☐ |
Preliminary Proxy Statement |
| ☐ | Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
☒ |
Definitive Proxy Statement |
| ☐ | Definitive Additional Materials |
| ☐ | Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
| ☒ | No fee required. |
| ☐ | Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
| ☐ | Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-1 |
| 1. | For the shareholders of the Fund to approve a fourth amended and restated investment advisory agreement between the Fund and Silver Point Specialty Credit Fund Management, LLC (the “ Adviser |
| 2. | To approve the application to the Fund of the reduced asset coverage requirements found in Section 61(a)(2) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, which would permit the Fund to increase the maximum amount of leverage that it is permitted to incur by reducing the asset coverage requirement applicable to the Fund from 200% to 150% (the “ Reduced Asset Coverage Ratio Proposal |
| 3. | To approve amendments to the Fund’s Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust (“ Declaration of Trust |
| By Order of the Board of Trustees of the Fund, | ||
/s/ James Kasmarcik | ||
| James Kasmarcik | ||
| Secretary | ||
Name |
Title | |
Kristen Clark |
Trustee | |
Edward Mulé |
Chief Executive Officer and Trustee | |
Anthony DiNello |
President | |
Jesse Dorigo |
Chief Financial Officer | |
James Kasmarcik |
Chief Compliance Officer |
| (1) | no amount in any calendar quarter in which the Fund’s pre-incentive compensation net investment income in the current calendar quarter and each of the 11 preceding calendar quarters (the “Trailing Twelve Quarters Hurdle Rate Amount |
| (2) | 100% of the Fund’s pre-incentive compensation net investment income for the Trailing Twelve Quarters, if any, that exceeds the Hurdle Rate Amount but is less than or equal to an amount (the “Catch-Up Amount |
| (3) | for any calendar quarter in which the Fund’s pre-incentive compensation net investment income for the Trailing Twelve Quarters exceeds the Catch-Up Amount, 15% of the amount of the Fund’s pre-incentive compensation net investment income, in any, that exceeds the Catch-Up Amount for such Trailing Twelve Quarters. |
| • | the Management Fee will be increased from 0.75% of each shareholder’s aggregate net capital contribution to 1.25% of the Fund’s net assets (subject to the waiver described below); |
| • | the Incentive Fee for both the Income Incentive Compensation and the Capital Gain Incentive Compensation will be reduced from 15.0% to 12.5%; and |
| • | the hurdle rate for the Income Incentive Compensation will be reduced from 7% to 6%. |
Annual Advisory Fee |
Existing Agreement |
Amended Agreement |
Difference |
|||||||||
Management Fees |
$ |
4,118,680 |
$ |
6,780,964 |
$ |
2,662,284 |
||||||
Incentive Fees |
$ |
10,116,856 |
$ |
9,447,679 |
$ |
(669,177 |
) | |||||
Total Advisory Fees |
$ |
14,235,536 |
$ |
16,228,643 |
$ |
1,993,107 |
||||||
Total Operating Expenses* |
$ |
43,008,204 |
$ |
43,008,204 |
$ |
— |
||||||
Total Advisory Fees and Operating Expenses |
$ |
57,243,740 |
$ |
59,236,847 |
$ |
1,993,107 |
||||||
* |
Excludes Total Advisory Fees. |
Annual Advisory Fee |
Amended Agreement with 200% Asset Coverage |
Amended Agreement with 150% Asset Coverage |
Difference |
|||||||||
Management Fees |
$ |
6,780,964 |
$ |
6,780,964 |
$ |
— |
||||||
Incentive Fees |
$ |
10,020,231 |
$ |
13,726,026 |
$ |
3,705,795 |
||||||
Total Advisory Fees |
$ |
16,801,195 |
$ |
20,506,990 |
$ |
3,705,795 |
||||||
Total Operating Expenses* |
$ |
48,567,317 |
$ |
84,548,217 |
$ |
35,980,900 |
||||||
Total Advisory Fees and Operating Expenses |
$ |
65,368,512 |
$ |
105,055,207 |
$ |
39,686,695 |
||||||
* |
Excludes Total Advisory Fees. |
• |
The nature, quality and extent of the advisory and other services to be provided to the Fund by the Adviser |
• |
The investment performance of the Fund |
• |
Costs of the services provided to the Fund and Profitability of the Adviser |
