N-CSR 1 d24270dncsr.htm FORM N-CSR Form N-CSR

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM N-CSR

 

 

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED

MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Investment Company Act file number: 811-04980

 

 

TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

 

865 South Figueroa Street, Suite 1800, Los Angeles, CA 90017

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

 

Patrick W. Dennis, Esq.

Vice President and Assistant Secretary

865 South Figueroa Street, Suite 1800

Los Angeles, CA 90017

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (213) 244-0000

Date of fiscal year end: December 31

Date of reporting period: December 31, 2020

 

 

 


Item 1.

Reports to Stockholders.

 

(a)

The following is a copy of the report transmitted to shareholders pursuant to Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”):


LOGO

 

LOGO

 

TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

Paper copies of the Fund’s annual and semi-annual shareholder reports will no longer be sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports. Instead, the reports will be made available on the Fund’s website (www.tcw.com), and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website link to access the report.

 

You may elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge. You can call 1-800-FUND-TCW (1-800-386-3829), if you invest directly with the Fund, or contact your financial intermediary, if you invest though a financial intermediary, to inform the Fund or the financial intermediary that you wish to continue receiving paper copies of your shareholder reports. Your election to receive reports in paper will apply to all funds held directly with TCW or through your financial intermediary.


 

To Our Valued Shareholders

   

LOGO

  

David Lippman

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

 

 

To the shareholders of the TCW Strategic Income Fund:

 

TCW is pleased to present the 2020 annual report for the TCW Strategic Income Fund (“TSI” or the “Fund”). TSI is a multi-asset class closed-end fund managed by TCW Investment Management Company and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker TSI. For 2020, shares of TSI increased by 3.75% while the Fund’s net asset value (i.e., returns of the underlying assets) grew by 7.25%. For reference, TSI’s customized benchmark, a construct that is 25% high yield, 15% equities, 15% convertible bonds, and 45% U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, gained 14.60% in 2020. Both the underlying assets and the Fund’s one-year price-based return trailed the benchmark, with the price-based return trailing the NAV-based return as the share price moved from a premium over NAV of 0.7% at the start of the year to a discount of 2.7% by the end of 2020. Since inception and 10 Year annualized NAV-based and price-based returns both remain ahead of the Fund’s benchmark.

 

Over the past four quarters, the Fund paid quarterly dividends of 3.82, 6.50, 9.06, and 8.13 cents per share. This represents an annualized rate of approximately 28 cents per share, contributing to a realized 12-month trailing yield of 4.8%, as of 12/31/2020. The fourth quarter dividend of 3.82 cents represented a decline over previous quarters due to an industry standard accounting adjustment that reflects fluctuations in distributable income based on interest rate movements. The methodology is cyclical and tends to reduce the distributable earnings in periods of declining interest rates. As a result of this accounting adjustment, the fourth quarter dividend was reduced by approximately 5.9 cents.

 

Fund Performance

 

            Annualized Total Return as of December 31, 2020  
      YTD      1 Year      3 Year      5 Year      10 Year      Since
3/1/06
(2)
     Since
3/5/87
(3)
 

Price-Based Return

     3.75        3.75        5.31        7.68        8.44        9.92        8.19  

NAV-Based Return

     7.25        7.25        5.81        5.83        7.74        8.75        8.39  

Custom Benchmark(1)

     14.60        14.60        9.44        9.15        7.43        6.99        N/A  

 

(1)

Custom Benchmark Index: 15% S&P 500 with Income, 15% Merrill Lynch Convertible Index, 45% Bloomberg Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, 25% Citi High Yield Cash Pay Index.

(2)

The date on which the Fund’s investment objective changed to a multi-asset class fund. Prior to this date, the Fund primarily invested in convertible securities.

(3)

Inception date of the Fund.

 

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Current performance may be lower or higher than that quoted. The market value and net asset value of the Fund’s shares will fluctuate with market conditions. Returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on the Fund’s distributions. You should not draw any conclusions about the Fund’s performance from the amount of the quarterly distribution or from the terms of the Fund’s distribution policy.

 

Management Commentary

 

TCW manages the Fund according to a full cycle discipline. Effectively, this means that our management style opportunistically increases the level of risk taking in the early stages of an asset price/credit cycle. In the latter stages of the cycle, our proclivity is to reduce risk, which naturally also has the tendency to pull down the overall yield of the portfolio.

 

Coming into 2020, the Fund had been defensively oriented for some time in recognition of deteriorating underwriting standards and a buildup of leverage, particularly within the corporate credit space, that indicated markets were in the later stages of the credit cycle. Thus as market volatility picked up dramatically in late March and increased yield premiums across fixed income sectors resulted in attractive entry points, the Fund was positioned to add exposures in high quality sectors that were expected to be resilient or were likely to benefit from Fed activities or support. This was reflected in an increased allocation to high conviction credits, with relative value additions among financials (namely Fed-supported assets such as money center banks), health care, and municipals, as well as idiosyncratic names with improved upside-to-downside outlooks. Additionally, as equity prices swiftly declined in March, the Fund added equities in the banking, energy, and REIT sectors, bringing the allocation to over 10% in a matter of weeks. As markets remediated in subsequent months on an implied Fed backstop and optimism surrounding the rollout of a COVID vaccine, some of these additions were trimmed, including the equity position which ended the year at approximately 5%. Outside of the corporate space, commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) and non-agency mortgage-backed securities (MBS) were reduced early in the year, particularly agency CMBS as yield premiums narrowed, while the allocation to non-agency CMBS grew with incremental additions of IO (interest-only) and single asset, single borrower bonds. Late in the year current (low) coupon agency MBS was added via the TBA (To-Be-Announced) market as increased Fed buying of agency mortgages has enhanced the implied carry of TBAs. Finally, the allocation to asset-backed securities increased in the second half of 2020 with the addition of AAA-rated collateralized loan obligations (CLOs).

 

1


Markets are pricing in a degree of optimism and certainty regarding the path forward that does not appear to reflect the underlying challenges facing the economy. Though the global economy has probably shown more resilience and rebound than expected due to extraordinary policy response, a return to sustained growth likely remains a ways off as uncertainties around the pandemic remain. It is still too early to estimate the long-term effects, though more likely than not, current valuations portend a challenging environment for prospective returns which requires careful evaluation of the shifting environment. Nevertheless, TCW expects economic conditions to trend in the direction of ongoing improvement, but with a degree of volatility and potential setbacks. Volatile episodes are likely to be short-lived with Fed support programs established and ready to be implemented as needed. Strategy direction in this regard necessitates a reduction in risk profile with a relatively short duration profile given the historically low level of rates and likelihood to remain anchored in accommodative central bank policy. Corporate credit is viewed as generally expensive and positioning remains largely defensive, with an emphasis on communications and consumer non-cyclicals, while exposure to vulnerable issuers and industries is minimized. Though market value and contribution to spread duration have been cut in corporate holdings, some areas with elevated spread have been preserved to maintain carry on the limited risk posture, and holdings will continue to be adjusted opportunistically on bouts of volatility if pricing is attractive. Securitized credit remains an area of constructive positioning, with continued value in the legacy non-agency MBS space. New exposures are being sought on attractive valuations in re-securitized non-agency issues as the underlying mortgage loans continue to age. In CMBS, though current holdings continue to focus on top-of-the-capital structure exposures in single asset, single borrower (SASB) AAA-rated issues, opportunities are beginning to present in AA- and A-rated collateral with good loan-to-value (LTV) ratios, i.e., protection, and good spread compensation. A similar strategy applies to CLOs, with possible additions on well-collateralized AA-rated issues offering good yields, while remaining asset-backed securities (ABS) exposure continues to be made up largely of government-guaranteed FFELP student loan collateral. Finally, the continuation of Fed purchases in agency MBS led to the addition of pass-through pools, with implementation via TBAs, which confer the benefit of cheap financing through the dollar-roll market.

 

Portfolio Positioning

 

SECTOR ALLOCATION

 

LOGO

MBS ALLOCATION

 

LOGO

 

 

Asset-backed

Securities (ABS)

Common

Stock (CS)

Corporate

Bonds (CB)

Foreign

Government Bonds (FGB)

Money

Market Investments (MM)

Mortgage-backed

Securities (MBS)

Municipal

Bonds (MUNI)

U.S.

Treasury Securities (UST)

Commercial

Mortgage-Backed Securities (CMBS)

Residential

Mortgage-Backed Securities (RMBS)

 

 

Modest leverage can be utilized by the Fund through a Line of Credit facility ($70 million available). Early year market volatility provided an expanded opportunity set among risk assets and the Fund utilized just over 9% leverage to take advantage of attractive entry points, specifically in the equity space. As equity prices remediated in subsequent months, the Fund began dollar cost averaging out of the position, with proceeds from equity sales used to reduce leverage to 0% by the end of August. The management team stands ready to further utilize the leverage facility when market opportunity is again abundant and management deems the use of leverage as accretive to returns.

 

2


We greatly appreciate your investment in the Fund and your continuing support of TCW. If you have any additional questions or comments, we invite you to visit our web site at www.tcw.com or contact our shareholder services department at 1-866-227-8179, or contact@tcw.com.

 

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

 

David Lippman

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

 

The views expressed in this report reflect those of the Fund’s Advisor as of the date this is written and may not reflect its views on the date this report is first published or anytime thereafter. These views are intended to assist shareholders in understanding the Fund’s investment methodology and do not constitute investment advice. This report may contain discussions about investments that may or may not be held by the Fund as of the date of this report. All current and future holdings are subject to risk and to change. To the extent this report contains forward looking statements, unforeseen circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from the views expressed as of the date this is written.

 

3


TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

Schedule of Investments

 

Issues   Maturity
Date
     Principal
Amount
    Value  

FIXED INCOME SECURITIES — 100.3% of Net Assets

 

ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES — 10.7%  

321 Henderson Receivables LLC (17-1A-A)

 

 

3.99%  (1)

    08/16/60      $ 216,196     $ 252,141  

Aimco CLO, Ltd. (20-11A-A2)

 

 

1.52% (3 mo. USD
LIBOR + 1.300%) 
(1)(2)

    10/15/31          1,000,000       1,001,137  

Allegro CLO XII, Ltd. (20-1A-B)

 

 

1.00%  (1)(3)(4)

    01/21/32        475,000       475,238  

Bayview Commercial Asset Trust (03-2-A)

 

 

1.02% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.870%) 
(1)(2)

    12/25/33        305,052       300,504  

Bayview Commercial Asset Trust (04-1-A)

 

 

0.69% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.540%) 
(1)(2)

    04/25/34        265,500       265,341  

Bayview Commercial Asset Trust (04-2-A)

 

 

0.79% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.645%) 
(1)(2)

    08/25/34        258,306       252,407  

Bayview Commercial Asset Trust (04-3-A1)

 

 

0.70% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.555%) 
(1)(2)

    01/25/35        139,264       136,610  

Brazos Higher Education Authority, Inc. (10-1-A2)

 

 

1.41% (3 mo. USD
LIBOR + 1.200%) 
(2)

    02/25/35        2,200,000       2,228,378  

Cedar Funding CLO, Ltd. (20-12A-A)

 

 

1.49% (3 mo. USD
LIBOR + 1.270%) 
(1)(2)

    10/25/32        1,375,000       1,376,169  

CIT Education Loan Trust (07-1-A)

 

 

0.34% (3 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.090%) 
(1)(2)

    03/25/42        603,062       578,329  

CoreVest American Finance Trust (19-1-XA) (I/O)

 

 

2.16% (1)(4)

    03/15/52        1,862,960       133,680  

CoreVest American Finance Trust (20-1-A2)

 

 

2.30%  (1)

    03/15/50        470,000       477,441  

CoreVest American Finance Trust (20-3-XA) (I/O)

 

 

3.61%  (1)(4)

    08/15/53        2,043,884       321,162  

CoreVest American Finance Trust (20-3-XB) (I/O)

 

 

2.56%  (1)(4)

    08/15/53        1,650,000       280,633  

Dryden CLO, Ltd. (20-85A-A1)

 

 

1.56% (3 mo. USD
LIBOR + 1.350%) 
(1)(2)

    10/15/32        1,375,000       1,377,878  

Education Loan Asset-Backed Trust I (13-1-A2)

 

 

0.95% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.800%) 
(1)(2)

    04/26/32        1,252,883       1,246,036  

EFS Volunteer No 2 LLC (12-1-A2)

 

 

1.50% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 1.350%) 
(1)(2)

    03/25/36        1,215,227       1,228,710  

FORT CRE LLC (18-1A-A1)

 

 

1.50% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 1.350%) 
(1)(2)

    11/16/35        577,000       562,158  
Issues   Maturity
Date
     Principal
Amount
    Value  
ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES (Continued)  

GCO Education Loan Funding Master Trust II (06-2AR-A1RN)

 

 

0.80% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.650%) 
(1)(2)

    08/27/46      $ 2,024,394     $ 1,966,721  

Global SC Finance SRL (14-1A-A2)

 

3.09%  (1)

    07/17/29        155,875       157,652  

Goal Capital Funding Trust (06-1-B)

 

0.66% (3 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.450%) 
(2)

    08/25/42        208,678       193,423  

Magnetite VII, Ltd. (12-7A-A1R2)

 

 

1.04% (3 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.800%) 
(1)(2)

    01/15/28        410,000       407,615  

MF1, Ltd. (20-FL4-C)

 

 

3.76% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 3.600%) 
(1)(2)

    11/15/35          1,150,000       1,157,502  

Nelnet Student Loan Trust (14-4A-A2)

 

 

1.10% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.950%) 
(1)(2)

    11/25/48        575,000       576,641  

North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (11-1-A3)

 

 

1.11% (3 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.900%) 
(2)

    10/25/41        1,500,426       1,507,583  

OHA Credit Funding, Ltd. (20-7A-A)

 

 

1.47% (3 mo. USD
LIBOR + 1.250%) 
(1)(2)

    10/19/32        1,400,000       1,401,507  

Palmer Square CLO, Ltd. (18-1A-A1)

 

 

1.25% (3 mo. USD
LIBOR + 1.030%) 
(1)(2)

    04/18/31        600,000       597,455  

Palmer Square Loan Funding Ltd. (20-2A-A2)

 

 

1.77% (3 mo. USD
LIBOR + 1.550%) 
(1)(2)

    04/20/28        350,000       350,174  

Park Avenue Institutional Advisers CLO, Ltd. (21-1A-A2)

 

0.00% (3 mo. USD
LIBOR + 1.750%) 
(1)(2)(3)

    01/20/34        420,000       420,210  

Rockford Tower CLO, Ltd. (20-1A-D)

 

4.001% (3 mo. USD
LIBOR + 3.750%) 
(1)(2)

    01/20/32        900,000       900,432  

Scholar Funding Trust (12-B-A2)

 

1.25% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 1.100%) 
(1)(2)

    03/28/46        656,972       661,838  

SLC Student Loan Trust (04-1-B)

 

0.51% (3 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.290%) 
(2)

    08/15/31        278,473       250,782  

SLC Student Loan Trust (06-1-B)

 

0.43% (3 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.210%) 
(2)

    03/15/55        374,621       333,302  

SLM Student Loan Trust (04-2-B)

 

0.68% (3 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.470%) 
(2)

    07/25/39        317,819       294,550  

SLM Student Loan Trust (05-9-B)

 

0.51% (3 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.300%) 
(2)

    01/25/41        383,502       350,835  
 

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

4


TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

Schedule of Investments (Continued)

December 31, 2020

 

Issues   Maturity
Date
     Principal
Amount
    Value  
ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES (Continued)  

SLM Student Loan Trust (07-6-B)

 

1.06% (3 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.850%) 
(2)

    04/27/43      $ 126,205     $ 116,821  

SLM Student Loan Trust (07-7-B)

 

0.96% (3 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.750%) 
(2)

    10/27/70        150,000       131,553  

SLM Student Loan Trust (08-2-B)

 

1.41% (3 mo. USD
LIBOR + 1.200%) 
(2)

    01/25/83        225,000       205,412  

SLM Student Loan Trust (08-3-B)

 

1.41% (3 mo. USD
LIBOR + 1.200%) 
(2)

    04/26/83        225,000       207,066  

SLM Student Loan Trust (08-4-B)

 

2.06% (3 mo. USD
LIBOR + 1.850%) 
(2)

    04/25/73        515,000       496,183  

SLM Student Loan Trust (08-5-B)

 

2.06% (3 mo. USD
LIBOR + 1.850%) 
(2)

    07/25/73        260,000       256,221  

SLM Student Loan Trust (08-6-B)

 

2.06% (3 mo. USD
LIBOR + 1.850%) 
(2)

    07/26/83        225,000       215,503  

SLM Student Loan Trust (08-7-B)

 

2.06% (3 mo. USD
LIBOR + 1.850%) 
(2)

    07/26/83        305,000       296,155  

SLM Student Loan Trust (08-8-B)

 

2.46% (3 mo. USD
LIBOR + 2.250%) 
(2)

    10/25/75        260,000       260,297  

SLM Student Loan Trust (08-9-B)

 

2.46% (3 mo. USD LIBOR + 2.250%) (2)

    10/25/83        260,000       257,987  

Store Master Funding I-VII (19-1-A2)

 

3.65%  (1)

    11/20/49        503,517       519,449  

Structured Receivables Finance LLC (10-A-B)

 

7.61%  (1)

    01/16/46        557,299       639,288  

Structured Receivables Finance LLC (10-B-B)

 

7.97%  (1)

    08/15/36        341,056       423,877  

Student Loan Consolidation Center (02-2-B2)

 

1.65% (28-day Auction Rate) (1)(2)

    07/01/42          1,250,000       1,153,050  

TCI-Flatiron CLO, Ltd. (16-1A-BR2)

 

1.84% (3 mo. USD LIBOR + 1.600%) (1)(2)(3)

    01/17/32        280,000       280,140  

Voya CLO, Ltd. (14-3A-A1R)

 

0.93% (3 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.720%) 
(1)(2)

    07/25/26        333,868       333,334  
      

 

 

 

Total Asset-backed Securities

 

    

(Cost: $29,090,747)

 

       29,814,510  
      

 

 

 

MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES 58.5%

 

Commercial Mortgage-backed Securities — Agency — 3.9%  

BMO SBA COOF Trust (19-1-A) (I/O)

 

 

1.47%  (1)(4)

    10/25/45        9,018,455       551,803  
Issues   Maturity
Date
     Principal
Amount
    Value  
Commercial Mortgage-backed Securities — Agency (Continued)  

COOF Securitization Trust II (15-2-A1) (I/O)

 

2.38%  (1)(4)

    08/25/41      $ 5,553,489     $ 388,158  

Fannie Mae, Pool #464398

 

5.97%

    01/01/40        558,606       677,572  

Fannie Mae, Pool #464400

 

5.97%

    01/01/40        423,186       513,313  

Fannie Mae, Pool #AN3542

 

3.41%

    11/01/46        1,134,017       1,302,780  

Fannie Mae (11-M5-A2) (ACES)(I/O)

 

1.07%  (4)

    07/25/21        1,941,643       7,176  

Fannie Mae (16-M11-X2) (I/O)

 

2.75%  (4)

    07/25/39        2,098,209       78,782  

Fannie Mae (19-M29-X4) (I/O)

 

0.70%  (4)

    03/25/29        7,900,000       348,280  

Fannie Mae (20-M10-X1) (I/O)

 

1.80%  (4)

    12/25/30        1,373,815       184,087  

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates (K023-X3) (I/O)

 

 

1.69%  (4)

    10/25/40        12,555,000       333,101  

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates (K032-X3) (I/O)

 

 

1.66%  (4)

    10/25/41        4,020,000       159,704  

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates (K039-X3) (I/O)

 

 

2.11%  (4)

    08/25/42        3,110,000       222,681  

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates (K057-X1) (I/O)

 

 

1.18%  (4)

    07/25/26        5,300,891       297,040  

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates (K722-X1) (I/O)

 

 

1.31%  (4)

    03/25/23        16,617,806       355,327  

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates (K735-X3) (I/O)

 

 

2.15%  (4)

    05/25/47        3,750,000       382,344  

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structured Pass Through Certificates (Q013-XPT2) (I/O)

 

 

1.81%

    05/25/27        4,194,252       178,373  

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structured Pass-Through Certificates (19-P002-X) (I/O)

 

 

1.01%  (4)

    07/25/33        1,295,000       147,092  

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structured Pass-Through Certificates (K015-X3) (I/O)

 

 

2.81%  (4)

    08/25/39        4,000,000       61,518  

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structured Pass-Through Certificates (K021-X3) (I/O)

 

 

1.97%  (4)

    07/25/40        3,475,000       98,644  

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structured Pass-Through Certificates (K022-X3) (I/O)

 

 

1.81%  (4)

    08/25/40        2,500,000       68,690  

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structured Pass-Through Certificates (K025-X3) (I/O)

 

 

1.75%  (4)

    11/25/40        5,400,000       164,204  
 

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

5


TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

Schedule of Investments (Continued)

 

Issues   Maturity
Date
     Principal
Amount
    Value  
Commercial Mortgage-backed Securities — Agency (Continued)  

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structured Pass-Through Certificates (K027-X3) (I/O)

 

 

1.71%  (4)

    01/25/41      $ 4,095,000     $ 132,095  

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structured Pass-Through Certificates (K031-X1) (I/O)

 

 

0.20%  (4)

    04/25/23        56,630,512       258,776  

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structured Pass-Through Certificates (K031-X3) (I/O)

 

 

1.66%  (4)

    07/25/41        4,500,000       165,472  

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structured Pass-Through Certificates (K034-X1) (I/O)

 

 

0.09%  (4)

    07/25/23        27,056,283       66,926  

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structured Pass-Through Certificates (K040-X3) (I/O)

 

 

2.04%  (4)

    11/25/42        4,875,000       346,526  

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structured Pass-Through Certificates (K049-X3) (I/O)

 

 

1.55%  (4)

    10/25/43        2,330,000       145,170  

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structured Pass-Through Certificates (K060-X3) (I/O)

 

 

1.89%  (4)

    12/25/44        2,500,000       245,416  

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structured Pass-Through Certificates (K726-X1) (I/O)

 

 

0.88%  (4)

    04/25/24        12,873,424       296,293  

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structured Pass-Through Certificates (K728-X3) (I/O)

 

 

1.95%  (4)

    11/25/45        3,455,000       235,823  

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structured Pass-Through Certificates (K732-X3) (I/O)

 

 

2.17%  (4)

    05/25/46        2,400,000       212,752  

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structured Pass-Through Certificates (KC05-X1) (I/O)

 

 

1.20%  (4)

    06/25/27        7,983,946       448,094  

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structured Pass-Through Certificates (KIR1-X) (I/O)

 

 

1.06%  (4)

    03/25/26        8,599,017       405,070  

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structured Pass-Through Certificates (KLU2-X1) (I/O)

 

 

1.03%  (4)

    08/25/29        4,978,217       351,098  

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structured Pass-Through Certificates (KS11-XFX) (I/O)

 

 

1.60%  (4)

    06/25/29        2,290,000       239,103  

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structured Pass-Through Certificates (KW01-X3) (I/O)

 

 

4.06%  (4)

    03/25/29        690,000       121,511  

Freddie Mac Multifamily Structured Pass-Through Certificates (Q010-XPT2) (I/O)

 

 

0.36%

    08/25/24        6,772,925       51,491  

Ginnie Mae (12-139-IO) (I/O)

 

 

0.78%  (4)

    02/16/53        6,334,214       188,128  

Ginnie Mae (13-52-IO) (I/O)

 

 

0.57%  (4)

    02/16/55        10,103,467       111,680  
Issues   Maturity
Date
     Principal
Amount
    Value  
Commercial Mortgage-backed Securities — Agency (Continued)  

Ginnie Mae (09-114-IO) (I/O)

 

 

0.03%  (4)

    10/16/49      $ 5,279,717     $ 712  

Ginnie Mae (10-148-IO) (I/O)

 

 

0.51%  (4)

    09/16/50        7,177,170       61,101  

Ginnie Mae (11-10-IO) (I/O)

 

 

0.00%  (4)

    12/16/45        984,661       875  

Ginnie Mae (11-105-IO) (I/O)

