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AGREEMENTS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2024
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]  
AGREEMENTS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS AGREEMENTS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
On August 2, 2018, the Company entered into the Original Advisory Agreement and the Administration Agreement with the Adviser, an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. In connection with the completion of the Company’s acquisition of MVC on December 23, 2020 (the “MVC Acquisition”), the Company entered into an amended and restated investment advisory agreement (the “Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement”) with the Adviser, following approval of the Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement by the Company’s stockholders at its December 23, 2020 special meeting of stockholders. The terms of the Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement became effective on January 1, 2021.
The Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement amended the Original Advisory Agreement to, among other things, (i) reduce the annual base management fee payable to the Adviser from 1.375% to 1.250% of the Company’s gross assets, (ii) reset the commencement date for the rolling 12-quarter “look-back” provision used to calculate the income incentive fee and incentive fee cap to January 1, 2021 from January 1, 2020 and (iii) describe the fact that the Company may enter into guarantees, sureties and other credit support arrangements with respect to one or more of its investments, including the impact of these arrangements on the income incentive fee cap.
In connection with the completion of the Company’s acquisition of Sierra on February 25, 2022 (the “Sierra Merger”), the Company entered into a second amended and restated investment advisory agreement (the “Second Amended Barings BDC Advisory Agreement”) with the Adviser, which increased the hurdle rate applicable to the income incentive fee from 2.0% to 2.0625% per quarter (or from 8.0% to 8.25% annualized) and therefore increased the catch-up amount that is used in calculating the income incentive fee to correspond to the increase in the hurdle rate. All other terms and provisions of the Amended and Restated Advisory Agreement between the Company and the Adviser, including with respect to the calculation of the other fees
payable to the Adviser, remained unchanged under the Second Amended Barings BDC Advisory Agreement. On June 24, 2023, the Company entered into a third amended and restated investment advisory agreement with the Adviser in order to update the term of the agreement to expire on June 24 of each year subject to annual re-approval in accordance with its terms (the “Barings BDC Advisory Agreement”). All other terms and provisions of the Second Amended Barings BDC Advisory Agreement between the Company and the Adviser, including with respect to the calculation of the fees payable to the Adviser, remain unchanged under the Barings BDC Advisory Agreement.
Investment Advisory Agreement
Pursuant to the Barings BDC Advisory Agreement, the Adviser manages the Company’s day-to-day operations and provides the Company with investment advisory services. Among other things, the Adviser (i) determines the composition of the portfolio of the Company, the nature and timing of the changes therein and the manner of implementing such changes; (ii) identifies, evaluates and negotiates the structure of the investments made by the Company; (iii) executes, closes, services and monitors the investments that the Company makes; (iv) determines the securities and other assets that the Company will purchase, retain or sell; (v) performs due diligence on prospective portfolio companies and (vi) provides the Company with such other investment advisory, research and related services as the Company may, from time to time, reasonably require for the investment of its funds.
The Barings BDC Advisory Agreement provides that, absent fraud, willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or by reason of the reckless disregard of its duties and obligations, the Adviser, and its officers, managers, partners, agents, employees, controlling persons, members and any other person or entity affiliated with the Adviser (collectively, the “IA Indemnified Parties”), are entitled to indemnification from the Company for any damages, liabilities, costs, demands, charges, claims and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and amounts reasonably paid in settlement) incurred by the IA Indemnified Parties in or by reason of any pending, threatened or completed action, suit, investigation or other proceeding (including an action or suit by or in the right of the Company or its security holders) arising out of any actions or omissions or otherwise based upon the performance of any of the Adviser’s duties or obligations under the Barings BDC Advisory Agreement or otherwise as an investment adviser of the Company. The Adviser’s services under the Barings BDC Advisory Agreement are not exclusive, and the Adviser is generally free to furnish similar services to other entities so long as its performance under the Barings BDC Advisory Agreement is not adversely affected.
