or equity-linked securities.
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9
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See, e.g., Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. (pub. Avail. June 7, 2000), Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. (pub. Avail. July 28, 2000) and SMC Capital, Inc. (pub.
Avail. Sept. 5, 1995).
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GECC’s business and affairs are managed under the direction of a Board,10 a majority of whom are Non-Interested Directors.11 GECC’s Board has delegated daily management and investment authority to Great Elm
Adviser pursuant to an investment management agreement (the “Investment Management Agreement”). Great Elm Adviser also serves as GECC’s administrator pursuant to an administration
agreement.
Great Elm Adviser may be deemed to control GECC by virtue of its position as GECC’s investment adviser. Great Elm
Opportunities GP, Inc. (“GEGP”) may be deemed to control the Existing Affiliated Fund by virtue of its position as the general partner of the Existing Affiliated Fund. Great Elm Capital
Group, Inc. (“Holdings”) may be deemed to control Great Elm Adviser and GEGP by virtue of its direct or indirect ownership of greater than 25% of the voting equity of Great Elm Adviser and
GEGP. GECC, the Existing Affiliated Fund and Great Elm Adviser thus may all be deemed to be under the direct or indirect common control of Holdings.
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B.
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Great Elm Capital Management, Inc.
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Great Elm Adviser, a Delaware corporation that is registered under the Advisers Act, serves as the investment adviser to
GECC pursuant to the Investment Management Agreement. Subject to the overall supervision of GECC’s Board, Great Elm Adviser manages the day-to-day operations of, and provides investment advisory and management services to, GECC. Under the terms of
the Investment Management Agreement, Great Elm Adviser determines the composition of GECC’s portfolio, the nature and timing of the changes to GECC’s portfolio, and the manner of implementing such changes; identifies, evaluates and negotiates the
structure of the investments GECC makes (including performing due diligence on GECC’s prospective portfolio companies); closes, monitors, and, when and where applicable, restructures the investments GECC makes; and determines the investments and
other assets that GECC purchases, retains or sells.
Pursuant to the administration agreement, Great Elm Adviser also furnishes GECC with, or otherwise arranges for the
provision of, office facilities, equipment, clerical, bookkeeping and record-keeping services at such office facilities. Under the administration agreement, Great Elm Adviser also performs, or oversees the performance of, GECC’s required
administrative services, which include, among other things, being responsible for the financial records that GECC is required to maintain and preparing reports to GECC’s stockholders and reports filed with the Commission. In addition, Great Elm
Adviser oversees GECC in determining and publishing GECC’s net asset value, oversees the preparation and filing of GECC’s tax returns and the printing and dissemination of reports to GECC’s stockholders, and generally oversees the payment of GECC’s
expenses and the performance of administrative and professional services rendered to GECC by others.
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C.
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Great Elm Opportunities Fund I, LP
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The Existing Affiliated Fund was organized as a limited partnership under Delaware law on October 13, 2017 and would be
an investment company but for the exclusion from the definition
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10
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The term “Board” means, with respect to any Regulated Fund, the board of directors of that Regulated Fund.
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11
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The term “Non-Interested Directors” means, with respect to any Board, the directors who are not “interested persons” within
the meaning of Section 2(a)(19).
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of investment company provided by Section 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act. The Existing Affiliated Fund’s investment objective
is to seek total returns by investing throughout the capital structures of leveraged issuers. The Existing Affiliated Fund accepted its first subscriptions from limited partners in the third quarter of 2018 and is managed by Great Elm Adviser. From
time to time, certain positons that are suitable for the Existing Affiliated Fund may also fit the investment objectives of GECC.
The Applicants respectfully request an Order of the Commission under Sections 17(d) and 57(i) under the Act, and Rule
17d-1 under the Act to permit, subject to the terms and conditions set forth below in this Application (the “Conditions”), one or more Regulated Funds to be able to participate in
Co-Investment Transactions with one or more other Regulated Funds and/or one or more Affiliated Funds.
The Regulated Funds and Affiliated Funds seek relief to enter into Co-Investment Transactions because such Co-Investment
Transactions would otherwise be prohibited by either or both of Sections 17(d) and 57(a)(4) of the Act and Rule 17d-1 under the Act. This Application seeks relief in order to (i) enable the Regulated Funds and the Affiliated Funds to avoid, among
other things, the practical commercial and/or economic difficulties of trying to structure, negotiate and persuade counterparties to enter into transactions while awaiting the granting of the relief requested in individual applications with respect
to each Co-Investment Transaction that arises in the future and (ii) enable the Regulated Funds and the Affiliated Funds to avoid the significant legal and other expenses that would be incurred in preparing such individual applications.
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A.
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Section 17(d) and Section 57(a)(4)
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Section 17(d) of the Act generally prohibits an affiliated person (as defined in Section 2(a)(3) of the Act), or an
affiliated person of such affiliated person, of a registered investment company acting as principal, from effecting any transaction in which the registered investment company is a joint or a joint and several participant, in contravention of such
rules as the Commission may prescribe for the purpose of limiting or preventing participation by the registered investment company on a basis different from or less advantageous than that of such other participant.
Similarly, with regard to BDCs, Section 57(a)(4) prohibits certain persons specified in Section 57(b)
of the Act from participating in a joint transaction with a BDC, or a company controlled by a BDC in contravention of rules as prescribed by the Commission. In particular, Section 57(a)(4) applies to:
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Any director, officer, employee, or member of an advisory board of a BDC; or any person (other than the BDC itself) who is an affiliated person of the forgoing pursuant
to Section 2(a)(3)(C) of the Act; or
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Any investment adviser or promoter of, general partner in, principal underwriter for, or person directly or indirectly either controlling, controlled by, or under common
control with, a BDC (except the BDC itself and any person who, if it were not directly or indirectly controlled by the BDC, would not be directly or indirectly
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under the control of a person who controls the BDC);12 or any person who is an affiliated person of any of the forgoing within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3)(C) or (D) of the Act.
