e40vappza
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 5, 2010
No. 812-13788
U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO APPLICATION FOR AN ORDER PURSUANT TO SECTION 57(i) OF THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940, AND RULE
17d-1 UNDER THE ACT TO PERMIT CERTAIN JOINT TRANSACTIONS OTHERWISE PROHIBITED BY SECTION 57(a)(4)
OF THE ACT AND UNDER SECTION 17(d) OF THE ACT AND RULE 17d-l UNDER THE ACT AUTHORIZING CERTAIN
JOINT TRANSACTIONS.
MEDLEY CAPITAL BDC LLC, MCC ADVISORS LLC, MEDLEY CAPITAL LLC, MEDLEY MACRO FUND MANAGEMENT LLC,
MEDLEY OPPORTUNITY FUND LP, MEDLEY OPPORTUNITY FUND LTD, MEDLEY MACRO FUND LP, MEDLEY MACRO FUND
LTD, MEDLEY GP LLC, MEDLEY MACRO FUND GP LLC, MEDLEY MACRO MASTER FUND LTD.
375 Park Avenue, Suite 3304
New York, NY 10152
All Communications, Notices and Orders to:
Brook Taube
Medley Capital BDC LLC
375 Park Avenue, Suite 3304
New York, NY 10152
(212) 759-0777
Copies to:
James R. Tanenbaum
Anna T. Pinedo
Morrison & Foerster LLP
1290 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10104
(212) 468-8000
November 5, 2010
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Before the
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
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In the Matter of:
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MEDLEY CAPITAL BDC LLC, MCC ADVISORS,
MEDLEY CAPITAL LLC, MEDLEY MACRO FUND
MANAGEMENT LLC, MEDLEY OPPORTUNITY FUND
LP,
MEDLEY OPPORTUNITY FUND LTD, MEDLEY MACRO
FUND LP, MEDLEY MACRO FUND LTD, MEDLEY GP
LLC, MEDLEY MACRO FUND GP LLC, MEDLEY
MACRO FUND LTD.
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AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO APPLICATION FOR AN
ORDER PURSUANT TO
SECTION 57(i) OF THE
INVESTMENT COMPANY
ACT OF 1940 AND RULE
17d-1 UNDER THE ACT
AUTHORIZING CERTAIN
JOINT TRANSACTIONS
OTHERWISE PROHIBITED
BY SECTION 57(a)(4)
OF THE ACT AND UNDER
SECTION 17(d) OF THE ACT AND RULE 17d-l UNDER THE ACT AUTHORIZING CERTAIN JOINT TRANSACTIONS. |
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File No. 812-13788
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Investment Company Act of 1940
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INTRODUCTION
The following entities hereby request an order (the Order) of the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission (the Commission) pursuant to Section 57(i) of the Investment Company Act of
1940 (the Act),1 and Rule 17d-l promulgated under the Act,2 authorizing
certain joint transactions that otherwise may be prohibited by Section 57(a)(4):
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Medley Capital BDC LLC (Medley Capital BDC or the Company), |
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MCC Advisors LLC, Medley Capital BDCs investment adviser (MCC Advisors or
the Adviser), |
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Medley Capital LLC and Medley Macro Fund Management LLC (collectively, the
Affiliated Investment Advisers) that manage Existing Affiliated Funds (as
defined below) and any future investment advisers (other than MCC Advisors)
controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Affiliated Funds (as
defined below), that manage Future Affiliated Funds (as defined below) (together
collectively, Medley Management),3 |
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Medley Opportunity Fund LP, Medley Opportunity Fund Ltd., Medley Macro Fund LP,
Medley Macro Master Fund Ltd., Medley Macro Fund Ltd., Medley GP LLC, Medley Macro
Fund GP LLC (collectively, the Existing Affiliated Funds and, together with
Medley Capital BDC, MCC Advisors and Medley Management, the Applicants). |
In particular, the relief requested in this application (the Application) would allow Medley
Capital BDC and any other business development companies advised by the Adviser on the one hand, and the Existing
Affiliated Funds and any future entities that Medley Management, MCC Advisors or an affiliated
person (as defined in Section 2(a)(3)(C) of the Act (Affiliate)) of either may in the future
sponsor or provide investment advisory services to an affiliated fund (each a Future Affiliated
Fund4 and together with the Existing Affiliated Funds, the Affiliated Funds), on the
other hand, to exit investments or make follow-on investments in, a portfolio company in which the
Company and an Affiliated Fund find themselves holding investments of the same or a different
class, but where the respective acquisitions of those investments did not occur at the same time or
otherwise implicate the joint transaction proscriptions of Section 57(a)(4), and Section 57(a)(4)
is implicated (those situations where Section 57(a)(4) was not implicated when the initial
investments were made, but where Section 57(a)(4) is implicated in connection with the exit from,
or additional acquisition of, such investment are referred to as Joint Exit Transactions and
Joint Follow-On Transactions, respectively, and together as Joint Transactions).
All existing entities that currently intend to rely on the Order have been named as
Applicants. Any other existing or future entity that relies on the Order in the future will comply
with the terms and conditions of the application.