 

 

0.00%  (4)(5)

    09/16/51          5,938,840       6,792  

Ginnie Mae (11-152-IO) (I/O)

 

 

0.15%  (4)

    08/16/51        2,749,602       5,454  

Ginnie Mae (11-42-IO) (I/O)

 

 

0.00%  (4)(5)

    08/16/50        5,526,355       3,707  

Ginnie Mae (12-4-IO) (I/O)

 

 

0.04%  (4)

    05/16/52        7,378,907       15,192  

Ginnie Mae (14-103-IO) (I/O)

 

 

0.33%  (4)

    05/16/55        4,421,549       66,612  

Ginnie Mae (14-125-IO) (I/O)

 

 

0.89%  (4)

    11/16/54        2,920,215       128,849  
      

 

 

 

Total Commercial Mortgage-backed Securities — Agency

 

    

(Cost: $13,921,000)

 

       10,831,387  
      

 

 

 
Commercial Mortgage-backed Securities — Non-Agency — 12.9%  

BAMLL Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust (18-PARK-A)

 

 

4.09%  (1)(4)

    08/10/38        590,000       692,668  

BBCMS Mortgage Trust (17-C1-XA) (I/O)

 

 

1.49%  (4)

    02/15/50        3,913,812       270,446  

BBCMS Mortgage Trust (18-C2-A5)

 

 

4.31%

    12/15/51        430,000       517,509  

BBCMS Mortgage Trust (20-C6-F5TB)

 

 

3.69%  (1)(4)

    02/15/53        250,000       255,094  

BBCMS Trust (15-SRCH-D)

 

 

4.96%  (1)(4)

    08/10/35        150,000       165,969  

Benchmark Mortgage Trust (19-B10-3CCB)

 

 

3.90%  (1)(4)

    03/15/62        435,000       392,700  

Benchmark Mortgage Trust (19-B14-225D)

 

 

3.29%  (1)(4)

    12/15/62        535,000       502,308  

Benchmark Mortgage Trust (20-B17-A5)

 

 

2.29%

    03/15/53        1,040,000       1,104,594  

Benchmark Mortgage Trust (20-IG3-BXC)

 

 

3.65%  (1)(4)

    09/15/48        555,000       557,175  

BF Mortgage Trust (19-NYT-E)

 

 

2.66% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 2.500%) 
(1)(2)

    12/15/35        525,000       512,296  

BX Commercial Mortgage Trust (18-IND-G)

 

 

2.21% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 2.050%) 
(1)(2)

    11/15/35        360,500       359,412  

BX Commercial Mortgage Trust (20-FOX-E)

 

 

3.76% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 3.600%) 
(1)(2)

    11/15/32        910,000       918,531  
 

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

6


TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

Schedule of Investments (Continued)

December 31, 2020

 

Issues   Maturity
Date
     Principal
Amount
    Value  
Commercial Mortgage-backed Securities — Non-Agency (Continued)  

BX Trust (19-OC11-A)

 

 

3.20%  (1)

    12/09/41      $ 265,000     $ 291,939  

CALI Mortgage Trust (19-101C-A)

 

3.96%  (1)

    03/10/39        680,000       798,219  

CALI Mortgage Trust (19-101C-E)

 

 

4.32%  (1)(4)

    03/10/39        315,000       318,275  

Citigroup Commercial Mortgage Trust (12-GC8-XA) (I/O)

 

 

1.75%  (1)(4)(6)

    09/10/45        2,979,996       65,778  

Citigroup Commercial Mortgage Trust (14-GC21-XD) (I/O)

 

 

1.36%  (1)(4)

    05/10/47        5,456,382       197,137  

Citigroup Commercial Mortgage Trust (15-GC35-XA) (I/O)

 

 

0.78%  (4)

    11/10/48        6,824,994       195,484  

Citigroup Commercial Mortgage Trust (19-PRM-X) (I/O)

 

 

1.18%  (1)(4)

    05/10/36        14,000,000       471,787  

COMM Mortgage Trust (12-LC4-XB) (I/O)

 

 

0.54%  (1)(4)

    12/10/44        18,671,016       113,245  

COMM Mortgage Trust (13-CR11-XA) (I/O)

 

 

0.92%  (4)

    08/10/50        9,783,863       214,080  

COMM Mortgage Trust (13-CR12-XA) (I/O)

 

 

1.12%  (4)

    10/10/46        9,319,261       247,862  

COMM Mortgage Trust (13-LC13-XA) (I/O)

 

 

1.11%  (4)

    08/10/46        8,117,002       197,523  

COMM Mortgage Trust (14-CR18-XA) (I/O)

 

 

1.01%  (4)

    07/15/47        6,711,606       192,516  

COMM Mortgage Trust (14-CR21-XA) (I/O)

 

 

0.85%  (4)

    12/10/47        17,342,381       490,378  

COMM Mortgage Trust (18-HCLV-C)

 

 

1.86% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 1.700%) 
(1)(2)

    09/15/33        340,000       320,414  

COMM Mortgage Trust (20-CBM-XCP) (I/O)

 

0.49%  (1)(4)

    02/10/37        6,870,000       127,812  

COMM Mortgage Trust (20-CX-E)

 

 

2.68%  (1)(4)

    11/10/46        370,000       350,810  

CPT Mortgage Trust (19-CPT-A)

 

2.87%  (1)

    11/13/39        1,165,000       1,286,462  

CSAIL Commercial Mortgage Trust (15-C3-B)

 

4.13%  (4)

    08/15/48        525,000       501,161  

CSMC Trust (17-LSTK-A)

 

2.76%  (1)

    04/05/33        1,190,000       1,188,184  

CSMC Trust (17-LSTK-D)

 

3.33%  (1)(4)

    04/05/33        355,000       349,857  

DBGS Mortgage Trust (18-5BP-E)

 

 

2.06% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 1.900%) 
(1)(2)

    06/15/33        685,000       662,756  

DBWF Mortgage Trust (16-85T-A)

 

 

3.79%  (1)

    12/10/36        615,000       697,595  
Issues   Maturity
Date
     Principal
Amount
    Value  
Commercial Mortgage-backed Securities — Non-Agency (Continued)  

DC Office Trust (19-MTC-A)

 

 

2.97%  (1)

    09/15/45      $ 550,000     $ 608,746  

Grace Trust (20-GRCE-A)

 

 

2.35%  (1)

    12/10/40        1,350,000       1,425,516  

Grace Trust (20-GRCE-D)

 

 

2.68%  (1)(4)

    12/10/40        1,249,000       1,239,834  

Grace Trust (20-GRCE-F)

 

2.68%  (1)(4)

    12/10/40        376,000       342,690  

Grace Trust (20-GRCE-X) (I/O)

 

 

0.30%  (1)(4)

    12/10/40        10,620,000       303,897  

GS Mortgage Securities Corp. II (05-ROCK-A)

 

5.37%  (1)

    05/03/32        490,000       573,967  

GS Mortgage Securities Corp. Trust (20-UPTN-XA) (I/O)

 

0.35%  (1)(4)

    02/10/37        3,150,000       42,278  

GS Mortgage Securities Trust (11-GC3-X) (I/O)

 

0.36%  (1)(4)

    03/10/44        5,059,087       9,043  

GS Mortgage Securities Trust (12-GC6-XB) (I/O)

 

0.20%  (1)(4)(6)

    01/10/45        17,397,372       36,764  

GS Mortgage Securities Trust (12-GCJ7-XB) (I/O)

 

 

0.45%  (1)(4)

    05/10/45        34,082,467       167,819  

GS Mortgage Securities Trust (14-GC18-XB) (I/O)

 

 

0.10%  (4)

    01/10/47        66,563,000       320,667  

GS Mortgage Securities Trust (16-GS2-XA) (I/O)

 

 

1.75%  (4)

    05/10/49        4,282,273       322,274  

Hudson Yards Mortgage Trust (19-30HY-A)

 

 

3.23%  (1)

    07/10/39        560,000       636,803  

Hudson Yards Mortgage Trust (19-55HY-A)

 

 

2.94%  (1)(4)

    12/10/41        550,000       616,031  

Hudson Yards Mortgage Trust (19-55HY-F)

 

 

2.94%  (1)(4)

    12/10/41        150,000       139,083  

ILPT Trust (19-SURF-A)

 

 

4.15%  (1)

    02/11/41        240,000       282,484  

JPMBB Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust (14-C24-XA) (I/O)

 

 

0.92%  (4)

    11/15/47        7,986,756       182,666  

JPMBB Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust (14-C21-XA) (I/O)

 

 

1.00%  (4)

    08/15/47        1,880,618       50,317  

JPMBB Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust (14-C23-XA) (I/O)

 

 

0.63%  (4)

    09/15/47        11,019,766       211,448  

JPMBB Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust (15-C29-XD) (I/O)

 

 

0.50%  (1)(4)

    05/15/48        26,458,000       506,590  

JPMCC Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust (17-JP5-XA) (I/O)

 

 

1.01%  (4)

    03/15/50        13,563,558       596,195  

JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust (11-C3-XB) (I/O)

 

 

0.51%  (1)(4)

    02/15/46        53,787,856       696,125  
 

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

7


TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

Schedule of Investments (Continued)

 

Issues   Maturity
Date
     Principal
Amount
    Value  
Commercial Mortgage-backed Securities — Non-Agency (Continued)  

JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust
(12-HSBC-XA) (I/O)

 

 

1.43%  (1)(4)(6)

    07/05/32      $ 4,356,653     $ 77,955  

JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust (12-LC9-XA) (I/O)

 

 

1.49%  (4)

    12/15/47        6,839,290       156,363  

JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust (13-LC11-XA) (I/O)

 

 

1.25%  (4)

    04/15/46        22,394,413       514,855  

JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust (19-OSB-A)

 

 

3.40%  (1)

    06/05/39        585,000       670,718  

JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust (19-OSB-C)

 

 

3.75%  (1)(4)

    06/05/39        150,000       164,813  

Manhattan West (20-1MW-A)

 

 

2.13%  (1)

    09/10/39        695,000       727,772  

MFT Mortgage Trust (20-B6-C)

 

 

3.28%  (1)(4)

    08/10/40        220,000       212,380  

MFT Trust (20-ABC-C)

 

3.48%  (1)(4)

    02/10/42        175,000       173,682  

MFT Trust (20-ABC-D)

 

 

3.48%  (1)(4)

    02/10/42        180,000       169,615  

MKT Mortgage Trust (20-525M-A)

 

2.69%  (1)

    02/12/40        335,000       361,643  

Morgan Stanley Bank of America Merrill Lynch Trust
(15-C22-XA) (I/O)

 

 

1.03%  (4)

    04/15/48        8,894,129       291,760  

Morgan Stanley Bank of America Merrill Lynch Trust (15-C24-XA) (I/O)

 

 

0.72%  (4)

    05/15/48        10,136,465       282,836  

Morgan Stanley Bank of America Merrill Lynch Trust (16-C31-XA) (I/O)

 

 

1.36%  (4)

    11/15/49        7,455,733       424,934  

Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust (12-C4-XA) (I/O)

 

 

2.06%  (1)(4)(6)

    03/15/45        5,267,813       78,970  

Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust (19-L2-A3)

 

 

3.81%

    03/15/52        460,000       534,361  

Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust (19-L2-A4)

 

 

4.07%

    03/15/52        980,000       1,163,413  

Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust (20-CNP-A)

 

 

2.43%  (1)(4)

    04/05/42        650,000       685,537  

One Bryant Park Trust (19-OBP-A)

 

 

2.52%  (1)

    09/15/54        1,295,000       1,391,318  

SFAVE Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust (15-5AVE-A2A)

 

 

3.66%  (1)(4)

    01/05/43        390,000       377,182  

SFAVE Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust (15-5AVE-A2B)

 

 

4.14%  (1)(4)

    01/05/43        65,000       62,455  
Issues   Maturity
Date
     Principal
Amount
    Value  
Commercial Mortgage-backed Securities — Non-Agency (Continued)  

UBS Commercial Mortgage Trust (12-C1-XA) (I/O)

 

 

2.06%  (1)(4)(6)

    05/10/45      $ 5,059,795     $ 82,148  

UBS Commercial Mortgage Trust (17-C5-XA) (I/O)

 

 

1.00%  (4)

    11/15/50        7,238,147       347,841  

UBS-Barclays Commercial Mortgage Trust (12-C3-XA) (I/O)

 

 

2.82%  (1)(4)

    08/10/49        12,800,652       311,254  

UBS-Barclays Commercial Mortgage Trust (13-C5-XA) (I/O)

 

 

0.94%  (1)(4)

    03/10/46        12,574,617       182,871  

Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Trust (12-LC5-XA) (I/O)

 

 

1.74%  (1)(4)

    10/15/45        5,071,708       121,580  

Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage Trust (15-SG1-B)

 

4.46%  (4)

    09/15/48        550,000       502,065  

WFRBS Commercial Mortgage Trust (12-C8-XA) (I/O)

 

 

1.79%  (1)(4)(6)

    08/15/45        4,196,657       79,422  

WFRBS Commercial Mortgage Trust (12-C9-XA) (I/O)

 

 

1.88%  (1)(4)

    11/15/45        2,490,779       64,209  

WFRBS Commercial Mortgage Trust (13-C14-XA) (I/O)

 

 

0.72%  (4)

    06/15/46        8,452,260       108,920  

WFRBS Commercial Mortgage Trust (13-C16-XA) (I/O)

 

 

0.66%  (4)

    09/15/46        12,369,419       188,318  

WFRBS Commercial Mortgage Trust (14-C20-B)

 

 

4.38%

    05/15/47        400,000       404,000  

WFRBS Commercial Mortgage Trust (14-C24-XA) (I/O)

 

 

0.83%  (4)

    11/15/47        5,455,180       124,226  
      

 

 

 

Total Commercial Mortgage-backed Securities — Non-Agency

 

    

(Cost: $39,129,882)

 

    35,878,629  
      

 

 

 
Residential Mortgage-backed Securities — Agency — 10.8%  

Fannie Mae (04-53-QV) (I/O) (I/F)

 

1.59%  (4)

    02/25/34        370,769       2,409  

Fannie Mae (07-42-SE) (I/O) (I/F)

 

5.96% (-1.00 x 1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 6.110%) 
(2)

    05/25/37        71,834       11,594  

Fannie Mae (07-48-SD) (I/O) (I/F)

 

5.95% (-1.00 x 1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 6.100%) 
(2)

    05/25/37        1,279,238       254,346  

Fannie Mae (09-69-CS) (I/O) (I/F)

 

6.60% (-1.00 x 1 mo. USD LIBOR + 6.750%) (2)

    09/25/39        237,047       42,653  

Freddie Mac (1673-SD) (I/F) (PAC)

 

17.52% (-2.15 x T10Y +
19.391%) 
(2)

    02/15/24        40,977       48,125  

Freddie Mac (1760-ZD)

 

 

0.37% (1 x T10Y -
0.500%) 
(2)

    02/15/24        88,480       88,055  

Freddie Mac (2990-JK) (I/F)

 

 

21.37% (-1.00 x 1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 22.004%) 
(2)

    03/15/35        70,500       85,607  
 

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

8


TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

Schedule of Investments (Continued)

December 31, 2020

 

Issues   Maturity
Date
     Principal
Amount
    Value  
Residential Mortgage-backed Securities — Agency (Continued)  

Freddie Mac (3122-SG) (I/O) (I/F) (TAC) (PAC)

 

 

5.47% (-1.00 x 1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 5.630%) 
(2)

    03/15/36      $ 2,009,098     $ 400,121  

Freddie Mac (3239-SI) (I/O) (I/F) (PAC)

 

 

6.49% (-1.00 x 1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 6.650%) 
(2)

    11/15/36        477,195       112,029  

Freddie Mac (3323-SA) (I/O) (I/F)

 

 

5.95% (-1.00 x 1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 6.110%) 
(2)

    05/15/37        94,025       13,008  

Freddie Mac (3459-JS) (I/O) (I/F)

 

 

6.09% (-1.00 x 1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 6.250%) 
(2)

    06/15/38        158,001       34,770  

Freddie Mac (4030-HS) (I/O) (I/F)

 

 

6.45% (-1.00 x 1 mo. USD LIBOR + 6.610%) (2)

    04/15/42        967,397       199,024  

Ginnie Mae (06-35-SA) (I/O) (I/F)

 

 

6.45% (-1.00 x 1 mo. USD LIBOR + 6.600%) (2)

    07/20/36        1,316,794       314,617  

Ginnie Mae (06-61-SA) (I/O) (I/F) (TAC)

 

 

4.60% (-1.00 x 1 mo. USD LIBOR + 4.750%) (2)

    11/20/36        2,223,220       301,646  

Ginnie Mae (08-58-TS) (I/O) (I/F) (TAC)

 

 

6.25% (-1.00 x 1 mo. USD LIBOR + 6.400%) (2)

    05/20/38        1,035,483       108,217  

Ginnie Mae (16-153-IO) (I/O)

 

 

3.50%

    11/20/46          2,744,710       346,877  

Uniform Mortgage-Backed Securities TBA, 30 Year

 

 

2.00%  (7)

    01/14/51        9,375,000       9,742,676  

2.00%  (7)

    02/12/51        6,850,000       7,107,678  

2.50%  (7)

    01/14/51        3,150,000       3,320,789  

2.50%  (7)

    02/12/51        7,350,000       7,736,162  
      

 

 

 

Total Residential Mortgage-backed Securities — Agency

 

    

(Cost: $29,139,508)

 

       30,270,403  
      

 

 

 
Residential Mortgage-backed Securities — Non-Agency — 30.9%  

ACE Securities Corp. (04-IN1-A1)

 

 

0.79% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.640%) 
(2)

    05/25/34        446,772       413,127  

ACE Securities Corp. (07-ASP1-A2C)

 

 

0.41% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.260%) 
(2)

    03/25/37        1,413,716       837,943  

Adjustable Rate Mortgage Trust (05-4-6A22)

 

 

3.16%  (4)(8)

    08/25/35        517,154       279,281  

Adjustable Rate Mortgage Trust (06-1-2A1)

 

 

3.64%  (4)(8)

    03/25/36        408,823       292,792  

Ajax Mortgage Loan Trust (19-F-A2)

 

 

3.50%  (1)

    07/25/59        1,300,000       1,345,987  

Asset-Backed Funding Certificates (07-NC1-A2)

 

 

0.45% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.300%) 
(1)(2)

    05/25/37        1,229,355       1,182,171  
Issues   Maturity
Date
     Principal
Amount
    Value  
Residential Mortgage-backed Securities — Non-Agency (Continued)  

Asset-Backed Securities Corp. Home Equity (06-HE3-A5)

 

 

0.42% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.270%) 
(2)

    03/25/36      $ 1,425,000     $ 1,392,148  

Asset-Backed Securities Corp. Home Equity (07-HE1-A1B)

 

 

0.30% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.150%) 
(2)(8)

    12/25/36        529,060       509,101  

Banc of America Alternative Loan Trust (05-10-1CB1)

 

 

0.55% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.400%) 
(2)(8)

    11/25/35        585,643       484,131  

Banc of America Funding Corp. (15-R3-6A2)

 

 

0.32%  (1)(4)

    05/27/36        1,959,016       1,828,264  

Banc of America Funding Trust (06-3-4A14)

 

 

6.00%

    03/25/36        302,520       319,537  

Banc of America Funding Trust (06-3-5A3)

 

 

5.50%  (8)

    03/25/36        182,886       183,268  

Banc of America Funding Trust (14-R5-1A1)

 

 

1.75% (6 mo. USD
LIBOR + 1.500%) 
(1)(2)

    09/26/45        657,854       649,928  

Banc of America Funding Trust (15-R4-2A1)

 

 

0.36% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.205%) 
(1)(2)

    02/25/37        802,886       784,988  

BCMSC Trust (00-A-A4)

 

 

8.29%  (4)

    06/15/30          3,316,690       931,672  

Bear Stearns Adjustable Rate Mortgage Trust (03-7-9A)

 

 

2.78%  (4)

    10/25/33        348,608       344,736  

Bear Stearns Adjustable Rate Mortgage Trust (05-9-A1)

 

 

2.41% (1-year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 2.300%) (2)

    10/25/35        190,275       190,673  

Bear Stearns Adjustable Rate Mortgage Trust (07-4-22A1)

 

3.61%  (4)(8)

    06/25/47        1,001,422       981,053  

Bear Stearns ALT-A Trust (05-3-4A3)

 

 

2.91%  (4)

    04/25/35        502,603       498,367  

Bear Stearns Asset-Backed Securities Trust (05-AC6-1A3)

 

5.50%  (4)

    09/25/35        469,617       481,902  

Bear Stearns Asset-Backed Securities Trust (06-IM1-A1)

 

 

0.61% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.460%) 
(2)

    04/25/36        252,384       359,865  

Bear Stearns Mortgage Funding Trust (07-AR3-1X) (I/O)

 

0.50%  (9)

    03/25/37        34,321,454       830,741  

Centex Home Equity Loan Trust (05-A-AF5)

 

 

5.78%

    01/25/35        191,202       189,931  

CIM Trust (18-R2-A1)

 

 

3.69%  (1)(4)(8)

    08/25/57        758,774       776,467  

CIM Trust (18-R4-A1)

 

 

4.07%  (1)(4)

    12/26/57        994,467       1,000,346  

CIM Trust (19-R1-A)

 

 

3.25%  (1)(4)

    10/25/58        1,104,546       1,027,165  
 

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

9


TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

Schedule of Investments (Continued)

 

Issues   Maturity
Date
     Principal
Amount
    Value  
Residential Mortgage-backed Securities — Non-Agency (Continued)  

Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust, Inc. (05-11-A2A)

 

 

2.53% (1-year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 2.400%) (2)

    10/25/35      $ 279,077     $ 283,243  

Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust, Inc. (05-8-1A1A)

 

 

2.69%  (4)(8)

    10/25/35        743,446       680,407  

Citigroup Mortgage Loan Trust, Inc. (14-10-2A2)

 

 

0.40% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.250%) 
(1)(2)

    07/25/37        1,630,612       1,583,439  

CitiMortgage Alternative Loan Trust (06-A3-1A7)

 

 

6.00%  (8)

    07/25/36        898,439       921,889  

CitiMortgage Alternative Loan Trust (06-A5-1A8)

 

 

6.00%  (8)

    10/25/36        808,450       810,611  

Conseco Finance Securitizations Corp. (99-6-A1)

 

 

7.36%  (1)(4)

    06/01/30        1,442,509       812,341  

Conseco Financial Corp. (96-6-M1)

 

 

7.95%  (4)

    09/15/27        147,321       156,500  

Conseco Financial Corp. (96-7-M1)

 

 

7.70%  (4)

    09/15/26        258,241       264,607  

Conseco Financial Corp. (98-3-A6)

 

 

6.76%  (4)

    03/01/30        44,733       44,846  

Conseco Financial Corp. (98-4-A5)

 

 

6.18%

    04/01/30        117,412       117,502  

Conseco Financial Corp. (98-4-A6)

 

 

6.53%  (4)

    04/01/30        71,429       72,831  

Conseco Financial Corp. (98-4-A7)

 

 

6.87%  (4)

    04/01/30        75,634       77,288  

Countrywide Alternative Loan Trust (05-20CB-4A1)

 

 

5.25%  (8)

    07/25/20        1,420       1,418  

Countrywide Alternative Loan Trust (06-8T1-1A2) (I/O)

 

 

5.35% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 5.500%) 
(2)(9)

    04/25/36          5,845,988       1,468,787  

Countrywide Asset-Backed Certificates (07-13-2A1)

 

 

1.05% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.900%) 
(2)

    10/25/47        622,888       612,821  

Countrywide Home Loans (04-HYB4-B1)

 

 

3.09%  (4)

    09/20/34        573,562       266,847  

Countrywide Home Loans (06-14-X) (I/O)

 

 

0.13%  (4)(9)

    09/25/36        14,818,490       59,916  

Countrywide Home Loans (06-HYB2-1A1)

 

 

3.66%  (4)(8)

    04/20/36        806,033       644,456  

Credit Suisse First Boston Mortgage Securities Corp. (04-AR5-11A2)

