Runway Growth Finance Corp. 10-Q

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk We commenced investment activities in portfolio securities during the quarter ended June 30, 2017 and commenced investment activities in U.S. Treasury Bills during the quarter ended December 31, 2016. We are subject to financial market risk, including changes in the valuations of our investment portfolio. Market risk includes risks 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 we invest in; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; legislative reform; local, regional, national or global political, social or economic instability; and interest rate fluctuations. Uncertainty with respect to the economic efforts of rising interest rates and inflation has introduced significant volatility in the financial markets, and the effects of this volatility could materially impact our market risks. Valuation Risk Our investments may not have a readily available market price, and we value these investments at fair value as determined in good faith by our Board of Directors in accordance with our valuation policy. There is no single standard for determining fair value in good faith. As a result, determining fair value requires that judgment be applied to the specific facts and circumstances of each portfolio investment while employing a consistently applied valuation process for the types of investments we make. Due to the inherent uncertainty of determining the fair value of investments that do not have a readily available market value, the fair value of our investments may fluctuate from period to period. Because of the inherent uncertainty of valuation, these estimated values may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had a ready market for the investments existed, and it is possible that the difference could be material. Interest Rate Risk We are subject to financial market risks, including changes in interest rates. 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 intervals between our assets and liabilities and the effect that interest rates may have on our cash flows. Changes in interest rates may affect both our cost of funding and our interest income from portfolio investments, and cash and cash equivalents. Changes in interest rates can also affect 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 SOFR and Prime rates. Increasing interest rates could have the effect of increasing our total investment income once interest rates increase above contractual interest rates floors to which our portfolio companies are subject. Conversely, we would expect the cost of our floating rate Credit Facility and unsecured notes to increase as well, offsetting the positive effect on our net interest income. As of March 31, 2024, 100.0% of our performing debt portfolio investments bore interest at variable rates, consisting of approximately 66.0% based on SOFR and 34.0% based on Prime. As a policy, any interest above the cash cap, if applicable, as determined on an individual loan basis will accrue to principal and be treated as PIK interest. A hypothetical 200 basis point increase or decrease in the interest rates on our variable-rate debt investments could increase our investment income by a maximum of $18.3 million and decrease our investment income by a maximum of $15.9 million, due to certain floors, on an annual basis. 63 Table of Contents Our debt borrowings under the Credit Facility bear interest at a floating rate, all other outstanding debt borrowings bear interest at a fixed rate. Borrowings under the Credit Facility bear interest on a per annum basis equal to the SOFR plus an applicable margin rate that ranges from 2.95% to 3.35% per annum depending on the Company's leverage ratio and number of eligible loans in the collateral pool. For additional information regarding the interest rate associated with each of our debt borrowings, refer to "Note 7 – Borrowings" to our consolidated financial statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q. Because we currently borrow, and plan to borrow in the future, to originate loans and securities, 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 market 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. We regularly measure exposure to interest rate risk. We assess interest rate risk and manage interest rate exposure on an ongoing basis by comparing our interest rate sensitive assets to our interest rate sensitive liabilities. We may hedge against interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations by using standard hedging instruments such as futures, options and forward contracts subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act. While hedging activities may insulate us against adverse changes in interest rates, they may also limit our ability to participate in benefits of lower interest rates with respect to our portfolio of investments with fixed interest rates. In addition, any investments we make that are denominated in a foreign currency will be subject to risks associated with changes in currency exchange rates. These risks include the possibility of significant fluctuations in the foreign currency markets, the imposition or modification of foreign exchange controls and potential illiquidity in the secondary market. These risks will vary depending upon the currency or currencies involved, and may be exacerbated current economic conditions and any associated impact on foreign financial markets.