May __, 2010
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Dear Stockholder:
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(1)
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To approve an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization pursuant to which (a) Neuberger Berman High Yield Strategies Fund (“NHS”) would convert to a newly formed Maryland corporation, named Neuberger Berman High Yield Strategies Fund Inc. (“New NHS”) (“Conversion”) and NHS would dissolve under applicable state law, and (b) after the Conversion, Neuberger Berman Income Opportunity Fund Inc. (“NOX”) would transfer its assets to New NHS in exchange for shares of common stock and preferred stock of New NHS and the assumption by New NHS of NOX’s liabilities and NOX would dissolve under applicable state law.
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(2)
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To elect five Class II Trustees/Directors (“Directors”) as outlined below:
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(a)
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Four Class II Directors, C. Anne Harvey, George W. Morriss, Jack L. Rivkin and Tom D. Seip, to be elected by the holders of common stock and preferred stock, voting together as a single class, such Directors to serve until the annual meeting of stockholders in 2013, or until their successors are elected and qualified; and
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(b)
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One Class II Director, John Cannon, to be elected by the holders of preferred stock, voting separately as a single class, such Director to serve until the annual meeting of stockholders in 2013, or until his successor is elected and qualified; and
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(3)
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To consider and act upon any other business that may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournments thereof.
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Claudia A. Brandon
Secretary
Neuberger Berman High Yield Strategies Fund
Neuberger Berman Income Opportunity Fund Inc.
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Registration
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Valid Signature
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Corporate Accounts
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(1) ABC Corp...............................................
(2) ABC Corp...............................................
(3) ABC Corp...............................................
c/o John Doe, Treasurer....................
(4) ABC Corp. Profit Sharing Plan............
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ABC Corp.
John Doe, Treasurer
John Doe
John Doe, Trustee
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Trust Accounts
(1) ABC Trust..............................................
(2) Jane B. Doe, Trustee u/t/d 12/28/78....
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Jane B. Doe, Trustee
Jane B. Doe
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Custodian or Estate Accounts
(1) John B. Smith, Cust. f/b/o
John B. Smith, Jr. UGMA...................
(2) John B. Smith.........................................
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John B. Smith
John B. Smith, Jr., Executor
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YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT NO MATTER HOW MANY
SHARES OF STOCK YOU OWN.
PLEASE RETURN YOUR PROXY CARD(S) PROMPTLY.
You may receive more than one proxy card depending on how you hold shares of a Fund. Please fill out and return each proxy card.
Stockholders are invited to attend the Meeting in person. Any stockholder who does not expect to attend the Meeting is urged to review the enclosed materials and follow the instructions that appear on the enclosed proxy card(s).
To avoid the additional expense to the Funds of further solicitation, we ask your cooperation in voting your proxy promptly, no matter how large or small your holdings may be.
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(1)
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To approve an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (“Agreement”) pursuant to which (a) NHS would convert to a newly formed Maryland corporation, named Neuberger Berman High Yield Strategies Fund Inc. (“New NHS,” and together with NHS and NOX, the “Funds,” and each, a “Fund”) (“Conversion”) and NHS would dissolve under applicable state law, and (b) after the Conversion, NOX would transfer its assets to New NHS in exchange for shares of common stock and preferred stock of New NHS and the assumption by New NHS of NOX’s liabilities and NOX would dissolve under applicable state law (“Merger,” and together with the Conversion, the “Reorganization”);
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(2)
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To elect five Class II Trustees/Directors (“Directors”) as outlined below:
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(a)
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Four Class II Directors, C. Anne Harvey, George W. Morriss, Jack L. Rivkin and Tom D. Seip, to be elected by the holders of common stock and preferred stock, voting together as a single class, such Directors to serve until the annual meeting of stockholders in 2013, or until their successors are elected and qualified; and
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(b)
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One Class II Director, John Cannon, to be elected by the holders of preferred stock, voting separately as a single class, such Director to serve until the annual meeting of stockholders in 2013, or until his successor is elected and qualified; and
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(3)
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To consider and act upon any other business that may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournments thereof.
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Page
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Proposal 1 - To Approve an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization
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Summary
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Comparison of Principal Risks of Investing in the Funds
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Information about the Proposed Reorganization
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Comparison of Investment Objective and Principal Investment Policies
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Portfolio Securities
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Management of the Funds
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Additional Information about the Funds
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Capitalization
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Portfolio Composition
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Dividends and other Distributions
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Repurchase of Common Stock; Tender Offers; Conversion to Open-End Fund
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Tax Matters
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Net Asset Value
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Portfolio Transactions
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Description of the Funds’ Capital Stock
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Proposal 2 – Election of Directors
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Information on NHS’s and NOX’s Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
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Other Matters
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Stockholder Proposals
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Stockholder Communications with the Boards
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Voting Information
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Service Providers
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Appendix A – Form of Agreement and Plan of Reorganization
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Appendix B – Risks of Investing in the Funds
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Appendix C – Investment Strategies of the Funds
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Appendix D – Description of the Funds’ Capital Stock
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Appendix E – Reports of NHS’S and NOX’S Audit Committees
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Appendix F – Fees Billed by Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
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—
|
New NHS will acquire all of the assets and assume all of the liabilities of NHS. After this acquisition, New NHS will acquire all of the assets and assume all of the liabilities of NOX. The net asset value (the “NAV”) of New NHS will be computed as of 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the Closing Date;
|
—
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New NHS will issue New NHS Common Stock in an amount equal to the value of NHS's net assets attributable to NHS Common Shares outstanding immediately prior to the Reorganization and NOX’s net assets attributable to NOX Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Reorganization and cause such New NHS Common Stock to be listed on the NYSE Amex. Those shares will be distributed to NHS Common Shareholders and NOX Common Stockholders of record in proportion to their respective holdings of NHS Common Shares and NOX Common Shares immediately prior to the Reorganization. NHS Common Shareholders and NOX Common Stockholders each will receive newly issued shares of New NHS Common Stock, the aggregate net asset value of which will equal the aggregate net asset value of the applicable Fund’s Common Stock they held immediately prior to the Reorganization. NHS Common Stockholders will receive the same number of NHS Common Shares as they held immediately prior to the Reorganization. NOX Common Stockholders will receive a different number of shares that will be based on the relative net asset value of NOX and New NHS, which generally will not include fractional shares of New NHS Common Stock. Instead, each former NOX Common Stockholder will receive cash in an amount equal to the value of the fractional shares of New NHS Common Stock that stockholder would otherwise have received in the Reorganization (except with respect to NOX Common Stock held in a Distribution Reinvestment Plan account, for which that stockholder will receive fractional shares);
|
—
|
New NHS will issue New NHS Preferred Stock, which will have substantially the same rights, preferences, and distribution payment periods as NHS Preferred Shares and NOX Preferred Stock, except that New NHS Preferred Stock will only be entitled to one vote per share, unlike NHS Preferred Shares, which are entitled to one vote for each dollar of liquidation preference. Those shares will be distributed to NHS Preferred Shareholders and NOX Preferred Shareholders. The aggregate liquidation preference and number of shares of New NHS Preferred Stock received by a Preferred Stockholder in the Reorganization will equal the aggregate liquidation preference and number of shares of NHS Preferred Shares and/or NOX Preferred Stock held by the Preferred Stockholder immediately prior to the Reorganization. After the Reorganization, distribution rates will continue to be set in the same manner as set forth in the organizational documents for NHS Preferred Shares, which is substantially similar to the methodology set forth in the organizational documents for NOX Preferred Stock;
|
—
|
New NHS will issue privately placed notes in the same principal amounts as, and having terms substantially similar to, the privately placed notes issued by NHS and NOX. New NHS Notes will be distributed to each holder of NHS Notes and NOX Notes in exchange for NHS Notes and NOX Notes held by such holder. The principal amount of New NHS Notes received by holders of NHS Notes and NOX
|
|
Notes will equal the principal amount of NHS Notes and NOX Notes held by such holder immediately prior to the Reorganization;
|
—
|
After the Reorganization, NHS and NOX each will (1) de-list from the applicable exchange, (2) de-register with the SEC and (3) dissolve under applicable state law.
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NOX
|
|
Fiscal Period
Ending October 31,
|
Percentage Waived of the Fund’s average daily Managed Assets
|
2010
|
0.13%
|
2011
|
0.07%
|
NOX
|
|
Fiscal Period
Ending October 31,
|
Percentage Waived of the Fund’s average daily Managed Assets
|
2010
|
0.19%
|
2011
|
0.13%
|
2012
|
0.07%
|
ACTUAL
|
PRO FORMA (assuming Reorganization occurs)
|
||
NHS
|
NOX
|
New NHS
|
|
Common Stockholder Transaction Expenses(1)
|
|||
Sales Load (as a percentage of offering price)(2)
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
Distribution Reinvestment Plan Fees(3)
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
(Unaudited)
|
ACTUAL
(Assuming Leverage as Described Above)
|
PRO FORMA (assuming Reorganization occurs)
|
|
NHS
|
NOX
|
New NHS
|
|
Annual Expenses (as a percentage of net assets attributable to common shares)^
|
|||
Management Fee*
|
0.98
|
1.40
|
0.85
|
Interest Payments on Notes
|
1.05
|
1.55
|
0.88
|
Other Expenses(4)
|
0.62
|
1.24
|
0.46
|
Total Annual Expenses
|
2.65
|
4.19
|
2.19
|
Distributions on Preferred Stock(5)
|
0.41
|
0.76
|
0.43
|
Total Annual Fund Operating
Expenses and Distributions on
|
3.06
|
4.95
|
2.62
|
Preferred Stock | |||
Minus: Expense Waiver
|
---(6)
|
0.31(7)
|
---(8)
|
Net Annual Fund Operating Expenses and Distributions on Preferred Stock
|
3.06
|
4.64
|
2.62
|
1 Year
|
3 Years
|
5 Years
|
10 Years
|
|
NHS
|
$29
|
$82
|
$141
|
$298
|
NOX
|
$39
|
$121
|
$208
|
$432
|
New NHS (assuming Reorganization occurs)
|
$22
|
$69
|
$117
|
$252
|
1.
|
the benefits to the Funds and their stockholders that are expected to be derived from the Reorganization;
|
|
2.
|
the fact that the Funds have the same investment objective and substantially similar principal investment strategies, policies and risks;
|
|
3.
|
the expense ratios of the Funds and information as to specific fees and expenses of the Funds, including waivers of management fees;
|
|
4.
|
the fact that the Reorganization will not dilute the interests of current stockholders of NHS and NOX;
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|
5.
|
the federal tax consequences of the Reorganization to NHS and NOX and their respective stockholders, including that the Reorganization has been structured to qualify as a tax-free reorganization for federal income tax purposes;
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6.
|
the potential for lower operating expenses through both economies of scale resulting from a larger asset base over which to spread certain fixed costs and the elimination of certain duplicative costs such as audit costs;
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7.
|
the potential for enhanced liquidity in the market due to the fact that New NHS will have outstanding a larger number of shares of Common Stock following the Reorganization then either NHS or NOX has now;
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8.
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the potential for portfolio management efficiencies due to New NHS’s greater asset size, which may allow it, relative to NHS and NOX, to achieve greater diversification of portfolio holdings;
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|
9.
|
the benefits of New NHS obtaining assets without incurring the commission expenses and generally greater other expenses associated with offering new shares of stock. In addition, the benefits of New NHS obtaining portfolio securities without the commensurate brokerage costs, dealer spreads or other trading expenses and obtaining these securities in a manner that is likely to minimize the market impact of such acquisition on the short-term prices of these securities; and
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|
10.
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the fact that NB Management is capping Reorganization costs at $400,000.
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(a)
|
New NHS’s acquisition of NHS’s assets (each, an “NHS Asset”) in exchange solely for New NHS Stock and its assumption of NHS’s liabilities, followed by NHS’s distribution of that New NHS Stock pro rata to NHS Shareholders actually or constructively in exchange for their NHS Shares, will qualify as a “reorganization” (as defined in section 368(a)(1)(F) of the Code), and each of NHS and New NHS will be “a party to a reorganization” within the meaning of section 368(b) of the Code;
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(b)
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NHS will recognize no gain or loss on the transfer of its assets to New NHS in exchange solely for New NHS Stock and New NHS’s assumption of its liabilities or on the subsequent distribution of that New NHS Stock to NHS Shareholders in exchange for their NHS Shares;
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(c)
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New NHS will recognize no gain or loss on its receipt of the NHS Assets in exchange solely for New NHS Stock and its assumption of NHS’s liabilities;
|
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(d)
|
New NHS’s basis in each NHS Asset will be the same as NHS’s basis therein immediately before the Conversion, and New NHS’s holding period for each NHS Asset will include NHS’s holding period therefor (except where New NHS’s investment activities have the effect of reducing or eliminating an asset’s holding period);
|
|
(e)
|
An NHS Shareholder will recognize no gain or loss on the exchange of all its NHS Shares solely for New NHS Stock pursuant to the Conversion;
|
|
(f)
|
An NHS Shareholder’s aggregate basis in the New NHS Stock it receives in the Conversion will be the same as the aggregate basis in its NHS Shares it actually or constructively surrenders in exchange for that New NHS Stock, and its holding period for that New NHS Stock will include, in each instance, its holding period for those NHS Shares, provided the NHS Shareholder holds those shares as capital assets on the Closing Date;
|
|
(g)
|
A holder of an NHS Note (or Notes) will recognize no gain or loss on the exchange thereof solely for a New NHS Note (or Notes) of equal principal amount having substantially similar terms pursuant to the Conversion; and
|
|
(h)
|
For purposes of section 381 of the Code, New NHS will be treated just as NHS would have been treated if there had been no Conversion. Accordingly, the Conversion will not result in the termination of NHS’s taxable year, NHS’s tax attributes enumerated in section 381(c) of the Code will be taken into account by New NHS as if there had been no Conversion, and the part of NHS’s taxable year before the Conversion will be included in New NHS’s taxable year after the Conversion.
|
(a)
|
New NHS’s acquisition of NOX’s assets (each, an “NOX Asset”) in exchange solely for New NHS Stock (and cash in lieu of fractional shares of NOX Common Stock, if applicable) and its assumption of NOX’s liabilities, followed by NOX’s distribution of that New NHS Stock pro rata to NOX Stockholders (and the distribution of any such cash to NOX Stockholders entitled thereto) actually or constructively in exchange for their NOX Stock, will qualify as a “reorganization” (as defined in section 368(a)(1)(C) of the Code), and each of NOX and New NHS will be “a party to a reorganization” within the meaning of section 368(b) of the Code;
|
|
(b)
|
NOX will recognize no gain or loss on the transfer of its assets to New NHS in exchange solely for New NHS Stock (and cash, if applicable) and New NHS’s assumption of its liabilities or on
|
the subsequent distribution of that New NHS Stock (and cash, if applicable) to NOX Stockholders in exchange for their NOX Stock;
|
||
(c)
|
New NHS will recognize no gain or loss on its receipt of the NOX Assets in exchange solely for New NHS Stock (and cash, if applicable) and its assumption of NOX’s liabilities;
|
|
(d)
|
New NHS’s basis in each NOX Asset will be the same as NOX’s basis therein immediately before the Merger, and New NHS’s holding period for each NOX Asset will include NOX’s holding period therefor (except where New NHS’s investment activities have the effect of reducing or eliminating an asset’s holding period);
|
|
(e)
|
An NOX Stockholder will recognize no gain or loss on the exchange of all its NOX Stock solely for New NHS Stock pursuant to the Merger, except to the extent the NOX Stockholder receives cash in lieu of fractional New NHS Common Stock in the Merger;
|
|
(f)
|
An NOX Stockholder’s aggregate basis in the New NHS Stock it receives in the Merger will be the same as the aggregate basis in its NOX Stock it actually or constructively surrenders in exchange for those New NHS Stock less the basis in any fractional NOX Common Stock for which the NOX Stockholder receives cash pursuant to the Merger, and its holding period for those New NHS Stock will include, in each instance, its holding period for those NOX Stock, provided the NOX Stockholder holds those NOX Stock as a capital asset on the Closing Date; and
|
|
(g)
|
A holder of an NOX Note (or Notes) will recognize no gain or loss on the exchange thereof solely for an New NHS Note (or Notes) of equal principal amount having substantially similar terms pursuant to the Merger.
