Annual report [Section 13 and 15(d), not S-K Item 405]

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

v3.25.4
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2025
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]  
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
1.Advisory Agreements and Conditional Expense Reimbursement Waivers
On October 30, 2020, MSC Income entered into the Prior Investment Advisory Agreement with the Adviser. On January 29, 2025, in connection with the MSC Income Listing, MSC Income entered into the Advisory Agreement with the Adviser. The Advisory Agreement was approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of MSC Income’s outstanding voting securities, as defined in the 1940 Act, at the 2024 Special Meeting, and the Advisory Agreement became effective upon the MSC Income Listing. The Advisory Agreement is effective for an initial two-year term commencing upon the date of the MSC Income Listing on January 29, 2025.
Prior Investment Advisory Agreement
Pursuant to the Prior Investment Advisory Agreement, MSC Income paid the Adviser a base management fee and incentive fees as compensation for the services described above. The base management fee was calculated at an annual rate of 1.75% of MSC Income’s average gross assets. The term “gross assets” meant total assets of MSC Income as disclosed on MSC Income’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. “Average gross assets” were calculated based on MSC Income’s gross assets at the end of the two most recently completed calendar quarters. The base management fee was payable quarterly in arrears. The base management fee was expensed as incurred.
The incentive fee under the Prior Investment Advisory Agreement consisted of two parts. The first part, referred to as the subordinated incentive fee on income, was calculated and payable quarterly in arrears based on Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income (as defined below) for the immediately preceding quarter. The subordinated incentive fee on income was equal to 20.0% of MSC Income’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income for the immediately preceding quarter, expressed as a quarterly rate of return on adjusted capital at the beginning of the most recently completed calendar quarter, exceeding 1.875% (or 7.5% annualized), subject to a “catch up” feature (as described below).
For this purpose, Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income meant 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 MSC Income receives from portfolio companies) accrued during the calendar quarter, minus MSC Income’s operating expenses for the quarter (including the management fee, expenses payable under any proposed administration agreement and any interest expense and dividends paid on any issued and outstanding preferred stock, but excluding taxes and the incentive fee). Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income included, in the case of investments with a deferred interest feature (such as original issue discount debt instruments and PIK interest and zero coupon securities), accrued income that MSC Income had not yet received in cash. Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income did not include any realized capital gains, realized capital losses or unrealized capital appreciation or depreciation. For purposes of this fee, adjusted capital meant cumulative gross proceeds generated from sales of MSC Income’s common stock (including proceeds from MSC Income’s DRIP) reduced for non-liquidating distributions, other than distributions of profits, paid to MSC Income’s stockholders and amounts paid for share repurchases pursuant to MSC Income’s share repurchase program. The subordinated incentive fee on income was expensed in the quarter in which it was incurred.
The calculation of the subordinated incentive fee on income for each quarter was as follows:
•No subordinated incentive fee on income was payable to the Adviser in any calendar quarter in which MSC Income’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income did not exceed the hurdle rate of 1.875% (or 7.5% annualized) on adjusted capital;
•100% of MSC Income’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income, if any, that exceeded the hurdle rate but was less than or equal to 2.34375% in any calendar quarter (9.375% annualized) was payable to the Adviser. This portion of the subordinated incentive fee on income was referred to as the “catch up” and was intended to provide the Adviser with an incentive fee of 20.0% on all of MSC Income’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income as if the hurdle rate did not apply when the Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income exceeded 2.34375% (9.375% annualized) in any calendar quarter; and
•For any quarter in which MSC Income’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income exceeded 2.34375% (9.375% annualized), the subordinated incentive fee on income equaled 20.0% of the amount of MSC Income’s Pre-Incentive Fee Net Investment Income, as the hurdle rate and catch-up had been achieved.
The second part of the incentive fee, referred to as the incentive fee on capital gains, was an incentive fee on realized capital gains earned from the portfolio of MSC Income and was determined and payable in arrears as of the end of each calendar year (or upon termination of the Prior Investment Advisory Agreement). This fee equaled 20.0% of MSC Income’s incentive fee capital gains, which equaled MSC Income’s realized capital gains on a cumulative basis from inception, calculated as of 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. At the end of each reporting period, MSC Income estimated the incentive fee on capital gains and accrued the fee based on a hypothetical liquidation of its portfolio. Therefore, the accrual included both net realized gains and net unrealized gains (the net unrealized difference between the fair value and the par value of its portfolio), if any. The incentive fee accrued pertaining to the unrealized gain was neither earned nor payable to the Adviser until such time it was realized.
