SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
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NexPoint Strategic Opportunities Fund
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NEXPOINT STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITIES FUND
(formerly, NexPoint Credit Strategies Fund)
300 Crescent Court
Suite 700
Dallas, Texas 75201
(866) 351-4440
April 24, 2019
Dear Shareholder:
You are cordially invited to attend the 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of NexPoint Strategic Opportunities Fund (formerly, NexPoint Credit Strategies Fund) (the Fund) to be held at 200 Crescent Court, Crescent Club, Dallas, Texas 75201, on Friday, June 14, 2019, at 8:00 a.m. Central Time (the Annual Meeting). Details regarding the business to be conducted at the Annual Meeting are more fully described in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement.
In addition to voting on the Proposal described in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement, you will have an opportunity to hear a report on the Fund and to discuss other matters of interest to you as a shareholder.
We hope that you will be able to attend the Annual Meeting. Whether or not you plan to attend, please complete, date, sign and mail the enclosed proxy card to assure that your shares are represented at the Annual Meeting.
Sincerely, |
/s/ James Dondero |
James Dondero President and Principal Executive Officer |
NEXPOINT STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITIES FUND
(formerly, NexPoint Credit Strategies Fund)
300 Crescent Court
Suite 700
Dallas, Texas 75201
(866) 351-4440
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON JUNE 14, 2019
The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of NexPoint Strategic Opportunities Fund, a Delaware statutory trust (formerly, NexPoint Credit Strategies Fund) (the Fund), will be held at 200 Crescent Court, Crescent Club, Dallas, Texas 75201, on Friday, June 14, 2019, at 8:00 a.m. Central Time (the Annual Meeting), for the following purposes:
1. | To elect each of Ethan Powell and Bryan A. Ward as a Class I Trustee of the Fund, to serve for a three-year term expiring at the 2022 Annual Meeting or until his successor is duly elected and qualifies (the Proposal); and |
2. | To transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting and any adjournment or postponements thereof. |
The Board of Trustees recommends a vote for the Proposal. The close of business on April 16, 2019 has been fixed as the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting and any adjournment or postponements thereof. Please call (866) 351-4440 for directions on how to attend the Annual Meeting and vote in person.
Important Notice Regarding Availability of Proxy Materials for the Shareholder Meeting to be held on June 14, 2019: Copies of these proxy materials, including the Funds annual shareholder report, the Notice for the Annual Meeting, the Proxy Statement and the form of proxy, are available to you on the Internet at www.proxyonline.com/docs/nexpointsof2019.pdf. Copies of the proxy materials are available upon request, without charge, by writing to AST Fund Solutions, LLC at AST Fund Solutions, ATTN: NexPoint 13449 Fulfillment, 55 Challenger Road, Suite 201, Ridgefield Park, New Jersey 07660, by calling (800) 870-0126, or by sending an e-mail to corporateservices@astfundsolutions.com, using subject line: NexPoint 13449 Fulfillment.
Shareholders are encouraged to read all of the proxy materials before voting as the proxy materials contain important information necessary to make an informed decision.
The Board of Trustees is requesting your vote. Your vote is important regardless of the number of shares that you own. Whether or not you expect to be present at the Annual Meeting, please complete and sign the enclosed proxy card and return it promptly in the enclosed envelope, which needs no postage if mailed in the United States. If you desire to vote in person at the Annual Meeting, you may revoke your proxy at any time before it is exercised.
By Order of the Board of Trustees, |
/s/ Lauren Thedford |
Lauren Thedford Secretary |
April 24, 2019
Dallas, Texas
NEXPOINT STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITIES FUND
(formerly, NexPoint Credit Strategies Fund)
300 Crescent Court
Suite 700
Dallas, Texas 75201
(866) 351-4440
PROXY STATEMENT
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
JUNE 14, 2019
This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies on behalf of the Board of Trustees of NexPoint Strategic Opportunities Fund, a Delaware statutory trust (formerly, NexPoint Credit Strategies Fund) (the Fund or NHF), for use at the Funds Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held at 200 Crescent Court, Crescent Club, Dallas, Texas 75201, on Friday, June 14, 2019, at 8:00 a.m. Central Time, and at any and all adjournments or postponements thereof (the Annual Meeting), for the purposes set forth in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders dated April 24, 2019. The Fund is a closed-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the 1940 Act). NexPoint Advisors, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (NexPoint or the Adviser), with its principal office at 300 Crescent Court, Suite 700, Dallas, Texas 75201, serves as the investment adviser and the administrator to the Fund. The Funds principal executive office is located at 300 Crescent Court, Suite 700, Dallas, Texas 75201.
This Proxy Statement and the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and form of proxy are being provided to shareholders on or about April 24, 2019. The Board of Trustees (the Board) has fixed the close of business on April 16, 2019 as the record date (the Record Date) for the determination of shareholders entitled to receive notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting. As of the Record Date, 32,396,567 shares of the Funds common shares (Common Shares), par value $0.001 per share, were issued and outstanding, and the Fund had not issued any preferred shares. Shareholders of the Fund are entitled to one vote for each Fund share held and fractional votes for each fractional Fund share held.
If the form of proxy is properly executed and returned in time to be voted at the Annual Meeting, the shares covered thereby will be voted at the Annual Meeting in accordance with the instructions marked thereon. All properly executed proxies received by the Board that do not specify how shares should be voted will be voted FOR the election as a Trustee of the nominees listed in the Proposal, and in the discretion of the persons named as proxies in connection with any other matter which may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponements thereof.
The Board does not know of any matters to be considered at the Annual Meeting other than the election of the Trustees referred to in this Proxy Statement. A shareholder may revoke his or her proxy by appearing at the Annual Meeting, revoking his or her proxy and voting in person, giving written notice of such revocation to the Secretary of the Fund or by returning a later-dated proxy before the Annual Meeting.
The presence in person or by proxy of the holders of a majority of the shares of the Fund entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum (Quorum) for the Funds Annual Meeting. If a Quorum is not present at the Annual Meeting, or if a Quorum is present but sufficient votes to approve the Proposal are not received, the persons named as proxies may propose one or more adjournments or postponements of the Annual Meeting to permit further solicitation of proxies. Any adjournment or postponement will require the affirmative vote of a majority of those shares that are represented at the Annual Meeting in person or by proxy, whether or not a Quorum is present.
Shares represented by properly executed proxies with respect to which (i) a vote is withheld, (ii) the shareholder abstains, or (iii) a broker does not vote (i.e., broker non-votes) will be treated as shares that are present and
entitled to vote for purposes of determining a Quorum. Assuming the presence of a Quorum, abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of the vote on the Proposal.
