EX-99.1 4 d883429dex991.htm EX-99.1 EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

The information in this preliminary prospectus supplement is not complete and may be changed. [A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with and declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission.] This preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

Filed pursuant to Rule 497

Registration No.                

Subject to Completion

Preliminary Prospectus Supplement dated [], 20[]

[FORM OF PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT TO BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH

FUTURE NOTES OFFERINGS]1

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

(To Prospectus dated [], 20[] )

$[]

FIDUS INVESTMENT CORPORATION

[]% [Senior]2 Notes due

 

 

We are offering $[] in aggregate principal amount of []% [senior] notes due [], which we refer to as the Notes. The Notes will mature on []. We will pay interest on the Notes on [] and []of each year, beginning []. We may redeem the Notes in whole or in part at any time or from time to time at the redemption price discussed under the caption “Description of Notes—Optional Redemption” in this prospectus supplement. In addition, holders of the Notes can require us to repurchase the Notes at []% of their principal amount upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Repurchase Event (as defined herein). The Notes will be issued in minimum denominations of $[] and integral multiples of $[] in excess thereof.

The Notes will be our direct senior unsecured obligations and rank pari passu, or equally, with all outstanding and future unsecured unsubordinated indebtedness issued by the Company.

We intend to list the Notes on the [NASDAQ] and we expect trading to commence thereon within days of the original issue date under the trading symbol “.” The Notes are expected to trade “flat.” This means that purchasers will not pay, and sellers will not receive, any accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes that is not included in the trading price. Currently, there is no public market for the Notes.

 

1  In addition to the information provided in this form of prospectus supplement, each prospectus supplement actually used in connection with an offering conducted pursuant to the registration statement to which this form of prospectus supplement is attached will be updated to include such other information as may then be required to be disclosed therein pursuant to applicable law or regulation as in effect as of the date of each such prospectus supplement, including, without limitation, additional information particular to the terms of each security offered thereby and any additional related risk factors or tax considerations pertaining thereto. The terms of the Notes or the provisions of the indenture governing the Notes may differ from the information provided in this form of prospectus supplement. This form of prospectus supplement is intended only to provide a rough approximation of the nature and type of disclosure that may appear in any actual prospectus supplement used for the purposes of offering securities pursuant to the registration statement to which this form of prospectus supplement is attached and, accordingly, the terms and description of the institutional notes for which this form of prospectus supplement is to be used may differ from the information provided in this form of prospectus supplement. This form of prospectus supplement is not intended to and does not contain all of the information that would appear is any such actual prospectus supplement, and should not be used or relied upon in connection with any offer or sale of securities.
2  Notes will be denominated as “senior notes” if we have subordinated debt outstanding at issuance.


We provide customized debt and equity financing solutions to lower middle-market companies located throughout the United States. We are an externally managed, closed-end, non-diversified management investment company that has elected to be regulated as a business development company under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Our investment objective is to provide attractive risk-adjusted returns by generating both current income from our debt investments and capital appreciation from our equity related investments. Our strategy includes partnering with business owners, management teams and financial sponsors by providing customized financing for ownership transactions, recapitalizations, strategic acquisition, business expansion and other growth initiatives.

We are externally managed by our investment adviser, Fidus Investment Advisors, LLC.

Investing in the Notes is speculative and involves risks that are described in the “Risk Factors” section beginning on page S-[] of this prospectus supplement and page [•] of the accompanying prospectus, including the risk of leverage.

 

 

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus contain important information about us that a prospective investor should know before investing in the Notes. Please read this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus before you invest and keep it for future reference. We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. This information is available free of charge by contacting us at 1603 Orrington Avenue, Suite 1005, Evanston, Illinois 60201, Attention: Investor Relations, by accessing our website at www.fdus.com, or by calling us collect at 847.859.3940. The SEC also maintains a website at www.sec.gov that contains such information. The information on the websites referred to herein is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.

 

 

 

     Per Note     Total  

Public offering price

                $     

Underwriting discount (sales load)

                $     

Proceeds, before expenses, to the Company(1)

                $            

 

(1) Before deducting expenses payable by us related to this offering, estimated at $[] .

The underwriters may also purchase up to an additional $[] total aggregate principal amount of Notes offered hereby, to cover over-allotments, if any, within days of the date of this prospectus supplement. If the underwriters exercise this option in full, the total public offering price will be $[], the total underwriting discount (sales load) paid by us will be $[], and total proceeds, before expenses, will be $[].

THE NOTES ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OTHER OBLIGATIONS OF A BANK AND ARE NOT INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCY.


Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

Delivery of the Notes in book-entry form only through The Depository Trust Company will be made on or about [], 20[].

 

 

[Underwriters]

The date of this prospectus supplement is [], 20[].

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not, and the underwriters are not, making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is accurate only as of the date on the front cover of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus, as applicable. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.


Prospectus Supplement

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page

Forward-Looking Statements

  

Prospectus Supplement Summary

  

Specific Terms of the Notes and the Offering

  

Risk Factors

  

Selected Condensed Consolidated Financial Data

  

Use of Proceeds

  

Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges

  

Capitalization

  

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

  

Description of Notes

  

Certain Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations

  

Underwriting

  

Legal Matters

  

Financial Statements

  

Prospectus

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page

[Insert table of contents from base prospectus.]

  


ABOUT THE PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

This document is in two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of the Notes and certain other matters relating to us. The second part, the accompanying prospectus, gives more general information about the securities that we may offer from time to time, some of which may not apply to the Notes offered by this prospectus supplement.

If information varies between this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, you should rely only on such information in this prospectus supplement. The information contained in this prospectus supplement supersedes any inconsistent information included in the accompanying prospectus. In various places in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, we refer you to other sections of such documents for additional information by indicating the caption heading of such other sections. The page on which each principal caption included in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus can be found is listed in the table of contents above. All such cross references in this prospectus supplement are to captions contained in this prospectus supplement and not in the accompanying prospectus, unless otherwise stated.

Unless we have indicated otherwise, all information in this prospectus supplement assumes that the underwriters do not exercise their option to purchase an additional principal amount of Notes from us to cover any over-allotments. Unless we have indicated otherwise, or the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus supplement to “$” or “dollar” are to the lawful currency of the United States.

YOU SHOULD RELY ONLY ON THE INFORMATION CONTAINED OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND THE ACCOMPANYING PROSPECTUS. WE HAVE NOT, AND THE UNDERWRITERS HAVE NOT, AUTHORIZED ANY OTHER PERSON TO PROVIDE YOU WITH DIFFERENT OR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. IF ANYONE PROVIDES YOU WITH DIFFERENT OR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, YOU SHOULD NOT RELY ON IT. WE ARE NOT, AND THE UNDERWRITERS ARE NOT, MAKING AN OFFER TO SELL THESE SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED. YOU SHOULD ASSUME THAT THE INFORMATION APPEARING IN THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT, THE ACCOMPANYING PROSPECTUS AND ANY DOCUMENT INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IS ACCURATE ONLY AS OF THE RESPECTIVE DATES OF SUCH INFORMATION, REGARDLESS OF THE TIME OF DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND THE ACCOMPANYING PROSPECTUS OR ANY SALES OF THE SECURITIES. OUR BUSINESS, FINANCIAL CONDITION, RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND PROSPECTS MAY HAVE CHANGED SINCE THOSE DATES.


FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Some of the statements in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus constitute forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or our future performance or financial condition. The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including statements concerning:

 

    our dependence on key personnel of our investment advisor and our executive officers;

 

    our ability to maintain or develop referral relationships;

 

    our use of leverage;

 

    the availability of additional capital on attractive terms or at all;

 

    uncertain valuations of our portfolio investments;

 

    competition for investment opportunities;

 

    actual and potential conflicts of interest with our investment advisor;

 

    other potential conflicts of interest;

 

    SBA regulations affecting our wholly-owned SBIC subsidiaries;

 

    changes in interest rates;

 

    the impact of a protracted decline in the liquidity of credit markets on our business and portfolio investments;

 

    our ability to maintain our status as a regulated investment company, or RIC, under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, and as a business development company, or BDC, under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or the 1940 Act;

 

    the timing, form and amount of any distributions from our portfolio companies;

 

    changes in laws or regulations applicable to us;

 

    dilution risks related to our ability to issue shares below our current net asset value, or NAV;

 

    possible resignation of our investment advisor or administrator;

 

    the general economy and its impact on the industries in which we invest;

 

    risks associated with investing in lower middle-market companies;

 

    the ability of our investment advisor to identify, invest in and monitor companies that meet our investment criteria; and

 

    our ability to invest in qualifying assets.

We use words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “will,” “should,” “may” and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements include these words. Our actual results and condition could differ materially from those implied or expressed in the forward-looking statements for any reason, including the factors set forth in “Risk Factors” in this prospectus supplement and in the accompanying prospectus and the other information included in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.


Although we believe that the assumptions on which these forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, any of those assumptions could prove to be inaccurate, and as a result, the forward-looking statements based on those assumptions also could be inaccurate. In light of these and other uncertainties, the inclusion of a projection or forward-looking statement in this prospectus supplement should not be regarded as a representation by us that our plans and objectives will be achieved. These risks and uncertainties include those described or identified in “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results, which apply only as of the date of this prospectus supplement. We expressly disclaim any responsibilities to update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. The forward-looking statements and projections contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are excluded from the safe harbor protection provided by Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act.


PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY

This summary highlights some of the information in this prospectus supplement. It is not complete and may not contain all of the information that you may want to consider. You should read the entire prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus carefully, including “Risk Factors,” “Capitalization,” “Selected Consolidated Financial Data,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the financial statements contained elsewhere in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. Together, these documents describe the specific terms of the Notes. Except as otherwise noted, all information in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus assumes no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option.

Fidus Investment Corporation is a Maryland corporation, formed on February 14, 2011, for the purpose of acquiring 100.0% of the equity interests in Fidus Mezzanine Capital, L.P., or Fund I, and its general partner, Fidus Mezzanine Capital GP, LLC, or FMCGP, raising capital in its initial public offering, or IPO, which was completed in June 2011, and thereafter, operating as an externally managed business development company, or BDC, under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or the 1940 Act. Fund I is licensed as a small business investment company, or SBIC, by the United States Small Business Administration, or SBA. Simultaneously with the consummation of our IPO, we acquired all of the equity interests in Fund I and its former general partner as described elsewhere in this prospectus supplement under “Formation Transactions,” whereby Fund I became our wholly-owned subsidiary. On March 29, 2013, we commenced operations of a new wholly-owned investment fund, Fidus Mezzanine Capital II, L.P., or Fund II, and on May 28, 2013, were granted a second license by the SBA to operate Fund II as an SBIC. Collectively, Fund I and Fund II are referred to as the Funds. Unless otherwise noted in this prospectus supplement the terms “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company,” “Fidus” and “FIC” refer to Fidus Investment Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries.