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Unless otherwise indicated, all section
references herein are to the Act. |
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Unless otherwise indicated, all rule
references herein are to rules under the Act. |
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Affiliated Investment Advisers are domestic
limited liability companies and are directly wholly-owned by and directly
controlled by, Medley Capital Holdings LLC. Medley Capital LLC, Medley Macro
Management LLC and Medley Capital Holdings LLC are exempt from registration
under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. |
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Any Future Affiliated Fund will either be
registered under the Act or exempt from registration thereunder. |
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I. APPLICANTS
A. MEDLEY CAPITAL BDC LLC
Medley Capital BDC will be an externally managed, closed-end, non-diversified management
investment company.5 Medley Capital BDC filed a registration statement on Form N-2 (File
No. 333-166491) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the 1933 Act) in connection with
its planned initial public offering on May 3, 2010, as amended through its effective date. Medley
Capital BDC, which was organized in Delaware on April 23, 2010, will file an election to be
regulated as a business development company (BDC) under the Act.6 In addition, Medley
Capital BDC intends to elect to be treated as a regulated investment company (RIC) under
Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the Code) and intends to continue to qualify
as a RIC in the future. Medley Capital BDCs principal place of business is 375 Park Avenue, Suite
3304, New York, NY 10152.
Medley Capital BDCs investment objective is to generate current income and capital
appreciation by lending directly to privately-held middle market companies. The Companys portfolio
will generally consist of secured loans, and, to a lesser extent, subordinate loans and equity
positions in situations where they are also a secured lender. Medley Capital BDC seeks to provide
customized financing solutions, typically in the form of secured loans to corporate and asset-based
borrowers, and may utilize structures such as sale leaseback transactions, direct asset purchases
or other hybrid structures that it believes replicate the economics and risk profile of secured
loans. Medley Capital BDC may also selectively make subordinated debt and equity investments in
borrowers to which they have extended secured debt financing. Medley Capital BDC believes that its
proposed investment strategy will allow it to generate cash available for distribution to its
stockholders and to provide competitive total returns to its stockholders.
Medley Capital BDCs business and affairs will be managed under the direction of a board of
directors (the Board). The Board will consist of seven members, four of whom are not interested
persons of Medley Capital BDC as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Act (the Independent
Directors). Each of Andrew Fentress, Brook Taube and Seth Taube initially will serve as directors
on the Companys Board. The Board will delegate daily management and investment authority to MCC
Advisors pursuant to an investment management agreement (the Investment Management Agreement).
MCC Advisors also serves as Medley Capital BDCs administrator pursuant to an administration
agreement. Andrew Fentress and Seth Taube will not serve as officers of the Company. Brook Taube
will serve as the Companys Chief Executive Officer.
Medley Capital BDCs wholly-owned subsidiary, MOF I BDC LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company, initially will hold interests in five loans with a combined fair value of approximately
$73.5 million (the Loan Assets). In connection with the initial public offering and the
formation transactions related to that offering, the Company will acquire the Loan Assets. The
Loan Assets consist of senior secured loans of Allied Cash Holdings LLC, Bennu Glass, Inc., Geneva
Wood Fuels LLC, Velum Global Credit Management, LLC and Water Capital USA, Inc. Each of these
companies is referred to as a Portfolio Company and together as the Portfolio Companies. As of
September 30, 2010, an affiliate of Medley Capital Holdings LLC, Medley Opportunity Fund LP and/or
Medley Opportunity Fund Ltd. owned equity interests in four of the five Loan Assets as follows:
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Allied Cash Holdings LLC is 60% owned by 4-3 Payday LLC, which is 100% owned by
an affiliate of Medley Capital Holdings LLC; |
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Bennu Glass, Inc. is 10% owned by Medley Opportunity Fund LP and 90% owned by
Bennu Glass Holdings Ltd., which is owned 100% by Medley Opportunity Fund Ltd.; |
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As disclosed in Medley Capital BDCs
registration statement, prior to the initial public offering, Medley Capital
BDC will restructure as a Delaware corporation. |
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Section 2(a)(48) defines a BDC to be any
closed-end investment company that operates for the purpose of making
investments in securities described in Section 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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An affiliate of Medley Capital Holdings LLC owns warrants to purchase 12.6% of
the common equity of Geneva Wood Fuels LLC; and |
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Medley Opportunity Fund LP owns 100% of 3304 Holdings LLC, which owns 100% of
Velum Global Credit Management, LLC. |
B. MCC ADVISORS LLC
MCC Advisors, a Delaware limited liability company that is registered as an investment adviser
under the Advisers Act will serve as the investment adviser to Medley Capital BDC pursuant to the
Investment Management Agreement. Subject to the overall supervision of the Board, MCC Advisors will
manage the day-to-day operations of, and will provide investment advisory and management services
to, Medley Capital BDC. Under the terms of the Investment Management Agreement, MCC Advisors will
determine the composition of Medley Capital BDCs portfolio, the nature and timing of the changes
to Medley Capital BDCs portfolio and the manner of implementing such changes; identify, evaluate
and negotiate the structure of the investments Medley Capital BDC makes (including performing due
diligence on Medley Capital BDCs Portfolio Companies and its prospective portfolio companies);
close and monitor the investments Medley Capital BDC plans to make; and will determine the
investments and other assets that Medley Capital BDC intends to purchase, retain or sell. MCC
Advisors services under the Investment Management Agreement will not be exclusive, and it is free
to furnish similar services to other entities, consistent with its fiduciary duties to Medley
Capital BDC.
