UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

 Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-CSR

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED

MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

811-23067

 (Investment Company Act File Number)

RiverNorth Specialty Finance Corporation

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

433 W. Van Buren Street, 1150-E

 Chicago, IL 60607

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

Marcus L. Collins, Esq.

 RiverNorth Capital Management, LLC

433 W. Van Buren Street, 1150-E

 Chicago, IL 60607

 (Name and Address of Agent for Service)

(312) 832-1440

 (Registrant’s Telephone Number)

Date of Fiscal Year End: June 30

Date of Reporting Period: December 31, 2021

RiverNorth Specialty Finance Corporation

Table of Contents

RiverNorth Specialty Finance Corporation  

WHAT IS THE FUND’S INVESTMENT STRATEGY?

The investment objective of the RiverNorth Specialty Finance Corporation (“the Fund”) is to seek a high level of current income. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in credit instruments, including a portfolio of securities of specialty finance and other Financial companies that the Fund's investment adviser, RiverNorth Capital Management (the "Adviser"), LLC believes offer attractive opportunities for income. The Fund may invest in income-producing securities of any maturity and credit quality, including below investment grade, and equity securities, including exchange traded funds and registered closed-end funds.

HOW DID THE FUND PERFORM RELATIVE TO ITS BENCHMARK DURING THE PERIOD?

PERFORMANCE as of December 31, 2021

Effective as of May 22, 2020, the Fund changed its investment strategy from, under normal market conditions, investing at least 80% of its Managed Assets in marketplace lending investments to, under normal market conditions, investing directly or indirectly in credit instruments, including a portfolio of securities of specialty finance and other financial companies that the Fund's Adviser believes offer attractive opportunities for income.

The total annual expense ratio as a percentage of net assets attributable to common shares for the year ended December 31, 2021 was 3.06% (excluding interest expense on loan payable and dividends to redeemable preferred stock). Including interest expense on loan payable and dividends to redeemable preferred stock, the expense ratio was 7.44% for the six months ended December 31, 2021.

Performance data quoted represents past performance, which is not a guarantee of future results. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance quoted. The principal value and investment return of an investment will fluctuate so that your shares may be worth more or less than their original cost. You can obtain performance data current to the most recent month end by calling 844.569.4750. Total return measures net investment income and capital gain or loss from portfolio investments. All performance shown assumes reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions but does not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the sale of Fund shares. Other fees and expenses are applicable to an investment in this Fund.

RiverNorth Specialty Finance Corporation  

GROWTH OF A HYPOTHETICAL $1,000,000 INVESTMENT

The graph below illustrates the growth of a hypothetical $1,000,000 investment assuming the purchase of common shares at the NAV of $25.00 on September 22, 2016 (commencement of operations) and tracking its progress through December 31, 2021.

Past performance does not guarantee future results. Performance will fluctuate with changes in market conditions. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data shown. Performance information does not reflect the deduction of taxes that shareholders would pay on Fund distributions or the sale of Fund shares. An investment in the Fund involves risk, including loss of principal.

TOP TEN HOLDINGS* as of December 31, 2021

ASSET ALLOCATION as of December 31, 2021^

Percentages are based on total investments of the Fund and do not include derivatives.

RiverNorth Specialty Finance Corporation  

See Notes to Financial Statements.

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Statements of Changes in Net Assets

See Notes to Financial Statements. 

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See Notes to Financial Statements.

1. ORGANIZATION

RiverNorth Specialty Finance Corporation (the “Fund”) (formerly known as RiverNorth Marketplace Lending Corporation) was organized as a Maryland corporation on June 9, 2015, and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as a diversified closed-end management investment company. The investment adviser to the Fund is RiverNorth Capital Management, LLC (the “Adviser”).

The Fund is operated as an interval fund under Rule 23c-3 of the 1940 Act. As an interval fund, the Fund has adopted a fundamental policy to conduct quarterly repurchase offers for at least 5% and up to 25% of the outstanding shares at net asset value (“NAV”), subject to certain conditions. The Fund will not otherwise be required to repurchase or redeem shares at the option of a shareholder. It is possible that a repurchase offer may be oversubscribed, in which case shareholders may only have a portion of their shares repurchased.

Effective as of June 12, 2019, the Fund listed its common shares on the NYSE under the ticker symbol “RSF” and has ceased continuously offering shares of its common stock through Quasar Distributors, LLC or the Fund.

The investment objective of the Fund is to seek a high level of current income. Under normal market conditions, the Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in credit instruments, including a portfolio of securities of specialty finance and other financial companies that the Adviser believes offer attractive opportunities for income.