Pursuant to the Prior Investment Advisory Agreement, MSC Income was required to pay or reimburse the Adviser for administrative services expenses, which included all costs and expenses related to MSC Income’s day-to-day administration and management not related to advisory services, whether such administrative services were performed by a third-party service provider or the Adviser or its affiliates (to the extent performed by the Adviser or its affiliates, the “Internal Administrative Services”). Internal Administrative Services included, but were not limited to, the cost of an Adviser’s personnel performing accounting and compliance functions and other administrative services on behalf of MSC Income.
On January 1, 2022, the Adviser assumed responsibility of certain administrative services that were previously provided for MSC Income by a third-party sub-administrator. After December 31, 2021, the Adviser continued to waive reimbursement of all Internal Administrative Services expenses, except for the cost of the services previously provided by the sub-administrator.
Advisory Agreement (post MSC Income Listing)
Effective on the date of the MSC Income Listing and pursuant to the Advisory Agreement, MSC Income pays the Adviser a base management fee and incentive fees as compensation for investment management services under the Advisory Agreement. The base management fee is calculated at an annual rate of 1.5% of the Fund’s average total assets (including cash and cash equivalents), payable quarterly in arrears, and is calculated based on the average value of the Fund’s total assets (including cash and cash equivalents) at the end of the two most recently completed calendar quarters. The determination of total assets reflects changes in the fair value of portfolio investments reflecting both unrealized appreciation and unrealized depreciation. All or any part of base management fee not taken as to any quarter is deferred without interest and is taken in such other quarter as the Adviser shall determine, unless the Adviser expressly and in writing delivered to the Fund permanently waives receipt of such base management fee, in which event the Fund shall forever be relieved of the obligation to pay such base management fee for such quarter. The base management fee for any partial quarter is appropriately pro-rated.
Under the Advisory Agreement, the base management fee will be reduced to an annual rate of (i) 1.25% of the average value of the Fund’s total assets (including cash and cash equivalents) commencing with the first full calendar quarter following the date on which the aggregate fair value of the Fund’s investments in its LMM portfolio companies falls below 20% of the Fund’s total investment portfolio at fair value and (ii) 1.00% of the average value of the Fund’s total assets (including cash and cash equivalents) commencing with the first full calendar quarter following the date on which the aggregate fair value of the Fund’s investments in its LMM portfolio companies falls below 7.5% of the Fund’s total Investment Portfolio at fair value.
The incentive fee under Advisory Agreement consists of two parts: (1) a subordinated incentive fee on income and (2) an incentive fee on capital gains. The incentive fee under the Advisory Agreement for any partial quarter is appropriately pro-rated.
The first part of the incentive fee under the Advisory Agreement, referred to as the subordinated incentive fee on income, is calculated and payable quarterly in arrears based on the Fund’s pre-incentive fee net investment income for the immediately preceding quarter. The payment of the subordinated incentive fee on income is subject to pre-incentive fee net investment income for the previous quarter, expressed as a quarterly rate of return on net assets of the Fund at the beginning of the most recently completed calendar quarter, exceeding 1.5% (6.0% annualized), subject to a “catch up” feature (as described below). For this purpose, 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 Fund receives from portfolio companies) accrued during the calendar quarter, minus the Fund’s operating expenses for the quarter (including the base management fee, administrative services expenses, the expenses payable under any other administration or similar agreement and any interest expense and dividends paid on any issued and outstanding preferred stock and any income tax expense on the Fund’s net investment income and any excise tax, but excluding any income tax expense or benefit on the Fund’s realized capital gains, realized capital losses or unrealized capital appreciation or depreciation and the incentive fee). Pre-incentive fee net investment income includes, in the case of investments with a deferred interest feature (such as original issue discount debt instruments with payment-in-kind interest and zero coupon securities), accrued income that the Fund has not yet received in cash. Pre-incentive fee net investment income does not include any realized capital gains, realized capital losses or unrealized capital appreciation or depreciation, or any income tax expense or benefit related to such items. The calculation of the subordinated incentive fee on income for each quarter is as follows:
1.No subordinated incentive fee on income is payable to the Adviser in any calendar quarter in which the Fund’s pre-incentive fee net investment income does not exceed the hurdle rate of 1.5% (or 6.0% annualized);
2.50% of the Fund’s pre-incentive fee net investment income, if any, that exceeds the hurdle rate but is less than or equal to 2.307692% in any calendar quarter (9.230769% annualized) is payable to the Adviser. This portion of the subordinated incentive fee on income is referred to as the “catch up” and is intended to provide the Adviser with an incentive fee of 17.5% on all of the Fund’s pre-incentive fee net investment income as if the hurdle rate did not apply when the pre-incentive fee net investment income exceeds 2.307692% (9.230769% annualized) in any calendar quarter; and
3.For any quarter in which the Fund’s pre-incentive fee net investment income exceeds 2.307692% (9.230769% annualized), the subordinated incentive fee on income equals 17.5% of the amount of the Fund’s pre-incentive fee net investment income, as the hurdle rate and catch-up have been achieved.