Section 2(a)(3)(C) of the Act defines an “affiliated person” of another person to include any person directly or
indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, such other person. Section 2(a)(3)(D) of the Act defines “any officer, director, partner, copartner, or employee” of an affiliated person as an affiliated person. Section 2(a)(9)
of the Act defines “control” as the power to exercise a controlling influence over the management or policies of a company, unless such power is solely the result of an official position with that company. Under Section 2(a)(9) of the Act a person
who beneficially owns, either directly or through one or more controlled companies, more than 25% of the voting securities of a company is presumed to control such company. The Commission and its staff have indicated on a number of occasions their
belief that an investment adviser that provides discretionary investment management services to a fund and that sponsored, selected the initial directors, and provides administrative or other non-advisory services to the fund, controls such fund,
absent compelling evidence to the contrary.13 An Adviser is or will be the investment adviser to each Regulated Fund and Affiliated Fund. The Regulated Funds and
Affiliated Funds may be deemed to be under common control, and thus affiliated persons of each other under Section 2(a)(3)(C) of the Act. As a result, these relationships might cause each Regulated Fund and each Affiliated Fund participating in
Co-Investment Transactions to be subject to Sections 17(d) or 57(a)(4), and thus subject to the provisions of Rule 17d-1.
Rule 17d-1 generally prohibits an affiliated person (as defined in Section 2(a)(3)), or an affiliated person of such
affiliated person, of a registered investment company acting as principal, from effecting any transaction in which the registered investment company, or a company controlled by such registered company, is a joint or a joint and several participant,
in contravention of such rules as the Commission may prescribe for the purpose of limiting or preventing participation by the registered investment company on a basis different from or less advantageous than that of such first or second tier
affiliate. Rule 17d-1 also generally prohibits participation by a registered investment company and an affiliated person (as defined in Section 2(a)(3) of the Act) or
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12
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Also excluded from this category by Rule 57b-1 is any person who would otherwise be included (a) solely because that person is directly or indirectly controlled by a business development
company, or (b) solely because that person is, within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3)(C) or (D), an affiliated person of a person described in (a) above.
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13
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See, e.g., SEC Rel. No. IC-4697 (Sept. 8, 1966) (“For purposes of Section 2(a)(3)(C), affiliation based upon control would depend on the facts of the given situation, including
such factors as extensive interlocks of officers, directors or key personnel, common investment advisers or underwriters, etc.”); Lazard Freres Asset Management, SEC No-Action Letter (pub. avail. Jan. 10, 1997) (“While, in some
circumstances, the nature of an advisory relationship may give an adviser control over its client’s management or policies, whether an investment company and another entity are under common control is a factual question…“); In re Investment Company Mergers, SEC Rel. No. IC-25259 (Nov. 8, 2001); In re Steadman Security Corp., 46 S.E.C. 896, 920 n.81
(1977) (“[T]he investment adviser almost always controls the fund. Only in the very rare case where the adviser’s role is simply that of advising others who may or may not elect to be guided by his advice…can the adviser realistically
be deemed not in control.”).
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principal underwriter for that investment company, or an affiliated person of such affiliated person or principal
underwriter, in any “joint enterprise or other joint arrangement or profit-sharing plan,” as defined in the rule, without prior approval by the Commission by order upon application.
Rule 17d-1 was promulgated by the Commission pursuant to Section 17(d) and made applicable to persons subject to Sections
57(a) and (d) by Section 57(i) to the extent specified therein. Section 57(i) provides that, until the Commission prescribes rules under Sections 57(a) and (d), the Commission’s rules under Section 17(d) applicable to registered closed-end
investment companies will be deemed to apply to persons subject to the prohibitions of Section 57(a) or (d). Because the Commission has not adopted any rules under Section 57(a) or (d), Rule 17d-1 applies to persons subject to the prohibitions of
Section 57(a) or (d).
Applicants seek relief pursuant to Rule 17d-1, which permits the Commission to authorize joint transactions upon
application. In passing upon applications filed pursuant to Rule 17d-1, the Commission is directed by Rule 17d-1(b) to consider whether the participation of a registered investment company or controlled company thereof in the joint enterprise or
joint arrangement under scrutiny is consistent with provisions, policies and purposes of the Act and the extent to which such participation is on a basis different from or less advantageous than that of other participants.
The Commission has stated that Section 17(d), upon which Rule 17d-1 is based, and upon which Section 57(a)(4) was
modeled, was designed to protect investment companies from self-dealing and overreaching by insiders. The Commission has also taken notice that there may be transactions subject to these prohibitions that do not present the dangers of overreaching.
See Protecting Investors: A Half-Century of Investment Company Regulation, 1504 Fed.Sec.L.Rep., Extra Edition (May 29, 1992) at 448, et seq. The Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has
enunciated a like rationale for the purpose behind Section 17(d): “The objective of [Section] 17(d) … is to prevent … injuring the interest of stockholders of registered investment companies by causing the company to participate on a basis
different from or less advantageous than that of such other participants.” Securities and Exchange Commission v. Talley Industries, Inc., 399 F.2d 396, 405 (2d Cir. 1968), cert. denied, 393 U.S. 1015 (1969). Furthermore, Congress
acknowledged that the protective system established by the enactment of Section 57 is “similar to that applicable to registered investment companies under Section 17 of the Act, and rules thereunder, but is modified to address concerns relating to
unique characteristics presented by business development companies.” H.Rep. No. 96-1341, 96th Con., 2d Sess. 45 (1980) reprinted in 1980 U.S.C.C.A.N. 4827.
Applicants believe that the terms and Conditions of this Application would ensure that the conflicts of interest that
Section 17(d) and Section 57(a)(4) were designed to prevent would be addressed and the standards for an order under Rule 17d-1 are met.
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C.
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Protection Provided by the Proposed Conditions
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Applicants believe that the proposed Conditions, as discussed more fully in Section III.D of this Application, will
ensure the protection of shareholders of the Regulated Funds and compliance with the purposes and policies of the Act with respect to the Co-Investment Transactions. In
particular, the Conditions, as outlined below, would ensure that each Regulated Fund would only invest in investments
that are appropriate to the interests of shareholders and the investment needs and abilities of that Regulated Fund. In addition, each Regulated Fund would be able to invest on equal footing with each other Regulated Fund and/or one or more
Affiliated Funds, including identical terms, conditions, price, class of securities purchased, settlement date, and registration rights. Each Regulated Fund would have the ability to engage in Follow-On Investments in a fair manner consistent with
the protections of the other Conditions. Each Regulated Fund would have the ability to participate on a proportionate basis, at the same price and on the same terms and conditions in any sale of a security purchased in a Co-Investment Transaction.
