RiverNorth Flexible Municipal Income Fund,
Inc.
RiverNorth Flexible Municipal Income Fund,
Inc.
Statement of Assets and Liabilities |
June 30, 2022 |
ASSETS: | |
| |
Investments in securities: | |
| | |
At cost | |
$ | 212,156,486 | |
At value | |
$ | 198,027,256 | |
| |
| | |
Deposit with broker for futures contracts | |
| 1,301,400 | |
Receivable for investments sold | |
| 8,613 | |
Interest receivable | |
| 1,067,056 | |
Dividends receivable | |
| 223,626 | |
Prepaid and other assets | |
| 207,475 | |
Total Assets | |
| 200,835,426 | |
| |
| | |
LIABILITIES: | |
| | |
Interest payable on facility loan | |
| 10,270 | |
Payable for Floating Rate Note Obligations | |
| 75,150,000 | |
Payable to custodian due to overdraft | |
| 654,097 | |
Payable for interest expense and fees on Floating Rate Note Obligations | |
| 153,226 | |
Loan payable (Note 7) | |
| 13,000,000 | |
Variation margin payable | |
| 642,151 | |
Payable to Adviser | |
| 230,310 | |
Other payables | |
| 13,260 | |
Total Liabilities | |
| 89,853,314 | |
Net Assets | |
$ | 110,982,112 | |
| |
| | |
NET ASSETS CONSIST OF: | |
| | |
Paid-in capital | |
$ | 122,407,925 | |
Total distributable earnings | |
| (11,425,813 | ) |
Net Assets | |
$ | 110,982,112 | |
| |
| | |
PRICING OF SHARES: | |
| | |
Net Assets | |
$ | 110,982,112 | |
Shares of common stock outstanding (50,000,000 of shares authorized, at $0.0001 par value per share) | |
| 6,114,699 | |
Net asset value per share | |
$ | 18.15 | |
See Notes to
Financial Statements.
Annual Report | June 30, 2022 |
13 |
RiverNorth Flexible Municipal Income Fund,
Inc.
Statement of Operations |
For the Year Ended June 30, 2022 |
INVESTMENT INCOME: | |
| |
Interest | |
$ | 4,179,061 | |
Dividends | |
| 3,389,271 | |
Total Investment Income | |
| 7,568,332 | |
| |
| | |
EXPENSES: | |
| | |
Investment Adviser fee | |
| 2,890,722 | |
Interest expense and fees on Floating Rate Note Obligations | |
| 429,074 | |
Interest expense on loan payable | |
| 126,864 | |
Legal expenses | |
| 68,787 | |
Total Expenses | |
| 3,515,447 | |
Net Investment Income | |
| 4,052,885 | |
| |
| | |
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN/(LOSS): | |
| | |
Net realized gain/(loss) on: | |
| | |
Investments | |
| (2,876,562 | ) |
Futures | |
| 5,884,969 | |
Net realized gain | |
| 3,008,407 | |
Long-term capital gains from other investment companies | |
| 21,206 | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on: | |
| | |
Investments | |
| (35,167,139 | ) |
Futures | |
| 1,957,218 | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation | |
| (33,209,921 | ) |
Net Realized and Unrealized Loss on Investments and Futures Contracts | |
| (30,180,308 | ) |
Net Decrease in Net Assets Resulting from Operations | |
$ | (26,127,423 | ) |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
14 |
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RiverNorth Flexible Municipal Income Fund, Inc.
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
| |
For the | | |
For the | |
| |
Year Ended | | |
Year Ended | |
| |
June 30, 2022 | | |
June 30, 2021 | |
NET INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS: | |
| | | |
| | |
Net investment income | |
$ | 4,052,885 | | |
$ | 4,360,050 | |
Net realized gain | |
| 3,008,407 | | |
| 12,276,904 | |
Long-term capital gains from other investment companies | |
| 21,206 | | |
| – | |
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation | |
| (33,209,921 | ) | |
| 10,476,430 | |
Net increase/(decrease) in net assets resulting from operations | |
| (26,127,423 | ) | |
| 27,113,384 | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS: | |
| | | |
| | |
From distributable earnings | |
| (14,131,987 | ) | |
| (7,645,820 | ) |
Net decrease in net assets from distributions to shareholders | |
| (14,131,987 | ) | |
| (7,645,820 | ) |
| |
| | | |
| | |
Net Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets | |
| (40,259,410 | ) | |
| 19,467,564 | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
NET ASSETS: | |
| | | |
| | |
Beginning of period | |
| 151,241,522 | | |
| 131,773,958 | |
End of period | |
$ | 110,982,112 | | |
$ | 151,241,522 | |
| |
| | | |
| | |
OTHER INFORMATION: | |
| | | |
| | |
Share Transactions: | |
| | | |
| | |
Shares outstanding - beginning of period | |
| 6,114,699 | | |
| 6,114,699 | |
Common Shares outstanding - end of period | |
| 6,114,699 | | |
| 6,114,699 | |
See Notes to
Financial Statements.
Annual Report | June 30, 2022 |
15 |
RiverNorth Flexible Municipal Income Fund,
Inc.
Statement of Cash Flows |
For the Year Ended June 30, 2022 |
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: | |
| |
Net decrease in net assets resulting from operations | |
$ | (26,127,423 | ) |
Adjustments to reconcile net decrease in net assets from operations to net cash provided by operating activities: | |
| | |
Purchases of investment securities | |
| (242,774,874 | ) |
Proceeds from disposition on investment securities | |
| 216,371,191 | |
Amortization of premium and accretion of discount on investments, net | |
| 644,433 | |
Net proceeds from short-term investment securities | |
| 6,812,865 | |
Net realized (gain)/loss on: | |
| | |
Investments | |
| 2,876,562 | |
Long-Term Capital Gain distributions from other investment companies | |
| (21,206 | ) |
Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on: | |
| | |
Investments | |
| 35,167,139 | |
(Increase)/Decrease in assets: | |
| | |
Interest receivable | |
| (521,484 | ) |
Dividends receivable | |
| 30,808 | |
Prepaid and other assets | |
| (207,475 | ) |
Increase/(Decrease) in liabilities: | |
| | |
Variation margin payable on futures contracts | |
| 447,997 | |
Increase in interest due on loan payable | |
| 7,003 | |
Payable for interest expense and fees on Floating Rate Note Obligations | |
| 70,896 | |
Payable to Adviser | |
| (21,267 | ) |
Other payables | |
| 7,052 | |
Net cash used in operating activities | |
$ | (7,237,783 | ) |
| |
| | |
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: | |
| | |
Net proceeds from floating rate note obligations | |
$ | 58,890,000 | |
Net payments on floating rate note obligations | |
| (41,215,000 | ) |
Proceeds from loan payable | |
| 3,000,000 | |
Cash distributions paid | |
| (14,131,987 | ) |
Payable to custodian due to overdraft | |
| 654,097 | |
Net cash provided by financing activities | |
$ | 7,197,110 | |
| |
| | |
Net decrease in cash and restricted cash | |
$ | (40,673 | ) |
Cash and restricted cash, beginning of period | |
$ | 1,342,073 | |
Cash and restricted cash, end of period | |
$ | 1,301,400 | |
| |
| | |
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION: | |
| | |
Cash paid during the period for interest expense and fees on floating rate note obligations | |
$ | 358,178 | |
Cash paid for interest expense and fees for line of credit | |
$ | 119,861 | |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
16 |
(888) 848-7569 | www.rivernorth.com |
RiverNorth Flexible Municipal Income Fund,
Inc.
Statement of Cash Flows |
For the Year Ended June 30, 2022 |
Reconciliation of restricted and unrestricted cash at the beginning of period to the statement of assets and liabilities: | |
| |
Cash | |
$ | 196,573 | |
Deposit with broker for futures contracts | |
$ | 1,145,500 | |
| |
| | |
Reconciliation of restricted and unrestricted cash at the end of the period to the statement of assets and liabilities: | |
| | |
Deposit with broker for futures contracts | |
$ | 1,301,400 | |
See Notes to
Financial Statements.
Annual Report | June 30, 2022 |
17 |
RiverNorth Flexible Municipal Income Fund,
Inc.
Financial Highlights |
For a share outstanding throughout the periods presented |
| |
| | |
| | |
For the Period | |
| |
| | |
| | |
March 26, 2020 | |
| |
| | |
| | |
(Commencement | |
| |
For the | | |
For the | | |
of | |
| |
Year Ended | | |
Year Ended | | |
Operations) to | |
| |
June 30, 2022 | | |
June 30, 2020 | | |
June 30, 2021 | |
Net asset value - beginning of period | |
$ | 24.73 | | |
$ | 21.55 | | |
$ | 20.00 | |
Income/(loss) from investment operations: | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Net investment income(a) | |
| 0.66 | | |
| 0.71 | | |
| 0.11 | |
Net realized and unrealized gain/(loss) | |
| (4.93 | ) | |
| 3.72 | | |
| 1.65 | |
Total income/(loss) from investment operations | |
| (4.27 | ) | |
| 4.43 | | |
| 1.76 | |
Less distributions: | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
From net investment income | |
| (1.35 | ) | |
| (0.71 | ) | |
| (0.13 | ) |
From net realized gains | |
| (0.96 | ) | |
| (0.54 | ) | |
| (0.07 | ) |
From tax return of capital | |
| – | | |
| – | | |
| (0.01 | ) |
Total distributions | |
| (2.31 | ) | |
| (1.25 | ) | |
| (0.21 | ) |
Net increase/(decrease) in net asset value | |
| (6.58 | ) | |
| 3.18 | | |
| 1.55 | |
Net asset value - end of period | |
$ | 18.15 | | |
$ | 24.73 | | |
$ | 21.55 | |
Market price - end of period | |
$ | 16.70 | | |
$ | 23.65 | | |
$ | 19.62 | |
Total Return(b) | |
| (18.23 | %) | |
| 21.57 | % | |
| 8.88 | %(c) |
Total Return - Market Price(b) | |
| (21.32 | %) | |
| 27.69 | % | |
| (0.87 | %)(c) |
Supplemental Data: | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Net assets, end of period (in thousands) | |
$ | 110,982 | | |
$ | 151,242 | | |
$ | 131,774 | |
Ratios to Average Net Assets (including interest on line of credit and short term floating rate obligations)(d) | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Ratio of expenses to average net assets | |
| 2.58 | %(e) | |
| 2.61 | %(e) | |
| 2.26 | %(e)(f) |
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets | |
| 2.98 | %(e) | |
| 3.07 | %(e) | |
| 2.04 | %(e)(f) |
Ratios to Average Net Assets (excluding interest on line of credit and short term floating rate obligations) | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Ratio of expenses to average net assets | |
| 2.17 | %(e) | |
| 2.19 | %(e) | |
| 1.93 | %(e)(f) |
Ratio of net investment income to average net assets | |
| 3.39 | %(e) | |
| 3.49 | %(e) | |
| 2.37 | %(e)(f) |
Portfolio turnover rate | |
| 110 | % | |
| 37 | % | |
| 16 | %(c) |
Payable for floating rate obligations (in thousands) | |
$ | 75,150 | | |
$ | 57,475 | | |
$ | 69,890 | |
Loan payable (in thousands) | |
$ | 13,000 | | |
$ | 10,000 | | |
$ | 15,000 | |
Asset coverage per $1,000 of floating rate obligations payable(g) | |
| 2,479 | | |
| 3,633 | | |
| 2,885 | |
Asset coverage per $1,000 of line of credit(g) | |
| 9,537 | | |
| 16,124 | | |
| 9,785 | |
| (a) | Calculated using average shares throughout the period. |
| (b) | Total investment return is calculated assuming a purchase
of common shares at the opening on the first day and a sale at closing on the last day of each period reported. For purposes of
this calculation, dividends and distributions, if any, are assumed to be reinvested at prices obtained under the Fund’s
dividend reinvestment plan. Total investment returns do not reflect brokerage commissions, if any. Periods less than one year
are not annualized. |
See Notes to
Financial Statements.
18 |
(888) 848-7569 | www.rivernorth.com |
RiverNorth Flexible Municipal Income Fund,
Inc.
Financial Highlights |
For a share outstanding throughout the periods presented |
| (d) | Interest expense relates to interest expense on loan
payable and the cost of tender option bond transactions (See Note 2). |
| (e) | The ratios exclude the impact of expenses of the underlying
funds in which the Fund invests as represented in the Schedule of Investments. |
| (g) | Calculated by subtracting the Fund’s total liabilities
(excluding the debt balance and accumulated unpaid interest) from the Fund’s total assets and dividing by the outstanding debt
balance. |
See Notes to
Financial Statements.
Annual Report | June 30, 2022 |
19 |
RiverNorth Flexible Municipal Income Fund, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements |
June 30, 2022 |
1. ORGANIZATION
RiverNorth Flexible Municipal
Income Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) was organized as a Maryland corporation on October 1, 2019 pursuant to its Articles
of Incorporation, which were amended and restated on February 19, 2020 (“Articles of Incorporation”). The Fund commenced
operations on March 26, 2020 and had no operations until that date other than those related to organizational matters and the registration
of its shares under applicable securities laws.
The Fund is a diversified, closed-end
management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). The
Articles of Incorporation permit the Board of Directors (the “Board” or “Directors”) to authorize and issue
fifty million shares of common stock with $0.0001 par value per share. The Fund is considered an investment company and therefore
follows the Investment Company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”)
Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 946 – Investment Companies.
The Fund will terminate on or
before March 26, 2035; provided, that if the Board believes that under then-current market conditions it is in the best interests
of the Fund to do so, the Fund may extend the Termination Date once for up to one year, and once for an additional six months.
The Fund may be converted to an open-end investment company at any time if approved by the Board and the shareholders. Within twelve
months prior to the termination date, the Fund may conduct a tender offer to purchase 100% of the then outstanding shares. Following
the completion of the tender offer, the Fund must have at least $100 million of net assets. The Board may then eliminate the termination
date and convert the Fund to a perpetual structure upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board.
The Fund’s investment
adviser is RiverNorth Capital Management, LLC (the "Adviser") and the Fund’s sub-adviser is MacKay Shields, LLC
(the “Sub-Adviser”). The Fund’s primary investment objective is to seek current income exempt from regular U.S.
federal income taxes (but which may be includable in taxable income for purposes of the Federal alternative minimum tax). The Fund’s
secondary investment objective is total return.
2. SIGNIFICANT
ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The following is a summary
of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund. These policies are in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles
in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). The financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP,
which requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures, including the disclosure
of contingent assets and liabilities, in the financial statements during the reporting period. Management believes the estimates
and security valuations are appropriate; however, actual results may differ from those estimates, and the security valuations reflected
in the financial statements may differ from the value the Fund ultimately realizes upon sale of the securities. The financial statements
have been prepared as of the close of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) on June 30, 2022.
The Fund invests in closed-end
funds ("CEFs"), each of which has its own investment risks. Those risks can affect the value of the Fund's investments
and therefore the value of the Fund's shares. To the extent that the Fund invests more of its assets in one CEF than in another,
the Fund will have greater exposure to the risks of that CEF.
20 |
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RiverNorth Flexible Municipal Income Fund, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements |
June 30, 2022 |
Security Valuation:
The Fund’s investments are generally valued at their fair value using market quotations. If a market value quotation is unavailable
a security may be valued at its estimated fair value as described in Note 3.