|
|
NOX
|
|
Fiscal Period
Ending October 31,
|
Percentage Waived of the Fund’s average daily Managed Assets
|
2010
|
0.13%
|
2011
|
0.07%
|
NOX
|
|
Fiscal Period
Ending October 31,
|
Percentage Waived of the Fund’s average daily Managed Assets
|
2010
|
0.19%
|
2011
|
0.13%
|
2012
|
0.07%
|
For the year ended 12/31/2009
|
For the year ended 12/31/2008
|
For the year ended 12/31/2007^^
|
For the year ended 12/31/2006
|
For the year ended 12/31/2005
|
For the year ended 12/31/2004
|
For the period 7/28/2003^ through 12/31/2003
|
|
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period (Common Shares)
|
$7.42
|
$13.23
|
$15.05
|
$14.51
|
$15.58
|
$15.51
|
$14.33(a)
|
Net Investment Income¢
|
1.43
|
1.52
|
1.67
|
1.65
|
1.71
|
1.72
|
0.64
|
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments
|
4.97
|
(5.74)
|
(1.34)
|
0.61
|
(0.94)
|
0.11
|
1.31
|
Dividends to Preferred Shareholders From:
|
|||||||
Net Investment Income¢
|
(0.04)
|
(0.27)
|
(0.40)
|
(0.37)
|
(0.24)
|
(0.11)
|
(0.02)
|
Net Realized Gains¢
|
—
|
—
|
(0.01)
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
Total Dividends to Preferred Shareholders
|
(0.04)
|
(0.27)
|
(0.41)
|
(0.37)
|
(0.24)
|
(0.11)
|
(0.02)
|
Total From Investment Operations Applicable to Common Shareholders
|
6.36
|
(4.49)
|
(0.08)
|
1.89
|
0.53
|
1.72
|
1.93
|
Less Distributions to Common Shareholders From:
|
|||||||
Net Investment Income
|
(1.26)
|
(1.22)
|
(1.69)
|
(1.35)
|
(1.58)
|
(1.55)
|
(0.60)
|
Net Realized Gains
|
—
|
—
|
(0.05)
|
—
|
(0.02)
|
(0.10)
|
(0.02)
|
Tax Return of Capital
|
—
|
(0.10)
|
—
|
—
|
(0.00)***
|
—
|
—
|
Total Distributions to Common Shareholders
|
(1.26)
|
(1.32)
|
(1.74)
|
(1.35)
|
(1.60)
|
(1.65)
|
(0.62)
|
Common Shares Offering Costs Charged to Paid-in Capital
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
(0.03)
|
Preferred Shares Underwriting Commissions and Offering Costs
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
(0.10)
|
Accretive Effect of Tender Offers
|
0.02
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
Net Asset Value, End of Period (Common Shares)
|
$12.54
|
$7.42
|
$13.23
|
$15.05
|
$14.51
|
$15.58
|
$15.51
|
Market Value—End of Period (Common Shares)
|
$11.95
|
$6.38
|
$11.82
|
$15.18
|
$15.61
|
$16.48
|
$15.91
|
Total Return on Net Asset Value (Common Shares) (%)†
|
92.44
|
(35.32)
|
(0.13)
|
13.91
|
3.63
|
11.99
|
12.73**
|
Total Return on Market Value (Common Shares) (%)†
|
113.27
|
(37.75)
|
(11.54)
|
6.79
|
5.40
|
15.48
|
10.47**
|
Ratios/Supplemental Data††
|
|||||||
Ratios are calculated using Average Net Assets Applicable to Common Shareholders
|
|||||||
Ratio of Gross Expenses (%)#
|
2.60Ø
|
1.80Ø
|
1.44
|
1.49
|
1.53
|
1.48
|
1.61Ø*
|
Ratio of Net Expenses (%)
|
2.60§Ø
|
1.80§Ø
|
1.44§
|
1.49
|
1.53
|
1.48
|
1.61Ø*
|
Ratio of Net Investment Income (%)
|
14.30
|
13.43
|
11.33
|
11.29
|
11.44
|
11.36
|
10.00*
|
Portfolio Turnover Rate (%)
|
159
|
122
|
129
|
111
|
96
|
106.76
|
32.08
|
Net Assets Applicable to Common Shares,
End of Period (000)
|
$138,293
|
$90,907
|
$162,091
|
$184,389
|
$177,659
|
$190,700
|
$189,644
|
Perpetual Preferred Shares¢¢
|
|||||||
Preferred Shares Outstanding, End of Period (000)¢¢
|
$12,300
|
$12,300
|
$90,000
|
$90,000
|
$90,000
|
$90,000
|
$90,000
|
Asset Coverage Per Share@
|
$306,086
|
$209,943
|
$70,107
|
$76,284
|
$74,400
|
$77,975
|
$77,675
|
Involuntary Liquidation Preference and Approximate Market Value Per Share
|
$25,000
|
$25,000
|
$25,000
|
$25,000
|
$25,000
|
$25,000
|
$25,000
|
Notes Payable
|
|||||||
Notes Payable Outstanding, End of Period (000)
|
$45,900
|
$45,900
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
Asset Coverage Per $1,000 of Notes Payable@@
|
$4,281
|
$3,250
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
||||
2009
|
2008
|
2007
|
||
2.65 % | 1.65 % | 1.44 % |
Year Ended December 31,
|
Period From July 28, 2003 to December 31,
|
|
2009
|
2008
|
2003
|
1.05%
|
0.16%
|
0.19
|
For the year ended 10/31/2009
|
For the year ended 10/31/2008
|
For the year ended 10/31/2007
|
For the year ended 10/31/2006
|
For the year ended 10/31/2005
|
For the year ended 10/31/2004
|
Period from July 2, 2003^ to 10/31/2003
|
|
Common Stock Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period
|
$4.69
|
$15.26
|
$18.82
|
$16.37
|
$16.69
|
$14.72
|
$14.33
|
Income From Investment Operations Applicable to Common Stockholders:
|
|||||||
Net Investment Income (Loss)¢
|
.58
|
1.43
|
1.38
|
1.24
|
1.07
|
1.27 ß
|
.25
|
Net Gains or Losses on Securities
(both realized and unrealized)
|
1.93
|
(9.36)
|
(2.29)
|
2.86
|
.57
|
2.08 ß
|
.59
|
Common Stock Equivalent of Distributions to Preferred Stockholders From:
|
|||||||
Net Investment Income¢
|
(.04)
|
(.17)
|
(.21)
|
(.28)
|
(.13)
|
(.09)
|
(.01)
|
Net Capital Gains¢
|
—
|
(.10)
|
(.16)
|
(.05)
|
(.07)
|
(.01)
|
(.00)
|
Tax Return of Capital¢
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
(.01)
|
—
|
(.00)
|
Total Distributions to Preferred Stockholders
|
(.04)
|
(.27)
|
(.37)
|
(.33)
|
(.21)
|
(.10)
|
(.01)
|
Total From Investment Operations Applicable to Common Stockholders
|
2.47
|
(8.20)
|
(1.28)
|
3.77
|
1.43
|
3.25
|
.83
|
Less Distributions to Common Stockholders From:
|
|||||||
Net Investment Income
|
(.57)
|
(1.24)
|
(1.30)
|
(1.11)
|
(1.03)
|
(1.11)
|
(.27)
|
Net Capital Gains
|
—
|
(.85)
|
(.98)
|
(.21)
|
(.61)
|
(.17)
|
(.05)
|
Tax Return of Capital
|
(.14)
|
(.28)
|
—
|
—
|
(.11)
|
—
|
(.00)
|
Total Distributions to Common Stockholders
|
(.71)
|
(2.37)
|
(2.28)
|
(1.32)
|
(1.75)
|
(1.28)
|
(.32)
|
Less Capital Charges From:
|
|||||||
Issuance of Common Stock
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
(.03)
|
Issuance of Preferred Stock
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
(.00)
|
(.09)
|
Total Capital Charges
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
(.00)
|
(.12)
|
Accretive Effect of Tender Offer
|
.03
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
Common Stock Net Asset Value, End of Period
|
$6.48
|
$4.69
|
$15.26
|
$18.82
|
$16.37
|
$16.69
|
$14.72
|
Common Stock Market Value, End of Period
|
$5.85
|
$4.40
|
$13.49
|
$17.22
|
$14.23
|
$15.07
|
$13.98
|
Total Return, Common Stock Net Asset Value†
|
65.55%
|
(61.28)%
|
(7.32)%
|
25.13%
|
10.33%
|
23.67%
|
5.11%**
|
Total Return, Common Stock Market Value†
|
59.31%
|
(58.91)%
|
(10.46)%
|
31.71%
|
6.22%
|
17.57%
|
(4.67)%**
|
Ratios/Supplemental Data††
|
|||||||
Net Assets Applicable to Common Stockholders, End of Period (in millions)
|
$93.1
|
$83.2
|
$270.7
|
$333.5
|
$290.0
|
$295.8
|
$260.8
|
Preferred Stock, at Liquidation Value
($25,000 per share liquidation preference) (in millions)¢¢
|
$14.9
|
$31.4
|
$125.5
|
$125.5
|
$125.5
|
$125.5
|
$125.5
|
Ratios are calculated using Average Net Assets Applicable to Common Stockholders
|
|||||||
Ratio of Gross Expenses#
|
3.87% Ø
|
1.37%
|
1.11%
|
1.11%
|
1.13%
|
1.16% ß
|
.88%*
|
Ratio of Net Expenses‡
|
3.87% Ø
|
1.36%
|
1.10%
|
1.10%
|
1.13%
|
1.16% ß
|
.87%*
|
Ratio of Net Investment Income (Loss) Excluding Preferred Stock DistributionsØØ
|
12.25%
|
12.94%
|
7.94%
|
7.18%
|
6.49%
|
8.08% ß
|
5.24%*
|
Portfolio Turnover Rate
|
124%
|
79%
|
76%
|
61%
|
49%
|
74%
|
21%**
|
Asset Coverage Per Share of Preferred Stock, End of Period@
|
$181,491
|
$91,277
|
$78,931
|
$91,462
|
$82,794
|
$83,933
|
$76,957
|
Notes Payable (in millions)
|
$37
|
$19
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
Asset Coverage Per $1,000 of Notes Payable@@
|
$3,942
|
$7,029
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
Year Ended October 31,
|
Period From July 2, 2003 to October 31,
|
|||||
2009
|
2008
|
2007
|
2006
|
2005
|
2004
|
2003
|
4.19%
|
1.77%
|
1.45%
|
1.45%
|
1.48%
|
1.52%
|
1.16%
|
Year Ended October 31,
|
Period From July 2, 2003 to October 31,
|
|||||
2009
|
2008
|
2007
|
2006
|
2005
|
2004
|
2003
|
.76%
|
2.46%
|
2.13%
|
1.89%
|
1.26%
|
.62%
|
.17%*
|
Net Investment Income
|
$
|
.11
|
|
Net Gains or Losses on Securities (both realized and unrealized)
|
$
|
(.11)
|
|
Ratio of Gross Expenses to Average Net Assets Applicable to Common Stockholders
|
(.71)%
|
||
Ratio of Net Expenses to Average Net Assets Applicable to Common Stockholders
|
(.71)%
|
||
Ratio of Net Investment Income (Loss) Excluding Preferred Stock Distributions to Average Net Assets Applicable to Common Stockholders
|
.71%
|
||
Ratio of Net Investment Income (Loss) Including Preferred Stock Distributions to Average Net Assets Applicable to Common Stockholders
|
.71%
|
Quarterly Period Ending
|
High Price
|
Net Asset Value
|
Premium (Discount)
|
Low Price
|
Net Asset Value
|
Premium (Discount)
|
March 31, 2010
|
13.29 | 12.90 | 3.02% | 11.86 | 12.68 | -6.47% |
December 31, 2009
|
12.05
|
12.62
|
-4.52%
|
10.84
|
12.15
|
-10.78%
|
September 30, 2009
|
11.79
|
11.97
|
-1.50%
|
9.12
|
10.03
|
-9.07%
|
June 30, 2009
|
9.73
|
10.33
|
-5.81%
|
6.84
|
8.01
|
-14.61%
|
March 31, 2009
|
7.85
|
8.35
|
-5.99%
|
5.90
|
7.33
|
-19.51%
|
December 31, 2008
|
8.07
|
10.43
|
-22.63%
|
4.48
|
6.79
|
-34.02%
|
September 30, 2008
|
11.03
|
12.25
|
-9.96%
|
7.47
|
11.52
|
-35.16%
|
June 30, 2008
|
12.58
|
13.05
|
-3.60%
|
11.22
|
12.51
|
-10.31%
|
March 31, 2008
|
12.09
|
12.94
|
-6.57%
|
10.59
|
12.31
|
-13.97%
|
Quarterly Period Ending
|
High Price
|
Net Asset Value
|
Premium (Discount)
|
Low Price
|
Net Asset Value
|
Premium (Discount)
|
April 30, 2010 | 7.66 | 7.55 | 1.46% | 6.12 | 6.72 | -8.93% |
January 31, 2010
|
6.49
|
7.23
|
-10.24%
|
5.75
|
6.47
|
-11.13%
|
October 31, 2009
|
6.32
|
6.55
|
-3.51%
|
5.07
|
5.79
|
-12.44%
|
July 31, 2009
|
4.95
|
5.62
|
-11.92%
|
4.18
|
4.74
|
-11.81%
|
April 30, 2009
|
4.11
|
4.52
|
-9.07%
|
2.56
|
3.19
|
-19.75%
|
January 31, 2009
|
4.40
|
4.89
|
-10.02%
|
2.35
|
3.26
|
-27.91%
|
October 31, 2008
|
9.39
|
9.96
|
-5.72%
|
3.49
|
4.16
|
-16.11%
|
July 31, 2008
|
11.12
|
12.16
|
-8.55%
|
8.50
|
9.34
|
-8.99%
|
April 30, 2008
|
11.86
|
12.57
|
-5.65%
|
9.75
|
10.74
|
-9.22%
|
January 31, 2008
|
13.32
|
14.85
|
-10.30%
|
10.46
|
11.49
|
-8.96%
|
ACTUAL
|
ADJUSTMENT
|
PRO FORMA
|
NHS
|
NOX
|
New NHS
|
||
Stock outstanding
|
||||
Common Stock
|
11,029,127
|
14,364,850
|
(6,341,586)
|
19,052,391
|
Preferred Stock
|
492
|
595
|
1,087
|
|
Net Assets (000’s omitted)
|
||||
Common Stock
|
138,293
|
100,603
|
(400)
|
238,496
|
Preferred Stock
|
12,300
|
14,875
|
27,175
|
|
Net assets including Preferred Stock
|
150,593
|
115,478
|
(400)
|
265,671
|
Net asset value per share of Common Stock
|
12.54
|
7.00
|
12.52
|
ACTUAL
|
ADJUSTMENT
|
PRO FORMA
|
|
NHS
|
New NHS
|
||
Stock outstanding
|
|||
Common Stock
|
11,029,127
|
11,029,127
|
|
Preferred Stock
|
492
|
492
|
|
Net Assets (000’s omitted)
|
|||
Common Stock
|
138,293
|
(200)
|
138,093
|
Preferred Stock
|
12,300
|
12,300
|
|
Net assets including Preferred Stock
|
150,593
|
(200)
|
150,393
|
Net asset value per share of Common Stock
|
12.54
|
12.52
|
Industry Diversification
|
|
(% of Total Net Assets Applicable to Common Shareholders)
|
|
Airlines
|
5.5%
|
Auto Loans
|
3.3%
|
Auto Parts & Equipment
|
1.8%
|
Automotive
|
1.4%
|
Banking
|
10.3%
|
Building & Construction
|
0.7%
|
Building Materials
|
3.5%
|
Chemicals
|
3.4%
|
Consumer/Commercial/Lease Financing
|
4.1%
|
Diversified Capital Goods
|
0.7%
|
Diversified Financial Services
|
0.2%
|
Electric - Generation
|
14.1%
|
Electronics
|
1.7%
|
Energy - Exploration & Production
|
2.8%
|
Food & Drug Retailers
|
2.1%
|
Forestry/Paper
|
1.1%
|
Gaming
|
8.9%
|
Gas Distribution
|
10.3%
|
Health Services
|
7.8%
|
Machinery
|
0.5%
|
Media - Broadcast
|
7.3%
|
Media - Cable
|
3.8%
|
Media - Services
|
3.4%
|
Metals/Mining Excluding Steel
|
0.3%
|
Multi-Line Insurance
|
0.8%
|
Non-Food & Drug Retailers
|
4.1%
|
Packaging
|
0.1%
|
Printing & Publishing
|
2.2%
|
Real Estate Management & Development
|
3.2%
|
Restaurants
|
0.3%
|
Software Services
|
5.7%
|
Steel Producers/Products
|
1.6%
|
Support - Services
|
5.0%
|
Telecom - Integrated/Services
|
7.5%
|
Telecom - Wireless
|
9.2%
|
Short-Term Investments
|
4.6%
|
Liabilities, less cash, receivables and other assets, and Liquidation Value of Preferred Shares
|
-43.3%
|
Industry Diversification
|
|
(% of Total Net Assets Applicable to Common Stockholders)
|
|
Airlines
|
4.1%
|
Apartments
|
4.7%
|
Auto Loans
|
2.5%
|
Auto Parts & Equipment
|
1.3%
|
Automotive
|
1.1%
|
Banking
|
7.7%
|
Building & Construction
|
0.5%
|
Building Materials
|
2.4%
|
Chemicals
|
2.5%
|
Consumer/Commercial/Lease Financing
|
3.0%
|
Diversified
|
1.2%
|
Diversified Capital Goods
|
0.5%
|
Electric - Generation
|
10.4%
|
Electronics
|
1.2%
|
Energy - Exploration & Production
|
2.7%
|
Food & Drug Retailers
|
1.6%
|
Forestry/Paper
|
0.8%
|
Gaming
|
6.8%
|
Gas Distribution
|
7.3%
|
Health Care
|
5.6%
|
Health Services
|
6.1%
|
Home Financing
|
2.3%
|
Hybrid
|
0.8%
|
Industrial
|
2.6%
|
Lodging
|
4.8%
|
Machinery
|
0.4%
|
Media - Broadcast
|
5.3%
|
Media - Cable
|
2.8%
|
Media - Services
|
2.4%
|
Metals/Mining Excluding Steel
|
0.9%
|
Multi-Line Insurance
|
0.6%
|
Non-Food & Drug Retailers
|
3.1%
|
Office
|
6.3%
|
Packaging
|
0.1%
|
Printing & Publishing
|
1.6%
|
Real Estate Management & Development
|
3.3%
|
Regional Malls
|
5.2%
|
Restaurants
|
0.2%
|
Self Storage
|
1.8%
|
Shopping Centers
|
4.1%
|
Software Services
|
4.3%
|
Specialty
|
2.0%
|
Steel Producers/Products
|
1.2%
|
Support - Services
|
3.7%
|
Telecom - Integrated/Services
|
6.0%
|
Telecom - Wireless
|
6.8%
|
Short-Term Investments
|
7.9%
|
Liabilities, less cash, receivables and other assets, and Liquidation Value of Preferred Stock
|
-54.5%
|
Name, (Year of Birth) and Address(1)
|
Position(2) with the Fund and Length of Time Served
|
Principal Occupation(s)(3)
|
Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Director
|
Other Directorships Held Outside Fund Complex by Director
|
||
CLASS II
|
||||||
Independent Directors
|
||||||
John Cannon (1930)
|
Director since 2003 (NOX) and 2006 (NHS)
|
Consultant; formerly, Chairman, CDC Investment Advisers (registered investment adviser), 1993 to January 1999; formerly, President and Chief Executive Officer, AMA Investment Advisors, an affiliate of the American Medical Association.
|
48
|
Formerly, Independent Trustee or Director of three series of Oppenheimer Funds: Oppenheimer Limited Term New York Municipal Fund, Rochester Fund Municipals, and Oppenheimer Convertible Securities Fund, 1992 to 2009.
|
Name, (Year of Birth) and Address(1)
|
Position(2) with the Fund and Length of Time Served
|
Principal Occupation(s)(3)
|
Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Director
|
Other Directorships Held Outside Fund Complex by Director
|
C. Anne Harvey (1937)
|
Director since 2003 (NOX) and 2006 (NHS)
|
President, C.A. Harvey Associates, since October 2001; formerly, Director, AARP, 1978 to December 2001.
|
48
|
Formerly, President, Board of Associates to The National Rehabilitation Hospital’s Board of Directors, 2001 to 2002; formerly, Member, Individual Investors Advisory Committee to the New York Stock Exchange Board of Directors, 1998 to 2002.
|
||
George W. Morriss (1947)
|
Director since 2007
|
Retired; formerly, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, People’s Bank, Connecticut (a financial services company), 1991 to 2001.
|
48
|
Manager, Old Mutual 2100 fund complex (consisting of six funds) since October 2006 for four funds and since February 2007 for two funds; formerly, Member NASDAQ Issuers’ Affairs Committee, 1995 to 2003.
|
||
Tom D. Seip (1950)
|
Director since 2003 (NOX) and 2006 (NHS); Chairman of the Boards since 2008; Lead Independent Director from 2006 to 2008
|
General Partner, Seip Investments LP (a private investment partnership); formerly, President and CEO, Westaff, Inc. (temporary staffing), May 2001 to January 2002; formerly, Senior Executive at the Charles Schwab Corporation, 1983 to 1998, including Chief Executive Officer, Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc., and Trustee, Schwab Family of Funds and Schwab Investments, 1997 to 1998, and Executive Vice President-Retail Brokerage, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., 1994 to 1997.
|
48
|
Director, H&R Block, Inc. (financial services company), since May 2001; Chairman, Compensation Committee, H&R Block, Inc., since 2006; formerly, Director, Forward Management, Inc. (asset management company), 1999 to 2006.
|
Name, (Year of Birth) and Address(1)
|
Position(2) with the Fund and Length of Time Served
|
Principal Occupation(s)(3)
|
Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Director
|
Other Directorships Held Outside Fund Complex by Director
|
Director who is an “Interested Person”
|
|||||
Jack L. Rivkin* (1940)
|
Director since 2003 (NOX) and 2006 (NHS); President from 2003 to 2008 (NOX) and 2006 to 2008 (NHS)
|
Formerly, Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer, Neuberger Berman Holdings LLC (holding company), 2002 to August 2008 and 2003 to August 2008, respectively; formerly, Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer, NB LLC, December 2005 to August 2008 and 2003 to August 2008, respectively; formerly, Executive Vice President, NB LLC, December 2002 to 2005; formerly, Director and Chairman, NB Management, December 2002 to August 2008; formerly, Executive Vice President, Citigroup Investments, Inc., September 1995 to February 2002; formerly, Executive Vice President, Citigroup Inc., September 1995 to February 2002.
|
48
|
Director, Idealab (private company), since 2009; Director, Distributed World Power (private company), since 2009; Director, Dale Carnegie and Associates, Inc. (private company), since 1999; Director, Solbright, Inc. (private company), since 1998; Director, SA Agricultural Fund, since 2009; Chairman and Director, Essential Brands (consumer products) since 2008; formerly, Director, New York Society of Security Analysts, 2006 to 2008.
|
Name, (Year of Birth) and Address(1)
|
Position(2) with the Fund and Length of Time Served
|
Principal Occupation(s)(3)
|
Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Director
|
Other Directorships Held Outside Fund Complex by Director
|
|
CLASS I
|
|||||
Independent Directors
|
|||||
Faith Colish (1935)
|
Director since 2003 (NOX) and 2006 (NHS)
|
Counsel, Carter Ledyard & Milburn LLP (law firm) since October 2002; formerly, Attorney-at-Law and President, Faith Colish, A Professional Corporation, 1980 to 2002.
|
48
|
Formerly, Director, 1997 to 2003, and Advisory Director, 2003 to 2006; ABA Retirement Funds (formerly, American Bar Retirement Association) (not-for-profit membership corporation).
|
|
Michael M. Knetter (1960)
|
Director since 2007
|
Dean, School of Business, University of Wisconsin - Madison; formerly, Professor of International Economics and Associate Dean, Amos Tuck School of Business - Dartmouth College, 1998 to 2002.
|
48
|
Director, American Family Insurance (a mutual company, not publicly traded) since March 2009; Trustee, Northwestern Mutual Series Fund, Inc., since February 2007; Director, Wausau Paper, since 2005; formerly Director, Great Wolf Resorts, 2004-2009.
|
|
Cornelius T. Ryan (1931)
|
Director since 2003 (NOX) and 2006 (NHS)
|
General Partner and Adviser, TD2, TD3, and TOF1 Healthcare Venture Capital Partnerships; Founding General Partner, Oxford Partners and Oxford Bioscience Partners (venture capital investing) and President, Oxford Venture Corporation, since 1981.
|
48
|
Trustee, Norwalk Hospital Foundation since 2000; Director, Supply Pro (privately held company) since 2008; formerly, Trustee, Norwalk Hospital, 1995 to 2004; formerly, President and Director, Randolph Computer Corp., 1966 to 1984; formerly, Director of numerous privately held portfolio companies of Oxford Partners and Oxford Bio Science Partners, 1981 to 2005.
|
Name, (Year of Birth) and Address(1)
|
Position(2) with the Fund and Length of Time Served
|
Principal Occupation(s)(3)
|
Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Director
|
Other Directorships Held Outside Fund Complex by Director
|
Peter P. Trapp (1944)
|
Director since 2003 (NOX) and 2006 (NHS)
|
Retired; formerly, Regional Manager for Mid-Southern Region, Ford Motor Credit Company, September 1997 to 2007; formerly, President, Ford Life Insurance Company, April 1995 to August 1997.
|
48
|
None.
|
|
Director who is an “Interested Person”
|
|||||
Robert Conti* (1956)
|
Chief Executive Officer, President and Director since 2008; prior thereto, Executive Vice President in 2008 and Vice President 2006 to 2008
|
Managing Director, NB LLC, since 2007; formerly, Senior Vice President, NB LLC, 2003 to 2006; formerly, Vice President, NB LLC, 1999 to 2003; President and Chief Executive Officer, NB Management, since 2008; formerly, Senior Vice President, NB Management, 2000 to 2008.
|
48
|
Chairman of the Board, Staten Island Mental Health Society since 2008.
|
Name, (Year of Birth) and Address(1)
|
Position(2) with the Fund and Length of Time Served
|
Principal Occupation(s)(3)
|
Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Director
|
Other Directorships Held Outside Fund Complex by Director
|
CLASS III
|
|||||
Independent Directors
|
|||||
Martha C. Goss
(1949)
|
Director since 2007
|
President, Woodhill Enterprises Inc./Chase Hollow Associates LLC (personal investment vehicle), since 2006; Chief Operating and Financial Officer, Hopewell Holdings LLC/ Amwell Holdings, LLC (a holding company for a healthcare reinsurance company start-up), since 2003; formerly, Consultant, Resources Connection (temporary staffing), 2002 to 2006.
|
48
|
Director, Ocwen Financial Corporation (mortgage servicing), since 2005; Director, American Water (water utility), since 2003; Director, Channel Reinsurance (financial guaranty reinsurance), since 2006; Director, Allianz Life of New York (insurance), since 2005; Director, Financial Women’s Association of New York (not for profit association), since 2003; Trustee Emerita, Brown University, since 1998; formerly, Advisory Board Member, Attensity (software developer), 2005 to 2007; Director, Bank Leumi (commercial bank) 2005 to 2007; Director, Claire’s Stores, Inc. (retailer), 2005 to 2007.
|
|
Robert A. Kavesh (1927)
|
Director since 2003 (NOX) and 2006 (NHS)
|
Retired; Marcus Nadler Professor Emeritus of Finance and Economics, New York University Stern School of Business; formerly, Executive Secretary-Treasurer, American Finance Association, 1961 to 1979.
|
48
|
Formerly, Director, The Caring Community (not-for-profit), 1997 to 2006; formerly, Director, DEL Laboratories, Inc. (cosmetics and pharmaceuticals), 1978 to 2004; formerly, Director, Apple Bank for Savings, 1979 to 1990; formerly, Director, Western Pacific Industries, Inc., (public company), 1972 to 1986.
|
Name, (Year of Birth) and Address(1)
|
Position(2) with the Fund and Length of Time Served
|
Principal Occupation(s)(3)
|
Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Director
|
Other Directorships Held Outside Fund Complex by Director
|
Howard A. Mileaf (1937)
|
Director since 2003 (NOX) and 2006 (NHS)
|
Retired; formerly, Vice President and General Counsel, WHX Corporation (holding company), 1993 to 2001.
|
48
|
Formerly, Director, Webfinancial Corporation (holding company), 2002 to 2008; formerly, Director, WHX Corporation (holding company), 2002 to 2005; formerly, Director, State Theatre of New Jersey (not-for-profit theatre), 2000 to 2005.
|
|
Edward I. O’Brien (1928)
|
Director since 2003 (NOX) and 2006 (NHS)
|
Retired; formerly, Member, Investment Policy Committee, Edward Jones, 1993 to 2001; President, Securities Industry Association (“SIA”) (securities industry’s representative in government relations and regulatory matters at the federal and state levels), 1974 to 1992; Adviser to SIA, November 1992 to November 1993.
|
48
|
Formerly, Director, Legg Mason, Inc. (financial services holding company), 1993 to July 2008; formerly, Director, Boston Financial Group (real estate and tax shelters), 1993 to 1999.
|
|
Candace L. Straight (1947)
|
Director since 2003 (NOX) and 2006 (NHS)
|
Private investor and consultant specializing in the insurance industry; formerly, Advisory Director, Securitas Capital LLC (a global private equity investment firm dedicated to making investments in the insurance sector), 1998 to December 2003.
|
48
|
Director, Montpelier Re Holdings Ltd. (reinsurance company), since 2006; formerly, Director, National Atlantic Holdings Corporation (property and casualty insurance company), 2004 to 2008; formerly, Director, The Proformance Insurance Company (property and casualty insurance company), 2004 to 2008; formerly, Director, Providence Washington Insurance Company (property and casualty insurance company), 1998 to 2006; formerly, Director, Summit Global Partners (insurance brokerage firm), 2000 to 2005.