Fees and expenses of Co-Investment Transactions would be borne by Great Elm Adviser, or shared pro rata among the Regulated Funds and Affiliated Funds who participate in the Co-Investment Transactions. The Conditions would also prevent a Regulated
Fund from investing in reliance on the requested Order in any issuer in which another Regulated Fund, Affiliated Fund, or any affiliated person thereof, is an existing investor, which eliminates the possibility of a Regulated Fund being forced to
invest in a manner that would benefit an affiliated person’s existing investment. Also, sufficient records of the transactions would be maintained to permit the examination staff of the Commission to monitor compliance with the terms of the
requested order.
The Conditions impose a variety of duties on Great Elm Adviser with respect to Co-Investment Transactions and Potential
Co-Investment Transactions by the Regulated Funds. These duties include determinations regarding investment appropriateness, the appropriate level of investment, and the provision of information to the Board of any Regulated Fund. In addition, when
considering Potential Co-Investment Transactions for any Regulated Fund, Great Elm Adviser will consider only the Objectives and Strategies,14 Board-Established
Criteria,15 investment policies, investment positions, capital available for investment, and other pertinent factors applicable to that Regulated Fund. The
participation of a Regulated Fund in a Potential Co-Investment Transaction may only be approved by a Required Majority, as defined in Section
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14
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The term “Objectives and Strategies” means a Regulated Fund’s investment objectives and strategies as described in the
Regulated Fund’s registration statement, other filings the Regulated Fund has made with the Commission under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the Regulated Fund’s reports to shareholders.
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15
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The term “Board-Established Criteria” means criteria that the Board of the applicable Regulated Fund may establish from time
to time to describe the characteristics of Potential Co-Investment Transactions which would be within the Regulated Fund’s then-current Objectives and Strategies that the applicable Adviser should consider as appropriate for the
Regulated Fund. If no Board-Established Criteria are in effect for a Regulated Fund, then such Adviser will consider all Potential Co-Investment Transactions that fall within the then-current Objectives and Strategies for that Regulated
Fund. Board-Established Criteria will be objective and testable, meaning that they will be based on observable information, such as industry/sector of the issuer, minimum EBITDA of the issuer, asset class of the investment opportunity
or required commitment size, and not on characteristics that involve discretionary assessment. Great Elm Adviser may from time to time recommend criteria for the applicable Board’s consideration, but Board-Established Criteria will only
become effective if approved by a majority of the Non-Interested Directors. The Non-Interested Directors of a Regulated Fund may at any time rescind, suspend or qualify its approval of any Board-Established Criteria, though Applicants
anticipate that, under normal circumstances, the Board would not modify these criteria more often than quarterly.
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57(o) (a “Required Majority”), of the directors of the Board
eligible to vote on that Co-Investment Transaction under Section 57(o) (the “Eligible Directors”).16
Applicants believe that the use of Board-Established Criteria for each of the Regulated Funds is appropriate based on the
potential size and scope of Great Elm Adviser’s advisory business, in particular since Great Elm Adviser intends to continue to evaluate and consider sponsoring new advisory clients that may be eligible to participate in the Co-Investment Program,
and may pursue transactions to increase the size and base of investable capital for GECC and the Existing Affiliated Fund. Great Elm Adviser presently considers, and potentially more so in the future expects that it will consider, a large number of
investment opportunities, many of which would not be appropriate for one or more Regulated Funds. By using the Board-Established Criteria for a Regulated Fund, Great Elm Adviser will be able to limit the Potential Co-Investment Opportunities it
considers for the Regulated Fund to objective, verifiable, and testable criteria established by the Regulated Fund’s Board. In addition to the other protections offered by the Conditions to the Application, using Board-Established Criteria in the
allocation of Potential Co-Investment Transactions will further reduce the risk of subjectivity in Great Elm Adviser’s determination of whether an investment opportunity is appropriate for a Regulated Fund. In connection with the Board’s annual
review of the continued appropriateness of any Board-Established Criteria under Condition 9, the Regulated Fund's Adviser will provide information regarding any Co-Investment Transaction (including, but not limited to Follow-On Investments)
effected by the Regulated Fund that did not fit within the then-current Board-Established Criteria.
The amount of each Regulated Fund’s capital available for investment will be determined based on the amount of liquid
assets not held for permanent investment, including cash, amounts that can currently be drawn down from lines of credit, marketable securities held for short-term purposes and existing commitments and reserves (if any), the targeted leverage level,
targeted asset mix, and other investment policies and restrictions set from time to time by the Board of the applicable Regulated Fund or imposed by applicable laws, rules, regulations or interpretations. Likewise, an Affiliated Fund’s capital
available for investment will be determined based on the amount of liquid assets not held for permanent investment, including cash, amounts that can currently be drawn down from lines of credit, marketable securities held for short-term purposes
and existing commitments and reserves (if any), the targeted leverage level, targeted asset mix, and other investment policies and restrictions set by the Affiliated Fund’s directors, general partners or adviser or imposed by applicable laws,
rules, regulations or interpretations. In addition, capital available for investment includes, where applicable, bona fide uncalled capital commitments that can be called by the settlement date of the Co-Investment Transaction.
If Great Elm Adviser or its principals, or any person controlling, controlled by, or under common control with Great Elm
Adviser or its principals, and the Affiliated Funds (collectively, the “Holders”) own in the aggregate more than 25 percent of the outstanding voting shares of a Regulated Fund (the “Shares”), then the Holders will vote such Shares as required under Condition 14.
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16
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In the case of a Regulated Fund that is a registered fund, the Board members that make up the Required Majority will be determined as if the Regulated Fund were a BDC subject to Section
57(o).
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Applicants believe that this Condition will ensure that the Non-Interested Directors will act independently in evaluating
the Co-Investment Program, because the ability of Great Elm Adviser or the principals to influence the Non-Interested Directors by a suggestion, explicit or implied, that the Non-Interested Directors can be removed will be limited significantly.
The Non-Interested Directors shall evaluate and approve any such independent third party, taking into account its qualifications, reputation for independence, cost to the shareholders, and other factors that they deem relevant.
