As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 4, 2018
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.  20549
FORM N-CSR
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF
REGISTERED MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Investment Company Act file number: 811-22396
NEUBERGER BERMAN HIGH YIELD STRATEGIES FUND INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
c/o Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC
1290 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10104
(Address of principal executive offices – Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (212) 476-8800
Robert Conti
Chief Executive Officer and President
Neuberger Berman High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.
c/o Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC
1290 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10104
Arthur C. Delibert, Esq.
K&L Gates LLP
1601 K Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20006-1600
(Names and addresses of agents for service)
Date of fiscal year end: October 31
Date of reporting period: October 31, 2017
Form N-CSR is to be used by management investment companies to file reports with the Commission not later than 10 days after the transmission to stockholders of any report that is required to be transmitted to stockholders under Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“Act”) (17 CFR 270.30e-1). The Commission may use the information provided on Form N-CSR in its regulatory, disclosure review, inspection, and policymaking roles.
A registrant is required to disclose the information specified by Form N-CSR, and the Commission will make this information public. A registrant is not required to respond to the collection of information contained in Form N-CSR unless the Form displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) control number. Please direct comments concerning the accuracy

of the information collection burden estimate and any suggestions for reducing the burden to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549-0609. The OMB has reviewed this collection of information under the clearance requirements of 44 U.S.C. § 3507.

Item 1. Report to Stockholders.
Following is a copy of the annual report transmitted to stockholders pursuant to Rule 30e-1 under the Act.
 






Neuberger Berman
High Yield Strategies
Fund Inc.













  
 
 
               


Annual Report

October 31, 2017




 
 
 
         
             
 
       

Contents

 
    PRESIDENT’S LETTER 1
     
  PORTFOLIO COMMENTARY 2
   
SCHEDULES OF INVESTMENTS 6
   
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 21
 
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS/PER SHARE DATA 34
 
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 37
Distribution Reinvestment Plan 38
Directory 41
Directors and Officers 42
Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures 51
Quarterly Portfolio Schedule 51
Notice to Stockholders 52
Report of Votes of Stockholders 53
Board Consideration of the Management Agreement 54







The “Neuberger Berman” name and logo and “Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC” name are registered service marks of Neuberger Berman Group LLC. The individual Fund name in this piece is either a service mark or registered service mark of Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC. ©2017 Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC. All rights reserved.




 
President’s Letter

Dear Stockholder,

I am pleased to present the annual report for Neuberger Berman High Yield Strategies Fund Inc. (the “Fund”) for the 12 months ended October 31, 2017. The report includes a portfolio commentary as well as an audited listing of the Fund’s investments and financial statements for the reporting period.

The Fund seeks high total return (income plus capital appreciation). To pursue that objective, we have assembled a portfolio that consists primarily of high yield debt securities.

On March 31, 2017, the Fund announced a decrease in its monthly distribution rate to $0.0725 per share of common stock from the prior monthly distribution rate of $0.08 per share. The Fund’s decrease in distribution rate was the result of numerous factors, including the decline in the absolute level of yields available in the high yield market, the degree of credit spread tightening that had occurred in the high yield market, the increase in the Fund’s cost of leverage and the resultant overall reduction in the level of income generated by the Fund relative to its then current distribution amount.

Thank you for your confidence in the Fund. We will do our best to continue earning your trust in the years to come.

Sincerely,


Robert Conti
President and CEO
Neuberger Berman High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.

1



 
Neuberger Berman High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.
Portfolio Commentary (Unaudited)

Neuberger Berman High Yield Strategies Fund Inc. generated a 10.41% total return on a net asset value (NAV) basis for the 12 months ended October 31, 2017 and outperformed its benchmark, the ICE BofAML U.S. High Yield Constrained Index (the benchmark index), which provided a 9.14% return for the same period. (Fund performance on a market price basis is provided in the table immediately following this commentary.) The use of leverage (typically a performance enhancer in up markets and a detractor during market retreats) contributed to performance.

The overall high yield market, as measured by the benchmark index, generated strong results during the reporting period. After a weak start in November 2016, the high yield market rallied over nine of the last 11 months of the period. This was driven by a number of factors, including overall strong corporate earnings, low defaults, improving global growth and rising oil prices. Against this backdrop, investor demand was generally robust as investors looked to generate incremental yield in the low interest rate environment. Within the benchmark index, securities rated CCC and lower (relatively lower ratings) and securities rated BB (a higher rating) returned 13.72% and 7.78%, respectively.*

From a sector perspective, security selection within utilities and gaming, along with an underweight to super retail (non-food & drug retailers), were the largest contributors to performance. In contrast, security selection within energy, support services, and diversified financial services detracted the most from performance for the reporting period.

