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RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]  
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Advisory Agreements
On December 31, 2019, immediately prior to its election to be regulated as a BDC, the Company entered into the investment advisory agreement with the Adviser. The Board, including all of the directors who are not “interested persons” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Company (the “Independent Directors”), approved the investment advisory agreement in accordance with, and on the basis of an evaluation satisfactory to such directors as required by, the 1940 Act. On January 29, 2024, the Company entered into an amended and restated investment advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”), which became effective upon the consummation of the IPO on January 29, 2024.
On December 31, 2019, immediately prior to the Company’s election to be regulated as a BDC, the Adviser entered into an investment sub-advisory agreement with Churchill, which was subsequently amended and restated on December 11, 2020, October 7, 2021 and March 8, 2022 (the “CAM Sub-Advisory Agreement”). The Adviser has delegated substantially all of its day-to-day portfolio-management obligations under the Advisory Agreement to Churchill pursuant to the CAM Sub-Advisory Agreement. The Adviser has general oversight over the investment process on behalf of the Company and manages the capital structure of the Company, including, but not limited to, asset and liability management. The Adviser also has ultimate responsibility for the Company’s performance under the terms of the Advisory Agreement. The Adviser retains 32.5% of the management fee and incentive fee payable by the Company. The remaining amount is paid by the Adviser to Churchill as compensation for services provided by Churchill pursuant to the CAM Sub-Advisory Agreement.
On January 29, 2024, the Adviser and Churchill entered into an investment sub-advisory agreement with Nuveen Asset Management (the “NAM Sub-Advisory Agreement”, and together with the Advisory Agreement and the CAM Sub-Advisory Agreement, the “Advisory Agreements”), pursuant to which Nuveen Asset Management may manage a portion of the Company’s portfolio consisting of cash and cash equivalents, liquid fixed-income securities (including broadly syndicated loans) and other liquid credit instruments (“Liquid Investments”), subject to the pace and amount of investment activity in the middle market investment program. The Company typically refers to an investment as liquid if the investment is, or we expect it to be, actively traded (with a typical settlement period of one month with respect to broadly syndicated loans). The percentage of the Company’s portfolio allocated to the Liquid Investments strategy managed by Nuveen Asset Management is at the discretion of Churchill. The fees payable to Nuveen Asset Management pursuant to the NAM Sub-Advisory Agreement to manage the Company’s Liquid Investment allocation is payable by Churchill and does not impact the advisory fees payable by the Company’s shareholders. Churchill will pay Nuveen Asset Management monthly in arrears, 0.375% of the daily weighted average principal amount of the Liquid Investments managed by Nuveen Asset Management pursuant to the NAM Sub-Advisory Agreement. The fees payable to Nuveen Asset Management pursuant to the NAM Sub-Advisory Agreement will not impact the advisory fees payable by the Company's shareholders.
Advisory agreements remain in effect for an initial period of two years and will remain in effect on a year-to-year basis thereafter if approved annually either by the Board or by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of our outstanding voting securities and, in each case, a majority of our Independent Directors. On October 27, 2023, the Board, including all of the Independent Directors, approved the Advisory Agreement and the NAM Sub-Advisory Agreement in accordance with, and on the basis of an evaluation satisfactory to such directors as required by the 1940 Act for an initial two-year term expiring on January 29, 2026. In addition, on October 27, 2023, the Board, including all of the Independent Directors, approved the renewal of the CAM Sub-Advisory Agreement in accordance with, and on the basis of, an evaluation satisfactory to such directors as required by the 1940 Act for an additional one-year term expiring on December 31, 2024. Each Advisory Agreement will automatically terminate in the event of its assignment, as defined in the 1940 Act, by the applicable investment adviser and may be terminated by either the Company or the applicable investment adviser without penalty upon not less than 60 days’ written notice to the other. The holders of a majority of our outstanding voting securities may also terminate any of the Advisory Agreements without penalty.
Compensation of the Adviser - Management Fee
Under the Advisory Agreement, for the first five quarters beginning with the calendar quarter in which the IPO was consummated (i.e., beginning with the calendar quarter ended March 31, 2024 through the calendar quarter ending March 31, 2025), the management fee is calculated at an annual rate of 0.75% of average total assets, excluding cash and cash equivalents and including assets financed using leverage (“Average Total Assets”), at the end of the two most recently completed calendar quarters, and thereafter, the management fee will step up to 1.00% of Average Total Assets. For purposes of this calculation, cash and cash equivalents include any temporary investments in cash-equivalents, U.S. government securities and other high quality investment grade debt investments that mature in 12 months or less from the date of investment. Any management fees will be payable quarterly in arrears.
