Bramshill Income Performance Fund | | | | | | | | | | |
Schedule of Investments | | | | | | | | | | |
December 31, 2023 (Unaudited) | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Security | | Rate | | Maturity Date | | Principal Amount | | | Value | |
Corporate Bonds — 31.6% | | | | | | | | | | |
Aerospace/Defense — 1.2% | | | | | | | | | | |
Boeing Co. | | | 3.750 | % | 2/1/2050 | | | 7,079,000 | | | $ | 5,524,816 | |
RTX Corp. | | | 3.030 | % | 3/15/2052 | | | 5,061,000 | | | | 3,511,108 | |
Total Aerospace/Defense | | | | | | | | | | | | 9,035,924 | |
Banks — 3.0% | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Bank of America Corp. (a) | | | 0.981 | % | 9/25/2025 | | | 6,806,000 | | | | 6,571,082 | |
Wells Fargo & Co. (a) | | | 2.406 | % | 10/30/2025 | | | 15,880,000 | | | | 15,452,950 | |
Total Banks | | | | | | | | | | | | 22,024,032 | |
Commercial Services — 0.8% | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Neptune Bidco US, Inc. (b) | | | 9.290 | % | 4/15/2029 | | | 6,060,000 | | | | 5,654,464 | |
Total Commercial Services | | | | | | | | | | | | 5,654,464 | |
Cruise Lines — 2.3% | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
NCL Corp. Ltd. (b) | | | 8.375 | % | 2/1/2028 | | | 15,778,000 | | | | 16,729,366 | |
Total Cruise Lines | | | | | | | | | | | | 16,729,366 | |
E-Commerce/Products — 0.3% | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. | | | 3.150 | % | 2/9/2051 | | | 3,349,000 | | | | 2,207,995 | |
Total E-Commerce/Products | | | | | | | | | | | | 2,207,995 | |
Energy — 4.2% | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Berkshire Hathaway Energy Co. | | | 2.850 | % | 5/15/2051 | | | 2,152,000 | | | | 1,463,219 | |
BP Capital Markets America, Inc. | | | 3.001 | % | 3/17/2052 | | | 2,224,000 | | | | 1,568,032 | |
BP Capital Markets PLC (a)(c) | | | 4.875 | % | 3/22/2030 | | | 28,316,000 | | | | 27,002,860 | |
Valero Energy Corp. | | | 3.650 | % | 12/1/2051 | | | 2,717,000 | | | | 1,983,371 | |
Total Energy | | | | | | | | | | | | 32,017,482 | |
Financials — 6.8% | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Barclays PLC (a) | | | 3.330 | % | 11/24/2042 | | | 1,767,000 | | | | 1,311,565 | |
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (a) | | | 3.210 | % | 4/22/2042 | | | 2,271,000 | | | | 1,746,205 | |
JPMorgan Chase & Co. (a) | | | 3.220 | % | 3/1/2025 | | | 27,960,000 | | | | 27,849,135 | |
Morgan Stanley (a) | | | 3.620 | % | 4/17/2025 | | | 10,081,000 | | | | 10,022,684 | |
Morgan Stanley (a) | | | 2.484 | % | 9/16/2036 | | | 4,862,000 | | | | 3,865,291 | |
Nasdaq, Inc. | | | 3.250 | % | 4/28/2050 | | | 5,064,000 | | | | 3,588,415 | |
UBS Group AG (a)(b)(c) | | | 9.250 | % | 11/13/2028 | | | 1,977,000 | | | | 2,138,093 | |
Total Financials | | | | | | | | | | | | 50,521,388 | |
Bramshill Income Performance Fund | | | | | | | | | | |
Schedule of Investments | | | | | | | | | | |
December 31, 2023 (Unaudited) | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Security | | Rate | | Maturity Date | | Principal Amount | | | Value | |
Corporate Bonds (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | |
Insurance — 0.9% | | | | | | | | | | |
Arch Capital Group Ltd. | | | 3.635 | % | 6/30/2050 | | | 3,372,000 | | | $ | 2,589,581 | |
Athene Holding Ltd. | | | 3.950 | % | 5/25/2051 | | | 5,232,000 | | | | 3,956,831 | |
Total Insurance | | | | | | | | | | | | 6,546,412 | |
Manufacturing — 1.7% | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
3M Co. (d) | | | 3.125 | % | 9/19/2046 | | | 5,365,000 | | | | 3,933,012 | |
LYB International Finance III LLC | | | 3.625 | % | 4/1/2051 | | | 5,774,000 | | | | 4,223,139 | |
Micron Technology, Inc. | | | 3.477 | % | 11/1/2051 | | | 5,719,000 | | | | 4,168,944 | |
Total Manufacturing | | | | | | | | | | | | 12,325,095 | |
Media — 0.9% | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Charter Communications Operating LLC | | | 3.500 | % | 6/1/2041 | | | 4,347,000 | | | | 3,085,544 | |