|
Name, (Year of Birth) and Address(1)
|
Position(2) with the Fund and Length of Time Served
|
Principal Occupation(s)(3)
|
Number of Portfolios in Fund Complex Overseen by Director
|
Other Directorships Held Outside Fund Complex by Director
|
Director who is an “Interested Person”
|
|||||
Joseph V. Amato* (1962)
|
Director since 2008
|
President and Director, Neuberger Berman Group LLC, since 2009; President, Chief Executive Officer, NB LLC and Neuberger Berman Holdings LLC (including its predecessor, Neuberger Berman Inc.), since 2007; Chief Investment Officer, NB LLC, since 2009; Chief Investment Officer (Equities) and Managing Director, NB Management, since 2009; Managing Director, NBFI, since 2007; Board member of NBFI since 2006; formerly, Global Head of Asset Management of Lehman Brothers’ Investment Management Division, 2006 to 2009; formerly, member of Lehman Brothers’ Investment Management Division’s Executive Management Committee, 2006 to 2009; formerly, Managing Director, Lehman Brothers Inc. (“LBI”), 2006 to 2008; formerly, Chief Recruiting and Development Officer, LBI, 2005 to 2006; formerly, Global Head of LBI’s Equity Sales and a Member of its Equities Division Executive Committee, 2003 to 2005.
|
48
|
Member of Board of Advisors, McDonough School of Business, Georgetown University, since 2001; Member of New York City Board of Advisors, Teach for America, since 2005; Trustee, Montclair Kimberley Academy (private school), since 2007.
|
(1)
|
The business address of each listed person is 605 Third Avenue, New York, New York 10158.
|
(2)
|
Each Board shall at all times be divided as equally as possible into three classes of Directors designated Class I, Class II, and Class III. The terms of office of Class I, Class II, and Class III Directors shall expire at the annual meeting of stockholders held in 2012, 2010, and 2011, respectively, and at each third annual meeting of stockholders thereafter.
|
(3)
|
Except as otherwise indicated, each individual has held the positions shown for at least the last five years.
|
*
|
Indicates a Director who is an “interested person” within the meaning of the 1940 Act. Mr. Amato and Mr. Conti are interested persons of each Fund by virtue of the fact that each is an officer of NB Management, NB LLC and/or their affiliates. Mr. Rivkin may be deemed an interested person of each Fund by virtue of the fact that, until August 2008, he was a director of NB Management and an officer of NB LLC.
|
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
|
Name of Director
|
Dollar Range of Equity Securities Owned in NHS*
|
Dollar Range of Equity Securities Owned in NOX*
|
Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity Securities in all Registered Investment Companies Overseen by Director in Family of Investment Companies*
|
Independent Directors
|
|||
John Cannon
|
None
|
None
|
Over $100,000
|
Faith Colish**
|
$1-$10,000
|
$1-$10,000
|
Over $100,000
|
Martha C. Goss
|
None
|
None
|
Over $100,000
|
C. Anne Harvey
|
None
|
None
|
Over $100,000
|
Robert A. Kavesh
|
None
|
None
|
Over $100,000
|
Michael M. Knetter
|
None
|
None
|
Over $100,000
|
Howard A. Mileaf
|
None
|
None
|
Over $100,000
|
George W. Morriss**
|
$10,000-$50,000
|
None
|
Over $100,000
|
Edward I. O’Brien
|
None
|
None
|
Over $100,000
|
Cornelius T. Ryan
|
None
|
None
|
Over $100,000
|
Tom D. Seip
|
None
|
None
|
Over $100,000
|
Candace L. Straight
|
None
|
None
|
Over $100,000
|
Peter P. Trapp
|
None
|
None
|
Over $100,000
|
Directors who are “Interested Persons”
|
|||
Robert Conti
|
None
|
None
|
Over $100,000
|
Jack L. Rivkin
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
Joseph V. Amato
|
None
|
None
|
None
|
Name, (Year of Birth), and Address(1)
|
Position and Length of
Time Served(2)
|
Principal Occupation(s)(3)
|
Andrew B. Allard (1961)
|
Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer since 2003 (NOX) and 2006 (NHS)
|
Senior Vice President, NB LLC, since 2006; Deputy General Counsel, NB LLC, since 2004; formerly, Vice President, NB LLC, 2000 to 2005; Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer, nine registered investment companies for which NB Management acts as investment manager and administrator (six since 2002, two since 2003 and one since 2006).
|
Claudia A. Brandon (1956)
|
Executive Vice President since 2008 and Secretary since 2003(NOX) and 2006 (NHS)
|
Senior Vice President, NB LLC, since 2007 and Employee since 1999; Senior Vice President, NB Management, since 2008 and Assistant Secretary since 2004; formerly, Vice President, NB LLC, 2002 to 2006; formerly, Vice President-Mutual Fund Board Relations, NB Management, 2000 to 2008; Executive Vice President, nine registered investment companies for which NB Management acts as investment manager and administrator (nine since 2008); Secretary, nine registered investment companies for which NB Management acts as investment manager and administrator (three since 1985, three since 2002, two since 2003 and one since 2006).
|
Maxine L. Gerson (1950)
|
Executive Vice President since 2008 and Chief Legal Officer since 2005 (NOX) and 2006 (NHS) (only for purposes of sections 307 and 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002)
|
Managing Director, NB LLC, since 2009, and Deputy General Counsel and Assistant Secretary, NB LLC, since 2001; Managing Director, NB Management, since 2009, and Secretary and General Counsel, NB Management, since 2004; formerly, Senior Vice President, NB LLC, 2002 to 2009; formerly, Senior Vice President, NB Management, 2006 to 2009; Executive Vice President, nine registered investment companies for which NB Management acts as investment manager and administrator (nine since 2008); Chief Legal Officer (only for purposes of sections 307 and 406 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002), nine registered investment companies for which NB Management acts as investment manager and administrator (eight since 2005 and one since 2006).
|
Name, (Year of Birth), and Address(1)
|
Position and Length of
Time Served(2)
|
Principal Occupation(s)(3)
|
Sheila R. James (1965)
|
Assistant Secretary since 2003 (NOX) and 2006 (NHS)
|
Vice President, NB LLC, since 2008 and Employee since 1999; formerly, Assistant Vice President, NB LLC (2007 to 2008); Assistant Secretary, nine registered investment companies for which NB Management acts as investment manager and administrator (six since 2002, two since 2003 and one since 2006).
|
Brian Kerrane (1969)
|
Vice President since 2008
|
Senior Vice President, NB LLC, since 2006; formerly, Vice President, NB LLC, 2002 to 2006; Vice President, NB Management, since 2008 and Employee since 1991; Vice President, nine registered investment companies for which NB Management acts as investment manager and administrator (nine since 2008).
|
Kevin Lyons (1955)
|
Assistant Secretary since 2003 (NOX) and 2006 (NHS)
|
Assistant Vice President, NB LLC, since 2008 and Employee since 1999; Assistant Secretary, nine registered investment companies for which NB Management acts as investment manager and administrator (eight since 2003 and one since 2006).
|
Owen F. McEntee, Jr. (1961)
|
Vice President since 2008
|
Vice President, NB LLC, since 2006; Employee, NB Management, since 1992; Vice President, nine registered investment companies for which NB Management acts as investment manager and administrator (nine since 2008).
|
John M. McGovern (1970)
|
Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer since 2005 (NOX) and 2006 (NHS)
|
Senior Vice President, NB LLC, since 2007; formerly, Vice President, NB LLC, 2004 to 2006; Employee, NB Management, since 1993; Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, nine registered investment companies for which NB Management acts as investment manager and administrator (eight since 2005 and one since 2006); formerly, Assistant Treasurer, nine registered investment companies for which NB Management acts as investment manager and administrator, 2002 to 2005.
|
Andrew Provencher (1965)
|
Vice President since 2008
|
Managing Director, NB Management, since 2008; Managing Director, NB LLC, since 2005; formerly, Senior Vice President, NB LLC, 2003 to 2005; Vice President, nine registered investment companies for which NB Management acts as investment manager and administrator (nine since 2008).
|
Name, (Year of Birth), and Address(1)
|
Position and Length of
Time Served(2)
|
Principal Occupation(s)(3)
|
Frank Rosato (1971)
|
Assistant Treasurer since 2005 (NOX) and 2006 (NHS)
|
Vice President, NB LLC, since 2006; Employee, NB Management, since 1995; Assistant Treasurer, nine registered investment companies for which NB Management acts as investment manager and administrator (eight since 2005 and one since 2006).
|
Neil S. Siegel (1967)
|
Vice President since 2008
|
Managing Director, NB Management, since 2008; Managing Director, NB LLC, since 2006; formerly, Senior Vice President, NB LLC, 2004 to 2006; Vice President, nine registered investment companies for which NB Management acts as investment manager and administrator (nine since 2008).
|
Chamaine Williams (1971)
|
Chief Compliance Officer since 2005 (NOX) and 2006 (NHS)
|
Senior Vice President, NB LLC, since 2007; Chief Compliance Officer, NB Management, since 2006; Chief Compliance Officer, nine registered investment companies for which NB Management acts as investment manager and administrator (eight since 2005 and one since 2006); formerly, Senior Vice President, LBI, 2007 to 2008; formerly, Vice President, LBI, 2003 to 2006; formerly, Chief Compliance Officer, Lehman Brothers Asset Management Inc., 2003 to 2007; formerly, Chief Compliance Officer, Lehman Brothers Alternative Investment Management LLC, 2003 to 2007.
|
Name and Position with each Fund
|
Aggregate Compensation from NHS for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2009
|
Aggregate Compensation from NOX for the Fiscal Year Ended October 31, 2009
|
Total Compensation from Registered Investment Companies in the Neuberger Berman Fund Complex Paid to Directors For Calendar Year Ended December 31, 2009
|
Independent Directors
|
|||
John Cannon
Director
|
$3,352
|
$3,101
|
$160,000
|
Faith Colish
Director
|
$3,352
|
$3,101
|
$160,000
|
Martha C. Goss
Director
|
$3,140
|
$2,908
|
$150,000
|
C. Anne Harvey
Director
|
$3,352
|
$3,101
|
$160,000
|
Robert A. Kavesh
Director
|
$3,140
|
$2,908
|
$150,000
|
Michael M. Knetter
Director
|
$3,140
|
$2,908
|
$150,000
|
Howard A. Mileaf
Director
|
$3,140
|
$2,908
|
150,000
|
George W. Morriss
Director
|
$3,352
|
$3,101
|
$160,000
|
Edward I. O’Brien
Director
|
$3,140
|
$2,908
|
$150,000
|
Cornelius T. Ryan
Director
|
$3,352
|
$3,101
|
$160,000
|
Tom D. Seip
Chairman of the Board and Director
|
$3,880
|
$3,585
|
$185,000
|
Candace L. Straight
Director
|
$3,352
|
$3,101
|
$160,000
|
Peter P. Trapp
Director
|
$3,563
|
$3,295
|
$170,000
|
Directors who are “Interested Persons”
|
|||
Joseph V. Amato*
Director
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Robert Conti*
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Jack L. Rivkin
Director
|
$3,140
|
$2,908
|
$150,000
|
Class of
Shares |
Name and Address of Beneficial
Owner |
Amount and
Nature* of Beneficial Ownership |
Percent of
Class |
Preferred
|
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
10 Park Avenue
Morristown, NJ 07962
|
492
|
100%
|
Class of
Stock |
Name and Address of Beneficial
Owner |
Amount and
Nature* of Beneficial Ownership |
Percent of
Class |
Preferred
|
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
10 Park Avenue
Morristown, NJ 07962
|
595
|
100%
|
Claudia A. Brandon,
Secretary
|
|
(1)
|
issue and deliver to Old Fund (i) the number of full and fractional shares (all references herein to “fractional” shares meaning fractions rounded to the third decimal place) of Acquiring Fund Common Stock equal to the number of full and fractional Old Fund Common Shares then outstanding, and (ii) the number of full shares of Acquiring Fund Preferred Stock equal to the number of full Old Fund Preferred Shares then outstanding, and
|
|
(2)
|
assume all of Old Fund’s liabilities described in paragraph 1.3 (“Old Fund Liabilities”), and pursuant thereto shall issue notes in the same principal amounts as, and having terms substantially identical to, the Old Fund Notes.
|
|
(1)
|
issue and deliver to Target (i) the number of full and, except as otherwise provided in paragraph 1.7, fractional shares of Acquiring Fund Common Stock (or cash in lieu thereof), determined by dividing Target’s net value (computed as set forth in paragraph 2.1) attributable to the Target Common Stock by the net asset value (“NAV”) of a share of Acquiring Fund Common Stock (computed as set forth in paragraph 2.2), and (ii) the number of full shares of Acquiring Fund Preferred Stock equal to the number of full shares of Target Preferred Stock then outstanding, and
|
|
(2)
|
assume all of Target’s liabilities described in paragraph 1.3 (“Target Liabilities”), and pursuant thereto shall issue notes (together with the notes issued pursuant to paragraph 1.1(a)(2), “Acquiring Fund Notes”) in the same principal amounts as, and having terms substantially identical to, the Target Notes.
|
2.
|
VALUATION
|
3.
|
CLOSING AND CLOSING DATE
|
4.
|
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
|
|
(a)
|
Old Fund is a statutory trust that is duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, and its Certificate of Trust has been duly filed in the office of the Secretary of State thereof;
|
|
(b)
|
Target is a corporation that is duly incorporated, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland; and its Articles of Incorporation (“Articles”) are on file with the Department;
|
|
A-5
|
|
(c)
|
The Fund is duly registered as a closed-end management investment company under the 1940 Act, such registration will be in full force and effect at the Effective Time, and no proceeding has been instituted to suspend such registration;
|
|
(d)
|
At the Effective Time, the Fund will have good and marketable title to its Assets and full right, power, and authority to sell, assign, transfer, and deliver its Assets hereunder free of any liens or other encumbrances (except securities that are subject to “securities loans,” as referred to in section 851(b)(2), or that are restricted to resale by their terms); and on delivery and payment therefor, Acquiring Fund will acquire good and marketable title thereto, subject to no restrictions on the full transfer thereof, including restrictions that might arise under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“1933 Act”), except as previously disclosed in writing to and accepted by Acquiring Fund;
|
|
(e)
|
The Fund is not currently engaged in, and its execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement and consummation of the Reorganization will not result in, (1) a material violation of any provision of Delaware law (in the case of Old Fund) or Maryland law (in the case of Target), the Fund’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust (in the case of Old Fund) or By-Laws or its Articles (in the case of Target) or Target’s By-Laws, as the case may be, or of any agreement, indenture, instrument, contract, lease, or other undertaking (each, an “Undertaking”) to which the Fund is a party or by which it is bound or (2) the acceleration of any obligation, or the imposition of any penalty, under any Undertaking, judgment, or decree to which it is a party or by which it is bound;
|
|
(f)
|
All material contracts and other commitments of the Fund (other than this Agreement and certain investment contracts, including options, futures, and forward contracts) will terminate, or provision for discharge of any liabilities of the Fund thereunder will be made, on or before the Closing Date, without the Fund’s or Acquiring Fund’s incurring any liability or penalty with respect thereto and without diminishing or releasing any rights the Fund may have had with respect to actions taken or omitted or to be taken by any other party thereto before the Closing;
|
|
(g)
|
No litigation, administrative proceeding, or investigation of or before any court or governmental body is presently pending or, to its knowledge, threatened against the Fund or any of its properties or assets that, if adversely determined, would materially and adversely affect its financial condition or the conduct of its business; and the Fund knows of no facts that might form the basis for the institution of such proceedings and is not a party to or subject to the provisions of any order, decree, or judgment of any court or governmental body that materially and adversely affects its business or its ability to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, except as otherwise disclosed to Acquiring Fund;
|
|
(h)
|
The Fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities, Statements of Operations and Changes in Net Assets, and Portfolio of Investments at and for the year ended on December 31, 2009 (in the case of Old Fund), and October 31, 2009 (in the case of Target), have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, and present fairly, in all material respects, the Fund’s financial condition at the applicable date in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied in the United States (“GAAP”); and to the Fund’s management’s knowledge and belief, there are no known contingent liabilities of the Fund required to be reflected on a balance sheet (including the notes thereto) in accordance with GAAP at such date that are not disclosed therein;
|
|
(i)
|
Since December 31, 2009 (in the case of Old Fund), and October 31, 2009 (in the case of Target), there has not been any material adverse change in the Fund’s financial condition, assets, liabilities, or business, other than changes occurring in the ordinary course of business, or any incurrence by the Fund of indebtedness maturing more than one year from the date such indebtedness was incurred; for purposes of this subparagraph, a decline in NAV per Old Fund Share or share of Target Stock, as applicable, due to declines in market values of securities the Fund holds or the discharge of the Fund’s liabilities shall not constitute a material adverse change;
|
|
(j)
|
On the Closing Date, all federal and other tax returns, dividend reporting forms, and other tax-related reports of the Fund required by law to have been filed by such date (including any extensions) shall have been filed and are or will be correct in all material respects, and all federal and other taxes shown as due
|
|
A-6
|
or required to be shown as due on such returns and reports shall have been paid or provision shall have been made for the payment thereof; and to the Fund’s knowledge, no such return is currently under audit and no assessment has been asserted with respect to such returns;
|
|
(k)
|
For each taxable year of its operation (including the taxable year that ends, in the case of the Merger, on the Closing Date), the Fund has met (or for its current taxable year will meet) the requirements of Subchapter M of Chapter 1 of Subtitle A of the Code (“Subchapter M”) for qualification as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) and has been (or will be) eligible to and has computed (or will compute) its federal income tax under section 852; from the time the Fund’s Board approves this Agreement (“Approval Time”) through the Effective Time, the Fund will invest its assets in a manner that ensures its compliance with the foregoing; from the Approval Time through the Effective Time, Target will not dispose of and/or acquire any assets (1) for the purpose of satisfying Acquiring Fund’s investment objective or policies or (2) for any other reason except in the ordinary course of its business as a RIC; and the Fund has no earnings and profits accumulated in any taxable year in which the provisions of Subchapter M did not apply to it;
|
|
(l)
|
Target is in the same line of business as Acquiring Fund is in, for purposes of Treas. Reg. § 1.368-1(d)(2), and did not enter into that line of business as part of the plan of reorganization;
|
|
(m)
|
At the Effective Time, (1) at least 33⅓% of Target’s portfolio assets will meet Acquiring Fund’s investment objective, strategies, policies, risks, and restrictions, (2) Target will not have altered its portfolio in connection with the Reorganization to meet that 33⅓% threshold, and (3) Target will not have modified its investment objective or any of its investment strategies, policies, risks, or restrictions as part of the plan of reorganization for purposes of Treas. Reg. § 1.368-1(d)(2);
|
|
(n)
|
To the best of Target Fund’s management’s knowledge, at the record date for its stockholders entitled to vote on approval of this Agreement, there was no plan or intention by its stockholders to sell, exchange, or otherwise dispose of a number of shares of Target Stock (or Acquiring Fund Stock to be received in the Merger), in connection with the Merger, that would reduce their ownership of Target Stock (or such Acquiring Fund Stock) to a number of shares that was less than 50% of the number of shares of Target Stock at that date;
|
|
(o)
|
All issued and outstanding Stock is, and on the Closing Date will be, duly and validly issued and outstanding, fully paid, and non-assessable by the Fund; all issued and outstanding Stock will, at the Effective Time, be held by the persons and in the amounts set forth in the records described in paragraph 3.3; and the Fund does not have outstanding any options, warrants, or other rights to subscribe for or purchase any Stock, nor is there outstanding any security convertible into any Stock;
|
|
(p)
|
The Fund incurred the Liabilities, which are associated with the Assets, in the ordinary course of its business;
|
|
(q)
|
The Fund is not under the jurisdiction of a court in a “title 11 or similar case” (as defined in section 368(a)(3)(A));
|
|
(r)
|
During the five-year period ending on the Closing Date, (1) neither Target nor any person “related” (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. § 1.368-1(e)(4) (“Related”), without regard to Treas. Reg. § 1.368-1(e)(4)(i)(A)) to it will have acquired Target Stock, either directly or through any transaction, agreement, or arrangement with any other person, with consideration other than Acquiring Fund Stock or Target Stock, except pursuant to offers to purchase Target Stock that were unrelated to and not in any way connected with either Reorganization, and (2) no distributions will have been made with respect to Target Stock, other than normal, regular dividend distributions made pursuant to Target’s historic dividend-paying practice and dividends and other distributions declared and paid to ensure Target’s continuing qualification as a RIC and to avoid the imposition of fund-level tax;
|
|
A-7
|
|
(s)
|
Not more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets (excluding cash, cash items, and U.S. government securities) is invested in the stock and securities of any one issuer, and not more than 50% of the value of such assets is invested in the stock and securities of five or fewer issuers;
|
|
(t)
|
The Registration Statement (as defined in paragraph 4.3(a)) (other than written information provided by another Fund for inclusion therein) will, on its effective date, on the Closing Date, and at the time of the Stockholders Meeting (as defined in paragraph 5.1), not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading;
|
|
(u)
|
The Acquiring Fund Stock is not being acquired for the purpose of any distribution thereof, other than in accordance with the terms hereof; and
|
|
(v)
|
Old Fund’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust permits Old Fund to vary its stockholders’ investment; and Old Fund does not have a fixed pool of assets -- it is a managed portfolio of securities, and the Advisor has the authority to buy and sell securities for it.