The Adviser has entered into a personnel-sharing arrangement with its affiliate, Baring International Investment Limited (“BIIL”). BIIL is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Baring Asset Management Limited, which in turn is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser. Pursuant to this arrangement, certain employees of BIIL may serve as “associated persons” of the Adviser and, in this capacity, subject to the oversight and supervision of the Adviser, may provide research and related services, and discretionary investment management and trading services (including acting as portfolio managers) to the Company on behalf of the Adviser. This arrangement is based on no-action letters of the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) that permit SEC-registered investment advisers to rely on and use the resources of advisory affiliates or “participating affiliates,” subject to the supervision of that SEC-registered investment adviser. BIIL is a “participating affiliate” of the Adviser, and the BIIL employees are “associated persons” of the Adviser.
Under the Barings BDC Advisory Agreement, the Company pays the Adviser (i) a base management fee (the “Base Management Fee”) and (ii) an incentive fee (the “Incentive Fee”) as compensation for the investment advisory and management services it provides the Company thereunder.
Base Management Fee
The Base Management Fee is calculated based on the Company’s gross assets, including the Company’s credit support agreements, assets purchased with borrowed funds or other forms of leverage and excluding cash and cash equivalents, at an annual rate of 1.25%. The Base Management Fee is payable quarterly in arrears on a calendar quarter basis. The Base Management Fee is calculated based on the average value of the Company’s gross assets, excluding cash and cash equivalents, at the end of the two most recently completed calendar quarters prior to the quarter for which such fees are being calculated. Base Management Fees for any partial month or quarter will be appropriately pro-rated.
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Base Management Fees determined in accordance with the terms of the Barings BDC Advisory Agreement were approximately $8.0 million and $24.5 million, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 the Base Management Fees determined in accordance with the terms of the Second Amended Barings BDC Advisory Agreement and Barings BDC Advisory Agreement, as applicable, were approximately $8.3 million and $24.3 million, respectively. As of September 30, 2024, the Base Management Fee of $8.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024 was unpaid and included in “Base management fees payable” in the accompanying Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheet. As of December 31, 2023, the Base Management Fee of $8.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023 was unpaid and included in “Base management fees payable” in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet.
Incentive Fee
The Incentive Fee consists of two components that are independent of each other, with the result that one component may be payable even if the other is not. A portion of the Incentive Fee is based on the Company’s income (the “Income-Based Fee”) and a portion is based on the Company’s capital gains (the “Capital Gains Fee”), each as described below:
(i)    The Income-Based Fee will be determined and paid quarterly in arrears based on the amount by which (x) the aggregate “Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income” (as defined below) in respect of the current calendar quarter and the eleven preceding calendar quarters beginning with the calendar quarter that commences on or after January 1, 2021, as the case may be (or the appropriate portion thereof in the case of any of the Company’s first eleven calendar quarters that commences on or after January 1, 2021) (in either case, the “Trailing Twelve Quarters”) exceeds (y) the Hurdle Amount (as defined below) in respect of the Trailing Twelve Quarters. The Hurdle Amount will be determined on a quarterly basis, and will be calculated by multiplying 2.0625% (8.25% annualized) by the aggregate of the Company’s NAV at the beginning of each applicable calendar quarter comprising the relevant Trailing Twelve Quarters. For this purpose, “Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income” means interest income, dividend income and any other income (including, without limitation, any accrued income that the Company has not yet received in cash and 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 accrued during the calendar quarter (including, without limitation, the Base Management Fee, administration expenses and any interest expense and dividends paid on any issued and outstanding preferred stock, but excluding the Income-Based Fee and the Capital Gains Fee). For the avoidance of doubt, Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income does not include any realized capital gains, realized capital losses or unrealized capital appreciation or depreciation.
The calculation of the Income-Based Fee for each quarter is as follows:
(A) No Income-Based Fee will be payable to the Adviser in any calendar quarter in which the Company’s aggregate Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income for the Trailing Twelve Quarters does not exceed the Hurdle Amount;
(B) 100% of the Company’s aggregate Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income for the Trailing Twelve Quarters, if any, that exceeds the Hurdle Amount but is less than or equal to an amount (the “Catch-Up Amount”) determined on a quarterly basis by multiplying 2.578125% (10.3125% annualized) by the Company’s NAV at the beginning of each applicable calendar quarter comprising the relevant Trailing Twelve Quarters. The Catch-Up Amount is intended to provide the Adviser with an incentive fee of 20% on all of the Company’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income when the Company’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income reaches the Catch-Up Amount for the Trailing Twelve Quarters; and
(C) For any quarter in which the Company’s aggregate Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income for the Trailing Twelve Quarters exceeds the Catch-Up Amount, the Income-Based Fee shall equal 20% of the amount of the Company’s aggregate Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income for such Trailing Twelve Quarters, as the Hurdle Amount and Catch-Up Amount will have been achieved.