Warnermedia Holdings, Inc. | | | 3.428 | % | 3/15/2024 | | | 3,977,000 | | | | 3,956,314 | |
Total Media | | | | | | | | | | | | 7,041,858 | |
Pharmaceuticals — 0.5% | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Biogen, Inc. | | | 3.150 | % | 5/1/2050 | | | 5,649,000 | | | | 3,987,438 | |
Total Pharmaceuticals | | | | | | | | | | | | 3,987,438 | |
Pipelines — 2.7% | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Enbridge, Inc. | | | 2.150 | % | 2/16/2024 | | | 3,813,000 | | | | 3,796,027 | |
Enbridge, Inc. (a) | | | 8.500 | % | 1/15/2084 | | | 2,139,000 | | | | 2,280,614 | |
Energy Transfer LP (3 mo. Term SOFR + 3.279%) (e) | | | 8.656 | % | 11/1/2066 | | | 9,174,000 | | | | 7,668,898 | |
Kinder Morgan, Inc. | | | 3.250 | % | 8/1/2050 | | | 4,139,000 | | | | 2,790,195 | |
Williams Cos., Inc. | | | 3.500 | % | 10/15/2051 | | | 5,068,000 | | | | 3,718,919 | |
Total Pipelines | | | | | | | | | | | | 20,254,653 | |
Private Equity — 1.4% | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Brookfield Finance, Inc. | | | 6.350 | % | 1/5/2034 | | | 9,464,000 | | | | 10,097,815 | |
Total Private Equity | | | | | | | | | | | | 10,097,815 | |
Real Estate Investment Trust — 0.7% | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
American Tower Corp. | | | 2.950 | % | 1/15/2051 | | | 2,146,000 | | | | 1,438,760 | |
Simon Property Group LP | | | 3.250 | % | 9/13/2049 | | | 5,159,000 | | | | 3,748,867 | |
Total Real Estate Investment Trust | | | | | | | | | | | | 5,187,627 | |
Retail — 0.4% | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Starbucks Corp. | | | 3.500 | % | 11/15/2050 | | | 4,142,000 | | | | 3,231,464 | |
Total Retail | | | | | | | | | | | | 3,231,464 | |
Bramshill Income Performance Fund | | | | | | | | | | |
Schedule of Investments | | | | | | | | | | |
December 31, 2023 (Unaudited) | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Security | | Rate | | Maturity Date | | Principal Amount | | | Value | |
Corporate Bonds (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | |
Retail Trade — 0.5% | | | | | | | | | | |
Macy's Retail Holdings LLC | | | 4.300 | % | 2/15/2043 | | | 4,909,000 | | | $ | 3,590,294 | |
Total Retail Trade | | | | | | | | | | | | 3,590,294 | |
Software & Services — 1.0% | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Oracle Corp. | | | 3.600 | % | 4/1/2040 | | | 5,497,000 | | | | 4,404,895 | |
Oracle Corp. | | | 3.850 | % | 4/1/2060 | | | 4,138,000 | | | | 3,020,042 | |
Total Software & Services | | | | | | | | | | | | 7,424,937 | |
Telecommunication Service — 0.5% | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Verizon Communications, Inc. | | | 2.875 | % | 11/20/2050 | | | 5,065,000 | | | | 3,456,179 | |
Total Telecommunication Service | | | | | | | | | | | | 3,456,179 | |
Utilities — 1.8% | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
American Electric Power Co., Inc. | | | 3.250 | % | 3/1/2050 | | | 2,680,000 | | | | 1,918,876 | |
Duke Energy Corp. | | | 3.300 | % | 6/15/2041 | | | 4,714,000 | | | | 3,626,705 | |
NextEra Energy Capital Holdings, Inc. | | | 4.255 | % | 9/1/2024 | | | 4,567,000 | | | | 4,524,072 | |
Pacific Gas and Electric Co. | | | 3.500 | % | 8/1/2050 | | | 4,759,000 | | | | 3,307,308 | |
Total Utilities | | | | | | | | | | | | 13,376,961 | |
Total Corporate Bonds (Cost — $221,593,859) | | | | | | | | | | | | 234,711,384 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Security | | | | | | | Shares | | | Value | |
Closed-End Funds — 10.6% | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
High Yield Bond — 1.7% | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Allspring Income Opportunities | | | | | | | | 194,381 | | | | 1,267,364 | |
BlackRock Corporate High Yield Fund, Inc. | | | | | | | | 402,901 | | | | 3,799,357 | |
BlackRock Limited Duration Income Trust | | | | | | | | 62,279 | | | | 870,660 | |