 

 

0.89% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.740%) 
(2)

    06/25/34        117,051       115,431  

Credit Suisse First Boston Mortgage Securities Corp. (05-12-1A1)

 

 

6.50%  (8)

    01/25/36        1,052,788       497,618  

Credit Suisse Mortgage Capital Certificates (06-6-1A8)

 

 

6.00%  (8)

    07/25/36        574,978       437,471  
Issues   Maturity
Date
     Principal
Amount
    Value  
Residential Mortgage-backed Securities — Non-Agency (Continued)  

Credit-Based Asset Servicing and Securitization LLC (03-CB3-AF1)

 

 

3.38%

    12/25/32      $ 439,442     $ 444,517  

Credit-Based Asset Servicing and Securitization LLC (06-CB1-AF2)

 

 

3.09%

    01/25/36        1,205,275       976,587  

Credit-Based Asset Servicing and Securitization LLC (06-CB2-AF2)

 

 

3.18%

    12/25/36        2,241,071       2,214,196  

Credit-Based Asset Servicing and Securitization LLC (07-CB2-A2B)

 

 

3.83%

    02/25/37        1,021,336       844,907  

Credit-Based Asset Servicing and Securitization LLC (07-CB2-A2C)

 

 

3.83%

    02/25/37        1,003,475       830,034  

Credit-Based Asset Servicing and Securitization LLC (07-CB3-A3)

 

 

3.51%

    03/25/37        1,329,953       698,102  

CSMC Trust (19-RPL2-A1A)

 

 

4.34%  (1)

    11/25/58        1,036,535       1,025,758  

Deutsche Alt-A Securities, Inc. Mortgage Loan Trust (06-AB2-A2)

 

 

5.02%  (4)(8)

    06/25/36        1,461,086       1,422,475  

Deutsche Alt-A Securities, Inc. Mortgage Loan Trust (06-AR6-A6)

 

 

0.53% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.380%) 
(2)(8)

    02/25/37        485,486       445,600  

DSLA Mortgage Loan Trust (06-AR2-2A1A)

 

 

0.35% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.200%) 
(2)

    10/19/36        427,551       371,240  

First Franklin Mortgage Loan Asset-Backed Certificates (06-FF11-2A3)

 

 

0.45% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.300%) 
(2)

    08/25/36        1,270,525       1,119,657  

First Franklin Mortgage Loan Asset-Backed Certificates (06-FF13-A2C)

 

 

0.31% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.160%) 
(2)

    10/25/36        829,356       666,132  

First Franklin Mortgage Loan Asset-Backed Certificates (06-FF18-A2D)

 

 

0.36% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.210%) 
(2)

    12/25/37        751,362       688,850  

First Horizon Alternative Mortgage Securities Trust (05-AA10-2A1)

 

 

2.29%  (4)(8)

    12/25/35        364,831       313,620  

Greenpoint Manufactured Housing (00-1-A4)

 

8.14%  (4)

    03/20/30        641,590       576,778  

GSAA Home Equity Trust (06-13-AF6)

 

6.04%

    07/25/36        1,377,727       642,096  

GSC Capital Corp. Mortgage Trust (06-2-A1)

 

 

0.51% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.360%) 
(2)(8)

    05/25/36        304,934       290,726  
 

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

10


TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

Schedule of Investments (Continued)

December 31, 2020

 

Issues   Maturity
Date
     Principal
Amount
    Value  
Residential Mortgage-backed Securities — Non-Agency (Continued)  

GSR Mortgage Loan Trust (05-AR3-6A1)

 

3.46%  (4)

    05/25/35      $ 232,991     $ 217,847  

HSI Asset Loan Obligation Trust (07-2-2A12)

 

6.00%

    09/25/37        437,795       415,443  

Indymac INDX Mortgage Loan Trust (04-AR6-5A1)

 

 

3.01%  (4)

    10/25/34        360,011       365,427  

Indymac INDX Mortgage Loan Trust (05-AR19-A1)

 

3.01%  (4)

    10/25/35        508,098       445,653  

Indymac INDX Mortgage Loan Trust (06-AR13-A4X) (I/O)

 

 

2.43%  (4)(9)

    07/25/36        225,361       2,474  

Indymac INDX Mortgage Loan Trust (06-AR9-1A1)

 

3.63%  (4)

    06/25/36        694,840       534,387  

Indymac INDX Mortgage Loan Trust (07-AR5-2A1)

 

3.36%  (4)(8)

    05/25/37        894,165       835,906  

Indymac INDX Mortgage Loan Trust (07-FLX2-A1C)

 

0.34% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.190%) 
(2)

    04/25/37        2,051,990       1,938,642  

JPMorgan Alternative Loan Trust (06-A2-5A1)

 

3.50%  (4)(8)

    05/25/36        528,244       393,911  

JPMorgan Mortgage Acquisition Trust (06-WF1-A5)

 

 

6.91%

    07/25/36        2,236,961       1,015,833  

JPMorgan Mortgage Acquisition Trust (07-CH4-A4)

 

0.31% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.160%) 
(2)

    01/25/36        98,315       98,161  

JPMorgan Mortgage Trust (04-A6-5A1)

 

2.51%  (4)

    12/25/34        285,809       274,382  

JPMorgan Mortgage Trust (07-S2-1A1)

 

 

5.00%  (8)

    06/25/37        149,695       85,842  

JPMorgan Resecuritization Trust (15-4-1A5)

 

0.34% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.190%) 
(1)(2)

    06/26/47        1,863,000       1,621,132  

JPMorgan Resecuritization Trust (15-4-2A2)

 

3.82%  (1)(4)(8)

    06/26/47        4,070,597       2,438,101  

Legacy Mortgage Asset Trust (19-GS4-A1)

 

3.44%  (1)(8)

    05/25/59          1,081,329       1,079,520  

Lehman Mortgage Trust (06-7-2A5) (I/O)

 

6.40% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 6.550%) 
(2)(9)

    11/25/36        3,309,987       1,101,803  

Lehman XS Trust (06-10N-1A3A)

 

0.36% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.210%) 
(2)(8)

    07/25/46        673,968       666,104  

Lehman XS Trust (06-12N-A31A)

 

0.35% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.200%) 
(2)

    08/25/46        898,833       867,986  

Long Beach Mortgage Loan Trust (04-4-M1)

 

 

1.05% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.900%) 
(2)

    10/25/34        737,546       729,152  

MASTR Alternative Loan Trust (06-2-2A2) (I/O)

 

6.95% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 7.100%) 
(2)(9)

    03/25/36        5,935,891       1,587,973  
Issues   Maturity
Date
     Principal
Amount
    Value  
Residential Mortgage-backed Securities — Non-Agency (Continued)  

MASTR Alternative Loans Trust (07-HF1-4A1)

 

7.00%  (8)

    10/25/47      $ 1,093,326     $ 718,910  

MASTR Asset-Backed Securities Trust (06-NC1-A4)

 

 

0.75% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.600%) 
(2)

    01/25/36        12,297       12,290  

MASTR Asset-Backed Securities Trust (07-HE1-A4)

 

0.43% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.280%) 
(2)

    05/25/37        2,000,000       1,569,102  

Merrill Lynch Alternative Note Asset Trust (07-OAR2-A2)

 

 

0.36% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.210%) 
(2)

    04/25/37        1,097,101       1,030,145  

Merrill Lynch First Franklin Mortgage Loan Trust (07-3-A2B)

 

 

0.28% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.130%) 
(2)(8)

    06/25/37        611,319       435,467  

Merrill Lynch First Franklin Mortgage Loan Trust (07-3-A2C)

 

 

0.33% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.180%) 
(2)(8)

    06/25/37        1,248,299       896,718  

Merrill Lynch Mortgage-Backed Securities Trust (07-2-1A1)

 

 

2.51% (1-year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 2.400%) (2)(8)

    08/25/36        201,807       192,506  

Mid-State Trust (04-1-B)

 

8.90%

    08/15/37        230,792       261,475  

Mid-State Trust (04-1-M1)

 

 

6.50%

    08/15/37        230,792       244,649  

Morgan Stanley ABS Capital I, Inc. Trust (06-HE3-A1)

 

0.43% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.280%) 
(2)

    04/25/36        389,440       370,962  

Morgan Stanley ABS Capital I, Inc. Trust (07-15AR-4A1)

 

2.98%  (4)

    11/25/37        418,933       422,083  

New Century Home Equity Loan Trust (05-B-A2D)

 

0.95% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.800%) 
(2)

    10/25/35        164,366       164,385  

Nomura Asset Acceptance Corp. (06-AR1-1A)

 

4.21%  (4)

    02/25/36        807,513       761,431  

Oakwood Mortgage Investors, Inc. (00-A-A4)

 

8.15%  (4)

    09/15/29          1,768,681       830,694  

Oakwood Mortgage Investors, Inc. (00-D-A4)

 

7.40%  (4)

    07/15/30        705,482       289,742  

Oakwood Mortgage Investors, Inc. (01-C-A3)

 

 

6.61%  (4)

    06/15/31        1,671,028       362,309  

Oakwood Mortgage Investors, Inc. (01-D-A3)

 

 

5.90%  (4)

    09/15/22        720,132       537,636  

Oakwood Mortgage Investors, Inc. (01-D-A4)

 

6.93%  (4)

    09/15/31        417,229       339,072  

Oakwood Mortgage Investors, Inc. (02-A-A3)

 

6.03%  (4)

    05/15/24        160,888       164,886  
 

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

11


TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

Schedule of Investments (Continued)

 

Issues   Maturity
Date
     Principal
Amount
    Value  
Residential Mortgage-backed Securities — Non-Agency (Continued)  

Oakwood Mortgage Investors, Inc. (98-A-M)

 

6.83%  (4)

    05/15/28      $ 54,820     $ 55,271  

Oakwood Mortgage Investors, Inc. (99-B-A4)

 

6.99%

    12/15/26        126,008       128,116  

Oakwood Mortgage Investors, Inc. (99-E-A1)

 

7.61%  (4)

    03/15/30        787,459       638,954  

Popular ABS Mortgage Pass-Through Trust (05-6-A4)

 

3.53%

    01/25/36        270,542       272,126  

RALI Series Trust (06-QS13-1A2) (I/O)

 

 

7.01% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 7.160%) 
(2)(9)

    09/25/36        3,565,406       701,710  

RALI Series Trust (06-QS7-A2)

 

6.00%  (8)

    06/25/36        505,262       476,418  

RBSSP Resecuritization Trust (12-6-4A2)

 

0.48% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.330%) 
(1)(2)

    01/26/36        2,002,110       1,940,173  

Residential Accredit Loans, Inc. (05-QA7-A1)

 

3.35%  (4)(8)

    07/25/35        903,007       785,321  

Residential Accredit Loans, Inc. (05-QA8-CB21)

 

 

3.66%  (4)(8)

    07/25/35        457,023       339,625  

Residential Accredit Loans, Inc. (06-QA10-A2)

 

 

0.33% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.180%) 
(2)(8)

    12/25/36        678,105       643,345  

Residential Accredit Loans, Inc. (06-QS1-A3) (PAC)

 

5.75%  (8)

    01/25/36        397,808       371,822  

Residential Accredit Loans, Inc. (06-QS11-AV) (I/O)

 

0.35%  (4)(9)

    08/25/36        9,463,169       124,677  

Residential Accredit Loans, Inc. (06-QS6-1AV) (I/O)

 

0.76%  (4)(9)

    06/25/36        4,302,408       98,473  

Residential Accredit Loans, Inc. (06-QS8-A3)

 

6.00%  (8)

    08/25/36        827,210       813,243  

Residential Accredit Loans, Inc. (07-QS2-AV) (I/O)

 

0.33%  (4)(9)

    01/25/37        10,960,464       114,450  

Residential Accredit Loans, Inc. (07-QS3-AV) (I/O)

 

0.35%  (4)(9)

    02/25/37        11,479,709       138,542  

Residential Accredit Loans, Inc. (07-QS6-A62) (TAC)

 

5.50%  (8)

    04/25/37        248,119       235,803  

Residential Asset Securitization Trust (05-A15-4A1)

 

6.00%

    02/25/36        996,376       528,050  

Residential Asset Securitization Trust (07-A5-AX) (I/O)

 

6.00%  (9)

    05/25/37        1,977,171       372,101  

Residential Funding Mortgage Securities (06-S9-AV) (I/O)

 

 

0.34% (4)(9)

    09/25/36        25,628,253       293,989  

Saxon Asset Securities Trust (07-3-2A4)

 

 

0.64% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.490%) 
(2)

    09/25/47          2,926,000       2,550,529  

Securitized Asset-Backed Receivables LLC Trust (07-NC2-A2C)

 

 

0.37% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.220%) 
(2)

    01/25/37        4,614,000       3,235,200  
Issues   Maturity
Date
     Principal
Amount
    Value  
Residential Mortgage-backed Securities — Non-Agency (Continued)  

Soundview Home Loan Trust (06-1-A4)

 

0.75% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.600%) 
(2)

    02/25/36      $ 409,880     $ 410,213  

Structured Adjustable Rate Mortgage Loan Trust (05-20-1A1)

 

 

2.83%  (4)(8)

    10/25/35        209,148       199,578  

Structured Adjustable Rate Mortgage Loan Trust (07-9-2A1)

 

3.21%  (4)(8)

    10/25/47        330,570       287,827  

Structured Asset Mortgage Investments II Trust (06-AR4-5A1)

 

 

0.33% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.180%) 
(2)(8)

    06/25/36        977,466       862,378  

WAMU Asset-Backed Certificates (07-HE1-2A3)

 

0.30% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.150%) 
(2)

    01/25/37        1,930,812       1,178,229  

Wells Fargo Alternative Loan Trust (07-PA2-2A2) (I/O)

 

 

5.92% (1 mo. USD
LIBOR + 6.070%) 
(2)(9)

    06/25/37        2,463,972       330,095  

Wells Fargo Mortgage-Backed Securities Trust (07-AR3-A4)

 

 

4.00%  (4)(8)

    04/25/37        216,171       203,686  
      

 

 

 

Total Residential Mortgage-backed Securities — Non-Agency

 

    

(Cost: $78,923,149)

 

    86,267,213  
      

 

 

 

Total Mortgage-backed Securities

 

    

(Cost: $161,113,539)

 

    163,247,632  
      

 

 

 

CORPORATE BONDS 27.6%

 

Advertising — 0.1%  

National CineMedia LLC

 

 

5.88%  (1)

    04/15/28        225,000       191,250  
      

 

 

 
Agriculture — 0.5%        

BAT Capital Corp.

 

 

2.73%

    03/25/31        5,000       5,183  

4.54%

    08/15/47        130,000       144,587  

Reynolds American, Inc.

 

 

5.85%

    08/15/45        975,000       1,246,577  
      

 

 

 
         1,396,347  
      

 

 

 
Airlines — 0.6%  

America West Airlines, Inc. Pass-Through Certificates (00-2-A1) (EETC)

 

 

7.71%

    10/02/22        108,448       109,140  

America West Airlines, Inc. Pass-Through Certificates (01-1) (EETC)

 

 

7.10%

    10/02/22        63,432       63,623  

Delta Air Lines, Inc. Pass-Through Certificates (02-1G1) (EETC)

 

 

6.72%

    07/02/24        320,538       331,334  

JetBlue Pass-Through Certificates (20-1A)

 

 

4.00%

    05/15/34        800,000       862,136  
 

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

12


TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

Schedule of Investments (Continued)

December 31, 2020

 

Issues   Maturity
Date
     Principal
Amount
    Value  
Airlines (Continued)  

US Airways Group, Inc. Pass-Through Certificates (10-1A) (EETC)

 

 

6.25%

    10/22/24      $ 348,019     $ 331,787  
      

 

 

 
         1,698,020  
      

 

 

 
Auto Manufacturers — 1.4%  

Daimler Finance North America LLC

 

 

1.12% (3 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.900%) 
(1)(2)

    02/15/22        350,000       352,692  

Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC

 

 

1.52% (3 mo. USD
LIBOR + 1.270%) 
(2)

    03/28/22        345,000       339,160  

3.20%

    01/15/21          1,525,000       1,527,669  

3.34%

    03/28/22        645,000       654,462  

General Motors Co.

 

 

4.88%

    10/02/23        150,000       166,558  

General Motors Financial Co., Inc.

 

 

3.15%

    06/30/22        180,000       186,352  

3.20%

    07/06/21        90,000       90,976  

3.45%

    04/10/22        55,000       56,652  

4.38%

    09/25/21        656,000       673,810  
      

 

 

 
         4,048,331  
      

 

 

 
Banks — 2.5%  

Bank of America Corp.

 

 

2.88% (3 mo. USD
LIBOR + 1.190%) 
(2)

    10/22/30        190,000       208,804  

4.08% (3 mo. USD
LIBOR + 3.150%) 
(2)

    03/20/51        285,000       360,146  

Citigroup, Inc.

 

 

2.57% (SOFR + 2.107%) (2)

    06/03/31        195,000       208,017  

4.41% (SOFR + 3.914%) (2)

    03/31/31        440,000       533,985  

Comerica, Inc.

 

 

5.63% (U.S. 5-year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 5.291%) (2)

    12/31/99        395,000       438,450  

Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (The)

 

 

3.69% (3 mo. USD
LIBOR + 1.510%) 
(2)

    06/05/28        180,000       207,344  

HSBC Holdings PLC

 

 

2.01% (SOFR + 1.732%) (2)

    09/22/28        685,000       702,324  

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

 

 

2.18% (SOFR + 1.890%) (2)

    06/01/28        505,000       536,689  

3.56% (3 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.730%) 
(2)

    04/23/24        385,000       412,787  

Lloyds Banking Group PLC (United Kingdom)

 

 

3.87% (1-year Treasury Constant Maturity Rate + 3.500%) (2)

    07/09/25             285,000       314,469  

3.90%

    03/12/24        255,000       280,591  
Issues   Maturity
Date
     Principal
Amount
    Value  
Banks (Continued)  

Santander UK Group Holdings PLC (United Kingdom)

 

 

3.37% (3 mo. USD
LIBOR + 1.080%) 
(2)

    01/05/24      $ 435,000     $ 457,706  

4.80% (3 mo. USD
LIBOR +1.570%) 
(2)

    11/15/24        335,000       372,739  

Wells Fargo & Co.

 

 

2.39% (SOFR+ 2.100%) (2)

    06/02/28        260,000       277,049  

2.57% (3 mo. USD
LIBOR + 1.000%) 
(2)

    02/11/31        625,000       665,769  

2.88% (3 mo. USD
LIBOR + 1.170%) 
(2)

    10/30/30        195,000       212,950  

3.07% (SOFR + 2.530%) (2)

    04/30/41        390,000       424,868  

5.01% (3 mo. USD
LIBOR + 4.240%) 
(2)

    04/04/51        280,000       398,643  
      

 

 

 
         7,013,330  
      

 

 

 
Beverages — 0.4%  

Anheuser-Busch Cos LLC / Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, Inc.

 

 

4.90%

    02/01/46        704,000       918,225  

Bacardi, Ltd.

 

4.70%  (1)

    05/15/28        15,000       17,816  

5.30%  (1)

    05/15/48        205,000       285,293  
      

 

 

 
    1,221,334  
      

 

 

 
Biotechnology — 0.2%  

Amgen, Inc.

 

4.40%

    05/01/45        110,000       139,706  

Emergent BioSolutions, Inc.

 

 

3.88%  (1)

    08/15/28        275,000       285,278  
      

 

 

 
    424,984  
      

 

 

 
Chemicals — 0.2%  

International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc.

 

 

5.00%

    09/26/48        365,000       492,568  

Nutrition & Biosciences, Inc.

 

 

3.47%  (1)

    12/01/50        175,000       190,457  
      

 

 

 
    683,025  
      

 

 

 
Commercial Services — 0.2%  

IHS Markit, Ltd.

 

4.00%  (1)

    03/01/26        73,000       83,798  

4.75%  (1)

    02/15/25        370,000       425,074  
      

 

 

 
    508,872  
      

 

 

 
Diversified Financial Services — 1.6%  

AerCap Ireland Capital DAC / AerCap Global Aviation Trust (Ireland)

 

 

3.65%

    07/21/27        120,000       130,474  

3.88%

    01/23/28        130,000       139,716  

3.95%

    02/01/22        415,000       426,856  

4.13%

    07/03/23        135,000       144,570  
 

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

13


TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

Schedule of Investments (Continued)

 

Issues   Maturity
Date
     Principal
Amount
    Value  
Diversified Financial Services (Continued)  

Air Lease Corp.

 

3.50%

    01/15/22      $ 490,000     $ 504,341  

Avolon Holdings Funding, Ltd.

 

2.88%  (1)

    02/15/25             305,000       311,307  

3.95%  (1)

    07/01/24        85,000       89,824  

5.13%  (1)

    10/01/23        30,000       32,134  

GE Capital International Funding Co. Unlimited Co. (Ireland)

 

 

4.42%

    11/15/35        1,115,000       1,328,666  

Park Aerospace Holdings, Ltd.

 

4.50%  (1)

    03/15/23        110,000       115,330  

5.50%  (1)

    02/15/24        470,000       512,958  

Raymond James Financial, Inc.

 

5.63%

    04/01/24        650,000       750,836  
      

 

 

 
    4,487,012  
      

 

 

 
Electric — 0.6%  

FirstEnergy Corp.

 

3.40%

    03/01/50        450,000       433,379  

FirstEnergy Transmission LLC

 

4.35%  (1)

    01/15/25        750,000       820,461  

Puget Energy, Inc.

      

6.00%

    09/01/21        500,000       517,566  
      

 

 

 
    1,771,406  
      

 

 

 
Engineering & Construction — 0.4%  

Heathrow Funding, Ltd. (United Kingdom)

 

4.88%  (1)

    07/15/23        700,000       714,650  

PowerTeam Services LLC

 

9.03%  (1)

    12/04/25        254,000       282,971  
      

 

 

 
    997,621  
      

 

 

 
Entertainment — 0.2%  

Colt Merger Sub, Inc.

 

6.25%  (1)

    07/01/25        273,000       291,094  

Live Nation Entertainment, Inc.

 

4.75%  (1)

    10/15/27        135,000       138,576  
      

 

 

 
    429,670  
      

 

 

 
Environmental Control — 0.4%  

Clean Harbors, Inc.

 

5.13%  (1)

    07/15/29        275,000       300,781  

GFL Environmental, Inc. (Canada)

 

3.75%  (1)

    08/01/25        250,000       256,719  

5.13%  (1)

    12/15/26        157,000       167,817  

Waste Pro USA, Inc.

 

5.50%  (1)

    02/15/26        430,000       440,924  
      

 

 

 
    1,166,241  
      

 

 

 
Issues   Maturity
Date
     Principal
Amount
    Value  
Food — 0.9%  

JBS USA LUX SA / JBS USA Food Co. / JBS USA Finance, Inc.

 

 

5.50%  (1)

    01/15/30      $ 25,000     $ 28,756  

Kraft Heinz Foods Co.

 

4.38%

    06/01/46             345,000       372,431  

4.88%  (1)

    10/01/49        700,000       814,114  

5.00%

    06/04/42        328,000       385,365  

5.00%

    07/15/35        85,000       102,360  

6.38%

    07/15/28        210,000       258,387  

7.13%  (1)

    08/01/39        140,000       201,315  

Kroger Co. (The)

 

4.45%

    02/01/47        60,000       76,527  

Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc.

 

4.63%  (1)

    11/01/24        120,000       125,400  

Pilgrim’s Pride Corp.

 

5.88%  (1)

    09/30/27        250,000       271,410  
      

 

 

 
    2,636,065  
      

 

 

 
Forest Products & Paper — 0.2%  

Clearwater Paper Corp.

 

4.75%  (1)

    08/15/28        475,000       493,800  
      

 

 

 
Healthcare-Products — 0.1%  

Hologic, Inc.

 

4.63%  (1)

    02/01/28        320,000       340,800  
      

 

 

 
Healthcare-Services — 2.4%  

Catalent Pharma Solutions, Inc.

 

4.88%  (1)

    01/15/26        285,000       291,715  

Centene Corp.

