3000 Two Logan Square
Eighteenth and Arch Streets
Philadelphia, PA 19103-2799
215.981.4000
Fax 215.981.4750
John P. Falco
direct dial: 215.981.4659
direct fax: 866.422.2114
falcoj@pepperlaw.com
October 26, 2017
Via EDGAR
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Division of Investment Management
Disclosure Review and Accounting Office
100 F Street NE
Washington, D.C. 20549
Attn: Ms. Marianne Dobelbower
Re: |
StoneCastle Financial Corp. (the Company) 1940 Act File No. 811-22853 1933 Act File No. 333- 204417 |
Dear Ms. Dobelbower:
This letter responds to the oral comments of the staff of the Commission (the Staff) to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 (PEA No. 1) to the Companys registration statement on Form N-2, provided on August 16, 2017. PEA No. 1 was filed on June 30, 2017, under the Securities Act of 1933, and under the Investment Company Act of 1940. This letter also responds to the oral comments of the Staff, provided on August 1, 2017, in connection with the Staffs accounting review of PEA No. 1.
We appreciate the opportunity to address the Staffs comments regarding certain disclosure in PEA No. 1. We have organized this letter by setting forth the comments received in italicized text followed by the Companys response to the Staffs comments.
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1. In the seventh bulleted paragraph under Summary of Principal Risks Risks Related to Our Operations on page 4 of the Prospectus, explain the rationale for removing the statement that [due] to this significant increase in the dividend rate from 5%, there may be a strong incentive for banks to buy back their TARP Preferred.
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www.pepperlaw.com
Response: The statement was removed because the investment adviser has determined that such statement is no longer relevant given current market conditions and therefore not necessary to be included in the disclosure of the Companys principal risks at this time.
2. In the fifth bulleted paragraph under Summary of Principal Risks Risks Related to Our Operations on page 5 of the Prospectus, remove the statement similar to those of other types of credit investments.
Response: The Prospectus has been revised to reflect the Staffs comment.
3. In the fifth bulleted paragraph under Summary of Principal Risks Risks Related to Our Operations on page 5 of the Prospectus, disclose that transactions in CLO securities that are generally illiquid may impact the determination of net asset value.
Response: The Prospectus has been revised to reflect the Staffs comment.
4. Please revise the last bulleted paragraph under Summary of Principal Risks Risks Related to Our Operations on page 6 of the Prospectus, to clarify that there was a single, recently amended, Credit Agreement. Please include the amount that is currently drawn against the credit facility.
Response: The Prospectus has been revised to reflect the Staffs comment. The amount that is drawn against the credit facility is as of June 30, 2017, which is the date of the Companys most recent, publically available financial statements. The amount drawn will be brought current with any prospectus supplement that is filed with the Commission upon a take-down from the shelf registration.
5. In the Fees and Expenses table on page 17, please reflect the $15 that the Plan Agent is entitled to deduct as a transaction fee (as discussed on page 73) as an expense of the Dividend Reinvestment Plan. The fee should appear in the table and be discussed in the related footnote 3 to the table.
Response: The Prospectus has been revised to reflect the Staffs comment.
ACCOUNTING COMMENTS
1. In the Statement of Additional Information, briefly explain any significant change in the Registrants portfolio turnover rates over the last two fiscal years.
Response: The Statement of Additional Information has been revised to reflect the Staffs comment.
2. Please update the registration statement to reflect date of effective prospectus.
Response: The registration statement has been revised to reflect the Staffs comment.
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Please direct any questions concerning this letter to my attention at 215.981.4659 or, in my absence, to John M. Ford, Esq. at 215.981.4009.
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Very truly yours, |
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/s/ John P. Falco |
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John P. Falco |
cc: |
Rachel N. Schatten, Esq. John M. Ford, Esq. |