# EDGAR Filing Document

**Accession Number:** 0001544206
**File Stem:** 0001193125-25-236007
**Filing Date:** 2025-10
**Character Count:** 118792
**Document Hash:** 12d1dd6af745dea07c53db0224918e82
**Contains OCR:** False
**Source Format:** 

## Filing Content

## Filing Summary
**0001193125-25-236007.hdr.sgml**: 20251009

**ACCESSION NUMBER**: 0001193125-25-236007

**CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE**: 8-K

**PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT**: 14

**CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT**: 20251007

**ITEM INFORMATION**: Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

**ITEM INFORMATION**: Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant

**ITEM INFORMATION**: Financial Statements and Exhibits

**FILED AS OF DATE**: 20251009

**DATE AS OF CHANGE**: 20251009

**FILER**: 

**COMPANY DATA:**
- **COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:** Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc.
- **CENTRAL INDEX KEY:** 0001544206

**ORGANIZATION NAME:**
- **EIN:** 454727439
- **STATE OF INCORPORATION:** MD
- **FISCAL YEAR END:** 1231

**FILING VALUES:**
- **FORM TYPE:** 8-K
- **SEC ACT:** 1934 Act
- **SEC FILE NUMBER:** 814-00995
- **FILM NUMBER:** 251385678

**BUSINESS ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** ONE VANDERBILT AVENUE, SUITE 3400
- **CITY:** NEW YORK
- **STATE:** NY
- **ZIP:** 10017
- **BUSINESS PHONE:** (212) 813-4900

**MAIL ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** ONE VANDERBILT AVENUE, SUITE 3400
- **CITY:** NEW YORK
- **STATE:** NY
- **ZIP:** 10017

**FORMER COMPANY:**
- **FORMER CONFORMED NAME:** TCG BDC, INC.
- **DATE OF NAME CHANGE:** 20170315

**FORMER COMPANY:**
- **FORMER CONFORMED NAME:** Carlyle GMS Finance, Inc.
- **DATE OF NAME CHANGE:** 20120308

?xml version='1.0' encoding='ASCII'? 8-K

### UNITED STATES

### SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

#### Washington, DC 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): October 7, 2025

## Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc.

#### (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
Maryland No. 814-00995 80-0789789 <br> (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.)

One Vanderbilt Avenue, Suite 3400New York, New York 10017 <br> (Address of Principal Executive offices) (Zip Code)

#### Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (212) 813-4900

#### (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
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 Instructions A.2.):

☐ 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: | Name of each exchange<br> on which registered: |
| Common stock, $0.01 per share CGBD | The Nasdaq Global Select Market |
| 8.20% notes due 2028 CGBDL | The Nasdaq Global Select Market |

---

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
On October 7, 2025, in connection with the previously announced public offering by Carlyle Secured Lending Inc. (the "Company"), the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as successor trustee to The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. as trustee (the "Trustee"), entered into a Third Supplemental Indenture (the "Third Supplemental Indenture", and together with the Indenture, dated as of November 20, 2023, between the Company and the Trustee (the "Base Indenture"), the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 20, 2023 and the Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 18, 2024, the "Indenture"). The Third Supplemental Indenture relates to the Company's issuance and sale of $300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company's 5.750% Notes due 2031 (the "Notes").

The Notes will mature on February 15, 2031 and may be redeemed in whole or in part at the Company's option at any time or from time to time at the redemption prices set forth in the Indenture. The Notes bear interest at a rate of 5.750% per year, commencing October 7, 2025. The Company will pay interest on the Notes on February 15 and August 15 each year, beginning on February 15, 2026.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to repay outstanding debt of the Company including the Company's Senior Secured Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of March 21, 2014 (as most recently amended on March 12, 2025) (as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time) among the Company, the Lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent (the

"Credit Facility") (which Credit Facility the Company used to repay all of its outstanding borrowings under the senior secured revolving credit facility as described in the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on October 7, 2025), to fund new investment opportunities, and for other general corporate purposes.

The Notes are the Company's direct unsecured obligations and rank pari passu with all existing and future unsubordinated unsecured indebtedness issued by the Company.

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) 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 SEC, 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, on the occurrence of a "change of control repurchase event," as defined in the Indenture (which involves the occurrence of both a change of control and a below investment grade rating of the Notes by Fitch Ratings, Inc., and Moody's Investor Service), the Company will generally be required to make an offer to repurchase the outstanding Notes at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of such Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest to the repurchase date.

The Notes were offered and sold in an offering registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant to the Company's Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-278993), as supplemented by the Company's preliminary prospectus supplement, pricing term sheet and final prospectus supplement, each dated September 30, 2025. The transaction closed on October 7, 2025.

The foregoing descriptions of the Base Indenture, the Third 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 Base Indenture, the Third Supplemental Indenture and the form of global note representing the Notes, respectively, each filed as exhibits hereto 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 | [Indenture, dated November 20, 2023, between Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc., as Issuer, and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as successor trustee to The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on November 20, 2023).](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1544206/000119312523280685/d600260dex41.htm) |
| 4.2 | [First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 20, 2023, between Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc. and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as successor trustee to The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on November 20, 2023).](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1544206/000119312523280685/d600260dex42.htm) |
| 4.3 | [Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 18, 2024, between Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc. and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as successor trustee to The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 of the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on October 18, 2024).](http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1544206/000119312524239669/d814451dex43.htm) |
| 4.4 | [Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 7, 2025, between Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc. and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as successor trustee to The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.](d847607dex44.htm) |
| 4.5 | [Form of 5.750% Notes due 2031 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 hereto).](d847607dex44.htm) |
| 5.1 | [Opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP.](d847607dex51.htm) |
| 5.2 | [Opinion of Venable LLP.](d847607dex52.htm) |
| 23.1 | [Consent of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1 hereto).](d847607dex51.htm) |
| 23.2 | [Consent of Venable LLP (included in Exhibit 5.2 hereto).](d847607dex52.htm) |
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document). |

---

------

#### SIGNATURE
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.

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| CARLYLE SECURED LENDING, INC. | CARLYLE SECURED LENDING, INC. |
| By: | /s/ Nelson Joseph |
| Name: | Nelson Joseph |
| Title: | Chief Accounting Officer |

---

Date: October 9, 2025

## Exhibit 4.4

**Exhibit 4.4** 

**THIRD SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE** 

**between** 

**CARLYLE SECURED LENDING, INC.** 

**and** 

**U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee** 

**Dated as of October 7, 2025** 

THIS THIRD SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this "<u>Third Supplemental Indenture</u>"), dated as of October 7, 2025, is between Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the "<u>Company</u>"), and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as successor trustee to The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (the "<u>Trustee</u>"). All capitalized terms used herein shall have the meaning set forth in the Base Indenture (as defined below).