In terms of the Fund’s quality biases, security selection within BB and CCC rated securities was negative for performance, as was the Fund’s underweight to CCC rated securities.

We made several adjustments to the portfolio during the reporting period. The Fund’s allocation to BBB and BB rated securities was reduced. We also increased the Fund’s allocation to B rated bonds by approximately 6%. From a sector perspective, the Fund increased its allocation to diversified financial services securities, while reducing its banking, insurance, health care and gas distribution exposure.

The Fund’s use of swap contracts contributed positively to performance during the reporting period.

As was widely anticipated, the U.S. Federal Reserve (the Fed) raised interest rates again following its mid-December meeting, which was the third hike of 2017. All in all, we believe the Fed’s measured approach to policy normalization represents a constructive scenario for high yield bonds, which historically have performed well during rising interest rate environments. We continue to believe that the high yield market is compensating investors for default risk. We anticipate high yield defaults will remain below historical averages for the remainder of 2017 and 2018 if the U.S. economic expansion continues. While volatility has failed to emerge in the non-investment grade space, as it has in most risk markets, the potential remains for a spike in volatility over the balance of the year given ongoing policy uncertainty in the U.S., various geopolitical flashpoints and the possibility that the improvement in global economic growth could wane. We don’t believe lower-quality high yield securities at current levels are compensating investors for these risks.

Sincerely,

Thomas P. O’Reilly, Russ Covode, Daniel Doyle And Patrick Flynn
Portfolio Co-Managers

The performance of certain rated bonds within the benchmark, as noted above, represent issues that are rated Ba1/BB+ through Ba3/BB- and CCC+/Caa1 or lower, based on an average of Moody’s, S&P and Fitch, as calculated by ICE BofAML.

   

The portfolio composition, industries and holdings of the Fund are subject to change without notice.

   

The opinions expressed are those of the Fund’s portfolio managers. The opinions are as of the date of this report and are subject to change without notice.

   

The value of securities owned by the Fund, as well as the market value of shares of the Fund’s common stock, may decline in response to certain events, including those directly involving the issuers whose securities are owned by the Fund; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional, national or global political, social or economic instability; regulatory or legislative developments; price, currency and interest rate fluctuations, including those resulting from changes in central bank policies; and changes in investor sentiment.

2



 

TICKER SYMBOL
High Yield Strategies Fund NHS    

 
PORTFOLIO BY MATURITY DISTRIBUTION
(as a % of Total Investments*)
Less than One Year 1.7 %
One to less than Five Years 31.6
Five to less than Ten Years 58.9
Ten Years or Greater 7.8
Total 100.0 %

Does not include Short-Term Investments or the impact of the Fund’s open positions in derivatives, if any.

PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS1
Average Annual Total Return
   Inception    Ended 10/31/2017
Date 1 Year    5 Years    10 Years    Life of Fund
At NAV2 07/28/2003 10.41% 7.58% 9.64% 9.96%
At Market Price3 07/28/2003 12.70% 5.19% 9.51% 8.82%
Index
ICE BofAML U.S. High Yield
Constrained Index^4 9.14% 6.30% 7.78% 8.06%

^ Effective October 20, 2017, the BofA Merrill Lynch U.S. High Yield Master II Constrained Index changed its name to the ICE BofAML U.S. High Yield Constrained Index.

Closed-end funds, unlike open-end funds, are not continually offered. Generally, there is an initial public offering and, once issued, shares of common stock of closed-end funds are sold in the secondary market on a stock exchange.

The performance data quoted represent past performance and do not indicate future results. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. For more current performance data, please visit www.nb.com/cef-performance.

The results shown in the table reflect the reinvestment of income dividends and other distributions, if any. The results do not reflect the effect of taxes a stockholder would pay on Fund distributions or on the sale of shares of the Fund’s common stock.

The investment return and market price will fluctuate and shares of the Fund’s common stock may trade at prices above or below NAV. Shares of the Fund’s common stock, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost.

Returns would have been lower if Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“Management”) had not waived certain expenses during certain of the periods shown. The waived fees are from prior years that are no longer disclosed in the Financial Highlights.


3



 
Endnotes

1

The performance information for periods prior to August 6, 2010 is that of Neuberger Berman High Yield Strategies Fund, a predecessor to the Fund.

       

2

Returns based on the NAV of the Fund.

 

3

Returns based on the market price of shares of the Fund’s common stock on the NYSE American.

