N-2 - USD ($) | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |
Sep. 30, 2023 | Jun. 30, 2023 | Mar. 31, 2023 | Dec. 31, 2022 | Sep. 30, 2022 | Jun. 30, 2022 | Mar. 31, 2022 | Dec. 31, 2021 | Sep. 30, 2023 | Sep. 30, 2023 | Dec. 31, 2022 | Dec. 31, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 |
Prospectus: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Document Period End Date | | | | | | | | | | Sep. 30, 2023 | | | | | | | | | | |
Cover [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Entity Central Index Key | | | | | | | | | | 0000845611 | | | | | | | | | | |
Amendment Flag | | | | | | | | | | false | | | | | | | | | | |
Document Type | | | | | | | | | | N-CSR | | | | | | | | | | |
Entity Registrant Name | | | | | | | | | | The Gabelli Convertible & Income Securities Fund Inc. | | | | | | | | | | |
Fee Table [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shareholder Transaction Expenses [Table Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | Shareholder Transaction Expenses Sales Load (as a percentage of offering price) -( 1 )%(a) Offering Expenses Borne by the Fund (as a percentage of offering price) -( 1 )%(a) Dividend Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Plan Fees Purchase Transaction $ 0.75 (b) Sale Transaction $ 2.50 (b) | | | | | | | | | | |
Sales Load [Percent] | | | | | | | | | | 1% | | | | | | | | | | |
Other Transaction Expenses [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Other Transaction Expenses [Percent] | | | | | | | | | | 1% | | | | | | | | | | |
Annual Expenses [Table Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | Percentages of Annual Expenses Attributable to Management Fees 1.20 %(c) Interest Expense 1.05 %(d) Other Expenses 0.75 %(e) Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 3.00 % Dividends on Preferred Shares — % Total Annual Expenses and Dividends on Preferred Shares 3.00 %(e) | | | | | | | | | | |
Management Fees [Percent] | | | | | | | | | | 1.20% | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest Expenses on Borrowings [Percent] | | | | | | | | | | 1.05% | | | | | | | | | | |
Other Annual Expenses [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Other Annual Expenses [Percent] | | | | | | | | | | 0.75% | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Annual Expenses [Percent] | | | | | | | | | | 3% | | | | | | | | | | |
Waivers and Reimbursements of Fees [Percent] | | | | | | | | | | 0% | | | | | | | | | | |
Net Expense over Assets [Percent] | | | | | | | | | | 3% | | | | | | | | | | |
Expense Example [Table Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | The following example illustrates the expenses 1 Year 3 Year 5 Year 10 Year Total Expenses Incurred $ 30 $ 93 $ 158 $ 332 * The example should not be considered a representation of future expenses. The example assumes that the amounts set forth in the Annual Expenses table are accurate and that all distributions are reinvested at net asset value. Actual expenses may be greater or less than those assumed. Moreover, the Fund’s actual rate of return may be greater or less than the hypothetical 5% return shown in the example. The example includes Dividends on Preferred Shares. If Dividends on Preferred Shares were not included in the example calculation, the expenses for the 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-year periods in the table above would be as follows (based on the same assumptions as above): $ 20 61 105 228 | | | | | | | | | | |
Expense Example, Year 01 | | | | | | | | | | $ 30 | | | | | | | | | | |
Expense Example, Years 1 to 3 | | | | | | | | | | 93 | | | | | | | | | | |
Expense Example, Years 1 to 5 | | | | | | | | | | 158 | | | | | | | | | | |
Expense Example, Years 1 to 10 | | | | | | | | | | $ 332 | | | | | | | | | | |
Purpose of Fee Table , Note [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | The following tables are intended | | | | | | | | | | |
Other Expenses, Note [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | “Other Expenses” are based on estimated amounts for the current year. | | | | | | | | | | |
General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Investment Objectives and Practices [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES Investment Objectives The investment objective of the Fund is to seek a high level of total return on its assets. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective through a combination of current income and capital appreciation. There is no assurance that this objective will be achieved. It is, however, a fundamental policy of the Fund and cannot be changed without stockholder approval. Under normal circumstances the Fund will invest at least 80% of the value of its total assets (taken at current value) in “convertible securities,” i.e., securities (bonds, debentures, notes, stocks and other similar securities) that are convertible into common stock or other equity securities, and “income securities,” i.e., nonconvertible debt or equity securities having a history of regular payments or accrual of income to holders. Securities received upon conversion of a convertible security will not be included in the calculation of the percentage of Fund assets invested in convertible securities but may be retained in the Fund’s portfolio to permit orderly disposition or to establish long-term holding periods for federal income tax purposes. The Fund expects to continue its practice of focusing on convertible securities to the extent attractive opportunities are available. We cannot assure you that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. The Fund may invest without limit in securities rated below investment grade by recognized statistical rating agencies or unrated securities of comparable quality, including securities of issuers in default, which are likely to have the lowest rating; provided, however, that not more than 50% of the Fund’s portfolio will consist of securities rated CCC or lower by S&P or Caa or lower by Moody’s or, if unrated, are of comparable quality as determined by the Investment Adviser, and the Fund’s investments in securities of issuers in default will be limited to not more than 5% of the total assets of the Fund. Securities rated below investment grade, which may be preferred shares or debt, are predominantly speculative and involve major risk exposure to adverse conditions. Securities that are rated lower than “BBB” by S&P, or lower than “Baa” by Moody’s or unrated securities considered by the Investment Adviser to be of comparable quality, are commonly referred to as “junk bonds” or “high yield” securities. The Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets in securities of non-U.S. issuers, which are generally denominated in foreign currencies. The Fund may also purchase sponsored American Depository Receipts (“ADRs”) or U.S. denominated securities of foreign issuers, which will not be included in the Fund’s 25% foreign securities limitation. The Fund has no limit on the amount of its net assets it may invest in unregistered and otherwise illiquid investments; however, the Fund currently does not intend to invest more than 15% of its total net assets in illiquid convertible securities or income securities. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its total assets (taken at current value and subject to any restrictions appearing elsewhere in this Registration Statement) in any combination and quantity of securities that do not generate any income, such as common stocks that do not pay dividends. In selecting any of the foregoing securities for investment, the factors that will be considered by the Investment Adviser include the Investment Adviser’s evaluation of the underlying value of the assets and business of the issuers of the securities, the potential for capital appreciation, the price of the securities, the issuer’s balance sheet characteristics and the perceived skills and integrity of the issuer’s management. During periods when it is deemed necessary for temporary defensive purposes, the Fund may invest without limit in high quality money market instruments, including commercial paper of domestic and foreign corporations, certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances and other obligations of domestic and foreign banks and obligations issued or guaranteed by the United States government, its instrumentalities or agencies and, subject to statutory limitations, unaffiliated money market mutual funds, unless an exemptive order permits the Fund to invest in affiliated money market funds. The yield on these securities will, as a general matter, tend to be lower than the yield on other securities to be purchased by the Fund. Investment Methodology of the Fund In selecting securities for the Fund, the Investment Adviser normally considers the following factors, among others: ● the Investment Adviser’s own evaluations of the private market value (as defined below), cash flow, earnings per share and other ● fundamental aspects of the underlying assets and business of the company; ● the interest or dividend income generated by the securities; ● the potential for capital appreciation of the securities and any underlying common stocks; ● the prices of the securities relative to comparable securities; ● whether the securities are entitled to the benefits of call protection or other protective covenants; ● the existence of any anti-dilution protections or guarantees of the security; and ● the diversification of the Fund’s portfolio as to issuers. The Investment Adviser’s investment philosophy with respect to debt and equity securities is to identify assets that are selling in the public market at a discount to their private market value. The Investment Adviser defines private market value as the value informed purchasers are willing to pay to acquire assets with similar characteristics. The Investment Adviser also normally evaluates an issuer’s free cash flow and long-term earnings trends. Finally, the Investment Adviser looks for a catalyst, something indigenous to the company, its industry or country that will surface additional value. Certain Investment Practices Convertible Securities. security may also be structured so that it is convertible at the option of the holder or the issuer, or subject to mandatory conversion. Before conversion, convertible securities have the same overall characteristics as non-convertible debt or preferred securities insofar as they generally provide a stable stream of income with generally higher yields than those of common stock of the same or similar issuers. Convertible securities rank senior to common stock in an issuer’s capital structure. They are of a higher credit quality and entail less risk than an issuer’s common stock, although the extent to which such risk is reduced depends in large measure upon the degree to which the convertible security sells above its value as a fixed income security. The Fund believes that the characteristics of convertible securities make them appropriate investments for an investment company seeking a high level of total return on its assets. These characteristics include the potential for capital appreciation if the value of the underlying common stock increases, the relatively high yield received from dividend or interest payments as compared to common stock dividends and decreased risks of decline in value, relative to the underlying common stock due to their fixed income nature. As a result of the conversion feature, however, the interest rate or dividend preference on a convertible security is generally less than would be the case if the securities were not convertible. During periods of rising interest rates, it is possible that the potential for capital gain on a convertible security may be less than that of a common stock equivalent if the yield on the convertible security is at a level that causes it to sell at a discount. Every convertible security may be valued, on a theoretical basis, as if it did not have a conversion privilege. This theoretical value is determined by the yield it provides in comparison with the yields of other securities of comparable character and quality that do not have a conversion privilege. This theoretical value, which may change with prevailing interest rates, the credit rating of the issuer and other pertinent factors, often referred to as the “investment value,” represents the security’s theoretical price support level. “Conversion value” is the amount a convertible security would be worth in market value if it were to be exchanged for the underlying equity security pursuant to its conversion privilege. Conversion value fluctuates directly with the price of the underlying equity security, usually common stock. If, because of low prices for the common stock, the conversion value is substantially below the investment value, the price of the convertible security is governed principally by the factors described in the preceding paragraph. If the conversion value rises near or above its investment value, the price of the convertible security generally will rise above its investment value and, in addition, will sell at some premium over its conversion value. This premium represents the price investors are willing to pay for the privilege of purchasing a fixed-income security with a possibility of capital appreciation due to the conversion privilege. Accordingly, the conversion value of a convertible security is subject to equity risk, that is, the risk that the price of an equity security will fall due to general market and economic conditions, perceptions regarding the industry in which the issuer participates or the issuing company’s particular circumstances. If the appreciation potential of a convertible security is not realized, its conversion value premium may not be recovered. In its selection of convertible securities for the Fund, the Investment Adviser will not emphasize either investment value or conversion value, but will consider both in light of the Fund’s overall investment objective. See “Convertible Securities” below. The Fund may convert a convertible security that it holds: ● when necessary to permit orderly disposition of the investment when a convertible security approaches maturity or has been called for redemption; ● to facilitate a sale of the position; ● if the dividend rate on the underlying common stock increases above the yield on the convertible secu-rity; or ● whenever the Investment Adviser believes it is otherwise in the best interests of the Fund. Convertible securities are generally not investment grade, that is, not rated within the four highest categories by S&P and Moody’s. To the extent that such convertible securities and other nonconvertible debt securities, which are acquired by the Fund consistent with the factors considered by the Investment Adviser as described in this Annual Report, are rated lower than investment grade or are not rated, there would be a greater risk as to the timely repayment of the principal of, and timely payment of interest or dividends on, those securities. It is expected that not more than 50% of the Fund’s portfolio will consist of securities rated CCC or lower by S&P or Caa or lower by Moody’s or, if unrated, are of comparable quality as determined by the Investment Adviser. Those securities and securities rated BB or lower by S&P or Ba or lower by Moody’s are often referred to in the financial press as “junk bonds” and may include securities of issuers in default. “Junk bonds” are considered by the rating agencies to be predominantly speculative and may involve major risk exposure to adverse conditions. See “Risk Factors and Special Considerations- Convertible Securities-Credit Risk.” Securities rated BBB by S&P or Baa by Moody’s, in the opinion of the rating agencies, also have speculative characteristics. Securities need not meet a minimum rating standard in order to be acceptable for investment by the Fund. The Fund’s investments in securities of issuers in default will be limited to not more than 5% of the total assets of the Fund. Further, the Fund will invest in securities of issuers in default only when the Investment Adviser believes that such issuers will emerge from bankruptcy and the value of such securities will appreciate. By investing in securities of issuers in default the Fund bears the risk that such issuers will not emerge from bankruptcy or that the value of such securities will not appreciate. The Fund has no independent limit on the amount of its net assets it may invest in unregistered and otherwise illiquid securities and other investments. The current intention of the Investment Adviser is not to invest in excess of 15% of the Fund’s net assets in illiquid convertible securities or income securities. Common stockholders will be notified if the Investment Adviser changes its intention. Investments in unregistered or otherwise illiquid securities entail certain risks related to the fact that they cannot be sold publicly in the United States without registration under the Securities Act. See “Risk Factors and Special Considerations—Asset Class Risks.” Synthetic Convertible Securities. income-producing component is achieved by investing in non-convertible, income-producing securities such as bonds, preferred stocks and money market instruments. The convertible component is achieved by investing in securities or instruments such as warrants or options to buy common stock at a certain exercise price, or options on a stock index. Unlike a traditional convertible security, which is a single security having a single market value, a synthetic convertible comprises two or more separate securities, each with its own market value. Because the “market value” of a synthetic convertible security is the sum of the values of its income producing component and its convertible component, the value of a synthetic convertible security may respond differently to market fluctuations than a traditional convertible security. The Fund also may purchase synthetic convertible securities created by other parties, including convertible structured notes. Convertible structured notes are income-producing debentures linked to equity. Convertible structured notes have the attributes of a convertible security; however, the issuer of the convertible note (typically an investment bank), rather than the issuer of the underlying common stock into which the note is convertible, assumes credit risk associated with the underlying investment and the Fund in turn assumes credit risk associated with the issuer of the convertible note. Foreign Securities. The Investment Adviser believes that investing in foreign securities offers both enhanced investment opportunities and additional risks beyond those present in U.S. securities. Investing in foreign securities may provide increased diversification by adding securities from various foreign countries (i) that offer different investment opportunities, (ii) that generally are affected by different economic trends and (iii) whose stock markets may not be correlated with U.S. markets. At the same time, these opportunities and trends involve risks that may not be encountered in U.S. investments. The following considerations comprise both risks and opportunities not typically associated with investing in U.S. securities: fluctuations in exchange rates of foreign currencies; possible imposition of exchange control regulations or currency restrictions that would prevent cash from being brought back to the United States; less public information with respect to issuers of securities; less government supervision of stock exchanges, securities brokers and issuers of securities; lack of uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards; lack of uniform settlement periods and trading practices; less liquidity and frequently greater price volatility in foreign markets than in the United States; possible imposition of foreign taxes; the possibility of expropriation or confiscatory taxation, seizure or nationalization of foreign bank deposits or other assets; the adoption of foreign government restrictions and other adverse political, social or diplomatic developments that could affect investment; difficulty in obtaining or enforcing a court judgment abroad; sometimes less advantageous legal, operational and financial protections applicable to foreign sub-custodial arrangements; and the historically lower level of responsiveness of foreign management to shareholder concerns (such as dividends and return on investment). American Depositary Receipts. taxation, and limitations on the removal of funds or other assets could adversely affect the value of the Fund’s investments in such securities. The value of the securities underlying ADRs could fluctuate as exchange rates change between U.S. dollars and the currency of the country in which the foreign company is located. In addition, foreign companies are not registered with the SEC and are