|
|
(a)
|
Acquiring Fund is a corporation that is duly incorporated, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland; and its Articles are on file with the Department;
|
|
(b)
|
Acquiring Fund is duly registered as a closed-end management investment company under the 1940 Act, such registration will be in full force and effect at the Effective Time, and no proceeding has been instituted to suspend such registration;
|
|
(c)
|
With respect to the Conversion, (1) Acquiring Fund has not commenced operations and will not do so until after the Closing and (2) before the Closing, there will be no (i) issued and outstanding Acquiring Fund Stock, (ii) options, warrants, or other rights to subscribe for or purchase any Acquiring Fund Stock, (iii) security convertible into any Acquiring Fund Stock, or (iv) any other securities issued by Acquiring Fund, except the Initial Share;
|
|
(d)
|
No consideration other than Acquiring Fund Stock (and Acquiring Fund’s assumption of the Liabilities and, if applicable, cash in lieu of Non-deliverable Fractional Shares) will be issued in exchange for the Assets in the Reorganization;
|
|
(e)
|
Acquiring Fund is not engaged currently, and its execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement will not result, in (1) a material violation of its Articles or By-Laws or of any Undertaking to which Acquiring Fund is a party or by which it is bound or (2) the acceleration of any obligation, or the imposition of any penalty, under any Undertaking, judgment, or decree to which Acquiring Fund is a party or by which it is bound;
|
|
(f)
|
No litigation, administrative proceeding, or investigation of or before any court or governmental body is presently pending or, to its knowledge, threatened against Acquiring Fund or any of its properties or assets that, if adversely determined, would materially and adversely affect its financial condition or the conduct of its business; and Acquiring Fund knows of no facts that might form the basis for the institution of such proceedings and is not a party to or subject to the provisions of any order, decree, or judgment of any court or governmental body that materially and adversely affects its business or its ability to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby;
|
|
(g)
|
With respect to the Conversion, Acquiring Fund will meet the requirements of Subchapter M for qualification as a RIC for its taxable year in which the Conversion occurs and it intends to continue to meet all such requirements for the next taxable year; and with respect to the Merger, (1) for each taxable year of its operation (including the taxable year that includes the Closing Date), Acquiring Fund will meet those requirements and will be eligible to and will compute its federal income tax under section
|
|
A-8
|
|
|
852, and (2) Acquiring Fund has no earnings and profits accumulated in any taxable year in which the provisions of Subchapter M did not apply to it;
|
|
(h)
|
Acquiring Fund does not have outstanding any options, warrants, or other rights to subscribe for or purchase any Acquiring Fund Stock, nor is there outstanding any security convertible into any Acquiring Fund Stock;
|
|
(i)
|
Acquiring Fund has no plan or intention to issue additional Acquiring Fund Stock following the Merger (if both Reorganizations are consummated) or the Conversion (if it is the only Reorganization that is consummated) except to the agent for its distribution reinvestment plan; nor does Acquiring Fund, or any person Related to it, have, on the Closing Date, any plan or intention to acquire or purchase -- either directly or through any transaction, agreement, or arrangement with any other person -- any Acquiring Fund Stock issued in the Reorganization, other than pursuant to one or more offers to purchase Acquiring Fund Stock that Acquiring Fund’s Board may approve in the future and that are unrelated to and not in any way connected with either Reorganization;
|
|
(j)
|
Following the Merger, Acquiring Fund (1) will continue Target’s “historic business” (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. § 1.368-1(d)(2)) and (2) will use a significant portion of Target’s “historic business assets” (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. § 1.368-1(d)(3)) in a business; moreover, Acquiring Fund (3) has no plan or intention to sell or otherwise dispose of any of the Assets, except for dispositions made in the ordinary course of that business and dispositions necessary to maintain its status as a RIC, and (4) expects to retain substantially all the Assets in the same form as it receives them in the Reorganization, unless and until subsequent investment circumstances suggest the desirability of change or it becomes necessary to make dispositions thereof to maintain such status;
|
|
(k)
|
Acquiring Fund is in the same line of business as Target was in preceding the Merger, for purposes of Treas. Reg. § 1.368-1(d)(2), and did not enter into that line of business as part of the plan of reorganization; following the Merger, Acquiring Fund will continue, and has no intention to change, that line of business; and at the Effective Time, (1) at least 33⅓% of Target’s portfolio assets will meet Acquiring Fund’s investment objective, strategies, policies, risks, and restrictions, (2) Acquiring Fund will not have modified its investment objective or any of its investment strategies, policies, risks, or restrictions as part of the plan of reorganization for purposes of Treas. Reg. § 1.368-1(d)(2), and (3) Acquiring Fund will have no plan or intention to change its investment objective or any of its investment strategies, policies, risks, or restrictions after the Merger;
|
|
(l)
|
There is no plan or intention for Acquiring Fund to be dissolved or merged into another corporation or a statutory or business trust or any “fund” thereof (as defined in section 851(g)(2)) following the Reorganization;
|
|
(m)
|
Acquiring Fund does not directly or indirectly own, nor on the Closing Date will it directly or indirectly own, nor has it directly or indirectly owned at any time during the past five years, any Target Stock;
|
|
(n)
|
Before or pursuant to the Merger, neither Acquiring Fund nor any person Related to it will have acquired Target Stock with consideration other than Acquiring Fund Stock;
|
|
(o)
|
Assuming the truthfulness and correctness of the representation and warranty in paragraph 4.1(s), immediately after the Reorganization, (1) not more than 25% of the value of Acquiring Fund’s total assets (excluding cash, cash items, and U.S. government securities) will be invested in the stock and securities of any one issuer and (2) not more than 50% of the value of such assets will be invested in the stock and securities of five or fewer issuers;
|
|
(p)
|
The Acquiring Fund Stock to be issued and delivered to Target, for the Stockholders’ accounts, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, (1) will on the Closing Date have been duly authorized and, with respect to the Acquiring Fund Common Stock, duly registered under the federal securities laws and (2) when so
|
|
A-9
|
|
|
issued and delivered, will be duly and validly issued and outstanding Acquiring Fund Stock and will be fully paid and non-assessable by Acquiring Fund; and
|
|
(q)
|
The Registration Statement (other than written information provided by the Existing Funds for inclusion therein) will, on its effective date, on the Closing Date, and at the time of the Stockholders Meeting, not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading.
|
|
(a)
|
No governmental consents, approvals, authorizations, or filings are required under the 1933 Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“1934 Act”), the 1940 Act, or state securities laws for its execution or performance of this Agreement, except for (1) Acquiring Fund’s filing with the Commission of a registration statement on Form N-14 relating to the Acquiring Fund Common Stock issuable hereunder, and any supplement or amendment thereto (“Registration Statement”), and (2) such consents, approvals, authorizations, and filings as have been made or received or as may be required subsequent to the Closing Date;
|
|
(b)
|
The fair market value of the Acquiring Fund Stock each Stockholder receives (together with cash in lieu of Non-deliverable Fractional Shares, if applicable) will be approximately equal to the fair market value of its Stock it actually or constructively surrenders in exchange therefor;
|
|
(c)
|
Each of Target and Acquiring Fund represents and warrants to the other Fund that its management (1) is unaware of any plan or intention of Stockholders to sell or otherwise dispose of (i) any portion of their Target Stock before the Merger to any person Related to either Fund or (ii) any portion of the Acquiring Fund Stock they receive in the Merger to any person Related to Acquiring Fund, and (2) does not anticipate dispositions of such Acquiring Fund Stock at the time of or soon after the Merger to exceed the usual rate and frequency of dispositions of shares of Target Stock;
|
|
(d)
|
The Stockholders will pay their own expenses, if any, incurred in connection with the Reorganization;
|
|
(e)
|
The fair market value of the Assets on a going concern basis will equal or exceed the Liabilities to be assumed by Acquiring Fund and those to which the Assets are subject;
|
|
(f)
|
Immediately after the Conversion, Old Fund’s Stockholders will own all the Acquiring Fund Stock and will own same solely by reason of their ownership of the Old Fund Shares immediately before the Conversion;
|
|
(g)
|
Immediately after the Conversion, Acquiring Fund will hold the same assets -- except for assets used to pay the Funds’ expenses incurred in connection with the Conversion -- and be subject to the same liabilities that Old Fund held or was subject to immediately before the Conversion, plus any liabilities for such expenses; and such excepted assets, together with the amount of all distributions (other than regular, normal dividends) Old Fund made immediately preceding the Conversion, will, in the aggregate, constitute less than 1% of its net assets;
|
|
(h)
|
With respect to the Merger, at the Effective Time, there will be no intercompany indebtedness between Target and Acquiring Fund that was issued or acquired, or will be settled, at a discount;
|
|
(i)
|
Pursuant to the Merger, Target will transfer to Acquiring Fund, and Acquiring Fund will acquire, at least 90% of the fair market value of the net assets, and at least 70% of the fair market value of the gross assets, Target held immediately before the Merger; for the purposes of the foregoing, any amounts Target uses to pay dissenters, its reorganization expenses, Stockholders who receive cash, and distributions immediately before the Merger (except (i) dividends and other distributions declared and
|
|
A-10
|
|
|
|
paid to ensure Target’s continuing qualification as a RIC and to avoid the imposition of fund-level tax and (ii) regular, normal dividend distributions on the Target Preferred Stock) will be included as assets held thereby immediately before the Merger
|
|
(j)
|
Immediately after the Merger, the Stockholders will not own shares constituting “control” (within the meaning of section 368(a)(2)(H)(i), i.e., as defined in section 304(c) -- generally, the ownership of shares possessing at least 50% of the total combined voting power of all classes of shares entitled to vote or at least 50% of the total value of shares of all classes) of Acquiring Fund;
|
|
(k)
|
None of the compensation received by any Stockholder who is an employee of or service provider to Target will be separate consideration for, or allocable to, any of the Target Stock that Stockholder held; none of the Acquiring Fund Stock any such Stockholder receives will be separate consideration for, or allocable to, any employment agreement, investment advisory agreement, or other service agreement; and the compensation paid to any such Stockholder will be for services actually rendered and will be commensurate with amounts paid to third parties bargaining at arm’s-length for similar services; and
|
|
(l)
|
Neither Fund will be reimbursed for any expenses incurred by it or on its behalf in connection with the Reorganization unless those expenses are solely and directly related to the Reorganization (determined in accordance with the guidelines set forth in Rev. Rul. 73-54, 1973-1 C.B. 187) (“Reorganization Expenses”).
|
5.
|
COVENANTS
|
|
A-11
|
6.
|
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
|
|
(a)
|
Acquiring Fund’s acquisition of the Old Fund Assets in exchange solely for Acquiring Fund Stock and its assumption of the Old Fund Liabilities, followed by Old Fund’s distribution of that stock pro rata to its Stockholders actually or constructively in exchange for their Old Fund Shares, will qualify as a “reorganization” (as defined in section 368(a)(1)(F)), and each Fund will be “a party to a reorganization” within the meaning of section 368(b);
|
|
(b)
|
Old Fund will recognize no gain or loss on the transfer of the Old Fund Assets to Acquiring Fund in exchange solely for Acquiring Fund Stock and Acquiring Fund’s assumption of the Old Fund Liabilities or on the subsequent distribution of that stock to Old Fund’s Stockholders in exchange for their Old Fund Shares;
|
|
(c)
|
Acquiring Fund will recognize no gain or loss on its receipt of the Old Fund Assets in exchange solely for Acquiring Fund Stock and its assumption of the Old Fund Liabilities;
|
|
(d)
|
Acquiring Fund’s basis in each Old Fund Asset will be the same as Old Fund’s basis therein immediately before the Conversion, and Acquiring Fund’s holding period for each Old Fund Asset will include Old Fund’s holding period therefor (except where Acquiring Fund’s investment activities have the effect of reducing or eliminating an Old Fund Asset’s holding period);
|
|
(e)
|
An Old Fund Stockholder will recognize no gain or loss on the exchange of all its Old Fund Shares solely for Acquiring Fund Stock pursuant to the Conversion;
|
|
A-12
|
|
(f)
|
An Old Fund Stockholder’s aggregate basis in the Acquiring Fund Stock it receives in the Conversion will be the same as the aggregate basis in its Old Fund Shares it actually or constructively surrenders in exchange for that Acquiring Fund Stock, and its holding period for that Acquiring Fund Stock will include, in each instance, its holding period for those Old Fund Shares, provided the Stockholder holds those shares as capital assets on the Closing Date;
|
|
(g)
|
A holder of an Old Fund Note (or Notes) will recognize no gain or loss on the exchange thereof solely for an Acquiring Fund Note (or Notes) of equal principal amount having substantially identical terms pursuant to the Conversion; and
|
|
(h)
|
For purposes of section 381, Acquiring Fund will be treated just as Old Fund would have been treated if there had been no Conversion. Accordingly, the Conversion will not result in the termination of Old Fund’s taxable year, Old Fund’s tax attributes enumerated in section 381(c) will be taken into account by Acquiring Fund as if there had been no Conversion, and the part of Old Fund’s taxable year before the Conversion will be included in New Fund’s taxable year after the Conversion.
|
|
(a)
|
Acquiring Fund’s acquisition of the Target Assets in exchange solely for Acquiring Fund Stock (and cash in lieu of Non-deliverable Fractional Shares, if applicable) and its assumption of the Target Liabilities, followed by Target’s distribution of that stock pro rata to its Stockholders (and the distribution of any such cash to its Stockholders entitled thereto) actually or constructively in exchange for their Target Stock, will qualify as a “reorganization” (as defined in section 368(a)(1)(C)), and each Fund will be “a party to a reorganization” within the meaning of section 368(b);
|
|
(b)
|
Target will recognize no gain or loss on the transfer of the Target Assets to Acquiring Fund in exchange solely for Acquiring Fund Stock (and cash, if applicable) and Acquiring Fund’s assumption of the Target Liabilities or on the subsequent distribution of that stock (and cash, if applicable) to Target’s Stockholders in exchange for their Target Stock;
|
|
(c)
|
Acquiring Fund will recognize no gain or loss on its receipt of the Target Assets in exchange solely for Acquiring Fund Stock (and cash, if applicable) and its assumption of the Target Liabilities;
|
|
(d)
|
Acquiring Fund’s basis in each Target Asset will be the same as Target’s basis therein immediately before the Merger, and Acquiring Fund’s holding period for each Target Asset will include Target’s holding period therefor (except where Acquiring Fund’s investment activities have the effect of reducing or eliminating a Target Asset’s holding period);
|
|
(e)
|
A Target Stockholder will recognize no gain or loss on the exchange of all its Target Stock for Acquiring Fund Stock pursuant to the Merger, except to the extent the Stockholder receives cash in lieu of a Non-deliverable Fractional Share;
|
|
A-13
|
|
(f)
|
A Target Stockholder’s aggregate basis in the Acquiring Fund Stock it receives in the Merger will be the same as the aggregate basis in its Target Stock it actually or constructively surrenders in exchange for that Acquiring Fund Stock, and its holding period for that Acquiring Fund Stock will include, in each instance, its holding period for that Target Stock, provided the Stockholder holds that stock as a capital asset on the Closing Date; and
|
|
(g)
|
A holder of a Target Note (or Notes) will recognize no gain or loss on the exchange thereof solely for an Acquiring Fund Note (or Notes) of equal principal amount having substantially identical terms pursuant to the Merger.
|
7.
|
EXPENSES
|
8.
|
ENTIRE AGREEMENT; NO SURVIVAL
|
|
A-14
|
9.
|
TERMINATION
|
10.
|
AMENDMENTS
|
11.
|
MISCELLANEOUS
|
·
|
Currency exchange rates. The dollar value of the Fund’s foreign investments will be affected by changes in the exchange rates between the dollar and the currencies in which those investments are traded.
|
|
·
|
Foreign political, social, and economic conditions. The value of the Fund’s foreign investments may be adversely affected by political and social instability in their home countries and by changes in economic or taxation policies in those countries. These include the risks of nationalization or expropriation of assets, confiscatory taxation, currency blockage, political changes or diplomatic developments; all of which could adversely affect the Fund's investments in a foreign country. In the event of nationalization, expropriation or other confiscation of assets, the Fund could lose its entire investment in foreign securities.
|
|
·
|
Regulations. Foreign companies and market participants generally are subject to less stringent regulations, including financial and accounting controls, than are U.S. companies. As a result, there generally is less publicly available information about foreign companies than about U.S. companies.
|
|
·
|
Markets. The securities markets of other countries are smaller than U.S. securities markets. As a result, many foreign securities may be less liquid and more volatile than U.S. securities.
|
|
·
|
Taxation. Non-U.S. withholding and other taxes may decrease the Fund’s return.
|
Fund
|
Amount Authorized
|
Amount Outstanding
as of
March 31, 2010
|
New NHS
|
||
Common Stock
|
999,998,500
|
0
|
Preferred Stock
|
1,500
|
0
|
NHS
|
||
Common Shares
|
Unlimited
|
11,029,799.652
|
Preferred Shares
|
Unlimited
|
492
|
NOX
|
||
Common Stock
|
999,994,000
|
14,364,850
|
Preferred Stock
|
6,000
|
595
|
AUDIT FEES BILLED
|
||
Fund
|
Fiscal Year Ended
|
Fiscal Year Ended
|
2009
|
2008
|
|
NOX
|
$44,500
|
$40,000
|
NHS
|
$40,500
|
$36,000
|
AUDIT-RELATED FEES BILLED
|
||
Fund
|
Fiscal Year Ended
|
Fiscal Year Ended
|
2009
|
2008
|
|
NOX
|
$32,500
|
$6,500
|
NHS
|
$26,000
|
$13,000
|
TAX FEES BILLED
|
||
Fund
|
Fiscal Year Ended
|
Fiscal Year Ended
|
2009
|
2008
|
|
NOX
|
$10,000
|
$9,700
|
NHS
|
$9,250
|
$9,250
|
ALL OTHER FEES
|
||
Fund
|
Fiscal Year Ended
|
Fiscal Year Ended
|
2009
|
2008
|
|
NOX
|
$0
|
$0
|
NHS
|
$0
|
$0
|
AGGREGATE NON-AUDIT FEES*
|
||
Fund
|
Fiscal Year Ended
|
Fiscal Year Ended
|
2009
|
2008
|
|
NOX
|
$142,500
|
$416,500
|
NHS
|
$135,250
|
$422,250
|
Page | |
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES, POLICIES AND LIMITATIONS
|
1
|
INVESTMENT STRATEGIES, TECHNIQUES AND RISKS
|
4
|
PORTFOLIO TRADING AND TURNOVER RATE
|
30
|
MANAGEMENT OF THE FUNDS
|
30
|
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION SERVICES
|
31
|
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS
|
37
|
NET ASSET VALUE
|
41
|
REPURCHASE OF COMMON STOCK; TENDER OFFERS; CONVERSION TO OPEN-END FUND
|
43
|
TAX MATTERS
|
44
|
REPORTS TO STOCKHOLDERS
|
50
|
CUSTODIAN AND TRANSFER AGENT
|
50
|
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
|
50
|
COUNSEL
|
50
|
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
|
50
|
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
50
|
PRO FORMA FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
51
|
APPENDIX A – RATINGS OF CORPORATE BONDS AND COMMERCIAL PAPER
|
A-1
|
Management and Administration Fees
Accrued for Fiscal Years
Ended December 31,
|
||||
2009
|
2008
|
2007
|
||
NHS
|
$1,130,638
|
$1,457,156
|
$1,724,978
|
Management and Administration Fees
Accrued for Fiscal Years
Ended October 31,
|
||||
2009
|
2008
|
2007
|
||
NOX
|
$1,131,281
|
$2,725,382
|
$3,681,539
|
NOX
|
|
Fiscal Period
Ending October 31,
|
Percentage Waived of the Fund’s average daily Managed Assets
|
2010
|
0.13%
|
2011
|
0.07%
|
Management Fees Waived for Fiscal Years
Ended October 31,
|
|||
2009
|
2008
|
2007
|
|
NOX
|
$252,874
|
$801,583
|
$1,082,806
|
NOX
|
|
Fiscal Period
Ending October 31,
|
Percentage Waived of the Fund’s average daily Managed Assets
|
2010
|
0.19%
|
2011
|
0.13%
|
2012
|
0.07%
|
Type of Account
|
Number of Accounts Managed
|
Total Assets Managed
($ millions)
|
Number of Accounts Managed for which Advisory Fee is Performance-Based
|
Assets Managed for which Advisory Fee is Performance-Based
($ millions)
|
Ann H. Benjamin
|
||||
Registered Investment Companies*
|
4
|
$1,345
|
–
|
–
|
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles
|
0
|
0
|
–
|
–
|
Other Accounts**
|
31
|
$5,422
|
–
|
–
|
Thomas P. O’Reilly
|
||||
Registered Investment Companies*
|
4
|
$1,345
|
–
|
–
|
Other Pooled Investment Vehicles
|
0
|
0
|
–
|
–
|
Other Accounts**
|
31
|
$5,422
|
–
|
–
|
Portfolio Manager
|
Fund(s) Managed*
|
Dollar Range of Equity Securities Owned in the Fund
|
Ann H. Benjamin
|
Neuberger Berman High Yield Strategies Fund
|
D
|
Neuberger Berman High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.*
|
A
|
|
Neuberger Berman Income Opportunity Fund Inc.
|
A
|
|
Thomas P. O’Reilly
|
Neuberger Berman High Yield Strategies Fund
|
A
|
Neuberger Berman High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.*
|
A
|
|
Neuberger Berman Income Opportunity Fund Inc.
|
A
|
A = None | E = $100,001-$500,000 |
B = $1-$10,000 | F = $500,001-$1,000,000 |
C = $10,001 - $50,000 | G = Over $1,000,001 |
D =$50,001-$100,000 | |
|
||||||||||||||
Pro Forma Combined Schedule of Investments
|
Neuberger Berman
|
Pro Forma | Pro Forma | |||||||||
Combined
|
Combined | ||||||||||
Income
|
High Yield | High Yield |
Income
|
High Yield | High Yield | ||||||
Opportunity
|
Strategies
|
Strategies
|
Opportunity
|
Strategies
|
Strategies
|
||||||
Fund Inc.
|
Fund
|
Fund Inc.
|
Fund Inc.
|
Fund
|
Adjustments |
Fund Inc.
|
|||||
Number of Shares
|
Value
|
Value
|
Value
|
||||||||
Common Stocks (11.6%)
|
|||||||||||
Apartments (1.3%)
|
|||||||||||
18,200
|
0
|
18,200
|
American Campus Communities
|
$511,420
|
$0
|
$511,420
|
|||||
10,000
|
0
|
10,000
|
AvalonBay Communities
|
821,100
|
0
|
821,100
|
|||||
46,800
|
0
|
46,800
|
Equity Residential
|
1,580,904
|
0
|
1,580,904
|
|||||
2,400
|
0
|
2,400
|
Essex Property Trust
|
200,760
|
0
|
200,760
|
|||||
3,114,184
|
0
|
3,114,184
|
|||||||||
Diversified (0.5%)
|
|||||||||||
17,324
|
0
|
17,324
|
Vornado Realty Trust
|
1,211,641
|
0
|
1,211,641
|
|||||
Diversified Financial Services (0.1%)
|
|||||||||||
0
|
11,536
|
11,536
|
CIT Group, Inc. *
|
0
|
318,509
|
318,509
|
|||||
Health Care (1.8%)
|
|||||||||||
38,600
|
0
|
38,600
|
HCP, Inc.
|
1,178,844
|
0
|
1,178,844
|
|||||
12,002
|
0
|
12,002
|
Health Care REIT
|
531,929
|
0
|
531,929
|
|||||
17,800
|
0
|
17,800
|
Nationwide Health Properties
|
626,204
|
0
|
626,204
|
|||||
33,600
|
0
|
33,600
|
OMEGA Healthcare Investors (e)
|
653,520
|
0
|
653,520
|
|||||
27,900
|
0
|
27,900
|
Ventas, Inc.