 

4

Please see “Description of Index” on page 5 for a description of the index.

For more complete information on Neuberger Berman High Yield Strategies Fund Inc., call Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC at (800) 877-9700, or visit our website at www.nb.com.

4



 
Description of Index

ICE BofAML U.S. High Yield
Constrained Index:
     

The index tracks the performance of U.S. dollar-denominated, below investment grade corporate debt publicly issued in the U.S. domestic market. In addition to meeting other criteria, qualifying securities must have a below investment grade rating (based on an average of Moody’s, S&P and Fitch ratings) and have risk exposure to countries that are members of the FX-G10, Western Europe or territories of the U.S. and Western Europe. Securities in legal default are excluded from the index. Index constituents are capitalization-weighted, provided the total allocation to an individual issuer does not exceed 2%.

Please note that the index does not take into account any fees and expenses or any tax consequences of investing in the individual securities that it tracks and that individuals cannot invest directly in any index. Data about the performance of this index are prepared or obtained by Management and include reinvestment of all income dividends and other distributions, if any. The Fund may invest in securities not included in the above described index and generally does not invest in all securities included in the index.

5



 
Schedule of Investments High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.
October 31, 2017

PRINCIPAL AMOUNT VALUE
 
 
Loan Assignments(a) 9.0%
 
All Telecom 0.4%
$ 770,000       Centurylink, First Lien Term Loan B, 3 month USD LIBOR + 1.38%, (2.75%), due 1/31/25       $ 759,736
430,000 Level 3 Financing, Inc., First Lien Term Loan B, 3 month USD LIBOR + 2.25%, (3.49%),
due 2/22/24 431,458
1,191,194
 
Business Equipment & Services 1.9%
1,889,866 Advantage Sales and Marketing, Second Lien Term Loan, 3 month USD LIBOR + 6.50%,
(7.87%), due 7/25/22 1,574,655
743,820 Convergeone, First Lien Term Loan B, 3 month USD LIBOR + 4.75%, (6.09%), due 6/20/24 744,289
1,191,049 First Data Corporation, First Lien Term Loan, 3 month USD LIBOR + 2.25%, (3.49%), due
7/10/22 1,193,884
766,196 Presidio, First Lien Term Loan, 3 month USD LIBOR + 3.50%, (4.58%), due 2/2/22 771,398
818,999 Servicemaster Company, First Lien Term Loan B, 3 month USD LIBOR + 2.50%, (3.74%),
due 11/8/23 822,480
5,106,706
 
Cable & Satellite Television 0.2%
471,293 Cablevision Systems Corp., First Lien Term Loan B, 3 month USD LIBOR + 2.25%, (3.48%),
due 7/17/25 470,535
 
Containers & Glass Products 0.6%
1,602,556 Reynolds Group, First Lien Term Loan, 3 month USD LIBOR + 3.00%, (3.99%), due 2/5/23 1,611,562
 
Drugs 0.2%
434,246 Pharmaceutical Product Development, Inc., First Lien Term Loan, 3 month USD LIBOR + 2.75%,
(4.04%), due 8/18/22 436,552
 
Electronics - Electrical 0.4%
855,000 Mcafee, First Lien Term Loan B, 3 month USD LIBOR + 4.50%, (5.83%), due 9/26/24 860,190
337,143 Rackspace Hosting, Inc., First Lien Term Loan B, 3 month USD LIBOR + 3.00%, (4.31%),
due 11/3/23 336,933
1,197,123
 
Equipment Leasing 0.4%
972,563 Avolon, First Lien Term Loan B2, 3 month USD LIBOR + 2.75%, (3.49%), due 4/3/22 979,798
 
Food & Drug Retailers 0.4%
1,004,013 General Nutrition Centers, First Lien Term Loan, 3 month USD LIBOR + 2.50%, (3.75%),
due 3/4/19 952,698
 
Health Care 0.9%
824,011 Envision Healthcare, First Lien Term Loan B, 3 month USD LIBOR + 3.00%, (4.25%), due 12/1/23 827,101
425,430 Multiplan, Inc., First Lien Term Loan B, 3 month USD LIBOR + 3.00%, (4.33%), due 6/7/23 429,383
1,159,175 Team Health, Inc., First Lien Term Loan B, 3 month USD LIBOR + 2.75%, (3.99%), due 2/6/24 1,149,032 (b)
2,405,516

See Notes to Financial Statements 6



 
Schedule of Investments High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.
(cont’d)
 
