Form N-CSR Neuberger High Yield For: Oct 31
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 30, 2025
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: 811-22396
NEUBERGER HIGH YIELD STRATEGIES FUND INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as specified in charter)
c/o Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC
1290 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10104-0002
New York, New York 10104-0002
(Address of Principal Executive Offices – Zip Code)
Joseph V. Amato
Chief Executive Officer and President
Neuberger High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.
c/o Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC
1290 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10104-0002
Lori L. Schneider, Esq.
K&L Gates LLP
1601 K Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20006-1600
(Names and Addresses of agents for service)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (212) 476-8800
Date of fiscal year end: October 31
Date of reporting period: October 31, 2025
Form N-CSR is to be used by management investment companies to file reports with the Commission not later than 10 days after the transmission to stockholders
of any report that is required to be transmitted to stockholders under Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Act”) (17 CFR 270.30e-1). The Commission may use the information provided on Form N-CSR in its regulatory,
disclosure review, inspection, and policymaking roles.
A registrant is required to disclose the information specified by Form N-CSR, and the Commission will make this information public. A registrant is not required to respond to the
collection of information contained in Form N-CSR unless the Form displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) control number. Please direct comments concerning the accuracy of the information collection burden estimate and any
suggestions for reducing the burden to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549-1090. The OMB has reviewed this collection of information under the clearance requirements of 44 U.S.C. § 3507.
Item 1. Report to Stockholders.
(a) Following is a copy of the annual report transmitted to stockholders pursuant to Rule 30e-1 under the Act.
Neuberger
High Yield Strategies
Fund Inc.*
High Yield Strategies
Fund Inc.*
Annual Report
October 31, 2025
* Prior to December 18, 2025, the Fund included "Neuberger Berman" in place of "Neuberger"
in its name.
Contents
|
1
|
|
|
2
|
|
|
7
|
|
|
22
|
|
|
24
|
|
|
28
|
|
|
37
|
|
|
40
|
|
|
41
|
|
|
52
|
|
|
55
|
|
|
56
|
|
|
66
|
|
|
66
|
|
|
67
|
|
|
68
|
|
|
73
|
The "Neuberger Berman" and "Neuberger" names and logos and "Neuberger Berman Investment
Advisers LLC" name are registered service marks of Neuberger Berman Group LLC. The individual Fund name in this piece is either a service mark or registered
service mark of Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC. ©2025 Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC. All rights reserved.
President’s Letter
Dear Stockholder,
I am pleased to present this annual report for Neuberger High Yield Strategies Fund
Inc. (the Fund) for the 12 months ended October 31, 2025 (the reporting period). The report includes a portfolio
commentary, a listing of the Fund’s investments and its audited financial statements for the reporting period.
The Fund seeks high total return (income plus capital appreciation). To pursue that
objective, we have assembled a portfolio that consists primarily of high yield debt securities.
Thank you for your confidence in the Fund. We will continue to do our best to retain
your trust in the years to come.
Sincerely,
Joseph V. Amato
President and CEO
Neuberger High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.
President and CEO
Neuberger High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.
1
Neuberger High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.
Portfolio Commentary (Unaudited)
Neuberger High Yield Strategies Fund Inc. (the Fund) generated a 9.03% total return
on a net asset value (NAV) basis for the 12-months ended October 31, 2025 (the reporting period), versus its
benchmark, the ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Constrained Index (the Index), which provided a 8.03% total return
for the same period. (Fund performance on a market price basis is provided in the table immediately following
this commentary.) The use of leverage (typically a performance enhancer in up markets and a detractor during market
retreats) contributed positively to the Fund’s performance during the reporting period.
The U.S. high-yield market, as measured by the Index, generated strong returns during
the reporting period. The high-yield market was impacted by a number of factors: signs of strain in the U.S.
labor market, moderating but still "sticky" inflation, several U.S. Federal Reserve Board (Fed) rate cuts, and
the potential impact from the Trump administration’s tariffs. During the reporting period, high-yield credit spreads tightened and high-yield bond prices rose, mostly driven by solid fundamentals and an overall favorable period for risk
assets.
From a sector perspective on a relative basis versus the Index, security selection
within diversified financial services and gas distribution as well as security selection within and an overweight versus
the Index to telecommunications were the best performers. In contrast, an underweight to media-broadcast and security
selection within and overweights to chemicals and media-cable were the worst performers.
In terms of the Fund's credit quality on a relative basis versus the Index, security
selection within B, CCC and below and BB rated securities were the best performers. Conversely, an overweight
to B and BBB and above rated issuers versus the Index detracted the most from relative performance.
U.S. high yield credit continues to offer compelling carry, providing investors with
compensation that we believe is appropriate given a benign default outlook. Although inflation has proven somewhat
persistent and remains above the Fed’s 2% target, recent data suggest that the impact of tariffs has been less significant than initially feared. Looking ahead, the trajectory of the market will be influenced by developments
in labor and inflation data and ongoing macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainties. Against this backdrop, our
investment team maintains a strong focus on issuer fundamentals. We believe our disciplined, bottom-up
credit research process—centered on rigorous security selection and proactive risk management—positions the Fund to take advantage of market volatility. We continue to identify compelling opportunities within
the high yield market, and while our default outlook is in line with historical averages, our team remains vigilant
in seeking to avoid credit deterioration and default risk, aiming to generate alpha through prudent security
selection.
Sincerely,
Joe Lind and Chris Kocinski
Portfolio Co-Managers
Portfolio Co-Managers
The portfolio composition, industries and holdings of the Fund are subject to change
without notice.
The opinions expressed are those of the Fund's portfolio managers. The opinions are
as of the date of this report and are subject to change without notice.
The value of securities owned by the Fund, as well as the market value of shares of the Fund’s common stock, may decline in response to certain events, including those directly involving the issuers whose securities are
owned by the Fund; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional, national or global political, social
or economic instability; regulatory or legislative developments; price, currency and interest rate fluctuations, including those resulting
from changes in central bank policies; and changes in investor sentiment.
The performance of certain rated bonds within the Index, as noted above, represent
issues that are rated Baa3/BBB- and above, Ba1/BB+ through Ba3/BB-, B1/B+ through B3/B- and Caa1/CCC+ or lower, based on an average of Moody’s, S&P Global and Fitch ratings, as calculated by ICE BofA.
2
High Yield Strategies Fund Inc. (Unaudited)
|
TICKER SYMBOL
|
|
|
High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.
|
NHS
|
|
PORTFOLIO BY MATURITY DISTRIBUTION
|
|
|
(as a % of Total Investments*)
|
|
|
Less than One Year
|
0.0
%
|
|
One to less than Five Years
|
37.6
|
|
Five to less than Ten Years
|
57.3
|
|
Ten Years or Greater
|
5.1
|
|
Total
|
100.0
%
|
|
*
|
Does not include Short-Term Investments or
the impact of the Fund’s open positions in
derivatives, if any.
|
|
PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS1
|
|||||
|
|
Inception
Date
|
Average Annual Total Return
Ended 10/31/2025
|
|||
|
|
1 Year
|
5 Years
|
10 Years
|
Life of Fund
|
|
|
At NAV2
|
|||||
|
High Yield
Strategies
Fund Inc.
|
07/28/2003
|
9.03%
|
3.14%
|
5.09%
|
7.59%
|
|
At Market Price3
|
|||||
|
High Yield
Strategies
Fund Inc.
|
07/28/2003
|
5.76%
|
5.20%
|
7.01%
|
7.42%
|
|
Index
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ICE BofA U.S. High Yield
Constrained Index4
|
8.03%
|
5.48%
|
5.80%
|
6.90%
|
|
Listed closed-end funds, unlike open-end funds, are not continually offered. Generally,
there is an initial public offering and, once issued, shares of common stock of closed-end
funds are sold in the secondary market on a stock exchange.
The performance data quoted represent past performance and do not indicate future results. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. For current performance data, please visit www. nb.com/cef-performance.
The results shown in the table reflect the reinvestment of income dividends and other distributions, if any. The results do not reflect the effect of taxes a stockholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the sale of shares of the Fund’s common stock.
The investment return and market price will fluctuate and shares of the Fund’s common stock may trade at prices above or below NAV. Shares of the Fund’s common stock, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost.
Returns would have been lower if Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC ("NBIA")
had not waived certain expenses during certain of the periods shown. The waived fees
are from prior years that are no longer disclosed in the Financial Highlights.
3
High Yield Strategies Fund Inc. (Unaudited)
COMPARISON OF A $10,000 INVESTMENT
This graph shows the change in value of a hypothetical $10,000 investment in the Fund
over the past 10 fiscal years. The graph is based on the Fund’s shares of common stock both at net asset value (NAV) and at market price. The Fund’s common stock may trade at market prices above or below NAV per share (see Performance Highlights chart). The result is compared
with a broad-based market index. The market index has not been reduced to reflect any of the fees and costs of investing. The results
shown in the graph reflect the reinvestment of income dividends and other distributions, if any, at prices obtained under the Fund’s Distribution Reinvestment Plan. The results do not reflect the effect of taxes a stockholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the sale of Fund
shares. Results represent past performance and do not indicate future results.
Impact of the Fund’s Distribution Policy
The Fund has a practice of seeking to maintain a relatively stable level of distributions
to common stockholders. In general, this practice does not affect the Fund’s investment strategy and may reduce the Fund’s NAV. Management believes the practice helps maintain the Fund’s competitiveness and may benefit the Fund’s market price and its premium/discount to the Fund’s NAV per share. During the 12-month period ended October 31, 2025, the Fund made distributions to common stockholders totaling
$1.09 per share, of which $0.58 will be treated as a return of capital for tax purposes.
4
Endnotes (Unaudited)
|
1
|
The performance information for periods prior to August 6, 2010 is that of a predecessor
fund (Neuberger
Berman High Yield Strategies Fund).
|
|
2
|
Returns based on the NAV of the Fund.
|
|
3
|
Returns based on the market price of shares of the Fund’s common stock on the NYSE American.
|
|
4
|
The ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Constrained Index tracks the performance of U.S. dollar-denominated,
below
investment grade corporate debt publicly issued in the U.S. domestic market. In addition
to meeting other
criteria, qualifying securities must have a below investment grade rating (based on an average of Moody’s,
S&P and Fitch ratings) and have risk exposure to countries that are members of the
FX-G10, Western
Europe or territories of the U.S. and Western Europe. Securities in legal default
are excluded from the
index. Index constituents are capitalization-weighted, provided the total allocation
to an individual issuer
does not exceed 2%. Transaction costs are incorporated into the calculation of total
return for ICE fixed
income indices beginning in July 2022. Please note that the index does not take into
account any fees and
expenses or any tax consequences of investing in the individual securities that it
tracks and that individuals
cannot invest directly in any index. Data about the performance of this index are
prepared or obtained by
NBIA and include reinvestment of all income dividends and other distributions, if
any. The Fund may invest
in securities not included in the index and generally does not invest in all securities included
in the index.
|
For more complete information on Neuberger High Yield Strategies Fund Inc., call Neuberger
Berman Investment Advisers LLC at (877) 461-1899, or visit our website at www.nb.com.
5
Legend October 31, 2025 (Unaudited)
Neuberger High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.
|
Other Abbreviations:
|
|
|
Management or NBIA
|
= Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC
|
|
Reference Rate Benchmarks:
|
|
|
SOFR
|
= Secured Overnight Financing Rate
|
|
Currency Abbreviations:
|
|
|
USD
|
= United States Dollar
|
6
Schedule of Investments High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.^
October 31, 2025
|
Principal Amount
|
Value
|
||
|
Asset-Backed Securities 2.9%
|
|||
|
Other 2.9%
|
|
|
|
|
$1,000,000
|
Bain Capital Credit CLO Ltd., Series 2023-2A, Class D1R, (3 mo. USD Term SOFR + 2.85%),
6.73%,
due 7/18/2038
|
$999,593
(a)(b)
|
|
|
1,000,000
|
Barings CLO Ltd., Series 2020-1A, Class D1R2, (3 mo. USD Term SOFR + 2.75%), 6.65%,
due
1/15/2038
|
1,000,693
(a)(b)
|
|
|
1,000,000
|
Invesco U.S. CLO Ltd., Series 2025-2A, Class E, (3 mo. USD Term SOFR + 5.00%), 9.29%,
due
7/15/2038
|
995,110
(a)(b)
|
|
|
750,000
|
Oaktree CLO Ltd., Series 2024-25A, Class E, (3 mo. USD Term SOFR + 6.59%), 10.47%,
due
4/20/2037
|
754,966
(a)(b)
|
|
|
500,000
|
OCP CLO Ltd., Series 2021-23A, Class ER, (3 mo. USD Term SOFR + 4.85%), 8.73%, due
1/17/2037
|
497,436
(a)(b)
|
|
|
1,000,000
|
Palmer Square CLO Ltd., Series 2024-4A, Class E, (3 mo. USD Term SOFR + 5.00%), 8.90%,
due
1/15/2038
|
999,997
(a)(b)
|
|
|
500,000
|
Signal Peak CLO 11 Ltd., Series 2024-11A, Class D1, (3 mo. USD Term SOFR + 3.10%),
6.98%, due
7/18/2037
|
501,595
(a)(b)
|
|
|
1,000,000
|
Symphony CLO 44 Ltd., Series 2024-44A, Class D, (3 mo. USD Term SOFR + 3.20%), 7.11%,
due
7/14/2037
|
1,005,594
(a)(b)
|
|
|
Total Asset-Backed Securities (Cost $6,742,500)
|
6,754,984
|
||
|
|
|||
|
Corporate Bonds 133.2%
|
|||
|
Advertising 1.8%
|
|||
|
|
Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc.
|
|
|
|
235,000
|
7.75%, due 4/15/2028
|
233,221
(a)
|
|
|
350,000
|
7.50%, due 6/1/2029
|
343,437
(a)
|
|
|
795,000
|
7.88%, due 4/1/2030
|
833,452
(a)
|
|
|
580,000
|
7.13%, due 2/15/2031
|
598,130
(a)
|
|
|
415,000
|
7.50%, due 3/15/2033
|
433,950
(a)
|
|
|
355,000
|
CMG Media Corp., 8.88%, due 6/18/2029
|
310,479
(a)
|
|
|
1,480,000
|
Neptune Bidco U.S., Inc., 9.29%, due 4/15/2029
|
1,461,500
(a)(c)
|
|
|
|
|
4,214,169
|
|
|
Aerospace & Defense 2.3%
|
|||
|
|
Bombardier, Inc.
|
|
|
|
480,000
|
7.25%, due 7/1/2031
|
509,482
(a)
|
|
|
1,115,000
|
7.00%, due 6/1/2032
|
1,170,628
(a)(c)
|
|
|
195,000
|
6.75%, due 6/15/2033
|
204,701
(a)
|
|
|
1,455,000
|
Goat Holdco LLC, 6.75%, due 2/1/2032
|
1,485,792
(a)(c)
|
|
|
|
TransDigm, Inc.
|
|
|
|
570,000
|
6.63%, due 3/1/2032
|
589,425
(a)
|
|
|
10,000
|
6.00%, due 1/15/2033
|
10,159
(a)
|
|
|
535,000
|
6.38%, due 5/31/2033
|
545,343
(a)
|
|
|
835,000
|
6.75%, due 1/31/2034
|
865,296
(a)(c)
|
|
|
|
|
5,380,826
|
|
|
Airlines 0.5%
|
|||
|
|
VistaJet Malta Finance PLC/Vista Management Holding, Inc.
|
|
|
|
95,000
|
9.50%, due 6/1/2028
|
98,801
(a)
|
|
|
1,055,000
|
6.38%, due 2/1/2030
|
1,018,921
(a)(c)
|
|
|
|
|
1,117,722
|
|
|
Apparel 1.0%
|
|||
|
1,610,000
|
Beach Acquisition Bidco LLC, 10.00% Cash/10.75% PIK, due 7/15/2033
|
1,728,602
(a)(c)(d)
|
|
See Notes to Financial Statements
7
Schedule of Investments High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.^ (cont’d)
|
Principal Amount
|
Value
|
|
|
|
||
|
Apparel – cont'd
|
||
|
$65,000
|
Champ Acquisition Corp., 8.38%, due 12/1/2031
|
$69,230
(a)
|
|
145,000
|
S&S Holdings LLC, 8.38%, due 10/1/2031
|
138,522
(a)
|
|
565,000
|
VF Corp., 2.95%, due 4/23/2030
|
496,720
|
|
|
|
2,433,074
|
|
Auto Manufacturers 0.8%
|
||
|
|
Nissan Motor Acceptance Co. LLC
|
|
|
155,000
|
7.05%, due 9/15/2028
|
161,254
(a)
|
|
145,000
|
5.63%, due 9/29/2028
|
144,893
(a)
|
|
65,000
|
5.55%, due 9/13/2029
|
64,613
(a)
|
|
115,000
|
6.13%, due 9/30/2030
|
114,007
(a)
|
|
|
Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.
|
|
|
235,000
|
7.50%, due 7/17/2030
|
245,911
(a)
|
|
575,000
|
4.81%, due 9/17/2030
|
539,302
(a)
|
|
175,000
|
7.75%, due 7/17/2032
|
184,787
(a)
|
|
290,000
|
8.13%, due 7/17/2035
|
308,430
(a)
|
|
|
|
1,763,197
|
|
Auto Parts & Equipment 2.8%
|
||
|
1,555,000
|
Clarios Global LP/Clarios U.S. Finance Co., 6.75%, due 9/15/2032
|
1,591,048
(a)(c)
|
|
565,000
|
Dornoch Debt Merger Sub, Inc., 6.63%, due 10/15/2029
|
481,317
(a)
|
|
775,000
|
Forvia SE, 6.75%, due 9/15/2033
|
786,138
(a)
|
|
|
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.
|
|
|
245,000
|
5.00%, due 7/15/2029
|
233,195
|
|
160,000
|
5.25%, due 7/15/2031
|
145,850
|
|
120,000
|
5.63%, due 4/30/2033
|
108,181
|
|
|
IHO Verwaltungs GmbH
|
|
|
855,000
|
7.75% Cash/8.50% PIK, due 11/15/2030
|
885,760
(a)(c)(d)
|
|
355,000
|
8.00% Cash/8.75% PIK, due 11/15/2032
|
370,141
(a)(d)
|
|
|
ZF North America Capital, Inc.
|
|
|
435,000
|
6.88%, due 4/14/2028
|
437,675
(a)
|
|
315,000
|
7.13%, due 4/14/2030
|
306,644
(a)
|
|
485,000
|
6.75%, due 4/23/2030
|
461,681
(a)
|
|
410,000
|
7.50%, due 3/24/2031
|
394,252
(a)
|
|
355,000
|
6.88%, due 4/23/2032
|
324,023
(a)
|
|
|
|
6,525,905
|
|
Banks 0.4%
|
||
|
850,000
|
Walker & Dunlop, Inc., 6.63%, due 4/1/2033
|
869,850
(a)(c)
|
|
Building Materials 5.4%
|
||
|
|
Builders FirstSource, Inc.
|
|
|
720,000
|
6.38%, due 3/1/2034
|
745,649
(a)
|
|
935,000
|
6.75%, due 5/15/2035
|
981,705
(a)(c)
|
|
385,000
|
Camelot Return Merger Sub, Inc., 8.75%, due 8/1/2028
|
355,900
(a)
|
|
|
Cornerstone Building Brands, Inc.
|
|
|
260,000
|
6.13%, due 1/15/2029
|
197,629
(a)
|
|
315,000
|
9.50%, due 8/15/2029
|
290,658
(a)
|
|
|
EMRLD Borrower LP/Emerald Co-Issuer, Inc.
|
|
|
1,010,000
|
6.63%, due 12/15/2030
|
1,038,311
(a)(c)
|
|
445,000
|
6.75%, due 7/15/2031
|
462,117
(a)
|
|
675,000
|
Jeld-Wen, Inc., 7.00%, due 9/1/2032
|
556,874
(a)
|
See Notes to Financial Statements
8
Schedule of Investments High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.^ (cont’d)
|
Principal Amount
|
Value
|
|
|
|
||
|
Building Materials – cont'd
|
||
|
|
JH North America Holdings, Inc.
|
|
|
$260,000
|
5.88%, due 1/31/2031
|
$264,814
(a)
|
|
490,000
|
6.13%, due 7/31/2032
|
502,542
(a)
|
|
850,000
|
Knife River Corp., 7.75%, due 5/1/2031
|
890,433
(a)(c)
|
|
735,000
|
Masterbrand, Inc., 7.00%, due 7/15/2032
|
762,411
(a)
|
|
340,000
|
Miter Brands Acquisition Holdco, Inc./MIWD Borrower LLC, 6.75%, due 4/1/2032
|
348,994
(a)
|
|
995,000
|
MIWD Holdco II LLC/MIWD Finance Corp., 5.50%, due 2/1/2030
|
965,447
(a)(c)
|
|
665,000
|
Oscar AcquisitionCo LLC/Oscar Finance, Inc., 9.50%, due 4/15/2030
|
484,169
(a)
|
|
|
Quikrete Holdings, Inc.
|
|
|
940,000
|
6.38%, due 3/1/2032
|
974,979
(a)
|
|
915,000
|
6.75%, due 3/1/2033
|
952,111
(a)
|
|
|
Standard Building Solutions, Inc.
|
|
|
780,000
|
6.50%, due 8/15/2032
|
801,841
(a)
|
|
1,025,000
|
6.25%, due 8/1/2033
|
1,045,242
(a)(c)
|
|
|
|
12,621,826
|
|
Chemicals 3.8%
|
||
|
280,000
|
Ashland, Inc., 6.88%, due 5/15/2043
|
290,900
|
|
405,000
|
Avient Corp., 6.25%, due 11/1/2031
|
413,487
(a)
|
|
795,000
|
Axalta Coating Systems Dutch Holding B BV, 7.25%, due 2/15/2031
|
833,527
(a)
|
|
|
Celanese U.S. Holdings LLC
|
|
|
320,000
|
7.05%, due 11/15/2030
|
325,641
|
|
145,000
|
6.88%, due 7/15/2032
|
145,695
|
|
140,000
|
7.20%, due 11/15/2033
|
143,548
|
|
265,000
|
INEOS Finance PLC, 6.75%, due 5/15/2028
|
249,925
(a)
|
|
920,000
|
Inversion Escrow Issuer LLC, 6.75%, due 8/1/2032
|
898,296
(a)
|
|
|
Olympus Water U.S. Holding Corp.
|
|
|
360,000
|
4.25%, due 10/1/2028
|
344,864
(a)
|
|
1,115,000
|
6.25%, due 10/1/2029
|
1,086,838
(a)(c)
|
|
185,000
|
7.25%, due 6/15/2031
|
185,111
(a)
|
|
300,000
|
7.25%, due 2/15/2033
|
298,611
(a)
|
|
1,260,000
|
SCIH Salt Holdings, Inc., 6.63%, due 5/1/2029
|
1,248,895
(a)(c)
|
|
|
WR Grace Holdings LLC
|
|
|
1,045,000
|
5.63%, due 8/15/2029
|
956,216
(a)(c)
|
|
975,000
|
7.38%, due 3/1/2031
|
976,856
(a)(c)
|
|
435,000
|
6.63%, due 8/15/2032
|
420,153
(a)
|
|
|
|
8,818,563
|
|
Commercial Services 8.5%
|
||
|
1,055,000
|
ADT Security Corp., 5.88%, due 10/15/2033
|
1,070,242
(a)(c)
|
|
1,285,000
|
Albion Financing 1 SARL/Aggreko Holdings, Inc., 7.00%, due 5/21/2030
|
1,326,225
(a)(c)
|
|
915,000
|
Allied Universal Holdco LLC, 7.88%, due 2/15/2031
|
952,712
(a)(c)
|
|
|
Allied Universal Holdco LLC/Allied Universal Finance Corp.
|
|
|
1,280,000
|
6.00%, due 6/1/2029
|
1,251,349
(a)(c)
|
|
475,000
|
6.88%, due 6/15/2030
|
487,301
(a)
|
|
|
Block, Inc.
|
|
|
485,000
|
5.63%, due 8/15/2030
|
492,328
(a)(c)
|
|
975,000
|
6.00%, due 8/15/2033
|
996,934
(a)(c)
|
|
645,000
|
Champions Financing, Inc., 8.75%, due 2/15/2029
|
625,248
(a)
|
|
|
Garda World Security Corp.
|
|
|
565,000
|
6.00%, due 6/1/2029
|
551,147
(a)
|
|
680,000
|
8.25%, due 8/1/2032
|
691,929
(a)
|
See Notes to Financial Statements
9
Schedule of Investments High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.^ (cont’d)
|
Principal Amount
|
Value
|
|
|
|
||
|
Commercial Services – cont'd
|
||
|
$895,000
|
8.38%, due 11/15/2032
|
$910,644
(a)(c)
|
|
|
Herc Holdings, Inc.
|
|
|
828,000
|
7.00%, due 6/15/2030
|
866,650
(a)
|
|
1,168,000
|
7.25%, due 6/15/2033
|
1,231,426
(a)(c)
|
|
505,000
|
Mavis Tire Express Services Topco Corp., 6.50%, due 5/15/2029
|
499,550
(a)
|
|
940,000
|
Raven Acquisition Holdings LLC, 6.88%, due 11/15/2031
|
960,567
(a)
|
|
1,385,000
|
Shift4 Payments LLC/Shift4 Payments Finance Sub, Inc., 6.75%, due 8/15/2032
|
1,430,474
(a)(c)
|
|
1,250,000
|
Veritiv Operating Co., 10.50%, due 11/30/2030
|
1,300,848
(a)(c)
|
|
1,255,000
|
VM Consolidated, Inc., 5.50%, due 4/15/2029
|
1,241,074
(a)(c)
|
|
1,515,000
|
Wand NewCo 3, Inc., 7.63%, due 1/30/2032
|
1,583,378
(a)(c)
|
|
|
Williams Scotsman, Inc.
|
|
|
310,000
|
6.63%, due 6/15/2029
|
319,167
(a)
|
|
170,000
|
6.63%, due 4/15/2030
|
175,799
(a)
|
|
915,000
|
7.38%, due 10/1/2031
|
957,640
(a)(c)
|
|
|
|
19,922,632
|
|
Computers 1.9%
|
||
|
870,000
|
Ahead DB Holdings LLC, 6.63%, due 5/1/2028
|
876,420
(a)(c)
|
|
1,180,000
|
Amentum Holdings, Inc., 7.25%, due 8/1/2032
|
1,228,032
(a)(c)
|
|
615,000
|
CACI International, Inc., 6.38%, due 6/15/2033
|
639,428
(a)
|
|
1,085,000
|
Fortress Intermediate 3, Inc., 7.50%, due 6/1/2031
|
1,131,373
(a)(c)
|
|
595,000
|
Science Applications International Corp., 5.88%, due 11/1/2033
|
593,250
(a)
|
|
|
|
4,468,503
|
|
Cosmetics - Personal Care 0.7%
|
||
|
525,000
|
Opal Bidco SAS, 6.50%, due 3/31/2032
|
540,723
(a)
|
|
1,115,000
|
Perrigo Finance Unlimited Co., 6.13%, due 9/30/2032
|
1,124,412
(c)
|
|
|
|
1,665,135
|
|
Distribution - Wholesale 1.5%
|
||
|
770,000
|
Dealer Tire LLC/DT Issuer LLC, 8.00%, due 2/1/2028
|
747,252
(a)
|
|
975,000
|
RB Global Holdings, Inc., 7.75%, due 3/15/2031
|
1,017,538
(a)(c)
|
|
830,000
|
Resideo Funding, Inc., 6.50%, due 7/15/2032
|
849,578
(a)
|
|
955,000
|
Windsor Holdings III LLC, 8.50%, due 6/15/2030
|
1,008,170
(a)(c)
|
|
|
|
3,622,538
|
|
Diversified Financial Services 6.7%
|
||
|
|
Azorra Finance Ltd.
|
|
|
775,000
|
7.75%, due 4/15/2030
|
817,061
(a)
|
|
470,000
|
7.25%, due 1/15/2031
|
491,603
(a)
|
|
440,000
|
Bread Financial Holdings, Inc., 6.75%, due 5/15/2031
|
443,010
(a)(e)
|
|
795,000
|
CrossCountry Intermediate HoldCo LLC, 6.50%, due 10/1/2030
|
802,333
(a)
|
|
640,000
|
Focus Financial Partners LLC, 6.75%, due 9/15/2031
|
659,632
(a)
|
|
245,000
|
Freedom Mortgage Holdings LLC, 9.13%, due 5/15/2031
|
260,441
(a)
|
|
880,000
|
Global Aircraft Leasing Co. Ltd., 8.75%, due 9/1/2027
|
905,995
(a)
|
|
|
Jane Street Group/JSG Finance, Inc.
|
|
|
670,000
|
7.13%, due 4/30/2031
|
703,077
(a)
|
|
500,000
|
6.13%, due 11/1/2032
|
508,788
(a)
|
|
|
Navient Corp.
|
|
|
885,000
|
5.50%, due 3/15/2029
|
869,099
|
|
570,000
|
7.88%, due 6/15/2032
|
588,882
|
|
|
OneMain Finance Corp.
|
|
|
345,000
|
6.63%, due 5/15/2029
|
354,784
|
See Notes to Financial Statements
10
Schedule of Investments High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.^ (cont’d)
|
Principal Amount
|
Value
|
|
|
|
||
|
Diversified Financial Services – cont'd
|
||
|
$470,000
|
5.38%, due 11/15/2029
|
$466,278
|
|
700,000
|
6.13%, due 5/15/2030
|
708,232
|
|
430,000
|
7.13%, due 11/15/2031
|
445,576
|
|
1,080,000
|
7.13%, due 9/15/2032
|
1,114,689
(c)
|
|
360,000
|
6.50%, due 3/15/2033
|
359,275
|
|
|
PennyMac Financial Services, Inc.