 

3.00%

    10/15/30        949,000       1,007,031  

3.38%

    02/15/30        43,000       45,399  

4.63%

    12/15/29        186,000       206,740  

5.38%  (1)

    08/15/26        157,000       166,224  

CommonSpirit Health

 

2.78%

    10/01/30        135,000       143,910  

Encompass Health Corp.

 

4.75%

    02/01/30        425,000       456,000  

HCA, Inc.

      

5.00%

    03/15/24        315,000       354,649  

5.25%

    06/15/49        397,000       525,216  

5.63%

    09/01/28        100,000       118,375  

Humana, Inc.

 

4.95%

    10/01/44        125,000       168,855  

Molina Healthcare, Inc.

 

3.88%  (1)

    11/15/30        520,000       558,880  

5.38%

    11/15/22        140,000       148,488  

NYU Hospitals Center

 

4.43%

    07/01/42        700,000       790,498  

Prime Healthcare Services, Inc.

 

7.25%  (1)

    11/01/25        455,000       486,850  
 

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

14


TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

Schedule of Investments (Continued)

December 31, 2020

 

Issues   Maturity
Date
     Principal
Amount
    Value  
Healthcare-Services (Continued)  

Providence Service Corp. (The)

 

5.88%  (1)

    11/15/25      $      270,000     $ 286,031  

Tenet Healthcare Corp.

 

4.63%

    07/15/24        234,000       240,089  

4.88%  (1)

    01/01/26        223,000       233,559  

5.13%  (1)

    11/01/27        525,000       557,156  
      

 

 

 
    6,785,665  
      

 

 

 
Household Products/Wares — 0.1%  

Spectrum Brands, Inc.

 

5.75%

    07/15/25        135,000       139,894  

6.13%

    12/15/24        135,000       138,195  
      

 

 

 
    278,089  
      

 

 

 
Insurance — 0.9%  

Berkshire Hathaway Finance Corp.

 

4.25%

    01/15/49        230,000       305,652  

Farmers Exchange Capital

 

7.05%  (1)

    07/15/28        500,000       622,948  

Farmers Insurance Exchange

 

4.75% (3 mo. USD
LIBOR + 3.231%) 
(1)(2)

    11/01/57        5,000       5,517  

Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co.

 

2.51% (3 mo. USD
LIBOR + 2.290%) 
(1)(2)

    12/15/24        1,000,000       999,828  

Teachers Insurance & Annuity Association of America

 

 

3.30%  (1)

    05/15/50        520,000       567,735  
      

 

 

 
    2,501,680  
      

 

 

 
Machinery-Diversified — 0.1%  

Titan Acquisition, Ltd. / Titan Co-Borrower LLC

 

7.75%  (1)

    04/15/26        140,000       146,300  
      

 

 

 
Media — 1.2%  

CCO Holdings LLC / CCO Holdings Capital Corp.

 

4.50%  (1)

    08/15/30        436,000       466,507  

4.50%  (1)

    05/01/32        127,000       135,733  

5.38%  (1)

    06/01/29        265,000       290,808  

Charter Communications Operating LLC / Charter Communications Operating Capital

 

 

5.75%

    04/01/48        150,000       196,107  

CSC Holdings LLC

 

5.38%  (1)

    02/01/28        25,000       26,750  

6.50%  (1)

    02/01/29        550,000       622,009  

Diamond Sports Group LLC / Diamond Sports Finance Co.

 

 

5.38%  (1)

    08/15/26        375,000       305,591  

Scripps Escrow II, Inc.

 

5.38%  (1)

    01/15/31        145,000       151,434  

Sirius XM Radio, Inc.

 

3.88%  (1)

    08/01/22        130,000       131,950  
Issues   Maturity
Date
     Principal
Amount
    Value  
Media (Continued)  

Virgin Media Secured Finance PLC (United Kingdom)

 

5.50%  (1)

    08/15/26      $ 200,000     $ 208,125  

5.50%  (1)

    05/15/29        225,000       244,201  

Walt Disney Co. (The)

 

3.60%

    01/13/51        435,000       527,583  
      

 

 

 
    3,306,798  
      

 

 

 
Mining — 0.3%  

Corp. Nacional del Cobre de Chile

 

3.63%  (10)

    08/01/27        350,000       392,383  

Indonesia Asahan Aluminium Persero PT

 

6.53%  (1)

    11/15/28        300,000       378,047  
      

 

 

 
    770,430  
      

 

 

 
Miscellaneous Manufacturers — 0.7%  

General Electric Co.

 

0.70% (3 mo. USD
LIBOR + 0.480%) 
(2)

    08/15/36          2,400,000       1,764,000  

6.75%

    03/15/32        100,000       140,385  
      

 

 

 
    1,904,385  
      

 

 

 
Oil & Gas — 1.6%  

Antero Resources Corp.

 

5.00%

    03/01/25        496,000       472,130  

5.13%

    12/01/22        125,000       124,875  

BP Capital Markets America, Inc.

 

3.63%

    04/06/30        255,000       297,297  

Endeavor Energy Resources LP / EER Finance, Inc.

 

5.50%  (1)

    01/30/26        52,000       53,457  

EQT Corp.

 

3.90%

    10/01/27        140,000       139,346  

Hess Corp.

 

4.30%

    04/01/27        380,000       421,325  

Pertamina Persero PT (Indonesia)

 

3.10%  (1)

    08/27/30        200,000       214,495  

Petrobras Global Finance BV

 

5.09%

    01/15/30        286,000       320,520  

Petroleos del Peru S.A.

 

4.75%  (10)

    06/19/32        200,000       231,500  

Petroleos Mexicanos

 

5.95%

    01/28/31        180,000       179,100  

6.63%

    06/15/35        385,000       381,749  

6.75%

    09/21/47        75,000       70,433  

6.95%

    01/28/60        130,000       122,512  

7.69%

    01/23/50        365,000       368,650  

Petronas Capital, Ltd.

 

3.50%  (1)

    04/21/30        200,000       230,460  

Sunoco LP / Sunoco Finance Corp.

 

4.50%  (1)

    05/15/29        425,000       442,531  

Transocean Pontus, Ltd.

 

6.13%  (1)

    08/01/25        79,560       75,830  
 

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

15


TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

Schedule of Investments (Continued)

 

Issues   Maturity
Date
     Principal
Amount
    Value  
Oil & Gas (Continued)  

Transocean Poseidon, Ltd.

 

6.88%  (1)

    02/01/27      $ 314,000     $ 286,525  
      

 

 

 
    4,432,735  
      

 

 

 
Oil & Gas Services — 0.2%  

Archrock Partners LP / Archrock Partners Finance Corp.

 

6.25%  (1)

    04/01/28             140,000       146,434  

Transocean Proteus, Ltd.

 

6.25%  (1)

    12/01/24        117,000       110,419  

USA Compression Partners LP / USA Compression Finance Corp.

 

 

6.88%

    04/01/26        162,000       169,594  

6.88%

    09/01/27        127,000       135,797  
      

 

 

 
    562,244  
      

 

 

 
Packaging & Containers — 0.3%  

Amcor Finance USA, Inc.

 

3.63%

    04/28/26        400,000       448,888  

Ball Corp.

 

4.00%

    11/15/23        90,000       96,629  

Graphic Packaging International LLC

 

4.75%  (1)

    07/15/27        130,000       144,462  

Sealed Air Corp.

 

4.00%  (1)

    12/01/27        25,000       26,750  

5.50%  (1)

    09/15/25        140,000       156,909  
      

 

 

 
    873,638  
      

 

 

 
Pharmaceuticals — 1.6%  

AbbVie, Inc.

 

4.05%

    11/21/39        65,000       78,839  

4.25%

    11/21/49        175,000       220,484  

4.50%

    05/14/35        376,000       472,792  

4.88%

    11/14/48        275,000       373,489  

Bausch Health Cos, Inc. (Canada)

 

7.00%  (1)

    03/15/24        385,000       396,454  

Bayer US Finance II LLC

 

4.38%  (1)

    12/15/28        590,000       694,430  

4.63%  (1)

    06/25/38        375,000       460,800  

4.88%  (1)

    06/25/48        425,000       548,268  

Cigna Corp.

 

3.88%

    10/15/47        170,000       201,896  

CVS Health Corp.

 

5.05%

    03/25/48        825,000       1,116,514  
      

 

 

 
    4,563,966  
      

 

 

 
Pipelines — 1.7%  

Cheniere Energy Partners LP

 

5.25%

    10/01/25        25,000       25,681  

Enbridge Energy Partners LP

 

5.88%

    10/15/25        50,000       60,992  
Issues   Maturity
Date
     Principal
Amount
    Value  
Pipelines (Continued)  

Energy Transfer Operating LP

 

3.75%

    05/15/30      $ 170,000     $ 181,952  

6.63% (3 mo. USD
LIBOR + 4.155%) 
(2)

    12/31/99        225,000       190,969  

Energy Transfer Partners LP

 

5.15%

    03/15/45             325,000       348,304  

NGPL PipeCo LLC

 

4.38%  (1)

    08/15/22        190,000       198,056  

Pipeline Funding Co. LLC

 

7.50%  (1)

    01/15/30        455,650       605,814  

Plains All American Pipeline LP / PAA Finance Corp.

 

3.80%

    09/15/30        500,000       538,168  

Rockies Express Pipeline LLC

 

4.95%  (1)

    07/15/29        425,000       442,468  

Sunoco Logistics Partners Operations LP

 

5.40%

    10/01/47        831,000       930,379  

Targa Resources Partners LP / Targa Resources Partners Finance Corp.

 

 

6.88%

    01/15/29        127,000       143,245  

Texas Eastern Transmission LP

 

2.80%  (1)

    10/15/22        300,000       310,491  

TransMontaigne Partners LP / TLP Finance Corp.

 

6.13%

    02/15/26        265,000       267,650  

Williams Partners LP

 

6.30%

    04/15/40        300,000       397,688  
      

 

 

 
    4,641,857  
      

 

 

 
REIT — 1.5%  

Boston Properties LP

 

3.25%

    01/30/31        260,000       287,674  

CyrusOne LP / CyrusOne Finance Corp.

 

2.90%

    11/15/24        280,000       299,456  

3.45%

    11/15/29        1,045,000       1,128,046  

GLP Capital LP / GLP Financing II, Inc.

 

5.30%

    01/15/29        210,000       243,365  

5.38%

    04/15/26        621,000       713,867  

5.75%

    06/01/28        345,000       409,641  

HCP, Inc.

      

4.25%

    11/15/23        15,000       16,433  

Hudson Pacific Properties LP

 

3.95%

    11/01/27        275,000       303,151  

Lexington Realty Trust

 

2.70%

    09/15/30        275,000       286,867  

MGM Growth Properties Operating Partnership LP / MGP Finance Co-Issuer, Inc.

 

 

5.63%

    05/01/24        135,000       146,883  

Piedmont Operating Partnership LP

 

3.40%

    06/01/23        425,000       442,667  
      

 

 

 
    4,278,050  
      

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

16


TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

Schedule of Investments (Continued)

December 31, 2020

 

Issues   Maturity
Date
     Principal
Amount
    Value  
Retail — 0.6%  

1011778 BC ULC / New Red Finance, Inc.

 

3.50%  (1)

    02/15/29      $ 270,000     $ 271,034  

FirstCash, Inc.

 

4.63%  (1)

    09/01/28        275,000       284,109  

Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.

 

3.45%

    06/01/26        755,000       835,628  

4.80%

    11/18/44             225,000       256,327  
      

 

 

 
    1,647,098  
      

 

 

 
Savings & Loans — 0.2%  

Nationwide Building Society (United Kingdom)

 

3.77% (3 mo. USD LIBOR + 1.064%) (1)(2)

    03/08/24        520,000       553,564  
      

 

 

 
Semiconductors — 0.3%  

Intel Corp.

 

4.75%

    03/25/50        550,000       768,922  
      

 

 

 
Software — 0.1%  

Change Healthcare Holdings LLC / Change Healthcare Finance, Inc.

 

 

5.75%  (1)

    03/01/25        25,000       25,594  

SS&C Technologies, Inc.

 

5.50%  (1)

    09/30/27        210,000       224,546  
      

 

 

 
    250,140  
      

 

 

 
Telecommunications — 3.2%  

AT&T, Inc.

 

3.30%

    02/01/52        335,000       332,788  

3.80%  (1)

    12/01/57        195,000       204,420  

4.75%

    05/15/46        530,000       654,784  

4.85%

    03/01/39        348,000       432,606  

5.25%

    03/01/37        705,000       914,526  

C&W Senior Financing DAC

 

6.88%  (1)

    09/15/27        200,000       216,524  

Frontier Communications Corp.

 

5.00%  (1)

    05/01/28        350,000       365,221  

Intelsat Jackson Holdings S. A. (Luxembourg)

 

8.50%  (1)(11)

    10/15/24        535,000       382,525  

9.75%  (1)(11)

    07/15/25        321,000       231,958  

Level 3 Financing, Inc.

 

4.63%  (1)

    09/15/27        166,000       173,674  

5.38%

    05/01/25        190,000       194,987  

Qwest Corp.

 

7.25%

    09/15/25        250,000       295,625  

SES Global Americas Holdings GP

 

5.30%  (1)

    03/25/44        675,000       740,926  

Sprint Corp.

 

7.88%

    09/15/23        373,000       432,326  

Sprint Spectrum Co. LLC / Sprint Spectrum Co. II LLC / Sprint Spectrum Co. III LLC

 

 

3.36%  (1)

    03/20/23        129,375       130,669  

4.74%  (1)

    09/20/29        1,110,000       1,205,699  
Issues   Maturity
Date
     Principal
Amount
    Value  
Telecommunications (Continued)  

T-Mobile USA, Inc.

 

3.88%  (1)

    04/15/30      $ 75,000     $ 86,959  

4.38%  (1)

    04/15/40        350,000       427,479  

4.50%

    02/01/26        113,000       115,736  

4.75%

    02/01/28        186,000       199,985  

6.00%

    04/15/24             263,000       266,553  

6.00%

    03/01/23        44,000       44,110  

Vodafone Group PLC (United Kingdom)

 

4.88%

    06/19/49        759,000       1,016,074  
      

 

 

 
    9,066,154  
      

 

 

 
Transportation — 0.1%  

Empresa de Transporte de Pasajeros Metro S.A.

 

3.65%  (1)

    05/07/30        200,000       225,250  
      

 

 

 
Total Corporate Bonds  

(Cost: $71,264,466)

 

       77,065,073  
      

 

 

 
MUNICIPAL BONDS 1.9%  

Alabama Economic Settlement Authority, Revenue Bond

 

4.26%

    09/15/32        705,000       839,542  

City and County of Denver Co. Airport System Revenue, Revenue Bond

 

 

2.24%

    11/15/30        270,000       270,886  

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

3.00%

    03/01/48        285,000       312,203  

County of Miami-Dade FL Aviation Revenue, Revenue Bond

 

 

3.45%

    10/01/30        130,000       142,124  

Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, Revenue Bond

 

5.00%

    10/01/44        115,000       142,600  

Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Revenue Bond

 

5.18%

    11/15/49        290,000       333,428  

New York City Transitional Finance Authority Future Tax Secured Revenue, Revenue Bond

 

 

4.00%

    08/01/38        370,000       425,585  

New York City Water and Sewer System, Revenue Bond

 

4.00%

    06/15/50        120,000       142,426  

New York State Dormitory Authority, Revenue Bond

 

5.29%

    03/15/33        1,000,000       1,254,650  

New York State Urban Development Corp, Revenue Bond

 

4.00%

    03/15/43        240,000       283,090  

Regents of the University of California Medical Center Pooled, Revenue Bond

 

 

3.26%

    05/15/60        605,000       680,135  

San Francisco City and County Airport Comm-San Francisco International Airport, Revenue Bond

 

 

5.00%

    05/01/49        485,000       597,564  
      

 

 

 
Total Municipal Bonds  

(Cost: $4,973,990)

 

       5,424,233  
      

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

17


TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

Schedule of Investments (Continued)

 

Issues   Maturity
Date
     Principal
Amount
    Value  
FOREIGN GOVERNMENT BONDS 1.3%  

Abu Dhabi Government International Bond

 

2.50%  (10)

    09/30/29      $ 200,000     $ 216,283  

Colombia Government International Bond

 

3.00%

    01/30/30        250,000       262,925  

4.50%

    01/28/26        200,000       227,438  

Dominican Republic International Bond

 

4.50%  (1)

    01/30/30             200,000       218,500  

Egypt Government International Bond

 

5.58%  (1)

    02/21/23        200,000       211,671  

Mexico Government International Bond

 

2.66%

    05/24/31        638,000       657,299  

Panama Government International Bond

 

 

3.16%

    01/23/30        250,000       277,625  

Qatar Government International Bond

 

4.50%  (10)

    04/23/28        350,000       424,480  

Saudi Government International Bond

 

3.63%  (10)

    03/04/28        300,000       337,140  

Saudi Government International Bond

 

 

3.75%  (1)

    01/21/55        200,000       219,000  

South Africa Government Bond

 

 

4.88%

    04/14/26        350,000       383,250  

Uruguay Government International Bond

 

 

4.38%

    01/23/31        200,000       245,969  
      

 

 

 

Total Foreign Government Bonds

 

(Cost: $3,432,479)

 

    3,681,580  
      

 

 

 
U.S. TREASURY SECURITIES 0.3%  

U.S. Treasury Bond

 

 

1.63%

    11/15/50        200,000       199,281  

U.S. Treasury Note

 

 

0.88%

    11/15/30        610,000       608,046  
      

 

 

 

Total U.S. Treasury Securities

 

(Cost: $810,014)

 

    807,327  
      

 

 

 

Total Fixed Income Securities

 

(Cost: $270,685,235)

 

    280,040,355  
      

 

 

 
      
Security          Shares        

COMMON STOCK 5.1%

 

BANKS 2.2%  

Bank of America Corp.

 

     62,400       1,891,344  

Comerica, Inc.

 

     18,823       1,051,453  

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

 

     14,400       1,829,808  

Wells Fargo & Co.

 

     38,967       1,176,024  
      

 

 

 
    5,948,629  
      

 

 

 
OIL & GAS 1.4%  

BP PLC (SP ADR) (United Kingdom)

 

     25,680       526,954  

Chevron Corp.

 

     6,954       587,265  

ConocoPhillips

 

     18,012       720,300  
    
Security
         Shares        
OIL & GAS (Continued)  

Exxon Mobil Corp.

 

     19,680     $ 811,209  

Royal Dutch Shell PLC (SP ADR) (United Kingdom)

 

     18,856       662,600  

TOTAL SA (SP ADR) (France)

 

     16,370       686,067  
      

 

 

 
    3,994,395  
      

 

 

 
Pipelines — 0.2%  

Energy Transfer LP

 

          103,400       639,012  
      

 

 

 
REIT 1.3%  

AGNC Investment Corp.

 

     144,641       2,256,399  

Annaly Capital Management, Inc.

 

     165,767       1,400,731  
      

 

 

 
    3,657,130  
      

 

 

 

Total Common Stock

 

 

(Cost: $10,701,041)

         14,239,166  
      

 

 

 

MONEY MARKET INVESTMENTS 2.4%

 

 

State Street Institutional U.S. Government Money Market Fund — Premier Class, 0.03% (12)

 

     6,704,005       6,704,005  
      

 

 

 

Total Money Market Investments

 

 

(Cost: $6,704,005)

         6,704,005  
      

 

 

 
      

 

Issues   Maturity
Date
     Principal
Amount
    Value  

SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS 1.8%

 

U.S. TREASURY SECURITIES 1.8%  

U.S. Treasury Bill

 

0.04%  (13)

    01/14/21      $   5,000,000     $ 4,999,930  
      

 

 

 

Total U.S. Treasury Securities

 

    

(Cost: $4,999,863)

 

    4,999,930  
      

 

 

 

Total Short Term Investments

 

 

(Cost: $4,999,863)

 

    4,999,930  
      

 

 

 

Total Investments (109.6%)

 

 

(Cost: $293,090,144)

 

    305,983,456  

Liabilities In Excess Of Other Assets (-9.6%)

 

    (26,916,254
      

 

 

 

Net Assets (100.0%)

 

  $ 279,067,202  
      

 

 

 
 

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

18


TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

Schedule of Investments (Continued)

December 31, 2020

 

Futures Contracts  
Number of
Contracts
   Type    Expiration
Date
     Notional
Contract
Value
    Value     Net
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 

Short Futures

            
100    10-Year U.S. Ultra Treasury Note Futures      03/22/21      $ (15,712,225   $ (15,635,937   $ 76,288  
126    5-Year U.S. Treasury Note Futures      03/31/21        (15,879,566     (15,896,672     (17,106
78    U.S. Ultra Long Bond Futures      03/22/21        (16,790,171     (16,657,876     132,295  
        

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
         $   (48,381,962   $   (48,190,485   $   191,477  
        

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Notes to the Schedule of Investments:

ABS   Asset-Backed Securities.
ACES   Alternative Credit Enhancement Securities.
CLO   Collateralized Loan Obligation.
EETC   Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificate.
I/F   Inverse Floating rate security whose interest rate moves in the opposite direction of prevailing interest rates.
I/O   Interest Only Security.
PAC   Planned Amortization Class.
TAC   Target Amortization Class.
TBA   To Be Announced.
(1)   Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These securities may be resold, normally only to qualified institutional buyers. At December 31, 2020, the value of these securities amounted to $95,878,889 or 34.4% of net assets. These securities are determined to be liquid by the Fund’s investment advisor, unless otherwise noted, under procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Fund’s Board of Directors.
(2)   Floating or variable rate security. The interest shown reflects the rate in effect at December 31, 2020.
(3)   This security is purchased on a when-issued, delayed-delivery or forward commitment basis.
(4)   Variable rate security. Interest rate disclosed is as of the most recent information available. Certain variable rate securities are not based on a published reference rate and spread but are determined by the issuer or agent and are based on current market conditions. These securities do not indicate a reference rate and spread in their description above.
(5)   Security is not accruing interest.
(6)   Restricted security (Note 9).
(7)   Security purchased on a forward commitment with an approximate principal amount. The actual principal amount and maturity date will be determined upon settlement when the security is delivered.
(8)   A portion of the principal balance has been written-off during the period due to defaults in the underlying loans. Cost basis has been adjusted.
(9)   For fair value measurement disclosure purposes, security is categorized as Level 3. Security is valued using significant unobservable inputs.
(10)   Investments issued under Regulation S of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, may not be offered, sold, or delivered within the United States except under special exemptions. At December 31, 2020, the value of these securities amounted to $1,601,786 or 0.6% of net assets.
(11)   Security is currently in default due to bankruptcy or failure to make payment of principal or interest of the issuer. Income is not being accrued.
(12)   Rate disclosed is the 7-day net yield as of December 31, 2020.
(13)   Rate shown represents yield-to-maturity.

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

19


TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

Investments by Sector

 

Sector    Percentage of
Net Assets
 

Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities — Non-Agency

     30.9

Corporate Bonds

     27.6  

Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities — Non-Agency

     12.9  

Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities — Agency

     10.8  

Asset-Backed Securities

     10.7  

Common Stock

     5.1  

Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities — Agency

     3.9  

Money Market Investments

     2.4  

Short Term Investments

     1.8  

Foreign Government Bonds

     1.3  

Municipal Bonds

     1.9  

U.S. Treasury Securities

     0.3  

Other*

     (9.6
  

 

 

 

Total

     100.0
  

 

 

 

 

 

*

Includes cash, futures, pending trades, interest receivable and accrued expenses payable.