PRINCIPAL AMOUNT VALUE
 
 
Leisure Goods - Activities - Movies 0.4%      
$ 487,455       Match Group Inc., First Lien Term Loan B, 3 month USD LIBOR + 2.50%, (3.81%),
due 11/16/22 $ 492,939 (b)
492,525 Seaworld, First Lien Term Loan B5, 3 month USD LIBOR + 3.00%, (4.33%), due 3/31/24 483,290
976,229
 
Lodging & Casinos 1.7%
2,540,000 Cowlitz Tribal Gaming, First Lien Term Loan B, 3 month USD LIBOR + 10.50%, (11.74%),
due 12/6/21 2,844,800 (b)(c)
643,636 Extended Stay, First Lien Term Loan B, 3 month USD LIBOR + 2.50%, (3.74%), due 8/30/23 647,299
870,227 Hilton Worldwide, First Lien Term Loan B2, 3 month USD LIBOR + 2.00%, (3.23%),
due 10/25/23 875,665
4,367,764
 
Publishing 0.2%
537,904 Harland Clark Holdings Corp., First Lien Term Loan B6, 3 month USD LIBOR + 5.50%, (6.83%),
due 2/9/22 537,807
 
Radio & Television 0.5%
328,694 Sinclair Broadcasting, First Lien Term Loan B2, 3 month USD LIBOR + 2.25%, (3.50%),
due 1/3/24 329,434
987,111 Univision Communications Inc., First Lien Term Loan C5, 3 month USD LIBOR + 2.75%, (3.99%),
due 3/15/24 983,409
1,312,843
 
Retailers (except food & drug) 0.4%
440,000 Bass Pro Shops, First Lien Term Loan B, 3 month USD LIBOR + 5.00%, (6.24%), due 9/25/24 426,893
726,350 BJS Wholesale Club Inc., First Lien Term Loan B, 3 month USD LIBOR + 3.75%, (4.99%),
due 1/27/24 707,283
1,134,176
 
Utilities 0.4%
792,371 Calpine Corp., First Lien Term Loan B6, 3 month USD LIBOR + 2.75%, (4.09%), due 1/15/23 795,937
277,962 Texas Competitive, First Lien Term Loan B2, 3 month USD LIBOR + 3.25%, (4.01%),
due 12/14/23 279,891
1,075,828
       Total Loan Assignments (Cost $23,656,934) 23,756,331
 
Corporate Bonds 134.0%
 
Advertising 2.1%
Lamar Media Corp.
160,000 5.00%, due 5/1/23 165,219
360,000 5.75%, due 2/1/26 388,350
1,475,000 MDC Partners, Inc., 6.50%, due 5/1/24 1,504,500 (d)
Nielsen Finance LLC/Nielsen Finance Co.
275,000        4.50%, due 10/1/20 278,781
3,010,000        5.00%, due 4/15/22 3,099,924 (d)
140,000 Outfront Media Capital LLC/Outfront Media Capital Corp., 5.88%, due 3/15/25 148,313
5,585,087
 
Auto Parts & Equipment 0.9%
900,000 IHO Verwaltungs GmbH, 4.50% Cash/5.25% PIK, due 9/15/23 928,125 (d)(e)
1,285,000 ZF N.A. Capital, Inc., 4.00%, due 4/29/20 1,326,763 (d)
2,254,888

See Notes to Financial Statements 7



 
Schedule of Investments High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.
(cont’d)
  
PRINCIPAL AMOUNT VALUE
 
 
Banking 1.8%      
      Ally Financial, Inc.
$ 1,555,000        3.60%, due 5/21/18 $ 1,564,719
2,780,000        8.00%, due 3/15/20 3,124,025
142,000 CIT Group, Inc., 5.50%, due 2/15/19 148,567 (d)
4,837,311
 
Brokerage 0.4%
1,065,000 LPL Holdings, Inc., 5.75%, due 9/15/25 1,107,600 (d)
 
Building & Construction 3.0%
455,000 CalAtlantic Group, Inc., 5.25%, due 6/1/26 484,575
Lennar Corp.
1,140,000        4.75%, due 12/15/17 1,140,570
1,080,000        4.75%, due 11/15/22 1,140,750
960,000        4.88%, due 12/15/23 1,015,200
260,000        4.75%, due 5/30/25 272,350
380,000 Meritage Homes Corp., 6.00%, due 6/1/25 408,500
795,000 PulteGroup, Inc., 4.25%, due 3/1/21 827,794
590,000 Ryland Group, Inc., 5.38%, due 10/1/22 643,100
510,000 Standard Pacific Corp., 8.38%, due 1/15/21 593,512
595,000 Taylor Morrison Communities, Inc./Taylor Morrison Holdings II, Inc., 5.63%, due 3/1/24 621,031 (d)
Toll Brothers Finance Corp.
285,000        4.00%, due 12/31/18 289,275
475,000        4.38%, due 4/15/23 496,375
7,933,032
 