In sum, the Applicants believe that the proposed Conditions would ensure that each Regulated Fund that participated in a
Co-Investment Transaction does not participate on a basis different from, or less advantageous than, that of such other participants. As a result, the Applicants believe that the participation of the Regulated Funds in Co-Investment Transactions
done in accordance with the Conditions would be consistent with the provisions, policies, and purposes of the Act, and would be done in a manner that was not different from, or less advantageous than, the other participants.
With respect to each Wholly-Owned Investment Sub, such a subsidiary would be prohibited from investing in a Co-Investment
Transaction with any Affiliated Fund or Regulated Fund because it would be a company controlled by its parent Regulated Fund for purposes of Section 57(a)(4) of the Act and Rule 17d-1 under the Act. Applicants request that each Wholly-Owned
Investment Sub be permitted to participate in Co-Investment Transactions in lieu of its parent Regulated Fund and that the Wholly-Owned Investment Sub’s participation in any such transaction be treated, for purposes of the requested Order, as
though the parent Regulated Fund were participating directly. Applicants represent that this treatment is justified because a Wholly-Owned Investment Sub would have no purpose other than serving as a holding vehicle for the Regulated Fund’s
investments and, therefore, no conflicts of interest could arise between the Regulated Fund and the Wholly-Owned Investment Sub. The Regulated Fund’s Board would make all relevant determinations under the Conditions with regard to a Wholly-Owned
Investment Sub’s participation in a Co-Investment Transaction, and the Regulated Fund’s Board would be informed of, and take into consideration, any proposed use of a Wholly-Owned Investment Sub in the Regulated Fund’s place. If the Regulated Fund
proposes to participate in the same Co-Investment Transaction with any of its Wholly-Owned Investment Subs, the Board will also be informed of, and take into consideration, the relative participation of the Regulated Fund and the Wholly-Owned
Investment Sub.
Applicants agree that any Order granting the requested relief shall be subject to the following Conditions:
1. (a) Each Adviser will establish, maintain and implement policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure that it identifies for each Regulated Fund all Potential
Co-Investment Transactions that (i) the Adviser considers for any other Regulated Fund or Affiliated Fund and (ii) fall within the Regulated Fund’s then-current Objectives and Strategies and Board-Established Criteria.
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(b)
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When an Adviser identifies a Potential Co-Investment Transaction for a Regulated Fund under Condition 1(a), the Adviser will make an independent
determination of the appropriateness of the investment for the Regulated Fund in light of the Regulated Fund’s then-current circumstances.
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2.
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(a)
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If an Adviser deems a Regulated Fund’s participation in any Potential Co-Investment Transaction to be appropriate for
the Regulated Fund, the Adviser will then determine an appropriate level of investment for the Regulated Fund.
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(b)
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If the aggregate amount recommended by an Adviser to be invested by the applicable Regulated Fund in the Potential Co-Investment Transaction, together
with the amount proposed to be invested by the other participating Regulated Funds and Affiliated Funds, collectively, in the same transaction, exceeds the amount of the investment opportunity, the investment opportunity will be
allocated among them pro rata based on each participant’s capital available for investment in the asset class being allocated, up to the amount proposed to be invested by each. Each Adviser will provide the Eligible Directors of each
participating Regulated Fund with information concerning each participating party’s available capital to assist the Eligible Directors with their review of the applicable Regulated Fund’s investments for compliance with these allocation
procedures.
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(c)
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After making the determinations required in Conditions 1(b) and 2(a), each Adviser to a participating Regulated Fund will distribute written information
concerning the Potential Co-Investment Transaction (including the amount proposed to be invested by each participating Regulated Fund and each participating Affiliated Fund) to the Eligible Directors of its participating Regulated
Fund(s) for their consideration. A Regulated Fund will enter into a Co-Investment Transaction with one or more other Regulated Funds or Affiliated Funds only if, prior to the Regulated Fund’s participation in the Potential Co-Investment
Transaction, a Required Majority concludes that:
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(i)
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the terms of the Potential Co-Investment Transaction, including the consideration to be paid, are reasonable and fair to the Regulated Fund and its
equity holders and do not involve overreaching in respect of the Regulated Fund or its equity holders on the part of any person concerned;
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(ii)
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the Potential Co-Investment Transaction is consistent with:
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(A)
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the interests of the Regulated Fund’s equity holders; and
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(B)
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the Regulated Fund’s then-current Objectives and Strategies;
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(iii)
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the investment by any other Regulated Fund(s) or any Affiliated Fund(s) would not disadvantage the Regulated Fund, and participation by the Regulated
Fund would not be on a basis different from or less advantageous than that of any other Regulated Funds or any Affiliated Funds; provided that, if any other Regulated Fund or any Affiliated Fund, but not the Regulated Fund itself, gains
the right to nominate a director for election to a portfolio company’s board of directors or the right to have a board observer or any similar right to participate in the governance or management of the portfolio company, such event
shall not be interpreted to prohibit the Required Majority from reaching the conclusions required by this Condition 2(c)(iii), if:
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(A)
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the Eligible Directors will have the right to ratify the selection of such director or board observer, if any; and
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(B)
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the Adviser agrees to, and does, provide periodic reports to the Board of the Regulated Fund with respect to the actions of such director or the
information received by such board observer or obtained through the exercise of any similar right to participate in the governance or management of the portfolio company; and
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(C)
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any fees or other compensation that any Regulated Fund or any Affiliated Fund or any affiliated person of any Regulated Fund or any Affiliated Fund
receives in connection with the right of a Regulated Fund or an Affiliated Fund to nominate a director or appoint a board observer or otherwise to participate in the governance or management of the portfolio company will be shared
proportionately among the participating Affiliated Funds (who may each, in turn, share its portion with its affiliated persons) and the participating Regulated Funds in accordance with the amount of each party’s investment; and
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(iv)
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the proposed investment by the Regulated Fund will not benefit any Adviser, the other Regulated Funds, the Affiliated Funds, or any affiliated person of
any of them (other than the parties to the Co-Investment Transaction), except (A) to the extent permitted by Condition 13, (B) to the extent permitted by Sections 17(e) or 57(k) of the Act, as applicable, (C) indirectly, as a result of
an interest in the securities issued by one of the parties to the Co-Investment Transaction, or (D) in the case of fees or other compensation described in Condition 2(c)(iii)(C).