Security Transactions and
Investment Income: The Fund follows industry practice and records securities transactions on the trade date basis. The specific
identification method is used for determining gains or losses for financial statements and income tax purposes. Dividend income
is recorded on the ex-dividend date, and interest income and expenses are recorded on an accrual basis. Discounts and premiums
on securities purchased are amortized or accreted using the effective interest method over the life of the respective securities.
Federal Income Taxes:
The Fund makes no provision for federal income tax. The Fund intends to qualify each year as a "regulated investment company"
("RIC") under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "IRC"). In order to qualify
as a RIC, the Fund must, among other things, satisfy income, asset diversification and distribution requirements. As long as it
so qualifies, the fund will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax to the extent that it distributes annually its investment
company taxable income and its "net capital gain". If the Fund retains any investment company taxable income or net
capital gain, it will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the retained amount at regular corporate tax rates. In addition,
if the Fund fails to qualify as a RIC for any taxable year, it will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on all of its income
and gains at regular corporate tax rates.
As of and during the year ended
June 30, 2022, the Fund did not have a liability for any unrecognized tax benefits. The Fund files U.S. federal, state, and local
tax returns as required. The Fund’s tax returns are subject to examination by the relevant tax authorities until expiration
of the applicable statute of limitations, which is generally three years after the filing of the tax return for federal purposes
and four years for most state returns. Tax returns for open years have incorporated no uncertain tax positions that require a provision
for income taxes.
The Fund recognizes interest
and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expenses on the Statement of Operations. During the year
ended June 30, 2022, the Fund did not incur any interest or penalties.
Distributions to Shareholders:
Distributions to shareholders, which are paid monthly and determined in accordance with income tax regulations, are recorded on
the ex-dividend date. The treatment for financial reporting purposes of distributions made to shareholders during the year from
net investment income or net realized capital gains may differ from their ultimate treatment for federal income tax purposes. These
differences are caused primarily by differences in the timing of recognition of certain components of income, expense, or realized
capital gain for federal income tax purposes. Where such differences are permanent in nature, they are reclassified in the components
of the net assets based on their ultimate characterization for federal income tax purposes. Any such reclassification will have
no effect on net assets, results of operations or net asset value ("NAV") per share of the Fund.
Annual Report | June 30, 2022 |
21 |
RiverNorth Flexible Municipal Income Fund, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements |
June 30, 2022 |
The Fund maintains a level
distribution policy. The Fund distributes to common shareholders regular monthly cash distributions of its net investment income.
In addition, the Fund distributes its net realized capital gains, if any, at least annually. At times, to maintain a stable level
of distributions, the Fund may pay out less than all of its net investment income or pay out accumulated undistributed income,
or return of capital, in addition to current net investment income. Any distribution that is treated as a return of capital generally
will reduce a common shareholder’s basis in his or her shares, which may increase the capital gain or reduce the capital
loss realized upon the sale of such shares. Any amounts received in excess of a common shareholder’s basis are generally
treated as capital gain, assuming the shares are held as capital assets. The Board approved the implementation of the level distribution
policy to make monthly cash distributions to common shareholders. The Fund made monthly distributions to common shareholders set
at a level monthly rate of $0.1042 per common share for the period from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021, and $0.1062 per common
share for the period from January 1, 2022 to June 30, 2022.
Tender Option Bonds: The
Fund may leverage its assets through the use of proceeds received from tender option bond (“TOB”) transactions. In
a TOB transaction, a tender option bond trust (a “TOB Issuer”) is typically established, which forms a special purpose
trust into which the Fund, or an agent on behalf of the Fund, transfers municipal bonds or other municipal securities (“Underlying
Securities”). A TOB Issuer typically issues two classes of beneficial interests: short-term floating rate notes (“TOB
Floaters”) with a fixed principal amount representing a senior interest in the Underlying Securities, and which are generally
sold to third party investors, and residual interest municipal tender option bonds (“TOB Residuals”) representing a
subordinate interest in the Underlying Securities, and which are generally issued to the Fund. The interest rate on the TOB Floaters
resets periodically, usually weekly, to a prevailing market rate, and holders of the TOB Floaters are granted the option to tender
their TOB Floaters back to the TOB Issuer for repurchase at their principal amount plus accrued interest thereon periodically,
usually daily or weekly. The Fund may invest in both TOB Floaters and TOB Residuals, including TOB Floaters and TOB Residuals issued
by the same TOB Issuer. The Fund may not invest more than 5% of its “Managed Assets” in any single TOB Issuer. Managed
Assets is defined as total assets of the Fund, including assets attributable to leverage, minus liabilities (other than debt representing
leverage and any preferred stock that may be outstanding).
As a result of Section 619 of
the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the rules thereunder (collectively, the “Volcker Rule”),
banking entities are generally prohibited from sponsoring the TOB Issuer, and instead the Fund may serve as the sponsor of a TOB
issuer (“Fund-sponsored TOB”) and establish, structure and “sponsor” a TOB Issuer in which it holds TOB
Residuals. In connection with Fund-sponsored TOBs, the Fund may contract with a third-party to perform some or all of the Fund’s
duties as sponsor. The Fund’s role under the Fund-sponsored TOB structure may increase its operational and regulatory risk.
If the third-party is unable to perform its obligations as an administrative agent, the Fund itself would be subject to such obligations
or would need to secure a replacement agent. The obligations that the Fund may be required to undertake could include reporting
and recordkeeping obligations under the IRC and federal securities laws and contractual obligations with other TOB service providers.
Under the Fund-sponsored TOB
structure, the TOB Issuer receives Underlying Securities from the Fund through (or as) the sponsor and then issues TOB Floaters
to third party investors and TOB Residuals to the Fund. The Fund is paid the cash (less transaction expenses, which are borne by
the Fund) received by the TOB Issuer from the sale of TOB Floaters and typically will invest the cash in additional municipal bonds
or other investments permitted by its investment policies. TOB Floaters may have first priority on the cash flow from the securities
held by the TOB Issuer and are enhanced with a liquidity support arrangement from a bank or an affiliate of the sponsor (the “liquidity
provider”), which allows holders to tender their position back to the TOB Issuer at par (plus accrued interest). The Fund,
in addition to receiving cash from the sale of TOB Floaters, also receives TOB Residuals. TOB Residuals provide the Fund with the
right to (1) cause the holders of TOB Floaters to tender their notes to the TOB Issuer at par (plus accrued interest), and (2)
acquire the Underlying Securities from the TOB Issuer. In addition, all voting rights and decisions to be made with respect to
any other rights relating to the Underlying Securities deposited in the TOB Issuer are passed through to the Fund, as the holder
of TOB Residuals. Such a transaction, in effect, creates exposure for the Fund to the entire return of the Underlying Securities
deposited in the TOB Issuer, with a net cash investment by the Fund that is less than the value of the Underlying Securities deposited
in the TOB Issuer. This multiplies the positive or negative impact of the Underlying Securities’ return within the Fund (thereby
creating leverage). Income received from TOB Residuals will vary inversely with the short term rate paid to holders of TOB Floaters
and in most circumstances, TOB Residuals represent substantially all of the Underlying Securities’ downside investment risk
and also benefits disproportionately from any potential appreciation of the Underlying Securities’ value. The amount of such
increase or decrease is a function, in part, of the amount of TOB Floaters sold by the TOB Issuer of these securities relative
to the amount of TOB Residuals that it sells. The greater the amount of TOB Floaters sold relative to TOB Residuals, the more volatile
the income paid on TOB Residuals will be. The price of TOB Residuals will be more volatile than that of the Underlying Securities
because the interest rate is dependent on not only the fixed coupon rate of the Underlying Securities, but also on the short-term
interest rate paid on TOB Floaters.
22 |
(888) 848-7569 | www.rivernorth.com |
RiverNorth Flexible Municipal Income Fund, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements |
June 30, 2022 |
For TOB Floaters, generally,
the interest rate earned will be based upon the market rates for municipal securities with maturities or remarketing provisions
that are comparable in duration to the periodic interval of the tender option, which may vary from weekly, to monthly, to extended
periods of one year or multiple years. Since the option feature has a shorter term than the final maturity or first call date of
the Underlying Securities deposited in the TOB Issuer, the Fund, if it is the holder of the TOB Floaters, relies upon the terms
of the agreement with the financial institution furnishing the option as well as the credit strength of that institution. As further
assurance of liquidity, the terms of the TOB Issuer provide for a liquidation of the Underlying Security deposited in the TOB Issuer
and the application of the proceeds to pay off the TOB Floaters.
The TOB Issuer may be terminated
without the consent of the Fund upon the occurrence of certain events, such as the bankruptcy or default of the issuer of the Underlying
Securities deposited in the TOB Issuer, a substantial downgrade in the credit quality of the issuer of the securities deposited
in the TOB Issuer, the inability of the TOB Issuer to obtain liquidity support for the TOB Floaters, a substantial decline in the
market value of the Underlying Securities deposited in the TOB Issuer, or the inability of the sponsor to remarket any TOB Floaters
tendered to it by holders of the TOB Floaters. In such an event, the TOB Floaters would be redeemed by the TOB Issuer at par (plus
accrued interest) out of the proceeds from a sale of the Underlying Securities deposited in the TOB Issuer. If this happens, the
Fund would be entitled to the assets of the TOB Issuer, if any, that remain after the TOB Floaters have been redeemed at par (plus
accrued interest). If there are insufficient proceeds from the sale of these Underlying Securities to redeem all of the TOB Floaters
at par (plus accrued interest), the liquidity provider or holders of the TOB Floaters would bear the losses on those securities
and there would be no recourse to the Fund’s assets (unless the Fund held a recourse TOB Residual).
Annual Report | June 30, 2022 |
23 |
RiverNorth Flexible Municipal Income Fund, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements |
June 30, 2022 |
Pursuant to the Volcker Rule,
to the extent that the remarketing agent is a banking entity, it would not be able to repurchase tendered TOB Floaters for its
own account upon a failed remarketing. In the event of a failed remarketing, a banking entity serving as liquidity provider may
loan the necessary funds to the TOB Issuer to purchase the tendered TOB Floaters. The TOB Issuer, not the Fund, would be the borrower
and the loan from the liquidity provider will be secured by the purchased TOB Floaters now held by the TOB Issuer. However, the
Fund would bear the risk of loss with respect to any liquidity shortfall to the extent it entered into a reimbursement agreement
with the liquidity provider.
For financial reporting purposes,
Underlying Securities that are deposited into a TOB Issuer are treated as investments of the Fund, and are presented in the Fund's
Schedule of Investments. Outstanding TOB Floaters issued by a TOB Issuer are presented as a liability at their face value as "Payable
for Floating Rate Note Obligations" in the Fund's Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The face value of the TOB Floaters
approximates the fair value of the floating rate notes. Interest income from the Underlying Securities is recorded by the Fund
on an accrual basis. Interest expense incurred on the TOB Floaters and other expenses related to remarketing, administration and
trustee services to a TOB Issuer are recognized as a component of "Interest expense and fees on floating rate note obligations"
in the Statement of Operations. Fees paid upon creation of the TOB Trust are recorded as debt issuance costs and are amortized
to "Interest expense and fees on floating rate note obligations" in the Statement of Operations.
At June 30, 2022, the aggregate
value of the Underlying Securities transferred to the TOB Issuer and the related liability for TOB Floaters was as follows:
Underlying Securities Transferred
to TOB Issuers
|
Liability for Floating Rate
Note Obligations
|
$101,197,279 |
$75,150,000 |
During the year ended June
30, 2022, the Fund’s average TOB Floaters outstanding and the daily weighted average interest rate, including fees, were
as follows:
Average Floating Rate Note
Obligations Outstanding
|
Daily Weighted Average
Interest Rate
|
$59,499,164 |
0.72% |
Segregation and Collateralization:
In cases where the Fund enters into certain investments (e.g., futures contracts) or certain borrowings (e.g., TOB Trust transactions)
that would be treated as “senior securities” for 1940 Act purposes, the Fund may segregate or designate on its books
and records cash or liquid assets having a market value at least equal to the amount of its future obligations under such investments
or borrowings. Doing so allows the investment or borrowings to be excluded from treatment as a “senior security.”
Other: The Fund holds
certain investments which pay dividends to their shareholders based upon available funds from operations. It is possible for these
dividends to exceed the underlying investments’ taxable earnings and profits resulting in the excess portion of such dividends
being designated as a return of capital. Distributions received from investments in securities that represent a return of capital
or long-term capital gains are recorded as a reduction of the cost of investments or as a realized gain, respectively.
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RiverNorth Flexible Municipal Income Fund, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements |
June 30, 2022 |
3. SECURITIES
VALUATION AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
Fair value is defined as the
price that the Fund might reasonably expect to receive upon selling an investment in a timely transaction to an independent buyer
in the principal or most advantageous market of the investment. U.S. GAAP establishes a three-tier hierarchy to maximize the use
of observable market data and minimize the use of unobservable inputs and to establish classification of fair value measurements
for disclosure purposes.
Inputs refer broadly to the
assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk, for example,
the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value including using such a pricing model and/or the
risk inherent in the inputs to the valuation technique. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs are inputs
that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on market data obtained
from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s own
assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information
available in the circumstances.
Various inputs are used in
determining the value of the Fund’s investments. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below.
|
Level 1 – |
Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities that the Fund has the ability to access at the measurement date; |
|
|
|
|
Level 2 – |
Quoted prices which are not active, quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets or inputs other than quoted prices that are observable (either directly or indirectly) for substantially the full term of the asset or liability; and |
|
|
|
|
Level 3 – |
Significant unobservable prices or inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments) where there is little or no market activity for the asset or liability at the measurement date. |
The inputs used to measure
fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the level in the
fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement falls in its entirety is determined based on the lowest level input
that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.
Equity securities, including
CEFs, are generally valued by using market quotations, but may be valued on the basis of prices furnished by a pricing service
when the Adviser or the Sub-Adviser believes such prices more accurately reflect the fair market value of such securities. Securities
that are traded on any stock exchange are generally valued by the pricing service at the last quoted sale price. Lacking a last
sale price, an exchange-traded security is generally valued by the pricing service at its last bid price. Securities traded in
the NASDAQ over-the-counter market are generally valued by the pricing service at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price. When using
the market quotations or close prices provided by the pricing service and when the market is considered active, the security will
be classified as a Level 1 security. Sometimes, an equity security owned by the Fund will be valued by the pricing service with
factors other than market quotations or when the market is considered inactive. When this happens, the security will be classified
as a Level 2 security. When market quotations are not readily available, when the Adviser or the Sub-Adviser determines that the
market quotation or the price provided by the pricing service does not accurately reflect the current fair value, or when restricted
or illiquid securities are being valued, such securities are valued as determined in good faith by the Adviser, Sub-Adviser, or
valuation committee in conformity with guidelines adopted by and subject to review by the Board. These securities will be categorized
as Level 3 securities.
Annual Report | June 30, 2022 |
25 |
RiverNorth Flexible Municipal Income Fund, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements |
June 30, 2022 |
Investments in mutual funds,
including short term investments, are generally priced at the ending NAV provided by the service agent of the funds. These securities
will be classified as Level 1 securities.
Fixed income securities, including
municipal bonds, are normally valued at the mean between the closing bid and asked prices provided by independent pricing services.
Prices obtained from independent pricing services typically use information provided by market makers or estimates of market values
obtained from yield data relating to investments or securities with similar characteristics. These securities will be classified
as Level 2 securities.
Futures contracts are normally
valued at the settlement price or official closing price provided by independent pricing services.