|
|
|
425,000
|
7.13%, due 11/15/2030
|
444,966
(a)
|
|
540,000
|
5.75%, due 9/15/2031
|
538,705
(a)
|
|
330,000
|
6.88%, due 5/15/2032
|
344,219
(a)
|
|
1,050,000
|
6.88%, due 2/15/2033
|
1,086,159
(a)(c)
|
|
1,030,000
|
Provident Funding Associates LP/PFG Finance Corp., 9.75%, due 9/15/2029
|
1,085,402
(a)(c)
|
|
650,000
|
Rocket Cos., Inc., 6.38%, due 8/1/2033
|
677,124
(a)
|
|
|
UWM Holdings LLC
|
|
|
635,000
|
6.63%, due 2/1/2030
|
646,928
(a)
|
|
255,000
|
6.25%, due 3/15/2031
|
254,541
(a)
|
|
|
|
15,576,799
|
|
Electric 5.4%
|
||
|
|
Alpha Generation LLC
|
|
|
1,405,000
|
6.75%, due 10/15/2032
|
1,443,760
(a)(c)
|
|
610,000
|
6.25%, due 1/15/2034
|
617,089
(a)
|
|
795,000
|
Hawaiian Electric Co., Inc., 6.00%, due 10/1/2033
|
803,754
(a)
|
|
1,273,000
|
Lightning Power LLC, 7.25%, due 8/15/2032
|
1,348,435
(a)(c)
|
|
|
NRG Energy, Inc.
|
|
|
850,000
|
10.25%, due 3/15/2028
|
932,869
(a)(c)(f)(g)
|
|
655,000
|
6.00%, due 2/1/2033
|
668,154
(a)
|
|
1,170,000
|
5.75%, due 1/15/2034
|
1,178,249
(a)(c)
|
|
1,245,000
|
6.00%, due 1/15/2036
|
1,266,430
(a)(c)
|
|
|
Talen Energy Supply LLC
|
|
|
750,000
|
6.25%, due 2/1/2034
|
769,087
(a)
|
|
750,000
|
6.50%, due 2/1/2036
|
776,777
(a)
|
|
1,395,000
|
Vistra Operations Co. LLC, 6.88%, due 4/15/2032
|
1,465,225
(a)(c)
|
|
1,305,000
|
VoltaGrid LLC, 7.38%, due 11/1/2030
|
1,327,253
(a)(e)
|
|
|
|
12,597,082
|
|
Electrical Components & Equipment 0.3%
|
||
|
625,000
|
EnerSys, 6.63%, due 1/15/2032
|
642,386
(a)
|
|
Electronics 0.6%
|
||
|
1,435,000
|
Sensata Technologies, Inc., 6.63%, due 7/15/2032
|
1,493,859
(a)(c)
|
|
Engineering & Construction 0.5%
|
||
|
545,000
|
Artera Services LLC, 8.50%, due 2/15/2031
|
470,329
(a)
|
|
340,000
|
Brand Industrial Services, Inc., 10.38%, due 8/1/2030
|
327,139
(a)
|
|
430,000
|
Global Infrastructure Solutions, Inc., 7.50%, due 4/15/2032
|
450,235
(a)
|
|
|
|
1,247,703
|
|
Entertainment 5.3%
|
||
|
625,000
|
Caesars Entertainment, Inc., 6.00%, due 10/15/2032
|
596,233
(a)
|
|
|
Churchill Downs, Inc.
|
|
|
60,000
|
5.75%, due 4/1/2030
|
60,184
(a)
|
|
1,285,000
|
6.75%, due 5/1/2031
|
1,313,837
(a)(c)
|
|
1,730,000
|
Light & Wonder International, Inc., 6.25%, due 10/1/2033
|
1,722,353
(a)(c)
|
See Notes to Financial Statements
11
Schedule of Investments High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.^ (cont’d)
|
Principal Amount
|
Value
|
|
|
|
||
|
Entertainment – cont'd
|
||
|
$1,250,000
|
Midwest Gaming Borrower LLC/Midwest Gaming Finance Corp., 4.88%, due 5/1/2029
|
$1,213,349
(a)(c)
|
|
|
Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority/MS Digital Entertainment Holdings LLC
|
|
|
840,000
|
8.25%, due 4/15/2030
|
872,032
(a)
|
|
160,000
|
11.88%, due 4/15/2031
|
166,949
(a)
|
|
920,000
|
Penn Entertainment, Inc., 4.13%, due 7/1/2029
|
856,770
(a)(c)
|
|
900,000
|
Scientific Games Holdings LP/Scientific Games U.S. FinCo, Inc., 6.63%, due 3/1/2030
|
822,095
(a)
|
|
795,000
|
SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc., 5.25%, due 8/15/2029
|
779,749
(a)(c)
|
|
925,000
|
Six Flags Entertainment Corp., 7.25%, due 5/15/2031
|
927,272
(a)
|
|
325,000
|
Six Flags Entertainment Corp./Canada's Wonderland Co./Magnum Management Corp., 5.25%,
due
7/15/2029
|
312,367
|
|
630,000
|
Six Flags Entertainment Corp./Six Flags Theme Parks, Inc./Canada's Wonderland Co.,
6.63%, due
5/1/2032
|
639,715
(a)
|
|
|
Warnermedia Holdings, Inc.
|
|
|
1,155,000
|
4.28%, due 3/15/2032
|
1,057,908
(c)
|
|
940,000
|
5.05%, due 3/15/2042
|
754,566
|
|
215,000
|
5.14%, due 3/15/2052
|
163,400
|
|
165,000
|
Wynn Resorts Finance LLC/Wynn Resorts Capital Corp., 6.25%, due 3/15/2033
|
167,644
(a)
|
|
|
|
12,426,423
|
|
Environmental Control 1.1%
|
||
|
705,000
|
Luna 1.5 SARL, 12.00%, due 7/1/2032
|
730,816
(a)(d)
|
|
1,905,000
|
Madison IAQ LLC, 5.88%, due 6/30/2029
|
1,866,721
(a)(c)
|
|
|
|
2,597,537
|
|
Food 1.3%
|
||
|
|
Albertsons Cos., Inc./Safeway, Inc./New Albertsons LP/Albertsons LLC
|
|
|
275,000
|
5.50%, due 3/31/2031
|
277,174
(a)(e)
|
|
905,000
|
6.25%, due 3/15/2033
|
930,281
(a)(c)
|
|
410,000
|
5.75%, due 3/31/2034
|
411,806
(a)(e)
|
|
690,000
|
Performance Food Group, Inc., 6.13%, due 9/15/2032
|
708,422
(a)
|
|
300,000
|
Post Holdings, Inc., 6.38%, due 3/1/2033
|
303,838
(a)
|
|
470,000
|
U.S. Foods, Inc., 5.75%, due 4/15/2033
|
476,188
(a)
|
|
|
|
3,107,709
|
|
Food Service 0.5%
|
||
|
|
TKC Holdings, Inc.
|
|
|
450,000
|
6.88%, due 5/15/2028
|
453,764
(a)
|
|
760,000
|
10.50%, due 5/15/2029
|
781,565
(a)
|
|
|
|
1,235,329
|
|
Forest Products & Paper 0.5%
|
||
|
900,000
|
Ahlstrom Holding 3 OYJ, 4.88%, due 2/4/2028
|
875,095
(a)(c)
|
|
225,000
|
Magnera Corp., 7.25%, due 11/15/2031
|
194,277
(a)
|
|
|
|
1,069,372
|
|
Healthcare - Products 0.5%
|
||
|
1,235,000
|
Bausch & Lomb Corp., 8.38%, due 10/1/2028
|
1,290,575
(a)(c)
|
|
Healthcare - Services 4.9%
|
||
|
|
Acadia Healthcare Co., Inc.
|
|
|
500,000
|
5.00%, due 4/15/2029
|
489,269
(a)
|
|
465,000
|
7.38%, due 3/15/2033
|
480,700
(a)
|
|
|
CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.
|
|
|
170,000
|
6.00%, due 1/15/2029
|
168,300
(a)
|
See Notes to Financial Statements
12
Schedule of Investments High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.^ (cont’d)
|
Principal Amount
|
Value
|
|
|
|
||
|
Healthcare - Services – cont'd
|
||
|
$40,000
|
6.88%, due 4/15/2029
|
$36,265
(a)
|
|
40,000
|
6.13%, due 4/1/2030
|
33,609
(a)
|
|
550,000
|
5.25%, due 5/15/2030
|
515,558
(a)
|
|
235,000
|
10.88%, due 1/15/2032
|
253,337
(a)
|
|
375,000
|
9.75%, due 1/15/2034
|
397,045
(a)
|
|
1,200,000
|
Global Medical Response, Inc., 7.38%, due 10/1/2032
|
1,255,614
(a)(c)
|
|
120,000
|
HAH Group Holding Co. LLC, 9.75%, due 10/1/2031
|
113,743
(a)
|
|
|
LifePoint Health, Inc.
|
|
|
160,000
|
5.38%, due 1/15/2029
|
154,825
(a)
|
|
785,000
|
9.88%, due 8/15/2030
|
847,496
(a)
|
|
1,080,000
|
10.00%, due 6/1/2032
|
1,148,729
(a)(c)
|
|
1,620,000
|
Molina Healthcare, Inc., 6.25%, due 1/15/2033
|
1,630,587
(a)(c)
|
|
880,000
|
Select Medical Corp., 6.25%, due 12/1/2032
|
892,670
(a)
|
|
790,000
|
Star Parent, Inc., 9.00%, due 10/1/2030
|
843,543
(a)
|
|
1,460,000
|
Surgery Center Holdings, Inc., 7.25%, due 4/15/2032
|
1,502,211
(a)(c)
|
|
645,000
|
U.S. Acute Care Solutions LLC, 9.75%, due 5/15/2029
|
656,810
(a)
|
|
|
|
11,420,311
|
|
Home Builders 1.5%
|
||
|
1,125,000
|
Beazer Homes USA, Inc., 7.50%, due 3/15/2031
|
1,138,652
(a)(c)
|
|
|
K Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.
|
|
|
530,000
|
8.00%, due 4/1/2031
|
541,505
(a)
|
|
525,000
|
8.38%, due 10/1/2033
|
537,463
(a)
|
|
|
LGI Homes, Inc.
|
|
|
110,000
|
4.00%, due 7/15/2029
|
98,792
(a)
|
|
1,185,000
|
7.00%, due 11/15/2032
|
1,137,173
(a)(c)
|
|
|
|
3,453,585
|
|
Home Furnishings 0.3%
|
||
|
|
Whirlpool Corp.
|
|
|
330,000
|
6.13%, due 6/15/2030
|
326,758
|
|
330,000
|
6.50%, due 6/15/2033
|
321,960
|
|
|
|
648,718
|
|
Insurance 6.1%
|
||
|
|
Acrisure LLC/Acrisure Finance, Inc.
|
|
|
1,005,000
|
8.25%, due 2/1/2029
|
1,047,050
(a)(c)
|
|
235,000
|
8.50%, due 6/15/2029
|
246,692
(a)
|
|
1,120,000
|
7.50%, due 11/6/2030
|
1,158,392
(a)(c)
|
|
425,000
|
6.75%, due 7/1/2032
|
435,863
(a)
|
|
|
Alliant Holdings Intermediate LLC/Alliant Holdings Co-Issuer
|
|
|
475,000
|
7.00%, due 1/15/2031
|
491,980
(a)
|
|
380,000
|
6.50%, due 10/1/2031
|
389,685
(a)
|
|
570,000
|
7.38%, due 10/1/2032
|
588,127
(a)
|
|
825,000
|
Amynta Agency Borrower, Inc. & Amynta Warranty Borrower, Inc., 7.50%, due 7/15/2033
|
849,998
(a)(c)
|
|
595,000
|
Ardonagh Finco Ltd., 7.75%, due 2/15/2031
|
622,342
(a)
|
|
660,000
|
Ardonagh Group Finance Ltd., 8.88%, due 2/15/2032
|
688,663
(a)
|
|
885,000
|
Baldwin Insurance Group Holdings LLC/Baldwin Insurance Group Holdings Finance, 7.13%,
due
5/15/2031
|
908,155
(a)(c)
|
|
1,190,000
|
Broadstreet Partners Group LLC, 5.88%, due 4/15/2029
|
1,185,763
(a)(c)
|
|
|
Howden U.K. Refinance PLC/Howden U.K. Refinance 2 PLC/Howden U.S. Refinance LLC
|
|
|
380,000
|
7.25%, due 2/15/2031
|
391,660
(a)
|
See Notes to Financial Statements
13
Schedule of Investments High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.^ (cont’d)
|
Principal Amount
|
Value
|
|
|
|
||
|
Insurance – cont'd
|
||
|
$760,000
|
8.13%, due 2/15/2032
|
$784,402
(a)
|
|
|
HUB International Ltd.
|
|
|
910,000
|
7.25%, due 6/15/2030
|
950,038
(a)(c)
|
|
855,000
|
7.38%, due 1/31/2032
|
886,141
(a)
|
|
960,000
|
Jones Deslauriers Insurance Management, Inc., 6.88%, due 10/1/2033
|
951,120
(a)(c)
|
|
1,000,000
|
Panther Escrow Issuer LLC, 7.13%, due 6/1/2031
|
1,033,477
(a)(c)
|
|
495,000
|
USI, Inc., 7.50%, due 1/15/2032
|
512,503
(a)
|
|
|
|
14,122,051
|
|
Internet 0.8%
|
||
|
360,000
|
Cablevision Lightpath LLC, 5.63%, due 9/15/2028
|
356,322
(a)
|
|
830,000
|
Gen Digital, Inc., 6.25%, due 4/1/2033
|
854,438
(a)
|
|
225,000
|
Rakuten Group, Inc., 9.75%, due 4/15/2029
|
252,367
(a)
|
|
510,000
|
Wayfair LLC, 7.25%, due 10/31/2029
|
527,376
(a)
|
|
|
|
1,990,503
|
|
Iron - Steel 1.7%
|
||
|
445,000
|
Champion Iron Canada, Inc., 7.88%, due 7/15/2032
|
466,549
(a)
|
|
|
Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc.
|
|
|
500,000
|
6.88%, due 11/1/2029
|
513,452
(a)
|
|
515,000
|
7.50%, due 9/15/2031
|
539,117
(a)
|
|
520,000
|
7.00%, due 3/15/2032
|
531,696
(a)
|
|
1,830,000
|
Mineral Resources Ltd., 7.00%, due 4/1/2031
|
1,894,517
(a)(c)
|
|
|
|
3,945,331
|
|
Leisure Time 2.5%
|
||
|
950,000
|
Carnival Corp., 6.13%, due 2/15/2033
|
979,611
(a)
|
|
975,000
|
Lindblad Expeditions LLC, 7.00%, due 9/15/2030
|
993,011
(a)(c)
|
|
1,860,000
|
NCL Corp. Ltd., 6.75%, due 2/1/2032
|
1,911,264
(a)(c)
|
|
1,585,000
|
Viking Cruises Ltd., 5.88%, due 10/15/2033
|
1,611,258
(a)(c)
|
|
230,000
|
Viking Ocean Cruises Ship VII Ltd., 5.63%, due 2/15/2029
|
229,773
(a)
|
|
|
|
5,724,917
|
|
Lodging 0.2%
|
||
|
495,000
|
Travel & Leisure Co., 6.13%, due 9/1/2033
|
500,398
(a)
|
|
Machinery - Construction & Mining 1.1%
|
||
|
1,040,000
|
Manitowoc Co., Inc., 9.25%, due 10/1/2031
|
1,092,988
(a)(c)
|
|
1,375,000
|
Terex Corp., 6.25%, due 10/15/2032
|
1,394,517
(a)(c)
|
|
|
|
2,487,505
|
|
Machinery - Diversified 0.5%
|
||
|
1,130,000
|
SPX FLOW, Inc., 8.75%, due 4/1/2030
|
1,156,319
(a)(c)
|
|
Media 5.2%
|
||
|
150,000
|
Cable One, Inc., 4.00%, due 11/15/2030
|
118,502
(a)
|
|
|
CCO Holdings LLC/CCO Holdings Capital Corp.
|
|
|
1,020,000
|
5.38%, due 6/1/2029
|
1,006,662
(a)(c)
|
|
735,000
|
4.75%, due 3/1/2030
|
698,886
(a)
|
|
1,160,000
|
4.25%, due 2/1/2031
|
1,049,938
(a)(c)
|
|
830,000
|
7.38%, due 3/1/2031
|
842,483
(a)
|
|
220,000
|
4.75%, due 2/1/2032
|
199,170
(a)
|
|
520,000
|
4.50%, due 5/1/2032
|
462,493
|
|
390,000
|
4.50%, due 6/1/2033
|
338,128
(a)
|
See Notes to Financial Statements
14
Schedule of Investments High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.^ (cont’d)
|
Principal Amount
|
Value
|
|
|
|
||
|
Media – cont'd
|
||
|
$440,000
|
4.25%, due 1/15/2034
|
$369,478
(a)
|
|
|
CSC Holdings LLC
|
|
|
510,000
|
5.50%, due 4/15/2027
|
473,221
(a)
|
|
355,000
|
5.38%, due 2/1/2028
|
294,392
(a)
|
|
630,000
|
7.50%, due 4/1/2028
|
422,925
(a)
|
|
815,000
|
11.25%, due 5/15/2028
|
715,067
(a)
|
|
860,000
|
11.75%, due 1/31/2029
|
679,366
(a)(c)
|
|
345,000
|
6.50%, due 2/1/2029
|
237,285
(a)
|
|
710,000
|
5.75%, due 1/15/2030
|
266,063
(a)
|
|
205,000
|
4.50%, due 11/15/2031
|
125,573
(a)
|
|
355,000
|
Discovery Communications LLC, 4.13%, due 5/15/2029
|
343,413
|
|
|
DISH DBS Corp.
|
|
|
615,000
|
7.38%, due 7/1/2028
|
574,668
|
|
590,000
|
5.75%, due 12/1/2028
|
566,912
(a)
|
|
340,000
|
5.13%, due 6/1/2029
|
293,514
|
|
|
McGraw-Hill Education, Inc.
|
|
|
395,000
|
8.00%, due 8/1/2029
|
398,145
(a)
|
|
490,000
|
7.38%, due 9/1/2031
|
502,862
(a)
|
|
1,200,000
|
Midcontinent Communications, 8.00%, due 8/15/2032
|
1,222,309
(a)
|
|
|
|
12,201,455
|
|
Mining 3.8%
|
||
|
1,275,000
|
Capstone Copper Corp., 6.75%, due 3/31/2033
|
1,319,313
(a)(c)
|
|
1,285,000
|
Century Aluminum Co., 6.88%, due 8/1/2032
|
1,321,079
(a)(c)
|
|
230,000
|
Constellium SE, 6.38%, due 8/15/2032
|
236,563
(a)
|
|
|
First Quantum Minerals Ltd.
|
|
|
635,000
|
8.00%, due 3/1/2033
|
674,867
(a)
|
|
510,000
|
7.25%, due 2/15/2034
|
529,641
(a)
|
|
775,000
|
Fortescue Treasury Pty. Ltd., 6.13%, due 4/15/2032
|
808,696
(a)
|
|
1,135,000
|
Kaiser Aluminum Corp., 5.88%, due 3/1/2034
|
1,130,851
(a)(e)
|
|
|
Novelis Corp.
|
|
|
970,000
|
4.75%, due 1/30/2030
|
937,581
(a)(c)
|
|
890,000
|
6.88%, due 1/30/2030
|
923,857
(a)(c)
|
|
985,000
|
Taseko Mines Ltd., 8.25%, due 5/1/2030
|
1,041,403
(a)(c)
|
|
|
|
8,923,851
|
|
Miscellaneous Manufacturer 1.5%
|
||
|
1,615,000
|
Amsted Industries, Inc., 6.38%, due 3/15/2033
|
1,671,420
(a)(c)
|
|
1,015,000
|
Calderys Financing II LLC, 11.75% Cash/12.50% PIK, due 6/1/2028
|
1,052,963
(a)(c)(d)
|
|
690,000
|
Enpro, Inc., 6.13%, due 6/1/2033
|
705,847
(a)
|
|
|
|
3,430,230
|
|
Oil & Gas 7.6%
|
||
|
|
Ascent Resources Utica Holdings LLC/ARU Finance Corp.
|
|
|
635,000
|
5.88%, due 6/30/2029
|
633,139
(a)
|
|
1,120,000
|
6.63%, due 10/15/2032
|
1,142,173
(a)(c)
|
|
960,000
|
BKV Upstream Midstream LLC, 7.50%, due 10/15/2030
|
961,461
(a)(c)
|
|
325,000
|
California Resources Corp., 7.00%, due 1/15/2034
|
323,553
(a)
|
|
1,200,000
|
Caturus Energy LLC, 8.50%, due 2/15/2030
|
1,223,210
(a)(c)
|
|
|
Civitas Resources, Inc.
|
|
|
580,000
|
8.38%, due 7/1/2028
|
599,276
(a)
|
|
400,000
|
8.63%, due 11/1/2030
|
413,537
(a)
|
See Notes to Financial Statements
15
Schedule of Investments High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.^ (cont’d)
|
Principal Amount
|
Value
|
|
|
|
||
|
Oil & Gas – cont'd
|
||
|
$400,000
|
9.63%, due 6/15/2033
|
$429,136
(a)
|
|
|
Comstock Resources, Inc.
|
|
|
792,000
|
6.75%, due 3/1/2029
|
785,141
(a)
|
|
1,330,000
|
5.88%, due 1/15/2030
|
1,265,773
(a)(c)
|
|
|
Crescent Energy Finance LLC
|
|
|
240,000
|
7.63%, due 4/1/2032
|
232,690
(a)
|
|
410,000
|
7.38%, due 1/15/2033
|
387,238
(a)
|
|
415,000
|
8.38%, due 1/15/2034
|
405,899
(a)
|
|
|
Hilcorp Energy I LP/Hilcorp Finance Co.
|
|
|
503,000
|
5.75%, due 2/1/2029
|
493,598
(a)
|
|
255,000
|
6.00%, due 4/15/2030
|
248,666
(a)
|
|
268,000
|
6.00%, due 2/1/2031
|
253,748
(a)
|
|
365,000
|
8.38%, due 11/1/2033
|
377,574
(a)
|
|
220,000
|
6.88%, due 5/15/2034
|
208,999
(a)
|
|
325,000
|
7.25%, due 2/15/2035
|
313,066
(a)
|
|
|
Matador Resources Co.
|
|
|
625,000
|
6.50%, due 4/15/2032
|
630,759
(a)
|
|
185,000
|
6.25%, due 4/15/2033
|
184,726
(a)
|
|
615,000
|
Noble Finance II LLC, 8.00%, due 4/15/2030
|
638,273
(a)
|
|
640,000
|
Northern Oil & Gas, Inc., 7.88%, due 10/15/2033
|
623,362
(a)
|
|
|
Permian Resources Operating LLC
|
|
|
825,000
|
7.00%, due 1/15/2032
|
855,899
(a)
|
|
990,000
|
6.25%, due 2/1/2033
|
1,007,257
(a)(c)
|
|
445,000
|
SM Energy Co., 7.00%, due 8/1/2032
|
435,328
(a)
|
|
1,120,000
|
TGNR Intermediate Holdings LLC, 5.50%, due 10/15/2029
|
1,085,774
(a)(c)
|
|
|
Transocean International Ltd.
|
|
|
490,000
|
8.25%, due 5/15/2029
|
492,868
(a)
|
|
495,000
|
8.50%, due 5/15/2031
|
491,443
(a)
|
|
625,000
|
7.88%, due 10/15/2032
|
643,656
(a)
|
|
|
|
17,787,222
|
|
Oil & Gas Services 2.8%
|
||
|
765,000
|
Archrock Partners LP/Archrock Partners Finance Corp., 6.63%, due 9/1/2032
|
786,223
(a)
|
|
|
Kodiak Gas Services LLC
|
|
|
735,000
|
6.50%, due 10/1/2033
|
753,182
(a)
|
|
735,000
|
6.75%, due 10/1/2035
|
756,914
(a)
|
|
1,575,000
|
Star Holding LLC, 8.75%, due 8/1/2031
|
1,522,305
(a)(c)
|
|
|
USA Compression Partners LP/USA Compression Finance Corp.
|
|
|
1,050,000
|
7.13%, due 3/15/2029
|
1,084,482
(a)(c)
|
|
330,000
|
6.25%, due 10/1/2033
|
331,267
(a)
|
|
|
WBI Operating LLC
|
|
|
705,000
|
6.25%, due 10/15/2030
|
704,330
(a)
|
|
515,000
|
6.50%, due 10/15/2033
|
514,933
(a)
|
|
|
|
6,453,636
|
|
Packaging & Containers 4.4%
|
||
|
1,615,000
|
Ardagh Metal Packaging Finance USA LLC/Ardagh Metal Packaging Finance PLC, 4.00%,
due
9/1/2029
|
1,505,681
(a)(c)
|
|
|
Clydesdale Acquisition Holdings, Inc.
|
|
|
185,000
|
6.88%, due 1/15/2030
|
186,848
(a)
|
|
255,000
|
8.75%, due 4/15/2030
|
255,521
(a)
|
|
390,000
|
6.75%, due 4/15/2032
|
391,325
(a)
|
See Notes to Financial Statements
16
Schedule of Investments High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.^ (cont’d)
|
Principal Amount
|
Value
|
|
|
|
||
|
Packaging & Containers – cont'd
|
||
|
$815,000
|
Graham Packaging Co., Inc., 7.13%, due 8/15/2028
|
$811,170
(a)
|
|
|
Mauser Packaging Solutions Holding Co.
|
|
|
960,000
|
7.88%, due 4/15/2027
|
962,522
(a)
|
|
1,925,000
|
9.25%, due 4/15/2027
|
1,900,765
(a)(c)
|
|
875,000
|
Sealed Air Corp., 6.50%, due 7/15/2032
|
905,450
(a)(c)
|
|
510,000
|
Sealed Air Corp./Sealed Air Corp. U.S., 7.25%, due 2/15/2031
|
535,359
(a)
|
|
475,000
|
Toucan FinCo Ltd./Toucan FinCo Can, Inc./Toucan FinCo U.S. LLC, 9.50%, due 5/15/2030
|
445,353
(a)
|
|
855,000
|
Trident TPI Holdings, Inc., 12.75%, due 12/31/2028
|
912,612
(a)(c)
|
|
|
Trivium Packaging Finance BV
|
|
|
620,000
|
8.25%, due 7/15/2030
|
642,304
(a)
|
|
765,000
|
12.25%, due 1/15/2031
|
798,130
(a)
|
|
|
|
10,253,040
|
|
Pharmaceuticals 2.2%
|
||
|
1,755,000
|
1261229 BC Ltd., 10.00%, due 4/15/2032
|
1,834,518
(a)(c)
|
|
355,000
|
AdaptHealth LLC, 6.13%, due 8/1/2028
|
354,873
(a)
|
|
70,000
|
Bausch Health Americas, Inc., 8.50%, due 1/31/2027
|
69,694
(a)
|
|
|
Bausch Health Cos., Inc.
|
|
|
550,000
|
5.00%, due 1/30/2028
|
481,597
(a)
|
|
975,000
|
4.88%, due 6/1/2028
|
887,250
(a)(c)
|
|
75,000
|
11.00%, due 9/30/2028
|
78,618
(a)
|
|
360,000
|
5.00%, due 2/15/2029
|
280,197
(a)
|
|
240,000
|
5.25%, due 1/30/2030
|
172,835
(a)
|
|
190,000
|
5.25%, due 2/15/2031
|
128,024
(a)
|
|
810,000
|
Grifols SA, 4.75%, due 10/15/2028
|
783,222
(a)
|
|
|
|
5,070,828
|
|
Pipelines 10.2%
|
||
|
1,255,000
|
Antero Midstream Partners LP/Antero Midstream Finance Corp., 6.63%, due 2/1/2032
|
1,299,280
(a)(c)
|
|
675,000
|
CQP Holdco LP/BIP-V Chinook Holdco LLC, 7.50%, due 12/15/2033
|
730,320
(a)
|
|
|
Energy Transfer LP
|
|
|
185,000
|
8.00%, due 5/15/2054
|
197,491
(f)
|
|
100,000
|
7.13%, due 10/1/2054
|
103,349
(f)
|
|
455,000
|
6.50%, due 2/15/2056
|
450,879
(f)
|
|
350,000
|
6.75%, due 2/15/2056
|
351,084
(f)
|
|
1,315,000
|
Excelerate Energy LP, 8.00%, due 5/15/2030
|
1,388,359
(a)(c)
|
|
|
Genesis Energy LP/Genesis Energy Finance Corp.
