DEF 14A 1 d386636ddef14a.htm CREDIT SUISSE HIGH YIELD BOND FUND Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.    )

Filed by the Registrant ☒

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ☐

Check the appropriate box:

Preliminary Proxy Statement

 

Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

 

Definitive Proxy Statement

 

Definitive Additional Materials

 

Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

CREDIT SUISSE HIGH YIELD BOND FUND

 

 

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

 

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

 

No fee required.

 

Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

 

  (1)    

Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

 

      

     

  (2)    

Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

 

      

     

  (3)    

Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

 

      

     

  (4)    

Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

 

      

     

  (5)    

Total fee paid:

 

      

     

 

Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

 

Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

 

  (1)    

Amount Previously Paid:

 

      

     

  (2)    

Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

 

      

     

  (3)    

Filing Party:

 

      

     

  (4)    

Date Filed:

 

      

     


 

 

CREDIT SUISSE HIGH YIELD BOND FUND

Eleven Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10010

(800) 293-1232

 

 

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

To Be Held on February 21, 2023

 

 

TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF

CREDIT SUISSE HIGH YIELD BOND FUND:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Meeting”) of Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund (NYSE American: DHY) (the “Fund”) will be held, on Tuesday, February 21, 2023, commencing at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. In light of public health concerns regarding COVID-19, the Meeting will be held only in virtual meeting format. You will not be able to attend the Annual Meeting in person.

The purpose of the Meeting is to consider and act upon the following proposal and to consider and act upon such other matters as may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournments thereof:

(1) To elect one (1) Trustee of the Fund.

This item is discussed in greater detail in the attached Proxy Statement. The Board of Trustees of the Fund has determined that it is in the best interest of shareholders and the Fund to vote “FOR” the proposal.

The close of business on December 9, 2022 has been fixed as the record date (the “Record Date”) for the determination of the shareholders of the Fund entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Meeting.

Due to the public health impact of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) and to support the health and well-being of the Fund’s shareholders, the Meeting will be held virtually on the Internet rather than in person. All shareholders are requested to vote by proxy by completing, dating, and signing the enclosed proxy card and returning it promptly. You also may vote at the virtual Meeting if you choose to attend. A previously submitted proxy card can be revoked by mail (addressed to the Secretary of the Fund, c/o Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund, Eleven Madison Avenue, 9th Floor, New York, New York 10010), voting again through the toll-free number or the Internet address listed in the proxy card, or at the Meeting by executing a superseding proxy card or by submitting a notice of revocation. Merely attending the Meeting, however, will not revoke any previously submitted proxy card.


You will be able to attend and participate in the Meeting online and submit your questions or statements prior to and during the Meeting. If you experience any technical difficulties in connection with the Meeting, please call 1-866-745-0271.

If you owned shares as of the Record Date and wish to participate in the Meeting, you must email AST Fund Solutions, LLC (“AST”) at attendameeting@astfinancial.com or call AST toll-free at 1-866-745-0271 in order to register to attend the Meeting, obtain the credentials to access the Meeting, and verify that you were a shareholder on the Record Date. If you are a record owner of shares, please have your 15-digit control number on your proxy card available when you call or include it in your email. If you choose to email, include your control number, full name and address, your intent to attend the Meeting and insert “Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund” in the Subject Line. If you choose to call, please have your control number handy as well. You may vote during the Meeting by following the instructions that will be available on the Meeting website during the Meeting.

If you hold your shares through an intermediary, such as a bank or broker, as of the Record Date, you must provide a legal proxy from that institution in order to vote your shares at the Meeting. You may forward an email from your intermediary or attach an image of your legal proxy and transmit it via email to AST at attendameeting@astfinancial.com and you should label the email “Legal Proxy” in the subject line. If you hold your shares through an intermediary as of the Record Date and wish to attend, but not vote at, the Meeting, you must verify to AST that you owned shares as of the Record Date through an account statement or some other similar means. Requests for registration must be received by AST no later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on Thursday, February 16, 2023. You will then receive a confirmation email from AST of your registration and a control number that will allow you to vote at the Meeting.

This notice and related proxy materials are first being mailed to shareholders on or about December 27, 2022.

By Order of the Board of Trustees,

 

LOGO

JOHN G. POPP

Chief Executive Officer and President

WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOUR SHARES BE REPRESENTED AND VOTED AT THE MEETING. ACCORDINGLY, PLEASE DATE, SIGN AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD PROMPTLY. NO POSTAGE IS REQUIRED IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOUR PROXY CARD BE RETURNED PROMPTLY IN ORDER TO AVOID THE ADDITIONAL EXPENSE OF FURTHER SOLICITATION.

Dated: December 27, 2022

New York, New York


CREDIT SUISSE HIGH YIELD BOND FUND

Eleven Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10010

 

 

Proxy Statement for the

Annual Meeting of Shareholders

To Be Held on Tuesday, February 21, 2023

 

 

This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with a solicitation of proxies by the Board of Trustees (the “Board” and each member thereof, a “Trustee”) of Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund (the “Fund”) for use at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Fund to be held in virtual meeting format on Tuesday, February 21, 2023 (commencing at 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) and at any adjournments thereof (collectively, the “Meeting”). A Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and a proxy card (the “Proxy”) accompany this Proxy Statement.

Proxy solicitations will be made primarily by mail, but solicitations may also be made by telephone or personal interviews conducted by officers or employees of the Fund; Credit Suisse Asset Management, LLC (“Credit Suisse”), the investment adviser to the Fund; State Street Bank and Trust Company, the administrator of the Fund (the “Administrator”); or AST Fund Solutions, LLC (“AST”), a professional proxy solicitation firm that has been retained by the Fund for a fee not to exceed $1,500 plus all reasonable out of pocket expenses (mailings, emails, and shareholder telephone calls) incurred on behalf of the Fund. All costs of solicitation, including (a) printing and mailing of this Proxy Statement and accompanying material, (b) the reimbursement of brokerage firms and proxy solicitation firms for their expenses in forwarding solicitation material to the beneficial owners of the Fund’s shares, (c) payment to AST for its services in soliciting Proxies and (d) supplementary solicitations to submit Proxies, will be borne by the Fund. This Proxy Statement and accompanying Proxy are expected to be mailed to shareholders on or about December 27, 2022.

The principal executive office of the Fund and Credit Suisse is Eleven Madison Avenue, 9th Floor, New York, New York 10010. The principal executive office of the Administrator is One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111.

The Fund’s Annual Report containing audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022 is being furnished to all shareholders of the Fund along with this Proxy Statement in a combined mailing. The Fund’s Annual Report is not to be regarded as proxy-soliciting material.