In accordance with the Fund’s
good faith pricing guidelines, the Adviser, Sub-Adviser, or valuation committee is required to consider all appropriate factors
relevant to the value of securities for which it has determined other pricing sources are not available or reliable as described
above. No single standard exists for determining fair value, because fair value depends upon the circumstances of each individual
case. As a general principle, the current fair value of an issue of securities being valued by the Adviser, Sub-Adviser, or valuation
committee would appear to be the amount which the owner might reasonably expect to receive for them upon their current sale. Methods
which are in accordance with this principle may, for example, be based on (i) a multiple of earnings; (ii) discounted cash flow
models; (iii) weighted average cost or weighted average price; (iv) a discount from market of a similar freely traded security
(including a derivative security or a basket of securities traded on other markets, exchanges or among dealers); or (v) yield to
maturity with respect to debt issues, or a combination of these and other methods. Good faith pricing is permitted if, in the Adviser’s,
Sub-Adviser’s, or the valuation committee’s opinion, the validity of market quotations appears to be questionable based
on factors such as evidence of a thin market in the security based on a small number of quotations, a significant event occurs
after the close of a market but before the Fund’s NAV calculation that may affect a security’s value, or the Adviser
or Sub-Adviser is aware of any other data that calls into question the reliability of market quotations.
Good faith pricing may also
be used in instances when the bonds in which the Fund invests default or otherwise cease to have market quotations readily available.
26 |
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RiverNorth Flexible Municipal Income Fund, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements |
June 30, 2022 |
The following is a summary of
the inputs used at June 30, 2022 in valuing the Fund’s assets and liabilities:
Investments in Securities at Value*
|
|
Level 1 - Quoted Prices
|
|
|
Level 2 - Other Significant Observable Inputs
|
|
|
Level 3 - Significant Unobservable Inputs
|
|
|
Total
|
|
Closed-End Funds | |
$ | 64,516,044 | | |
$ | – | | |
$ | – | | |
$ | 64,516,044 | |
Municipal Bonds | |
| – | | |
| 127,154,201 | | |
| – | | |
| 127,154,201 | |
Short-Term Investments | |
| 6,357,011 | | |
| – | | |
| – | | |
| 6,357,011 | |
Total | |
$ | 70,873,055 | | |
$ | 127,154,201 | | |
$ | – | | |
$ | 198,027,256 | |
Other Financial Instruments** | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Assets: | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | |
Future Contracts | |
$ | 983,049 | | |
$ | – | | |
$ | – | | |
$ | 983,049 | |
Total | |
$ | 983,049 | | |
$ | – | | |
$ | – | | |
$ | 983,049 | |
| * | Refer to the Fund's Schedule of Investments for a listing
of securities by type. |
| ** | Other financial instruments are derivative instruments
reflected in the Schedule of Investments. Futures contracts are reported at their unrealized appreciation/depreciation. |
4. DERIVATIVE
FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The following discloses the
Fund’s use of derivative instruments. The Fund’s investment objective not only permits the Fund to purchase investment
securities, but also allow the Fund to enter into various types of derivative contracts such as futures. In doing so, the Fund
will employ strategies in differing combinations to permit it to increase, decrease, or change the level or types of exposure to
market factors. Central to those strategies are features inherent to derivatives that make them more attractive for this purpose
than equity or debt securities; they require little or no initial cash investment, they can focus exposure on only selected risk
factors, and they may not require the ultimate receipt or delivery of the underlying security (or securities) to the contract.
This may allow the Fund to pursue its objective more quickly and efficiently than if it were to make direct purchases or sales
of securities capable of affecting a similar response to market factors.
Market Risk Factors:
In pursuit of its investment objectives, the Fund may seek to use derivatives to increase or decrease its exposure to the following
market risk factors:
Equity Risk: Equity
risk relates to the change in value of equity securities as they relate to increases or decreases in the general market.
Interest Rate Risk:
Interest rate risk relates to the risk that the municipal securities in the Fund’s portfolio will decline in value because
of increases in market interest rates.
Annual Report | June 30, 2022 |
27 |
RiverNorth Flexible Municipal Income Fund, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements |
June 30, 2022 |
Risk of Investing
in Derivatives
The Fund’s use of derivatives
can result in losses due to unanticipated changes in the market risk factors and the overall market. Derivatives may have little
or no initial cash investment relative to their market value exposure and therefore can produce significant gains or losses in
excess of their cost. This use of embedded leverage allows the Fund to increase its market value exposure relative to its net assets
and can substantially increase the volatility of the Fund’s performance.
Additional associated risks
from investing in derivatives also exist and potentially could have significant effects on the valuation of the derivative and
the Fund. Typically, the associated risks are not the risks that the Fund is attempting to increase or decrease exposure to, per
its investment objective, but are the additional risks from investing in derivatives.
Examples of these associated
risks are liquidity risk, which is the risk that the Fund will not be able to sell the derivative in the open market in a timely
manner, and counterparty credit risk, which is the risk that the counterparty will not fulfill its obligation to the Fund.
Futures
The Fund may invest in futures
contracts in accordance with its investment objectives. The Fund does so for a variety of reasons including for cash management,
hedging or non-hedging purposes in an attempt to achieve the Fund’s investment objective. A futures contract provides for
the future sale by one party and purchase by another party of a specified quantity of the security or other financial instrument
at a specified price and time. A futures contract on an index is an agreement pursuant to which two parties agree to take or make
delivery of an amount of cash equal to the difference between the value of the index at the close of the last trading day of the
contract and the price at which the index contract was originally written. Futures transactions may result in losses in excess
of the amount invested in the futures contract. There can be no guarantee that there will be a correlation between price movements
in the hedging vehicle and in the portfolio securities being hedged. An incorrect correlation could result in a loss on both the
hedged securities in a fund and the hedging vehicle so that the portfolio return might have been greater had hedging not been attempted.
There can be no assurance that a liquid market will exist at a time when a fund seeks to close out a futures contract or a futures
option position. Lack of a liquid market for any reason may prevent a fund from liquidating an unfavorable position, and the fund
would remain obligated to meet margin requirements until the position is closed. In addition, a fund could be exposed to risk if
the counterparties to the contracts are unable to meet the terms of their contracts. With exchange-traded futures, there is minimal
counterparty credit risk to the Fund since futures are exchange-traded and the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty
to all exchange-traded futures, guarantees the futures against default. The Fund is party to certain enforceable master netting
arrangements, which provide for the right of offset under certain circumstances, such as the event of default.
When a purchase or sale of
a futures contract is made by a fund, the fund is required to deposit with its custodian (or broker, if legally permitted) a specified
amount of liquid assets (“initial margin”). The margin required for a futures contract is set by the exchange on which
the contract is traded and may be modified during the term of the contract. The initial margin is in the nature of a performance
bond or good faith deposit on the futures contract that is returned to the Fund upon termination of the contract, assuming all
contractual obligations have been satisfied. These amounts are included in Deposit with broker for futures contracts on the Statement
of Assets and Liabilities.
28 |
(888) 848-7569 | www.rivernorth.com |
RiverNorth Flexible Municipal Income Fund, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements |
June 30, 2022 |
Each day the Fund may pay or
receive cash, called “variation margin,” equal to the daily change in value of the futures contract. Such payments
or receipts are recorded for financial statement purposes as unrealized gains or losses by the Fund. Variation margin does not
represent a borrowing or loan by the Fund but instead is a settlement between the Fund and the broker of the amount one would owe
the other if the futures contract expired. When the contract is closed, the Fund records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference
between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed.
Derivative Instruments:
The following tables disclose the amounts related to the Fund’s use of derivative instruments.
The effect of derivatives instruments
on the Fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of June 30, 2022:
| |
Liability Derivatives | |
| |
Risk Exposure | |
Statements of Assets and Liabilities Location | |
Fair Value | |
Interest Rate Risk (Futures Contracts)* | |
Net unrealized appreciation on futures contracts | |
$ | 983,049 | |
| * | The value presented includes cumulative gain on open
futures contracts; however the value reflected on the accompanying Statement of Assets and Liabilities is variation margin payable
as of June 30, 2022. |
The effect of derivative instruments
on the Statement of Operations for the year ended June 30, 2022:
Risk Exposure
|
|
Statement of Operations Location
|
|
|
Realized Gain on Derivatives
|
|
|
Change in Unrealized Appreciation/ Depreciation on Derivatives
|
|
Interest rate risk (Futures contracts) |
| |
Net realized gain on futures contracts; Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on futures contracts |
| |
$ | 5,884,969 |
| | $ |
1,957,218 |
|
Annual Report | June 30, 2022 |
29 |
RiverNorth Flexible Municipal Income Fund, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements |
June 30, 2022 |
The futures contracts average notional
amount during the year ended June 30, 2022, is noted below.
Fund | |
Average
Notional Amount of Futures
Contracts | |
RiverNorth Flexible Municipal Income Fund, Inc. | |
$ | (74,741,034 | ) |
5. ADVISORY
FEES, DIRECTOR FEES AND OTHER AGREEMENTS
RiverNorth serves as the Fund’s
investment adviser pursuant to an Investment Advisory Agreement with the Fund (the “Advisory Agreement”). Pursuant
to the Advisory Agreement, the Fund will pay RiverNorth an annual management fee of 1.40% of the Fund’s average daily managed
assets, calculated as the total assets of the Fund, including assets attributable to leverage, less liabilities other than debt
representing leverage and any preferred stock that may be outstanding, for the services and facilities it provides to the Fund
(the “Unified Management Fee”). Out of the Unified Management Fee, the Adviser will pay substantially all expenses
of the Fund, including the compensation of the Sub-Adviser, the cost of transfer agency, custody, fund administration, legal, audit,
independent directors and other services, except for costs, including interest expenses, of borrowing money or engaging in other
types of leverage financing including, without limit, through the use by the Fund of tender option bond transactions or preferred
shares, distribution fees or expenses, brokerage expenses, taxes and governmental fees, fees and expenses of any underlying funds
in which the Fund invests, dividend and interest expense on short positions, fees and expenses of the legal counsel for the Fund’s
independent directors, fees and expenses associated with shareholder meetings involving certain non-routine matters, shareholder
proposals or contested elections, costs associated with any future share offerings, tender offers and other share repurchases and
redemptions, and other extraordinary expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of the Fund’s business. The Unified Management
Fee is designed to pay substantially all of the Fund’s expenses and to compensate the Adviser for providing services for
the Fund.
MacKay Shields, LLC is the
investment sub-adviser to the Fund. Under the terms of the sub-advisory agreement, the Sub-Adviser, subject to the supervision
of the Adviser and the Board of Directors, provides to the Fund such investment advice as is deemed advisable and will furnish
a continuous investment program for the portion of assets managed, consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and policies.
As compensation for its sub-advisory services, the Adviser, not the Fund, is obligated to pay the Sub-Adviser a fee computed and
accrued daily and paid monthly in arrears based on an annual rate of 0.20% of the daily managed assets of the Fund.
ALPS Fund Services, Inc. (“ALPS”),
serves as administrator to the Fund. Under an Administration, Bookkeeping and Pricing Services Agreement, ALPS is responsible for
calculating the net asset and Daily Managed Assets values, providing additional fund accounting and tax services, and providing
fund administration and compliance-related services to the Fund. ALPS is entitled to receive the greater of an annual minimum fee
or a monthly fee based on the Fund’s average net assets, plus out-of-pocket expenses. These fees are paid by the Adviser,
not the Fund out of the Unified Management Fee.
DST Systems Inc. (“DST”),
the parent company of ALPS, serves as the Transfer Agent to the Fund. Under the Transfer Agency Agreement, DST is responsible for
maintaining all shareholder records of the Fund. DST is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc. ("SS&C"),
a publicly traded company listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market. The fees of DST Systems, Inc. are paid by the Adviser, not
the Fund.
30 |
(888) 848-7569 | www.rivernorth.com |
RiverNorth Flexible Municipal Income Fund, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements |
June 30, 2022 |
State Street Bank & Trust,
Co. serves as the Fund’s custodian. The fees of State Street Bank & Trust, Co. are paid by the Adviser, not the Fund.
The Fund pays no salaries or
compensation to its officers or to any interested Director employed by the Adviser or Sub-Adviser, and the Fund has no employees.
For their services, the Directors of the Fund who are not employed by the Adviser or Sub-Adviser, receive an annual retainer in
the amount of $16,500, and an additional $1,500 for attending each quarterly meeting of the Board. In addition, the lead Independent
Director receives $250 annually, the Chair of the Audit Committee receives $500 annually and the Chair of the Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee receives $250 annually. The Directors not employed by the Adviser or Sub-Adviser are also reimbursed for all
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses relating to attendance at meetings of the Board. These fees are paid out of the Unified Management
Fee.
The Chief Compliance Officer
(“CCO”) of the Fund is an employee of the Adviser. The Fund reimburses the Adviser for certain compliance costs related
to the Fund, including a portion of the CCO’s compensation.
6. NEW
ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS AND RULE ISSUANCES
In December 2020, the SEC voted
to adopt a new rule providing a framework for fund valuation practices (“Rule 2a-5”). Rule 2a-5 establishes requirements
for determining fair value in good faith for purposes of the 1940 Act. Rule 2a-5 will permit fund boards to designate certain parties
to perform fair value determinations, subject to board oversight and certain other conditions. Rule 2a-5 also defines when market
quotations are “readily available” for purposes of Section 2(a)(41) of the 1940 Act, which requires a fund to fair
value a security when market quotations are not readily available, and the threshold for determining whether a fund must fair value
a security. The SEC also adopted new Rule 31a-4 under the 1940 Act, which sets forth the recordkeeping requirements associated
with fair value determinations. Finally, the SEC is rescinding previously issued guidance on related issues, including the role
of a board in determining fair value and the accounting and auditing of fund investments. Rule 2a-5 and Rule 31a-4 became effective
on March 8, 2021, with a compliance date of September 8, 2022. Management is currently assessing the potential impact of the new
rules on the Fund's financial statements.
7. CREDIT
AGREEMENT
On May 29, 2020, the Fund entered
into a credit agreement for margin financing with Pershing LLC (“Credit Agreement”). The Credit Agreement permits the
Fund to borrow funds that are collateralized by assets held in a special custody account held at State Street Bank pursuant to
a Special Custody and Pledge Agreement. Borrowings under this arrangement bear interest at the overnight bank funding rate plus
90 basis points for a term of 60 calendar days. On March 28, 2022, the Fund entered into an amended credit agreement revising the
interest rate to the overnight bank funding rate plus 80 basis points.
Annual Report | June 30, 2022 |
31 |
RiverNorth Flexible Municipal Income Fund, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements |
June 30, 2022 |
The average principal balance
and interest rate for the period during which the credit facility was utilized for the year ended June 30, 2022 was approximately
$10,841,096 and 1.13%, respectively, and the maximum borrowing during the period was $15,000,000. At June 30, 2022 the principal
balance outstanding was $13,000,000 at an interest rate of 2.37%. The maximum borrowing allowed is $65,000,000. Securities that
have been pledged as collateral for the borrowings are indicated in the Schedule of Investments.
8. TAX
BASIS INFORMATION
Tax Basis of Distributions
to Shareholders: The character of distributions made during the year from net investment income or net realized gains may differ
from its ultimate characterization for federal income tax purposes. Also, due to the timing of dividend distributions, the fiscal
year in which amounts are distributed may differ from the fiscal year in which the income or realized gains were recorded by the
Fund.