As used in this prospectus supplement the term “our investment advisor” refers to Fidus Capital, LLC prior to the Formation Transactions and Fidus Investment Advisors, LLC after the Formation Transactions. The investment professionals of Fidus Investment Advisors, LLC were also the investment professionals of Fidus Capital, LLC.

Fidus Investment Corporation

We provide customized debt and equity financing solutions to lower middle-market companies, which we define as U.S. based companies having revenues between $10.0 million and $150.0 million. Our investment objective is to provide attractive risk-adjusted returns by generating both current income from our debt investments and capital appreciation from our equity related investments. Our investment strategy includes partnering with business owners, management teams and financial sponsors by providing customized financing for ownership transactions, recapitalizations, strategic acquisitions, business expansion and other growth initiatives. We seek to maintain a diversified portfolio of investments in order to help mitigate the potential effects of adverse economic events related to particular companies, regions or industries.

We invest in companies that possess some or all of the following attributes: predictable revenues; positive cash flows; defensible and/or leading market positions; diversified customer and supplier bases; and proven management teams with strong operating discipline. We target companies in the lower middle-market with annual earnings, before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, between $3.0 million and $20.0 million; however, we may from time to time opportunistically make investments in larger or smaller companies. Our investments typically range between $5.0 million and $20.0 million per portfolio company.

As of [], we had debt and equity investments in [] portfolio companies with an aggregate fair value of $[] million. The weighted average yield on our debt investments as of [] was []% (computed using the effective interest rates as of [], including accretion of original issue discount and loan origination fees, but excluding any debt investments on non-accrual status). There can be no assurance that the weighted average yield will remain at its current level.


Market Opportunity

We believe that the limited amount of capital available to lower middle-market companies, coupled with the desire of these companies for flexible and partnership-oriented sources of capital, creates an attractive investment environment for us. From our perspective, lower middle-market companies have faced difficulty raising debt capital in both the capital markets and private markets. As a result of the difficulties in the credit markets and fewer sources of capital for lower middle-market companies, we see opportunities for improved risk-adjusted returns. Furthermore, we believe with a large pool of uninvested private equity capital seeking debt capital to complete transactions and a substantial supply of refinancing opportunities, there is an opportunity to attain appealing risk-adjusted returns on debt and equity investments. See “The Company” in the accompanying prospectus for more information.

Business Strategy

We intend to accomplish our goal of becoming the premier provider of capital to and value-added partner of lower middle-market companies by:

 

    Leveraging the experience of our investment advisor;

 

    Capitalizing on our strong transaction sourcing network;

 

    Serving as a value-added partner with customized financing solutions;

 

    Employing rigorous due diligence and underwriting processes focused on capital preservation;

 

    Actively managing our portfolio;

 

    Maintaining portfolio diversification; and

 

    Benefiting from lower cost of capital through our SBIC subsidiaries.

Investment Criteria/Guidelines

We use the following criteria and guidelines in evaluating investment opportunities and constructing our portfolio. However, not all of these criteria and guidelines have been, or will be, met in connection with each of our investments.

Value Orientation / Positive Cash Flow. Our investment advisor places a premium on analysis of business fundamentals from an investor’s perspective and has a distinct value orientation. We focus on companies with proven business models in which we can invest at relatively low multiples of operating cash flow. We also typically invest in portfolio companies with a history of profitability and minimum trailing twelve month EBITDA of $3.0 million. We do not invest in start-up companies, “turn-around” situations or companies that we believe have unproven business plans.

Experienced Management Teams with Meaningful Equity Ownership. We target portfolio companies that have management teams with significant experience and/or relevant industry experience coupled with meaningful equity ownership. We believe management teams with these attributes are more likely to manage the companies in a manner that protects our debt investment and enhances the value of our equity investment.

Niche Market Leaders with Defensible Market Positions. We seek to invest in companies that have developed defensible and/or leading positions within their respective markets or market niches and are well positioned to capitalize on growth opportunities. We favor companies that demonstrate significant competitive advantages, which we believe helps to protect their market position and profitability.


Diversified Customer and Supplier Base. We prefer to invest in portfolio companies that have a diversified customer and supplier base. Companies with a diversified customer and supplier base are generally better able to endure economic downturns, industry consolidation and shifting customer preferences.

Significant Invested Capital. We believe the existence of significant underlying equity value provides important support to our debt investments. With respect to our debt investments, we look for portfolio companies where we believe aggregate enterprise value significantly exceeds aggregate indebtedness, after consideration of our investment.

Viable Exit Strategy. We invest in portfolio companies that we believe will provide a steady stream of cash flow to repay our debt investments and reinvest in their respective businesses. In addition, we seek to invest in portfolio companies whose business models and expected future cash flows offer attractive exit possibilities for our equity investments. We expect to exit our investments typically through one of three scenarios: (a) the sale of the portfolio company resulting in repayment of all outstanding debt and equity; (b) the recapitalization of the portfolio company through which our investments are replaced with debt or equity from a third party or parties; or (c) the repayment of the initial or remaining principal amount of our debt investment from cash flow generated by the portfolio company. In some investments, there may be scheduled amortization of some portion of our debt investment that would result in a partial exit of our investment prior to the maturity of the debt investment.

About our Advisor

Our investment activities are managed by Fidus Investment Advisors, LLC, our investment advisor, and supervised by our board of directors, a majority of whom are not “interested persons” of Fidus as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act, and who we refer to hereafter as the Independent Directors. Pursuant to the terms of the investment advisory and management agreement, which we refer to as the Investment Advisory Agreement, our investment advisor is responsible for determining the composition of our portfolio, including sourcing potential investments, conducting research and diligence on potential investments and equity sponsors, analyzing investment opportunities, structuring our investments and monitoring our investments and portfolio companies on an ongoing basis. Our investment advisor’s investment professionals seek to capitalize on their significant deal origination and sourcing, credit underwriting, due diligence, investment structuring, execution, portfolio management and monitoring experience. These professionals have developed a broad network of contacts within the investment community, have gained extensive experience investing in assets that constitute our primary focus and have expertise in investing across all levels of the capital structure of lower middle-market companies. For information regarding the people who control our investment advisor and their affiliations with the Company, see “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions—Investment Advisory Agreement” in the accompanying prospectus.

Our relationship with our investment advisor is governed by and dependent on the Investment Advisory Agreement and may be subject to conflicts of interest. We pay our investment advisor a fee for its services under the Investment Advisory Agreement consisting of two components – a base management fee and an incentive fee. The base management fee is calculated at an annual rate of 1.75% of the average value of our total assets (other than cash or cash equivalents but including assets purchased with borrowed amounts). The incentive fee consists of two parts. The first part is calculated and payable quarterly in arrears and equals 20.0% of our “pre-incentive fee net investment income” for the immediately preceding quarter, subject to a 2.0% preferred return, or “hurdle,” and a “catch up” feature. The second part is determined and payable in arrears as of the end of each fiscal year in an amount equal to 20.0% of our realized capital gains, if any, on a cumulative basis from inception through the end of each fiscal year, computed net of all realized capital losses and unrealized capital depreciation on a cumulative basis, less the aggregate amount of any previously paid capital gain incentive fees. We accrue, but do not pay, a capital gains incentive fee in connection with any unrealized capital appreciation, as appropriate. For more information about how we compensate our investment advisor and the related conflicts of interest, see “Management and Other Agreements – Investment Advisory Agreement” and “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions – Conflicts of Interest” in the accompanying prospectus.

Among other things, our board of directors is charged with protecting our interests by monitoring how our investment advisor addresses conflicts of interest associated with its management services and compensation. Our board of directors is not expected to review or approve each borrowing or incurrence of leverage. However, our board of directors periodically reviews our investment advisor’s portfolio management decisions and portfolio


performance. In addition, our board of directors at least annually reviews the services provided by and fees paid to our investment advisor. In connection with these reviews, our board of directors, including a majority of our Independent Directors, considers whether the fees and expenses (including those related to leverage) that we pay to our investment advisor are fair and reasonable in relation to the services provided.

Fidus Investment Advisors, LLC is a Delaware limited liability company that is registered as an investment advisor under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, or the Advisers Act. In addition, Fidus Investment Advisors, LLC also serves as our administrator and provides us with office space, equipment and clerical, book-keeping and record-keeping services pursuant to an administration agreement, which we refer to as the Administration Agreement.

Operating and Regulatory Structure

Our investment activities are managed by our investment advisor and supervised by our board of directors, a majority of whom are not interested persons of us, our investment advisor or its affiliates.

As a BDC, we are required to comply with certain regulatory requirements. For example, while we are permitted to finance investments using leverage, which may include the issuance of shares of preferred stock, or notes and other borrowings, our ability to use leverage is limited in significant respects. See “Regulation” in the accompanying prospectus. Any decision on our part to use leverage will depend upon our assessment of the attractiveness of available investment opportunities in relation to the costs and perceived risks of such leverage. The use of leverage to finance investments creates certain risks and potential conflicts of interest. See “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Business and Structure—Regulations governing our operations as a BDC affect our ability to raise, and the way in which we raise, additional capital which may have a negative effect on our growth” and “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Business and Structure—Because we borrow money and may in the future issue additional senior securities including preferred stock and debt securities, the potential for gain or loss on amounts invested in us is magnified and may increase the risk of investing in us” in the accompanying prospectus.

We have elected to be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a RIC, under Subchapter M of the Code. In order to maintain our status as a RIC, we must satisfy certain source of income, asset diversification and distribution requirements. See “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” in the accompanying prospectus.

Risk Factors

The value of our assets, as well as the market price of our shares, will fluctuate. Our investments may be risky, and you may lose part of or all of your investment in us. Investing in our securities involves other risks, including the following:

 

    our dependence on key personnel of our investment advisor and our executive officers;

 

    our ability to maintain or develop referral relationships;

 

    our use of leverage;

 

    the availability of additional capital on attractive terms or at all;

 

    uncertain valuations of our portfolio investments;

 

    competition for investment opportunities;

 

    actual and potential conflicts of interests with our investment advisor;

 

    other potential conflicts of interest;

 

    SBA regulations affecting our wholly-owned SBIC subsidiaries;


    changes in interest rates;

 

    the impact of a protracted decline in liquidity of credit markets on our business and portfolio of investments;

 

    our ability to maintain our status as a RIC and as a BDC;

 

    the timing, form and amount of any distributions from our portfolio companies;

 

    changes in laws or regulations applicable to us;

 

    dilutions risks related to our ability to issue shares below our current net asset value;

 

    possible resignation of our investment advisor;

 

    the general economy and its impact on the industries in which we invest;

 

    risks associated with investing in lower middle-market companies;

 

    the ability of our investment advisor to identify, invest in and monitor companies that meet our investment criteria; and

 

    our ability to invest in qualifying assets.

