Can an investor take the interest each year as cash instead of shares, leaving the initial investment intact?

Yes – in effect.  In practice – all end of year interest is currently paid in shares, and all investors have a 2-month window in which they can withdraw this interest as cash.  An email is sent out with the interest statement to this effect.  Once that two-month window closes the ‘interest’ shares revert to ‘normal’ shares and are treated as such. The Board of Directors can, at their discretion, decide to pay all interest as cash, and so this situation may change in the future