The tax character of the distributions
paid by the Fund during the fiscal years ended June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2021, was as follows:
| |
For the Year Ended | | |
For the Year Ended | |
| |
June 30, 2022 | | |
June 30, 2021 | |
Ordinary Income | |
$ | 4,901,589 | | |
$ | 3,443,699 | |
Tax-Exempt Income | |
| 3,369,026 | | |
| 4,202,121 | |
Long-Term Capital Gain | |
| 5,861,372 | | |
| – | |
Total | |
$ | 14,131,987 | | |
$ | 7,645,820 | |
Components of Distributable
Earnings on a Tax Basis: The tax components of distributable earnings are determined in accordance with income tax regulations
which may differ from the composition of net assets reported under GAAP. Accordingly, for the year ended June 30, 2022, certain
differences were reclassified. The amounts reclassified did not affect net assets and were primarily related to the treatment of
tender option bonds. The reclassifications were as follows:
Paid-in capital |
Total distributable earnings |
$412,767 |
$(412,767) |
At June 30, 2022, the components
of distributable earnings on a tax basis for the Fund was as follows:
Accumulated Capital Gain | |
$ | 2,708,739 | |
Unrealized Depreciation | |
$ | (14,134,552 | ) |
Total | |
$ | (11,425,813 | ) |
32 |
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RiverNorth Flexible Municipal Income Fund, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements |
June 30, 2022 |
Unrealized Appreciation
and Depreciation on Investments: The amount of net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) and the cost of investment securities
for tax purposes, adjusted for tender option bonds, including short-term securities at June 30, 2022, was as follows:
Cost of investments for income tax purposes | |
$ | 137,011,809 | |
Gross appreciation on investments (excess of value over tax cost) | |
| 3,348,957 | |
Gross depreciation on investments (excess of tax cost over value) | |
| (17,483,509 | ) |
Net unrealized depreciation on investments | |
$ | (14,134,552 | ) |
9. INVESTMENT
TRANSACTIONS
Investment transactions for
the year ended June 30, 2022, excluding short-term investments, were as follows:
| | |
Purchases | | |
Sales | |
| | |
$ | 237,382,920 | | |
$ | 213,529,220 | |
10. CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS
The Fund’s authorized
capital stock consists of 50,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, all of which is initially classified
as common shares. Under the rules of the NYSE applicable to listed companies, the Fund is required to hold an annual meeting of
stockholders in each year.
On March 26, 2020, 5,505,000
shares were issued in connection with the Fund’s initial public offering. An additional 609,699 shares were issued on May
11, 2020 in connection with the underwriter’s over-allotment option. Aggregate proceeds from the sale of shares was $122,293,980.
The Fund had issued and outstanding 6,114,699
shares of common stock at June 30, 2022.
Additional shares of the Fund
may be issued under certain circumstances, including pursuant to the Fund’s automatic dividend reinvestment plan, as defined within
the Fund's organizational documents. Additional information concerning the automatic dividend reinvestment plan is included within
this report.
11. INDEMNIFICATIONS
Under the Fund’s organizational
documents, its Officers and Directors are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties
to the Fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Fund enters into contracts with service providers that may contain
general indemnification clauses. The Fund’s maximum exposure under those arrangements is unknown, as this would involve future
claims that may be made against the Fund that have not yet occurred.
Annual Report | June 30, 2022 |
33 |
RiverNorth Flexible Municipal Income Fund, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements |
June 30, 2022 |
12. CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) PANDEMIC
Beginning in the first quarter
of 2020, financial markets in the United States and around the world experienced extreme and in many cases unprecedented volatility
and severe losses due to the global pandemic caused by COVID-19, a novel coronavirus. The outbreak was first detected in December
2019 and subsequently spread globally, and since then, the number of cases has fluctuated and new “variants” have been
confirmed around the world. The pandemic has resulted in a wide range of social and economic disruptions, including closed borders,
voluntary or compelled quarantines of large populations, stressed healthcare systems, reduced or prohibited domestic or international
travel, supply chain disruptions, and so-called “stay-at-home” orders throughout much of the United States and many
other countries. The fall-out from these disruptions has included the rapid closure of businesses deemed “non-essential”
by federal, state, or local governments and rapidly increasing unemployment, as well as greatly reduced liquidity for certain instruments
at times. Some sectors of the economy and individual issuers have experienced particularly large losses. Such disruptions may continue
for an extended period of time or reoccur in the future to a similar or greater extent. In response, the U.S. government and the
Federal Reserve have taken extraordinary actions to support the domestic economy and financial markets, resulting in very low interest
rates and in some cases negative yields. Although vaccines for COVID-19 have become widely available, it is unknown how long circumstances
related to the pandemic will persist, whether they will reoccur in the future, whether efforts to support the economy and financial
markets will be successful, and what additional implications may follow from the pandemic. The impact of these events and other
epidemics or pandemics in the future could adversely affect Fund performance.
13. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
Subsequent to June 30, 2022, the Fund paid
the following distributions:
Ex-Date |
Record Date |
Payable Date |
Rate (per share) |
July 14, 2022 |
July 15, 2022 |
July 29, 2022 |
$0.1062 |
August 16, 2022 |
August 17, 2022 |
August 31, 2022 |
$0.1062 |
34 |
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RiverNorth Flexible Municipal Income Fund,
Inc.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
June 30, 2022 |
To the Shareholders
and Board of Directors of
RiverNorth Flexible Municipal
Income Fund, Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying
statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of RiverNorth Flexible Municipal Income Fund, Inc.
(the “Fund”) as of June 30, 2022, the related statements of operations and cash flows for the year then ended, the
statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, the related notes, and the financial highlights
for each of the three periods in the period then ended (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In
our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of June 30,
2022, the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended, the changes in net assets for each of the two years
in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the three periods in the period then ended, in conformity with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements
are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund’s financial
statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United
States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities
laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in
accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance
about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing
procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing
procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and
disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of June 30, 2022, by correspondence
with the custodian, trust administrators, and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing
procedures. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as
well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis
for our opinion.
We have served as the auditor
of one or more of RiverNorth Capital Management, LLC’s investment companies since 2006.
COHEN & COMPANY,
LTD.
Cleveland, Ohio
August 29, 2022
Annual Report | June 30, 2022 |
35 |
RiverNorth Flexible Municipal Income Fund,
Inc.
Dividend Reinvestment Plan |
June 30, 2022 (Unaudited) |
The Fund has an automatic dividend
reinvestment plan (the “Plan”) commonly referred to as an "opt-out" plan. Unless the registered owner of
common shares elects to receive cash by contacting DST Systems, Inc. (the “Plan Administrator”), all dividends declared
on common shares will be automatically reinvested by the Plan Administrator for shareholders in the Fund’s Plan, in additional
common shares. Common shareholders who elect not to participate in the Plan will receive all dividends and other distributions
in cash paid by check mailed directly to the shareholder of record (or, if the common shares are held in street or other nominee
name, then to such nominee) by the Plan Administrator as dividend disbursing agent. Participation in the Plan is completely voluntary
and may be terminated or resumed at any time without penalty by notice if received and processed by the Plan Administrator prior
to the dividend record date; otherwise such termination or resumption will be effective with respect to any subsequently declared
dividend or other distribution. Such notice will be effective with respect to a particular dividend or other distribution (together,
a “Dividend”). Some brokers may automatically elect to receive cash on behalf of common shareholders and may re-invest
that cash in additional common shares. Reinvested Dividends will increase the Fund’s Managed Assets on which the management
fee is payable to the Adviser (and by the Adviser to the Sub-Adviser).
Whenever the Fund declares
a Dividend payable in cash, non-participants in the Plan will receive cash and participants in the Plan will receive the equivalent
in common shares. The common shares will be acquired by the Plan Administrator for the participants’ accounts, depending
upon the circumstances described below, either (i) through receipt of additional unissued but authorized common shares from the
Fund (“Newly Issued Common Shares”) or (ii) by purchase of outstanding common shares on the open market (“Open-Market
Purchases”) on the NYSE or elsewhere. If, on the payment date for any Dividend, the closing market price plus estimated brokerage
commissions per common share is equal to or greater than the NAV per common share, the Plan Administrator will invest the Dividend
amount in Newly Issued Common Shares on behalf of the participants. The number of Newly Issued Common Shares to be credited to
each participant’s account will be determined by dividing the dollar amount of the Dividend by the Fund’s NAV per common
share on the payment date. If, on the payment date for any Dividend, the NAV per common share is greater than the closing market
value plus estimated brokerage commissions (i.e., the Fund’s common shares are trading at a discount), the Plan Administrator
will invest the Dividend amount in common shares acquired on behalf of the participants in Open-Market Purchases.
In the event of a market discount
on the payment date for any Dividend, the Plan Administrator will have until the last business day before the next date on which
the common shares trade on an “ex-dividend” basis or 30 days after the payment date for such Dividend, whichever is
sooner (the “Last Purchase Date”), to invest the Dividend amount in common shares acquired in Open-Market Purchases.
It is contemplated that the Fund will pay monthly income Dividends. If, before the Plan Administrator has completed its Open-Market
Purchases, the market price per common share exceeds the NAV per common share, the average per common share purchase price paid
by the Plan Administrator may exceed the NAV of the common shares, resulting in the acquisition of fewer common shares than if
the Dividend had been paid in Newly Issued Common Shares on the Dividend payment date. Because of the foregoing difficulty with
respect to Open-Market Purchases, the Plan provides that if the Plan Administrator is unable to invest the full Dividend amount
in Open-Market Purchases during the purchase period or if the market discount shifts to a market premium during the purchase period,
the Plan Administrator may cease making Open-Market Purchases and may invest the uninvested portion of the Dividend amount in Newly
Issued Common Shares at the NAV per common share at the close of business on the Last Purchase Date.
36 |
(888) 848-7569 | www.rivernorth.com |
RiverNorth Flexible Municipal Income Fund,
Inc.
Dividend Reinvestment Plan |
June 30, 2022 (Unaudited) |
The Plan Administrator maintains
all shareholders’ accounts in the Plan and furnishes written confirmation of all transactions in the accounts, including
information needed by shareholders for tax records. Common shares in the account of each Plan participant will be held by the Plan
Administrator on behalf of the Plan participant, and each shareholder proxy will include those shares purchased or received pursuant
to the Plan. The Plan Administrator will forward all proxy solicitation materials to participants and vote proxies for shares held
under the Plan in accordance with the instructions of the participants.
Beneficial owners of common
shares who hold their common shares in the name of a broker or nominee should contact the broker or nominee to determine whether
and how they may participate in the Plan. In the case of common shareholders such as banks, brokers or nominees which hold shares
for others who are the beneficial owners, the Plan Administrator will administer the Plan on the basis of the number of common
shares certified from time to time by the record shareholder’s name and held for the account of beneficial owners who participate
in the Plan.
There will be no brokerage
charges with respect to common shares issued directly by the Fund. However, each participant will pay a pro rata share of brokerage
commissions incurred in connection with Open-Market Purchases. The automatic reinvestment of Dividends will not relieve participants
of any federal, state or local income tax that may be payable (or required to be withheld) on such Dividends, even though such
participants have not received any cash with which to pay the resulting tax. See “U.S. Federal Income Tax Matters”
below. Participants that request a sale of common shares through the Plan Administrator are subject to brokerage commissions.
The Fund reserves the right
to amend or terminate the Plan. There is no direct service charge to participants with regard to purchases in the Plan; however,
the Fund reserves the right to amend the Plan to include a service charge payable by the participants. All correspondence or questions
concerning the Plan should be directed to the Plan Administrator at (844) 569-4750.
Annual Report | June 30, 2022 |
37 |
RiverNorth Flexible Municipal Income Fund, Inc.
Summary of Updated Information Regarding the Fund |
June 30, 2022 (Unaudited) |
The following information in
this annual report is a summary of certain information about the Fund and changes since the Fund’s most recent annual report
as of June 30, 2021 (the “prior disclosure date”). This information may not reflect all of the changes that have occurred
since you purchased the Fund.
Investment Objectives
There have been no changes
in the Fund’s investment objectives since the prior disclosure date that have not been approved by shareholders.
The Fund’s primary investment
objective is current income exempt from regular U.S. federal income taxes (but which may be includable in taxable income for purposes
of the Federal alternative minimum tax). The Fund’s secondary investment objective is total return.
Principal Investment Strategies and
Policies
There have been no changes
in the Fund’s Principal Investment Strategies and Policies since the prior disclosure date.
Under normal market conditions,
the Fund seeks to achieve its investment objectives by investing, directly or indirectly, at least 80% of its Managed Assets in
municipal bonds, the interest on which is, in the opinion of bond counsel to the issuers, generally excludable from gross income
for regular U.S. federal income tax purposes, except that the interest may be includable in taxable income for purposes of the
Federal alternative minimum tax (“Municipal Bonds”). In order to qualify to pay exempt-interest dividends, which are
items of interest excludable from gross income for federal income tax purposes, the Fund seeks to invest at least 50% of its Managed
Assets either directly (and indirectly through tender option bond transactions) in such Municipal Bonds or in other funds that
are taxed as regulated investment companies.
Municipal Bonds are debt obligations,
which may have a variety of issuers, including governmental entities or other qualifying issuers. Issuers may be states, territories
and possessions of the United States and the District of Columbia and their political subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities.
Such territories of the United States include Puerto Rico. Municipal Bonds include, among other instruments, general obligation
bonds, revenue bonds, municipal leases, certificates of participation, private activity bonds, moral obligation bonds, and tobacco
settlement bonds, as well as short-term, tax-exempt obligations such as municipal notes and variable rate demand obligations. The
Fund seeks to allocate its assets between the two principal strategies described below. The Adviser determines the portion of the
Fund’s Managed Assets to allocate to each strategy and may, from time to time, adjust the allocations. Under normal market
conditions, the Fund may allocate between 25% and 65% of its Managed Assets to the Tactical Municipal CEF Strategy and 35% to 75%
of its Managed Assets to the Municipal Bond Income Strategy.
Tactical
Municipal Closed-End Fund Strategy (25%-65% of Managed Assets). This strategy seeks to (i) generate returns through
investments in CEFs, exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) and other investment companies (collectively, the
“Underlying Funds”) that invest, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of their net assets, plus the
amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in Municipal Bonds, and (ii) derive value from the discount and premium
spreads associated with CEFs that invest, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of their net assets, plus the amount
of any borrowings for investment purposes, in Municipal Bonds. All Underlying Funds will be registered under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).
38 |
(888) 848-7569 | www.rivernorth.com |
RiverNorth Flexible Municipal Income Fund,
Inc.
Summary of Updated Information Regarding the Fund |
June 30, 2022 (Unaudited) |
Under normal market conditions,
the Fund limits its investments in CEFs that have been in operation for less than one year to no more than 10% of the Fund’s
Managed Assets allocated to the Tactical Municipal CEF Strategy. The Fund will not invest in inverse ETFs or leveraged ETFs. Under
normal market conditions, the Fund may not invest more than 20% of its Managed Assets in the Tactical Municipal CEF Strategy in
single state municipal CEFs. The Fund’s shareholders will indirectly bear the expenses, including the management fees, of
the Underlying Funds.
Under Section 12(d)(1)(A) of
the 1940 Act, the Fund may hold securities of an Underlying Fund in amounts which (i) do not exceed 3% of the total outstanding
voting stock of the Underlying Fund, (ii) do not exceed 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets and (iii) when added to
all other Underlying Fund securities held by the Fund, do not exceed 10% of the value of the Fund’s total assets. These limits
may be exceeded when permitted under Rule 12d1-4. The Fund intends to rely on either Section 12(d)(1)(F) of the 1940 Act, which
provides that the provisions of Section 12(d)(1)(A) shall not apply to securities purchased or otherwise acquired by the Fund if
(i) immediately after such purchase or acquisition not more than 3% of the total outstanding stock of such Underlying Fund is owned
by the Fund and all affiliated persons of the Fund, and (ii) certain requirements are met with respect to sales charges, or Rule
12d1-4.
