Note 3. Agreements and Related Party Transactions

Administration Agreement

On May 3, 2023, the Company entered into an administration agreement with the Administrator and on August 27, 2024 amended and restated such administration agreement (as amended and restated, the “Administration Agreement”). Under the terms of the Administration Agreement, the Administrator provides administrative services to the Company. These services include providing office facilities, equipment, clerical bookkeeping and record keeping services, maintaining financial and other records, preparing reports to stockholders and reports and other materials filed with the SEC or any other regulatory authority, and generally overseeing the payment of expenses and the performance of administrative and professional services rendered by others. The Administrator also will provide on the Company’s behalf significant managerial assistance to those portfolio companies to which the Company is required to provide such assistance. Certain of these services are reimbursable to the Administrator under the terms of the Administration Agreement. In addition, the Administrator is permitted to delegate its duties under the Administration Agreement to affiliates or third parties. To the extent the Administrator outsources any of its functions, the Company will pay the fees associated with such functions on a direct basis, without incremental profit to the Administrator. The Administration Agreement may be terminated by either party without penalty on 60 days’ written notice to the other party.

For the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 and the period from May 5, 2023 (Commencement of Operations) through December 31, 2023, the Company incurred administrative services expenses of $1,339, $1,475 and $571, respectively, which are included in administrative services expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, $223 and $229, respectively, were payable to the Administrator, which were included in accrued expenses and other liabilities on the Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities. In addition to administrative services expenses, the payable balances may include other operating expenses paid by the Administrator on behalf of the Company.

No person who is an officer, director or employee of the Administrator or its affiliates and who serves as a director of the Company receives any compensation for his or her services as a director. However, the Company reimburses the Administrator (or its affiliates) for an allocable portion of the costs, expenses, compensation and benefits paid by the Administrator or its affiliates to the Company’s chief compliance officer, chief financial officer, general counsel and secretary, their respective staffs and operations staff who provide services to the Company; provided that such reimbursement does not conflict with Section 7.8 of the Company’s charter. The allocable portion of the compensation for these officers and other professionals are included in the administration expenses paid to the Administrator. Directors who are not affiliated with the Administrator or its affiliates receive compensation for their services and reimbursement of expenses incurred to attend meetings.

Investment Advisory and Management Agreement

On May 3, 2023, the Company entered into an investment advisory and management agreement with the Adviser and on September 5, 2023 and August 27, 2024 amended and restated such investment advisory and management agreement (as amended and restated, the “Investment Advisory and Management Agreement”). Under the terms of the Investment Advisory and Management Agreement, the Adviser provides investment advisory services to the Company and its portfolio investments. The Adviser’s services under the Investment Advisory and Management Agreement are not exclusive, and the Adviser is free to furnish similar or other services to others so long as its services to the Company are not impaired. Under the terms of the Investment Advisory and Management Agreement, the Adviser is entitled to receive a base management fee and may also receive incentive fees, as discussed below. The Adviser waived its base management fee from inception through April 30, 2024 and began charging its base management fee on the value of the Company’s net assets as of May 1, 2024 on the terms set forth in the Investment Advisory and Management Agreement. The Adviser voluntarily agreed to waive incentive fees from the Company's inception through December 31, 2025. In addition, the Adviser has also voluntarily waived its right to receive management and incentive fees related to the Company’s investment in WhiteHawk Evergreen Fund LP for any period in which this investment remains in the investment portfolio.

Base Management Fee

The management fee is payable monthly in arrears at an annual rate of 1.25% of the value of the Company’s net assets as of the beginning of the first calendar day of the applicable month. For purposes of calculating the management fee under the Investment Advisory and Management Agreement, net assets means the Company’s total net assets, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, and appropriately adjusted for any share issuances or repurchases during the current calendar month. For example, assuming there were 30 days in a calendar month, if we sold shares on the first day of the month, our net asset value for such month would give effect to the net proceeds of the issuance for the 30 days of the month during which the additional shares were outstanding. If we repurchased shares on the 25th day of the month, our net asset value for such month would give effect to the repurchase for the five days of the month during which such shares were no longer outstanding. For the first calendar month in which the Company had operations, May 2023, net assets were measured as the beginning net assets as of the effective date of the initial Investment Advisory and Management Agreement.

For the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 and the period from May 5, 2023 (Commencement of Operations) through December 31, 2023, the Company incurred management fees of $3,797, $1,979 and $590, respectively, of which $58, $585 and $590, respectively, were voluntarily waived by the Adviser. As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, $1,313 and $545 of management fees, respectively, were unpaid.