generally not subject to the regulatory controls imposed on U.S. issuers and, as a consequence, there is generally less publicly available information about foreign companies than is available about domestic companies. Foreign companies are not subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards, practices and requirements comparable to those applicable to domestic companies. Emerging Market Countries. Income Securities. The market value of fixed income securities, especially those that provide a fixed rate of return, may be expected to rise and fall inversely with interest rates and in general is affected by the credit rating of the issuer, the issuer’s performance and perceptions of the issuer in the market place. The market value of callable or redeemable fixed income securities may also be affected by the issuer’s call and redemption rights. In addition, it is possible that the issuer of fixed income securities may not be able to meet its interest or principal obligations to holders. Further, holders of non-convertible fixed income securities do not participate in any capital appreciation of the issuer. The Fund may also invest in obligations of government sponsored instrumentalities. Unlike non-U.S. government securities, obligations of certain agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. government, such as the Government National Mortgage Association, are supported by the “full faith and credit” of the U.S. government; others, such as those of the Export-Import Bank of the U.S., are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury; others, such as those of the Federal National Mortgage Association, are supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase the agency’s obligations; and still others, such as those of the Student Loan Marketing Association, are supported only by the credit of the instrumentality. No assurance can be given that the U.S. government would provide financial support to U.S. government sponsored instrumentalities if it is not obligated to do so by law. Although the Fund may invest in all types of obligations of agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. government, the Fund currently intends to invest only in obligations that are supported by the “full faith and credit” of the U.S. government. The Fund also may invest in common stock of issuers that have historically paid periodic dividends or otherwise made distributions to common stockholders. Unlike fixed income securities, dividend payments generally are not guaranteed and so may be discontinued by the issuer at its discretion or because of the issuer’s inability to satisfy its liabilities. Further, an issuer’s history of paying dividends does not guarantee that it will continue to pay dividends in the future. In addition to dividends, under certain circumstances the holders of common stock may benefit from the capital appreciation of the issuer. Common stocks represent the residual ownership interest in the issuer and holders of common stock are entitled to the income and increase in the value of the assets and business of the issuer after all of its debt obligations and obligations to preferred shareholders are satisfied. Common stocks generally have voting rights. Common stocks fluctuate in price in response to many factors including historical and prospective earnings of the issuer, the value of its assets, general economic conditions, interest rates, investor perceptions and market liquidity. Non-Investment Grade Securities. government securities or securities of investment grade issuers because they are subject to greater risks than these securities. These risks, which reflect their speculative character, include the following: ● greater volatility; ● greater credit risk and risk of default; ● potentially greater sensitivity to general economic or industry conditions; ● potential lack of attractive resale opportunities (illiquidity); and ● additional expenses to seek recovery from issuers who default. In addition, the prices of these non-investment grade securities are more sensitive to negative developments, such as a decline in the issuer’s revenues or a general economic downturn, than are the prices of higher grade securities. Non-investment grade securities tend to be less liquid than investment grade securities. The market value of non-investment grade securities may be more volatile than the market value of investment grade securities and generally tends to reflect the market’s perception of the creditworthiness of the issuer and short term market developments to a greater extent than investment grade securities, which primarily reflect fluctuations in general levels of interest rates. Ratings are relative and subjective, and not absolute standards of quality. Securities ratings are based largely on the issuer’s historical financial condition and the rating agencies’ analysis at the time of rating. Consequently, the rating assigned to any particular security is not necessarily a reflection of the issuer’s current financial condition. The Fund may purchase securities of companies that are experiencing significant financial or business difficulties, including companies involved in bankruptcy or other reorganization and liquidation proceedings. Although such investments may result in significant financial returns to the Fund, they involve a substantial degree of risk. The level of analytical sophistication, both financial and legal, necessary for successful investments in issuers experiencing significant business and financial difficulties is unusually high. There can be no assurance that the Fund will correctly evaluate the value of the assets collateralizing its investments or the prospects for a successful reorganization or similar action. In any reorganization or liquidation proceeding relating to a portfolio investment, the Fund may lose all or part of its investment or may be required to accept collateral with a value less than the amount of the Fund’s initial investment. As a part of its investments in non-investment grade securities, the Fund may invest in the securities of issuers in default. The Fund invests in securities of issuers in default only when the Investment Adviser believes that such issuers will honor their obligations and emerge from bankruptcy protection and that the value of such issuers’ securities will appreciate. By investing in the securities of issuers in default, the Fund bears the risk that these issuers will not continue to honor their obligations or emerge from bankruptcy protection or that the value of these securities will not otherwise appreciate. In addition to using recognized rating agencies and other sources, the Investment Adviser will also perform its own analysis of issuers in seeking investments that it believes to be underrated (and thus higher yielding) in light of the financial condition of the issuer. Its analysis of issuers may include, among other things, current and anticipated cash flow and borrowing requirements, value of assets in relation to historical cost, strength of management, responsiveness to business conditions, credit standing and current anticipated results of operations. In selecting investments for the Fund, the Investment Adviser may also consider general business conditions, anticipated changes in interest rates and the outlook for specific industries. Subsequent to its purchase by the Fund, an issue of securities may cease to be rated or its rating may be reduced. In addition, it is possible that recognized rating agencies might change their ratings of a particular issue to reflect subsequent events on a timely basis. Moreover, such ratings do not assess the risk of a decline in market value. None of these events will require the sale of the securities by the Fund, although the Investment Adviser will consider these events in determining whether the Fund should continue to hold the securities. Income securities, including non-investment grade securities and comparable unrated securities, frequently have call or buy-back features that permit their issuers to call or repurchase the securities from their holders, such as the Fund. If an issuer exercises these rights during periods of declining interest rates, the Fund may have to replace the security with a lower yielding security, thus resulting in a decreased return for the Fund. The market for non-investment grade and comparable unrated securities has at various times, particularly during times of economic recession, experienced substantial reductions in market value and liquidity. Past recessions have adversely affected the value of such securities as well as the ability of certain issuers of such securities to repay principal and pay interest thereon or to refinance such securities. The market for those securities could react in a similar fashion in the event of any future economic recession. Value Investing. The Fund’s portfolio manager generally invests in securities of companies that are trading significantly below his estimate of the company’s current worth in an attempt to reduce the risk of overpaying for such companies. Seeking long term growth of capital, he also evaluates the prospects for the market price of the company’s securities to increase over a two- to five-year period toward this estimate. The Investment Adviser’s value approach strives to reduce some of the other risks of investing in the securities of smaller companies (for the Fund’s portfolio taken as a whole) by evaluating other risk factors. For example, its portfolio manager generally attempts to lessen financial risk by buying companies with strong balance sheets and low leverage. While there can be no assurance that this risk-averse value approach will be successful, the Investment Adviser believes that it can reduce some of the risks of investing. Although the Investment Adviser’s approach to security selection seeks to reduce downside risk to the Fund’s portfolio, especially during periods of broad stock market declines, it may also potentially have the effect of limiting gains in strong up markets. Risk Arbitrage. In general, securities which are the subject of such an offer or proposal sell at a premium to their historic market price immediately prior to the announcement of the offer but may trade at a discount or premium to what the stated or appraised value of the security would be if the contemplated transaction were approved or consummated. Such investments may be advantageous when the discount significantly overstates the risk of the contingencies involved; significantly undervalues the securities, assets or cash to be received by shareholders as a result of the contemplated transaction; or fails adequately to recognize the possibility that the offer or proposal may be replaced or superseded by an offer or proposal of greater value. The evaluation of such contingencies requires unusually broad knowledge and experience on the part of the Investment Adviser which must appraise not only the value of the issuer and its component businesses as well as the assets or securities to be received as a result of the contemplated transaction but also the financial resources and business motivation behind the offer and/or the dynamics and business climate when the offer or proposal is in process. Since such investments are ordinarily short term in nature, they will tend to increase the turnover ratio of the Fund, thereby increasing its brokerage and other transaction expenses. Risk arbitrage strategies may also involve short selling, options hedging and other arbitrage techniques to capture price differentials. Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts. are typically consummated without payment of any commissions. The Fund, however, may enter into forward currency contracts requiring deposits or involving the payment of commissions. The Fund expects to invest in forward currency contracts for hedging or currency risk management purposes and not in order to speculate on currency exchange rate movements. The Fund will only enter into forward currency contracts with parties which it believes to be creditworthy. In hedging a specific transaction, the Fund may enter into a forward contract with respect to either the currency in which the transaction is denominated or another currency deemed appropriate by the Investment Adviser. The amount the Fund may invest in forward currency contracts is limited to the amount of its aggregate investments in foreign currencies. The use of forward currency contracts may involve certain risks, including the failure of the counterparty to perform its obligations under the contract, and such use may not serve as a complete hedge because of an imperfect correlation between movements in the prices of the contracts and the prices of the currencies hedged or used for cover. The Fund will only enter into forward currency contracts with parties that the Investment Adviser believes to be creditworthy institutions. Restricted and Illiquid Securities. It may be difficult to sell such securities at a price representing the fair value until such time as such securities may be sold publicly. Where registration is required, a considerable period may elapse between a decision to sell the securities and the time when it would be permitted to sell. Thus, the Fund may not be able to obtain as favorable a price as that prevailing at the time of the decision to sell. The Fund may also acquire securities through private placements under which it may agree to contractual restrictions on the resale of such securities. Such restrictions might prevent their sale at a time when such sale would otherwise be desirable. Leverage. leverage may require it to sell portfolio investments at inopportune times in order to raise cash to redeem preferred shares or otherwise de-leverage so as to maintain required asset coverage amounts or comply with any mandatory redemption terms of any outstanding preferred shares. See “Risk Factors and Special Considerations—Leverage Risk.” In the event the Fund had both outstanding preferred shares and senior securities representing debt at the same time, the Fund’s obligations to pay dividends or distributions and, upon liquidation of the Fund, liquidation payments in respect of its preferred shares would be subordinate to the Fund’s obligations to make any principal and/or interest payments due and owing with respect to its outstanding senior debt securities. Accordingly, the Fund’s issuance of senior securities representing debt would have the effect of creating special risks for the Fund’s preferred shareholders that would not be present in a capital structure that did not include such securities. See “Risk Factors and Special Considerations—Special Risks Related to Preferred Securities.” Subject to the requirements of Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act (“Rule 18f-4”), the Fund may enter into derivative transactions, including transactions that have economic leverage embedded in them. Rule 18f-4 defines “derivatives transactions” as (1) any swap, security-based swap, futures contract, forward contract, option, any combination of the foregoing, or any similar instrument, under which a fund is or may be required to make any payment or delivery of cash or other assets during the life of the instrument or at maturity or early termination, whether as margin or settlement payment or otherwise; and (2) any short sale borrowing. Derivatives transactions entered into by the Fund in compliance with Rule 18f-4 will not be considered senior securities for purposes of computing the asset coverage requirements described above. Economic leverage exists when the Fund achieves the right to a return on a capital base that exceeds the investment which the Fund has contributed to the instrument achieving a return. Derivative transactions that the Fund may enter into and the risks associated with them | | | | | | | | | | |
Risk Factors [Table Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | RISK FACTORS AND SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS Investors should consider the following risk factors and special considerations associated with investing in the Fund: General Risks Market Risk price volatility than fixed income securities. Credit ratings downgrades may also negatively affect securities held by the Fund. Even when markets perform well, there is no assurance that the investments held by the Fund will increase in value along with the broader market. In addition, market risk includes the risk that geopolitical and other events will disrupt the economy on a national or global level. For instance, war, terrorism, market manipulation, government defaults, government shutdowns, political changes or diplomatic developments, public health emergencies (such as the spread of infectious diseases, pandemics and epidemics) and natural/environmental disasters can all negatively impact the securities markets, which could cause the Fund to lose value. These events could reduce consumer demand or economic output, result in market closures, travel restrictions or quarantines, and significantly adversely impact the economy. The current contentious domestic political environment, as well as political and diplomatic events within the United States and abroad, such as 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, which could have an adverse impact on the Fund’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. Governmental and quasi-governmental authorities and regulators throughout the world have previously responded to serious economic disruptions with a variety of significant fiscal and monetary policy changes, including but not limited to, direct capital infusions into companies, new monetary programs and dramatically lower interest rates. An unexpected or sudden reversal of these policies, or the ineffectiveness of these policies, could increase volatility in securities markets, which could adversely affect the Fund’s investments. Any market disruptions could also prevent the Fund from executing advantageous investment decisions in a timely manner. To the extent that the Fund focuses its investments in a region enduring geopolitical market disruption, it will face higher risks of loss, although the increasing interconnectivity between global economies and financial markets can lead to events or conditions in one country, region or financial market adversely impacting a different country, region or financial market. Thus, investors should closely monitor current market conditions to determine whether the Fund meets their individual financial needs and tolerance for risk. Current market conditions may pose heightened risks with respect to the Fund’s investment in fixed income securities. Interest rates have risen in recent months, and the risk that they may continue to do so is pronounced. Any interest rate increases in the future could cause the value of the Fund to decrease. Recently, inflation levels have been at their highest point in nearly 40 years, and the Federal Reserve has been engaged in an aggressive campaign to raise certain benchmark interest rates in an effort to combat inflation. As such, fixed income securities markets may experience heightened levels of interest rate, volatility and liquidity risk. Exchanges and securities markets may close early, close late or issue trading halts on specific securities or generally, which may result in, among other things, the Fund being unable to buy or sell certain securities or financial instruments at an advantageous time or accurately price its portfolio investments. Interest Rate Risk Generally . General interest rate fluctuations may have a substantial negative impact on the Fund’s investments, the value of the Fund and the Fund’s rate of return. A reduction in the interest or dividend rates on new investments relative to interest or dividend rates on current investments could also have an adverse impact on the Fund’s net investment income. An increase in interest rates could decrease the value of any investments held by the Fund that earn fixed interest or dividend rates, including debt securities, convertible securities, preferred stocks, loans and high-yield bonds, and also could increase interest or dividend expenses, thereby decreasing net income. Interest rates have risen over the past year and the chance that they will continue to rise is pronounced. The magnitude of these fluctuations in the market price of bonds and other income- or dividend-paying securities is generally greater for those securities with longer maturities. Fluctuations in the market price of the Fund’s investments will not affect interest income derived from instruments already owned by the Fund, but will be reflected in the Fund’s net asset value. The Fund may lose money if short-term or long-term interest rates rise sharply in a manner not anticipated by Fund management. To the extent the Fund invests in securities that may be prepaid at the