WhiteHorse Finance, Inc. 10-Q

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk We are subject to financial market risks, including changes in interest rates. During the period covered by our financial statements, many of the loans in our portfolio had floating interest rates, and we expect that many of our loans to portfolio companies in the future will also have floating interest rates. These loans are usually based on a floating rate based on LIBOR that resets quarterly to the applicable LIBOR. Interest rate fluctuations may have a substantial negative impact on our investments, the value of our common stock and our rate of return on invested capital. Since we plan to use debt to finance investments, our net investment income will depend, in part, upon the difference between the rate at which we borrow funds and the rate at which we invest those funds. In addition, U.S. and global capital markets have experienced a higher level of stress due to the global COVID-19 pandemic which has resulted in an increase in the level of volatility across such markets and a general decline in value of securities held by us. As a result, we can offer no assurance that a significant change in market interest rates will not have a material adverse effect on our net investment income. Assuming that the consolidated statement of assets and liabilities as of March 31, 2021 was to remain constant and that we took no actions to alter our existing interest rate sensitivity, the following table shows the annualized impact of hypothetical base rate changes in interest rates (dollars in thousands). Increase(Decrease) in Increase(Decrease) in Interest Interest Net Basis Point Increase(Decrease) Income Expense Increase(Decrease) (100) $ (318 ) $ (417 ) $ 99 100 1,534 2,146 (612 ) 200 7,203 4,291 2,912 300 13,196 6,437 6,759 400 19,189 8,583 10,606 500 25,181 10,728 14,453 As of March 31, 2021, nearly all of the performing floating rate investments in our portfolio had interest rate floors. Variable-rate investments subject to a floor generally reset periodically to the applicable floor and, in the case of investments in our portfolio, quarterly to a floor based on LIBOR, only if the floor exceeds the index. Under these loans, we do not benefit from increases in interest rates until such rates exceed the floor and thereafter benefit from market rates above any such floor. For a discussion of the risks associated with the discontinuation of LIBOR, see “Item 1A. Risk Factors — Risks Relating to Our Business and Structure — Since we are using debt to finance our investments, and we may use additional debt or preferred stock financing going forward, changes in interest rates may affect our cost of capital, net investment income, value of our common stock and our rate of return on invested capital” in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. Although management believes that this analysis is indicative of our existing sensitivity to interest rate changes, it does not adjust for changes in the credit markets, the size, credit quality or composition of the assets in our portfolio and other business developments, including borrowing, that could affect net increase in net assets resulting from operations or net income. It also does not adjust for the effect of the time-lag between a change in the relevant interest rate index and the rate adjustment under the applicable loan. Accordingly, we can offer no assurances that actual results would not differ materially from the statement above. We may in the future hedge against interest rate fluctuations by using standard hedging instruments such as futures, options and forward contracts to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act and applicable commodities laws. While hedging activities may insulate us against adverse changes in interest rates, they may also limit our ability to participate in the benefits of lower interest rates with respect to the investments in our portfolio with fixed interest rates. We may enter into foreign currency forward contracts from time to time to facilitate settlement of purchases and sales of investments denominated in foreign currencies and to hedge economically the impact that an adverse change in foreign exchange rates would have on the value of our investments denominated in foreign currencies. We currently utilize forward foreign currency exchange contracts to protect ourselves against fluctuations in exchange rates. During the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, we recognized a realized gain of $0 and $6,000 and an unrealized loss of $1,000 and $1,000, respectively, in the statement of operations relating to forward currency exchange contracts held during the year. See Note 3 to our Notes to consolidated financial statements. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a decrease in LIBOR and a general reduction of certain interest rates by the U.S. Federal Reserve and other central banks. A continued decline in interest rates, including LIBOR has resulted in, and could continue to result in a reduction of our gross investment income. In addition, our net investment income could also decline if such decreases in LIBOR are not offset by, among other things, a corresponding increase in the spread over LIBOR in our portfolio investments, a decrease in our operating expenses or a decrease in the interest rates of our liabilities that are tied to LIBOR. See “Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—COVID-19 Developments.”