CSWC 8-K
Capital Southwest Corp (CSWC)
8-K
2025-09-18
For: 2025-09-18
View Original
Added on
April 07, 2026
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): September 18, 2025
(Exact Name Of Registrant As Specified In Charter)
| (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) | ||||||
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (214 ) 238-5700
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
| Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) | |||||||||||
| Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) | |||||||||||
| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) | |||||||||||
| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) | |||||||||||
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of Each Class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered | ||||||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
| Emerging growth company | |||||
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
In connection with the previously announced public offering, on September 18, 2025, Capital Southwest Corporation (the “Company”) and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (as successor in interest to U.S. Bank National Association) (the “Trustee”), entered into a Seventh Supplemental Indenture (the “Seventh Supplemental Indenture”) to the Indenture, dated October 23, 2017, by and between the Company and the Trustee (the “Base Indenture”, and together with the Seventh Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”). The Seventh Supplemental Indenture relates to the Company’s issuance and sale of $350.0 million in aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 5.950% Notes due 2030 (the “Notes” and the issuance and sale of the Notes, the “Offering”).
The Notes bear interest at a rate of 5.950% per year payable semi-annually in arrears on March 18 and September 18 of each year, beginning on March 18, 2026. The Notes will mature on September 18, 2030 and may be redeemed at the Company’s option, in whole or in part, at any time prior to August 18, 2030 at par plus a “make-whole” premium, and thereafter at par.
The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering to redeem in full the outstanding 7.75% Notes due 2028 and the outstanding 3.375% Notes due 2026, and to repay a portion of the outstanding indebtedness under the senior secured revolving credit facility (the “Corporate Credit Facility”) and/or the special purpose vehicle financing credit facility (the “SPV Credit Facility”).
The Notes are the direct unsecured obligations of the Company and rank pari passu with all outstanding and future unsecured, unsubordinated indebtedness issued by the Company, senior to any of the Company’s future indebtedness that expressly provides it is subordinated to the Notes, effectively subordinated to all of the existing and future secured indebtedness issued by the Company (including indebtedness that is initially unsecured in respect of which the Company subsequently grants security), to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness, including, without limitation, borrowings under the Corporate Credit Facility, and structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness and other obligations of any of the Company’s subsidiaries, including, without limitation, borrowings under the SPV Credit Facility and the debentures guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
The Indenture contains certain covenants, including certain covenants requiring the Company to comply with Section 18(a)(1)(A) as modified by Section 61(a)(2) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), or any successor provisions, whether or not the Company continues to be subject to such provisions of the 1940 Act, but giving effect, in either case, to any exemptive relief granted to the Company by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), to comply with Section 18(a)(1)(B) as modified by Section 61(a)(2) of the 1940 Act, or any successor provisions, after giving effect to any exemptive relief granted to the Company by the SEC and subject to certain other exceptions, and to provide financial information to the holders of the Notes and the Trustee if the Company is no longer subject to the reporting requirements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These covenants are subject to important limitations and exceptions that are described in the Indenture.
In addition, holders of the Notes can require the Company to repurchase some or all of the Notes at a purchase price equal to 100% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the repurchase date upon the occurrence of a “Change of Control Repurchase Event,” as defined in the Seventh Supplemental Indenture.
The Offering was made pursuant to the Company’s effective shelf registration statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-282873) previously filed with the SEC, as supplemented by a preliminary prospectus supplement dated September 9, 2025, the pricing term sheet filed with the SEC on September 9, 2025, and a final prospectus supplement dated September 9, 2025. The transaction closed on September 18, 2025. The net proceeds to the Company were approximately $343.6 million, based on a public offering price of 99.345% of par, after deducting the underwriting discount of $3.5 million and the estimated offering expenses of approximately $0.6 million payable by the Company.
The foregoing descriptions of the Seventh Supplemental Indenture and the Notes do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Seventh Supplemental Indenture and the form of global note representing the Notes, respectively, which are filed as Exhibits 4.2 and 4.3 hereto, respectively, and incorporated by reference herein.
Item 2.03 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.
The information required by Item 2.03 contained in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
| Exhibit No. | Description | |||||||
| 4.1 | ||||||||
| 4.2 | ||||||||
| 4.3 | ||||||||
| 5.1 | ||||||||
| 23.1 | ||||||||
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) | |||||||
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Dated: September 18, 2025
| By: | /s/ Michael S. Sarner | |||||||
| Name: Michael S. Sarner | ||||||||
| Title: President and Chief Executive Officer | ||||||||
Exhibit 4.2
SEVENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
between
CAPITAL SOUTHWEST CORPORATION
and
U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee
Dated as of September 18, 2025
THIS SEVENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “Seventh Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of September 18, 2025, is between Capital Southwest Corporation, a Texas corporation (the “Company”), and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association (as successor in interest to U.S. Bank National Association), as trustee (the “Trustee”). All capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in the Base Indenture (as defined below).
RECITALS OF THE COMPANY
The Company and the Trustee executed and delivered an Indenture, dated as of October 23, 2017 (the “Base Indenture” and, as amended and supplemented by this Seventh Supplemental Indenture, collectively the “Indenture”), to provide for the issuance by the Company from time to time of the Company’s unsecured debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (the “Securities”), to be issued in one or more series as provided in the Indenture.
The Company desires to issue and sell $350,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 5.950% Notes due 2030 (the “Notes”).
The Company previously entered into the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 15, 2017 (the “First Supplemental Indenture”), the Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 27, 2019 (the “Second Supplemental Indenture”), the Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 29, 2020 (the “Third Supplemental Indenture”), the Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 27, 2021 (the “Fourth Supplemental Indenture”), the Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 14, 2023 (the “Fifth Supplemental Indenture”), and the Sixth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 8, 2024 (the “Sixth Supplemental Indenture”), each of which supplemented the Base Indenture. The First Supplemental Indenture, the Second Supplemental Indenture, the Third Supplemental Indenture, the Fourth Supplemental Indenture, the Fifth Supplemental Indenture, and the Sixth Supplemental Indenture are not applicable to the Notes.