Pursuant to the administration agreement, MCC Advisors will furnish Medley Capital BDC with
office equipment and clerical, bookkeeping and record keeping services at Medley Capital BDCs
office facilities. Under the administration agreement, MCC Advisors will also perform, or oversee
the performance of, Medley Capital BDCs required administrative services, which include, among
other things, providing assistance in accounting, legal, compliance, operations, technology and
investor relations. MCC Advisors will be responsible for the financial records that Medley Capital
BDC is required to maintain and will prepare reports to Medley Capital BDCs stockholders and
reports filed with the Commission. In addition, MCC Advisors will assist Medley Capital BDC in
determining and publishing Medley Capital BDCs net asset value, oversee the preparation and filing
of Medley Capital BDCs tax returns and the printing and dissemination of reports to Medley Capital
BDCs stockholders, and generally oversee the payment of Medley Capital BDCs expenses and the
performance of administrative and professional services rendered to Medley Capital BDC by others.
The Affiliated Investment Advisers currently serve as investment advisers to the Existing
Affiliated Funds. After the Company commences operations, it may seek to participate in
Co-Investment Transactions with the Existing Affiliated Funds. Additionally, MCC Advisors or an
affiliate may serve as investment adviser to Future Affiliated Funds. Any such Future Affiliated
Fund may seek to participate in Co-Investment Transactions with the Company and Existing Affiliated
Funds at that time.
MCC Advisors and the Affiliated Investment Advisers are held by Medley Capital Holdings LLC.
The Principals (as defined below) control Medley Capital Holdings LLC.
C. EXISTING AFFILIATED FUNDS
1. Medley Opportunity Fund LP
Medley Opportunity Fund LP is a Delaware limited partnership. Medley GP LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company, is the general partner of Medley Opportunity Fund LP and Medley Capital
LLC is the investment adviser for Medley Opportunity Fund LP. Andrew Fentress, Brook Taube and Seth
Taube (the Principals) are the managing members of Medley GP LLC and Medley Capital LLC. Medley
GP LLC is responsible for managing the business of Medley Opportunity Fund LP. Medley Capital LLC
is responsible for investment advisory services for Medley Opportunity Fund LP. Medley Capital LLC
and MCC Advisors are under common control of Medley Capital Holdings LLC.
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The investment strategy of Medley Opportunity Fund LP is to generate current income and
capital appreciation by lending directly to privately-held middle market companies. The investment
strategy of Medley Opportunity Fund LP is similar to the investment strategy of Medley Capital BDC.
2. Medley Opportunity Fund Ltd.
Medley Opportunity Fund Ltd. is an exempted company incorporated and existing under the laws
of the Cayman Islands. Medley Capital LLC is the investment adviser for Medley Opportunity Fund
Ltd. The Principals are the managing members of Medley Capital LLC. Medley Capital LLC is
responsible for management and operations of Medley Opportunity Fund Ltd. Medley Capital LLC and
MCC Advisors are under common control of Medley Capital Holdings LLC.
The investment strategy of Medley Opportunity Fund Ltd. is to generate current income and
capital appreciation by lending directly to privately-held middle market companies. The investment
strategy of Medley Opportunity Fund Ltd. is similar to the investment strategy of Medley Capital
BDC.
3. Medley Macro Fund LP
Medley Macro Fund LP is a Delaware limited partnership. Medley Macro Fund LP invests
substantially all of its assets through a master-feeder fund structure and is a shareholder in
Medley Macro Master Fund Ltd., an exempted company incorporated and existing under the laws of the
Cayman Islands. Medley Macro Fund GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, is the general
partner of Medley Macro Fund LP and is responsible for managing the business of Medley Macro Fund
LP. Medley Capital LLC and certain senior portfolio managers of Medley Macro Master Fund Ltd. are
the managing members of the Medley Macro Fund GP LLC. Medley Macro Fund Management LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company, is the investment manager of Medley Macro Fund LP and Medley Macro
Master Fund Ltd. Medley Capital LLC and certain senior portfolio managers of Medley Macro Master
Fund Ltd. are the managing members of Medley Macro Fund Management LLC. Medley Macro Fund
Management LLC is responsible for investment advisory services. Medley Macro Fund Management LLC
and MCC Advisors are under common control of Medley Capital Holdings LLC.
The investment objective of Medley Macro Fund LP, through its investment in Medley Macro
Master Fund Ltd., is to deliver superior risk adjusted returns with an absolute return orientation.
4. Medley Macro Fund Ltd.
Medley Macro Fund Ltd. is an exempted company incorporated and existing under the laws of the
Cayman Islands. Medley Macro Fund Ltd. invests substantially all of its assets through a
master-feeder fund structure and is a shareholder in Medley Macro Master Fund Ltd., exempted
company incorporated and existing under the laws of the Cayman Islands. Medley Macro Fund
Management LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, is the investment manager of Medley Macro
Fund Ltd. and Medley Macro Master Fund Ltd. Medley Capital LLC and certain senior portfolio
managers of Medley Macro Master Fund Ltd. are the managing members of Medley Macro Fund Management
LLC. Medley Macro Fund Management LLC is responsible for investment advisory services. Medley Macro
Fund Management LLC and MCC Advisors are under common control of Medley Capital Holdings LLC.
The investment objective of Medley Macro Fund Ltd., through its investment in Medley Macro
Master Fund Ltd., is to deliver superior risk adjusted returns with an absolute return orientation.
Each of the above Existing Affiliated Funds is a separate and distinct legal entity and each
relies on the exemption from registration as an investment company under the Act provided by
Section 3(c)(1) or 3(c)(7) of the Act. The Affiliated Funds and the Company will be under common
control.
