Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
We are subject to market risk. Market risk includes risk that arise from changes in interest rates, commodity prices, equity prices and other market changes that affect market sensitive instruments. The prices of securities held by us may decline in response to certain events, including those directly involving the companies in which we invest; conditions affecting the general economy, including the impact of COVID-19 and any new variants of COVID-19; overall market changes, including an increase in market volatility due to COVID-19; legislative reform; local, regional, national or global political, social or economic instability; and interest rate volatility, including the decommissioning of LIBOR.
Interest Rate Risk
We are subject to interest rate risk. Interest rate risk is defined as the sensitivity of our current and future earnings to interest rate volatility, variability of spread relationships, the difference in re-pricing internals between our assets and liabilities and the effect that interest rates may have on our cash flows. Changes in the general level of interest rates can affect our net interest income, which is the difference between the interest income earned on interest earning assets and our interest expense incurred in connection with our interest-bearing liabilities. Changes in interest rates can also affect, among other things, our ability to acquire and originate loans and securities and the value of our investment portfolio. Our net investment income is affected by fluctuations in various interest rates, including the decommissioning of LIBOR and changes in alternate rates and prime rates, to the extent our debt investments include floating interest rates. A large portion of our portfolio is comprised of floating rate investments that utilize LIBOR or an alternative rate. In connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Federal Reserve and other central banks have reduced certain interest rates and LIBOR has decreased. A prolonged reduction in interest rates will reduce our gross investment income and could result in a decrease in our net investment income if such decreases in LIBOR are not offset by a corresponding increase in the spread over LIBOR that we earn on any portfolio investments or a decrease in the interest rate of our floating interest rate liabilities tied to LIBOR. Conversely, in a rising interest rate environment, such difference could potentially increase thereby increasing our gross investment income as indicated below. In March 2022, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates by 0.25%, the first increase since December 2018, and, most recently, in May 2022, raised interest rates by 0.50% and indicated that it would raise rates at each of the remaining meetings in 2022. See “Risk Factors — Changes in interest rates may affect our cost of capital the value of investments and net investment income,” “Risk Factors — The interest rates of our loans to our portfolio companies, any LIBOR-linked securities, and other financial obligations that extend beyond 2021 might be subject to change based on recent regulatory changes, including the decommissioning of LIBOR” and “Risk Factors — The interest rates of our loans to our portfolio companies, any LIBOR-linked securities, and other financial obligations that extend beyond 2021 might be subject to change based on recent regulatory changes, including the decommissioning of LIBOR” for more information.
Our interest expenses will also be affected by changes in the published LIBOR rate in connection with our Credit Facility. The interest rates on the October 2026 Notes, the January 2026 Notes and SBA Debentures are fixed for the life of such debt. Our risk management systems and procedures are designed to identify and analyze our risk, to set appropriate policies and limits and to continually monitor these risks. We regularly measure exposure to interest rate risk and determine whether or not any hedging transactions are necessary to mitigate exposure to changes in interest rates. As of March 31, 2022, we were not a party to any hedging arrangements.
As of March 31, 2022, approximately 97.3% of our debt investment portfolio (at fair value) bore interest at floating rates, of which 100.0% were subject to contractual minimum interest rates. Based on interest rates at March 31, 2022, a hypothetical 100 basis point increase in interest rates could increase our net investment income by a maximum of $5.2 million, or $0.21 per share, on an annual basis. A hypothetical 100 basis point decrease in interest rates could increase our net investment income by a maximum of $2.5 million, or $0.10 per share, on an annual basis. Our Credit Facility bears interest on a per annum basis equal to the applicable LIBOR rate plus 2.15%. We pay unused commitment fees of 0.50% to 1.00% per annum, based on utilization.
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Although we believe that the foregoing analysis is indicative of our sensitivity to interest rate changes, it does not adjust for potential changes in the credit market, credit quality, size and composition of the assets in our portfolio. It also does not adjust for other business developments, including future borrowings that could affect the net increase in net assets resulting from operations, or net income. It also does not assume any repayments from borrowers. Accordingly, no assurances can be given that actual results would not differ materially from the statement above.
Because we currently borrow, and plan to borrow in the future, money to make investments, our net investment income is dependent upon the difference between the rate at which we borrow funds and the rate at which we invest the funds borrowed. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that a significant change in interest rates will not have a material adverse effect on our net investment income. In periods of rising interest rates, our cost of funds would increase, which could reduce our net investment income if there is not a corresponding increase in interest income generated by our investment portfolio.
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