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Agreements and Related Party Transactions
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2023
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]  
Agreements and Related Party Transactions Agreements and Related Party Transactions
Investment Advisory Agreement
On October 1, 2018, the Company entered into the original investment advisory agreement with the Adviser. The Adviser is responsible for originating prospective investments, conducting research and due diligence investigations on potential investments, analyzing investment opportunities, negotiating and structuring the Company’s investments and monitoring its investments and portfolio companies on an ongoing basis.
On October 18, 2021, the Company entered into an amended and restated investment advisory agreement (as amended and restated, the “Investment Advisory Agreement”), pursuant to which the Adviser manages the Company on a day-to-day basis. The Investment Advisory Agreement is substantially the same as the prior investment advisory agreement except, following the IPO, the incentive fee on income became subject to a twelve-quarter lookback quarterly hurdle rate of 1.50% as opposed to a single quarter measurement and became subject to an Incentive Fee Cap (as defined below) based on the Company’s Cumulative Net Return (as defined below). The amendment to the Investment Advisory Agreement does not result in higher fees (on a cumulative basis) payable to the Adviser than the fees that would have otherwise been payable to the Adviser under the original investment advisory agreement.
The Company pays the Adviser a fee for its services under the Investment Advisory Agreement consisting of two components: a management fee and an incentive fee. The cost of both the management fee and the incentive fee is borne by the shareholders. The initial term of the Investment Advisory Agreement was two years from October 1, 2018, and on May 6, 2020 and May 6, 2021, it was renewed and approved by the Board, including a majority of trustees who are not parties to the Investment Advisory Agreement or “interested persons” (as such term is defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act) (the “Independent Trustees”), for a one-year period. On October 18, 2021, the Board approved the amended and restated Investment Advisory Agreement for an initial term ending May 31, 2022. Unless earlier terminated, the Investment Advisory Agreement will renew automatically for successive annual periods, provided that such continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the vote of the Board and by the vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees. The Investment Advisory Agreement was most recently renewed and approved by the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, on May 2, 2023 for a one-year period ending on May 31, 2024.
The Adviser has implemented a waiver effective from the consummation of the IPO to extend the Company’s pre-IPO fee structure for a period of two years. With the waiver in place, instead of having the base management fee and each incentive fee increase to 1.00% and 17.5%, respectively, following the IPO, each such fee will remain at 0.75% and 15.0% for a period of two years following the IPO (the “Waiver Period”). As a result of the fee waiver, the pre-listing management fee and incentive fee rates paid by the Company to the Adviser will not increase during the Waiver Period. Amounts waived by the Adviser are not subject to recoupment by the Adviser.
Base Management Fees
Starting from the completion of the IPO, the management fee pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement is payable quarterly in arrears at an annual rate of 1.0% of the average value of the Company’s gross assets at the end of the two most recently completed calendar quarters. For purposes of the Investment Advisory Agreement, gross assets means the Company’s total assets determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, excluding undrawn commitments but including assets purchased with borrowed amounts.
Prior to the consummation of the IPO, the management fee was 0.75% of the average value of the Company’s gross assets at the end of the two most recently completed calendar quarters. In order to maintain the same management fee arrangement that the Company had in place prior to the IPO for a period of time following the completion of the IPO, the Adviser voluntarily waived its right to receive the base management fee in excess of 0.75% of the average value of the
Company’s gross assets at the end of the two most recently completed calendar quarters during the Waiver Period. Amounts waived by the Adviser are not subject to recoupment by the Adviser.
For the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, base management fees were $24.7 million and $25.6 million, respectively, of which $6.2 million and $6.4 million, respectively, were waived. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, $18.5 million and $18.6 million, respectively, was payable to the Adviser relating to management fees.
Incentive Fees
The incentive fees consist of two components that are determined independently of each other, with the result that one component may be payable even if the other is not. One component is based on income and the other component is based on capital gains, each as described below:
(i) Income based incentive fees:
The first part of the incentive fee, an income based incentive fee, is calculated and payable quarterly in arrears based on the Company’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income Returns as defined in the Investment Advisory Agreement.  Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income Returns means, as the context requires, either the dollar value of, or percentage rate of return on the value of the Company’s net assets 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 the calendar quarter, minus the Company’s operating expenses accrued for the quarter (including the management fee, expenses payable under the Administration Agreement, and any interest expense or fees on any credit facilities or outstanding debt and dividends paid on any issued and outstanding preferred shares, but excluding the incentive fee.  Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income Returns includes, in the case of investments with a deferred interest feature (such as original issue discount, debt instruments with PIK interest and zero coupon securities)), accrued income that the Company has not yet received in cash.  Pre-incentive fee net investment income excludes any realized capital gains, realized capital losses or unrealized capital appreciation or depreciation. The Company excludes the impact of expense support payments and recoupments from pre-incentive fee net investment income. Shareholders may be charged a fee on an income amount that is higher than the income they may ultimately receive.
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, is compared to a “hurdle rate” of return of 1.5% per quarter (6.0% annualized).
Pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Company is required to pay an income based incentive fee of 15% prior to the consummation of the IPO and 17.5% following the consummation of the IPO, with a 1.5% hurdle and 100% catch-up. However, the Adviser has implemented a voluntary waiver with respect to the income based incentive fee. The Adviser has voluntarily waived its right to receive an income based incentive fee above 15% during the Waiver Period and amounts waived by the Adviser are not subject to recoupment by the Adviser.