Fee waiver. The Board also noted that the fees payable to the Adviser under the Amended Advisory Agreement may result in increased compensation to the Adviser, but that such fees were generally consistent with the fees paid by similar business development companies and were lower than what would have been payable to the Adviser if the Fund had conducted a public offering of its common shares and listed those shares for trading on a securities exchange as originally intended when the Fund was formed. Finally, the Board noted that this fee arrangement had been negotiated with some of the larger institutional investors anticipated to provide liquidity in connection with the Liquidity Transaction. |
• |
Economies of scale |
• |
The limited potential for additional “fall out” benefits derived by the Adviser |
Assumed Return on our Portfolio (Net of Expenses) |
(10.00%) |
(5.00%) |
0.00% |
5.00% |
10.00% |
|||||||||||||||
Corresponding return to common shareholder assuming actual asset coverage as of September 30, 2024 (218%) (1) |
( |
)% | ( |
)% | ( |
)% | % | % | ||||||||||||
Corresponding return to common shareholder assuming 200% asset coverage (2) |
( |
)% | ( |
)% | ( |
)% | % | % | ||||||||||||
Corresponding return to common shareholder assuming 150% asset coverage (3) |
( |
)% | ( |
)% | ( |
)% | % | % | ||||||||||||
| (1) | Based on (i) $1,010.47 million in total assets as of September 30, 2024, (ii) $458.58 million in outstanding indebtedness as of September 30, 2024, (iii) $542.37 million in net assets as of September 30, 2024, and |
(iv) an annualized average interest rate on our indebtedness, as of September 30, 2024, excluding fees (such as fees on undrawn amounts and amortization of financing costs), of 5.8%. |
| (2) | Based on (i) $1,094.27 million in total assets on a pro forma basis as of September 30, 2024, after giving effect of a hypothetical asset coverage ratio of 200%, (ii) $542.37 million in outstanding indebtedness on a pro forma basis as of September 30, 2024, after giving effect of a hypothetical asset coverage ratio of 200%, (iii) $542.37 million in net assets as of September 30, 2024, and (iv) an annualized average interest rate on our indebtedness, as of September 30, 2024, excluding fees (such as fees on undrawn amounts and amortization of financing costs), of 6.0%. |
| (3) | Based on (i) $1,636.64 million in total assets on a pro forma basis as of September 30, 2024, after giving effect of a hypothetical asset coverage ratio of 150%, (ii) $1,084.75 million in outstanding indebtedness on a pro forma basis as of September 30, 2024, after giving effect of a hypothetical asset coverage ratio of 150%, (iii) $542.37 million in net assets as of September 30, 2024, and (iv) an annualized average interest rate on our indebtedness, as of September 30, 2024, excluding fees (such as fees on undrawn amounts and amortization of financing costs), of 6.3% |
Estimated Annual Expenses ( |
Actual asset coverage as of September 30, 2024 (218%) (1) |
200% asset coverage (2) |
150% asset coverage (3) |
|||||||||
Management Fees (4) |
% | % | % | |||||||||
Incentive fees payable under the Investment Advisory Agreement (15.0% of net investment income and realized capital gains) (5) |
% | % | % | |||||||||
Interest payments on borrowed funds (6) |
% | % | % | |||||||||
Other expenses (7) |
% | % | % | |||||||||
Total annual expenses (estimated) |
% | % | % | |||||||||
| (1) | Expenses for the “Actual asset coverage as of September 30, 2024 (218%)” column are based on actual expenses incurred for the three months ended September 30, 2024, annualized for a full year. |
| (2) | Expenses for the “200% asset coverage” column are based on annualized pro forma expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2024, and assume a hypothetical asset coverage ratio of 200%. The maximum amount of borrowings that could be incurred by the Fund is presented for comparative and informational purposes only and such information is not a representation of the amount of borrowings that the Fund intends to incur or that would be available to the Fund to be incurred. |