Incentive Fee per Investment Advisory and Management Agreement

Under the Investment Advisory and Management Agreement, the incentive fee consists of two parts:

The first part, the income incentive fee, is calculated and payable quarterly in arrears and is paid with respect to the Company’s pre-incentive fee net investment income (as defined below) in each calendar quarter as follows: (a) no incentive fee based on pre-incentive fee net investment income in any calendar quarter in which the Company’s pre-incentive fee net investment income does not exceed a hurdle rate of 1.25% per quarter (5.0% annualized) (the “Hurdle”), (b) 100% of the dollar amount of the Company’s pre-incentive fee net investment income with respect to that portion of such pre-incentive fee net investment income, if any, that exceeds the Hurdle rate but is less than a rate of return of 1.4286% (5.714% annualized), and (c) 12.5% of the dollar amount of the Company’s pre-incentive fee net investment income, if any, that exceeds a rate of return of 1.4286% (5.714% annualized).

The second part, the capital gains incentive fee, is determined and payable in arrears as of the end of each calendar year at a rate of 12.5% of the Company’s realized capital gains, if any, on a cumulative basis from the Company’s commencement of operations through the end of such 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. In the event that the Investment Advisory and Management Agreement shall terminate as of a date that is not a calendar year end, the termination date shall be treated as though it were a calendar year end for purposes of calculating and paying a capital gains incentive fee.

Pre-incentive fee net investment income means, as the context requires, either the dollar value of, or percentage rate of return on the value of the Company’s net assets in accordance with GAAP at the end of the immediately preceding quarter from, interest income, dividend income and any other income (including any other fees (other than fees for providing managerial assistance), such as commitment, origination, structuring, diligence and consulting fees or other fees that the Company receives from portfolio companies)

accrued during each calendar quarter, minus the Company’s operating expenses accrued for such quarter (including the base management fee, expenses payable under the Administration Agreement entered into between us and the Administrator and any interest expense or fees on any credit facilities or outstanding debt and dividends paid on any issued and outstanding preferred stock, but excluding the incentive fee and any stockholder and/or distribution servicing fees). Pre-incentive fee net investment income returns include, in the case of investments with a deferred interest feature (such as market or original issue discount, debt investments with PIK interest and zero coupon securities), accrued income that the Company has not yet received in cash. Pre-incentive fee net investment income returns do not include any realized capital gains, realized capital losses or unrealized capital appreciation or depreciation. The impact of expense support payments and recoupments is also excluded from pre-incentive fee net investment income. Fees payable under the Investment Advisory and Management Agreement for any partial period will be appropriately prorated and adjusted for any share issuances or repurchases during the relevant quarter.

For the purposes of calculating the incentive fee under the Investment Advisory and Management Agreement, these calculations are appropriately prorated and adjusted for any share issuances or repurchases during the relevant quarter, if applicable. For example, assuming there were 90 days in a calendar quarter, if we sold shares on the 31st day of the quarter, our pre-incentive fee net investment income returns, expressed as a rate of return on the value of our net assets at the end of the immediately preceding quarter, for such quarter would give effect to the net proceeds of the issuance for the 60 days of the quarter during which the additional shares were outstanding. If we repurchased shares on the 85th day of the quarter, our pre-incentive fee net investment income returns, expressed as a rate of return on the value of our net assets at the end of the immediately preceding quarter, for such quarter would give effect to the repurchase for the five days of the month during which such shares were no longer outstanding.

For the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 and the period from May 5, 2023 (Commencement of Operations) through December 31, 2023, the Company incurred income incentive fees of $2,875, $879 and $198, respectively, all of which were voluntarily waived by the Adviser. As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, no income incentive fees were unpaid.

Capital Gains Based Incentive Fee on Cumulative Unrealized Capital Appreciation

The Company accrues, but does not pay, a portion of the incentive fee based on capital gains with respect to net unrealized appreciation. Under GAAP, the Company is required to accrue an incentive fee based on capital gains that includes net realized capital gains and losses and net unrealized capital appreciation and depreciation on investments held at the end of each period. In calculating the accrual for the incentive fee based on capital gains, the Company considers the cumulative aggregate unrealized capital appreciation in the calculation, since an incentive fee based on capital gains would be payable if such unrealized capital appreciation were realized, even though such unrealized capital appreciation is not permitted to be considered in calculating the fee payable under the Investment Advisory and Management Agreement. This accrual is calculated using the aggregate cumulative realized capital gains and losses and aggregate cumulative unrealized capital appreciation or depreciation. If such amount is positive at the end of a period, then the Company records a capital gains incentive fee equal to 12.5% of such amount, minus the aggregate amount of actual incentive fees based on capital gains paid in all prior periods. If such amount is negative, then there is no accrual for such period. There can be no assurance that such unrealized capital appreciation will be realized in the future.