The Company pays the Adviser an income based incentive fee based on its aggregate pre-incentive fee net investment income, as adjusted as described above, from the calendar quarter then ending and the eleven preceding calendar quarters (such period, the “Trailing Twelve Quarters”).

The hurdle amount for the income based incentive fee will be determined on a quarterly basis and is equal to 1.5% multiplied by the Company’s NAV at the beginning of each applicable calendar quarter comprising the relevant Trailing Twelve Quarters. The hurdle amount is calculated after making appropriate adjustments for issuances by the Company of common shares, including issuances pursuant to its dividend reinvestment plan and distributions that occurred during the relevant Trailing Twelve Quarters. The income based incentive fee for any partial period will be appropriately prorated.

For the income based incentive fee, the Company will pay the Adviser a quarterly incentive fee based on the amount by which (A) aggregate pre-incentive fee net investment income in respect of the relevant Trailing Twelve Quarters exceeds (B) the hurdle amount for such Trailing Twelve Quarters. The amount of the excess of (A) over (B) described in this paragraph for such Trailing Twelve Quarters is referred to as the “Excess Income Amount”.

The income based incentive fee for each quarter will be determined as follows:

No income based incentive fee is payable to the Adviser for any calendar quarter for which there is no Excess Income Amount.
The Adviser will be paid 100% of the pre-incentive fee net investment income in respect of the Trailing Twelve Quarters, if any, that exceeds the hurdle amount for such Trailing Twelve Quarters, but is less than or equal to an amount, which we refer to as the “Catch-up Amount,” determined as the sum of 1.76% (7.06% annualized) prior to the end of the Waiver Period, or 1.82% (7.27% annualized) following the Waiver Period, multiplied by the Company’s NAV at the beginning of each applicable calendar quarter comprising the relevant Trailing Twelve Quarters that is included in the calculation of the incentive fee based on income.

The Adviser will be paid 15% prior to the end of the Waiver Period, or 17.5% following the Waiver Period, of the pre-incentive fee net investment income in respect of the Trailing Twelve Quarters that exceeds the Catch-up Amount.

The amount of the income based incentive fee that will be paid to the Adviser for a particular quarter will equal the excess of (a) the income based incentive fee so calculated over (b) the aggregate income based incentive fee that was paid in respect of the first eleven calendar quarters included in the relevant Trailing Twelve Quarters subject to the Incentive Fee Cap as described below.