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II. RELIEF REQUESTED
A. JOINT FOLLOW-ON TRANSACTIONS AND JOINT EXIT TRANSACTIONS
1. Mechanics
Medley Capital BDC and the Affiliated Funds require relief to exit investments in the
Portfolio Companies or make follow-on investments in the Portfolio Companies because MCC Advisors
and the Affiliated Investment Advisers are under the common control of Medley Capital Holdings LLC.
At the time that the investments involving the Loan Assets were entered into by the Company,
the transactions did not implicate the prohibitions of Section 57. However, as we discuss further
below, it is possible that Medley Capital BDC or an Affiliated Fund may wish to exit the
investments involving the Portfolio Companies or that Medley Capital BDC or an Affiliated Fund will
complete an additional investment in a Portfolio Company. An additional investment may consist of
a debt or equity investment or an investment in warrants or the exercise of conversion privileges
or other rights to acquire additional securities of the portfolio company. These additional Joint
Exit or Joint Follow-on Transactions may implicate Section 57(a)(4).
In addition, due to the similarities of their investment objectives, there are and may be in
the future instances where Medley Capital BDC and an Affiliated Fund find themselves holding
investments in the same portfolio company of the same or a different class, but where the
respective acquisitions of those investments did not occur at the same time or otherwise implicate
the joint transaction proscriptions of Section 57(a)(4). For example, Medley Capital BDC or an
Affiliated Fund holds or may hold in the future investments that overlap with the holdings of a
fund on the opposite side (i.e., an Affiliated Fund for Medley Capital BDC, and vice versa). In
another scenario, Medley Capital BDC holds or may hold in the future the same or different
investment of the same issuer that is held by an Affiliated Fund, where the respective investments
were acquired by Medley Capital BDC, on the one hand, and the Affiliated Fund, on the other hand,
under circumstances where there was no jointness connecting the respective acquisitions. The lack
of jointness in the initial investment transactions could have arisen because those transactions
were separated by time or were otherwise distinct in nature, or under other circumstances where
Medley Capital BDC or the Affiliated Fund was able to conclude that Section 57(a) was not
implicated. Under both of the foregoing scenarios, no issue arose under Section 57 when the
original investments were made, and it is possible that either or both funds may exit the
investment or complete a follow-on investment also without implicating Section 57(a), in which case
relief of the type being sought in this Application would not be required.
If, however, either Medley Capital BDC or the Affiliated Fund wishes to complete a Joint Exit
Transaction or a Joint Follow-On Transaction, the following procedures must be followed to ensure
fairness.
2. Ensuring Fairness in Joint Follow-On Transactions and Joint Exit Transactions.
Joint Follow-On Transactions and Joint Exit Transactions arise as described above. In
connection with Joint Follow-On Transactions and Joint Exit Transactions, the following protocols
are designed to ensure the fairness of those transactions to Medley Capital BDC:
(1) where the Company and an Affiliated Fund hold the same investment, no Affiliated Fund or
the Company will be permitted to engage in a Joint Exit Transaction without obtaining the approvals
specified in (2) below unless each Affiliated Fund and the Company disposes of its interest in such
investment at the same time, for the same unit consideration, on the same terms and conditions, and
in amounts proportionate to its respective holding of such investment;
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(2) where each of the Company and an Affiliated Fund holds the same investment and the
proposed participation of any Affiliated Fund or the Company in a proposed Joint Exit Transaction
or Joint Follow-On Transaction is disproportionate to its existing holding of such investment
(except in situations where the Adviser determines that the Company should not participate in such
proposed transaction), then
the Adviser will formulate a recommendation as to the participation of the Company in the proposed
transaction and submit the recommendation to the Board, to make the determination set forth in
condition 6 of this Application;
(3) where an Affiliated Fund and the Company hold different investments in the same issuer,
the Affiliated Fund may not complete a Joint Follow-On Transaction unless the Company is also
offered the opportunity to invest in the same investment at the same time and for the same price;
and
(4) where an Affiliated Fund and the Company hold different investments in the same issuer,
the Affiliated Fund may sell, exchange, or otherwise dispose of its investment in such issuer in a
Joint Exit Transaction only if the Company is also offered the opportunity to exit its different
investment in the same issuer.7
In connection with the Companys determination to participate in any of the Joint Exit
Transactions or Joint Follow-On Transactions described in (2) and (3) above, the Board must make
the determination set forth in condition 6 of this Application. In connection with the Companys
determination to participate in a Joint Exit Transaction as described in (4) above, if the Adviser
determines to dispose of the Companys investment, then the Board must make the determination set
forth in condition 6 of this Application.
B. RATIONALE FOR JOINT EXIT AND JOINT FOLLOW-ON TRANSACTIONS
As described above, Medley Capital BDC and an Affiliated Fund currently and may in the future
find themselves holding investments in the same portfolio company of the same or a different class,
but where the respective acquisitions of those investments did not implicate the joint transaction
proscriptions of Section 57(a)(4), and therefore the investments were not made through a
co-investment transaction. As the co-investment transaction model is not implicated in these
situations, a question arises as to how to ensure that an exit from, or a follow-on investment in,
a portfolio company in this situation is made on terms that are fair and equitable and do not harm
Medley Capital BDCs shareholders.
A method for exiting and completing follow-on investments in the described situation may be
necessary because at times it will be in the best interests of the shareholders of Medley Capital
BDC to be able to exit investments and to complete follow-on investments. If Medley Capital BDC is
not able to exit investments or complete follow-on investments, then Medley Capital BDC may be
forced to hold an investment when it is no longer viewed as potentially accretive (in the case of
exits) or when more attractive investment opportunities are available (in the case of follow-on
investments).