Compensation of the Adviser - Incentive Fee
Under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser is waiving the incentive fee on income and incentive fee on capital gains for the first five quarters beginning with the calendar quarter in which the IPO was consummated (i.e., beginning with the calendar quarter ended March 31, 2024 through the calendar quarter ending March 31, 2025). Following the expiration of the fee waiver, the Company will pay an incentive fee to the Adviser that will consist of two parts. The incentive fees will be based on income and capital gains, each as described below. The portion of the incentive fee based on income will be calculated, subject to a cap (the “Incentive Fee Cap”), and payable quarterly in arrears based on pre-incentive fee net investment income in respect of the current calendar quarter and the eleven preceding calendar quarters (or, if fewer, the number of calendar quarters beginning with the calendar quarter in which the IPO was consummated) (such period, the “Trailing Twelve Quarters”) commencing from the beginning of the calendar quarter in which the IPO was consummated, as follows:
no incentive fee in any calendar quarter in which the aggregate pre-incentive fee net investment income (as defined below) in respect of the Trailing Twelve Quarters does not exceed the hurdle rate of 1.50% (6% annually) for such Trailing Twelve Quarters;
100% of our aggregate pre-incentive fee net investment income in respect of the Trailing Twelve Quarters with respect to that portion of such pre-incentive fee net investment income, if any, that exceeds the hurdle rate but is less than 1.7647% in any calendar quarter following the consummation of the IPO. The Company refers to this portion of the pre-incentive fee net investment income as the “catch-up” provision. The catch-up is meant to provide the Adviser with 15% of the pre-incentive fee net investment income as if a hurdle rate did not apply if this net investment income exceeds 1.7647% multiplied by our NAV at the beginning of each applicable calendar quarter comprising of the relevant Trailing Twelve Quarters; and
15% of the aggregate pre-incentive fee net investment income, if any, in respect of the Trailing Twelve Quarters that exceeds 1.7647%.
Under the Advisory Agreement, the incentive fee on income for a particular quarter will be subject to the Incentive Fee Cap. The Incentive Fee Cap will be equal to the difference between (x) 15% of the Cumulative Pre-Incentive Fee Net Return (as defined below) over the Trailing Twelve Quarters and (y) the aggregate incentive fee on income that was paid to the Adviser by the Company in respect of the first eleven calendar quarters (or, if fewer, the number of calendar quarters beginning with the calendar quarter in which the IPO was consummated) included in the relevant Trailing Twelve Quarters. These calculations will be adjusted for any share issuances or repurchases during the applicable calendar quarter.

“Cumulative Pre-Incentive Fee Net Return” during the relevant Trailing Twelve Quarters, beginning with the calendar quarter in which the IPO was consummated, means (x) the pre-incentive fee net investment income in respect of the relevant Trailing Twelve Quarters less (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 incentive fee on income to the Adviser in respect of that quarter. If, in any quarter, the Incentive Fee Cap for such quarter is a positive value but is less than the incentive fee on income that is payable to the Adviser for such quarter calculated as described above, the Company will pay an incentive fee on income to the Adviser equal to the Incentive Fee Cap in respect of such quarter. If, in any quarter, the Incentive Fee Cap for such quarter is equal to or greater than the incentive fee on income that is payable to the Adviser for such quarter calculated as described above, the Company will pay an incentive fee on income 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, beginning with the calendar quarter in which the IPO was consummated, means the difference, if positive, between (i) aggregate capital losses, whether realized or unrealized, in respect of such period and (ii) aggregate capital gains, whether realized or unrealized, in respect of such period.

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 but excluding fees for providing managerial assistance) accrued during the relevant calendar quarters, minus operating expenses for the relevant calendar quarters (including the management fee, any expenses payable under the Administration Agreement (as defined below), interest expense and dividends paid on any outstanding preferred shares, but excluding the incentive fee). Pre-incentive fee net investment income will include, in the case of investments with a deferred interest feature such as market discount, debt instruments with PIK interest, preferred shares with PIK dividends and zero-coupon securities, accrued income that the Company has not yet received in cash. The Adviser is not under any obligation to reimburse the Company for any part of the incentive fee it received that was based on accrued interest that the Company never received. Pre-incentive fee net investment income will not include any realized capital gains, realized capital losses or unrealized capital gains or losses. If any distributions from portfolio companies are characterized as a return of capital, such returns of capital would affect the capital gains incentive fee to the extent a gain or loss is realized.

Under the Advisory Agreement, the second part of the incentive fee will be a capital gains incentive fee that will be determined and payable in arrears as of the end of each fiscal year (or upon termination of the Advisory Agreement, as of the termination date), and equals 15.0% of our realized capital gains as of the end of the fiscal year following the IPO. In no event will the capital gains incentive fee payable pursuant to the Advisory Agreement be in excess of the amount permitted by the Advisers Act, including Section 205 thereof.