option of the obligor, the sensitivity of such securities to changes in interest rates may increase (to the detriment of the Fund) when interest rates rise. Moreover, because rates on certain floating rate securities typically reset only periodically, changes in prevailing interest rates (and particularly sudden and significant changes) can be expected to cause some fluctuations in the net asset value of the Fund to the extent that it invests in floating rate securities. These basic principles of bond prices also apply to U.S. government securities. A security backed by the “full faith and credit” of the U.S. government is guaranteed only as to its stated interest rate and face value at maturity, not its current market price. Just like other income- or dividend-paying securities, government-guaranteed securities will fluctuate in value when interest rates change. The Fund’s use of leverage will tend to increase the Fund’s interest rate risk. The Fund may invest in variable and floating rate instruments, which generally are less sensitive to interest rate changes than longer duration fixed rate instruments but may decline in value in response to rising interest rates if, for example, the rates at which they pay interest do not rise as much, or as quickly, as market interest rates in general. Conversely, variable and floating rate instruments generally will not increase in value if interest rates decline. The Fund also may invest in inverse floating rate securities, which may decrease in value if interest rates increase, and which also may exhibit greater price volatility than fixed rate obligations with similar credit quality. To the extent the Fund holds variable or floating rate instruments, a decrease (or, in the case of inverse floating rate securities, an increase) in market interest rates will adversely affect the income received from such securities, which may adversely affect the net asset value of the Fund’s common shares. Recently, central banks such as the Federal Reserve Bank have been increasing interest rates in an effort to slow the rate of inflation. There is a risk that increased interest rates may cause the economy to enter a recession. Any such recession would negatively impact the Fund and the investments held by the Fund. These impacts may include: ● severe declines in the Fund’s net asset values; ● inability of the Fund to accurately or reliably value its portfolio; ● inability of the Fund to pay any dividends or distributions; ● inability of the Fund to maintain its status as a registered investment company (“RIC”) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”); ● declines in the value of the Fund’s investments; ● increased risk of default or bankruptcy by the companies in which the Fund invests; ● increased risk of companies in which the Fund invests being unable to weather an extended cessation of normal economic activity and thereby impairing their ability to continue functioning as a going concern; and ● limited availability of new investment opportunities. Inflation Risk Convertible Securities Risk The value of a convertible security is influenced by the value of the underlying equity security. Convertible debt securities and preferred stocks may depreciate in value if the market value of the underlying equity security declines or if rates of interest increase. In addition, although debt securities are liabilities of a corporation which the corporation is generally obligated to repay at a specified time, debt securities, particularly convertible debt securities, are often subordinated to the claims of some or all of the other creditors of the corporation. Mandatory conversion securities (securities that automatically convert into equity securities at a future date) may limit the potential for capital appreciation and, in some instances, are subject to complete loss of invested capital. Other innovative convertibles include “equity-linked” securities, which are securities or derivatives that may have fixed, variable, or no interest payments prior to maturity, may convert (at the option of the holder or on a mandatory basis) into cash or a combination of cash and common stock, and may be structured to limit the potential for capital appreciation. Equity-linked securities may be illiquid and difficult to value and may be subject to greater credit risk than that of other convertibles. Moreover, mandatory conversion securities and equity-linked securities have increased the sensitivity of the convertible securities market to the volatility of the equity markets and to the special risks of those innovations, which may include risks different from, and possibly greater than, those associated with traditional convertible securities. Preferred stocks are equity securities in the sense that they do not represent a liability of the corporation. In the event of liquidation of the corporation, and after its creditors have been paid or provided for, holders of preferred stock are generally entitled to a preference as to the assets of the corporation before any distribution may be made to the holders of common stock. Debt securities normally do not have voting rights. Preferred stocks may have no voting rights or may have voting rights only under certain circumstances. Credit Risk . Market Risk. Interest Rate Risk for Convertible Securities. Sector Risk. Dilution Risk. Fixed Income Securities Risks ● Interest Rate Risk. ● Credit Risk. ● Issuer Risk. ● Prepayment Risk. . ● Duration and Maturity Risk. in interest rates. For example, a duration of five years means that a 1% decrease in interest rates will increase the NAV of the portfolio by approximately 5%; if interest rates increase by 1%, the NAV will decrease by 5%. However, in a managed portfolio of fixed income securities having differing interest or dividend rates or payment schedules, maturities, redemption provisions, call or prepayment provisions and credit qualities, actual price changes in response to changes in interest rates may differ significantly from a duration-based estimate at any given time. Actual price movements experienced by a portfolio of fixed income securities will be affected by how interest rates move (i.e., changes in the relationship of long term interest rates to short term interest rates), the magnitude of any move in interest rates, actual and anticipated prepayments of principal through call or redemption features, the extension of maturities through restructuring, the sale of securities for portfolio management purposes, the reinvestment of proceeds from prepayments on and from sales of securities, and credit quality-related considerations whether associated with financing costs to lower credit quality borrowers or otherwise, as well as other factors. Accordingly, while duration maybe a useful tool to estimate potential price movements in relation to changes in interest rates, investors are cautioned that duration alone will not predict actual changes in the net asset or market value of the Fund’s shares and that actual price movements in the Fund’s port-folio may differ significantly from duration-based estimates. Duration differs from maturity in that it takes into account a security’s yield, coupon payments and its principal payments in addition to the amount of time until the security matures. As the value of a security changes over time, so will its duration. Prices of securities with longer durations tend to be more sensitive to interest rate changes than securities with shorter durations. In general, a portfolio of securities with a longer duration can be expected to be more sensitive to interest rate changes than a portfolio with a shorter duration. Any decisions as to the tar-geted duration or maturity of any particular category of investments will be made based on all pertinent market factors at any given time. The Fund may incur costs in seeking to adjust the portfolio average duration or maturity. There can be no assurance that the Investment Adviser’s assessment of current and projected market conditions will be correct or that any strategy to adjust duration or maturity will be successful at any given time. Corporate Bonds Risk Non-Investment Grade Securities Risk ● greater volatility; ● greater credit risk and risk of default; ● potentially greater sensitivity to general economic or industry conditions; ● potential lack of attractive resale opportunities (illiquidity); and ● additional expenses to seek recovery from issuers who default. In addition, the prices of these non-investment grade securities are more sensitive to negative developments, such as a decline in the issuer’s revenues or a general economic downturn, than are the prices of higher grade securities. Non-investment grade securities tend to be less liquid than investment grade securities. The market value of non-investment grade securities may be more volatile than the market value of investment grade securities and generally tends to reflect the market’s perception of the creditworthiness of the issuer and short term market developments to a greater extent than investment grade securities, which primarily reflect fluctuations in general levels of interest rates. Ratings are relative and subjective and not absolute standards of quality. Securities ratings are based largely on the issuer’s historical financial condition and the rating agencies’ analysis at the time of rating. Consequently, the rating assigned to any particular security is not necessarily a reflection of the issuer’s current financial condition. The Fund may purchase securities of companies that are experiencing significant financial or business difficulties, including companies involved in bankruptcy or other reorganization and liquidation proceedings. Although such investments may result in significant financial returns to the Fund, they involve a substantial degree of risk. The level of analytical sophistication, both financial and legal, necessary for successful investments in issuers experiencing significant business and financial difficulties is unusually high. There can be no assurance that the Fund will correctly evaluate the value of the assets collateralizing its investments or the prospects for a successful reorganization or similar action. In any reorganization or liquidation proceeding relating to a portfolio investment, the Fund may lose all or part of its investment or may be required to accept collateral with a value less than the amount of the Fund’s initial investment. As a part of its investments in non-investment grade securities, the Fund may invest in the securities of issuers in default. The Fund invests in securities of issuers in default only when the Investment Adviser believes that such issuers will honor their obligations and emerge from bankruptcy protection and that the value of such issuers’ securities will appreciate. By investing in the securities of issuers in default, the Fund bears the risk that these issuers will not continue to honor their obligations or emerge from bankruptcy protection or that the value of these securities will not otherwise appreciate. In addition to using statistical rating agencies and other sources, the Investment Adviser will also perform its own analysis of issuers in seeking investments that it believes to be underrated (and thus higher yielding) in light of the financial condition of the issuer. Its analysis of issuers may include, among other things, current and anticipated cash flow and borrowing requirements, value of assets in relation to historical cost, strength of management, responsiveness to business conditions, credit standing and current anticipated results of operations. In selecting investments for the Fund, the Investment Adviser may also consider general business conditions, anticipated changes in interest rates and the outlook for specific industries. Subsequent to its purchase by the Fund, an issue of securities may cease to be rated or its rating may be reduced. In addition, it is possible that statistical rating agencies might change their ratings of a particular issue to reflect subsequent events on a timely basis. Moreover, such ratings do not assess the risk of a decline in market value. None of these events will require the sale of the securities by the Fund, although the Investment Adviser will consider these events in determining whether the Fund should continue to hold the securities. Income securities, including non-investment grade securities and comparable unrated securities, frequently have call or buy-back features that permit their issuers to call or repurchase the securities from their holders, such as the Fund. If an issuer exercises these rights during periods of declining interest rates, the Fund may have to replace the security with a lower yielding security, thus resulting in a decreased return for the Fund. The market for non-investment grade and comparable unrated securities has at various times, particularly during times of economic recession, experienced substantial reductions in market value and liquidity. Past recessions have adversely affected the value of such securities as well as the ability of certain issuers of such securities to repay principal and pay interest thereon or to refinance such securities. The market for those securities could react in a similar fashion in the event of any future economic recession. Equity Risk Common Stock Risk Distribution Risk for Equity Income Securities Dividend-producing equity income securities, in particular those whose market price is closely related to their yield, may exhibit greater sensitivity to interest rate changes. See “—Fixed Income Securities Risks—Interest Rate Risk.” The Fund’s investments in dividend-producing equity income securities may also limit its potential for appreciation during a broad market advance. The prices of dividend-producing equity income securities can be highly volatile. Investors should not assume that the Fund’s investments in these securities will necessarily reduce the volatility of the Fund’s net asset value or provide “protection,” compared to other types of equity income securities, when markets perform poorly. Preferred Stock Risk Deferral. Non-Cumulative Dividends. Subordination. Liquidity. Limited Voting Rights. which time the preferred security holders may be entitled to elect a number of directors to the issuer’s board. Generally, once all the arrearages have been paid, the preferred security holders no longer have voting rights. Special Redemption Rights. Computer Software/Services Companies Risk Many computer software/services companies rely on a combination of patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade secret laws to establish and protect their proprietary rights in their products and technologies. There can be no assurance that the steps taken by computer software/services companies to protect their proprietary rights will be adequate to prevent misappropriation of their technology or that competitors will not independently develop technologies that are substantially equivalent or superior to such companies’ technology. U.S. Government Securities and Credit Rating Downgrade Risk In 2011, S&P lowered its long term sovereign credit rating on the U.S. to “AA+” from “AAA.” The downgrade by S&P increased volatility in both stock and bond markets, resulting in higher interest rates and higher Treasury yields, and increased the costs of all kinds of debt. On August 1, 2023, Fitch Ratings lowered its long-term sovereign credit rating on the U.S. to “AA+” from “AAA.” This and any further downgrades of U.S. credit ratings could have significant adverse effects on the U.S. economy generally and could result in significant adverse impacts on issuers of securities held by the Fund itself. The Investment Adviser cannot predict the effects of similar events in the future on the U.S. economy and securities markets or on the Fund’s portfolio. The Investment Adviser monitors developments and seeks to manage the Fund’s portfolio in a manner consistent with achieving the Fund’s investment objective, but there can be no assurance that it will be successful in doing so and the Investment Adviser may not timely anticipate or manage existing, new or additional risks, contingencies or developments. Significant Holdings Risk Value Investing Risk Selection Risk Merger Arbitrage Risk the less a target company will benefit from a merger or acquisition, the greater the risk. There is also a risk that an acquiring company may back out of an announced deal if, in the process of completing its due diligence of the target company, it discovers something undesirable about such company. In addition, merger transactions are also subject to regulatory risk because a merger transaction often must be approved by a regulatory body or pass governmental antitrust review. All of these factors affect the timing and likelihood that the transaction will close. Even if the Investment Adviser selects announced deals with the goal of mitigating the risks that the transaction will fail to close, such risks may still delay the closing of such transaction to a date later than the Fund originally anticipated, reducing the level of desired return to the Fund. Merger arbitrage positions are also subject to the risk of overall market movements. To the extent that a general increase or decline in equity values affects the stocks involved in a merger arbitrage position differently, the position may be exposed to loss. Finally, merger arbitrage strategies depend for success on the overall volume of global merger activity, which has historically been cyclical in nature. During periods when merger activity is low, it may be difficult or impossible to identify opportunities for profit or to identify a sufficient number of such opportunities to provide balance among potential merger transactions. To the extent that the number of announced deals and corporate reorganizations decreases or the number of investors in such transactions increases, it is possible that merger arbitrage spreads will tighten, causing the profitability of investing in such transactions to diminish, which will in turn decrease the returns to the Fund from such investment activity. Foreign Securities Risk There may be less publicly available information about a foreign company than a U.S. company. Foreign securities markets may have substantially less volume than U.S. securities markets and some foreign company securities are less liquid than securities of otherwise comparable U.S. companies. A portfolio of foreign securities may also be adversely affected by fluctuations in the rates of exchange between the currencies of different nations and by exchange control regulations. Foreign markets also have different clearance and settlement procedures that could cause the Fund to encounter difficulties in purchasing and selling securities on such markets and may result in the Fund missing attractive investment opportunities or experiencing loss. In addition, a portfolio that includes foreign securities can expect to have a higher expense ratio because of the increased transaction costs on non-U.S. securities markets and the increased costs of maintaining the custody of foreign securities. Investments in foreign securities will expose the Fund to the direct or indirect consequences of political, social or economic changes in the countries that issue the securities or in which the issuers are located. Certain countries in which the Fund may invest have historically experienced, and may continue to experience, high rates of inflation, high interest rates, exchange rate fluctuations, large amounts of external debt, balance of payments and trade difficulties and extreme poverty and unemployment. Many of these countries are also characterized by political uncertainty and instability. The cost of servicing external debt will generally be adversely affected by rising international interest rates because many external debt obligations bear interest at rates which are adjusted based upon international interest rates. The Fund also may purchase ADRs or U.S. dollar-denominated securities of foreign issuers. ADRs are receipts issued by U.S. banks or trust companies in respect of securities of foreign issuers held on deposit for use in the U.S. securities markets. While ADRs may not necessarily be denominated in the same currency as the securities into which they may be converted, many of the risks associated with foreign securities may also apply to ADRs. In addition, the underlying issuers of certain depositary receipts, particularly unsponsored or unregistered depositary receipts, are under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications to the holders of such receipts, or to pass through to them any voting rights with respect to the deposited securities. The following provides more detail on certain pronounced risks with foreign investing: Certain non-U.S. currencies, primarily in developing countries, have