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Sections 9.01(iv) and 9.01(vi) of the Base Indenture provide that without the consent of Holders of the Securities of any series issued under the Indenture, the Company, when authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental to the Base Indenture in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee to (i) change or eliminate any of the provisions of the Indenture when there is no Security Outstanding of any series created prior to the execution of the supplemental indenture that is entitled to the benefit of such provision and (ii) establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Section 2.01 and Section 3.01 of the Base Indenture.
The Company desires to establish the form and terms of the Notes and to modify, alter, supplement and change certain provisions of the Base Indenture for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes (subject to amendment as may be provided in a future supplemental indenture to the Indenture (each, a “Future Supplemental Indenture”)).
The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Seventh Supplemental Indenture to provide for the issuance of the Notes and all acts and things necessary to make this Seventh Supplemental Indenture a valid, binding, and legal obligation of the Company and to constitute a valid agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done and performed.
NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Notes by the Holders thereof, it is mutually agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Notes, as follows:
ARTICLE I
TERMS OF THE NOTES
TERMS OF THE NOTES
Section 1.01. Terms of the Notes. The following terms relating to the Notes are hereby established:
(a) The Notes shall constitute a series of Senior Securities having the title “5.950% Notes due 2030.” The Notes shall bear a CUSIP number of 140501 AF4 and an ISIN number of US140501AF43, as may be supplemented or replaced from time to time.
(b) The aggregate principal amount of the Notes that may be initially authenticated and delivered under the Indenture (except for Notes authenticated and delivered upon registration of, transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Notes pursuant to Sections 3.04, 3.05, 3.06, 9.06, 11.07 or 13.05 of the Base Indenture, and except for any Securities that, pursuant to Section 3.03 of the Base Indenture, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered under the Indenture) shall be $350,000,000. Under a Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate pursuant to Board Resolutions or a Future Supplemental Indenture, the Company may from time to time, without the consent of the Holders of Notes, issue additional Notes (in any such case “Additional Notes”) having the same ranking and the same interest rate, maturity and other terms as the Notes; provided that, if such Additional Notes are not fungible with the Notes (or any other tranche of Additional Notes) for U.S. federal income tax purposes, then such
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Additional Notes will have different CUSIP and ISIN numbers from the Notes (and any such other tranche of Additional Notes). Any Additional Notes and the existing Notes will constitute a single series under the Indenture and all references to the relevant Notes herein shall include the Additional Notes unless the context otherwise requires.
(c) The entire outstanding principal of the Notes shall be payable on September 18, 2030 unless earlier redeemed or repurchased in accordance with the provisions of this Seventh Supplemental Indenture.
(d) The rate at which the Notes shall bear interest shall be 5.950% per annum. The date from which interest shall accrue on the Notes shall be September 18, 2025, or the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or provided for; the Interest Payment Dates for the Notes shall be March 18 and September 18 of each year, commencing March 18, 2026 (if an Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or date of Stated Maturity falls on a day that is not a Business Day, then the applicable interest payment will be made on the next succeeding Business Day and no additional interest will accrue as a result of such delayed payment); the initial interest period will be the period from and including September 18, 2025, 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, as the case may be; the interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date, will be paid to the Person in whose name the Note (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be March 4 and September 4 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date. Payment of principal of (and premium, if any, on) and any such interest on the Notes will be made at the office of the Trustee located at 100 Wall Street, Suite 1600, New York, New York 10005, Attention: Capital Southwest Corporation (5.950% Notes Due 2030) and at such other address as designated by 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 the option of the Company payment of interest may be made by (1) check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register or (2) transfer to an account maintained by the Person entitled thereto located in the United States; provided, further, however, that so long as the Notes are registered to Cede & Co., such payment will be made by wire transfer in accordance with the procedures established by The Depository Trust Company and the Trustee. Interest on the Notes will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
(e) The Notes shall be initially issuable in global form (each such Note, a “Global Note”). The Global Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication thereon shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A to this Seventh Supplemental Indenture. Each Global Note shall represent the aggregate amount of the outstanding Notes as shall be specified therein and each shall provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of outstanding Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges and redemptions. Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or
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decrease in the amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee or the Security Registrar, in accordance with Sections 2.03 and 3.05 of the Base Indenture.
(f) The depositary for such Global Notes (the “Depositary”) shall be The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York. The Security Registrar with respect to the Global Notes shall be the Trustee.
(g) The Notes shall be defeasible pursuant to Section 14.02 or Section 14.03 of the Base Indenture. Covenant defeasance contained in Section 14.03 of the Base Indenture shall apply to the covenants contained in Sections 10.08, 10.09, and 10.10 of the Indenture. For the avoidance of doubt, Article IV of the Base Indenture also applies to the Notes.
(h) The Notes shall be redeemable pursuant to Section 11.01 of the Base Indenture and as follows:
(i) Prior to the Par Call Date, the Company may redeem the Notes at its option, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a Redemption Price (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of:
(a) (1) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the Redemption Date (assuming the Notes matured on the Par Call Date) on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 40 basis points less (2) interest accrued to the Redemption Date, and
(b) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but not including, the Redemption Date.
(ii) On or after the Par Call Date, the Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but not including, the Redemption Date.
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:
“Par Call Date” means August 18, 2030.
“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any Redemption Date of the Notes, the yield determined by the Company in accordance with the following two paragraphs.
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The Treasury Rate shall be determined by the Company after 4:15 p.m., New York City time (or after such time as yields on U.S. government securities are posted daily by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), on the third Business Day preceding the Redemption Date based upon the yield or yields for the most recent day that appear after such time on such day in the most recent statistical release published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System designated as “Selected Interest Rates (Daily) — H.15” (or any successor designation or publication) (“H.15”) under the caption “U.S. government securities — Treasury constant maturities — Nominal” (or any successor caption or heading) (“H.15 TCM”). In determining the Treasury Rate, the Company shall select, as applicable: (1) the yield for the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the period from the Redemption Date to the Par Call Date (the “Remaining Life”); or (2) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the Remaining Life, the two yields — one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately shorter than and one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately longer than the Remaining Life — and shall interpolate to the Par Call Date on a straight-line basis (using the actual number of days) using such yields and rounding the result to three decimal places; or (3) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 shorter than or longer than the Remaining Life, the yield for the single Treasury constant maturity on H.15 closest to the Remaining Life. For purposes of this paragraph, the applicable Treasury constant maturity or maturities on H.15 shall be deemed to have a maturity date equal to the relevant number of months or years, as applicable, of such Treasury constant maturity from the Redemption Date.
