period ended April 30, 2022, the average borrowings under the Agreement were $270.0 million. For the period ended April 30, 2022, the average interest rate was 0.64%. As of April 30, 2022, the amount of total outstanding borrowings was $270.0 million, which approximates fair value. The interest rate applicable to the borrowings on April 30, 2022 was 0.84%.
Under the terms of the SSB Agreement, all securities lent through SSB must be secured continuously by collateral received in cash. Cash collateral held by SSB on behalf of a Fund may be credited against the amounts borrowed under the SSB Agreement. Under the terms of the SSB Agreement, SSB will return the value of the collateral to the borrower at the termination of the selected securities loan(s). When collateral is returned, SSB may offset the shortfall to the amount lent to the Fund under the SSB Agreement by either lending other securities of the Fund or replacing such amount through direct loans from SSB, without notice to or consent from the Fund and does not change the amount borrowed by the Fund. The cash collateral credits against the amounts borrowed are not reflected separately in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities but as a component of the Notes Payable. Under the terms of the SSB Agreement, the Fund will receive a rebate payment related to the securities lending and/or securities repurchase transactions which is reflected in interest expense in the Statement of Operations. The Fund has the right to call a loan and obtain the securities loaned at any time. As of April 30, 2022, approximately $108.4 million of securities were on loan ($102.3 million of fixed income securities and $6.1 million of equity securities) under the SSB Agreement which are reflected in the Investment in securities, at value on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The borrowings are categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.
Note 7 – Mandatory Redeemable Preferred Shares
The Fund issued MRPS on August 24, 2021 and September 6, 2017. On August 24, 2021, 1,970,000 MRPS were issued with an aggregate liquidation preference of $49.25 million. Of the 1,970,000 MRPS that were issued, 850,000 MRPS with an aggregate liquidation preference of $21.25 million have a delayed funding date of May 24, 2022. On September 6, 2017, 2,560,000 MRPS were issued with an aggregate liquidation preference of $64.0 million. Offering costs incurred by the Fund in connection with the MRPS issuance are aggregated with the outstanding liability and are being amortized to Interest expense and amortization of offering costs on MRPS over the respective life of each series of MRPS and shown in the Statement of Operations.
The MRPS are divided into five series with different mandatory redemption dates and dividend rates. The table below summarizes the key terms of each series of the MRPS at April 30, 2022.
| | | | | | |
Series | Term Redemption Date | Dividend Rate | Shares (000’s) | Liquidation Preference Per Share | | Aggregate Liquidation Preference |
Series A | 9/06/22 | 3.70% | 850 | $25 | | $21,250,000
|
Series B | 9/06/24 | 4.00% | 850 | $25 | | $21,250,000
|
Series C | 9/06/27 | 4.24% | 860 | $25 | | $21,500,000
|
Series D | 8/24/26 | 2.45% | 1,120 | $25 | | $28,000,000
|
Series E* | 5/24/27 | 2.68% | 850 | $25 | | $21,250,000
|
| | | | | | $113,250,000
|
*Series E MRPS were issued on August 24, 2021, with a delayed funding date of May 24, 2022. Series E MRPS are not included on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
The MRPS are not listed on any exchange or automated quotation system. The MRPS are considered debt of the issuer; therefore, the liquidation preference, which approximates fair value of the MRPS, is recorded as a liability in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities net of deferred offering costs. The MRPS are categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.
Previously, Series A, B, and C of the MRPS had been assigned a rating of “AA” by Fitch Ratings, Inc. (“Fitch”). As of December 17, 2020, Kroll Bond Rating Agency LLC (“Kroll”) replaced Fitch as the rating agency for the MRPS. Series A, B, and C of the MRPS have been assigned a rating of `AA-’ by Kroll. As of August 24, 2021, the Series D MRPS and Series E MRPS have each been assigned a rating of `AA-’ by Kroll. If the ratings of the MRPS are downgraded, the Fund’s dividend expense may increase, as described below.
Holders of MRPS are entitled to receive monthly cumulative cash dividends payable on the first business day of each month. The MRPS currently are rated “AA-” by Kroll. If on the first day of a monthly dividend period the MRPS of any class are rated lower than “A” by Kroll, the dividend rate for such period shall be increased by 0.5%, 2.0% or 4.0% according to an agreed upon schedule. The MRPS’ dividend rate is also subject to increase during periods when the Fund has not made timely payments to MRPS holders and/or the