been devalued in the past and might face devaluation in the future. Currency devaluations generally have a significant and adverse impact on the devaluing country’s economy in the short and intermediate term and on the financial condition and results of companies’ operations in that country. Currency devaluations may also be accompanied by significant declines in the values and liquidity of equity and debt securities of affected governmental and private sector entities generally. To the extent that affected companies have obligations denominated in currencies other than the devalued currency, those companies may also have difficulty in meeting those obligations under such circumstances, which in turn could have an adverse effect upon the value of the Fund’s investments in such companies. There can be no assurance that current or future developments with respect to foreign currency devaluations will not impair the Fund’s investment flexibility, its ability to achieve its investment objective or the value of certain of its foreign currency-denominated investments. Tax Consequences of Foreign Investing. EMU and Redenomination Risk. Euro or of the exit of one or more countries from the EMU, on the U.S. and global economies and securities markets are impossible to predict, and any such events could have a significant adverse impact on the value and risk profile of the Fund’s portfolio. Any partial or complete dissolution of the EMU could have significant adverse effects on currency and financial markets, and on the values of the Fund’s portfolio investments. If one or more EMU countries were to stop using the Euro as its primary currency, the Fund’s investments in such countries may be redenominated into a different or newly adopted currency. As a result, the value of those investments could decline significantly and unpredictably. In addition, securities or other investments that are redenominated may be subject to foreign currency risk, liquidity risk and valuation risk to a greater extent than similar investments currently denominated in Euros. To the extent a currency used for redenomination purposes is not specified in respect of certain EMU-related investments, or should the Euro cease to be used entirely, the currency in which such investments are denominated may be unclear, making such investments particularly difficult to value or dispose of. The Fund may incur additional expenses to the extent it is required to seek judicial or other clarification of the denomination or value of such securities. Emerging Markets Risk. Eurozone Risk. have other unintended consequences. Further defaults or restructurings by governments and others of their debt could have additional adverse effects on economies, financial markets, and asset valuations around the world. Greece, Ireland, and Portugal have already received one or more “bailouts” from other Eurozone member states, and it is unclear how much additional funding they will require or if additional Eurozone member states will require bailouts in the future. One or more other countries may also abandon the euro and/or withdraw from the EU, placing its currency and banking system in jeopardy. The impact of these actions, especially if they occur in a disorderly fashion, is not clear, but could be significant and far-reaching. Brexit Risk. In particular, currency volatility may mean that our returns and the returns of our portfolio companies will be adversely affected by market movements and may make it more difficult, or more expensive, for us to implement appropriate currency hedging. Potential declines in the value of the British Pound and/or the euro against other currencies, along with the potential downgrading of the United Kingdom’s sovereign credit rating, may also have an impact on the performance of any of our portfolio companies located in the United Kingdom or Europe. In addition, certain European countries have recently experienced negative interest rates on certain fixed-income instruments. A negative interest rate policy is an unconventional central bank monetary policy tool where nominal target interest rates are set with a negative value (i.e., below zero percent) intended to help create self-sustaining growth in the local economy. Negative interest rates may result in heightened market volatility and may detract from the Fund’s performance to the extent the Fund is exposed to such interest rates. Among other things, these developments adversely affected the value and exchange rate of the euro and pound sterling, and any similar developments may continue to significantly affect the economies of all EU countries, which in turn may have a material adverse effect on the Fund’s investments in such countries, other countries that depend on EU countries for significant amounts of trade or investment, or issuers with exposure to debt issued by certain EU countries. To the extent the Fund has exposure to European markets or to transactions tied to the value of the euro, these events could negatively affect the value and liquidity of the Fund’s investments. All of these developments may continue to significantly affect the economies of all EU countries, which in turn may have a material adverse effect on the Fund’s investments in such countries, other countries that depend on EU countries for significant amounts of trade or investment, or issuers with exposure to debt issued by certain EU countries. Smaller Companies Investment Risk As a result, the purchase or sale of more than a limited number of shares of the securities of a smaller company may affect its market price. The Investment Adviser may need a considerable amount of time to purchase or sell its positions in these securities, particularly when other Investment Adviser-managed accounts or other investors are also seeking to purchase or sell them. The securities of smaller capitalization companies generally trade in lower volumes and are subject to greater and more unpredictable price changes than larger capitalization securities or the market as a whole. In addition, smaller capitalization securities may be particularly sensitive to changes in interest rates, borrowing costs and earnings. Investing in smaller capitalization securities requires a longer-term view. Securities of emerging companies may lack an active secondary market and may be subject to more abrupt or errati | | | | | | | | | | |
Share Price [Table Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | The following table sets forth for the quarters indicated Corresponding Corresponding Market Price Per Share of NAV Quarter Ended High Low High Low High Low December 31, 2021 $ 7.05 $ 6.01 $ 6.47 $ 6.34 11.19 % (7.11 )% March 31, 2022 $ 6.85 $ 5.72 $ 6.28 $ 5.43 9.08 % 5.43 % June 30, 2022 $ 6.44 $ 5.09 $ 5.64 $ 4.33 17.55 % 14.18 % September 30, 2022 $ 5.87 $ 4.86 $ 4.92 $ 4.29 19.31 % 13.29 % December 31, 2022 $ 5.40 $ 4.73 $ 4.40 $ 4.14 22.73 % 14.25 % March 31, 2023 $ 5.26 $ 4.22 $ 4.51 $ 4.10 16.63 % 2.93 % June 30, 2023 $ 4.51 $ 4.25 $ 4.18 $ 4.09 7.89 % 3.91 % September 30, 2023 $ 4.34 $ 3.68 $ 4.17 $ 3.88 4.08 % (5.15 )% The last reported price for our common shares on September 30, 2023 was $3.75 per share. As of September 30, 2023, the net asset value per share of the Fund’s common shares was $3.85. Accordingly, the Fund’s common shares traded at a discount to net asset value of ( 2.60 | | | | | | | | | | |
Latest Premium (Discount) to NAV [Percent] | | | | | | | | | | (2.60%) | | | | | | | | | | |
Capital Stock, Long-Term Debt, and Other Securities [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Capital Stock [Table Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | 6. Capital For the fiscal period ended September 30, 2023 and the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, transactions in common stock were as follows: Period Ended Year Ended Year Ended September 30, December 31, December 31, Shares Amount Shares Amount Shares Amount Net increase in net assets from common shares issued upon reinvestment of distributions 177,368 $ 739,699 294,735 $ 1,527,428 76,895 $ 491,633 As of September 30, 2023, the Fund had an effective shelf registration expiring on August 16, 2024, which authorizes an issuance of $125 million in common or preferred shares. The Fund’s Articles of Incorporation authorize On December 29, 2022, the Fund issued 1,500,000 shares of Series G 5.20% Cumulative Preferred Stock, receiving $14,915,000 after the deduction of offering expenses of $101,694. The Series G has a liquidation value of $10 per share and an annual dividend rate of 5.20%. The Series G Preferred is subject to mandatory redemption by the Fund on June 26, 2025. At September 30, 2023, 1,500,000 shares of Series G Preferred were outstanding and accrued dividends amounted to $205,833. The Series G Preferred Shares are not subject to optional redemption unless such redemption is necessary, in the judgment of the Board, to maintain the Fund’s status as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The Fund will also redeem all or any part of the outstanding Series G Preferred Shares that holders have properly tendered for redemption during the sixty day period prior to each of December 26, 2023 and December 26, 2024 at the liquidation preference, plus any accumulated and unpaid dividends. On October 16, 2019, the Fund issued 350,000 shares of Series E Preferred 4.00% Cumulative Preferred Stock, receiving $34,876,680 after the deduction of offering expenses of $123,320. The Series E had a liquidation value of $100 per share and an annual dividend rate of 4.00%. On December 1, 2022, 337,600 shares of Series E were put back to the Fund at their liquidation preference of $100 per share plus accrued and unpaid dividends. The holders of Preferred Stock | | | | | | | | | | |
Outstanding Securities [Table Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | Outstanding Securities The following information regarding the Fund’s outstanding securities is as of September 30, 2023. Title of Class Amount Amount Amount Common Shares 1,000,000,000 — 19,370,383 Series G Cumulative Preferred Shares 3,000,000 — 1,500,000 | | | | | | | | | | |
Series B Cumulative Preferred Stock [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Financial Highlights [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Senior Securities Average Market Value per Unit | | | | | | | | | $ 0 | | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 25.91 | $ 26.45 | $ 26.52 | $ 25.81 | $ 25.44 | $ 25.30 |
[custom:SeniorSecuritieInvoluntaryLiquidatingPreferencePerUnit] | | | | | | | | | $ 0 | | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 25 | $ 25 | $ 25 | $ 25 | $ 25 | $ 25 |
Capital Stock, Long-Term Debt, and Other Securities [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Outstanding Security, Not Held [Shares] | | | | | | | | | 0 | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 966,000 | 966,000 | 966,000 | 966,000 | 966,000 | 966,000 |
[custom:SeniorSecuritieCoveragePerUnit] | | | | | | | | | $ 0 | | $ 0 | $ 0 | | $ 0 | $ 118.78 | $ 107.14 | $ 102.26 | $ 102.26 | $ 113.12 | $ 117.85 |
[custom:SeniorSecuritieAmount] | | | | | | | | | $ 0 | | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 24,139,000 | $ 24,139,000 | $ 24,139,000 | $ 24,139,000 | $ 24,139,000 | $ 24,139,000 |
Series E Cumulative Preferred Stock [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Financial Highlights [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Senior Securities Average Market Value per Unit | | | | | | | | | $ 0 | | $ 0 | $ 100 | $ 100,000 | $ 100 | $ 0 | | | | | |
[custom:SeniorSecuritieInvoluntaryLiquidatingPreferencePerUnit] | | | | | | | | | | | $ 0 | $ 100 | $ 100 | $ 100 | $ 0 | | | | | |
Capital Stock, Long-Term Debt, and Other Securities [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Outstanding Security, Not Held [Shares] | | | | | | | | | 0 | | 0 | 338,000 | 338,000 | 350,000 | 0 | | | | | |
[custom:SeniorSecuritieCoveragePerUnit] | | | | | | | | | $ 0 | | $ 0 | $ 453.99 | $ 476.61 | $ 405.28 | $ 0 | | | | | |
[custom:SeniorSecuritieAmount] | | | | | | | | | $ 0 | | $ 0 | $ 33,760,000 | $ 33,760,000 | $ 35,000,000 | $ 0 | | | | | |
Series G Cumulative Preferred Stock [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Financial Highlights [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Senior Securities Average Market Value per Unit | | | | | | | | | $ 10 | | $ 10 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 | | | | | |
[custom:SeniorSecuritieInvoluntaryLiquidatingPreferencePerUnit] | | | | | | | | | $ 10 | | $ 10 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 | | | | | |
Capital Stock, Long-Term Debt, and Other Securities [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Outstanding Security, Title [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | Series G Cumulative Preferred Shares | | | | | | | | | | |
Outstanding Security, Authorized [Shares] | | | | | | | | | | 3,000,000 | | | | | | | | | | |
Outstanding Security, Held [Shares] | | | | | | | | | | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
Outstanding Security, Not Held [Shares] | | | | | | | | | 1,500,000 | 1,500,000 | 1,500,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | | | | |
[custom:SeniorSecuritieCoveragePerUnit] | | | | | | | | | $ 59.66 | | $ 63.50 | $ 0 | | $ 0 | $ 0 | | | | | |
[custom:SeniorSecuritieAmount] | | | | | | | | | $ 15,000,000 | | $ 15,000,000 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 | | | | | |
Cumulative Preferred Stocks [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Capital Stock, Long-Term Debt, and Other Securities [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Security Voting Rights [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | The holders of Preferred Stock | | | | | | | | | | |
Preferred Stock Restrictions, Other [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | The Fund’s Articles of Incorporation authorize On December 29, 2022, the Fund issued 1,500,000 shares of Series G 5.20% Cumulative Preferred Stock, receiving $14,915,000 after the deduction of offering expenses of $101,694. The Series G has a liquidation value of $10 per share and an annual dividend rate of 5.20%. The Series G Preferred is subject to mandatory redemption by the Fund on June 26, 2025. At September 30, 2023, 1,500,000 shares of Series G Preferred were outstanding and accrued dividends amounted to $205,833. The Series G Preferred Shares are not subject to optional redemption unless such redemption is necessary, in the judgment of the Board, to maintain the Fund’s status as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The Fund will also redeem all or any part of the outstanding Series G Preferred Shares that holders have properly tendered for redemption during the sixty day period prior to each of December 26, 2023 and December 26, 2024 at the liquidation preference, plus any accumulated and unpaid dividends. On October 16, 2019, the Fund issued 350,000 shares of Series E Preferred 4.00% Cumulative Preferred Stock, receiving $34,876,680 after the deduction of offering expenses of $123,320. The Series E had a liquidation value of $100 per share and an annual dividend rate of 4.00%. On December 1, 2022, 337,600 shares of Series E were put back to the Fund at their liquidation preference of $100 per share plus accrued and unpaid dividends. | | | | | | | | | | |
Purchase Transaction [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Fee Table [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividend Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Fees | | | | | | | | | | $ 0.75 | | | | | | | | | | |
Sale Transaction [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Fee Table [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividend Reinvestment and Cash Purchase Fees | | | | | | | | | | 2.50 | | | | | | | | | | |
Dividends On Preferred Shares Not Included [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Other Annual Expenses [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Expense Example, Year 01 | | | | | | | | | | 20 | | | | | | | | | | |
Expense Example, Years 1 to 3 | | | | | | | | | | 61 | | | | | | | | | | |
Expense Example, Years 1 to 5 | | | | | | | | | | 105 | | | | | | | | | | |
Expense Example, Years 1 to 10 | | | | | | | | | | $ 228 | | | | | | | | | | |
Common Stocks [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Annual Interest Rate [Percent] | | | | | | | | | | 5.20% | | | | | | | | | | |
Annual Coverage Return Rate [Percent] | | | | | | | | | | 0.89% | | | | | | | | | | |
Return at Minus Ten [Percent] | | | | | | | | | | (13.27%) | | | | | | | | | | |
Return at Minus Five [Percent] | | | | | | | | | (7.26%) | | | | | | | | | | | |
Return at Zero [Percent] | | | | | | | | | | (1.25%) | | | | | | | | | | |
Return at Plus Five [Percent] | | | | | | | | | | 4.76% | | | | | | | | | | |
Return at Plus Ten [Percent] | | | | | | | | | | 10.76% | | | | | | | | | | |
Lowest Price or Bid | $ 3.68 | $ 4.25 | $ 4.22 | $ 4.73 | $ 4.86 | $ 5.09 | $ 5.72 | $ 6.01 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Highest Price or Bid | 4.34 | 4.51 | 5.26 | 5.40 | 5.87 | 6.44 | 6.85 | 7.05 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Lowest Price or Bid, NAV | 3.88 | 4.09 | 4.10 | 4.14 | 4.29 | 4.33 | 5.43 | 6.34 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Highest Price or Bid, NAV | $ 4.17 | $ 4.18 | $ 4.51 | $ 4.40 | $ 4.92 | $ 5.64 | $ 6.28 | $ 6.47 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Highest Price or Bid, Premium (Discount) to NAV [Percent] | 4.08% | 7.89% | 16.63% | 22.73% | 19.31% | 17.55% | 9.08% | 11.19% | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Lowest Price or Bid, Premium (Discount) to NAV [Percent] | (5.15%) | 3.91% | 2.93% | 14.25% | 13.29% | 14.18% | 5.43% | (7.11%) | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Capital Stock, Long-Term Debt, and Other Securities [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Outstanding Security, Title [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | Common Shares | | | | | | | | | | |
Outstanding Security, Authorized [Shares] | | | | | | | | | | 1,000,000,000 | | | | | | | | | | |
Outstanding Security, Held [Shares] | | | | | | | | | | 0 | | | | | | | | | | |
Outstanding Security, Not Held [Shares] | | | | | | | | | | 19,370,383 | | | | | | | | | | |