Subject to the Incentive Fee Cap described below, the amount of the Income-Based Fee that will be paid to the Adviser for a particular quarter will equal the excess of the aggregate Income-Based Fee so calculated less the aggregate Income-Based Fees that were paid to the Adviser in the preceding eleven calendar quarters (or portion thereof) comprising the relevant Trailing Twelve Quarters.
(ii)    The Income-Based Fee is subject to a cap (the “Incentive Fee Cap”). The Incentive Fee Cap in any quarter is an amount equal to (a) 20% of the Cumulative Pre-Incentive Fee Net Return (as defined below) during the relevant Trailing Twelve Quarters less (b) the aggregate Income-Based Fee that was paid to the Adviser in the preceding
eleven calendar quarters (or portion thereof) comprising the relevant Trailing Twelve Quarters. For this purpose, “Cumulative Pre-Incentive Fee Net Return” during the relevant Trailing Twelve Quarters means (x) Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income in respect of the Trailing Twelve Quarters less (y) any Net Capital Loss, if any, in respect of the Trailing Twelve Quarters. If, in any quarter, the Incentive Fee Cap is zero or a negative value, the Company will pay no Income-Based Fee to the Adviser in that quarter. If, in any quarter, the Incentive Fee Cap is a positive value but is less than the Income-Based Fee calculated in accordance with paragraph (i) above, the Company will pay the Adviser the Incentive Fee Cap for such quarter. If, in any quarter, the Incentive Fee Cap is equal to or greater than the Income-Based Fee calculated in accordance with paragraph (i) above, the Company will pay the Adviser the Income-Based Fee for such quarter.
“Net Capital Loss” in respect of a particular period means the difference, if positive, between (i) aggregate capital losses on the Company’s assets, whether realized or unrealized, in such period and (ii) aggregate capital gains or other gains on the Company’s assets (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the value ascribed to any credit support arrangement in the Company’s financial statements even if such value is not categorized as a gain therein), whether realized or unrealized, in such period.
(iii)    The Capital Gains Fee will be determined and payable in arrears as of the end of each calendar year (or upon termination of the investment advisory agreement), commencing with the calendar year ended on December 31, 2018, and is calculated at the end of each applicable year by subtracting (1) the sum of the Company’s cumulative aggregate realized capital losses and aggregate unrealized capital depreciation from (2) the Company’s cumulative aggregate realized capital gains, in each case calculated from August 2, 2018. If such amount is positive at the end of such year, then the Capital Gains Fee payable for such year is equal to 20% of such amount, less the cumulative aggregate amount of Capital Gains Fees paid in all prior years commencing with the calendar year ended on December 31, 2018. If such amount is negative, then there is no Capital Gains Fee payable for such year. If this Agreement is terminated as of a date that is not a calendar year end, the termination date will be treated as though it were a calendar year end for purposes of calculating and paying a Capital Gains Fee.
Under the Barings BDC Advisory Agreement, the “cumulative aggregate realized capital gains” are calculated as the sum of the differences, if positive, between (a) the net sales price of each investment in the Company’s portfolio when sold and (b) the accreted or amortized cost basis of such investment.
The cumulative aggregate realized capital losses are calculated as the sum of the differences, if negative, between (a) the net sales price of each investment in the Company’s portfolio when sold and (b) the accreted or amortized cost basis of such investment.
The aggregate unrealized capital depreciation is calculated as the sum of the differences, if negative, between (a) the valuation of each investment in the Company’s portfolio as of the applicable Capital Gains Fee calculation date and (b) the accreted or amortized cost basis of such investment.
Under the Barings BDC Advisory Agreement, the “accreted or amortized cost basis of an investment” shall mean the accreted or amortized cost basis of such investment as reflected in the Company’s financial statements.