The Fund may invest in Underlying
Funds that invest in securities that are rated below investment grade, including those receiving the lowest ratings from Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC business (“S&P”), Fitch
Ratings, a part of the Fitch Group (“Fitch”), or Moody’s Investor Services, Inc. (“Moody’s”),
or comparably rated by another nationally recognized statistical rating organization (“NRSRO”) or, if unrated, determined
by the Adviser or the Subadviser to be of comparable credit quality, which indicates that the security is in default or has little
prospect for full recovery of principal or interest. Below investment grade securities (such as securities rated below BBB- by
S&P or Fitch or below Baa3 by Moody’s) are commonly referred to as “junk” and “high yield” securities.
Below investment grade securities are considered speculative with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay
principal. The Underlying Funds in which the Fund invests may invest in securities receiving the lowest ratings from the NRSROs,
including securities rated C by Moody’s or D- by S&P. Lower rated below investment grade securities are considered more
vulnerable to nonpayment than other below investment grade securities and their issuers are more dependent on favorable business,
financial and economic conditions to meet their financial commitments. The lowest rated below investment grade securities are typically
already in default.
The Underlying Funds in which
the Fund invests will not include those that are advised or subadvised by the Adviser, the Subadviser or their affiliates.
Municipal Bond Income Strategy
(35%-75% of Managed Assets). This strategy seeks to capitalize on inefficiencies in the tax-exempt and tax-advantaged securities
markets through investments in Municipal Bonds. Under normal market conditions, the Fund may not directly invest more than 25%
of the Managed Assets allocated to the Municipal Bond Income Strategy in Municipal Bonds in any one industry or in any one state
of origin, and the Fund may not directly invest more than 5% of the Managed Assets allocated to this strategy in the Municipal
Bonds of any one issuer, except that the foregoing industry and issuer restrictions shall not apply to general obligation bonds
and the Fund will consider the obligor or borrower underlying the Municipal Bond to be the “issuer.” The Fund may invest
up to 30% of the Managed Assets allocated to the Municipal Bond Income Strategy in Municipal Bonds that pay interest that may be
includable in taxable income for purposes of the Federal alternative minimum tax. The Fund can invest, directly or indirectly through
Underlying Funds, in bonds of any maturity; however, under this strategy, it will generally invest in Municipal Bonds that have
a maturity of five years or longer at the time of purchase.
Annual Report | June 30, 2022 |
39 |
RiverNorth Flexible Municipal Income Fund, Inc.
Summary of Updated Information Regarding the Fund |
June 30, 2022 (Unaudited) |
Under normal market conditions,
the Fund invests at least 60% of the Fund’s Managed Assets allocated to the Municipal Bond Income Strategy directly in investment
grade Municipal Bonds. The Subadviser invests no more than 20% of the Managed Assets allocated to the Municipal Bond Income Strategy
in Municipal Bonds rated at or below Caa1 by Moody’s or CCC+ by S&P or Fitch, or comparably rated by another NRSRO, including
unrated bonds judged to be of equivalent quality as determined by the Adviser or Subadviser, as applicable. Investment grade securities
are those rated Baa or higher by Moody’s (although Moody’s considers securities rated Baa to have speculative characteristics)
or BBB or higher by S&P or rated similarly by another NRSRO or, if unrated, judged to be of equivalent quality as determined
by the Adviser or Subadviser, as applicable. If the independent ratings agencies assign different ratings to the same security,
the Fund will use the higher rating for purposes of determining the security’s credit quality. Subject to the foregoing limitations,
the Fund may invest in securities receiving the lowest ratings from the NRSROs, including securities rated C by Moody’s or
D- by S&P, which indicates that the security is in default or has little prospect for full recovery of principal or interest.
Under normal market conditions,
the Fund, or the Underlying Funds in which the Fund invests, invests at least 50% of its Managed Assets, directly or indirectly
in investment grade Municipal Bonds.
“Managed Assets”
means the total assets of the Fund, including assets attributable to leverage, minus liabilities (other than debt representing
leverage and any preferred stock that may be outstanding). Such assets attributable to leverage include the portion of assets in
tender option bond trusts of which the Fund owns TOB Residuals (as defined below) that has been effectively financed by the trust’s
issuance of TOB Floaters (as defined below).
Other Investments. The
Fund may invest, directly or indirectly, up to 20% of its Managed Assets in taxable municipal securities. Any portion of the Fund’s
assets invested in taxable municipal securities do not count toward the 35%-75% of the Fund’s assets allocated to Municipal
Bonds.
The Fund may at times establish
hedging positions, which may include short sales and derivatives, such as options, futures and swaps (“Hedging Positions”).
Such Hedging Positions may be used to attempt to protect against possible changes in the value of securities held in or to be purchased
for the Fund’s portfolio and to manage the effective maturity or duration of the Fund’s portfolio. The Fund’s
Hedging Positions may, however, result in income or gain to the Fund that is not exempt from regular U.S. federal income taxes.
A short sale is a transaction
in which the Fund sells a security that it does not own in anticipation of a decline in the market price of the security. The Fund
may benefit from a short position when the shorted security decreases in value by more than the cost of the transaction but will
suffer a loss on a short sale if the security’s value does not decline or increase. The Fund will not engage in any short
sales of securities issued by CEFs.
40 |
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RiverNorth Flexible Municipal Income Fund, Inc.
Summary of Updated Information Regarding the Fund |
June 30, 2022 (Unaudited) |
The Fund also may attempt to
enhance the return on the cash portion of its portfolio by investing in total return swap agreements. A total return swap agreement
provides the Fund with a return based on the performance of an underlying asset, in exchange for fee payments to a counterparty
based on a specific rate. The difference in the value of these income streams is recorded daily by the Fund, and is typically settled
in cash at least monthly. If the underlying asset declines in value over the term of the swap, the Fund would be required to pay
the dollar value of that decline plus any applicable fees to the counterparty. The Fund may use its own NAV or any other reference
asset that the Adviser or Subadviser chooses as the underlying asset in a total return swap. The Fund limits the notional amount
of all total return swaps in the aggregate to 15% of the Fund’s Managed Assets.
In addition to the foregoing
principal investment strategies of the Fund, the Adviser also may allocate the Fund’s Managed Assets among cash and short-term
investments. There are no limits on the Fund’s portfolio turnover, and the Fund may buy and sell securities to take advantage
of potential short-term trading opportunities without regard to length of time and when the Adviser or Subadviser believes investment
considerations warrant such action. High portfolio turnover may result in the realization of net short-term capital gains by the
Fund which, when distributed to common shareholders, will be taxable as ordinary income. In addition, a higher portfolio turnover
rate results in correspondingly greater brokerage commissions and other transactional expenses that are borne by the Fund.
All percentage limitations are
measured at the time of investment and may be exceeded on a going-forward basis as a result of credit rating downgrades or market
value fluctuations of the Fund’s portfolio securities. Unless otherwise specified herein, the Fund may count its holdings
in Underlying Funds towards various guideline tests, including the 80% policy so long as the earnings on the underlying holdings
of such Underlying Funds are exempt from regular U.S. federal income taxes (but which may be includable in taxable income for purposes
of the Federal alternative minimum tax).
Unless otherwise specified,
the investment policies and limitations of the Fund are not considered to be fundamental by the Fund and can be changed without
a vote of the common shareholders. The Fund’s primary investment objective, 80% policy and certain investment restrictions
specifically identified as such in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information are considered fundamental and may not
be changed without the approval of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, as defined in the
1940 Act, which includes common shares and Preferred Shares, if any, voting together as a single class, and the holders of the
outstanding Preferred Shares, if any, voting as a single class.
Portfolio Composition
Set forth below is a description
of the various types of Municipal Bonds in which the Fund may invest. Obligations are included within the term “Municipal
Bonds” if the interest paid thereon is excluded from gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes in the opinion of
bond counsel to the issuer.
Annual Report | June 30, 2022 |
41 |
RiverNorth Flexible Municipal Income Fund, Inc.
Summary of Updated Information Regarding the Fund |
June 30, 2022 (Unaudited) |
Municipal Bonds are either
general obligation or revenue bonds and typically are issued to finance public projects, such as roads or public buildings, to
pay general operating expenses or to refinance outstanding debt. Municipal Bonds may also be issued for private activities, such
as housing, medical and educational facility construction or for privately owned industrial development and pollution control projects.
General obligation bonds are backed by the full faith and credit and taxing authority of the issuer and may be repaid from any
revenue source. Revenue bonds may be repaid only from the revenues of a specific facility or source. The Fund also may purchase
Municipal Bonds that represent lease obligations. These carry special risks because the issuer of the bonds may not be obligated
to appropriate money annually to make payments under the lease.
The Municipal Bonds in which
the Fund primarily invests pay interest or income that, in the opinion of bond counsel to the issuer, is exempt from regular U.S.
federal income tax. The Adviser and the Subadviser will not conduct their own analysis of the tax status of the interest paid by
Municipal Bonds held by the Fund, but will rely on the opinion of counsel to the issuer of each such instrument. The Fund may also
invest in Municipal Bonds issued by United States Territories (such as Puerto Rico or Guam) that are exempt from regular U.S. federal
income tax. In addition, the Fund may invest in other securities that pay interest or income that is, or make other distributions
that are, exempt from regular U.S. federal income tax and/or state and local taxes, regardless of the technical structure of the
issuer of the instrument. The Fund treats all of such tax-exempt securities as Municipal Bonds.
The yields on Municipal Bonds
are dependent on a variety of factors, including prevailing interest rates and the condition of the general money market and the
municipal bond market, the size of a particular offering, the maturity of the obligation and the rating of the issuer. The market
value of Municipal Bonds will vary with changes in interest rate levels and as a result of changing evaluations of the ability
of bond issuers to meet interest and principal payments.
General Obligation Bonds.
General obligation bonds are backed by the issuer’s full faith and credit and taxing authority for the payment of principal
and interest. The taxing authority of any governmental entity may be limited, however, by provisions of its state constitution
or laws, and an entity’s creditworthiness will depend on many factors, including potential erosion of its tax base due to
population declines, natural disasters, declines in the state’s industrial base or inability to attract new industries, economic
limits on the ability to tax without eroding the tax base, state legislative proposals or voter initiatives to limit ad valorem
real property taxes (i.e., taxes based upon an assessed value of the property) and the extent to which the entity relies on federal
or state aid, access to capital markets or other factors beyond the state’s or entity’s control. Accordingly, the capacity
of the issuer of a general obligation bond as to the timely payment of interest and the repayment of principal when due is affected
by the issuer’s maintenance of its tax base.
Revenue Bonds. Revenue
bonds are payable only from the revenues derived from a particular facility or class of facilities or, in some cases, from the
proceeds of a special excise tax or other specific revenue sources such as payments from the user of the facility being financed.
Accordingly, the timely payment of interest and the repayment of principal in accordance with the terms of the revenue or special
obligation bond is a function of the economic viability of such facility or such revenue source.
42 |
(888) 848-7569 | www.rivernorth.com |
RiverNorth Flexible Municipal Income Fund, Inc.
Summary of Updated Information Regarding the Fund |
June 30, 2022 (Unaudited) |
Private Activity Bonds.
Private activity bonds are issued by or on behalf of public authorities to obtain funds to provide privately operated housing facilities,
airport, mass transit or port facilities, sewage disposal, solid waste disposal or hazardous waste treatment or disposal facilities
and certain local facilities for water supply, gas or electricity. Other types of private activity bonds, the proceeds of which
are used for the construction, equipping, repair or improvement of privately operated industrial or commercial facilities, may
constitute Municipal Bonds, although the current U.S. federal income tax laws place substantial limitations on the size of such
issues.
Private activity bonds are
secured primarily by revenues derived from loan repayments or lease payments due from the entity, which may or may not be guaranteed
by a parent company or otherwise secured. Private activity bonds generally are not secured by a pledge of the taxing power of the
issuer of such bonds. Therefore, an investor should be aware that repayment of such bonds generally depends on the revenues of
a private entity and be aware of the risks that such an investment may entail. Continued ability of an entity to generate sufficient
revenues for the payment of principal and interest on such bonds will be affected by many factors including the size of the entity,
capital structure, demand for its products or services, competition, general economic conditions, government regulation and the
entity’s dependence on revenues for the operation of the particular facility being financed. The Fund expects that, due to
investments in private activity bonds, a portion of the distributions it makes on the common shares will be includable in the federal
alternative minimum taxable income.
Moral Obligation Bonds.
The Fund also may invest in “moral obligation” bonds, which are normally issued by special purpose public authorities.
If an issuer of moral obligation bonds is unable to meet its obligations, the repayment of such bonds becomes a moral commitment
but not a legal obligation of the state or municipality in question.
Municipal Lease Obligations
and Certificates of Participation. Also included within the general category of Municipal Bonds are participations in lease
obligations or installment purchase contract obligations of municipal authorities or entities (hereinafter collectively called
“Municipal Lease Obligations”). Although a Municipal Lease Obligation does not constitute a general obligation of the
municipality for which the municipality’s taxing power is pledged, a Municipal Lease Obligation is ordinarily backed by the
municipality’s covenant to budget for, appropriate and make the payments due under the Municipal Lease Obligation. However,
certain Municipal Lease Obligations contain “non-appropriation” clauses which provide that the municipality has no
obligation to make lease or installment purchase payments in future years unless money is appropriated for such purpose on a yearly
basis. In the case of a “non-appropriation” lease, a Fund’s ability to recover under the lease in the event of
non-appropriation or default will be limited solely to the repossession of the leased property, without recourse to the general
credit of the lessee, and the disposition or re-leasing of the property might prove difficult. A certificate of participation represents
an undivided interest in an unmanaged pool of municipal leases, an installment purchase agreement or other instruments. The certificates
are typically issued by a municipal agency, a trust or other entity that has received an assignment of the payments to be made
by the state or political subdivision under such leases or installment purchase agreements. In addition, such participations generally
provide the Fund with the right to demand payment, on not more than seven days’ notice, of all or any part of the Fund’s
participation interest in the underlying leases, plus accrued interest.
Annual Report | June 30, 2022 |
43 |
RiverNorth Flexible Municipal Income Fund, Inc.
Summary of Updated Information Regarding the Fund |
June 30, 2022 (Unaudited) |
Tobacco Settlement Bonds.
Included in the general category of Municipal Bonds in which the Fund may invest are “tobacco settlement bonds.” The
Fund may invest in tobacco settlement bonds, which are municipal securities that are backed solely by expected revenues to be derived
from lawsuits involving tobacco related deaths and illnesses which were settled between certain states and American tobacco companies.
Tobacco settlement bonds are secured by an issuing state’s proportionate share in the Master Settlement Agreement (“MSA”).
The MSA is an agreement, reached out of court in November 1998 between 46 states and nearly all of the U.S. tobacco manufacturers.
The MSA provides for annual payments in perpetuity by the manufacturers to the states in exchange for releasing all claims against
the manufacturers and a pledge of no further litigation. Tobacco manufacturers pay into a master escrow trust based on their market
share, and each state receives a fixed percentage of the payment as set forth in the MSA. A number of states have securitized the
future flow of those payments by selling bonds pursuant to indentures or through distinct governmental entities created for such
purpose. The principal and interest payments on the bonds are backed by the future revenue flow related to the MSA. Annual payments
on the bonds, and thus risk to the Fund, are highly dependent on the receipt of future settlement payments to the state or its
governmental entity.