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

20


TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

Fair Valuation Summary

December 31, 2020

 

The following is a summary of the fair valuations according to the inputs used as of December 31, 2020 in valuing the Fund’s investments:

 

Description

   Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for
Identical

Assets
(Level 1)
    Other
Significant
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
     Significant
Unobservable
Inputs

(Level  3)
     Total  

Fixed Income Securities

          

Asset-Backed Securities

   $     $ 29,814,510      $      $ 29,814,510  

Mortgage-Backed Securities

          

Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities — Agency

           10,831,387               10,831,387  

Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities — Non-Agency

           35,878,629               35,878,629  

Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities — Agency

           30,270,403               30,270,403  

Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities — Non-Agency

           79,041,482        7,225,731        86,267,213  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Mortgage-Backed Securities

           156,021,901        7,225,731        163,247,632  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Corporate Bonds*

           77,065,073               77,065,073  

Municipal Bonds

           5,424,233               5,424,233  

Foreign Government Bonds

           3,681,580               3,681,580  

U.S. Treasury Securities

     807,327                     807,327  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Fixed Income Securities

     807,327       272,007,297        7,225,731        280,040,355  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Common Stock*

     14,239,166                     14,239,166  

Money Market Investments

     6,704,005                     6,704,005  

Short Term Investments

     4,999,930                     4,999,930  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Investments

   $ 26,750,428     $ 272,007,297      $ 7,225,731      $ 305,983,456  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Asset Derivatives

          

Futures Contracts

          

Interest Rate Risk

     208,583                     208,583  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 26,959,011     $ 272,007,297      $ 7,225,731      $ 306,192,039  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liability Derivatives

          

Futures Contracts

          

Interest Rate Risk

   $ (17,106   $      $      $ (17,106
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ (17,106   $      $      $ (17,106
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

*

See Schedule of Investments for corresponding industries.

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

21


TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

December 31, 2020

 

ASSETS:

 

Investments, at Value (Cost: $293,090,144)

   $ 305,983,456  

Receivable for Securities Sold

     14,836,180  

Cash Collateral Held for Broker for Futures

     2,182,000  

Interest and Dividends Receivable

     2,025,641  

Prepaid Expenses

     17,507  
  

 

 

 

Total Assets

     325,044,784  
  

 

 

 

LIABILITIES:

 

Payables for Securities Purchased

     43,706,170  

Distributions Payable

     1,823,990  

Accrued Investment Advisory Fees

     165,814  

Accrued Other Expenses

     157,293  

Payable for Variation Margin on Open Futures Contracts to Broker

     86,306  

Accrued Directors’ Fees and Expenses

     16,137  

Interest Expense Payable

     13,349  

Due to Custodian

     8,523  
  

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     45,977,582  
  

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

   $   279,067,202  
  

 

 

 

NET ASSETS CONSIST OF:

 

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (75,000,000 shares authorized, 47,748,439 shares issued and outstanding)

   $ 477,484  

Paid-in Capital

     269,310,055  

Accumulated Earnings (Loss)

     9,279,663  
  

 

 

 

NET ASSETS

   $ 279,067,202  
  

 

 

 

NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE

   $ 5.85  
  

 

 

 

MARKET PRICE PER SHARE

   $ 5.69  
  

 

 

 

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

22


TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

Statement of Operations

Year Ended December 31, 2020

 

INVESTMENT INCOME:

  

Income

  

Interest

   $ 15,601,673  

Dividends

     740,992  
  

 

 

 

Total Investment Income

     16,342,665  
  

 

 

 

Expenses

  

Investment Advisory Fees

     1,624,388  

Legal Fees

     284,109  

Audit and Tax Service Fees

     152,218  

Directors’ Fees and Expenses

     112,196  

Interest Expense

     110,855  

Custodian Fees

     66,029  

Transfer Agent Fees

     52,851  

Listing Fees

     48,879  

Insurance Expense

     43,562  

Administration Fees

     38,697  

Proxy Expense

     36,367  

Printing and Distribution Costs

     31,183  

Accounting Fees

     20,423  

Miscellaneous Expense

     10,459  
  

 

 

 

Total Expenses

     2,632,216  
  

 

 

 

Net Investment Income

     13,710,449  
  

 

 

 

NET REALIZED GAIN (LOSS) AND CHANGE IN UNREALIZED APPRECIATION (DEPRECIATION) ON INVESTMENTS, FUTURES CONTRACTS AND SWAP AGREEMENTS:

  

Net Realized Gain (Loss) on:

  

Investments

     7,670,447  

Futures Contracts

     (3,705,259

Swap Agreements

     13,659  

Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on:

  

Investments

     1,372,961  

Futures Contracts

     (504,505

Swap Agreements

     1,292  
  

 

 

 

Net Realized Gain (Loss) and Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on Investments, Futures Contracts and Swap Agreements

     4,848,595  
  

 

 

 

INCREASE IN NET ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS

   $   18,559,044  
  

 

 

 

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

23


TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

 

       Year Ended
December 31,
2020
    Year Ended
December 31,
2019
 

OPERATIONS:

      

Net Investment Income

     $ 13,710,449     $ 15,564,068  

Net Realized Gain on Investments, Futures Contracts and Swap Agreements

       3,978,847       820,263  

Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation on Investments, Futures Contracts and Swap Agreements

       869,748       5,735,699  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Increase in Net Assets Resulting from Operations

       18,559,044       22,120,030  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 

DISTRIBUTIONS TO SHAREHOLDERS:

      

Distributions to Shareholders

       (13,131,985     (18,421,472
    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Shares Issued in Reinvestment of Dividends (61,482 for the year ended December 31, 2020 and 0 for the year ended December 31, 2019)

       347,158        
    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Increase in Net Assets

       5,774,217       3,698,558  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET ASSETS:

      

Beginning of year

       273,292,985       269,594,427  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of year

     $   279,067,202     $   273,292,985  
    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

24


TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2020

 

Note 1 — Organization

 

 

TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) was incorporated in Maryland on January 13, 1987 as a diversified, closed-end investment management company and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). Its shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TSI. The Fund commenced operations on March 5, 1987. The Fund’s investment objective is to seek a total return comprised of current income and capital appreciation, and it seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in a wide range of securities including convertible securities, marketable equity securities, investment-grade debt securities, high-yield debt securities, securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies and instrumentalities (“U.S. Government Securities”), repurchase agreements, mortgage-related securities, asset-backed securities, money market securities, and other securities and derivative instruments without limit believed by the Fund’s investment advisor to be consistent with the Fund’s investment objective. TCW Investment Management Company LLC (the “Advisor”) is the investment advisor to the Fund and is registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended.

 

Note 2 — Significant Accounting Policies

 

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies, which are in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and which are consistently followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements. The Fund is considered an investment company under the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) No. 946, Financial Services — Investment Companies. Subsequent events, if any, have been evaluated through the date of issuance in the preparation of the financial statements.

 

Principles of Accounting:    The Fund uses the accrual method of accounting for financial reporting purposes.

 

Security Valuations:    Securities listed or traded on the NYSE and other stock exchanges are valued at the latest sale price on that exchange. Securities traded on the NASDAQ stock market (“NASDAQ”) are valued using official closing prices as reported by NASDAQ. Other securities, including short-term investments, swap agreements and forward currency contracts, which are traded over-the-counter (“OTC”), are valued at the mean of the current bid and asked prices as furnished by independent pricing services or by dealer quotations. Futures contracts are valued at the official settlement prices of the exchanges on which they are traded.

 

Securities for which market quotations are not readily available, including in circumstances under which it is determined by the Advisor that prices received are not reflective of their market values, are valued by the Advisor’s Pricing Committee in accordance with the guidelines established by the Valuation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Fund (the “Board”, and each member thereof, a “Director”) and under the general oversight of the Board.

 

Fair value is defined as the price that the Fund would receive upon selling an investment in a timely transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market for the investment. In accordance with the authoritative guidance on fair value measurements and disclosures under GAAP, the Fund discloses investments in a three-tier hierarchy. This hierarchy is utilized to establish classification of fair value measurement broadly based on inputs that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs are inputs that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability

 

25


TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

 

Note 2 — Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

 

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 inputs market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, developed based on the best information available in the circumstances.

 

The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized in the three broad levels listed below.

 

Level 1 —    quoted prices in active markets for identical investments.
Level 2 —    other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar investments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.).
Level 3 —    significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments).

 

Changes in valuation techniques may result in transfers in or out of an investment’s assigned Level within the hierarchy. The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those investments and the determination of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment and consideration of factors specific to each security.

 

The availability of observable inputs can vary from security to security and is affected by a wide variety of factors, including, for example, the type of security, whether the security is new and not yet established in the marketplace, the liquidity of markets, and other characteristics particular to the security. To the extent that valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgment. Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3.

 

In periods of market dislocation, the observability of prices and inputs may be reduced for many instruments. This condition, as well as changes related to liquidity of investments, could cause a security to be reclassified between Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3.

 

In certain cases, 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.

 

Fair Value Measurements:    Descriptions of the valuation techniques applied to the Fund’s major categories of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are as follows:

 

Asset-backed securities (“ABS”) and mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”).    The fair value of ABS and MBS is estimated based on pricing models that consider the estimated cash flows of each debt tranche of the issuer, establish a benchmark yield, and develop an estimated tranche-specific spread to the benchmark yield based on the unique attributes of the tranche including, but not limited to, the prepayment speed assumptions and attributes of the collateral. To the extent the inputs are observable and timely, the values would be categorized in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy; otherwise, they would be categorized in Level 3.

 

Corporate bonds.    The fair value of corporate bonds is estimated using recently executed transactions, market price quotations (where observable), bond spreads, or credit default swap spreads adjusted for any basis difference between cash and derivative instruments. Corporate bonds are generally categorized in

 

26


TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

 

December 31, 2020

 

Note 2 — Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

 

Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy; in instances where prices, spreads, or any of the other aforementioned key inputs are unobservable, they are categorized in Level 3 of the hierarchy.

 

Equity securities.    Securities are generally valued based on quoted prices from the applicable exchange. To the extent these securities are actively traded and valuation adjustments are not applied, they are generally categorized in Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. Restricted securities issued by publicly held companies are generally categorized in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy; if a discount is applied and significant, they are categorized in Level 3. Restricted securities held in non-public entities are included in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy because they trade infrequently, and therefore the inputs are unobservable. Certain foreign securities that are fair valued using a pricing service that considers the correlation of the trading patterns of the foreign security to the intraday trading in the U.S. markets are categorized in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

 

Futures contracts.    Futures contracts are generally valued at the settlement price established at the close of business each day by the exchange on which they are traded. They are categorized in Level 1.

 

Government and agency securities.    Government and agency securities are normally valued using a model that incorporates market observable data such as reported sales of similar securities, broker quotes, yields, bids, offers, quoted market prices, and reference data. Accordingly, government and agency securities are normally categorized in Level 1 or 2 of the fair value hierarchy depending on the liquidity and transparency of the market.

 

Money market funds.    Money market funds are open-end mutual funds that invest in short-term debt securities. To the extent that these funds are valued based upon the reported net asset value (“NAV”), they are categorized in Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy.

 

Municipal bonds.    Municipal bonds are fair valued based on pricing models that take into account, among other factors, information received from market makers and broker-dealers, current trades, bid-wanted lists, offerings, market movements, the callability of the bond, state of issuance, benchmark yield curves, and bond insurance. To the extent that these inputs are observable and timely, the fair values of municipal bonds are categorized in Level 2; otherwise, the fair values are categorized in Level 3.

 

Restricted securities.    Restricted securities, including illiquid Rule 144A securities, issued by non-public entities are included in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy because they trade infrequently, and therefore the inputs are unobservable. Any other restricted securities valued similar to publicly traded securities may be categorized in Level 2 or 3 of the fair value hierarchy depending on whether a discount is applied and significant to the fair value.

 

Short-term investments.    Short-term investments are valued using market price quotations, and are reflected in Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy.

 

The summary of the inputs used as of December 31, 2020 is listed after the Investments by Sector table.

 

27


TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

 

Note 2 — Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

 

The following is a reconciliation of investments in which significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining value:

 

     Asset-Backed
Securities
    Residential
Mortgage-Backed
Securities —  Non-
Agency
    Total  

Balance as of December 31, 2019

   $ 249,257     $   7,049,925     $ 7,299,182  

Accrued Discounts (Premiums)

           (717,380     (717,380

Realized Gain (Loss)

       (1,028,075             (1,028,075

Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation)

     897,196       893,186       1,790,382  

Purchases

                  

Sales

     (118,378           (118,378

Transfers in to Level 3

                  

Transfers out of Level 3

                  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as of December 31, 2020

   $     $ 7,225,731     $ 7,225,731  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) from Investments Still Held at December 31, 2020

   $     $ 893,186     $ 893,186  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Significant unobservable valuation inputs of Level 3 investments as of December 31, 2020 are as follows:

 

Description

   Fair Value at
December 31,
2020
    

Valuation Techniques

  

Unobservable Input

   Price or Price
Range
     Weighted Average
Price
 

Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities — Non-Agency (Interest Only Collateral Strip Rate Securities)

   $ 832,521      Third-party Vendor    Vendor Prices      $0.404 to $2.289        $1.083  

Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities — Non-Agency (Interest Only Securities)

   $   6,393,210      Third-party Vendor    Vendor Prices      $2.420 to $33.287      $ 11.134  

 

Security Transactions and Related Investment Income:    Security transactions are recorded as of the trade date. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Interest income is recognized on an accrual basis. Realized gains and losses on investments are recorded on the basis of specific identification.

 

Use of Estimates:    The preparation of the accompanying financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

 

Foreign Currency Translation:    The books and records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars as follows: (1) the foreign currency denominated securities and other assets and liabilities stated in foreign currencies are translated using the daily spot rate; and (2) purchases, sales, income and expenses are translated at the rate of exchange prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions. The resultant exchange gains and losses are included in net realized or net unrealized gain (loss) in the Statement of Operations. Pursuant to U.S. federal income tax regulations, certain foreign exchange gains and losses included in realized and unrealized gains and losses are included in, or are a reduction of, ordinary income for federal income tax purposes.

 

Distributions:    Distributions to shareholders are recorded on each ex-dividend date. The Fund declared and paid or reinvested dividends quarterly under an income-based distribution policy. The income-based distribution policy has a stated goal of providing quarterly distributions out of the Fund’s accumulated

 

28


TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

December 31, 2020

 

Note 2 — Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

 

undistributed net investment income and/or other sources subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act and Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”). The source for the dividend can come from net investment income and net realized capital gains measured on a fiscal year basis. Any portion of the distribution that exceeds income and capital gains will be treated as a return of capital. Under certain conditions, U.S. federal tax regulations cause some or all of the return of capital to be taxed as ordinary income. Income and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations which may differ from GAAP. These differences may be primarily due to differing treatments for market discount and premium, losses recognized on structured debt, losses deferred due to wash sales, foreign currency gains and losses, and spillover distributions. Permanent book and tax basis differences relating to shareholder distributions will result in reclassifications to paid-in capital and may affect net investment income per share.

 

Derivative Instruments:    Derivatives are financial instruments whose values are based on the values of one or more indicators, such as a security, asset, currency, interest rate, or index. Derivative transactions can create investment leverage and may be highly volatile. A derivative contract may result in a mark-to-market loss if the value of the contract decreases due to an unfavorable change in the market rates or values of the underlying instrument. It is possible that a derivative transaction will result in a loss greater than the principal amount invested. The Fund may not be able to close out a derivative transaction at a favorable time or price.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Fund had derivatives and transactions in derivatives, grouped in the following risk categories:

 

     Equity Risk     Interest
Rate
Risk
    Total  

Asset Derivatives

 

Futures Contracts (1)

   $     $ 208,583     $ 208,583  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Value

   $     $ 208,583     $ 208,583  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      

Liability Derivatives

      

Futures Contracts (1)

   $     $ (17,106   $ (17,106
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Value

   $     $ (17,106   $ (17,106
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      

Statement of Operations:

 

Net Realized Gain (Loss)

 

Futures Contracts

   $ (458,813   $ (3,246,446   $ (3,705,259

Swap Agreements

           13,659       13,659  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Realized Gain (Loss)

   $   (458,813   $   (3,232,787   $   (3,691,600
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      

Net Change in Appreciation (Depreciation)

 

Futures Contracts

   $ (183,228   $ (321,277   $ (504,505

Swap Agreements

           1,292       1,292  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Change in Appreciation (Depreciation)

   $ (183,228   $ (319,985   $ (503,213
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      

Number of Contracts or Notional Amounts (2)

 

Futures Contracts

     32       319       351  

Swaps Agreements

   $     $ 30,210,991     $ 30,210,991  

 

(1)

Represents appreciation (depreciation) of futures contracts as reported in the Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2020. Only the variation margin is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

(2)

Amount disclosed represents average number of contracts or notional amounts, which are representative of the volume traded for the year ended December 31, 2020.

 

29


TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

 

Note 2 — Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

 

Counterparty Credit Risk:    Derivative contracts may expose the Fund to counterparty risk. Losses can occur if the counterparty does not perform under the contract.

 

The Fund’s risk of loss from counterparty credit risk on OTC derivatives is generally limited to the aggregate unrealized gain netted against any collateral held by the Funds.

 

With exchange-traded futures and centrally cleared swaps, there is less counterparty credit risk to the Fund since the exchange or clearinghouse, as counterparty to such instruments, guarantees against a possible default. The clearinghouse stands between the buyer and the seller of the contract; therefore, the counterparty credit risk is limited to failure of the clearinghouse. While offset rights may exist under applicable law, the Fund does not have a contractual right of offset against a clearing broker or clearinghouse in the event of a default (including the bankruptcy or insolvency) of the clearing broker or clearinghouse. Additionally, credit risk exists in exchange-traded futures and centrally cleared swaps with respect to initial and variation margin that is held in a clearing broker’s customer accounts. While clearing brokers are required to segregate customer margin from their own assets, in the event that a clearing broker becomes insolvent or goes into bankruptcy and at that time there is a shortfall in the aggregate amount of margin held by the clearing broker for all its clients, typically the shortfall would be allocated on a pro rata basis across all the clearing broker’s customers, potentially resulting in losses to the Fund.

 

For OTC derivatives, the Fund mitigates its counterparty risk by entering into an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreement (“ISDA Master Agreement”) or similar agreement with each counterparty. An ISDA Master Agreement is a bilateral agreement between the Fund and a counterparty that governs OTC derivatives and typically contains, among other things, collateral posting terms and netting provisions in the event of a default and/or termination event. Under an ISDA Master Agreement, the Fund may, under certain circumstances, offset with the counterparty certain derivative financial instruments’ payables and/or receivables with collateral held and/or posted and create one single net payment. The provisions of the ISDA Master Agreement typically permit a single net payment in the event of default including the bankruptcy or insolvency of the counterparty. However, bankruptcy or insolvency laws of a particular jurisdiction may impose restrictions on or prohibitions against the right of offset in bankruptcy, insolvency or other events. In addition, certain ISDA Master Agreements allow counterparties to OTC derivatives to terminate derivative contracts prior to maturity in the event the Fund’s net assets decline by a stated percentage or the Fund fails to meet the terms of its ISDA Master Agreements, which would cause the Fund to accelerate payment of any net liability owed to the counterparty.

 

Collateral Requirements:    For derivatives traded under an ISDA Master Agreement, the collateral requirements are typically calculated by netting the mark-to-market amount for each transaction under such agreement and comparing that amount to the value of any collateral pledged or received by the Fund.

 

Cash collateral that has been pledged to cover obligations of the Fund is reported separately on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Non-cash collateral pledged by the Fund, if any, is noted in the Schedule of Investments. Generally, the amount of collateral due from or to a party has to exceed a minimum transfer amount threshold, typically $250,000 or $500,000, before a transfer is required, which is determined at the close of each business day and the collateral is transferred on the next business day. To the extent amounts due to the Fund from its counterparties are not fully collateralized, contractually or otherwise, the Fund bears the risk of loss from counterparty non-performance. The Fund attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties that the Advisor believes

 

30


TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

December 31, 2020

 

Note 2 — Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

 

have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. For financial reporting purposes, the Fund does not offset derivative assets and derivative liabilities that are subject to netting arrangements in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

 

Master Agreements and Netting Arrangements.    The Fund is party to various agreements, including but not limited to International Swaps and Derivatives Association Agreements and related Credit Support Annex, Master Repurchase Agreements, and Master Securities Forward Transactions Agreements (collectively “Master Agreements”), which govern the terms of certain transactions with select counterparties. These Master Agreements generally include provisions for general obligations, representations, agreements, collateral, and certain events of default or termination. These Master Agreements also include provisions for netting arrangements that help reduce credit and counterparty risk associated with relevant transactions (“netting arrangements”). The netting arrangements are generally tied to credit-related events that, if triggered, would cause an event of default or termination giving a Fund or counterparty the right to terminate early and cause settlement, on a net basis, of all transactions under the applicable Master Agreement. In the event of an early termination as a result of an event of default under the Master Agreement, the total value exposure of all transactions will be offset against collateral exchanged to date, which would result in a net receivable or payable that would be due from or to the counterparty. However, bankruptcy or insolvency laws of a particular jurisdiction may impose restrictions on or prohibitions against the right of offset in the event of a bankruptcy or insolvency of the counterparty. Credit related events include, but are not limited to, bankruptcy, failure to make timely payments, restructuring, obligation acceleration, obligation default, a material decline in net assets, decline in credit rating or repudiation/moratorium. Any election made by a counterparty to early terminate the transactions under a Master Agreement could have a material adverse impact on a Fund’s financial statements. A Fund’s overall exposure to credit risk, subject to netting arrangements can change substantially within a short period, as it is affected by each transaction subject to the arrangement.

 

Master Agreements can also help limit counterparty risk by specifying collateral posting arrangements at pre-arranged exposure levels. Under the Master Agreements, collateral is routinely transferred if the total net exposure to certain transactions under the relevant Master Agreement with a counterparty in a given Fund exceeds a specified threshold, net of collateral already in place, typically $250,000 or $500,000 depending on the counterparty and the type of Master Agreement. Collateral under the Master Agreements is usually in the form of cash or U.S. Treasury Bills but could include other types of securities. If permitted under the Master Agreement, certain funds may rehypothecate cash collateral received from a counterparty. The value of all derivative transactions outstanding under a Master Agreement is calculated daily to determine the amount of collateral to be received or pledged by the counterparty. Posting of collateral for OTC derivative transactions are covered under tri-party collateral agreements between the Fund, the Fund’s custodian, and each counterparty. Collateral for centrally cleared derivatives transactions are posted with the applicable derivatives clearing organization.

 

The Fund had no OTC derivatives for offset under an ISDA Master Agreement as of December 31, 2020.

 

Note 3 — Portfolio Investments

 

Mortgage-Backed and Other Asset-Backed Securities:    The Fund may invest in MBS, which represent interests in pools of mortgages in which payments of both principal and interest on the securities are generally made monthly, in effect “passing through” monthly payments made by borrowers on the residential or commercial mortgage loans which underlie the securities (net of any fees paid to the issuer or

 

31


TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

 

Note 3 — Portfolio Investments (Continued)

 

guarantor of the securities). Mortgage pass-through securities differ from other forms of debt securities, which normally provide for periodic payment of interest in fixed amounts with principal payments at maturity or specified call dates. The Fund may also invest in Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (“CMOs”). CMOs are debt obligations collateralized by residential or commercial mortgage loans or residential or commercial mortgage pass-through securities. Interest and principal are generally paid monthly. CMOs may be collateralized by whole mortgage loans or private mortgage pass-through securities but are more typically collateralized by portfolios of mortgage pass-through securities guaranteed by the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae), Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) or Federal National Mortgage Corporation (Fannie Mae). The issuer of a series of CMOs may elect to be treated for tax purposes as a Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduit. CMOs are structured into multiple classes, each bearing a different stated maturity. Monthly payment of principal received from the pool of underlying mortgages, including prepayments, is first returned to investors holding the shortest maturity class. Investors holding the longer maturity classes usually receive principal only after shorter classes have been retired. An investor may be partially protected against a sooner than desired return of principal because of the sequential payments. The Fund may invest in stripped MBS. Stripped MBS are usually structured with two classes that receive different proportions of the interest and principal distributions on a pool of mortgage assets. In certain cases, one class will receive all of the interest (the interest only or “IO” class), while the other class will receive all of the principal (the principal-only or “PO” class). The yield to maturity on IOs is sensitive to the rate of principal repayments (including prepayments) on the related underlying mortgage assets, and principal payments may have a material effect on yield to maturity. If the underlying mortgage assets experience greater than anticipated prepayments of principal, the Fund may not fully recoup its initial investment in IOs. Mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities held by the fund at December 31, 2020 are listed in the Fund’s Schedule of Investments.