For the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 and the period from May 5, 2023 (Commencement of Operations) through December 31, 2023, the Company recorded capital gains based incentive fees of $140, $151 and $172, respectively, all of which were voluntarily waived by the Adviser. Because the Adviser has agreed to voluntarily waive all incentive fees for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 and the period from May 5, 2023 (Commencement of Operations) through December 31, 2023, the Company recorded (reversed) a corresponding waiver of capital gains based incentive fees of $(140), $(151) and $(172), respectively. As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, no capital gains based incentive fees remain outstanding.

Intermediary Manager Agreement

On July 17, 2023, the Company entered into an Intermediary Manager agreement (the “Intermediary Manager Agreement”) with Emerson Equity LLC (the “Intermediary Manager”). Our Board, including a majority of our independent directors, approved the continuation of the Intermediary Manager Agreement, at a board meeting held on February 11, 2026. Under the terms of the Intermediary Manager Agreement, the Intermediary Manager agreed to, among other things, manage the Company’s relationships with third-party brokers engaged by the Intermediary Manager to participate in the distribution of common shares and financial advisors. The Intermediary Manager will be entitled to receive stockholder servicing and/or distribution fees monthly in arrears at an annual rate of 0.85% of the Company’s aggregate NAV attributable to Class S shares as of the beginning of the first calendar day of the month. The Intermediary Manager is entitled to receive stockholder servicing and/or distribution fees monthly in arrears at an annual rate of 0.25% of the Company’s aggregate NAV attributable to Class D shares as of the beginning of the first calendar day of the month. No stockholder servicing and/or distribution fees will be paid with respect to Class I shares. The stockholder servicing and/or distribution fees will be payable to the Intermediary Manager, but the Intermediary Manager anticipates that all or a portion of the stockholder servicing and/or distribution fees will be retained by, or re-allowed (paid) to, participating broker-dealers.

The Company will cease paying the stockholder servicing and/or distribution fees on the Class S shares and Class D shares on the earlier to occur of the following: (i) a listing of Class I shares, (ii) a merger or consolidation with or into another entity, or the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or (iii) the date following the completion of the primary portion of the Offering on which, in the aggregate, underwriting compensation from all sources in connection with the Offering, including the

stockholder servicing and/or distribution fees and other underwriting compensation, is equal to 10% of the gross proceeds from the Offering.

In addition, at the end of the month in which the Intermediary Manager in conjunction with the transfer agent determines that total transaction or other fees, including upfront placement fees or brokerage commissions, and stockholder servicing and/or distribution fees paid with respect to any single share held in a stockholder’s account would exceed, in the aggregate, 10% of the gross proceeds from the sale of such Common Shares (or a lower limit as determined by the Intermediary Manager or the applicable selling agent), the Company will cease paying the stockholder servicing and/or distribution fee on either (i) each such share that would exceed such limit or (ii) all Class S shares and Class D shares in such stockholder’s account. At the end of such month, the applicable Class S shares or Class D shares in such common stockholder’s account will convert into a number of Class I shares (including any fractional shares), with an equivalent aggregate NAV as such Class S shares or Class D shares.

The Intermediary Manager is a broker-dealer registered with the SEC and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

The Intermediary Manager Agreement may be terminated at any time, without the payment of any penalty, by vote of a majority of the Company’s board of directors who are not “interested persons”, as defined in the Investment Company Act, of the Company and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Company’s distribution plan or the Intermediary Manager Agreement or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Company, on not more than 60 days’ written notice to the Intermediary Manager.

The Intermediary Manager may terminate the Intermediary Manager Agreement, without the payment of penalty, on at least 120 days’ written notice to the Company. Either party may terminate the Intermediary Manager Agreement immediately upon notice to the other party in the event that such other party shall have failed to comply with any material provision of the Intermediary Manager Agreement. The Intermediary Manager Agreement will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment, as defined in the Investment Company Act. The Company’s obligations under the Intermediary Manager Agreement to pay the stockholder servicing and/or distribution fees with respect to the Class S shares and Class D shares distributed shall survive termination of the agreement until such shares are no longer outstanding (including such shares that have been converted into Class I shares, as described above).

Distribution and Servicing Plan

The Board has approved a distribution and servicing plan (the “Distribution and Servicing Plan”). The following table shows the stockholder servicing and/or distribution fees the Company pays the Intermediary Manager with respect to the Class S shares and Class D shares on an annualized basis as a percentage of the Company’s NAV for such class.

The stockholder servicing and/or distribution fees are paid monthly in arrears, calculated using the NAV of the applicable class as of the beginning of the first calendar day of the month and subject to FINRA and other limitations on underwriting compensation.