**RECITALS OF THE** 

**COMPANY** 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Trustee executed and delivered an Indenture, dated as of November 20, 2023 (the "<u>Base Indenture</u>"), as amended and supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 20, 2023 (the "<u>First Supplemental Indenture</u>"), the Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 18, 2024 (the "<u>Second Supplemental Indenture</u>") and this Third Supplemental Indenture (the First Supplemental Indenture, the Second Supplemental Indenture and the Third Supplemental Indenture, together with the Base Indenture, the "<u>Indenture</u>"), to provide for the issuance by the Company from time to time of the Company's unsecured debt securities, in an unlimited aggregate principal amount (the "<u>Securities</u>"), to be issued in one or more series as provided in the Base Indenture;

WHEREAS, the Company desires to initially issue and sell up to $300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company's 5.750% notes due 2031 (the "<u>Notes</u>");

WHEREAS, Sections 3.01 and 9.01 (iv), (v) and (vi) of the Base Indenture provide that, without the consent of the Holders of the Securities of any series used 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 to (i) change or eliminate any provisions of this Indenture, *provided that* any such change or elimination shall become effective only when there is no Security Outstanding of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture that is entitled to the benefit of such provision, as set forth in the Base Indenture and (ii) provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of the Securities of any series as provided in Sections 2.01 and 3.01 of the Base Indenture, to establish the form of any certifications required to be furnished pursuant to the terms of the Base Indenture or any series of Securities, or to add to the rights of the holders of any series of Securities;

WHEREAS, 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 solely with respect to, and for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes (except as may be provided in a future supplemental indenture to the Indenture (each, a "<u>Future Supplemental Indenture</u>")); and

WHEREAS, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Third Supplemental Indenture to provide for the issuance of the Notes and all acts and things necessary to make this Third 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** 

**Section 1.01**. <u>Terms of the Notes</u>. The following terms relating to the Notes are hereby established:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) The Notes shall constitute a series of Securities having the title "5.750% Notes due 2031". The Notes shall constitute "Senior Securities" under the Indenture. The Notes shall bear a CUSIP number of 872280AB8 and an ISIN number of US872280AB83, as may be supplemented or replaced from time to time.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(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 or 11.07, of the Base Indenture) shall be $300,000,000. 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 Notes, issue additional Notes (in any such case, "<u>Additional Notes</u>") 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 Additional Notes shall have different CUSIP numbers from the Notes (and any such other tranche of Additional Notes). Any Additional Notes and the existing Notes shall 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.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c) The entire outstanding principal of the Notes shall be payable on February 15, 2031, unless earlier redeemed or repurchased in accordance with the provisions of this Third Supplemental Indenture.

------

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d) The rate at which the Notes shall bear interest shall be 5.750% per annum. The date from which interest shall accrue on the Notes shall be October 7, 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 February 15 and August 15 of each year, commencing February 15, 2026 (*provided that*, if an Interest Payment Date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, then the applicable interest payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day and no additional interest shall accrue as a result of such delayed payment); the initial interest period shall be the period from and including October 7, 2025, to, but excluding, the initial Interest Payment Date, and the subsequent interest periods shall 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, shall be paid to the Person in whose name the Note (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at 5:00 p.m. New York City time, or the close of business, on February 1 or August 1, as the case may be, immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date. Payment of principal of (and premium, if any, on) and any such interest on the Notes shall be made at the office of the Trustee located at One Federal Street, Third Floor, Boston, Massachusetts 02110. Attention: Global Corporate Trust Services. Reference: Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc. (5.750% Notes Due 2031) or 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 wire transfer or by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register. Interest on the Notes shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months; *provided further* that payment of interest on Global Notes shall be made in accordance with the standard operating procedures of DTC and the Trustee.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(e) The Notes shall be initially issuable in global form (each such Note, a "<u>Global Note</u>"). The Global Notes and the Trustee's certificate of authentication thereon shall be substantially in the form of <u>Exhibit A</u> to this Third Supplemental Indenture. Each Global Note shall represent the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes as shall be specified therein and each shall provide that it shall represent the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges and redemptions. Any new Global Note reflecting the amount of any increase or decrease in the amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby shall be made in accordance with Sections 2.03 and 3.05 of the Base Indenture.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(f) The depositary for such Global Notes (the "<u>Depository</u>") shall be DTC. The Security Registrar with respect to the Global Notes shall be the Trustee.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(g) The Notes shall be defeasible pursuant to Section 14.02 or Section 14.03 of the Base Indenture as modified in this Third Supplemental Indenture. Covenant defeasance contained in Section 14.03 of the Base Indenture shall apply to the covenants contained in Section 10.08 of the Base Indenture and Section 10.09 of the Indenture.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(h) The Notes shall be redeemable pursuant to Section 11.01 of the Base Indenture and as follows:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i) Prior to the Par Call Date, the Company may redeem the Notes at its option, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time, at a Redemption Price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(A) (a) 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 35 basis points less (b) interest accrued to the date of redemption, or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(B) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed,

plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the Redemption Date.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time on or after the Par Call Date, the Company may redeem some or all of the Notes at any time, or from time to time, at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, 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:

"<u>Par Call Date</u>" means January 15, 2031 (one month prior to the maturity date of the Notes).