Zero Coupon Bonds. The
Fund may invest in zero-coupon bonds. A zero coupon bond is a bond that does not pay interest either for the entire life of the
obligation or for an initial period after the issuance of the obligation. When held to its maturity, its return comes from the
difference between the purchase price and its maturity value. A zero coupon bond is normally issued and traded at a deep discount
from face value. Zero coupon bonds allow an issuer to avoid or delay the need to generate cash to meet current interest payments
and, as a result, may involve greater credit risk than bonds that pay interest currently or in cash. The market prices of zero
coupon bonds are affected to a greater extent by changes in prevailing levels of interest rates and thereby tend to be more volatile
in price than securities that pay interest periodically. In addition, the Fund would be required to distribute the income on any
of these instruments as it accrues, even though the Fund will not receive all of the income on a current basis or in cash. Thus,
the Fund may have to sell other investments, including when it may not be advisable to do so, to make income distributions to its
common shareholders.
Use of Leverage
The Fund may borrow money and/or
issue preferred shares, notes or debt securities for investment purposes. These practices are known as leveraging. In addition,
the Fund may enter into derivative and other transactions that have the effect of leverage. Such other transactions may include
tender option bond transactions (as described herein). The Adviser determines whether or not to engage in leverage based on its
assessment of conditions in the debt and credit markets. As of the time immediately after it enters into any of the foregoing transactions,
the Fund will seek to limit its overall effective leverage to 45% of its Managed Assets.
The Fund currently utilizes
leverage obtained through borrowings from banks or other financial institutions and the use of proceeds received from tender option
bond transactions and from a credit agreement for margin financing with Pershing LLC (“Pershing Facility”). The Pershing
Facility permits the Fund to borrow funds that are collateralized by assets held in a special custody account held at State Street
Bank pursuant to a Special Custody and Pledge Agreement. Borrowings under this arrangement bear interest at the overnight bank
funding rate plus 90 basis points for a term of 60 calendar days. To date, the Fund has not issued any Preferred Shares.
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RiverNorth Flexible Municipal Income Fund, Inc.
Summary of Updated Information Regarding the Fund |
June 30, 2022 (Unaudited) |
Under the 1940 Act, the Fund
is not permitted to incur indebtedness unless immediately after doing so the Fund has an asset coverage of at least 300% of the
aggregate outstanding principal balance of indebtedness (i.e., such indebtedness may not exceed 33 1/3% of the value of the Fund’s
total assets including the amount borrowed). Additionally, under the 1940 Act, the Fund may not declare any dividend or other distribution
upon any class of its shares, or purchase any such shares, unless the aggregate indebtedness of the Fund has, at the time of the
declaration of any such dividend or distribution or at the time of any such purchase, asset coverage of at least 300% after deducting
the amount of such dividend, distribution, or purchase price, as the case may be. Under the 1940 Act, the Fund is not permitted
to issue Preferred Shares unless immediately after such issuance the total asset value of the Fund’s portfolio is at least
200% of the liquidation value of the outstanding Preferred Shares (i.e., such liquidation value may not exceed 50% of the Fund’s
Managed Assets). In addition, the Fund is not permitted to declare any cash dividend or other distribution on its common shares
unless, at the time of such declaration, the NAV of the Fund’s portfolio (determined after deducting the amount of such dividend
or other distribution) is at least 200% of such liquidation value of the Preferred Shares. Normally, holders of common shares will
elect the directors of the Fund except that the holders of any Preferred Shares will elect two directors. In the event the Fund
failed to pay dividends on its Preferred Shares for two years, holders of Preferred Shares would be entitled to elect a majority
of the directors until the dividends are paid.
The Fund may be subject to
certain restrictions on investments imposed by lenders or by one or more rating agencies that may issue ratings for any senior
securities issued by the Fund. Borrowing covenants or rating agency guidelines may impose asset coverage or Fund composition requirements
that are more stringent than those imposed on the Fund by the 1940 Act. Since the holders of common stock pay all expenses related
to the use of leverage, such use of leverage would create a greater risk of loss for the Fund’s shareholders than if leverage
is not used.
The Fund may enter into derivatives
or other transactions (e.g., total return swaps) that may provide leverage (other than through borrowings or the issuance of preferred
shares), but which are not subject to the above noted limitations under the 1940 Act if the Fund earmarks or segregates liquid
assets (or enters into offsetting positions) in accordance with applicable SEC regulations and interpretations to cover its obligations
under those transactions and instruments. The Fund also invests in reverse repurchase agreements, total return swaps and derivatives
or other transactions with leverage embedded in them in a limited manner or subject to a limit on leverage risk calculated based
on value-at-risk, as required by Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act. These transactions will not cause the Fund to pay higher advisory
or administration fee rates than it would pay in the absence of such transactions.
However, these transactions
entail additional expenses (e.g., transaction costs) which are borne by the Fund. These types of transactions have the potential
to increase returns to common shareholders, but they also involve additional risks. This additional leverage will increase the
volatility of the Fund’s investment portfolio and could result in larger losses than if the transactions were not entered
into. However, to the extent that the Fund enters into offsetting transactions or owns positions covering its obligations, the
leveraging effect is expected to be reduced or eliminated.
Annual Report | June 30, 2022 |
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RiverNorth Flexible Municipal Income Fund, Inc.
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Tender Option Bonds.
The Fund leverages its assets through the use of proceeds received from tender option bond transactions. In a tender option bond
transaction, a tender option bond trust (a “TOB Issuer”) is typically established by forming a special purpose trust
into which the Fund, or an agent on behalf of the Fund, transfers municipal bonds or other municipal securities. A TOB Issuer typically
issues two classes of beneficial interests: short-term floating rate notes (“TOB Floaters”), which are sold to third
party investors, and residual interest municipal tender option bonds (“TOB Residuals”), which are generally issued
to the Fund. The Fund may invest in both TOB Floaters and TOB Residuals, including TOB Floaters and TOB Residuals issued by the
same TOB Issuer. The Fund may not invest more than 5% of its Managed Assets in any single TOB Issuer. The Fund does not currently
intend to invest in TOB Residuals issued by a TOB Issuer that was not formed for the Fund, although it reserves the right to do
so in the future.
The TOB Issuer receives Municipal
Bonds or other municipal securities and then issues TOB Floaters to third party investors and a TOB Residual to the Fund. The Fund
is paid the cash (less transaction expenses, which are borne by the Fund and therefore the holders of the common shares indirectly)
received by the TOB Issuer from the sale of the TOB Floaters and typically will invest the cash in additional Municipal Bonds or
other investments permitted by its investment policies. TOB Floaters may have first priority on the cash flow from the securities
held by the TOB Issuer and are enhanced with a liquidity support arrangement from a third-party bank or other financial institution
(the “liquidity provider”), which allows holders to tender their position at par (plus accrued interest). The Fund,
in addition to receiving cash from the sale of the TOB Floaters, also receives the TOB Residual. The TOB Residual provides the
Fund with the right to (1) cause the holders of the TOB Floaters to tender their notes to the TOB Issuer at par (plus accrued interest),
and (2) acquire the underlying Municipal Bonds or other municipal securities from the TOB Issuer. In addition, all voting rights
and decisions to be made with respect to any other rights relating to the underlying securities deposited in the TOB Issuer are
passed through to the Fund, as the holder of the TOB Residual. Such a transaction, in effect, creates exposure for the Fund to
the entire return of the securities deposited in the TOB Issuer, with a net cash investment by the Fund that is less than the value
of the underlying securities deposited in the TOB Issuer. This multiplies the positive or negative impact of the underlying securities’
return within the Fund (thereby creating leverage).
The TOB Issuer may be terminated
without the consent of the Fund upon the occurrence of certain events, such as the bankruptcy or default of the issuer of the underlying
securities deposited in the TOB Issuer, a substantial downgrade in the credit quality of the issuer of the securities deposited
in the TOB Issuer, the inability of the TOB Issuer to obtain liquidity support for the TOB Floaters, a substantial decline in the
market value of the underlying securities deposited in the TOB Issuer, or the inability of the sponsor or remarketing agent to
remarket any TOB Floaters tendered by holders of the TOB Floaters. In such an event, the TOB Floaters would be redeemed by the
TOB Issuer at par (plus accrued interest) out of the proceeds from a sale of the underlying securities deposited in the TOB Issuer.
If this happens, the Fund would be entitled to the assets of the TOB Issuer, if any, that remain after the TOB Floaters have been
redeemed at par (plus accrued interest). If there are insufficient proceeds from the sale of these securities to redeem all of
the TOB Floaters at par (plus accrued interest), the liquidity provider or holders of the TOB Floaters would bear the losses on
those securities and there would be no recourse to the Fund’s assets (unless the Fund held a recourse TOB Residual). A recourse
TOB Residual is generally a TOB Residual issued by a TOB Issuer in which the TOB Floaters represent greater than 75% of the market
value of the securities at the time they are deposited in the TOB Issuer. If the Fund were to invest in a recourse TOB Residual
to leverage its portfolio, it would typically be required to enter into an agreement pursuant to which the Fund is required to
pay to the liquidity provider the difference between the purchase price of any TOB Floaters put to the liquidity provider by holders
of the TOB Floaters and the proceeds realized from the remarketing of those TOB Floaters or the sale of the assets in the TOB Issuer.
The Fund currently does not intend to use recourse TOB Residuals to leverage the Fund’s portfolio, but reserves the right
to do so depending on future market conditions.
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RiverNorth Flexible Municipal Income Fund, Inc.
Summary of Updated Information Regarding the Fund |
June 30, 2022 (Unaudited) |
Under accounting rules, securities
of the Fund that are deposited into a TOB Issuer are treated as investments of the Fund, and are presented on the Fund’s
Schedule of Investments and outstanding TOB Floaters issued by a TOB Issuer are presented as liabilities in the Fund’s Statement
of Assets and Liabilities. Interest income from the underlying security is recorded by the Fund on an accrual basis. Interest expense
incurred on the TOB Floaters and other expenses related to remarketing, administration and trustee services to a TOB Issuer are
reported as expenses of the Fund.
For TOB Floaters, generally,
the interest rate earned will be based upon the market rates for municipal securities with maturities or remarketing provisions
that are comparable in duration to the periodic interval of the tender option, which may vary from weekly, to monthly, to extended
periods of one year or multiple years. Since the option feature has a shorter term than the final maturity or first call date of
the underlying securities deposited in the TOB Issuer, the Fund, if it is the holder of the TOB Floaters, relies upon the terms
of the agreement with the financial institution furnishing the option as well as the credit strength of that institution. As further
assurance of liquidity, the terms of the TOB Issuer provide for a liquidation of the municipal security deposited in the TOB Issuer
and the application of the proceeds to pay off the TOB Floaters.
There are inherent risks with
respect to investing in a TOB Issuer. These risks include, among others, the bankruptcy or default of the issuer of the securities
deposited in the TOB Issuer, a substantial downgrade in the credit quality of the issuer of the securities deposited in the TOB
Issuer, the inability of the TOB Issuer to obtain liquidity support for the TOB Floaters, a substantial decline in the market value
of the securities deposited in the TOB Issuer, or the inability of the sponsor or remarketing agent to remarket any TOB Floaters
tendered to it by holders of the TOB Floaters.
Effects of Leverage.
The aggregate principal amount of borrowings under the Pershing Facility and the use of proceeds from tender option bond transactions
represented approximately 44.27% of Managed Assets as of June 30, 2022. Asset coverage with respect to borrowings under the Pershing
Facility was 1,532% and from tender option bond transactions was 265%. Borrowings under Pershing Facility bear interest at the
overnight bank funding rate plus 90 basis points for a term of 60 calendar days. As of June 30, 2022, total annual interest rate
on the Pershing Facility was 2.37% of the principal amount outstanding, while the average daily weighted interest rate applicable
to the leverage attended through the use of tender option bond transactions during the period ending June 30, 2022 was 0.72% of
the note obligation outstanding. The total weighted average cost of the leverage outstanding as of June 30, 2022 (inclusive of
the Pershing facility and leverage attended through the use of tender option bond transactions) was 0.78% of the principal amount
outstanding. Assuming that the Fund’s leverage costs remain as described above (at an assumed annual cost of 0.78% of the
principal amount outstanding) the annual return that the Fund’s portfolio must experience (net of expenses) in order to cover
its leverage costs would be 0.35%.
Annual Report | June 30, 2022 |
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RiverNorth Flexible Municipal Income Fund, Inc.
Summary of Updated Information Regarding the Fund |
June 30, 2022 (Unaudited) |
The following table is furnished
in response to requirements of the SEC. It is designed to illustrate the effect of leverage on total return on common shares, assuming
investment portfolio total returns (comprised of income, net expenses and changes in the value of investments held in the Fund’s
portfolio) of -10%, -5%, 0%, 5% and 10%. These assumed investment portfolio returns are hypothetical figures and are not necessarily
indicative of what the Fund’s investment portfolio returns will be. In other words, the Fund’s actual returns may be
greater or less than those appearing in the table below. The table further reflects the use of leverage representing approximately
44.27% of the Fund’s Managed Assets and the Fund’s assumed annual leverage costs rate of 0.78% of the principal amounts
outstanding.
Assumed Portfolio Return |
-10.00% |
-5.00% |
0.00% |
5.00% |
10.00% |
Common Share Total Return |
-18.56% |
-9.59% |
-0.62% |
8.35% |
17.32% |
Total return is composed of
two elements—the dividends on common shares paid by the Fund (the amount of which is largely determined by the Fund’s
net investment income after paying the cost of leverage) and realized and unrealized gains or losses on the value of the securities
the Fund owns. As the table shows, leverage generally increases the return to common shareholders when portfolio return is positive
or greater than the costs of leverage and decreases return when the portfolio return is negative or less than the costs of leverage.
During the time in which the
Fund is using leverage, the amount of the fees paid to the Adviser (and from the Adviser to the Subadviser) for investment management
services (and subadvisory services) is higher than if the Fund did not use leverage because the fees paid are calculated based
on the Fund’s Managed Assets. This may create a conflict of interest between the Adviser and the Subadviser, on the one hand,
and the common shareholders, on the other. Also, because the leverage costs will be borne by the Fund at a specified interest rate,
only the Fund’s common shareholders will bear the cost of the Fund’s management fees and other expenses. There can
be no assurance that a leveraging strategy will be successful during any period in which it is employed.
Risk Factors
Investing in the Fund involves
certain risks relating to its structure and investment objective. You should carefully consider these risk factors, together with
all of the other information included in this report, before deciding whether to make an investment in the Fund. An investment
in the Fund may not be appropriate for all investors, and an investment in the common shares of the Fund should not be considered
a complete investment program.
The risks set forth below are
not the only risks of the Fund, and the Fund may face other risks that have not yet been identified, which are not currently deemed
material or which are not yet predictable. If any of the following risks occur, the Fund’s financial condition and results
of operations could be materially adversely affected. In such case, the Fund’s NAV and the trading price of its securities
could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment.
Investment-Related Risks:
With the exception of underlying
fund risk (and except as otherwise noted below), the following risks apply to the direct investments the Fund may make, and generally
apply to the Fund’s investments in CEFs, ETFs and business development companies (“BDCs,” and, together with
the Fund’s investments in CEFs and ETFs, the “Underlying Funds”). That said, each risk described below may not
apply to each Underlying Fund.
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RiverNorth Flexible Municipal Income Fund, Inc.