|
|
|
580,000
|
8.25%, due 1/15/2029
|
605,982
|
|
293,000
|
7.88%, due 5/15/2032
|
301,786
|
|
600,000
|
8.00%, due 5/15/2033
|
619,686
|
|
1,255,000
|
Global Partners LP/GLP Finance Corp., 7.13%, due 7/1/2033
|
1,272,772
(a)(c)
|
|
1,100,000
|
Golar LNG Ltd., 7.50%, due 10/2/2030
|
1,087,376
(a)(c)
|
|
|
Harvest Midstream I LP
|
|
|
1,190,000
|
7.50%, due 9/1/2028
|
1,203,036
(a)(c)
|
|
145,000
|
7.50%, due 5/15/2032
|
150,268
(a)
|
|
|
Howard Midstream Energy Partners LLC
|
|
|
1,320,000
|
7.38%, due 7/15/2032
|
1,383,179
(a)(c)
|
|
365,000
|
6.63%, due 1/15/2034
|
376,138
(a)
|
|
805,000
|
ITT Holdings LLC, 6.50%, due 8/1/2029
|
779,701
(a)(c)
|
|
1,120,000
|
NGL Energy Operating LLC/NGL Energy Finance Corp., 8.13%, due 2/15/2029
|
1,146,537
(a)(c)
|
|
695,000
|
Northriver Midstream Finance LP, 6.75%, due 7/15/2032
|
708,249
(a)
|
See Notes to Financial Statements
17
Schedule of Investments High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.^ (cont’d)
|
Principal Amount
|
Value
|
|
|
|
||
|
Pipelines – cont'd
|
||
|
|
Rockies Express Pipeline LLC
|
|
|
$865,000
|
6.75%, due 3/15/2033
|
$905,345
(a)(c)
|
|
270,000
|
7.50%, due 7/15/2038
|
292,806
(a)
|
|
455,000
|
6.88%, due 4/15/2040
|
469,127
(a)
|
|
|
Tallgrass Energy Partners LP/Tallgrass Energy Finance Corp.
|
|
|
450,000
|
7.38%, due 2/15/2029
|
463,273
(a)
|
|
220,000
|
6.00%, due 12/31/2030
|
218,320
(a)
|
|
215,000
|
6.00%, due 9/1/2031
|
211,376
(a)
|
|
865,000
|
6.75%, due 3/15/2034
|
858,348
(a)
|
|
660,000
|
TransMontaigne Partners LLC, 8.50%, due 6/15/2030
|
690,459
(a)
|
|
|
Venture Global LNG, Inc.
|
|
|
665,000
|
8.13%, due 6/1/2028
|
685,033
(a)
|
|
775,000
|
9.50%, due 2/1/2029
|
834,104
(a)
|
|
605,000
|
7.00%, due 1/15/2030
|
612,248
(a)
|
|
820,000
|
8.38%, due 6/1/2031
|
841,842
(a)
|
|
540,000
|
9.88%, due 2/1/2032
|
576,802
(a)
|
|
|
Venture Global Plaquemines LNG LLC
|
|
|
452,000
|
7.50%, due 5/1/2033
|
497,064
(a)
|
|
475,000
|
6.50%, due 1/15/2034
|
497,540
(a)
|
|
453,000
|
7.75%, due 5/1/2035
|
511,171
(a)
|
|
475,000
|
6.75%, due 1/15/2036
|
503,078
(a)
|
|
|
|
23,823,408
|
|
Real Estate Investment Trusts 4.6%
|
||
|
690,000
|
Arbor Realty SR, Inc., 7.88%, due 7/15/2030
|
702,123
(a)
|
|
1,325,000
|
Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc., 7.75%, due 12/1/2029
|
1,396,321
(a)(c)
|
|
|
Brandywine Operating Partnership LP
|
|
|
660,000
|
8.88%, due 4/12/2029
|
716,961
|
|
355,000
|
6.13%, due 1/15/2031
|
356,555
|
|
935,000
|
EF Holdco/EF Cayman Holdings/Ellington Fin REIT Cayman/TRS/EF Cayman Non-MTM, 7.38%,
due
9/30/2030
|
937,440
(a)(c)
|
|
690,000
|
Park Intermediate Holdings LLC/PK Domestic Property LLC/PK Finance Co-Issuer, 7.00%,
due
2/1/2030
|
706,608
(a)
|
|
645,000
|
Pebblebrook Hotel LP/PEB Finance Corp., 6.38%, due 10/15/2029
|
651,158
(a)
|
|
635,000
|
RHP Hotel Properties LP/RHP Finance Corp., 6.50%, due 6/15/2033
|
655,394
(a)
|
|
495,000
|
Rithm Capital Corp., 8.00%, due 7/15/2030
|
501,770
(a)
|
|
1,290,000
|
RLJ Lodging Trust LP, 4.00%, due 9/15/2029
|
1,218,178
(a)(c)
|
|
550,000
|
Service Properties Trust, 8.63%, due 11/15/2031
|
580,160
(a)(c)
|
|
|
Starwood Property Trust, Inc.
|
|
|
825,000
|
6.50%, due 7/1/2030
|
858,045
(a)
|
|
580,000
|
6.50%, due 10/15/2030
|
603,448
(a)
|
|
870,000
|
Uniti Group LP/Uniti Group Finance 2019, Inc./CSL Capital LLC, 6.50%, due 2/15/2029
|
814,256
(a)(c)
|
|
|
|
10,698,417
|
|
Retail 4.4%
|
||
|
|
Bath & Body Works, Inc.
|
|
|
655,000
|
6.63%, due 10/1/2030
|
673,233
(a)
|
|
200,000
|
6.95%, due 3/1/2033
|
207,081
|
|
310,000
|
6.88%, due 11/1/2035
|
324,103
|
|
1,510,000
|
Cougar JV Subsidiary LLC, 8.00%, due 5/15/2032
|
1,609,334
(a)(c)
|
|
865,000
|
LCM Investments Holdings II LLC, 8.25%, due 8/1/2031
|
910,099
(a)
|
See Notes to Financial Statements
18
Schedule of Investments High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.^ (cont’d)
|
Principal Amount
|
Value
|
|
|
|
||
|
Retail – cont'd
|
||
|
|
Michaels Cos., Inc.
|
|
|
$395,000
|
5.25%, due 5/1/2028
|
$368,844
(a)
|
|
450,000
|
7.88%, due 5/1/2029
|
394,875
(a)
|
|
|
Nordstrom, Inc.
|
|
|
170,000
|
4.38%, due 4/1/2030
|
160,771
|
|
395,000
|
4.25%, due 8/1/2031
|
359,663
|
|
1,195,000
|
Patrick Industries, Inc., 6.38%, due 11/1/2032
|
1,218,418
(a)(c)
|
|
|
PetSmart LLC/PetSmart Finance Corp.
|
|
|
1,095,000
|
7.50%, due 9/15/2032
|
1,092,208
(a)(c)
|
|
525,000
|
10.00%, due 9/15/2033
|
527,221
(a)
|
|
1,625,000
|
QXO Building Products, Inc., 6.75%, due 4/30/2032
|
1,682,286
(a)(c)
|
|
725,000
|
White Cap Supply Holdings LLC, 7.38%, due 11/15/2030
|
733,376
(a)(e)
|
|
|
|
10,261,512
|
|
Semiconductors 0.6%
|
||
|
1,300,000
|
Amkor Technology, Inc., 5.88%, due 10/1/2033
|
1,322,465
(a)(c)
|
|
Software 3.9%
|
||
|
1,350,000
|
AthenaHealth Group, Inc., 6.50%, due 2/15/2030
|
1,321,600
(a)(c)
|
|
1,325,000
|
Capstone Borrower, Inc., 8.00%, due 6/15/2030
|
1,351,821
(a)(c)
|
|
|
Cloud Software Group, Inc.
|
|
|
1,315,000
|
6.50%, due 3/31/2029
|
1,324,926
(a)(c)
|
|
910,000
|
9.00%, due 9/30/2029
|
941,249
(a)
|
|
690,000
|
8.25%, due 6/30/2032
|
725,062
(a)
|
|
330,000
|
6.63%, due 8/15/2033
|
330,756
(a)
|
|
630,000
|
Ellucian Holdings, Inc., 6.50%, due 12/1/2029
|
637,602
(a)
|
|
710,000
|
Fair Isaac Corp., 6.00%, due 5/15/2033
|
722,706
(a)
|
|
7,300
|
Rackspace Finance LLC, 3.50%, due 5/15/2028
|
2,847
(a)
|
|
1,700,000
|
UKG, Inc., 6.88%, due 2/1/2031
|
1,749,909
(a)(c)
|
|
|
|
9,108,478
|
|
Telecommunications 7.0%
|
||
|
|
Altice Financing SA
|
|
|
185,000
|
5.00%, due 1/15/2028
|
137,882
(a)
|
|
325,000
|
5.75%, due 8/15/2029
|
236,444
(a)
|
|
|
Altice France SA
|
|
|
808,605
|
9.50%, due 11/1/2029
|
823,863
(a)
|
|
157,870
|
6.88%, due 10/15/2030
|
154,392
(a)
|
|
473,611
|
6.88%, due 7/15/2032
|
454,711
(a)
|
|
|
Bell Telephone Co. of Canada or Bell Canada
|
|
|
675,000
|
6.88%, due 9/15/2055
|
704,430
(f)
|
|
640,000
|
7.00%, due 9/15/2055
|
672,667
(f)
|
|
1,315,000
|
CommScope LLC, 9.50%, due 12/15/2031
|
1,339,474
(a)(c)
|
|
|
EchoStar Corp.
|
|
|
1,275,000
|
10.75%, due 11/30/2029
|
1,403,615
(c)
|
|
565,756
|
6.75% Cash/6.75% PIK, due 11/30/2030
|
583,809
(d)
|
|
|
Fibercop SpA
|
|
|
705,000
|
6.38%, due 11/15/2033
|
695,666
(a)
|
|
485,000
|
6.00%, due 9/30/2034
|
456,777
(a)
|
|
610,000
|
7.20%, due 7/18/2036
|
616,399
(a)
|
|
395,000
|
Iliad Holding SAS, 7.00%, due 4/15/2032
|
404,232
(a)
|
See Notes to Financial Statements
19
Schedule of Investments High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.^ (cont’d)
|
Principal Amount
|
Value
|
|
|
|
||
|
Telecommunications – cont'd
|
||
|
|
Level 3 Financing, Inc.
|
|
|
$175,000
|
4.88%, due 6/15/2029
|
$167,344
(a)
|
|
225,000
|
3.75%, due 7/15/2029
|
198,562
(a)
|
|
630,000
|
4.50%, due 4/1/2030
|
581,962
(a)
|
|
260,000
|
6.88%, due 6/30/2033
|
266,315
(a)
|
|
1,390,000
|
7.00%, due 3/31/2034
|
1,428,090
(a)(c)
|
|
405,000
|
Lumen Technologies, Inc., 4.50%, due 1/15/2029
|
374,625
(a)
|
|
|
Rogers Communications, Inc.
|
|
|
600,000
|
7.00%, due 4/15/2055
|
627,335
(f)
|
|
695,000
|
7.13%, due 4/15/2055
|
743,869
(f)
|
|
330,000
|
SoftBank Group Corp., 7.25%, due 7/10/2032
|
343,364
(h)
|
|
540,000
|
Vmed O2 U.K. Financing I PLC, 4.75%, due 7/15/2031
|
499,768
(a)
|
|
515,000
|
Windstream Services LLC, 7.50%, due 10/15/2033
|
514,068
(a)
|
|
975,000
|
Windstream Services LLC/Windstream Escrow Finance Corp., 8.25%, due 10/1/2031
|
995,617
(a)(c)
|
|
984,568
|
Zayo Group Holdings, Inc., 9.25%, due 3/9/2030
|
936,167
(a)
|
|
|
|
16,361,447
|
|
Transportation 0.8%
|
||
|
1,745,000
|
XPO, Inc., 7.13%, due 2/1/2032
|
1,835,042
(a)(c)
|
|
Trucking & Leasing 0.5%
|
||
|
|
FTAI Aviation Investors LLC
|
|
|
210,000
|
7.88%, due 12/1/2030
|
223,175
(a)
|
|
850,000
|
7.00%, due 5/1/2031
|
890,759
(a)(c)
|
|
|
|
1,113,934
|
|
Total Corporate Bonds (Cost $306,236,494)
|
310,803,317
|
|
|
|
||
|
Loan Assignments(b) 1.9%
|
||
|
Capital Markets 0.1%
|
||
|
380,375
|
Galaxy U.S. Opco, Inc., Term Loan, (3 mo. USD Term SOFR + 2.00%, 3 mo. USD Term SOFR
+
3.75%), 3.75%–5.84%, due 7/31/2030
|
342,577
(i)
|
|
Commercial Services & Supplies 0.2%
|
||
|
614,696
|
Crash Champions LLC, Term Loan B, (3 mo. USD Term SOFR + 4.75%), 8.95%, due 2/23/2029
|
567,248
|
|
Health Care Providers & Services 0.9%
|
||
|
695,000
|
Aveanna Healthcare LLC, Term Loan B, (1 mo. USD Term SOFR + 3.75%), 7.71%, due 9/17/2032
|
696,341
|
|
|
National Mentor Holdings, Inc.
|
|
|
473,732
|
Term Loan, (1 mo. USD Term SOFR + 3.75%, 3 mo. USD Term SOFR + 3.75%), 7.81% – 7.85%,
due 3/2/2028
|
458,990
(i)
|
|
13,833
|
Term Loan C, (3 mo. USD Term SOFR + 3.75%), 7.85%, due 3/2/2028
|
13,403
|
|
921,070
|
Star Parent, Inc., Term Loan B, (3 mo. USD Term SOFR + 4.00%), 8.00%, due 9/27/2030
|
922,304
|
|
|
|
2,091,038
|
|
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure 0.3%
|
||
|
615,000
|
Catawba Nation Gaming Authority, Term Loan B, (1 mo. USD Term SOFR + 4.75%), 8.71%,
due
3/29/2032
|
627,688
|
|
IT Services 0.2%
|
||
|
448,251
|
Rackspace Finance LLC, First Lien Term Loan, (1 mo. USD Term SOFR + 6.25%), 10.41%,
due
5/15/2028
|
454,414
|
See Notes to Financial Statements
20
Schedule of Investments High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.^ (cont’d)
|
Principal Amount
|
Value
|
|
|
|
||
|
Machinery 0.1%
|
||
|
$307,604
|
Engineered Machinery Holdings, Inc., Second Lien Term Loan, (3 mo. USD Term SOFR +
6.00%),
10.26%, due 5/21/2029
|
$307,604
|
|
Media 0.1%
|
||
|
157,179
|
Neptune Bidco U.S., Inc., Term Loan B, (3 mo. USD Term SOFR + 5.00%), 9.03%, due 4/11/2029
|
151,638
|
|
|
||
|
Total Loan Assignments (Cost $4,517,646)
|
4,542,207
|
|
|
Number of Shares
|
|
|
|
Common Stocks 0.1%
|
||
|
Diversified Telecommunication Services 0.1%
|
||
|
8,466
|
Luxco Co. Ltd. (Cost $177,959)
|
140,601
*
|
|
Short-Term Investments 5.0%
|
||
|
Investment Companies 5.0%
|
||
|
11,600,858
|
State Street Institutional U.S. Government Money Market Fund Premier Class, 4.01%(j)
(Cost $11,600,858)
|
11,600,858
|
|
Total Investments 143.1% (Cost $329,275,457)
|
333,841,967
|
|
|
Liabilities Less Other Assets (26.0)%
|
(60,573,221
)
|
|
|
Liquidation Preference of Mandatory Redeemable Preferred Shares (net of unamortized
deferred issuance cost of
$21,204) (17.1)%
|
(39,978,796
)(k)
|
|
|
Net Assets Applicable to Common Stockholders 100.0%
|
$233,289,950
|
|
|
*
|
Non-income producing security.
|
|
(a)
|
Securities were purchased under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
or are otherwise
restricted and, unless registered under the Securities Act of 1933 or exempted from
registration, may only
be sold to qualified institutional investors or may have other restrictions on resale.
At October 31, 2025,
these securities amounted to $295,191,817, which represents 126.5% of net assets applicable
to common
stockholders of the Fund.
|
|
(b)
|
Variable or floating rate security. The interest rate shown was the current rate as
of October 31, 2025 and
changes periodically.
|
|
(c)
|
All or a portion of this security is pledged with the custodian in connection with
the Fund's loans payable
outstanding.
|
|
(d)
|
Payment-in-kind (PIK) security.
|
|
(e)
|
When-issued security. Total value of all such securities at October 31, 2025 amounted
to $4,323,470, which
represents 1.9% of net assets applicable to common stockholders of the Fund.
|
|
(f)
|
Security issued at a fixed coupon rate, which converts to a variable rate at a future
date. Rate shown is the
rate in effect as of period end.
|
|
(g)
|
Perpetual security. Perpetual securities have no stated maturity date, but they may
be called/redeemed by
the issuer. The date shown reflects the next call date.
|
See Notes to Financial Statements
21
Schedule of Investments High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.^ (cont’d)
|
(h)
|
Security exempt from registration pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended.
Regulation S applies to securities offerings that are made outside of the United States
and do not involve
directed selling efforts in the United States and as such may have restrictions on
resale. Total value of all
such securities at October 31, 2025 amounted to $343,364, which represents 0.1% of
net assets applicable
to common stockholders of the Fund.
|
|
(i)
|
The stated interest rates represent the range of rates at October 31, 2025 of the
underlying contracts within
the Loan Assignment.
|
|
(j)
|
Represents 7-day effective yield as of October 31, 2025.
|
|
(k)
|
Fair valued as of October 31, 2025 in accordance with procedures approved by the valuation
designee.
|
|
POSITIONS BY COUNTRY
|
||
|
Country
|
Investments at
Value
|
Percentage of Net
Assets Applicable
to Common
Stockholders
|
|
United States
|
$276,836,237
|
118.7
%
|
|
Canada
|
12,736,357
|
5.5
%
|
|
Cayman Islands
|
5,666,276
|
2.4
%
|
|
France
|
3,304,660
|
1.4
%
|
|
Germany
|
3,180,176
|
1.4
%
|
|
United Kingdom
|
2,986,835
|
1.3
%
|
|
Australia
|
2,703,213
|
1.2
%
|
|
Luxembourg
|
2,681,292
|
1.1
%
|
|
Jersey
|
1,994,703
|
0.8
%
|
|
Japan
|
1,874,161
|
0.8
%
|
|
Italy
|
1,768,842
|
0.7
%
|
|
Netherlands
|
1,440,434
|
0.6
%
|
|
Zambia
|
1,204,508
|
0.5
%
|
|
Switzerland
|
1,117,722
|
0.5
%
|
|
Cameroon, Republic of
|
1,087,376
|
0.5
%
|
|
Finland
|
875,095
|
0.4
%
|
|
Spain
|
783,222
|
0.3
%
|
|
Liquidation Preference of Mandatory Redeemable Preferred Shares (net of unamortized
deferred issuance cost of $21,204)
|
(39,978,796
)
|
(17.1
)%
|
|
Short-Term Investments and Other Liabilities—Net
|
(48,972,363
)
|
(21.0
)%
|
|
|
$233,289,950
|
100.0
%
|
Reverse Repurchase Agreements
There were no reverse repurchase agreements outstanding as of October 31, 2025. For
the year ended October 31, 2025, the average interest rate paid and the average principal amount
for the months where the Fund had reverse repurchase agreements outstanding were 2.75% and $700,080, respectively.
See Notes to Financial Statements
22
Schedule of Investments High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.^ (cont’d)
The following is a summary, categorized by Level (see Note A of the Notes to Financial
Statements), of inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of October 31, 2025:
|
Asset Valuation Inputs
|
Level 1
|
Level 2
|
Level 3
|
Total
|
|
Investments:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Asset-Backed Securities#
|
$—
|
$6,754,984
|
$—
|
$6,754,984
|
|
Corporate Bonds#
|
—
|
310,803,317
|
—
|
310,803,317
|
|
Loan Assignments#
|
—
|
4,542,207
|
—
|
4,542,207
|
|
Common Stocks#
|
—
|
140,601
|
—
|
140,601
|
|
Short-Term Investments
|
—
|
11,600,858
|
—
|
11,600,858
|
|
Total Investments
|
$—
|
$333,841,967
|
$—
|
$333,841,967
|
|
#
|
The Schedule of Investments provides information on the industry or sector categorization
as well as a
Positions by Country summary.
|
The following is a summary, categorized by Level (see Note A of the Notes to Financial
Statements), of inputs used to value the Fund’s Mandatory Redeemable Preferred Shares as of October 31, 2025:
|
Other Financial Instruments
|
Level 1
|
Level 2
|
Level 3
|
Total
|
|
Mandatory Redeemable Preferred Shares(a)
|
$—
|
$(40,000,000
)
|
$—
|
$(40,000,000
)
|
|
Total Other Financial Instruments
|
$—
|
$(40,000,000
)
|
$—
|
$(40,000,000
)
|
|
(a)
|
The Fund may hold liabilities in which the fair value approximates the carrying amount
for financial
statement purposes.
|
^ A balance indicated with a "—", reflects either a zero balance or an amount that rounds to less than 1.
See Notes to Financial Statements
23
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
Neuberger
|
|
High Yield
Strategies
Fund Inc.
|
|
|
October 31, 2025
|
|
Assets
|
|
|
Investments in securities, at value* (Note A)—see Schedule of Investments:
|
|
|
Unaffiliated issuers(a)
|
$333,841,967
|
|
Interest receivable
|
5,272,320
|
|
Receivable for securities sold
|
314,750
|
|
Prepaid offering costs (Notes A & E)
|
344,164
|
|
Prepaid expenses and other assets
|
25,066
|
|
Total Assets
|
339,798,267
|
|
Liabilities
|
|
|
Loans payable (Note A)
|
61,000,000
|
|
Mandatory Redeemable Preferred Shares, Series D (net of unamortized deferred issuance
cost of $21,204)
($100,000 liquidation preference per share; 400 shares issued and outstanding) (Note
A)
|
39,978,796
|
|
Distributions payable—preferred shares
|
4,033
|
|
Interest payable for reverse repurchase agreements
|
1,995
|
|
Payable to investment manager (Note B)
|
170,737
|
|
Due to custodian
|
201,378
|
|
Payable for securities purchased
|
4,699,430
|
|
Payable to administrator (Note B)
|
14,228
|
|
Payable to directors
|
3,548
|
|
Interest payable (Note A)
|
269,875
|
|
Other accrued expenses and payables
|
164,297
|
|
Total Liabilities
|
106,508,317
|
|
Net Assets applicable to Common Stockholders
|
$233,289,950
|
|
Net Assets applicable to Common Stockholders consist of:
|
|
|
Paid-in capital—common stock
|
$280,415,952
|
|
Total distributable earnings/(losses)
|
(47,126,002
)
|
|
Net Assets applicable to Common Stockholders
|
$233,289,950
|
|
Shares of Common Stock Outstanding ($0.0001 par value; 992,396,700 shares authorized)
|
31,348,719
|
|
Net Asset Value Per Share of Common Stock Outstanding
|
$7.44
|
|
*Cost of Investments:
|
|
|
(a) Unaffiliated issuers
|
$329,275,457
|
|
|
See Notes to Financial Statements
24
Statement of Operations
Neuberger
|
|
High Yield
Strategies
Fund Inc.
|
|
|
For the Fiscal
Year Ended
October 31,
2025
|
|
Investment Income:
|
|
|
Income (Note A):
|
|
|
Interest income—unaffiliated issuers
|
$23,260,766
|
|
Other income
|
23,909
|
|
Total income
|
$23,284,675
|
|
Expenses:
|
|
|
Investment management fees (Note B)
|
1,918,830
|
|
Administration fees (Note B)
|
159,903
|
|
Audit fees
|
58,120
|
|
Basic maintenance (Note A)
|
12,499
|
|
Custodian and accounting fees
|
92,423
|
|
Insurance
|
8,748
|
|
Legal fees
|
270,866
|
|
Stockholder reports
|
40,170
|
|
Stock exchange listing fees
|
8,637
|
|
Stock transfer agent fees
|
23,206
|
|
Distributions to mandatory redeemable preferred shareholders and amortization of offering
costs (Note A)
|
2,457,246
|
|
Directors' fees and expenses
|
60,757
|
|
Interest expense on reverse repurchase agreements (Note A)
|
14,018
|
|
Interest (Note A)
|
2,730,435
|
|
Miscellaneous and other fees
|
39,399
|
|
Total expenses
|
7,895,257
|
|
Net investment income/(loss)
|
$15,389,418
|
|
Realized and Unrealized Gain/(Loss) on Investments (Note A):
|
|
|
Net realized gain/(loss) on:
|
|
|
Transactions in investment securities of unaffiliated issuers
|
3,432,940
|
|
Change in net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) in value of:
|
|
|
Investment securities of unaffiliated issuers
|
1,393,734
|
|
Net gain/(loss) on investments
|
4,826,674
|
|
Net increase/(decrease) in net assets applicable to Common Stockholders resulting
from operations
|
$20,216,092
|
See Notes to Financial Statements
25
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
Neuberger
|
|
High Yield
Strategies Fund Inc.
|
|
|
|
Fiscal Year
Ended
|
Fiscal Year
Ended
|
|
|
October 31, 2025
|
October 31, 2024
|
|
Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets Applicable to Common Stockholders:
|
|
|
|
From Operations (Note A):
|
|
|
|
Net investment income/(loss)
|
$15,389,418
|
$14,004,414
|
|
Net realized gain/(loss) on investments
|
3,432,940
|
(3,460,078
)
|
|
Change in net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) of investments
|
1,393,734
|
27,395,553
|
|
Net increase/(decrease) in net assets applicable to Common Stockholders resulting
from
operations
|
20,216,092
|
37,939,889
|
|
Distributions to Common Stockholders From (Note A):
|
|
|
|
Distributable earnings
|
(15,446,563
)
|
(13,893,147
)
|
|
Tax return of capital
|
(17,780,173
)
|
(15,178,989
)
|
|
Total distributions to Common Stockholders
|
(33,226,736
)
|
(29,072,136
)
|
|
From Capital Share Transactions (Note D):
|
|
|
|
Proceeds from at-the-market offering, net of offering costs (Note E)
|
11,817,925
(a)
|
30,557,448
(a)
|
|
Proceeds from reinvestment of dividends and distributions
|
342,407
|
286,555
|
|
Total net proceeds from capital share transactions
|
12,160,332
|
30,844,003
|
|
Net Increase/(Decrease) in Net Assets Applicable to Common Stockholders
|
(850,312
)
|
39,711,756
|
|
Net Assets Applicable to Common Stockholders:
|
|
|
|
Beginning of year
|
234,140,262
|
194,428,506
|
|
End of year
|
$233,289,950
|
$234,140,262
|
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
Net of offering costs and related expenses of $51,422 for the year ended October 31,
2025 and $110,472 for the year ended
October 31, 2024.
|
See Notes to Financial Statements
26
Statement of Cash Flows
Neuberger
|
|
High Yield
Strategies
Fund Inc.
|
|
|
For the
Fiscal Year Ended
October 31, 2025
|
|
Increase/(Decrease) in cash:
|
|
|
Cash flows from operating activities:
|
|
|
Net increase in net assets applicable to Common Stockholders resulting from operations
|
$20,216,092
|
|
Adjustments to reconcile net increase in net assets applicable to Common Stockholders
resulting from operations
to net cash provided by operating activities:
|
|
|
Changes in assets and liabilities:
|
|
|
Purchase of investment securities
|
(279,001,315
)
|
|
Proceeds from disposition of investment securities
|
272,247,439
|
|
Purchase/sale of short-term investment securities, net
|
(3,266,801
)
|
|
Increase in prepaid offering costs
|
(214,754
)
|
|
Increase in interest receivable
|
(90,848
)
|
|
Decrease in unamortized deferred issuance cost
|
23,313
|
|
Increase in prepaid expenses and other assets
|
(3,705
)
|
|
Decrease in receivable for securities sold
|
269,219
|
|
Decrease in distributions payable on preferred shares
|
(3,000
)
|
|
Decrease in payable for securities purchased
|
(374,137
)
|
|
Increase in interest payable
|
19,600
|
|
Increase in interest payable for reverse repurchase agreements
|
1,995
|
|
Net amortization/(accretion) of premium/(discount) on investments
|
(1,334,485
)
|
|
Increase in payable to investment manager
|
6,608
|
|
Decrease in payable to directors
|
(673
)
|
|
Increase in payable to administrator
|
551
|
|
Decrease in other accrued expenses and payables
|
(46,898
)
|
|
Unrealized appreciation on investment securities of unaffiliated issuers
|
(1,393,734
)
|
|
Net realized gain from transactions in investment securities of unaffiliated issuers
|
(3,432,940
)
|
|
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
|
$3,621,527
|
|
Cash flows from financing activities:
|
|
|
Cash distributions paid on common stock
|
(32,917,701
)
|
|
Cash disbursement for loan borrowings
|
(12,000,000
)
|
|
Cash receipt from loan borrowings
|
29,500,000
|
|
Net proceeds from at-the-market offering
|
11,817,925
|
|
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
|
$(3,599,776
)
|
|
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and restricted cash
|
21,751
|
|
Cash:
|
|
|
Cash, foreign currency and restricted cash, if any, at beginning of year
|
(223,129
)
|
|
Cash, foreign currency and restricted cash, if any, at end of year
|
$(201,378
)
|
|
Supplemental disclosure
|
|
|
Cash paid for interest
|
$2,710,835
|
See Notes to Financial Statements
27
Notes to Financial Statements High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.
Note A—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies:
1
General: Neuberger High Yield Strategies Fund Inc. (the "Fund") (formerly, Neuberger Berman
High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.) was organized as a Maryland corporation on March 18, 2010, and
registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), as a non-diversified,
closed-end management investment company.
Under the 1940 Act, the status of a fund that was registered as non-diversified may,
under certain circumstances, change to that of a diversified fund. The Fund is currently a diversified
fund. The Fund’s Board of Directors (the "Board") may classify or re-classify any unissued shares of
capital stock into one or more classes of preferred stock without the approval of stockholders.
Effective December 18, 2025, the Fund's name was changed from Neuberger Berman High
Yield Strategies Fund Inc. to Neuberger High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.
A balance indicated with a "—", reflects either a zero balance or a balance that rounds to less than 1.
