Periods of market volatility have occurred and could continue to occur in response to pandemics or other events outside of our control. These types of events have adversely affected, and could continue to adversely affect, operating results for us and for our portfolio companies. For example, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to, and for an unknown period of time will continue to lead to, disruptions in local, regional, national and global markets and economies affected thereby, including the United States. With respect to U.S. and global credit markets and the economy in general, this outbreak has resulted in, and until fully resolved is likely to continue to result in, the following (among other things): (i) restrictions on travel and the temporary closure of many corporate offices, retail stores, and manufacturing facilities and factories, resulting in significant disruption to the business of many companies, including supply chains and demand, as well as layoffs of employees; (ii) increased draws by borrowers on lines of credit; (iii) increased requests by borrowers for amendments or waivers of their credit agreements to avoid default, increased defaults by borrowers and/or increased difficulty in obtaining refinancing; (iv) volatility in credit markets, including greater volatility in pricing and spreads; and (v) evolving proposals and actions by state and federal governments to address the problems being experienced by markets, businesses and the economy in general, which may not adequately address the problems being facing such persons. The pandemic is having, and any future continuation of the pandemic could have, an adverse impact on the markets and the economy in general.
Although it is impossible to predict the precise nature and consequences of these events, or of any political or policy decisions and regulatory changes occasioned by emerging events or uncertainty on applicable laws or regulations that impact us and our portfolio companies and investments, it is clear that these types of events are impacting and will, for at least some time, continue to impact us and our portfolio companies; in many instances the impact will be adverse and material. Any potential impact to our results of operations will depend to a large extent on future developments and new information that could emerge regarding the duration and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic and the actions taken by authorities and other entities to contain the spread or treat its impact, all of which are beyond our control. These potential impacts, while uncertain, could adversely affect our and our portfolio companies' operating results and financial condition.
The COVID-19 pandemic and the uncertainty regarding the extent and duration of its impact has had a material adverse impact on the venture capital fundraising environment, including with respect to the venture growth stage companies in which we invest. Our portfolio companies generally require additional equity financing every twelve to twenty-four months. Due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an increased risk that one or more of our venture growth stage portfolio companies will not be able to raise additional financing or may be able to do so only at a price or on terms unfavorable to us, which risk may be amplified with respect to portfolio companies that have already taken steps to reduce or modify business operations or are operating in industries that are, or are perceived to be, more adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Such events would likely have a negative impact our investment returns, the fair value of our investment and our ability to restructure such investment on favorable terms if such portfolio company's cash flow from operating activities is insufficient to satisfy its continuing growth, working capital and other requirements or if such portfolio company is otherwise unable to access the benefits of one of the U.S. federal government stimulus programs that may be made available or meet the performance requirements necessary to forgive all or a portion of any loans made to it thereunder, as applicable. In addition, as a result of the financial stress caused by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, other investors in our portfolio companies may be unable to, or may choose not to, fulfill their ongoing funding obligations with respect to certain of our portfolio companies, may be unable to continue supporting the ongoing operations of our portfolio companies operationally and/or financially, or may seek to restructure or otherwise modify their existing investments in our portfolio companies in a manner that is detrimental to our investment, which could have a material adverse impact on our financing arrangement with the portfolio company and on our results of operations and financial condition. In addition, we intend to use cash and cash equivalents on hand, our available borrowing capacity under the Credit Facility, our anticipated cash flows from operations, including from contractual monthly portfolio company payments and cash flows and prepayments, and any proceeds from equity or debt offerings, to fund our outstanding unfunded obligations. Depending on the severity and duration of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our results of operations and financial condition, there can be no assurance that we will have sufficient capital available to fund these commitments as they come due, which could harm the reputation of the Company and TPC among its select group of venture capital investors and in the venture capital market generally. Any such occurrence could decrease our deal flow and the outlook of our investments, resulting in a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
This pandemic has also caused, and may continue to cause, disruption to our portfolio companies' global supply chain and business operations. In particular, shortages in commodities and materials, including shortages and reductions in allocations of electronic and other components from key suppliers, labor shortages and elevated levels of employee absenteeism, freight delays and other supply chain constraints and disruptions have significantly delayed or disrupted, and may continue to adversely impact, both our portfolio companies' suppliers' and third-party vendors' and our portfolio companies' ability to manufacture and deliver products and/or services to their end-users and customers. Our portfolio companies have also experienced a significant increase in commodity, parts and material component inflation in 2021 and 2022, as well as inflation in other costs, such as labor, packaging, freight and energy prices. Continued supply chain disruptions and delays, as well as continued heightened inflation, could lead to continued periodic production interruptions and other inefficiencies that could negatively impact our portfolio companies' productivity, margin performance and results of operations, which could result in a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Developments related to the COVID-19 pandemic previously contributed to a decrease in the fair value of certain of our portfolio investments, and there may be additional decreases in the fair value of our portfolio investments going forward. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic and the related disruption and financial distress experienced by our portfolio companies may have a material adverse effect on our investment income received from portfolio investments, particularly our interest income. Any decreases in our net investment income would increase the portion of our cash flows dedicated to servicing existing borrowings under the Credit Facility, our outstanding unsecured notes and distribution payments to stockholders.
Depending on the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and the extent of its impact on our portfolio companies' operations and our net investment income, any future distributions to our stockholders may be for amounts less than our historical distributions, may be made less frequently than historical practices, and may be made in part cash and part stock (as per each stockholder's election), subject to a limitation that the aggregate amount of cash to be distributed to all stockholders must be at least 20% of the aggregate declared distribution.
In addition, particularly because our investment strategy contemplates making secured loans to companies with foreign operations, including in Europe, the warfare, political turmoil or terrorist attacks in Ukraine could materially and adversely impact our and our portfolio companies' financial condition, result of operations and cash flows. In February 2022, Russian troops invaded Ukraine. Although the severity and duration of the ongoing military action are highly unpredictable, the conflict in Ukraine could materially disrupt operations of our portfolio companies in Europe and/or increase their costs and may disrupt future their plans. In addition, Russia's prior annexation of Crimea, recent recognition of two separatist republics in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine and subsequent military interventions in Ukraine have led to sanctions being levied by the United States, European Union and other countries against Russia, with additional potential sanctions threatened and/or proposed. Russia's military incursion and the resulting sanctions could adversely affect the global economy and financial markets and thus could affect our and our portfolio companies' business, operations, operating results and financial condition as well as, potentially, the price of our common stock. The extent and duration of the military action, sanctions and resulting market disruptions are impossible to predict, but could be substantial. Any such disruptions caused by Russian military action or resulting sanctions may magnify the impact of other risks described in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.