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Income-Based Fees determined in accordance with the terms of the Barings BDC Advisory Agreement were $6.6 million and $15.9 million, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Income-Based Fees determined in accordance with the terms of the Second Amended Barings BDC Advisory Agreement and Barings BDC Advisory Agreement, as applicable, were $4.6 million and $24.3 million, respectively. As of September 30, 2024, the Income-Based Fee of $6.6 million was unpaid and included in “Incentive management fees payable” in the accompanying Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheet. As of December 31, 2023, the Income-Based Fee of $7.7 million was unpaid and included in “Incentive management fees payable” in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet.
The Company did not incur any capital gains fees for either of the three or nine months ended September 30, 2024 or 2023.
Payment of Company Expenses
Under the Barings BDC Advisory Agreement, all investment professionals of the Adviser and its staff, when and to the extent engaged in providing services required to be provided by the Adviser under the Barings BDC Advisory Agreement, and the compensation and routine overhead expenses of such personnel allocable to such services, are provided and paid for by the
Adviser and not by the Company, except that all costs and expenses relating to the Company’s operations and transactions, including, without limitation, those items listed in the Barings BDC Advisory Agreement, will be borne by the Company.
Administration Agreement
Under the terms of the Administration Agreement, the Adviser performs (or oversees, or arranges for, the performance of) the administrative services necessary for the operation of the Company, including, but not limited to, office facilities, equipment, clerical, bookkeeping and record-keeping services at such office facilities and such other services as the Adviser, subject to review by the Board, from time to time, determines to be necessary or useful to perform its obligations under the Administration Agreement. The Adviser also, on behalf of the Company and subject to oversight by the Board, arranges for the services of, and oversees, custodians, depositories, transfer agents, dividend disbursing agents, other stockholder servicing agents, accountants, attorneys, valuation experts, underwriters, brokers and dealers, corporate fiduciaries, insurers, banks and such other persons in any such other capacity deemed to be necessary or desirable.
The Company will reimburse Barings for the costs and expenses incurred by it in performing its obligations and providing personnel and facilities under the Administration Agreement in an amount to be negotiated and mutually agreed to by the Company and Barings quarterly in arrears. In no event will the agreed-upon quarterly expense amount exceed the amount of expenses that would otherwise be reimbursable by the Company under the Administration Agreement for the applicable quarterly period, and Barings will not be entitled to the recoupment of any amounts in excess of the agreed-upon quarterly expense amount. The costs and expenses incurred by the Adviser on behalf of the Company under the Administration Agreement include, but are not limited to:
•the allocable portion of the Adviser’s rent for the Company’s Chief Financial Officer and the Chief Compliance Officer and their respective staffs, which is based upon the allocable portion of the usage thereof by such personnel in connection with their performance of administrative services under the Administration Agreement;
•the allocable portion of the salaries, bonuses, benefits and expenses of the Company’s Chief Financial Officer and Chief Compliance Officer and their respective staffs, which is based upon the allocable portion of the time spent by such personnel in connection with performing administrative services for the Company under the Administration Agreement;
•the actual cost of goods and services used for the Company and obtained by the Adviser from entities not affiliated with the Company, which is reasonably allocated to the Company on the basis of assets, revenues, time records or other methods conforming with U.S. GAAP;
•all fees, costs and expenses associated with the engagement of a sub-administrator, if any; and
•costs associated with (a) the monitoring and preparation of regulatory reporting, including registration statements and amendments thereto, prospectus supplements, and tax reporting, (b) the coordination and oversight of service provider activities and the direct cost of such contractual matters related thereto and (c) the preparation of all financial statements and the coordination and oversight of audits, regulatory inquiries, certifications and sub-certifications.
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company incurred and was invoiced by the Adviser for expenses of approximately $0.4 million and $1.4 million, respectively, under the terms of the Administration Agreement, which amounts are included in “General and administrative expenses” in the accompanying Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company incurred and was invoiced by the Adviser for expenses of approximately $0.5 million and $1.6 million, respectively, under the terms of the Administration Agreement, which amounts are included in “General and administrative expenses” in the accompanying Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations. As of September 30, 2024, the administrative expenses of $0.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024 were unpaid and included in “Administrative fees payable” in the accompanying Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheet. As of December 31, 2023, the administrative expenses of $0.5 million incurred for the three months ended December 31, 2023 were unpaid and included in “Administrative fees payable” in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet.
