v3.25.1
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2025
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]  
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
1.Advisory Agreements and Conditional Expense Reimbursement Waivers
On October 30, 2020, MSC Income entered into the Prior Investment Advisory Agreement with the Adviser. On January 29, 2025, in connection with the MSC Income Listing, MSC Income entered into the Advisory Agreement with the Adviser. The Advisory Agreement was approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of MSC Income’s outstanding voting securities, as defined in the 1940 Act, at the 2025 Special Meeting, to become effective upon the MSC Income Listing. The Advisory Agreement is effective for an initial two-year term commencing upon the date of the MSC Income Listing on January 29, 2025.
Prior Investment Advisory Agreement
Pursuant to the Prior Investment Advisory Agreement, MSC Income paid the Adviser a base management fee and incentive fees as compensation for the services described above. The base management fee was calculated at an annual rate of 1.75% of MSC Income’s average gross assets. The term “gross assets” meant total assets of MSC Income as disclosed on MSC Income’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. “Average gross assets” were calculated based on MSC Income’s gross assets at the end of the two most recently completed calendar quarters. The base management fee was payable quarterly in arrears. The base management fee was expensed as incurred.
The incentive fee under the Prior Investment Advisory Agreement consisted of two parts. The first part, referred to as the subordinated incentive fee on income, was calculated and payable quarterly in arrears based on Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income (as defined below) for the immediately preceding quarter. The subordinated incentive fee on income was equal to 20.0% of MSC Income’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income for the immediately preceding quarter, expressed as a quarterly rate of return on adjusted capital at the beginning of the most recently completed calendar quarter, exceeding 1.875% (or 7.5% annualized), subject to a “catch up” feature (as described below).
For this purpose, Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income meant interest income, dividend income and any other income (including any other fees such as commitment, origination, structuring, diligence and consulting fees or other fees that MSC Income receives from portfolio companies) accrued during the calendar quarter, minus MSC Income’s operating expenses for the quarter (including the management fee, expenses payable under any proposed administration agreement and any interest expense and dividends paid on any issued and outstanding preferred stock, but excluding taxes and the
incentive fee). Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income included, in the case of investments with a deferred interest feature (such as original issue discount debt instruments and PIK interest and zero coupon securities), accrued income that MSC Income had not yet received in cash. Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income did not include any realized capital gains, realized capital losses or unrealized capital appreciation or depreciation. For purposes of this fee, adjusted capital means cumulative gross proceeds generated from sales of MSC Income’s common stock (including proceeds from MSC Income’s DRIP) reduced for non-liquidating distributions, other than distributions of profits, paid to MSC Income’s stockholders and amounts paid for share repurchases pursuant to MSC Income’s share repurchase program. The subordinated incentive fee on income was expensed in the quarter in which it was incurred.
The calculation of the subordinated incentive fee on income for each quarter was as follows:
•No subordinated incentive fee on income was payable to the Adviser in any calendar quarter in which MSC Income’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income did not exceed the hurdle rate of 1.875% (or 7.5% annualized) on adjusted capital;
•100% of MSC Income’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income, if any, that exceeded the hurdle rate but was less than or equal to 2.34375% in any calendar quarter (9.375% annualized) was payable to the Adviser. This portion of the subordinated incentive fee on income was referred to as the “catch up” and was intended to provide the Adviser with an incentive fee of 20.0% on all of MSC Income’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income as if the hurdle rate did not apply when the Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income exceeded 2.34375% (9.375% annualized) in any calendar quarter; and
•For any quarter in which MSC Income’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income exceeded 2.34375% (9.375% annualized), the subordinated incentive fee on income equaled 20.0% of the amount of MSC Income’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income, as the hurdle rate and catch-up had been achieved.
The second part of the incentive fee, referred to as the incentive fee on capital gains, was an incentive fee on realized capital gains earned from the portfolio of MSC Income and was determined and payable in arrears as of the end of each calendar year (or upon termination of the Prior Investment Advisory Agreement). This fee equaled 20.0% of MSC Income’s incentive fee capital gains, which equaled MSC Income’s realized capital gains on a cumulative basis from inception, calculated as of the end of each calendar year, computed net of all realized capital losses and unrealized capital depreciation on a cumulative basis, less the aggregate amount of any previously paid capital gain incentive fees. At the end of each reporting period, MSC Income estimated the incentive fee on capital gains and accrued the fee based on a hypothetical liquidation of its portfolio. Therefore, the accrual included both net realized gains and net unrealized gains (the net unrealized difference between the fair value and the par value of its portfolio), if any. The incentive fee accrued pertaining to the unrealized gain was neither earned nor payable to the Adviser until such time it was realized.