If the enclosed Proxy is properly executed and returned in time to be voted at the Meeting, the shares represented thereby will be voted in accordance with the instructions marked on the Proxy. If no instructions are marked on the Proxy, the Proxy will be voted “FOR” each proposal presented at the Meeting, and will be

 

1


voted on any matters that may properly come before the Meeting in accordance with the judgment of the persons named in the Proxy. Any shareholder giving a Proxy has the power to revoke it by mail (addressed to the Secretary of the Fund, c/o Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund, Eleven Madison Avenue, 9th Floor, New York, New York 10010), voting again through the toll-free number or the Internet address listed in the Proxy or at the Meeting by executing a superseding Proxy or by submitting a notice of revocation. Merely attending the Meeting, however, will not revoke any previously submitted Proxy.

The presence in person or by proxy of the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to be cast shall be necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. In the event that a quorum is not present at the Meeting, the holders of a majority of the shares present in person or by proxy will have the power to adjourn the Meeting, without notice other than an announcement at the Meeting, until the requisite number of shares entitled to vote at the Meeting is present. In the event that a quorum is present at the Meeting but sufficient votes to approve the proposal are not received, the persons named as proxies may propose one or more adjournments of the Meeting to permit further solicitation of Proxies. Any such adjournment will require the affirmative vote of a majority of those shares represented at the Meeting in person or by proxy, and the persons named as proxies will vote those Proxies that they are entitled to vote “FOR” any proposal in favor of such adjournment and will vote those Proxies required to be voted “AGAINST” any proposal against any such adjournment. Absent the establishment of a subsequent record date and the giving of notice to the holders of record thereon, the adjourned Meeting must take place not more than 130 days after the record date. At such adjourned Meeting, any business may be transacted which could have been transacted at the original Meeting.

A Proxy that is properly executed and returned accompanied by instructions to withhold authority to vote (an abstention) or that represents a broker “non-vote” (that is, a Proxy from a broker or nominee indicating that such person has not received instructions from the beneficial owner or other person entitled to vote shares on a particular matter with respect to which the broker or nominee does not have discretionary power) will be treated as shares that are present at the Meeting, but that have not voted, for the purpose of determining a quorum for the transacting of business. Accordingly, shareholders are urged to forward their voting instructions promptly. Under Delaware law, abstentions and broker non-votes do not constitute a vote “FOR” or “AGAINST” a matter. The election of a Trustee requires that the successful candidate receive a plurality of votes cast at the Meeting in person or by proxy. A “plurality” vote means the candidate who receives the largest number of votes cast (even if they receive less than a majority) will be elected as a Trustee. Since the candidate for election as a Trustee in Proposal 1 is running unopposed, the candidate only needs one vote to be elected if there is a quorum present at the Meeting. Because abstentions and broker non-votes are not treated as shares voted, any abstentions and broker non-votes would have no impact on the election.

 

2


Credit Suisse and its affiliates have advised the Fund that they intend to vote the shares over which they have voting power at the Meeting, including shares that are held directly or on behalf of employees, in the manner instructed by the customers or employees for which such shares are held.

The Fund has one class of shares of beneficial interest of capital stock (the “Shares”). On the record date, December 9, 2022, there were 103,513,735 Shares outstanding. Each Share is entitled to one vote at the Meeting, and fractional Shares are entitled to a proportionate share of one vote. In accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), the Fund is advising its shareholders of the availability on the Internet of the proxy materials relating to the Meeting. These rules allow companies to provide access to proxy materials in one of two ways. Because the Fund has elected to utilize the “full set delivery” option, the Fund is delivering to all shareholders paper copies of all of the proxy materials, as well as providing access to those proxy materials on a publicly accessible website.

In order that your Shares may be represented at the Meeting, you are requested to:

 

indicate your instructions on the Proxy;

 

date and sign the Proxy;

 

mail the Proxy promptly in the enclosed envelope; and

 

allow sufficient time for the Proxy to be received and processed on or before 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on February 21, 2023

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Fund to Be Held on Tuesday, February 21, 2023. The Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders, Proxy Statement and the Fund’s most recent annual report are available on the Internet at www.credit-suisse.com/us. A copy of the Fund’s annual report for its fiscal year ended October 31, 2022 is being furnished to all shareholders of the Fund along with this Proxy Statement in a combined mailing. In addition, the Fund will furnish, without charge, a copy of the Fund’s annual report for its fiscal year ended October 31, 2022 to any Fund shareholder upon request. To request a copy, please write to the Fund c/o Credit Suisse Asset Management, LLC, Eleven Madison Avenue, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10010, or call 1-800-293-1232. You also may call for information on how to obtain directions to be able to attend the Meeting and vote virtually.

PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF TRUSTEE

The only proposal to be submitted at the Meeting will be the election of one (1) Non-Interested Trustee (as defined below) of the Fund to hold office for the term set forth below and until her successor is duly elected and qualified. Trustees who are not “interested persons” (as that term is defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”)) of the Fund and the Fund’s investment adviser, Credit Suisse, are referred to in this Proxy Statement as “Non-Interested Trustees”. “Interested persons” of a fund include, among others,

 

3


persons who currently have or have had certain affiliations or relationships with the fund or its investment adviser or principal underwriter.

Pursuant to the Fund’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust, the Board is divided into three classes, with each class having a term of three years. Each year the term of one class will expire. Samantha Kappagoda has been appointed as a Non-Interested Trustee of the Fund effective January 1, 2023 and has been nominated for election to the Board for the class and term as set forth opposite her name below:

 

Samantha Kappagoda

  

Class III

  

Three-year term to expire at the

Fund’s 2026 Annual Meeting or until her successor is duly elected and qualified.

Steven N. Rappaport and Laura A. DeFelice are Class I Trustees whose term will expire at the Fund’s 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders or until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified. Mahendra R. Gupta and John G. Popp are Class II Trustees whose term will expire at the Fund’s 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders or until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified. Jeffrey E. Garten is currently a Class III Trustee who is not seeking re-election as a result of his retirement effective December 31, 2022.

The nominee has indicated an intention to continue to serve if elected and has consented to being named in this Proxy Statement.

The following tables set forth certain information regarding the nominee for election to the Board, Trustees whose terms of office continue beyond the Meeting, and the principal officers of the Fund.