See “Risk Factors” beginning on page [] of the accompanying prospectus, for additional discussion of factors you should carefully consider before deciding to invest in our securities.]

Recent Developments

[]


SPECIFIC TERMS OF THE NOTES AND THE OFFERING

This prospectus supplement sets forth certain terms of the Notes that we are offering pursuant to this prospectus supplement and supplements the accompanying prospectus. This section outlines the specific legal and financial terms of the Notes. You should read this section together with the more general description of the Notes under the heading “Description of the Notes” in this prospectus supplement and in the accompanying prospectus under the heading “Description of Our Debt Securities” before investing in the Notes. Capitalized terms used in this prospectus supplement and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the accompanying prospectus or in the indenture governing the Notes.

 

Issuer

Fidus Investment Corporation

 

Title of the Securities

% [Senior] Notes due []

 

Initial Aggregate Principal Amount Being Offered

$ []

 

Over-allotment option

The underwriters may also purchase from us up to an additional $[] aggregate principal amount of Notes to cover over-allotments, if any, within days of the date of this prospectus supplement.

 

Listing

We intend to list the Notes on the [NASDAQ], within [] days of the original issue date under the trading symbol “.”

 

Initial Public Offering Price

[]% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes

 

Interest Rate

[]%

 

Yield to Maturity

[]%

 

Trade Date

[], 20[]

 

Maturity Date

[], 20[]

 

Interest Payment Dates

[] and [], commencing [], 20[].

 

Interest periods

The initial interest period will be the period from and including [], 20[], to, but excluding, the initial interest payment date, and the subsequent interest periods will be the periods from and including an interest payment date to, but excluding, the next interest payment date or the stated maturity date, as the case may be.

 

Ranking of Notes

The Notes will be our general unsecured obligations that rank senior in right of payment to all of our existing and future indebtedness that is expressly subordinated, or junior, in right of payment to the Notes. The Notes will rank pari passu, or equally, in right of payment with all of our existing and future senior liabilities that are not so subordinated, or junior, effectively subordinated, or junior, to any of our secured indebtedness (including unsecured indebtedness that we later secure) to the extent of the value of the assets


 

securing such indebtedness, and structurally subordinated, or junior, to all existing and future indebtedness (including trade payables) incurred by our subsidiaries (including, without limitation, our subsidiaries that are small business investment companies (“SBICs”), financing vehicles or similar facilities.

 

  As of [], 20[], our total consolidated indebtedness was approximately $[] principal amount. After giving effect to the issuance of the Notes and assuming the proceeds therefrom are used to repay outstanding borrowings under our revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”), our total consolidated indebtedness would have been approximately $[] principal amount as of [], 20[]. See “Capitalization.”

 

Denominations

We will issue the Notes in denominations of $[] and integral multiples of $[] in excess thereof.

 

Optional Redemption

We may redeem some or all of the Notes at any time, or from time to time, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (1) []% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed or (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest (exclusive of accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption) on the Notes to be redeemed, discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) using the applicable Treasury Rate plus basis points, plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date.

 

Offer to Purchase upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event

If a Change of Control Repurchase Event occurs prior to maturity, holders will have the right, at their option, to require us to repurchase for cash some or all of the Notes at a repurchase price equal to []% of the principal amount of the Notes being repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the repurchase date.

 

Legal Defeasance

The Notes are subject to legal defeasance by us, which means that, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including depositing in trust for the benefit of the holders of the Notes a combination of money and U.S. government or U.S. government agency notes or bonds that will generate enough cash to make interest, principal and any other payments on the Notes on their various due dates, we can legally release ourselves from all payment and other obligations on the Notes.

 

Covenant Defeasance

The Notes are subject to covenant defeasance by us, which means that, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including depositing in trust for the benefit of the holders of the Notes a combination of money and U.S. government or U.S. government agency notes or bonds that will generate enough cash to make interest, principal and any other payments on the Notes on their various due dates, we will be released from some of the restrictive covenants in the indenture.

 

Form of Notes

The Notes will be represented by global securities that will be deposited and registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) or its nominee. This means that, except in limited circumstances, you will not receive certificates for the Notes. Beneficial interests in the Notes will be represented through book-entry accounts of financial institutions acting on behalf of beneficial owners as direct and indirect participants in DTC. Investors may elect to hold interests in the Notes through either DTC, if they are a participant, or indirectly through organizations that are participants in DTC.

 

Trustee, Paying Agent, Registrar and Transfer Agent

U.S. Bank National Association

 

Events of Default

If an event of default (as described herein under “Description of Notes”) on the Notes occurs, the principal amount of the Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, may be declared immediately due and payable, subject to conditions set forth in the indenture. These amounts automatically become due and payable in the case of certain types of bankruptcy or insolvency events involving us.


Other Covenants

In addition to the covenants described in the accompanying prospectus, the following covenants shall apply to the Notes:

 

    We agree that for the period of time during which the Notes are outstanding, we will not violate, whether or not we are subject to, Section 18(a)(1)(A) as modified by Section 61(a)(1) of the Investment Company Act or any successor provisions.

 

    If, at any time, we are not subject to the reporting requirements of Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) to file any periodic reports with the SEC, we agree to furnish to holders of the Notes and the trustee, for the period of time during which the Notes are outstanding, our audited annual consolidated financial statements, within 90 days of our fiscal year end, and unaudited interim consolidated financial statements, within 45 days of our fiscal quarter end (other than our fourth fiscal quarter). All such financial statements will be prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with applicable United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”).

 

No Established Trading Market

The Notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market. The Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange or quoted on any automated dealer quotation system. Although the underwriters have informed us that they intend to make a market in the Notes, they are not obligated to do so, and may discontinue any such market making at any time without notice. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that a liquid market for the Notes will develop or be maintained.

 

Global Clearance and Settlement Procedures

Interests in the Notes will trade in DTC’s Same Day Funds Settlement System, and any permitted secondary market trading activity in such Notes will, therefore, be required by DTC to be settled in immediately available funds. None of the Company, the trustee or the paying agent will have any responsibility for the performance by DTC or its participants or indirect participants of their respective obligations under the rules and procedures governing their operations.

 

Events of Default

You will have rights if an Event of Default occurs with respect to the Notes and is not cured. The term “Event of Default” in respect of the Notes means any of the following:

 

  - We do not pay the principal of any Note on its due date.

 

  - We do not pay interest on any Note when due, and such default is not cured within 30 days.

 

  - We remain in breach of any other covenant with respect to the Notes for 60 days after we receive a written notice of default stating we are in breach. The notice must be sent by either the Trustee or holders of at least 25% of the principal amount of the Notes.

 

  - We file for bankruptcy or certain other events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur and in the case of certain orders or decrees entered against us under any bankruptcy law, such order or decree remains undischarged or unstayed for a period of 60 days.

 

  - On the last business day of each of twenty-four consecutive calendar months, the Notes have an asset coverage of less than 100%.


Further issuances

We have the ability to issue additional debt securities under the indenture with terms different from the Notes and, without the consent of the holders thereof, to reopen the Notes and issue additional Notes.

 

Use of Proceeds

We estimate that the net proceeds we will receive from the sale of the $[] million aggregate principal amount of Notes in this offering will be approximately $[] million (or approximately $[] million if the underwriters fully exercise their over-allotment option), in each case assuming a public offering price of []% of par, after deducting the underwriting discount of $[] million (or approximately $[] million if the underwriters fully exercise their over-allotment option) payable by us and estimated offering expenses of approximately $[] payable by us. We intend to use the net proceeds of this offering to invest in lower middle market companies in accordance with our investment objective and strategies and for working capital and general corporate purposes.


RISK FACTORS

You should carefully consider the risk factors described below and under the caption “Risk Factors” in the accompanying prospectus, together with all of the other information included in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, including our consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto, before you decide whether to make an investment in our securities. The risks set out below are not the only risks we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and/or operating results. If any of the following events occur, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

The Notes will be unsecured and therefore will be effectively subordinated to any secured indebtedness we have currently incurred or may incur in the future.

The Notes will not be secured by any of our assets or any of the assets of our subsidiaries. As a result, the Notes are effectively subordinated, or junior, to any secured indebtedness we or our subsidiaries have currently incurred and may incur in the future (or any indebtedness that is initially unsecured to which we subsequently grant security) to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness. In any liquidation, dissolution, bankruptcy or other similar proceeding, the holders of any of our existing or future secured indebtedness and the secured indebtedness of our subsidiaries may assert rights against the assets pledged to secure that indebtedness in order to receive full payment of their indebtedness before the assets may be used to pay other creditors, including the holders of the Notes. As of [], 20[], we had $[] aggregate principal amount of outstanding indebtedness under the Revolving Credit Facility.

The Notes will be structurally subordinated to the indebtedness and other liabilities of our subsidiaries.

The Notes are obligations exclusively of the Company and not of any of our subsidiaries. None of our subsidiaries is a guarantor of the Notes and the Notes are not required to be guaranteed by any subsidiaries we may acquire or create in the future. A significant portion of the indebtedness required to be consolidated on our balance sheet is held though our SBIC subsidiaries. For example, as of [], 20[], the Funds have issued $[] of SBA-guaranteed debentures and has the current capacity to issue up to the statutory maximum of $225.0 million of SBA-guaranteed debentures. The assets of such subsidiaries are not be directly available to satisfy the claims of our creditors, including holders of the Notes. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources— Financing Transactions” in this prospectus supplement for more detail on the SBA-guaranteed debentures.

Except to the extent we are a creditor with recognized claims against our subsidiaries, all claims of creditors of our subsidiaries would have priority over our equity interests in such subsidiaries (and therefore the claims of our creditors, including holders of the Notes) with respect to the assets of such subsidiaries. Even if we are recognized as a creditor of one or more of our subsidiaries, our claims would still be effectively subordinated to any security interests in the assets of any such subsidiary and to any indebtedness or other liabilities of any such subsidiary senior to our claims. Consequently, the Notes will be structurally subordinated to all indebtedness, including SBA-guaranteed debentures, and other liabilities of any of our subsidiaries and any subsidiaries that we may in the future acquire or establish as financing vehicles or otherwise. In addition, our subsidiaries may incur substantial additional indebtedness in the future, all of which would be structurally senior to the Notes.