 

Repurchase Agreements:    The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements under the terms of a Master Repurchase Agreement (“MRA”). In a repurchase agreement, the Fund will purchase a security from a counterparty who agrees to repurchase the same security at a mutually agreed upon date and price. The MRA permits the Fund, under certain circumstances, including an event of default (such as bankruptcy or insolvency), to offset payables and/or receivables under the MRA with collateral held and/or posted to the counterparty and create one single net payment due to or from the Fund. However, bankruptcy or insolvency laws of a particular jurisdiction may impose restrictions on or prohibitions against such a right of offset in the event of the MRA counterparty’s bankruptcy or insolvency. Pursuant to the terms of the MRA, the Fund receives securities as collateral with a market value in excess of the repurchase price. Upon a bankruptcy or insolvency of the MRA counterparty, the Fund recognizes a liability with respect to such excess collateral to reflect the Fund’s obligation under bankruptcy law to return the excess to the counterparty. The Fund had no repurchase agreements outstanding at December 31, 2020.

 

When-Issued, Delayed-Delivery, and Forward Commitment Transactions:    The Fund may enter into when issued, delayed-delivery or forward commitment transactions in order to lock in the purchase price of the underlying security or to adjust the interest rate exposure of the Fund’s existing portfolio. In when-issued, delayed-delivery, or forward commitment transactions, the Fund commits to purchase or sell particular securities, with payment and delivery to take place at a future date. Although the Fund does not pay for the securities or start earning interest on them until they are delivered, it immediately assumes the risks of ownership, including the risk of price fluctuation. If the Fund’s counterparty fails to deliver a security purchased on a when-issued, delayed-delivery or forward commitment basis, there may be a loss, and the Fund may have missed an opportunity to make an alternative investment.

 

32


TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

December 31, 2020

 

Note 3 — Portfolio Investments (Continued)

 

Prior to settlement of these transactions, the value of the subject securities will fluctuate with market conditions. In addition, because the Fund is not required to pay for when-issued, delayed-delivery or forward commitment securities until the delivery date, they may result in a form of leverage to the extent the Fund does not set aside liquid assets to cover the commitment. To guard against this deemed leverage, the Fund monitors the obligations under these transactions on a daily basis and ensures that the Fund has sufficient liquid assets to cover them.

 

Security Lending:    The Fund may lend its securities to qualified brokers. The loans must be collateralized at all times primarily with cash although the Fund can accept money market instruments or U.S. Government securities with a market value at least equal to the market value of the securities on loan. As with any extensions of credit, the Fund may bear the risk of delay in recovery or even loss of rights in the collateral if the borrowers of the securities fail financially. The Fund earns additional income for lending its securities by investing the cash collateral in short-term investments. The Fund did not lend any securities during the year ended December 31, 2020.

 

Derivatives:

 

Forward Foreign Currency Contracts:    The Fund enters into forward foreign currency contracts as a hedge against fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. Forward foreign currency contracts are marked-to-market daily and the change in market value is recorded by the Fund as unrealized gains or losses in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. When a contract is closed or delivery is taken, 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. Risks may arise upon entering into these contracts from the potential inability of counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts and from unanticipated movements in the value of the foreign currency relative to the U.S. dollar. The Fund did not have any foreign currency forward contracts as of December 31, 2020.

 

Futures Contracts:    The Fund may enter into futures contracts. The Fund may seek to manage a variety of different risks through the use of futures contracts, such as interest rate risk, equity price risk, and currency risk. The Fund may use index futures to hedge against broad market risks to its portfolio or to gain broad market exposure. Securities index futures contracts are contracts to buy or sell units of a securities index at a specified future date at a price agreed upon when the contract is made, and are settled in cash. Positions in futures may be closed out only on an exchange or board of trade which provides a secondary market for such futures. Because futures contracts are exchange-traded, they typically have minimal exposure to counterparty risk. Parties to a futures contract are not required to post the entire notional amount of the contract, but rather a small percentage of that amount (by way of margin), both at the time they enter into futures transactions, and then on a daily basis if their positions decline in value; as a result, futures contracts are highly leveraged. Such payments are known as variation margin and are recorded by the Fund as unrealized gains or losses. Because futures markets are highly leveraged, they can be extremely volatile, and there can be no assurance that the pricing of a futures contract will correlate precisely with the pricing of the asset or index underlying it or the asset or liability of the Fund that is the subject of the hedge. It may not always be possible for the Fund to enter into a closing transaction with respect to a futures contract it has entered into at a favorable time or price. When the Fund enters into a futures transaction, it is subject to the risk that the value of the futures contract will move in a direction unfavorable to it.

 

When the Fund uses futures contracts for hedging purposes, it is likely that the Fund will have an asset or liability that will offset any loss (or gain) on the transactions, at least in part. When a futures contract is

 

33


TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

 

Note 3 — Portfolio Investments (Continued)

 

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. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Fund used S&P 500 Index futures to gain exposure to the equity market. The Fund also utilized treasury futures to help manage interest rate duration and credit market exposure. Futures contracts outstanding at December 31, 2020 are listed in the Fund’s Schedule of Investments.

 

Swap Agreements:    The Fund may enter into swap agreements. Swap agreements are typically two-party contracts entered into primarily by institutional investors. In a standard “swap” transaction, two parties agree to exchange the returns (or differentials in rates of return) earned or realized on particular predetermined investments or instruments, which may be adjusted for an interest factor. The gross returns to be exchanged or “swapped” between the parties are generally calculated with respect to a “notional amount” (i.e., the return on or increase in value of a particular dollar amount invested at a particular interest rate or in a “basket” of securities representing a particular index).

 

In a total return swap, one party typically agrees to pay to the other a short-term interest rate in return for a payment at one or more times in the future based on the increase in the value of an underlying security or other asset, or index of securities or assets; if the underlying security, asset, or index declines in value, the party that pays the short-term interest rate must also pay to its counterparty a payment based on the amount of the decline. The Fund may take either side of such a swap, and so may take a long or short position in the underlying security, asset, or index. The Fund may enter into a total return swap to hedge against an exposure in its portfolio — such as interest rate risk (including to adjust the duration or credit quality of the Fund’s bond portfolio), equity risk, or credit risk — or generally to put cash to work efficiently in the markets in anticipation of, or as a replacement for, cash investments. The Fund may also enter into a total return swap to gain exposure to securities or markets in which it might not be able to invest directly (in so-called market access transactions).

 

Interest rate swaps are agreements in which one party pays a floating rate of interest on a notional principal amount and receives a fixed rate of interest on the same notional principal amount for a specified period of time. Alternatively, a party may pay a fixed rate and receive a floating rate. In more complex swaps, the notional principal amount may decline (or amortize) over time. The Fund’s maximum risk of loss due to counterparty default is the discounted NAV of the cash flows paid to/received from the counterparty over the interest rate swap’s remaining life.

 

The Fund may enter into credit default swap transactions as a “buyer” or “seller” of credit protection. In a credit default swap, one party provides what is in effect insurance against a default or other adverse credit event affecting an issuer of debt securities (typically referred to as a “reference entity”). In general, the buyer of credit protection is obligated to pay the protection seller an upfront amount or a periodic stream of payments over the term of the swap. If a “credit event” occurs, the buyer has the right to deliver to the seller bonds (or other obligations of the reference entity with a value up to the full notional value of the swap), and to receive a payment equal to the par value of the bonds or other obligations. Credit events that would trigger a request that the seller make payment are specific to each credit default swap agreement, but generally include bankruptcy, failure to pay, restructuring, obligation acceleration, obligation default, or repudiation/moratorium. When the Fund buys protection, it may or may not own securities of the reference entity. When the Fund sells protection under a credit default swap, the position may have the effect of creating leverage in the Fund’s portfolio through the Fund’s indirect long exposure to the issuer or securities on which the swap is written. When the Fund sells protection, it may do so either to earn additional income or to create such a “synthetic” long position.

 

34


TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

December 31, 2020

 

Note 3 — Portfolio Investments (Continued)

 

Whenever the Fund enters into a swap agreement, it takes on counterparty risk — the risk that its counterparty will be unable or unwilling to meet its obligations under the swap agreement. The Fund also takes the risk that the market will move against its position in the swap agreement. In the case of a total return swap, the swap will change in value depending on the change in value of the asset or index on which the swap is written. When the Fund enters into any type of swap for hedging purposes, it is likely that the Fund will have an asset or liability that will offset any loss (or gain) on the swap, at least in part. Swap agreements may be non-transferable or otherwise highly illiquid, and the Fund may not be able to terminate or transfer a swap agreement at any particular time or at an acceptable price.

 

During the term of a swap transaction, changes in the value of the swap are recognized as unrealized gains or losses by marking-to-market to reflect the market value of the swap. When the swap is terminated, the Fund will record a realized gain or loss equal to the difference, if any, between the proceeds from (or cost of) the closing transaction and the Fund’s basis in the agreement. Upfront swap premium payments paid or received by the Fund, if any, are recorded within the value of the open swap agreement on the Fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities and represent payments paid or received upon entering into the swap agreement to compensate for differences between stated terms of the swap agreement and prevailing market conditions (credit spreads, currency exchange rates, and other relevant factors). These upfront payments are recorded as realized gains or losses on the Fund’s Statement of Operations upon termination or maturity of the swap agreement.

 

During the term of a swap transaction, the periodic net payments can be made for a set period of time or may be triggered by a predetermined credit event. The net periodic payments may be based on a fixed or variable interest rate, the change in market value of a specified security, basket of securities or index, or the return generated by a security. These periodic payments received or made by the Fund are recorded as realized gains and losses, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Fund entered into interest rate swaps to manage duration, the yield curve or interest rate risk by economically hedging the value of the fixed-rate bonds which may decrease when interest rates rise (interest rate risk). There were no swap agreements outstanding at December 31, 2020.

 

Note 4 — Investment Objective, Investment Strategy, and Risk Considerations

 

Investment objective:    The Fund’s investment objective is to seek a total return comprised of current income and capital appreciation.

 

Investment strategy:    The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in a wide range of securities, including securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agencies and instrumentalities (“U.S. Government Securities”), investment-grade corporate debt securities, high yield corporate debt securities, non-U.S. developed and emerging market debt mortgage-related securities, asset-backed securities, marketable small-, mid- and large-capitalization equity securities, convertible securities, money market securities, repurchase agreements, other securities and derivative instruments without limit believed by the Fund’s investment adviser to be consistent with the Fund’s investment objective. The Fund will shift and reallocate its investments on an opportunistic basis and may invest in additional asset classes other than those identified above. The Fund may also employ leverage up to 33% of its total assets (including assets purchased with borrowings). The Fund has a stated goal of providing dependable, but not assured, quarterly distributions out of accumulated net investment income and/or other sources, subject to the requirements of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

35


TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

 

Note 4 — Investment Objective, Investment Strategy, and Risk Considerations (Continued)

 

Market Risk:    The Fund’s investments will fluctuate with market conditions, and so will the value of your investment in the Fund. You could lose money on your investment in the Fund or the Fund could underperform other investments.

 

Liquidity Risk:    The Fund’s investments in illiquid securities may reduce the returns of the Fund because it may not be able to sell the illiquid securities at an advantageous time or price. Investments in high-yield securities, foreign securities, derivatives or other securities with substantial market and/or credit risk tend to have the greatest exposure to liquidity risk. Certain investments in private placements and Rule 144A securities may be considered illiquid investments. The Fund may invest in private placements and Rule 144A securities.

 

Interest Rate Risk:    The values of the Fund’s investments fluctuate in response to movements in interest rates. If rates rise, the values of debt securities generally fall. The longer the average duration of the Fund’s investment portfolio, the greater the change in value.

 

Mortgage-Backed and Other Asset-Backed Securities Risk:    The Fund may invest in MBS or other ABS. The values of some mortgage-backed securities or other asset-backed securities may expose the Fund to a lower rate of return upon reinvestment of principal. When interest rates rise, the value of mortgage-related securities generally will decline; however, when interest rates are declining, the value of mortgage-related securities with prepayment features may not increase as much as other fixed-income securities. The rate of prepayments on underlying mortgages will affect the price and volatility of a mortgage-related security, and may shorten or extend the effective maturity of the security beyond what was anticipated at the time of purchase. The value of these securities may fluctuate in response to the market’s perception of the creditworthiness of the issuers. Additionally, although mortgages and mortgage- related securities are generally supported by some form of government or private guarantee and/or insurance, there is no assurance that private guarantors or insurers will meet their obligations.

 

Derivatives Risk:    Use of derivatives, which at times is an important part of the Fund’s investment strategy, involves risks different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in securities and other traditional investments. Investments in derivatives could cause the Fund to lose more than the principal amount invested. Also, suitable derivative transactions may not be available in all circumstances and there can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its objective through the use of the derivatives.

 

Credit Risk:    The values of any of the Fund’s investments may also decline in response to events affecting the issuer or its credit rating. The lower rated debt securities in which the Fund may invest are considered speculative and are subject to greater volatility and risk of loss than investment-grade securities, particularly in deteriorating economic conditions. The value of some mortgage-related securities in which the Fund invests also may fall because of unanticipated levels of principal prepayments that can occur when interest rates decline. The Fund invests a material portion of its assets in securities of issuers that hold mortgage- and asset-backed securities and direct investments in securities backed by commercial and residential mortgage loans and other financial assets. The value and related income of these securities are sensitive to changes in economic conditions, including delinquencies and/or defaults. Continuing shifts in the market’s perception of credit quality on securities backed by commercial and residential mortgage loans and other financial assets may result in increased volatility of market prices and periods of illiquidity which can negatively impact the valuation of certain issuers held by the Fund.

 

36


TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

December 31, 2020

 

Note 4 — Investment Objective, Investment Strategy, and Risk Considerations (Continued)

 

MBS and ABS are characterized and classified in a variety of different ways. These classifications include a view of the securities’ cash flow structure (pass through, sequential pay, prepayment-protected, interest only, principal-only, etc.), the security of the claim on the underlying assets (senior, mezzanine and subordinated), as well as types of underlying collateral (prime conforming loans, prime non-conforming loans, Alt-A loans, subprime loans, commercial loans, etc.). In many cases, the classification incorporates a degree of subjectivity — a particular loan might be categorized as “prime” by the underwriting standards of one mortgage issuer while another might classify the loan as “subprime.” In addition to other functions, the risk associated with an investment in a mortgage loan must take into account the nature of the collateral, the form and the level of credit enhancement, the vintage of the loan, the geography of the loan, the purpose of the loan (e.g. refinance versus purchase versus equity takeout), the borrower’s credit quality (e.g., FICO score), and whether the loan is a first trust deed or a second lien.

 

Counterparty Risk:    The Fund may be exposed to counterparty risk, the risk that an entity with which the Fund has unsettled or open transactions may not fulfill its obligations.

 

LIBOR Risk:    The London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) historically has been and currently is used extensively in the U.S. and globally as a “benchmark” or “reference rate” for various commercial and financial contracts, including corporate and municipal bonds, bank loans, asset-backed and mortgage-related securities, interest rate swaps and other derivatives. For example, debt securities in which the Fund invests may pay interest at floating rates based on LIBOR or may be subject to interest caps or floors based on LIBOR. The Fund’s derivative investments may also reference LIBOR. In July 2017, the head of the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority announced the intention to phase out the use of LIBOR by the end of 2021. There is currently no definitive information regarding the future utilization of LIBOR or of any particular replacement reference rate. Abandonment of or modifications to LIBOR could have adverse impacts on newly issued financial instruments and existing financial instruments that reference LIBOR. The expected discontinuation of LIBOR could have a significant impact on the financial markets and may present a material risk for certain market participants, including investment companies such as the Fund. Abandonment of or modifications to LIBOR could lead to significant short- and long-term uncertainty and market instability. The risks associated with this discontinuation and transition may be exacerbated if the work necessary to effect an orderly transition to an alternative reference rate is not completed in a timely manner. It remains uncertain how such changes would be implemented and the effects such changes would have on the Fund, issuers of instruments in which the Fund invests, and the financial markets generally.

 

Public Health Emergencies Risk and Impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19):    Pandemics and other local, national, and international public health emergencies, including outbreaks of infectious diseases such as SARS, H1N1/09 Flu, the Avian Flu, Ebola and the current outbreak of the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”), can result, and in the case of COVID-19 is resulting, in market volatility and disruption, and any similar future emergencies may materially and adversely impact economic production and activity in ways that cannot be predicted, all of which could result in substantial investment losses.

 

The World Health Organization officially declared in March 2020 that the COVID-19 outbreak formally constitutes a “pandemic.” This outbreak has caused a worldwide public health emergency, straining healthcare resources and resulting in extensive and growing numbers of infections, hospitalizations and deaths. In an effort to contain COVID-19, local, regional, and national governments, as well as private businesses and other organizations, have imposed and continue to impose severely restrictive measures, including instituting local and regional quarantines, restricting travel (including closing certain

 

37


TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

 

Note 4 — Investment Objective, Investment Strategy, and Risk Considerations (Continued)

 

international borders), prohibiting public activity (including “stay-at-home,” “shelter-in-place,” and similar orders), and ordering the closure of a wide range of offices, businesses, schools, and other public venues. Consequently, COVID-19 has significantly diminished and disrupted global economic production and activity of all kinds and has contributed to both volatility and a severe decline in financial markets. Among other things, these unprecedented developments have resulted in: (i) material reductions in demand across most categories of consumers and businesses; (ii) dislocation (or, in some cases, a complete halt) in the credit and capital markets; (iii) labor force and operational disruptions; (iv) slowing or complete idling of certain supply chains and manufacturing activity; and (v) strain and uncertainty for businesses and households, with a particularly acute impact on industries dependent on travel and public accessibility, such as transportation, hospitality, tourism, retail, sports, and entertainment.

 

The ultimate impact of COVID-19 (and of the resulting precipitous decline and disruption in economic and commercial activity across many of the world’s economies) on global economic conditions, and on the operations, financial condition, and performance of any particular market, industry or business, is impossible to predict. However, ongoing and potential additional materially adverse effects, including further global, regional and local economic downturns (including recessions) of indeterminate duration and severity, are possible. The extent of COVID-19’s impact will depend on many factors, including the ultimate duration and scope of the public health emergency and the restrictive countermeasures being undertaken, as well as the effectiveness of other governmental, legislative, and financial and monetary policy interventions designed to mitigate the crisis and address its negative externalities, all of which are evolving rapidly and may have unpredictable results. Even if COVID-19’s spread is substantially contained, it will be difficult to assess what the longer-term impacts of an extended period of unprecedented economic dislocation and disruption will be on future economic developments, the health of certain markets, industries and businesses, and commercial and consumer behavior.

 

The ongoing COVID-19 crisis and any other public health emergency could have a significant adverse impact on our investments and result in significant investment losses. The extent of the impact on business operations and performance of market participants and the companies in which we invest depends and will continue to depend on many factors, virtually all of which are highly uncertain and unpredictable, and this impact may include or lead to: (i) significant reductions in revenue and growth; (ii) unexpected operational losses and liabilities; (iii) impairments to credit quality; and (iv) reductions in the availability of capital. These same factors may limit the ability to source, research, and execute new investments, as well as to sell investments in the future, and governmental mitigation actions may constrain or alter existing financial, legal, and regulatory frameworks in ways that are adverse to the investment strategies we intend to pursue, all of which could materially diminish our ability to fulfill investment objectives. They may also impair the ability of the companies in which we invest or their counterparties to perform their respective obligations under debt instruments and other commercial agreements (including their ability to pay obligations as they become due), potentially leading to defaults with uncertain consequences, including the potential for defaults by borrowers under debt instruments held in a client’s portfolio. In addition, an extended period of remote working by the employees of the companies in which we invest subjects those companies to additional operational risks, including heightened cybersecurity risk. Remote working environments may be less secure and more susceptible to cyberattacks that seek to exploit the COVID-19 pandemic, and the operational damage of any such events could potentially disrupt our business and reduce the value of our investments. The operations of securities markets may also be significantly impacted, or even temporarily or permanently halted, as a

 

38


TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

December 31, 2020

 

Note 4 — Investment Objective, Investment Strategy, and Risk Considerations (Continued)

 

result of government quarantine measures, restrictions on travel and movement, remote-working requirements, and other factors related to a public health emergency, including the potential adverse impact on the health of any such entity’s personnel. These measures may also hinder normal business operations by impairing usual communication channels and methods, hampering the performance of administrative functions such as processing payments and invoices, and diminishing the ability to make accurate and timely projections of financial performance. Because our ability to execute transactions on behalf of the Funds is dependent upon the timely performance of multiple third parties, any interruptions in the business operations of those third parties could impair our ability to effectively implement a Fund’s investment strategies.

 

Note 5 — Federal Income Taxes

 

It is the policy of the Fund to comply with the requirements under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and distribute all of its net taxable income, including any net realized gains on investments, to its shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required.

 

The following table shows character of distributed and undistributed amounts on a tax basis.

 

     Amount Distributed During
the Year
     Undistributed Amount
at Year End
 
   Year Ended
December 31,
2020
     Year Ended
December 31,
2019
     December 31,
2020
     December 31,
2019
 

Ordinary Income

   $ 13,131,985      $ 17,273,916      $      $ 36,007  

Capital Gain

            1,147,556                
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $   13,131,985      $   18,421,472      $   —      $   36,007  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

At December 31, 2020, net unrealized appreciation for federal income tax purposes is comprised of the following components:

 

Unrealized appreciation

   $ 28,159,591  

Unrealized (depreciation)

     (18,023,819
  

 

 

 

Net unrealized appreciation

   $ 10,135,772  
  

 

 

 

Cost of Investments for Federal Income Tax Purposes

   $   295,847,684  
  

 

 

 

 

The following reclassifications have been made for the permanent difference between book and tax accounting as of December 31, 2020:

 

     Increase
(Decrease)
 

Distributions in Excess of Net Investment Income

   $   (174,100

Accumulated Net Realized Loss on Investments

   $ 174,100  

Paid in Capital

   $  

 

The Fund did not have any unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2020, nor were there any increases or decreases in unrecognized tax benefits for the period then ended; and therefore no interest or penalties were accrued. The Fund is subject to examination by U.S. federal and state tax authorities for returns filed for the prior three and four fiscal years, respectively.

 

39


TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)

 

Note 6 — Investment Advisory and Service Fees

 

As compensation for the investment advisory services rendered, facilities provided, and expenses borne, the Advisor is paid a monthly fee by the Fund computed at the annual rate of 0.75% of the first $100 million of the Fund’s average managed assets and 0.50% of the Fund’s average managed assets in excess of $100 million.

 

Note 7 — Purchases and Sales of Securities

 

For the year ended December 31, 2020, purchases and sales or maturities of investment securities (excluding short-term investments) aggregated to $153,121,393 and $132,227,778, respectively, for non-U.S. Government securities, and aggregated to $74,703,071 and $62,979,644, respectively, for U.S. Government securities.

 

Note 8 — Directors’ Fees

 

Directors who are not affiliated with the Advisor received, as a group, fees and expenses of $112,196 from the Fund for the year ended December 31, 2020. Directors may elect to defer receipt of their fees in accordance with the terms of a Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan. Deferred compensation is included within Accrued Directors’ Fees and Expenses in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Certain Officers and/or Directors of the Fund are also Officers and/or Directors of the Advisor but do not receive any compensation from the Fund.