 

4


TRUSTEES/NOMINEE

 

Name, Address, and

Year of Birth

 

Position(s)
Held With
Fund

 

Term of
Office* and
Length of
Time Served

 

Principal
Occupation(s)
During
Past 5 Years

  Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex**
Overseen

By Trustee
or Nominee
for Trustee
 

Other
Directorships
Held By Trustee
or Nominee for
Trustee
During Past
5 Years

Non-Interested Nominee for Trustee:

Samantha Kappagoda

c/o Credit Suisse Asset Management, LLC

Attn: General Counsel

Eleven Madison Avenue

New York,

New York 10010

Date of Birth: 1968

 

Nominee

  N/A   Chief Economist, Risk Economics, Inc. (Economic Analysis) from 2009 to present; Co-Managing Member, Numerati Partners LLC (Research & Development Technology Strategy) from 2012 to present.   0   Director of Girl Scouts of Greater New York (non-profit) from 2014 to present; Visiting Scholar, Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University (education) from 2011 to present; Director of Council for Economic Education (non-profit) from 2014 to 2020; Director of Glynwood Center, Inc. (non-profit) from 2010 to 2019.

Non-Interested Trustees:

Laura A. DeFelice

c/o Credit Suisse Asset Management, LLC

Attn: General Counsel

Eleven Madison Avenue

New York,

New York 10010

Year of Birth: 1959

  Trustee, Nominating Committee and Audit Committee Member   Trustee since 2019; current term ends at the 2024 annual meeting   Partner of Acacia Properties LLC (multi-family and commercial real estate ownership and operation) from 2008 to present; Stonegate Advisors LLC (renewable energy and energy efficiency) from 2007 to present.   9   Director of the Lyric Opera of Chicago (performing arts) from December 2021 to present.

 

5


Name, Address, and

Year of Birth

 

Position(s)
Held With
Fund

 

Term of
Office* and
Length of
Time Served

 

Principal
Occupation(s)
During
Past 5 Years

  Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex**
Overseen

By Trustee
or Nominee
for Trustee
 

Other
Directorships
Held By Trustee
or Nominee for
Trustee
During Past
5 Years

Mahendra R. Gupta

c/o Credit Suisse Asset Management, LLC

Attn: General Counsel

Eleven Madison Avenue

New York,

New York 10010

Year of Birth: 1956

  Trustee, Nominating Committee Member and Audit Committee Chairman   Trustee and Audit Committee Chairman since 2019; current term ends at 2025 annual meeting   Professor, Washington University in St. Louis from July 1990 to present; Partner, R.J. Mithaiwala (Food manufacturing and retail, India) from March 1977 to present; Partner, F.F.B. Corporation (Agriculture, India) from March 1977 to present; Partner, RPMG Research Corporation (Benchmark research) from July 2001 to present.   9   Director of Caleres Inc. (footwear) from May 2012 to present; Chair of the finance committee at the foundation of Barnes Jewish Hospital (healthcare) from January 2021 to present; Director of First Bank (finance) from February 2022 to present; Director of The Oasis Institute (not-for-profit) from February 2022 to present; Director of the Consortium for Graduate Study in Management from November 2017 to present; Director of Koch Development Corporation (Real Estate Developement) from November 2017 to December 2020; Director of Supernova (Fin-tech) from June 2014 to September 2018; Director of the Guardian Angels of St. Louis (not-for-profit) from July 2015 to December 2021.

 

6


Name, Address, and

Year of Birth

 

Position(s)
Held With
Fund

 

Term of
Office* and
Length of
Time Served

 

Principal
Occupation(s)
During
Past 5 Years

  Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex**
Overseen

By Trustee
or Nominee
for Trustee
   

Other
Directorships
Held By Trustee
or Nominee for
Trustee
During Past
5 Years

Steven N. Rappaport

c/o Credit Suisse Asset Management, LLC
Attn: General Counsel Eleven Madison Avenue New York,
New York 10010
Year of Birth: 1948

  Chairman of the Board of Trustees; Nominating Committee Chairman and Audit Committee Member   Chairman since 2012 and Trustee since 2005; current term ends at the 2024 annual meeting   Partner of Lehigh Court, LLC and RZ Capital (private investment firms) from July 2002 to present; Partner of Backstage Acquisition Holdings, LLC (publication job postings) from November 2013 to 2018.     9     Director of abrdn Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund, Inc. (a closed-end investment company); Director of abrdn Funds (22 open-end portfolios); Director of iCAD, Inc. (surgical & medical instruments & apparatus company) from 2006 to 2018.

Interested Trustee:

     

John G. Popp***

Credit Suisse Asset Management, LLC

Eleven Madison Avenue

New York,

New York 10010

Year of Birth: 1956

  Trustee; Chief Executive Officer and President   Trustee since 2012; Chief Executive Officer and President since 2010; current term ends at the 2025 annual meeting   Managing Director of Credit Suisse; Global Head and Chief Investment Officer of the Credit Investment Group; Associated with Credit Suisse or its predecessor since 1997; Officer of other Credit Suisse Funds.     9     None.

 

 

*

Subject to the Fund’s retirement policy, no Trustee shall be presented to shareholders of the Fund for election at any meeting that is scheduled to occur after he/she has reached the age of 74 and a Trustee shall automatically be deemed to retire from the Board at the next annual shareholders’ meeting following the date that he/she reaches the age of 75 years even if his/her term of office has not expired on that date. The requirements of the retirement policy may be waived with respect to an individual Trustee.

**

The “Fund Complex” consists of Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund, Credit Suisse Asset Management Income Fund, Inc., Credit Suisse Commodity Strategy Funds (which currently consists of two portfolios), Credit Suisse Opportunity Funds (which currently consists of four portfolios) and Credit Suisse Trust (which currently consists of one portfolio).

***

Mr. Popp is an “interested person” of the Fund as defined in the 1940 Act by virtue of his current position as an officer of Credit Suisse.

 

7


OFFICERS WHO ARE NOT TRUSTEES

 

Name, Address

and Year of Birth

 

Term of Office* and
Position(s) Held
With Fund

 

Length of
Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

Thomas Flannery

Credit Suisse Asset Management, LLC

Eleven Madison Avenue

New York,

New York 10010

Year of Birth: 1974

  Chief Investment Officer   Since 2010   Managing Director of Credit Suisse and Head of the Credit Suisse US High Yield Management Team; Associated with Credit Suisse Group AG since 1998; Officer of other Credit Suisse Funds.