If on the third Business Day preceding the Redemption Date H.15 TCM or any successor designation or publication is no longer published, the Company shall calculate the Treasury Rate based on the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second Business Day preceding such Redemption Date of the United States Treasury security maturing on, or with a maturity that is closest to, the Par Call Date, as applicable. If there is no United States Treasury security maturing on the Par Call Date but there are two or more United States Treasury securities with a maturity date equally distant from the Par Call Date, one with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date and one with a maturity date following the Par Call Date, the Company shall select the United States Treasury security with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date. If there are two or more United States Treasury securities maturing on the Par Call Date or two or more United States Treasury securities meeting the criteria of the preceding sentence, the Company shall select from among these two or more United States Treasury securities the United States Treasury security that is trading closest to par based upon the average of the bid and asked prices for such United States Treasury securities at 11:00 a.m., New York City time. In determining the Treasury Rate in accordance with the terms of this paragraph, the semi-annual yield to maturity of the applicable United States Treasury security shall be based upon the average of the bid and asked prices (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount) at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, of such United States Treasury security, and rounded to three decimal places.
The Company’s actions and determinations in determining the Redemption Price of any of the Notes shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
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(iii) Notice of redemption shall be given in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, by overnight courier guaranteeing next-day delivery, by facsimile, or by electronic mail, provided that so long as the Notes are registered to Cede & Co., such notice shall be given in accordance with the Trustee’s and the Depositary’s standard practices and procedures, to each Holder of the Notes to be redeemed (with a copy to the Trustee), not less than thirty (30) nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the Redemption Date, at the Holder’s address, facsimile number or email address appearing in the Security Register. All notices of redemption shall contain the information set forth in Section 11.04 of the Base Indenture.
(iv) Any exercise of the Company’s option to redeem the Notes will be done in compliance with the Indenture and the Investment Company Act, to the extent applicable.
(v) If the Company elects to redeem only a portion of the Notes, the particular Notes to be redeemed will be selected in accordance with Section 11.03 of the Indenture and, so long as the Notes are registered to the Depositary or its nominee, in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary; provided, however, that no such partial redemption shall reduce the portion of the principal amount of a Note not redeemed to less than $2,000.
(vi) Unless the Company defaults in payment of the Redemption Price, on and after the Redemption Date, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof called for redemption hereunder.
(i) The Notes shall not be subject to any sinking fund pursuant to Section 12.01 of the Base Indenture.
(j) The Notes shall be issuable in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.
(k) Holders of the Notes will not have the option to have the Notes repaid prior to the Stated Maturity other than in accordance with Article XIII of the Indenture.
(l) The Notes are hereby designated as “Senior Securities” under the Indenture.
ARTICLE II
DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION
DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION
Section 2.01. Except as may be provided in a Future Supplemental Indenture, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes but no other series of Securities under the Indenture, whether now or hereafter issued and Outstanding, Article I of the Base Indenture shall be amended by adding the following defined terms to Section 1.01 in appropriate alphabetical sequence, as follows:
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“‘Below Investment Grade Rating Event’ means the Notes are downgraded below Investment Grade by both Rating Agencies on any date from the date of the public notice of an arrangement that results in a Change of Control until the end of the 60-day period following public notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control (which period shall be extended so long as the rating of the Notes is under publicly announced consideration for possible downgrade by either of the Rating Agencies); provided that a Below Investment Grade Rating Event otherwise arising by virtue of a particular reduction in rating shall not be deemed to have occurred in respect of a particular Change of Control (and thus shall not be deemed a Below Investment Grade Rating Event for purposes of the definition of Change of Control Repurchase Event hereunder) if the Rating Agencies do not announce or publicly confirm or inform the Trustee in writing at the Company’s request (acting at the written direction of the Holders of a majority of the principal amount of the outstanding Notes) that the reduction was the result, in whole or in part, of any event or circumstance comprised of or arising as a result of, or in respect of, the applicable Change of Control (whether or not the applicable Change of Control shall have occurred at the time of the Below Investment Grade Rating Event).”
“‘Change of Control’ means the occurrence of any of the following:
(i) the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation) in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Controlled Subsidiaries taken as a whole to any “person” or “group” (as those terms are used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), other than to any Permitted Holders; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, a pledge of assets pursuant to any secured debt instrument of the Company or its Controlled Subsidiaries shall not be deemed to be any such sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or disposition;
(ii) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any “person” or “group” (as those terms are used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) (other than any Permitted Holders) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 promulgated under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the outstanding Voting Stock of the Company, measured by voting power rather than number of shares; or
(iii) the approval by the Company’s stockholders of any plan or proposal relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Company.”
“‘Change of Control Repurchase Event’ means the occurrence of a Change of Control and a Below Investment Grade Rating Event.”
“‘Controlled Subsidiary’ means any Subsidiary of the Company, 50% or more of the outstanding equity interests of which are owned by the Company and its direct or indirect Subsidiaries and of which the Company possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies, whether through the ownership of voting equity interests, by agreement or otherwise.”
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“‘Exchange Act’ means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any statute successor thereto.”
“‘Fitch’ means Fitch Ratings, Inc., also known as Fitch Ratings, or any successor thereto.
“‘GAAP’ means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the opinions and pronouncements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and the statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession in the United States, which are in effect from time to time.”
“‘Investment Company Act’ means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules, regulations and interpretations promulgated thereunder, to the extent applicable, and any statute successor thereto.”