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3.
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Each Regulated Fund has the right to decline to participate in any Potential Co-Investment Transaction or to invest less than the amount proposed.
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4.
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Each Adviser to a Regulated Fund will present to the Board of each Regulated Fund, on a quarterly basis, a record of all investments in Potential
Co-Investment Transactions made by any other Regulated Fund or Affiliated Fund during the preceding quarter that fell within the Regulated Fund’s then-current Objectives and Strategies and Board-Established Criteria that were not made
available to the Regulated Fund, and an explanation of why the investment opportunities were not offered to the Regulated Fund. All information presented to the Board pursuant to this Condition will be kept for the life of the Regulated
Fund and at least two years thereafter, and will be subject to examination by the Commission and its staff.
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5.
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Except for Follow-On Investments made in accordance with Condition 8,17
a Regulated Fund will not invest in reliance on the Order in any issuer in which another Regulated Fund, Affiliated Fund, or any affiliated person of another Regulated Fund or Affiliated Fund is an existing investor. Each Adviser will
maintain books and records that demonstrate compliance with this Condition for each applicable Regulated Fund.
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6.
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A Regulated Fund will not participate in any Potential Co-Investment Transaction unless the terms, conditions, price, class of securities to be
purchased, settlement date, and registration rights will be the same for each participating Regulated Fund and Affiliated Fund. The grant to another Regulated Fund or an Affiliated Fund, but not the Regulated Fund, of the right to
nominate a director for election to a portfolio company’s board of directors, the right to have an observer on the board of directors or similar rights to participate in the governance or management of the portfolio company will not be
interpreted so as to violate this Condition 6, if Conditions 2(c)(iii)(A), (B) and (C) are met.
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17
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This exception applies only to Follow-On Investments by a Regulated Fund in issuers in which that Regulated Fund already holds investments.
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7.
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(a)
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If any Regulated Fund or Affiliated Fund elects to sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of an interest in a security
that was acquired in a Co-Investment Transaction, then:
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(i)
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the Adviser to such Regulated Fund or Affiliated Fund will notify each Regulated Fund that participated in the Co-Investment Transaction of the proposed
disposition at the earliest practical time; and
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(ii)
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the Adviser to each Regulated Fund will formulate a recommendation as to participation by each Regulated Fund in the disposition.
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(b)
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Each Regulated Fund will have the right to participate in such disposition on a proportionate basis, at the same price and on the same terms and
conditions as those applicable to the participating Regulated Funds and Affiliated Funds.
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(c)
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A Regulated Fund may participate in such disposition without obtaining prior approval of the Required Majority if:
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(i)
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the proposed participation of each Regulated Fund and each Affiliated Fund in such disposition is proportionate to its outstanding investments in the
issuer immediately preceding the disposition;
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(ii)
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the Board of the Regulated Fund has approved as being in the best interests of the Regulated Fund the ability to participate in such dispositions on a
pro rata basis (as described in greater detail in this Application); and
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(iii)
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the Board of the Regulated Fund is provided on a quarterly basis with a list of all dispositions made in accordance with this Condition. In all other
cases, the Adviser to each Regulated Fund will provide its written recommendation as to such Regulated Fund’s participation to such Regulated Fund’s Eligible Directors, and such Regulated Fund will participate in such disposition solely
to the extent that a Required Majority determines that it is in such Regulated Fund’s best interests.
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(d)
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Each Regulated Fund and each Affiliated Fund will bear its own expenses in connection with any such disposition.
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8.
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(a)
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If a Regulated Fund or an Affiliated Fund desires to make a Follow-On Investment in a portfolio company whose
securities were acquired in a Co-Investment Transaction:
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(i)
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the Adviser to each such Regulated Fund or Affiliated Fund will notify each Regulated Fund that participated in the Co-Investment Transaction of the
proposed transaction at the earliest practical time; and
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(ii)
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the Adviser to each Regulated Fund will formulate a recommendation as to the proposed participation, including the amount of the proposed Follow-On
Investment, by each Regulated Fund.
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(b)
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A Regulated Fund may participate in such Follow-On Investment without obtaining prior approval of the Required Majority if:
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(i)
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the proposed participation of each Regulated Fund and each Affiliated Fund in such investment is proportionate to its outstanding investments in the
issuer immediately preceding the Follow-On Investment; and
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(ii)
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the Board of the Regulated Fund has approved as being in the best interests of the Regulated Fund the ability to participate in Follow-On Investments on
a pro rata basis (as described in greater detail in this Application). In all other cases, the Adviser will provide its written recommendation as to the Regulated Fund’s participation to the Eligible Directors, and the Regulated Fund
will participate in such Follow-On Investment solely to the extent that a Required Majority determines that it is in the Regulated Fund’s best interests.
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(c)
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If, with respect to any Follow-On Investment:
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(i)
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the amount of a Follow-On Investment is not based on the Regulated Funds’ and the Affiliated Funds’ outstanding investments immediately preceding the
Follow-On Investment; and
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(ii)
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the aggregate amount recommended by an Adviser to be invested by each Regulated Fund in the Follow-On Investment, together with the amount proposed to be
invested by the participating Affiliated Funds in the same transaction, exceeds the amount of the opportunity; then the amount invested by each such party will be allocated among them pro rata based on each party’s capital available for
investment in the asset class being allocated, up to the amount proposed to be invested by each.
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(d)
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The acquisition of Follow-On Investments as permitted by this Condition will be considered a Co-Investment Transaction for all
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purposes and subject to the other Conditions set forth in this Application.
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9.
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The Non-Interested Directors of each Regulated Fund will be provided quarterly for review all information concerning Potential Co-Investment Transactions
that fell within the Regulated Fund’s then-current Objectives and Strategies and Board-Established Criteria, including investments in Potential Co-Investment Transactions made by other Regulated Funds and Affiliated Funds, that the
Regulated Fund considered but declined to participate in, and concerning Co-Investment Transactions in which the Regulated Fund participated, so that the Non-Interested Directors may determine whether all Potential Co-Investment
Transactions and Co-Investment Transactions during the preceding quarter, including those Potential Co-Investment Transactions which the Regulated Fund considered but declined to participate in, comply with the Conditions of the Order.