Pursuant to the Prior Investment Advisory Agreement, MSC Income was required to pay or reimburse the Adviser for administrative services expenses, which included all costs and expenses related to MSC Income’s day-to-day administration and management not related to advisory services, whether such administrative services were performed by a third-party service provider or the Adviser or its affiliates (to the extent performed by the Adviser or its affiliates, the “Internal Administrative Services”). Internal Administrative Services included, but were not limited to, the cost of an Adviser’s personnel performing accounting and compliance functions and other administrative services on behalf of MSC Income.
On January 1, 2022, the Adviser assumed responsibility of certain administrative services that were previously provided for MSC Income by a third-party sub-administrator. After December 31, 2021, the Adviser continued to waive reimbursement of all Internal Administrative Services expenses, except for the cost of the services previously provided by the sub-administrator.
Advisory Agreement (post-MSC Income Listing)
Effective on the date of the MSC Income Listing and pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, MSC Income pays the Adviser a base management fee and incentive fees as compensation for investment management services under the Advisory Agreement. The base management fee is calculated at an annual rate of 1.5% of the Company’s average total assets (including cash and cash equivalents), payable quarterly in arrears, and is calculated based on the average value of
the Company’s total assets (including cash and cash equivalents) at the end of the two most recently completed calendar quarters. The determination of total assets reflects changes in the fair value of portfolio investments reflecting both unrealized appreciation and unrealized depreciation. All or any part of base management fee not taken as to any quarter is deferred without interest and is taken in such other quarter as the Adviser shall determine, unless the Adviser expressly and in writing delivered to the Company permanently waives receipt of such base management fee, in which event the Company shall forever be relieved of the obligation to pay such base management fee for such quarter. The base management fee for any partial quarter is appropriately pro-rated.
Under the Advisory Agreement, the base management fee will be reduced to an annual rate of (i) 1.25% of the average value of the Company’s total assets (including cash and cash equivalents) commencing with the first full calendar quarter following the date on which the aggregate fair value of the Company’s investments in its LMM portfolio companies falls below 20% of the Company’s total investment portfolio at fair value and (ii) 1.00% of the average value of the Company’s total assets (including cash and cash equivalents) commencing with the first full calendar quarter following the date on which the aggregate fair value of the Company’s investments in its LMM portfolio companies falls below 7.5% of the Company’s total Investment Portfolio at fair value.
The incentive fee under Advisory Agreement consists of two parts: (1) a subordinated incentive fee on income and (2) an incentive fee on capital gains. The incentive fee under the Advisory Agreement for any partial quarter is appropriately pro-rated.
The first part of the incentive fee under the Advisory Agreement, referred to as the subordinated incentive fee on income, is calculated and payable quarterly in arrears based on the Company’s pre-incentive fee net investment income for the immediately preceding quarter. The payment of the subordinated incentive fee on income is subject to pre-incentive fee net investment income for the previous quarter, expressed as a quarterly rate of return on net assets of the Company at the beginning of the most recently completed calendar quarter, exceeding 1.5% (6.0% annualized), subject to a “catch up” feature (as described below). For this purpose, pre-incentive fee net investment income means interest income, dividend income and any other income (including any other fees, such as commitment, origination, structuring, diligence and consulting fees or other fees that the Company receives from portfolio companies) accrued during the calendar quarter, minus the Company’s operating expenses for the quarter (including the base management fee, administrative services expenses, the expenses payable under any other administration or similar agreement and any interest expense and dividends paid on any issued and outstanding preferred stock and any income tax expense on the Company’s net investment income and any excise tax, but excluding any income tax expense or benefit on the Company’s realized capital gains, realized capital losses or unrealized capital appreciation or depreciation and the incentive fee). Pre-incentive fee net investment income includes, in the case of investments with a deferred interest feature (such as original issue discount debt instruments with payment-in-kind interest and zero coupon securities), accrued income that the Company has not yet received in cash. Pre-incentive fee net investment income does not include any realized capital gains, realized capital losses or unrealized capital appreciation or depreciation, or any income tax expense or benefit related to such items. The calculation of the subordinated incentive fee on income for each quarter is as follows:
1.No subordinated incentive fee on income is payable to the Adviser in any calendar quarter in which the Company’s pre-incentive fee net investment income does not exceed the hurdle rate of 1.5% (or 6.0% annualized);
2.50% of the Company’s pre-incentive fee net investment income, if any, that exceeds the hurdle rate but is less than or equal to 2.307692% in any calendar quarter (9.230769% annualized) is payable to the Adviser. This portion of the subordinated incentive fee on income is referred to as the “catch up” and is intended to provide the Adviser with an incentive fee of 17.5% on all of the Company’s pre-incentive fee net investment income as if the hurdle rate did not apply when the pre-incentive fee net investment income exceeds 2.307692% (9.230769% annualized) in any calendar quarter; and
3.For any quarter in which the Company’s pre-incentive fee net investment income exceeds 2.307692% (9.230769% annualized), the subordinated incentive fee on income equals 17.5% of the amount of the Company’s pre-incentive fee net investment income, as the hurdle rate and catch-up have been achieved.