The indenture under which the Notes will be issued will contain limited protection for holders of the Notes.

The indenture under which the Notes will be issued offers limited protection to holders of the Notes. The terms of the indenture and the Notes do not restrict our or any of our subsidiaries’ ability to engage in, or otherwise be a party to, a variety of corporate transactions, circumstances or events that could have an adverse impact on your investment in the Notes. In particular, the terms of the indenture and the Notes will not place any restrictions on our or our subsidiaries’ ability to:

 

   

issue securities or otherwise incur additional indebtedness or other obligations, including (1) any indebtedness or other obligations that would be equal in right of payment to the Notes, (2) any indebtedness


 

or other obligations that would be secured and therefore rank effectively senior in right of payment to the Notes to the extent of the values of the assets securing such debt, (3) indebtedness of ours that is guaranteed by one or more of our subsidiaries and which therefore is structurally senior to the Notes and (4) securities, indebtedness or obligations issued or incurred by our subsidiaries that would be senior to our equity interests in our subsidiaries and therefore rank structurally senior to the Notes with respect to the assets of our subsidiaries, in each case other than an incurrence of indebtedness or other obligation that would cause a violation of Section 18(a)(1)(A) as modified by Section 61(a)(1) of the Investment Company Act or any successor provisions;

 

    pay dividends on, or purchase or redeem or make any payments in respect of, capital stock or other securities ranking junior in right of payment to the Notes;

 

    sell assets (other than certain limited restrictions on our ability to consolidate, merge or sell all or substantially all of our assets);

 

    create liens (including liens on the shares of our subsidiaries) or enter into sale and leaseback transactions;

 

    enter into transactions with affiliates;

 

    make investments; or

 

    create restrictions on the payment of dividends or other amounts to us from our subsidiaries.

Furthermore, the terms of the indenture and the Notes do not protect holders of the Notes in the event that we experience changes (including significant adverse changes) in our financial condition, results of operations or credit ratings, as they do not require that we or our subsidiaries adhere to any financial tests or ratios or specified levels of net worth, revenues, income, cash flow, or liquidity.

Our ability to recapitalize, incur additional debt and take a number of other actions that are not limited by the terms of the Notes may have important consequences for you as a holder of the Notes, including making it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations with respect to the Notes or negatively affecting the trading value of the Notes.

Certain of our current debt instruments include more protections for their holders than the indenture and the Notes. See in the accompanying prospectus “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Business—In addition to regulatory requirements that restrict our ability to raise capital, the Facilities, the Unsecured Notes (as defined below) and the Convertible Unsecured Notes (as defined below) contain various covenants, or agreements, that, if not complied with, could accelerate repayment under the Facilities, the Unsecured Notes and the Convertible Unsecured Notes, thereby materially and adversely affecting our liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.” In addition, other debt we issue or incur in the future could contain more protections for its holders than the indenture and the Notes, including additional covenants and events of default. The issuance or incurrence of any such debt with incremental protections could affect the market for and trading levels and prices of the Notes.

An active trading market for the Notes may not develop, which coule limit the market price of the Notes or your ability to sell them.

The Notes are a new issue of debt securities for which there currently is no trading market. We intend to list the Notes on the [NASDAQ] within [] days of the original issue date under the symbol [“”]. Although we expect the Notes to be listed on the [NASDAQ], we cannot provide and assurance that an active trading market will develop or be maintained for the Notes or that you will be to sell your Notes. If the Notes are traded after their initial issuance, they may trade at a discount from their initial offering price depending on prevailing interest rates, the market for similar securities, our credit ratings, general economic conditions, our financial condition, performance and prospects and other factors. The underwriters have advised us that they intend to make a market in the Notes, but they are not obligated to do so. The underwriters may discontinue any market-making in the Notes at any time at their sole discretion. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that a liquid trading market will develop for the Notes, that


you will be able to sell your Notes at a particular time or that the price you receive when you sell will be favorable. To the extent an active trading market does not develop, the liquidity and trading price for the Notes may be harmed. Accordingly, you may be required to bear the financial risk of an investment in the Notes for an indefinite period of time.

We may choose to redeem the Notes when prevailing interest rates are relatively low.

On or after [], 20[] , we may choose to redeem the Notes from time to time, especially when prevailing interest rates are lower than the rate borne by the Notes. If prevailing rates are lower at the time of redemption, you would not be able to reinvest the redemption proceeds in a comparable security at an effective interest rate as high as the interest rate on the Notes being redeemed. Our redemption right also may adversely impact your ability to sell the Notes as the optional redemption date or period approaches.

Our amount of debt outstanding will increase as a result of this offering, and if we default on our obligations to pay our other indebtedness, we may not be able to make payments on the Notes.

As of [], 20 , we had approximately $[] of indebtedness, including $[] outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility and $[] outstanding from SBA-guaranteed debentures. Any default under the agreements governing our indebtedness, including a default under the Revolving Credit Facility or other indebtedness to which we may be a party that is not waived by the required lenders, and the remedies sought by the holders of such indebtedness could make us unable to pay principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes and substantially decrease the market value of the Notes. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flow and are otherwise unable to obtain funds necessary to meet required payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest on our indebtedness, or if we otherwise fail to comply with the various covenants, including financial and operating covenants, in the instruments governing our indebtedness (including the Revolving Credit Facility), we could be in default under the terms of the agreements governing such indebtedness. In the event of such default, the holders of such indebtedness could elect to declare all the funds borrowed thereunder to be due and payable, together with accrued and unpaid interest, the lenders under the Revolving Credit Facility or other debt we may incur in the future could elect to terminate their commitments, cease making further loans and institute foreclosure proceedings against our assets, and we could be forced into bankruptcy or liquidation. Our ability to generate sufficient cash flow in the future is, to some extent, subject to general economic, financial, competitive, legislative and regulatory factors as well as other factors that are beyond our control. We cannot assure you that our business will generate cash flow from operations, or that future borrowings will be available to us under the Revolving Credit Facility or otherwise, in an amount sufficient to enable us to meet our payment obligations under the Notes and our other debt and to fund other liquidity needs.

If our operating performance declines and we are not able to generate sufficient cash flow to service our debt obligations, we may in the future need to refinance or restructure our debt, including any Notes sold, sell assets, reduce or delay capital investments, seek to raise additional capital or seek to obtain waivers from the required lenders under the Revolving Credit Facility or other debt that we may incur in the future to avoid being in default. If we are unable to implement one or more of these alternatives, we may not be able to meet our payment obligations under the Notes and our other debt. If we breach our covenants under the Revolving Credit Facility or other debt and seek a waiver, we may not be able to obtain a waiver from the required lenders. If this occurs, we would be in default under the Revolving Credit Facility or other debt, the lenders could exercise their rights as described above, and we could be forced into bankruptcy or liquidation. If we are unable to repay debt, lenders having secured obligations could proceed against the collateral securing the debt. Because the Revolving Credit Facility has, and any future credit facilities will likely have, customary cross-default provisions, if the indebtedness under the Notes, the Revolving Credit Facility or under any future credit facility is accelerated, we may be unable to repay or finance the amounts due.

[Update for any other risk factors applicable to the Notes and any additional relevant risk factors not included in the base prospectus to the extent required to be disclosed by applicable law or regulation.]


SELECTED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA OF FIDUS INVESTMENT CORPORATION

The following selected financial and other data as of and for the years ended December 31, 20[], 20[], 20[], 20[] and 20[] are derived from our consolidated financial statements, which have been audited by McGladrey LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm whose report thereon is included elsewhere in the accompanying prospectus. The selected financial and other data as of and for the [] ended [], 20[] and other quarterly financial information is derived from our unaudited financial statements, but in the opinion of management, reflects all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) that are necessary to present fairly the results of such interim periods. Interim results as of and for the [] ended[], 20[] are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 20[]. The data should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Senior Securities,” which are included elsewhere in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.

[Insert Selected Condensed Consolidated Financial Data of Fidus Investment Corporation reflecting most recently filed financials prior to the offering.]


USE OF PROCEEDS

We estimate that the net proceeds we will receive from the sale of the $[] million aggregate principal amount of Notes in this offering will be approximately $[] million, in each case assuming a public offering price of []% of par, after deducting the underwriting discount of $[] million payable by us and estimated offering expenses of approximately $[] million payable by us.

We intend to use the net proceeds of this offering to invest in lower middle market companies in accordance with our investment objective and strategies and for working capital and general corporate purposes. Pending such use, we will invest the net proceeds of this offering primarily in short-term securities consistent with our BDC election and our election to be taxed as a regulated investment company, or RIC.


RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

For the [] ended [], 20[] and the years ended December 31, 20[], 20[], 20[], 20[] and 20[], the ratios of earnings to fixed charges of the Company, computed as set forth below, were as follows:

 

     For the []
Ended  [],
20[]
   For the
Year Ended
December 31,
20[]
   For the
Year Ended
December 31,
20[]
   For the
Year Ended
December 31,
20[]
   For the
Year Ended
December 31,
20[]
   For the
Year Ended
December 31,
20[]

Earnings to Fixed Charges(1)

                 

For purposes of computing the ratios of earnings to fixed charges, earnings represent net increase in stockholders’ equity resulting from operations plus (or minus) income tax expense (benefit) including excise tax expense plus fixed charges. Fixed charges include interest and credit facility fees expense and amortization of debt issuance costs.

 

(1) Earnings include net realized and unrealized gains or losses and the capital gains incentive fee expense accrued in accordance with GAAP. Net realized and unrealized gains or losses and the capital gains incentive fee expense accrued in accordance with GAAP can vary substantially from period to period.


CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth our actual capitalization at [], 20[]. You should read this table together with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our most recent balance sheet included elsewhere in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.

 

     As of [], 20[]
(unaudited, dollar
amounts in thousands)
 
     Actual      Pro
Forma
 

Cash and cash equivalents

   $         $     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Debt

[List Debt outstanding as of period reported]

  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Debt

  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Stockholders’ Equity

Common stock, par value $.001 per share, common shares authorized, and common shares issued and outstanding, respectively

$      $     

Capital in excess of par value

Accumulated over distributed net investment income

Accumulated net realized gain on investments, foreign currency transactions, extinguishment of debt and acquisitions

Net unrealized loss on investments and foreign currency transactions

  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

$      $     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total capitalization

$                 $                
  

 

 

    

 

 

 


MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL

CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The information contained in this section contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Please see “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in this prospectus supplement and “Risk Factors” and “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in the accompanying prospectus for a discussion of the uncertainties, risks and assumptions associated with these statements. You should read the following discussion in conjunction with the “Selected Condensed Consolidated Financial Information” and our financial statements and notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.