In addition to soliciting proxies by mail, the Funds officers and employees of the Adviser may solicit proxies by web, by telephone or in person. Copies of the Notice for the Annual Meeting, the Proxy Statement and the form of proxy are available at www.proxyonline.com/docs/nexpointsof2019.pdf. The Fund has engaged AST Fund Solutions, LLC, at AST Fund Solutions, ATTN: NexPoint 13449 Fulfillment, 55 Challenger Road, Suite 201, Ridgefield Park, New Jersey 07660 for inquiries, to provide shareholder meeting services, including the distribution of this Proxy Statement and related materials to shareholders as well as assisting the Fund in soliciting proxies for the Annual Meeting at an approximate cost of $38,000. The costs of proxy solicitation and expenses incurred in connection with preparing this Proxy Statement and its enclosures will be paid by the Fund.
PROPOSAL 1
ELECTION OF TRUSTEES
The Funds Board is currently composed of five Trustees, four of whom are not interested persons of the Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act) (the Independent Trustees). The Independent Trustees of the Board are Bryan A. Ward, Ethan Powell, John Honis and Dr. Bob Froehlich. Dustin Norris is deemed to be an interested person of the Fund under the 1940 Act because of his affiliation with NexPoint, the investment adviser for the Fund. At the Annual Meeting, the holders of the Funds Common Shares are being asked to re-elect Ethan Powell and Bryan A. Ward as Class I Trustees of the Fund, each to serve for a three-year term until the 2022 annual meeting of shareholders or until his respective successor is duly elected and qualified. Each of Messrs. Ward and Powell is currently serving as a Class I Trustee of the Fund and has agreed to continue to serve as a Class I Trustee, if re-elected. If Messrs. Powell and Ward are not available for re-election at the time of the Annual Meeting, the persons named as proxies will vote for such substitute nominee(s) as the Funds Governance and Compliance Committee may select.
The Funds Board is divided into three classes with the term of office of one class expiring each year. Each of Messrs. Honis and Norris are currently serving as a Class III Trustee and each was last elected to serve a three year term at the Funds annual meeting of shareholders held on June 22, 2018. Ethan Powell and Bryan A. Ward are currently serving as Class I Trustees. Dr. Bob Froehlich is currently serving as a Class II Trustee. Dr. Froehlich was last elected to serve until the 2020 annual meeting of shareholders at the Funds annual meeting of shareholders held on June 2, 2017. Messrs. Powell and Ward will continue to serve as Class I Trustees if re-elected at the Annual Meeting. The Funds Trustees are not required to attend the Funds annual shareholder meetings.
Vote Required for Election of Trustees
For a Class I Trustee of the Fund, the election requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Common Shares of the Fund, represented in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote for the election of a Trustee. Abstentions and broker non-votes (i.e., shares held in street name by brokers or nominees that indicate on their proxies that they do not have discretionary authority to vote such shares as to the election of a Trustee) are counted as present at the Annual Meeting but, assuming the presence of a Quorum, will have no effect on the outcome of the vote on the Proposal.
THE BOARD, INCLUDING ALL OF THE INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES, UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES AS TRUSTEES.
Qualifications and Additional Information about each Nominee for Trustee and the Continuing Trustees
The following provides an overview of the considerations that led the Board to conclude that each individual nominee for Trustee or the individuals serving as continuing Trustees of the Fund should be nominated or so serve, as well as each nominees and each Trustees name and certain biographical information as reported by them to the Fund. Among the factors the Board considered when concluding that an individual should be a nominee for Trustee or serve on the Board were the following: the individuals experience, skills, expertise, education, knowledge, diversity, personal and professional integrity, character, business judgment, time availability in light of other commitments, dedication, the candidates ability to qualify as an Independent Trustee and the existence of any other relationships that might give rise to a conflict of interest and other relevant factors that the Funds Governance and Compliance Committee considers appropriate in the context of the needs of the Board (e.g., whether a candidate is an audit committee financial expert under the federal securities laws).
In respect of each Trustee nominee and each continuing Trustee, the individuals professional accomplishments and prior experience, including, in some cases, in fields related to the operations of the Fund, were a significant factor in the determination that the individual should be a nominee for Trustee or serve as a Trustee of the Fund. Each Trustee nominees and each continuing Trustees professional experience and additional considerations that contributed to the Boards conclusion that an individual should serve on the Board are summarized in the table below.
The Highland Funds Complex, as referred to herein consists of: the Fund, each series of Highland Funds I (HFI), each series of Highland Funds II (HFII), Highland Floating Rate Opportunities Fund (HFRO), NexPoint Event-Driven Fund (NEDF), NexPoint Latin American Opportunities Fund (NLAF), NexPoint Real Estate Strategies Fund (NRESF), NexPoint Strategic Income Fund (NSIF), NexPoint Energy and Materials Opportunities Fund (NEMO), NexPoint Discount Strategies Fund (NDSF), NexPoint Healthcare Opportunities Fund (NHOF, and together with NEDF, NLAF, NRESF, NSIF, NEMO, and NDSF, the Interval Funds), and NexPoint Capital, Inc. (the BDC), a closed-end management investment company that has elected to be treated as a business development company under the 1940 Act.
Name, Date of Birth, |
Principal Occupations(s) |
Experience,
Qualifications, | ||
Independent Trustees | ||||
Dr. Bob Froehlich (4/28/1953)
Trustee since December 2013; 3 year term (expiring at 2020 annual meeting) for the Trust.
24 funds |
Retired.
Trustee of ARC Realty Finance Trust, Inc. (from January 2013 to May 2016); Director of KC Concessions, Inc. (since January 2013); Trustee of Realty Capital Income Funds Trust (from January 2014 to December 2016); Director of American Realty Capital Healthcare Trust II (from January 2013 to June 2016); Director, American Realty Capital Daily Net Asset Value Trust, Inc. (from November 2012 to July 2016); Director of American Sports Enterprise, Inc. (since January 2013); Director of Davidson Investment Advisors (from July 2009 to July 2016); Chairman and owner, Kane County Cougars Baseball Club (since January 2013); Advisory Board of Directors, Internet Connectivity Group, Inc. (from January 2014 to April 2016); Director of AXAR Acquisition Corp. (formerly AR Capital Acquisition Corp.) (from October 2014 to October 2017); Director of The Midwest League of Professional Baseball Clubs, Inc.; Director of Kane County Cougars Foundation, Inc.; Director of Galen Robotics, Inc.; Chairman and Director of FC Global Realty, Inc. (from May 2017 to June 2018); and Chairman and Director of First Capital Investment Corp. (from March 2017 to March 2018). |
Significant experience in the financial industry; significant managerial and executive experience; significant experience on other boards of directors, including as a member of several audit committees.
