2446027 - A null object loaded from local variable 'nextSysInstanceLicenseNumber'

The following error message is recorded in sld.log:

mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm:ss.xxx [SLD Data Supplier Processing] ERROR com.sap.lcr.sagent.BuilderDirector: Unexpected error during processing of supplied data.
Thrown: 
java.lang.NullPointerException: while trying to invoke the method java.lang.String.equals(java.lang.Object) of a null object loaded from local variable 'nextSysInstanceLicenseNumber'
    at com.sap.lcr.sagent.specificbuilder.BCSystemBuilder.findBCSystemByIncompleteKey(BCSystemBuilder.java:1769)
    at com.sap.lcr.sagent.specificbuilder.BCSystemBuilder.renameOldKeyInstance(BCSystemBuilder.java:286)
    at com.sap.lcr.sagent.specificbuilder.BCSystemBuilder.getSLDKeyInstance(BCSystemBuilder.java:263)
    at com.sap.lcr.sagent.specificbuilder.AbstractBuilder.work(AbstractBuilder.java:302)
    at com.sap.lcr.sagent.specificbuilder.BCSystemBuilder.work(BCSystemBuilder.java:35)
    at com.sap.lcr.sagent.BuilderDirector.performLocalWork(BuilderDirector.java:833)
    at com.sap.lcr.sagent.BuilderDirector.performWork(BuilderDirector.java:664)
    at com.sap.lcr.sagent.BuilderDirector.run(BuilderDirector.java:450)
    at java.lang.Thread.run(Thread.java:805)

• SAP AS Netweaver Java release independent;
• System landscape Directory.

Unexpected error, java.lang.NullPointerException, a null object loaded, nextSysInstanceLicenseNumber, CR, CR content, error, data supplier, exception, null, object, unexpected, license , KBA , socialmedia , #sapnw , BC-CCM-SLD , System Landscape Directory / Component Repository , Problem