The second part of the incentive fee under the Advisory Agreement, referred to as the incentive fee on capital gains, is an incentive fee on realized capital gains earned on liquidated investments from the Company’s Investment
Portfolio, net of any income tax expense associated with such realized capital gains, and is determined and payable in arrears as of the end of each calendar year (or upon termination of the Advisory Agreement). This fee equals (a) 17.5% of the Company’s incentive fee capital gains, which equals the Company’s realized capital gains (net of any related income tax expense) on a cumulative basis from the date of the MSC Income Listing, calculated as of the end of each calendar year thereafter (or upon termination of the Advisory Agreement), computed net of (1) all realized capital losses on a cumulative basis (net of any related income tax benefit) from the date of the MSC Income Listing, and (2) unrealized capital depreciation (net of any related income tax benefit) on a cumulative basis from the date of the MSC Income Listing, less (b) the aggregate amount of any previously paid capital gain incentive fees from the date of the MSC Income Listing. For purposes of calculating each component of the Company’s incentive fee capital gains under the Advisory Agreement, (1) the cost basis for any investment held by the Company as of the date of the MSC Income Listing is deemed to be the fair value for such investment as of the most recent quarter end immediately prior to the date of the MSC Income Listing and, with respect to any investment acquired by the Company subsequent to the date of the MSC Income Listing, the cost basis equals the cost basis of such investment as reflected in the Company’s financial statements and (2) the income tax expense or benefit associated with all investments is measured from the most recent quarter end immediately prior to the date of the MSC Income Listing through the date of any such calculation.
The following table provides a summary of MSC Income’s incurred base management fees, subordinated incentive fees and capital gains incentive fees for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024.
Three Months Ended March 31,
20252024
(in thousands)
Base management fees$4,972 $5,028 
Subordinated incentive fees
2,023 3,637 
Capital gains incentive fees— — 
Under the Advisory Agreement, the waivers under the Prior Investment Advisory Agreement of Internal Administrative Services expenses, except for the cost of the services previously provided by the former sub-administrator, were memorialized as a quarterly cap on the Company’s obligation to reimburse the Adviser for “Internal Administrative Expenses.” MSC Income is not required to reimburse the Adviser for Internal Administrative Expenses in an amount that exceeds on a quarterly basis the product obtained by multiplying (x) the value of MSC Income’s total assets at the end of each calendar quarter by (y) the applicable “Annual Basis Point Rate” set forth in the below table:
Total AssetsAnnual Basis Point Rate
$0 - $500 million6.000 
Over $500 million - $1.25 billion5.125 
Greater than $1.25 billion4.500 
The following table provides a summary of MSC Income’s incurred Internal Administrative Expenses (before and after waivers) for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024.
Three Months Ended March 31,
20252024
(in thousands)
Internal Administrative Expenses before waivers$174 $2,267 
Internal Administrative Expenses waived (1)— (2,111)
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(1)Waived Internal Administrative Services expenses are permanently waived and are not subject to future reimbursement.