Rachael Hoffman

Credit Suisse Asset Management, LLC

Eleven Madison Avenue

New York,

New York 10010

Year of Birth: 1984

 

Chief Compliance Officer

  Since 2022  

Ad Interim Chief Compliance Officer of the Asset Management division of Credit Suisse Group AG since November 2022; Director and Chief Compliance Officer Asset Management Americas of Credit Suisse since June 2022; Vice President, Compliance, Goldman Sachs from February 2021 to June 2022; Vice President, Compliance, New York Life Investments from October 2019 to January 2021; Vice President, Compliance, Goldman Sachs from June 2018 to September 2019; Senior Compliance Officer, Aberdeen Standard Investments, October 2012 to May 2018; Associated with Credit Suisse since June 2022; Officer of other Credit Suisse Funds.

Lou Anne McInnis

Credit Suisse Asset Management, LLC

Eleven Madison Avenue

New York,

New York 10010

Year of Birth: 1959

  Chief Legal Officer   Since 2015   Director of Credit Suisse; Associated with Credit Suisse since April 2015; Counsel at DLA Piper US LLP from 2011 to April 2015; Associated with Morgan Stanley Investment Management from 1997 to 2010; Officer of other Credit Suisse Funds.

 

8


Name, Address

and Year of Birth

 

Position(s) Held
With Fund

 

Length of
Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

Karen Regan

Credit Suisse Asset Management, LLC

Eleven Madison Avenue

New York,

New York 10010

Year of Birth: 1963

  Senior Vice President and Secretary   Since 2010   Vice President of Credit Suisse; Associated with Credit Suisse since December 2004; Officer of other Credit Suisse Funds.

Omar Tariq

Credit Suisse Asset Management, LLC

Eleven Madison Avenue

New York,

New York 10010

Year of Birth: 1983

  Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer   Since 2019   Director of Credit Suisse since March 2019; Senior Manager of PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP from September 2010 to March 2019; Officer of other Credit Suisse Funds.

 

*

The current terms of office of the Fund’s officers will end at the Board’s meeting next following the Meeting, at which meeting it is anticipated that the Board will consider electing the Fund’s officers for an additional term.

Qualification of Board of Trustees/Nominee

The Board believes that each Trustee’s and nominee’s experience, qualifications, attributes or skills on an individual basis and in combination with those of the other Trustees lead to the conclusion that each Trustee and nominee should serve as a Trustee. Among the attributes common to all Trustees and the nominee are their ability to review critically, evaluate, question and discuss information provided to them, to interact effectively with the other Trustees, Credit Suisse, other service providers, counsel and the independent registered public accounting firm, and to exercise effective business judgment in the performance of their duties as Trustees. A Trustee’s or nominee’s ability to perform his or her duties effectively may have been attained through the Trustee’s or nominee’s business, consulting, public service and/or academic positions; experience from service as a board member of the Fund and the other funds in the Fund Complex, other investment funds, public companies, or non-profit entities or other organizations; educational background or professional training; and/or other life experiences. In addition to these shared characteristics, set forth below is a brief discussion of the specific experience, qualifications, attributes or skills of each Trustee and nominee that support the conclusion that each person should serve as a Trustee or nominee.

Non-Interested Trustees/Nominee

Laura A. DeFelice. Ms. DeFelice has been a Trustee since 2017 of all of the open-end Credit Suisse Funds in the Fund Complex. Ms. DeFelice is the founding principal of two companies, one focusing on multi-family and commercial real estate ownership, leasing and management, and the other focusing on renewable energy project development. She has over 25 years of business experience in the financial services industry, including as a law firm partner specializing in structured finance. Ms. DeFelice also serves on the board of directors of another closed-end fund in the Fund Complex.

 

9


Mahendra R. Gupta. Mr. Gupta has been a Trustee since 2017, and Chairman of the Audit Committee since 2017 of all of the open-end Credit Suisse Funds in the Fund Complex. Mr. Gupta is a Professor at Washington University in St. Louis. He has over 25 years of academic experience as a professor of accounting and management. Mr. Gupta also serves on the board of directors of another closed-end fund in the Fund Complex.

Samantha Kappagoda. Ms. Kappagoda has been appointed as a Trustee of the Fund effective January 1, 2023. Ms. Kappagoda is the Chief Economist and Co-Founder of Risk Economics, Inc. and Co-Managing Member of Numerati Partners LLC. She has over thirty years of experience as an economist.

Steven N. Rappaport. Mr. Rappaport has been a Trustee since 2005, Chairman of the Board of Trustees since 2012 and Chairman of the Nominating Committee since 2012. In addition, he has over 30 years of business experience in the financial services industry. Mr. Rappaport also serves on the boards of directors of other funds, including funds in the Fund Complex.

Interested Trustee

John G. Popp. Mr. Popp has been a Trustee since 2012. He is a Managing Director of Credit Suisse. He is the Global Head and Chief Investment Officer of the Credit Investments Group. Mr. Popp has been associated with Credit Suisse since 1997. He has over 30 years of business experience in the financial services industry. Mr. Popp has been a trustee since 2017 of all of the open-end funds in the Fund Complex and is a director of another closed-end fund in the Fund Complex. Mr. Popp also serves as Chief Executive Officer and President of all of the funds in the Fund Complex.

Specific details regarding each Trustee’s and nominee’s principal occupations during the past five years are included in the table above.

Set forth in the table below is the dollar range of equity securities in the Fund and the aggregate dollar range of equity securities in the Credit Suisse Family of Investment Companies (as defined below) beneficially owned by each Trustee or nominee.

 

Name of Trustee or Nominee

   Dollar Range
of Equity Securities
in the Fund*(1)(2)
     Aggregate Dollar Range of
Equity Securities in All
Funds Overseen by Trustee
or Nominee in Credit Suisse 
Family of Investment
Companies*(1)(3)
 

Nominee for Non-Interested Trustee:

     

Samantha Kappagoda

     A        A  

Non-Interested Trustees:

     

Laura A. DeFelice

     A        D  

Mahendra R. Gupta

     A        E  

Steven N. Rappaport

     E        E  

Interested Trustee:

     

John G. Popp

     C        E  

 

*

Key to Dollar Ranges:

 

10


  A.

None

  B.

$1- $10,000

  C.

$10,001 - $50,000

  D.

$50,001 - $100,000

  E.

over $100,000

 

(1) 

This information has been furnished by each Trustee as of November 30, 2022. “Beneficial Ownership” is determined in accordance with Rule 16a-1(a)(2) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”).

 

(2) 

The Fund’s Trustees and officers, in the aggregate, own less than 1% of the Fund’s outstanding equity securities.

 

(3) 

“Credit Suisse Family of Investment Companies” means those registered investment companies that share Credit Suisse as their investment adviser and that hold themselves out to investors as related companies for purposes of investment and investor services.

As of November 30, 2022, none of the nominee for election to the Board, the Non-Interested Trustees or their immediate family members owned beneficially or of record any class of securities in Credit Suisse or in a person (other than a registered investment company) directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with Credit Suisse.