MVC Credit Support Agreement
In connection with the MVC Acquisition on December 23, 2020, promptly following the closing of the Company’s merger with MVC, the Company entered into a Credit Support Agreement (the “MVC Credit Support Agreement”) with the Adviser, pursuant to which the Adviser has agreed to provide credit support to the Company in the amount of up to $23.0 million relating to the net cumulative realized and unrealized losses on the acquired MVC investment portfolio over a 10-year period. A summary of the material terms of the MVC Credit Support Agreement are as follows:
•The MVC Credit Support Agreement covers all of the investments in the MVC Reference Portfolio.
•The Adviser has an obligation to provide credit support to the Company in an amount equal to the excess of (1) the aggregate realized and unrealized losses on the MVC Reference Portfolio over (2) the aggregate realized and unrealized gains on the MVC Reference Portfolio, in each case from the date of the closing of the Company’s merger with MVC through the MVC Designated Settlement Date (as defined below) (up to a $23.0 million cap) (such amount, the “MVC Covered Losses”). For purposes of the MVC Credit Support Agreement, “MVC Designated Settlement Date” means the earlier of (1) January 1, 2031 and (2) the date on which the entire MVC Reference Portfolio has been realized or written off. No credit support is required to be made by the Adviser to the Company under the MVC Credit Support Agreement if the aggregate realized and unrealized gains on the MVC Reference Portfolio exceed realized and unrealized losses of the MVC Reference Portfolio on the MVC Designated Settlement Date.
•The Adviser will settle any credit support obligation under the MVC Credit Support Agreement as follows. If the MVC Covered Losses are greater than $0.00, then, in satisfaction of the Adviser’s obligation set forth in the MVC Credit Support Agreement, the Adviser will irrevocably waive during the MVC Waiver Period (as defined below) (1) the Incentive Fees payable under the Barings BDC Advisory Agreement (including any Incentive Fee calculated on an annual basis during the MVC Waiver Period), and (2) in the event that MVC Covered Losses exceed such Incentive Fee, the Base Management Fees payable under the Barings BDC Advisory Agreement. The “MVC Waiver Period” means the four quarterly measurement periods immediately following the quarter in which the MVC Designated Settlement Date occurs. If the MVC Covered Losses exceed the aggregate amount of Incentive Fees and Base Management Fees waived by the Adviser during the MVC Waiver Period, then, on the date on which the last Incentive Fee or Base Management Fee payment would otherwise be due during the MVC Waiver Period, the Adviser shall make a cash payment to the Company equal to the positive difference between the MVC Covered Losses and the aggregate amount of Incentive Fees and Base Management Fees previously waived by the Adviser during the MVC Waiver Period.
•The MVC Credit Support Agreement and the rights of the Company thereunder shall automatically terminate if the Adviser (or an affiliate of the Adviser) ceases to serve as the investment adviser to the Company or any successor thereto, other than as a result of the voluntary termination by the Adviser of its investment advisory agreement with the Company. In the event of such a voluntary termination by the Adviser of the then-current investment advisory agreement with the Company, the Adviser will remain obligated to provide the credit support contemplated by the MVC Credit Support Agreement. In the event of a non-voluntary termination of the advisory agreement or its expiration (due to non-renewal by the Board), the Adviser will have no obligations under the MVC Credit Support Agreement.
The MVC Credit Support Agreement is intended to give stockholders of the combined company following the MVC Acquisition downside protection from net cumulative realized and unrealized losses on the acquired MVC portfolio and insulate the combined company’s stockholders from potential value volatility and losses in MVC’s portfolio following the closing of the MVC Acquisition. There is no fee or other payment by the Company to the Adviser or any of its affiliates in connection with the MVC Credit Support Agreement. Any cash payment from the Adviser to the Company under the MVC Credit Support Agreement will be excluded from the Company’s Incentive Fee calculations under the Barings BDC Advisory Agreement.
When the Company and the Adviser entered into the MVC Credit Support Agreement, it was accounted for as a deemed contribution from the Adviser and was included in “Additional paid-in capital” in the accompanying Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheet and Consolidated Balance Sheet. In addition, the MVC Credit Support Agreement is accounted for as a derivative in accordance with ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging, and is included in “Credit support agreements” in the accompanying Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheet and Consolidated Balance Sheet.