First Trust High Income Long/Short Fund | | | | | | | | 69,071 | | | | 835,068 | |
Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund, Inc. | | | | | | | | 853,771 | | | | 3,295,556 | |
Western Asset High Yield Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. | | | | | | | | 202,231 | | | | 2,444,973 | |
Total High Yield Bond | | | | | | | | | | | | 12,512,978 | |
Muni National Long — 8.9% | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
BlackRock MuniHoldings Fund, Inc. | | | | | | | | 290,466 | | | | 3,459,450 | |
BlackRock MuniVest Fund, Inc. | | | | | | | | 401,528 | | | | 2,858,879 | |
BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund III, Inc. (d) | | | | | | | | 604,363 | | | | 7,034,785 | |
Eaton Vance Municipal Bond Fund | | | | | | | | 626,309 | | | | 6,344,510 | |
Invesco Municipal Opportunity Trust | | | | | | | | 890,012 | | | | 8,553,015 | |
Invesco Municipal Trust | | | | | | | | 462,632 | | | | 4,408,883 | |
Invesco Trust for Investment Grade Municipals | | | | | | | | 475,160 | | | | 4,699,332 | |
Bramshill Income Performance Fund | | | | | | | | | | |
Schedule of Investments | | | | | | | | | | |
December 31, 2023 (Unaudited) | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Security | | | | | | Shares | | | Value | |
Closed-End Funds (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | |
Muni National Long (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | |
Nuveen AMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund | | | | | | | 1,164,732 | | | $ | 12,812,053 | |
Nuveen Quality Municipal Income Fund | | | | | | | 1,399,852 | | | | 16,028,306 | |
Total Muni National Long | | | | | | | | | | | 66,199,213 | |
Total Closed-End Funds (Cost — $95,055,506) | | | | | | | | | | | 78,712,191 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Exchange Traded Funds — 9.4% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
iShares 0-5 Year High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (d) | | | | | | | 490,618 | | | | 20,713,892 | |
iShares Short Maturity Bond ETF (d) | | | | | | | 570,303 | | | | 28,811,708 | |
JPMorgan Ultra-Short Income ETF | | | | | | | 405,797 | | | | 20,383,183 | |
Total Exchange Traded Funds (Cost — $69,525,829) | | | | | | | | | | | 69,908,783 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Open-End Funds — 0.5% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Equable Shares Hedged Equity Fund, Class I | | | | | | | 302,016 | | | | 3,908,081 | |
Total Open-End Funds (Cost — $3,685,990) | | | | | | | | | | | 3,908,081 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Security | | Rate | | Maturity Date | | Shares/Units | | | Value | |
Preferred Stocks — 30.2% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Banks — 5.8% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Bank of America Corp. Depositary Shares (a)(f) | | | 6.250 | % | 9/5/2024 | | | 5,121 | | | | 5,092,043 | |
Bank of New York Mellon Corp. Depositary Shares (a)(f) | | | 4.700 | % | 9/20/2025 | | | 3,597 | | | | 3,515,173 | |
Citigroup, Inc. Depositary Shares (a)(f) | | | 5.000 | % | 9/12/2024 | | | 8,227 | | | | 8,022,450 | |
Citigroup, Inc. Depositary Shares (a)(f) | | | 4.000 | % | 12/10/2025 | | | 6,496 | | | | 6,010,781 | |
Citizens Financial Group, Inc. Depositary Shares (a)(f) | | | 5.650 | % | 10/6/2025 | | | 7,784 | | | | 7,398,923 | |
Regions Financial Corp. Depositary Shares (a)(f) | | | 5.750 | % | 6/15/2025 | | | 8,935 | | | | 8,698,712 | |
Wells Fargo & Co. Depositary Shares (a)(f) | | | 5.900 | % | 6/15/2024 | | | 3,846 | | | | 3,812,440 | |
Total Banks | | | | | | | | | | | | 42,550,522 | |
Energy — 2.7% | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Edison International Depositary Shares (a)(f) | | | 5.375 | % | 3/15/2026 | | | 21,133 | | | | 20,040,399 | |
Total Energy | | | | | | | | | | | | 20,040,399 | |