2.Indemnification
The Prior Investment Advisory Agreement and the Advisory Agreement provide that the Adviser, any sub-adviser and their respective officers, directors, managers, partners, shareholders, members (and their shareholders or members, including the owners of their shareholders or members), agents, employees, controlling persons and any other person or entity affiliated with or acting on behalf of the Adviser or any sub-adviser, as applicable (each an “Indemnified Party” and, collectively, the “Indemnified Parties”) will not be liable to us for any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Adviser or any sub-adviser in connection with the performance of any of their duties or obligations as an investment adviser of the Company (except to the extent specified in Section 36(b) of the 1940 Act concerning loss resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty (as the same is finally determined by judicial proceedings) with respect to the receipt of compensation for services), and that we will indemnify, defend and protect Indemnified Parties and hold them harmless from and against all losses, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and amounts reasonably paid in settlement) incurred by the Indemnified Parties in connection with the performance of their duties as an investment adviser of the Company, to the extent such losses, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses are not fully reimbursed by insurance, and to the extent that such indemnification would not be inconsistent with the Maryland General Corporation Law, the 1940 Act, the Company’s charter and other applicable law if, among other things, (i) the Indemnified Party has determined, in good faith, that the course of conduct which caused the loss or liability was in the best interests of the Company, (ii) the Indemnified Party was acting on behalf of or performing services for the Company, (iii) such liability or loss was not the result of negligence, willful misfeasance, bad faith, or misconduct by the Indemnified Party and (iv) such indemnification or agreement to hold harmless is recoverable only out of the Company’s net assets and not from stockholders.
3.Co-Investment
In the ordinary course of business, MSC Income enters into transactions with other parties that may be considered related party transactions. MSC Income has implemented certain policies and procedures, both written and unwritten, to ensure that it does not engage in any prohibited transactions with any persons affiliated with MSC Income. If such affiliations are found to exist, MSC Income seeks the Board of Directors and/or appropriate Board of Directors committee review and approval for such transactions and otherwise comply with, or seek, orders for exemptive relief from the SEC, as appropriate.
MSC Income has received an exemptive order from the SEC permitting co-investments among MSC Income, Main Street and other advisory clients of the Adviser in certain negotiated transactions where co-investing would otherwise be prohibited under the 1940 Act. MSC Income has made co-investments, and in the future intends to continue to make co-investments with Main Street and other advisory clients of the Adviser, in accordance with the conditions of the order. The order requires, among other things, that the Adviser and Main Street consider whether each such investment opportunity is appropriate for MSC Income, Main Street and the other advisory clients of the Adviser, as applicable, and if it is appropriate, to propose an allocation of the investment opportunity between such parties. Because the Adviser is wholly-owned by Main Street and is not managing MSC Income’s investment activities as its sole activity, this may provide the Adviser an incentive to allocate opportunities to other participating advisory clients instead of MSC Income. However, both MSC Income and the Adviser have policies and procedures in place to manage this conflict, including approval of investment allocations and oversight of co-investments by the independent members of the Board of Directors. Additional information regarding the operation of the co-investment program is set forth in the order granting exemptive relief, which may be reviewed on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. In addition to the co-investment program described above, MSC Income also co-invests in syndicated deals and other transactions where price is the only negotiated point by MSC Income and its affiliates.
4.Other Related Party Transactions
The following table summarizes MSC Income’s sale of shares of its common stock to Main Street during each of the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024.
Three Months Ended March 31,
20252024
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
Shares Purchased
289,761 (1)
157,035 (2)
Price per Share$15.53 $15.92 
Total Cost$4,500 $2,500 
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(1)These shares were purchased in the MSC Income Offering at the public offering price.
(2)These sales were at the same price at which the Company issued new shares in connection with reinvestments of MSC Income’s quarterly dividend pursuant to the Prior DRIP. Each issuance and sale was made pursuant to the exemption from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).
Each of Main Street’s purchases of MSC Income common stock was unanimously approved by the Board of Directors, including each director who is not an “interested person,” as such term is defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act, of the Company or the Adviser. As of March 31, 2025, Main Street had not sold any shares of MSC Income’s common stock previously purchased and owned 1,374,872 shares of MSC Income’s common stock. In addition, certain of Main Street’s officers and employees own shares of MSC Income and therefore have direct pecuniary interests in MSC Income.