The following discussion is designed to provide a better understanding of our unaudited consolidated financial statements for the months ended [], 20[], including a brief discussion of our business, key factors that impacted our performance and a summary of our operating results. The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the unaudited financial statements and the notes thereto included elsewhere in this prospectus supplement, and the audited financial statements and notes thereto and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for the year ended December 31, 20[] contained in the accompanying prospectus. Historical results and percentage relationships among any amounts in the financial statements are not necessarily indicative of trends in operating results for any future periods.

[Insert Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations from most recently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or Annual Report on Form 10-K, as applicable, prior to the offering.]


DESCRIPTION OF NOTES

The following description of the particular terms of the []% [Senior] Notes due [] supplements and, to the extent inconsistent with, replaces the description of the general terms and provisions of the debt securities set forth in the accompanying prospectus.

We will issue the Notes under a base indenture dated as of [], between us and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “trustee”), as supplemented by a separate supplemental indenture to be dated as of the settlement date for the Notes. As used in this section, all references to the indenture mean the base indenture as supplemented by the supplemental indenture. The terms of the Notes include those expressly set forth in the indenture and those made part of the indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, or the TIA.

The following description is a summary of the material provisions of the Notes and the indenture and does not purport to be complete. This summary is subject to and is qualified by reference to all the provisions of the Notes and the indenture, including the definitions of certain terms used in the indenture. We urge you to read these documents because they, and not this description, define your rights as a holder of the Notes.

For purposes of this description, references to “we,” “our” and “us” refer only to Fidus and not to any of its current or future subsidiaries and references to “subsidiaries” refer only to our consolidated subsidiaries and exclude any investments held by the Company in the ordinary course of business which are not, under GAAP, consolidated on the financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries.

General

The Notes:

 

    will be our general unsecured, senior obligations;

 

    will initially be issued in an aggregate principal amount of $ ;

 

    will mature on [], 20[], unless earlier redeemed or repurchased, as discussed below;

 

    will bear cash interest from [], 20[] at an annual rate of []% payable on and of each year, beginning on [], 20[];

 

    will be subject to redemption at our option as described under “—Optional Redemption;”

 

    will be issued in denominations of $[] and integral multiples of $[] thereof; and

 

    will be represented by one or more registered Notes in global form, but in certain limited circumstances may be represented by Notes in definitive form. See “—Book-Entry, Settlement and Clearance.”

The indenture does not limit the amount of debt that may be issued by us or our subsidiaries under the indenture or otherwise. The indenture does not contain any financial covenants and does not restrict us from paying dividends or issuing or repurchasing our other securities. Other than restrictions described under “—Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets” below, the indenture does not contain any covenants or other provisions designed to afford holders of the Notes protection in the event of a highly leveraged transaction involving us or in the event of a decline in our credit rating as the result of a takeover, recapitalization, highly leveraged transaction or similar restructuring involving us that could adversely affect such holders.

We may, without the consent of the holders, issue additional Notes under the indenture with the same terms and with the same CUSIP numbers as the Notes offered hereby in an unlimited aggregate principal amount; provided that such additional Notes must be part of the same issue as the Notes offered hereby for U.S. federal income tax purposes.


We do not intend to list the Notes on any securities exchange or any automated dealer quotation system.

Payments on the Notes; Paying Agent and Registrar; Transfer and Exchange

We will pay the principal of, and interest on, Notes in global form registered in the name of or held by DTC or its nominee in immediately available funds to DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered holder of such Global Note (as defined below).

Payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and any such interest on the Notes will be made at the corporate trust office of the trustee in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that at our option payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the security register.

A holder of Notes may transfer or exchange Notes at the office of the registrar in accordance with the indenture. The registrar and the trustee may require a holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents. No service charge will be imposed by us, the trustee or the registrar for any registration of transfer or exchange of Notes, but we may require a holder to pay a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or other similar governmental charge required by law or permitted by the indenture.

The registered holder of a Note will be treated as its owner for all purposes.

Interest

The Notes will bear cash interest at a rate of []% per year until maturity. Interest on the Notes will accrue from [], 20[] or from the most recent date on which interest has been paid or duly provided for. Interest will be payable in arrears on and of each year, beginning on [], 20[].

Interest will be paid to the person in whose name a Note is registered at 5:00 p.m. New York City time (the “close of business”) on or , as the case may be, immediately preceding the relevant interest payment date (each, a “regular record date”). Interest on the Notes will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year composed of twelve 30-day months.

If any interest payment date, the maturity date or any earlier required repurchase date upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event (defined below) of a Note falls on a day that is not a business day, the required payment will be made on the next succeeding business day and no interest on such payment will accrue in respect of the delay. The term “business day” means, with respect to any Note, any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

Ranking

The Notes will be our general unsecured obligations that rank senior in right of payment to all of our existing and future indebtedness that is expressly subordinated, or junior, in right of payment to the Notes. The Notes will rank pari passu, or equally, in right of payment with all of our existing and future liabilities that are not so subordinated, or junior. The Notes will effectively rank subordinated, or junior, to any of our secured indebtedness (including unsecured indebtedness that we later secure) to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness. The Notes will rank structurally subordinated, or junior, to all existing and future indebtedness (including trade payables) incurred by our subsidiaries, financing vehicles or similar facilities. In the event of our bankruptcy, liquidation, reorganization or other winding up, our assets that secure secured debt will be available to pay obligations on the Notes only after all indebtedness under such secured debt has been repaid in full from such assets. We advise you that there may not be sufficient assets remaining to pay amounts due on any or all the Notes then outstanding.

As of [], 20[], our total consolidated indebtedness was approximately $[] aggregate principal amount outstanding. After giving effect to the issuance of the Notes and assuming the proceeds therefrom are used to repay outstanding borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility, our total consolidated indebtedness would have been approximately $[] aggregate principal amount outstanding as of [], 20[]. See “Capitalization.”


Optional Redemption

We may redeem some or all of the Notes at any time, or from time to time. If we choose to redeem any Notes prior to maturity, we will pay a redemption price equal to the greater of the following amounts, plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date:

 

    []% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, or

 

    the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest (exclusive of accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption) on the Notes to be redeemed, discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) using the applicable Treasury Rate plus basis points.

If we choose to redeem any Notes, we will deliver a notice of redemption to holders of Notes not less than nor more than days before the redemption date. If we are redeeming less than all of the Notes, the particular Notes to be redeemed will be selected in accordance with the applicable procedures of the trustee and, so long as the Notes are registered to DTC or its nominee, DTC; provided, however, that no such partial redemption shall reduce the portion of the principal amount of a Note not redeemed to less than $[]. Unless we default in payment of the redemption price, on and after the redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions of the Notes called for redemption.

For purposes of calculating the redemption price in connection with the redemption of the Notes, on any redemption date, the following terms have the meanings set forth below:

“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield-to-maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue (computed as of the third business day immediately preceding the redemption), assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date. The redemption price and the Treasury Rate will be determined by us.

“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by the Reference Treasury Dealer as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Notes to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financing practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of the Notes being redeemed.

“Comparable Treasury Price” means (1) the average of the remaining Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for the redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (2) if the Quotation Agent obtains fewer than four such reference treasury dealer quotations, the average of all such quotations.

“Quotation Agent” means a Reference Treasury Dealer selected by us.

“Reference Treasury Dealer” means each of (1) , (2) and (3) , or their respective affiliates which are primary U.S. government securities dealers and their respective successors; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing or their affiliates shall cease to be a primary U.S. government securities dealer in the United States (a “Primary Treasury Dealer”), we shall select another Primary Treasury Dealer.

“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the Quotation Agent, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Quotation Agent by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 3:30 p.m. New York time on the third business day preceding such redemption date.


All determinations made by any Reference Treasury Dealer, including the Quotation Agent, with respect to determining the redemption price will be final and binding absent manifest error.

Covenants

In addition to the covenants described in the base indenture, the following covenants shall apply to the Notes. To the extent of any conflict or inconsistency between the base indenture and the following covenants, the following covenants shall govern:

Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets

The indenture will provide that we will not merge or consolidate with or into any other person (other than a merger of a wholly owned subsidiary into us), or sell, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all our property (provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, a pledge of assets pursuant to any secured debt instrument of Fidus or its subsidiaries shall not be deemed to be any such sale, transfer, lease, conveyance or disposition) in any one transaction or series of related transactions unless:

 

    we are the surviving person (the “Surviving Person”) or the Surviving Person (if other than us) formed by such merger or consolidation or to which such sale, transfer, lease, conveyance or disposition is made shall be a corporation or limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America or any state or territory thereof;

 

    the Surviving Person (if other than us) expressly assumes, by supplemental indenture in form reasonably satisfactory to the trustee, executed and delivered to the trustee by such Surviving Person, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, all the Notes outstanding, and the due and punctual performance and observance of all the covenants and conditions of the indenture to be performed by us;

 

    immediately before and immediately after giving effect to such transaction or series of related transactions, no default or event of default shall have occurred and be continuing; and

 

    we shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the trustee, an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that such transaction and the supplemental indenture, if any, in respect thereto, comply with this covenant and that all conditions precedent in the indenture relating to such transaction have been complied with.

For the purposes of this covenant, the sale, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all the property of one or more of our subsidiaries, which property, if held by us instead of such subsidiaries, would constitute all or substantially all of our property on a consolidated basis, shall be deemed to be the transfer of all or substantially all of our property.

Although there is a limited body of case law interpreting the phrase “substantially all”, there is no precise established definition of the phrase under applicable law. Accordingly, in certain circumstances there may be a degree of uncertainty as to whether a particular transaction would involve “all or substantially all” of the properties or assets of a person. As a result, it may be unclear as to whether the merger, consolidation or sale of assets covenant would apply to a particular transaction as described above absent a decision by a court of competent jurisdiction. Although these types of transactions are permitted under the indenture, certain of the foregoing transactions could constitute a Change of Control that results in a Change of Control Repurchase Event permitting each holder to require us to repurchase the Notes of such holder as described above.

An assumption by any person of obligations under the Notes and the indenture might be deemed for U.S. federal income tax purposes to be an exchange of the Notes for new Notes by the holders thereof, resulting in recognition of gain or loss for such purposes and possibly other adverse tax consequences to the holders. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of such an assumption.


Other Covenants

 

    We agree that for the period of time during which the Notes are outstanding, we will not violate, whether or not we are subject to, Section 18(a)(1)(A) as modified by Section 61(a)(1) of the Investment Company Act or any successor provisions.