California Coast University PhD; Central Michigan University Master of Arts; University of Dayton Master of Public Administration; University of Dayton Bachelor of Arts. | ||
John Honis2 (6/16/1958)
Trustee since July 2013; 3 year term (expiring at 2021 annual meeting) for the Trust.
24 funds |
President of Rand Advisors, LLC since August 2013; Partner of Highland Capital Management, L.P. (HCM) from February 2007 until his resignation in November 2014.
Manager of Turtle Bay Resort, LLC (August 2011 December 2018); Manager of American Home Patient (November 2011 to February 2016). |
Significant experience in the financial industry; significant managerial and executive experience, including experience as president, chief executive officer or chief restructuring officer of five telecommunication firms; experience on other boards of directors. |
Name, Date of Birth, |
Principal Occupations(s) |
Experience,
Qualifications, | ||
Ethan Powell3 (6/20/1975)
Trustee since December 2013; Chairman of the Board since December 2013; 3 year term (expiring at 2019 annual meeting) for the Trust.
24 funds |
Trustee of Impact Shares Funds I Trust
President and Founder of Impact Shares LLC since December 2015; Trustee/Director of the Highland Funds Complex from June 2012 until July 2013 and since December 2013; Chief Product Strategist of Highland Capital Management Fund Advisors, L.P. (HCMFA) from 2012 until December 2015; Senior Retail Fund Analyst of HCM from 2007 until December 2015 and HCMFA from its inception until December 2015; President and Principal Executive Officer of NHF from June 2012 until May 2015; Secretary of NHF from May 2015 until December 2015; Executive Vice President and Principal Executive Officer of HFI and HFII from June 2012 until December 2015; and Secretary of HFI and HFII from November 2010 to May 2015. |
Significant experience in the financial industry; significant executive experience including past service as an officer of funds in the Highland Funds Complex; significant administrative and managerial experience. | ||
Bryan A. Ward (2/4/1955)
Trustee since May 2006 3 year term (expiring at 2019 annual meeting).
24 funds |
Senior Advisor, CrossFirst Bank since April 2019; Private Investor, BW Consulting, LLC since 2014; Senior Manager, Accenture, LLP (a consulting firm) from 1991 until retirement in 2014.
Director of Equity Metrix, LLC |
Significant experience on this and/or other boards of directors/trustees; significant managerial and executive experience; significant experience as a management consultant. |
Name, Date of Birth, |
Principal Occupations(s) |
Experience,
Qualifications, | ||
Interested Trustees | ||||
Dustin Norris4 (1/6/1984)
Trustee since February 2018; Executive Vice President since April 2019; Nominee for 3 year term expiring at 2021 annual meeting.
24 funds |
Head of Distribution and Chief Product Strategist at NexPoint since March 2019; President of NexPoint Securities, Inc. (formerly, Highland Capital Funds Distributor, Inc.) since April 2018; Head of Distribution at HCMFA from November 2017 until March 2019; Secretary of HFRO, GAF, HFI and HFII from October 2017 until April 2019; Assistant Secretary of HFRO and GAF II from August 2017 to October 2017; Chief Product Strategist at HCMFA from September 2015 to March 2019; Director of Product Strategy at HCMFA from May 2014 to September 2015; Assistant Secretary of HFI and HFII from March 2017 to October 2017; Secretary of NHF from December 2015 until April 2019; Assistant Treasurer of NexPoint Real Estate Advisors, L.P. since May 2015; Assistant Treasurer of NexPoint Real Estate Advisors II, L.P. since June 2016; Assistant Treasurer of HFI and HFII from November 2012 to March 2017; Assistant Treasurer of NHF from November 2012 to December 2015; Secretary of the BDC from 2014 until April 2019; and Secretary of the Interval Funds from March 2016 until April 2019.
None |
Significant experience in the financial industry; significant managerial and executive experience, including experience as an officer of the Highland Funds Complex since 2012. |
1 | The Board of Trustees is divided into three classes, each class having a term of three years to expire on the date of the third annual meeting following its election. On an annual basis, as a matter of Board policy, the Governance and Compliance Committee reviews each Trustees performance and determines whether to extend each such Trustees service for another year. Effective June 2013, the Board adopted a retirement policy wherein the Governance and Compliance Committee shall not recommend the continued service as a Trustee of a Board member who is older than 80 years of age at the time the Governance and Compliance Committee reports its findings to the Board. |
2 | Since May 1, 2015, Mr. Honis has been treated as an Independent Trustee of the Trust. Prior to that date, Mr. Honis was treated as an Interested Trustee because he was a partner of an investment adviser affiliated with the Adviser until his resignation in November 2014. As of March 5, 2019, Mr. Honis was entitled to receive aggregate severance and/or deferred compensation payments of approximately $400,000 from another affiliate of the Adviser. |
In addition, Mr. Honis serves as a trustee of a trust that owns substantially all of the economic interest in an investment adviser affiliated with the Adviser. Mr. Honis indirectly receives an asset-based fee in respect of such interest, which is projected to range from $450,000-$550,000 annually. Additionally, an investment adviser controlled by Mr. Honis has entered into a shared services arrangement with an affiliate of the Adviser, pursuant to which the affiliate provides back office support in exchange for approximately $50,000 per quarter. The affiliated adviser was paid $147,000 and $208,000 in 2017 and 2018, respectively. In light
of these relationships between Mr. Honis and affiliates of the Adviser, it is possible that the SEC might in the future determine Mr. Honis to be an interested person of the Trust.
3 | Prior to December 8, 2017, Mr. Powell was treated as an Interested Trustee of the Fund for all purposes other than compensation and the Trusts code of ethics. |
4 | On February 7, 2018, Mr. Norris was appointed as an Interested Trustee of the Trust. |
Information about the Funds Executive Officers
Set forth below are the names and certain information regarding the Funds executive officers. Such officers serve at the pleasure of the Trustees or until their successors have been duly elected and qualified. The Trustees may fill any vacancy in office or add any additional officers at any time.
