communications and information systems) or controls, or in those of a Service Provider to whom PIMCO has contractually delegated certain of its responsibilities, may cause losses for the Company or hinder Company operations. Operational risk results from inadequate procedures and controls, employee fraud, record-keeping error, human error, and/or system failures by PIMCO or a Service Provider. For example, trading delays or errors caused by PIMCO could prevent the Company from purchasing a security that PIMCO expects will appreciate in value, thus reducing the Company’s opportunity to benefit from the security’s appreciation. PIMCO is generally not contractually liable to the Company for operational losses associated with operational risk.
“Service Providers” include consultants, advisors, transaction finders or sourcers, operating partners, loan and other servicers, loan and other originators, collateral managers, program managers, property and other asset managers, leasing agents, asset monitors and administrators (including copyright administrators), developers, project managers, investment bankers, brokers, accountants, valuation agents, waterfall agents, calculation agents, paying agents, billing and collection agents, trustees, master servicers, software providers, tax preparers and consultants, analytic service providers, technology professionals, pricing/modeling service providers, insurance providers, legal counsel, appraisers, industry or sector experts, joint venture partners and development partners, regulatory and compliance service providers, contract employees, outside legal counsel and/or temporary employees (as well as secondees of any of the foregoing), and other persons providing similar types of services, whether working onsite at PIMCO offices or offsite.
Investment and Market Risk
The market price of securities owned by the Company may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. Securities may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally or particular industries represented in the securities markets. The value of a security may decline due to general market conditions that are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates, adverse changes to credit markets or adverse investor sentiment generally. The value of a security may also decline due to factors that affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or increased production costs and competitive conditions within an industry. During a general downturn in the securities markets, multiple asset classes may decline in value simultaneously. Equity securities generally have greater price volatility than fixed income securities. Credit ratings downgrades may also negatively affect securities held by the Company. Even when markets perform well, there is no assurance that the investments held by the Company will increase in value along with the broader market.
An investment in the Common Stock of the Company is subject to investment risk, particularly under current economic, financial, geopolitical, labor and public health conditions, including the possible loss of the entire principal amount that you invest. Investors should be aware that, particularly in light of the current uncertainty, volatility and distress in economies and financial markets, and geopolitical, labor and public health conditions around the world, the Company’s investments and a shareholder’s investment in the Company are subject to sudden and substantial losses, increased volatility and other adverse events. Also, public health emergencies similar to COVID-19 (such as pandemics and epidemics) may occur in the future and could present these risks or risks similar to the foregoing.
In addition, market risk includes the risk that geopolitical events will disrupt the economy on a national or global level. The current contentious domestic political environment, as well as political and diplomatic events within the United States and abroad, such as presidential elections in the United States or abroad or the U.S. government’s inability at times to agree on a long-term budget and deficit reduction plan, has in the past resulted, and may in the future result, in a government shutdown or otherwise adversely affect the U.S. regulatory landscape, the general market environment and/or investor sentiment, which could have an adverse impact on the Company’s investments and operations. Additional and/or prolonged U.S. federal government shutdowns may affect investor and consumer confidence and may adversely impact financial markets and the broader economy, perhaps suddenly and to a significant degree. Any market disruptions could also prevent the Company from executing advantageous investment decisions in a timely manner. To the extent the Company focuses its investments in a region enduring geopolitical market disruption, it will face higher risks of loss.
Moreover, changing economic, political, geopolitical, social, or financial market or other conditions in one country or geographic region could adversely affect the value, yield and return of the investments held by the Company in a different country or geographic region and economies, markets and issuers generally because of the increasingly interconnected global economies and financial markets. As a result, there is an increased risk that geopolitical and other events will disrupt economies and markets globally. For example, local or regional armed conflicts (notably the Russia-Ukraine and Hamas-Israel conflicts) have led to significant sanctions by the United States, Europe and other countries against certain countries (as well as persons and companies connected with certain counties) and led to indirect adverse regional and global market, economic and other effects. It is difficult to accurately predict or foresee when events or conditions affecting the United States or global financial markets, economies, and issuers may occur, the effects of such events or conditions, potential escalations or expansions of these events, possible retaliations in response to sanctions or similar actions and the duration or ultimate impact of those events. There is an increased likelihood that these types of events or conditions can, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably, result in a variety of adverse developments and circumstances, such as reduced liquidity, supply chain disruptions and market volatility, as well as increased general uncertainty and broad ramifications for markets, economies, issuers, businesses in many sectors and societies globally. Energy markets can be particularly susceptible to these types of conditions and similar developments.
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