 

    If, at any time, we are not subject to the reporting requirements of Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act to file any periodic reports with the SEC, we agree to furnish to holders of the Notes and the trustee, for the period of time during which the Notes are outstanding, our audited annual consolidated financial statements, within 90 days of our fiscal year end, and unaudited interim consolidated financial statements, within 45 days of our fiscal quarter end (other than our fourth fiscal quarter). All such financial statements will be prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with GAAP, as applicable.

Events of Default

Each of the following is an event of default:

 

  (1) default in the payment of any interest upon any Note when due and payable and the default continues for a period of days;

 

  (2) default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Note when it becomes due and payable at its maturity including upon any redemption date or required repurchase date;

 

  (3) default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when and as due by the terms of any Note and continuance of such default for a period of five days;

 

  (4) our failure for consecutive days after written notice from the trustee or the holders of at least % in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding has been received to comply with any of our other agreements contained in the Notes or indenture;

 

  (5) Pursuant to Section 18(a)(1)(c)(ii) and Section 61 of the Investment Company Act, on the last business day of each of 24 consecutive calendar months, any class of securities shall have an asset coverage (as such term is used in the Investment Company Act) of less than 100%; or

 

  (6) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency, or reorganization involving us occur and remain undischarged or unstayed for a period of days.

If an event of default occurs and is continuing, then and in every such case (other than an event of default specified in item (6) above) the trustee or the holders of at least []% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes may declare the entire principal amount of Notes to be due and immediately payable, by a notice in writing to us (and to the trustee if given by the holders), and upon any such declaration such principal or specified portion thereof shall become immediately due and payable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of the events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization described in item (6) above, 100% of the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes will automatically become due and payable.

At any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to the Notes has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the trustee, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes, by written notice to us and the trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if (i) we have paid or deposited with the trustee a sum sufficient to pay all overdue installments of interest, if any, on all outstanding Notes, the principal of (and premium, if any, on) all outstanding Notes that have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and interest thereon at the rate or rates borne by or provided for in such Notes, to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful interest upon overdue installments of interest at the rate or rates borne by or provided for in such Notes, and all sums paid or advanced by the trustee and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the trustee, its


agents and counsel, and (ii) all events of default with respect to the Notes, other than the nonpayment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) or interest on such Notes that have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived. No such rescission will affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.

No holder of Notes will have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to the indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy under the indenture, unless

 

  (i) such holder has previously given written notice to the trustee of a continuing event of default with respect to the Notes,

 

  (ii) the holders of not less than []% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes shall have made written request to the trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such event of default;

 

  (iii) such holder or holders have offered to the trustee reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;

 

  (iv) the trustee for days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and

 

  (v) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the trustee during such 60-day period by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes.

Notwithstanding any other provision in the indenture, the holder of any Note shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and interest, if any, on such Note on the stated maturity or maturity expressed in such Note (or, in the case of redemption, on the redemption date or, in the case of repayment at the option of the holders, on the repayment date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such holder.

The trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by the indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders of the Notes unless such holders shall have offered to the trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction. Subject to the foregoing, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee with respect to the Notes, provided that (i) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this indenture, (ii) the trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the trustee that is not inconsistent with such direction and (iii) the trustee need not take any action that it determines in good faith may involve it in personal liability or be unjustly prejudicial to the holders of Notes not consenting.

The holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes may on behalf of the holders of all of the Notes waive any past default under the indenture with respect to the Notes and its consequences, except a default (i) in the payment of (or premium, if any, on) or interest, if any, on any Note, or (ii) in respect of a covenant or provision of the indenture which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Note affected. Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist, and any event of default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or event of default or impair any right consequent thereto.

We are required to deliver to the trustee, within [] days after the end of each fiscal year, an officers’ certificate stating that to the knowledge of the signers whether we are in default in the performance of any of the terms, provisions or conditions of the indenture.

Within [] days after the occurrence of any default under the indenture with respect to the Notes, the trustee shall transmit notice of such default known to the trustee, unless such default shall have been cured or waived; provided, however, that, except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) or


interest, if any, on any Note, the trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors of the trustee in good faith determines that withholding of such notice is in the interest of the holders of the Notes.

Satisfaction and Discharge; Defeasance

We may satisfy and discharge our obligations under the indenture by delivering to the securities registrar for cancellation all outstanding Notes or by depositing with the trustee or delivering to the holders, as applicable, after the Notes have become due and payable, or otherwise, moneys sufficient to pay all of the outstanding Notes and paying all other sums payable under the indenture by us. Such discharge is subject to terms contained in the indenture.

In addition, the Notes are subject to defeasance and covenant defeasance, in each case, in accordance with the terms of the indenture. Defeasance means that, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including depositing in trust for the benefit of the holders of the Notes a combination of money and U.S. government or U.S. government agency notes or bonds that will generate enough cash to make interest, principal and any other payments on the Notes on their various due dates, we can legally release ourselves from all payment and other obligations on the Notes. Covenant defeasance means that, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including depositing in trust for the benefit of the holders of the Notes a combination of money and U.S. government or U.S. government agency notes or bonds that will generate enough cash to make interest, principal and any other payments on the Notes on their various due dates, we will be released from some of the restrictive covenants in the indenture.

Trustee

U.S. Bank National Association is the trustee, security registrar and paying agent. U.S. Bank National Association, in each of its capacities, including without limitation as trustee, security registrar and paying agent, assumes no responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information concerning us or our affiliates or any other party contained in this document or the related documents or for any failure by us or any other party to disclose events that may have occurred and may affect the significance or accuracy of such information, or for any information provided to it by us, including but not limited to settlement amounts and any other information.

We may maintain banking relationships in the ordinary course of business with the trustee and its affiliates.

Governing Law

The indenture provides that it and the Notes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to principles of conflicts of laws that would cause the application of laws of another jurisdiction.

Book-Entry, Settlement and Clearance

Global Notes

The Notes will be initially issued in the form of one or more registered Notes in global form, without interest coupons (the “Global Notes”). Upon issuance, each of the Global Notes will be deposited with the trustee as custodian for DTC and registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of DTC.

Ownership of beneficial interests in a Global Note will be limited to persons who have accounts with DTC (“DTC participants”) or persons who hold interests through DTC participants. We expect that under procedures established by DTC:

 

    upon deposit of a Global Note with DTC’s custodian, DTC will credit portions of the principal amount of the Global Note to the accounts of the DTC participants designated by the underwriters; and


    ownership of beneficial interests in a Global Note will be shown on, and transfer of ownership of those interests will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC (with respect to interests of DTC participants) and the records of DTC participants (with respect to other owners of beneficial interests in the Global Note).

Beneficial interests in Global Notes may not be exchanged for Notes in physical, certificated form except in the limited circumstances described below.

Book-Entry Procedures for Global Notes

All interests in the Global Notes will be subject to the operations and procedures of DTC. We provide the following summary of those operations and procedures solely for the convenience of investors. The operations and procedures of DTC are controlled by that settlement system and may be changed at any time. Neither we nor the underwriters are responsible for those operations or procedures.

DTC has advised us that it is:

 

    a limited purpose trust company organized under the laws of the State of New York;

 

    a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York State Banking Law;

 

    a member of the Federal Reserve System;

 

    a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the Uniform Commercial Code; and

 

    a “clearing agency” registered under Section 17A of the Exchange Act.

DTC was created to hold securities for its participants and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between its participants through electronic book-entry changes to the accounts of its participants. DTC’s participants include securities brokers and dealers, including the underwriters; banks and trust companies; clearing corporations and other organizations. Indirect access to DTC’s system is also available to others such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies; these indirect participants clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a DTC participant, either directly or indirectly. Investors who are not DTC participants may beneficially own securities held by or on behalf of DTC only through DTC participants or indirect participants in DTC.

So long as DTC’s nominee is the registered owner of a Global Note, that nominee will be considered the sole owner or holder of the Notes represented by that Global Note for all purposes under the indenture. Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests in a Global Note:

 

    will not be entitled to have Notes represented by the Global Note registered in their names;

 

    will not receive or be entitled to receive physical, certificated Notes; and

 

    will not be considered the owners or holders of the Notes under the indenture for any purpose, including with respect to the giving of any direction, instruction or approval to the trustee under the indenture.

As a result, each investor who owns a beneficial interest in a Global Note must rely on the procedures of DTC to exercise any rights of a holder of Notes under the indenture (and, if the investor is not a participant or an indirect participant in DTC, on the procedures of the DTC participant through which the investor owns its interest).

Payments of principal and interest with respect to the Notes represented by a Global Note will be made by the trustee to DTC’s nominee as the registered holder of the Global Note. Neither we nor the Trustee will have any responsibility or liability for the payment of amounts to owners of beneficial interests in a Global Note, for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of those interests by DTC, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records of DTC relating to those interests.


Payments by participants and indirect participants in DTC to the owners of beneficial interests in a Global Note will be governed by standing instructions and customary industry practice and will be the responsibility of those participants or indirect participants and DTC.

Transfers between participants in DTC will be effected under DTC’s procedures and will be settled in same-day funds.

Certificated Notes

Notes in physical, certificated form will be issued and delivered to each person that DTC identifies as a beneficial owner of the related Notes only if:

 

    DTC notifies us at any time that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for the Global Notes and a successor depositary is not appointed within 90 days;

 

    DTC ceases to be registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act and a successor depositary is not appointed within 90 days; or

 

    an event of default with respect to the Notes has occurred and is continuing and such beneficial owner requests that its Notes be issued in physical, certificated form.


CERTAIN MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES

The following discussion is a summary of certain material U.S. federal income tax consequences relevant to the purchase, ownership and disposition of the Notes, but does not purport to be a complete analysis of all potential tax consequences. The discussion is based upon the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), the regulations promulgated thereunder by the U.S. Treasury (the “Treasury Regulations”), rulings and pronouncements issued by the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) and judicial decisions, each as of the date of this prospectus supplement and all of which are subject to change at any time. Any such change may be applied retroactively in a manner that could adversely affect a holder of the Notes. We have not sough any ruling from the IRS with respect to the statements made and the conclusions reached in the following discussion, and there can be no assurance that the IRS will agree with such statements and conclusions.