With respect to Joint Follow-On Transactions, Applicants believe that the conditions set forth
herein would provide appropriate protection. The fact that the Joint Follow-On Transaction would be
effected at a time when Medley Capital BDC and the Affiliated Fund already have respective
positions in the portfolio company would seem to be ably addressed by the requirement that a
majority of the independent directors make certain findings regarding the fact that the proposed
Joint Follow-On Transaction is in the best interests of Medley Capital BDCs shareholders.
With respect to Joint Exit Transactions, Applicants see no basis to impose greater
restrictions than those that would be imposed under the traditional co-investment order templates.
There will be times when it will be in the best interests of Medley Capital BDCs shareholders for
Medley Capital BDC to divest of a
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In both (3) and (4) above, where the
Company seeks to complete a follow-on investment or exit an investment in which
an Affiliated Fund holds a different investment in the same portfolio company,
the Company may proceed without regard to the Affiliated Fund. |
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position also held by an Affiliated Fund. Assuming, as Applicants
do here, that Medley Capital BDC and the Affiliated Fund came to and have maintained their
respective positions in the portfolio company separately (i.e., Section 57(a)(4) has not been
implicated in their circumstances prior to seeking the disposition in question), the layering of
additional conditions to a disposition would serve no shareholder protection or policy purpose.
Stated differently, the fact that the various conditions typically imposed on the
acquisition side of a co-investment program were not applicable to the disjointed acquisitions
here should not impact or change the analysis. Those conditions have historically been imposed to
ensure that investments made under circumstances which Congress in Section 57(a)(4) identified as
presumptively abusivei.e., where a BDC and an affiliate are acting jointly by investing in the
same issuer in some concerted waywere the subject of a protocol designed to prevent the abuse
through specific limitations and proactive board involvement, as appropriate. Where, as here, no
such presumptively abusive transaction has occurred as a predicate, imposition of the conditions
would seem to gratuitously impose a burden for a problem that does not exist. As a result,
Applicants believe that applying conditions to the exit or follow-on investment, as applicable,
itself, but not adding any other additional conditions, appropriately protects the interests of
Medley Capital BDCs shareholders.
D. APPLICABLE LAW
1. Sections 57(a)(4) and 57(i) of the Act, and Rule 17d-1 thereunder.
Section 57(a)(4) makes it unlawful for any person who is related to a BDC in a manner
described in Section 57(b), acting as principal, knowingly to effect any transaction in which the
BDC is a joint or a joint and several participant with that person in contravention of rules and
regulations as the Commission may prescribe for the purpose of limiting or preventing participation
by the BDC on a basis less advantageous than that of the other participant. Although the Commission
has not adopted any rules expressly under Section 57(a)(4), Section 57(i) provides that the rules
under Section 17(d) applicable to registered closed-end investment companies (e.g., Rule 17d-1)
are, in the interim, deemed to apply to transactions subject to Section 57(a). Rule 17d-1, as made
applicable to BDCs by Section 57(i), prohibits any person who is related to a BDC in a manner
described in Section 57(b), as modified by Rule 57b-1, from acting as principal, from participating
in, or effecting any transaction in connection with, any joint enterprise or other joint
arrangement or profit-sharing plan in which the BDC is a participant, unless an application
regarding the joint enterprise, arrangement, or profit-sharing plan has been filed with the
Commission and has been granted by an order entered prior to the submission of the plan or any
modification thereof, to security holders for approval, or prior to its adoption or modification if
not so submitted.
2. Section 57(b) of the Act and Rule 57b-1 thereunder.
Section 57(b), as modified by Rule 57b-1, specifies the persons to whom the prohibitions of
Section 57(a)(4) apply. These persons include the following: (1) any director, officer, employee,
or member of an advisory board of a BDC or any person (other than the BDC itself) who is, within
the meaning of Section 2(a)(3)(C), an affiliated person of any such person; or (2) 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 under the control of a person who controls the BDC), or any person who
is, within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3)(C) or (D) an affiliated person of such person.
Rule 57b-1 under the Act exempts certain persons otherwise related to a BDC in a manner
described in Section 57(b)(2) of the Act from being subject to the prohibitions of Section 57(a).
Specifically, this rule states that the provisions of Section 57(a) shall not apply to any person:
(a) solely because that person is directly or indirectly controlled by a BDC, or (b) solely because
that person is directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with a
person described in (a) of the rule or is an officer, director, partner, copartner, or employee of
a person described in (a) of the rule.
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Section 2(a)(9) 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 such company. The statute also sets forth the interpretation that any person who owns
beneficially, either directly or through one or more controlled companies, more than 25 percent of
the voting securities of a company shall be presumed to control such company; any person who does
not so own more than 25
percent of the voting securities of a company shall be presumed not to control such company;
and a natural person shall be presumed not to be a controlled person.
Sections 2(a)(3)(C) and (D) define an affiliated person of another person as: (C) any
person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, such other
person; (D) any officer, director, partner, copartner, or employee of such other person.