"<u>Treasury Rate</u>" means, with respect to any Redemption Date of the Notes, 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 maturity date of the Notes (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 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 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.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i) Notice of redemption shall be given in writing and mailed, first class postage prepaid or by overnight courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to each Holder of the Notes to be redeemed, not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the Redemption Date, at the Holder's address appearing in the Security Register. All notices of redemption shall contain the information set forth in Section 11.04 of the Base Indenture. As long as the Notes are in book-entry form and represented by a Global Note, the notice of redemption will be sent in accordance with the procedures of the Depository.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ii) Any exercise of the Company's option to redeem the Notes shall be done in compliance with the Indenture and the Investment Company Act, to the extent applicable.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(iii) If the Company elects to redeem only a portion (equal to the minimum authorized denomination for the Notes and any integral multiple thereof) of the Notes, the particular Notes to be redeemed will be selected in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Trustee and, so long as the Notes are registered to the Depositary or its nominee, the Depositary; *provided*, *however*, that no such partial redemption will reduce the portion of the principal amount of a Note not redeemed to less than $2,000.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i) Unless the Company defaults in payment of the Redemption Price, on and after the Redemption Date, interest
shall cease to accrue on the Notes called for redemption hereunder.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(j) The Notes shall not be subject to any sinking fund pursuant to Section 12.01 of the Base Indenture.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(k) The Notes shall be issuable in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(l) Holders of the Notes shall not have the option to have the Notes repaid prior to the Stated Maturity pursuant
to Article 13 of the Base Indenture.

**ARTICLE II** 

**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 One of the Base Indenture shall be amended by adding the following defined terms to Section 1.01 in appropriate alphabetical sequence, as follows:

""<u>DTC</u>" means The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, and any successor thereto."

""<u>Investment Company Act</u>" means the United States Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules, regulations and interpretations promulgated thereunder, to the extent applicable, and any statute successor thereto."

""<u>Below Investment Grade Rating Event</u>" means the Notes are downgraded below Investment Grade by both of the 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 will 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*, *however*, that a Below Investment Grade Rating Event otherwise arising by virtue of a particular reduction in rating will not be deemed to have occurred in respect of a particular Change of Control (and thus will 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 making the reduction in rating to which this definition would otherwise apply do not announce or publicly confirm or inform the Trustee in writing at its request 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 will have occurred at the time of the Below Investment Grade Rating Event)."

""<u>Change of Control</u>" means the occurrence of any of the following:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(1) 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*, *however*, that, for the avoidance of doubt, a pledge of assets pursuant to any secured debt instrument of Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc. or its Controlled Subsidiaries will not be deemed to be any such sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or disposition;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(2) 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 Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc., measured by voting power rather than number of shares; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(3) the approval by Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc.'s shareholders of any plan or proposal relating to the liquidation or dissolution of Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc."

""<u>Change of Control Repurchase Event</u>" means the occurrence of a Change of Control and a Below Investment Grade Rating Event."

""<u>Controlled Subsidiary</u>" 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."

""<u>Fitch</u>" means Fitch Ratings, Inc., or any successor thereto."

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""<u>Investment Grade</u>" 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 each 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)."

""<u>Moody's</u>" means Moody's Investors Service or any successor thereto."

""<u>Permitted Holders</u>" means (i) the Company, (ii) one or more of the Company's Controlled Subsidiaries and (iii) Carlyle Global Credit Investment Management L.L.C., any affiliate of Carlyle Global Credit Investment Management L.L.C. or any entity that is managed by Carlyle Global Credit Investment Management L.L.C. that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction located in the United States and in the business of managing or advising clients."

""<u>Rating Agency</u>" means:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(1) each of Fitch and Moody's; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(2) if either 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, as the case may be."

**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 One of the Base Indenture shall be amended by replacing the definitions of "Business Day", "Corporate Trust Office" and "Officers' Certificate" in Section 1.01 with the following:

""<u>Business Day</u>" means, with respect to any Note, any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in New York, and the city in which the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee is located, are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close."

""<u>Corporate Trust Office</u>" means the designated office of the Trustee at which at any time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office at the date hereof is located at One Federal Street, Third Floor, Boston, Massachusetts 02110. Attention: Global Corporate Trust Services. Reference: Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc., or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company, or the principal corporate trust office of any successor Trustee (or such other address as such successor Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company)."

""<u>Officers' Certificate</u>" means a certificate signed by the Chairman, the Chief Accounting Officer, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer (or, in each case, any permitted designee of such Person as may be identified as such in a writing delivered to the Trustee from time to time), and by the Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Secretary, or any Vice President of the Company and delivered to the Trustee."

**ARTICLE III** 

**REDEMPTION OF NOTES** 

**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 11.03 of the Base Indenture shall be amended by replacing the text thereof with the following:

"In case the Company shall desire to exercise such right to redeem all or, as the case may be, a portion of the Notes in accordance with any right the Company reserved for itself to do so pursuant to Section 3.01 hereof, the Company shall, or, upon written request delivered to the Trustee at least five Business Days prior to the date such notice is to be given (unless a shorter period shall be acceptable to the Trustee), shall cause the Trustee to, give notice of such redemption to holders of the Notes to be redeemed by, with respect to non-Global Notes, mailing, first-class postage prepaid, and with respect to Global Notes, sending in accordance with DTC's procedures, a notice of such redemption not less than 10 days and not more than 60 days before the date fixed for redemption of that series to such holders at their last addresses as they shall appear upon the Security Register. Any notice that is mailed or sent in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the registered holder receives the notice. In any case, failure duly to give such notice to the holder of the Notes designated for redemption in whole or in part, or any defect in the notice, shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Notes or any other series. In the case of any redemption of Notes prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms thereof or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officers' Certificate evidencing compliance with any such restriction.