|
1,220,346
|
0
|
1,220,346
|
|||||
4,210,843
|
0
|
4,210,843
|
|||||||||
Home Financing (1.0%)
|
|||||||||||
77,200
|
0
|
77,200
|
Annaly Capital Management
|
1,339,420
|
0
|
1,339,420
|
|||||
52,700
|
0
|
52,700
|
Starwood Property Trust
|
995,503
|
0
|
995,503
|
|||||
2,334,923
|
0
|
2,334,923
|
|||||||||
Industrial (1.1%)
|
|||||||||||
30,700
|
0
|
30,700
|
AMB Property
|
784,385
|
0
|
784,385
|
|||||
19,500
|
0
|
19,500
|
EastGroup Properties
|
746,460
|
0
|
746,460
|
|||||
81,300
|
0
|
81,300
|
ProLogis
|
1,112,997
|
0
|
1,112,997
|
|||||
2,643,842
|
0
|
2,643,842
|
|||||||||
Lodging (0.2%)
|
|||||||||||
48,606
|
0
|
48,606
|
Host Hotels & Resorts
|
567,232
|
0
|
567,232
|
|||||
Office (1.7%)
|
|||||||||||
6,300
|
0
|
6,300
|
Boston Properties
|
422,540
|
0
|
422,540
|
|||||
98,000
|
0
|
98,000
|
Brandywine Realty Trust
|
1,117,200
|
0
|
1,117,200
|
|||||
51,800
|
0
|
51,800
|
Highwoods Properties (e)
|
1,727,530
|
0
|
1,727,530
|
|||||
18,300
|
0
|
18,300
|
SL Green Realty (e)
|
919,392
|
0
|
919,392
|
|||||
4,186,662
|
0
|
4,186,662
|
|||||||||
Real Estate Management & Development (0.4%)
|
|||||||||||
71,300
|
0
|
71,300
|
Brookfield Properties
|
864,156
|
0
|
864,156
|
|||||
Regional Malls (1.2%)
|
|||||||||||
37,566
|
0
|
37,566
|
Macerich Co. (e)
|
1,350,498
|
0
|
1,350,498
|
|||||
15,723
|
0
|
15,723
|
Simon Property Group
|
1,254,695
|
0
|
1,254,695
|
|||||
5,500
|
0
|
5,500
|
Taubman Centers
|
197,505
|
0
|
197,505
|
|||||
2,802,698
|
0
|
2,802,698
|
|||||||||
Self Storage (0.8%)
|
|||||||||||
55,400
|
0
|
55,400
|
Extra Space Storage
|
639,870
|
0
|
639,870
|
|||||
2,700
|
0
|
2,700
|
Public Storage, Depositary Shares
|
68,445
|
0
|
68,445
|
|||||
31,700
|
0
|
31,700
|
Sovran Self Storage
|
1,132,641
|
0
|
1,132,641
|
|||||
1,840,956
|
0
|
1,840,956
|
|||||||||
Shopping Centers (1.1%)
|
|||||||||||
7,700
|
0
|
7,700
|
Federal Realty Investment Trust
|
521,444
|
0
|
521,444
|
|||||
55,700
|
0
|
55,700
|
Kimco Realty
|
753,621
|
0
|
753,621
|
|||||
17,800
|
0
|
17,800
|
Regency Centers
|
624,068
|
0
|
624,068
|
|||||
18,400
|
0
|
18,400
|
Tanger Factory Outlet Centers
|
717,416
|
0
|
717,416
|
|||||
2,616,549
|
0
|
2,616,549
|
|||||||||
Specialty (0.4%)
|
|||||||||||
4,000
|
0
|
4,000
|
Digital Realty Trust
|
201,120
|
0
|
201,120
|
|||||
17,500
|
0
|
17,500
|
Rayonier Inc.
|
737,800
|
0
|
737,800
|
|||||
938,920
|
0
|
938,920
|
|||||||||
Total Common Stocks
|
|||||||||||
(Cost $19,489,195, $285,569, and $19,774,764, respectively)
|
27,332,606
|
318,509
|
27,651,115
|
||||||||
Preferred Stocks (6.6%)
|
|||||||||||
Apartments (0.7%)
|
|||||||||||
65,500
|
0
|
65,500
|
Mid-America Apartment Communities, Ser. H
|
1,638,155
|
0
|
1,638,155
|
|||||
Banking (0.1%)
|
|||||||||||
65
|
253
|
318
|
GMAC, Ser. G, 7.00%, due 12/31/49
|
42,843
|
166,759
|
209,602
|
|||||
Health Care (0.6%)
|
|||||||||||
25,000
|
0
|
25,000
|
Health Care REIT, Ser. D
|
618,750
|
0
|
618,750
|
|||||
34,000
|
0
|
34,000
|
LTC Properties, Ser. F
|
825,520
|
0
|
825,520
|
|||||
1,444,270
|
1,444,270
|
||||||||||
Hybrid (0.3%)
|
|||||||||||
50,000
|
0
|
50,000
|
iStar Financial, Ser. E
|
357,500
|
0
|
357,500
|
|||||
60,000
|
0
|
60,000
|
iStar Financial, Ser. F
|
429,600
|
0
|
429,600
|
|||||
787,100
|
0
|
787,100
|
|||||||||
Lodging (1.8%)
|
|||||||||||
50,000
|
0
|
50,000
|
Ashford Hospitality Trust, Ser. D
|
898,500
|
0
|
898,500
|
|||||
36,000
|
0
|
36,000
|
Eagle Hospitality Properties Trust *
|
9,000
|
0
|
9,000
|
|||||
22,600
|
0
|
22,600
|
Hersha Hospitality Trust, Ser. A
|
440,700
|
0
|
440,700
|
|||||
15,800
|
0
|
15,800
|
Host Hotels & Resorts, Ser. E
|
402,900
|
0
|
402,900
|
|||||
77,500
|
0
|
77,500
|
LaSalle Hotel Properties, Ser. B
|
1,819,700
|
0
|
1,819,700
|
|||||
28,000
|
0
|
28,000
|
LaSalle Hotel Properties, Ser. D
|
612,920
|
0
|
612,920
|
|||||
6,000
|
0
|
6,000
|
Strategic Hotels & Resorts, Ser. B
|
81,600
|
0
|
81,600
|
|||||
154,000
|
0
|
154,000
|
W2007 Grace Acquisition I, Ser. B *
|
46,200
|
0
|
46,200
|
|||||
4,311,520
|
0
|
4,311,520
|
|||||||||
Office (0.9%)
|
|||||||||||
60,000
|
0
|
60,000
|
DRA CRT Acquisition, Ser. A
|
720,000
|
0
|
720,000
|
|||||
60,000
|
0
|
60,000
|
Kilroy Realty, Ser. E
|
1,449,000
|
0
|
1,449,000
|
|||||
2,169,000
|
0
|
2,169,000
|
|||||||||
Regional Malls (1.0%)
|
|||||||||||
60,000
|
0
|
60,000
|
Glimcher Realty Trust, Ser. F
|
1,101,600
|
0
|
1,101,600
|
|||||
61,600
|
0
|
61,600
|
Glimcher Realty Trust, Ser. G
|
1,065,680
|
0
|
1,065,680
|
|||||
11,300
|
0
|
11,300
|
Taubman Centers, Ser. G
|
277,302
|
0
|
277,302
|
|||||
2,444,582
|
0
|
2,444,582
|
|||||||||
Shopping Centers (0.7%)
|
|||||||||||
20,000
|
0
|
20,000
|
Cedar Shopping Centers, Ser. A
|
479,400
|
0
|
479,400
|
|||||
12,000
|
0
|
12,000
|
Developers Diversified Realty, Ser. I
|
225,480
|
0
|
225,480
|
|||||
34,000
|
0
|
34,000
|
Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Ser. C
|
806,140
|
0
|
806,140
|
|||||
1,511,020
|
0
|
1,511,020
|
|||||||||
Specialty (0.5%)
|
|||||||||||
25,000
|
0
|
25,000
|
Digital Realty Trust, Ser. A
|
631,375
|
0
|
631,375
|
|||||
16,900
|
0
|
16,900
|
Digital Realty Trust, Ser. B
|
419,796
|
0
|
419,796
|
|||||
1,051,171
|
0
|
1,051,171
|
|||||||||
Total Preferred Stocks
|
|||||||||||
(Cost $24,116,131, $50,254, and $24,166,385, respectively)
|
15,399,661
|
166,759
|
15,566,420
|
||||||||
Principal Amount
|
|||||||||||
Bank Loan Obligations (7.7%)
|
|||||||||||
Airlines (2.0%)
|
|||||||||||
2,095,770
|
3,899,200
|
5,994,970
|
United Airlines, Inc., Term Loan B, 2.28%, due 2/1/14
|
1,645,934
|
3,062,276
|
4,708,210
|
|||||
Electric - Generation (4.3%)
|
|||||||||||
4,714,060
|
7,957,603
|
12,671,663
|
Texas Competitive Electric Holdings Co. LLC, Term Loan DD, 3.51%, due 10/10/14
|
3,808,300
|
6,428,629
|
10,236,929
|
|||||
Media-Cable (0.5%)
|
|||||||||||
449,023
|
833,737
|
1,282,760
|
Cequel Communication LLC, Term Loan B, 6.28%, due 5/5/14
|
447,339
|
830,610
|
1,277,949
|
|||||
Software Services (0.9%)
|
|||||||||||
189,517
|
353,193
|
542,710
|
First Data Corp., Term Loan B1, 3.25%, due 9/24/14
|
168,065
|
313,216
|
481,281
|
|||||
669,211
|
1,235,390
|
1,904,601
|
First Data Corp., Term Loan B2, 3.00%, due 9/24/14
|
593,275
|
1,095,210
|
1,688,485
|
|||||
761,340
|
1,408,426
|
2,169,766
|
|||||||||
Total Bank Loan Obligations
|
|||||||||||
(Cost $5,867,702, $10,287,866, and $16,155,568, respectively)
|
6,662,913
|
11,729,941
|
18,392,854
|
||||||||
Corporate Debt Securities (116.4%)
|
|||||||||||
Airlines (3.0%)
|
|||||||||||
245,000
|
455,000
|
700,000
|
American Airlines, Inc., Pass-Through Certificates, Ser. 2009-1A, 10.38%, due 7/2/19
|
270,725
|
502,775
|
773,500
|
|||||
620,000
|
1,155,000
|
1,775,000
|
American Airlines, Inc., Senior Secured Notes, 10.50%, due 10/15/12
|
647,900
|
1,206,975
|
1,854,875
|
|||||
490,000
|
895,000
|
1,385,000
|
Delta Air Lines, Inc., Pass-Through Certificates, Ser. 2001-1, Class B, 7.71%, due 9/18/11
|
482,650
|
881,575
|
1,364,225
|
|||||
505,000
|
930,000
|
1,435,000
|
Delta Air Lines, Inc., Senior Secured Notes, 9.50%, due 9/15/14
|
524,569
|
966,037
|
1,490,606
|
|||||
650,830
|
1,224,288
|
1,875,118
|
United Airlines, Inc., Pass-Through Certificates, Ser. 2007-1, Class A, 6.64%, due 7/2/22
|
553,205
|
1,040,645
|
1,593,850
|
|||||
2,479,049
|
4,598,007
|
7,077,056
|
|||||||||
Auto Loans (3.0%)
|
|||||||||||
415,000
|
795,000
|
1,210,000
|
Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC, Senior Unsecured Notes, 7.00%, due 10/1/13
|
414,375
|
793,803
|
1,208,178
|
|||||
1,450,000
|
2,570,000
|
4,020,000
|
Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC, Senior Unsecured Notes, 8.70%, due 10/1/14
|
1,515,963
|
2,686,915
|
4,202,878
|
|||||
570,000
|
1,135,000
|
1,705,000
|
Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC, Senior Unsecured Notes, 8.13%, due 1/15/20
|
560,138
|
1,115,363
|
1,675,501
|
|||||
2,490,476
|
4,596,081
|
7,086,557
|
|||||||||
Auto Parts & Equipment (1.6%)
|
|||||||||||
1,290,000
|
2,380,000
|
3,670,000
|
Navistar Int'l Corp., Guaranteed Notes, 8.25%, due 11/1/21
|
1,322,250
|
2,439,500
|
3,761,750
|
|||||
Automotive (1.3%)
|
|||||||||||
170,000
|
315,000
|
485,000
|
Ford Holdings, Inc., Guaranteed Notes, 9.38%, due 3/1/20
|
160,225
|
296,888
|
457,113
|
|||||
705,000
|
1,295,000
|
2,000,000
|
Ford Holdings, Inc., Guaranteed Notes, 9.30%, due 3/1/30
|
648,600
|
1,191,400
|
1,840,000
|
|||||
275,000
|
505,000
|
780,000
|
Ford Motor Co., Senior Unsecured Notes, 9.98%, due 2/15/47
|
255,750
|
469,650
|
725,400
|
|||||
1,064,575
|
1,957,938
|
3,022,513
|
|||||||||
Banking (9.1%)
|
|||||||||||
258,579
|
475,592
|
734,171
|
CIT Group, Inc., Senior Secured Notes, 7.00%, due 5/1/13 (e)
|
241,124
|
443,489
|
684,613
|
|||||
387,870
|
713,391
|
1,101,261
|
CIT Group, Inc., Senior Secured Notes, 7.00%, due 5/1/14
|
360,234
|
662,562
|
1,022,796
|
|||||
387,870
|
713,391
|
1,101,261
|
CIT Group, Inc., Senior Secured Notes, 7.00%, due 5/1/15
|
347,143
|
638,485
|
985,628
|
|||||
741,451
|
1,513,986
|
2,255,437
|
CIT Group, Inc., Senior Secured Notes, 7.00%, due 5/1/16
|
652,476
|
1,332,308
|
1,984,784
|
|||||
2,340,035
|
4,169,580
|
6,509,615
|
CIT Group, Inc., Senior Secured Notes, 7.00%, due 5/1/17
|
2,029,980
|
3,617,111
|
5,647,091
|
|||||
260,000
|
470,000
|
730,000
|
GMAC LLC, Senior Unsecured Notes, 0.00%, due 12/1/12
|
194,350
|
351,325
|
545,675
|
|||||
960,000
|
1,655,000
|
2,615,000
|
GMAC LLC, Guaranteed Notes, 6.75%, due 12/1/14
|
912,000
|
1,572,250
|
2,484,250
|
|||||
330,000
|
610,000
|
940,000
|
GMAC LLC, Senior Unsecured Notes, 0.00%, due 6/15/15
|
181,087
|
334,737
|
515,824
|
|||||
1,345,000
|
2,495,000
|
3,840,000
|
GMAC LLC, Subordinated Notes, 8.00%, due 12/31/18
|
1,183,600
|
2,195,600
|
3,379,200
|
|||||
1,015,000
|
1,875,000
|
2,890,000
|
GMAC LLC, Guaranteed Notes, 8.00%, due 11/1/31
|
913,500
|
1,687,500
|
2,601,000
|
|||||
630,000
|
1,180,000
|
1,810,000
|
Lloyds Banking Group PLC, Junior Subordinated Notes, 6.27%, due 11/14/16 (u)
|
378,000
|
708,000
|
1,086,000
|
|||||
265,000
|
490,000
|
755,000
|
Lloyds Banking Group PLC, Junior Subordinated Notes, Ser. A, 6.41%, due 10/1/35 (u)
|
159,000
|
294,000
|
453,000
|
|||||
190,000
|
350,000
|
540,000
|
Lloyds Banking Group PLC, Junior Subordinated Notes, 6.66%, due 5/21/37 (u)
|
114,000
|
210,000
|
324,000
|
|||||
7,666,494
|
14,047,367
|
21,713,861
|
|||||||||
Building & Construction (0.6%)
|
|||||||||||
500,000
|
925,000
|
1,425,000
|
Standard Pacific Escrow LLC, Senior Secured Notes, 10.75%, due 9/15/16
|
510,000
|
943,500
|
1,453,500
|
|||||
Building Materials (3.1%)
|
|||||||||||
1,175,000
|
2,170,000
|
3,345,000
|
Goodman Global Group, Inc., Senior Discount Notes, 0.00%, due 12/15/14
|
666,813
|
1,231,475
|
1,898,288
|
|||||
0
|
325,000
|
325,000
|
Owens Corning, Inc., Guaranteed Notes, 9.00%, due 6/15/19
|
0
|
362,433
|
362,433
|
|||||
1,160,000
|
2,145,000
|
3,305,000
|
Ply Gem Industries, Inc., Senior Secured Notes, 11.75%, due 6/15/13
|
1,160,000
|
2,145,000
|
3,305,000
|
|||||
560,000
|
1,050,000
|
1,610,000
|
USG Corp., Guaranteed Notes, 9.75%, due 8/1/14
|
597,800
|
1,120,875
|
1,718,675
|
|||||
2,424,613
|
4,859,783
|
7,284,396
|
|||||||||
Chemicals (3.0%)
|
|||||||||||
335,000
|
620,000
|
955,000
|
Huntsman Int'l LLC, Guaranteed Notes, 7.88%, due 11/15/14
|
327,463
|
606,050
|
933,513
|
|||||
1,140,000
|
2,115,000
|
3,255,000
|
MacDermid, Inc., Senior Subordinated Notes, 9.50%, due 4/15/17
|
1,140,000
|
2,115,000
|
3,255,000
|
|||||
971,000
|
1,804,000
|
2,775,000
|
Momentive Performance Materials, Inc., Guaranteed Notes, 12.50%, due 6/15/14 (e)
|
1,068,100
|
1,984,400
|
3,052,500
|
|||||
2,535,563
|
4,705,450
|
7,241,013
|
|||||||||
Consumer, Commercial, Lease Financing (3.7%)
|
|||||||||||
550,000
|
1,015,000
|
1,565,000
|
American General Finance Corp., Senior Unsecured Medium-Term Notes, Ser. H, 5.38%, due 10/1/12
|
442,261
|
816,173
|
1,258,434
|
|||||
1,225,000
|
2,265,000
|
3,490,000
|
American General Finance Corp., Senior Unsecured Medium-Term Notes, Ser. I, 5.85%, due 6/1/13
|
967,991
|
1,789,796
|
2,757,787
|
|||||
720,000
|
1,340,000
|
2,060,000
|
American General Finance Corp., Senior Unsecured Medium-Term Notes, Ser. I, 5.40%, due 12/1/15
|
495,009
|
921,266
|
1,416,275
|
|||||
1,665,000
|
3,080,000
|
4,745,000
|
American General Finance Corp., Senior Unsecured Medium-Term Notes, Ser. J, 6.90%, due 12/15/17
|
1,156,099
|
2,138,610
|
3,294,709
|
|||||
3,061,360
|
5,665,845
|
8,727,205
|
|||||||||
Diversified Capital Goods (0.6%)
|
|||||||||||
565,000
|
1,045,000
|
1,610,000
|
Mueller Water Products, Inc., Guaranteed Notes, 7.38%, due 6/1/17
|
522,625
|
966,625
|
1,489,250
|
|||||
Electric - Generation (8.2%)
|
|||||||||||
2,705,000
|
5,025,000
|
7,730,000
|
Dynegy-Roseton Danskammer, Pass-Through Certificates, Ser. B, 7.67%, due 11/8/16
|
|
2,610,325
|
4,849,125
|
7,459,450
|
||||
270,000
|
495,000
|
765,000
|
Edison Mission Energy, Senior Unsecured Notes, 7.00%, due 5/15/17
|
213,300
|
391,050
|
604,350
|
|||||
310,000
|
570,000
|
880,000
|
Edison Mission Energy, Senior Unsecured Notes, 7.20%, due 5/15/19
|
234,825
|
431,775
|
666,600
|
|||||
1,640,000
|
3,070,000
|
4,710,000
|
Edison Mission Energy, Senior Unsecured Notes, 7.63%, due 5/15/27
|
|
1,111,100
|
2,079,925
|
3,191,025
|
||||
1,649,996
|
4,024,290
|
5,674,286
|
Energy Future Holdings Corp., Guaranteed Notes, 11.25%, due 11/1/17
|
|
1,167,372
|
2,847,185
|
4,014,557
|
||||
94,900
|
175,200
|
270,100
|
Homer City Funding LLC, Senior Secured Notes, 8.14%, due 10/1/19
|
|
93,002
|
171,696
|
264,698
|
||||
485,000
|
895,000
|
1,380,000
|
NRG Energy, Inc., Guaranteed Notes, 7.38%, due 2/1/16
|
|
485,606
|
896,119
|
1,381,725
|
||||
705,000
|
1,305,000
|
2,010,000
|
NRG Energy, Inc., Guaranteed Notes, 7.38%, due 1/15/17
|
|
706,763
|
1,308,262
|
2,015,025
|
||||
6,622,293
|
12,975,137
|
19,597,430
|
|||||||||
Electronics (1.5%)
|
|||||||||||
360,000
|
675,000
|
1,035,000
|
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., Senior Unsecured Notes, 8.13%, due 12/15/17
|
|
358,650
|
672,469
|
1,031,119
|
||||
390,000
|
725,000
|
1,115,000
|
NXP BV Funding LLC, Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes, 3.03%, due 1/15/10 (e)(u)
|
323,700
|
601,750
|
925,450
|
|||||
600,000
|
1,120,000
|
1,720,000
|
NXP BV Funding LLC, Senior Secured Notes, 7.88%, due 10/15/14
|
|
544,500
|
1,016,400
|
1,560,900
|
||||
1,226,850
|
2,290,619
|
3,517,469
|
|||||||||
Energy - Exploration & Production (2.8%)
|
|||||||||||
210,000
|
395,000
|
605,000
|
Atlas Energy Operating Co. LLC, Guaranteed Notes, 10.75%, due 2/1/18
|
232,050
|
436,475
|
668,525
|
|||||
985,000
|
635,000
|
1,620,000
|
Chesapeake Energy Corp., Guaranteed Notes, 9.50%, due 2/15/15
|
|
1,081,038
|
696,912
|
1,777,950
|
||||
785,000
|
1,440,000
|
2,225,000
|
Chesapeake Energy Corp., Guaranteed Notes, 6.88%, due 1/15/16
|
|
785,000
|
1,440,000
|
2,225,000
|
||||
150,000
|
280,000
|
430,000
|
Chesapeake Energy Corp., Guaranteed Notes, 7.25%, due 12/15/18
|
|
151,125
|
282,100
|
433,225
|
||||
445,000
|
1,065,000
|
1,510,000
|
Cimarex Energy Co., Guaranteed Notes, 7.13%, due 5/1/17
|
|
449,450
|
1,075,650
|
1,525,100
|
||||
2,698,663
|
3,931,137
|
6,629,800
|
|||||||||
Food & Drug Retailers (1.9%)
|
|||||||||||
245,000
|
450,000
|
695,000
|
Ingles Markets, Inc., Senior Unsecured Notes, 8.88%, due 5/15/17
|
254,800
|
468,000
|
722,800
|
|||||
405,000
|
745,000
|
1,150,000
|
Rite Aid Corp., Senior Secured Notes, 9.75%, due 6/12/16
|
439,425
|
808,325
|
1,247,750
|
|||||
575,000
|
1,050,000
|
1,625,000
|
Rite Aid Corp., Senior Secured Notes, 10.38%, due 7/15/16
|
609,500
|
1,113,000
|
1,722,500
|
|||||
280,000
|
525,000
|
805,000
|
Rite Aid Corp., Senior Secured Notes, 10.25%, due 10/15/19
|
295,400
|
553,875
|
849,275
|
|||||
1,599,125
|
2,943,200
|
4,542,325
|
|||||||||
Forestry/Paper (1.0%)
|
|||||||||||
735,000
|
1,355,000
|
2,090,000
|
PE Paper Escrow GmbH, Senior Secured Notes, 12.00%, due 8/1/14
|
812,175
|
1,497,275
|
2,309,450
|
|||||
Gaming (8.0%)
|
|||||||||||
225,000
|
345,000
|
570,000
|
Chukchansi Economic Development Authority, Senior Unsecured Notes, 8.00%, due 11/15/13
|
164,250
|
251,850
|
416,100
|
|||||
725,000
|
1,350,000
|
2,075,000
|
FireKeepers Development Authority, Senior Secured Notes, 13.88%, due 5/1/15
|
822,875
|
1,532,250
|
2,355,125
|
|||||
1,855,000
|
3,440,000
|
5,295,000
|
Harrah's Operating Co., Inc., Guaranteed Notes, 10.75%, due 2/1/16
|
1,511,825
|
2,803,600
|
4,315,425
|
|||||
175,000
|
315,000
|
490,000
|
MGM Mirage, Inc., Guaranteed Notes, 6.75%, due 4/1/13
|
150,938
|
271,687
|
422,625
|
|||||
275,000
|
510,000
|
785,000
|
MGM Mirage, Inc., Senior Secured Notes, 10.38%, due 5/15/14
|
298,375
|
553,350
|
851,725
|
|||||
470,000
|
875,000
|
1,345,000
|
MGM Mirage, Inc., Guaranteed Notes, 7.50%, due 6/1/16
|
366,600
|
682,500
|
1,049,100
|
|||||
470,000
|
860,000
|
1,330,000
|
MGM Mirage, Inc., Senior Secured Notes, 11.13%, due 11/15/17
|
520,525
|
952,450
|
1,472,975
|
|||||
330,000
|
620,000
|
950,000
|
Peninsula Gaming LLC, Senior Secured Notes, 8.38%, due 8/15/15
|
329,175
|
618,450
|
947,625
|
|||||
375,000
|
705,000
|
1,080,000
|
Peninsula Gaming LLC, Senior Unsecured Notes, 10.75%, due 8/15/17
|
376,875
|
708,525
|
1,085,400
|
|||||
320,000
|
595,000
|
915,000
|
Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc., Senior Notes, 8.63%, due 8/1/17