Summary of Updated Information Regarding the Fund |
June 30, 2022 (Unaudited) |
Investment
and Market Risks. An investment in the Fund is subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of the entire principal amount
invested. The value of the Fund or the Underlying Funds, like other market investments, may move up or down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably.
Overall stock market risks may also affect the net asset value of the Fund or the Underlying Funds. Factors such as economic growth and
market conditions, interest rate levels and political events affect the securities markets. An investment in the Fund may at any point
in time be worth less than the original investment, even after taking into account any reinvestment of dividends and distributions.
Management
Risks. The Adviser’s and the Subadviser’s judgments about the attractiveness, value and potential appreciation of a particular
asset class or individual security in which the Fund invests may prove to be incorrect and there is no guarantee that the Adviser’s
or the Subadviser’s judgment, as applicable, will produce the desired results.
Securities
Risks. The value of the Fund or an Underlying Fund may decrease in response to the activities and financial prospects of individual
securities in the Fund’s portfolio.
Municipal Bond Risks.
The Fund’s indirect and direct investments in Municipal Bonds include certain risks. Municipal Bonds may be affected significantly
by the economic, regulatory or political developments affecting the ability of Municipal Bonds issuers to pay interest or repay
principal. This risk may be increased during periods of economic downturn or political turmoil. Many municipal securities may be
called or redeemed prior to their stated maturity. Issuers of municipal securities might seek protection under bankruptcy laws,
causing holders of municipal securities to experience delays in collecting principal and interest or prevent such holders from
collecting all principal and interest to which they are entitled. In addition, there may be less information available about Municipal
Bond investments than comparable debt and equity investments requiring a greater dependence on the Adviser’s and Sub-Adviser’s
analytical abilities.
Certain types of Municipal
Bonds may be subject to specific risks. General obligation bonds are obligations involving the credit of an issuer possessing taxing
power and are payable from such issuer’s general revenues and not from any particular source, and are subject to risks related
to the issuer’s ability to raise tax revenues and ability to maintain an adequate tax base. Revenue bonds are subject to
the risk that the underlying facilities may not generate sufficient income to pay expenses and interest costs, lack recourse to
ensure payment, or might be subordinate to other debtors. Municipal lease obligations and certificates of participation are subject
to the added risk that the governmental lessee will fail to appropriate funds to enable it to meet its payment obligations under
the lease. Moral obligation bonds are generally issued by special purpose public authorities of a state or municipality. If the
issuer is unable to meet its obligations, repayment of these bonds becomes a moral commitment, but not a legal obligation, of the
state or municipality. Municipalities and other public authorities issue private activity bonds to finance development of facilities
for use by a private enterprise, which is solely responsible for paying the principal and interest on the bond.
Annual Report | June 30, 2022 |
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RiverNorth Flexible Municipal Income Fund, Inc.
Summary of Updated Information Regarding the Fund |
June 30, 2022 (Unaudited) |
Failure of Municipal Bonds
to meet regulatory requirements may cause the interest received by the Fund and distributed to shareholders to be taxable, which
may apply retroactively to the date of the issuance of the bond. Municipal bonds are also subject to interest rate, credit, and
liquidity risk, which are discussed generally under this Risks Factors section.
The current COVID-19 pandemic
has significantly stressed the financial resources of many municipalities and other issuers of municipal securities, which may
impair their ability to meet their financial obligations and may harm the value or liquidity of the Fund’s investments in
municipal securities. In particular, responses by municipalities to the COVID-19 pandemic have caused disruptions in business activities.
These and other effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as increased unemployment levels, have impacted tax and other revenues of
municipalities and other issuers of municipal securities and the financial conditions of such issuers. As a result, there is increased
budgetary and financial pressure on municipalities and heightened risk of default or other adverse credit or similar events for
issuers of municipal securities, which would adversely impact the Fund’s investments.
State
Specific and Industry Risk. While the Fund may not directly invest more than 25% of its Managed Assets in Municipal Bonds in any
one industry or in any one state of origin, indirect investments through Underlying Funds might increase the Fund’s exposure to
economic, political or regulatory occurrences affecting a particular state or industry.
Puerto
Rico Municipal Bond Risks. Municipal obligations issued by the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or its political subdivisions, agencies,
instrumentalities, or public corporations may be affected by economic, market, political, and social conditions in Puerto Rico. Puerto
Rico currently is experiencing significant fiscal and economic challenges. These challenges may negatively affect the value of the Fund’s
investments in Puerto Rico Municipal Bonds. Legislation or further downgrades or defaults may place additional strain on the Puerto Rico
economy and may negatively affect the value, liquidity, and volatility of the Fund’s investments in Puerto Rico Municipal Bonds
Tobacco
Settlement Bond Risks. Tobacco settlement bonds are municipal securities that are backed solely by expected revenues to be derived
from lawsuits involving tobacco-related deaths and illnesses, which were settled between certain states and American tobacco companies.
Tobacco settlement bonds are secured by an issuing state’s proportionate share an agreement between 46 states and nearly all of
the U.S. tobacco manufacturers, under which, the actual amount of future settlement payments by tobacco manufacturers is dependent on
many factors, including, but not limited to, annual domestic cigarette shipments, cigarette consumption, increased taxes, inflation,
financial capability of tobacco companies, and the possibility of tobacco manufacturer bankruptcy. Payments made by tobacco manufacturers
could be negatively impacted if the decrease in tobacco consumption is significantly greater than the forecasted decline.
Credit
and Below Investment Grade Securities Risks. Credit risk is the risk that an issuer of a security may be unable or unwilling to make
dividend, interest and principal payments when due and the related risk that the value of a security may decline because of concerns
about the issuer’s ability or willingness to make such payments. Credit risk may be heightened for the Fund because it and the
Underlying Funds may invest in below investment grade securities (“junk” and “high yield” securities). Securities
of below investment grade quality are regarded as having speculative characteristics with respect to the issuer’s capacity to pay
interest and repay principal, and may be subject to higher price volatility and default risk than investment grade securities of comparable
terms and duration. Issuers of lower grade securities may be highly leveraged and may not have available to them more traditional methods
of financing. The prices of these lower grade securities are typically more sensitive to negative developments, such as a decline in
the issuer’s revenues or a general economic downturn. The secondary market for lower rated securities may not be as liquid as the
secondary market for more highly rated securities, a factor which may have an adverse effect on the Fund’s ability to dispose of
a particular security.
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RiverNorth Flexible Municipal Income Fund, Inc.
Summary of Updated Information Regarding the Fund |
June 30, 2022 (Unaudited) |
Interest
Rate Risk. Generally, when market interest rates rise, bond prices fall, and vice versa. Interest rate risk is the risk that the
municipal securities in the Fund’s portfolio will decline in value because of increases in market interest rates. As interest rates
decline, issuers of municipal securities may prepay principal earlier than scheduled, forcing the Fund to reinvest in lower-yielding
municipal securities and potentially reducing the Fund’s income. As interest rates increase, slower than expected principal payments
may extend the average life of municipal securities, potentially locking in a below-market interest rate and reducing the Fund’s
value. In typical market interest rate environments, the prices of longer-term municipal securities generally fluctuate more than prices
of shorter-term municipal securities as interest rates change.
LIBOR
Risk. Certain of the Fund’s or Underlying Funds’ investments, payment obligations and financing terms may be based on
floating rates, such as LIBOR, Euro Interbank Offered Rate and other similar types of reference rates (each, a “Reference Rate”).
In July of 2017, the head of the UK Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) announced a desire to phase out the use of LIBOR
by the end of 2021. The FCA and ICE Benchmark Administrator have since announced that most LIBOR settings will no longer be published
after December 31, 2021 and a majority of U.S. dollar LIBOR settings will cease publication after June 30, 2023. The U.S. Federal Reserve,
based on the recommendations of the New York Federal Reserve’s Alternative Reference Rate Committee (comprised of major derivative
market participants and their regulators), has begun publishing Secured Overnight Financial Rate Data (“SOFR”) that is intended
to replace U.S. dollar LIBOR. Proposals for alternative reference rates for other currencies have also been announced or have already
begun publication. Markets are slowly developing in response to these new reference rates. Uncertainty related to the liquidity impact
of the change in rates, and how to appropriately adjust these rates at the time of transition, poses risks for the Fund. The expected
discontinuation of LIBOR could have a significant impact on the financial markets in general and may also present heightened risk to
market participants, including public companies, investment advisers, investment companies, and broker-dealers. The risks associated
with this discontinuation and transition will be exacerbated if the work necessary to effect an orderly transition to an alternative
reference rate is not completed in a timely manner. Accordingly, it is difficult to predict the full impact of the transition away from
LIBOR on the Fund or the Underlying Funds until new reference rates and fallbacks for both legacy and new instruments and contracts are
commercially accepted and market practices become settled. The inclusion of LIBOR Risk under the Risk Factors section is a material change
since the prior disclosure date.
Inflation/Deflation
Risk. Inflation risk is the risk that the value of assets or income from investments will be worth less in the future as inflation
decreases the value of money. As inflation increases, the real value of the common shares and distributions can decline. Deflation risk
is the risk that prices throughout the economy decline over time– the opposite of inflation. Deflation may have an adverse effect
on the creditworthiness of issuers and may make issuer defaults more likely, which may result in a decline in the value of the Fund’s
portfolio.
Annual Report | June 30, 2022 |
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RiverNorth Flexible Municipal Income Fund, Inc.
Summary of Updated Information Regarding the Fund |
June 30, 2022 (Unaudited) |
Tactical
Municipal Closed-End Fund Strategy Risk. The Fund invests in CEFs as a principal part of the
Tactical
Municipal CEF. The Fund may invest in shares of CEFs that are trading at a discount to NAV or at a premium to NAV. There can be no assurance
that the market discount on shares of any CEF purchased by the Fund will ever decrease.
In
fact, it is possible that this market discount may increase and the Fund may suffer realized or unrealized capital losses due to further
decline in the market price of the securities of such closed-end funds, thereby adversely affecting the NAV of the Fund’s common
shares. Similarly, there can be no assurance that any shares of a CEF purchased by the Fund at a premium will continue to trade at a
premium or that the premium will not decrease subsequent to a purchase of such shares by the Fund.
Underlying
Fund Risks. Because the Fund invests in Underlying Funds, the risks associated with investing in the Fund are closely related to
the risks associated with the securities and other investments held by the Underlying Funds. The ability of the Fund to achieve its investment
objective will depend upon the ability of the Underlying Funds to achieve their investment objectives. There can be no assurance that
the investment objective of any Underlying Fund will be achieved.
The
Fund’s net asset value will fluctuate in response to changes in the net asset values of the Underlying Funds in which it invests
and will be particularly sensitive to the risks associated with each of the Underlying Funds. Shareholders will bear additional layers
of fees and expenses with respect to the Fund’s investments in Underlying Funds because each of the Fund and the Underlying Fund
will charge fees and incur separate expenses, which may be magnified if the Underlying Funds use leverage.
Defaulted
and Distressed Securities Risks. The Fund and the Underlying Funds may invest in defaulted and distressed securities. Defaulted or
distressed issuers may be insolvent, in bankruptcy or undergoing some other form of financial restructuring. In the event of a default,
the Fund or an Underlying Fund may incur additional expenses to seek recovery. The repayment of defaulted bonds is subject to significant
uncertainties, may be delayed, or there may be partial or no recovery of repayment. There is often a time lag between when the Fund and
an Underlying Fund makes an investment and when the Fund and the Underlying Fund realizes the value of the investment.
Illiquid
Securities Risks. The Fund and the Underlying Funds may invest in illiquid securities. It may not be possible to sell or otherwise
dispose of illiquid securities both at the price and within the time period deemed desirable by a fund. Illiquid securities also may
be difficult to value or be more volatile investments.
Valuation
Risk. There is no central place or national exchange for fixed-income securities trading. Uncertainties in the conditions of the
financial market, unreliable reference data, lack of transparency and inconsistency of valuation models and processes may lead to inaccurate
asset pricing. As a result, the Fund may be subject to risk that when a fixed-income security is sold in the market, the amount received
by the Fund is less than the value of such fixed-income security carried on the Fund’s books.
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RiverNorth Flexible Municipal Income Fund, Inc.
Summary of Updated Information Regarding the Fund |
June 30, 2022 (Unaudited) |
Tender
Option Bonds Risks. The Fund’s participation in tender option bond transactions may reduce the Fund’s returns and/or
increase volatility. Investments in tender option bond transactions expose the Fund to counterparty risk and leverage risk. An investment
in a tender option bond transaction typically will involve greater risk than an investment in a municipal fixed rate security, including
the risk of loss of principal. Distributions on TOB Residuals will bear an inverse relationship to short-term municipal security interest
rates. Distributions on TOB Residuals paid to the Fund will be reduced or, in the extreme, eliminated as short-term municipal interest
rates rise and will increase when short-term municipal interest rates fall. The value of TOB Residuals may decline rapidly in times of
rising interest rates.
The
Fund’s use of proceeds received from tender option bond transactions will create economic leverage, creating an opportunity for
increased income and returns, but will also create the possibility that long-term returns will be diminished if the cost of the TOB Floaters
exceeds the return on the securities deposited in the TOB Issuer. If the income and gains earned on Municipal Bonds deposited in a TOB
Issuer that issues TOB Residuals to the Fund are greater than the payments due on the TOB Floaters, the Fund’s returns will be
greater than if it had not invested in the TOB Residuals.
Insurance
Risks. The Fund may purchase Municipal Bonds that are secured by insurance, bank credit agreements or escrow accounts. The insurance
feature of a Municipal Bond does not guarantee the full payment of principal and interest through the life of an insured obligation,
the market value of the insured obligation or the NAV of the shares represented by such insured obligation.
Tax
Risks. Future laws, regulations, rulings or court decisions may cause interest on municipal securities to be subject, directly or
indirectly, to U.S. federal income taxation; interest on state municipal securities to be subject to state or local income taxation;
the value of state municipal securities to be subject to state or local intangible personal property tax; or may otherwise prevent the
Fund from realizing the full current benefit of the tax-exempt status of such securities. Any such change could also affect the market
price of such securities, and thus the value of an investment in the Fund.
Derivatives
Risks. The Fund and the Underlying Funds may enter into derivatives which have risks different from those associated with the Fund’s
other investments. Generally, a derivative is a financial contract, the value of which depends upon, or is derived from, the value of
an underlying asset, reference rate, or index, and may relate to individual debt or equity instruments, interest rates, currencies or
currency exchange rates, commodities, related indexes, and other assets.
Derivatives
may entail investment exposures that are greater than their cost would suggest, meaning that a small investment in a derivative could
have a large potential impact on the performance of the Fund or an Underlying Fund. The Fund or an Underlying Fund could experience a
loss if derivatives do not perform as anticipated, if they are not correlated with the performance of other investments which they are
used to hedge or if the fund is unable to liquidate a position because of an illiquid secondary market. Except with respect to the Fund’s
investments in total return swaps, the Fund expects its use of derivative instruments will be for hedging purposes. When used for speculative
purposes, derivatives will produce enhanced investment exposure, which will magnify gains and losses. The Fund and the Underlying Funds
also will be subject to credit risk with respect to the counterparties to the derivatives contracts purchased by such fund. If a counterparty
becomes bankrupt or otherwise fails to perform its obligations under a derivative contract, the Fund or an Underlying Fund may obtain
only a limited recovery or may obtain no recovery in such circumstances.