E. NEED FOR RELIEF
Joint Follow-On Transactions and Joint Exit Transactions would be prohibited by Section
57(a)(4) and Rule 17d-1 without a prior exemptive order of the Commission to the extent that the
Affiliated Funds fall within the category of persons described by Section 57(b), as modified by
Rule 57b-1 thereunder. Medley Capital BDC and each of the Affiliated Funds may be deemed to be
affiliated persons within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) by reason of common control because (i)
controlled Affiliates of Medley Capital Holdings Inc. manage each of the Affiliated Funds and (ii)
Medley Capital Holdings LLC controls MCC Advisors, which manages Medley Capital BDC pursuant to the
Investment Management Agreement. Thus, each of the Affiliated Funds could be deemed to be a person
related to Medley Capital BDC in a manner described by Section 57(b) and therefore prohibited by
Section 57(a)(4) and Rule 17d-1 from participating in Joint Follow-On Transactions and Joint Exit
Transactions.
F. REQUESTED RELIEF
Accordingly, Applicants respectfully request an Order of the Commission, subject to the terms
set forth in the Application, pursuant to Sections 57(c) and 57(i) and Rule 17d-l to permit Medley
Capital BDC to participate in: (i) Joint Follow-On Transactions and (ii) Joint Exit Transactions.
G. APPLICANTS LEGAL ANALYSIS
In accordance with Rule 17d-1 (made applicable to BDCs pursuant to Section 57(i)), the
Commission may grant the requested relief as to any particular joint transaction if it finds that
the participation of Medley Capital BDC (or any person they control) 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.
As required by Rule 17d-1(b), the terms and conditions proposed in the Application ensure that
the terms on which Joint Follow-On Transactions and Joint Exit Transactions may be made are
consistent with the participation of Medley Capital BDC being on a basis that it is neither
different from nor less advantageous than other participants, thus protecting the stockholders or
interest holders of any participant from being disadvantaged. For each of the Joint Follow-On
Transactions and Joint Exit Transactions, Medley Capital BDC and one or more of the Affiliated
Funds will be offered the opportunity to participate in the Joint Follow-On Transactions or Joint
Exit Transactions on identical terms and on a pro rata basis based on the total assets of the
respective funds. Further, the terms and conditions will ensure that all such transactions are
reasonable and fair to Medley Capital BDC and the Affiliated Funds and do not involve overreaching
by any person concerned, including MCC Advisors. The decision for Medley Capital BDC to participate
in any Joint Follow-On Transactions or Joint Exit Transactions will be based on the recommendation
of MCC Advisors and the approval of a majority of the Independent Directors of Medley Capital BDC
eligible to vote under Section 57(o) (the Eligible Directors).
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H. PRECEDENTS
The Commission has granted co-investment relief on numerous occasions in recent years;
however, there is no precedent for relief relating to joint exits and joint follow-on transactions.
I. CONDITIONS
Applicants agree that any order granting the requested relief will be subject to the following
conditions:
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Except for follow-on investments made pursuant to other exemptive orders or conditions 4 and 5 below, Medley Capital BDC will not invest in any portfolio company in which MCC
Advisors, Medley Management or any Affiliated Fund or any affiliated person thereof is an
existing investor, if making such investment would violate Section 57(a). |
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Except as described below, neither the Company nor any Affiliated Fund will engage in
a Joint Exit Transaction unless, subject to the following sentence, each Affiliated Fund
and the Company disposes of its interest in such investment at the same time, for the same
unit consideration, on the same terms and conditions, and in amounts proportionate to its
respective holding of such investment.8 If the proposed participation of any
Affiliated Fund or the Company in a proposed disposition is disproportionate to its
existing holding of such investment (except in situations where the Adviser determines
that the Company should not participate in such proposed transaction), the Adviser shall
formulate a recommendation as to the participation of the Company in the proposed
transaction and submit the recommendation to the Eligible Directors for their
consideration. The Advisers recommendation will include an explanation of why the Company
or the Affiliated Fund, as applicable, is not participating to the extent of its
proportionate amount. The Company shall not engage in a Joint Exit Transaction in a
disproportionate amount to an Affiliated Fund (except in situations where the Adviser
determines that the Company should not participate in such proposed transaction) unless
the Eligible Directors have made the determinations set forth in condition 6. |
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If an Affiliated Fund and the Company hold different investments in the same issuer,
the Affiliated Fund may sell, exchange, or otherwise dispose of its investment in such
issuer in a Joint Exit Transaction only if prior notice of such disposition is provided to
the Adviser and the Company is also offered the opportunity to exit its different
investment in the same issuer.9 If the Adviser determines that the Company
should dispose of its investment, the Adviser will make a recommendation regarding the
disposition of the investment held by the Company to the Eligible Directors to permit them
to make a determination regarding the disposition of such investment in accordance with
condition 6. |
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4. |
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No Affiliated Fund may engage in a Joint Follow-On Transaction unless the Affiliated
Fund and the Company engage in such Joint Follow-On Transaction at the same time and in
amounts proportionate to their respective holdings of such investments. If an Affiliated
Fund anticipates engaging in a Joint Follow-On Transaction in an amount disproportionate
to its |
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8 |
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However, where the issuer of the
investment in question makes an exchange offer or tender offer to all holders
of the investment in question and where there is no negotiation of terms other
than price, the Company or the Affiliated Fund may exit the investment
regardless of whether the other fund exits, without complying with the
following terms. Similarly, where there is an involuntary disposition of the
investment (for example, as a result of a bankruptcy proceeding or a
contractual drag along provision pursuant to which a unaffiliated third party
can require a sale) the Company and an Affiliated Fund would not need to comply
with the following procedures. |
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However, as stated above, where the
issuer of the investment in question makes an exchange offer or tender offer to