|
326,400
|
606,900
|
933,300
|
|||||
1,165,000
|
1,781,000
|
2,946,000
|
Pokagon Gaming Authority, Senior Notes, 10.38%, due 6/15/14
|
1,211,600
|
1,852,240
|
3,063,840
|
|||||
355,000
|
665,000
|
1,020,000
|
San Pasqual Casino Development Group, Inc., Notes, 8.00%, due 9/15/13
|
331,925
|
621,775
|
953,700
|
|||||
595,000
|
1,115,000
|
1,710,000
|
Shingle Springs Tribal Gaming Authority, Senior Notes, 9.38%, due 6/15/15
|
452,200
|
847,400
|
1,299,600
|
|||||
6,863,563
|
12,302,977
|
19,166,540
|
|||||||||
Gas Distribution (9.0%)
|
|||||||||||
410,000
|
755,000
|
1,165,000
|
AmeriGas Partners L.P., Senior Unsecured Notes, 7.13%, due 5/20/16
|
410,000
|
755,000
|
1,165,000
|
|||||
1,605,000
|
2,985,000
|
4,590,000
|
El Paso Energy Corp., Medium-Term Notes, 7.80%, due 8/1/31
|
1,511,000
|
2,810,178
|
4,321,178
|
|||||
776,000
|
1,462,000
|
2,238,000
|
Ferrellgas L.P., Senior Unsecured Notes, 6.75%, due 5/1/14
|
764,360
|
1,440,070
|
2,204,430
|
|||||
425,000
|
690,000
|
1,115,000
|
Ferrellgas Partners L.P., Senior Unsecured Notes, 8.75%, due 6/15/12
|
430,313
|
698,625
|
1,128,938
|
|||||
85,000
|
540,000
|
625,000
|
Ferrellgas Partners L.P., Senior Unsecured Notes, 6.75%, due 5/1/14
|
83,725
|
531,900
|
615,625
|
|||||
620,000
|
1,155,000
|
1,775,000
|
Ferrellgas Partners L.P., Senior Notes, 9.13%, due 10/1/17
|
655,650
|
1,221,412
|
1,877,062
|
|||||
535,000
|
985,000
|
1,520,000
|
MarkWest Energy Partners L.P., Guaranteed Notes, Ser. B, 6.88%, due 11/1/14
|
505,575
|
930,825
|
1,436,400
|
|||||
395,000
|
980,000
|
1,375,000
|
MarkWest Energy Partners L.P., Guaranteed Notes, Ser. B, 8.75%, due 4/15/18
|
406,850
|
1,009,400
|
1,416,250
|
|||||
327,000
|
690,000
|
1,017,000
|
Regency Energy Partners L.P., Guaranteed Notes, 8.38%, due 12/15/13
|
338,445
|
714,150
|
1,052,595
|
|||||
2,635,000
|
4,900,000
|
7,535,000
|
Sabine Pass LNG, L.P., Senior Secured Notes, 7.50%, due 11/30/16
|
2,193,638
|
4,079,250
|
6,272,888
|
|||||
7,299,556
|
14,190,810
|
21,490,366
|
|||||||||
Health Services (7.1%)
|
|||||||||||
175,000
|
320,000
|
495,000
|
Columbia Healthcare Corp., Senior Unsecured Notes, 7.50%, due 12/15/23
|
159,905
|
292,398
|
452,303
|
|||||
280,000
|
520,000
|
800,000
|
Columbia/HCA Corp., Senior Unsecured Notes, 7.69%, due 6/15/25
|
256,397
|
476,165
|
732,562
|
|||||
95,000
|
175,000
|
270,000
|
Columbia/HCA Corp., Senior Unsecured Notes, 7.05%, due 12/1/27
|
81,463
|
150,063
|
231,526
|
|||||
505,000
|
945,000
|
1,450,000
|
HCA, Inc., Secured Notes, 9.13%, due 11/15/14
|
532,775
|
996,975
|
1,529,750
|
|||||
1,115,000
|
2,060,000
|
3,175,000
|
HCA, Inc., Secured Notes, 9.25%, due 11/15/16
|
1,197,231
|
2,211,925
|
3,409,156
|
|||||
175,000
|
320,000
|
495,000
|
HCA, Inc., Senior Secured Notes, 8.50%, due 4/15/19
|
188,563
|
344,800
|
533,363
|
|||||
1,993,218
|
3,058,150
|
5,051,368
|
NMH Holdings, Inc., Senior Unsecured Floating Rate Notes, 6.63%, due 3/15/10 (u)
|
1,484,947
|
2,278,322
|
3,763,269
|
|||||
1,315,000
|
2,320,000
|
3,635,000
|
Service Corp. Int'l, Senior Unsecured Notes, 7.50%, due 4/1/27
|
1,170,350
|
2,064,800
|
3,235,150
|
|||||
785,000
|
375,000
|
1,160,000
|
Ventas Realty L.P., Guaranteed Notes, Ser. 1, 6.50%, due 6/1/16
|
757,525
|
361,875
|
1,119,400
|
|||||
205,000
|
1,460,000
|
1,665,000
|
Ventas Realty L.P., Guaranteed Notes, 6.50%, due 6/1/16
|
197,825
|
1,408,900
|
1,606,725
|
|||||
130,000
|
235,000
|
365,000
|
Ventas Realty L.P., Guaranteed Notes, 6.75%, due 4/1/17
|
125,775
|
227,362
|
353,137
|
|||||
6,152,756
|
10,813,585
|
16,966,341
|
|||||||||
Machinery (0.4%)
|
|||||||||||
395,000
|
735,000
|
1,130,000
|
Terex Corp., Senior Subordinated Notes, 8.00%, due 11/15/17
|
380,188
|
707,438
|
1,087,626
|
|||||
Media - Broadcast (6.4%)
|
|||||||||||
920,000
|
1,680,000
|
2,600,000
|
Allbritton Communications Co., Senior Subordinated Notes, 7.75%, due 12/15/12
|
905,050
|
1,652,700
|
2,557,750
|
|||||
315,000
|
580,000
|
895,000
|
Clear Channel Communications, Inc., Senior Unsecured Notes, 5.00%, due 3/15/12 (e)
|
267,750
|
493,000
|
760,750
|
|||||
295,000
|
540,000
|
835,000
|
Clear Channel Communications, Inc., Senior Unsecured Notes, 5.75%, due 1/15/13
|
233,788
|
427,950
|
661,738
|
|||||
600,000
|
1,110,000
|
1,710,000
|
Clear Channel Communications, Inc., Guaranteed Notes, 10.75%, due 8/1/16
|
471,000
|
871,350
|
1,342,350
|
|||||
730,000
|
1,670,000
|
2,400,000
|
LIN Television Corp., Guaranteed Notes, Ser. B, 6.50%, due 5/15/13
|
693,500
|
1,586,500
|
2,280,000
|
|||||
750,000
|
1,390,000
|
2,140,000
|
Sinclair Television Group, Inc., Senior Secured Notes, 9.25%, due 11/1/17
|
780,000
|
1,445,600
|
2,225,600
|
|||||
265,000
|
495,000
|
760,000
|
Sirius XM Radio, Inc., Senior Unsecured Notes, 9.63%, due 8/1/13
|
263,675
|
492,525
|
756,200
|
|||||
700,937
|
1,295,837
|
1,996,774
|
Umbrella Acquisition, Inc., Guaranteed Notes, 9.75%, due 3/15/15
|
614,195
|
1,135,477
|
1,749,672
|
|||||
550,000
|
1,020,000
|
1,570,000
|
Univision Communications, Inc., Senior Secured Notes, 12.00%, due 7/1/14
|
605,688
|
1,123,275
|
1,728,963
|
|||||
370,000
|
685,000
|
1,055,000
|
XM Satellite Radio, Inc., Senior Secured Notes, 11.25%, due 6/15/13
|
397,750
|
736,375
|
1,134,125
|
|||||
50,000
|
90,000
|
140,000
|
XM Satellite Radio, Inc., Guaranteed Notes, 13.00%, due 8/1/13
|
54,313
|
97,763
|
152,076
|
|||||
5,286,709
|
10,062,515
|
15,349,224
|
|||||||||
Media - Cable (2.8%)
|
|||||||||||
465,000
|
870,000
|
1,335,000
|
DISH DBS Corp., Guaranteed Notes, 7.88%, due 9/1/19
|
487,669
|
912,412
|
1,400,081
|
|||||
640,000
|
1,185,000
|
1,825,000
|
GCI, Inc., Senior Notes, 8.63%, due 11/15/19
|
645,600
|
1,195,369
|
1,840,969
|
|||||
570,000
|
1,035,000
|
1,605,000
|
UPC Holding BV, Senior Secured Notes, 9.88%, due 4/15/18
|
601,350
|
1,091,925
|
1,693,275
|
|||||
320,000
|
345,000
|
665,000
|
Videotron Ltee, Guaranteed Senior Unsecured Notes, 6.88%, due 1/15/14
|
321,600
|
346,725
|
668,325
|
|||||
160,000
|
140,000
|
300,000
|
Videotron Ltee, Guaranteed Notes, 9.13%, due 4/15/18
|
176,000
|
154,000
|
330,000
|
|||||
45,000
|
455,000
|
500,000
|
Videotron Ltee, Guaranteed Notes, 9.13%, due 4/15/18
|
49,500
|
500,500
|
550,000
|
|||||
105,000
|
190,000
|
295,000
|
Virgin Media Finance PLC, Guaranteed Notes, 9.13%, due 8/15/16
|
110,644
|
200,213
|
310,857
|
|||||
2,392,363
|
4,401,144
|
6,793,507
|
|||||||||
Media - Services (3.0%)
|
|||||||||||
325,000
|
600,000
|
925,000
|
Nielsen Finance LLC, Guaranteed Notes, 11.50%, due 5/1/16
|
363,188
|
670,500
|
1,033,688
|
|||||
945,000
|
1,760,000
|
2,705,000
|
Nielsen Finance LLC, Guaranteed Notes, Step Up, 0.00%/12.50%, due 8/1/16 ^^
|
862,313
|
1,606,000
|
2,468,313
|
|||||
340,000
|
580,000
|
920,000
|
The Interpublic Group of Cos., Inc., Senior Unsecured Notes, 10.00%, due 7/15/17
|
377,400
|
643,800
|
1,021,200
|
|||||
190,000
|
750,000
|
940,000
|
WMG Acquisition Corp., Guaranteed Notes, 7.38%, due 4/15/14
|
183,588
|
724,687
|
908,275
|
|||||
545,000
|
1,000,000
|
1,545,000
|
WMG Acquisition Corp., Senior Secured Notes, 9.50%, due 6/15/16
|
583,831
|
1,071,250
|
1,655,081
|
|||||
2,370,320
|
4,716,237
|
7,086,557
|
|||||||||
Metals/ Mining Excluding Steel (0.6%)
|
|||||||||||
220,000
|
410,000
|
630,000
|
Arch Coal, Inc., Guaranteed Notes, 8.75%, due 8/1/16
|
232,650
|
433,575
|
666,225
|
|||||
700,000
|
0
|
700,000
|
Arch Western Finance Corp., 6.75%, due 7/1/13
|
|
694,750
|
0
|
694,750
|
||||
927,400
|
433,575
|
1,360,975
|
|||||||||
Multi-Line Insurance (0.7%)
|
|||||||||||
850,000
|
1,560,000
|
2,410,000
|
American Int'l Group, Inc., Junior Subordinated Debentures, 8.18%, due 5/15/38 (u)
|
561,000
|
1,029,600
|
1,590,600
|
|||||
Non-Food & Drug Retailers (3.7%)
|
|||||||||||
325,000
|
605,000
|
930,000
|
Blockbuster, Inc., Guaranteed Notes, 9.00%, due 9/1/12
|
185,250
|
344,850
|
530,100
|
|||||
1,107,000
|
2,054,000
|
3,161,000
|
Blockbuster, Inc., Senior Secured Notes, 11.75%, due 10/1/14
|
1,051,650
|
1,951,300
|
3,002,950
|
|||||
365,000
|
670,000
|
1,035,000
|
Macy's Retail Holdings, Inc., Guaranteed Unsecured Notes, 7.00%, due 2/15/28
|
321,200
|
589,600
|
910,800
|
|||||
245,000
|
445,000
|
690,000
|
Macy's Retail Holdings, Inc., Guaranteed Notes, 6.38%, due 3/15/37
|
207,025
|
376,025
|
583,050
|
|||||
585,000
|
1,100,000
|
1,685,000
|
Macy's Retail Holdings, Inc., Senior Guaranteed Notes, 6.90%, due 4/1/29
|
514,800
|
968,000
|
1,482,800
|
|||||
735,000
|
1,355,000
|
2,090,000
|
Toys "R" Us Property Co. I LLC, Guaranteed Notes, 10.75%, due 7/15/17
|
804,825
|
1,483,725
|
2,288,550
|
|||||
3,084,750
|
5,713,500
|
8,798,250
|
|||||||||
Packaging (0.1%)
|
|||||||||||
105,000
|
195,000
|
300,000
|
Berry Plastics Corp., Secured Notes, 8.88%, due 9/15/14
|
102,113
|
189,638
|
291,751
|
|||||
Printing & Publishing (2.0%)
|
|||||||||||
215,000
|
405,000
|
620,000
|
Gannett Co., Inc., Guaranteed Notes, 8.75%, due 11/15/14
|
222,525
|
419,175
|
641,700
|
|||||
565,000
|
1,040,000
|
1,605,000
|
Gannett Co., Inc., Guaranteed Notes, 9.38%, due 11/15/17
|
583,363
|
1,073,800
|
1,657,163
|
|||||
870,000
|
1,610,000
|
2,480,000
|
TL Acquisitions, Inc., Senior Notes, 10.50%, due 1/15/15
|
831,938
|
1,539,563
|
2,371,501
|
|||||
1,637,826
|
3,032,538
|
4,670,364
|
|||||||||
Real Estate Management & Development (2.9%)
|
|||||||||||
665,000
|
950,000
|
1,615,000
|
American Real Estate Partners L.P., Senior Unsecured Notes, 8.13%, due 6/1/12
|
678,300
|
969,000
|
1,647,300
|
|||||
995,000
|
2,125,000
|
3,120,000
|
American Real Estate Partners L.P., Guaranteed Notes, 7.13%, due 2/15/13
|
1,014,900
|
2,167,500
|
3,182,400
|
|||||
830,000
|
1,535,000
|
2,365,000
|
Realogy Corp., Guaranteed Notes, 10.50%, due 4/15/14
|
717,950
|
1,327,775
|
2,045,725
|
|||||
2,411,150
|
4,464,275
|
6,875,425
|
|||||||||
Restaurants (0.3%)
|
|||||||||||
170,000
|
310,000
|
480,000
|
NPC Int'l, Inc., Guaranteed Notes, 9.50%, due 5/1/14
|
168,300
|
306,900
|
475,200
|
|||||
80,000
|
150,000
|
230,000
|
OSI Restaurant Partners, Inc., Guaranteed Notes, 10.00%, due 6/15/15
|
70,600
|
132,375
|
202,975
|
|||||
238,900
|
439,275
|
678,175
|
|||||||||
Software/Services (4.2%)
|
|||||||||||
220,000
|
400,000
|
620,000
|
Ceridian Corp., Senior Unsecured Notes, 11.25%, due 11/15/15
|
209,825
|
381,500
|
591,325
|
|||||
602,925
|
1,120,200
|
1,723,125
|
Ceridian Corp., Guaranteed Notes, 12.25%, due 11/15/15
|
569,764
|
1,058,589
|
1,628,353
|
|||||
1,843,311
|
3,306,588
|
5,149,899
|
First Data Corp., Guaranteed Notes, 10.55%, due 9/24/15
|
1,635,938
|
2,934,597
|
4,570,535
|
|||||
105,000
|
195,000
|
300,000
|
SunGard Data Systems, Inc., Guaranteed Notes, 9.13%, due 8/15/13
|
107,625
|
199,875
|
307,500
|
|||||
400,000
|
565,000
|
965,000
|
SunGard Data Systems, Inc., Guaranteed Notes, 10.63%, due 5/15/15
|
440,500
|
622,206
|
1,062,706
|
|||||
550,000
|
1,200,000
|
1,750,000
|
SunGard Data Systems, Inc., Guaranteed Notes, 10.25%, due 8/15/15
|
585,750
|
1,278,000
|
1,863,750
|
|||||
3,549,402
|
6,474,767
|
10,024,169
|
|||||||||
Steel Producers/Products (1.4%)
|
|||||||||||
1,090,000
|
1,995,000
|
3,085,000
|
Tube City IMS Corp., Guaranteed Notes, 9.75%, due 2/1/15
|
1,053,213
|
1,927,669
|
2,980,882
|
|||||
205,000
|
370,000
|
575,000
|
United States Steel Corp., Senior Unsecured Notes, 6.65%, due 6/1/37
|
164,919
|
297,658
|
462,577
|
|||||
1,218,132
|
2,225,327
|
3,443,459
|
|||||||||
Support - Services (4.4%)
|
|||||||||||
950,000
|
985,000
|
1,935,000
|
Cardtronics, Inc., Guaranteed Notes, 9.25%, due 8/15/13
|
977,313
|
1,013,319
|
1,990,632
|
|||||
115,000
|
1,000,000
|
1,115,000
|
Cardtronics, Inc., Guaranteed Notes, Ser. B, 9.25%, due 8/15/13
|
118,306
|
1,028,750
|
1,147,056
|
|||||
335,000
|
615,000
|
950,000
|
Hertz Corp., Guaranteed Notes, 10.50%, due 1/1/16
|
357,613
|
656,512
|
1,014,125
|
|||||
295,000
|
550,000
|
845,000
|
Knowledge Learning Corp., Inc., Guaranteed Notes, 7.75%, due 2/1/15
|
283,200
|
528,000
|
811,200
|
|||||
530,000
|
975,000
|
1,505,000
|
RSC Equipment Rental, Inc., Senior Notes, 10.25%, due 11/15/19
|
531,988
|
978,656
|
1,510,644
|
|||||
675,000
|
1,250,000
|
1,925,000
|
United Rentals N.A., Inc., Guaranteed Notes, 7.75%, due 11/15/13
|
634,500
|
1,175,000
|
1,809,500
|
|||||
740,000
|
1,390,000
|
2,130,000
|
United Rentals N.A., Inc., Guaranteed Notes, 10.88%, due 6/15/16
|
804,750
|
1,511,625
|
2,316,375
|
|||||
3,707,670
|
6,891,862
|
10,599,532
|
|||||||||
Telecom - Integrated/Services (6.8%)
|
|||||||||||
1,020,000
|
1,885,000
|
2,905,000
|
Citizens Communications Co., Senior Unsecured Notes, 9.00%, due 8/15/31
|
1,002,150
|
1,852,012
|
2,854,162
|
|||||
305,000
|
565,000
|
870,000
|
Dycom Investments, Inc., Guaranteed Notes, 8.13%, due 10/15/15
|
280,600
|
519,800
|
800,400
|
|||||
425,000
|
780,000
|
1,205,000
|
Intelsat Bermuda Ltd., Guaranteed Notes, 11.50%, due 2/4/17
|
417,562
|
766,350
|
1,183,912
|
|||||
325,000
|
605,000
|
930,000
|
Intelsat Jackson Holdings Ltd., Guaranteed Notes, 8.50%, due 11/1/19
|
|
334,750
|
623,150
|
957,900
|
||||
310,000
|
575,000
|
885,000
|
Intelsat Ltd., Senior Unsecured Notes, 6.50%, due 11/1/13
|
|
290,625
|
539,063
|
829,688
|
||||
215,000
|
920,000
|
1,135,000
|
Intelsat Subsidiary Holdings Co., Ltd., Guaranteed Notes, 8.50%, due 1/15/13
|
|
219,300
|
938,400
|
1,157,700
|
||||
35,000
|
70,000
|
105,000
|
Intelsat Subsidiary Holdings Co., Ltd., Guaranteed Notes, Ser. B, 8.88%, due 1/15/15
|
36,050
|
72,100
|
108,150
|
|||||
290,000
|
30,000
|
320,000
|
Intelsat Subsidiary Holdings Co., Ltd., Guaranteed Notes, 8.88%, due 1/15/15
|
300,150
|
31,050
|
331,200
|
|||||
220,000
|
410,000
|
630,000
|
Level 3 Financing, Inc., Guaranteed Notes, 12.25%, due 3/15/13
|
233,200
|
434,600
|
667,800
|
|||||
440,000
|
800,000
|
1,240,000
|
Level 3 Financing, Inc., Guaranteed Notes, 9.25%, due 11/1/14
|
415,800
|
756,000
|
1,171,800
|
|||||
835,000
|
1,540,000
|
2,375,000
|
Level 3 Financing, Inc., Guaranteed Notes, 8.75%, due 2/15/17
|
761,938
|
1,405,250
|
2,167,188
|
|||||
400,000
|
0
|
400,000
|
Qwest Corp., Senior Unsecured Notes, 7.88%, due 9/1/11
|
|
419,000
|
0
|
419,000
|
||||
610,000
|
1,295,000
|
1,905,000
|
Qwest Corp., Senior Unsecured Notes, 8.38%, due 5/1/16
|
654,225
|
1,388,887
|
2,043,112
|
|||||
255,000
|
480,000
|
735,000
|
Windstream Corp., Guaranteed Notes, 8.13%, due 8/1/13
|
264,562
|
498,000
|
762,562
|
|||||
260,000
|
475,000
|
735,000
|
Windstream Corp., Guaranteed Notes, 8.63%, due 8/1/16
|
264,550
|
483,313
|
747,863
|
|||||
135,000
|
0
|
135,000
|
Windstream Corp., Guaranteed Notes, 7.00%, due 3/15/19
|
|
126,225
|
0
|
126,225
|
||||
6,020,687
|
10,307,975
|
16,328,662
|
|||||||||
Telecom - Wireless (8.2%)
|
|||||||||||
1,350,000
|
2,500,000
|
3,850,000
|
Clearwire Communications LLC, Senior Secured Notes, 12.00%, due 12/1/15
|
1,370,250
|
2,537,500
|
3,907,750
|
|||||
520,000
|
965,000
|
1,485,000
|
Cricket Communications, Inc., Senior Secured Notes, 7.75%, due 5/15/16 (e)
|
518,700
|
962,588
|
1,481,288
|
|||||
1,260,000
|
2,335,000
|
3,595,000
|
MetroPCS Wireless, Inc., Guaranteed Notes, 9.25%, due 11/1/14 (e)
|
1,275,750
|
2,364,187
|
3,639,937
|
|||||
445,000
|
820,000
|
1,265,000
|
Nextel Communications, Inc., Guaranteed Notes, Ser. E, 6.88%, due 10/31/13
|
431,650
|
795,400
|
1,227,050
|
|||||
3,130,000
|
6,025,000
|
9,155,000
|
Sprint Capital Corp., Guaranteed Notes, 6.88%, due 11/15/28
|
2,601,810
|
5,008,281
|
7,610,091
|
|||||
550,000
|
1,010,000
|
1,560,000
|
Telesat Canada/Telesat LLC, Senior Unsecured Notes, 11.00%, due 11/1/15
|
596,750
|
1,095,850
|
1,692,600
|
|||||
6,794,910
|
12,763,806
|
19,558,716
|
|||||||||
Total Corporate Debt Securities
|
|||||||||||
(Cost $90,797,615, $166,322,926, and $257,120,541, respectively)
|
98,035,506
|
179,578,308
|
277,613,814
|
||||||||
Number of Shares
|
|||||||||||
Short-Term Investments (6.0%)
|
|||||||||||
6,248,375
|
4,956,641
|
11,205,016
|
Neuberger Berman Securities Lending Quality Fund, LLC
|
6,373,342
|
5,055,774
|
11,429,116
|
|||||
1,616,745
|
1,341,587
|
2,958,332
|
State Street Institutional Liquid Reserves Fund Institutional Class
|
1,616,745
|
1,341,587
|
2,958,332
|
|||||
Total Short-Term Investments
|
|||||||||||
(Cost $7,990,087, $6,397,361, and
|
|||||||||||
$14,387,448, respectively)
|
7,990,087
|
6,397,361
|
14,387,448
|
||||||||
Total Investments (148.3%)
|
|||||||||||
(Cost $148,260,730, $183,343,976, and
|
|||||||||||
$331,604,706, respectively) **
|
155,420,773
|
198,190,878
|
353,611,651
|
||||||||
Liabilities, less cash, receivables
|
|||||||||||
and other assets [(36.9%)]
|
(39,942,859)
|
(47,597,682)
|
(400,000)
|
***
|
(87,940,541)
|
||||||
Liquidation Value of Perpetual
|
|||||||||||
Preferred Shares [(11.4%)]
|
(14,875,000)
|
(12,300,000)
|
(27,175,000)
|
||||||||
Total Net Assets Applicable to
|
|||||||||||
Common Stockholders (100.0%)
|
$100,602,914
|
$138,293,196
|
($400,000)
|
$238,496,110
|
|||||||
**
|
The cost of investments for U.S. federal income tax purposes of the combined fund was $332,852,915. Gross unrealized appreciation of investments was $34,822,207 and gross unrealized depreciation of investments was $14,063,471, resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $20,758,736, based on cost for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
|
||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||
*
|
Security did not produce income for the last twelve months.