The second part of the incentive fee under the Advisory Agreement, referred to as the incentive fee on capital gains, is an incentive fee on realized capital gains earned on liquidated investments from the Fund’s Investment Portfolio, net of any income tax expense associated with such realized capital gains, and is determined and payable in arrears as of the end of each calendar year (or upon termination of the Advisory Agreement). This fee equals:
(a) 17.5% of the Fund’s incentive fee capital gains, which equals the Fund’s realized capital gains (net of any related income tax expense) on a cumulative basis from the date of the MSC Income Listing, calculated as of the end of each calendar year thereafter (or upon termination of the Advisory Agreement), computed net of (1) all realized capital losses on a cumulative basis (net of any related income tax benefit) from the date of the MSC Income Listing, and (2) unrealized capital depreciation (net of any related income tax benefit) on a cumulative basis from the date of the MSC Income Listing, less
(b) the aggregate amount of any previously paid capital gain incentive fees from the date of the MSC Income Listing. For purposes of calculating each component of the Fund’s incentive fee capital gains under the Advisory Agreement, (1) the cost basis for any investment held by the Fund as of the date of the MSC Income Listing is deemed to be the fair value for such investment as of the most recent quarter end immediately prior to the date of the MSC Income Listing and, with respect to any investment acquired by the Fund subsequent to the date of the MSC Income Listing, the cost basis equals the cost basis of such investment as reflected in the Fund’s financial statements and (2) the income tax expense or benefit associated with all investments is measured from the most recent quarter end immediately prior to the date of the MSC Income Listing through the date of any such calculation.
The Fund accrues the incentive fee on capital gains on a quarterly basis by following a formula consistent with the cash payment formula required under the Advisory Agreement above. However, in addition to the Fund’s net realized capital gains and unrealized losses (or fair value depreciation) (in part (a) of the formula above), the Fund’s unrealized capital gains (or fair value appreciation) (net of any related income tax expense) on a cumulative basis from the date of the MSC Income Listing are also included in the calculation. During the year ended December 31, 2025, the Fund accrued $2.8 million in incentive fee on capital gains expense. As of December 31, 2025, the Fund had $2.8 million accrued in incentive fees on capital gains, none of which are currently contractually payable.
A summary of MSC Income’s incurred base management fee, subordinated incentive fee on income and incentive fee on capital gains for years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023 is as follows:
Year Ended December 31,
2025 2024 2023
(in thousands)
Base management fee $ 19,757  $ 20,922  $ 19,828 
Incentive fee on income (1)
 12,145  12,494  12,569 
Incentive fee on capital gains
 2,763  —  — 
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(1)During the year ended December 31, 2025, the Adviser irrevocably waived $0.2 million of the subordinated incentive fee on income, and such amount is not subject to future payment. The subordinated incentive fee on income incurred before the waiver by the Adviser was $12.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2025.