| (3) | Expenses for the “150% asset coverage” column are based on annualized pro forma expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2024, and assume a hypothetical asset coverage ratio of 150%. The maximum amount of borrowings that could be incurred by the Fund is presented for comparative and informational purposes only and such information is not a representation of the amount of borrowings that the Fund intends to incur or that would be available to the Fund to be incurred. |
| (4) |
| (5) | The amount above reflects the estimated incentive fee based on performance under the terms of the Amended Advisory Agreement. |
| (6) | Interest payments on borrowed funds represents an estimate of our annualized interest expense based on our total borrowings as of September 30, 2024. At September 30, 2024, the weighted average effective interest rate for total outstanding debt was 7.64%. For purposes of the “200% asset coverage” column, the table above assumes total debt outstanding of $542.37 million (the maximum amount of borrowings that could be |
incurred by the Fund under the current 200% asset coverage requirement). For purposes of the “150% asset coverage” column, the table above assumes total debt outstanding of $1,084.75 million (the maximum amount of borrowings that could be incurred by the Fund under the proposed 150% asset coverage requirement). |
(7) |
1 year |
3 years |
5 years |
10 years |
|||||||||||||
Based on the Actual Asset Coverage (218%) as of September 30, 2024 |
||||||||||||||||
You would pay the following expenses on a $1,000 Common Share investment, assuming a 5% annual return (none of which is subject to the incentive fee based on capital gains) (1) |
$ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
You would pay the following expenses on a $1,000 Common Share investment, assuming a 5% annual return resulting entirely from net realized capital gains (all of which is subject to the incentive fee based on capital gains) (2) |
$ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
Based on 200% Asset Coverage |
||||||||||||||||
You would pay the following expenses on a $1,000 Common Share investment, assuming a 5% annual return (none of which is subject to the incentive fee based on capital gains) (1) |
$ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
You would pay the following expenses on a $1,000 Common Share investment, assuming a 5% annual return resulting entirely from net realized capital gains (all of which is subject to the incentive fee based on capital gains) (2) |
$ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
Based on 150% Asset Coverage |
||||||||||||||||
You would pay the following expenses on a $1,000 Common Share investment, assuming a 5% annual return (none of which is subject to the incentive fee based on capital gains) (1) |
$ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
You would pay the following expenses on a $1,000 Common Share investment, assuming a 5% annual return resulting entirely from net realized capital gains (all of which is subject to the incentive fee based on capital gains) (2) |
$ | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
| (1) | Assumes that we will not realize any capital gains computed net of all realized capital losses and unrealized capital depreciation. |
| (2) | Assumes no unrealized capital depreciation and a 5% annual return resulting entirely from net realized capital gains and not otherwise deferrable under the terms of the investment advisory agreement and therefore subject to the incentive fee based on capital gains. Because our investment strategy involves investments that generate primarily current income, we believe that a 5% annual return resulting entirely from net realized capital gains is unlikely. |
| • | the benefits of increased financial flexibility; |
| • | the potential to increase and sustain returns on equity; |
| • | the current middle market direct lending landscape; |
| • | the risks relative to benefits associated with the use of increased leverage; and |
| • | impact on the Management Fee and Incentive Fees to be payable to the Adviser. |
| Name and Address of Beneficial Owner(s) |
Title of Class | Amount of Shares and Nature of Ownership |
