Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
As of the end of the period covered by this report, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) and our Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer), of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act). Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our current disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting them of material information relating to the Company that is required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act.
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act). The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed under the supervision of its Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) and effected by the Company’s Board of Directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of its consolidated financial statements for external reporting purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
The Company’s internal control over financial reporting includes policies and procedures that pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect transactions and dispositions of the Company’s assets; provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and the directors; and provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. In addition, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Management conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024 based on the framework established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this assessment, management concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024 was effective.
Attestation Report of the Registered Public Accounting Firm
Our independent registered public accounting firm, Ernst & Young LLP, has issued an audit report on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, which is contained in Part II, Item 8 of this Form 10-K “ Financial Statements and Supplementary Data .”
Changes in Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting
There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2024 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Item 9B. Other Information
During the three months ended December 31, 2024, no director or Section 16 officer of the Company adopted or terminated any Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangements or non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangements (in each case, as defined in Item 408(a) of Regulation S-K).
185
Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions That Prevent Inspections.
Not applicable.
186
PART III
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
Information in response to this item is incorporated by reference from our Proxy Statement relating to our 2025 annual meeting of stockholders. The Proxy Statement will be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Form 10-K pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act.
Information relating to our codes of ethics, which apply to, among others, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, is included in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-K “ Business-Regulation-Code of Ethics .”
Item 11. Executive Compensation
Information in response to this item is incorporated by reference from our Proxy Statement relating to our 2025 annual meeting of stockholders.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
Information in response to this item is incorporated by reference from our Proxy Statement relating to our 2025 annual meeting of stockholders.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
Information in response to this item is incorporated by reference from our Proxy Statement relating to our 2025 annual meeting of stockholders.
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
Information in response to this item is incorporated by reference from our Proxy Statement relating to our 2025 annual meeting of stockholders.
187
PART IV
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(a) Documents filed as part of this annual report
The following reports and consolidated financial statements are set forth in Part II, Item 8 of this Form 10-K:
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
95
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
97
Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities as of December 31, 2024 and 2023
98
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022
99
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Net Assets for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022
101
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022
102
Consolidated Schedules of Investments as of December 31, 2024 and 2023
103
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
131
(b) Exhibits
The following exhibits are filed as part of this report or hereby incorporated by reference to exhibits previously filed with the SEC:
2.1 Contribution Agreement, dated November 3, 2020, by and between TCG BDC, Inc. and Middle Market Credit Fund II, LLC (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed by the Company on November 4, 2020).
2.2 Agreement and Plan of Merger among Carlyle Secured Lending III, Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc., Blue Fox Merger Sub, Inc., and (for the limited purposes set forth therein) CSL III Advisor, LLC and Carlyle Global Credit Investment Management L.L.C., dated as of August 2, 2024 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2. 1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed by the Company on August 5, 2024) .
2.3 Amendment to the Agreement and Plan of Merger among Carlyle Secured Lending III, Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc., Blue Fox Merger Sub, Inc., CSL III Advisor, LLC and Carlyle Global Credit Investment Management L.L.C., dated as of January 3, 2025 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 3, 2025)
3.1 Articles of Amendment and Restatement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Form 10-12G/A filed by the Company on April 11, 2013)
3.2 Articles of Amendment (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Form 10-K filed by the Company on March 22, 2017)
3.3 Articles Supplementary of TCG BDC, Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed by the Company on May 5, 2020)
3.4 Amended and Restated Bylaws (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Form 10-12G/A filed by the Company on April 11, 2013)
3.5 First Amendment to the Amended and Restated Bylaws (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 to the Company’s Form 10-K filed by the Company on March 22, 2017)
4.1 Form of Subscription Agreement for Private Offerings (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Form 10-12G/A filed by the Company on April 11, 2013)
4.2 Description of Registered Securities *
4.3 Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of May 5, 2020, by and between TCG BDC, Inc. and Carlyle Investment Management L.L.C. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed by the Company on May 5, 2020)
188
4.4 Indenture, dated November 20, 2023, between Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc., as Issuer, and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed by the Company on November 20, 2023).