Financials — 6.2% | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Ally Financial, Inc. Depositary Shares (a)(d)(f) | | | 4.700 | % | 5/15/2026 | | | 5,565 | | | | 4,188,032 | |
Ally Financial, Inc. Depositary Shares (a)(f) | | | 4.700 | % | 5/15/2028 | | | 16,424 | | | | 11,186,863 | |
American Express Co. Depositary Shares (a)(f) | | | 3.550 | % | 9/15/2026 | | | 5,155 | | | | 4,432,269 | |
Charles Schwab Corp. (The) Depositary Shares (a)(f) | | | 5.375 | % | 6/1/2025 | | | 22,665 | | | | 22,416,998 | |
Virtus Convertible & Income Fund (f) | | | 5.625 | % | 1/17/2024 | | | 153,651 | | | | 3,303,512 | |
Bramshill Income Performance Fund | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Schedule of Investments | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
December 31, 2023 (Unaudited) | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Security | | Rate | | Maturity Date | | Shares/Units | | | Value | |
Preferred Stocks (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Financials (Continued) | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Virtus Convertible & Income Fund II (f) | | | 5.500 | % | 1/17/2024 | | | 7,743 | | | $ | 160,745 | |
Total Financials | | | | | | | | | | | | 45,688,419 | |
Insurance — 4.6% | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Allstate Corp. Depositary Shares (f) | | | 7.375 | % | 7/15/2028 | | | 178,012 | | | | 4,806,324 | |
Lincoln National Corp. Depositary Shares (f) | | | 9.000 | % | 12/1/2027 | | | 396,458 | | | | 10,819,339 | |
Lincoln National Corp. Depositary Shares (a)(f) | | | 9.250 | % | 12/1/2027 | | | 12,513 | | | | 13,695,954 | |
Reinsurance Group of America, Inc. (a)(f) | | | 7.125 | % | 10/15/2052 | | | 200,625 | | | | 5,232,300 | |
Total Insurance | | | | | | | | | | | | 34,553,917 | |
Investment Companies — 2.1% | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Oaktree Capital Group LLC (f) | | | 6.625 | % | 2/1/2024 | | | 197,950 | | | | 4,285,617 | |
Oaktree Capital Group LLC (f) | | | 6.550 | % | 2/1/2024 | | | 464,808 | | | | 9,886,465 | |
Stifel Financial Corp. (f) | | | 5.200 | % | 10/15/2047 | | | 99,043 | | | | 2,035,334 | |
Total Investment Companies | | | | | | | | | | | | 16,207,416 | |
Pipelines — 1.0% | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Enbridge, Inc. (a)(f) | | | 5.375 | % | 3/1/2024 | | | 99,883 | | | | 2,173,954 | |
Enbridge, Inc. (a)(f) | | | 5.858 | % | 9/1/2027 | | | 72,064 | | | | 1,370,657 | |
Energy Transfer LP Depositary Shares (a)(f) | | | 7.125 | % | 5/15/2030 | | | 4,175 | | | | 3,857,611 | |
Total Pipelines | | | | | | | | | | | | 7,402,222 | |
Real Estate Investment Trust — 3.1% | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
AGNC Investment Corp. Depositary Shares (a)(d)(f) | | | 6.125 | % | 4/15/2025 | | | 624,039 | | | | 13,579,088 | |
Annaly Capital Management, Inc. (a)(f) | | | 6.750 | % | 6/30/2024 | | | 396,416 | | | | 9,628,945 | |
Total Real Estate Investment Trust | | | | | | | | | | | | 23,208,033 | |
Utilities — 4.7% | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Brookfield Renewable Partners LP (f) | | | 5.250 | % | 3/31/2025 | | | 273,839 | | | | 4,668,955 | |
Entergy Louisiana LLC (f) | | | 4.875 | % | 9/1/2066 | | | 99,295 | | | | 2,111,012 | |
Sempra Energy Depositary Shares (a)(f) | | | 4.875 | % | 10/15/2025 | | | 29,113 | | | | 28,558,170 | |
Total Utilities | | | | | | | | | | | | 35,338,137 | |
Total Preferred Stocks (Cost — $241,487,918) | | | | | | | | | | | | 224,989,065 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Bramshill Income Performance Fund | | | | | | | | | | |
Schedule of Investments | | | | | | | | | | |
December 31, 2023 (Unaudited) | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Security | | Rate | | Maturity Date | | Shares/
Principal Amount | | | Value | |
Short-Term Investments — 18.2% | | | | | | | | | | |
Money Market Funds — 1.7% | | | | | | | | | | |