Each such notice of redemption shall specify the date fixed for redemption and the redemption price at which the Notes are to be redeemed, and shall state that payment of the redemption price of the Notes to be redeemed will be made at the office or agency of the Company, upon presentation and surrender of such Notes, that interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption will be paid as specified in said notice, that from and after said date interest will cease to accrue and that the redemption is from a sinking fund, if such is the case and the CUSIP number of the Notes, if any. If less than all the Notes are to be redeemed, the notice to the holders of such Notes to be redeemed in part shall specify the particular Notes to be so redeemed. As long as the Notes are in book-entry form and represented by a Global Note, the notice of redemption will be sent in accordance with the procedures of the Depository. In no event shall the Trustee be responsible for determining the redemption price at which the Notes are to be redeemed.

In case any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice that relates to such Note shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed, and shall state that on and after the Redemption Date, upon surrender of such Note, a new Note or Notes of such series in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued."

**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 11.07 of the Base Indenture shall be amended by replacing the text thereof with the following:

"If the Company elects to redeem only a portion (equal to the minimum authorized denomination for the Notes and any integral multiple thereof) of the Notes, the particular Notes to be redeemed will be selected in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Trustee and, so long as the Notes are registered to the Depositary or its nominee, the Depositary; *provided*, *however*, that no such partial redemption will reduce the portion of the principal amount of a Note not redeemed to less than $2,000."

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**ARTICLE IV** 

**COVENANTS** 

**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 10.01 of the Base Indenture shall be amended and restated as follows:

"The Company will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Notes at the time and place and in the manner provided herein and established with respect to such Notes. Payments of principal on the Notes may be made at the time provided herein and established with respect to such Notes by U.S. dollar check drawn on and mailed to the address of the Holder entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register. Alternatively, at the request of the registered Holder, the Company will pay the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and interest, if any, on the Notes by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account at a bank in New York City, on the date when such amount is due and payable. To request payment by wire transfer, the registered Holder must give the Security Registrar and the Trustee appropriate wire transfer instructions at least 15 Business Days before the requested payment is due. In the case of any interest payment due on an Interest Payment Date, the instructions must be given by the person who is the registered Holder on the Regular Record Date. Any wire instructions, once properly given, will remain in effect unless and until new instructions are given in accordance with this Section. Notwithstanding the foregoing, payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on Global Notes shall be made in accordance with the procedures of the Depository."

**Section 4.02**. 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 Ten of the Base Indenture shall be amended by adding the following new Section 10.09 thereto, each as set forth below and each of which is subject to waiver pursuant to Section 10.07 of the Base Indenture:

**"Section 10.09. Section 18(a)(1)(A) of the Investment Company Act.** 

The Company hereby agrees that for the period of time during which Notes are Outstanding, the Company will not violate Section 18(a)(1)(A) as modified by Section 61(a) of the Investment Company Act or any successor provisions, 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."

**ARTICLE V** 

**REMEDIES** 

**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 5.01 of the Base Indenture shall be amended and restated as follows:

"Whenever used herein with respect to the Notes, "Event of Default" means any one or more of the following events that has occurred and is continuing:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(1) default in the payment of any interest upon any Note when due and payable and the default continues for a
period of 30 days;

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

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(3) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or agreement of the Company in this Indenture with
respect to any Note or the Notes (other than a covenant or agreement a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with or which has expressly been included in the Indenture solely for the benefit of
a series of securities other than the Notes), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 60 consecutive days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee
by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a "Notice of Default" hereunder;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(4) default by the Company or any of its significant subsidiaries, as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X promulgated under the Exchange Act (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), 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 $100 million in the aggregate of the Company and/or any such significant subsidiary, whether such indebtedness now exists or will 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;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(5) pursuant to Section 18(a)(1)(C)(ii) and Section 61 of the 1940 Act, on the last business day of each
of 24 consecutive calendar months, any class of securities must have an asset coverage (as such term is used in the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) of less than 100% giving effect to any exemptive relief granted to the
Company by the Commission; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(6) the Company, pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;a. commences a voluntary case or proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law,

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;b. consents to the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding against it, or files a petition
or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief against it,

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;c. consents to the entry of a decree or order for relief against it in an involuntary case or proceeding,

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;d. consents to the filing of such petition or to the appointment of or taking possession by a Custodian of the
Company or for all or substantially all of its property, or

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;e. makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or admits in writing of its inability to pay its debts
generally as they become due or takes any corporate action in furtherance of any such action;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(7) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;a. is for relief against the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding, or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;b. adjudges the Company bankrupt or insolvent, or approves as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization,
arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company, or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;c. appoints a Custodian of the Company or for all or substantially all of its property, or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;d. orders the winding up or liquidation of the Company,

and the continuance of any such decree or order for relief or any such other decree or order remains unstayed and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days.

The term "<u>Bankruptcy Law</u>" means title 11, U.S. Code or any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law. The term "<u>Custodian</u>" means any custodian, receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official under any Bankruptcy Law."

**Section 5.02.** 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, the first paragraph of Section 5.02 of the Base Indenture shall be amended and restated as follows:

"If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, in each and every such case, other than an Event of Default specified in clause (6) or clause (7) of Section 5.01, unless the principal of all the Notes shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then Outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by such Holders), may declare the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on all the Notes to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become and shall be immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in clause (6) or clause (7) of Section 5.01 occurs, the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on all the Notes shall automatically be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or the holders of the Notes."