The Fund is an investment company and accordingly follows the investment company accounting
and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting
Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 946 "Financial Services—Investment Companies."
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted
accounting principles ("GAAP") requires Management to make estimates and assumptions at the date of the
financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
2
Portfolio valuation: In accordance with ASC 820 "Fair Value Measurement" ("ASC 820"), all investments
held by the Fund are carried at the value that Management believes the Fund would
receive upon selling an investment in an orderly transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most
advantageous market for the investment under current market conditions. Various inputs, including the
volume and level of activity for the asset or liability in the market, are considered in valuing the Fund's
investments, some of which are discussed below. At times, Management may need to apply significant judgment
to value investments in accordance with ASC 820.
ASC 820 established a three-tier hierarchy of inputs to create a classification of
value measurements for disclosure purposes. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized in the three
broad Levels listed below.
•
Level 1 – unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments
•
Level 2 – other observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar investments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, amortized cost, etc.)
•
Level 3 – unobservable inputs (including the Fund's own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)
The inputs or methodology used for valuing an investment are not necessarily an indication
of the risk associated with investing in those securities.
The value of the Fund’s investments in equity securities, for which market quotations are readily available, is generally determined by Management by obtaining valuations from independent pricing
services based on the latest sale price quoted on a principal exchange or market for that security (Level
1 inputs). Securities traded primarily on the NASDAQ Stock Market are normally valued at the NASDAQ Official
Closing Price ("NOCP") provided by NASDAQ each business day. The NOCP is the most recently reported
price as of 4:00:02 p.m., Eastern Time, unless that price is outside the range of the "inside"
bid and asked prices (i.e., the bid and asked prices that dealers quote to each other when trading for their own
accounts); in that case, NASDAQ will adjust the price to equal the inside bid or asked price, whichever
is closer. Because of
28
delays in reporting trades, the NOCP may not be based on the price of the last trade
to occur before the market closes. If there is no sale of a security on a particular day, the independent
pricing services may value the security based on market quotations.
The value of the Fund’s investments in debt securities is determined by Management primarily by obtaining valuations from independent pricing services based on bid quotations, or if quotations
are not available, by methods that include various considerations based on security type (generally Level
2 inputs). In addition to the consideration of yields or prices of securities of comparable quality, coupon,
maturity and type, indications as to values from dealers, and general market conditions, the following
is a description of other Level 2 inputs and related valuation techniques used by independent pricing services
to value certain types of debt securities held by the Fund:
Corporate Bonds. Inputs used to value corporate debt securities generally include relevant credit information, observed market movements, sector news, U.S. Treasury yield curve or
relevant benchmark curve, and other market information, which may include benchmark yield curves,
reported trades, broker-dealer quotes, issuer spreads, comparable securities, and
reference data, such as market research publications, when available ("Other Market Information").
Collateralized Loan Obligations (CLOs). The value of collateralized loan obligations is primarily determined by cash flow data, relevant loan pricing data and market color, and research
from market participants and trading desks (Level 2 or 3 inputs).
Asset-Backed Securities. Inputs used to value asset-backed securities generally include models that consider a number of factors, which may include the following: prepayment speeds,
cash flows, spread adjustments and Other Market Information.
High Yield Securities. Inputs used to value high yield securities generally include a number of observations of equity and credit default swap curves related to the issuer and Other
Market Information.
The value of loan assignments is determined by Management primarily by obtaining valuations
from independent pricing services based on broker quotes (generally Level 2 or Level 3
inputs depending on the number of quotes available).
The value of the Fund's Mandatory Redeemable Preferred Shares is estimated to be their
liquidation preference (Level 2 inputs).
Management has developed a process to periodically review information provided by
independent pricing services for all types of securities.
Investments in non-exchange traded investment companies are valued using the respective fund’s daily calculated net asset value ("NAV") per share (Level 2 inputs), when available.
If a valuation is not available from an independent pricing service, or if Management
has reason to believe that the valuation received does not represent the amount the Fund might reasonably
expect to receive on a current sale in an orderly transaction, Management seeks to obtain quotations from
brokers or dealers (generally considered Level 2 or Level 3 inputs depending on the number of quotes
available). If such quotations are not available, the security is valued using methods Management has
approved in the good-faith belief that the resulting valuation will reflect the fair value of the
security. Pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the 1940 Act, the Board designated Management as the Fund's valuation designee.
As the Fund's valuation designee, Management is responsible for determining fair value in good faith
for all Fund investments. Inputs and assumptions considered in determining fair value of a security
based on Level 2 or Level 3 inputs may include, but are not limited to, the type of security; the initial
cost of the security; the existence of any contractual restrictions on the security’s disposition; the price and extent of public trading in similar securities of the issuer or of comparable companies; quotations or evaluated
prices from broker-dealers or pricing services; information obtained from the issuer and analysts;
an analysis of the company’s or issuer’s financial statements; an evaluation of the inputs that influence the issuer and the market(s) in which the security is purchased and sold.
29
Fair value prices are necessarily estimates, and there is no assurance that such a
price will be at or close to the price at which the security is next quoted or traded.
3
Securities transactions and investment income: Securities transactions are recorded on trade date for financial reporting purposes. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date.
Interest income, including accretion of discount (adjusted for original issue discount, where applicable)
and amortization of premium, where applicable, is recorded on the accrual basis. Realized gains and losses
from securities transactions are recorded on the basis of identified cost and stated separately in
the Statement of Operations. Included in net realized gain/(loss) on investments are proceeds from
the settlement of class action litigation(s) in which the Fund participated as a class member. The amount
of such proceeds for the year ended October 31, 2025, was $34,302.
4
Income tax information: It is the policy of the Fund to continue to qualify for treatment as a regulated
investment company ("RIC") by complying with the requirements of the U.S. Internal
Revenue Code applicable to RICs and to distribute substantially all of its net investment income
and net realized capital gains to its stockholders. To the extent the Fund distributes substantially all of
its net investment income and net realized capital gains to stockholders, no federal income or excise tax provision
is required.
ASC 740 "Income Taxes" sets forth a minimum threshold for financial statement recognition
of a tax position taken, or expected to be taken, in a tax return. The Fund recognizes interest
and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax positions as an income tax expense in the Statement of
Operations. The Fund is subject to examination by U.S. federal and state tax authorities for returns filed
for the tax years for which the applicable statutes of limitations have not yet expired. Management has analyzed
the Fund's tax positions taken or expected to be taken on federal and state income tax returns for
all open tax years (the current and the prior three tax years) and has concluded that no provision for income
tax is required in the Fund's financial statements.
For federal income tax purposes, the estimated cost of investments held at October
31, 2025 was $329,428,681. The estimated gross unrealized appreciation was $6,744,777 and estimated
gross unrealized depreciation was $2,331,491 resulting in net unrealized appreciation value of investments
of $4,413,286 based on cost for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Income distributions and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with
income tax regulations, which may differ from GAAP. These differences are primarily due to differing
treatments of income and gains on various investment securities held by the Fund, timing differences
and differing characterization of distributions made by the Fund.
Any permanent differences resulting from different book and tax treatment are reclassified
at year-end and have no impact on net income, NAV or NAV per share of common stock of the Fund. For
the year ended October 31, 2025, the Fund recorded permanent reclassifications primarily related
to non-deductible stock issuance costs and prior year true up adjustments. For the year ended. October 31,
2025, the Fund recorded the following permanent reclassifications:
|
|
Paid-in Capital
|
Total Distributable
Earnings/(Losses)
|
|
|
$(25,711
)
|
$25,711
|
The tax character of distributions paid during the years ended October 31, 2025, and
October 31, 2024, was as follows:
|
|
Distributions Paid From:
|
|||||||
|
|
Ordinary
Income
|
Long-Term
Capital Gain
|
Return of
Capital
|
Total
|
||||
|
|
2025
|
2024
|
2025
|
2024
|
2025
|
2024
|
2025
|
2024
|
|
|
$17,880,496
|
$16,705,992
|
$—
|
$—
|
$17,780,173
|
$15,178,989
|
$35,660,669
|
$31,884,981
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
30
As of October 31, 2025, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses)
on a U.S. federal income tax basis were as follows:
|
|
Undistributed
Ordinary
Income
|
Undistributed
Long-Term
Capital Gain
|
Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
|
Loss
Carryforwards
and Deferrals
|
Other
Temporary
Differences
|
Total
|
|
|
$—
|
$—
|
$4,413,286
|
$(51,537,931
)
|
$(1,357
)
|
$(47,126,002
)
|
The temporary differences between book basis and tax basis distributable earnings
are primarily due to: losses disallowed and recognized on wash sales, timing differences of fund level
distributions and amortization of bond premium.
To the extent the Fund's net realized capital gains, if any, can be offset by capital
loss carryforwards, it is the policy of the Fund not to distribute such gains. Capital loss carryforward rules allow
for RICs to carry forward capital losses indefinitely and to retain the character of capital loss carryforwards
as short-term or long-term. As determined at October 31, 2025, the Fund had unused capital loss carryforwards
available for federal income tax purposes to offset future net realized capital gains, if any, as
follows:
|
Capital Loss Carryforwards
|
|
|
Long-Term
|
Short-Term
|
|
$50,422,425
|
$1,115,506
|
During the year ended October 31, 2025, the Fund had utilized capital loss carryforwards
of $3,102,263.
5
Foreign taxes: Foreign taxes withheld, if any, represent amounts withheld by foreign tax authorities,
net of refunds recoverable.
6
Distributions to common stockholders: The Fund earns income, net of expenses, daily on its investments. It is the policy of the Fund to declare and pay monthly distributions to common stockholders.
The Fund has adopted a policy to pay common stockholders a stable monthly distribution. The Fund’s ability to satisfy its policy will depend on a number of factors, including the amount and stability of income
received from its investments, the availability of capital gains, distributions paid on any preferred
shares, interest paid on any loans and the level of other Fund fees and expenses. In an effort to maintain a stable
monthly distribution amount, the Fund may pay distributions consisting of net investment income, net realized
gains and paid-in capital. There is no assurance that the Fund will always be able to pay distributions
of a particular size, or that distributions will consist solely of net investment income and net realized capital
gains. The composition of the Fund’s distributions for the calendar year 2025 will be reported to Fund stockholders on IRS Form 1099-DIV. The Fund may pay distributions in excess of those required by its
stable distribution policy to avoid excise tax or to satisfy the requirements of Subchapter M of the U.S.
Internal Revenue Code. Distributions to common stockholders are recorded on the ex-date. Net realized capital
gains, if any, will be offset to the extent of any available capital loss carryforwards. Any such offset
will not reduce the level of the stable distribution paid by the Fund. Distributions to preferred stockholders
are accrued and determined as described in Note A-8.
On October 31, 2025, the Fund declared a monthly distribution to common stockholders
in the amount of $0.0905 per share, payable on November 28, 2025 to stockholders of record on November
17, 2025, with an ex-date of November 17, 2025. Subsequent to October 31, 2025, the Fund declared
a monthly distribution on November 28, 2025 to common stockholders in the amount of $0.0905
per share, payable on December 31, 2025 to stockholders of record on December 15, 2025, with an ex-date
of December 15, 2025.
7
Expense allocation: Certain expenses are applicable to multiple funds within the complex of related investment companies, which includes open-end and closed-end investment companies
for which NBIA serves as investment manager. Expenses directly attributable to the Fund are charged
to the Fund. Expenses borne by the complex of related investment companies that are not directly attributable
to a particular
31
investment company (e.g., the Fund) are allocated among the Fund and the other investment
companies or series thereof in the complex on the basis of relative net assets, except where a
more appropriate allocation of expenses to each of the investment companies or series thereof in the complex can
otherwise be made fairly.
8
Financial leverage: In September 2013, the Fund issued privately placed notes ("2013 PNs") with an aggregate principal value of $90,000,000 and Mandatory Redeemable Preferred Shares,
Series B with an aggregate liquidation preference of $35,000,000. In August 2020, the Fund issued Mandatory
Redeemable Preferred Shares, Series C ("MRPS Series C") with an aggregate liquidation preference
of $95,000,000. The Fund used the proceeds from the issuance of the MRPS Series C to repurchase the outstanding
Mandatory Redeemable Preferred Shares, Series B and to prepay $60,000,000 of the aggregate principal
balance of the 2013 PNs. In December 2020, in connection with the reduction in the Fund's asset level
following the tender offer, the Fund prepaid $10,500,000 of the outstanding 2013 PNs and redeemed
$19,000,000 of the MRPS Series C, reducing the 2013 PNs aggregate principal value to $19,500,000
and the MRPS Series C aggregate liquidation preference to $76,000,000. In June 2022, in connection with
the increase in the Fund’s asset level following the rights offering, the Fund issued a privately placed note with a principal value of $26,500,000 ("2022 PN" and together with the 2013 PNs, "PNs"). The Fund has paid
organizational expenses which were amortized over the life of the 2013 PNs and MRPS Series C.
In September 2023, the Fund refinanced its leverage by entering into a new $110,000,000
secured revolving debt financing facility (the "Facility") and issuing new Mandatory Redeemable
Preferred Shares, Series D ("MRPS Series D") with an aggregate liquidation preference of $40,000,000.
As part of the leverage refinancing, the Fund repaid the previously outstanding PNs and redeemed
the MRPS Series C. The MRPS Series D have a liquidation preference of $100,000 per share plus any accumulated
unpaid distributions, whether or not earned or declared by the Fund, but excluding interest
thereon ("Liquidation Value"). Distributions on the MRPS Series D are accrued daily and paid monthly. Under
the Facility, interest is charged on floating-rate loans based on an adjusted Overnight SOFR rate accrued daily
and paid monthly. For financial reporting purposes only, the liquidation preference of the MRPS Series
D is recognized as a liability in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
The Fund pays a commitment fee in arrears based on the unused portion of the revolving
commitment amount under the Facility. The commitment fee is included in the Interest expense
line item that is reflected in the Statement of Operations. Under the terms of the Facility, the Fund is also
required to satisfy certain collateral requirements and maintain a certain level of net assets.
During the year ended October 31, 2025, the average principal balance outstanding
and average annualized interest rate under the Facility were $47,016,438 and 5.54%, respectively.
At October 31, 2025, the principal balance under the Facility was $61.0 million. During the year ended
October 31, 2025, the average aggregate liquidation preference outstanding and average annualized distribution
rate of the MRPS Series D were $40,000,000 and 6.08%, respectively.
The table below sets forth key terms of the MRPS Series D.
|
Series
|
Mandatory
Redemption Date
|
Interest
Rate
|
Shares
Outstanding
|
Aggregate
Liquidation
Preference
|
|
Series D
|
9/29/26
|
5.69
%*
|
400
|
$40,000,000
|
|
*
|
Current floating rate as of October 31, 2025.
|
The Fund may redeem the MRPS Series D in whole or in part, at its option after giving
notice to the relevant holders of the MRPS Series D but may incur additional expenses if it chooses to do
so. The Fund is also subject to certain restrictions relating to the MRPS Series D. Failure to comply with
these restrictions could preclude the Fund from declaring any distributions to common stockholders or repurchasing
shares of common stock and/or could trigger the mandatory redemption of the MRPS Series D at
Liquidation Value plus certain expenses. The holders of the MRPS Series D are entitled to one vote per
share and will vote with holders of shares of common stock as a single class, except that the holders of the
MRPS Series D will vote
32
separately as a class on certain matters, as required by law or the Fund’s organizational documents. The holders of the MRPS Series D, voting as a separate class, are entitled at all times
to elect two Directors of the Fund, and to elect a majority of the Directors of the Fund if the Fund fails to
pay distributions on the MRPS Series D for two consecutive years.
9
Concentration of credit risk: The Fund will normally invest at least 80% of its total assets in high yield debt
securities of U.S. and foreign issuers, which include securities that are rated below
investment grade by a rating agency or are unrated debt securities determined to be of comparable quality by the Fund’s investment manager.
Due to the likelihood of volatility and potential illiquidity of the high yield securities
in which the Fund invests and the real or perceived difficulty of issuers of those high yield securities
to meet their payment obligations during economic downturns or because of negative business developments
relating to the issuer or its industry in general, the value and/or price of the Fund’s shares of common stock may fluctuate more than would be the case if the Fund did not concentrate in high yield securities.
10
Reverse repurchase agreements: In a reverse repurchase agreement, the Fund sells portfolio securities to another party, such as a bank or broker-dealer, in return for cash and agrees to repurchase
the securities at an agreed-upon price and date, which reflects an interest payment to that party. In
periods of increased demand for a security, the Fund may receive a payment from the counterparty for the
use of the security, which is recorded as interest income. Reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk
that the other party will fail to return the securities in a timely manner, or at all, which may result
in losses to the Fund. The Fund could lose money if it is unable to recover the securities and the value of the cash
collateral held by the Fund is less than the value of the securities. These events could also trigger adverse
tax consequences to the Fund. Reverse repurchase agreements also involve the risk that the market value of
the securities sold will decline below the price at which the Fund is obligated to repurchase them. Reverse
repurchase agreements may be viewed as a form of borrowing by the Fund. When the Fund enters into a reverse
repurchase agreement, any fluctuations in the market value of either the securities transferred
to another party or the securities in which the proceeds may be invested would affect the market value of the Fund’s assets. During the term of the agreement, the Fund may also be obligated to pledge additional cash
and/or securities in the event of a decline in the fair value of the transferred security. Management monitors
the creditworthiness of counterparties to reverse repurchase agreements.
11
Derivative instruments: Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act regulates the use of derivatives for certain funds
registered under the 1940 Act ("Rule 18f-4"). Unless the Fund qualifies as a "limited
derivatives user" as defined in Rule 18f-4, the Fund is subject to a comprehensive derivatives risk management
program, is required to comply with certain value-at-risk based leverage limits and is required
to provide additional disclosure both publicly and to the SEC regarding its derivatives positions. If the
Fund qualifies as a limited derivatives user, Rule 18f-4 requires the Fund to have policies and procedures to
manage its aggregate derivatives risk.
Interest rate swap contracts: Under the terms of interest rate swaps, the Fund agrees to pay the swap counterparty a fixed-rate payment in exchange for the counterparty’s paying the Fund a variable-rate payment that is intended to approximate all or a portion of the Fund’s variable-rate payment obligations on the Fund’s outstanding financial leverage. The fixed-rate and variable rate payment flows are paid by one party to the other on a periodic basis and netted against each other when applicable.
There is no guarantee that these interest rate swap transactions will be successful in reducing or limiting
risk.
Risks may arise if the counterparty to a swap contract fails to comply with the terms
of its contract. The loss incurred by the failure of a counterparty is generally limited to the net interest
payment to be received by the Fund and/or the termination value at the end of the contract. Additionally, risks
may arise if there is no liquid market for these agreements or from movements in interest rates unanticipated
by Management.
Periodic expected interim net interest payments or receipts on the swaps are recorded
as an adjustment to unrealized gains/losses, along with the fair value of the future periodic payment
or receivable streams on the swaps. The unrealized gains/losses associated with the periodic interim net interest
payments or receipts are reclassified to realized gains/ losses in conjunction with the actual net receipt
or payment of such
33
amounts. The reclassifications do not impact the Fund’s total net assets applicable to common stockholders or its total net increase (decrease) in net assets applicable to common stockholders
resulting from operations.
Certain clearinghouses currently offer clearing for limited types of derivative transactions.
In a cleared derivative transaction, the Fund typically enters into the transaction with a financial
institution counterparty that is then cleared through a central clearinghouse. Upon acceptance of a swap by
a central clearinghouse, the original swap is extinguished and replaced with a swap with the clearinghouse,
thereby reducing or eliminating the Fund's exposure to the credit risk of the original counterparty. The
Fund typically will be required to post specified levels of both initial and variation margin with the clearinghouse
or at the instruction of the clearinghouse. The daily change in valuation is recorded as a receivable
or payable for variation margin and settled in cash with the central clearing party. For financial
reporting purposes, unamortized upfront payments, if any, are netted with unrealized appreciation or depreciation
and net interest receivable or payable on swap contracts to determine the fair value of swaps.
At October 31, 2025, the Fund did not have any outstanding derivatives.
12
Securities lending: The Fund, using State Street Bank and Trust Company ("State Street") as its lending
agent, may loan securities to qualified brokers and dealers in exchange for negotiated lender’s fees. These fees, if any, would be disclosed within the Statement of Operations under the caption
"Income from securities loaned-net” and are net of expenses retained by State Street as compensation for its services as lending agent.
The initial collateral received by the Fund at the beginning of each transaction shall
have a value equal to at least 102% of the prior day’s market value of the loaned securities (105% in the case of international securities). Collateral in the form of cash and/or securities issued or guaranteed
by the U.S. government or its agencies, equivalent to at least 100% of the market value of securities, is maintained
at all times. Thereafter, the value of the collateral is monitored on a daily basis, and collateral
is moved daily between a counterparty and the Fund until the close of the transaction. Cash collateral is generally
invested in a money market fund registered under the 1940 Act that is managed by an affiliate of State
Street and is included in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities under the caption "Investments in securities, at value—Unaffiliated issuers." The total value of securities received as collateral for securities on loan
is included in a footnote following the Schedule of Investments, but is not included within the Statement of
Assets and Liabilities because the receiving Fund does not have the right to sell or repledge the securities
received as collateral. The risks associated with lending portfolio securities include, but are not limited
to, possible delays in receiving additional collateral or in the recovery of the loaned securities. Any increase
or decrease in the fair value of the securities loaned and any interest earned or dividends paid or owed on
those securities during the term of the loan would accrue to the Fund.
During the year ended October 31, 2025, the Fund did not participate in securities
lending.
13
When-issued/delayed delivery securities: The Fund may purchase securities with delivery or payment to occur at a later date beyond the normal settlement period. At the time the Fund enters
into a commitment to purchase a security, the transaction is recorded and the value of the security
is reflected in the NAV. The price of such security and the date when the security will be delivered and paid for
are fixed at the time the transaction is negotiated. The value of the security may vary with market fluctuations.
No interest accrues to the Fund until payment takes place. When-issued and delayed delivery transactions
can have a leverage-like effect on the Fund, which can increase fluctuations in the Fund’s NAV. Certain risks may arise upon entering into when-issued or delayed delivery securities transactions from the potential inability
of counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts or if the issuer does not issue the securities due
to political, economic, or other factors. Additionally, losses may arise due to changes in the value of the underlying
securities. Certain transactions will require the Fund or counterparty to post cash and/or securities
as collateral for the net mark-to-market exposure to the other party.
14
Indemnifications: Like many other companies, the Fund’s organizational documents provide that its officers ("Officers") and directors ("Directors") are indemnified against certain liabilities
arising out of the performance of their duties to the Fund. In addition, both in some of its principal
service contracts and in
34
the normal course of its business, the Fund enters into contracts that provide indemnifications
to other parties for certain types of losses or liabilities. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this could involve future claims against the Fund.
15
Arrangements with certain non-affiliated service providers: In order to satisfy rating agency requirements and the terms of the MRPS Series D, the Fund is required to provide the rating agency
and holders of the MRPS Series D a report on a monthly basis verifying that the Fund is maintaining eligible
assets having a discounted value equal to or greater than the basic maintenance amount, which is the
minimum level set by the rating agency as one of the conditions to maintain the rating on the MRPS Series D. "Discounted value” refers to the fact that the rating agency requires the Fund, in performing this calculation,
to discount portfolio securities below their face value, at rates determined by the rating agency.
The Fund pays State Street for the preparation of this report, which is reflected in the Statement of
Operations under the caption "Basic maintenance (Note A)."
16
Shelf Registration Statement: The Fund filed an initial registration statement with the SEC, which became effective on April 7, 2022, authorizing the Fund to issue additional shares of common
stock through one or more offerings up to $150,000,000 (the "Initial Shelf Registration Statement"). The
Initial Shelf Registration Statement expired in April 2025. The Fund filed a new registration statement with
the SEC, which became effective on April 7, 2025, authorizing the Fund to issue additional shares of common
stock through one or more offerings up to $174,574,055 (the "Shelf Registration Statement"). Under the
Shelf Registration Statement, the Fund, subject to market conditions, may raise additional equity capital
by issuing additional shares of common stock from time to time in varying amounts and by different offering
methods. The Fund is not required to issue shares of its common stock pursuant to the Shelf Registration
Statement and may choose not to do so. For the year ended October 31, 2025 and the year ended October
31, 2024, the Fund sold and issued shares of common stock under the Initial Shelf Registration Statement
and Shelf Registration Statement (Note E).
17
Unfunded loan commitments: The Fund may enter into certain credit agreements all or a portion of which may be unfunded. The Fund is obligated to fund these commitments at the borrower’s discretion. As of October 31, 2025, the Fund had no outstanding unfunded loan commitments.
18
Segment Reporting: In this reporting period, the Fund has adopted FASB Accounting Standards Update No.
2023-07, "Segment Reporting (Topic 280) - Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures"
("ASU 2023-07"). Adoption of the new standard impacted financial statement disclosures only
and did not affect the Fund’s financial position or the results of its operations. An operating segment is a component of a public entity that engages in business activities from which it may recognize revenues
and incur expenses, has operating results that are regularly reviewed by the entity’s chief operating decision maker ("CODM") in making resource allocation decisions and assessing segment performance, and for which
discrete financial information is available. The Fund’s investment manager acts as the Fund’s CODM. The CODM has determined that the Fund has a single operating segment because the CODM monitors
the operating results of the Fund as a whole and evaluates performance in accordance with the Fund’s principal investment strategy as disclosed in its prospectus and/or annual report. The CODM
uses these measures to assess Fund performance and allocate resources effectively. The Fund’s total returns, expense ratios, and changes in net assets, which among others are used by the CODM to assess Fund performance
and to make resource allocation decisions for the Fund’s single segment, are consistent with that presented within the Fund’s financial statements.
Note B—Investment Management Fees, Administration Fees, and Other Transactions with Affiliates:
The Fund retains NBIA as its investment manager under a Management Agreement. For
such investment management services, the Fund pays NBIA monthly an investment management fee computed
at an annual rate of 0.60% of the Fund’s average daily Managed Assets. Managed Assets equal the total assets of the Fund, less liabilities other than the aggregate indebtedness entered into for purposes
of leverage. For purposes of calculating Managed Assets, the liquidation preference of any MRPS Series
D outstanding and principal balance under the Facility are not considered liabilities.
35
The Fund retains NBIA as its administrator under an Administration Agreement. The
Fund pays NBIA monthly an administration fee at an annual rate of 0.05% of its average daily Managed
Assets under this agreement. Additionally, NBIA retains State Street as its sub-administrator under
a Sub-Administration Agreement. NBIA pays State Street a fee for all services received under the Sub-Administration
Agreement.
The Fund has entered into a Distribution Agreement with Neuberger Berman BD LLC ("NBBD"),
an affiliate of NBIA, to provide for distribution of the Fund's shares of common stock on a reasonable
best-efforts basis in connection with at-the-market ("ATM") offerings (the "Distribution Agreement").
Pursuant to the Distribution Agreement, NBBD as the distributor of the Fund's shares is entitled to
receive a sales commission from the Fund of 1.00% of the gross sales price per share of common stock,
a portion of which is re-allowed to sales agents. For the year ended October 31, 2025, the sales commissions
retained by NBBD amounted to $23,979.
Note C—Securities Transactions:
During the year ended October 31, 2025, there were purchase and sale transactions
of long-term securities of $273,739,142 and $266,404,114, respectively.
Note D—Capital:
Transactions in shares of common stock for the year ended October 31, 2025, and the
year ended October 31, 2024 were as follows:
|
|
For the Year Ended October 31, 2025
|
For the Year Ended October 31, 2024
|
||||
|
|
Stock Issued on
Reinvestment of
Dividends
and Distributions
|
Stock Issued in
Connection with
ATM Offering
(Note E)
|
Net Increase/
(Decrease)
in Common Stock
Outstanding
|
Stock Issued on
Reinvestment of
Dividends
and Distributions
|
Stocks issued in
Connection with
ATM Offering
(Note E)
|
Net Increase/
(Decrease)
in Common Stock
Outstanding
|
|
|
45,214
|
1,555,223
|
1,600,437
|
35,996
|
3,783,379
|
3,819,375
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note E—Common Stock At-The-Market Offering Program:
During the year ended October 31, 2024, the Fund sold 3,783,379 shares of common stock
and received net proceeds of $30,557,448 in connection with ATM offerings made under the Fund's
Initial Shelf Registration Statement. During the year ended October 31, 2025, the Fund sold 1,555,223
shares of common stock and received net proceeds of $11,817,925 in connection with ATM offerings
made under the Fund's Initial Shelf Registration Statement. Offering costs (other than the applicable
sales commissions) incurred in connection with the ATM offering were borne directly by the Fund. As shares
are sold, a portion of the costs attributable to the shares sold will be charged against paid-in-capital.
Any remaining offering costs at the end of the Shelf offering period will be charged to expense.
Note F—Recent Accounting Pronouncement:
In December 2023, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2023-09, "Improvements
to Income Tax Disclosures" ("ASU 2023-09"). ASU 2023-09 clarifies the guidance in ASC 740 "Income
Taxes" to enhance the transparency and decision-usefulness of income tax disclosures, particularly in
the rate reconciliation table and disclosures about income taxes paid. The amendments are intended to address investors’ requests for income tax disclosures that provide more information to help them better understand an entity’s exposure to potential changes in tax laws and the ensuing risks and opportunities
and to assess income tax information that affects cash flow forecasts and capital allocation decisions. ASU
2023-09 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2024. Management is currently
evaluating the impact, if any, of applying ASU 2023-09.
36
Financial Highlights
High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.
