SCHEDULE 13D 0001607203 XXXXXXXX LIVE Common Shares of Beneficial Interest 07/07/2025 false 0002013536 000000000 Eagle Point Defensive Income Trust

600 Steamboat Road, Suite 202 Greenwich CT 06830

Courtney Fandrick 203 340 8536 600 Steamboat Road, Suite 202 Greenwich CT 06830 0001607203 N Eagle Point Credit Management LLC AF N DE 10010000.00 0.00 10010000.00 0.00 10010000.00 N 100 IA 0001901006 N Eagle Point Defensive Income Fund NJ LP WC N DE 0.00 10010000.00 0.00 10010000.00 10010000.00 N 100 PN Y Eagle Point DIF GP NJ LLC AF N DE 0.00 10010000.00 0.00 10010000.00 10010000.00 N 100 OO Common Shares of Beneficial Interest Eagle Point Defensive Income Trust 600 Steamboat Road, Suite 202 Greenwich CT 06830 Eagle Point Credit Management LLC 600 Steamboat Road, Suite 202, Greenwich, CT 06830 United States. This Schedule 13D is jointly filed pursuant to a Joint Filing Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A by (i) Eagle Point Credit Management LLC ("EPCM"), a Delaware limited liability company, (ii) Eagle Point Defensive Income Fund NJ LP ("DIF NJ"), a Delaware limited partnership and (iii) Eagle Point DIF GP NJ LLC ("DIF GP NJ"), a Delaware limited liability company (the "Reporting Persons"). The principal business address for the Reporting Persons is 600 Steamboat Road, Suite 202, Greenwich, CT 06830 United States. EPCM is a registered investment adviser and serves as investment adviser to DIF NJ. Pursuant to an investment management agreement between EPCM and DIF NJ, EPCM has discretionary investment authority and voting power with respect to shares of beneficial interest of the issuer ("Shares") directly held by DIF NJ. As such, EPCM can be deemed to beneficially own the Shares of Beneficial Interest directly held by DIF NJ. As general partner to DIF NJ, DIF GP NJ has the authority to exercise voting or dispositive power with respect to the Shares held DIF NJ. Thus, DIF GP NJ could be deemed to share the power to vote and dispose or direct the disposition of the Shares held by DIF NJ. DIF NJ directly holds the Shares, and has delegated management of its portfolio, including the Shares, to DIF GP NJ and EPCM. Accordingly, it may be deemed to have the shared power to vote and dispose or direct the disposition of the Shares. EPCM is ultimately wholly owned by Eagle Point Holdings LP ("EP Holdings") through intermediary holding companies. Eagle Point Holdings GP LLC ("EP Holdings GP") is the sole general partner of EP Holdings. EP Holdings GP is managed by a board of managers (the "EP Holdings Board") of which the majority of the members are appointed by Trident EP-II Holdings LLC ("EP-II LLC"), which also owns a majority of the voting interests in EP Holdings GP. EP Holdings is a Delaware limited partnership and EP Holdings GP is a Delaware limited liability company. The principal business address of each of these entities is c/o Eagle Point Credit Management LLC, 600 Steamboat Road, Suite 202, Greenwich, CT 06830. EP-II LLC is a Delaware limited liability company. Its principal business address is c/o Stone Point Capital LLC, 20 Horseneck Lane, Greenwich, CT 06830. Set forth below is the name and principal occupation of each member of the Board of EP Holdings GP. Each of the following individuals is a United States citizen. Name Principal Occupation Principal Business Address Chris C. Stroup Managing Director, c/o Stone Point Capital LLC, Stone Point Capital LLC 20 Horseneck Lane, Greenwich, CT 06830 Thomas P. Majewski Managing Partner, EPCM c/o Eagle Point Credit Management LLC, (and certain affiliated advisers) 600 Steamboat Road, Suite 202, Greenwich, CT 06830 James R. Matthews Managing Director, c/o Stone Point Capital LLC, Stone Point Capital LLC 20 Horseneck Lane, Greenwich, CT 06830 Additional information regarding EPCM's ownership and governance structure is set forth in its Form ADV, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC File No. 801-77721), under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and is incorporated herein by reference. During the past five years, none of the