This discussion does not address all of the U.S. federal income tax consequences that may be relevant to a holder in light of such holder’s particular circumstances or to holders subject to special rules, including, without limitation:

 

    banks, insurance companies and other financial institutions;

 

    U.S. expatriates and certain former citizens or long-term residents of the United States;

 

    holders subject to the alternative minimum tax;

 

    dealers in securities or currencies;

 

    traders in securities;

 

    partnerships, S corporations or other pass-through entities;

 

    U.S. holders (as defined below) whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar;

 

    controlled foreign corporations;

 

    tax-exempt organizations;

 

    passive foreign investment companies;

 

    persons holding the Notes as part of a “straddle,” “hedge,” “conversion transaction” or other risk reduction transaction; and

 

    persons deemed to sell the Notes under the constructive sale provisions of the Code.

In addition, this discussion is limited to persons purchasing the Notes for cash at original issue and at their original “issue price” within the meaning of Section 1273 of the Code (i.e., the first price at which a substantial amount of the Notes are sold to the public for cash). Moreover, the effects of other U.S. federal tax laws (such as estate and gift tax laws) and any applicable state, local or foreign tax laws are not discussed. The discussion deals only with notes held as “capital assets” within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code.

If a partnership or other entity taxable as a partnership holds the Notes, the tax treatment of the partners in the partnership generally will depend on the status of the particular partner in question and the activities of the partnership. Such partners should consult their tax advisors as to the specific tax consequences to them of holding the Notes indirectly through ownership of their partnership interests.

YOU ARE URGED TO CONSULT YOUR TAX ADVISOR WITH RESPECT TO THE APPLICATION OF THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX LAWS TO YOUR PARTICULAR SITUATION AS WELL AS ANY TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF THE NOTES ARISING UNDER THE FEDERAL ESTATE OR GIFT TAX LAWS OR UNDER THE LAWS OF ANY STATE, LOCAL, FOREIGN OR OTHER TAXING JURISDICTION OR UNDER ANY APPLICABLE TAX TREATY.

U.S. Holders

The following is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences that will apply to you if you are a “U.S. holder” of the Notes. As used herein, “U.S. holder” means a beneficial owner of the Notes who is for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

 

    an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States, including an alien individual who is a lawful permanent resident of the United States or meets the “substantial presence” test under Section 7701(b) of the Code;

 

    a corporation or other entity taxable as a corporation created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia;


    an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source; or

 

    a trust, if a U.S. court can exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more “United States persons” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code can control all substantial trust decisions, or, if the trust was in existence on August 20, 1996, and it has elected to continue to be treated as a United States person.

Payments of Interest

Stated interest on the Notes generally will be taxable to a U.S. holder as ordinary income at the time that such interest is received or accrued, in accordance with such U.S. holder’s method of tax accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Sale or Other Taxable Disposition of Notes

A U.S. holder will recognize gain or loss on the sale, exchange, redemption, retirement or other taxable disposition of a note equal to the difference between the amount realized upon the disposition (less a portion allocable to any accrued and unpaid interest, which will be taxable as interest) and the U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in the note. A U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in a note generally will be equal to the amount that the U.S. holder paid for the note less any principal payments received by the U.S. holder. Any gain or loss will be a capital gain or loss, and will be a long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. holder has held the note for more than one year at the time of disposition. Otherwise, such gain or loss will be a short-term capital gain or loss. Long-term capital gains recognized by certain non-corporate U.S. holders, including individuals, generally will be subject to a reduced tax rate. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

A U.S. holder may be subject to information reporting and backup withholding when such holder receives interest payments on the Notes held or upon the proceeds received upon the sale or other disposition of such notes (including a redemption or retirement of the Notes). Certain holders generally are not subject to information reporting or backup withholding. A U.S. holder will be subject to backup withholding if such holder is not otherwise exempt and such holder:

 

    fails to furnish the holder’s taxpayer identification number (“TIN”), which, for an individual, ordinarily is his or her social security number;

 

    furnishes an incorrect TIN;

 

    is notified by the IRS that the holder has failed properly to report payments of interest or dividends; or

 

    fails to certify, under penalties of perjury, that the holder has furnished a correct TIN and that the IRS has not notified the holder that the holder is subject to backup withholding.

U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding their qualification for an exemption from backup withholding and the procedures for obtaining such an exemption, if applicable. Backup withholding is not an additional tax, and taxpayers may use amounts withheld as a credit against their U.S. federal income tax liability or may claim a refund if they timely provide certain information to the IRS.

Unearned Income Medicare Contribution

A tax of 3.8% will be imposed on the amount of “net investment income,” in the case of an individual, or undistributed “net investment income,” in the case of an estate or trust (other than a charitable trust), which exceeds certain threshold amounts. “Net investment income” as defined for United States federal Medicare contribution purposes generally includes interest payments and gain recognized from the sale or other disposition of the Notes. Qualified pension trusts, which are not subject to income taxes generally, and foreign individuals will not be subject to this tax. U.S. holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the effect, if any, of this tax on their ownership and disposition of the Notes.

Non-U.S. Holders

The following is a summary of certain material U.S. federal income tax consequences that will apply to you if you are a “Non-U.S. holder” of the Notes. A “Non-U.S. holder” is a beneficial owner of the Notes who is not a U.S. holder or a partnership for federal income tax purposes. Special rules may apply to Non-U.S. holders that are subject


to special treatment under the Code, including controlled foreign corporations, passive foreign investment companies, U.S. expatriates, and foreign persons eligible for benefits under an applicable income tax treaty with the U.S. Such Non-U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors to determine the U.S. federal, state, local and other tax consequences that may be relevant to them including any reporting requirements.

Payments of Interest

Generally, interest income paid to a Non-U.S. holder that is not effectively connected with the Non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a U.S. trade or business is subject to withholding tax at a rate of 30% (or, if applicable, a lower treaty rate). Nevertheless, interest paid on a note to a Non-U.S. holder that is not effectively connected with the Non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a U.S. trade or business generally will not be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax provided that:

 

    such holder does not directly or indirectly, actually or constructively, own 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of our voting stock;

 

    such holder is not a controlled foreign corporation that is related to us through actual or constructive stock ownership and is not a bank that received such note on an extension of credit made pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business; and

 

    either (1) the Non-U.S. holder certifies in a statement provided to us or the paying agent, under penalties of perjury, that it is not a “United States person” within the meaning of the Code and provides its name and address, (2) a securities clearing organization, bank or other financial institution that holds customers’ securities in the ordinary course of its trade or business and holds the note on behalf of the Non-U.S. holder certifies to us or the paying agent under penalties of perjury that it, or the financial institution between it and the Non-U.S. holder, has received from the Non-U.S. holder a statement, under penalties of perjury, that such holder is not a United States person and provides us or the paying agent with a copy of such statement or (3) the Non-U.S. holder holds its note directly through a “qualified intermediary” and certain conditions are satisfied.

Even if the above conditions are not met, a Non-U.S. holder generally will be entitled to a reduction in or an exemption from withholding tax on interest if the Non-U.S. holder provides us or our agent with a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN claiming an exemption from or reduction of the withholding tax under the benefit of a tax treaty between the United States and the Non-U.S. holder’s country of residence or a substantially similar substitute form. A Non-U.S. holder is required to inform the recipient of any change in the information on such statement within 30 days of such change. Special certification rules apply to Non-U.S. holders that are pass-through entities rather than corporations or individuals.

If interest paid to a Non-U.S. holder is effectively connected with the Non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a U.S. trade or business (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, the Non-U.S. holder maintains a U.S. permanent establishment to which such interest is attributable), then, the Non-U.S. holder will be exempt from U.S. federal withholding tax, so long as the Non-U.S. holder has provided an IRS Form W-8ECI or substantially similar substitute form stating that the interest that the Non-U.S. holder receives on the Notes is effectively connected with the Non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a trade or business in the United States. In such a case, a Non-U.S. holder will be subject to tax on the interest it receives on a net income basis in the same manner as if such Non-U.S. holder were a U.S. holder. In addition, if the Non-U.S. holder is a foreign corporation, such interest may be subject to a branch profits tax at a rate of 30% or lower applicable treaty rate.

Sale or Other Taxable Disposition of Notes

Any gain realized by a Non-U.S. holder on the sale, exchange, retirement, redemption or other disposition of a note generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax unless:

 

    the gain is effectively connected with the Non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a trade or business in the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, the Non-U.S. holder maintains a U.S. permanent establishment to which such gain is attributable); or

 

    the Non-U.S. holder is an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of sale, exchange or other disposition, certain conditions are met and the Non-U.S. holder is not eligible for relief under an applicable income tax treaty.


A Non-U.S. holder described in the first bullet point above will be required to pay U.S. federal income tax on the net gain derived from the sale generally in the same manner as if such Non-U.S. holder were a U.S. holder, and if such Non-U.S. holder is a foreign corporation, it may also be required to pay an additional branch profits tax at a 30% rate (or a lower rate if so specified by an applicable income tax treaty). A Non-U.S. holder described in the second bullet point above will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% (or, if applicable, a lower treaty rate) on the gain derived from the sale, which may be offset by certain U.S. source capital losses, even though the Non-U.S. holder is not considered a resident of the United States.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

A Non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to backup withholding and information reporting with respect to payments that we make to the Non-U.S. holder, provided that we do not have actual knowledge or reason to know that such holder is a “United States person,” within the meaning of the Code, and the holder has given us the statement described above under “Non-U.S. holders — Payments of Interest.” In addition, a Non-U.S. holder will not be subject to backup withholding or information reporting with respect to the proceeds of the sale or other disposition of a note (including a retirement or redemption of a note) within the United States or conducted through certain U.S.-related brokers, if the payor receives the statement described above and does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that such holder is a United States person or the holder otherwise establishes an exemption. However, the amount of interest that we pay to any Non-U.S. holder on the Notes will be reported to the Non-U.S. holder and to the IRS annually on an IRS Form 1042-S, regardless of whether any tax was actually withheld. Copies of these information returns may also be made available under the provisions of a specific treaty or agreement to the tax authorities of the country in which the Non-U.S. holder resides.

A Non-U.S. holder generally will be entitled to credit any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules against the holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability or may claim a refund provided that the required information is furnished to the IRS in a timely manner.

Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act

Legislation enacted in 2010 imposes a withholding tax of 30% on payments of interest or gross proceeds from the disposition of a debt instrument paid after December 31, 2012 to certain non-U.S. entities, including certain foreign financial institutions and investment funds, unless such non-U.S. entity complies with certain reporting requirements regarding its United States account holders and its United States owners. The date for implementation of these rules generally was extended by the IRS to January 1, 2014 for payments of fixed or determinable annual or periodic (FDAP) income, including interest, and to January 1, 2015 for other “withholdable payments,” including payments of gross proceeds. After these dates, payments of interest on, or gross proceeds from the sale of, the notes made to a non-United States entity generally will be subject to the new information reporting regime; however, the new withholding obligations will only apply to obligations issued after March 18, 2012, and proposed Treasury regulations would extend this grandfathering provision to obligations that are outstanding on January 1, 2013. Congress delegated broad authority to the United States Treasury Department to promulgate regulations to implement the new withholding and reporting regime. It cannot be predicted whether or how any regulations promulgated by the United States Treasury Department pursuant to this broad delegation of regulatory authority will affect holders of the notes. Prospective purchasers of the notes should consult their own tax advisors regarding the new withholding and reporting provisions.


