Transactions with Related Persons
Investment Advisory Agreement
BCPL is externally managed by BC Partners Advisors, an affiliate of BC Partners, pursuant to an investment advisory agreement (the “Investment Advisory Agreement”). Mr. Goldthorpe, an interested member of the Board, has a direct or indirect pecuniary interest in BC Partners Advisors. The Adviser is a registered investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”). BC Partners Advisors is indirectly owned by BC Partners.
Under the Company’s Investment Advisory Agreement, fees payable to BC Partners Advisors equal (a) a base management fee of 1.00% (1.50% if an exchange listing occurs) of the value of BCPL’s average gross assets, excluding cash and cash equivalents but including assets purchased with borrowed amounts, at the end of the two most recently completed calendar quarters (b) an incentive fee based on BCPL’s performance.
The incentive fee consists of two parts, as follows:
(i) The first component, the income incentive fee, payable at the end of each quarter in arrears, equals 100% of the pre-incentive fee net investment income in excess of a 1.50% quarterly preferred return but less than 1.76% (1.818% if an exchange listing occurs), the upper level breakpoint, and 15% (17.50% if an exchange listing occurs) of the amount of pre-incentive fee net investment income that exceeds 1.76% (1.818% if an exchange listing occurs) in any calendar quarter. For purposes of determining whether pre-incentive fee net investment income exceeds the hurdle rate, pre-incentive fee net investment income is expressed as a rate of return on the value of the Company’s net assets at the end of the immediately preceding calendar quarter.
(ii) The second component, the capital gains incentive fee, payable at the end of each calendar year in arrears, equals 15.0% of cumulative realized capital gains from inception 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 gains incentive fee for prior periods. BCPL accrues, but does not pay, a capital gains incentive fee with respect to unrealized capital appreciation because a capital gains incentive fee would be owed to BC Partners Advisors if BCPL were to sell the relevant investment and realize a capital gain.
On August 20, 2019, BCPL entered into a letter agreement (the “Letter Agreement”) with BC Partners Advisors pursuant to which, for the period ending December 31, 2019, the Adviser waived 50% of the base management fee to be paid by BCPL under the Investment Advisory Agreement. The waiver was prorated for any partial month or quarter. Management fees waived are not subject to recoupment by BC Partners Advisors.
For the period ended December 31, 2023, BCPL incurred management fees, net of waivers, of $1.2 million and incentive fees of $1.1 million.
BC Partners Advisors may, from time to time, pay amounts owed by BCPL to third-party providers of goods or services, including the Board, and BCPL will subsequently reimburse BC Partners Advisors for such amounts paid on its behalf. Amounts payable to the Adviser are settled in the normal course of business without formal payment terms. Prior to BCPL’s commencement of operations, BC Partners Advisors and its affiliates have incurred operating expenses on behalf of BCPL in the amount of $1.2 million, including audit fees of $0.2 million, legal fees of $0.5 million, professional fees of $22.3 thousand, directors’ fees of $0.2 million, insurance of $0.2 million and other expenses of $62.4 thousand. BCPL will have no responsibility for such costs until BC Partners Advisors submits such costs, or a portion thereof, for reimbursement. For the period ended December 31, 2019, BCPL recognized operating expenses of $1.2 million. For the periods ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Adviser paid operating expenses on behalf of the Company in the amount of $1.4 million and $1.5 million, respectively.
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