**Section 5.03.** 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, the first paragraph Section 5.03 of the Base Indenture shall be amended and restated as follows:

"The Company covenants that (i) in case it shall default in the payment of any installment of interest on any of the Notes, or in any payment required by any sinking or analogous fund established with respect to the Notes, as and when the same shall have become due and payable, and such default shall have continued for a period of 30 days, or (ii) in case it shall default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any of the Notes when the same shall have become due and payable, whether upon maturity of the Notes or upon redemption or upon declaration or otherwise then, upon demand of the Trustee, the Company will pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the holders of the Notes, the whole amount that then shall have been become due and payable on all such Notes for principal (and premium, if any) or interest, or both, as the case may be, with interest upon the overdue principal (and premium, if any) and (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) upon overdue installments of interest at the rate per annum expressed in the Notes; and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, and the amount payable to the Trustee under Section 6.06."

**Section 5.04.** 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, the first paragraph of Section 5.07 of the Base Indenture shall be amended and restated as follows:

"No holder of any Note shall have any right by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to institute any suit, action or proceeding in equity or at law upon or under or with respect to this Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless (i) such holder previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of an Event of Default and of the continuance thereof with respect to the Notes specifying such Event of Default, as hereinbefore provided; (ii) the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then Outstanding shall have made written request upon the Trustee to take action because of the default; (iii) such holder or holders shall have offered to the Trustee such indemnity, security, or both, reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred therein or thereby; (iv) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity, shall have failed to institute any such action, suit or proceeding and (v) during such 60 day period, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the request."

**ARTICLE VI** 

**CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS** 

**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, Section 1.04(e) of the Base Indenture shall be amended by replacing the text thereof with the following:

"If the Company shall solicit from the Holders of the Notes any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other act (each, an "<u>Act</u>"), the Company may, at its option, in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders of the Notes entitled to give such Act, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. Such record date shall be the record date specified in or pursuant to such Board Resolution, which date shall be a date not earlier than the date 30 days prior to the first solicitation of Holders of the Notes generally in connection therewith and not later than the date such solicitation is completed. If such a record date is fixed, such Act may be given before or after such record date, but only the Holders of the Notes of record at the close of business on such record date shall be deemed to be Holders for the purposes of determining whether Holders of the Notes of the requisite proportion of Outstanding Notes have authorized or agreed or consented to such Act, and for that purpose the Outstanding Notes shall be computed as of such record date; provided that no such authorization, agreement or consent by the Holders of the Notes on such record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than eleven months after the record date."

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**ARTICLE VII** 

**SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES** 

**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 9.01 of the Base Indenture shall be amended by replacing the text thereof with the following:

"Without the consent of any Holders of the Notes, 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 hereto, for any of the following purposes:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company herein and in the Notes contained; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Notes (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Notes, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c) to add any additional Events of Default for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Notes (and if such Events of Default are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such Events of Default are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series); *provided*, *however*, that in respect of any such additional Events of Default such supplemental indenture may provide for a particular period of grace after default (which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of other defaults) or may provide for an immediate enforcement upon such default or may limit the remedies available to the Trustee upon such default or may limit the right of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of that or those series of Securities to which such additional Events of Default apply to waive such default; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d) to change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture; provided that any such change or elimination shall become effective only when there is no Security Outstanding of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture that is entitled to the benefit of such provision; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(e) to secure the Securities; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(f) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 2.01 and 3.01, including the provisions and procedures relating to Securities convertible into or exchangeable for any securities of any Person (including the Company), or to authorize the issuance of additional Securities of a series previously authorized or to add to the conditions, limitations or restrictions on the authorized amount, terms or purpose of issue, authentication or delivery of the Securities of any series, as herein set forth, or other conditions, limitations or restrictions thereafter to be observed; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(g) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(h) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture, or to conform the terms hereof, as amended and supplemented, that are applicable to the Notes to the description of the terms of Notes in the prospectus supplement or other offering document applicable to the Notes at the time of initial sale thereof; provided that such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series in any material respect; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i) to supplement any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance and discharge of any series of Securities pursuant to Sections 4.01, 14.02 and 14.03; provided that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of such series or any other series of Securities in any material respect; or.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(j) to add guarantors or co-obligors with respect to the Notes or to release guarantors from their guarantees of the Notes in accordance with the terms of the Notes.

Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section may be executed by the Company and the Trustee without the consent of the holders of any of the Securities at the time Outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 9.02."

**Section 7.02.** 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 9.02 of the Base Indenture shall be amended by replacing the text thereof with the following:

"With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of all Outstanding Notes affected by such supplemental indenture, by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company, when authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture that affects the Notes or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Notes under this Indenture; *provided*, *however*, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Note:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of (or premium, if any) or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Note; or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest (or change the manner of calculating the rate of interest thereon), or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or reduce the portion of the principal of a Note that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.02, or upon the redemption thereof or the amount thereof provable in bankruptcy pursuant to Section 5.04, or adversely affect any right of repayment at the option of the Holder, or change any place of payment where, or the currency in which, any Note or any premium or interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption or repayment at the option of the Holder, on or after the Redemption Date), or

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver with respect to such series (of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or certain defaults hereunder and their consequences) provided for in this Indenture, or reduce any requirements of Section 1.04 for quorum or voting, or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c) modify any of the provisions of this Section, Section 5.13 or Section 10.07 except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Note affected thereby; *provided*, *however*, that this clause shall not be deemed to require the consent of any Holder of a Note with respect to changes in the references to "the Trustee" and concomitant changes in this Section, or the deletion of this proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Sections 6.10 and 9.01(viii).

It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.

A supplemental indenture that changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or that modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.

The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Persons entitled to consent to any indenture supplemental hereto. If a record date is fixed, the Holders on such record date, or their duly designated proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to consent to such supplemental indenture, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided, that unless such consent shall have become effective by virtue of the requisite percentage having been obtained prior to the date that is eleven months after such record date, any such consent previously given shall automatically and without further action by any Holder be cancelled and of no further effect."

**ARTICLE VIII** 

**SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE** 

**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, Sections 4.01 and 4.02 of the Base Indenture shall apply to the Notes.