The income based incentive fee that will be paid to the Adviser for a particular quarter is subject to a cap (the “Incentive Fee Cap”). The Incentive Fee Cap for any quarter is an amount equal to (a) 15% prior to the end of the Waiver Period, or 17.5% following the Waiver Period, of the Cumulative Net Return (as defined below) during the relevant Trailing Twelve Quarters minus (b) the aggregate income based incentive fee that was paid in respect of the first eleven calendar quarters (or the portion thereof) included in the relevant Trailing Twelve Quarters.

“Cumulative Net Return” means (x) the pre-incentive fee net investment income in respect of the relevant Trailing Twelve Quarters minus (y) any Net Capital Loss (as defined below), if any, in respect of the relevant Trailing Twelve Quarters. If, in any quarter, the Incentive Fee Cap is zero or a negative value, the Company will pay no income based incentive fee to the Adviser for such quarter. If, in any quarter, the Incentive Fee Cap for such quarter is a positive value but is less than the income based incentive fee that is payable to the Adviser for such quarter (before giving effect to the Incentive Fee Cap) calculated as described above, the Company will pay an income based incentive fee to the Adviser equal to the Incentive Fee Cap for such quarter. If, in any quarter, the Incentive Fee Cap for such quarter is equal to or greater than the income based incentive fee that is payable to the Adviser for such quarter (before giving effect to the Incentive Fee Cap) calculated as described above, the Company will pay an income based incentive fee to the Adviser equal to the incentive fee calculated as described above for such quarter without regard to the Incentive Fee Cap.

“Net Capital Loss” in respect of a particular period means the difference, if positive, between (i) aggregate capital losses, whether realized or unrealized, in such period and (ii) aggregate capital gains, whether realized or unrealized, in such period.