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 (“GAAP”). The financial statements are prepared in accordance with 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 Fund is considered an investment company for financial reporting purposes under GAAP and follows the accounting and reporting guidance applicable to investment companies as codified in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 946 – Investment Companies. The financial statements have been prepared as of the close of the NYSE on December 31, 2021.

The Fund invests in closed-end funds, 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 closed end fund than in another, the Fund will have greater exposure to the risks of that closed end fund.

Common Share Valuation: The NAV is generally calculated as of the close of trading on the NYSE (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) every day the NYSE is open. The NAV is calculated by dividing the value of all of the securities and other assets of the Fund, less the liabilities (including accrued expenses and indebtedness), by the total number of common shares outstanding.

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.

Security Valuation: The Fund’s investments are valued at fair value as further described in Note 3.

Distributions to Shareholders: Distributions to shareholders, which are 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 or character 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 has no effect on net assets, results of operations or NAVs per share of the Fund.

Investment Income: Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Interest income is recognized on an accrual basis to the extent that such amounts are expected to be collected and include amortization/ accretion of premiums or discounts. Interest income from investments in residual asset-backed securities is recognized on the basis of the estimated effective yield to expected redemptions utilizing assumed cash flows in accordance with ASC Sub-Topic 325-40, Beneficial Interests in Securitized Financial Assets. The Adviser monitors the expected cash flows from its residual asset-backed securities and the effective yield is determined and updated periodically.

Investment Transactions: Investment transactions are recorded on the trade date.

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.

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 for 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.

Small business loans, as an asset class, are not presently traded on a developed secondary market. Therefore, market quotations are not available. Accordingly, all small business loans are fair valued as determined in good faith by the Adviser pursuant to policies and procedures approved by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) and subject to the Board’s oversight. The Fund's holdings in small business loans are fair valued daily by the Adviser using a discounted cash flow methodology. Discounted cash flow is a valuation technique that provides an estimation of the fair value of an asset based on expectations about cash flows that a small business loan would generate over time. In general, the primary inputs of fair value in the small business loan valuation model are expected future default rates, prepayment rates, and the discount rate applied. An increase (decrease) to the default rate or discount rate would result in a decrease (increase) of fair values and an increase to prepayment rates would result in an increase of fair values. A discounted cash flow model begins with an estimation of periodic cash flows expected to be generated over a discrete period of time (generally the time remaining until maturity of the loan). The estimated cash flows for each interval period (generally monthly) are then converted to their present value equivalent using a rate of return appropriate for the risk of achieving projected cash flows. Although not exhaustive, discounted cash flow models factor in borrower level data. Loans made to small businesses may incorporate different factors.

The Board will initially and periodically review the methodology used in determining the values of small business loans. The Board will further consider how changes in the markets may affect the factors utilized in the models and the frequency of reevaluation.

The value of asset-backed securities is determined by the forecasted performance of the underlying loans in the pool; this forecasted performance takes into account the realized historical loss and prepayment performance of the pool to date. The priority of the securitization class and the claim on cash flow in the transaction is also taken into account. The classes of asset-backed securities the Fund holds are residual classes, which would be adversely effected by deterioration in credit performance of the loan pool.

Equity securities, including closed-end funds, special purpose acquisition companies, business development companies and business development company notes, are generally valued by using market quotations, but may be valued on the basis of prices furnished by a pricing service when the 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 mean price. Securities traded in the NASDAQ over-the-counter market are generally valued by the pricing service at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price.

The following is a summary of the inputs used at December 31, 2021 in valuing the Fund’s assets and liabilities:

The changes of the fair value of investments for which the Fund has used Level 3 inputs to determine the fair value are as follows:

The table below provides additional information about the Level 3 Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2021:

Quantitative Information about Level 3 Fair Value Measurements

4. ADVISORY FEES, DIRECTOR FEES AND OTHER AGREEMENTS

For its services under the Investment Advisory Agreement (“Advisory Agreement”), the Fund pays the Adviser a monthly management fee computed at the annual rate of 1.25% of the average monthly Managed Assets “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). In addition to the monthly advisory fee, the Fund pays all other costs and expenses of its operations, including, but not limited to, compensation of its directors (other than those affiliated with the Adviser), custodial expenses, transfer agency and dividend disbursing expenses, legal fees, expenses of independent auditors, expenses of repurchasing shares, expenses of any leverage, expenses of preparing, printing and distributing prospectuses, shareholder reports, notices, proxy statements and reports to governmental agencies, and taxes, if any. In addition, the Adviser has agreed to waive or reimburse expenses of the Fund (other than brokerage fees and commissions; loan servicing fees; borrowing costs such as (i) interest and (ii) dividends on securities sold short; taxes; indirect expenses incurred by the underlying funds in which the Fund may invest; the cost of leverage; and extraordinary expenses) to the extent necessary to limit the Fund’s total annual operating expenses at 1.95% of the average daily Managed Assets for that period through October 28, 2022. The Adviser may recover from the Fund expenses reimbursed for three years after the date of the payment or waiver if the Fund’s operating expenses, including the recovered expenses, falls below the expense cap. For the period ended December 31, 2021, the Adviser recouped $60,308 of previously reimbursed expenses. These amounts represent expenses previously waived due to the expense cap. In future periods, the Adviser may recoup fees as follows:

ALPS Fund Services, Inc. (“ALPS”) provides the Fund with fund administration and fund accounting services. As compensation for its services to the Fund, ALPS receives an annual fee based on the Fund’s average daily net assets, subject to certain minimums.

State Street Bank & Trust, Co. and Millennium Trust Company serve as the Fund's custodians.

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 Fund pays no salaries or compensation to its officers or to any interested Director employed by the Adviser, and the Fund has no employees. For their services, the Directors of the Fund who are not employed by the 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 employed by the Adviser are also reimbursed for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses relating to attendance at meetings of the Board.

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.

5. CREDIT AGREEMENT

On November 11, 2020, the Fund entered into a prime brokerage 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 bears interest at the overnight bank funding rate plus 75 basis points for an overnight time.

During the six months ended December 31, 2021, the Fund’s average borrowings and interest rate under the Credit Agreement were $7,224,324 and 0.97%, respectively. At December 31, 2021, borrowings outstanding was $2,500,000 at an interest rate of 0.97%.

6. TAX BASIS INFORMATION 

It is the Fund’s policy to meet the requirements of the IRC applicable to regulated investment companies, and to distribute all of its taxable net income to its shareholders. In addition, the Fund intends to pay distributions as required to avoid imposition of excise tax. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required.

Tax Basis of Distributions to Shareholders: The character of distributions made during the period 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 amounts and characteristics of tax basis of distributions and composition of distributable earnings/(accumulated losses) are finalized at fiscal year-end and are not available for the six months ended December 31, 2021.

The tax character of the distributions paid by the Fund during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021, was as follows:

Unrealized Appreciation an./d Depreciation on Investments: As of December 31, 2021, net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) of investments based on federal tax costs was as follows:

The difference between book and tax basis unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) for the Fund is primarily attributable to wash sales and preferred securities.

The Fund recognizes the tax benefits of uncertain tax positions only where the position is “more likely than not” to be sustained assuming examination by tax authorities. Management has analyzed the Fund’s tax positions, and has concluded that no liability for unrecognized tax benefits should be recorded related to uncertain tax positions taken on U.S. tax returns and state tax returns filed since inception of the Fund. No income tax returns are currently under examination. All tax years since commencement of operations remain subject to examination by the tax authorities in the United States. The Fund is not aware of any tax positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will change materially in the next 12 months.

7. INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS

Investment transactions for the six months ended December 31, 2021, excluding short-term investments, were as follows:

8. REDEEMABLE PREFERRED STOCK

At December 31, 2021, the Fund had issued and outstanding 1,656,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock, listed under trading symbol RMPL on the NYSE, with a par value of $0.0001 per share and a liquidation preference of $25.00 per share plus accrued and unpaid dividends (whether or not declared). The Fund issued 1,440,000 and 216,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock on October 25, 2017 and October 30, 2017, respectively. The Series A Preferred Stock is entitled to a dividend at a rate of 5.875% per year based on the $25.00 liquidation preference before the common stock is entitled to receive any dividends. The Series A Preferred Stock is redeemable at $25.00 per share plus accrued and unpaid dividends (whether or not declared) exclusively at the Fund’s option commencing on October 31, 2020. Issuance costs related to Series A Preferred Stock of $1,558,000 are deferred and amortized over the period the Series A Preferred Stock is outstanding.

9. 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.

10. REPURCHASE OFFERS

Shares repurchased through quarterly tender offers during the period from July 1, 2020 through December 31, 2021 were as follows:

For information regarding the repurchase offer with a repurchase offer date of December 6, 2021, see Note 13.

11. CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS 

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 are becoming 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

On December 6, 2021, the Fund issued a repurchase offer. On January 6, 2022, 205,523 shares were repurchased based on a NAV per share of $19.92 at January 5, 2022.

On February 9, 2022, the Board declared a Series A preferred stock dividend in the amount of $0.36719 per share, payable on February 15, 2022 to preferred shareholders of record on February 2, 2022 with an ex date of February 1, 2022.

The Fund has performed an evaluation of subsequent events through the date the financial statements were issued and has determined that no additional items require recognition or disclosure.