Market Risk [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Risk [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | Market Risk price volatility than fixed income securities. Credit ratings downgrades may also negatively affect securities held by the Fund. Even when markets perform well, there is no assurance that the investments held by the Fund will increase in value along with the broader market. In addition, market risk includes the risk that geopolitical and other events will disrupt the economy on a national or global level. For instance, war, terrorism, market manipulation, government defaults, government shutdowns, political changes or diplomatic developments, public health emergencies (such as the spread of infectious diseases, pandemics and epidemics) and natural/environmental disasters can all negatively impact the securities markets, which could cause the Fund to lose value. These events could reduce consumer demand or economic output, result in market closures, travel restrictions or quarantines, and significantly adversely impact the economy. The current contentious domestic political environment, as well as political and diplomatic events within the United States and abroad, such as 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, which could have an adverse impact on the Fund’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. Governmental and quasi-governmental authorities and regulators throughout the world have previously responded to serious economic disruptions with a variety of significant fiscal and monetary policy changes, including but not limited to, direct capital infusions into companies, new monetary programs and dramatically lower interest rates. An unexpected or sudden reversal of these policies, or the ineffectiveness of these policies, could increase volatility in securities markets, which could adversely affect the Fund’s investments. Any market disruptions could also prevent the Fund from executing advantageous investment decisions in a timely manner. To the extent that the Fund focuses its investments in a region enduring geopolitical market disruption, it will face higher risks of loss, although the increasing interconnectivity between global economies and financial markets can lead to events or conditions in one country, region or financial market adversely impacting a different country, region or financial market. Thus, investors should closely monitor current market conditions to determine whether the Fund meets their individual financial needs and tolerance for risk. Current market conditions may pose heightened risks with respect to the Fund’s investment in fixed income securities. Interest rates have risen in recent months, and the risk that they may continue to do so is pronounced. Any interest rate increases in the future could cause the value of the Fund to decrease. Recently, inflation levels have been at their highest point in nearly 40 years, and the Federal Reserve has been engaged in an aggressive campaign to raise certain benchmark interest rates in an effort to combat inflation. As such, fixed income securities markets may experience heightened levels of interest rate, volatility and liquidity risk. Exchanges and securities markets may close early, close late or issue trading halts on specific securities or generally, which may result in, among other things, the Fund being unable to buy or sell certain securities or financial instruments at an advantageous time or accurately price its portfolio investments. Interest Rate Risk Generally . General interest rate fluctuations may have a substantial negative impact on the Fund’s investments, the value of the Fund and the Fund’s rate of return. A reduction in the interest or dividend rates on new investments relative to interest or dividend rates on current investments could also have an adverse impact on the Fund’s net investment income. An increase in interest rates could decrease the value of any investments held by the Fund that earn fixed interest or dividend rates, including debt securities, convertible securities, preferred stocks, loans and high-yield bonds, and also could increase interest or dividend expenses, thereby decreasing net income. Interest rates have risen over the past year and the chance that they will continue to rise is pronounced. The magnitude of these fluctuations in the market price of bonds and other income- or dividend-paying securities is generally greater for those securities with longer maturities. Fluctuations in the market price of the Fund’s investments will not affect interest income derived from instruments already owned by the Fund, but will be reflected in the Fund’s net asset value. The Fund may lose money if short-term or long-term interest rates rise sharply in a manner not anticipated by Fund management. To the extent the Fund invests in securities that may be prepaid at the option of the obligor, the sensitivity of such securities to changes in interest rates may increase (to the detriment of the Fund) when interest rates rise. Moreover, because rates on certain floating rate securities typically reset only periodically, changes in prevailing interest rates (and particularly sudden and significant changes) can be expected to cause some fluctuations in the net asset value of the Fund to the extent that it invests in floating rate securities. These basic principles of bond prices also apply to U.S. government securities. A security backed by the “full faith and credit” of the U.S. government is guaranteed only as to its stated interest rate and face value at maturity, not its current market price. Just like other income- or dividend-paying securities, government-guaranteed securities will fluctuate in value when interest rates change. The Fund’s use of leverage will tend to increase the Fund’s interest rate risk. The Fund may invest in variable and floating rate instruments, which generally are less sensitive to interest rate changes than longer duration fixed rate instruments but may decline in value in response to rising interest rates if, for example, the rates at which they pay interest do not rise as much, or as quickly, as market interest rates in general. Conversely, variable and floating rate instruments generally will not increase in value if interest rates decline. The Fund also may invest in inverse floating rate securities, which may decrease in value if interest rates increase, and which also may exhibit greater price volatility than fixed rate obligations with similar credit quality. To the extent the Fund holds variable or floating rate instruments, a decrease (or, in the case of inverse floating rate securities, an increase) in market interest rates will adversely affect the income received from such securities, which may adversely affect the net asset value of the Fund’s common shares. Recently, central banks such as the Federal Reserve Bank have been increasing interest rates in an effort to slow the rate of inflation. There is a risk that increased interest rates may cause the economy to enter a recession. Any such recession would negatively impact the Fund and the investments held by the Fund. These impacts may include: ● severe declines in the Fund’s net asset values; ● inability of the Fund to accurately or reliably value its portfolio; ● inability of the Fund to pay any dividends or distributions; ● inability of the Fund to maintain its status as a registered investment company (“RIC”) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”); ● declines in the value of the Fund’s investments; ● increased risk of default or bankruptcy by the companies in which the Fund invests; ● increased risk of companies in which the Fund invests being unable to weather an extended cessation of normal economic activity and thereby impairing their ability to continue functioning as a going concern; and ● limited availability of new investment opportunities. | | | | | | | | | | |
Inflation Risk [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Risk [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | Inflation Risk | | | | | | | | | | |
Convertible Securities [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Risk [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | Convertible Securities Risk The value of a convertible security is influenced by the value of the underlying equity security. Convertible debt securities and preferred stocks may depreciate in value if the market value of the underlying equity security declines or if rates of interest increase. In addition, although debt securities are liabilities of a corporation which the corporation is generally obligated to repay at a specified time, debt securities, particularly convertible debt securities, are often subordinated to the claims of some or all of the other creditors of the corporation. Mandatory conversion securities (securities that automatically convert into equity securities at a future date) may limit the potential for capital appreciation and, in some instances, are subject to complete loss of invested capital. Other innovative convertibles include “equity-linked” securities, which are securities or derivatives that may have fixed, variable, or no interest payments prior to maturity, may convert (at the option of the holder or on a mandatory basis) into cash or a combination of cash and common stock, and may be structured to limit the potential for capital appreciation. Equity-linked securities may be illiquid and difficult to value and may be subject to greater credit risk than that of other convertibles. Moreover, mandatory conversion securities and equity-linked securities have increased the sensitivity of the convertible securities market to the volatility of the equity markets and to the special risks of those innovations, which may include risks different from, and possibly greater than, those associated with traditional convertible securities. Preferred stocks are equity securities in the sense that they do not represent a liability of the corporation. In the event of liquidation of the corporation, and after its creditors have been paid or provided for, holders of preferred stock are generally entitled to a preference as to the assets of the corporation before any distribution may be made to the holders of common stock. Debt securities normally do not have voting rights. Preferred stocks may have no voting rights or may have voting rights only under certain circumstances. Credit Risk . Market Risk. Interest Rate Risk for Convertible Securities. Sector Risk. Dilution Risk. | | | | | | | | | | |
Fixed Income Securities Risks [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Risk [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | Fixed Income Securities Risks ● Interest Rate Risk. ● Credit Risk. ● Issuer Risk. ● Prepayment Risk. . ● Duration and Maturity Risk. in interest rates. For example, a duration of five years means that a 1% decrease in interest rates will increase the NAV of the portfolio by approximately 5%; if interest rates increase by 1%, the NAV will decrease by 5%. However, in a managed portfolio of fixed income securities having differing interest or dividend rates or payment schedules, maturities, redemption provisions, call or prepayment provisions and credit qualities, actual price changes in response to changes in interest rates may differ significantly from a duration-based estimate at any given time. Actual price movements experienced by a portfolio of fixed income securities will be affected by how interest rates move (i.e., changes in the relationship of long term interest rates to short term interest rates), the magnitude of any move in interest rates, actual and anticipated prepayments of principal through call or redemption features, the extension of maturities through restructuring, the sale of securities for portfolio management purposes, the reinvestment of proceeds from prepayments on and from sales of securities, and credit quality-related considerations whether associated with financing costs to lower credit quality borrowers or otherwise, as well as other factors. Accordingly, while duration maybe a useful tool to estimate potential price movements in relation to changes in interest rates, investors are cautioned that duration alone will not predict actual changes in the net asset or market value of the Fund’s shares and that actual price movements in the Fund’s port-folio may differ significantly from duration-based estimates. Duration differs from maturity in that it takes into account a security’s yield, coupon payments and its principal payments in addition to the amount of time until the security matures. As the value of a security changes over time, so will its duration. Prices of securities with longer durations tend to be more sensitive to interest rate changes than securities with shorter durations. In general, a portfolio of securities with a longer duration can be expected to be more sensitive to interest rate changes than a portfolio with a shorter duration. Any decisions as to the tar-geted duration or maturity of any particular category of investments will be made based on all pertinent market factors at any given time. The Fund may incur costs in seeking to adjust the portfolio average duration or maturity. There can be no assurance that the Investment Adviser’s assessment of current and projected market conditions will be correct or that any strategy to adjust duration or maturity will be successful at any given time. | | | | | | | | | | |
Corporate Bonds Risk [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Risk [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | Corporate Bonds Risk | | | | | | | | | | |
Non Investment Grade Securities Risk [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Risk [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | Non-Investment Grade Securities Risk ● greater volatility; ● greater credit risk and risk of default; ● potentially greater sensitivity to general economic or industry conditions; ● potential lack of attractive resale opportunities (illiquidity); and ● additional expenses to seek recovery from issuers who default. In addition, the prices of these non-investment grade securities are more sensitive to negative developments, such as a decline in the issuer’s revenues or a general economic downturn, than are the prices of higher grade securities. Non-investment grade securities tend to be less liquid than investment grade securities. The market value of non-investment grade securities may be more volatile than the market value of investment grade securities and generally tends to reflect the market’s perception of the creditworthiness of the issuer and short term market developments to a greater extent than investment grade securities, which primarily reflect fluctuations in general levels of interest rates. Ratings are relative and subjective and not absolute standards of quality. Securities ratings are based largely on the issuer’s historical financial condition and the rating agencies’ analysis at the time of rating. Consequently, the rating assigned to any particular security is not necessarily a reflection of the issuer’s current financial condition. The Fund may purchase securities of companies that are experiencing significant financial or business difficulties, including companies involved in bankruptcy or other reorganization and liquidation proceedings. Although such investments may result in significant financial returns to the Fund, they involve a substantial degree of risk. The level of analytical sophistication, both financial and legal, necessary for successful investments in issuers experiencing significant business and financial difficulties is unusually high. There can be no assurance that the Fund will correctly evaluate the value of the assets collateralizing its investments or the prospects for a successful reorganization or similar action. In any reorganization or liquidation proceeding relating to a portfolio investment, the Fund may lose all or part of its investment or may be required to accept collateral with a value less than the amount of the Fund’s initial investment. As a part of its investments in non-investment grade securities, the Fund may invest in the securities of issuers in default. The Fund invests in securities of issuers in default only when the Investment Adviser believes that such issuers will honor their obligations and emerge from bankruptcy protection and that the value of such issuers’ securities will appreciate. By investing in the securities of issuers in default, the Fund bears the risk that these issuers will not continue to honor their obligations or emerge from bankruptcy protection or that the value of these securities will not otherwise appreciate. In addition to using statistical rating agencies and other sources, the Investment Adviser will also perform its own analysis of issuers in seeking investments that it believes to be underrated (and thus higher yielding) in light of the financial condition of the issuer. Its analysis of issuers may include, among other things, current and anticipated cash flow and borrowing requirements, value of assets in relation to historical cost, strength of management, responsiveness to business conditions, credit standing and current anticipated results of operations. In selecting investments for the Fund, the Investment Adviser may also consider general business conditions, anticipated changes in interest rates and the outlook for specific industries. Subsequent to its purchase by the Fund, an issue of securities may cease to be rated or its rating may be reduced. In addition, it is possible that statistical rating agencies might change their ratings of a particular issue to reflect subsequent events on a timely basis. Moreover, such ratings do not assess the risk of a decline in market value. None of these events will require the sale of the securities by the Fund, although the Investment Adviser will consider these events in determining whether the Fund should continue to hold the securities. Income securities, including non-investment grade securities and comparable unrated securities, frequently have call or buy-back features that permit their issuers to call or repurchase the securities from their holders, such as the Fund. If an issuer exercises these rights during periods of declining interest rates, the Fund may have to replace the security with a lower yielding security, thus resulting in a decreased return for the Fund. The market for non-investment grade and comparable unrated securities has at various times, particularly during times of economic recession, experienced substantial reductions in market value and liquidity. Past recessions have adversely affected the value of such securities as well as the ability of certain issuers of such securities to repay principal and pay interest thereon or to refinance such securities. The market for those securities could react in a similar fashion in the event of any future economic recession. | | | | | | | | | | |
Equity Risk [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Risk [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | Equity Risk | | | | | | | | | | |
Common Stock Risk [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Risk [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | Common Stock Risk | | | | | | | | | | |
Distribution Risk For Equity Income Securities [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Risk [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | Distribution Risk for Equity Income Securities Dividend-producing equity income securities, in particular those whose market price is closely related to their yield, may exhibit greater sensitivity to interest rate changes. See “—Fixed Income Securities Risks—Interest Rate Risk.” The Fund’s investments in dividend-producing equity income securities may also limit its potential for appreciation during a broad market advance. The prices of dividend-producing equity income securities can be highly volatile. Investors should not assume that the Fund’s investments in these securities will necessarily reduce the volatility of the Fund’s net asset value or provide “protection,” compared to other types of equity income securities, when markets perform poorly. | | | | | | | | | | |
Preferred Stock Risk [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Risk [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | Preferred Stock Risk Deferral. Non-Cumulative Dividends. Subordination. Liquidity. Limited Voting Rights. which time the preferred security holders may be entitled to elect a number of directors to the issuer’s board. Generally, once all the arrearages have been paid, the preferred security holders no longer have voting rights. Special Redemption Rights. | | | | | | | | | | |
Computer Software Services Companies Risk [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Risk [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | Computer Software/Services Companies Risk Many computer software/services companies rely on a combination of patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade secret laws to establish and protect their proprietary rights in their products and technologies. There can be no assurance that the steps taken by computer software/services companies to protect their proprietary rights will be adequate to prevent misappropriation of their technology or that competitors will not independently develop technologies that are substantially equivalent or superior to such companies’ technology. | | | | | | | | | | |
U S Government Securities And Credit Rating Downgrade Risk [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Risk [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | U.S. Government Securities and Credit Rating Downgrade Risk In 2011, S&P lowered its long term sovereign credit rating on the U.S. to “AA+” from “AAA.” The downgrade by S&P increased volatility in both stock and bond markets, resulting in higher interest rates and higher Treasury yields, and increased the costs of all kinds of debt. On August 1, 2023, Fitch Ratings lowered its long-term sovereign credit rating on the U.S. to “AA+” from “AAA.” This and any further downgrades of U.S. credit ratings could have significant adverse effects on the U.S. economy generally and could result in significant adverse impacts on issuers of securities held by the Fund itself. The Investment Adviser cannot predict the effects of similar events in the future on the U.S. economy and securities markets or on the Fund’s portfolio. The Investment Adviser monitors developments and seeks to manage the Fund’s portfolio in a manner consistent with achieving the Fund’s investment objective, but there can be no assurance that it will be successful in doing so and the Investment Adviser may not timely anticipate or manage existing, new or additional risks, contingencies or developments. | | | | | | | | | | |
Significant Holdings Risk [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Risk [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | Significant Holdings Risk | | | | | | | | | | |
Value Investing Risk [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Risk [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | Value Investing Risk | | | | | | | | | | |
Selection Risk [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Risk [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | Selection Risk | | | | | | | | | | |