“‘Investment Grade’ means a rating of BBB- or better by Fitch (or its equivalent under any successor rating categories of Fitch) and Baa3 or better by Moody’s (or its equivalent under any successor rating categories of Moody’s) (or, in any case, if such Rating Agency ceases to rate the Notes for reasons outside of the Company’s control, the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any Rating Agency selected by the Company as a replacement Rating Agency).”
“‘Moody’s’ means Moody’s Investors Service, or any successor thereto.
“‘Permitted Holders’ means (i) the Company and (ii) one or more of the Company’s Controlled Subsidiaries.”
“‘Rating Agency’ means:
(1) each of Fitch and Moody’s; and
(2) if any of Fitch or Moody’s ceases to rate the Notes or fails to make a rating of the Notes publicly available for reasons outside of the Company’s control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” as defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act selected by the Company as a replacement agency for Fitch or Moody’s, or both, as the case may be.’
“‘Significant Subsidiary’ means any Subsidiary that would be a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X under the Exchange Act, as such regulation is in effect on the date of this Indenture (but excluding any Subsidiary which is (a) a non-recourse or limited recourse Subsidiary, (b) a bankruptcy remote special purpose vehicle or (c) is not consolidated with the Company for purposes of GAAP).”
“‘Voting Stock’ as applied to stock of any Person, means shares, interests, participations or other equivalents in the equity interest (however designated) in such Person having ordinary
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voting power for the election of a majority of the directors (or the equivalent) of such Person, other than shares, interests, participations or other equivalents having such power only by reason of the occurrence of a contingency.”
Section 2.02. Except as may be provided in a Future Supplemental Indenture, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes but no other series of Securities under the Indenture, whether now or hereafter issued and Outstanding, Article I of the Base Indenture shall be amended by amending the definition of “Subsidiary” in Section 1.01 to add the following sentence at the end of such definition:
“In addition, for purposes of this definition, ‘Subsidiary’ shall 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.”
ARTICLE III
REMEDIES
REMEDIES
Section 3.01. Except as may be provided in a Future Supplemental Indenture, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes but no other series of Securities under the Indenture, whether now or hereafter issued and Outstanding, Section 5.01 of the Base Indenture shall be amended by adding the following clause (ix) thereto:
“(ix) default by the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries with respect to any mortgage, agreement or other instrument under which there may be outstanding, or by which there may be secured or evidenced, any indebtedness for money borrowed in excess of $50 million in the aggregate of the Company and/or any such Significant Subsidiary, whether such indebtedness now exists or shall hereafter be created (i) resulting in such indebtedness becoming or being declared due and payable or (ii) constituting a failure to pay the principal or interest of any such debt when due and payable at its stated maturity, upon required repurchase, upon declaration of acceleration or otherwise, unless, in either case, such indebtedness is discharged, or such acceleration is rescinded, stayed or annulled, within a period of 30 calendar days after written notice of such failure is given to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then Outstanding.”
Section 3.02. Except as may be provided in a Future Supplemental Indenture, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes but no other series of Securities under the Indenture, whether now or hereafter issued and Outstanding, Section 5.02 of the Base Indenture shall be amended by replacing the first paragraph thereof with the following:
“If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default under Section 5.01(v) or Section 5.01(vi)) with respect to the Notes at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then and in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Notes then Outstanding may (and the Trustee shall at the written
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request of such Holders) declare the principal amount of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, all the Notes then Outstanding to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by the Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal or specified portion thereof, and accrued and unpaid interest thereon, shall become immediately due and payable, but does not entitle any Holder to any redemption payout or redemption premium. If an Event of Default under Section 5.01(v) or Section 5.01(vi) occurs, the entire principal amount of all the Notes will automatically become due and immediately payable, without any action on the part of the Trustee.”
ARTICLE IV
THE TRUSTEE
THE TRUSTEE
Section 4.01. Except as may be provided in a Future Supplemental Indenture, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes but no other series of Securities under the Indenture, whether now or hereafter issued and Outstanding, Section 6.01 of the Base Indenture shall be amended by replacing clause (a) thereof with the following:
“(a) Within 90 days after the occurrence of any Default hereunder with respect to the Securities of any series and if a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has received written notice or has actual knowledge of such event, the Trustee shall transmit in the manner and to the extent provided in TIA Section 313(c), notice of such Default hereunder 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) or interest, if any, on any Security of such series, or in the payment of any sinking or purchase fund installment with respect to the Securities of such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the Holders of the Securities of such series; and provided further that in the case of any Default or breach of the character specified in Section 5.01(iv) with respect to the Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 60 days after the occurrence thereof.”
ARTICLE V
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE OR TRANSFER
Section 5.01. Except as may be provided in a Future Supplemental Indenture, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes but no other series of Securities under the Indenture, whether now or hereafter issued and Outstanding, Section 8.01 of the Base Indenture shall be amended by replacing the last paragraph thereof with the following:
“Notwithstanding any of the foregoing and subject to the Investment Company Act, any Subsidiary of the Company may consolidate with, merge into or transfer all or part of its property and assets to other Subsidiaries of the Company or to the Company. Additionally, this covenant shall not apply to: (1) the Company’s merger or the merger of
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one of the Company’s Subsidiaries with an Affiliate solely for the purpose of reincorporating in another jurisdiction; (2) any conversion by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company from an entity formed under the laws of one state to any entity formed under the laws of another state; or (3) any combination of (1) and (2) above.”
ARTICLE VI
COVENANTS
COVENANTS
Section 6.01. Except as may be provided in a Future Supplemental Indenture, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes but no other series of Securities under the Indenture, whether now or hereafter issued and Outstanding, Article X of the Base Indenture shall be amended by adding the following new Sections 10.08, 10.09 and 10.10 thereto, each as set forth below:
“Section 10.08. Section 18(a)(1)(A) of the Investment Company Act.
The Company hereby agrees that for the period of time during which the Notes are Outstanding, the Company will not violate Section 18(a)(1)(A) as modified by Section 61(a)(2) of the Investment Company Act or any successor provisions thereto, whether or not the Company continues to be subject to such provisions of the Investment Company Act, but giving effect, in either case, to any exemptive relief granted to the Company by the Commission.”