UNDERWRITING

[] are acting as representatives of each of the underwriters named below. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in a purchase agreement among us and the underwriters, we have agreed to sell to the underwriters, and each of the underwriters has agreed, severally and not jointly, to purchase from us, the aggregate principal amount of Notes set forth opposite its name below.

 

Underwriter

   Principal
Amount
 
  
  
  
  

 

 

 

Total

$     
  

 

 

 

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the purchase agreement, the underwriters have agreed, severally and not jointly, to purchase all of the Notes sold under the purchase agreement if any of these Notes are purchased. If an underwriter defaults, the purchase agreement provides that the purchase commitments of the nondefaulting underwriters may be increased or the purchase agreement may be terminated.

We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make in respect of those liabilities.

The underwriters are offering the Notes, subject to prior sale, when, as and if issued to and accepted by them, subject to approval of legal matters by their counsel, including the validity of the Notes, and other conditions contained in the purchase agreement, such as the receipt by the underwriters of officer’s certificates and legal opinions. The underwriters reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify offers to the public and to reject orders in whole or in part.

We expect that delivery of the Notes will be made against payment therefor on or about [], 20[], which will be the third business day following the date of the pricing of the Notes. Under Rule 15c6-1 under the Exchange Act, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in three business days, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise.

Commissions and Discounts

An underwriting discount of []% per Note will be paid by us. This underwriting discount will also apply to any Notes purchased pursuant to the over-allotment option.

The following table shows the total underwriting discounts and commissions that we are to pay to the underwriters in connection with this offering. The information assumes either no exercise or full exercise by the underwriters of their over-allotment option.

 

     Per Note     Without
Option
     With
Option
 

Public offering price

                    $                    $                

Underwriting discount

                      

Proceeds, before expenses, to us

                      


[The underwriters propose to offer some of the Notes to the public at the public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement and may offer the Notes to certain other Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) members at the public offering price less a concession not in excess of % of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes. The underwriters may allow, and the dealers may reallow, a discount not in excess of % of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes. After the initial offering of the Notes to the public, the public offering price and such concessions may be changed. No such change shall change the amount of proceeds to be received by us as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement.]

The expenses of the offering, not including the underwriting discount, are estimated at $[•] and are payable by us.

Over-allotment Option

We have granted an option to the underwriters to purchase up to an additional $[•] aggregate principal amount of the Notes offered hereby at the public offering price within days from the date of this prospectus supplement solely to cover any over-allotments. If the underwriters exercise this option, each will be obligated, subject to conditions contained in the underwriting agreement, to purchase a number of additional Notes proportionate to that underwriter’s initial principal amount reflected in the table above.

[No Sales of Similar Securities

Subject to certain exceptions, we have agreed not to directly or indirectly, offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, grant any option for the sale of, or otherwise transfer or dispose of any debt securities issued or guaranteed by the Company or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for debt securities issued or guaranteed by the Company or file any registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to any of the foregoing for a period of [] days after the date of this prospectus supplement without first obtaining the written consent of [] other than certain private sales of debt securities to a limited number of institutional investors. This consent may be given at any time without public notice.]

Listing

The Notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market. We intend to list the Notes on the [NASDA]. We expect trading in the Notes on the [NASDA] to begin within days after the original issue date under the trading symbol “[].” Currently there is no public market for the Notes.

We have been advised by the underwriters that they presently intend to make a market in the Notes after completion of the offering as permitted by applicable laws and regulations. The underwriters are not obligated, however, to make a market in the Notes and any such market-making may be discontinued at any time in the sole discretion of the underwriters without any notice. Accordingly, no assurance can be given as to the liquidity of, or development of a public trading market for, the Notes. If an active public trading market for the Notes does not develop, the market price and liquidity of the Notes may be adversely affected.

Price Stabilization, Short Positions

In connection with the offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell Notes in the open market. These transactions may include over-allotment, covering transactions and stabilizing transactions. Over-allotment involves sales of securities in excess of the aggregate principal amount of securities to be purchased by the underwriters in the offering, which creates a short position for the underwriters. Covering transactions involve purchases of the securities in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover short positions. Stabilizing transactions consist of certain bids or purchases of securities made for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the securities while the offering is in progress.

The underwriters may also impose a penalty bid. This occurs when a particular underwriter repays to the underwriters a portion of the underwriting discount received by it because the representatives have repurchased Notes sold by or for the account of such underwriter in stabilizing or short covering transactions.


Any of these activities may cause the price of the Notes to be higher than the price that otherwise would exist in the open market in the absence of such transactions. These transactions may be effected in the over-the-counter market or otherwise and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time without any notice relating thereto.

Electronic Offer, Sale and Distribution of Notes

A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on the Internet sites or through other online services maintained by one or more of the underwriters and/or selling group members participating in this offering, or by their affiliates. In those cases, prospective investors may view offering terms online and, depending upon the particular underwriter or selling group member, prospective investors may be allowed to place orders online. The underwriters may agree with us to allocate a limited principal amount of the Notes for sale to online brokerage account holders. Any such allocation for online distributions will be made by the underwriters on the same basis as other allocations.

Other than the prospectus in electronic format, information contained in any other web site maintained by an underwriter or selling group member is not part of this prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, has not been endorsed by us and should not be relied on by investors in deciding whether to purchase any Notes.

Other Relationships

The underwriters and their respective affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities which may include sales and trading, commercial and investment banking, advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, market making, brokerage and other financial and non-financial activities and services. The underwriters and their respective affiliates have provided in the past and may provide from time to time in the future in the ordinary course of their business certain commercial banking, financial advisory, investment banking and other services to the Advisor and its affiliates and the Company or our portfolio companies for which they have received or will be entitled to receive separate fees. In particular, the underwriters or their affiliates may execute transactions with the Company or on behalf of the Company, the Advisor or any of our or their portfolio companies or affiliates. In addition, the underwriters or their affiliates may act as arrangers, underwriters or placement agents for companies whose securities are sold to or whose loans are syndicated to the Advisor, the Company and their affiliates.

The underwriters or their affiliates may also trade in our securities, securities of our portfolio companies or other financial instruments related thereto for their own accounts or for the account of others and may extend loans or financing directly or through derivative transactions to the Advisor, the Company or any of our portfolio companies.

We may purchase securities of third parties from the underwriters or their affiliates after the offering. However, we have not entered into any agreement or arrangement regarding the acquisition of any such securities, and we may not purchase any such securities. We would only purchase any such securities if—among other things—we identified securities that satisfied our investment needs and completed our due diligence review of such securities.

After the date of this prospectus supplement, the underwriters and their affiliates may from time to time obtain information regarding specific portfolio companies or us that may not be available to the general public. Any such information is obtained by the underwriters and their affiliates in the ordinary course of their business and not in connection with the offering of the Notes. In addition, after the offering period for the sale of the Notes, the underwriters or their affiliates may develop analyses or opinions related to the Company or our portfolio companies and buy or sell interests in one or more of our portfolio companies on behalf of their proprietary or client accounts and may engage in competitive activities. There is no obligation on behalf of these parties to disclose their respective analyses, opinions or purchase and sale activities regarding any portfolio company or regarding the Company to our noteholders or any other persons.


In the ordinary course of their business activities, the underwriters and their respective affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers. Such investments and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of ours or our affiliates. Certain of the underwriters and their affiliates that have a lending relationship with us routinely hedge their credit exposure to us consistent with their customary risk management policies. Typically, such underwriters and their affiliates would hedge such exposure by entering into transactions which consist of either the purchase of credit default swaps or the creation of short positions in our securities, including potentially the Notes. Any such credit default swaps or short positions could adversely affect future trading prices of the Notes. The underwriters and their respective affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or financial instruments and may hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.

[Describe any other specific transactions and compensation related thereto to the extent required to be disclosed by applicable law or regulation.]

[Describe if underwriters receiving proceeds of offering, if required by FINRA.]

[Insert principal business addresses of underwriters.]

[Insert applicable legends for jurisdictions in which offers and sales may be made.]


LEGAL MATTERS

Certain legal matters in connection with the offering will be passed upon for us by Morrison & Foerster LLP, Washington DC. Certain legal matters in connection with the offering will be passed upon for the underwriters by [].

PRIVACY NOTICE

We are committed to protecting your privacy. This privacy notice explains the privacy policies of the Company. This notice supersedes any other privacy notice you may have received from the Company. We will safeguard, according to strict standards of security and confidentiality, all information we receive about you. The only information we collect from you is your name, address, and number of shares you hold. This information is used only so that we can send you annual reports and other information about us, and send you proxy statements or other information required by law.

We do not share this information with any non-affiliated third party except as described below.

 

    The People and Companies that Make Up Fidus. It is our policy that only our authorized employees who need to know your personal information will have access to it. Our personnel who violate our privacy policy are subject to disciplinary action.

 

    Service Providers. We may disclose your personal information to companies that provide services on our behalf, such as record keeping, processing your trades, and mailing you information. These companies are required to protect your information and use it solely for the purpose for which they received it.

 

    Courts and Government Officials. If required by law, we may disclose your personal information in accordance with a court order or at the request of government regulators. Only that information required by law, subpoena, or court order will be disclosed.

AVAILABLE INFORMATION

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form N-2, together with all amendments and related exhibits, under the Securities Act, with respect to the securities offered by this prospectus. The registration statement contains additional information about us and the securities being offered by this prospectus supplement.

We file with or submit to the SEC annual, quarterly and current periodic reports, proxy statements, code of ethics and other information meeting the informational requirements of the Exchange Act. You may inspect and copy these reports, proxy statements and other information, as well as the registration statement and related exhibits and schedules, at the Public Reference Room of the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information filed electronically by us with the SEC which are available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of these reports, proxy and information statements and other information may be obtained, after paying a duplicating fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the SEC’s Public Reference Section, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549.


FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

[Insert financial statements and notes thereto from most recently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or Annual Report on Form 10-K, as applicable, prior to the offering.]

 

F-1


Fidus Investment Corporation

% [Senior] Notes due

 

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

 

 

[Underwriters]

[], 20[]