Percent of Class |
|||||||||
| Texas County & District Retirement System 901 Mopac South Barton Oaks Plaza, Suite 500 Austin, TX 78746 |
Common | 6,673,213 | 18.08 | % | ||||||||
| University of Texas/Texas A&M Investment Management Company Board of Regents of University Texas System 210 West 7 th Street, Suite 1700Austin, TX 78701 |
Common | 5,004,910 | 13.56 | % | ||||||||
| Edward Mulé (1) c/o Silver Point Specialty Lending Fund Two Greenwich Plaza, Suite 1 Greenwich, CT 06830 |
Common | 3,964,539 | 10.7 | % | ||||||||
| Houston Police Officers’ Pension System 602 Sawyer, Suite 300 Houston, TX 77007 |
Common | 3,336,607 | 9.04 | % | ||||||||
| Illinois State Board of Investment 180 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2015 Chicago, IL 60601 |
Common | 3,336,607 | 9.04 | % | ||||||||
| Cliffwater LLC Stephen L. Nesbitt 4640 Admiralty Way, 11 th FloorMarina del Rey, CA 90292 |
Common | 2,135,428 | 5.8 | % | ||||||||
(1) |
Includes securities held by two trusts over which the reporting person disclaims control, and therefore the reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities and this report shall not be deemed an admission that the reporting person is the beneficial owner of the securities for purposes of Section 13 or 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or for any other purpose. |
1. |
Definitions . |
2. |
Duties of the Adviser . |
3. |
Fund’s Responsibilities and Expenses Payable by the Fund . |
4. |
Compensation of the Adviser . |
| (a) | The Management Fee shall be payable as follows: |
| (i) | The Management Fee shall be payable by the Fund to the Adviser in arrears, calculated and payable on the last day of each calendar quarter and shall equal 0.75 1.25 Limited Partners’ aggregate net capital contributions. If the Fund commences winding up in connection with the expiration of the Fund’s term, the Fund’s net assets. The payable until the final termination of the Fund following the complete Realization of the Fund’s investments. calculated based on the value of the Fund’s net assets at the end of the applicable calendar quarter. |
| (ii) | The Management Fee for any partial month or quarter will be appropriately prorated. |
| (b) | The Compensation Fee separate Income Incentive Compensation Fee (“Capital Gains Incentive Compensation”) |
| (i) | Income Incentive Compensation . Fee . The Compensation Fee Compensation Fee Pr e-Incentive Compensation Fee ” means interest income, dividend income and any other ” means dividends (including reinvested dividends), interest and fee or earned accrued the stock shares the Compensation Fee Compensation Fee pay in kind pay-in-kind zero-coupon zero coupon has may yet have Compensation Fee and other expenses Compensation Fee |
(A) |
No amount in any calendar quarter in which the Fund’s Pre-Incentive Compensation Fee |
(B) |
100% of the Fund’s Pre-Incentive Compensation Fee Catch-Up Amount ”) determined on a quarterly basis by multiplying 2.0588 1.7143 8.2353 6.8571 |
(C) |
For any calendar quarter in which the Fund’s Pre-Incentive Compensation Fee 15 12.5 Compensation Fee |
| (ii) |
Incentive Fee on Incentive Compensation Incentive Fee on Incentive Compensation (“Capital Gains Fee”) calendar fiscal , 15 12.5 inception of the Fund the Liquidity Transaction Date calendar fiscal Incentive Compensation for prior periods (including any such amounts allocated to the Fund’s General Partner prior to Conversion in accordance with the Partnership Agreement and treating any Incentive Compensation waived or reduced with respect to any SP Persons or other Limited Partner since the Initial Closing as having been previously paid) Fee subsequent to the Liquidity Transaction Date Cumulative Capital Gains ” means, on any relevant date, cumulative realized capital gains, less the sum of (a) cumulative realized capital losses and (b) cumulative unrealized capital depreciation on investments, in each case as of such date and subsequent to the Liquidity Transaction Date |
5. |
Transaction Fees . |
6. |
Covenants of the Adviser . |
7. |
Excess Brokerage Commissions . |
