Barings Participation Investors (the Trust) is a closed-end management investment company. The Trust's investment objective is to maintain a portfolio of securities providing a current yield and, when available, an opportunity for capital gains. The Trust's principal investments are privately placed, below-investment grade, long-term debt obligations including bank loans and mezzanine debt instruments. Such direct placement securities may, in some cases, be accompanied by equity features such as common stock, preferred stock, warrants, conversion rights, or other equity features. The Trust purchases the investments, which are not publicly tradable, directly from their issuers in private placement transactions. In addition, the Trust may invest in marketable debt securities (including high yield and/or investment grade securities) and marketable common stock. Barings LLC acts as an investment advisor for the Trust.