all holders of the investment in question and where there is no negotiation of
terms other than price, the Company or the Affiliated Fund may exit the
investment regardless of whether the other fund exits, without complying with
the following terms. Similarly, where there is an involuntary disposition of
the investment (for example, as a result of a bankruptcy proceeding or a
contractual drag along provision pursuant to which a unaffiliated third party
can require a sale) the Company and an Affiliate Fund would not need to comply
with the following procedures. |
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holding, the Affiliated Fund will advise the Adviser of its intention to make a
disproportionate Joint Follow-On Transaction. The Adviser will formulate a
recommendation as to the proposed Joint Follow-On Transaction by the Company and
submit the recommendation to the Eligible Directors (except in situations where an
Adviser determines that the Company should not participate in such proposed
transaction). That recommendation will include an explanation why an Affiliated Fund
is not participating to the extent of, or exercising, its proportionate amount. Prior
to any such disproportionate Joint Follow-On Transaction, the Company must obtain
approval for the transaction (except in situations where an Adviser determines that
the Company should not participate in such proposed transaction) as set forth in
condition 4. |
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If an Affiliated Fund and the Company hold different investments in the same issuer,
no Affiliated Fund may complete a Joint Follow-On Transaction unless the Company is also
offered the opportunity to invest in the same investment at the same time and for the same
price. The Adviser will formulate a recommendation as to the proposed purchase of such
investment by the Company and submit the recommendation to the Eligible Directors. If the
aggregate amount recommended by the Adviser to be invested by the Company in such Joint
Follow-On Transaction, together with the amount proposed to be invested by all Affiliated
Funds in the same Joint-Follow-On Transaction, exceeds the amount of the investment
opportunity, the amount of the investment opportunity will be allocated among them pro
rata based on the amount that each such party would have invested if the amount of the
investment opportunity was sufficient to satisfy each partys proposed investment. Prior
to any such investment, the Company must obtain approval for the transaction as set forth
in condition 6. |
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6. |
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(a) If the Adviser deems the Companys participation in any such investment opportunity to be
appropriate for the Company, it will determine an appropriate level of investment for the Company.
(b) If the aggregate amount recommended by the Adviser to be invested by the Company in such
Joint Transaction, together with the amount proposed to be invested by the Participating Funds,
collectively, in the same transaction, exceeds the amount of the investment opportunity, the amount
proposed to be invested by each such party will be allocated among them pro rata based on the ratio
of the Companys capital available for investment in the asset class being allocated, on one hand,
and the Participating Funds capital available for investment in the asset class being allocated,
on the other hand, to the aggregate capital available for investment for the asset class being
allocated of all parties involved in the investment opportunity, up to the amount proposed to be
invested by each. The Companys and any Affiliated Funds capital available for investment will be
determined based on the amount of cash on hand, existing commitments and reserves, if any, the
targeted leverage level, targeted asset mix and diversification requirements and other investment
policies and restrictions set by the Companys Board, or an Affiliated Funds directors, general
partners or adviser, or imposed by applicable laws, rules, regulations or interpretations. The
Adviser will provide the Eligible Directors with information concerning each Participating Funds
available capital to assist the Eligible Directors with their review of the Companys investment
for compliance with these allocation procedures.
(c) After making the determinations required in conditions 6(a) and (b), the Adviser will
distribute written information concerning the Joint Transaction, including the amount proposed to
be invested by each Participating Fund, to the Eligible Directors for their consideration. The
Company will complete a Joint Transaction with a Participating Fund only if, prior to the Companys
and the Participating Funds participation, the Eligible Directors conclude that:
(i) the terms of the transaction, including the consideration to be
paid, are reasonable and fair and do not involve overreaching by the Company
or its stockholders on the part of any person concerned;
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(ii) the transaction is consistent with
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the
interests of the stockholders of the Company; and |
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(B) |
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the
Companys investment objectives and strategies (as
described in the Companys registration statement on
Form N-2 and other filings made with the Commission
by the Company under the 1933 Act, any reports filed
by the Company with the Commission under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the
Companys reports to stockholders); |
(iii) the investment by the Participating Funds would not disadvantage
the Company, and participation by the Company is not on a basis different
from or less advantageous than that of any Participating Fund; provided, that
if any Participating Fund, but not the Company, gains the right to nominate a
director for election to a portfolio companys 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 Eligible Directors from reaching the conclusions
required by this condition (6)(c)(iii), if
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the
Eligible Directors shall have the right to ratify the
selection of such director or board observer, if any,
and |
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the Adviser
agrees to, and does, provide periodic reports to the
Companys Board 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; |
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(C) |
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to the
extent that a Participating Fund or an affiliate
thereof receive any fees or other compensation in
connection with that entitys right to nominate a
director or board observer or otherwise participate
in the governance or management of the portfolio
company that fee or other compensation is shared with
the Company; and |
(iv) the proposed investment by the Company will not benefit any
affiliated person of the Company, other than the Participating Funds, (a) to
the extent permitted by condition 11; (b) to the extent permitted by Section
57(k); or (c) indirectly, as a result of an interest in securities issued by
a Participating Fund or the Company.