The following table includes selected data for a common share outstanding throughout
each fiscal period and other performance information derived from the financial statements. Amounts that
do not round to $0.01 or $(0.01) per share are presented as $0.00 or $(0.00), respectively. Ratios that do
not round to 0.01% or (0.01)% are presented as 0.00% or (0.00)%, respectively. A "—" indicates that the line item was not applicable in the corresponding fiscal period.
|
|
Year Ended October 31,
|
||||
|
|
2025
|
2024
|
2023
|
2022
|
2021
|
|
Common Stock Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year
|
$7.87
|
$7.50
|
$8.66
|
$12.35
|
$11.74
|
|
Income/(Loss) From Investment Operations Applicable to
Common Stockholders:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Investment Income/(Loss)a
|
0.50
|
0.52
|
0.52
|
0.71
|
0.75
|
|
Net Gains or (Losses) on Securities (both realized and unrealized)
|
0.16
|
0.92
|
(0.36
)
|
(3.00
)
|
0.78
|
|
Total From Investment Operations Applicable to Common
Stockholders
|
0.66
|
1.44
|
0.16
|
(2.29
)
|
1.53
|
|
Less Distributions to Common Stockholders From:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Investment Income
|
(0.51
)
|
(0.52
)
|
(0.57
)
|
(0.81
)
|
(0.77
)
|
|
Tax Return of Capital
|
(0.58
)
|
(0.57
)
|
(0.52
)
|
(0.28
)
|
(0.32
)
|
|
Total Distributions to Common Stockholders
|
(1.09
)
|
(1.09
)
|
(1.09
)
|
(1.09
)
|
(1.09
)
|
|
Accretive Effect of Common Stock Tender Offers
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
0.17
b
|
|
Dilutive Effect of Rights Offering
|
—
|
—
|
(0.23
)c
|
(0.31
)d
|
—
|
|
Premium from shares of Common Stock sold through ATM
offering
|
0.00
e
|
0.02
f
|
0.00
g
|
—
|
—
|
|
Common Stock Net Asset Value, End of Year
|
$7.44
|
$7.87
|
$7.50
|
$8.66
|
$12.35
|
|
Common Stock Market Value, End of Year
|
$7.52
|
$8.20
|
$7.04
|
$8.21
|
$13.16
|
|
Total Return, Common Stock Net Asset Valueh,i
|
9.03
%
|
20.27
%
|
(1.00
)%
|
(21.70
)%
|
14.81
%
|
|
Total Return, Common Stock Market Valueh,i
|
5.76
%
|
33.51
%
|
(1.98
)%
|
(30.34
)%
|
33.61
%
|
|
Supplemental Data/Ratios
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Assets Applicable to Common Stockholders, End of Year (in
millions)
|
$233.3
|
$234.1
|
$194.4
|
$168.3
|
$181.1
|
|
Preferred Stock Outstanding, End of Year (in millions)j
|
$40.0
|
$40.0
|
$40.0
|
$76.0
|
$76.0
|
|
Preferred Stock Liquidation Value Per Sharej
|
$100,000
|
$100,000
|
$100,000
|
$12.5
|
$12.5
|
|
Ratios are Calculated Using Average Net Assets Applicable
to Common Stockholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ratio of Gross Expensesk
|
3.39
%l
|
4.14
%
|
6.08
%l
|
3.37
%
|
2.55
%
|
|
Ratio of Net Expensesk
|
3.39
%l
|
4.14
%
|
6.08
%l
|
3.37
%
|
2.55
%
|
|
Ratio of Net Investment Income/(Loss) Excluding Preferred Stock
Distributions
|
6.61
%
|
6.59
%
|
6.30
%
|
6.90
%
|
5.96
%
|
|
Portfolio Turnover Rate
|
85
%
|
107
%
|
78
%
|
52
%
|
66
%
|
|
Asset Coverage Per Share of Preferred Stock, End of Year
|
$331,252
m,n
|
$685,257
m,o
|
$586,503
m,o
|
$40
o
|
$42
o
|
|
Notes Payable (in millions)m
|
$—
|
$—
|
$—
|
$45.9
|
$19.3
|
|
Asset Coverage Per $1,000 of Notes Payablep
|
$—
|
$—
|
$—
|
$6,348
|
$14,374
|
|
Loans Payable (in millions)
|
$61.0
|
$43.5
|
$66.0
|
$—
|
$—
|
|
Asset Coverage Per $1,000 of Loans Payablep
|
$5,485
|
$7,307
|
$4,560
|
$—
|
$—
|
|
|
See Notes to Financial Highlights
37
Notes to Financial Highlights High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.
|
a
|
Calculated based on the average number of shares of common stock outstanding during
each fiscal period.
|
|
b
|
During the year ended October 31, 2021, the Fund conducted a tender offer and repurchased
25% of
its outstanding shares of common stock at a price equal to 96% of the Fund’s NAV per share. The final
payment for the tender offer was made at $12.03 per share representing 96% of the
Fund's NAV per
share on December 10, 2020.
|
|
c
|
During the year ended October 31, 2023, the Fund conducted a rights offering and issued
6,482,227 shares
of common stock. The final subscription price for the rights offering was $7.42 per
share representing 89%
of the Fund's NAV per share on June 21, 2023.
|
|
d
|
During the year ended October 31, 2022, the Fund conducted a rights offering and issued
4,763,981 shares
of common stock. The final subscription price for the rights offering was $8.60 per
share representing 87%
of the Fund's NAV per share on May 17, 2022.
|
|
e
|
During the year ended October 31, 2025, the Fund issued 1,555,223 shares of common
stock through the
ATM offering.
|
|
f
|
During the year ended October 31, 2024, the Fund issued 3,783,379 shares of common
stock through the
ATM offering.
|
|
g
|
During the year ended October 31, 2023, the Fund issued 7,300 shares of common stock
through the ATM
offering.
|
|
h
|
The class action proceeds listed in Note A of the Notes to Financial Statements had
no impact on the Fund's
total return for the year ended October 31, 2025. The class action proceeds received
in 2024, 2023 and
2021 had no impact on the Fund's total returns for the years ended October 31, 2024,
2023 and 2021,
respectively.
|
|
i
|
Total return based on per share NAV reflects the effects of changes in NAV on the
performance of the Fund
during each fiscal period. Total return based on per share market value assumes the
purchase of shares of
common stock at the market price on the first day and sale of common stock at the
market price on the last
day of the period indicated. Distributions, if any, are assumed to be reinvested at
prices obtained under the
Fund's distribution reinvestment plan. Results represent past performance and do not
indicate future results.
Current returns may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. Investment
returns will
fluctuate and shares of common stock, when sold, may be worth more or less than original
cost.
|
|
j
|
From August 5, 2020 to December 13, 2020, the Fund had 7,600,000 MRPS Series C outstanding.
From
December 14, 2020 to September 17, 2023, the Fund had 6,080,000 MRPS Series C outstanding.
Effective
September 29, 2023, the Fund has 400 MRPS Series D outstanding (see Note A of Notes
to Financial
Statements).
|
|
k
|
Distributions to mandatory redeemable preferred stockholders and interest expense
is included in expense
ratios. The annualized ratios of distributions to mandatory redeemable preferred stockholders
and interest
expense to average net assets applicable to common stockholders were:
|
|
|
Year Ended October 31
|
||||
|
|
2025
|
2024
|
2023
|
2022
|
2021
|
|
Distributions to mandatory redeemable
preferred stockholders
|
1.05%
|
1.32%
|
2.87%
|
1.47%
|
0.15%
|
|
Interest
|
1.17%
|
1.50%
|
1.71%
|
0.51%
|
0.95%
|
|
l
|
Includes interest expense on reverse repurchase agreements of 0.01% and 0.03% for
the year ended
October 31, 2025 and October 31, 2023, respectively.
|
|
m
|
Net of unamortized deferred issuance costs for Preferred Stock. The unamortized deferred
issuance costs for
the year ended October 31, 2025, October 31, 2024 and October 31, 2023 were $21,204,
$44,517 and
$67,892, respectively. Net of unamortized deferred issuance costs for Notes Payable.
The unamortized
deferred issuance costs for the year ended October 31, 2022 and October 31, 2021 were
$107,325 and
$243,416, respectively.
|
38
Notes to Financial Highlights High Yield Strategies Fund Inc. (cont’d)
|
n
|
The asset coverage ratio is calculated by subtracting the Fund's total liabilities
and indebtedness not
represented by senior securities from the Fund's total assets, dividing the result
by the aggregate amount of
the Fund's senior securities then outstanding (loans payable and aggregate liquidation
preference of the
mandatory redeemable preferred shares), and then multiplying by the liquidation preference
per mandatory
redeemable preferred share.
|
|
o
|
The asset coverage ratio is calculated by subtracting the Fund's total liabilities
(excluding the liquidation
preference of mandatory redeemable preferred shares and accumulated unpaid distributions
on mandatory
redeemable preferred shares) from the Fund's total assets, and dividing the result
by the number of
mandatory redeemable preferred shares outstanding.
|
|
p
|
The asset coverage ratio for the floating rate senior notes for the years ended October
31, 2022 and
October 31, 2021 is calculated by subtracting the Fund's total liabilities and indebtedness
not represented
by senior securities from the Fund's total assets, dividing the result by the aggregate
amount of the Fund's
senior securities representing indebtedness then outstanding, and then multiplying
by $1,000. The asset
coverage ratio for the loans payable for the years ended October 31, 2025, October
31, 2024 and
October 31, 2023 is calculated by subtracting the Fund's total liabilities and indebtedness
not represented
by senior securities from the Fund's total assets, dividing the result by the aggregate
amount of the Fund's
senior securities representing indebtedness then outstanding, and then multiplying
by $1,000.
|
39
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholders and Board of Directors of
Neuberger High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.
Neuberger High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of Neuberger
High Yield Strategies Fund Inc. (formerly, Neuberger Berman High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.) (the "Fund"),
including the schedule of investments, as of October 31, 2025 and the related statements of operations and cash
flows for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period
then ended, the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended and the related notes
(collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly,
in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund at October 31, 2025, the results of its operations and cash flows
for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended and its
financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted
accounting principles.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) ("PCAOB") and are required
to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the
applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards
require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements
are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Fund is not required to have, nor
were we engaged to perform, an audit of the Fund’s 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, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond
to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and
disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of October
31, 2025, by correspondence with the custodian, brokers and others; when replies were not received
from brokers and others, we performed other auditing procedures. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting
principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation
of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
We have served as the auditor of one or more Neuberger investment companies since
1954.
Boston, Massachusetts
December 23, 2025
December 23, 2025
40
Fund Investment Objective, Policies and Risks
Investment Objective and Policies
The Fund’s investment objective is to seek high total return (income plus capital appreciation). There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.
The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing, under normal market
conditions, at least 80% of its total assets in high yield debt securities of U.S. and foreign issuers. High yield
debt securities include securities that, at the time of investment, are rated below investment grade (commonly referred
to as "junk") by at least one independent credit rating agency or, if unrated, determined by the Fund’s portfolio managers to be of comparable quality. High yield debt securities may include distressed securities.
To the extent not invested in high yield debt securities, the Fund may invest a portion of its assets (normally, not
more than 20% of its total assets) in other securities and financial instruments, including investment grade debt securities,
equity securities and derivatives. The Fund may also invest up to 15% of its total assets in collateralized
loan obligations ("CLOs"). The Fund’s investment objective and its policy of investing at least 80% of its total assets in high yield debt securities of U.S. and foreign issuers are not fundamental and may be changed by the Fund’s Board of Directors without stockholder approval, however stockholders would be provided at least 60 days’ notice of any changes.
The Fund invests primarily in securities of U.S. issuers, but may also invest in securities
of foreign issuers. Up to 25% of the Fund’s total assets may be invested in securities of foreign issuers traded outside of the U.S. Liquid securities purchased by the Fund may subsequently become illiquid.
The Fund uses leverage to pursue its investment objective. The Fund currently utilizes
leverage through a secured credit facility and the issuance of preferred stock, and may borrow money or use a
variety of additional strategies to increase funds available for investment. Under the 1940 Act, the Fund is permitted
to issue debt up to 33 1/3% of its total managed assets or equity securities (e.g., preferred stock) up to 50%
of its total managed assets. The Fund may voluntarily elect to limit its leverage to less than the maximum amount permitted
under the 1940 Act. In addition, the Fund may be subject to certain asset coverage, leverage or portfolio
composition requirements imposed by the Fund’s credit facility and preferred stock governing instruments or by agencies rating the preferred stock, which may be more stringent than those imposed by the 1940 Act.
Securities purchased by the Fund may have fixed or variable principal payments and
various types of interest rate and dividend payment and reset terms, including fixed rate, variable rate, floating
rate, zero coupon, deferred, payment in kind and auction rate features. Auction rate securities are preferred securities
and debt securities with dividends/coupons based on a rate set at auction. The auction is usually held weekly
for each series of a security, but may be held less frequently. The auction sets the rate, and securities may be
bought and sold at the auction, normally at par value at specified intervals.
Although the Fund may invest in debt securities having a broad range of maturities,
the average portfolio maturity of the Fund is expected to be within the intermediate range (2 to 7 years) and will
vary over time, based on the judgment of the Fund’s portfolio managers.
The Fund may invest in a variety of direct debt instruments, including bank loans,
notes and other interests in amounts owed to financial institutions by borrowers, such as companies and governments.
Corporate loans in which the Fund may invest will primarily consist of direct obligations of borrowers.
The Fund may invest in corporate loans at origination as a co-lender or may acquire loans in the secondary
market by purchasing participations in, assignments of or novations of corporate loans. The bank loans
in which the Fund invests may be structured and administered by a third party that acts as agent for a group of
lenders that make or hold interests in the loan. The Fund may acquire interests in such loans by taking an assignment
of all or a portion of a direct interest in a loan previously held by another institution or by acquiring a
participation in an interest in a loan that continues to be held by another institution.
41
The Fund may invest in asset-backed securities, such as CLOs, mortgage-backed securities
and equity securities, including common stocks, preferred stocks, depositary receipts, warrants and rights.
The Fund may also invest in bonds and preferred stocks that are convertible into equity securities.
The Fund may invest in derivatives. The Fund may purchase and sell derivative instruments
such as exchange listed and over-the-counter put and call options on securities, foreign currencies and securities
indices. It may also purchase and sell financial futures contracts (and options thereon) and enter into
various other types of transactions in derivatives, such as swaps, caps, floors and collars. These transactions
may include the use of interest rate swaps (to hedge against adverse changes in interest rates affecting
securities held by the Fund, dividends payable on any preferred stock issued by the Fund or interest payable on the Fund’s borrowings) and credit default swaps. Although the Fund will not use derivatives as a primary investment
technique, it may use derivatives for a variety of purposes, including: (1) as a hedge against adverse changes
in securities prices, interest rates or foreign currency exchange rates; and (2) as a substitute for purchasing or
selling securities.
The Fund may invest in other investment companies, including exchange-traded funds,
if the investment companies invest principally in the types of investments in which the Fund may invest
directly.
In connection with the Fund’s use of leverage through a secured credit facility and the issuance of preferred stock, the Fund may seek to hedge the interest rate risks associated with leverage through
interest rate swaps, caps or other derivative transactions. These transactions involve investment techniques and
risks different from those associated with portfolio transactions in securities of high yield debt securities.
There is no assurance that any interest rate hedging transactions, if undertaken, will be successful, and such transactions
may adversely affect the Fund’s achievement of its investment objective.
The Fund’s portfolio managers will seek high total returns through in-depth credit research utilizing proprietary analytics processes to assess the strength of a company’s credit profile, examples of which include but are not limited to: their ability to pay principal and interest, their cash flow and balance
sheet composition, and their market position relative to competitors. As part of their fundamental investment analysis the Fund’s portfolio managers consider financially material environmental, social and governance factors
they believe are financially material to individual investments, where applicable, as described below. While this
analysis is inherently subjective and may be informed by internally generated and third-party metrics, data
and other information, the portfolio managers believe that the consideration of financially material environmental,
social and governance factors, alongside traditional financial metrics, may improve credit analysis, security
selection, relative value analysis and enhance the Fund’s overall investment process. As part of this analysis, the Fund’s portfolio managers also regularly engage with the management teams of issuers on issues that the portfolio
managers believe are material to the credit risk of an issuer. The specific environmental, social and governance
factors considered and scope and application of integration may vary depending on the specific investment
and/or investment type. The consideration of environmental, social and governance factors does not apply to certain
instruments, such as certain derivative instruments, other registered investment companies, cash and cash
equivalents. The consideration of environmental, social and governance factors as part of the investment
process does not mean that the Fund pursues a specific "impact" or "sustainable" investment strategy.
In an effort to achieve its goal, the Fund may engage in active and frequent trading.
Risk Factors
This section contains a discussion of principal risks of investing in the Fund. The
net asset value per share ("NAV") and market price of, and distributions paid on, the Fund’s shares of common stock will fluctuate with and be affected by, among other things, the risks more fully described below. As with any
fund, there can be no guarantee that the Fund will meet its investment objectives or that the Fund’s performance will be positive for any period of time. Each of the following risks, which are described in alphabetical order
and not in order of importance, can significantly affect the Fund’s performance. The relative importance of, or potential exposure as a
42
result of, each of these risks will vary based on market and other investment-specific
considerations. The Fund may be subject to other risks in addition to those identified below.
Anti-Takeover Provisions Risk. The Fund’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws include provisions that could limit the ability of other entities or persons to acquire control of the Fund or convert
the Fund to an open-end fund. If the Fund were converted to open-end status, the Fund would have to redeem
any preferred stock and prepay or repay any borrowings outstanding. By resolution of the Board, the Fund has
opted into the Maryland Control Share Acquisition Act and the Maryland Business Combination Act.
Call Risk. Upon the issuer’s desire to call a security, or under other circumstances where a security is called, which may happen for a number of reasons, such as declining interest rates or changes in
credit spreads, the issuer can opt to repay the obligation underlying a "callable security" early. When this occurs,
the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield or with a higher risk of default
and the Fund may not realize the full anticipated benefit from such investment.
Closed-end Fund Risk. The Fund is a diversified, closed-end management investment company and designed
primarily for long-term investors. Closed-end funds differ from open-end management
investment companies (commonly known as mutual funds) because investors in a closed-end fund do not have
the right to redeem their shares on a daily basis. The Fund’s Common Stock may trade at a discount to the Fund’s NAV.
Collateralized Loan Obligations Risk. CLOs issue classes or "tranches" of securities that vary in risk and yield and may experience substantial losses due to interest rate fluctuations, actual defaults,
collateral defaults, disappearance of subordinate tranches, market anticipation of defaults, and investor
aversion to CLO securities as a class. The risks of investing in CLOs depend largely on the quality and type of
the underlying debt and the tranche of the CLO in which the Fund invests. In addition, CLOs that obtain their
exposure through derivative instruments entail the additional risks associated with such instruments. CLOs can
be difficult to value, may at times be illiquid, may be highly leveraged (which could make them highly volatile),
and may produce unexpected investment results due to their complex structure. In addition, CLOs involve many
of the same risks of investing in debt securities and asset-backed securities including, but not limited to, interest
rate risk, credit risk, liquidity risk, and valuation risk.
Convertible Securities Risk. The value of a convertible security, which is a form of hybrid security (i.e., a
security with both debt and equity characteristics), typically increases or decreases with
the price of the underlying common stock. In general, a convertible security is subject to the market risks of
stocks when the underlying stock’s price is high relative to the conversion price and is subject to the market risks of debt securities when the underlying stock’s price is low relative to the conversion price. The general market risks of debt securities that are common to convertible securities include, but are not limited to, interest rate risk
and credit risk. Many convertible securities have credit ratings that are below investment grade and are subject to
the same risks as an investment in lower-rated debt securities (commonly known as "junk bonds"). To the extent the
Fund invests in convertible securities issued by small- or mid-cap companies, it will be subject to the risks
of investing in such companies. The securities of small- and mid-cap companies may fluctuate more widely in price than
the market as a whole and there may also be less trading in small- or mid-cap securities.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is the risk that issuers, guarantors, or insurers may fail, or become
less able or unwilling, to pay interest and/or principal when due. Changes in the actual or perceived creditworthiness
of an issuer, or a downgrade or default affecting any of the Fund’s securities could affect the Fund’s performance by affecting the credit quality or value of the Fund’s securities. Generally, the longer the maturity and the lower the credit quality of a security, the more sensitive it is to credit risk.
Currency Risk. Currency risk is the risk that foreign currencies will decline in value relative
to the U.S. dollar. To the extent that the Fund invests in securities or other instruments denominated in
or indexed to foreign currencies, changes in currency exchange rates could adversely impact investment gains
or add to investment losses. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of
time and can be affected
43
unpredictably by various factors, including investor perception and changes in interest
rates; intervention, or failure to intervene, by U.S. or foreign governments, central banks, or supranational
entities; or by currency controls or political developments in the U.S. or abroad.
Depositary Receipts Risk. Depositary receipts are certificates issued by a financial institution evidencing
ownership of underlying foreign securities. Depositary receipts involve many of the
same risks of investing directly in the underlying foreign securities. Depositary receipts are subject to the risk
of fluctuation in the currency exchange rate if, as is often the case, the underlying foreign securities are denominated
in foreign currency, and there may be an imperfect correlation between the market value of depositary receipts
and the underlying foreign securities.
Derivatives Risk. Use of derivatives is a highly specialized activity that can involve investment techniques,
analysis and risks different from, and in some respects greater than, those associated with
investing in more traditional investments, such as stocks and bonds. Derivatives can be highly complex and highly
volatile and may perform in unanticipated ways. Derivatives can create leverage, and the Fund could lose more
than the amount it invests; some derivatives can have the potential for unlimited losses. Derivatives may at times
be highly illiquid, and the Fund may not be able to close out or sell a derivative at a particular time or at
an anticipated price. Derivatives can be difficult to value and valuation may be more difficult in times of market turmoil.
The value of a derivative instrument depends largely on (and is derived from) the value of the reference instrument
underlying the derivative. There may be imperfect correlation between the behavior of a derivative
and that of the reference instrument underlying the derivative. An abrupt change in the price of a reference
instrument could render a derivative worthless. Derivatives may involve risks different from, and possibly greater
than, the risks associated with investing directly in the reference instrument. Suitable derivatives may not
be available in all circumstances, and there can be no assurance that the Fund will use derivatives to reduce exposure
to other risks when that might have been beneficial. Derivatives involve counterparty risk, which is the risk
that the other party to the derivative will fail to make required payments or otherwise comply with the terms
of the derivative. That risk is generally thought to be greater with over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives than with
derivatives that are exchange traded or centrally cleared. When the Fund uses derivatives, it will likely be required
to provide margin or collateral; these practices are intended to satisfy contractual undertakings and will
not prevent the Fund from incurring losses on derivatives. The need to provide margin or collateral could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue other opportunities as they arise. Ongoing changes to regulation of the derivatives
markets and actual and potential changes in the regulation of funds using derivative instruments could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies. New regulation of derivatives may make them more costly, or
may otherwise adversely affect their liquidity, value or performance.
Additional risks associated with certain types of derivatives are discussed below:
Forward Contracts. There are no limitations on daily price movements of forward contracts. Changes in foreign exchange regulations by governmental authorities might limit the trading
of forward contracts on currencies.
Futures. Futures contracts are subject to the risk that an exchange may impose price fluctuation
limits, which may make it difficult or impossible for a fund to close out a position when
desired. In the absence of such limits, the liquidity of the futures market depends on participants
entering into offsetting transactions rather than taking or making delivery. To the extent the Fund
enters into futures contracts requiring physical delivery (e.g., certain commodities contracts),
the inability of the Fund to take or make physical delivery can negatively impact performance.
Options. The use of options involves investment strategies and risks different from those
associated with ordinary portfolio securities transactions. By writing put options, the Fund
takes on the risk of declines in the value of the underlying instrument, including the possibility of a
loss up to the entire strike price of each option it sells, but without the corresponding opportunity to
benefit from potential increases in the value of the underlying instrument. When the Fund writes
a put option, it assumes the risk that it must purchase the underlying instrument at a strike price
that may be higher
44
than the market price of the instrument. If there is a broad market decline and the
Fund is not able to close out its written put options, it may result in substantial losses to the Fund.
By writing a call option, the Fund may be obligated to deliver instruments underlying an option at less
than the market price. When the Fund writes a covered call option, it gives up the opportunity to
profit from a price increase in the underlying instrument above the strike price. The Fund will receive
a premium from writing options, but the premium received may not be sufficient to offset any losses
sustained from exercised options. If an option that the Fund has purchased is never exercised or
closed out, the Fund will lose the amount of the premium it paid and the use of those funds.
Swaps. The risk of loss with respect to swaps generally is limited to the net amount of
payments that the Fund is contractually obligated to make or, in the case of the other party to
a swap defaulting, the net amount of payments that the Fund is contractually entitled to receive. If the
Fund sells a credit default swap, however, the risk of loss may be the entire notional amount of the swap.
Some swaps are now executed through an organized exchange or regulated facility and
cleared through a regulated clearing organization. The absence of an organized exchange or
market for swap transactions may result in difficulties in trading and valuation, especially in the
event of market disruptions. The use of an organized exchange or market for swap transactions is expected
to result in swaps being easier to trade or value, but this may not always be the case.
Distressed Securities Risk. Distressed securities may present a substantial risk of default or may be in default.
Distressed securities involve the substantial risk that principal will not be repaid
and the Fund may lose a substantial portion or all of its investment. The Fund may not receive interest payments
on the distressed securities, which would not generate income for shareholders, and may incur costs
to protect its investment. The prices of such securities may be subject to periods of abrupt and erratic market movements
and above-average price volatility and it may be difficult to value such securities. In certain periods,
there may be little or no liquidity in the markets for distressed securities meaning that the Fund may be unable to exit
its position.
Distributions Risk. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve investment results that will
allow the Fund to make a specified level of cash distributions or maintain certain levels of
cash distributions. All distributions will be paid at the discretion of the Board and may depend on the Fund’s earnings, the Fund’s net investment income, the Fund’s financial condition, compliance with applicable regulations and such other factors as the Board may deem relevant from time to time. This distribution policy may, under certain circumstances,
have certain adverse consequences to the Fund and its stockholders because it may result in a return
of capital, which would reduce the Fund’s NAV and, over time, potentially increase the Fund’s expense ratio.
Foreign Securities Risk. Foreign securities involve risks in addition to those associated with comparable
U.S. securities. Additional risks include exposure to less developed or less efficient
trading markets; social, political, diplomatic, or economic instability; trade barriers and other protectionist trade
policies (including those of the U.S.); imposition of economic sanctions against a particular country or countries,
organizations, companies, entities and/or individuals; significant government involvement in an economy and/or
market structure; fluctuations in foreign currencies or currency redenomination; potential for default
on sovereign debt; nationalization or expropriation of assets; settlement, custodial or other operational
risks; higher transaction costs; confiscatory withholding or other taxes; and less stringent auditing and accounting,
corporate disclosure, governance, and legal standards. As a result, foreign securities may fluctuate more
widely in price, and may also be less liquid, than comparable U.S. securities. World markets, or those in a particular
region, may all react in similar fashion to important economic or political developments. In addition, foreign
markets may perform differently than the U.S. markets. The effect of economic instability on specific
foreign markets or issuers may be difficult to predict or evaluate. Regardless of where a company is organized or its
stock is traded, its performance may be affected significantly by events in regions from which it derives its profits
or in which it conducts significant operations.
Securities of issuers traded on foreign exchanges may be suspended, either by the
issuers themselves, by an exchange or by governmental authorities. Trading suspensions may be applied from time
to time to the securities
45
of individual issuers for reasons specific to that issuer, or may be applied broadly
by exchanges or governmental authorities in response to market events. In the event that the Fund holds material
positions in such suspended securities or instruments, the Fund’s ability to liquidate its positions may be compromised and the Fund could incur significant losses.
High Portfolio Turnover. The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading and may have a high portfolio
turnover rate, which may increase the Fund’s transaction costs, may adversely affect the Fund’s performance and may generate a greater amount of capital gain distributions to Common Stockholders
than if the Fund had a low portfolio turnover rate.
Interest Rate Risk. The Fund’s distribution rate and NAV will fluctuate in response to changes in interest rates. In general, the value of investments with interest rate risk, such as debt securities,
will move in the direction opposite to movements in interest rates. If interest rates rise, the value of such securities
may decline. Typically, the longer the maturity or duration of a debt security, the greater the effect a change in interest
rates could have on the security’s price. Thus, the sensitivity of the Fund’s debt securities to interest rate risk will increase with any increase in the duration of those securities.
Issuer-Specific Risk. An individual security may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the
market as a whole.
Leverage Risk. The Fund’s use of leverage may cause higher volatility for the Fund’s NAV, market price, and distribution rate. Leverage typically magnifies the total return of the Fund’s portfolio, whether that return is positive or negative. Leverage is intended to increase common stock net income, but
there is no assurance that the Fund’s leveraging strategy will be successful or that the use of leverage will result in a higher yield on the Fund’s shares of common stock. Different forms of leverage, including swaps, may introduce additional credit or interest rate risk. Leverage may also increase the Fund’s liquidity risk, as the Fund may need to sell securities at inopportune times to stay within Fund, contractual or regulatory limits. The Fund’s use of leverage may increase operating costs, which may reduce total return. The Fund’s use of leverage may increase or decrease from time to time in its discretion and the Fund may, in the future, determine not to use leverage.