 

Note 9 — Restricted Securities

 

The Fund is permitted to invest in securities that have legal or contractual restrictions on resale. These securities may be sold privately, but are required to be registered before being sold to the public (exemption rules apply). Private placement securities are generally considered to be restricted except for those securities traded between qualified institutional investors under the provisions of Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). However, the Fund considers 144A securities to be restricted if those securities have been deemed illiquid. Disposal of these securities may involve time-consuming negotiations and expense, and prompt sale at an acceptable price may be difficult. Restricted securities held by the Fund at December 31, 2020 are listed below:

 

Issuer Description

   Acquisition Date    Acquisition
Cost
     Aggregate
Value
     Percentage
of Net Assets
 

Citigroup Commercial Mortgage Trust, (12-GC8-XA), 1.75%, due 09/10/45

   2/13/2015-2/26/2015    $ 294,717      $ 65,778        0.02

GS Mortgage Securities Trust GSMS (12-GC6-XB), 0.20% due 01/10/2045

   2/1/2018      141,354        36,764        0.01

JPMorgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Trust, (12-HSBC-XA), 1.43%, due 07/05/2032

   10/11/2017      259,357        77,955        0.03

Morgan Stanley Capital I Trust (12-C4-XA),
2.06% due 03/15/45

   5/16/2018      333,354        78,970        0.03

UBS Commercial Mortgage Trust (12-C1-XA),
2.06%, due 05/10/45

   6/27/2017      377,297        82,148        0.03

WFRBS Commercial Mortgage Trust (12-C8-XA), 1.79% due 08/15/2045

   12/22/2017      282,619        79,422        0.03
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
      $   1,688,698      $   421,037        0.15
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

40


TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

December 31, 2020

 

Note 10 — Loan Outstanding

 

The Fund is permitted to have borrowings for investment purposes. The Fund has entered into a line of credit agreement, renewed annually, with The Bank of New York Mellon (the “Bank”) which permits the Fund to borrow up to $70 million at a rate, per annum, equal to the Federal Funds Rate plus 1.00%. The average daily loan balance during the year ended December 31, 2020, for which loans were outstanding, amounted to $11,577,396, and the weighted average interest rate was 1.13%. Interest expense on the line of credit was $56,496 for the year ended December 31, 2020. The maximum outstanding loan balance during the year ended December 31, 2020 was $22,947,000. The Fund did not have any outstanding loan balance as of December 31, 2020. The Fund pays the Bank a commitment fee equal to 0.08% per annum on the daily unused portion of the committed line amount. The commitment fee incurred by the Fund is presented in the Interest Expense line in the Statement of Operations.

 

Note 11 — Indemnifications

 

Under the Fund’s organizational documents, its Officers and Directors may be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses arising out of the performance of their duties to the Fund. In addition, the Fund entered into an agreement with each of the Directors which provides that the Fund will indemnify and hold harmless each Director against any expenses actually and reasonably incurred by such Director in any proceeding arising out of or in connection with the Director’s services to the Fund, to the fullest extent permitted by the Fund’s Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws, the Maryland General Corporation Law, the Securities Act, and the 1940 Act, each as now or hereinafter in force. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Fund enters into agreements with service providers that may contain indemnification clauses. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund that have not yet occurred. However, based on experience, the Fund expects the risk of loss to be remote. The Fund has not accrued any liability in connection with such indemnification.

 

Note 12 — New Accounting Pronouncement

 

In March 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848) — Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. The amendments in the ASU provides optional temporary financial reporting relief from the effect of certain types of contract modifications due to the planned discontinuation of the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) and other interbank offered reference rates as of the end of 2021. The ASU is effective for certain reference rate-related contract modifications that occur during the period March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. Management has reviewed the requirements and believes the adoption of this ASU will not have a material impact on the financial statements.

 

In October 2020, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2020-08 (“ASU 2020-08”), “Receivables — Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs (Codification Improvements Subtopic 310-20), Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities”. ASU 2020-08 is an update of ASU No. 2017-08, which amends the amortization period of certain purchased callable debt securities held at a premium. ASU 2020-08 updates the amortization period for callable debt securities to be amortized to the next call date. For purposes of this update, the next call date is the first date when a call option at a specified price becomes exercisable. Once that date has passed, the next call date is when the next call option at a specified price becomes exercisable, if applicable. The amendments are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020. Management has evaluated the implication of the additional disclosure requirement and determined that there is no impact to the Funds’ financial statements.

 

41


TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

Financial Highlights

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
      2020     2019     2018     2017     2016  

Net Asset Value Per Share, Beginning of year

   $ 5.73     $ 5.65     $ 5.91     $ 5.81     $ 5.83  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from Operations:

 

Net Investment Income (1)

     0.29       0.33       0.30       0.27       0.26  

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments

     0.11       0.14       (0.19     0.14       0.00  (2)  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from Investment Operations

     0.40       0.47       0.11       0.41       0.26  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Less Distributions:

 

Distributions from Net Investment Income

     (0.28     (0.35     (0.34     (0.28     (0.21

Distributions from Net Realized Gains

           (0.04     (0.03     (0.03     (0.07
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Distributions

     (0.28     (0.39     (0.37     (0.31     (0.28
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Asset Value Per Share, End of year

   $ 5.85     $ 5.73     $ 5.65     $ 5.91     $ 5.81  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Market Value Per Share, End of year

   $ 5.69     $ 5.77     $ 5.27     $ 5.87     $ 5.33  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Asset Value Total Return (3)

     7.25     8.37     1.86     7.22     4.49

Market Price Return (4)

     3.75     17.14     (3.88 )%      16.36     6.56

Ratios/Supplemental Data:

 

Net Assets, End of year (in thousands)

   $   279,067     $   273,293     $   269,594     $   282,034     $   277,132  

Ratio of Expenses Before Interest Expense to Average Net Assets

     0.93     0.85     0.81     0.81     0.84

Ratio of Interest Expense to Average Net Assets

     0.04     0.02     0.02     0.01     0.01

Ratio of Total Expenses to Average Net Assets

     0.97     0.87     0.83     0.82     0.85

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

     5.07     5.62     5.13     4.47     4.38

Portfolio Turnover Rate

     72.59     34.64     31.16     32.46     29.20

Asset Coverage Ratio Per Share (5)

                              

Total Debt Outstanding

                              

 

 

(1)

Computed using average shares outstanding throughout the period.

(2)

Amount rounds to less than $0.01 per share.

(3)

Based on net asset value per share, adjusted for reinvestment of distributions. The fund does not incur charges to investors for purchasing or selling shares.

(4)

Based on market price per share, adjusted for reinvestment of distributions. The fund does not incur charges to investors for purchasing or selling shares.

(5)

The asset coverage ratio for a class of senior securities representing indebtedness is calculated as total assets, less all liabilities and indebtedness not represented by senior securities, divided by senior securities representing indebtedness. This asset coverage ratio is multiplied by one thousand to determine the asset coverage per share.

 

See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.

 

42


TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of

TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

Opinion on the Financial Statements and Financial Highlights

 

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”), including the schedule of investments, as of December 31, 2020, the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, and the related notes. In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of December 31, 2020, and the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

Basis for Opinion

 

These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements and financial highlights 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 and financial highlights are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Fund is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

 

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements and financial highlights, 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 and financial highlights. 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 and financial highlights. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 2020, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

LOGO

 

Los Angeles, California

February 19, 2021

 

We have served as the auditor of one or more TCW/Metropolitan West Funds investment companies since 1990.

 

43


TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

Privacy Policy

 

The TCW Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

TCW Investment Management Company LLC

TCW Asset Management Company LLC

Metropolitan West Asset Management, LLC

 

TCW Funds, Inc.   Sepulveda Management LLC
TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.   TCW Direct Lending LLC
Metropolitan West Funds   TCW Direct Lending VII LLC

 

What You Should Know

 

At TCW, we recognize the importance of keeping information about you secure and confidential. We do not sell or share your nonpublic personal and financial information with marketers or others outside our affiliated group of companies.

 

We carefully manage information among our affiliated group of companies to safeguard your privacy and to provide you with consistently excellent service.

 

We are providing this notice to you to comply with the requirements of Regulation S-P, “Privacy of Consumer Financial Information,” issued by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Our Privacy Policy

 

We, The TCW Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries, the TCW Funds, Inc., TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc., the Metropolitan West Funds, Sepulveda Management LLC and TCW Direct Lending (collectively, “TCW”) are committed to protecting the nonpublic personal and financial information of our customers and consumers who obtain or seek to obtain financial products or services primarily for personal, family or household purposes. We fulfill our commitment by establishing and implementing policies and systems to protect the security and confidentiality of this information.

 

In our offices, we limit access to nonpublic personal and financial information about you to those TCW personnel who need to know the information in order to provide products or services to you. We maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards to protect your nonpublic personal and financial information.

 

Categories of Information We Collect

 

We may collect the following types of nonpublic personal and financial information about you from the following sources:

 

 

Your name, address and identifying numbers, and other personal and financial information, from you and from identification cards and papers you submit to us, on applications, subscription agreements or other forms or communications.

 

 

Information about your account balances and financial transactions with us, our affiliated entities, or nonaffiliated third parties, from our internal sources, from affiliated entities and from nonaffiliated third parties.

 

44


TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

 

 

Information about your account balances and financial transactions and other personal and financial information, from consumer credit reporting agencies or other nonaffiliated third parties, to verify information received from you or others.

 

Categories of Information We Disclose to Nonaffiliated Third Parties

 

 

We may disclose your name, address and account and other identifying numbers, as well as information about your pending or past transactions and other personal financial information, to nonaffiliated third parties, for our everyday business purposes such as necessary to execute, process, service and confirm your securities transactions and mutual fund transactions, to administer and service your account and commingled investment vehicles in which you are invested, to market our products and services through joint marketing arrangements or to respond to court orders and legal investigations.

 

 

We may disclose nonpublic personal and financial information concerning you to law enforcement agencies, federal regulatory agencies, self-regulatory organizations or other nonaffiliated third parties, if required or requested to do so by a court order, judicial subpoena or regulatory inquiry.

 

 

We do not otherwise disclose your nonpublic personal and financial information to nonaffiliated third parties, except where we believe in good faith that disclosure is required or permitted by law. Because we do not disclose your nonpublic personal and financial information to nonaffiliated third parties, our Customer Privacy Policy does not contain opt-out provisions.

 

Categories of Information We Disclose to Our Affiliated Entities

 

 

We may disclose your name, address and account and other identifying numbers, account balances, information about your pending or past transactions and other personal financial information to our affiliated entities for any purpose.

 

We regularly disclose your name, address and account and other identifying numbers, account balances and information about your pending or past transactions to our affiliates to execute, process and confirm securities transactions or mutual fund transactions for you, to administer and service your account and commingled investment vehicles in which you are invested, or to market our products and services to you.

 

Information About Former Customers

 

We do not disclose nonpublic personal and financial information about former customers to nonaffiliated third parties unless required or requested to do so by a court order, judicial subpoena or regulatory inquiry, or otherwise where we believe in good faith that disclosure is required or permitted by law.

 

Questions

 

Should you have any questions about our Customer Privacy Policy, please contact us by email or by regular mail at the address at the end of this policy.

 

45


TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

Privacy Policy (Continued)

 

Reminder About TCW’s Financial Products

 

Financial products offered by The TCW Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries, the TCW Funds, Inc., TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc., the Metropolitan West Funds, Sepulveda Management LLC and TCW Direct Lending.

 

 

Are not guaranteed by a bank;

 

 

Are not obligations of The TCW Group, Inc. or of its subsidiaries;

 

 

Are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; and

 

 

Are subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount committed or invested, and earnings thereon.

 

THE TCW GROUP, INC.

TCW FUNDS, INC.

TCW STRATEGIC INCOME FUND, INC.

METROPOLITAN WEST FUNDS

SEPULVEDA MANAGEMENT LLC

TCW DIRECT LENDING LLC

TCW DIRECT LENDING VII LLC

 

Attention: Privacy Officer | 865 South Figueroa St. Suite 1800 | Los Angeles, CA 90017 | email: privacy@tcw.com

 

46


TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

Renewal of Investment Management and Advisory Agreement

 

 

TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) and TCW Investment Management Company LLC (the “Advisor”) are parties to an Investment Advisory and Management Agreement (“Agreement”), pursuant to which the Advisor is responsible for managing the investments of the Fund. Unless terminated by either party, the Agreement continues in effect from year to year provided that the continuance is specifically approved at least annually by the vote of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund, or by the Board of Directors of the Fund (the “Board”), and, in either event, by a majority of the Directors who are not “interested persons” of the Fund as such term is defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Independent Directors”), casting votes in person at a meeting called for that purpose.

 

On September 14, 2020, the Board approved the renewal of the Agreement for an additional one-year term from February 6, 2021 through February 5, 2022. The Board met by telephone to approve that renewal, notwithstanding the in-person approval requirement that normally applies under the Investment Company Act, as permitted by relief provided by the Securities and Exchange Commission in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The renewal of the Agreement was approved by the Board (including by a majority of the Independent Directors) upon the recommendation of the Independent Directors. The Independent Directors also met by telephone in a working session on August 26, 2020 to hear presentations by representatives of the Advisor, to ask related questions, to review and discuss materials provided by the Advisor for their consideration, and to meet separately with their independent legal counsel. On September 14, 2020 they also met separately with their independent legal counsel to review and discuss supplemental information that had been requested on their behalf by their independent legal counsel and presented by the Advisor. The information, material facts, and conclusions that formed the basis for the Independent Directors’ recommendation and the Board’s subsequent approval are described below.

 

1.    Information received

 

Materials reviewed — During the course of each year, the Directors receive a wide variety of materials relating to the services provided by the Advisor, including reports on the Advisor’s investment processes, as well as on the Fund’s investment results, portfolio composition, portfolio trading practices, compliance monitoring, shareholder services, and other information relating to the nature, extent, and quality of services provided by the Advisor to the Fund. In addition, the Board reviewed information furnished to the Independent Directors in response to a detailed request sent to the Advisor on their behalf. The information in the Advisor’s responses included extensive materials regarding the Fund’s investment results, advisory fee comparisons to advisory fees charged by the Advisor to its institutional clients, financial and profitability information regarding the Advisor, descriptions of various services provided to the Fund and to other advisory and sub-advisory clients, descriptions of functions such as compliance monitoring and portfolio trading practices, and information about the personnel providing investment management services to the Fund. The Directors also considered information provided by an independent data provider, Broadridge, comparing the investment performance and the fee and expense levels of the Fund to those of appropriate peer groups of funds selected by Broadridge. After reviewing this information, the Directors requested additional financial, profitability and service information from the Advisor, which the Advisor provided and the Directors considered.

 

Review process — The Directors’ determinations were made on the basis of each Director’s business judgment after consideration of all the information presented. The Independent Directors were advised by their independent legal counsel throughout the renewal process and received and reviewed advice from their independent legal counsel regarding legal and industry standards applicable to the renewal of the

 

47


TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

Renewal of Investment Management and Advisory Agreement (Continued)

 

Agreement, including a legal memorandum from their independent legal counsel discussing their fiduciary duties related to their approval of the continuation of the Agreement. The Independent Directors also discussed the renewal of the Agreement with the Advisor’s representatives and in private sessions at which no representatives of the Advisor were present. In deciding to recommend the renewal of the Agreement with respect to the Fund, the Independent Directors did not identify any single piece of information or particular factor that, in isolation, was the controlling factor. Each Independent Director may also have weighed factors differently. This summary describes the most important, but not all, of the factors considered by the Board and the Independent Directors.

 

2.    Nature, extent, and quality of services provided by the Advisor

 

The Board and the Independent Directors considered the depth and quality of the Advisor’s investment management process, including its research and strong analytical capabilities; the experience, capability, and integrity of its senior management and other personnel; the relatively low turnover rates of its key personnel; the overall resources available to the Advisor; and the ability of its organizational structure to address the fluctuations in assets that had been experienced over the past several years. The Board and the Independent Directors considered the ability of the Advisor to attract and retain well-qualified investment professionals, noting in particular the Advisor’s hiring of professionals in various areas over the past several years, continued upgrading of resources in its middle office and back office operations and other areas, as well as a continuing and extensive program of infrastructure and systems enhancements. The Board and the Independent Directors also considered that the Advisor made available to its investment professionals a variety of resources and systems relating to investment management, compliance, trading, operations, administration, research, portfolio accounting and legal matters. They noted the substantial additional resources made available by The TCW Group, Inc., as the parent company of the Advisor. The Board and the Independent Directors examined and discussed a detailed description of the extensive additional services provided to the Fund to support its operations and compliance, as compared to the much narrower range of services provided to the Advisor’s institutional and sub-advised clients, as well as the Advisor’s oversight and coordination of numerous outside service providers to the Fund. They further noted the high level of regular communication between the Advisor and the Independent Directors. The Advisor explained its responsibility to supervise the activities of the Fund’s various service providers, as well as supporting the Independent Directors and their meetings, regulatory filings, and various operational personnel, and the related costs.

 

The Board and the Independent Directors concluded that the nature, extent, and quality of the services provided by the Advisor are of a high quality and have benefited and should continue to benefit the Fund and its shareholders.

 

3.    Investment results

 

The Board and the Independent Directors considered the investment results of the Fund in light of its investment objective and principal investment strategies. They compared the Fund’s total returns with the total returns of other funds in peer group reports prepared by Broadridge with respect to various longer and more recent periods all ended May 31, 2020. The Board and the Independent Directors reviewed information as to a peer group selection presented by Broadridge and discussed the methodology for the selection with Broadridge. In reviewing the Fund’s relative performance, the Board and the Independent Directors took into account the Fund’s investment strategies, distinct characteristics, asset size and

 

48


TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

 

diversification. The Board also considered the Advisor’s assessment of the Fund’s performance during the recent period of significant market volatility.

 

The Board and the Independent Directors noted that the Fund’s performance was in the third quintile for the ten- and five-year periods and the first quintile for the three- and one-year periods. The Board and the Independent Directors recognized that the peer group included many funds that were not considered to be sufficiently comparable to the Fund in terms of strategy or characteristics. The Board and the Independent Directors also noted the substantially lower volatility and aggregate exposure to high yield, corporates, preferred bonds, and equity for the Fund compared to the funds in the peer group, as well as a relatively contained discount of the market price of its stock compared to its net asset value over the most recent one-year period. The Independent Directors also noted that the Fund had outperformed its custom benchmark for the ten-year period.

 

The Board and the Independent Directors concluded that the Advisor was implementing the Fund’s investment objective and that the Advisor’s record in managing the Fund indicated that its continued management should benefit the Fund and its shareholders over the long term.

 

4.    Advisory fees and total expenses

 

The Board and the Independent Directors compared the management fees (which Broadridge defines to include the advisory fee and the administrative fee) and total expenses of the Fund (as a percentage of average net assets) with the median management fee and operating expense level of the other funds in the Broadridge peer group. These comparisons assisted the Board and the Independent Directors by providing a reasonable statistical measure to assess the Fund’s fees relative to its relevant peers. The Board and the Independent Directors observed that the Fund’s management fee and total expenses were below the median of the peer group funds. The Board and the Independent Directors concluded that the competitive fee charged by the Advisor, and competitive expense ratio, should continue to benefit the Fund and its shareholders.

 

The Board and the Independent Directors also reviewed information regarding the advisory fees charged by the Advisor to its institutional and sub-advisory clients with similar investment mandates. The Board and the Independent Directors concluded that, although the fees paid by those clients generally were lower than advisory fees paid by the Fund, the differences appropriately reflected the more extensive services provided by the Advisor to the Fund and the Advisor’s significantly greater responsibilities and expenses with respect to the Fund, including the additional risks of managing a pool of assets for public investors, administrative burdens, daily pricing and valuation responsibilities, the supervision of vendors and service providers, and the costs of additional infrastructure and operational resources and personnel and of complying with and supporting the more comprehensive regulatory and governance regime applicable to registered investment companies with shares listed on a stock exchange.

 

5.    The Advisor’s costs, level of profits, and economies of scale

 

The Board and the Independent Directors reviewed information regarding the Advisor’s costs of providing services to the Fund, as well as the resulting level of profits to the Advisor. They reviewed the Advisor’s stated assumptions and methods of allocating certain costs, such as personnel costs, which constitute the Advisor’s largest operating cost. The Board and the Independent Directors recognized that the Advisor should be entitled to earn a reasonable level of profits for the services that it provides to the Fund. The

 

49


TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

Renewal of Investment Management and Advisory Agreement (Continued)

 

Board and the Independent Directors also reviewed a comparison of the Advisor’s profitability with respect to the Fund to the profitability of certain unaffiliated publicly traded asset managers, which the Advisor believed supported its view that the Advisor’s profitability was reasonable. Based on their review, the Board and the Independent Directors concluded that they were satisfied that the Advisor’s level of profitability from its relationship with the Fund was not unreasonable or excessive.

 

The Board and the Independent Directors considered the extent to which potential economies of scale could be realized as the Fund grows and whether the advisory fee reflects those potential economies of scale. They noted the breakpoint under the Agreement, which results in a lower advisory fee rate as the Fund grows larger. They also recognized the Advisor’s view that the advisory fee compares favorably to peer group fees, and that expenses remain competitive even at higher asset levels and that the relatively low advisory fees reflect the potential economies of scale. The Board and the Independent Directors recognized the benefits of the Advisor’s substantial past and ongoing investment in the advisory business, such as successfully recruiting and retaining key professional talent, systems and technology upgrades, added resources dedicated to legal, compliance and cybersecurity programs, and improvements to the overall firm infrastructure, as well as the financial pressures of competing against much larger firms and passive investment products. The Board and the Independent Directors also recognized that the Fund benefits from receiving investment advice from an organization with other types of advisory clients in addition to investment companies. The Board and the Independent Directors concluded that the Advisor was satisfactorily sharing potential economies of scale with the Fund through low fees and expenses, and through reinvesting in its capabilities for serving the Fund and its shareholders.

 

6.    Ancillary benefits

 

The Board and the Independent Directors also considered ancillary benefits received or to be received by the Advisor and its affiliates as a result of the relationship of the Advisor with the Fund, including compensation for certain compliance support services. The Board and the Independent Directors concluded that any potential benefits to be received or to be derived by the Advisor from its relationships with the Fund are reasonably related to the services provided by the Advisor to the Fund.

 

7.    Conclusions

 

Based on their overall review, including their consideration of each of the factors referred to above (and others), the Board and the Independent Directors concluded that the Agreement is fair and reasonable to the Fund and its shareholders, that the Fund’s shareholders received reasonable value in return for the advisory fees and other amounts paid to the Advisor by the Fund, and that the renewal of the Agreement was in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders.

 

50


TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

Supplemental Information

 

Proxy Voting Guidelines

 

The policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies are available without charge. The Board of the Fund has delegated the Fund’s proxy voting authority to the Advisor.

 

Disclosure of Proxy Voting Guidelines

 

The proxy voting guidelines of the Advisor are available:

 

  1.

By calling 1-877-829-4768 to obtain a hard copy; or

 

  2.

By going to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the “SEC”) website at www.sec.gov.

 

When the Fund receives a request for a description of the Advisor’s proxy voting guidelines, it will deliver the description that is disclosed in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information. This information will be sent out via first class mail (or other means designed to ensure equally prompt delivery) within three business days of receiving the request.

 

The Advisor, on behalf of the Fund, must prepare and file Form N-PX with the SEC not later than August 31 of each year, which must include the Fund’s proxy voting record for the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30 of that year. The Fund’s proxy voting record for the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30, 2020 is available without charge:

 

  1.

By calling 1-877-829-4768 to obtain a hard copy; or

 

  2.

By going to the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

When the Fund receives a request for the Fund’s proxy voting record, it will send the information disclosed in the Fund’s most recently filed report on Form N-PX via first class mail (or other means designed to ensure equally prompt delivery) within three business days of receiving the request.

 

The Fund also discloses its proxy voting record on its website as soon as is reasonably practicable after its report on Form N-PX is filed with the SEC.

 

Availability of Quarterly Portfolio Schedule

 

The Fund files a complete schedule of its portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of its fiscal year on Form NPORT-P. Such filings occur no later than 60 days after the end of the Fund’s first and third quarters and are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

Corporate Governance Listing Standards

 

In accordance with Section 303A.12 (a) of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual, the Fund’s Annual CEO Certification certifying compliance with NYSE’s Corporate Governance Listing Standards was submitted to the Exchange on October 6, 2020 as part of its Annual Written Affirmation.

 

51


TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

Report of Annual Meeting and Special Meeting of Shareholders

 

The annual meeting of shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of the Fund was held on September 15, 2020. At the Annual Meeting, the following matters were submitted to a shareholder vote:

 

  1)

Election of Directors — the shareholders of the Fund elected the following Directors to serve on the Board of Directors until their successors have been duly elected and qualified.