In addition, the Non-Interested Directors will consider at least annually (a) the continued appropriateness for the Regulated Fund of participating in new and existing Co-Investment Transactions and (b) the continued appropriateness of
any Board-Established Criteria.
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10.
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Each Regulated Fund will maintain the records required by Section 57(f)(3) of the Act as if each of the Regulated Funds were a BDC and each of the
investments permitted under these Conditions were approved by the Required Majority under Section 57(f).
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11.
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No Non-Interested Director of a Regulated Fund will also be a director, general partner, managing member or principal, or otherwise be an “affiliated
person” (as defined in the Act), of any Affiliated Fund.
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12.
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The expenses, if any, associated with acquiring, holding or disposing of any securities acquired in a Co-Investment Transaction (including, without
limitation, the expenses of the distribution of any such securities registered for sale under the 1933 Act) will, to the extent not payable by the Advisers under their resepective investment advisory agreements with the Regulated Funds
and the Affiliated Funds, be shared by the Affiliated Funds and the Regulated Funds in proportion to the relative amounts of the securities held or to be acquired or disposed of, as the case may be.
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13.
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Any transaction fee18 (including break-up or commitment fees but
excluding brokerage or underwriting compensation permitted by Section 17(e) or 57(k) of the Act, as applicable) received in connection with a Co-Investment Transaction will be distributed to the participating Regulated Funds and
Affiliated Funds on a pro rata basis based on the amounts they invested or committed, as the case may be, in such Co-Investment
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18
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Applicants are not requesting and the staff of the Commission is not providing any relief for transaction fees received in connection with any Co-Investment Transaction.
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Transaction. If any transaction fee is to be held by an Adviser pending consummation
of the transaction, the fee will be deposited into an account maintained by an Adviser at a bank or banks having the qualifications prescribed in Section 26(a)(1) of the Act, and the account will earn a competitive rate of interest that will also
be divided pro rata among the participating Regulated Funds and Affiliated Funds based on the amounts they invest in such Co-Investment Transaction. None of the Advisers, the Affiliated Funds, the other Regulated Funds or any affiliated person of
the Regulated Funds or Affiliated Funds will receive additional compensation or remuneration of any kind as a result of or in connection with a Co-Investment Transaction (other than (a) in the case of the Regulated Funds and Affiliated Funds, the
pro rata transaction fees described above and fees or other compensation described in Condition 2(c)(iii)(C), (b) brokerage or underwriting compensation permitted by Section 17(e) or 57(k) of the Act or (c) in the case of the Advisers, investment
advisory fees paid in accordance with the investment advisory agreements between the applicable Regulated Funds or the Affiliated Funds and its Adviser).
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14.
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If the Holders own in the aggregate more than 25 percent of the Shares of a Regulated Fund, then the Holders will vote such Shares as directed by an
independent third party when voting on (1) the election of directors; (2) the removal of one or more directors; or (3) all other matters under either the Act or applicable State law affecting the Board’s composition, size or manner of
election.
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15.
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Each Regulated Fund’s chief compliance officer, as defined in rule 38a-1(a)(4), will prepare an annual report for its Board each year that evaluates (and
documents the basis of that evaluation) the Regulated Fund’s compliance with the terms and Conditions of the application and the procedures established to achieve such compliance.
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IV.
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STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF RELIEF REQUESTED
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In accordance with Rule 17d-1 (made applicable to transactions subject to Section 57(a) by Section 57(i)), the Commission
may grant the requested relief as to any particular joint transaction if it finds that the participation of the Regulated Funds in the joint transaction is consistent with the provisions, policies and purposes of the Act and is not on a basis
different from or less advantageous than that of other participants. Applicants submit that allowing the Co-Investment Transactions described in this Application is justified on the basis of (i) the potential benefits to the Regulated Funds and the
shareholders thereof and (ii) the protections found in the terms and Conditions.
As required by Rule 17d-1(b), the Conditions ensure that the terms on which Co-Investment Transactions may be made will
be consistent with the participation of the Regulated Funds being on a basis that it is neither different from nor less advantageous than other participants, thus protecting the equity holders of any participant from being disadvantaged. The
Conditions ensure that all Co-Investment Transactions are reasonable and fair to the Regulated Funds and their
shareholders and do not involve overreaching by any person concerned, including Great Elm Adviser.
In the absence of the relief sought hereby, in many circumstances the Regulated Funds would be limited in their ability
to participate in attractive and appropriate investment opportunities. Section 17(d), Section 57(a)(4) and Rule 17d-1 of the Act should not prevent BDCs and registered closed-end investment companies from making investments that are in the best
interests of their shareholders.
In cases where Great Elm Adviser identifies investment opportunities requiring larger capital commitments, it must seek
the participation of other entities with similar investment styles. The ability to participate in Co-Investment Transactions that involve committing larger amounts of financing would enable each Regulated Fund to participate with one or more of the
Affiliated Funds and the other Regulated Funds in larger financing commitments, which would, in turn, be expected to obtain discounted prices and increase income, expand investment opportunities and provide better access to due diligence
information for the Regulated Funds. Indeed, each Regulated Fund’s inability to co-invest with one or more of the Affiliated Funds and the other Regulated Funds could potentially result in the loss of beneficial investment opportunities for such
Regulated Fund and, in turn, adversely affect such Regulated Fund’s shareholders. For example, a Regulated Fund may lose investment opportunities if Great Elm Adviser cannot provide “one-stop” financing to a potential portfolio company. Portfolio
companies may reject an offer of funding arranged by Great Elm Adviser due to a Regulated Fund’s inability to commit the full amount of financing required by the portfolio company in a timely manner (i.e., without the delay that typically would be
associated with obtaining single-transaction exemptive relief from the Commission). Great Elm Adviser expects that any portfolio company that is an appropriate investment for a Regulated Fund should also be an appropriate investment for one or more
other Regulated Funds and/or one or more Affiliated Funds, with certain exceptions based on available capital or diversification. The Regulated Funds, however, will not be obligated to invest, or co-invest, when investment opportunities are
referred to them.