Liquidity Risk. From time to time, the trading market for a particular investment in which the Fund
invests, or a particular type of instrument in which the Fund is invested, may become less liquid
or even illiquid. Illiquid investments frequently can be more difficult to purchase or sell at an advantageous
price or time, and there is a greater risk that the investments may not be sold for the price at which the Fund
is carrying them. Certain investments that were liquid when the Fund purchased them may become illiquid, sometimes
abruptly. Additionally, market closures due to holidays or other factors may render a security
or group of securities (e.g., securities tied to a particular country or geographic region) illiquid for a period
of time. An inability to sell a portfolio position can adversely affect the Fund’s value or prevent the Fund from being able to take advantage of other investment opportunities. Market prices for such securities or other investments
may be volatile. During periods of substantial market volatility, an investment or even an entire market segment
may become illiquid, sometimes abruptly, which can adversely affect the Fund’s ability to limit losses.
Loan Interests Risk. Loan interests generally are subject to restrictions on transfer, and the Fund may
be unable to sell its loan interests at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or
may be able to sell them promptly only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market
value. Accordingly, loan interests may at times be illiquid and difficult to value. Unlike the securities markets,
there is no central clearinghouse for loan trades, and the loan market has not established uniform settlement
standards and loan interests may have extended settlement periods (the settlement cycle for many bank
loans exceeds 7 days). Extended settlement periods may result in cash not being immediately available to
the Fund. A significant portion of floating rate loans may be "covenant lite" loans that may contain fewer or less
restrictive constraints on the borrower and/or may contain other characteristics that would be favorable to the borrower,
limiting the ability of lenders to take legal action to protect their interests in certain situations. Interests
in loans made to finance highly leveraged companies or to finance corporate acquisitions or other transactions may
be especially vulnerable to
46
adverse changes in economic or market conditions. Interests in secured loans have
the benefit of collateral and, typically, of restrictive covenants limiting the ability of the borrower to further
encumber its assets. There is a risk that the value of any collateral securing a loan in which the Fund has an interest
may decline and that the collateral may not be sufficient to cover the amount owed on the loan. In the event
the borrower defaults, the Fund’s access to the collateral may be limited or delayed by bankruptcy or other insolvency laws. Further, in the event of a default, second or lower lien secured loans, and unsecured loans, will
generally be paid only if the value of the collateral exceeds the amount of the borrower’s obligations to the senior secured lenders, and the remaining collateral may not be sufficient to cover the full amount owed on the loan
in which the Fund has an interest. Further, there is a risk that a court could take action with respect to
a loan that is adverse to the holders of the loan and the Fund may need to retain legal counsel to enforce its rights in
any resulting event of default, bankruptcy, or similar situation. Interests in loans expose the Fund to the credit
risk of the underlying borrower and may expose the Fund to the credit risk of the lender.
The Fund may acquire a loan interest by direct investment as a lender, by obtaining
an assignment of all or a portion of the interests in a particular loan that are held by an original lender
or a prior assignee or by participation in a loan interest that is held by another party. As an assignee, the
Fund normally will succeed to all rights and obligations of its assignor with respect to the portion of the loan that
is being assigned. However, the rights and obligations acquired by the purchaser of a loan assignment may differ from,
and be more limited than, those held by the original lenders or the assignor. When the Fund’s loan interest is a participation, the Fund may have less control over the exercise of remedies than the party selling the participation
interest, and the Fund normally would not have any direct rights against the borrower. It is possible that
the Fund could be held liable, or may be called upon to fulfill other obligations, with respect to loans in which it
receives an assignment in whole or in part, or in which it owns a participation. The potential for such liability is
greater for an assignee than for a participant.
Lower-Rated Debt Securities Risk. Lower-rated debt securities (commonly known as "junk bonds") and unrated debt securities determined to be of comparable quality involve greater risks
than investment grade debt securities. Such securities may fluctuate more widely in price and yield and may fall
in price, sometimes abruptly, due to changes in interest rates, market activity, economic conditions, such as when
economic conditions are deteriorating or are expected to deteriorate, or other factors. These securities may
be less liquid, may require a greater degree of judgment to establish a price and may be difficult to sell at the
time and price the Fund desires. Lower-rated debt securities are considered by the major rating agencies to be predominantly
speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to pay principal and interest and carry a greater risk that the issuer of such securities will default in the timely payment of principal and interest. Issuers of
securities that are in default or have defaulted may fail to resume principal or interest payments, in which case the
Fund may lose its entire investment. The creditworthiness of issuers of these securities may be more complex
to analyze than that of issuers of investment grade debt securities, and the overreliance on credit ratings
may present additional risks.
Market Premium/Discount Risk. The market price of the Fund’s shares of common stock will generally fluctuate in accordance with changes in the Fund’s NAV as well as the relative supply of and demand for shares on the secondary market. The Fund’s investment advisor cannot predict whether shares will trade below, at or above their NAV because the shares trade on the secondary market at market prices and not at NAV.
Because the market price of the Fund’s shares of common stock will be determined by factors such as relative supply of and demand for shares in the market, general market and economic circumstances, and other factors
beyond the control of the Fund, the Fund cannot predict whether the common shares will trade at, below or
above NAV. This characteristic is a risk separate and distinct from the risk that the Fund’s NAV could decrease as a result of investment activities. Common stockholders bear a risk of loss to the extent that
the price at which they sell their shares is lower in relation to the Fund’s NAV than at the time of purchase.
Market Volatility Risk. Markets may be volatile and values of individual securities and other investments,
including those of a particular type, may decline significantly in response to adverse
issuer, political, regulatory, market, economic or other developments that may cause broad changes in market value,
public perceptions
47
concerning these developments, and adverse investor sentiment or publicity. Geopolitical
and other risks, including environmental and public health risks may add to instability in world economies
and markets generally. Changes in value may be temporary or may last for extended periods. If the Fund sells
a portfolio position before it reaches its market peak, it may miss out on opportunities for better performance.
Mortgage- and Asset-Backed Securities Risk. The value of mortgage- and asset-backed securities, including collateralized mortgage instruments, will be influenced by the factors affecting the
housing market or the assets underlying the securities. These securities tend to be more sensitive to changes in
interest rates than other types of debt securities. In addition, investments in mortgage- and asset-backed securities
may be subject to prepayment risk and extension risk, call risk, credit risk, valuation risk, and illiquid
investment risk, sometimes to a higher degree than various other types of debt securities. These securities are also
subject to the risk of default on the underlying mortgages or assets, particularly during periods of market downturn,
and an unexpectedly high rate of defaults on the underlying assets will adversely affect the security’s value.
Operational and Cybersecurity Risk. The Fund and its service providers, and your ability to transact with the Fund, may be negatively impacted due to operational matters arising from, among other
problems, human errors, processing and communications errors, counterparty and third-party disruptions or
errors, systems and technology disruptions or failures, use of or integration of artificial intelligence ("AI"),
or cybersecurity incidents. Cybersecurity incidents may allow an unauthorized party to gain access to fund assets, customer
data, or proprietary information, or cause the Fund or its service providers, as well as the securities
trading venues and their service providers, to suffer data corruption or lose operational functionality, including
those related to critical functions. Cybersecurity incidents can result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events.
AI has enhanced the ability of threat actors to amplify the potency, scale, and speed of deliberate cybersecurity
attacks. It is not possible for the Manager or the other Fund service providers to identify all of the cybersecurity or
other operational risks that may affect the Fund or to develop processes and controls to completely eliminate or mitigate
their occurrence or effects. Most issuers in which the Fund invests are heavily dependent on computers
for data storage and operations, and require ready access to the internet to conduct their business. Thus,
cybersecurity incidents could also affect issuers of securities in which the Fund invests, leading to significant
loss of value.
Other Investment Company Risk. To the extent the Fund invests in other investment companies, including money market funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), its performance will be affected
by the performance of those other investment companies. Investments in other investment companies are subject
to the risks of the other investment companies’ investments, as well as to the other investment companies’ expenses.
An ETF may trade in the secondary market at a price below the value of its underlying
portfolio, may not be liquid and may be halted by the listing exchange. An actively managed ETF’s performance will reflect its adviser’s ability to make investment decisions that are suited to achieving the ETF’s investment objectives. A passively managed ETF may not replicate the performance of the index it intends to track.
Prepayment and Extension Risk. The Fund’s performance could be affected if borrowers pay back principal on certain debt securities, such as mortgage- or asset-backed securities, before (prepayment)
or after (extension) the market anticipates such payments, shortening or lengthening their duration. Due to
a decline in interest rates or an excess in cash flow into the issuer, a debt security might be called or otherwise
converted, prepaid or redeemed before maturity. As a result of prepayment, the Fund may have to reinvest
the proceeds in an investment offering a lower yield, may not benefit from any increase in value that
might otherwise result from declining interest rates, and may lose any premium it paid to acquire the security.
Conversely, rising market interest rates generally result in slower payoffs or extension, which effectively
increases the duration of certain debt securities, heightening interest rate risk and increasing the magnitude of any
resulting price declines.
Private Placements and Other Restricted Securities Risk. Private placements and other restricted securities, including securities for which Fund management has material non-public information,
are securities that are subject to legal and/or contractual restrictions on their sales. These securities
may not be sold to the public unless certain conditions are met, which may include registration under the applicable securities
laws. As a result of the
48
absence of a public trading market, the prices of these securities may be more difficult
to determine than publicly traded securities and these securities may involve heightened risk as compared to
investments in securities of publicly traded companies. Private placements and other restricted securities may
be illiquid, and it frequently can be difficult to sell them at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or
the Fund may be able to sell them only at prices that are less than what the Fund regards as their fair market
value. Transaction costs may be higher for these securities. In addition, the Fund may get only limited information
about the issuer of a private placement or other restricted security.
Recent Market Conditions. Both U.S. and international markets have experienced significant volatility in recent
years. As a result of such volatility, investment returns may fluctuate significantly.
National economies are substantially interconnected, as are global financial markets, which creates the possibility
that conditions in one country or region might adversely impact issuers in a different country or region.
However, the interconnectedness of economies and/or markets may be diminishing or changing, which may impact such
economies and markets in ways that cannot be foreseen at this time.
Some countries, including the U.S., have adopted more protectionist trade policies,
which is a trend that appears to be continuing globally. Slowing global economic growth, the rise in protectionist
trade policies, inflationary pressures, changes to some major international trade and security agreements, risks
associated with the trade and security agreement between countries and regions, including the U.S. and other foreign
nations, political or economic dysfunction within some countries or regions, including the U.S., and dramatic
changes in consumer sentiment, commodity prices and currency values could affect the economies and markets
of many nations, including the U.S., in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time
and may create significant volatility in the markets. In addition, these policies, including the impact on the
U.S. dollar, may decrease foreign demand for U.S. assets, which could have a negative impact on certain issuers and/or
industries.
The Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks have started to lower interest
rates, though economic or other factors, such as inflation, could stop such changes. It is difficult to accurately
predict the pace at which interest rates might change, the timing, frequency or magnitude of any such changes
in interest rates, or when such changes might stop or again reverse course. Additionally, various economic and
political factors could cause the Federal Reserve or other foreign central banks to change their approach in the
future and such actions may result in an economic slowdown both in the U.S. and abroad. Unexpected changes in
interest rates could lead to significant market volatility or reduce liquidity in certain sectors of the market.
Deteriorating economic fundamentals may, in turn, increase the risk of default or insolvency of particular
issuers, negatively impact market value, cause credit spreads to widen, and reduce bank balance sheets. Any of these
could cause an increase in market volatility, reduce liquidity across various markets or decrease confidence
in the markets.
Regulators in the U.S. have adopted a number of changes to regulations involving the
markets and issuers, some of which apply to the Fund. The full effect of such regulations is not currently known
and certain changes to regulation could limit the Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategies or make certain investments, may make it more costly for it to operate, or adversely impact performance. Additionally, it
is possible that such regulations could be further revised or rescinded, which creates material uncertainty on their
impact to the Fund.
Advancements in technology, including advanced development and increased regulation
of artificial intelligence, may adversely impact market movements and liquidity. As artificial intelligence is
used more widely, which can occur relatively rapidly, the profitability and growth of certain issuers and industries
may be negatively impacted in ways that cannot be foreseen and could adversely impact its performance.
Tensions, war, or open conflict between nations, such as between Russia and Ukraine,
in the Middle East, or in eastern Asia could affect the economies of many nations, including the United States.
The duration of ongoing hostilities and any sanctions and related events cannot be predicted. Those events
present material uncertainty and risk with respect to markets globally and the performance of the Fund and its
investments or operations could be negatively impacted.
49
High public debt in the U.S. and other countries creates ongoing systemic and market
risks and policymaking uncertainty. There is no assurance that the U.S. Congress will act to raise the nation’s debt ceiling; a failure to do so could cause market turmoil and substantial investment risks that cannot now be
fully predicted. Unexpected political, regulatory and diplomatic events within the U.S. and abroad may affect
investor and consumer confidence and may adversely impact financial markets and the broader economy.
Global climate change can have potential effects on property and security values.
Certain issuers, industries and regions may be adversely affected by the impact of climate change in ways that cannot
be foreseen. The impact of legislation, regulation and international accords related to climate change, including
any direct or indirect consequences that may not be foreseen, may negatively impact certain issuers, industries
and regions.
Regulated Investment Company Status. The Fund has qualified, and intends to remain qualified, for federal income tax purposes as a regulated investment company ("RIC") under Subchapter M of
the Code. Qualification requires, among other things, compliance by the Fund with certain distribution requirements.
If the Fund does not qualify as a RIC for any taxable year, the Fund’s taxable income will be subject to corporate income taxes, and all distributions from earnings and profits, including distributions of net capital gain
(if any), will be taxable to stockholders as ordinary income. Such distributions generally would be eligible (i)
to be treated as qualified dividend income in the case of individual and other non-corporate stockholders and
(ii) for the dividends received deduction ("DRD") in the case of corporate stockholders. In addition, in order to
requalify for taxation as a RIC, the Fund may be required to recognize unrealized gain, pay substantial taxes and interest,
and make certain distributions.
Repurchase Agreement Risk. Repurchase agreements generally are for a short period of time and involve the risk that the counterparty may default on its obligation to repurchase the underlying
instruments collateralizing the repurchase agreement, which may result in costs, delays, and/or losses to the
Fund. In a repurchase agreement subject to foreign law, the Fund may not enjoy protections comparable to those provided
to certain repurchase agreements under U.S. bankruptcy law, and, as a result, the Fund may suffer delays
and losses in disposing of the collateral.
Risk Management. Risk is an essential part of investing. No risk management program can eliminate the Fund’s exposure to adverse events; at best, it may only reduce the possibility that the Fund
will be affected by such events, and especially those risks that are not intrinsic to the Fund’s investment program. The Fund could experience losses if judgments about risk prove to be incorrect.
Sector Risk. From time to time, based on market or economic conditions, the Fund may have significant
positions in one or more sectors of the market. To the extent the Fund invests more heavily
in particular sectors, its performance will be especially sensitive to developments that significantly affect
those sectors. Individual sectors may be more volatile, and may perform differently, than the broader market. The industries
that constitute a sector may all react in the same way to economic, political or regulatory events.
Shareholder Activism Risk. Shareholder activism can take many forms, including making public demands that the Fund consider certain alternatives, engaging in public campaigns to attempt to influence the Fund’s governance and/or management, commencing proxy contests in an effort to elect the activists’ representatives or others to the Fund’s Board of Directors or to seek other actions such as a tender offer or Fund liquidation, and commencing litigation. Shareholder activism arises in a variety of situations and
has been increasing in the closed-end fund space recently, including litigation challenging closed-end fund defenses.
While the Fund is currently not subject to any shareholder activism, due to the potential volatility of the Fund’s common stock market price and for a variety of other reasons, the Fund may in the future become
the target of shareholder activism. Shareholder activism could result in substantial costs and divert Management’s and the Fund’s Board’s attention and resources from its business. Also, the Fund may be required to incur
significant legal and other expenses related to any activist shareholder matters. Further, the Fund’s stock price could be subject to significant fluctuation or otherwise be adversely affected by the events, risks and uncertainties
of any shareholder activism.
50
Shareholder activists seek short-term actions that can increase Fund costs per share
and be detrimental to other stockholders.
U.S. Government Securities Risk. Although the Fund may hold securities that carry U.S. government guarantees, these guarantees do not extend to shares of the Fund itself and do not
guarantee the market prices, including due to changes in interest rates, of the securities. Furthermore, not all
securities issued by the U.S. government and its agencies and instrumentalities are backed by the full faith and
credit of the U.S. Treasury. Securities not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury carry at least
some risk of non-payment or default.
Valuation Risk. The Fund may not be able to sell an investment at the price at which the Fund has
valued the investment. Such differences could be significant, particularly for illiquid securities
and securities that trade in relatively thin markets and/or markets that experience extreme volatility. If market
or other conditions make it difficult to value an investment, the Fund may be required to value such investments
using more subjective methods, known as fair value methodologies. Using fair value methodologies to price
investments may result in a value that is different from an investment’s most recent price and from the prices used by other funds to calculate their NAVs. The Fund uses pricing services to provide values for certain securities
and there is no assurance that the Fund will be able to sell an investment at the price established by such pricing services. The Fund’s ability to value its investments in an accurate and timely manner may be impacted by technological
issues and/or errors by third party service providers, such as pricing services or accounting agents.
Variable and Floating Rate Instruments Risk. The market prices of instruments with variable and floating interest rates are generally less sensitive to interest rate changes than are the
market prices of instruments with fixed interest rates. Variable and floating rate instruments may decline in value
if market interest rates or interest rates paid by such instruments do not move as expected. Certain types of floating
rate instruments, such as interests in bank loans, may be subject to greater liquidity risk than other debt
securities, may have restrictions on resale and may lack an active market.
Warrants and Rights Risk. Warrants and rights do not carry with them the right to dividends or voting rights
with respect to the securities that they entitle their holder to purchase, and they
do not represent any rights in the assets of the issuer. As a result, warrants and rights may be considered more speculative
than certain other types of investments. In addition, the value of a warrant or right does not necessarily
change with the value of the underlying securities. The Fund could lose the value of a warrant or right if the
right to subscribe to additional shares is not exercised prior to the warrant’s or right’s expiration date. The market for warrants and rights may be very limited and there may at times not be a liquid secondary market for warrants
and rights.
Zero Coupon Securities, Step Coupon Securities, Pay-in-Kind Securities and Discount
Obligations. Zero coupon securities and step coupon securities are debt obligations that are issued
and traded at a discount from their face amount or par value (known as "original issue discount" or "OID") and do
not entitle the holder to any periodic payment of interest prior to maturity or that specify a future date when
the securities begin to pay current interest. The Fund may also acquire certain debt securities at a discount.
These discount obligations involve special risk considerations. OID varies depending on prevailing interest rates,
the time remaining until cash payments begin, the liquidity of the security, and the perceived credit quality of
the issuer. Zero coupon securities and step coupon securities are redeemed at face value when they mature. Accrued OID
must be included in the Fund’s gross income for federal tax purposes ratably each taxable year prior to the receipt of any actual payments. Pay-in-kind securities pay "interest" through the issuance of additional securities.
The market prices of zero coupon securities, step coupon securities, pay-in-kind securities and discount obligations
generally are more volatile than the prices of securities that pay cash interest periodically. Those
securities and obligations are likely to respond to changes in interest rates to a greater degree than other types of debt
securities having a similar maturity and credit quality.
51
Distribution Reinvestment Plan for the Fund
Equiniti Trust Company, LLC (the "Plan Agent") will act as Plan Agent for stockholders
who have not elected in writing to receive dividends and distributions in cash (each a "Participant"), will
open an account for each Participant under the Distribution Reinvestment Plan ("Plan") in the same name as
their then-current shares of the Fund’s common stock ("Shares") are registered, and will put the Plan into effect for each Participant as of the first record date for a dividend or capital gains distribution.
Whenever the Fund declares a dividend or distribution with respect to the Shares,
each Participant will receive such dividends and distributions in additional Shares, including fractional Shares
acquired by the Plan Agent and credited to each Participant’s account. If on the payment date for a cash dividend or distribution, the net asset value is equal to or less than the market price per Share plus estimated brokerage
commissions, the Plan Agent shall automatically receive such Shares, including fractions, for each Participant’s account. Except in the circumstances described in the next paragraph, the number of additional Shares to
be credited to each Participant’s account shall be determined by dividing the dollar amount of the dividend or distribution payable on their Shares by the greater of the net asset value per Share determined as of the
date of purchase or 95% of the then-current market price per Share on the payment date.
Should the net asset value per Share exceed the market price per Share plus estimated
brokerage commissions on the payment date for a cash dividend or distribution, the Plan Agent or a broker-dealer
selected by the Plan Agent shall endeavor, for a purchase period lasting until the last business day before the
next date on which the Shares trade on an "ex-dividend" basis, but in no event, except as provided below, more than
30 days after the payment date, to apply the amount of such dividend or distribution on each Participant’s Shares (less their pro rata share of brokerage commissions incurred with respect to the Plan Agent’s open-market purchases in connection with the reinvestment of such dividend or distribution) to purchase Shares on the open market for each Participant’s account. No such purchases may be made more than 30 days after the payment date for
such dividend or distribution except where temporary curtailment or suspension of purchase is necessary
to comply with applicable provisions of federal securities laws. If, at the close of business on any day during
the purchase period the net asset value per Share equals or is less than the market price per Share plus estimated
brokerage commissions, the Plan Agent will not make any further open-market purchases in connection with the
reinvestment of such dividend or distribution. If the Plan Agent is unable to invest the full dividend
or distribution amount through open-market purchases during the purchase period, the Plan Agent shall request that,
with respect to the uninvested portion of such dividend or distribution amount, the Fund issue new Shares
at the close of business on the earlier of the last day of the purchase period or the first day during the purchase
period on which the net asset value per Share equals or is less than the market price per Share, plus estimated
brokerage commissions, such Shares to be issued in accordance with the terms specified in the third paragraph
hereof. These newly issued Shares will be valued at the then-current market price per Share at the time such
Shares are to be issued.
For purposes of making the reinvestment purchase comparison under the Plan, (a) the
market price of the Shares on a particular date shall be the last sales price on the New York Stock Exchange
(or if the Shares are not listed on the New York Stock Exchange, such other exchange on which the Shares are principally
traded) on that date, or, if there is no sale on such Exchange (or if not so listed, in the over-the-counter market)
on that date, then the mean between the closing bid and asked quotations for such Shares on such Exchange on such
date and (b) the net asset value per Share on a particular date shall be the net asset value per Share
most recently calculated by or on behalf of the Fund. All dividends, distributions and other payments (whether made
in cash or Shares) shall be made net of any applicable withholding tax.
Open-market purchases provided for above may be made on any securities exchange where the Fund’s Shares are traded, in the over-the-counter market or in negotiated transactions and may be on
such terms as to price, delivery and otherwise as the Plan Agent shall determine. Each Participant’s uninvested funds held by the Plan Agent will not bear interest, and it is understood that, in any event, the Plan Agent
shall have no liability in
52
connection with any inability to purchase Shares within 30 days after the initial
date of such purchase as herein provided, or with the timing of any purchases effected. The Plan Agent shall have
no responsibility as to the value of the Shares acquired for each Participant’s account. For the purpose of cash investments, the Plan Agent may commingle each Participant’s funds with those of other stockholders of the Fund for whom the Plan Agent similarly acts as agent, and the average price (including brokerage commissions) of
all Shares purchased by the Plan Agent as Plan Agent shall be the price per Share allocable to each Participant
in connection therewith.
The Plan Agent may hold each Participant’s Shares acquired pursuant to the Plan together with the Shares of other stockholders of the Fund acquired pursuant to the Plan in noncertificated form in the Plan Agent’s name or that of the Plan Agent’s nominee. The Plan Agent will forward to each Participant any proxy solicitation material and will vote any Shares so held for each Participant only in accordance with the
instructions set forth on proxies returned by the Participant to the Fund.
The Plan Agent will confirm to each Participant each acquisition made for their account
as soon as practicable but not later than 60 days after the date thereof. Although each Participant may from
time to time have an undivided fractional interest (computed to three decimal places) in a Share, no certificates
for a fractional Share will be issued. However, dividends and distributions on fractional Shares will be credited to each Participant’s account. In the event of termination of a Participant’s account under the Plan, the Plan Agent will adjust for any such undivided fractional interest in cash at the market value of the Shares at the time
of termination, less the pro rata expense of any sale required to make such an adjustment.
Any Share dividends or split Shares distributed by the Fund on Shares held by the
Plan Agent for Participants will be credited to their accounts. In the event that the Fund makes available to its stockholders
rights to purchase additional Shares or other securities, the Shares held for each Participant under
the Plan will be added to other Shares held by the Participant in calculating the number of rights to be issued to
each Participant.
The Plan Agent’s service fee for handling capital gains and other distributions or income dividends will be paid by the Fund. Participants will be charged their pro rata share of brokerage commissions
on all open-market purchases.
Each Participant may terminate their account under the Plan by notifying the Plan
Agent in writing. Such termination will be effective immediately if the Participant’s notice is received by the Plan Agent not less than ten days prior to any dividend or distribution record date, otherwise such termination
will be effective the first trading day after the payment date for such dividend or distribution with respect to any subsequent
dividend or distribution. The Plan may be terminated by the Plan Agent or the Fund upon notice
in writing mailed to each Participant at least 30 days prior to any record date for the payment of any dividend
or distribution by the Fund.
These terms and conditions may be amended or supplemented by the Plan Agent or the
Fund at any time or times but, except when necessary or appropriate to comply with applicable law or the
rules or policies of the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other regulatory authority, only by mailing
to each Participant appropriate written notice at least 30 days prior to the effective date thereof. The
amendment or supplement shall be deemed to be accepted by each Participant unless, prior to the effective
date thereof, the Plan Agent receives written notice of the termination of their account under the Plan. Any such
amendment may include an appointment by the Plan Agent in its place and stead of a successor Plan Agent under
these terms and conditions, with full power and authority to perform all or any of the acts to be performed by
the Plan Agent under these terms and conditions. Upon any such appointment of any Plan Agent for the purpose
of receiving dividends and distributions, the Fund will be authorized to pay to such successor Plan Agent, for each Participant’s account, all dividends and distributions payable on Shares held in their name or under the Plan
for retention or application by such successor Plan Agent as provided in these terms and conditions.
The Plan Agent shall at all times act in good faith and agrees to use its best efforts
within reasonable limits to ensure the accuracy of all services performed under this Agreement and to comply with
applicable law, but assumes no responsibility and shall not be liable for loss or damage due to errors
unless such error is caused by
53
the Plan Agent’s negligence, bad faith, or willful misconduct or that of its employees. These terms and conditions are governed by the laws of the State of Maryland.
Reinvested dividends and distributions are taxed in the same manner as cash dividends and distributions — i.e., reinvestment in additional Shares does not relieve stockholders of, or defer the need
to pay, any income tax that may be payable (or that is required to be withheld) on Fund dividends and distributions.
Participants should contact their tax professionals for information on how the Plan impacts their personal
tax situation. For additional information about the Plan, please contact the Plan Agent by telephone at 1-866-227-2136
or by mail at P.O. Box 10027, Newark, NJ 07101-3027 or online at https://equiniti.com/us/ast-access/individuals.
54
Directory
Investment Manager and Administrator
Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC
1290 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10104-0002
877.461.1899
1290 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10104-0002
877.461.1899
Custodian
State Street Bank and Trust Company
One Congress Street, Suite 1
Boston, MA 02114-2016
One Congress Street, Suite 1
Boston, MA 02114-2016
Transfer Agent
Equiniti Trust Company, LLC
48 Wall Street, Floor 23
New York, NY 10005
Shareholder Services 866.227.2136
48 Wall Street, Floor 23
New York, NY 10005
Shareholder Services 866.227.2136
Plan Agent
Equiniti Trust Company, LLC
P.O. Box 10027
Newark, NJ 07101-3027
P.O. Box 10027
Newark, NJ 07101-3027
Overnight correspondence should be sent to:
Equiniti Trust Company, LLC
55 Challenger Road 2nd Floor
Ridgefield Park, NJ 07660
Equiniti Trust Company, LLC
55 Challenger Road 2nd Floor
Ridgefield Park, NJ 07660
Legal Counsel
K&L Gates LLP
1601 K Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006-1600
1601 K Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006-1600
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Ernst & Young LLP
200 Clarendon Street
Boston, MA 02116
200 Clarendon Street
Boston, MA 02116
55
Directors and Officers
The following tables set forth information concerning the Directors and Officers of
the Fund. All persons named as Directors and Officers also serve in similar capacities for other funds administered
or managed by NBIA. The Fund’s Statement of Additional Information includes additional information about the Directors as of the time of the Fund’s most recent public offering and is available upon request, without charge, by calling (877) 461-1899.