During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022, each Non-Interested Trustee received an annual fee of $22,000 and $2,000 for each meeting of the Board attended by him or her and was reimbursed for expenses incurred in connection with his or her attendance at the Fund’s Board meetings. The total remuneration paid by the Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022 to all such Non-Interested Trustees was $145,000. The Chairman of the Board receives an additional annual fee of $5,000 and the Audit Committee Chairman receives an additional annual fee of $2,000.

During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022, the Board convened eleven times. Each Trustee attended at least seventy-five percent of the aggregate number of meetings of the Board and any committees on which he or she served during the period for which he or she was a Trustee.

Leadership Structure and Oversight Responsibilities

Overall responsibility for oversight of the Fund rests with the Board. The Fund has engaged Credit Suisse to manage the Fund on a day-to-day basis. The Board is responsible for overseeing Credit Suisse and other service providers in the operations of the Fund in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act, applicable provisions of state and other laws and the Fund’s charter. The Board is currently composed of five members, each of whom, other than Mr. Popp, is a Non-Interested Trustee. The Board meets at regularly scheduled quarterly meetings each year. In addition, the Board may hold special meetings or informal conference calls to discuss specific matters that may arise or require action between regular meetings. As described below, the Board has established a Nominating Committee and an Audit Committee, and may establish ad hoc committees or working groups from time to time, to assist the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities. The

 

11


Non-Interested Trustees have also engaged independent legal counsel to assist them in performing their oversight responsibilities.

The Board has appointed Steven Rappaport, a Non-Interested Trustee, to serve in the role of Chairman. The Chairman’s role is to preside at all meetings of the Board and to act as a liaison with Credit Suisse, counsel and other Trustees generally between meetings. The Chairman serves as a key point person for dealings between management and the Trustees. The Chairman may also perform such other functions as may be delegated by the Board from time to time. The Board reviews matters related to its leadership structure annually. The Board has determined that the Board’s leadership structure is appropriate because it allows the Board to exercise informed and independent judgment over the matters under its purview and it allocates areas of responsibility among committees of Trustees and the full Board in a manner that enhances effective oversight.

The Fund is subject to a number of risks, including investment, compliance, operational and valuation risks, among others. Risk oversight forms part of the Board’s general oversight of the Fund and is addressed as part of various Board and committee activities. Day-to-day risk management functions are subsumed within the responsibilities of Credit Suisse and other service providers (depending on the nature of the risk), which carry out the Fund’s investment management and business affairs. Credit Suisse and other service providers employ a variety of processes, procedures and controls to identify various events or circumstances that give rise to risks, to lessen the probability of their occurrence and/or to mitigate the effects of such events or circumstances if they do occur. Each of Credit Suisse and other service providers has their own independent interest in risk management, and their policies and methods of risk management will depend on their functions and business models. The Board recognizes that it is not possible to identify all of the risks that may affect the Fund or to develop processes and controls to eliminate or mitigate their occurrence or effects. As part of its regular oversight of the Fund, the Board interacts with and reviews reports from, among others, Credit Suisse, the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm and counsel, as appropriate, regarding risks faced by the Fund and applicable risk controls. The Board may, at any time and in its discretion, change the manner in which it conducts risk oversight.

All of the Trustees, except for John Popp, constitute the Fund’s Audit Committee, which is composed of Trustees who are not interested persons of the Fund and who are independent (as such term is defined by the listing standards of the NYSE American, LLC, formerly known as NYSE MKT, LLC (the “NYSE American”)). The Audit Committee convened five times during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022. The Audit Committee advises the full Board with respect to accounting, auditing and financial matters affecting the Fund.

All of the Trustees, except for John Popp, constitute the Fund’s Nominating Committee, which is composed of Trustees who are not interested persons of the Fund and who are independent (as such term is defined by the listing standards of

 

12


NYSE American). The Nominating Committee met three times during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022. At a meeting of the Nominating Committee held on November 14, 2022, the Nominating Committee nominated Samantha Kappagoda for election at the Meeting to serve a three-year term. The Nominating Committee selects and nominates new Trustees. The Board has adopted a Nominating Committee Charter (a copy of which was included as Appendix A to the Fund’s proxy statement dated December 28, 2020). In nominating candidates, the Nominating Committee will take into consideration such factors as it deems appropriate. These factors may include judgment, skill, diversity, experience with investment companies and other organizations of comparable purpose, complexity, size and subject to similar legal restrictions and oversight, the interplay of the candidate’s experience with the experience of other Board members, and the extent to which the candidate would be a desirable addition to the Board and any committees thereof. With respect to diversity, the Nominating Committee considers whether a candidate’s background, experience and skills will contribute to the diversity of the Board.

The Nominating Committee will consider candidates submitted by shareholders or from other sources it deems appropriate. Any recommendation should be submitted to the Secretary of the Fund, c/o Credit Suisse Asset Management, LLC, Eleven Madison Avenue, 9th Floor, New York, New York 10010. Shareholders or shareholder groups submitting proposed candidates must substantiate compliance with the requirements in the Fund’s By-laws at the time of submitting their proposed candidate. Any submission should include, at a minimum, the following information: As to each individual proposed for election or re-election as trustee, the name, age, business address, residence address and principal occupation or employment of such individual, the class, series and number of shares of stock of the Fund that are beneficially owned by such individual, the date such shares were acquired and the investment intent of such acquisition, whether such stockholder believes such individual is, or is not, an “interested person” of the Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act), and information regarding such individual that is sufficient, in the discretion of the Nominating Committee, to make such determination, and all other information relating to such individual that is required to be disclosed in solicitation of proxies for election of directors in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved) or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A (or any successor provision) under the 1934 Act, and the rules thereunder (including such individual’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a trustee (if elected)). To be considered for inclusion in the Fund’s proxy statement, the submission must be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Fund not later than 120 days, nor earlier than 150 days, before the first anniversary of the date on which the Fund first mailed its proxy materials for the annual meeting held in the prior year; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced or delayed by more than 30 days from the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, notice by such stockholder to be timely must be so

 

13


received not earlier than 150 days prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which notice or public announcement of the date of such meeting was given or made. Any such submission must also be submitted by such date and contain such information as may be specified in the Fund’s By-laws, or as required by any relevant stock exchange listing standards.

The Fund does not have a Compensation Committee.

OTHER BOARD-RELATED MATTERS

Shareholders who wish to send communications to the Board should send them to the address of the Fund and to the attention of the Board c/o the Secretary of the Fund. All such communications will be directed to the Board’s attention.