Merger Arbitrage Risk [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Risk [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | Merger Arbitrage Risk the less a target company will benefit from a merger or acquisition, the greater the risk. There is also a risk that an acquiring company may back out of an announced deal if, in the process of completing its due diligence of the target company, it discovers something undesirable about such company. In addition, merger transactions are also subject to regulatory risk because a merger transaction often must be approved by a regulatory body or pass governmental antitrust review. All of these factors affect the timing and likelihood that the transaction will close. Even if the Investment Adviser selects announced deals with the goal of mitigating the risks that the transaction will fail to close, such risks may still delay the closing of such transaction to a date later than the Fund originally anticipated, reducing the level of desired return to the Fund. Merger arbitrage positions are also subject to the risk of overall market movements. To the extent that a general increase or decline in equity values affects the stocks involved in a merger arbitrage position differently, the position may be exposed to loss. Finally, merger arbitrage strategies depend for success on the overall volume of global merger activity, which has historically been cyclical in nature. During periods when merger activity is low, it may be difficult or impossible to identify opportunities for profit or to identify a sufficient number of such opportunities to provide balance among potential merger transactions. To the extent that the number of announced deals and corporate reorganizations decreases or the number of investors in such transactions increases, it is possible that merger arbitrage spreads will tighten, causing the profitability of investing in such transactions to diminish, which will in turn decrease the returns to the Fund from such investment activity. | | | | | | | | | | |
Foreign Securities Risk [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Risk [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | Foreign Securities Risk There may be less publicly available information about a foreign company than a U.S. company. Foreign securities markets may have substantially less volume than U.S. securities markets and some foreign company securities are less liquid than securities of otherwise comparable U.S. companies. A portfolio of foreign securities may also be adversely affected by fluctuations in the rates of exchange between the currencies of different nations and by exchange control regulations. Foreign markets also have different clearance and settlement procedures that could cause the Fund to encounter difficulties in purchasing and selling securities on such markets and may result in the Fund missing attractive investment opportunities or experiencing loss. In addition, a portfolio that includes foreign securities can expect to have a higher expense ratio because of the increased transaction costs on non-U.S. securities markets and the increased costs of maintaining the custody of foreign securities. Investments in foreign securities will expose the Fund to the direct or indirect consequences of political, social or economic changes in the countries that issue the securities or in which the issuers are located. Certain countries in which the Fund may invest have historically experienced, and may continue to experience, high rates of inflation, high interest rates, exchange rate fluctuations, large amounts of external debt, balance of payments and trade difficulties and extreme poverty and unemployment. Many of these countries are also characterized by political uncertainty and instability. The cost of servicing external debt will generally be adversely affected by rising international interest rates because many external debt obligations bear interest at rates which are adjusted based upon international interest rates. The Fund also may purchase ADRs or U.S. dollar-denominated securities of foreign issuers. ADRs are receipts issued by U.S. banks or trust companies in respect of securities of foreign issuers held on deposit for use in the U.S. securities markets. While ADRs may not necessarily be denominated in the same currency as the securities into which they may be converted, many of the risks associated with foreign securities may also apply to ADRs. In addition, the underlying issuers of certain depositary receipts, particularly unsponsored or unregistered depositary receipts, are under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications to the holders of such receipts, or to pass through to them any voting rights with respect to the deposited securities. The following provides more detail on certain pronounced risks with foreign investing: Certain non-U.S. currencies, primarily in developing countries, have been devalued in the past and might face devaluation in the future. Currency devaluations generally have a significant and adverse impact on the devaluing country’s economy in the short and intermediate term and on the financial condition and results of companies’ operations in that country. Currency devaluations may also be accompanied by significant declines in the values and liquidity of equity and debt securities of affected governmental and private sector entities generally. To the extent that affected companies have obligations denominated in currencies other than the devalued currency, those companies may also have difficulty in meeting those obligations under such circumstances, which in turn could have an adverse effect upon the value of the Fund’s investments in such companies. There can be no assurance that current or future developments with respect to foreign currency devaluations will not impair the Fund’s investment flexibility, its ability to achieve its investment objective or the value of certain of its foreign currency-denominated investments. Tax Consequences of Foreign Investing. EMU and Redenomination Risk. Euro or of the exit of one or more countries from the EMU, on the U.S. and global economies and securities markets are impossible to predict, and any such events could have a significant adverse impact on the value and risk profile of the Fund’s portfolio. Any partial or complete dissolution of the EMU could have significant adverse effects on currency and financial markets, and on the values of the Fund’s portfolio investments. If one or more EMU countries were to stop using the Euro as its primary currency, the Fund’s investments in such countries may be redenominated into a different or newly adopted currency. As a result, the value of those investments could decline significantly and unpredictably. In addition, securities or other investments that are redenominated may be subject to foreign currency risk, liquidity risk and valuation risk to a greater extent than similar investments currently denominated in Euros. To the extent a currency used for redenomination purposes is not specified in respect of certain EMU-related investments, or should the Euro cease to be used entirely, the currency in which such investments are denominated may be unclear, making such investments particularly difficult to value or dispose of. The Fund may incur additional expenses to the extent it is required to seek judicial or other clarification of the denomination or value of such securities. Emerging Markets Risk. Eurozone Risk. have other unintended consequences. Further defaults or restructurings by governments and others of their debt could have additional adverse effects on economies, financial markets, and asset valuations around the world. Greece, Ireland, and Portugal have already received one or more “bailouts” from other Eurozone member states, and it is unclear how much additional funding they will require or if additional Eurozone member states will require bailouts in the future. One or more other countries may also abandon the euro and/or withdraw from the EU, placing its currency and banking system in jeopardy. The impact of these actions, especially if they occur in a disorderly fashion, is not clear, but could be significant and far-reaching. Brexit Risk. In particular, currency volatility may mean that our returns and the returns of our portfolio companies will be adversely affected by market movements and may make it more difficult, or more expensive, for us to implement appropriate currency hedging. Potential declines in the value of the British Pound and/or the euro against other currencies, along with the potential downgrading of the United Kingdom’s sovereign credit rating, may also have an impact on the performance of any of our portfolio companies located in the United Kingdom or Europe. In addition, certain European countries have recently experienced negative interest rates on certain fixed-income instruments. A negative interest rate policy is an unconventional central bank monetary policy tool where nominal target interest rates are set with a negative value (i.e., below zero percent) intended to help create self-sustaining growth in the local economy. Negative interest rates may result in heightened market volatility and may detract from the Fund’s performance to the extent the Fund is exposed to such interest rates. Among other things, these developments adversely affected the value and exchange rate of the euro and pound sterling, and any similar developments may continue to significantly affect the economies of all EU countries, which in turn may have a material adverse effect on the Fund’s investments in such countries, other countries that depend on EU countries for significant amounts of trade or investment, or issuers with exposure to debt issued by certain EU countries. To the extent the Fund has exposure to European markets or to transactions tied to the value of the euro, these events could negatively affect the value and liquidity of the Fund’s investments. All of these developments may continue to significantly affect the economies of all EU countries, which in turn may have a material adverse effect on the Fund’s investments in such countries, other countries that depend on EU countries for significant amounts of trade or investment, or issuers with exposure to debt issued by certain EU countries. | | | | | | | | | | |
Smaller Companies Investment Risk [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Risk [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | Smaller Companies Investment Risk As a result, the purchase or sale of more than a limited number of shares of the securities of a smaller company may affect its market price. The Investment Adviser may need a considerable amount of time to purchase or sell its positions in these securities, particularly when other Investment Adviser-managed accounts or other investors are also seeking to purchase or sell them. The securities of smaller capitalization companies generally trade in lower volumes and are subject to greater and more unpredictable price changes than larger capitalization securities or the market as a whole. In addition, smaller capitalization securities may be particularly sensitive to changes in interest rates, borrowing costs and earnings. Investing in smaller capitalization securities requires a longer-term view. Securities of emerging companies may lack an active secondary market and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic price movements than securities of larger, more established companies or stock market averages in general. Competitors of certain companies, which may or may not be in the same industry, may have substantially greater financial resources than the companies in which the Fund may invest. | | | | | | | | | | |
Investment Companies [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Risk [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | Investment Companies | | | | | | | | | | |
Prepayment Risks On Government Sponsored Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Risk [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | Prepayment Risks on Government Sponsored Mortgage-Backed Securities major difference is that the principal amount of the obligations may generally be prepaid at any time because the underlying assets (i.e., loans) generally may be prepaid at any time. Prepayment risks include the following: ● mortgage-backed securities less potential for growth in value than conventional bonds with comparable maturities; ● in addition, when interest rates fall, the rate of prepayments tends to increase. During such periods, the reinvestment of prepayment proceeds by the Fund will generally be at lower rates than the rates that were carried by the obligations that have been prepaid; ● because of these and other reasons, a government sponsored mortgage-backed security’s total return and maturity may be difficult to predict; and ● to the extent that the Fund purchases government sponsored mortgage-backed securities at a premium, prepayments may result in loss of the Fund’s principal investment to the extent of premium paid. | | | | | | | | | | |
Restricted And Illiquid Securities [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Risk [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | Restricted and Illiquid Securities | | | | | | | | | | |
Long Term Objective Not A Complete Investment Program [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Risk [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | Long-Term Objective; Not a Complete Investment Program | | | | | | | | | | |
Management Risk [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Risk [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | Management Risk | | | | | | | | | | |
Dependence On Key Personnel [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Risk [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | Dependence on Key Personnel | | | | | | | | | | |
Market Disruption And Geopolitical Risk [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Risk [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | Market Disruption and Geopolitical Risk Risks resulting from any future debt or other economic crisis could also have a detrimental impact on the global economy, the financial condition of financial institutions and the Fund’s business, financial condition and results of operation. Market and economic disruptions have affected, and may in the future affect, consumer confidence levels and spending, personal bankruptcy rates, levels of incurrence and default on consumer debt and home prices, among other factors. To the extent uncertainty regarding the U.S. or global economy negatively impacts consumer confidence and consumer credit factors, the Fund could be significantly and adversely affected. Downgrades to the credit ratings of major banks could result in increased borrowing costs for such banks and negatively affect the broader economy. Moreover, Federal Reserve policy, including with respect to certain interest rates, may also adversely affect the value, volatility and liquidity of dividend- and interest-paying securities. Market volatility, rising interest rates and/or a return to unfavorable economic conditions could impair the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objectives. The occurrence of events similar to those in recent years, such as localized wars, instability, new and ongoing pandemics (such as COVID-19), epidemics or outbreaks of infectious diseases in certain parts of the world, and catastrophic events such as fires, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes and global health epidemics, terrorist attacks in the U.S. and around the world, social and political discord, debt crises sovereign debt downgrades, increasingly strained relations between the U.S. and a number of foreign countries, new and continued political unrest in various countries, the exit or potential exit of one or more countries from the EU or the EMU, continued changes in the balance of political power among and within the branches of the U.S. government, government shutdowns, among others, may result in market volatility, may have long-term effects on the U.S. and worldwide financial markets, and may cause further economic uncertainties in the U.S. and worldwide. In particular, the consequences of the Russian military invasion of Ukraine, the impact on inflation and increased disruption to supply chains and energy resources may impact the Fund’s portfolio companies, result in an economic downturn or recession either globally or locally in the U.S. or other economies, reduce business activity, spawn additional conflicts (whether in the form of traditional military action, reignited “cold” wars or in the form of virtual warfare such as cyberattacks) with similar and perhaps wider ranging impacts and consequences and have an adverse impact on the Fund’s returns and net asset values. In response to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the U.S. and other countries have imposed sanctions or other restrictive actions against Russia, Russian-backed separatist regions in Ukraine, and certain banks, companies, government officials and other individuals in Russia and Belarus. Any of the above factors, including sanctions, export controls, tariffs, trade wars and other governmental actions, could have a material adverse effect on the Fund. The Fund has no way to predict the duration or outcome of the situation, as the conflict and government reactions are rapidly developing and beyond the Fund’s control. Prolonged unrest, military activities, or broad-based sanctions could have a material adverse effect on companies in which the Fund invests. Such consequences also may increase such companies’ funding costs or limit their access to the capital markets. The current political climate has intensified concerns about a potential trade war between China and the U.S., as each country has imposed tariffs on the other country’s products. These actions may trigger a significant reduction in international trade, the oversupply of certain manufactured goods, substantial price reductions of goods and possible failure of individual companies and/or large segments of China’s export industry, which could have a negative impact on the Fund’s performance. U.S. companies that source material and goods from China and those that make large amounts of sales in China would be particularly vulnerable to an escalation of trade tensions. Uncertainty regarding the outcome of the trade tensions and the potential for a trade war could cause the U.S. dollar to decline against safe haven currencies, such as the Japanese yen and the euro. Events such as these and their consequences are difficult to predict and it is unclear whether further tariffs may be imposed or other escalating actions may be taken in the future. Any of these effects could have a material adverse effect on the Fund. Risks resulting from any future debt or other economic crisis could also have a detrimental impact on the global economic recovery, the financial condition of financial institutions and our business, financial condition and results of operation. Market and economic disruptions have affected, and may in the future affect, consumer confidence levels and spending, personal bankruptcy rates, levels of incurrence and default on consumer debt and home prices, among other factors. To the extent uncertainty regarding the U.S. or global economy negatively impacts consumer confidence and consumer credit factors, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be significantly and adversely affected. Downgrades to the credit ratings of major banks could result in increased borrowing costs for such banks and negatively affect the broader economy. Moreover, Federal Reserve policy, including with respect to certain interest rates, may also adversely affect the value, volatility and liquidity of dividend- and interest-paying securities. Market volatility, rising interest rates and/or a return to unfavorable economic conditions could impair the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objectives. | | | | | | | | | | |