Information about the Board of Directors
|
Name, (Year of Birth),
and Address(1)
|
Position(s)
and Length of
Time Served(2)
|
Principal Occupation(s)(3)
|
Number of
Funds in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Director
|
Other Directorships Held
Outside Fund Complex by
Director(3)
|
|
CLASS I
|
||||
|
Independent Directors
|
||||
|
Marc Gary (1952)
|
Director since
2015
|
Executive Vice Chancellor
Emeritus, The Jewish
Theological Seminary, since
2020; formerly, Executive
Vice Chancellor and Chief
Operating Officer, The
Jewish Theological Seminary,
2012 to 2020; formerly,
Executive Vice President and
General Counsel, Fidelity
Investments, 2007 to 2012;
formerly, Executive Vice
President and General
Counsel, BellSouth
Corporation, 2004 to 2007;
formerly, Vice President and
Associate General Counsel,
BellSouth Corporation, 2000
to 2004; formerly, Associate,
Partner, and National
Litigation Practice Co-Chair,
Mayer, Brown LLP, 1981 to
2000; formerly, Associate
Independent Counsel, Office
of Independent Counsel,
1990 to 1992.
|
46
|
Director, Jewish Federation
of Atlanta, since 2023;
Director, Israel Policy Forum,
since 2023; Director, JCC of
Westchester, since 2022;
Director, Jewish Democratic
Counsel of America, since
2022; Chair and Director,
USCJ Supporting
Foundation, since 2021;
Director, UJA Federation of
Greater New York, since
2019; Trustee, The Jewish
Theological Seminary, since
2014; Director, Lawyers
Committee for Civil Rights
Under Law (not-for-profit),
since 2005; formerly,
Director, Jewish Federation
of New York, 2017 to 2023;
formerly, Director, Legility,
Inc. (privately held for-profit
company), 2012 to 2021;
formerly, Director, Equal
Justice Works
(not-for-profit), 2005 to
2014; formerly, Director,
Corporate Counsel Institute,
Georgetown University Law
Center, 2007 to 2012;
formerly, Director, Greater
Boston Legal Services
(not-for-profit), 2007 to
2012.
|
56
|
Name, (Year of Birth),
and Address(1)
|
Position(s)
and Length of
Time Served(2)
|
Principal Occupation(s)(3)
|
Number of
Funds in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Director
|
Other Directorships Held
Outside Fund Complex by
Director(3)
|
|
Martha C. Goss (1949)
|
Director since
2007
|
Formerly, President, Woodhill
Enterprises Inc./Chase
Hollow Associates LLC
(personal investment
vehicle), 2006 to 2020;
formerly, Consultant,
Resources Global
Professionals (temporary
staffing), 2002 to 2006;
formerly, Chief Financial
Officer, Booz-Allen &
Hamilton, Inc., 1995 to
1999; formerly, Enterprise
Risk Officer, Prudential
Insurance, 1994 to 1995;
formerly, President,
Prudential Asset
Management Company,
1992 to 1994; formerly,
President, Prudential Power
Funding (investments in
electric and gas utilities and
alternative energy projects),
1989 to 1992; formerly,
Treasurer, Prudential
Insurance Company, 1983 to
1989.
|
46
|
Director, American Water
(water utility), since 2003;
Director, Allianz Life of New
York (insurance), since 2005;
formerly, Director, Berger
Group Holdings, Inc.
(engineering consulting
firm), 2013 to 2018;
formerly, Director, Financial
Women’s Association of
New York (not-for-profit
association), 1987 to 1996
and 2003 to 2019; Trustee
Emerita, Brown University,
since 1998; Director,
Museum of American
Finance (not-for-profit), since
2013; formerly,
Non-Executive Chair and
Director, Channel
Reinsurance (financial
guaranty reinsurance), 2006
to 2010; formerly, Director,
Ocwen Financial Corporation
(mortgage servicing), 2005
to 2010; formerly, Director,
Claire’s Stores, Inc. (retailer),
2005 to 2007; formerly,
Director, Parsons
Brinckerhoff Inc.
(engineering consulting
firm), 2007 to 2010;
formerly, Director, Bank
Leumi (commercial bank),
2005 to 2007; formerly,
Advisory Board Member,
Attensity (software
developer), 2005 to 2007;
formerly, Director, Foster
Wheeler Manufacturing,
1994 to 2004; formerly,
Director, Dexter Corp.
(Manufacturer of
Non-Wovens, Plastics, and
Medical Supplies), 1992 to
2001.
|
57
|
Name, (Year of Birth),
and Address(1)
|
Position(s)
and Length of
Time Served(2)
|
Principal Occupation(s)(3)
|
Number of
Funds in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Director
|
Other Directorships Held
Outside Fund Complex by
Director(3)
|
|
Michael M. Knetter (1960)
|
Director since
2007
|
President and Chief
Executive Officer, University
of Wisconsin Foundation,
since 2010; formerly, Dean,
School of Business,
University of Wisconsin -
Madison; formerly, Professor
of International Economics
and Associate Dean, Amos
Tuck School of Business -
Dartmouth College, 1998 to
2002.
|
46
|
Director, 1WS Credit Income
Fund, since 2018; Board
Member, American Family
Insurance (a mutual
company, not publicly
traded), since March 2009;
formerly, Trustee,
Northwestern Mutual
Series Fund, Inc., 2007 to
2011; formerly, Director,
Wausau Paper, 2005 to
2011; formerly, Director,
Great Wolf Resorts, 2004 to
2009.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
58
|
Name, (Year of Birth),
and Address(1)
|
Position(s)
and Length of
Time Served(2)
|
Principal Occupation(s)(3)
|
Number of
Funds in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Director
|
Other Directorships Held
Outside Fund Complex by
Director(3)
|
|
CLASS II
|
||||
|
Independent Directors
|
||||
|
Michael J. Cosgrove (1949)
|
Director since
2015
|
President, Carragh
Consulting USA, since 2014;
formerly, Executive, General
Electric Company, 1970 to
2014, including President,
Mutual Funds and Global
Investment Programs, GE
Asset Management, 2011 to
2014, President and Chief
Executive Officer, Mutual
Funds and Intermediary
Business, GE Asset
Management, 2007 to
2011, President, Institutional
Sales and Marketing, GE
Asset Management, 1998 to
2007, and Chief Financial
Officer, GE Asset
Management, and Deputy
Treasurer, GE Company,
1988 to 1993.
|
46
|
Member of Advisory Board,
Burke Neurological Institute,
since 2021; Parish Councilor,
St. Pius X, since 2021, and
Treasurer, since 2020;
formerly, Director, America
Press, Inc. (not-for-profit
Jesuit publisher), 2015 to
2021; formerly, Director,
Fordham University, 2001 to
2018; formerly, Director, The
Gabelli Go Anywhere Trust,
June 2015 to June 2016;
formerly, Director, Skin
Cancer Foundation
(not-for-profit), 2006 to
2015; formerly, Director, GE
Investments Funds, Inc.,
1997 to 2014; formerly,
Trustee, GE Institutional
Funds, 1997 to 2014;
formerly, Director, GE Asset
Management, 1988 to
2014; formerly, Director,
Elfun Trusts, 1988 to 2014;
formerly, Trustee, GE Pension
& Benefit Plans, 1988 to
2014; formerly, Member of
Board of Governors,
Investment Company
Institute.
|
|
Ami G. Kaplan (1960)
|
Director since
2023
|
Formerly, Partner,
Deloitte LLP, 1982 to 2023,
including Vice Chair, 2017 to
2020; formerly, President
and Board Chair, Women’s
Forum of New York, 2014 to
2016.
|
46
|
None.
|
59
|
Name, (Year of Birth),
and Address(1)
|
Position(s)
and Length of
Time Served(2)
|
Principal Occupation(s)(3)
|
Number of
Funds in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Director
|
Other Directorships Held
Outside Fund Complex by
Director(3)
|
|
Deborah C. McLean (1954)
|
Director since
2015
|
Member, Circle Financial
Group (private wealth
management membership
practice), since 2011;
Managing Director, Golden
Seeds LLC (an angel
investing group), since 2009;
Adjunct Professor (Corporate
Finance), Columbia
University School of
International and Public
Affairs, since 2008; formerly,
Visiting Assistant Professor,
Fairfield University, Dolan
School of Business, Fall
2007; formerly, Adjunct
Associate Professor of
Finance, Richmond, The
American International
University in London, 1999
to 2007.
|
46
|
Board Member, The
Maritime Aquarium at
Norwalk, since 2020; Board
Member, Norwalk
Community College
Foundation, since 2014;
formerly, Dean’s Advisory
Council, Radcliffe Institute
for Advanced Study, 2014 to
2023; formerly, Director and
Treasurer, At Home in Darien
(not-for-profit), 2012 to
2014; formerly, Director,
National Executive Service
Corps (not-for-profit), 2012
to 2013; formerly, Trustee,
Richmond, The American
International University in
London, 1999 to 2013.
|
|
Paul M. Nakasone (1963)
|
Director since
2024
|
Formerly, Director, National
Security Agency, 2018 to
2024; formerly, Commander,
U.S. Cyber Command,
2018-2024.
|
46
|
None.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
60
|
Name, (Year of Birth),
and Address(1)
|
Position(s)
and Length of
Time Served(2)
|
Principal Occupation(s)(3)
|
Number of
Funds in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Director
|
Other Directorships Held
Outside Fund Complex by
Director(3)
|
|
CLASS III
|
||||
|
Independent Directors
|
||||
|
Tom D. Seip (1950)
|
Director since
2006; Chair of
the Board since
2008; Lead
Independent
Director from
2006 to 2008
|
Formerly, Managing
Member, Ridgefield
Farm LLC (a private
investment vehicle), 2004 to
2016; formerly, President
and CEO, Westaff, Inc.
(temporary staffing), May
2001 to January 2002;
formerly, Senior Executive,
The Charles Schwab
Corporation, 1983 to 1998,
including Chief Executive
Officer, Charles Schwab
Investment Management,
Inc.; formerly, Trustee,
Schwab Family of Funds and
Schwab Investments, 1997
to 1998; formerly, Executive
Vice President-Retail
Brokerage, Charles Schwab
& Co., Inc., 1994 to 1997.
|
46
|
Trustee, University of
Maryland, Shore Regional
Health System, since 2020;
formerly, Director, H&R
Block, Inc. (tax services
company), 2001 to 2018;
formerly, Director, Talbot
Hospice Inc., 2013 to 2016;
formerly, Chairman,
Governance and Nominating
Committee, H&R Block, Inc.,
2011 to 2015; formerly,
Chairman, Compensation
Committee, H&R Block, Inc.,
2006 to 2010; formerly,
Director, Forward
Management, Inc. (asset
management company),
1999 to 2006.
|
|
Franklyn E. Smith (1961)
|
Director since
2023
|
Formerly, Partner,
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP,
1989 to 2021.
|
46
|
Director, Zurich American
Insurance Company, Zurich
American Life Insurance
Company and Zurich
American Life Insurance
Company of New York, since
2023.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
61
|
Name, (Year of Birth),
and Address(1)
|
Position(s)
and Length of
Time Served(2)
|
Principal Occupation(s)(3)
|
Number of
Funds in
Fund Complex
Overseen by
Director
|
Other Directorships Held
Outside Fund Complex by
Director(3)
|
|
Director who is an "Interested Person"
|
||||
|
Joseph V. Amato* (1962)
|
Chief Executive
Officer and
President since
2018; Director
since 2009
|
President and Director,
Neuberger Berman
Group LLC, since 2009;
President and Chief
Executive Officer, Neuberger
Berman BD LLC and
Neuberger Berman
Holdings LLC (including its
predecessor, Neuberger
Berman Inc.), since 2007;
Chief Investment Officer
(Equities) and President
(Equities), NBIA (formerly,
Neuberger Berman Fixed
Income LLC and including
predecessor entities), since
2007, and Board Member of
NBIA, since 2006; formerly,
Global Head of Asset
Management of Lehman
Brothers Holdings Inc.’s
("LBHI") Investment
Management Division, 2006
to 2009; formerly, member
of LBHI’s Investment
Management Division’s
Executive Management
Committee, 2006 to 2009;
formerly, Managing Director,
Lehman Brothers Inc.
("LBI"), 2006 to 2008;
formerly, Chief Recruiting
and Development Officer,
LBI, 2005 to 2006; formerly,
Global Head of LBI’s Equity
Sales and a Member of its
Equities Division Executive
Committee, 2003 to 2005;
President and Chief
Executive Officer, ten
registered investment
companies for which NBIA
acts as investment manager
and/or administrator.
|
46
|
Member of Board of
Advisors, McDonough
School of Business,
Georgetown University, since
2001; Member of New York
City Board of Advisors, Teach
for America, since 2005;
Trustee, Montclair Kimberley
Academy (private school),
since 2007; Member of
Board of Regents,
Georgetown University, since
2013.
|
(1)
The business address of each listed person is 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York,
NY 10104.
(2)
The Board shall at all times be divided as equally as possible into three classes
of Directors designated Class I, Class II and Class III. The Class I, Class II and Class III Directors shall serve
until the Annual Meeting of
62
Stockholders held in 2027, 2028 and 2026, respectively, and then until each third
Annual Meeting of Stockholders thereafter, or until their successors have been duly elected and qualified.
(3)
Except as otherwise indicated, each individual has held the positions shown during
at least the last five years.
*
Indicates a Director who is an "interested person" within the meaning of the 1940
Act. Mr. Amato is an interested person of the Fund by virtue of the fact that he is an officer of NBIA
and/or its affiliates.
63
Information about the Officers of the Fund
|
Name, (Year of Birth), and
Address(1)
|
Position(s) and
Length of Time
Served(2)
|
Principal Occupation(s)(3)
|
|
Claudia A. Brandon (1956)
|
Executive Vice
President since
2008 and
Secretary since
2006
|
Senior Vice President, Neuberger, since 2007 and Employee since 1999;
Senior Vice President, NBIA, since 2008 and Assistant Secretary since 2004;
formerly, Vice President, Neuberger, 2002 to 2006; formerly, Vice
President, Mutual Fund Board Relations, NBIA, 2000 to 2008; formerly,
Vice President, NBIA, 1986 to 1999 and Employee, 1984 to 1999;
Executive Vice President and Secretary, twenty-eight registered investment
companies for which NBIA acts as investment manager and/or
administrator.
|
|
Anthony DiBernardo (1979)
|
Assistant
Treasurer since
2011
|
Senior Vice President, Neuberger, since 2014; Senior Vice President, NBIA,
since 2014, and Employee since 2003; formerly, Vice President, Neuberger,
2009 to 2014; Assistant Treasurer, ten registered investment companies for
which NBIA acts as investment manager and/or administrator.
|
|
Scott D. Hogan (1970)
|
Chief
Compliance
Officer since
May 2025
|
Senior Vice President, NBIA, and Chief Compliance Officer, twenty-eight
registered investment companies for which NBIA acts as investment
manager and/or administrator, since May 2025; formerly, Director, DWS
Investment Management Americas, Inc. ("DIMA"), and Chief Compliance
Officer to the registered investment companies for which DIMA acted as an
investment manager and/or administrator, 2016 to 2025; Legal Counsel,
DIMA, 2007 to 2016.
|
|
Sheila R. James (1965)
|
Assistant
Secretary since
2006
|
Senior Vice President, Neuberger, since 2023 and Employee since 1999;
Senior Vice President, NBIA, since 2023; formerly, Vice President,
Neuberger, 2008 to 2023; Assistant Vice President, Neuberger, 2007;
Employee, NBIA, 1991 to 1999; Assistant Secretary, twenty-eight registered
investment companies for which NBIA acts as investment manager and/or
administrator.
|
|
Brian Kerrane (1969)
|
Chief Operating
Officer since
2015 and Vice
President since
2008
|
Managing Director, Neuberger, since 2013; Chief Operating Officer, Mutual
Funds, and Managing Director, NBIA, since 2015; formerly, Senior Vice
President, Neuberger, 2006 to 2014; Vice President, NBIA, 2008 to 2015
and Employee since 1991; Chief Operating Officer, ten registered
investment companies for which NBIA acts as investment manager and/or
administrator; Vice President, twenty-eight registered investment
companies for which NBIA acts as investment manager and/or
administrator.
|
|
Josephine Marone (1963)
|
Assistant
Secretary since
2017
|
Senior Paralegal, Neuberger, since 2007 and Employee since 2007;
Assistant Secretary, twenty-eight registered investment companies for
which NBIA acts as investment manager and/or administrator.
|
|
Owen F. McEntee, Jr. (1961)
|
Vice President
since 2008
|
Vice President, Neuberger, since 2006; Vice President, NBIA, since 2006
and Employee since 1992; Vice President, ten registered investment
companies for which NBIA acts as investment manager and/or
administrator.
|
64
|
Name, (Year of Birth), and
Address(1)
|
Position(s) and
Length of Time
Served(2)
|
Principal Occupation(s)(3)
|
|
John M. McGovern (1970)
|
Treasurer and
Principal
Financial and
Accounting
Officer since
2006
|
Managing Director, Neuberger, since 2022; Senior Vice President, NBIA,
since 2007 and Employee since 1993; formerly, Senior Vice President,
Neuberger, 2007 to 2021; formerly, Vice President, Neuberger, 2004 to
2006; formerly, Assistant Treasurer, 2002 to 2005; Treasurer and Principal
Financial and Accounting Officer, ten registered investment companies for
which NBIA acts as investment manager and/or administrator.
|
|
Gariel Nahoum (1983)
|
Chief Legal
Officer since
2025 (only for
purposes of
sections 307 and
406 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002)
|
General Counsel, U.S. Registered Funds, NBIA, since 2025; Senior Vice
President, NBIA, since 2017; formerly, Associate General Counsel Mutual
Funds, 2017 to 2025; formerly, Assistant General Counsel and Vice
President, NBIA, 2014 to 2016. Chief Legal Officer (only for purposes of
sections 307 and 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002), ten registered
investment companies for which NBIA acts as investment manager and/or
administrator.
|
|
Frank Rosato (1971)
|
Assistant
Treasurer since
2006
|
Vice President, Neuberger, since 2006; Vice President, NBIA, since 2006
and Employee since 1995; Assistant Treasurer, ten registered investment
companies for which NBIA acts as investment manager and/or
administrator.
|
|
John Triolo (1974)
|
Vice President
since 2024
|
Senior Vice President, Neuberger, since 2023; Vice President, ten registered
investment companies for which NBIA acts as investment manager and/or
administrator; Senior Tax Manager, Franklin Templeton (formerly, Legg
Mason) 2004 to 2023.
|
(1)
The business address of each listed person is 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York,
NY 10104.
(2)
Pursuant to the Bylaws of the Fund, each officer elected by the Directors shall hold
office until his or her successor shall have been elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death,
inability to serve, or resignation. Officers serve at the pleasure of the Directors and may be removed at
any time with or without cause.
(3)
Except as otherwise indicated, each individual has held the positions shown during
at least the last five years.
65
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures
A description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to
vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available, without charge, by calling 800-877-9700 (toll-free) and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio
securities during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is also available, without charge upon request,
by calling 800-877-9700 (toll-free), on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, and on Neuberger’s website at www.nb.com.
Quarterly Portfolio Schedule
The Fund files a complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first
and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to its report on Form N-PORT. The Fund’s Forms N-PORT are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. The portfolio holdings information on Forms N-PORT are available upon
request, without charge, by calling 800-877-9700 (toll-free).
66
Report of Votes of Stockholders
The Annual Meeting of Stockholders was held on October 1, 2025. Stockholders voted
to elect four Class II Directors to serve until the Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 2028, or until their
successors are elected and qualified. The Class III Directors (which include Joseph V. Amato, Tom D. Seip and
Franklyn E. Smith) and the I Directors (which include Marc Gary, Martha C. Goss and Michael M. Knetter) continue
to hold office until the Annual Meeting of Stockholders in 2026 and 2027, respectively, or until their successors
are elected and qualified.
To elect four Class II Directors to serve until the Annual Meeting of Stockholders
in 2028 or until a successor is elected and qualified.
|
Shares of Common and
Preferred Stock
|
Votes For
|
Votes
Against
|
Votes
Withheld
|
Abstentions
|
Broker
Non-Votes
|
|
Michael J. Cosgrove
|
20,764,935
|
—
|
1,231,105
|
—
|
—
|
|
Deborah C. McLean
|
20,507,040
|
—
|
1,488,997
|
—
|
—
|
|
Paul M. Nakasone
|
20,823,405
|
—
|
1,172,635
|
—
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares of Preferred
Stock
|
Votes For
|
Votes
Against
|
Votes
Withheld
|
Abstentions
|
Broker
Non-Votes
|
|
Ami G. Kaplan
|
400
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
67
Board Consideration of the Management Agreement
On an annual basis, the Board of Directors (the "Board" or "Directors") of Neuberger High
Yield Strategies Fund Inc. (the "Fund"), including the Directors who are not "interested persons" of
the Fund or of Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (with its affiliates, "Management"), as such term is
defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended ("1940 Act"), ("Independent Fund Directors"), considers
whether to continue the Fund’s management agreement with Management (the "Agreement"). Throughout the process, the Independent Fund Directors are advised by counsel that is experienced in 1940 Act
matters and that is independent of Management ("Independent Counsel"). At a meeting held on October 9,
2025, the Board, including the Independent Fund Directors, approved the continuation of the Agreement
for the Fund. In reaching its determination, the Board considered all factors it believed relevant, including
(i) the nature, extent, and quality of the services provided to the Fund and its stockholders; (ii) a comparison of the Fund’s performance, fees and expenses relative to its benchmark, various peers or similar accounts, as applicable;
(iii) the costs of the services provided by, and the estimated profit or loss to, Management from its relationships
with the Fund; (iv) any apparent or anticipated economies of scale in relation to the services Management
provides to the Fund and whether any such economies of scale are shared with Fund stockholders; and (v) any
"fall-out" benefits likely to accrue to Management and its affiliates from their relationship with the Fund.
In evaluating the Fund’s Agreement, the Board, including the Independent Fund Directors, reviewed extensive materials provided by Management in response to questions submitted by the Independent
Fund Directors and Independent Counsel, which the Contract Review Committee annually considers and updates.
It also met with senior representatives of Management regarding its personnel, operations, and profitability
as they relate to the Fund. The annual contract review extends over at least two regular meetings of the
Board to allow Management additional time to respond to any questions the Independent Fund Directors may have
on their initial review of the materials and for the Independent Fund Directors to consider those responses.
In connection with its deliberations, the Board also considered the broad range of
information relevant to the annual contract review that is provided to the Board (including its various standing
committees) at meetings throughout the year, including reports on investment performance based on net asset
value and common stock market prices, portfolio risk, use of leverage, and information regarding share price
premiums and/or discounts. In addition, the Board established the Contract Review Committee, which is comprised
solely of Independent Fund Directors, to assist in its evaluation and analysis of materials for the annual contract
review. The standing committees provide reports to the full Board, including the members of the Contract
Review Committee, which consider that information as part of the annual contract review process.
The Independent Fund Directors received from Independent Counsel a memorandum discussing
the legal standards for their consideration of the proposed continuation of the Agreement. During
the course of the year and during their deliberations regarding the annual contract review, the Contract
Review Committee and the Independent Fund Directors met with Independent Counsel separately from representatives
of Management.
Provided below is a description of the Board’s contract approval process and material factors that the Board considered at its meetings regarding renewal of the Agreement and the compensation
to be paid thereunder. In connection with its approval of the continuation of the Agreement, the Board evaluated
the terms of the Agreement, the overall fairness of the Agreement to the Fund, and whether the Agreement
was in the best interests of the Fund and Fund stockholders. The Board’s determination to approve the continuation of the Agreement was based on a comprehensive consideration of all information provided to
the Board throughout the year and in connection with the annual contract review.
This description is not intended to include all of the factors considered by the Board.
The Board members did not identify any particular information or factor that was all-important or controlling,
and each Director may have attributed different weights to the various factors. Additionally, the information
and factors considered, and
68
weight placed on any particular information or factor may change over time. The Board
focused on the costs and benefits of the Agreement to the Fund and, through the Fund, Fund stockholders.
Nature, Extent, and Quality of Services
With respect to the nature, extent, and quality of the services provided, the Board
considered the investment philosophy and decision-making processes of, and the qualifications, experience, capabilities,
and succession plans of, and the resources available to, the portfolio management personnel of Management
who perform services for the Fund. The Board also considered Management’s long history and experience in managing and operating closed-end funds, such as the Fund, including experience monitoring and assessing
discounts and premiums (including the potential impact of distribution rates and yields thereon) and complying
with securities exchange requirements. The Board noted that Management also provides certain administrative
services, including fund accounting and compliance services. The Board also considered Management’s policies and practices regarding trade execution, trading costs, and allocation of portfolio transactions and reviewed
the quality of the execution services that Management had provided. Moreover, the Board considered Management’s approach to potential conflicts of interest both generally and between the Fund’s investments and those of other funds or accounts managed by Management.
The Board recognized the extensive range of services that Management provides to the
Fund beyond the investment management services. The Board noted that Management is also responsible
for monitoring compliance with the Fund’s investment objective, policies, and restrictions, as well as compliance with applicable law, including implementing regulatory initiatives of the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission and other regulators. In addition, the Board considered that Management has developed a leverage
structure for the Fund tailored to its investment strategy and needs, has monitored the Fund’s ongoing compliance with legal and other restrictions associated with its leverage, and has recommended changes in and/or amendments
to the amount or structure of its leverage over time, including changes that reduced the overall cost
(or limited anticipated increases in the costs) of leverage. The Board also considered the various notable initiatives
and projects Management performed in connection with its closed-end fund product line. These initiatives included
monitoring and evaluating opportunities under equity shelf programs; ongoing services to manage leverage
that has become increasingly complex; and continued communication efforts with stockholders. The
Board also considered that Management assumes significant ongoing entrepreneurial and business risks as the investment
adviser and sponsor to the Fund, for which it is entitled to reasonable compensation. The Board
also considered that Management’s responsibilities include continual management of investment, operational, cybersecurity, enterprise, valuation, liquidity, legal, regulatory, and compliance risks as they
relate to the Fund, and the Board considers on a regular basis information regarding Management’s processes for monitoring and managing risk.
The Board also reviewed and evaluated Management’s activities under its contractual obligation to oversee the Fund’s various outside service providers, including its evaluation of service providers’ infrastructure, cybersecurity programs, compliance programs, and business continuity programs, among other matters.
The Board also considered Management’s ongoing development of its own infrastructure and information technology to support the Fund through, among other things, cybersecurity, business continuity planning,
and risk management. In addition, the Board noted the positive compliance history of Management, as no significant
compliance problems were reported to the Board with respect to Management. The Board also considered the
general structure of the portfolio managers’ compensation and whether this structure provides appropriate incentives to act in the best interests of the Fund. The Board also considered the ability of Management to attract
and retain qualified personnel to service the Fund and the ability to plan for succession. The Board also
noted that Management actively monitors any discount from net asset value per share at which the Fund’s common stock trades and evaluates potential ways to mitigate the discount and potential impacts on the discount,
including the level of distributions and resulting distribution rates that the Fund pays, both on an absolute
basis and relative to funds that Management believes are peer funds. The Board likewise took into account that
Management monitors, to the extent information is publicly available, events that may disrupt the Fund’s long-term investment program.
69
Fund Performance
The Board requested a report from an outside consulting firm that specializes in the
analysis of fund industry data that compared the Fund’s performance, along with its fees and other expenses, to various peers, including a group of industry peers ("Expense Group") and a broader universe of funds pursuing
generally similar strategies with the same investment classification and/or objective ("Performance Universe").
The Board considered the Fund’s performance and fees in light of the limitations inherent in the consulting firm’s methodology for constructing such comparative groups and determining which investment companies should
be included in the comparative groups, noting differences as compared to certain fund industry ranking
and rating systems. The Board also considered the impact and inherent limitation on the comparisons due to
the number of funds included in the Expense Group and Performance Universe. In this regard, the Board
recognized that the number of leveraged closed-end funds pursuing similar strategies with the same investment
classification and/or objective as the Fund has decreased over time. The Board also recognized the limitations inherent in comparing the Fund’s performance to a benchmark index due to the Fund’s use of leverage and pursuit of an investment strategy that is not tied directly to an index. The Board also recognized the inherent limitations
in comparing performance of peer funds utilizing leverage in light of, among other things, the impacts due to
the level and type of leverage utilized and when peer funds entered into their leverage arrangements (which can impact
pricing and, therefore, cost and performance). The Board also considered the premium/discount levels at which
peer funds traded along with the distribution rates and yields of those funds versus the Fund.
With respect to investment performance, the Board considered information regarding the Fund’s short-, intermediate- and long-term performance, net of the Fund’s fees and expenses, on an absolute basis, relative to a benchmark index that does not deduct the fees or expenses of investing, and compared
to the performance of its Performance Universe. The Board also reviewed performance in relation to certain measures
of the degree of investment risk undertaken by the portfolio managers.
The Performance Universe referenced in this section was identified by the consulting
firm, as discussed above and the risk/return ratios referenced are the Sharpe and Information ratios provided by
the consulting firm. In the case of underperformance for any of the periods reported, the Board considered the magnitude
and duration of that underperformance relative to the Performance Universe and/or the benchmark (e.g.,
the amount by which the Fund underperformed, including, for example, whether the Fund slightly underperformed
or significantly underperformed its benchmark). With respect to performance quintiles for the Fund
compared to its Performance Universe, the first quintile represents the highest (best) performance and the fifth
quintile represents the lowest performance. The Board considered that, based on performance data for the periods
ended March 31, 2025: (1) as compared to its benchmark, the Fund’s performance was lower for the 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-year periods; and (2) as compared to its Performance Universe, the Fund’s performance was in the third quintile for the 1-year period, the fifth quintile for the 3- and 10-year periods, and the fourth quintile for the
5-year period. The Board also considered that for the 7-month period ending July 31, 2025, the Fund outperformed
its benchmark and ranked in the second quintile of its Morningstar peer category.
The Board identified the Fund as having underperformed in certain of these comparisons
to an extent, and/or over a period of time, that the Board felt warranted additional inquiry, and discussed with Management the Fund’s performance, potential reasons for the relative performance, and steps that Management
had taken, or intended to take, to improve performance. The Board’s Closed-End Funds Committee also met with the portfolio managers of the Fund during the 12 months prior to voting on the contract renewal to discuss the Fund’s performance, distribution levels, and the use of leverage. The Board noted that the type, amount
and term of the leverage are consistent with the portfolio managers’ preferences for the Fund’s investment strategy. The Board also took into account the impact the Fund’s leverage arrangements had on performance. The Board also considered Management’s responsiveness with respect to the relative performance. The Board recognized that the performance data reflects a snapshot of a period as of a particular date and that
selecting a different performance period could produce significantly different results. The Board further acknowledged
that long-term performance
70
could be impacted by even one period of significant outperformance or underperformance.