Name, Date of Birth, Position(s) |
Principal Occupations(s) During the Past Five Years | |
James Dondero (6/29/1962)
President and Principal Executive Officer since May 2015; Indefinite Term |
President of HCM, which he co-founded in 1993; Chairman of the Board of NexPoint Residential Trust, Inc. since May 2015; Portfolio Manager of NHF; GAF; Highland Energy MLP Fund, Highland Small-Cap Equity Fund and Highland Premier Growth Equity Fund (each a series of HFII); Highland Opportunistic Credit Fund (series of HFI); the BDC; and the Interval Funds. | |
Frank Waterhouse (4/14/1971)
Treasurer since May 2015; Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer since October 2017; Indefinite Term |
Partner and Chief Financial Officer of HCM; Treasurer of the Highland Funds Complex since May 2015. | |
Clifford Stoops (11/17/1970)
Assistant Treasurer since March 2017; Indefinite Term |
Chief Accounting Officer at HCM; Assistant Treasurer of the Highland Funds Complex since March 2017. | |
Jason Post (1/9/1979)
Chief Compliance Officer since September 2015; Indefinite Term |
Chief Compliance Officer for HCMFA and NexPoint since September 2015; Chief Compliance Officer and Anti-Money Laundering Officer of the Highland Funds Complex since September 2015. Prior to his current role at HCMFA and NexPoint, Mr. Post served as Deputy Chief Compliance Officer and Director of Compliance for HCM. | |
Dustin Norris (1/6/1984)
Executive Vice President since April 2019; Indefinite Term Trustee since February 2018 |
Head of Distribution and Chief Product Strategist at NexPoint since March 2019; President of NexPoint Securities, Inc. since April 2018; Head of Distribution at HCMFA from November 2017 until March 2019; Chief Product Strategist at HCMFA from September 2015 to March 2019; Director of Product Strategy at HCMFA from May 2014 to September 2015; Officer of the Highland Funds Complex since November 2012. | |
Lauren Thedford (1/7/1989)
Secretary since April 2019; Indefinite Term |
Associate General Counsel at HCM since September 2017; In-House Counsel at HCM from January 2015 until September 2017; Secretary of the Highland Funds Complex since April 2019. |
1 | The address for each officer is c/o NexPoint Advisors, L.P., 300 Crescent Court, Suite 700, Dallas, Texas 75201. |
Beneficial Ownership of Shares
Set forth in the table below is the dollar range of shares of the Fund and the aggregate dollar range of shares beneficially owned by each Trustee of the Fund.
Name of Trustee |
Dollar Range of Shares of the Fund1 |
Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities1 Owned in All Registered Investment Companies Overseen by Trustee in the Highland Funds Complex |
||||||
Independent Trustees |
||||||||
Ethan Powell2 |
Over $100,000 | Over $ | 100,000 | |||||
John Honis3 |
None | None | ||||||
Dr. Bob Froehlich |
$1-$10,000 | Over $ | 100,000 | |||||
Bryan A. Ward |
$1-$10,000 | Over $ | 100,000 | |||||
Interested Trustee |
||||||||
Dustin Norris4 |
Over $100,000 | Over $ | 100,000 |
1 | Based on market value as of February 28, 2019. |
2 | Prior to December 8, 2017, Mr. Powell was treated as an Interested Trustee of the Fund for all purposes other than compensation and the Funds code of ethics. |
3 | Effective May 1, 2015, Mr. Honis is treated as an Independent Trustee of the Fund. |
4 | On February 7, 2018, Mr. Norris was appointed as an Interested Trustee of the Fund. |
Set forth in the table below is the security ownership in the Fund of each Trustee and executive officer.
Title of Class |
Name of |
Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership1 |
Value of Securities2 |
Percentage of the Fund |
||||||||||
Independent Trustees |
||||||||||||||
Common Shares |
Dr. Bob Froehlich | 184 | $ | 4,016.72 | 0.0006 | % | ||||||||
Common Shares |
Bryan A. Ward | None | None | None | ||||||||||
Common Shares |
John Honis | None | None | None | ||||||||||
Common Shares |
Ethan Powell3 | 4,959 | $ | 108,254.97 | 0.0153 | % | ||||||||
Interested Trustee |
||||||||||||||
Common Shares |
Dustin Norris4 | 8,254 | $ | 180,184.82 | 0.0255 | % | ||||||||
Executive Officers |
||||||||||||||
Common Shares |
James Dondero5 | 5,063,808 | $ | 110,542,928.64 | 15.6374 | % | ||||||||
Common Shares |
Frank Waterhouse | 368 | $ | 8,033.44 | 0.0011 | % | ||||||||
Common Shares |
Clifford Stoops | 62 | $ | 1,353.46 | 0.0002 | % | ||||||||
Common Shares |
Jason Post | 1,423 | $ | 31,064.09 | 0.0044 | % |
1 | As of February 28, 2019. Except as otherwise indicated, each person has sole voting and investment power over the indicated shares. |
2 | Based on market value as of February 28, 2019. |
3 | Prior to December 8, 2017, Mr. Powell was treated as an Interested Trustee of the Fund for all purposes other than compensation and the Funds code of ethics. |
4 | On February 7, 2018, Mr. Norris was appointed as an Interested Trustee of the Fund. |
5 | Mr. Dondero controls Strand Advisors, Inc., which is the general partner of Highland Capital Management, L.P. (HCMLP). Through his control of Strand Advisors, Inc., Mr. Dondero may be viewed as having voting and dispositive power over the shares of the Common Stock directly owned by HCMLP or by funds that are advised by HCMLP. Mr. Dondero disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein. Mr. Dondero controls Strand Advisors XVI, Inc., which is the general partner of Highland Capital Management Fund Advisors, L.P. (HCMFA). Through his control of Strand Advisors XVI, Inc., Mr. Dondero may be viewed as having voting and dispositive power over the |
shares of the Common Stock directly owned by HCMFA or by funds that are advised by HCMFA. Mr. Dondero disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein. Mr. Dondero controls NexPoint Advisors GP, LLC, which is the general partner of the Adviser. Through his control of NexPoint Advisors GP, LLC, Mr. Dondero may be viewed as having voting and dispositive power over the shares of the Common Stock directly owned by the Adviser or by funds that are advised by the Adviser. Mr. Dondero disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein. |
As of February 28, 2019, the Trustees and officers of the Fund as a group owned 15.69% of the Funds outstanding Common Shares, including shares of the Common Stock directly owned by the Adviser over which Mr. Dondero controls through his control of NexPoint Advisors GP, LLC, the general partner of the Adviser.
As of February 28, 2019, none of the Independent Trustees or their immediate family members owned beneficially or of record any securities issued by the Adviser, the principal underwriter, or any person controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Adviser or principal underwriter.