 

Director

   Votes Cast
For
     Withheld  

Samuel P. Bell

     38,589,399        666,329  

David S. DeVito*

     38,564,765        690,963  

Patrick C. Haden

     38,593,764        661,964  

David Lippman

     38,496,850        758,878  

Peter McMillan

     38,637,262        618,466  

Victoria B. Rogers

     38,650,607        605,121  

Andrew Tarica

     38,632,798        622,930  

 

  2)

Ratification of Selection of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm — the shareholders of the Fund approved the ratification of the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.

 

For

  

Against

  

Abstain

38,648,390

   152,554    454,778

 

*

David DeVito has resigned as Director of the Fund, effective on December 31, 2020.

 

52


TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

Dividend Reinvestment Plan

 

Shareholders who wish to add to their investment may do so by making an election to participate in the Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the “Plan”). Under the Plan, your dividend is used to purchase Fund shares on the open market whenever shares, including the related sales commission, are selling below the Fund’s net asset value per share. You will be charged a pro-rata portion of brokerage commissions on open-market purchases under the Plan. If the market price, including commission, of Fund shares is above the Fund’s net asset value per share, you will receive shares at a price equal to the higher of the Fund’s net asset value per share on the payment date or 95% of the closing market price of Fund shares on the payment date. Generally, for tax purposes, shareholders participating in the Plan will be treated as having received a distribution from the Fund in cash equal to the value of the shares purchased from them under the Plan.

 

To enroll in the Plan, if your shares are registered in your name, write to Computershare, P.O. Box #50500, Louisville, KY 40233, or call toll free at (866) 227-8179. If your shares are held by a brokerage firm, please call your broker. If you participate in the Plan through a broker, you may not be able to transfer your shares to another broker and continue to participate in the Plan if your new broker does not permit such participation. If you no longer want to participate in the Plan, please contact Computershare or your broker. You may elect to continue to hold shares previously purchased on your behalf or to sell your shares and receive the proceeds, net of any brokerage commissions. If you need additional information or assistance, please call our investor relations department at (877) 829-4768 or visit our website at www.tcw.com. As always, we would be pleased to accommodate your investment needs.

 

Distribution Policy

 

The Fund has a net investment income-based distribution policy. The policy is to pay quarterly distributions out of the Fund’s accumulated undistributed net investment income and/or other sources subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act and Sub-chapter M of the Code.

 

Distribution policies are a matter of Board discretion and may be modified or terminated at any time without prior notice. Any such change or termination may have an adverse effect on the market price for the Fund’s shares.

 

You should not draw any conclusions about the Fund’s investment performance from the amount of the quarterly distribution or from the terms of the Fund’s distribution policy.

 

53


TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

Directors and Officers

 

A board of six directors is responsible for overseeing the operations of the TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”). The directors of the Fund, and their business addresses and their principal occupations for the last five years are set forth below.

 

Independent Directors

 

Name and

Year of Birth (1)

 

Term of Office and

Length of Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years (2)

 

Other Directorships

held by Director

Samuel P. Bell (1936)   Mr. Bell has served as a director of the Fund since October 2002.   Private Investor.   Point.360 (post production services); TCW Funds, Inc. (mutual fund).

Patrick C. Haden (1953)

Chairman of the Board

  Mr. Haden has served as a director of the Fund since May 2001.   President (since 2003), Wilson Ave. Consulting (business consulting firm); Senior Advisor to President (July 2016-June 2017) and Athletic Director (August 2010-June 2016), University of Southern California.   Tetra Tech, Inc. (environmental consulting); Auto Club (affiliate of AAA); Metropolitan West Funds (mutual fund); TCW Funds, Inc. (mutual fund).
Peter McMillan (1957)   Mr. McMillan has served as a director of the Fund since August 2010.   Co-founder (since 2019), Pacific Oak Capital Advisors (investment advisory firm); Co-founder, Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer (since May 2013), Temescal Canyon Partners (investment advisory firm); Co-founder and Executive Vice President (2005-2019), KBS Capital Advisors (a manager of real estate investment trusts).   Pacific Oak Strategic Opportunity REIT (real estate investments); Pacific Oak Strategic Opportunity REIT II (real estate investments); Keppel Pacific Oak U.S. REIT (real estate investments); Pacific Oak Residential Trust (real estate investments); Metropolitan West Funds (mutual fund); TCW DL VII Financing LLC (business development company); TCW Funds, Inc. (mutual fund).
Victoria B. Rogers (1961)   Ms. Rogers has served as a director of the Fund since October 2011.   President and Chief Executive Officer (since 1996), The Rose Hills Foundation (charitable foundation).   Causeway Capital Management Trust (mutual fund); Causeway ETML Trust (mutual fund); The Rose Hills Foundation (charitable foundation); TCW Funds, Inc. (mutual fund); Norton Simon Museum (art museum); Stanford University (university).
Andrew Tarica (1959)   Mr. Tarica has served as a director of the Fund since March 2012.   Chief Executive Officer (since February 2001), Meadowbrook Capital Management (asset management company); and Employee (since 2003), Cowen Prime Services (broker-dealer).   Metropolitan West Funds (mutual fund); TCW Funds, Inc. (mutual fund); TCW Direct Lending VII, LLC (business development company).

 

(1)

The address of each Independent Director is c/o Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, Counsel to the Independent Directors, 300 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90071.

(2)

Position with company may have changed over time.

 

54


TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

 

Interested Directors

 

Each of these directors are “interested persons” of the Fund as defined in the 1940 Act because they are directors and officers of the Advisor, and shareholders and directors of The TCW Group, Inc., the parent company of the Advisor.

 

Name and

Year of Birth (2)

 

Term of Office and

Length of Time Served

  Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years
 

Other Directorships

held by Director

David Lippman (1958)

President and Chief Executive Officer

  Mr. Lippman has served as a director of the Fund since January 2014, and as President and Chief Executive Officer since January 2021.   President and Chief Executive Officer, The TCW Group, Inc. (since August 2012), TCW LLC (since October 2015), the Advisor (since February 2013) and TCW Asset Management Company LLC (since February 2013); Chief Executive Officer, Metropolitan West Asset Management LLC (since February 2013); President and Principal Executive Officer, Metropolitan West Funds (since January 2008).   None.

 

The officers of the Fund who are not directors of the Fund are:

 

Name and Address (2)  

Position(s) Held

with Fund

 

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years (1)

Lisa Eisen (1963)   Tax Officer  

Tax Officer (since December 2016),

Metropolitan West Funds and TCW

Strategic Income Fund, Inc.; Managing

Director and Director of Tax (since

August 2016), TCW, LLC; Vice President of Corporate Tax and Payroll for Health Net, Inc. (1998 – July 2016).

Meredith S. Jackson (1959)   Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary   Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary (since January 2016), TCW LLC; Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary (since February 2013), TCW Funds, Inc. and Metropolitan West Funds; Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary (since February 2013), the Advisor, The TCW Group Inc., TCW Asset Management Company LLC, Metropolitan West Asset Management, LLC and Trust Company of the West (2013–December 2015).

 

55


TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

Directors and Officers (Continued)

 

Name and Address (2)  

Position(s) Held

with Fund

 

Principal Occupation(s)

During Past 5 Years (1)

Gladys Xiques (1973)   Anti-Money Laundering Officer and Chief Compliance Officer since January 2021   Anti-Money Laundering Officer and Chief Compliance Officer (since January 2021), TCW Funds, Inc. and Metropolitan West Funds; Managing Director and Global Chief Compliance Officer (since January 2021), TCW LLC, TCW Investment Management Company LLC, Metropolitan West Asset Management, LLC, and TCW Asset Management Company LLC; Global Chief Compliance Officer (since January 2021), The TCW Group, Inc.; Senior Vice President (February 2015 – December 2020), TCW LLC, TCW Investment Management Company LLC, Metropolitan West Asset Management, LLC, and TCW Asset Management Company LLC; Director and Compliance Counsel (March 2010 – January 2015), Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P.
Richard Villa (1964)  

Treasurer and Principal Financial and

Accounting Officer since February

2014

  Managing Director, Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary (since
January 2016), TCW LLC; Managing Director, Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary (2008–December 2015), Trust Company of the West; Managing Director, Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary (since July 2008), the Advisor, The TCW Group, Inc., TCW Asset Management Company LLC; Treasurer and Principal
Financial and Accounting Officer,
TCW Funds, Inc. (since 2014).

 

(1)

Positions with The TCW Group, Inc. and its affiliates may have changed over time.

(2)

Address is 865 South Figueroa Street, Suite 1800, Los Angeles, California 90017.

 

In addition, Eric Chan, Senior Vice President of Fund Operations for the Advisor, TCW Asset Management Company LLC, TCW LLC (since 2009), and Metropolitan West Asset Management, LLC (since November 2006), is Assistant Treasurer of the Fund. Patrick W. Dennis, Senior Vice President & Associate General Counsel of TCW Asset Management Company LLC, Metropolitan West Asset Management LLC, TCW LLC and the Advisor, (since February 2013) and Trust Company of the West (February 2013-December 2015), Vice President and Assistant Secretary, TCW Funds, Inc. and Metropolitan West Asset Funds (since 2013), and is Vice President and Assistant Secretary of the Fund.

 

56


LOGO

 

TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.

 

865 South Figueroa Street, Suite 1800

Los Angeles, California 90017

 

800 386 3829

 

www.TCW.com

INVESTMENT ADVISOR

TCW Investment Management Company LLC

865 South Figueroa Street, Suite 1800

Los Angeles, California 90017

 

TRANSFER AGENT, DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT AND DISBURSEMENT AGENT AND REGISTRAR

Computershare

P.O. Box 50500

Louisville, KY 40233

 

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Deloitte & Touche LLP

555 West 5th Street

Los Angeles, California 90013

 

CUSTODIAN & ADMINISTRATOR

State Street Bank & Trust Company

One Lincoln Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02111

 

LEGAL COUNSEL

Paul Hastings LLP

101 California Street, 48th Floor

San Francisco, California 94111

DIRECTORS

Samuel P. Bell

Director

 

Patrick C. Haden

Director and Chairman

 

David B. Lippman

Director, President, and Chief Executive Officer

 

Peter McMillan

Director

 

Victoria B. Rogers

Director

 

Andrew Tarica

Director

 

OFFICERS

Meredith S. Jackson

Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

 

Richard M. Villa

Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer

 

Gladys Xiques

Chief Compliance Officer

and Anti-Money Laundering Officer

 

Lisa Eisen

Tax Officer

 

Eric W. Chan

Assistant Treasurer

 

Patrick W. Dennis

Assistant Secretary

 

 

TSIart9445      12/31/20


(b)

Not applicable.

 

Item 2.

Code of Ethics.

 

(a)

The Registrant has adopted a code of ethics that applies to its principal executive officer and principal financial officer or persons performing similar functions.

 

(b)

No disclosures are required by this Item 2(b).

 

(c)

The Registrant has made no material changes to its code of ethics during the period covered by this Form N-CSR.

 

(d)

The Registrant has not granted any waivers from any provisions of its code of ethics during the period covered by this Form N-CSR.

 

(e)

Not applicable.

 

(f)

A copy of the Registrant’s code of ethics is filed as Exhibit 13(a)(1) to this Form N-CSR.

 

Item 3.

Audit Committee Financial Expert.

 

(a)(1)

The Registrant’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) has determined that the Registrant has two members serving on the Registrant’s Audit Committee that possess the attributes identified in Form N-CSR to qualify as an “audit committee financial expert.”

 

(a)(2)

The audit committee financial experts are Samuel P. Bell and Victoria B. Rogers. Each has been deemed to be “independent” as that term is defined in Form N-CSR.

 

(a)(3)

Not applicable.

 

Item 4.

Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

The firm of Deloitte & Touche LLP (“Deloitte”) serves as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Registrant.

(a) Audit Fees

For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by Deloitte for the audit of the Registrant’s annual financial statements or for services that are normally provided by Deloitte in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements were:

 

2020    2019
$83,540    $77,000


(b) Audit-Related Fees

For the fiscal years December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the aggregate fees billed for assurance and related services rendered by Deloitte that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Registrant’s financial statements and that are not reported under Audit Fees above were:

 

2020    2019
$       0    $       0

(c) Tax Fees

For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the aggregate fees billed for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning by Deloitte were:

 

2020    2019
$5,670    $5,670

“Tax Fees” represents aggregate fees billed for each of the last two fiscal years for professional services related to tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning, including review of federal and state income tax returns, review of excise tax distribution requirements and excise tax returns.

(d) All Other Fees

For the fiscal years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the aggregate fees billed by Deloitte to the Registrant for all services other than services reported under Audit Fees, Audit-Related Fees, and Tax Fees were:

 

2020    2019
$       0    $       0

(e)(1) The Registrant’s Audit Committee approves each specific service the auditor will perform for the Registrant. Accordingly, the Audit Committee has not established pre-approval policies or procedures for services that the auditor may perform for the Registrant.

(e)(2) None of the services described in each of paragraphs (b) through (d) of this Item were approved by the Registrant’s Audit Committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.

(f) Not applicable.

(g) No non-audit fees except as disclosed in Item 4(c) above were billed by the Registrant’s accountant for services rendered to the Registrant, or rendered to the Registrant’s investment adviser and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment adviser that provides ongoing services to the Registrant for each of the last two fiscal years of the Registrant.


(h)

Not applicable.

 

Item 5.

Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.

 

(a)

The Registrant has a separately-designated standing Audit Committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Registrant’s Audit Committee members, consisting solely of independent directors, are:

Samuel P. Bell

Patrick C. Haden

Peter McMillan

Victoria B. Rogers

Andrew Tarica

 

(b)

Not applicable.

 

Item 6.

Investments.

 

(a)

The Schedule of Investments is included as part of the Report to Shareholders filed under Item 1 of this Form N-CSR.

 

(b)

Not applicable.

 

Item 7.

Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

Attached to this Form N-CSR as Exhibit 13(c) is a copy of the proxy voting policies and procedures of the Registrant.

 

Item 8.

Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

(a)(1) Portfolio Managers*

 

Mitch Flack    Portfolio Manager and Managing Director, TCW Investment Management Company LLC, and TCW LLC since December 2009, and Metropolitan West Asset Management, LLC since March 2001.
Stephen Kane    Portfolio Manager and Group Managing Director, TCW Investment Management Company LLC, TCW Asset Management Company LLC, and TCW LLC since December 2009, and Metropolitan West Asset Management, LLC since August 1996.
Laird R. Landmann    Portfolio Manager and Group Managing Director, TCW Investment Management Company LLC, TCW Asset Management Company LLC, TCW LLC, and The TCW Group, Inc. since December 2009; and President, Metropolitan West Asset Management, LLC since August 1996.


Tad Rivelle    Portfolio Manager, Group Managing Director, and Chief Investment Officer - Fixed Income, TCW Investment Management Company LLC, TCW Asset Management Company LLC, and TCW LLC since December 2009, and Metropolitan West Asset Management, LLC since August 1996.
Bryan Whalen    Portfolio Manager and Group Managing Director, TCW Investment Management Company LLC, TCW Asset Management Company LLC, and TCW LLC since December 2009, and Metropolitan West Asset Management, LLC since 2004.

 

*

The foregoing information regarding the Registrant’s portfolio managers is as of February 4, 2021. (Positions with TCW and its affiliates may have changed over time.)

(a)(2) Other Accounts Managed as of December 31, 2020 in millions

 

    Registered Investment
Companies asset-
based advisory fee
   Other Pooled Investment
Vehicles
asset-based advisory fee
   Other Accounts
asset-based advisory

fee
   Registered Investment
Companies
performance-based
advisory fee
  Other Pooled Investment
Vehicles
performance-based
advisory fee
  Other Accounts
performance-based
advisory fee
    Number
of

Accounts
   Total
Assets
   Number
of
Accounts
   Total Assets    Number
of

Accounts
   Total
Assets
   Number of
Accounts
  Total
Assets
  Number
of
Accounts
  Total
Assets
  Number
of

Accounts
  Total Assets

Mitch

Flack

  3    $7,967    32    $6,785    33    $13,652    0   $0   21   $1,467   3   $2,227

Stephen

Kane

  31    $112,682    29    $19,664    195    $48,466    0   $0   10   $2,695   7   $4,641

Laird R.

Landmann

  28    $122,892    19    $16,335    182    $43,421    0   $0   3   $636   7   $4,641

Tad

Rivelle

  29    $129,284    50    $22,395    212    $57,452    0   $0   28   $3,527   9   $6,589

Bryan

Whalen

  26    $121,661    41    $19,145    202    $52,786    0   $0   21   $1,467   9   $6,589

Conflicts

The TCW Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries, the Registrant, TCW Funds, Inc. and the Metropolitan West Funds (collectively, “TCW”) have policies and controls to avoid and/or mitigate conflicts of interest across its businesses. The policies and procedures in TCW’s Code of Ethics (the “Code”) serve to address or mitigate both conflicts of interest and the appearance of any conflict of interest. The Code contains several restrictions and procedures designed to eliminate conflicts of interest relating to personal investment transactions, including (i) reporting account openings, changes, or closings (including accounts in which an Access Person has a “beneficial interest”), (ii) pre-clearance of non-exempt personal investment transactions (make a personal trade request for Securities) and (iii) the completion of timely required reporting (Initial Holdings Report, Quarterly Transactions Report, Annual Holdings Report and Annual Certificate of Compliance).

In addition, the Code addresses potential conflicts of interest through its policies on insider trading, anti-corruption, an employee’s outside business activities, political activities and contributions, confidentiality and whistleblower provisions.

Conflicts of interest may also arise in the management of accounts and investment vehicles. These conflicts may raise questions that would allow TCW to allocate investment opportunities in a way that favors certain accounts or investment vehicles over other accounts or investment vehicles, or incentivize a TCW portfolio manager to receive greater compensation with regard to the management of certain account or investment vehicles. TCW may give advice or take action with certain accounts or investment vehicles that could differ from the advice given or action taken on


other accounts or investment vehicles. When an investment opportunity is suitable for more than one account or investment vehicle, such investments will be allocated in a manner that is fair and equitable under the circumstances to all TCW clients. As such, TCW has adopted compliance policies and procedures in its Portfolio Management Policy that helps to identify a conflict of interest and then specifies how a conflict of interest is managed. TCW’s Trading and Brokerage Policy also discusses the process of timing and method of allocations, and addresses how the firm handles affiliate transactions.

The respective Equity and Fixed Income Trading and Allocation Committees review trading activities on behalf of client accounts, including the allocation of investment opportunities and address any issues with regard to side-by-side management in order to ensure that all of TCW’s clients are treated on a fair and equitable basis. Further, the Portfolio Analytics Committee reviews TCW’s investment strategies, evaluates various analytics to facilitate risk assessment, changes to performance composites and benchmarks and monitors the implementation and maintenance of the Global Investment Performance Standards or GIPS® compliance.

TCW’s approach to handling conflicts of interest is multi-layered starting with its policies and procedures, reporting and pre-clearance processes and oversight by various committees.

(a)(3) Portfolio Manager Compensation

The overall objective of TCW Investment Management Company LLC’s (“Advisor”) compensation program for portfolio managers is to attract experienced and expert investment professionals and to retain them over the long-term. Compensation is comprised of several components which, in the aggregate, are designed to achieve these objectives and to reward the portfolio managers for their contributions to the successful performance of the accounts they manage. Portfolio managers are compensated through a combination of base salary, fee sharing based compensation (“fee sharing”), bonus and equity incentive participation in the Advisor’s parent company (“equity incentives”). Fee sharing and equity incentives generally represent most of the portfolio managers’ compensation. In some cases, portfolio managers are eligible for discretionary bonuses.

Salary. Salary is agreed to with portfolio managers at the time of employment and is reviewed from time to time. It does not change significantly and often does not constitute a significant part of a portfolio manager’s compensation.

Fee Sharing. Fee sharing for investment professionals is based on revenues generated by accounts in the investment strategy area for which the investment professionals are responsible. In most cases, revenues are allocated to a pool and fee sharing compensation is allocated among members of the investment team after the deduction of certain expenses (including compensation over a threshold level) related to the strategy group. The allocations are based on the investment professionals’ contributions to TCW and its clients, including qualitative and quantitative contributions.

In general, the same fee sharing percentage is used to compensate a portfolio manager for investment services related to the Registrant as that used to compensate portfolio managers for other client accounts in the same strategy managed by the Advisor or an affiliate of the Advisor (collectively, “the TCW Advisors”). In some cases, the fee sharing pool includes revenues related to more than one product, in which case each participant in the pool is entitled to fee sharing derived from his or her contributions to all the included products.


Investment professionals are not directly compensated for generating performance fees. In some cases, the overall fee sharing pool is subject to fluctuation based on the relative pre-tax performance of the investment strategy composite returns, net of fees and expenses, to that of the benchmark. The measurement of performance relative to the benchmark can be based on single year or multiple year metrics, or a combination thereof. The benchmark used is the one associated with the Registrant managed by the portfolio manager as disclosed in the prospectus. Benchmarks vary from strategy to strategy but, within a given strategy, the same benchmark applies to all accounts, including the Registrant.

Discretionary Bonus/Guaranteed Minimums. Discretionary bonuses may be paid out of an investment team’s fee sharing pool, as determined by the supervisor(s) in the department. In other cases where portfolio managers do not receive fee sharing or where it is determined that the combination of salary and fee sharing does not adequately compensate the portfolio manager, discretionary bonuses may be paid by the applicable TCW Advisor. Also, pursuant to contractual arrangements, some portfolio managers received minimum bonuses.

Equity Incentives. Management believes that equity ownership aligns the interests of portfolio managers with the interests of the firm and its clients. Accordingly, TCW’s key investment professionals participate in equity incentives through ownership or participation in restricted unit plans that vest over time or unit appreciation plans of the Advisor’s parent company. The plans include the Fixed Income Retention Plan, Restricted Unit Plan and 2013 Equity Unit Incentive Plan.

Under the Fixed Income Retention Plan, certain portfolio managers in the fixed income area were awarded cash and/or partnership units in the Advisor’s parent company, either on a contractually-determined basis or on a discretionary basis. Awards under this plan were made in 2010 that vest over time.

Under the Restricted Unit Plan, certain portfolio managers in the fixed income and equity areas may be awarded partnership units in the Advisor’s parent company. Awards under this plan have vested over time, subject to satisfaction of performance criteria.

Under the 2013 Equity Unit Incentive Plan, certain portfolio managers in the fixed income and equity areas may be awarded options to acquire partnership units in the Advisor’s parent company with a strike price equal to the fair market value of the option at the date of grant. The options granted under this plan are subject to vesting and other conditions.

Other Plans and Compensation Vehicles. Portfolio managers may also elect to participate in the applicable TCW Advisor’s 401(k) plan, to which they may contribute a portion of their pre- and post-tax compensation to the plan for investment on a tax-deferred basis.


(a)(4) Share Ownership in Registrant as of December 31, 2020

 

Portfolio

Manager

   None      $1
to
$10K
     $10K
to
$50K
     $50K
to
$100K
     $100K
to
$500K
     $500K
to
$1 Mill
     Over
$1 Mill
 

Mitch Flack

                 X        

Stephen Kane

                       X  

Laird Landmann

                       X  

Tad Rivelle

                       X  

Bryan Whalen

                 X        

(b) Not applicable.

 

Item 9.

Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.

None.

 

Item 10.

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

There have been no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the Registrant’s Board of Directors.

 

Item 11.

Controls and Procedures.

 

(a)

The Chief Executive Officer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer have concluded that the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the 1940 Act) provide reasonable assurances that material information relating to the Registrant is made known to them by the appropriate persons as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report, based on their evaluation of these controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the 1940 Act and 15d-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

(b)

There were no changes in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the 1940 Act) that occurred during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Item 12.

Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

Not applicable.



SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

(Registrant)      TCW Strategic Income Fund, Inc.
By (Signature and Title)     

/s/ David B. Lippman

    

David B. Lippman

President and Chief Executive Officer

Date      March 4, 2021

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

By (Signature and Title)     

/s/ David B. Lippman

     David B. Lippman
     President and Chief Executive Officer
Date      March 4, 2021
By (Signature and Title)     

/s/ Richard M. Villa

     Richard M. Villa
     Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer
Date      March 4, 2021