“Section 10.09. Section 18(a)(1)(B) of the Investment Company Act.
The Company hereby agrees that, for the period of time during which the Notes are Outstanding, the Company will not violate Section 18(a)(1)(B) as modified by Section 61(a)(2) of the Investment Company Act or any successor provisions thereto, whether or not the Company is subject to such provisions of the Investment Company Act, and after giving effect to any exemptive relief granted to the Company by the Commission, except that the Company may declare a cash dividend or distribution, notwithstanding the prohibition contained in Section 18(a)(1)(B) as modified by Section 61(a)(2) of the Investment Company Act or any successor provisions thereto, but only up to such amount as is necessary in order for the Company to maintain its status as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; provided, however, that the prohibition in this Section 10.09 shall not apply until such time as the Company’s asset coverage has been below the minimum asset coverage required pursuant to Section 18(a)(1)(B) as modified by Section 61(a)(2) of the Investment Company Act or any successor provisions thereto (after giving effect to any exemptive relief granted to the Company by the Commission) for more than six (6) consecutive months.”
“Section 10.10. Commission Reports and Reports to Holders.
If, at any time, the Company is not subject to the reporting requirements of Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act to file any periodic reports with the Commission, the Company agrees to furnish to the Holders of the Notes and the Trustee for the period of time during which the Notes are Outstanding: (i) within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company,
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audited annual consolidated financial statements of the Company and (ii) within 45 days after the end of each fiscal quarter of the Company (other than the Company’s fourth fiscal quarter), unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of the Company. All such financial statements shall be prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with applicable GAAP.”
ARTICLE VII
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES
Section 7.01. Except as may be provided in a Future Supplemental Indenture, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes but no other series of Securities under the Indenture, whether now or hereafter issued and Outstanding, Section 11.03 of the Base Indenture shall be amended by replacing the first paragraph thereof with the following:
“If less than all the Securities of any series issued on the same day with the same terms are to be redeemed, the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected by the Trustee, or by the Depositary in the case of global Securities, in compliance with the requirements of DTC, from the Outstanding Securities of such series issued on such date with the same terms not previously called for redemption, in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange on which the Securities are listed (if the Securities are listed on any national securities exchange), or if the Securities are not held through DTC or listed on any national securities exchange, or DTC prescribed no method of selection, by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and subject to and otherwise in accordance with the procedures of the applicable Depositary; provided that such method complies with the rules of any national securities exchange or quotation system on which the Securities are listed (which rules shall be certificated to the Trustee by the Company or such national securities exchange at the Trustee’s request), and may provide for the selection for redemption of portions (equal to the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series or any integral multiple thereof) of the principal amount of Securities of such series of a denomination larger than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series; provided, however, that no such partial redemption shall reduce the portion of the principal amount of a Security not redeemed to less than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of such series.”
ARTICLE VIII
DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
Section 8.01. Except as may be provided in a Future Supplemental Indenture, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes but no other series of Securities under the Indenture, whether now or hereafter issued and Outstanding, Section 14.04 of the Base Indenture shall be amended by replacing clause (vi) thereof with the following:
“(vi) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to either the defeasance under Section 14.02 or the covenant defeasance under Section 14.03 (as the case may be) have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that as a
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result of a deposit pursuant to subsection (i) above and the related exercise of the Company’s option under Section 14.02 or Section 14.03 (as the case may be), registration is not required under the Investment Company Act by the Company, with respect to the trust funds 
representing such deposit or by the trustee for such trust funds.”
representing such deposit or by the trustee for such trust funds.”ARTICLE IX
REPAYMENT AT THE OPTION OF HOLDERS
REPAYMENT AT THE OPTION OF HOLDERS
Section 9.01. Except as may be provided in a Future Supplemental Indenture, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes but no other series of Securities under the Indenture, whether now or hereafter issued and Outstanding, Article XIII of the Base Indenture shall be amended by replacing Sections 13.01 to 13.05 with the following:
“Section 13.01. Change of Control Repurchase Event.
If a Change of Control Repurchase Event occurs, unless the Company shall have exercised its right to redeem the Notes in full, the Company shall make an offer to each Holder of the Notes to repurchase all or any part (in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 principal amount in excess thereof) of that Holder’s Notes at a repurchase price in cash equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes repurchased plus any accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes repurchased to, but excluding, the date of repurchase. Within 30 days following any Change of Control Repurchase Event or, at the Company’s option, prior to any Change of Control, but after the public announcement of the Change of Control, the Company shall mail a notice to each Holder (with a copy to the Trustee) describing the transaction or transactions that constitute or may constitute the Change of Control Repurchase Event and offering to repurchase Notes on the payment date specified in the notice, which date shall be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed. The notice shall, if mailed prior to the date of consummation of the Change of Control, state that the offer to purchase is conditioned on the Change of Control Repurchase Event occurring on or prior to the payment date specified in the notice. The Company shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 promulgated under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes as a result of a Change of Control Repurchase Event. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with this Section 13.01, the Company shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section 13.01 by virtue of such conflict.
On the Change of Control Repurchase Event payment date, subject to extension if necessary to comply with the provisions of the Investment Company Act, the Company will, to the extent lawful:
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(a) accept for payment all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered pursuant to its offer;
(b) deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the aggregate purchase price in respect of all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered; and
(c) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes properly accepted, together with an Officers’ Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes being purchased by the Company.
The Paying Agent will promptly remit to each holder of the Notes properly tendered the purchase price for the Notes, and upon receipt of a Company Order, the Trustee will promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book-entry) to each holder a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of any Notes surrendered; provided that each new Note will be in a minimum principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.
If any Repayment Date upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event falls on a day that is not a Business Day, then the required payment will be made on the next succeeding Business Day and no additional interest will accrue as a result of such delayed payment.
The Company will not be required to make an offer to repurchase the Notes upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event if a third party makes an offer in respect of the Notes in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements for an offer made by the Company and such third party purchases all Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under its offer.”
ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 10.01. This Seventh Supplemental Indenture 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. This Seventh Supplemental Indenture is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of the Indenture and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions. If any provision of this Seventh Supplemental Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of the Trust Indenture Act that is required under the Trust Indenture Act to be a part of and govern this Seventh Supplemental Indenture, the provision of the Trust Indenture Act shall control. If any provision of this Seventh Supplemental Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act that may be so modified or excluded, the provision of the Trust Indenture Act shall be deemed to apply to this Seventh Supplemental Indenture as so modified or only to the extent not so excluded, as the case may be.
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Section 10.02. In case any provision in this Seventh Supplemental Indenture or in the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
Section 10.03. This Seventh Supplemental Indenture may be executed in counterparts, each of which will be an original, but such counterparts will together constitute but one and the same Seventh Supplemental Indenture. The exchange of copies of this Seventh Supplemental Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile, .pdf transmission, email or other electronic means shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Seventh Supplemental Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile, .pdf transmission, email or other electronic means shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes. For the avoidance of doubt, all notices, approvals, consents, requests and any communications hereunder or with respect to this Seventh Supplemental Indenture must be in writing (provided that any communication sent to the Trustee hereunder must be in the form of a document that is signed manually or by way of a digital signature provided by DocuSign (or such other digital signature provider as specified in writing to the Trustee by the authorized representative), in English. The Company agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of using digital signatures and electronic methods to submit communications to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized instructions, and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties.
Section 10.04. The Base Indenture, as supplemented and amended by this Seventh Supplemental Indenture, is in all respects ratified and confirmed, and the Base Indenture and this Seventh Supplemental Indenture shall be read, taken and construed as one and the same instrument with respect to the Notes. All provisions included in this Seventh Supplemental Indenture supersede any conflicting provisions included in the Base Indenture with respect to the Notes, unless not permitted by law. The Trustee accepts the trusts created by the Base Indenture, as supplemented by this Seventh Supplemental Indenture, and agrees to perform the same upon the terms and conditions of the Base Indenture, as supplemented by this Seventh Supplemental Indenture.
Section 10.05. The provisions of this Seventh Supplemental Indenture shall become effective as of the date hereof.
Section 10.06. Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary herein, the terms and provisions of this Seventh Supplemental Indenture shall apply only to the Notes and shall not apply to any other series of Securities under the Base Indenture (as supplemented or amended from time to time by one or more indentures supplemental thereto), and this Seventh Supplemental Indenture shall not and does not otherwise affect, modify, alter, supplement or change the terms and provisions of any other series of Securities under the Base Indenture (as supplemented or amended from time to time by one or more indentures supplemental thereto), whether now or hereafter issued and Outstanding.
Section 10.07. The recitals contained herein and in the Notes shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Seventh Supplemental
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Indenture, the Notes or any Additional Notes, except that the Trustee represents that it is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Seventh Supplemental Indenture, authenticate the Notes and any Additional Notes and perform its obligations hereunder. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of the Notes or any Additional Notes or the proceeds thereof. All of the provisions contained in the Indenture in respect of the rights, privileges, immunities, powers, and duties of the Trustee shall be applicable in respect of this Seventh Supplemental Indenture as fully and with like force and effect as though fully set forth in full herein.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Seventh Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
CAPITAL SOUTHWEST CORPORATION
By: /s/ Michael S. Sarner
Name: Michael S. Sarner
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (as successor in interest to U.S. Bank National Association), as Trustee
By: /s/ Michael K. Herberger
Name: Michael K. Herberger
Title: Vice President
Exhibit A – Form of Global Note
This Security is a Global Note within the meaning of the Indenture hereinafter referred to and is registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company or a nominee thereof. This Security may not be exchanged in whole or in part for a Security registered, and no transfer of this Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name of any Person other than The Depository Trust Company or a nominee thereof, except in the limited circumstances described in the Indenture.
Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company to the issuer or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment and such certificate issued in exchange for this certificate is registered in the name of Cede & Co., or such other name as requested by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company, any transfer, pledge or other use hereof for value or otherwise by or to any person is wrongful, as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.
Capital Southwest Corporation
No. $
CUSIP No. 140501 AF4
ISIN No. US140501AF43
5.950% Notes due 2030
Capital Southwest Corporation, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of Texas (herein called the “Company,” which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co., or registered assigns, the principal sum of (U.S. $ ) on September 18, 2030, and to pay interest thereon from September 18, 2025 or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually on March 18 and September 18 in each year, commencing March 18, 2026, at the rate of 5.950% per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be March 4 and September 4 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities of this series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture. This Security may be issued as part of a series.
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Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and any such interest on this Security will be made at the office of the Trustee located at 100 Wall Street, Suite 1600, New York, New York 10005, Attention: Capital Southwest Corporation (5.950% Notes Due 2030) and at such other address as designated by 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 the option of the Company payment of interest may be made by (1) check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register or (2) transfer to an account maintained by the Person entitled thereto located in the United States; provided, further, however, that so long as this Security is registered to Cede & Co., such payment will be made by wire transfer in accordance with the procedures established by The Depository Trust Company and the Trustee.
Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.
Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.
Dated:
CAPITAL SOUTHWEST CORPORATION
By:
Name:
Title:
Attest
By:
Name:
Title:
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This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
Dated:
U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (as successor in interest to U.S. Bank National Association), as Trustee
By:
Authorized Signatory
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Capital Southwest Corporation
5.950% Notes due 2030
This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of Senior Securities of the Company (herein called the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of October 23, 2017 (herein called the “Base Indenture”, which term shall have the meaning assigned to it in such instrument), between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association (as successor in interest to U.S. Bank National Association), as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee”, which term includes any successor trustee under the Base Indenture), and reference is hereby made to the Base Indenture for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee, and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered, as amended and supplemented by the Seventh Supplemental Indenture relating to the Securities, dated September 18, 2025, by and between the Company and the Trustee (herein called the “Seventh Supplemental Indenture”; the Seventh Supplemental Indenture and together with the Base Indenture, collectively are herein called the “Indenture”). In the event of any conflict between the Base Indenture and the Seventh Supplemental Indenture, the Seventh Supplemental Indenture shall govern and control.