Disclosed Parties has been convicted in any criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors). During the past five years, none of the Disclosed Parties was a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction and as a result of such proceeding was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws. Not Applicable DIF NJ purchased 10,010,000 Shares for an aggregate price of $100,000,000 million. The purchase was effected through an in-kind contribution of certain assets (including cash), which were contributed to the issuer in exchange for the Shares. Investment purposes The Reporting Person may be deemed to beneficially own an aggregate of 10,010,000 Shares of Beneficial Interest, which represents approximately 100% of all of the Issuer's outstanding Shares of Beneficial Interest. The number of Shares of Beneficial Interest which may be deemed to be beneficially owned by the Disclosed Parties are as follows: Shares Deemed to be Beneficially Owned By: Nature of Ownership Percentage of Class Eagle Point Credit Management Sole Voting and Sole 100% LLC: 10,010,000 Dispositive Power (1) Eagle Point Defensive Income Shared Voting and Shared 100% Fund NJ LP: 10,010,000 Dispositive Power (2) Eagle Point DIF GP NJ LLC: Shared Voting and Shared 100% 10,010,000 Dispositive Power (3) EP Holdings (4): - - - EP Holdings GP (4): - - - EP Holdings Board members (4): - - - EP-II LLC (4): - - - (1) Pursuant to an investment management agreement between EPCM and DIF NJ, EPCM has discretionary investment authority and voting power with respect to the Shares of Beneficial Interest held by DIF NJ. Thus, EPCM could be deemed to have the sole power to vote and dispose or direct the disposition of such Shares of Beneficial Interest. (2) DIF NJ directly holds these shares, and has delegated management of its portfolio, including the shares, to DIF GP NJ and EPCM. Accordingly, it may be deemed to have the shared power to vote and dispose or direct the disposition of such shares. (3) As general partner to DIF NJ, DIF GP NJ has the authority to exercise voting or dispositive power with respect to the shares held by DIF NJ. Thus, DIF GP NJ could be deemed to share the power to vote and dispose or direct the disposition of the shares held by DIF NJ. (4) EP Holdings is a holding company for EPCM. While EP Holdings, EP Holdings GP, each of the EP Holdings Board members, and EP-II LLC could be deemed to share beneficial ownership of the securities held by DIF NJ and beneficially owned by EPCM, each of the foregoing fully disclaim beneficial ownership of such securities. 10,010,000 The transaction is described in response to Item 3. Not Applicable Not Applicable The relationships between the disclosing parties are described in response to Item 2. Exhibit A Joint Filing Agreement We, the undersigned, hereby express our agreement that the attached Schedule 13D is, and any further amendments thereto signed by each of the undersigned shall be, filed on behalf of each of us pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of Rule 13d-1(k) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. This agreement may be terminated with respect to the obligations to jointly file future amendments to such statement on Schedule 13D as to any of the undersigned upon such person giving written notice thereof to each of the other persons signatory hereto, at the principal office thereof. Dated: July 8, 2025 EAGLE POINT CREDIT MANAGEMENT LLC By: /s/ Kenneth Onorio Name: Kenneth Onorio Title: Chief Financial Officer EAGLE POINT DEFENSIVE INCOME FUND NJ LP By Eagle Point DIF GP NJ LLC By: /s/ Kenneth Onorio Name: Kenneth Onorio Title: Chief Financial Officer EAGLE POINT DIF GP NJ LLC By: /s/ Kenneth Onorio Name: Kenneth Onorio Title: Chief Financial Officer All other materials which may be required to be filed as exhibits have been incorporated by reference herein. Eagle Point Credit Management LLC /s/ Kenneth Onorio 07/08/2025 Eagle Point Defensive Income Fund NJ LP /s/ Kenneth Onorio 07/08/2025 Eagle Point DIF GP NJ LLC /s/ Kenneth Onorio 07/08/2025