Role of the Board of Trustees, Leadership Structure and Risk Oversight
The Role of the Board of Trustees
The Board oversees the management and operations of the Fund. Like most registered investment companies, the day-to-day management and operation of the Fund is performed by various service providers to the Fund, such as the Adviser, and the distributor, administrator, custodian, and transfer agent. The Board has appointed senior employees of certain of these service providers as officers of the Fund, with responsibility to monitor and report to the Board on the Funds operations. The Board receives regular reports from these officers and service providers regarding the Funds operations. For example, the Treasurer provides reports as to financial reporting matters and investment personnel report on the performance of the Fund. The Board has appointed a Chief Compliance Officer who administers the Funds compliance program and regularly reports to the Board as to compliance matters. Some of these reports are provided as part of formal in-person Board meetings, which are typically held quarterly, in person, and involve the Boards review of, among other items, recent Fund operations. The Board also periodically holds telephonic meetings as part of its review of the Funds activities. From time to time one or more members of the Board may also meet with management in less formal settings, between scheduled Board meetings, to discuss various topics. In all cases, however, the role of the Board and of any individual Trustee is one of oversight and not of management of the day-to-day affairs of the Fund and its oversight role does not make the Board a guarantor of the Funds investments, operations or activities.
Board Structure and Leadership
The Board has structured itself in a manner that it believes allows it to perform its oversight function effectively. The Board currently consists of five Trustees, four of whom are not interested persons, as defined in the 1940 Act and are independent as defined in Rule 303A.02 of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual. The remaining Trustee, Mr. Norris, is currently treated as an interested person of the Fund (an Interested Trustee). Mr. Norris is treated as an Interested Trustee because of his position with HCMFA, an affiliate of the Adviser. Mr. Powell serves as Chairman of the Board. The Trustees meet periodically throughout the year in person and by telephone to oversee the Funds activities, review contractual arrangements with service providers for the Fund and review the Funds performance. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, the Board convened fourteen times. Each Trustee attended at least 75% of the aggregate of the total number of meetings of the Board and Committees on which he served during the periods that he served. The Fund encourages, but does not require, Trustees to attend the Annual Meeting.
The Board periodically reviews its leadership structure, including the role of the Chairman. The Board also completes an annual self-assessment during which it reviews its leadership and Committee structure and considers whether its structure remains appropriate in light of the Funds current operations. The Board believes that its leadership structure, including the current percentage of the Board who are Independent Trustees is
appropriate given its specific characteristics. These characteristics include: (i) the extent to which the work of the Board is conducted through the standing committees, each of whose meetings are chaired by an Independent Trustee; (ii) the extent to which the Independent Trustees meet as needed, together with their independent legal counsel, in the absence of members of management and any member of the Board who is considered an interested person of the Fund; and (iii) Mr. Powells and Mr. Honis previous positions with affiliates of the Adviser, which enhances the Boards understanding of the operations of the Adviser.
Board Oversight of Risk Management. The Boards role is one of oversight, rather than active management. This oversight extends to the Funds risk management processes. These processes are embedded in the responsibilities of officers of, and service providers to, the Fund. For example, the Adviser and other service providers to the Fund are primarily responsible for the management of the Funds investment risks. The Board has not established a formal risk oversight committee. However, much of the regular work of the Board and its standing Committees addresses aspects of risk oversight. For example, the Trustees seek to understand the key risks facing the Fund, including those involving conflicts of interest; how management identifies and monitors these risks on an ongoing basis; how management develops and implements controls to mitigate these risks; and how management tests the effectiveness of those controls.
In the course of providing that oversight, the Board receives a wide range of reports on the Funds activities from the Adviser and other service providers, including reports regarding the Funds investment portfolio, the compliance of the Fund with applicable laws, and the Funds financial accounting and reporting. The Board also meets periodically with the Funds Chief Compliance Officer to receive reports regarding the compliance of the Fund with the federal securities laws and the Funds internal compliance policies and procedures and meets with the Funds Chief Compliance Officer periodically, including at least annually, to review the Chief Compliance Officers annual report, including the Chief Compliance Officers risk-based analysis for the Fund. The Boards Audit and Qualified Legal Compliance Committee (the Audit Committee) also meets regularly with the Treasurer and the Funds independent registered public accounting firm to discuss, among other things, the internal control structure of the Funds financial reporting function. The Board also meets periodically with the portfolio managers of the Fund to receive reports regarding the management of the Fund, including its investment risks.
The Board recognizes that not all risks that may affect the Fund can be identified, that it may not be practical or cost-effective to eliminate or mitigate certain risks, that it may be necessary to bear certain risks (such as investment-related risks) to achieve the Funds goals, that reports received by the Trustees with respect to risk management matters are typically summaries of the relevant information, and that the processes, procedures and controls employed to address risks may be limited in their effectiveness. As a result of the foregoing and other factors, risk management oversight by the Board and by the Committees is subject to substantial limitations.
Committees of the Board
The Board conducts much of its work through certain standing Committees. The Board has three Committees, the Audit and Qualified Legal Compliance Committee, the Governance and Compliance Committee, and the Distribution and Alternatives Oversight Committee, which are discussed in greater detail below. The Board has adopted charters for each of these committees.
The Audit and Qualified Legal Compliance Committee. The members of the Audit Committee are Dr. Froehlich and Messrs. Ward and Powell, each of whom is independent for purposes of the 1940 Act. The Audit Committee is responsible for approving the Funds independent accountants, reviewing with the Funds independent accountants the plans and results of the audit engagement and the adequacy of the Funds internal accounting controls and approving professional services provided by the Funds independent accountants. The Audit Committee is charged with compliance with Rules 205.2(k) and 205.3(c) of Title 17 of the Code of Federal Regulations regarding alternative reporting procedures for attorneys representing the Fund who appear and practice before the SEC on behalf of the Fund. The Audit Committee is also responsible for reviewing and overseeing the valuation of debt and equity securities that are not publicly traded or for which current market values are not readily available pursuant to policies and procedures adopted by the Board. The Board and Audit
Committee will use the services of one or more independent valuation firms to help them determine the fair value of these securities. In addition, each member of the Audit Committee meets the current independence and experience requirements of Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the 1934 Act). The Audit Committee met six times during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018. Mr. Ward acts as the Chairman of the Audit Committee and as the audit committee financial expert.