The Fund does not have a formal policy regarding Board member attendance at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

Pursuant to the Audit Committee Charter adopted by the Board (a copy of which was included as Appendix B to the Fund’s proxy statement dated December 28, 2020), the Audit Committee is responsible for conferring with the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, reviewing annual financial statements, approving the selection of the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm and overseeing the Fund’s internal controls. The Fund’s Audit Committee Charter also contains provisions relating to the pre-approval by the Audit Committee of certain non-audit services to be provided by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) to the Fund and to Credit Suisse and certain of its affiliates. The Audit Committee advises the full Board with respect to accounting, auditing and financial matters affecting the Fund. The independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for planning and carrying out audits in accordance with standards established by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).

The Audit Committee has met with the Fund’s management to discuss, among other things, the Fund’s audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022. The Audit Committee has also met with the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, PwC, and discussed with them certain matters required by Statement of Auditing Standards No. 114, The Auditor’s Communication with those Charged with Governance, as currently modified or supplemented, including, but not limited to, the scope of the Fund’s audit, the Fund’s financial statements and the Fund’s accounting controls. The Audit Committee has received from PwC the letter required by the SEC’s independence rules describing any relationships between it and the Fund, Credit Suisse and its affiliates that may be thought to bear upon the independence of the independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee has discussed with PwC its independence

 

14


and has considered whether the provision of services by PwC to the Fund, Credit Suisse and its affiliates was compatible with maintaining PwC’s independence.

The members of the Audit Committee are not professionally engaged in the practice of auditing or accounting and are not employed by the Fund for accounting, financial management or internal control. Moreover, the Audit Committee relies on and makes no independent verification of the facts presented to it or representations made by management or the independent registered public accounting firm. Accordingly, the Audit Committee’s oversight does not provide an independent basis to determine that management has maintained appropriate accounting and financial reporting principles and policies, or internal controls and procedures, designed to assure compliance with accounting standards and applicable laws and regulations. Furthermore, the Audit Committee’s considerations and discussions referred to above do not provide assurance that the audit of the Fund’s financial statements has been carried out in accordance with generally accepted accounting standards or that the financial statements are presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

Based upon these reviews and discussions, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the Fund’s audited financial statements be included in the Fund’s 2022 Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022 and be mailed to shareholders and filed with the SEC.

Submitted by the Audit Committee of the Fund’s Board of Trustees

Laura A. DeFelice

Jeffrey E. Garten

Mahendra R. Gupta

Steven N. Rappaport

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

At a meeting held on August 22, 2022, the Fund’s Audit Committee approved the selection of PwC as the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2023. PwC has been the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm since June 25, 2020, and has informed the Fund that it has no material direct or indirect financial interest in the Fund. A representative of PwC will be available by telephone at the Meeting and will have the opportunity to make a statement, if the representative so desires, and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.

The information in the table below is provided for services rendered to the Fund showing the amount of fees billed to the Fund during the registrant’s last two fiscal years by PwC. For the engagement with PwC, the Audit Committee approved

 

15


in advance all audit services and non-audit services that PwC provided to the Fund for its fiscal years ended October 31, 2021 and October 31, 2022.

 

      

2021

      

2022

 

Audit Fees

     $ 37,700        $ 37,700  

Audit-Related Fees(1)

     $ 0        $ 0  

Tax Fees(2)

     $ 4,000        $ 4,000  

All Other Fees

     $ —          $ —    

Total

     $
41,700
 
     $ 41,700  

 

(1) 

Services include agreed-upon procedures in connection with the Fund’s semi-annual financial statements ($0 in 2021 and $0 in 2022).

 

(2) 

Tax services in connection with the Fund’s excise tax calculations and review of the Fund’s applicable tax returns.

The Audit Committee is responsible for pre-approving (i) all audit and permissible non-audit services to be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm to the Fund and (ii) all permissible non-audit services to be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm to Credit Suisse and any service provider to the Fund controlling, controlled by or under common control with Credit Suisse that provided ongoing services to the Fund (“Covered Services Provider”), if the engagement relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Fund. The Audit Committee may delegate its responsibility to pre-approve any such audit and permissible non-audit services to the Chairperson of the Audit Committee, and the Chairperson shall report to the Audit Committee, at its next regularly scheduled meeting after the Chairperson’s pre-approval of such services, his or her decision(s). The Audit Committee may also establish detailed pre-approval policies and procedures for pre-approval of such services in accordance with applicable laws, including the delegation of some or all of the Audit Committee’s pre-approval responsibilities to other persons (other than Credit Suisse or the Fund’s officers). Pre-approval by the Audit Committee of any permissible non-audit services shall not be required so long as: (i) the aggregate amount of all such permissible non-audit services provided to the Fund, Credit Suisse and any Covered Services Provider constitutes not more than 5% of the total amount of revenues paid by the Fund to its independent registered public accounting firm during the fiscal year in which the permissible non-audit services are provided; (ii) the permissible non-audit services were not recognized by the Fund at the time of the engagement to be non-audit services; and (iii) such services are promptly brought to the attention of the Audit Committee and approved by the Audit Committee (or its delegate(s)) prior to the completion of the audit.

The aggregate fees billed by PwC for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2021 and October 31, 2022 for non-audit services rendered to the Fund, Credit Suisse or Covered Service Providers were $4,000 and $4,000, respectively.

 

16


All of the services described above were pre-approved by the Audit Committee.

COMPENSATION

The following table shows certain compensation information for the Trustees for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022. All officers of the Fund are employees of and are compensated by Credit Suisse. None of the Fund’s executive officers or Trustees who are also officers or directors of Credit Suisse received any compensation from the Fund for such period. The Fund has no bonus, profit sharing, pension or retirement plans.

 

Name of Trustee

   Aggregate Compensation
From the Fund
     Total Compensation From Fund
and Fund Complex Paid to
Trustee or Nominee*
 

Non-Interested Trustees:

     

Laura A. DeFelice

   $ 34,500      $ 176,975  

Jeffrey E. Garten**

   $ 34,500      $ 176,975  

Mahendra R. Gupta

   $ 36,500      $ 188,475  

Steven N. Rappaport

   $ 39,500      $ 211,975  

 

*

9 funds comprise the Fund Complex and each Trustee serves as a director/trustee on the board of each fund in the Fund Complex.