The Intermediary Manager will reallow (pay) all or a portion of the stockholder servicing and/or distribution fees to participating brokers and servicing brokers for ongoing stockholder services performed by such brokers. Because the stockholder servicing and/or distribution fees with respect to Class S or Class D shares are calculated based on the aggregate NAV for all of the outstanding shares of each such class, it reduces the NAV with respect to all shares of each such class, including shares issued under the Company’s distribution reinvestment plan.

Eligibility to receive the stockholder servicing and/or distribution fee is conditioned on a broker providing the following ongoing services with respect to the Class S or Class D shares: assistance with recordkeeping, answering investor inquiries regarding the Company, including regarding distribution payments and reinvestments, helping investors understand their investments upon their request, and assistance with share repurchase requests. The stockholder servicing and/or distribution fees are ongoing fees that are not paid at the time of purchase.

For the year ended December 31, 2025, the Company incurred shareholder servicing and/or distribution fees of $0.4, which were attributable to Class S shares and was included in Other general and administrative expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. For the year ended December 31, 2024 and the period from May 5, 2023 (Commencement of Operations) through December 31, 2023, the Company has not incurred any expenses in connection with the Intermediary Manager Agreement. As of December 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, there was $0.10 and no shareholder servicing and/or distribution fees payable to the Intermediary Manager, respectively, which were included in Accrued expenses and other liabilities on the Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities.

Expense Support and Conditional Reimbursement Agreement

The Company has entered into an Expense Support and Conditional Reimbursement Agreement on May 3, 2023 (the “Expense Support Agreement”) with the Adviser. The Adviser may elect to pay certain expenses of the Company on the Company’s behalf (each, an “Expense Payment”), provided that no portion of an Expense Payment will be used to pay any interest expense or stockholder servicing and/or distribution fees of the Company. Any Expense Payment that the Adviser has committed to pay must be paid by the Adviser to the Company or on behalf of the Company in any combination of cash or other immediately available funds no later than forty-five days after such election was made in writing by the Adviser, and/or offset against amounts due from the Company to the Adviser or its affiliates.

Following any calendar month in which Available Operating Funds (as defined below) exceed the cumulative distributions accrued to the Company’s stockholders based on distributions declared with respect to record dates occurring in such calendar month (the amount of such excess being hereinafter referred to as “Excess Operating Funds”), the Company shall pay such Excess Operating Funds, or a portion thereof, to the Adviser until such time as all Expense Payments made by the Adviser to or on behalf of the Company within three years prior to the last business day of such calendar month have been reimbursed. Any payments required to be made by the Company shall be referred to herein as a “Reimbursement Payment.” As described below, reimbursement payments are conditioned on (i) an expense ratio (excluding any management or incentive fee) that, after giving effect to the recoupment, is lower than the expense ratio (excluding any management or incentive fee) at the time of the fee waiver or expense reimbursement and (ii) a distribution level (exclusive of return of capital to stockholders, if any), equal to, or greater than, the rate at the time of the waiver or reimbursement. “Available Operating Funds” means the sum of (i) the Company’s net investment company taxable income (including net short-term capital gains reduced by net long-term capital losses), (ii) the Company’s net capital gains (including the excess of net long-term capital gains over net short-term capital losses) and (iii) dividends and other distributions paid to the Company on account of investments in portfolio companies (to the extent such amounts listed in clause (iii) are not included under clauses (i) and (ii) above).

The Company’s obligation to make a Reimbursement Payment shall automatically become a liability of the Company on the last business day of the applicable calendar month, except to the extent the Adviser has waived its right to receive such payment for the applicable month. Reimbursement Payments for a given Expense Payment must be made within three years prior to the last business day of the applicable calendar month. The expense support is measured on a per share class basis.

The Expense Support Agreement provides that no Reimbursement Payment will be made for any calendar month if: (1) the annualized rate (based on a 365-day year) of regular cash distributions per share of common stock declared by the Company exclusive of returns of capital, distribution rate reductions due to distribution and stockholder fees, and any declared special dividends or distributions (the “Effective Rate of Distributions Per Share”) declared by the Company at the time of such Reimbursement Payment is less than the Effective Rate of Distributions Per Share at the time the Expense Payment was made to which such Reimbursement Payment relates, or (2) the Operating Expense Ratio (as defined below) at the time of such Reimbursement Payment is greater than the Operating Expense Ratio at the time the Expense Payment was made to which such Reimbursement Payment relates. The “Operating Expense Ratio” is calculated by dividing Operating Expenses (as defined below), less organizational and offering expenses, base management and incentive fees owed to the Adviser, and interest expense, by the Company’s net assets. “Operating Expenses” means all of the operating costs and expenses incurred, as determined in accordance with GAAP.