The Governance and Compliance Committee. The Funds Governance and Compliance Committees function is to oversee and make recommendations to the full Board or the Independent Trustees, as applicable, with respect to the governance of the Fund, selection and nomination of Trustees, compensation of Trustees, and related matters, as well as to oversee and assist Board oversight of the Funds compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and to seek to address any potential conflicts of interest between the Fund and NexPoint in connection with any potential or existing litigation or other legal proceeding related to securities held by the Fund and the Adviser or another client of the Adviser. The Governance and Compliance Committee is also responsible for at least annually evaluating each Trustee and determining whether to recommend each Trustees continued service in that capacity. The Governance and Compliance Committee will consider recommendations for Trustee nominees from shareholders sent to the Secretary of the Trust, 300 Crescent Court, Suite 700, Dallas, Texas 75201. A nomination submission must include all information relating to the recommended nominee that is required to be disclosed in solicitations or proxy statements for the election of Trustees, as well as information sufficient to evaluate the recommended nominees ability to meet the responsibilities of a Trustee of the Fund. Nomination submissions must be accompanied by a written consent of the individual to stand for election if nominated by the Board and to serve if elected by the shareholders, and such additional information must be provided regarding the recommended nominee as reasonably requested by the Governance and Compliance Committee. The Governance and Compliance Committee is currently comprised of Dr. Froehlich and Messrs. Honis, Ward and Powell, each of whom is independent for purposes of the 1940 Act. Mr. Powell serves as the Chairman of the Governance and Compliance Committee. Prior to the February 28, 2019-March 1, 2019 Board Meeting, the Governance and Compliance Committee was divided into the Governance Committee and the Compliance Committee, each of which met five times during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018.
The Distribution and Alternatives Oversight Committee. The members of the Distribution and Alternatives Oversight Committee are Dr. Froehlich, Messrs. Honis, Norris, Ward, and Powell. The Distribution and Alternatives Oversight Committee is responsible for reviewing arrangements with financial intermediaries who provide service to the Fund, including Fund payments to financial intermediaries, and for overseeing any funds that, in the Boards determination, employ alternative investment strategies. Dr. Froehlich serves as Chairman of the Distribution and Alternatives Oversight Committee. Prior to the February 28, 2019-March 1, 2019 Board Meeting, the Distribution and Alternatives Oversight Committee was divided into the Distribution Oversight Committee and the Alternatives Oversight Committee, each of which met four times during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018.
Remuneration of Trustees and Executive Officers
The executive officers of the Fund and those of its Trustees who are interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Fund receive no direct remuneration from the Fund. Each Independent Trustee receives an annual retainer of $150,000 payable in quarterly installments and allocated among each portfolio in the Highland Funds Complex based upon relative net assets. The Independent Trustees are reimbursed for actual out-of-pocket expenses relating to attendance at meetings. The Independent Trustees do not receive any separate compensation in connection with service on Committees or for attending Board or Committee Meetings; however, the Chairman of the Board and the Chairman of the Audit Committee each receive an additional payment of $10,000 payable in quarterly installments and allocated among each portfolio in the Highland Funds Complex based on relative net assets. The Trustees do not have any pension or retirement plan.
The following table summarizes the compensation paid by the Fund to its Trustees and the aggregate compensation paid by the Highland Funds Complex to the Trustees for services rendered in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018.
Name of Trustee |
Aggregate Compensation From the Fund |
Pension or Retirement Benefits Accrued as Part of the Funds Expense |
Estimated Annual Benefits Upon Retirement |
Aggregate Compensation from the Highland Funds Complex |
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Independent Trustees |
||||||||||||||||
Timothy K. Hui1 |
$ | 26,810.30 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 150,000 | ||||||||
Bryan A. Ward2 |
$ | 26,810.30 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 160,000 | ||||||||
Dr. Bob Froehlich |
$ | 26,810.30 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 150,000 | ||||||||
John Honis3 |
$ | 26,810.30 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 150,000 | ||||||||
Ethan Powell2,4 |
$ | 28,844.46 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 160,000 | ||||||||
Interested Trustee |
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Dustin Norris5 |
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
1 | Effective March 31, 2019, Mr. Hui resigned as an Independent Trustee of the Fund. |
2 | Effective December 31, 2018, the Board approved an aggregate compensation increase of $10,000 payable to each of the Chairman of the Audit Committee and the Chairman of the Board |
3 | Effective May 1, 2015, Mr. Honis is treated as an Independent Trustee of the Fund. |
4 | Prior to December 8, 2017, Mr. Powell was treated as an Interested Trustee of the Fund for all purposes other than compensation and the Funds code of ethics. |
5 | On February 7, 2018, Mr. Norris was appointed as an Interested Trustee of the Fund. |
Share Ownership and Certain Beneficial Owners
To the knowledge of management of the Fund and the Board, the following shareholder(s) or groups, as the term is defined in Section 13(d) of the 1934 Act, beneficially owned, or were owners of record of, more than 5% of the Funds outstanding shares as of February 28, 2019:
Title of Class |
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner |
Amount and Nature of |
Percentage | |||
Common Shares | Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC P.O. Box 703 New York, NY 10014 |
4,322,252 shares | 13.42% | |||
Common Shares | Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC P.O. Box 5268 Sioux Falls, SD 57117 |
3,835,944 shares | 11.91% | |||
Common Shares | National Financial Services LLC For exclusive benefit of our customers 499 Washington Boulevard Attn. Mutual Funds Dept. 4th Floor Jersey City, NJ 07310 |
2,874,167 shares | 8.92% | |||
Common Shares | Pershing LLC 1 Pershing Plaza, 7th Floor Jersey City, NJ 07399 |
2,656,532 shares | 8.25% | |||
Common Shares | Jefferies LLC 520 Madison Avenue New York, NY 10022 |
1,730,527 shares | 5.37% |
* | Each owner owned shares as a nominee. |
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the 1934 Act and Section 30(h) of the 1940 Act, and the rules thereunder, require that the Funds Trustees and officers, the Adviser, certain persons affiliated with the Adviser, and persons who own beneficially,
directly or indirectly, more than 10% of the Funds outstanding interests (collectively, Section 16 reporting persons), file initial reports of beneficial ownership and reports of changes in beneficial ownership of Fund interests with the SEC and the New York Stock Exchange. Section 16 reporting persons are required by SEC regulations to furnish to the Fund copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file with respect to shares of the Fund. Based solely on a review of copies of such reports of ownership, as of the date of the Proxy Statement, the Fund is aware that certain late Form 4s for the Trustees and Officers of the Fund were filed one day late, on June 11, 2018, as a result of the oversubscription of the Funds 2018 rights offering and subsequent determination of total amount of shares purchased. The Fund believes that, in all other instances during the past fiscal year, the Officers, Trustees and greater than 10% beneficial holders of the Fund complied with all applicable filing requirements.