This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof, which series is initially limited in aggregate principal amount to $ . Under a Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate pursuant to Board Resolutions or an indenture supplement, the Company may from time to time, without the consent of the Holders of Securities, issue additional Securities of this series (in any such case “Additional Securities”) having the same ranking and the same interest rate, maturity and other terms as the Securities; provided that, if such Additional Securities are not fungible with the Securities (or any other tranche of Additional Securities for U.S. federal income tax purposes), then such Additional Securities will have different CUSIP and ISIN numbers from the Securities (and any such other tranche of Additional Securities). Any Additional Securities and the existing Securities will constitute a single series under the Indenture and all references to the relevant Securities herein shall include the Additional Securities unless the context otherwise requires. The aggregate amount of outstanding Securities represented hereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges and redemptions.
Prior to the Par Call Date, the Securities of this series are subject to redemption, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at the option of the Company, at a Redemption Price (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of:
(a) (1) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the Redemption Date (assuming the Securities matured on the Par Call Date) on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 40 basis points less (2) interest accrued to the Redemption Date, and
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(b) 100% of the principal amount of the Securities to be redeemed, plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but not including, the Redemption Date.
On or after the Par Call Date, the Company may redeem the Securities, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Securities being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but not including, the Redemption Date.
For purposes of calculating the Redemption Price in connection with the redemption of the Securities, on any Redemption Date, the following terms have the meanings set forth below:
“Par Call Date” means August 18, 2030.
“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any Redemption Date of the Securities, the yield determined by the Company in accordance with the following two paragraphs.
The Treasury Rate shall be determined by the Company after 4:15 p.m., New York City time (or after such time as yields on U.S. government securities are posted daily by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), on the third Business Day preceding the Redemption Date based upon the yield or yields for the most recent day that appear after such time on such day in the most recent statistical release published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System designated as “Selected Interest Rates (Daily) — H.15” (or any successor designation or publication) (“H.15”) under the caption “U.S. government securities — Treasury constant maturities — Nominal” (or any successor caption or heading) (“H.15 TCM”). In determining the Treasury Rate, the Company shall select, as applicable: (1) the yield for the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the period from the Redemption Date to the Par Call Date (the “Remaining Life”); or (2) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the Remaining Life, the two yields — one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately shorter than and one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately longer than the Remaining Life — and shall interpolate to the Par Call Date on a straight-line basis (using the actual number of days) using such yields and rounding the result to three decimal places; or (3) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 shorter than or longer than the Remaining Life, the yield for the single Treasury constant maturity on H.15 closest to the Remaining Life. For purposes of this paragraph, the applicable Treasury constant maturity or maturities on H.15 shall be deemed to have a maturity date equal to the relevant number of months or years, as applicable, of such Treasury constant maturity from the Redemption Date.
If on the third Business Day preceding the Redemption Date H.15 TCM or any successor designation or publication is no longer published, the Company shall calculate the Treasury Rate based on the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second Business Day preceding such Redemption Date of the United States Treasury security maturing on, or with a maturity that is closest to, the Par Call Date, as applicable. If there is no United States Treasury security maturing on the Par Call Date but there are two or more United States Treasury securities with a maturity date equally distant from the Par Call Date, one with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date and one with a maturity date
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following the Par Call Date, the Company shall select the United States Treasury security with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date. If there are two or more United States Treasury securities maturing on the Par Call Date or two or more United States Treasury securities meeting the criteria of the preceding sentence, the Company shall select from among these two or more United States Treasury securities the United States Treasury security that is trading closest to par based upon the average of the bid and asked prices for such United States Treasury securities at 11:00 a.m., New York City time. In determining the Treasury Rate in accordance with the terms of this paragraph, the semi-annual yield to maturity of the applicable United States Treasury security shall be based upon the average of the bid and asked prices (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount) at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, of such United States Treasury security, and rounded to three decimal places.
The Company’s actions and determinations in determining the Redemption Price of any of the Securities shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
Notice of redemption shall be given in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, by overnight courier guaranteeing next-day delivery, by facsimile, or by electronic mail, provided that so long as the Securities are registered to Cede & Co., such notice shall be given in accordance with the Trustee’s and the Depositary’s standard practices and procedures, to each Holder of the Securities to be redeemed (with a copy to the Trustee), not less than thirty (30) nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the Redemption Date, at the Holder’s address, facsimile number or email address appearing in the Security Register. All notices of redemption shall contain the information set forth in Section 11.04 of the Base Indenture.
Any exercise of the Company’s option to redeem the Securities will be done in compliance with the Indenture and the Investment Company Act, to the extent applicable.
If the Company elects to redeem only a portion of the Securities, the particular Securities to be redeemed will be selected in accordance with the Indenture and, so long as the Securities are registered to the Depositary or its nominee, in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary. In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities of this series and of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof; provided, however, that no such partial redemption shall reduce the portion of the principal amount of a Security not redeemed to less than $2,000.
Unless the Company defaults in payment of the Redemption Price, on and after the Redemption Date, interest will cease to accrue on the Securities or portions thereof called for redemption. Holders will have the right to require the Company to repurchase their Securities upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Repurchase Event as set forth in the Indenture.
The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of the entire indebtedness of this Security or certain restrictive covenants and Events of Default with respect to this Security, in each case upon compliance with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.
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If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing (other than Events of Default under Section 5.01(v) or Section 5.01(vi) of the Indenture), the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. If an Event of Default under Section 5.01(v) or Section 5.01(vi) of the Indenture occurs the entire principal amount of the Securities of this series will automatically become due and immediately payable without any action on the part of the Trustee.
The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.
As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this Security shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Securities of this series at the time Outstanding shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as Trustee and offered (and, if requested, provided) the Trustee security and/or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request, and the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of Securities of this series at the time Outstanding a direction inconsistent with such request, and shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for sixty (60) days after receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Security for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any premium or interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.
No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.
As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for
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registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.
The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.
No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange of the Securities, but the Company or the Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and none of the Company, the Trustee or any agent thereof shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
To the extent any provision of this Security conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling.