**

Mr. Garten will retire as a Trustee effective December 31, 2022

THE FUND’S BOARD OF TRUSTEES, INCLUDING THE NON-INTERESTED TRUSTEES, RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE FUND’S NOMINEE FOR TRUSTEE.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Beneficial Owners

Based upon the Fund’s review of filings made pursuant to Section 13 of the 1934 Act, as of December 9, 2022, to the Fund’s knowledge the following shareholder beneficially owned over 5% of the Fund’s shares:

 

Name and Address

   Number of Shares
Beneficially Owned
     Percent
of
Share
Class
 

First Trust Advisors L.P.

120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400

Wheaton, Illinois 60187

     14,480,431      13.99

 

    *

As stated in Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on January 14, 2022.

Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports

Section 16(a) of the 1934 Act and Section 30(h) of the 1940 Act require the Fund’s officers and trustees, certain officers and directors of the investment adviser, affiliated persons of the investment adviser, and persons who beneficially

 

17


own more than 10% of the Fund’s shares to file reports of ownership with the SEC and the Fund.

Based solely upon its review of the copies of such forms and amendments thereto filed electronically with the SEC during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022 and written representations received by it, the Fund believes that, for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022, such forms were filed on a timely basis with the exception of a Form 3 submission relating to Rachael Hoffman’s appointment as Chief Compliance Officer, which was inadvertently not filed in a timely manner and has since been filed.

SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

Notice is hereby given that for a shareholder proposal to be considered for inclusion in the Fund’s proxy materials relating to its 2024 annual meeting of shareholders, pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the 1934 Act, the shareholder must deliver the proposal to the offices of the Fund by August 29, 2023. Under Rule 14a-8, a shareholder proposal, including any accompanying supporting statement, may not exceed 500 words. Additionally, a shareholder desiring to submit a proposal must be: (i) a record or beneficial owner of Shares with a market value of at least $2,000 and must have held such Shares for at least three years, (ii) a record or beneficial owner of Shares with a market value of at least $15,000 and must have held such Shares for at least two years, or (iii) a record or beneficial owner of Shares with a market value of at least $25,000 and must have held such Shares for at least one year. Further, the shareholder must continue to hold such Shares through the date on which the meeting is held. Documentary support regarding the foregoing must be provided along with the proposal. There are additional requirements regarding proposals of shareholders, and a shareholder contemplating submission of a proposal is referred to Rule 14a-8 promulgated under the 1934 Act. The timely submission of a proposal does not guarantee its inclusion in the Fund’s proxy materials.

Shareholders who do not wish to submit a proposal for inclusion in the Fund’s proxy materials relating to its 2024 annual meeting of shareholders pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the 1934 Act may submit a proposal to be considered for inclusion in the Fund’s proxy materials relating to its 2024 annual meeting of shareholders in accordance with the Fund’s By-laws. Such shareholder proposal must be received by the Fund no earlier than July 30, 2023 and no later than August 29, 2023.

Pursuant to the By-laws of the Fund, at any annual meeting of the shareholders, only such business will be conducted as has been properly brought before the annual meeting. To be properly brought before the annual meeting, the business must be (i) specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board, (ii) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board, or (iii) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a shareholder in compliance with the requirements in the Fund’s By-laws.

 

18


For business to be properly brought before the annual meeting by a shareholder, the shareholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Fund. To be timely, any such notice must be delivered to, or mailed (by certified mail being recommended) to and received by, Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund c/o Credit Suisse Asset Management, LLC, Eleven Madison Avenue, 9th Floor, New York, New York 10010 not later than 120 days, nor earlier than 150 days, before the first anniversary of the date on which the Fund first mailed its proxy materials for the annual meeting held in the prior year; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced or delayed by more than 30 days from the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, notice by such shareholder to be timely must be so received not earlier than 150 days prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which notice or public announcement of the date of such meeting was given or made. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment of an annual meeting commence a new time period for the giving of a shareholder’s notice as described above.

Any such notice by a shareholder shall set forth:

 

    

(i)    as to any business that the shareholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting, the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration), the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting and any material interest in such business of such shareholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; and

 

    

(ii)    as to the shareholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made:

(1)    the name and address of such shareholder, as they appear on the Fund’s books, and of such beneficial owner,

 

19


(2)    the class and number of shares which are owned beneficially and of record by such shareholder and such beneficial owner and any Person1 who has a Disclosable Relationship2 with such shareholder or beneficial owner (“Shareholder Associate”),

(3)    the name of each nominee holder of shares owned beneficially but not of record by such shareholder and such beneficial owner and their respective Shareholder Associates, and the number of such shares held by each such nominee holder,

(4)    a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether written or oral) with respect to the proposal between or among such shareholder and such beneficial owner, any of their respective Shareholder Associates, and any other Person or Persons (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business and any material interest of such Person or any Shareholder Associate of such Person, in such business, including any anticipated benefit therefrom to such Person, or any Shareholder Associate of such Person,

(5)    a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, whether written or oral (including any derivative or short positions, profit interests, options, warrants, stock appreciation or similar rights, hedging transactions, and borrowed or loaned shares), that has been entered into as of the date of the shareholder’s notice by, or on behalf of, such shareholder and such beneficial owners or their respective

 

 

1    “Person” means an individual, a corporation, a partnership, a limited liability company, an association, a trust or any other entity or organization, including a series or portfolio of any of the foregoing, or a government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof.

2    “Disclosable Relationship” with respect to another Person means (A) the existence at any time during the current calendar year or at any time within the two most recently completed calendar years of any agreement, arrangement, understanding (whether written or oral) or practice, including sharing of information, decisions or actions, of a Person with such other Person with respect to the Fund or shares of the Fund, (B) the beneficial ownership of securities of any Person known by such Person to beneficially own shares of the Fund and of which such Person knows such other Person also beneficially owns any securities, (C) sharing beneficial ownership of any securities with such other Person, (D) being an immediate family member of such other Person, (E) the existence at any time during the current calendar year or at any time within the two most recently completed calendar years of a material business or professional relationship with such other Person or with any Person of which such other Person is a holder of 5% or more of the outstanding voting securities, officer, director, general partner, managing member or employee or (F) controlling, being controlled by or being under common control with such other Person.

