In this annual report on Form 10-K, except where the context suggests otherwise, the terms “we,” “us,” “our” and the “Company” refer to Audax Credit BDC Inc. We refer to Audax Management Company (NY), LLC, our investment adviser, as our “Adviser,” and Audax Management Company, LLC, our administrator, as our “Administrator.” The term “stockholders” refers to holders of our common stock, $.001 par value per share, or the Common Stock. The term “Shares” refers to the shares of Common Stock.
Audax Credit BDC Inc. is a Delaware corporation that was formed in January 2015. We are an externally managed, closed-end, non-diversified management investment company that has elected to be treated as a business development company, or BDC, under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or the 1940 Act. In addition, we have elected to be treated for federal income tax purposes as a regulated investment company, or RIC, under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code.
Our investment objective is to generate current income and, to a lesser extent, long-term capital appreciation. We intend to meet our investment objective by investing primarily in senior secured debt of privately owned U.S. middle-market companies. For purposes of this annual report, we define “middle market companies” to be companies that, in general, generate less than $500 million in annual revenue or less than $75 million of annual earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA. We intend to invest at least 80% of our net assets plus the amount of any borrowings in “credit instruments,” which we define as any fixed income instruments.
Although we have no present intention of doing so, we may decide to incur indebtedness for the purpose of funding investments and for general corporate purposes, which we refer to as “leverage.” If we do incur leverage in the near term, we anticipate that it will be used in limited circumstances and on a short-term basis for purposes such as funding distributions. As a BDC, we are limited in our use of leverage under the 1940 Act. Specifically, as a BDC, and absent specific authorization by our board of directors (“Board of Directors”) or stockholders, we are only allowed to borrow amounts such that our asset coverage meets the requirements of the 1940 Act, which is currently at least 200% after such borrowing. In determining whether to use leverage, we will analyze the maturity, covenants and interest rate structure of the proposed borrowings, as well as the risks of such borrowings within the context of our investment outlook and the impact of leverage on our investment portfolio. The amount of any leverage that we will employ as a BDC will be subject to oversight by our Board of Directors.
We generate revenue in the form of interest on the debt securities that we hold in our portfolio companies. The senior debt we invest in generally has stated terms of three to ten years. Our senior debt investments generally bear interest at a floating rate. Interest on debt securities is generally payable quarterly or semiannually. In some cases, some of our investments may provide for deferred interest payments or payment-in-kind, or PIK, interest. The principal amount of the debt securities and any accrued but unpaid interest generally will become due at the maturity date. In addition, we may generate revenue in the form of commitment and other fees in connection with transactions, although we do not expect to do so. Original issue discount, or OID, as well as market discount and premium are accreted and amortized in determining our interest income. We record any prepayment premiums on loans and debt securities as income.
Our address is 101 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02199. Our phone number is (617) 859-1500, and our internet address is www.audaxcreditbdc.com.
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