Under the Advisory Agreement, the waivers under the Prior Investment Advisory Agreement of Internal Administrative Services expenses, except for the cost of the services previously provided by the former sub-administrator, were memorialized as a quarterly cap on the Fund’s obligation to reimburse the Adviser for “Internal Administrative Expenses.” MSC Income is not required to reimburse the Adviser for Internal Administrative Expenses in an amount that exceeds on a quarterly basis the product obtained by multiplying (x) the value of MSC Income’s total assets at the end of each calendar quarter by (y) the applicable “Annual Basis Point Rate” set forth in the below table:
Total Assets Annual Basis Point Rate
$0 - $500 million 6.000 
Over $500 million - $1.25 billion 5.125 
Greater than $1.25 billion 4.500 
A summary of MSC Income’s incurred Internal Administrative Expenses (before and after waivers) for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023 is as follows:
Year Ended December 31,
2025 2024 2023
(in thousands)
Internal Administrative Expenses before waivers $ 701  $ 10,089  $ 8,916 
Internal Administrative Expenses waived (1) —  (9,450) (8,308)
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(1)Waived Internal Administrative Services expenses are permanently waived and are not subject to future reimbursement.
2.     Offering Costs
In accordance with MSC Income’s previous investment advisory agreement with the previous investment adviser (“HMS Adviser”), MSC Income reimbursed HMS Adviser for any offering costs that were paid on MSC Income’s behalf, which consisted of, among other costs, actual legal, accounting, bona fide out-of-pocket itemized and detailed due diligence costs, printing, filing fees, transfer agent costs, postage, escrow fees, advertising and sales literature and other costs incurred in connection with the offering of MSC Income’s common stock, including through MSC Income’s DRIP. HMS Adviser was responsible for the payment of offering costs to the extent they exceeded 1.5% of the aggregate gross stock offering proceeds. Pursuant to the transaction whereby the Adviser became the investment adviser to MSC Income, HMS Adviser agreed to permanently waive reimbursement of organizational and offering expenses except for $0.6 million which remained payable to HMS Adviser and would be reimbursed as part of future issuances of common stock by MSC Income. For the year ended December 31, 2023, MSC Income reimbursed HMS Adviser $0.1 million in connection with stock issuances. MSC Income’s reimbursement obligation to HMS Adviser for organizational and offering expenses was fully repaid as of June 30, 2023.
3.     Indemnification
The Prior Investment Advisory Agreement and the Advisory Agreement provide that the Adviser, any sub-adviser and their respective officers, directors, managers, partners, shareholders, members (and their shareholders or members, including the owners of their shareholders or members), agents, employees, controlling persons and any other person or entity affiliated with or acting on behalf of the Adviser or any sub-adviser, as applicable (each an “Indemnified Party” and, collectively, the “Indemnified Parties”) will not be liable to MSC Income for any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Adviser or any sub-adviser in connection with the performance of any of their duties or obligations as an investment adviser of the Fund (except to the extent specified in Section 36(b) of the 1940 Act concerning loss resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty (as the same is finally determined by judicial proceedings) with respect to the receipt of compensation for services), and that MSC Income will indemnify, defend and protect Indemnified Parties and hold them harmless from and against all losses, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and amounts reasonably paid in settlement) incurred by the Indemnified Parties in connection with the performance of their duties as an investment adviser of the Fund, to the extent such losses, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses are not fully reimbursed by insurance, and to the extent that such indemnification would not be inconsistent with the Maryland General Corporation Law, the 1940 Act, the Fund’s charter and other applicable law if, among other things, (i) the Indemnified Party has determined, in good faith, that the course of conduct which caused the loss or liability was in the best interests of the Fund, (ii) the Indemnified Party was acting on behalf of or performing services for the Fund, (iii) such liability or loss was not the result of negligence, willful misfeasance, bad faith, or misconduct by the Indemnified Party and (iv) such indemnification or agreement to hold harmless is recoverable only out of the Fund’s net assets and not from stockholders.
4.     Co-Investment
In the ordinary course of business, MSC Income enters into transactions with other parties that may be considered related party transactions. MSC Income has implemented certain policies and procedures, both written and unwritten, to ensure that it does not engage in any prohibited transactions with any persons affiliated with MSC Income. If such affiliations are found to exist, MSC Income seeks the Board of Directors and/or appropriate Board of Directors committee review and approval for such transactions and otherwise comply with, or seek, orders for exemptive relief from the SEC, as appropriate.
MSC Income has received an exemptive order from the SEC permitting co-investments among MSC Income, Main Street and other advisory clients of the Adviser in certain negotiated transactions where co-investing would otherwise be prohibited under the 1940 Act. MSC Income has made co-investments, and in the future intends to continue to make co-investments with Main Street and other advisory clients of the Adviser, in accordance with the conditions of the order. Because the Adviser is wholly-owned by Main Street and is not managing MSC Income’s investment activities as its sole activity, this may provide the Adviser an incentive to allocate opportunities to other participating advisory clients instead of MSC Income. However, both MSC Income and the Adviser have adopted policies and procedures pursuant to the order to manage this conflict and ensure that investment opportunities are allocated in a manner that is fair and equitable considering each investor’s interests, including oversight of the co-investment program by the independent members of MSC Income’s and Main Street’s boards of directors and their required approval of certain co-investment transactions thereunder. Additional information regarding the operation of the co-investment program is set forth in the order granting exemptive relief, which may be reviewed on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. In addition to the co-investment program described above, MSC Income also co-invests in certain investment transactions where price is the only negotiated point by MSC Income and its affiliates.
5.     Other Related Party Transactions
As of December 31, 2025, Main Street owned 1,642,635 shares of MSC Income’s common stock. Each issuance and sale of MSC Income shares by MSC Income to Main Street, either individually or through approval of the Main Street Share Purchase Plan, was unanimously approved by the Board of Directors, including each director who is not an “interested person” as such term is defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act, of the Fund or the Adviser. In addition, certain of Main Street’s officers and employees own shares of MSC Income and therefore have direct pecuniary interests in MSC Income. A summary of Main Street’s purchases of shares of MSC Income’s common stock during the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023 is as follows:
Period Total number of shares purchased (1) Average price paid per share (1)(2) Total Cost (2) Total number of shares purchased as part of publicly announced plans or programs Approximate dollar value of shares that may yet be purchased under the plans or programs
(in thousands, except shares and per share amounts)
May 1 through May 31, 2023 (3) 127,877 $ 15.64  $ 2,000  — N/A
August 1 through August 31, 2023 (3) 174,271 15.78  2,750  — N/A
September 1 through September 30, 2023 (4) 57,692 13.00  750  — N/A
October 1 through October 31, 2023 (3) 237,944 15.76  3,750  — N/A
January 1 through January 31, 2024 (3) 157,035 15.92  2,500  — N/A
May 1 through May 31, 2024 (3) 157,629 15.86  2,500  — N/A
August 1 through August 31, 2024 (3) 125,314 15.96  2,000  — N/A
January 1 through January 31, 2025 (5) 289,761 15.53  4,500  — N/A
April 1 through April 30, 2025 (6) 3,054 14.59  45  3,054 $ 19,955 
May 1 through May 31, 2025 (6) 26 14.97  —  26 19,955 
August 1 through August 31, 2025 (6) 14,010 14.25  200  14,010 19,756
September 1 through September 30, 2025 (6) 41,611 13.98  582  41,611 19,175
October 1 through October 31, 2025 (6) 54,108 13.15  712  54,108 18,464 
November 1 through November 30, 2025 (6) 89,588 12.76  1,143  89,588 17,323 
December 1 through December 31, 2025 (6) 65,366 13.79  901  65,366 16,423 
_____________________________
(1)MSC Income completed a two-for-one reverse stock split, effective as of December 16, 2024; as such, shares purchased and price per share have been adjusted to reflect the reverse stock split on a retrospective basis.
(2)Includes broker commissions, as applicable.
(3)Each of these sales were at the same price at which the Fund issued new shares in connection with reinvestments of MSC Income’s quarterly dividend pursuant to the Prior DRIP. Each issuance and sale was made pursuant to the exemption from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

(4)In September 2023, pursuant to a simultaneous combined Dutch Auction Tender by MSC Income and Main Street (the “August Dutch auction tender offer”), Main Street purchased 57,692 shares of MSC Income common stock from MSC Income stockholders at the clearing price, or $13.00 per share, for an aggregate cost of $0.8 million. The August Dutch auction tender offer, including Main Street’s participation, was unanimously approved by the Board of Directors, including each director who is not an “interested person” as such term is defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act, of the Fund or the Adviser.
(5)Main Street purchased 289,761 shares of MSC Income common stock in the MSC Income Offering at the public offering price of $15.53.
(6)Main Street purchased shares of MSC Income common stock pursuant to the Main Street Share Purchase Plan.