First American Government Obligations Fund - Class X - 5.29% (g) | | | | | | | 12,332,140 | | | $ | 12,332,140 | |
Total Money Market Funds (Cost — $12,332,140) | | | | | | | | | | | 12,332,140 | |
U.S. Treasury Bills — 16.5% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
United States Treasury Bill (h) | | | 5.408 | % | 1/11/2024 | | $ | 60,263,000 | | | | 60,184,329 | |
United States Treasury Bill (h) | | | 5.407 | % | 5/16/2024 | | | 12,956,100 | | | | 12,707,926 | |
United States Treasury Bill (h) | | | 5.330 | % | 6/6/2024 | | | 50,430,000 | | | | 49,327,516 | |
Total U.S. Treasury Bills (Cost — $122,160,694) | | | | | | | | | | | | 122,219,771 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Short-Term Investments (Cost — $134,492,834) | | | | | | | | | | | | 134,551,911 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Security | |
|
| | | | Shares | | | Value | |
Collateral for Securities on Loan — 1.8% | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
First American Government Obligations Fund - Class X - 5.29% (g) | | | | | | | | 12,967,808 | | | | 12,967,808 | |
Total Collateral for Securities on Loan (Cost — $12,967,808) | | | | | | | | | | | | 12,967,808 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Investments — 102.3% (Cost — $778,809,744) | | | | | | | | | | | | 759,749,223 | |
Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets — (2.3)% | | | | | | | | | | | | (16,992,642 | ) |
Total Net Assets — 100.0% | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 742,756,581 | |
AMT Alternative Minimum Tax |
LP Limited Partnership |
PLC Public Limited Company |
SOFR Secured Overnight Financing Rate |
(a) | Fixed to floating rate security. |
(b) | Security was purchased to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 and may not be resold subject to that Rule except to qualified institutional buyers. Unless otherwise noted, 144A securities are deemed to be liquid. At December 31, 2023, the value of these securities totaled $24,521,924 or 3.3% of net assets. |
(c) | Perpetual maturity security. Date presented is the next call date as of December 31, 2023. |
(d) | All or a portion of the security is on loan. |
(e) | Variable rate security. Reference rate and spread are included in the description. |
(f) | Callable at any dividend payment on or after date disclosed. |
(g) | The rate reported is the annualized seven-day yield as of December 31, 2023. |
(h) | Zero coupon security. Rate disclosed is the yield of the position. |
SECURITIES VALUATION
The Fund has adopted authoritative fair value accounting standards which establish an authoritative definition of fair value and set out a hierarchy for measuring fair value. These standards require additional disclosures about the various inputs and valuation techniques used to develop the measurements of fair value, a discussion of changes in valuation techniques and related inputs during the period, and expanded disclosure of valuation levels for major security types. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:
Level 1 - | Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Fund has the ability to access. |
Level 2 - | Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These inputs may include quoted prices for the identical instrument on an inactive market, prices for similar instruments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, yield curves, default rates and similar data. |
Level 3 - | Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, to the extent relevant observable inputs are not available, representing the Fund’s own assumptions about the assumptions a market participant would use in valuing the asset or liability, and would be based on the best information available. |
Following is a description of the valuation techniques applied to the Fund’s major categories of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis.