These calculations are prorated for any period of less than three months and adjusted for any share issuances or repurchases during the relevant quarter. As the consummation of the IPO occurred on a date other than the first day of a calendar quarter, the income based incentive fee with respect to the Company’s pre-incentive fee net investment income was calculated for such calendar quarter at a weighted rate calculated based on the fee rates applicable before and after the consummation of the IPO based on the number of days in such calendar quarter before and after the consummation of the IPO. In no event will the amendments to the income based incentive fee include the incentive fee cap and allow the Adviser to receive greater cumulative income based incentive fees under the Investment Advisory Agreement than it would have under the prior investment advisory agreement. Amounts waived by the Adviser are not subject to recoupment by the Adviser.
(ii) Capital gains based incentive fee:
Starting from the completion of the IPO, the second part of the incentive fee, a capital gains incentive fee, is determined and payable in arrears as of the end of each calendar year in an amount equal to 17.5% of realized capital gains, if any, on a cumulative basis from inception through 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 as calculated in accordance with GAAP.
Prior to the IPO, the second part of the incentive fee, a capital gains incentive fee, was determined and payable in arrears as of the end of each calendar year in an amount equal to 15.0% of realized capital gains, if any, on a cumulative basis from inception through 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 as calculated in accordance with GAAP. However, similar to the voluntary waivers referenced above, the Adviser voluntarily waived its right to
receive a capital gains based incentive fee above 15% from the date of consummation of the IPO through the Waiver Period. The Company will accrue, but will not pay, a capital gains incentive fee with respect to unrealized appreciation because a capital gains incentive fee would be owed to the Adviser if the Company were to sell the relevant investment and realize a capital gain. Amounts waived by the Adviser are not subject to recoupment by the Adviser.
For the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 the Company accrued income based incentive fees of $30.4 million and $21.3 million, respectively, of which $4.3 million and $3.0 million, respectively, were waived. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, $26.1 million and $24.8 million, respectively, was payable to the Adviser for income based incentive fees.
For the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 , the Company accrued capital gains incentive fees of $(1.6) million and $0.7 million, respectively.
Administration Agreement
On October 1, 2018, the Company entered into an Administration Agreement with the Administrator. Under the terms of the Administration Agreement, the Administrator provides, or oversees the performance of, administrative and compliance services, including, but not limited to, maintaining financial records, overseeing the calculation of NAV, compliance monitoring (including diligence and oversight of the Company’s other service providers), preparing reports to shareholders and reports filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), preparing materials and coordinating meetings of the Company’s Board, managing the payment of expenses and the performance of administrative and professional services rendered by others and providing office space, equipment and office services. The Administrator may also offer to provide, on the Company’s behalf, managerial assistance to the Company’s portfolio companies. The initial term of the agreement was two years from October 1, 2018. Unless earlier terminated, the Administration Agreement will renew automatically for successive annual periods, provided that such continuance is approved at least annually by (i) the vote of the Board or by a majority vote of the outstanding voting securities of the Company and (ii) the vote of a majority of the Independent Trustees. The Administration Agreement was most recently renewed and approved by the Board, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, on May 2, 2023, for a one-year period.
For providing these services, the Company will reimburse the Administrator for its costs, expenses and allocable portion of overhead (including rent, office equipment and utilities) and other expenses incurred by the Administrator in performing its administrative obligations under the Administration Agreement, including but not limited to: (i) the Company’s chief compliance officer, chief financial officer and their respective staffs; (ii) investor relations, legal, information technology, operations and other non-investment professionals at the Administrator that perform duties for the Company; and (iii) any internal audit group personnel of Blackstone or any of its affiliates. The Administrator has elected to forgo any reimbursement for rent and other occupancy costs for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022.
For the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company incurred $0.4 million and $0.8 million, respectively, in expenses under the Administration Agreement, which were recorded in administrative service expenses in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, $0.3 million and $1.2 million, respectively, was unpaid and included in Due to affiliates in the Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities.  
Sub-Administration and Custody Agreement
On October 1, 2018, the Administrator entered into a sub-administration agreement (the “Sub-Administration Agreement”) with State Street Bank and Trust Company (the “Sub-Administrator”) under which the Sub-Administrator provides various accounting and administrative services to the Company.  The Sub-Administrator also serves as the Company’s custodian (the “Custodian”).  The initial term of the Sub-Administration Agreement is two years from the effective date and after expiration of the initial term and the Sub-Administration Agreement shall automatically renew for successive one-year periods, unless a written notice of non-renewal is delivered prior to 120 days prior to the expiration of the initial term or renewal term.  
Expense Support and Conditional Reimbursement Agreement
On December 12, 2018, the Company entered into an Expense Support and Conditional Reimbursement Agreement (the “Expense Support Agreement”) with the Adviser pursuant to which the Adviser was able to elect to pay certain expenses of the Company on the Company’s behalf (each, an “Expense Payment”), provided that no portion of the payment was used to pay any interest of the Company. Any Expense Payment that the Adviser committed to pay was to be paid by the Adviser to the Company in any combination of cash or other immediately available funds no later than forty-five days after such commitment was made in writing, and/or offset against amounts due from the Company to the Adviser or its affiliates.
Pursuant to the Expense Support Agreement, following any calendar quarter in which Available Operating Funds (as defined below) exceeded the cumulative distributions accrued to the Company’s shareholders based on distributions declared with respect to record dates occurring in such calendar quarter (the “Excess Operating Funds”), the Company was required to pay such Excess Operating Funds, or a portion thereof, to the Adviser until such time as all Expense Payments made by the Adviser to the Company within three years prior to the last business day of such calendar quarter were reimbursed. Any payments required to be made by the Company are referred to herein as a “Reimbursement Payment”. 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 Expense Support Agreement terminated by its own terms on October 28, 2021. The Company’s obligation to make Reimbursement Payments survived the termination of the Expense Support Agreement and may be made for a period of up to three years, in accordance with the terms of the Expense Support Agreement.  The Company’s obligation to make a Reimbursement Payment becomes a liability of the Company on the last business day of the applicable calendar quarter. As of March 31, 2023 and 2022, there are no amounts subject to the Reimbursement Payment obligation. As of March 31, 2023 and 2022, there was no unreimbursed Expense Payments remaining. For the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022, the Adviser made no Expense Payments and the Company made no Reimbursement Payments related to Expense Payments by the Adviser.