Sierra Credit Support Agreement
In connection with the Sierra Merger on February 25, 2022, promptly following the closing of the Company’s merger with Sierra, the Company entered into a Credit Support Agreement (the “Sierra Credit Support Agreement”) with the Adviser, pursuant to which the Adviser has agreed to provide credit support to the Company in the amount of up to $100.0 million relating to the net cumulative realized and unrealized losses on the acquired Sierra investment portfolio over a 10-year period. A summary of the material terms of the Sierra Credit Support Agreement are as follows:
•The Sierra Credit Support Agreement covers all of the investments in the Sierra Reference Portfolio.
•The Adviser has an obligation to provide credit support to the Company in an amount equal to the excess of (1) the aggregate realized and unrealized losses on the Sierra Reference Portfolio less (2) the aggregate realized and unrealized gains on the Sierra Reference Portfolio, in each case from the date of the closing of the Company’s merger with Sierra through the Sierra Designated Settlement Date (as defined below) (up to a $100.0 million cap) (such amount, the “Covered Losses”). For purposes of the Sierra Credit Support Agreement, “Sierra Designated Settlement Date” means the earlier of (1) April 1, 2032 and (2) the date on which the entire Sierra Reference Portfolio has been realized or written off. No credit support is required to be made by the Adviser to the Company under the Sierra Credit Support Agreement if the aggregate realized and unrealized gains on the Sierra Reference Portfolio exceed realized and unrealized losses of the Sierra Reference Portfolio on the Sierra Designated Settlement Date.
•The Adviser will settle any credit support obligation under the Sierra Credit Support Agreement as follows. If the Covered Losses are greater than $0.00, then, in satisfaction of the Adviser’s obligation set forth in the Sierra Credit Support Agreement, the Adviser will irrevocably waive during the Waiver Period (as defined below) (1) the Incentive Fees payable under the Barings BDC Advisory Agreement (including any Incentive Fee calculated on an annual basis during the Waiver Period), and (2) in the event that Covered Losses exceed such Incentive Fee, the Base Management Fees payable under the Barings BDC Advisory Agreement. The “Waiver Period” means the four quarterly measurement periods immediately following the quarter in which the Sierra Designated Settlement Date occurs. If the Covered Losses exceed the aggregate amount of Incentive Fees and Base Management Fees waived by the Adviser during the Waiver Period, then, on the date on which the last Incentive Fee or Base Management Fee payment would otherwise be due during the Waiver Period, the Adviser shall make a cash payment to the Company equal to the positive difference between the Covered Losses and the aggregate amount of Incentive Fees and Base Management Fees previously waived by the Adviser during the Waiver Period.
•The Sierra Credit Support Agreement and the rights of the Company thereunder shall automatically terminate if the Adviser (or an affiliate of the Adviser) ceases to serve as the investment adviser to the Company or any successor thereto, other than as a result of the voluntary termination by the Adviser of its investment advisory agreement with the Company. In the event of such a voluntary termination by the Adviser of the then-current investment advisory agreement with the Company, the Adviser will remain obligated to provide the credit support contemplated by the Sierra Credit Support Agreement. In the event of a non-voluntary termination of the advisory agreement or its expiration (due to non-renewal by the Board), the Adviser will have no obligations under the Sierra Credit Support Agreement.
The Sierra Credit Support Agreement is intended to give stockholders of the combined company following the Sierra Merger downside protection from net cumulative realized and unrealized losses on the acquired Sierra portfolio and insulate the combined company’s stockholders from potential value volatility and losses in Sierra’s portfolio following the closing of the Company’s merger with Sierra. There is no fee or other payment by the Company to the Adviser or any of its affiliates in connection with the Sierra Credit Support Agreement. Any cash payment from the Adviser to the Company under the Sierra Credit Support Agreement will be excluded from the combined company’s Incentive Fee calculations under the Barings BDC Advisory Agreement.
When the Company and the Adviser entered into the Sierra Credit Support Agreement, it was accounted for as a deemed contribution from the Adviser and was included in “Additional paid-in capital” in the accompanying Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheet and Consolidated Balance Sheet. In addition, the Sierra Credit Support Agreement is accounted for as a derivative in accordance with ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging, and is included in “Credit support agreements” in the accompanying Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheet and Consolidated Balance Sheet.