8. |
Limitations on the Activities of the Adviser . |
9. |
Responsibility of Dual Trustees, Officers and/or Employees . |
10. |
Exculpation; Indemnification; Advancement of Expenses . |
11. |
Use of Name . |
12. |
Effectiveness, Duration and Termination of Agreement . |
13. |
Notices . |
14. |
Amendments . |
15. |
Entire Agreement; Governing Law . |
16. |
Severability . |
17. |
Counterparts . |
18. |
No Third-Party Third Party Rights |
SILVER POINT SPECIALTY LENDING FUND | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
SILVER POINT SPECIALTY CREDIT FUND MANAGEMENT, LLC | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
SILVER POINT SPECIALTY LENDING FUND TWO GREENWICH PLAZA, SUITE 1 GREENWICH, CONNECTICUT 06830 EVERY VOTE IS IMPORTANT EASY VOTING OPTION: VOTE BY MAIL Vote, sign and date this Proxy Card and return in the postage-paid envelope VOTE IN PERSON Attend Shareholder Meeting Two Greenwich Plaza, Suite 1 Greenwich, Connecticut 06830 on April 30, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern time) VOTE BY E-MAIL Vote, sign and date this Proxy Card and return a pdf of the completed proxy card to [email protected] THANK YOU FOR VOTING THIS IS THE PROXY CARD Please detach at perforation before mailing. PROXY CARD SILVER POINT SPECIALTY LENDING FUND SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON APRIL 30, 2025 PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES COMMON SHARES The Special Meeting of Silver Point Specialty Lending Fund, a Maryland statutory trust (the “Fund”), will be held at the offices of Silver Point Specialty Credit Fund Management, LLC, Two Greenwich Plaza, Suite 1, Greenwich, Connecticut 06830, on Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time (the “Special Meeting”). The undersigned, revoking previous proxies, hereby appoints James Kasmarcik and Jay Kindlon, and each of them, with full power of substitution, proxies for the undersigned, to represent and vote the shares of the undersigned at the Special Meeting and/or any adjournment(s), postponement(s) or delay(s) thereof. THIS PROXY, IF PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED SHAREHOLDER. IF THIS PROXY IS EXECUTED BUT NO INSTRUCTION IS GIVEN WITH RESPECT TO THE PROPOSALS, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR EACH PROPOSAL AS DESCRIBED IN THE PROXY STATEMENT. IN THEIR DISCRETION, THE PROXIES ARE AUTHORIZED TO VOTE UPON SUCH OTHER BUSINESS AS MAY PROPERLY BE PRESENTED AT THE SPECIAL MEETING AND/OR ANY ADJOURNMENT(S), POSTPONEMENT(S) OR DELAY(S) THEREOF. PLEASE MARK, SIGN, DATE THIS PROXY ON THE REVERSE SIDE AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
EVERY SHAREHOLDER’S VOTE IS IMPORTANT Please detach at perforation before mailing. THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD. THE BOARD RECOMMENDS VOTING “FOR” EACH PROPOSAL. TO VOTE MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS SHOWN IN THIS EXAMPLE: X Proposals 1. To approve a fourth amended and restated investment advisory agreement between the Fund and Specialty Credit Fund Management, LLC. 2. To approve the application of the Fund of the reduced asset coverage requirements found in Section 61(a)(2) of the Investment Company Act of 1940. 3. To approve amendments to the Fund’s Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust to modify the relevant date used to determine the term expiration for each class of trustees. 4. To transact such other business as may properly come before the Special Meeting. Authorized Signatures — This section must be completed for your vote to be counted. — Sign and Date Below Note: Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) on this WHITE Proxy Card, and date it. When shares are held jointly, each holder should sign. When signing as attorney, executor, guardian, administrator, trustee, officer of corporation or other entity or in another representative capacity, please give the full title under the signature. Date (mm/dd/yyyy) — Please print date below Signature 1 — Please keep signature within the box Signature 2 — Please keep signature within the box