It is anticipated that a Regulated Fund’s participation in Co-Investment Transactions with one or more other Regulated
Funds and/or one or more Affiliated Funds should increase the number of favorable investment opportunities for the Regulated Fund. Great Elm Adviser expects that co-investments by the Regulated Funds and the Affiliated Funds, or among the Regulated
Funds themselves, will provide the Regulated Funds (through participation in a larger number and greater variety of transactions) with the ability to achieve greater diversification and, together with the Affiliated Funds, the opportunity to obtain
greater attention and better deal flow from investment bankers and others who act as sources of investments. Moreover, Great Elm Adviser believes that, without the Order, the Regulated Funds and the Affiliated Funds will have less bargaining power
and will be limited in their ability to exercise influence on, or control over, the portfolio companies in which they invest.
A Regulated Fund’s ability to co-invest with one or more other Regulated Funds and/or one or more Affiliated Funds would
allow it to participate in transactions of a larger size. A BDC that makes investments of the type contemplated by GECC typically limits its participation in any
one transaction to a specific dollar amount, which may be determined by legal or internally imposed limits on exposure in
a single investment. GECC and any other Regulated Fund that is a BDC must also comply with certain investment limitations imposed by Section 55(a) of the Act.19 In
addition, the Code imposes diversification and other requirements on companies, such as the Regulated Funds, which seek certain favorable tax treatment as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code.20
It also would be advantageous for a Regulated Fund to have the additional capital from the Affiliated Funds and the other
Regulated Funds available to meet the funding requirements of attractive investments in portfolio companies. In view of the foregoing, in cases where Great Elm Adviser identifies investment opportunities for a Regulated Fund requiring larger
capital commitments, it must seek the participation of other entities with similar investment styles. The availability of the Affiliated Funds and/or the other Regulated Funds as investing partners may alleviate the necessity for a Regulated Fund
to co-invest with unaffiliated entities in certain circumstances.
Furthermore, a Regulated Fund may have to forego some investment opportunities if it cannot provide all of the financing
required by a potential portfolio company. Portfolio companies may reject an offer of funding arranged by Great Elm Adviser as a result of a Regulated Fund’s inability to commit the entire amount of financing required by the portfolio company in a
timely manner (i.e., without the delay that typically would be associated with obtaining single-transaction exemptive relief from the Commission or arranging a syndicated financing with unaffiliated entities). By reducing the number of instances in
which a Regulated Fund’s investment limits require Great Elm Adviser to arrange a syndicated financing with unaffiliated entities, the Regulated Fund will likely be required to forego fewer attractive investment opportunities. With the assets of
the Affiliated Funds along with the assets of the other Regulated Funds available for co-investment, there should be an increase in the number of favorable investment opportunities accessible to each Regulated Fund.
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B.
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Protective Representations and Conditions
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The terms and Conditions set forth in this application ensure that the proposed Co-Investment Transactions are consistent
with the protection of each Regulated Fund’s shareholders and with the purposes intended by the policies and provisions of the Act. Specifically, the Conditions incorporate the following critical protections: (i) in each Co-Investment Transaction,
all Regulated Funds and Affiliated Funds participating in the Co-Investment Transactions will invest at the same time for the same price and with the same terms, conditions, class, registration rights and any other rights, so that none of them
receives terms more favorable than any other; (ii) a Required Majority of each Regulated Fund must approve various investment decisions with
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19
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Section 55(a) of the Act prohibits a BDC from acquiring any asset, other than those described in Section 55(a)(1)-(7) (“Eligible
Assets”), unless at the time of acquisition the ratio of Eligible Assets (net of certain assets specified in the Section) to total assets (net of certain assets specified in the Section) equals 70% or greater at the time of the
acquisition of the asset (the “Section 55(a) Ratio”). Thus, if a BDC’s Section 55(a) Ratio is below 70%, it is prohibited from purchasing non-Eligible Assets.
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20
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See Section 851(b)(3) of the Code.
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respect to such Regulated Fund in accordance with the Conditions; and (iii) the Regulated Funds are required to retain
and maintain certain records.
Other than pro rata dispositions and Follow-On Investments as provided in Conditions 7 and 8, and after making the
determinations required in Conditions 1 and 2(a), for each Regulated Fund, Great Elm Adviser will present each Potential Co-Investment Transaction and the proposed allocation to the Eligible Directors, and the Required Majority will approve each
Co-Investment Transaction prior to any investment by the participating Regulated Fund. With respect to the pro rata dispositions and Follow-On Investments provided in Conditions 7 and 8, a Regulated Fund may participate in a pro rata disposition or
Follow-On Investment without obtaining prior approval of the Required Majority if, among other things: (i) the proposed participation of each Regulated Fund and each Affiliated Fund in such disposition is proportionate to its outstanding
investments in the issuer immediately preceding the disposition or Follow-On Investment, as the case may be; and (ii) the Board of the Regulated Fund has approved that Regulated Fund’s participation in pro rata dispositions and Follow-On
Investments as being in the best interests of the Regulated Fund. If the Board does not so approve, any such disposition or Follow-On Investment will be submitted to the Regulated Fund’s Eligible Directors. The Board of any Regulated Fund may at
any time rescind, suspend or qualify its approval of pro rata dispositions and Follow-On Investments with the result that all dispositions and/or Follow-On Investments must be submitted to the Eligible Directors.
Applicants believe that participation by the Regulated Funds in pro rata dispositions and Follow-On Investments, as
provided in Conditions 7 and 8, is consistent with the provisions, policies and purposes of the Act and will not be made on a basis different from or less advantageous than that of other participants. A formulaic approach, such as pro rata
dispositions and Follow-On Investments, eliminates the discretionary ability to make allocation determinations, and in turn eliminates the possibility for overreaching and promotes fairness. Applicants note that the Commission has adopted a similar
pro rata approach in the context of Rule 23c-2, which relates to the redemption by a closed-end investment company of less than all of a class of its securities, indicating the general fairness and lack of overreaching that such approach provides.
The foregoing analysis applies equally where a Wholly-Owned Investment Sub is involved in a Co-Investment Transaction as
each Wholly-Owned Investment Sub will be treated as one company with its parent for purposes of this Application.