In determining the capital gains incentive fee payable to the Adviser, the Company will calculate the cumulative aggregate realized capital gains and cumulative aggregate realized capital losses beginning with the calendar quarter in which the IPO was consummated, and the aggregate unrealized capital depreciation as of the date of the calculation, as applicable, with respect to each of the investments in our portfolio. For this purpose, cumulative aggregate realized capital gains, if any, equals the sum of the differences between the net sales price of each investment, when sold, and the amortized cost of such investment. Cumulative aggregate realized capital losses equals the sum of the amounts by which the net sales price of each investment, when sold, is less than the amortized cost of such investment beginning with the calendar quarter in which this offering is consummated. Aggregate unrealized capital depreciation equals the sum of the difference, if negative, between the valuation of each investment as of the applicable calculation date and the amortized cost of such investment. At the end of the applicable year, the amount of capital gains that will serve as the basis for the calculation of the capital gains incentive fee equals the cumulative aggregate realized capital gains less cumulative aggregate realized capital losses, less aggregate unrealized capital depreciation, with respect to our portfolio of investments.

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, base management fees were $3,873 and $10,727, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, base management fees were $2,722 and $7,503, respectively. As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, $3,873 and $3,006, respectively, of such base management fees, were unpaid and are included in management fees payable in the accompanying consolidated statements of assets and liabilities. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, income based incentive fees of $5,496 and $13,030, respectively, were waived in accordance with the terms of the Advisory Agreement. As of September 30, 2024, no amounts were payable to the Adviser related to income based incentive fees. As of December 31, 2023, the Adviser was not entitled to any incentive fees under the Advisory Agreement.
Administration Agreement
On December 31, 2019, the Company entered into an administration agreement (the "Administration Agreement"), which was approved by the Board. Pursuant to the Administration Agreement, the Administrator furnishes the Company with office facilities and equipment and provides clerical, bookkeeping and record keeping and other administrative services at such facilities. The Administrator performs, or oversees the performance of, the required administrative services, which include, among other things, assisting the Company with the preparation of the financial records that the Company is required to maintain and with the preparation of reports to shareholders and reports filed with the SEC. At the request of the Adviser or Churchill, the Administrator also may provide significant managerial assistance on the Company’s behalf to those portfolio companies that have accepted the Company’s offer to provide such assistance. U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association (as successor in interest to U.S. Bank National Association), provides the Company with certain fund administration and bookkeeping services pursuant to a sub-administration agreement with the Administrator.
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company incurred $535 and $1,561, respectively, in fees under the Administration Agreement, which are included in administration fees in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company incurred $370 and $1,029, respectively, in fees under the Administration Agreement, which are included in administration fees in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, fees of $1,176 and $505, respectively, were unpaid and included in accounts payable and accrued expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of assets and liabilities.
Expense Support Agreement
On December 31, 2019, the Company entered into an expense support and conditional reimbursement agreement (the “Expense Support Agreement”) with the Adviser. The Expense Support Agreement automatically terminated pursuant to its terms upon the consummation of the IPO on January 29, 2024. Under the Expense Support Agreement, the Adviser was able to pay certain expenses of the Company, provided that no portion of the payment was used to pay any interest expense of the Company (each, an “Expense Payment”). Such Expense Payment was made in any combination of cash or other immediately available funds no later than forty-five days after a written commitment from the Adviser to pay such expense, and/or by an offset against amounts due from the Company to the Adviser or its affiliates. The cumulative amount of expense payments by the Adviser under the Expense Support Agreement was $2,979, of which $1,101 was reimbursed by the Company prior to the termination of the Expense Support Agreement.
Directors' Fees
The Board consists of seven members, five of whom are Independent Directors. The Board established an Audit Committee, a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, a Compensation Committee, and a Co-Investment Committee, each consisting solely of the Independent Directors, and may establish additional committees in the future. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company incurred $128 and $383, respectively, in fees which are included in Directors’ fees in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company incurred $96 and $287, respectively, in fees which are included in Directors’ fees in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, $128 and $96, respectively, were unpaid and are included in Directors’ fees payable in the accompanying consolidated statements of assets and liabilities.
Other Related Party Transactions
From time to time, Churchill, in its capacity as sub-adviser, and the Administrator may pay amounts owed by the Company to third-party providers of goods or services and the Company will subsequently reimburse Churchill and Administrator for such amounts paid on its behalf. Amounts payable to Churchill and the Administrator are settled in the normal course of business without formal payment terms. As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company owed Churchill and the Administrator $436 and $353, respectively, for reimbursements including the Company's allocable portion of overhead, which are included in accounts payable and accrued expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of assets and liabilities.