|
||||||||||||||
(e)
|
All or a portion of this security is on loan.
|
||||||||||||||
(u)
|
Floating rate securities are securities whose yields vary with a designated market index or market rate. These securities are shown at their current rates as of December 31, 2009.
|
||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||
^^
|
Denotes a step-up bond: a zero coupon bond that converts to a fixed rate of interest at a designated future date.
|
||||||||||||||
***
|
Reflects the effect of estimated reorganization expenses of $400,000.
|
Interest Rate Swaps
|
|||||||||||||||
High Yield Strategies Fund
|
Fixed-rate |
Variable-rate
|
Accrued Net
|
Unrealized
|
|||||||||||
Swap
|
Termination
|
Payments Made |
Payments Received
|
Interest Receivable
|
Appreciation
|
|||||||||
Counter Party
|
Notional Amount
|
Date
|
by the Fund |
by the Fund (1)
|
(Payable)
|
(Depreciation)
|
Total Fair Value
|
|||||||
Citibank, N.A.
|
$ 45,000,000
|
1/28/2011
|
2.92% |
0.23%
|
$(10,072)
|
$(1,108,934)
|
$(1,119,006)
|
|||||||
(1) 30 day LIBOR (London Interbank Offered Rate) at December 24, 2009.
|
In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 820 “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures” ("ASC 820"), formerly known as Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements,” investments held by the Fund are carried at “fair value” as defined by ASC 820. Fair Value is defined as the price that a fund would receive upon selling an investment in an orderly transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market for the investment under current market conditions. Various inputs, including the volume and level of activity for the asset or liability in the market are considered in determining the value of the Fund's investments, some of which are discussed above. Significant management judgment may be necessary to estimate fair value in accordance with ASC 820.
|
||
In addition to defining fair value, ASC 820 established a three-tier hierarchy of inputs to establish a classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes.
|
||
The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized in the three broad Levels listed below.
|
||
● |
Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical investments
|
|
● |
Level 2 – other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar investments, interest rates, prepayment spreads, credit risk, amortized cost, etc.)
|
|
● |
Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)
|
|
The inputs or methodology used for valuing an investment are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in such investments.
|
||
The following is a summary, by category of Level, of inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of December 31, 2009:
|
||
Income Opportunity Fund Inc.
|
High Yield Strategies Fund
|
||||||||
Asset Valuation Inputs
|
Level 1
|
Level 2
|
Level 3§
|
Level 1
|
Level 2
|
Level 3§
|
|||
Bank Loan Obligations^
|
-
|
6,662,913
|
-
|
-
|
11,729,941
|
-
|
|||
Corporate Debt Securities
|
|||||||||
Airlines
|
-
|
1,172,469
|
1,306,580
|
-
|
2,173,012
|
2,424,995
|
|||
Auto Loans
|
-
|
2,490,476
|
-
|
-
|
4,596,081
|
-
|
|||
Auto Parts & Equipment
|
-
|
1,322,250
|
-
|
-
|
2,439,500
|
||||
Automotive
|
-
|
1,064,575
|
-
|
-
|
1,957,938
|
-
|
|||
Banking
|
-
|
7,666,494
|
-
|
-
|
14,047,367
|
-
|
|||
Building & Construction
|
-
|
510,000
|
-
|
-
|
943,500
|
-
|
|||
Building Materials
|
-
|
2,424,613
|
-
|
-
|
4,859,783
|
-
|
|||
Chemicals
|
-
|
2,535,563
|
-
|
-
|
4,705,450
|
-
|
|||
Consumer/Commercial/Lease Financing |
-
|
3,061,360
|
-
|
-
|
5,665,845
|
-
|
|||
Diversified Capital Goods
|
-
|
522,625
|
-
|
-
|
966,625
|
-
|
|||
Electric - Generation
|
-
|
6,622,293
|
-
|
-
|
12,975,137
|
-
|
|||
Electronics
|
-
|
1,226,850
|
-
|
-
|
2,290,619
|
-
|
|||
Energy - Exploration & Production | - |
2,698,663
|
-
|
-
|
3,931,137
|
-
|
|||
Food & Drug Retailers
|
-
|
1,599,125
|
-
|
-
|
2,943,200
|
-
|
|||
Forestry/Paper
|
-
|
812,175
|
-
|
-
|
1,497,275
|
-
|
|||
Gaming
|
-
|
6,863,563
|
-
|
-
|
12,302,977
|
-
|
|||
Gas Distribution
|
-
|
7,299,556
|
-
|
-
|
14,190,810
|
-
|
|||
Health Services
|
-
|
6,152,756
|
-
|
-
|
10,813,585
|
-
|
|||
Machinery
|
-
|
380,188
|
-
|
-
|
707,438
|
-
|
|||
Media - Broadcast
|
-
|
5,286,709
|
-
|
-
|
10,062,515
|
-
|
|||
Media - Cable
|
-
|
2,392,363
|
-
|
-
|
4,401,144
|
-
|
|||
Media - Services
|
-
|
2,370,320
|
-
|
-
|
4,716,237
|
-
|
|||
Metals/Mining Excluding Steel
|
-
|
927,400
|
-
|
-
|
433,575
|
-
|
|||
Multi - Line Insurance
|
-
|
561,000
|
-
|
-
|
1,029,600
|
-
|
|||
Non-Food & Drug Retailers
|
-
|
3,084,750
|
-
|
-
|
5,713,500
|
-
|
|||
Packaging
|
-
|
102,113
|
-
|
-
|
189,638
|
-
|
Printing & Publishing
|
-
|
1,637,826
|
-
|
-
|
3,032,538
|
-
|
|||
Real Estate Management & Development
|
-
|
2,411,150
|
-
|
-
|
4,464,275
|
-
|
|||
Restaurants
|
-
|
238,900
|
-
|
-
|
439,275
|
-
|
|||
Software/Services
|
-
|
3,549,402
|
-
|
-
|
6,474,767
|
-
|
|||
Steel Producers/Products
|
-
|
1,218,132
|
-
|
-
|
2,225,327
|
-
|
|||
Support - Services
|
-
|
3,707,670
|
-
|
-
|
6,891,862
|
-
|
|||
Telecom - Integrated/Services
|
-
|
6,020,687
|
-
|
-
|
10,307,975
|
-
|
|||
Telecom - Wireless
|
-
|
6,794,910
|
-
|
-
|
12,763,806
|
-
|
|||
Total Corporate Debt Securities
|
-
|
96,728,926
|
1,306,580
|
-
|
177,153,313
|
2,424,995
|
|||
Common Stocks^
|
27,332,606
|
-
|
-
|
318,509
|
-
|
-
|
|||
Preferred Stocks
|
|||||||||
Apartments
|
-
|
1,638,155
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|||
Banking
|
-
|
42,843
|
-
|
-
|
166,759
|
-
|
|||
Health Care
|
825,520
|
618,750
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|||
Hybrid
|
787,100
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|||
Lodging
|
3,357,820
|
953,700
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|||
Office
|
1,449,000
|
720,000
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|||
Regional Malls
|
2,444,582
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|||
Shopping Centers
|
1,285,540
|
225,480
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|||
Specialty
|
1,051,171
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|||
Total Preferred Stocks
|
11,200,733
|
4,198,928
|
-
|
-
|
166,759
|
-
|
|||
Short-Term Investments
|
-
|
7,990,087
|
-
|
-
|
6,397,361
|
-
|
|||
Total Investments
|
38,533,339
|
115,580,854
|
1,306,580
|
318,509
|
195,447,374
|
2,424,995
|
|||
Pro Forma Combined
|
|||||||||
Asset Valuation Inputs
|
Level 1
|
Level 2
|
Level 3§
|
||||||
Bank Loan Obligations^
|
-
|
18,392,854
|
-
|
||||||
Corporate Debt Securities
|
|||||||||
Airlines
|
-
|
3,345,481
|
3,731,575
|
||||||
Auto Loans
|
-
|
7,086,557
|
-
|
||||||
Auto Parts & Equipment
|
-
|
3,761,750
|
-
|
||||||
Automotive
|
-
|
3,022,513
|
-
|
||||||
Banking
|
-
|
21,713,861
|
-
|
||||||
Building & Construction
|
-
|
1,453,500
|
-
|
||||||
Building Materials
|
-
|
7,284,396
|
-
|
||||||
Chemicals
|
-
|
7,241,013
|
-
|
||||||
Consumer/Commercial/Lease Financing
|
-
|
8,727,205
|
-
|
||||||
Diversified Capital Goods
|
-
|
1,489,250
|
-
|
||||||
Electric - Generation
|
-
|
19,597,430
|
-
|
||||||
Electronics
|
-
|
3,517,469
|
-
|
||||||
Energy - Exploration & Production
|
-
|
6,629,800
|
-
|
||||||
Food & Drug Retailers
|
-
|
4,542,325
|
-
|
||||||
Forestry/Paper
|
-
|
2,309,450
|
-
|
||||||
Gaming
|
-
|
19,166,540
|
-
|
||||||
Gas Distribution
|
-
|
21,490,366
|
-
|
Health Services
|
-
|
16,966,341
|
-
|
||||
Machinery
|
-
|
1,087,626
|
-
|
||||
Media - Broadcast
|
-
|
15,349,224
|
-
|
||||
Media - Cable
|
-
|
6,793,507
|
-
|
||||
Media - Services
|
-
|
7,086,557
|
-
|
||||
Metals/Mining Excluding Steel
|
-
|
1,360,975
|
-
|
||||
Multi - Line Insurance
|
-
|
1,590,600
|
-
|
||||
Non-Food & Drug Retailers
|
-
|
8,798,250
|
-
|
||||
Packaging
|
-
|
291,751
|
-
|
||||
Printing & Publishing
|
-
|
4,670,364
|
-
|
||||
Real Estate Management & Development
|
-
|
6,875,425
|
-
|
||||
Restaurants
|
-
|
678,175
|
-
|
||||
Software/Services
|
-
|
10,024,169
|
-
|
||||
Steel Producers/Products
|
-
|
3,443,459
|
-
|
||||
Support - Services
|
-
|
10,599,532
|
-
|
||||
Telecom - Integrated/Services
|
-
|
16,328,662
|
-
|
||||
Telecom - Wireless
|
-
|
19,558,716
|
-
|
||||
Total Corporate Debt Securities
|
-
|
273,882,239
|
3,731,575
|
||||
Common Stocks^
|
27,651,115
|
-
|
-
|
||||
Preferred Stocks
|
|||||||
Apartments
|
-
|
1,638,155
|
-
|
||||
Banking
|
-
|
209,602
|
-
|
||||
Health Care
|
825,520
|
618,750
|
-
|
||||
Hybrid
|
787,100
|
-
|
-
|
||||
Lodging
|
3,357,820
|
953,700
|
-
|
||||
Office
|
1,449,000
|
720,000
|
-
|
||||
Regional Malls
|
2,444,582
|
-
|
-
|
||||
Shopping Centers
|
1,285,540
|
225,480
|
-
|
||||
Specialty
|
1,051,171
|
-
|
-
|
||||
Total Preferred Stocks
|
11,200,733
|
4,365,687
|
-
|
||||
Short-Term Investments
|
-
|
14,387,448
|
-
|
||||
Total Investments
|
38,851,848
|
311,028,228
|
3,731,575
|
||||
^ The Schedule of Investments provides information on the industry categorization for the portfolio.
|
|||||||
§ The following is a reconciliation between the beginning and ending balances of investments in which significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining value.
|
|
||||||||||
|
Net change in
|
|||||||||
|
|
Realized gain/loss |
unrealized appreciation/
|
|||||||
Investments in
|
Beginning
balance, as
|
Accrued
discounts/
|
and change in
unrealized appreciation/
|
Net purchases/
|
Net transfers
in and/or out
|
Balance as
|
(depreciation) from
investments still held
|
|||
Securities
|
of 1/1/09
|
(premiums)
|
(depreciation) |
(sales)
|
of Level 3
|
of 12/31/09
|
as of 12/31/09
|
|||
High Yield Strategies Fund
|
||||||||||
Corporate Debt Securities
|
||||||||||
Airlines
|
$ -
|
$47,959
|
$447,224
|
$1,929,812 |
$ -
|
$2,424,995
|
$372,378
|
|||
Preferred Stocks
|
||||||||||
Banking
|
63,250
|
-
|
103,530
|
(21) |
(166,759)
|
-
|
-
|
Income Opportunity Fund Inc.
|
||||||||||
Corporate Debt Securities
|
||||||||||
Airlines
|
$ -
|
$26,237
|
$240,581
|
$1,039,762
|
$ -
|
$1,306,580
|
$200,645
|
|||
Pro Forma Combined
|
||||||||||
Corporate Debt Securities
|
||||||||||
Airlines
|
$ -
|
$74,196
|
$687,805
|
$2,969,574
|
$0
|
$3,731,575
|
$573,023
|
|||
Preferred Stocks
|
||||||||||
Banking
|
63,250
|
-
|
103,530
|
(21) |
(166,759)
|
-
|
-
|
|||
Total
|
63,250
|
74,196
|
791,335
|
2,969,553 |
(166,759)
|
3,731,575
|
573,023
|
|||
Liability Valuation Inputs
|
||||||||||
The following is a summary, by category of Level, of inputs used to value the Fund’s derivatives as of December 31, 2009:
|
||||||||||
Level 1
|
Level 2
|
Level 3§
|
|
|||||||
High Yield Strategies Fund
|
||||||||||
Interest rate swap contracts
|
$ -
|
($1,119,006)
|
$ - |
|
||||||
Income Opportunity Fund Inc.
|
-
|
-
|
- |
|
||||||
|
|
|
NEUBERGER BERMAN DECEMBER 31, 2009 (UNAUDITED) | ||||||||||
|
||||||||||
Pro Forma Combined Statements of Assets and Liabilities
|
Pro Forma | |||||||||
Combined | ||||||||||
Income
|
High Yield | |||||||||
Neuberger Berman
|
Opportunity
|
High Yield
|
Strategies
|
|||||||
Fund Inc.
|
Strategies Fund
|
Adjustments
|
1
|
Fund Inc.
|
||||||
|
|
|||||||||
Assets
|
||||||||||
Investments in securities, at value*+--see Schedule of Investments:
|
||||||||||
Unaffiliated Issuers
|
$
|
149,047,431
|
$
|
193,135,104
|
$
|
342,182,535
|
||||
Affiliated Issuers
|
6,373,342
|
5,055,774
|
11,429,116
|
|||||||
155,420,773
|
198,190,878
|
353,611,651
|
||||||||
Cash
|
-
|
99,877
|
99,877
|
|||||||
Deposits with brokers for open swap contracts
|
-
|
1,500,000
|
1,500,000
|
|||||||
Dividend and interest receivable
|
2,330,629
|
3,485,534
|
5,816,163
|
|||||||
Receivable for securities sold
|
333,194
|
99,267
|
432,461
|
|||||||
Receivable for collateral on securities loaned
|
657,350
|
-
|
657,350
|
|||||||
Receivable for securities lending income-net
|
-
|
1,299
|
1,299
|
|||||||
Prepaid expenses and other assets
|
489,801
|
403,164
|
892,965
|
|||||||
Total Assets
|
159,231,747
|
203,780,019
|
-
|
363,011,766
|
||||||
Liabilities
|
||||||||||
Notes payable
|
36,700,000
|
45,900,000
|
82,600,000
|
|||||||
Due to custodian
|
101,938
|
-
|
101,938
|
|||||||
Payable for collateral on securities loaned
|
6,298,700
|
4,987,611
|
11,286,311
|
|||||||
Distributions payable - preferred shares
|
3,640
|
1,078
|
4,718
|
|||||||
Distributions payable - common shares
|
108,653
|
35,456
|
144,109
|
|||||||
Interest rate swaps, at value
|
-
|
1,119,006
|
1,119,006
|
|||||||
Payable for securities purchased
|
327,456
|
921,031
|
1,248,487
|
|||||||
Payable for securities lending income-net
|
6
|
-
|
6
|
|||||||
Payable to investment manager - net
|
52,257
|
91,098
|
143,355
|
|||||||
Payable to administrator
|
31,864
|
8,282
|
40,146
|
|||||||
Interest payable
|
1,682
|
2,105
|
3,787
|
|||||||
Accrued expenses and other payables
|
127,637
|
121,156
|
400,000
|
2
|
648,793
|
|||||
Total Liabilities
|
43,753,833
|
53,186,823
|
400,000
|
97,340,656
|
||||||
Perpetual Preferred Shares Series A (595, 492, and 1,087 shares issued and outstanding, respectively) at liquidation value
|
14,875,000
|
12,300,000
|
27,175,000
|
|||||||
Net Assets applicable to Common Stockholders at value
|
$
|
100,602,914
|
$
|
138,293,196
|
(400,000)
|
$
|
238,496,110
|
|||
Net Assets applicable to Common Stockholders consist of:
|
|
|||||||||
Paid-in capital - common stock
|
$
|
223,502,927
|
$
|
160,803,923
|
$
|
384,306,850
|
||||
Undistributed net investment income (loss)
|
501,181
|
608,118
|
(400,000)
|
709,299
|
||||||
Accumulated net realized gains (losses) on investments
|
(130,561,237)
|
(36,856,813)
|
(167,418,050)
|
|||||||
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) in value of investments
|
7,160,043
|
13,737,968
|
20,898,011
|
|||||||
Net Assets applicable to Common Stockholders at value
|
$
|
100,602,914
|
$
|
138,293,196
|
(400,000)
|
$
|
238,496,110
|
|||
-
|
||||||||||
Common Stock Outstanding ($.0001 par value, 999,994,000 shares authorized; and no par value, unlimited shares authorized, respectively)
|
14,364,850
|
11,029,127
|
(6,341,586)
|
3
|
19,052,391
|
|||||
-
|
||||||||||
Net Asset Value Per Common Share Outstanding
|
$
|
7.00
|
$
|
12.54
|
$
|
12.52
|
||||
-
|
||||||||||
+Securities on loan, at value
|
$
|
6,168,472
|
$
|
4,888,437
|
$
|
11,056,909
|
||||
*Cost of investments:
|
||||||||||
Unaffiliated issuers
|
$
|
141,887,388
|
$
|
178,288,202
|
$
|
320,175,590
|
||||
Affiliated issuers
|
6,373,342
|
5,055,774
|
11,429,116
|
|||||||
Total cost of investments
|
$
|
148,260,730
|
$
|
183,343,976
|
$
|
331,604,706
|
||||
1
|
The adjustments assume that High Yield Strategies Fund has obtained all the stockholder accounts and assets of Income Opportunity Fund Inc.
|
|||||||||
2
|
Reflects the effect of estimated reorganization expenses of $400,000.
|
|||||||||
3
|
Each common stockholder of Income Opportunity Fund Inc. will receive the number of High Yield Strategies Fund common stock equal in dollar value to that stockholder's common stock of Income Opportunity Fund Inc.
|
See accompanying Notes, which are an integral part of the financial statements |
NEUBERGER BERMAN FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2009 (UNAUDITED) | |||||||||||
Pro Forma Combined Statements of Operations
|
|||||||||||
Pro Forma | |||||||||||
Combined | |||||||||||
Neuberger Berman
|
Income
|
High Yield | |||||||||
Opportunity
|
High Yield
|
Strategies
|
|||||||||
Fund Inc.