Regulation And Government Intervention Risk [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Risk [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | Regulation and Government Intervention Risk action in ways that are not foreseeable, and there is a possibility that such actions could have a significant adverse effect on the Fund and the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objectives. Additional risks arising from the differences in expressed policy preferences among the various constituencies in the branches of the U.S. government has led in the past, and may lead in the future, to short-term or prolonged policy impasses, which could, and has, resulted in shutdowns of the U.S. federal government. U.S. federal government shutdowns, especially prolonged shutdowns, could have a significant adverse impact on the economy in general and could impair the ability of issuers to raise capital in the securities markets. Any of these effects could have a material adverse effect on the Fund’s net asset value. In addition, the rules dealing with the U.S. federal income taxation are constantly under review by persons involved in the legislative process and by the IRS and the U.S. Treasury Department. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act made substantial changes to the Code. Among those changes were a significant permanent reduction in the generally applicable corporate tax rate, changes in the taxation of individuals and other non-corporate taxpayers that generally but not universally reduce their taxes on a temporary basis subject to “sunset” provisions, the elimination or modification of various previously allowed deductions (including substantial limitations on the deductibility of interest and, in the case of individuals, the deduction for personal state and local taxes), certain additional limitations on the deduction of net operating losses, certain preferential rates of taxation on certain dividends and certain business income derived by non-corporate taxpayers in comparison to other ordinary income recognized by such taxpayers, and significant changes to the international tax rules. In addition, on August 16, 2022, the Biden administration signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act, which modifies key aspects of the Code, including by creating an alternative minimum tax on certain corporations and an excise tax on stock repurchases by certain corporations. The effect of these and other changes is uncertain, both in terms of the direct effect on the taxation of an investment in the Fund’s shares and their indirect effect on the value of the Fund’s assets, Fund shares or market conditions generally. In addition, the U.S. government has proposed and adopted multiple regulations that could have a long-lasting impact on the Fund and on the closed-end fund industry in general. The SEC’s final rules and amendments that modernize reporting and disclosure, along with other potential upcoming regulations, could, among other things, restrict the Fund’s ability to engage in transactions, and/or increase overall expenses of the Fund. The Fund may be affected by governmental action in ways that are not foreseeable, and there is a possibility that such actions could have a significant adverse effect on the Fund and its ability to achieve its investment objective. | | | | | | | | | | |
Deflation Risk [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Risk [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | Deflation Risk | | | | | | | | | | |
Loans Of Portfolio Securities [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Risk [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | Loans of Portfolio Securities cash amounts deposited as collateral, which will be invested in short term obligations. The Fund will not lend its portfolio securities if such loans are not permitted by the laws or regulations of any state in which its shares are qualified for sale. | | | | | | | | | | |
Portfolio Turnover Risk [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Risk [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | Portfolio Turnover Risk | | | | | | | | | | |
Legal Tax And Regulatory Risks [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Risk [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | Legal, Tax and Regulatory Risks We cannot assure you what percentage of the distributions paid on the Fund’s shares, if any, will consist of tax-advantaged qualified dividend income or long-term capital gains or what the tax rates on various types of income will be in future years. To qualify for the favorable U.S. federal income tax treatment generally accorded to RICs under the Code, the Fund must, among other things, derive in each taxable year at least 90% of its gross income from certain prescribed sources and distribute for each taxable year at least 90% of its “investment company taxable income.” Statutory limitations on distributions on the common shares if the Fund fails to satisfy the 1940 Act’s asset coverage requirements could jeopardize the Fund’s ability to meet such distribution requirements. While the Fund presently intends to purchase or redeem notes or preferred shares, if any, to the extent necessary in order to maintain compliance with such asset coverage requirements, there can be no assurance that such actions can be effected in time to meet the Code requirements. If for any taxable year the Fund does not qualify as a RIC, all of its taxable income for that year (including its net capital gain) would be subject to tax at regular corporate rates without any deduction for distributions to shareholders, and such distributions would be taxable as ordinary dividends to the extent of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits. | | | | | | | | | | |
L I B O R Risk [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Risk [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | LIBOR Risk In July 2017, the head of the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority announced the desire to phase out the use of LIBOR by the end of 2021. LIBOR can no longer be used to calculate new deals as of December 31, 2021. Since December 31, 2021, all sterling, euro, Swiss franc and Japanese yen LIBOR settings and the 1-week and 2-month U.S. dollar LIBOR settings have ceased to be published or are no longer representative. Overnight and 12-month US dollar LIBOR settings permanently ceased as of June 30, 2023. 1-, 3-, and 6-month U.S. dollar LIBOR settings will continue to be published using a synthetic methodology until September 2024. Various financial industry groups have begun planning for the transition away from LIBOR, but there are challenges to converting certain securities and transactions to a new reference rate. Neither the effect of the LIBOR transition process nor its ultimate success can yet be known. As an alternative to LIBOR, the Financial Reporting Council, in conjunction with the Alternative Reference Rates Committee, a steering committee comprised of large U.S. financial institutions, recommended replacing U.S. dollar LIBOR with the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), a new index calculated by reference to short-term repurchase agreements, backed by Treasury securities. Abandonment of, or modifications to, LIBOR could have adverse impacts on newly issued financial instruments and any of our existing financial instruments which reference LIBOR. Given the inherent differences between LIBOR and SOFR, or any other alternative benchmark rate that may be established, there are many uncertainties regarding a transition from LIBOR, including, but not limited to, the need to amend all contracts with LIBOR as the referenced rate and how this will impact the cost of variable rate debt and certain derivative financial instruments. In addition, SOFR or other replacement rates may fail to gain market acceptance. Any failure of SOFR or alternative reference rates to gain market acceptance could adversely affect the return on, value of and market for securities linked to such rates. Neither the effect of the LIBOR transition process nor its ultimate success can yet be known. The transition process might lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets for, and reduce the effectiveness of, new hedges placed against instruments whose terms currently include LIBOR. While some existing LIBOR-based instruments may contemplate a scenario where LIBOR is no longer available by providing for an alternative rate-setting methodology, there may be significant uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of any such alternative methodologies to replicate LIBOR. Not all existing LIBOR-based instruments may have alternative rate-setting provisions and there remains uncertainty regarding the willingness and ability of issuers to add alternative rate-setting provisions in certain existing instruments. Moreover, these alternative rate-setting provisions may not be designed for regular use in an environment where LIBOR ceases to be published, and may be an ineffective fallback following the discontinuation of LIBOR. On March 15, 2022, President Biden signed into law the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022, which among other things, provides for the use of interest rates based on SOFR in certain contracts currently based on LIBOR and a safe harbor from liability for utilizing SOFR-based interest rates as a replacement for LIBOR. The elimination of LIBOR could have an adverse impact on the market value of and/or transferability of any LIBOR-linked securities, loans, and other financial obligations or extensions of credit held by or due to us or on our overall financial condition or results of operations. | | | | | | | | | | |
Legislation Risk [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Risk [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | Legislation Risk implemented and there can be no assurance that any new governmental regulation will not adversely affect the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment objective. | | | | | | | | | | |
Relianceon Service Providers Risk [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Risk [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | Reliance on Service Providers Risk | | | | | | | | | | |
Cyber Security Risk [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Risk [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | Cyber Security Risk Because technology is consistently changing, new ways to carry out cyber attacks are always developing. Therefore, there is a chance that some risks have not been identified or prepared for, or that an attack may not be detected, which puts limitations on the Fund’s ability to plan for or respond to a cyber attack. In addition to deliberate cyber attacks, unintentional cyber incidents can occur, such as the inadvertent release of confidential information by the Fund or its service providers. Like other funds and business enterprises, the Fund and its service providers are subject to the risk of cyber incidents occurring from time to time. | | | | | | | | | | |
Misconduct Of Employees And Of Service Providers Risk [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Risk [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | Misconduct of Employees and of Service Providers Risk | | | | | | | | | | |
Anti Takeover Provisions [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Risk [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | Anti-Takeover Provisions | | | | | | | | | | |
Special Risks Relatedto Investmentin Derivative Transactions [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Risk [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | Special Risks Related to Investment in Derivative Transactions ● dependence on the Investment Adviser’s ability to predict correctly movements in the direction of the relevant measure; ● imperfect correlation between the price of the derivative instrument and movements in the prices of the referenced assets; ● the fact that skills needed to use these strategies are different from those needed to select portfolio securities; ● the possible absence of a liquid secondary market for any particular instrument at any time; ● the possible need to defer closing out certain hedged positions to avoid adverse tax consequences; ● the possible inability of the Fund to purchase or sell a security or instrument at a time that otherwise would be favorable for it to do so, or the possible need for the Fund to sell a security or instrument at a disadvantageous time due to a need for the Fund to remain in compliance with the 1940 Act restrictions regarding derivatives transaction; and ● the creditworthiness of counterparties. Options, futures contracts, swaps contracts, and options thereon and forward contracts on securities and currencies may be traded on foreign exchanges. Such transactions may not be regulated as effectively as similar transactions in the United States, may not involve a clearing mechanism and related guarantees, and are subject to the risk of governmental actions affecting trading in, or the prices of, foreign securities. The value of such positions also could be adversely affected by (i) other complex foreign political, legal and economic factors, (ii) lesser availability than in the United States of data on which to make trading decisions, (iii) delays in the ability of the Fund to act upon economic events occurring in the foreign markets during non-business hours in the United States, (iv) the imposition of different exercise and settlement terms and procedures and margin requirements than in the United States, and (v) less trading volume. Exchanges on which options, futures, swaps and options on futures or swaps are traded may impose limits on the positions that the Fund may take in certain circumstances. Many OTC derivatives are valued on the basis of dealers’ pricing of these instruments. However, the price at which dealers value a particular derivative and the price which the same dealers would actually be willing to pay for such derivative should the Fund wish or be forced to sell such position may be materially different. Such differences can result in an overstatement of the Fund’s net asset value and may materially adversely affect the Fund in situations in which the Fund is required to sell derivative instruments. Exchange-traded derivatives and OTC derivative transactions submitted for clearing through a central counterparty have become subject to minimum initial and variation margin requirements set by the relevant clearinghouse, as well as possible margin requirements mandated by the SEC or the CFTC. These regulators also have broad discretion to impose margin requirements on non-cleared OTC derivatives. These margin requirements will increase the overall costs for the Fund. While hedging can reduce or eliminate losses, it can also reduce or eliminate gains. Hedges are sometimes subject to imperfect matching between the derivative and the underlying security, and there can be no assurance that the Fund’s hedging transactions will be effective. Derivatives may give rise to a form of leverage and may expose the Fund to greater risk and increase its costs. Future CFTC or SEC rulemakings could potentially further limit or completely restrict the Fund’s ability to use these instruments as a part of the Fund’s investment strategy, increase the costs of using these instruments or make them less effective. Limits or restrictions applicable to the counterparties with which the Fund engages in derivative transactions could also prevent the Fund from using these instruments or affect the pricing or other factors relating to these instruments or may change the availability of certain investments. New regulation may make derivatives more costly, may limit the availability of derivatives, or may otherwise adversely affect the value or performance of derivatives. Counterparty Risk. The Fund will be subject to credit risk with respect to the counterparties to the derivative contracts purchased by the Fund. If a counterparty becomes bankrupt or otherwise fails to perform its obligations under a derivative contract due to financial difficulties, the Fund may experience significant delays in obtaining any recovery under the derivative contract in bankruptcy or other reorganization proceeding. The Fund may obtain only a limited recovery or may obtain no recovery in such circumstances. The counterparty risk for cleared derivatives is generally lower than for uncleared OTC derivative transactions since generally a clearing organization becomes substituted for each counterparty to a cleared derivative contract and, in effect, guarantees the parties’ performance under the contract as each party to a trade looks only to the clearing organization for performance of financial obligations under the derivative contract. However, there can be no assurance that a clearing organization, or its members, will satisfy its obligations to the Fund, or that the Fund would be able to recover the full amount of assets deposited on its behalf with the clearing organization in the event of the default by the clearing organization or the Fund’s clearing broker. In addition, cleared derivative transactions benefit from daily marking-to-market and settlement, and segregation and minimum capital requirements applicable to intermediaries. Uncleared OTC derivative transactions generally do not benefit from such protections. This exposes the Fund to the risk that a counterparty will not settle a transaction in accordance with its terms and conditions because of a dispute over the terms of the contract (whether or not bona fide) or because of a credit or liquidity problem, thus causing the Fund to suffer a loss. Such “counterparty risk” is accentuated for contracts with longer maturities where events may intervene to prevent settlement, or where the Fund has concentrated its transactions with a single or small group of counterparties. | | | | | | | | | | |
Failure Of Futures Commission Merchants And Clearing Organizations Risk Counterparty Risk [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Risk [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | Failure of Futures Commission Merchants and Clearing Organizations Risk. Counterparty Risk The counterparty risk for cleared derivatives is generally lower than for uncleared OTC derivative transactions since generally a clearing organization becomes substituted for each counterparty to a cleared derivative contract and, in effect, guarantees the parties’ performance under the contract as each party to a trade looks only to the clearing organization for performance of financial obligations under the derivative contract. However, there can be no assurance that a clearing organization, or its members, will satisfy its obligations to the Fund, or that the Fund would be able to recover the full amount of assets deposited on its behalf with the clearing organization in the event of the default by the clearing organization or the Fund’s clearing broker. In addition, cleared derivative transactions benefit from daily marking-to-market and settlement, and segregation and minimum capital requirements applicable to intermediaries. Uncleared OTC derivative transactions generally do not benefit from such protections. This exposes the Fund to the risk that a counterparty will not settle a transaction in accordance with its terms and conditions because of a dispute over the terms of the contract (whether or not bona fide) or because of a credit or liquidity problem, thus causing the Fund to suffer a loss. Such “counterparty risk” is accentuated for contracts with longer maturities where events may intervene to prevent settlement, or where the Fund has concentrated its transactions with a single or small group of counterparties. | | | | | | | | | | |
Swaps Risk [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Risk [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | Swaps Risk Historically, swap transactions have been individually negotiated non-standardized transactions entered into in the OTC markets and have not been subject to the same type of government regulation as exchange-traded instruments. However, in the U.S., the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) has made broad changes to the derivatives market, granted significant new authority to the CFTC and the SEC to regulate derivatives (swaps and security-based swaps) and participants in these markets. The Dodd-Frank Act is intended to regulate the derivatives market by requiring many derivative transactions to be cleared and traded on an exchange, expanding entity registration requirements, imposing business conduct requirements on dealers and requiring banks to move some derivatives trading units to a non-guaranteed affiliate separate from the deposit-taking bank or divest them altogether. See “Risk Factors and Special Considerations-General Risks - Derivatives Regulation Risk.” Swap agreements will tend to shift the Fund’s investment exposure from one type of investment to another. For example, if the Fund agreed to pay fixed rates in exchange for floating rates while holding fixed-rate bonds, the swap would tend to decrease the Fund’s exposure to long-term interest rates. Caps and floors have an effect similar to buying or writing options. Depending on how they are used, swap agreements may increase or decrease the overall volatility of the Fund’s investments and its share price and yield. The most significant factor in the performance of swap agreements is the change in the specific interest rate, currency, or other factors that determine the amounts of payments due to and from the Fund. If a swap agreement calls for payments by the Fund, the Fund must be prepared to make such payments when due. The Fund may enter into swap agreements that would calculate the obligations of the parties to the agreements on a “net” basis. Consequently, the Fund’s obligations (or rights) under a swap agreement will generally be equal only to the net amount to be paid or received under the agreement based on the relative values of the positions held by each party to the agreement (the “net amount”). The Fund’s use of swap agreements may not be successful in furthering its investment objective, as the Investment Adviser may not accurately predict whether certain types of investments are likely to produce greater returns than other investments. Moreover, swap agreements involve the risk that the party with whom a Fund has entered into the swap will default on its obligation to pay a Fund and the risk that a Fund will not be able to meet its obligations to pay the other party to the agreement. The Fund may be able to eliminate its exposure under a swap agreement either by assignment or other disposition, or by entering into an offsetting swap agreement with the same party or a similarly creditworthy party. | | | | | | | | | | |
Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Risk [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts The dealings of the Fund in forward foreign exchange are limited to hedging involving either specific transactions or portfolio positions. Transaction hedging is the purchase or sale of one forward foreign currency for another currency with respect to specific receivables or payables of the Fund accruing in connection with the purchase and sale of its portfolio securities or its payment of distributions. Position hedging is the purchase or sale of one forward foreign currency for another currency with respect to portfolio security positions denominated or quoted in the foreign currency to offset the effect of an anticipated substantial appreciation or depreciation, respectively, in the value of the currency relative to the U.S. dollar. In this situation, the Fund also may, for example, enter into a forward contract to sell or purchase a different foreign currency for a fixed U.S. dollar amount where it is believed that the U.S. dollar value of the currency to be sold or bought pursuant to the forward contract will fall or rise, as the case may be, whenever there is a decline or increase, respectively, in the U.S. dollar value of the currency in which its portfolio securities are denominated (this practice being referred to as a “cross-hedge”). In hedging a specific transaction, the Fund may enter into a forward contract with respect to either the currency in which the transaction is denominated or another currency deemed appropriate by the Investment Adviser. The amount the Fund may invest in forward currency contracts is limited to the amount of its aggregate investments in foreign currencies. The use of forward currency contracts may involve certain risks, including the failure of the counterparty to perform its obligations under the contract, and such use may not serve as a complete hedge because of an imperfect correlation between movements in the prices of the contracts and the prices of the currencies hedged or used for cover. The Fund will only enter into forward currency contracts with parties which the Investment Adviser believes to be creditworthy institutions. | | | | | | | | | | |
Futures Contracts And Optionson Futures [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Risk [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | Futures Contracts and Options on Futures | | | | | | | | | | |
Options Risk [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Risk [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | Options Risk Where a put or call option on a particular security is purchased to hedge against price movements in that or a related security, the price of the put or call option may move more or less than the price of the security. If restrictions on exercise are imposed, the Fund may be unable to exercise an option it has purchased. If the Fund is unable to close out an option that it has purchased on a security, it will have to exercise the option in order to realize any profit or the option may expire worthless. | | | | | | | | | | |
Derivatives Regulation Risk [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Risk [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | Derivatives Regulation Risk has implemented mandatory clearing and exchange-trading of certain derivatives contracts including many standardized interest rate swaps and credit default index swaps. The CFTC continues to approve contracts for central clearing. Exchange-trading and central clearing are expected to reduce counterparty credit risk by substituting the clearinghouse as the counterparty to a swap and increase liquidity, but exchange-trading and central clearing do not make swap transactions risk-free. Uncleared swaps, such as non-deliverable foreign currency forwards, are subject to certain margin requirements that mandate the posting and collection of minimum margin amounts. This requirement may result in the Fund and its counterparties posting higher margin amounts for uncleared swaps than would otherwise be the case. Certain rules require centralized reporting of detailed information about many types of cleared and uncleared swaps. Reporting of swap data may result in greater market transparency, but may subject the Fund to additional administrative burdens, and the safeguards established to protect trader anonymity may not function as expected. In addition, on October 28, 2020, the SEC adopted new regulations governing the use of derivatives by closed-end funds, which the Fund was required to comply with as of August 19, 2022. As a result, the Fund is required to implement and comply with the Rule 18f-4 limits described previously under “Special Risks Related to Investment in Derivatives” on the amount of derivatives the Fund can enter into, eliminate the asset segregation framework previously used to comply with Section 18 of the 1940 Act, treat derivatives as senior securities so that a failure to comply with the limits would result in a statutory violation and require the Fund, if the Fund’s use of derivatives is more than a limited specified exposure amount (10% of net assets), to establish and maintain a comprehensive derivatives risk management program and appoint a derivatives risk manager. These requirements may limit the ability of the Fund to invest in derivatives, engage in securities lending activities, short sales, reverse repurchase agreements and similar financing transactions. Additionally, Rule 18f-4 and the SEC’s corresponding recission and withdrawal of prior guidance and relief related to asset segregation and asset coverage requirements under section 18 of the 1940 Act may affect the Fund’s ability to implement its investment strategy, pursue its investment objectives and may increase the cost of the Fund’s investments. | | | | | | | | | | |
Special Risksto Holders Of Notes [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Risk [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | Special Risks to Holders of Notes An investment in our notes is subject to special risks. Our notes are not likely to be listed on an exchange or automated quotation system. We cannot assure you that any market will exist for our notes or if a market does exist, whether it will provide holders with liquidity. Broker-dealers that maintain a secondary trading market for the notes are not required to maintain this market, and the Fund is not required to redeem notes if an attempted secondary market sale fails because of a lack of buyers. To the extent that our notes trade, they may trade at a price either higher or lower than their principal amount depending on interest rates, the rating (if any) on such notes and other factors. | | | | | | | | | | |
Special Risksto Holders Of Preferred Shares [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Risk [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | Special Risks to Holders of Preferred Shares Illiquidity Prior to Exchange Listing. Market Price Fluctuation. | | | | | | | | | | |
Special Risksto Holders Of Notes And Preferred Shares [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Risk [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | Special Risks to Holders of Notes and Preferred Shares Common Share Repurchases. Common Share Distribution Policy. For the fiscal period ended September 30, 2023, the Fund made distributions of $0.36 per common share, approximately $0.10 per common share of which constituted a return of capital. The composition of each distribution is estimated based on the earnings of the Fund as of the record date for each distribution. The actual composition of each of the current year’s distributions will be based on the Fund’s investment activity through the end of the calendar year. Credit Quality Ratings. | | | | | | | | | | |
Special Risks Of Notesto Holders Of Preferred Shares [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Risk [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | Special Risks of Notes to Holders of Preferred Shares As provided in the 1940 Act, and subject to compliance with the Fund’s investment limitations, the Fund may issue notes. In the event the Fund were to issue such securities, the Fund’s obligations to pay dividends or make distributions and, upon liquidation of the Fund, liquidation payments in respect of its preferred shares would be subordinate to the Fund’s obligations to make any principal and interest payments due and owing with respect to its outstanding notes. Accordingly, the Fund’s issuance of notes would have the effect of creating special risks for the Fund’s preferred shareholders that would not be present in a capital structure that did not include such securities. | | | | | | | | | | |
Special Risksto Holders Of Common Shares [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Risk [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | Special Risks to Holders of Common Shares Dilution Risk. Shareholders who do not exercise their subscription rights may, at the completion of such an offering, own a smaller proportional interest in the Fund than if they exercised their subscription rights. As a result of such an offering, a shareholder may experience dilution in net asset value per share if the subscription price per share is below the net asset value per share on the expiration date. If the subscription price per share is below the net asset value per share of the Fund’s shares on the expiration date, a shareholder will experience an immediate dilution of the aggregate net asset value of such shareholder’s shares if the shareholder does not participate in such an offering and the shareholder will experience a reduction in the net asset value per share of such shareholder’s shares whether or not the shareholder participates in such an offering. The Fund cannot state precisely the extent of this dilution (if any) if the shareholder does not exercise such shareholder’s subscription rights because the Fund does not know what the net asset value per share will be when the offer expires or what proportion of the subscription rights will be exercised. There is also a risk that the Fund’s largest shareholders, record date shareholders of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Fund, may increase their percentage ownership of the Fund through the exercise of the primary subscription and over-subscription privilege. Leverage Risk. The Fund’s leveraged capital structure creates special risks not associated with unleveraged funds having a similar investment objective and policies. These include the possibility of greater loss and the likelihood of higher volatility of the net asset value of the Fund and the asset coverage for the preferred shares. Such volatility may increase the likelihood of the Fund having to sell investments in order to meet its obligations to make distributions on the preferred shares or principal or interest payments on debt securities, or to redeem preferred shares or repay debt, when it may be disadvantageous to do so. The Fund’s use of leverage may require it to sell portfolio investments at inopportune times in order to raise cash to redeem preferred shares or otherwise de-leverage so as to maintain required asset coverage amounts or comply with the mandatory redemption terms of any outstanding preferred shares. The use of leverage magnifies both the favorable and unfavorable effects of price movements in the investments made by the Fund. To the extent that the Fund employs leverage in its investment operations, the Fund is subject to substantial risk of loss. The Fund cannot assure you that borrowings or the issuance of preferred shares will result in a higher yield or return to the holders of the common shares. Also, since the Fund utilizes leverage, a decline in net asset value could affect the ability of the Fund to make common share distributions and such a failure to make distributions could result in the Fund ceasing to qualify as a RIC under the Code. Any decline in the net asset value of the Fund’s investments would be borne entirely by the holders of common shares. Therefore, if the market value of the Fund’s portfolio declines, the leverage will result in a greater decrease in net asset value to the holders of common shares than if the Fund were not leveraged. This greater net asset value decrease will also tend to cause a greater decline in the market price for the common shares. The Fund might be in danger of failing to maintain the required asset coverage of its borrowings, notes or preferred shares or of losing its ratings on its notes or preferred shares or notes or, in an extreme case, the Fund’s current investment income might not be sufficient to meet the distribution or interest requirements on the borrowings, preferred shares or notes. In order to counteract such an event, the Fund might need to liquidate investments in order to fund a redemption or repayment of some or all of the borrowings, preferred shares or notes. Preferred Share and Note Risk. In addition, the Fund would pay (and the holders of common shares will bear) all costs and expenses relating to the issuance and ongoing maintenance of the preferred shares or notes, including the advisory fees on the incremental assets attributable to the preferred shares or notes. Holders of preferred shares and notes may have different interests than holders of common shares and may at times have disproportionate influence over the Fund’s affairs. As provided in the 1940 Act and subject to certain exceptions, the Fund may issue senior securities (which may be stock, such as preferred shares, and/ or securities representing debt, such as notes) only if immediately after the issuance the value of the Fund’s total assets, less certain ordinary course liabilities, exceeds 300% of the amount of the debt outstanding (i.e., for every dollar of indebtedness outstanding, the Fund is required to have at least three dollars of assets) and exceeds 200% of the amount of preferred shares and debt outstanding (i.e., for every dollar in liquidation preference of preferred stock outstanding, the Fund is required to have two dollars of assets), which is referred to as the “asset coverage” required by the 1940 Act. In the event the Fund fails to maintain an asset coverage of 100% for any notes outstanding for certain periods of time, the 1940 Act requires that either an event of default be declared or that the holders of such notes have the right to elect a majority of the Fund’s Directors until asset coverage recovers to 110%. In addition, holders of preferred shares, voting separately as a single class, have the right (subject to the rights of noteholders) to elect two members of the Board at all times and in the event dividends become two full years in arrears would have the right to elect a majority of the Directors until such arrearage is completely eliminated. In addition, preferred shareholders have class voting rights on certain matters, including changes in fundamental investment restrictions and conversion of the Fund to open-end status, and accordingly can veto any such changes. Further, interest on notes will be payable when due as described in a Prospectus Supplement and if the Fund does not pay interest when due, it will trigger an event of default and the Fund expects to be restricted from declaring dividends and making other distributions with respect to common shares and preferred shares. Upon the occurrence and continuance of an event of default, the holders of a majority in principal amount of a series of outstanding notes or the Director will be able to declare the principal amount of that series of notes immediately due and payable upon written notice to the Fund. The 1940 Act also generally restricts the Fund from declaring distributions on, or repurchasing, common or preferred shares unless notes have an asset coverage of 300% (200% in the case of declaring distributions on preferred shares). The Fund’s common shares are structurally subordinated as to income and residual value to any preferred shares or notes in the Fund’s capital structure, in terms of priority to income and payment in liquidation. Restrictions imposed on the declarations and payment of dividends or other distributions to the holders of the Fund’s common shares and preferred shares, both by the 1940 Act and by requirements imposed by rating agencies, might impair the Fund’s ability to maintain its qualification as a RIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes. While the Fund intends to redeem its preferred shares or notes to the extent necessary to enable the Fund to distribute its income as required to maintain its qualification as a RIC under the Code, there can be no assurance that such actions can be effected in time to meet the Code requirements. Portfolio Guidelines of Rating Agencies for Preferred Shares and/or Credit Facility. Impact on Common Shares. 5.20% 0.89% portfolio returns are hypothetical figures and are not necessarily indicative of the investment portfolio returns experienced or expected to be experienced by the Fund. The table further reflects leverage representing 17% of the Fund’s net assets (the Fund’s amount of outstanding financial leverage at September 30, 2023), the Fund’s current projected blended annual average leverage dividend or interest rate of 5.20% Assumed Return on Portfolio (Net of Expenses) (10 )% (5 )% 0 % 5 % 10 % Corresponding Return to Common Shareholder (13.27 )% (7.26 )% (1.25 )% 4.76 % 10.76 % Common share total return is composed of two elements—the common share distributions paid by the Fund (the amount of which is largely determined by the taxable income of the Fund (including realized gains or losses) after paying interest on any debt and/or dividends on any preferred shares) and unrealized gains or losses on the value of the securities the Fund owns. As required by SEC rules, the table assumes that the Fund is more likely to suffer capital losses than to enjoy total return. For example, to assume a total return of 0% the Fund must assume that the income it receives on its investments is entirely offset by expenses and losses in the value of those investments. Market Discount Risk. As described above in “—General Risks—Market Discount Risk,” common shares of closed-end funds often trade at a discount to their net asset values and the Fund’s common shares may trade at such a discount. This risk may be greater for investors expecting to sell their common shares of the Fund soon after completion of a public offering. The common shares of the Fund are designed primarily for long term investors and investors in the shares should not view the Fund as a vehicle for trading purposes. | | | | | | | | | | |
Special Riskto Holders Of Subscription Rights [Member] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
General Description of Registrant [Abstract] | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Risk [Text Block] | | | | | | | | | | Special Risk to Holders of Subscription Rights There is a risk that changes in market conditions may result in the underlying common or preferred shares purchasable upon exercise of the subscription rights being less attractive to investors at the conclusion of the subscription period. This may reduce or eliminate the value of the subscription rights. Investors who receive subscription rights may find that there is no market to sell rights they do not wish to exercise. If investors exercise only a portion of the rights, the number of common or preferred shares issued may be reduced, and the common or preferred shares may trade at less favorable prices than larger offerings for similar securities. | | | | | | | | | | |