4.5 First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 20, 2023, between Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc. and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed by the Company on November 20, 2023)
4.6 Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 18, 2024, between Carlyle Secured Lending, Inc. and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as successor trustee to The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 18, 2024)
10.1 Indenture, dated as of June 26, 2015, between Carlyle GMS Finance MM CLO 2015-1 LLC, as issuer, and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as trustee (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed by the Company on August 12, 2015)
10.2 Dividend Reinvestment Plan for TCG BDC, Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (e)(2) to the Company’s Form N-2 /A filed by the Company on June 5, 2017)
10.3 Second Amended and Restated Investment Advisory Agreement, dated August 6, 2018, by and between the Company and Carlyle Global Credit Investment Management L.L.C. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed by the Company on November 6, 2018)
10.4 Custodian Agreement, dated March 21, 2012, between Carlyle GMS Finance, Inc. and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as custodian (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (j) to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form N-2 filed by the Company on May 19, 2017)
10.5 Administration Agreement, dated as of April 3, 2013 by and between Carlyle GMS Finance, Inc. and Carlyle GMS Finance Administration L.L.C., as administrator (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Form 10-12G/A filed by the Company on April 11, 2013)
10.6 Form of Indemnification Agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Form 10-12G/A filed by the Company on April 11, 2013)
10.7 Collateral Management Agreement, dated as of June 26, 2015, by and between Carlyle GMS Finance MM CLO 2015-1 LLC, as issuer, and Carlyle GMS Investment Management L.L.C., as collateral manager (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed by the Company on August 12, 2015)
10.8 Contribution Agreement, dated as of June 26, 2015, by and between Carlyle GMS Finance, Inc., as the contributor, and Carlyle GMS Finance MM CLO 2015-1 LLC, as the contributee (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed by the Company on August 12, 2015)
10.9 Fifth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement, dated as of April 20, 2023, between Carlyle GMS Finance, Inc. and Credit Partners USA LLC, as members (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed by the Company on August 8, 2023)
10.10 Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 3, 2017, between TCG BDC, Inc. and NF Investment Corp.(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed by the Company on May 9, 2017)
10.11 First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 30, 2018, between Carlyle Direct Lending CLO 2015-1R LLC, as issuer, and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as trustee (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed by the Company on November 6, 2018)
10.12 Note Purchase Agreement, dated December 30, 2019, by and between TCG BDC, Inc. and the purchasers party thereto (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed by the Company on December 30, 2019)
10.13 First Supplement to Master Note Purchase Agreement dated as of December 8, 2020, by and between TCG BDC, Inc. and the purchasers party thereto (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed by the Company on December 11, 2020)
10.14 Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 30, 2023, between Carlyle Direct Lending CLO 2015-1R LLC, as issuer, and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as trustee (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed by the Company on August 8, 2023).
189
10.15 Amended and Restated Senior Secured Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of March 21, 2014 and Conformed through Amendment No. 12 dated as of May 29, 2024, among Carlyle Secured Lending Inc., as borrower, the Lenders party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Form 10-Q filed by the Company on August 5, 2024).
10.16 Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of July 2, 2024 to the Indenture dated as of June 26, 2015 between Carlyle Direct Lending CLO 2015-1R LLC and State Street Bank and Trust Company as trustee (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.24 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed by the Company on July 9, 2024).
10.17 Second Amendment to Collateral Management Agreement, dated as of July 2, 2024, to the Collateral Management Agreement entered into by Carlyle Direct Lending CLO 2015-1R LLC and Carlyle Global Credit Investment Management L.L.C. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.25 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed by the Company on July 9, 2024)
10.18 Third Amended and Restated Investment Advisory Agreement, dated February 20, 2025, by and between the Company and Carlyle Global Credit Investment Management L.L.C. *
19.1 The Carlyle Group Policies and Procedures Regarding Material, Non-Public Information and the Prevention of Insider Trading. *
21.1 List of Subsidiaries *
23.1 Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. *
31.1 Certification of Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. *
31.2 Certification of Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) Pursuant to Rule 13a-14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. *
32.1 Certification of Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. *
32.2 Certification of Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. *
97.1 Incentive Compensation Recoupment Policy (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 97.1 to the Company’s Form 10-K filed by the Company on February 26, 2024) .
99.1 Consolidated Financial Statements of Middle Market Credit Fund, LLC for the years ended December 31, 202 4 and 20 23 . *
101.INS Inline XBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document*
101.SCH Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document*
101.CAL Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document*
101.DEF Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document*
101.LAB Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document*
101.PRE Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document*
104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)*
* Filed herewith.
(c) Consolidated Financial Statement Schedules
Separate financial statements of subsidiaries not consolidated:
Consolidated Financial Statements of Middle Market Credit Fund, LLC for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 are filed as Exhibit 99.1 hereto.
Item 16. Form 10-K Summary
None.
190
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
CARLYLE SECURED LENDING, INC.
Dated: February 25, 2025 By /s/ Justin V. Plouffe
Justin V. Plouffe
President and Chief Executive Officer
(principal executive officer)
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Dated: February 25, 2025 By /s/ Justin V. Plouffe
Justin V. Plouffe
President and Chief Executive Officer
(principal executive officer)
Dated: February 25, 2025 By /s/ Thomas M. Hennigan
Thomas M. Hennigan
Chief Financial Officer
(principal financial officer)
Dated: February 25, 2025 By /s/ Nelson Joseph
Nelson Joseph
Treasurer
(principal accounting officer)
Dated: February 25, 2025 By /s/ Nigel D.T. Andrews
Nigel D.T. Andrews
Director
Dated: February 25, 2025 By /s/ Leslie E. Bradford
Leslie E. Bradford
Director
Dated: February 25, 2025 By /s/ Mark Jenkins
Mark Jenkins
Director
Dated: February 25, 2025 By /s/ John G. Nestor
John G. Nestor
Director
Dated: February 25, 2025 By /s/ Linda Pace
Linda Pace
Director and Chair of the Board
Dated: February 25, 2025 By /s/ William H. Wright II
William H. Wright II
Director
191