In this regard, the Board noted that performance is only one of the factors that it deems relevant to
its consideration of the Agreement and that, after considering all relevant factors, it can determine to approve
the continuation of the Agreement notwithstanding the Fund’s relative performance.
Fee Rates, Profitability, and Fall-out Benefits
With respect to the overall fairness of the Agreement, the Board considered the fee
structure for the Fund under the Agreement as compared to the Expense Group provided by the consulting firm, as
discussed above. The Board reviewed a comparison of the Fund’s management fee to its Expense Group. The Board noted that the comparative management fee analysis includes, in the Fund’s management fee, the separate administrative fees paid to Management. However, the Board noted that some funds in the Expense Group
pay directly from fund assets for certain services that Management covers out of the administration fees
for the Fund. Accordingly, the Board also considered the Fund’s total expense ratio as compared with its Expense Group as a way of taking account of these differences. In addition, the Board considered whether there were
other funds or separate accounts that were advised or sub-advised by Management or its affiliates with investment
objectives, policies, and strategies that were similar to those of the Fund. The Board considered that
only leveraged closed-end funds were considered for inclusion in the Expense Group presented for comparison with the
Fund but also noted the challenges associated with making comparisons regarding expenses for leveraged closed-end
funds. The Board took into account Management’s representations that relevant expenses would be difficult for the consulting firm to fully and accurately identify due to, among other things, differences in the type
of leverage used and the way such leverage costs are reported. The Board also considered Management’s representations regarding the potential impact on expenses due to the time at which the funds in the Expense Group
entered into their leverage arrangements and the funds’ fiscal year-ends (which determine the time period for which leverage costs are reported). With this understanding, the Board also considered the impact of investment-related
expenses (which include leverage expenses) and taxes on the total expenses of the Fund and the funds
in the Expense Group that the consulting firm was able to identify. The Board also considered Management’s representations that there were certain characteristics of leverage that increased leverage expenses but provided
benefits and value to stockholders that were not reflected in the Fund’s expense ratio. The Board also considered that, in comparison to certain other products managed by Management, including open-end funds, there are
additional portfolio management challenges in managing closed-end funds such as the Fund, including those
associated with less liquid holdings and the use of leverage.
The Board considered the Fund’s contractual management fee on managed assets (generally consisting of net assets plus leverage proceeds), as well as the actual management fee on managed assets
as a percentage of assets attributable to common stockholders as compared to the Fund’s Expense Group. The Board was aware of the additional expenses borne by common stockholders as a result of the Fund’s leveraged structure. The Board took into account that Management has a financial incentive for the Fund to continue
to use leverage, which may create a conflict of interest. It also considered Management’s representation that it continues to believe the use of leverage is in the best interests of the Fund’s stockholders regardless of the level of compensation Management receives. With respect to the quintiles for fees and total expenses (net of waivers
or other adjustments, if any) on managed assets for the Fund compared to its Expense Group, the first quintile represents
the lowest (best) fees and/or total expenses and the fifth quintile represents the highest fees and/or total
expenses. The Board considered that, as compared to its Expense Group, the Fund’s contractual management fee ranked in the first quintile, actual management fee ranked in the second quintile, total expenses excluding
the investment-related expenses and taxes identified by the consulting firm ranked in the third quintile,
and total expenses ranked in the fifth quintile.
In determining to renew the Agreement, the Board took into account Management’s representations regarding the effect that the cost of leverage had on the Fund’s total expenses relative to its peers with different types and levels of leverage and noted Management’s efforts to ensure the Fund’s leverage arrangements were among the
71
best available for a fund of its size and investment strategy and with its preferences
regarding types and levels of leverage at the time the Fund entered into its leverage arrangements. In addition,
the Board considered its Closed-End Fund Committee’s ongoing evaluation of the Fund, including the use of leverage and the specific leverage arrangements.
In concluding that the benefits accruing to Management by virtue of its relationship
with the Fund were reasonable in light of the costs of providing the investment advisory and other services
and the benefits accruing to the Fund, the Board reviewed specific data as to Management’s estimated profit on the Fund for a recent period on a pre-tax basis without regard to distribution expenses. (The Board also
reviewed data on Management’s estimated profit on the Fund after distribution expenses and taxes were factored in, as indicators of the health of the business and the extent to which Management is directing its
profits into the growth of the business.) The Board considered the cost allocation methodology that Management used
in developing its estimated profitability figures. In addition, the Board engaged an independent accounting
firm in prior years to review the profitability methodology utilized by Management when preparing this information
and discussed with the accounting firm its conclusion that Management’s process for calculating and reporting its estimated profit aligned with the accounting firm’s guiding principles and industry practices.
The Board further noted Management’s representation that its estimate of profitability is derived using a methodology that is consistent with the methodology used to assess and/or report measures
of profitability elsewhere at the firm. In addition, the Board recognized that Management’s calculations regarding its costs may not reflect all risks, including regulatory, legal, operational, cybersecurity, reputational,
and, where appropriate, entrepreneurial risks, associated with offering and managing a closed-end fund in
the current regulatory and market environment. The Board also considered any fall-out (i.e., indirect) benefits
likely to accrue to Management or its affiliates from their relationship with the Fund. The Board recognized
that Management and its affiliates should be entitled to earn a reasonable level of profits for services
they provide to the Fund and, based on review, concluded that Management’s reported level of estimated profitability on the Fund was reasonable.
Economies of Scale
The Board also evaluated apparent or anticipated economies of scale in relation to
the services Management provides to the Fund and noted that there is little expectation that closed-end funds
will show significant economies of scale. The Board considered that, as a closed-end investment company,
the Fund does not continually offer new shares to raise additional assets (as does a typical open-end
investment company), but may experience asset growth through investment performance and/or the increased use of
leverage. Additionally, the Board considered that, at times when the Fund’s shares have traded at or close to a premium to its net asset value per share, the Fund has conducted at-the-market and rights offerings to raise additional
assets, most recently in 2025 and 2023, respectively. The Board also considered that Management has provided,
at no added cost to the Fund, certain additional services, including but not limited to, services required
by new regulations or regulatory interpretations, services impelled by changes in the securities markets or the business
landscape, and/or services requested by the Board. The Board considered that this is a way of sharing economies
of scale with the Fund and its stockholders.
Conclusions
In approving the continuation of the Agreement, the Board concluded that, in its business
judgment, the terms of the Agreement are fair and reasonable to the Fund and that approval of the continuation
of the Agreement is in the best interests of the Fund and Fund stockholders. In reaching this determination,
the Board considered that Management could be expected to continue to provide a high level of service to the
Fund; that the Board retained confidence in Management’s capabilities to manage the Fund; that the Fund’s fee structure appeared to the Board to be reasonable given the nature, extent, and quality of services provided; and that
the benefits accruing to
72
Management by virtue of its relationship with the Fund were reasonable in light of
the costs of providing the investment advisory and other services and the benefits accruing to the Fund. The Board’s conclusions are based in part on its consideration of materials prepared in connection with the approval
or continuance of the Agreement in prior years and on the Board’s ongoing regular review of Fund performance and operations throughout the year, in addition to material prepared specifically for the most recent
annual review of the Agreement.
Notice to Stockholders
In early 2026 you will receive information to be used in filing your 2025 tax returns,
which will include a notice of the exact tax status of all distributions paid to you by the Fund during calendar
year 2025. Please consult your own tax advisor for details as to how this information should be reflected on your
tax returns.
For stockholders subject to interest expense deduction limitation under Section 163(j),
the following amounts of the Fund's income qualify as a Section 163(j) interest dividend and can be treated
as interest income for purposes of Section 163(j), subject to holding period requirements and other limitations.
|
|
Section 163(j)
Interest
Dividend
|
|
|
$17,888,005
|
73
This page has been left blank intentionally
This page has been left blank intentionally
Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC
1290 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10104-0002
Internal Sales & Services
877.461.1899
www.nb.com
New York, NY 10104-0002
Internal Sales & Services
877.461.1899
www.nb.com
Statistics and projections in this report are derived from sources deemed to be reliable
but cannot be regarded as a representation of future results of the Fund. This report is prepared for the general information of stockholders and is not an offer for shares of
the Fund.
but cannot be regarded as a representation of future results of the Fund. This report is prepared for the general information of stockholders and is not an offer for shares of
the Fund.
H0768 12/25
(b) Not applicable.
Item 2. Code of Ethics.
The Board of Directors (“Board”) of Neuberger High Yield Strategies Fund Inc. (“Registrant” or “Fund”) has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the
Registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions (“Code of Ethics”). During the period covered by this Form N-CSR, there were no substantive
amendments to the Code of Ethics and there were no waivers from the Code of Ethics granted to the Registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar
functions.
A copy of the Code of Ethics is filed herewith.
The Code of Ethics is also available, without charge, by calling 1-800-877-9700 (toll-free).
Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.
The Board has determined that the Registrant has three audit committee financial experts serving on its audit committee. The Registrant’s audit committee
financial experts are Michael J. Cosgrove, Martha C. Goss and Deborah C. McLean. Mr. Cosgrove, Ms. Goss and Ms. McLean are independent directors as defined by Form N-CSR.
Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
Ernst & Young LLP (“E&Y”) serves as the independent registered public accounting firm to the Registrant.
(a) Audit Fees
The aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by E&Y for the audit of the annual financial statements or services that are normally
provided by E&Y in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements were $53,700 and $53,700 for the fiscal years ended 2024 and 2025, respectively.
(b) Audit-Related Fees
The aggregate fees billed to the Registrant for assurance and related services by E&Y that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit of the
Registrant’s financial statements and are not reported above in Audit Fees were $0 and $0 for the fiscal years ended 2024 and 2025, respectively. The Audit Committee approved 0% and 0% of these
services provided by E&Y for the fiscal years ended 2024 and 2025, respectively, pursuant to the waiver provisions of Rule 2-01(c)(7)(i)(C) of Regulation S-X.
The fees billed to other entities in the investment company complex for assurance and related services by E&Y that are reasonably related to the
performance of the audit that the Audit Committee was required to approve because the engagement related directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Registrant were $0 and $0 for the fiscal years ended 2024 and 2025, respectively. The
Audit Committee approved 0% and 0% of these services provided by E&Y for the fiscal years ended 2024 and 2025, respectively, pursuant to the waiver provisions of Rule 2-01(c)(7)(i)(C) of Regulation S-X.
(c) Tax Fees
The aggregate fees billed to the Registrant for professional services rendered by E&Y for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning were $13,120 and
$13,470 for the fiscal years ended 2024 and 2025, respectively. The nature of the services provided includes preparation of the Federal and State tax extensions and tax returns, review of annual excise tax calculations, and preparation of form 8613,
in addition to assistance with the identification of Passive Foreign Investment Companies, and assistance with Internal Revenue Code and tax regulation requirements for fund investments. The Audit Committee approved 0% and 0% of these services
provided by E&Y for the fiscal years ended 2024 and 2025, respectively, pursuant to the waiver provisions of Rule 2-01(c)(7)(i)(C) of Regulation S-X.
The fees billed to other entities in the investment company complex for professional services rendered by E&Y for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax
planning that the Audit Committee was required to approve because the engagement related directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Registrant were $0 and $0 for the fiscal years ended 2024 and 2025, respectively. The Audit Committee
approved 0% and 0% of these services provided by E&Y for the fiscal years ended 2024 and 2025, respectively, pursuant to the waiver provisions of Rule 2-01(c)(7)(i)(C) of Regulation S-X.
(d) All Other Fees
The aggregate fees billed to the Registrant for products and services provided by E&Y, other than services reported in Audit Fees, Audit-Related Fees, and Tax
Fees were $0 and $0 for the fiscal years ended 2024 and 2025, respectively. The Audit Committee approved 0% and 0% of these services provided by E&Y for the fiscal years ended 2024 and 2025, respectively, pursuant to the waiver provisions
of Rule 2-01(c)(7)(i)(C) of Regulation S-X.
The fees billed to other entities in the investment company complex for products and services provided by E&Y, other than services reported in Audit Fees, Audit-Related
Fees, and Tax Fees, that the Audit Committee was required to approve because the engagement related directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Registrant were $0 and $0 for the fiscal years ended 2024 and 2025,
respectively. The Audit Committee approved 0% and 0% of these services provided by E&Y for the fiscal years ended 2024 and 2025, respectively, pursuant to the waiver provisions of Rule 2-01(c)(7)(i)(C) of Regulation S-X.
(e) Audit Committee’s Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
(1) The Audit Committee’s pre-approval policies and procedures for the Registrant to engage an accountant to render audit and non-audit services delegate to
each member of the Committee the power to pre-approve services between meetings of the Committee.
(2) None of the services described in paragraphs (b) through (d) above were approved by the Audit Committee pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of
Regulation S-X.
(f) Hours Attributed to Other Persons
Not applicable.
(g) Non-Audit Fees
Non-audit fees billed by E&Y for services rendered to the Registrant were $13,120 and $13,470 for the fiscal years ended 2024 and 2025, respectively.
Non-audit fees billed by E&Y for services rendered to the Registrant’s investment adviser and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common
control with the adviser that provides ongoing services to the Registrant were $0 and $0 for the fiscal years ended 2024 and 2025, respectively.
(h) The Audit Committee of the Board considered whether the provision of non-audit services rendered to the Registrant’s investment adviser and any entity
controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the adviser that provides ongoing services to the Registrant that were not pre-approved by the Audit Committee because the engagement did not relate directly to the operations and financial
reporting of the Registrant is compatible with maintaining E&Y’s independence.
(i) Not applicable.
(j) Not applicable.
Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.
(a) The Board has established a separately-designated standing audit committee established in accordance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (“Exchange Act”). Its members are Michael J. Cosgrove (Chair), Martha C. Goss (Vice Chair), Deborah C. McLean, and Paul M. Nakasone.
(b) Not applicable to the Registrant.
Item 6. Investments.
(a) The complete schedule of investments for the Registrant is disclosed in the Registrant’s Annual Report, which is included as Item 1 of this Form N-CSR.
(b) Not applicable.
Item 7. Financial Statements and Financial Highlights for Open-End Management Investment Companies.
Not applicable to closed-end investment companies.
Item 8. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants for Open-End Management Investment Companies.
Not applicable to closed-end investment companies.
Item 9. Proxy Disclosures for Open-End Management Investment Companies.
Not applicable to closed-end investment companies.
Item 10. Remuneration Paid to Directors, Officers, and Others of Open-End Management Investment Companies.
Not applicable to closed-end investment companies.
Item 11. Statement Regarding Basis for Approval of Investment Advisory Contract.
See the section titled “Board Consideration of the Management Agreement,” in the Registrant’s Annual Report, which is included as Item 1 of this Form N-CSR.
Item 12. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
As of October 31, 2025, the Board has delegated to Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“NBIA”) the responsibility to vote proxies related to the
securities held in the Registrant’s portfolio. Under this authority, NBIA is required by the Board to vote proxies related to portfolio securities in the best interests of the Registrant and its stockholders. The Board permits NBIA to contract with a
third party to obtain proxy voting and related services, including research of current issues.
NBIA has implemented written Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (“Proxy Voting Policy”) that are designed to reasonably ensure that NBIA votes proxies
prudently and in the best interest of its advisory clients for whom NBIA has voting authority, including the Registrant. The Proxy Voting Policy also describes how NBIA addresses any conflicts that may arise between its interests and those of its
clients with respect to proxy voting.
NBIA’s Governance and Proxy Committee (“Proxy Committee”) is responsible for developing, authorizing, implementing and updating the Proxy Voting Policy,
administering and overseeing the proxy voting process and engaging and overseeing any independent third-party vendors as voting delegates to review, monitor and/or vote proxies. In order to apply the Proxy Voting Policy noted above in a timely and
consistent manner, NBIA utilizes Glass, Lewis & Co. (“Glass Lewis”) to vote proxies in accordance with NBIA’s voting guidelines or, in instances where a material conflict has been determined to exist, in accordance with the voting recommendations
of an independent third party.
NBIA retains final authority and fiduciary responsibility for proxy voting. NBIA believes that this process is reasonably designed to address material
conflicts of interest that may arise between NBIA and a client as to how proxies are voted.
In the event that an investment professional at NBIA believes that it is in the best interests of a client or clients to vote proxies in a manner inconsistent
with the voting guidelines, the Proxy Committee will review information submitted by the investment professional to determine that there is no material conflict of interest between NBIA and the client with respect to the voting of the proxy in the
requested manner.
If the Proxy Committee determines that the voting of a proxy as recommended by the investment professional would not be appropriate, the Proxy Committee
shall: (i) take no further action, in which case Glass Lewis shall vote such proxy in accordance with the voting guidelines; (ii) disclose such conflict to the client or clients and obtain written direction from the client as to how to vote the
proxy; (iii) suggest that the client or clients engage another party to determine how to vote the proxy; or (iv) engage another independent third party to determine how to vote the proxy.
Item 13. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
(a)(1) Except as noted below, the following Portfolio Managers have day-to-day management responsibility of the
Registrant’s portfolio as of the date of the filing of this Form N-CSR.
Christopher Kocinski, CFA, is a Managing Director of NBIA. Mr. Kocinski joined the firm in 2006 and
is Co-Head of U.S. High Yield and a member of the Credit Committee for Non-Investment Grade Credit. Before being named co-Portfolio Manager to the Fund in 2019, Mr. Kocinski was co-director of non-investment grade credit research and a senior
research analyst for NBIA.
Joseph Lind, CFA, is a Managing Director of NBIA. He has served as a Portfolio Manager for the Fund
since 2018. Mr. Lind is Co-Head of U.S. High Yield and a member of the Credit Committee for Non-Investment Grade Credit. He joined the firm in 2018.
Steve Ruh, is a Managing Director of NBIA. Mr. Ruh joined the firm in 2007 and is a member of the
portfolio management team for the firm’s non-investment grade credit strategies. Mr. Ruh was named a Portfolio Manager of the Registrant effective December 31, 2025.
(a)(2) The table below describes the other accounts for which the Registrant’s Portfolio Managers have day-to-day management responsibility as of October 31, 2025.^
|
Type of Account
|
Number of Accounts
Managed
|
Total Assets
Managed
($ millions)
|
Number of Accounts
Managed for which
Advisory Fee is Performance-Based
|
Assets Managed for
which Advisory Fee is Performance-Based
($ millions)
|
|
Christopher Kocinski
|
||||
|
Registered Investment Companies*
|
2
|
$907
|
—
|
—
|
|
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles**
|
23
|
$7,634
|
1
|
$542
|
|
Other Accounts***
|
24
|
$7,151
|
3
|
$265
|
|
Joseph Lind
|
||||
|
Registered Investment Companies*
|
2
|
$907
|
—
|
—
|
|
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles**
|
23
|
$7,634
|
1
|
$542
|
|
Other Accounts***
|
25
|
$7,225
|
3
|
$265
|
|
^
|
Mr. Ruh will become a Portfolio Manager of the Fund effective December 31, 2025. As of the date of this filing, there are no applicable accounts for which Mr. Ruh has
day-to-day management responsibility.
|
|
*
|
Registered Investment Companies include: Mutual Funds.
|
|
**
|
A portion of certain accounts may be managed by other portfolio managers; however, the total assets of such accounts are included above even though the portfolio manager
listed above is not involved in the day-to-day management of the entire account.
|
|
***
|
Other Accounts include: Institutional Separate Accounts, Sub-Advised Accounts and Managed Accounts (WRAP Accounts).
|
Conflicts of Interest (as of October 31, 2025)
Actual or apparent conflicts of interest may arise when a Portfolio Manager has day-to-day management responsibilities with respect to
more than one fund or other account. The management of multiple funds and accounts (including proprietary accounts) may give rise to actual or potential conflicts of interest if the funds and accounts have different or similar objectives, benchmarks,
time horizons, and fees, as the Portfolio Manager must allocate his or her time and investment ideas across multiple funds and accounts. The Portfolio Manager may execute transactions for another fund or account that may adversely impact the value
of securities or instruments held by the Fund, and which may include transactions that are directly contrary to the positions taken by the Fund. For example, a Portfolio Manager may engage in short sales of securities or instruments for another
account that are the same type of securities or instruments in which the Fund it manages also invests. In such a case, the Portfolio Manager could be seen as harming the performance of the Fund for the benefit of the account engaging in short sales
if the short sales cause the market value of the securities or instruments to fall. Additionally, if a Portfolio Manager identifies a limited investment opportunity that may be suitable for more than one fund or other account, the Fund may not be
able to take full advantage of that opportunity. There may also be regulatory limitations that prevent the Fund from participating in a transaction that another account or fund managed by the same Portfolio Manager will invest. For example, the 1940
Act prohibits the Fund from participating in certain transactions with certain of its affiliates and from participating in “joint” transactions alongside certain of its affiliates. The prohibition on “joint” transactions may limit the ability of the
Fund to participate alongside its affiliates in privately negotiated transactions unless the transaction is otherwise permitted under existing regulatory guidance and may reduce the amount of privately negotiated transactions that the Funds may
participate. Further, NBIA may take an investment position or action for a fund or account that may be different from, inconsistent with, or have different rights than (e.g., voting rights, dividend or repayment priorities or other features that may
conflict with one another), an action or position taken for one or more other funds or accounts, including the Fund, having similar or different objectives. A conflict may also be created by investing in different parts of an issuer’s capital
structure (e.g., equity or debt, or different positions in the debt structure). Those positions and actions may adversely impact, or in some instances benefit, one or more affected accounts or funds, including the Fund. Potential conflicts may also
arise because portfolio decisions and related actions regarding a position held for a fund or another account may not be in the best interests of a position held by another fund or account having similar or different objectives. If one account were
to buy or sell portfolio securities or instruments shortly before another account bought or sold the same securities or instruments, it could affect the price paid or received by the second account. Securities selected for funds or accounts other
than the Fund may outperform the securities selected for the Fund. Finally, a conflict of interest may arise if NBIA and a Portfolio Manager have a financial incentive to favor one account over another, such as a performance-based management fee
that applies to one account but not the Fund or other funds or accounts for which the Portfolio Manager is responsible. In the ordinary course of operations, certain businesses within the Neuberger Berman organization (the “Firm”) will seek access to
material non-public information. For instance, NBIA portfolio managers may obtain and utilize material non-public information in purchasing loans and other debt instruments and certain privately placed or restricted equity instruments. From time to
time, NBIA portfolio managers will be offered the opportunity on behalf of applicable clients to participate on a creditors or other similar committee in connection with restructuring or other “work-out” activity, which participation could provide
access to material non-public information. The Firm maintains procedures that address the process by which material non-public information may be acquired intentionally by the Firm. When considering whether to acquire material non-public
information, the Firm will attempt to balance the interests of all clients, taking into consideration relevant factors, including the extent of the prohibition on trading that would occur, the size of the Firm’s existing position in the issuer, if
any, and the value of the information as it relates to the investment decision-making process. The acquisition of material non-public information would likely give rise to a conflict of interest since the Firm may be prohibited from rendering
investment advice to clients regarding the securities or instruments of such issuer and thereby potentially limiting the universe of securities or instruments that the Firm, including the Fund, may purchase or potentially limiting the ability of the
Firm, including the Fund, to sell such securities or instruments. Similarly, where the Firm declines access to (or otherwise does not receive or share within the Firm) material non-public information regarding an issuer, the portfolio managers could
potentially base investment decisions with respect to assets of such issuer solely on public information, thereby limiting the amount of information available to the portfolio managers in connection with such investment decisions. In determining
whether or not to elect to receive material non-public information, the Firm will endeavor to act fairly to its clients as a whole. The Firm reserves the right to decline access to material non-public information, including declining to join a
creditors or similar committee.
NBIA and the Registrant have adopted certain compliance procedures which are designed to address these types of conflicts. However, there is
no guarantee that such procedures will detect each and every situation in which a conflict arises.
(a)(3) Compensation (as of October 31, 2025)
Our compensation philosophy is one that focuses on rewarding performance and incentivizing our employees. We are also focused on creating a compensation
process that we believe is fair, transparent, and competitive with the market.
Compensation for Portfolio Managers consists of either (i) fixed (salary) and variable (discretionary bonus) compensation but is more heavily weighted on the
variable portion of total compensation, (ii) on a production model, whereby formulaic compensation is paid from the team compensation pool on a fixed schedule (typically monthly) or (iii) a combination of salary, bonus and/or production compensation.
Compensation is paid from a team compensation pool made available to the portfolio management team with which the Portfolio Manager is associated. The size of the team compensation pool is determined based on a formula that takes into consideration a
number of factors including the pre-tax revenue that is generated by that particular portfolio management team, less certain adjustments. The amount allocated to individual portfolio managers is determined on the basis of a variety of criteria,
including investment performance (including the aggregate multi-year track record), utilization of central resources (including research, sales and operations/support), business building to further the longer term sustainable success of the
investment team, effective team/people management, and overall contribution to the success of Neuberger Berman. Certain Portfolio Managers may manage products other than mutual funds, such as high net worth separate accounts. The percentage of
pre-tax revenue a Portfolio Manager receives pursuant to any such arrangement will vary based on certain revenue thresholds.
The terms of our long-term retention incentives are as follows:
Employee-Owned Equity. Certain employees (primarily senior leadership and investment professionals) participated in
Neuberger Berman’s equity ownership structure, which was launched as part of the firm’s management buyout in 2009 and designed to incentivize and retain key personnel. We currently offer an equity acquisition program which allows employees a more
direct opportunity to invest in Neuberger Berman.
For confidentiality and privacy reasons, we cannot disclose individual equity holdings or program participation.
Contingent Compensation Plan. Certain employees may participate in the Neuberger Berman Group Contingent Compensation
Plan (the “CCP”) to serve as a means to further align the interests of our employees with the success of the firm and the interests of our clients, and to reward continued employment. Under the CCP, up to 20% of a participant’s annual total
compensation in excess of $500,000 is contingent and subject to vesting. The contingent amounts are maintained in a notional account that is tied to the performance of a portfolio of Neuberger Berman investment strategies as specified by the firm on
an employee-by-employee basis. By having a participant’s contingent compensation tied to Neuberger Berman investment strategies, each employee is given further incentive to operate as a prudent risk manager and to collaborate with colleagues to
maximize performance across all business areas. In the case of members of investment teams, including Portfolio Managers, the CCP is currently structured so that such employees have exposure to the investment strategies of their respective teams as
well as the broader Neuberger Berman portfolio.
Restrictive Covenants. Most investment professionals, including Portfolio Managers, are subject to notice periods and
restrictive covenants which include employee and client non-solicit restrictions as well as restrictions on the use of confidential information. In addition, depending on participation levels, certain senior professionals who have received equity
grants have also agreed to additional notice and transition periods and, in some cases, non-compete restrictions. For confidentiality and privacy reasons, we cannot disclose individual restrictive covenant arrangements.
(a)(4) Ownership of Securities
Set forth below is the dollar range of equity securities beneficially owned by the Registrant’s Portfolio Managers in the Registrant as of October 31, 2025.
|
Portfolio Manager
|
Dollar Range of Equity Securities
Owned in the Registrant
|
|
Christopher Kocinski
|
E
|
|
Joseph Lind
|
E
|
|
A = None
B = $1-$10,000
C = $10,001 - $50,000
D = $50,001-$100,000
|
E = $100,001-$500,000
F = $500,001-$1,000,000
G = Over $1,000,000
|
(b) Not applicable.
Item 14. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.
No reportable purchases for the period covered by this report.
Item 15. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
There were no material changes to the procedures by which stockholders may recommend nominees to the Board.
Item 16. Controls and Procedures.
| (a) |
Based on an evaluation of the disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Act) as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report, the Chief Executive
Officer and President and the Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer of the Registrant have concluded that such disclosure controls and procedures are effectively designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed
by the Registrant on Form N-CSR is accumulated and communicated to the Registrant’s management to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
|
| (b) |
There were no significant changes in the Registrant’s internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the 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 17. Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
| (a) |
The Fund did not engage in any securities lending activity during its most recent fiscal year.
|
| (b) |
The Fund did not engage in any securities lending activity and no services were provided by the securities lending agent to the Fund during its most recent fiscal year.
|
Item 18. Recovery of Erroneously Awarded Compensation.
Not applicable to the Registrant.
Item 19. Exhibits.
| (a)(1) |
A copy of the Code of Ethics is filed herewith.
|
| (a)(2) |
Not applicable to the Registrant.
|
| (a)(3) |
| (a)(4) |
Not applicable to the Registrant.
|
| (a)(5) |
Not applicable to the Registrant.
|
| (b) |
The certification required by Rule 30a-2(b) under the Act and Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act is furnished herewith.
|
The certification furnished pursuant to Rule 30a-2(b) under the Act and Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act will not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liability of that section. Such certification will not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except
to the extent that the Registrant specifically incorporates it by reference.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Neuberger High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.
By: /s/ Joseph V. Amato
Joseph V. Amato
Chief Executive Officer and President
Date: December 30, 2025
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, 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: /s/ Joseph V. Amato
Joseph V. Amato
Chief Executive Officer and President
Date: December 30, 2025
By: /s/ John M. McGovern
John M. McGovern
Treasurer and Principal Financial
and Accounting Officer
Date: December 30, 2025
ATTACHMENTS / EXHIBITS
CODE OF ETHICS FOR PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE AND SENIOR FINANCIAL OFFICERS OF NEUBERGER BERMAN FUNDS
CERTIFICATIONS BY RULE 30A-2(A) UNDER THE ACT AND SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
CERTIFICATION BY RULE 30A-2(B) UNDER THE ACT AND SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT
Create E-mail Alert Related Categories
SEC FilingsSign up for StreetInsider Free!
Receive full access to all new and archived articles, unlimited portfolio tracking, e-mail alerts, custom newswires and RSS feeds - and more!



Tweet
Share