AB 2020 Form 10-K

Increased leverage may magnify the Fund’s exposure to risks associated with changes in interest rates. If the Fund incurs additional leverage, general interest rate fluctuations may have a more significant negative impact on its investments and investment opportunities than they would have absent such additional incurrence, and, accordingly, may have a material adverse effect on the Fund’s investment objectives and rate of return on investment capital. Because the Fund may borrow money to make investments in the form of debt securities, preferred stock or other securities, the Fund’s net investment income is dependent upon the difference between the rate at which income from investments exceeds the rate at which the Fund pays interest or dividends on such liabilities. The Fund principally invests in floating-rate assets and incurs its indebtedness on a floating-rate basis as well. The Fund plans to incur indebtedness, when possible, on the same floating base rate applicable to the assets in which it invests. Because the base rate of the Fund’s assets and indebtedness are expected to generally be the same and will therefore fluctuate on largely the same basis, the primary risk that the Fund faces from interest rate fluctuations is a situation where the difference in the rate on investment income versus the base rate, which the Fund refers to as the “spread,” falls and there is not a similar reduction in the spread on the Fund’s indebtedness or losses exceed anticipated levels. In that situation, the investment income, net of losses, less the cost of the Fund’s indebtedness would be reduced. This reduction could create a material adverse effect on the Fund’s investment objectives if the spread compression was significant and persistent over long periods. The Fund expects that a majority of its investments in debt will continue to be at floating rates. However, as the Fund makes investments in debt at floating rates, a significant increase in market interest rates could also result in an increase in its non-performing assets and a decrease in the value of its portfolio because the portfolio companies paying interest at such increasing floating rates may be unable to meet higher payment obligations. In periods of rising interest rates, the Fund’s cost of funds would increase, which, if not matched with the rising interest rates of its performing floating-rate assets, could result in a decrease in its net investment income. Incurring additional leverage will magnify the impact of an increase to the Fund’s cost of funds. In addition, a decrease in interest rates may reduce net income, because new investments may be made at lower rates despite the increased demand for the Fund’s capital that the decrease in interest rates may produce. To the extent the Fund’s additional borrowings are in fixed-rate instruments, the Fund may be required to invest in higher-yield securities in order to cover its interest expense and maintain its current level of return to stockholders, which may increase the risk of an investment in its Shares. A general increase in interest rates will likely have the effect of making it easier for the Adviser to receive incentive fees, without necessarily resulting in an increase in the Fund’s net earnings. Given the structure of the Fund’s Advisory Agreement with the Adviser, any general increase in interest rates will likely have the effect of making it easier for the Adviser to meet the quarterly hurdle rates for payment of income-based incentive fees under the Advisory Agreement without any additional increase in relative performance on the part of the Adviser. In addition, in view of the catch-up provisions applicable to income-based incentive fees under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser could potentially receive a significant portion of the increase in the Fund’s investment income attributable to such a general increase in interest rates. If that were to occur, the Fund’s increase in net earnings, if any, would likely be significantly smaller than the relative increase in the Adviser’s income-based incentive fee resulting from such a general increase in interest rates. The Adviser and the Administrator have the right to resign on 60 days’ notice, and the Fund may not be able to find a suitable replacement for either within that time, or at all, resulting in a disruption in the Fund’s operations that could adversely affect its financial condition, business and results of operations. The Adviser has the right, under the Advisory Agreement, to resign at any time upon 60 days’ written notice, regardless of whether the Fund has found a replacement. Similarly, the Administrator has the right under the Administration Agreement to resign at any time upon 60 days’ written notice, regardless of whether the Fund has found a replacement. If the Adviser or the Administrator were to resign, the Fund may not be able to find a new investment adviser or administrator or hire internal management with similar expertise and ability to provide the same or equivalent services on acceptable terms within 60 days, or at all. If the Fund is unable to do so quickly, its operations are likely to experience a disruption and its financial condition, business and results of operations, as well as its ability to pay distributions, are likely to be materially and adversely affected. In addition, the coordination of the Fund’s internal management and investment or administrative activities, as applicable, are likely to suffer if the Fund is unable to identify and reach an agreement with a single institution or group of executives having the expertise possessed by the Adviser, the Administrator and their respective affiliates. Even if the Fund is able to retain comparable management, whether internal or external, the integration of such management and their lack of familiarity with its investment objective may result in additional costs and time delays that may adversely affect the Fund’s financial condition, business, results of operations and cash flows. 36