**ARTICLE IX** 

**DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE** 

**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, Sections 14.01, 14.02, 14.03 and 14.04 of the Base Indenture shall be amended and restated as follows:

**"Section 14.01. Company's Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.** 

The Company may at its option by Board Resolution, at any time, with respect to the Notes, elect to have either Section 14.02 (if applicable) or Section 14.03 (if applicable) be applied to such Outstanding Notes upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article.

**Section 14.02. Defeasance and Discharge.** 

Upon the Company's exercise of the above option applicable to this Section with respect to the Notes, the Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to such Outstanding Notes on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 14.04 are satisfied (hereinafter, "<u>defeasance</u>"). For this purpose, such defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by such Outstanding Notes, which shall thereafter be deemed to be "Outstanding" only for the purposes of Section 14.05 and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in clauses (A) and (B) of this Section, and to have satisfied all its other obligations under the Notes and this Indenture insofar as such Notes are concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (A) the rights of Holders of such Outstanding Notes receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 14.04 and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Notes when such payments are due, (B) the Company's obligations with respect to such Notes under Sections 3.05, 3.06, 10.02 and 10.03, (C) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and (D) this Article. Subject to compliance with this Article Fourteen, the Company may exercise its option under this Section notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 14.03 with respect to such Notes. Following a defeasance, payment of such Notes may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default.

**Section 14.03. Covenant Defeasance.** 

Upon the Company's exercise of the above option applicable to this Section with respect to any Notes, the Company shall be released from its obligations under Sections 10.07, 10.08 and 10.09 on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 14.04 are satisfied (hereinafter, "<u>covenant defeasance</u>"), and such Notes shall thereafter be deemed to be not "Outstanding" for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or Act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection such covenant, but shall continue to be deemed "Outstanding" for all other purposes hereunder. For this purpose, such covenant defeasance means that, with respect to such Outstanding Notes, the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such Section or such other covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such Section or such other covenant or by reason of reference in any such Section or such other covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 5.01(3) or Section 5.01(5) or otherwise, as the case may be, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Notes shall be unaffected thereby. Following a covenant defeasance, payment of such Notes may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default solely by reference to such Sections specified above in this Section 14.03.

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**Section 14.04. Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.** 

The following shall be the conditions to application of either Section 14.02 or Section 14.03 to any Outstanding Notes:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i) The Company shall have irrevocably deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited with the Trustee (or another
trustee satisfying the requirements of Section 6.07 who shall agree to comply with the provisions of this Article Fourteen applicable to it) as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as
security for the benefit of, and dedicated solely to, the Holders of such Notes, (A) an amount, or (B) Government Obligations applicable to such Notes which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in
accordance with their terms will provide, without reinvestment thereof, not later than one day before the due date of any payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such Notes, money in an amount, or (C) a
combination thereof, in an amount, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied
by the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, (1) the principal of and interest, if any, on such Outstanding Notes on the Stated Maturity of such principal or installment of principal or interest and (2) any mandatory
sinking fund payments or analogous payments applicable to such Outstanding Notes on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and of such Notes.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ii) Such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default
under, this Indenture or any other material agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(iii) No Default or Event of Default with respect to such Notes shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of
such deposit or, insofar as Sections 5.01(6) and 5.01(7) are concerned, at any time during the period ending on the 91st day after the date of such deposit (it being understood that this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until the expiration
of such period).

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(iv) In the case of an election under Section 14.02, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion
of Counsel stating that (i) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (ii) since the date of execution of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable Federal
income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of such Outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance and
will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance had not occurred.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(v) In the case of an election under Section 14.03, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion
of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of such Outstanding Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such covenant defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the
same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such covenant defeasance had not occurred.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(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."

**ARTICLE X** 

**OFFER TO REPURCHASE UPON A CHANGE OF CONTROL REPURCHASE EVENT** 

**Section 10.01.** 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 Base Indenture (as supplemented or amended from time to time by one or more indentures supplemental thereto), whether now or hereafter issued and Outstanding, Sections 13.01, 13.02, 13.03, 13.04 and 13.05 of the Base Indenture shall be amended and restated as follows:

"**Section 13.01. Change of Control**<u>.</u>

If a Change of Control Repurchase Event occurs, unless the Company have exercised its right to redeem the Notes in full, the Company will 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 not including, the date of purchase. 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 will mail a notice to each holder 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 will be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed. The notice will, 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 will 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 the Change of Control Repurchase Event provisions of the Notes, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the Change of Control Repurchase Event provisions of the Notes by virtue of such conflict.

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 1940 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the Company will, to the extent lawful:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(1) accept for payment all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered pursuant to its offer;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(2) 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

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(3) 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.

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The Paying Agent will promptly remit to each holder of Notes properly tendered the purchase price for the Notes, and 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*, *however*, 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 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 XI** 

**MISCELLANEOUS** 

**Section 11.01.** This Third Supplemental Indenture and the Notes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of New York, without regard to principles of conflicts of laws. This Third 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.

**Section 11.02**. In case any provision in this Third 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 11.03**. This Third Supplemental Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same Third Supplemental Indenture. The exchange of copies of this Third Supplemental Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile, .pdf transmission, email or other electronic means shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Third 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. The words "execution," "signed," "signature," "delivery," and words of like import in or relating to this Third Supplemental Indenture or any document to be signed in connection with this Third Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed to include electronic signatures (including, without limitation, any .pdf file, .jpeg file or any other electronic or image file, or any other "electronic signature" as defined under E-SIGN or ESRA, including Orbit, Adobe Fill & Sign, Adobe Sign, DocuSign, or any other similar platform identified by the Company and reasonably acceptable to the Trustee), deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, and the parties hereto consent to conduct the transactions contemplated hereunder by electronic means.

**Section 11.05.** The provisions of this Third Supplemental Indenture shall become effective as of the date hereof.

**Section 11.06.** Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary herein, the terms and provisions of this Third Supplemental Indenture shall apply only to the Notes and shall not apply to any other series of Securities under the Indenture, and this Third 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 Indenture, whether now or hereafter issued and Outstanding.

**Section 11.07.** The recitals contained herein and in the Notes, except the Trustee's certificate of authentication, 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 Third Supplemental Indenture, the Notes or any Additional Notes, except that the Trustee represents that it is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Third 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. For the avoidance of doubt, the Trustee shall not be responsible for monitoring compliance by the Company with the Investment Company Act, nor shall it have any liability in connection therewith.

**Section 11.08.** For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of Sections 1.13 (Submission to Jurisdiction) and 1.14 (Waiver of Jury Trial) of the Base Indenture shall be incorporated by reference herein as if set forth herein in full.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Third Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| CARLYLE SECURED LENDING, INC. | CARLYLE SECURED LENDING, INC. |
| By: | /s/ Nelson Joseph |
| Name: | Nelson Joseph |
| Title: | Chief Accounting Officer |
| U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee | U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee |
| By: | /s/ Ivy Wegener |
| Name: | Ivy Wegener |
| Title: | Vice President |

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[*Signature Page to Third Supplemental Indenture*]

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**<u>Exhibit A — Form of Global Note</u>** 

**THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY 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 COMPANY 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.** 

**Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc.** 

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| No. | $|
|  | CUSIP No. 872280AB8 |
|  | ISIN No. US872280AB83 |

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5.750% Notes due 2031

Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of Maryland (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 February 15, 2031, and to pay interest thereon from October 7, 2025 or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semiannually on February 15 and August 15 in each year, commencing February 15, 2026, at the rate of 5.750% 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 shall, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security is registered at 5:00 p.m. New York City time, or the close of business, on February 1 and August 1, immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date. 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 shall be made at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee located at One Federal Street, Third Floor, Boston, Massachusetts 02110. Attention: Global Corporate Trust Services. Reference: Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc. or 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 check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register; *provided, further, however*, that, at the request of the registered Holder, the Company will pay the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and interest, if any, on the Securities by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account at a bank in New York City, on the date when such amount is due and payable and as further set forth in Section 10.01 of the Indenture; *provided further, however*, that so long as this Security is registered to Cede & Co., such payment shall be made by wire transfer in accordance with the procedures established by The Depository Trust Company.

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 or facsimile 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:

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| CARLYLE SECURED LENDING, INC. | CARLYLE SECURED LENDING, INC. |
| By: |  |
|  | Name: |
|  | Title: |

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| |
|:---|
| 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:

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| |
|:---|
| U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, not in its individual capacity, but solely as Trustee |
| By: Authorized Officer |

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**Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc.** 

5.750% Notes due 2031

This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of Securities of the Company (herein called the "<u>Securities</u>"), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of November 20, 2023 (herein called the "<u>Base Indenture</u>"), between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as successor trustee to The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (herein called the "<u>Trustee</u>," 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 First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 20, 2023 (herein called the "<u>First Supplemental Indenture</u>"), the Second Supplemental Indenture relating to the Securities, dated as of October 18, 2024, by and between the Company and the Trustee (herein called the "<u>Second Supplemental Indenture</u>"), and the Third Supplemental Indenture relating to the Securities, dated as of October 7, 2025 (herein called the "<u>Third Supplemental Indenture</u>," and the First Supplemental Indenture, Second Supplemental Indenture, Third Supplemental Indenture and the Base Indenture collectively are herein called the "<u>Indenture</u>"). In the event of any conflict between the Base Indenture and the Third Supplemental Indenture, the Third 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 $300,000,000. 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 "<u>Additional Securities</u>") 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 a different CUSIP 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 Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time, at a Redemption Price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(A) (a) 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 35 basis points less (b) interest accrued to the date of redemption, or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(B) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed,

plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the Redemption Date.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time on or after the Par Call Date, the Company may redeem some or all of the Notes at any time, or from time to time, at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, 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:

"<u>Par Call Date</u>" means January 15, 2031 (one month prior to the maturity date of the Notes).

"<u>Treasury Rate</u>" means, with respect to any Redemption Date of the Notes, 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 maturity date of the Notes (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 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 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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Notice of redemption shall be given in writing and mailed, first class postage prepaid or by overnight courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to each Holder of the Notes to be redeemed, not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the Redemption Date, at the Holder's address appearing in the Security Register. All notices of redemption shall contain the information set forth in Section 11.04 of the Base Indenture. As long as the Notes are in book-entry form and represented by a Global Note, the notice of redemption will be sent in accordance with the procedures of the Depository.

Any exercise of the Company's option to redeem the Securities shall be done in compliance with the Indenture and, as determined by the Company, the Investment Company Act, to the extent applicable.

If the Company elects to redeem only a portion (equal to the minimum authorized denomination for the Notes and any integral multiple thereof) of the Securities, the particular Notes to be redeemed will be selected in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Trustee and, so long as the Notes are registered to the Depositary or its nominee, 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 will reduce the portion of the principal amount of a Note not redeemed to less than $2,000.

Unless the Company defaults in payment of the Redemption Price, on and after the Redemption Date, interest shall cease to accrue on the Securities called for redemption.

Holders of Securities do not have the option to have the Securities repaid prior to the stated maturity date.

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.

If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default referred to in clause (6) or (7) of Section 5.01 of the Third Supplemental Indenture) with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, 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 referred to in clause (6) or (7) of Section 5.01 of the Third Supplemental Indenture with respect to the Company has occurred, the entire principal amount of all of the Securities shall automatically become due and immediately payable.

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 hereof 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 the Trustee indemnity, security, or both, 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 and/or security. 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 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, transfers of Securities of this series represented by global Security will be made in accordance with the procedures of the Depository.

The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in 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, but the Company, the Trustee, or the Security Registrar 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, or the Security Registrar and any agent of the Company, the Trustee, or the Security Registrar 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, the Security Registrar, or any agent thereof shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

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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 conflict of laws.

## Exhibit 5.1

**Exhibit 5.1** 

[Letterhead of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP]

October 7, 2025

Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc.

One Vanderbilt Avenue, Suite 3400

New York, NY 10017.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

In connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Act") of $300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 5.750% Notes due 2031 (the "Securities") of Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the "Company"), issued pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of November 20, 2023, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 20, 2023, the Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 18, 2024, and the Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 7, 2025 (the "Indenture"), each between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association (as successor trustee to The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.), as trustee (the "Trustee"), we, as your counsel, have examined such corporate records, certificates and other documents, and such questions of law, as we have considered necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion.

Upon the basis of such examination, we advise you that, in our opinion, the Securities constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity principles.

In rendering the foregoing opinion, we are expressing no opinion as to Federal or state laws relating to fraudulent transfers and we are not passing upon, and assume no responsibility for, any disclosure in any registration statement or any related prospectus or other offering material relating to the offer and sale of the Securities.

The foregoing opinion is limited to the Federal laws of the United States and the laws of the State of New York, and we are expressing no opinion as to the effect of the laws of any other jurisdiction. With respect to all matters of Maryland law, we note that you received an opinion, dated October 7, 2025, of Venable LLP.

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Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc. -2-

We have relied as to certain factual matters on information obtained from public officials, officers of the Company and other sources believed by us to be responsible, and we have assumed that the Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Trustee thereunder, an assumption which we have not independently verified.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on the date hereof, and its incorporation by reference into the Registration Statement relating to the Securities (File No. 333-278993). In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act.

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|:---|
| Very truly yours, |
| /s/ Sullivan & Cromwell LLP |

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## Exhibit 5.2

**Exhibit 5.2** 

[Letterhead of Venable LLP]

October 7, 2025

Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc.

One Vanderbilt Avenue, Suite 3400

New York, New York 10017

Re: <u>Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No.</u> <u>333-278993)</u>

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have served as Maryland counsel to Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the "Company") and a business development company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), in connection with certain matters of Maryland law arising out of the registration by the Company of $300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company's 5.750% Notes due 2031 (the "Notes"), covered by the above-referenced Registration Statement, and all amendments thereto (the "Registration Statement"), filed by the Company with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act").

In connection with our representation of the Company, and as a basis for the opinion hereinafter set forth, we have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the following documents (hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Documents"):

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1. The Registration Statement;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2. The Prospectus Supplement, dated September 30, 2025, filed by the Company with the Commission under the 1933 Act;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;3. The charter of the Company, certified by the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland (the "SDAT");

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4. The Bylaws of the Company, certified as of the date hereof by an officer of the Company;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5. A certificate of the SDAT as to the good standing of the Company, dated as of a recent date;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;6. Resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company relating to, among other matters, the authorization of the issuance of the Notes and the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Note Documents (as defined herein), certified as of the date hereof by an officer of the Company;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;7. The Indenture, dated as of November 20, 2023 (the "Base Indenture"), between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association (as successor trustee to The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.), as trustee (the "Trustee");

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Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc.

October 7, 2025

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;8. The Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 7, 2025 (the "Supplemental Indenture" and, together with the Base Indenture, the "Indenture"), between the Company and the Trustee;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;10. The global note representing the Notes (the "Global Note" and, together with the Indenture, the "Note Documents");

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;11. A certificate executed by an officer of the Company, dated as of the date hereof; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;12. Such other documents and matters as we have deemed necessary or appropriate to express the opinion set forth below, subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications stated herein.

In expressing the opinion set forth below, we have assumed the following:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1. Each individual executing any of the Documents, whether on behalf of such individual or any other person, is legally competent to do so.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2. Each individual executing any of the Documents on behalf of a party (other than the Company) is duly authorized to do so.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;3. Each of the parties (other than the Company) executing any of the Documents has duly and validly executed and delivered each of the Documents to which such party is a signatory, and such party's obligations set forth therein are legal, valid and binding and are enforceable in accordance with all stated terms.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4. All Documents submitted to us as originals are authentic. The form and content of all Documents submitted to us as unexecuted drafts do not differ in any respect relevant to this opinion from the form and content of such Documents as executed and delivered. All Documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies conform to the original documents. All signatures on all such Documents are genuine. All public records reviewed or relied upon by us or on our behalf are true and complete. All representations, warranties, statements and information contained in the Documents are true and complete. There has been no oral or written modification of or amendment to any of the Documents, and there has been no waiver of any provision of any of the Documents, by action or omission of the parties or otherwise.

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications stated herein, it is our opinion that:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1. The Company is a corporation duly incorporated and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the State of Maryland and is in good standing with the SDAT.

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Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc.

October 7, 2025

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2. The execution and delivery by the Company of the Note Documents, and the performance by the Company of its obligations thereunder, have been duly authorized by the Company.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;3. The issuance of the Notes has been duly authorized by the Company.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4. The Note Documents have been duly executed and delivered by the Company.

The foregoing opinion is limited to the laws of the State of Maryland and we do not express any opinion herein concerning any other law. We express no opinion as to compliance with the 1940 Act or other federal securities laws or state securities laws, including the securities laws of the State of Maryland. We note that the Note Documents are governed by the laws of the State of New York. To the extent that any matter as to which our opinion is expressed herein would be governed by the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Maryland, we do not express any opinion on such matter. The opinion expressed herein is subject to the effect of judicial decisions which may permit the introduction of parol evidence to modify the terms or the interpretation of agreements.

The opinion expressed herein is limited to the matters specifically set forth herein and no other opinion shall be inferred beyond the matters expressly stated. We assume no obligation to supplement this opinion if any applicable law changes after the date hereof or if we become aware of any fact that might change the opinion expressed herein after the date hereof.

This opinion is being furnished to you for submission to the Commission as an exhibit to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K (the "Current Report"), which is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Current Report and the said incorporation by reference and to the use of the name of our firm therein. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required by Section 7 of the 1933 Act.

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| |
|:---|
| Very truly yours, |
| /s/ Venable LLP |

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