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC), an independent registered public accounting firm located at 2121 N. Pearl Street, Suite 2000, Dallas, TX 75201, serves as the Funds independent registered public accounting firm. Representatives of PwC will not be present at the Annual Meeting, but PwC has been given the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so and will be available should any matter arise requiring their presence. After reviewing the Funds audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, the Funds Audit Committee recommended to the Funds Board that such statements be included in the Funds Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018. A copy of the Audit Committees report appears below.
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Fees and Services
The following chart reflects fees paid to PwC in the Funds last two fiscal years. One hundred percent (100%) of all services provided by PwC to the Fund in each year were pre-approved and no fees were subject to pre-approval by the Audit Committee pursuant to Rule 2-01(c)(7)(i)(c) of Regulation S-X. The audit services are approved by the Audit Committee pursuant to an audit engagement letter, and, in accordance with the Funds pre-approval policies and procedures, the Audit Committee of the Fund must pre-approve all non-audit services provided by PwC, and all non-audit services provided by PwC to the Adviser, or any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Adviser that provides ongoing services to the Fund that are related to the operations and financial reporting of the Fund. In some circumstances, when certain services were not recognized at the time of the engagement to be non-audit services, the pre-approval requirement may be waived if the aggregate amount of the fees for such non-audit services constitutes less than five percent of the total amount of revenues paid to PwC by the Fund during the fiscal year in which the non-audit services are provided. PwC provided non-audit services to the Adviser during the Funds last two fiscal years, but these services did not relate directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Fund, and therefore were not subject to pre-approval pursuant to Rule 2-01(c)(7)(ii) of Regulation S-X. PwC did not provide any non-audit services to any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Adviser that provides ongoing services to the Fund. The Audit Committee has considered whether the provision of non-audit services that were rendered to the Adviser was compatible with maintaining PwCs independence.
Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2017 |
Fiscal year Ended December 31, 2018 |
|||||||
Audit Fees paid by Fund |
$ | 286,500 | $ | 320,500 | ||||
Audit-Related Fees paid by Fund1 |
$ | 8,500 | $ | 24,000 | ||||
Tax Fees paid by Fund2 |
$ | 11,430 | $ | 15,280 | ||||
All Other Fees paid by Fund |
$ | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||
Aggregate Non-Audit Fees paid by Fund and Adviser |
$ | 337,500 | $ | 375,500 |
1 | The nature of the services related to agreed-upon procedures, performed on the Funds semi-annual financial statements. |
2 | The nature of the services related to assistance on the Funds tax returns and excise tax calculations. |
Audit Fees. Audit fees consist of fees billed for professional services rendered for the audit of the Funds year-end consolidated financial statements and reviews of the interim consolidated financial statements included in quarterly reports and services that are normally provided by PwC in connection with statutory and regulatory filings. These services also include the required audits of the Funds internal controls over financial reporting.
Audit-Related Fees. Audit-related fees consist of fees billed for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Funds consolidated financial statements and are not reported under Audit Fees. These services include attestation services that are not required by statute or regulation, consultations concerning financial accounting and reporting standards, and fees related to requests for documentation and information from regulatory and other government agencies.
Tax Fees. Tax fees consist of fees billed for professional services for tax compliance. These services include assistance regarding federal, state, and local tax compliance.
All Other Fees. All other fees include fees for products and services other than the services reported above.
Report of the Audit Committee
The Audit Committee oversees the Funds accounting and financial reporting processes and the audits of the Funds financial statements. Management is responsible for the preparation, presentation and integrity of the Funds financial statements, the Funds accounting and financial and reporting principles, and internal controls and procedures designed to assure compliance with accounting standards and applicable laws and regulations. The Audit Committee reviewed the audited financial statements in the Annual Report dated December 31, 2018 with management and discussed the quality of the accounting principles, the reasonableness of significant judgments and the clarity of disclosures in the financial statements.
The Audit Committee has considered and discussed the above described December 31, 2018 audited financial statements with management and with PwC. The Audit Committee has also discussed with PwC the matters required to be discussed by the statement on Auditing Standards No. 1301, as amended (AICPA, Professional Standards, Vol. 1. AU section 380), as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) in Rule 3200T, The Auditors Communication With Those Charged With Governance. The Audit Committee reviewed with PwC, who is responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of those audited financial statements with generally accepted accounting principles, their judgment as to the quality, not just the acceptability, of the Funds accounting principles and such other matters as are required to be discussed with the Audit Committee under generally accepted auditing standards. Finally, the Audit Committee reviewed the written disclosures and the letters from PwC required by PCAOB Rule 3526, Communication with Audit Committees Concerning Independence, as currently in effect, has considered whether the provision of other non-audit services by PwC to the Fund are compatible with maintaining PwCs independence, and has discussed with PwC its independence of the Fund.
The Audit Committee discussed with PwC the overall scope and plans for the audit. The Audit Committee met with PwC to discuss the results of their audit, their evaluations of the Funds internal controls and the overall quality of the Funds financial reporting.
Based upon the reports and discussions described in this report, and subject to the limitations on the role and responsibilities of the Audit Committee referred to in this proxy statement and in the Audit Committees Charter, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board (and the Board has approved) that the Funds audited financial statements be included in the Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 and filed with the SEC.
Shareholders are reminded, however, that the members of the Audit Committee are not professionally engaged in the practice of auditing or accounting. Members of the Audit Committee rely, without independent verification, on the information provided to them and on the representations made by management and PwC. Accordingly, the Audit Committees oversight does not provide an independent basis to determine that management has
maintained appropriate accounting and financial reporting principles or appropriate internal controls and procedures designed to assure compliance with accounting standards and applicable laws and regulations. Furthermore, the Audit Committees considerations and discussions, referred to above, do not assure that the audit of the Funds financial statements has been carried out in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB, that the financial statements are presented in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America or that the Funds independent registered public accounting firm is, in fact, independent.