 

20


Shareholder Associates, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, manage the risk of or benefit from Fund share price changes, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such shareholder or such beneficial owner or their respective Shareholder Associates, with respect to shares of the Fund,

(6)    a description of all commercial and professional relationships and transactions between or among such shareholder and such beneficial owners or their respective Shareholder Associates, and any other Person or Persons known to such shareholder and such beneficial owners or their respective Shareholder Associates to have a material interest in the matter that is the subject of such notice,

(7)    the investment strategy or objective, if any, of such shareholder and such beneficial owners and their respective Shareholder Associates that are not individuals, and a copy of the most recent prospectus, offering memorandum or similar document, if any, provided to investors or potential investors in such shareholder, beneficial owner and each such Shareholder Associate,

(8)    a representation that the shareholder is a holder of record of shares of the Fund entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such business,

(9)    a representation whether the shareholder or the beneficial owner, if any, intends or is part of a group which intends (a) to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Fund’s outstanding shares required to approve or adopt the proposal and/or (b) otherwise to solicit proxies from shareholders in support of such proposal, and

(10)    any other information relating to such shareholder and such beneficial owner that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with the solicitation of proxies by such shareholder or beneficial owner with respect to the proposed business to be brought by such Shareholder or beneficial owner before the meeting pursuant to Section 14 of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, whether or not the shareholder submitting the notice intends to deliver a proxy statement or solicit proxies.

 

    

(iii)    A shareholder providing notice of any business proposed to be brought before a meeting of shareholders shall further update and supplement such notice, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice shall be true and correct as of the record date for determining the shareholders entitled to receive notice of the meeting of shareholders and such update and supplement shall be received by the Secretary of the Fund at the principal executive offices of the Fund not later

 

21


  than 5 business days after the record date for determining the shareholders entitled to receive notice of the meeting of shareholders.

The foregoing notice requirements shall be deemed satisfied by a shareholder if the shareholder has notified the Fund of his, her or its intention to present a proposal at a meeting in compliance with Rule 14a-8 promulgated under the 1934 Act and such shareholder’s proposal has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the Fund to solicit proxies for such meeting.

The Fund may exercise discretionary voting authority with respect to any shareholder proposals for the 2024 annual meeting of shareholders not included in the proxy statement and form of proxy that are not submitted to the Fund within the time-frame indicated above. Even if timely notice is received, the Fund may exercise discretionary voting authority in certain other circumstances. Discretionary voting authority is the ability to vote proxies that shareholders have executed and returned to the Fund on matters not specifically reflected on the form of proxy.

SHAREHOLDERS WHO DO NOT EXPECT TO BE PRESENT AT THE ANNUAL MEETING AND WHO WISH TO HAVE THEIR SHARES VOTED ARE REQUESTED TO DATE AND SIGN THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AND RETURN IT IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. NO POSTAGE IS REQUIRED IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES.

Delivery of Proxy

Only one copy of this Proxy Statement may be mailed to households, even if more than one person in a household is a shareholder of record. If a shareholder needs an additional copy of this Proxy Statement, please contact the Fund at (800) 293-1232. If any shareholder does not want the mailing of this Proxy Statement to be combined with those for other members of your household, please contact the Fund in writing at: Eleven Madison Avenue, 9th Floor, New York, New York 10010 or call the Fund at (800) 293-1232.

Other Business

Management knows of no business to be presented at the Meeting, other than the matters set forth in this Proxy Statement, but should any other matter requiring the vote of shareholders arise, the proxies will vote thereon according to their best judgment in the interests of the Fund.

 

22


(This page has been left blank intentionally.)

 

 

 


(This page has been left blank intentionally.)

 

 

 



 

CREDIT SUISSE

HIGH YIELD BOND FUND

February 21, 2023

002CS-12817


LOGO

   ANNUAL MEETING PROXY CARD

Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund

Eleven Madison Avenue

New York, NY 10010

THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF CREDIT SUISSE HIGH YIELD BOND FUND

The undersigned hereby appoints Omar Tariq and Karen Regan, each with the full power of substitution, and hereby authorizes them to represent and vote, as designated below and in accordance with their judgment on such other matters as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments thereof, all shares of Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund (the “Fund”) that the undersigned is entitled to vote at the annual meeting of shareholders of the Fund. Due to the public health impact of the corornavirus pandemic (“COVID-19”) and to support the health and well-being of the Fund’s shareholders, the Meeting will be held virtually on the internet rather than in person. All shareholders are requested to vote by proxy by completing, dating and signing the enclosed proxy card and returning it promptly. You also may vote at the virtual Meeting if you choose to attend, on February 21, 2023 at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

If you owned shares as of the Record Date and wish to participate in the Meeting, you must email AST Fund Solutions, LLC (“AST”) at attendameeting@astfinancial.com or call AST at (866) 745-0271, in order to register to attend the Meeting, obtain the credentials to access the Meeting, and verify that you were a shareholder on the Record Date. If you are a record owner of shares, please have your 12-digit control number on your proxy card available when you call or include it in your email. If you choose to email, include your control number, full name and address, your intent to attend the Meeting and insert “Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund” in the Subject Line. If you choose to call, please have your control number handy as well. You may vote during the Meeting by following the instructions that will be available on the Meeting website during the Meeting.

If you hold your shares through an intermediary, such as bank or broker, as of the Record Date, you must provide a legal proxy from that institution in order to vote your shares at the Meeting. You may forward an email from your intermediary or attach an image of your legal proxy and transmit it via email to AST at attendameeting@astfinancial.com and you should label the email “Legal Proxy” in the subject line. If you hold your shares through an intermediary as of the Record Date and wish to attend, but not vote at, the Meeting, you must verify to AST that you owned shares as of the Record Date through an account statement or some other similar means. Requests for registration must be received by AST no later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on Thursday, February 16, 2023. You will then receive a confirmation email from AST of your registration and a control number that will allow you to vote at the Meeting.

This proxy when properly executed will be voted in the manner directed therein by the undersigned shareholder. If no direction is made, this proxy will be voted as recommended by the Board of Trustees in favor of the Board’s nominees for Trustee named below.

In their discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly be presented to the meeting or any adjournments, postponements, continuations, or reschedulings thereof.

 

YOUR SIGNATURE IS REQUIRED FOR YOUR VOTE TO BE COUNTED. Please sign this proxy exactly as your name or names appear hereon. Each joint owner should sign. Trustees and other fiduciaries should indicate the capacity in which they sign. If a corporation, partnership or other entity, this signature should be that of a duly authorized individual who should state his or her title.

         

Signature   Date                

             

Signature (if held jointly)   Date                

         

 
Title if a corporation, partnership or other entity  

 

 

p PLEASE FOLD HERE p

PLEASE VOTE, DATE AND SIGN BELOW AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.

TO VOTE, MARK ONE BOX IN BLUE OR BLACK INK. Example: ∎

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE NOMINEE LISTED.

 

   For    Withhold
Samantha Kappagoda      

Samantha Kappagoda is being nominated to serve a three-year term.

 

MAILID:    “Scanner Bar Code”    CUSIP: 22544F103