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The Independent Directors will be provided quarterly for review a record of all
investments made by Affiliated Funds during the preceding quarter that (i) fell within
Medley Capital BDCs then current investment objective and met certain criteria determined
by the Independent Directors from time to time for the purpose of this reporting
requirement related to the expected minimum rate of return, liquidity and size of the
investment as well as any control or management rights available to Medley Capital BDC and
(ii) were not made available to Medley Capital BDC, as well as an explanation of why the
investment opportunities were not offered to Medley Capital BDC, so that the Independent
Directors |
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may determine whether the conditions of the order have been met. |
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Medley Capital BDC will maintain the records required by Section 57(f)(3) of the Act
as if each of the investments permitted under these conditions were approved by the
Independent Directors under Section 57(f). |
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9. |
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No Independent Director will also be a director, general partner or principal, or
otherwise an affiliated person (as defined in the Act) of any Affiliated Fund. |
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10. |
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The expenses, if any, associated with acquiring, holding or disposing of any
investments acquired in a Joint Follow-On Transaction or Joint Exit Transaction
(including, without limitation, the expenses of the distribution of any such securities
registered for sale under the Securities Act of 1933) shall, to the extent not payable
solely by MCC Advisors or Medley Management, be shared by the co-investors in proportion
to the relative amounts of their investments to be acquired or disposed of, as the case
may be. |
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11. |
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Any transaction fee (including break-up, structuring or commitment fees but excluding
brokers fees contemplated by Section 57(k)(2) of the Act, and administration fees)
received in connection with a Joint Follow-On Transaction or Joint Exit Transaction will
be distributed to Medley Capital BDC (or a wholly-owned subsidiary of Medley Capital BDC)
and the Affiliated Fund on a pro rata basis based on the amount they invested or
committed, as the case may be, in such Joint Follow-On Transaction or Joint Exit
Transaction. If any transaction fee is to be held by the Adviser pending consummation of
the transaction, the fee will be deposited into an account maintained by the 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 be divided pro rata among the
participants based on the amount they invest in such Joint Follow-On Transaction or Joint
Exit Transaction. The Affiliated Funds, Medley Management, MCC Advisors or an Affiliate of
the foregoing (other than Medley Capital BDC) will not receive additional compensation or
remuneration of any kind (other than (i) the transaction fees described above and (ii)
investment advisory fees paid in accordance with investment management agreements with the
co-investors) as a result of or in connection with a Joint Follow-On Transaction or Joint
Exit Transaction. |
III. PROCEDURAL MATTERS
A. COMMUNICATIONS
Please address all communications concerning this Application and the Notice and Order to:
Brook Taube
Medley Capital BDC LLC
375 Park Avenue, Suite 3304
New York, NY 10152
(212) 759-0777
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Please address any questions, and a copy of any communications, concerning this Application,
the Notice and Order to:
James R. Tanenbaum
Anna T. Pinedo
Morrison & Foerster LLP
1290 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10104
(212) 468-8000
B. AUTHORIZATION
Pursuant to Rule 0-2(c) under the Act, Applicants hereby state that Medley Capital BDC, by
resolution duly adopted by the sole member on June 23, 2010 (attached hereto as Exhibit A), has
authorized to cause to be prepared and to execute and file with the Commission this Application and
any amendment thereto under Section 57(i) of the Act and Rule 17d-1 under the Act, for an order
authorizing certain joint transactions that may otherwise be prohibited under Section 57(a)(4) of
such Act. 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 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 5th day of November, 2010.
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MEDLEY CAPITAL BDC LLC |
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By:
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/s/ Brook Taube |
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Name: Brook Taube |
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Title: Chief Executive Officer |
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MCC ADVISORS LLC |
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By:
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/s/ Brook Taube |
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Name: Brook Taube |
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Title: Manager |
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MEDLEY CAPITAL LLC, MEDLEY MACRO FUND MANAGEMENT LLC, MEDLEY |
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OPPORTUNITY FUND LP, MEDLEY |
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OPPORTUNITY FUND LTD, MEDLEY MACRO |
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FUND LP, MEDLEY MACRO FUND LTD, MEDLEY GP LLC, MEDLEY MACRO |
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FUND GP LLC, MEDLEY MACRO MASTER |
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FUND LTD |
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By:
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/s/ Brook Taube |
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Name: Brook Taube |
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Title: Manager |
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VERIFICATION
The undersigned states that he has duly executed the foregoing Application, dated November 5, 2010,
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, stockholders, general partners, trustees
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.
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MEDLEY CAPITAL BDC LLC |
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By:
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/s/ Brook Taube |
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Name: Brook Taube |
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Title: Chief Executive Officer |
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MCC ADVISORS LLC |
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By:
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/s/ Brook Taube |
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Name: Brook Taube |
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Title: Manager |
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MEDLEY CAPITAL LLC, MEDLEY MACRO FUND MANAGEMENT LLC, MEDLEY |
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OPPORTUNITY FUND LP, MEDLEY |
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OPPORTUNITY FUND LTD, MEDLEY MACRO |
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FUND LP, MEDLEY MACRO FUND LTD, MEDLEY GP LLC, MEDLEY MACRO FUND GP |
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LLC, MEDLEY MACRO MASTER FUND LTD |
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By:
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/s/ Brook Taube |
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Name: Brook Taube |
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Title: Authorized Person |
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EXHIBIT A
Resolutions of the Board of Directors of
Medley Capital BDC LLC
RESOLVED, that the sole member of Medley Capital BDC is hereby authorized in the name and on
behalf of Medley Capital BDC to submit and cause to be filed with the SEC an application for
exemptive relief, in substantially the form presented at the meeting, with such changes,
modifications, or amendments thereto as the sole member executing the same (personally or by
attorney) may approve as necessary or desirable, such approval to be conclusively evidenced by his,
her or their execution thereof.
(Adopted by Written Consent dated June 23, 2010)
A-1