Bryan A. Ward, Audit Committee Chair
Dr. Bob Froehlich, Audit Committee Member
Ethan Powell, Audit Committee Member
OTHER MATTERS TO COME BEFORE THE ANNUAL MEETING
The Trustees do not intend to present any other business at the Annual Meeting nor are they aware that any shareholder intends to do so. If, however, any other matters are properly brought before the Annual Meeting, the persons named in the accompanying proxy will vote thereon in accordance with their judgment.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Shareholder Proposals
Any proposals of shareholders intended to be presented at the Funds 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders must be received at the Funds principal executive office no later than January 28, 2020 for inclusion in the Funds proxy statement and proxy card relating to the 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and must comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-8 under the 1934 Act and all other legal requirements. Such proposals must also comply with the requirements as to form and substance established by the SEC if such proposals are to be included in the proxy statement and form of proxy. The submission by a shareholder of a proposal for inclusion in the proxy materials does not guarantee that it will be included. Any proposals submitted after such date will not be included in the Funds proxy statement and proxy card relating to the 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Proxies solicited by the Fund will confer discretionary voting authority with respect to these proposals if the proposals are not received by the Fund, in good order and complying with all applicable legal requirements, by January 28, 2020, and may confer discretionary voting authority with respect to proposals received before such date, in each case subject to SEC rules governing the exercise of this authority.
Delivery Requirements
The SEC has adopted rules that permit companies and intermediaries such as brokers to satisfy delivery requirements for proxy statements with respect to two or more shareholders sharing the same address by delivering a single proxy statement or Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (Notice) addressed to those shareholders or by sending separate Notices for each household account in a single envelope. This process, which is commonly referred to as householding, potentially provides extra convenience for shareholders and cost savings for companies. The Fund and some brokers household proxy materials or Notices, delivering a single proxy statement or Notice to multiple shareholders sharing an address unless contrary instructions have been received from the affected shareholders. Once a shareholder has received notice from a broker or the Fund that they will be householding materials to the shareholders address, householding will continue until the shareholder is notified otherwise or until the shareholder revokes consent.
We will deliver promptly, upon request, a separate copy of any of these documents to shareholders at a shared address to which a single copy of such document(s) was delivered. Shareholders who wish to receive a separate copy of any of these documents, or to receive a single copy of such documents if multiple copies were delivered, now or in the future, should submit their request by writing to the Fund c/o NexPoint Advisors, L.P., 300 Crescent Court, Suite 700, Dallas, Texas 75201 or calling the Fund at (866) 351-4440.
Communications with Trustees
Shareholders of the Fund who wish to communicate with Trustees (or to the Independent Trustees as a group) should send communications to the attention of the Secretary of the Fund, c/o NexPoint Advisors, L.P., 300 Crescent Court, Suite 700, Dallas, Texas 75201, and all communications will be directed to the Trustee or Trustees indicated in the communication or, if no Trustee or Trustees are indicated, to all Trustees.
COPIES OF THE FUNDS ANNUAL REPORT DATED DECEMBER 31, 2018 AND SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT DATED JUNE 30, 2018 TO SHAREHOLDERS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST, WITHOUT CHARGE, BY WRITING THE FUND AT 6201 15TH AVENUE, BROOKLYN, NEW YORK 11219, OR BY CALLING TOLL-FREE (866) 351-4440.
It is important that proxies be returned promptly. Therefore, whether or not you expect to attend the Annual Meeting in person, you are urged to fill in, sign and return the proxy in the enclosed stamped, self-addressed envelope.
Dallas, Texas
April 24, 2019
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NEXPOINT STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITIES FUND Annual Meeting of Shareholders June 14, 2019 Proxy Solicited on Behalf of the Board of Trustees |
The undersigned holder of shares of NexPoint Strategic Opportunities Fund, a Delaware statutory trust (formerly, NexPoint Credit Strategies Fund) (the Fund), hereby appoints Frank Waterhouse and Jason Post, and each of them separately, with full power of substitution, as proxies to represent the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held at 200 Crescent Court, Crescent Club, Dallas, TX 75201, on June 14, 2019, at 8:00 a.m., Central Time and at any and all adjournments and postponements thereof (the Annual Meeting), and thereat to vote all shares of the Fund which the undersigned would be entitled to vote, with all powers the undersigned would possess if personally present, in accordance with the instructions of this proxy. The undersigned holder hereby acknowledges receipt of the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement.
The execution of this proxy is not intended to, and does not, revoke any prior proxies or powers of attorney other than the revocation, in accordance with the law of the State of Delaware and applicable federal securities laws, of any proxy previously granted specifically in connection with the voting of the shares subject hereto.
IF YOU SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY, IT WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED, OR IF NO DIRECTION IS INDICATED, WILL BE VOTED FOR THE PROPOSAL.
THREE OPTIONS FOR VOTING YOUR PROXY
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1. Internet |
Log on to www.proxyonline.com. Make sure to have this proxy card available when you plan to vote your shares. You will need the control number found in the box at the right at the time you execute your vote. |
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2. Telephone |
Simply dial toll-free (800) 870-0126 and have this proxy card available at the time of the call. You will need the control number found in the box at the right at the time you execute your vote. | ||||
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3. Mail |
Simply sign, date, and complete the reverse side of this proxy card and return it in the postage paid envelope provided. | ||||
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THIS ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON JUNE 14, 2019.
The proxy statement for this meeting is available at: www.proxyonline.com/docs/nexpointsof2019.pdf
TAG ID: | BAR CODE | CUSIP: 65340G205 |
NEXPOINT STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITIES FUND |
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IF THIS PROXY IS PROPERLY EXECUTED, THE VOTES ENTITLED TO BE CAST BY THE UNDERSIGNED HOLDER WILL BE CAST IN THE MANNER DIRECTED ON THE REVERSE SIDE HEREOF, AND WILL BE VOTED IN THE DISCRETION OF THE PROXY HOLDER(S) ON ANY OTHER MATTERS THAT MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE ANNUAL MEETING OR ANY ADJOURNMENTS OR POSTPONEMENTS THEREOF. THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE PROPOSAL UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED. THIS PROXY WILL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE AND APPLICABLE FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS.
PLEASE VOTE, DATE AND SIGN ON REVERSE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE
TO VOTE, MARK ONE BOX FOR EACH ITEM IN BLUE OR BLACK INK. Example: ☒
THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE BELOW PROPOSAL.
PROPOSAL:
1. To elect each of Ethan Powell and Bryan A. Ward as a Class I Trustee of the Fund, to serve for a three-year term expiring at the 2022 Annual Meeting or until his successor is duly elected and qualifies (the Proposal); and |
FOR | WITHHOLD | ||
1a. Ethan Powell |
☐ | ☐ | ||
1b. Bryan A. Ward |
☐ | ☐ | ||
2. To transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting and any adjournment thereof. |
THANK YOU FOR VOTING
TAG ID: | BAR CODE | CUSIP: 65340G205 |
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