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Options
and Futures Risks. Options and futures contracts may be more volatile than investments made directly in the underlying securities,
involve additional costs, and may involve a small initial investment relative to the risk assumed. In addition, futures and options markets
could be illiquid in some circumstances and certain over-the-counter options could have no markets. As a result, in certain markets,
a fund may not be able to close out a transaction without incurring substantial losses. Although a fund’s use of futures and options
transactions for hedging should tend to minimize the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged position, at the same time,
it will tend to limit any potential gain to a fund that might result from an increase in value of the position.
Market
Disruption and Geopolitical Risks. The Fund and Underlying Funds may be adversely affected by uncertainties and events around the
world, such as terrorism, political developments, and changes in government policies, taxation, restrictions on foreign investment and
currency repatriation, currency fluctuations and other developments in the laws and regulations of the countries in which they are invested.
Assets of issuers, including those held in the Fund’s or an Underlying Fund’s portfolio, could be direct targets, or indirect
casualties, of an act of terrorism.
Russia/Ukraine
Market Risk. In February 2022, Russia commenced a military attack on Ukraine. The outbreak of hostilities between the two countries
and the threat of wider-spread hostilities could have a severe adverse effect on the region and global economies, including significant
negative impacts on the markets for certain securities and commodities, such as oil and natural gas. In addition, sanctions imposed on
Russia by the United States and other countries, and any sanctions imposed in the future, could have a significant adverse impact on
the Russian economy and related markets. The price and liquidity of investments may fluctuate widely as a result of the conflict and
related events. How long the armed conflict and related events will last cannot be predicted. These tensions and any related events could
have a significant impact on Fund performance and the value of Fund investments. The inclusion of Russia/Ukraine Market Risk under the
Risk Factors section is a material change since the prior disclosure date.
Pandemic
Risk. Beginning in the first quarter of 2020, financial markets in the United States and around the world experienced extreme and
in many cases unprecedented volatility and severe losses due to the global pandemic caused by COVID-19, a novel coronavirus, and
since then, the number of cases has fluctuated and new “variants” have been confirmed around the world. The pandemic has
resulted in a wide range of social and economic disruptions, including closed borders, voluntary or compelled quarantines of large populations,
stressed healthcare systems, reduced or prohibited domestic or international travel, supply chain disruptions, and so-called “stay-at-home”
orders throughout much of the United States and many other countries. The fall-out from these disruptions has included the rapid closure
of businesses deemed “non-essential” by federal, state, or local governments and rapidly increasing unemployment, as well
as greatly reduced liquidity for certain instruments at times. Some sectors of the economy and individual issuers have experienced particularly
large losses. Such disruptions may continue for an extended period of time or reoccur in the future to a similar or greater extent. In
response, the U.S. government and the Federal Reserve have taken extraordinary actions to support the domestic economy and financial
markets, resulting in very low interest rates and in some cases negative yields. Although vaccines for COVID-19 have become more widely
available, it is unknown how long circumstances related to the pandemic will persist, whether they will reoccur in the future, whether
efforts to support the economy and financial markets will be successful, and what additional implications may follow from the pandemic.
The impact of these events and other epidemics or pandemics in the future could adversely affect Fund performance.
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Summary of Updated Information Regarding the Fund |
June 30, 2022 (Unaudited) |
Swap
Risks. The Fund and the Underlying Funds may enter into various swap agreements. Swap agreements are subject to interest rate risks;
credit risks; the risk that the counterparty to the swap will default on its obligation to pay the Fund and the risk that the Fund will
not be able to meet its obligations to pay the counterparty to the swap. In addition, there is the risk that a swap may be terminated
by the Fund or the counterparty in accordance with its terms. Each of these could cause the Fund to incur losses and fail to obtain its
investment objective.
Short
Sale Risks. Short sales are expected to be utilized by the Fund, if at all, for hedging purposes. A short sale is a transaction in
which a fund sells a security it does not own in anticipation that the market price of that security will decline. Positions in shorted
securities are speculative and riskier than long positions (purchases) in securities because the maximum sustainable loss on a security
purchased is limited to the amount paid for the security plus the transaction costs, whereas there is no maximum attainable price of
the shorted security. Therefore, in theory, securities sold short have unlimited risk and may also result in higher transaction costs
and higher taxes.
Rating
Agency Risk. Ratings represent an NRSRO's opinion regarding the quality of the security and are not a guarantee of quality. NRSROs
may fail to make timely credit ratings in response to subsequent events. In addition, NRSROs are subject to an inherent conflict of interest
because they are often compensated by the same issuers whose securities they grade.
United
States Credit Rating Downgrade Risk. On August 5, 2011, S&P lowered its long-term sovereign credit rating on the United States
to “AA+” from “AAA.” In general, a lower rating could increase the volatility in both stock and bond markets,
result in higher interest rates and lower Treasury prices and increase the costs of all types of debt.
Legislation
and Regulatory Risks. At any time, legislation or additional regulations may be enacted that could negatively affect the assets of
the Fund, securities held by the Fund or the issuers of such securities. Fund shareholders may incur increased costs resulting from such
legislation or additional regulation. There can be no assurance that future legislation, regulation or deregulation will not have a material
adverse effect on the Fund or will not impair the ability of the Fund to achieve its investment objective.
On
October 28, 2020, the SEC adopted Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act providing for the regulation of the use of derivatives and certain related
instruments by registered investment companies. Rule 18f-4 prescribes specific value-at-risk leverage limits for certain derivatives
users. In addition, Rule 18f-4 requires certain derivatives users to adopt and implement a derivatives risk management program (including
the appointment of a derivatives risk manager and the implementation of certain testing requirements) and prescribes reporting requirements
in respect of derivatives. Subject to certain conditions, if a fund qualifies as a “limited derivatives user,” as defined
in Rule 18f-4, it is not subject to the full requirements of Rule 18f-4. In connection with the adoption of Rule 18f-4, the SEC rescinded
certain of its prior guidance regarding asset segregation and coverage requirements in respect of derivatives transactions and related
instruments. The Fund was required to comply with Rule 18f-4 beginning August 19, 2022 and has adopted procedures for investing in derivatives
and other transactions in compliance with Rule 18f-4.
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RiverNorth Flexible Municipal Income Fund, Inc.
Summary of Updated Information Regarding the Fund |
June 30, 2022 (Unaudited) |
Defensive
Measures. The Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments as a defensive measure
in response to adverse market conditions or opportunistically at the discretion of the Adviser or Subadviser. During these periods, the
Fund may not be pursuing its investment objectives.
Structural
Risks:
Market
Discount. Common stock of CEFs frequently trades at a discount from its net asset value. This risk may be greater for investors selling
their shares in a relatively short period of time after completion of the initial offering. The Fund’s common shares may trade
at a price that is less than the initial offering price. This risk would also apply to the Fund’s investments in CEFs.
Limited
Term and Eligible Tender Offer Risk. The Fund is scheduled to terminate on or around March
26, 2035 (the “Termination Date”) unless it is converted to a perpetual fund,
as described below. The Fund’s investment objectives and policies are not designed to
seek to return to investors their initial investment and such investors and investors that
purchase shares of the Fund may receive more or less than their original investment.
The
Board may, but is not required to, cause the Fund to conduct a tender offer to all common shareholders at a price equal to the NAV (an
“Eligible Tender Offer”). If the Fund conducts an Eligible Tender Offer, there can be no assurance that the Fund’s
net assets would not fall below $100 million (the “Termination Threshold”), in which case the Eligible Tender Offer will
be terminated, and the Fund will terminate on or before the Termination Date (subject to possible extensions). If the Fund’s net
assets are equal or greater than the Termination Threshold, the Fund will have a perpetual existence upon the affirmative vote of a majority
of the Board, without shareholder approval.
An
Eligible Tender Offer or liquidation may require the Fund to sell securities when it otherwise would not, or at reduced prices, leading
to losses for the Fund and increased transaction expenses. Thereafter, remaining shareholders may only be able to sell their shares at
a discount to NAV. The Adviser may have a conflict of interest in recommending that the Fund have a perpetual existence.
The
potential required sale of portfolio securities, purchase of tendered shares in an Eligible Tender Offer, and/or potential liquidation
of the Fund may also have adverse tax consequences for the Fund and shareholders. In addition, the completion of an Eligible Tender
Offer may cause disruptions and changes in the Fund’s investment portfolio, increase the proportional burden of the Fund’s
expenses on the remaining shareholders, and adversely impact the secondary market trading of such shares.
Investment
Style Risk. The Fund is managed by allocating the Fund’s assets to two different strategies, which cause the Fund to underperform
funds that do not limit their investments to these two strategies during periods when these strategies underperform other types of investments.
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RiverNorth Flexible Municipal Income Fund, Inc.
Summary of Updated Information Regarding the Fund |
June 30, 2022 (Unaudited) |
Multi-Manager
Risk. The Adviser and the Subadviser’s investment styles may not always be complementary, which could adversely affect the
performance of the Fund. The Adviser and the Subadviser may, at any time, take positions that in effect may be opposite of positions
taken by each other, incurring brokerage and other transaction costs without accomplishing any net investment results. The multi-manager
approach could increase the Fund’s portfolio turnover rates, which may result in higher trading costs and tax consequences associated
with portfolio turnover that may adversely affect the Fund’s performance. Further, if the Subadviser is not retained, Fund performance
will become dependent on the Adviser or a new subadviser successfully implementing the municipal bond income strategy, which might have
adverse effect on an investment in the Fund.
Asset
Allocation Risk. To the extent that the Adviser’s asset allocation between the Fund’s principal investment strategies
may fail to produce the intended result, the Fund’s return may suffer. Additionally, the potentially active asset allocation style
of the Fund may lead to changing allocations over time and represent a risk to investors who target fixed asset allocations.
Leverage
Risks. Leverage is a speculative technique that exposes the Fund to greater risk and increased costs than if it were not implemented.
Increases and decreases in the value of the Fund’s portfolio will be magnified when the Fund uses leverage. As a result, leverage
may cause greater changes in the Fund’s net asset value. The leverage costs may be greater than the Fund’s return on the
underlying investments made from the proceeds of leverage. The Fund’s leveraging strategy may not be successful. Leverage risk
would also apply to the Fund’s investments in Underlying Funds to the extent an Underlying Fund uses leverage. To the extent the
Fund uses leverage and invests in Underlying Funds that also use leverage, the risks associated with leverage will be magnified, potentially
significantly.
Portfolio
Turnover Risk. The Fund’s annual portfolio turnover rate may vary greatly from year to year. High portfolio turnover may result
in the realization of net short-term capital gains by the Fund which, when distributed to shareholders, will be taxable as ordinary income.
In addition, a higher portfolio turnover rate results in correspondingly greater brokerage commissions and other transactional expenses
that are borne by the Fund. Portfolio turnover rate is not considered a limiting factor in the execution of investment decisions for
the Fund.
Potential
Conflicts of Interest Risk. The Adviser and the Subadviser each manages and/or advises other investment funds or accounts with the
same or similar investment objectives and strategies as the Fund, and, as a result may face conflict of interests regarding the implementation
of the Fund’s strategy and allocation between funds and accounts. This may limit the Fund’s ability to take full advantage
of the investment opportunity or affect the market price of the investment. Each party may also have incentives to favor one account
over another due to different fees paid to such accounts. While each party has adopted policies and procedures that address these potential
conflicts of interest, there is no guarantee that the policies will be successful in mitigating the conflicts of interest that arise.
In addition, the Fund’s use of leverage will increase the amount of the fees paid to the Adviser and Subadviser, creating a financial
incentive for the Adviser to leverage the Fund.
Stockholder
Activism. The Fund may in the future become the target of stockholder activism. Stockholder activism could result in substantial
costs and divert management’s and the Board’s attention and resources from its business. Also, the Fund may be required to
incur significant legal and other expenses related to any activist stockholder matters. Further, the Fund’s stock price could be
subject to significant fluctuation or otherwise be adversely affected by the events, risks and uncertainties of any stockholder activism.
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RiverNorth Flexible Municipal Income Fund, Inc.
Summary of Updated Information Regarding the Fund |
June 30, 2022 (Unaudited) |
Cybersecurity
Risk. A cybersecurity breach may disrupt the business operations of the Fund or its service providers. A breach may allow an unauthorized
party to gain access to Fund assets, customer data, or proprietary information, or cause the Fund and/or its service providers to suffer
data corruption or lose operational functionality.
Anti-Takeover
Provisions. Maryland law and the Fund’s charter and bylaws include provisions that could limit the ability of other entities
or persons to acquire control of the Fund or to convert the Fund to open-end status, including the adoption of a staggered Board of Directors
and the supermajority voting requirements. These provisions could deprive the common shareholders of opportunities to sell their common
shares at a premium over the then current market price of the common shares or at NAV.
Risks
Associated with Additional Offerings. There are risks associated with offerings of additional common or preferred shares of the Fund.
The voting power of current shareholders will be diluted to the extent that current shareholders do not purchase shares in any future
offerings of shares or do not purchase sufficient shares to maintain their percentage interest. In addition, the sale of shares in an
offering may have an adverse effect on prices in the secondary market for the Fund’s shares by increasing the number of shares
available, which may put downward pressure on the market price of the Fund’s Shares. These sales also might make it more difficult
for the Fund to sell additional equity securities in the future at a time and price the Fund deems appropriate.
In
the event any additional series of fixed rate preferred shares are issued and such shares
are intended to be listed on an exchange, prior application will have been made to list such
shares. During an initial period, which is not expected to exceed 30 days after the date
of its initial issuance, such shares may not be listed on any securities exchange. During
such period, the underwriters may make a market in such shares, although they will have no
obligation to do so. Consequently, an investment in such shares may be illiquid during such
period. Fixed rate preferred shares may trade at a premium to or discount from liquidation
value.
There
are risks associated with an offering of Rights (in addition to the risks discussed herein related to the offering of shares and preferred
shares). Shareholders who do not exercise their rights may, at the completion of such an offering, own a smaller proportional interest
in the Fund than if they exercised their 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. In addition to the
economic dilution described above, if a shareholder does not exercise all of their Rights, the shareholder will incur voting dilution
as a result of the Rights offering. This voting dilution will occur because the shareholder will own a smaller proportionate interest
in the Fund after the rights offering than prior to the Rights offering.
There
is a risk that changes in market conditions may result in the underlying common shares or preferred shares purchasable upon exercise
of Rights being less attractive to investors at the conclusion of the subscription period. This may reduce or eliminate the value
of the Rights. If investors exercise only a portion of the rights, the number of shares issued may be reduced, and the shares may
trade at less favorable prices than larger offerings for similar securities. Rights issued by the Fund may be transferable or non-transferable
rights.
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RiverNorth Flexible Municipal Income Fund, Inc.
Summary of Updated Information Regarding the Fund |
June 30, 2022 (Unaudited) |
Secondary Market for the
Common Shares. The issuance of shares of the Fund through the Fund’s Plan may have an adverse effect on the secondary
market for the Fund’s shares. The increase in the number of outstanding shares resulting from the issuances pursuant to the
Plan and the discount to the market price at which such shares may be issued, may put downward pressure on the market price for
the Common Shares. When the shares are trading at a premium, the Fund may also issue shares that may be sold through private transactions
effected on the NYSE or through broker-dealers.
Portfolio Manager Information
There have been no changes
in the Fund’s portfolio managers or background since the prior disclosure date.
Fund Organizational Structure
Since the prior disclosure date,
there have been no changes in the Fund’s charter or bylaws that would delay or prevent a change of control of the Fund that
have not been approved by shareholders.
Annual Report | June 30, 2022 |
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RiverNorth Flexible Municipal Income Fund, Inc.