|
Strategies Fund
|
|
Adjustments1
|
Fund Inc.
|
|||||||
|
|
||||||||||
Investment Income
|
|||||||||||
Income:
|
|
||||||||||
Dividend income - unaffiliated issuers
|
$
|
1,928,726
|
$ 15,772
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
1,944,498
|
||||
Interest income - unaffiliated issuers
|
10,617,943
|
19,515,676
|
-
|
30,133,619
|
|||||||
Income from investments in affiliated issuers
|
7,527
|
10,143
|
-
|
17,670
|
|||||||
Income from securities loaned - net
|
29,203
|
20,010
|
-
|
49,213
|
|||||||
Foreign taxes withheld
|
(2,994)
|
-
|
-
|
(2,994)
|
|||||||
Total income
|
12,580,405
|
19,561,601
|
-
|
32,142,006
|
|||||||
Expenses:
|
|||||||||||
Investment management fee
|
822,251
|
1,043,667
|
-
|
1,865,918
|
|||||||
Administration fee
|
342,605
|
86,971
|
(274,084)
|
3
|
155,492
|
||||||
Investor service fee
|
-
|
6,600
|
-
|
6,600
|
|||||||
Audit fees
|
103,070
|
76,466
|
(103,070)
|
2
|
76,466
|
||||||
Basic maintenance expense
|
39,644
|
25,417
|
(39,644)
|
2
|
25,417
|
||||||
Custodian fees
|
114,595
|
98,527
|
(59,594)
|
2, 3
|
153,528
|
||||||
Trustees' fees and expenses
|
47,097
|
50,113
|
(47,097)
|
2
|
50,113
|
||||||
Insurance expense
|
6,657
|
7,630
|
-
|
14,287
|
|||||||
Legal fees
|
272,615
|
258,327
|
(213,569)
|
2, 3
|
317,373
|
||||||
Stockholder reports
|
103,316
|
99,495
|
(61,990)
|
2, 3
|
140,821
|
||||||
Stock exchange listing fees
|
3,335
|
25,000
|
(23,400)
|
2
|
4,935
|
||||||
Stock transfer agent fees
|
28,599
|
28,896
|
(28,599)
|
2
|
28,896
|
||||||
Interest expense
|
889,677
|
1,216,193
|
-
|
2,105,870
|
|||||||
Prepayment expenses
|
228,000
|
-
|
-
|
228,000
|
|||||||
Tender offer fees
|
48,851
|
22,739
|
(48,851)
|
22,739
|
|||||||
Miscellaneous
|
28,911
|
17,357
|
(28,911)
|
2, 3
|
17,357
|
||||||
Total expenses
|
|
3,079,223
|
3,063,398
|
(928,809)
|
5,213,813
|
||||||
Investment management fee waived
|
(263,115)
|
(55,903)
|
219,372
|
3
|
(99,646)
|
||||||
Expenses reduced by custodian fee expense offset and
|
-
|
||||||||||
commission recapture arrangement
|
(217)
|
(174)
|
217
|
(174)
|
|||||||
Total net expenses
|
2,815,891
|
3,007,321
|
(709,220)
|
5,113,993
|
|||||||
Net investment income (loss)
|
9,764,514
|
16,554,280
|
709,220
|
27,028,013
|
|||||||
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments
|
|||||||||||
Net realized gain (loss) on:
|
|||||||||||
Sales of investment securities of unaffiliated issuers
|
(18,049,831)
|
(39,877)
|
-
|
(18,089,708)
|
|||||||
Sales of investment securities of affiliated issuers
|
52,708
|
68,164
|
-
|
120,872
|
|||||||
Interest rate swap contracts
|
-
|
(1,173,621)
|
-
|
(1,173,621)
|
|||||||
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) in value of:
|
|
|
|||||||||
Unaffiliated Investment securities
|
64,102,452
|
58,207,708
|
-
|
122,310,160
|
|||||||
Affiliated Investment securities
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||
Interest rate swap contracts
|
-
|
448,123
|
-
|
448,123
|
|||||||
Net gain (loss) on investments
|
46,105,329
|
57,510,497
|
-
|
103,615,826
|
|||||||
Distributions to Preferred Shareholders
|
(570,440)
|
(472,605)
|
(1,105)
|
4
|
(1,044,150)
|
||||||
Net increase (decrease) in net assets applicable to Common Stockholders resulting from operations
|
$
|
55,299,403
|
$ 73,592,172
|
$
|
708,115
|
$
|
129,599,689
|
||||
1
|
The adjustments assume that High Yield Strategies Fund has obtained all the stockholder accounts and assets of Income Opportunity Fund Inc.
|
||||||||||
2
|
Certain expenses have been reduced due to the elimination of partially duplicative services.
|
||||||||||
3
|
Certain expenses, which are determined on a per trust basis or on a sliding scale based upon net assets, have been adjusted to reflect the combination of High Yield Strategies Fund and Income Opportunity Fund Inc.
|
||||||||||
4
|
The adjustment assumes that all Income Opportunity Preferred Shareholders transferred to High Yield Strategies assuming Preferred rates of High Yield Strategies for the period being represented.
|
||||||||||
See accompanying Notes, which are an integral part of the financial statements
|
|||||||||||
(2) The bankruptcy filings, administration, receivership, liquidation or other winding-up or cessation of business of an obligor; |
(3) The distressed or other coercive exchange of an obligation, where creditors were offered securities with diminished structural or economic terms compared with the existing obligation. |
(1) |
Financial Statements
|
|
Part A:
|
||
(i)
|
Financial highlights of Neuberger Berman High Yield Strategies Fund and Neuberger Berman Income Opportunity Fund Inc.
|
|
(ii)
|
For each of Neuberger Berman High Yield Strategies Fund and Neuberger Berman Income Opportunity Fund Inc., the annual shareholder/stockholder report for the year ended December 31, 2009 and October 31, 2009, respectively, filed on Form N-CSR on March 8, 2010 and January 4, 2010, respectively, is incorporated by reference.
|
|
Part B:
|
||
(i)
|
Pro Forma Combined Schedule of Investments of the Registrant.
|
|
(ii)
|
Pro Forma Statement of Assets and Liabilities of the Registrant.
|
|
(iii)
|
Notes to Pro Forma Financial Statement of the Registrant.
|
|
(iv)
|
For each of Neuberger Berman High Yield Strategies Fund and Neuberger Berman Income Opportunity Fund Inc., the audited financial statements, notes thereto, and the reports of the independent registered public accounting firm, for the year ended December 31, 2009 and October 31, 2009, respectively, filed on Form N-CSR on March 8, 2010 and January 4, 2010, respectively, is incorporated by reference.
|
|
(2) | Exhibits | |
(a) |
Articles of Incorporation. Incorporated by Reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-14, File No. 333-165587 (Filed March 19, 2010).
|
|
(b) |
By-Laws. Incorporated by Reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-14, File No. 333-165587 (Filed May 7, 2010).
|
|
(c) |
Not applicable.
|
|
(d)
|
(i)
|
Articles Sixth, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh and Thirteenth of the Articles of Incorporation. Incorporated by Reference to Item 2(a) above.
|
(ii)
|
Articles II, VI and X of the By-Laws. Incorporated by Reference to Item 2(b) above.
|
|
(e)
|
Distribution Reinvestment Plan. (Filed herewith in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus)
|
|
(f) |
Not applicable.
|
|
(g) |
(i)
|
Management Agreement. Incorporated by Reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-14, File No. 333-165587 (Filed May 7, 2010).
|
(ii)
|
Sub-Advisory Agreement. Incorporated by Reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-14, File No. 333-165587 (Filed May 7, 2010).
|
(h)
|
Not applicable.
|
|
(i)
|
Not applicable.
|
|
(j)
|
(i)
|
Custodian Agreement. Incorporated by Reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-14, File No. 333-165587 (Filed May 7, 2010).
|
(ii)
|
Assignment and Assumption Agreement with respect to Custodian Agreement Incorporated by Reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-14, File No. 333-165587 (Filed May 7, 2010).
|
|
(k)
|
(i)
|
Stock Transfer Agency Agreement. Incorporated by Reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-14, File No. 333-165587 (Filed May 7, 2010).
|
(ii)
|
Amendment, Assignment and Assumption Agreement with respect to Stock Transfer Agency Agreement. Incorporated by Reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-14, File No. 333-165587 (Filed May 7, 2010).
|
|
(iii)
|
Administration Agreement. Incorporated by Reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-14, File No. 333-165587 (Filed May 7, 2010).
|
|
(iv)
|
Form of Agreement and Plan of Reorganization. (Filed herewith as Appendix A to the Proxy Statement/Prospectus)
|
|
(l)
|
Not applicable.
|
|
(m)
|
Not applicable.
|
|
(n)
|
Not applicable.
|
|
(o)
|
Not applicable.
|
|
(p)
|
Not applicable.
|
|
(q)
|
Not applicable.
|
|
(r)
|
(i)
|
Code of Ethics for Registrant and its investment manager. (Filed herewith)
|
(ii)
|
Code of Ethics for sub-advisor. (Filed herewith)
|
NAME
|
BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS
|
Joseph V. Amato
Chief Investment Officer (Equities) and Managing Director, NB Management
|
Chief Executive Officer and President, Neuberger Berman Holdings LLC (including its predecessor, Neuberger Berman Inc.), since 2007; President, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer, Neuberger Berman LLC, since 2009; Director and Managing Director of NBFI since 2007; formerly, Global Head of Asset Management in the Investment Management Division, Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., 2006-2009; formerly, Member of the Investment Management Division’s Executive Management Committee, Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., 2006-2009; Board member of NBFI since 2006; formerly, Managing Director, Lehman Brothers Inc., 2006 to 2008; Trustee, Neuberger Berman Income Funds; Trustee, Neuberger Berman Equity Funds; Trustee, Neuberger Berman Advisers Management Trust; Director, Neuberger Berman Intermediate Municipal Fund Inc.; Director, Neuberger Berman New York Intermediate Municipal Fund Inc.; Director, Neuberger Berman California Intermediate Municipal Fund Inc.; Director, Neuberger Berman Income Opportunity Fund Inc.; Director, Neuberger Berman Real Estate Securities Income Fund Inc.; Trustee, Neuberger Berman High Yield Strategies Fund.
|
Thanos Bardas
Senior Vice President, NB Management
|
Senior Vice President, NBFI; Portfolio Manager.
|
John J. Barker
Managing Director, NB Management
|
Managing Director, Neuberger Berman LLC; Portfolio Manager.
|
Ann H. Benjamin
Managing Director, NB Management
|
Managing Director, Neuberger Berman LLC; Managing Director, NBFI; Portfolio Manager.
|
Michael L. Bowyer
Managing Director, NB Management
|
Associate Portfolio Manager.
|
NAME
|
BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS
|
Claudia A. Brandon
Senior Vice President and Assistant Secretary, NB Management
|
Senior Vice President, Neuberger Berman LLC since 2007; formerly, Vice President, Neuberger Berman LLC, 2002 to 2006 and Employee since 1999; Executive Vice President and Secretary, Neuberger Berman Advisers Management Trust; Executive Vice President and Secretary, Neuberger Berman Equity Funds; Executive Vice President and Secretary, Neuberger Berman Income Funds; Executive Vice President and Secretary, Neuberger Berman Intermediate Municipal Fund Inc.; Executive Vice President and Secretary, Neuberger Berman New York Intermediate Municipal Fund Inc.; Executive Vice President and Secretary, Neuberger Berman California Intermediate Municipal Fund Inc.; Executive Vice President and Secretary, Neuberger Berman Income Opportunity Fund Inc.; Executive Vice President and Secretary, Neuberger Berman Real Estate Securities Income Fund Inc.; Executive Vice President and Secretary, Neuberger Berman High Yield Strategies Fund.
|
David M. Brown
Managing Director, NB Management
|
Managing Director, NBFI; Portfolio Manager.
|
David H. Burshtan
Managing Director, NB Management
|
Portfolio Manager.
|
Robert Conti
President and Chief Executive Officer, NB Management
|
Managing Director, Neuberger Berman LLC since 2007; formerly, Senior Vice President of Neuberger Berman LLC, 2003 to 2006; formerly, Vice President, Neuberger Berman LLC, from 1999 to 2003; President, Chief Executive Officer and Trustee, Neuberger Berman Income Funds; President, Chief Executive Officer and Trustee, Neuberger Berman Equity Funds; President, Chief Executive Officer and Trustee, Neuberger Berman Advisers Management Trust; President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Neuberger Berman Intermediate Municipal Fund Inc.; President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Neuberger Berman New York Intermediate Municipal Fund Inc.; President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Neuberger Berman California Intermediate Municipal Fund Inc.; President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Neuberger Berman Income Opportunity Fund Inc.; President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Neuberger Berman Real Estate Securities Income Fund Inc.; President, Chief Executive Officer and Trustee, Neuberger Berman High Yield Strategies Fund.
|
Robert W. D’Alelio
Managing Director, NB Management
|
Managing Director, Neuberger Berman LLC; Portfolio Manager.
|
John C. Donohue
Vice President, NB Management
|
Portfolio Manager.
|
John Dorogoff
Chief Financial Officer and Managing Director, NB Management
|
Chief Financial Officer and Managing Director, Neuberger Berman, LLC.
|
Ingrid Dyott
Managing Director, NB Management
|
Managing Director, Neuberger Berman LLC; Associate Portfolio Manager; Portfolio Manager.
|
Janet Fiorenza
Managing Director, NB Management
|
Managing Director, Neuberger Berman LLC.
|
Lawrence K. Fisher
Managing Director, NB Management
|
Managing Director, Neuberger Berman LLC; Portfolio Manager.
|
Daniel J. Fletcher
Managing Director, NB Management
|
Managing Director, Neuberger Berman LLC; Portfolio Manager.
|
Michael Foster
Senior Vice President, NB Management
|
Senior Vice President, Neuberger Berman LLC; Senior Vice President, NBFI; Portfolio Manager.
|
Greg Francfort
Managing Director, NB Management
|
Managing Director, Neuberger Berman LLC; Portfolio Manager.
|
NAME
|
BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS
|
William J. Furrer
Senior Vice President, NB Management
|
Senior Vice President, NBFI; Portfolio Manager.
|
Maxine L. Gerson
Secretary, General Counsel and Managing Director, NB Management
|
Managing Director, Deputy General Counsel and Assistant Secretary, Neuberger Berman LLC; Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, Neuberger Berman Income Funds; Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, Neuberger Berman Equity Funds; Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, Neuberger Berman Advisers Management Trust; Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, Neuberger Berman Intermediate Municipal Fund Inc.; Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, Neuberger Berman New York Intermediate Municipal Fund Inc.; Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, Neuberger Berman California Intermediate Municipal Fund Inc.; Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, Neuberger Berman Income Opportunity Fund Inc.; Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, Neuberger Berman Real Estate Securities Income Fund Inc.; Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, Neuberger Berman High Yield Strategies Fund.
|
Anthony Gleason
Managing Director, NB Management
|
Managing Director, Neuberger Berman LLC; Portfolio Manager.
|
Richard Grau
Senior Vice President, NB Management
|
Senior Vice President, Neuberger Berman LLC; Senior Vice President, NBFI; Portfolio Manager.
|
Todd E. Heltman
Vice President, NB Management
|
None; Formerly, Portfolio Manager.
|
James L. Iselin
Senior Vice President, NB Management
|
Senior Vice President, NBFI; Portfolio Manager.
|
Andrew A. Johnson
Managing Director, NB Management
|
Managing Director, NBFI; Portfolio Manager.
|
Brian Jones
Vice President, NB Management
|
Vice President, Neuberger Berman LLC; Portfolio Manager.
|
Kristina Kalebich
Managing Director, NB Management
|
Managing Director, Neuberger Berman LLC; Portfolio Manager.
|
Gerald Kaminsky
Managing Director, NB Management
|
Managing Director, Neuberger Berman LLC; Portfolio Manager.
|
Michael Kaminsky
Managing Director, NB Management
|
Managing Director, Neuberger Berman LLC; Portfolio Manager.
|
Brian Kerrane
Chief Administrative Officer and Senior Vice President, NB Management
|
Senior Vice President, Neuberger Berman LLC; Vice President, Neuberger Berman Income Funds; Vice President, Neuberger Berman Equity Funds; Vice President, Neuberger Berman Advisers Management Trust; Vice President, Neuberger Berman Intermediate Municipal Fund Inc.; Vice President, Neuberger Berman New York Intermediate Municipal Fund Inc.; Vice President, Neuberger Berman California Intermediate Municipal Fund Inc.; Vice President, Neuberger Berman Income Opportunity Fund Inc.; Vice President, Neuberger Berman Real Estate Securities Income Fund Inc.; Vice President, Neuberger Berman High Yield Strategies Fund.
|
Sajjad S. Ladiwala
Managing Director, NB Management
|
Managing Director, Neuberger Berman LLC; Associate Portfolio Manager.
|
David M. Levine
Senior Vice President, NB Management
|
Senior Vice President, Neuberger Berman LLC; Portfolio Manager.
|
Richard S. Levine
Managing Director, NB Management
|
Managing Director, Neuberger Berman LLC; Portfolio Manager.
|
NAME
|
BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS
|
Kristian J. Lind
Vice President, NB Management
|
Vice President, NBFI; Portfolio Manager.
|
James F. McAree
Senior Vice President, NB Management
|
Senior Vice President, Neuberger Berman LLC; Senior Vice President, NBFI; Portfolio Manager.
|
S. Blake Miller
Senior Vice President, NB Management
|
Senior Vice President, NBFI; Portfolio Manager.
|
Arthur Moretti
Managing Director, NB Management
|
Managing Director, Neuberger Berman LLC; Portfolio Manager.
|
S. Basu Mullick
Managing Director, NB Management
|
Managing Director, Neuberger Berman LLC; Portfolio Manager.
|
Richard S. Nackenson
Managing Director, NB Management
|
Managing Director, Neuberger Berman LLC; Portfolio Manager.
|
Benjamin H. Nahum
Managing Director, NB Management
|
Managing Director, Neuberger Berman LLC; Portfolio Manager.
|
Thomas P. O’Reilly
Managing Director, NB Management
|
Managing Director, Neuberger Berman LLC; Managing Director, NBFI; Portfolio Manager.
|
Loraine Olavarria
Assistant Secretary, NB Management
|
None.
|
Kevin Pemberton
Vice President, NB Management
|
None.
|
Alexandra Pomeroy
Managing Director, NB Management
|
Managing Director, Neuberger Berman LLC; Portfolio Manager.
|
Andrew Provencher
Managing Director, NB Management
|
Managing Director, Neuberger Berman LLC; Vice President, Neuberger Berman Income Funds; Vice President, Neuberger Berman Equity Funds; Vice President, Neuberger Berman Advisers Management Trust; Vice President, Neuberger Berman Intermediate Municipal Fund Inc.; Vice President, Neuberger Berman New York Intermediate Municipal Fund Inc.; Vice President, Neuberger Berman California Intermediate Municipal Fund Inc.; Vice President, Neuberger Berman Income Opportunity Fund Inc.; Vice President, Neuberger Berman Real Estate Securities Income Fund Inc.; Vice President, Neuberger Berman High Yield Strategies Fund.
|
Elizabeth Reagan
Managing Director, NB Management
|
None.
|
Brett S. Reiner
Managing Director, NB Management
|
Associate Portfolio Manager.
|
Daniel D. Rosenblatt
Managing Director, NB Management
|
Managing Director, Neuberger Berman LLC; Portfolio Manager.
|
Conrad A. Saldanha
Managing Director, NB Management
|
Portfolio Manager.
|
Mindy Schwartzapfel
Senior Vice President, NB Management
|
Senior Vice President, Neuberger Berman LLC; Portfolio Manager.
|
Benjamin E. Segal
Managing Director, NB Management
|
Managing Director, Neuberger Berman LLC; Portfolio Manager.
|
Steve S. Shigekawa
Senior Vice President, NB Management
|
Senior Vice President, Neuberger Berman LLC; Portfolio Manager.
|
NAME
|
BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS
|
Neil S. Siegel
Managing Director, NB Management
|
Managing Director, Neuberger Berman LLC; Vice President, Neuberger Berman Income Funds; Vice President, Neuberger Berman Equity Funds; Vice President, Neuberger Berman Advisers Management Trust; Vice President, Neuberger Berman Intermediate Municipal Fund Inc.; Vice President, Neuberger Berman New York Intermediate Municipal Fund Inc.; Vice President, Neuberger Berman California Intermediate Municipal Fund Inc.; Vice President, Neuberger Berman Income Opportunity Fund Inc.; Vice President, Neuberger Berman Real Estate Securities Income Fund Inc.; Vice President, Neuberger Berman High Yield Strategies Fund.
|
Ronald B. Silvestri
Senior Vice President, NB Management
|
Senior Vice President, Neuberger Berman LLC; Portfolio Manager.
|
Amit Soloman
Senior Vice President, NB Management
|
Senior Vice President, Neuberger Berman LLC; Portfolio Manager.
|
Thomas A. Sontag
Managing Director, NB Management
|
Managing Director, Neuberger Berman LLC; Managing Director, NBFI; Portfolio Manager.
|
Michelle B. Stein
Managing Director, NB Management
|
Portfolio Manager.
|
Mamundi Subhas
Senior Vice President, NB Management
|
Senior Vice President, Neuberger Berman LLC; Portfolio Manager.
|
Bradley C. Tank
Chief Investment Officer (Fixed Income) and Managing Director, NB Management
|
Managing Director, Neuberger Berman LLC; Managing Director, NBFI; Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Investment Officer and Director, NBFI; Portfolio Manager.
|
Kenneth J. Turek
Managing Director, NB Management
|
Managing Director, Neuberger Berman LLC; Portfolio Manager.
|
Judith M. Vale
Managing Director, NB Management
|
Managing Director, Neuberger Berman LLC; Portfolio Manager.
|
Richard Werman
Managing Director, NB Management
|
Managing Director, Neuberger Berman LLC; Portfolio Manager.
|
Chamaine Williams
Chief Compliance Officer and Senior Vice President, NB Management
|
Chief Compliance Officer, Neuberger Berman Income Funds; Chief Compliance Officer, Neuberger Berman Equity Funds; Chief Compliance Officer, Neuberger Berman Advisers Management Trust; Chief Compliance Officer, Neuberger Berman Intermediate Municipal Fund Inc.; Chief Compliance Officer, Neuberger Berman New York Intermediate Municipal Fund Inc.; Chief Compliance Officer, Neuberger Berman California Intermediate Municipal Fund Inc.; Chief Compliance Officer, Neuberger Berman Income Opportunity Fund Inc.; Chief Compliance Officer, Neuberger Berman Real Estate Securities Income Fund Inc.; Chief Compliance Officer, Neuberger Berman High Yield Strategies Fund.
|
Neuberger Berman High Yield Strategies Fund Inc. | |||
By:
|
/s/ Robert Conti | ||
Name: | Robert Conti | ||
Title: | President and Chief Executive Officer | ||