The Commission has issued numerous exemptive orders permitting certain investment companies subject to regulation under
the Act and their affiliated persons to co-invest in Private Placement Investments.21 Although certain precedents involved somewhat different formulae,
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21
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See, e.g., John Hancock GA Mortgage Trust, et al. (File No. 812-14917) Release Nos. IC-33518 (June 25, 2019) (order) and IC-33493 (May 28, 2019) (notice); BlackRock
Capital Investment Corporation, et al. (File No. 812-14955) Release Nos. IC-33515 (June 20, 2019) (order) and IC-33480 (May 21, 2019) (notice); Nuveen Churchill BDC LLC, et al. (File No. 812-14850) Release Nos. IC-33503
(June 7, 2019) (order) and IC-33475 (May 15, 2019) (notice); CM Finance Inc, et al. (File No. 812-14850) Release Nos. IC-33401 (March 19, 2019) (order) and IC-33377 (February 19, 2019) (notice); Pharos Capital BDC, Inc., et
al. (File No. 812-14891) Release Nos. IC-33394 (March 11, 2019) (order) and IC-33372 (February 8, 2019) (notice); Stellus Capital Investment Corporation, et al. (File No. 812-14855) Release Nos. IC-33316 (December 4, 2018)
(order) and IC-33289 (November 6, 2018); Blackstone Real Estate Income Fund, et al. (File No. 812-14931) Release Nos. IC-33294 (November 13, 2018) and IC-33271 (October 16, 2018); Audax Credit BDC Inc., et al. (File No.
812-14862) Release Nos. IC-33290 (November 7, 2018) and IC-33270 (October 12, 2018); BC Partners Lending Corporation, et al. (File No. 812-14860) Release Nos. IC-33279 (October 23, 2018) and IC-33256 (September 26, 2018); and THL
Credit, Inc., et al. (File No. 812-14807) Release Nos. IC-33239 (September 19, 2018) (order) and IC-33213 (notice).
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the Commission has accepted, as a basis for relief from the prohibitions on joint transactions, use of allocation and
approval procedures to protect the interests of investors in the BDCs and registered closed-end investment companies. Applicants submit that the allocation procedures set forth in the Conditions for relief are consistent with the range of investor
protections found in the orders cited. Applicants note, in particular, that the co-investment protocol to be followed by Applicants here is substantially similar to the protocol followed by Goldman Sachs BDC, Inc. and its affiliates, for which an
order was granted on January 4, 2017.22
Please address all communications concerning this Application and the Notice and Order to:
Adam M. Kleinman, Esq.
Secretary
Great Elm Capital Corp.
800 South Street, Suite 230
Waltham, Massachusetts 02453
Telephone Number: (617) 375-3000
Please address any questions, and a copy of any communications, concerning this Application, the Notice and Order to:
Michael Hoffman
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Four Times Square
New York, NY 10036
Telephone Number: (212) 735-3000
and
Kenneth E. Burdon
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
500 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02116
Telephone Number: (617) 573-4800
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22
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See Goldman, note 21 supra. 18
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Pursuant to Rule 0-2(c) under the Act, Applicants hereby state that each of GECC and Great Elm Adviser, by resolution
duly adopted by each respective Board (attached hereto as Appendices A and B), and the Existing Affiliated Fund, by virtue of action by GEGP, its general partner that was duly authorized to act on its behalf by resolution duly adopted by GEGP’s
Board (attached hereto as Appendix C), is authorized to cause to be prepared and to execute and file with the Commission this Application and any amendment thereto under Sections 17(d), 57(a)(4) and 57(i) of the Act and Rule 17d-1 under the Act,
for an order permitting certain joint transactions that may otherwise be prohibited under Sections 17(d), 57(a)(4) and 57(i) of the Act and Rule 17d-1 under the Act. The Existing Affiliated Fund’s limited partnership agreement grants GEGP plenary
authority to manage the Existing Affiliated Fund’s business and affairs, and GEGP, as the Existing Affiliated Fund’s general partner and pursuant to authority granted to it by resolution of its Board, as previously stated, is authorized to execute
and file this Application and any amendment thereto on behalf of the Existing Affiliated Fund. Each person executing the application on behalf of the Applicants says that he has duly executed the Application for and on behalf of the Applicants;
that he is authorized to execute the Application pursuant to the terms of an operating agreement, management agreement or otherwise; and that all actions by members, directors, trustees or other bodies necessary to authorize each such deponent to
execute and file the Application have been taken.
All requirements for the execution and filing of this Application in the name and on behalf of each Applicant by the
undersigned have been complied with and the undersigned is fully authorized to do so and has duly executed this Application this 2nd day of October, 2019.
[Signature page follows.]
GREAT ELM CAPITAL CORP.
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By:
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/s/ Peter A. Reed
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Name:
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Peter A. Reed
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Title:
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President and Chief Executive Officer
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GREAT ELM CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.
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By:
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/s/ Peter A. Reed
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Name:
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Peter A. Reed
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Title:
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Chief Investment Officer
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GREAT ELM OPPORTUNITIES FUND I, LP
By: Great Elm Opportunities GP, Inc., its general partner
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By:
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/s/ Adam M. Kleinman
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Name:
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Adam M. Kleinman
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Title:
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President
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VERIFICATION
The undersigned states that he has duly executed the foregoing Application, dated October 2, 2019, for and on behalf of
the Applicants, as the case may be, that he holds the office with such entity as indicated below and that all action by the directors, trustees, shareholders, general partners or members of each entity, as applicable, necessary to authorize the
undersigned to execute and file such instrument has been taken. The undersigned further states that he is familiar with such instrument and the contents thereof and that the facts set forth therein are true to the best of his knowledge, information
and belief.
GREAT ELM CAPITAL CORP.
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By:
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/s/ Peter A. Reed
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Name:
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Peter A. Reed
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Title:
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President and Chief Executive Officer
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GREAT ELM CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.
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By:
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/s/ Peter A. Reed
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Name:
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Peter A. Reed
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Title:
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Chief Investment Officer
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GREAT ELM OPPORTUNITIES FUND I, LP
By: Great Elm Opportunities GP, Inc., its general partner
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By:
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/s/ Adam M. Kleinman
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Name:
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Adam M. Kleinman
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Title:
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President
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