The Indenture and this Security 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.
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Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP
700 Sixth Street, NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20001-3980
Washington, DC 20001-3980
Exhibit 5.1
September 18, 2025
Capital Southwest Corporation
8333 Douglas Avenue, Suite 1100
Dallas, TX 75225
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Capital Southwest Corporation, a Texas corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the Company’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-282873) filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), which Registration Statement was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on October 29, 2024, and became effective automatically pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act (as amended as of its most recent effective date, including the exhibits and schedules thereto, all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated into the Registration Statement by reference, any information contained in a prospectus supplement relating to the Notes (as defined below) subsequently filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act and deemed to be part of the Registration Statement at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430B under the Securities Act, any registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, and any post-effective amendment thereto, is hereinafter referred to as the “Registration Statement”) and the Prospectus Supplement (as defined below).
The Registration Statement relates to the public offering of securities of the Company that may be offered by the Company from time to time as set forth in the base prospectus, dated October 29, 2024, which forms part of the Registration Statement, together with the information incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference (the “Base Prospectus”), and as may be set forth from time to time in one or more supplements to the Base Prospectus. This opinion letter is rendered in connection with the issuance and sale under the Securities Act of $350,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 5.950% Notes due 2030 (the “Notes”), as described in (i) the Base Prospectus and (ii) the prospectus supplement, dated September 9, 2025, relating to the Notes, together with the information incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein (together with the Base Prospectus, the “Prospectus Supplement”), filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act. All of the Notes are to be sold by the Company as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus Supplement.
The Notes will be issued pursuant to the indenture, dated as of October 23, 2017 (the “Base Indenture”), by and between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association (as successor in interest to U.S. Bank National Association), as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by a seventh supplemental indenture, dated as of September 18, 2025 (the “Seventh Supplemental Indenture”, and together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), which Seventh Supplemental Indenture was filed by the Company with the Commission as an exhibit to the Current Report on Form 8-K on the date hereof.
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As counsel to the Company, we have participated in the preparation of the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, and the Prospectus Supplement and have examined the originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction as being true copies, of the following:
(i)the Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as amended, certified as of the date hereof by an officer of the Company;
(ii)the Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as amended, certified as of the date hereof by an officer of the Company;
(iii)a Certificate of Fact with respect to the Company issued by the Texas Secretary of State as of a recent date;
(iv)resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company, or a duly authorized committee thereof, relating to, among other things: (a) the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus Supplement; (b) the offering, issuance and sale of the Notes, and the terms and conditions thereof; and (c) the authorization of the execution and delivery of the Underwriting Agreement (as defined below), the Indenture, and the transactions contemplated thereby, including, without limitation, the issuance and sale of the Notes, certified as of the date hereof by an officer of the Company;
(v)the underwriting agreement, dated September 9, 2025, by and among the Company and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., ING Financial Markets LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc., and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as representatives of the several underwriters named on Schedule A thereto, relating to the issuance and sale of the Notes (the “Underwriting Agreement”);
(vi)the Indenture; and
(vii)a specimen copy of the form of the Notes to be issued pursuant to the Indenture in the form that was filed by the Company with the Commission as an exhibit to the Current Report on Form 8-K on the date hereof.
With respect to such examination and our opinion expressed herein, we have assumed, without any independent investigation or verification, (i) the genuineness of all signatures on all documents submitted to us for examination, (ii) the legal capacity of all natural persons, (iii) the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, (iv) the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as conformed or reproduced copies and the authenticity of the originals of such copied documents, (v) that all certificates issued by public officials or officers of the Company have been properly issued, (vi) the accuracy and completeness of all corporate records made available to us by the Company, (vii) that the Indenture will be a valid and legally binding obligation of the parties thereto (other than the Company), and (viii) that at the time of issuance of the Notes, after giving effect to such issuance, the Company will be in compliance with Section 18(a)(1)(A) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), giving effect to Section 61(a)(2) of the 1940 Act.
As to certain matters of fact relevant to the opinion in this opinion letter, we have relied on certificates of officers of the Company, and on the representations, warranties and covenants of the Company set forth in the Underwriting Agreement. We also have relied on certificates and confirmations of public officials. We have not independently established the facts or, in the case of certificates or confirmations of public officials (which we have assumed remain accurate as of the date of this opinion letter), the other statements, so relied upon.
The opinion set forth below is limited to the contract laws of the State of New York, as in effect on the date hereof, and we express no opinion with respect to any other laws of the State of New York or the laws of any other jurisdiction. Without limiting the preceding sentence, we express no opinion as to any state securities or broker-dealer laws or regulations thereunder relating to the offer, issuance or sale of the Notes. This opinion letter has been prepared, and should be interpreted, in accordance with customary practice followed in the preparation of opinion letters by lawyers who regularly give, and such customary practice followed by lawyers who on behalf of their clients regularly advise opinion recipients regarding, opinion letters of this kind.
Based upon and subject to the limitations, exceptions, qualifications and assumptions set forth in this opinion letter, we are of the opinion that, when the Notes are duly executed and delivered by duly authorized officers of the Company and duly authenticated by the Trustee, all in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture, and delivered to the purchasers thereof against payment of the agreed consideration therefor, the Notes will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance, and other similar laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors generally and by general principles of equity (including, without limitation, the availability of specific performance or injunctive relief and the application of concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing), regardless of whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity.
The opinion expressed in this opinion letter is (i) strictly limited to the matters stated in this opinion letter, and without limiting the foregoing, no other opinions are to be inferred; and (ii) only as of the date of this opinion letter, and we are under no obligation, and do not undertake, to advise the Company or any other person or entity either of any change of law or fact that occurs, or of any fact that comes to our attention, after the date of this opinion letter, even though such change or such fact may affect the legal analysis or a legal conclusion in this opinion letter.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, to be filed with the Commission on the date hereof for incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement, and to the reference to our firm in the “Legal Matters” section in the Prospectus Supplement. We do not admit by giving this consent that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act.
| Very truly yours, | |||||
| /s/ Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP | |||||