Equity Securities: Equity securities, including common stocks, preferred stocks, foreign-issued common stocks, exchange-traded funds, closed-end mutual funds and real estate investment trusts (REITs), that are primarily traded on a national securities exchange shall be valued at the last sale price on the exchange on which they are primarily traded on the day of valuation or, if there has been no sale on such day, at the mean between the bid and asked prices. Securities primarily traded in the NASDAQ Global Market System for which market quotations are readily available shall be valued using the NASDAQ Official Closing Price (“NOCP”). If the NOCP is not available, such securities shall be valued at the last sale price on the day of valuation, or if there has been no sale on such day, at the mean between the bid and asked prices. Over-the-counter securities that are not traded on a listed exchange are valued at the last sale price in the over-the-counter market. Over-the-counter securities which are not traded in the NASDAQ Global Market System shall be valued at the mean between the bid and asked prices. To the extent these securities are actively traded and valuation adjustments are not applied, they are categorized in Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy.
Debt Securities: Debt securities, including corporate bonds, asset-backed securities, mortgage-backed securities, municipal bonds, U.S. Treasuries, and U.S. government agency issues, are generally valued at market on the basis of valuations furnished by an independent pricing service that utilizes both dealer-supplied valuations and formula-based techniques. The pricing service may consider recently executed transactions in securities of the issuer or comparable issuers, market price quotations (where observable), bond spreads, and fundamental data relating to the issuer. In addition, the model may incorporate market observable data, such as reported sales of similar securities, broker quotes, yields, bids, offers, and reference data. Certain securities are valued primarily using dealer quotations. To the extent these securities are actively traded and valuation adjustments are not applied, they are categorized in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
Registered Investment Companies: Investments in registered investment companies (e.g., mutual funds) are generally priced at the ending NAV provided by the applicable registered investment company’s service agent and will be classified in Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy.
Short-Term Debt Securities: Short-term debt instruments having a maturity of less than 60 days are valued at the evaluated mean price supplied by an approved pricing service. Pricing services may use various valuation methodologies including matrix pricing and other analytical pricing models as well as market transactions and dealer quotations. In the absence of prices from a pricing service, the securities will be priced in accordance with the procedures adopted by the Board. Short-term debt securities are generally classified in Level 1 or Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy depending on the inputs used and market activity levels for specific securities.
In the absence of prices from a pricing service or in the event that market quotations are not readily available, fair value will be determined under the Fund’s valuation procedures adopted pursuant to Rule 2a-5. Pursuant to those procedures, the Board has appointed the Advisor as the Fund’s valuation designee (the “Valuation Designee”) to perform all fair valuations of the Fund’s portfolio investments, subject to the Board’s oversight. As the Valuation Designee, the Advisor has established procedures for its fair valuation of the Fund’s portfolio investments. These procedures address, among other things, determining when market quotations are not readily available or reliable and the methodologies to be used for determining the fair value of investments, as well as the use and oversight of third-party pricing services for fair valuation.
Depending on the relative significance of the valuation inputs, fair valued securities may be classified in either Level 2 or Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.
The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. The following is a summary of the fair valuation hierarchy of the Fund’s securities as of December 31, 2023: