Prospect Capital Corporation

Item 1A. Risk Factors

In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the factors discussed below and the risk factors in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2024, which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results. The risks described in this report and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K are not the only risks facing our Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or future results. (All figures in this item are in thousands except share, per share and other data.)

Risks Relating to Our Securities

Senior securities, including debt and preferred eBusiness

Macroeconomic uncertainty could have a significant adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations

The three months ended March 31, 2025 have been characterized by continued uncertainty in global markets, driven by investor concerns over inflation, elevated interest rates, ongoing political and regulatory uncertainty, including potential shifts in U.S. trade policy and the imposition of new tariffs, as well as geopolitical instability stemming from the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Although inflation generally decelerated throughout 2024 and during the first quarter of 2025 due to central bank monetary tightening, including maintaining elevated interest rates, it remains above target levels set by central banks, including the Federal Reserve. Despite three interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve in the latter part of 2024, the Federal Reserve kept rates constant during March 2025 and rates remain elevated relative to the interest rate environment prior to the inflationary spike in 2022-2023. The Federal Reserve has also indicated its intent to maintain higher interest rates in the near term. Rising interest rates can dampen consumer spending and slow corporate profit growth, negatively impacting our portfolio companies, particularly those vulnerable to economic downturns or recessions. While further interest rate hikes are not expected at this time, any renewed increases could lead to a rise in non-performing assets and decline in portfolio value if investment write-downs become necessary. It remains difficult to predict the full impact of recent and any future changes with respect to interest rates or inflation.

Further contributing to economic uncertainty, the current U.S. presidential administration has implemented significant changes to U.S. trade policy, the size of the federal government and the enforcement of various regulations. These policy shifts have introduced additional market instability and reduce investor confidence. For example, changes in trade policy and the imposition of new tariffs could disrupt supply chains and potentially reverse the recent downward trend in inflation. The uncertainty as to how or what tariffs will be enforced or will be imposed in the future or what retaliatory measures other countries may take in response to tariffs proposed or imposed by the U.S. could further increase costs, decrease margins, reduce the competitiveness of products and services offered by our portfolio companies and adversely affect the revenues and profitability of our portfolio companies whose business rely on imported goods. Meanwhile, substantial reductions in government spending could negatively affect certain of our portfolio companies that rely on government contracts, destabilize the U.S. government contracting market and harm our ability to generate expected returns. Additionally, changes in the regulation or enforcement of bank lending and capital requity, erements could have material and adverse effects on the private credit market. In light of these developments, there can be no assurances that political and regulatory conditions will not worsen and adversely affect the Company, its portfolio companies or their respective financial performance.

Risks Relating to Our Securities

Senior securities, including debt and preferred equity, expose us to additional risks, including the typical risks associated with leverage and could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

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We use our revolving credit facility to leverage our portfolio and we expect in the future to borrow from and issue senior debt securities to banks and other lenders and may securitize certain of our portfolio investments. We also have the Unsecured Notes outstanding and have launched a convertible preferred share offering program, which are forms of leverage and are senior in payment rights to our common stock.

Business development companies are generally able to issue senior securities such that their asset coverage, as defined in the 1940 Act, equals at least 200% of gross assets less all liabilities and indebtedness not represented by senior securities, after each issuance of senior securities. In March 2018, the Small Business Credit Availability Act added Section 61(a)(2) to the 1940 Act, a successor provision to Section 61(a)(1) referenced therein, which reduces the asset coverage requirement applicable to business development companies from 200% to 150% so long as the business development company meets certain disclosure requirements and obtains certain approvals. On May 5, 2020, the Company's stockholders voted to approve the application of the reduced asset coverage requirements in Section 61(a)(2) to the Company effective as of May 6, 2020. As a result of the stockholder approval, effective May 6, 2020, the asset coverage ratio under the 1940 Act applicable to the Company decreased to 150% from 200%. In other words, under the 1940 Act, the Company is now able to borrow $2 for investment purposes for every $1 of investor equity, as opposed to borrowing $1 for investment purposes for every $1 of investor equity. As a result, the Company will be able to incur additional indebtedness in the future and investors in the Company may face increased investment risk. In addition, the Companys management fee payable to the Investment Adviser is based on the Company's average adjusted gross assets, which includes leverage and, as a result, if the Company incurs additional leverage, management fees paid to the Investment Adviser would increase.

With certain limited exceptions, as a BDC, we are only allowed to borrow amounts or otherwise issue senior securities such that our asset coverage, as defined in the 1940 Act, is at least 150% after such borrowing or other issuance. The amount of leverage that we employ will depend on the Investment Advisers and our Board of Directors assessment of market conditions and other factors at the time of any proposed borrowing. There is no assurance that a leveraging strategy will be successful. Leverage involves risks and special considerations for stockholders, any of which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations, including the following:

A likelihood of greater volatility in the net asset value and market price of our common stock;

Diminished operating flexibility as a result of asset coverage or investment portfolio composition requirements required by lenders or investors that are more stringent than those imposed by the 1940 Act;

The possibility that investments will have to be liquidated at less than full value or at inopportune times to comply with debt covenants or to pay interest or dividends on the leverage;

Increased operating expenses due to the cost of leverage, including issuance and servicing costs;

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Convertible or exchangeable securities, such as the Convertible Notes outstanding or those issued in the future (including the Preferred Stock (as defined herein)), may have rights, preferences and privileges more favorable than those of our common stock including, the case of the Preferred Stock, the statutory right under the 1940 Act to vote, as a separate class, on the election of two of our directors and approval of certain fundamental transactions in certain circumstances;

Subordination to lenders superior claims on our assets as a result of which lenders will be able to receive proceeds available in the case of our liquidation before any proceeds will be distributed to our stockholders;

Difficulty meeting our payment and other obligations under the Unsecured Notes and our other outstanding debt or preferred equity;

The occurrence of an event of default if we fail to comply with the financial and/or other restrictive covenants contained in our debt agreements, including the credit agreement and each indenture governing the Unsecured Notes, which event of default could result in all or some of our debt becoming immediately due and payable;

Reduced availability of our cash flow to fund investments, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes, and limiting our ability to obtain additional financing for these purposes;

The risk of increased sensitivity to interest rate increases on our indebtedness with variable interest rates, including borrowings under our amended senior credit facility; and

Reduced flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, and increasing our vulnerability to, changes in our business, the industry in which we operate and the general economy.

For example, the amount we may borrow under our revolving credit facility is determined, in part, by the fair value of our investments. If the fair value of our investments declines, we may be forced to sell investments at a loss to maintain compliance with our borrowing limits. Other debt facilities we may enter into in the future may contain similar provisions. Any such forced sales would reduce our net asset value and also make it difficult for the net asset value to recover. The Investment Adviser and

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our Board of Directors in their best judgment nevertheless may determine to use leverage if they expect that the benefits to our stockholders of maintaining the leveraged position will outweigh the risks.

In addition, our ability to meet our payment and other obligations of the Preferred Stock, the Unsecured Notes and our credit facility depends on our ability to generate significant cash flow in the future. This, to some extent, is subject to general economic, financial, competitive, legislative and regulatory factors as well as other factors that are beyond our control. We cannot provide assurance that our business will generate cash flow from operations, or that future borrowings will be available to us under our existing credit facility or otherwise, in an amount sufficient to enable us to meet our payment obligations under the Preferred Stock, the Unsecured Notes and our other debt and to fund other liquidity needs. If we are not able to generate sufficient cash flow to service our debt and preferred equity obligations, we may need to refinance or restructure our debt or preferred equity, including the Unsecured Notes, sell assets, reduce or delay capital investments, or seek to raise additional capital. If we are unable to implement one or more of these alternatives, we may not be able to meet our payment obligations under the Preferred Stock, the Unsecured Notes and our other debt.

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Illustration.The following tables illustrate the effect of leverage on returns from an investment in our common stock assuming various annual returns, net of interest expense. The calculations in the tables below are hypothetical and actual returns may be higher or lower than those appearing below.

The below calculation assumes (i) $7.64 billion in total assets, (ii) an average cost of funds of 5.578% (including preferred dividend payments), (iii) $2.10 billion in debt outstanding, (iv) $0.7 billion in liquidation preference of preferred stock paying a 5.50% annual dividend outstanding, (v) $0.7 billion in liquidation preference of preferred stock paying a 6.50% annual dividend outstanding, (vi) $0.13 billion in liquidation preference of preferred stock paying a 5.35% annual dividend outstanding, (vii) $0.2 billion in liquidation preference of the Floating Rate Preferred Stock paying a 6.50% annual dividend (based on the floating rate as of February 4May 2, 2025) outstanding, (viii) $0.4 billion in liquidation preference of preferred stock paying a 7.50% annual dividend outstanding and (ix) $3.42 billion of common stockholders equity.

The below calculation assumes (i) $7.64 billion in total assets, (ii) an average cost of funds of 5.368% (including preferred dividend payments), (iii) $2.1 billion in debt outstanding, (iv) $0.13 billion in liquidation preference of preferred stock paying a 5.35% annual dividend outstanding, (v) $0.2 billion in liquidation preference of the Floating Rate Preferred Stock paying a 6.50% annual dividend (based on the floating rate as of February 4May 2, 2025) outstanding, (vi) $0.4 billion in liquidation preference of preferred stock paying a 7.50% annual dividend outstanding and (vii) $4.74 billion of common stockholders equity.

(1) Assumes no conversion of preferred stock to common stock.

(2) Assumes the conversion of $1.4 billion in preferred stock at a conversion rate based on a Holder Optional Conversion Fee (as defined in the Prospectus Supplement relating to the applicable offering) of 9.00% of the maximum public offering price disclosed within the applicable prospectus supplements for shares of preferred stock which are subject to such Holder Optional Conversion Fee.

The assumed portfolio return is required by regulation of the SEC and is not a prediction of, and does not represent, our projected or actual performance. Actual returns may be greater or less than those appearing in the table.

Pursuant to SEC regulations, this table is calculated as of DecemberMarch 31, 20245. As a result, it has not been updated to take into account any changes in assets or leverage since DecemberMarch 31, 20245.

General Risk Factors

We may experience fluctuations in our quarterly results.

We could experience fluctuations in our quarterly operating results due to a number of factors, including the level of structuring fees received, the interest or dividend rates payable on the debt or equity securities we hold, the default rate on debt securities, the level of our expenses, variations in and the timing of the recognition of realized and unrealized gains or losses, the degree to which we encounter competition in our markets, and general economic conditions. As a result of these factors, results for any period should not be relied upon as being indicative of performance in future periods.

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