Building Materials 0.4%
465,000 HD Supply, Inc., 5.75%, due 4/15/24 501,619 (d)
480,000 USG Corp., 5.50%, due 3/1/25 514,800 (d)
1,016,419
 
Cable & Satellite Television 12.0%
Altice Luxembourg SA
1,155,000        7.75%, due 5/15/22 1,222,856 (d)
910,000        7.63%, due 2/15/25 987,350 (d)
745,000 Altice US Finance I Corp., 5.50%, due 5/15/26 774,800 (d)
555,000 Altice US Finance II Corp., 7.75%, due 7/15/25 606,338 (d)
CCO Holdings LLC/CCO Holdings Capital Corp.
1,460,000        5.25%, due 9/30/22 1,503,800
2,075,000        5.13%, due 5/1/23 2,163,187 (d)
2,225,000        5.75%, due 2/15/26 2,325,904 (d)
730,000        5.13%, due 5/1/27 736,388 (d)
1,105,000        5.88%, due 5/1/27 1,157,156 (d)
1,830,000        5.00%, due 2/1/28 1,816,275 (d)
Cequel Communications Holdings I LLC/Cequel Capital Corp.
976,000        6.38%, due 9/15/20 995,637 (d)
1,829,000        5.13%, due 12/15/21 1,861,007 (d)
CSC Holdings LLC
2,098,000        10.88%, due 10/15/25 2,570,050 (d)
410,000        5.50%, due 4/15/27 422,300 (d)
865,000 CSC Holdings, Inc., 7.63%, due 7/15/18 890,950
DISH DBS Corp.
360,000        6.75%, due 6/1/21 378,000
1,365,000        5.88%, due 11/15/24 1,366,706
450,000        7.75%, due 7/1/26 492,188

See Notes to Financial Statements 8



 
Schedule of Investments High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.
(cont’d)
   
PRINCIPAL AMOUNT VALUE
      
 
      Numericable-SFR SA      
$ 3,320,000        6.00%, due 5/15/22 $ 3,461,100 (d)
1,790,000        7.38%, due 5/1/26 1,924,250 (d)
405,000 UPCB Finance IV Ltd., 5.38%, due 1/15/25 414,113 (d)
360,000 Virgin Media Finance PLC, 6.00%, due 10/15/24 377,100 (d)
1,350,000 Virgin Media Secured Finance PLC, 5.50%, due 8/15/26 1,412,437 (d)
1,730,000 Ziggo Secured Finance B.V., 5.50%, due 1/15/27 1,764,600 (d)
31,624,492
 
Chemicals 2.2%
545,000 CF Industries, Inc., 5.38%, due 3/15/44 523,200
Momentive Performance Materials, Inc.
445,000        8.88%, due 10/15/20 45 (b)(c)(f)(g)
445,000        3.88%, due 10/24/21 462,889
NOVA Chemicals Corp.
445,000        5.25%, due 8/1/23 458,906 (d)
1,500,000        4.88%, due 6/1/24 1,528,125 (d)
1,225,000        5.00%, due 5/1/25 1,240,312 (d)
1,045,000        5.25%, due 6/1/27 1,063,288 (d)
WR Grace & Co-Conn
295,000        5.13%, due 10/1/21 317,125 (d)
200,000        5.63%, due 10/1/24 218,750 (d)
5,812,640
 
Consumer - Commercial Lease Financing 8.4%
Aircastle Ltd.
170,000        4.63%, due 12/15/18 174,250
730,000        6.25%, due 12/1/19 781,100
2,555,000        5.13%, due 3/15/21 2,711,494
425,000        5.50%, due 2/15/22 456,875
470,000        5.00%, due 4/1/23 497,025
Navient Corp.
505,000        5.50%, due 1/15/19 520,781
2,995,000        4.88%, due 6/17/19 3,081,106
615,000        8.00%, due 3/25/20 678,038
555,000        5.88%, due 3/25/21 583,444
370,000        6.63%, due 7/26/21 396,363
1,355,000        5.88%, due 10/25/24 1,375,325
315,000        6.75%, due 6/25/25 329,474
1,485,000 OneMain Financial Holdings LLC, 7.25%, due 12/15/21 1,544,400 (d)
Park Aerospace Holdings Ltd.
2,495,000        5.25%, due 8/15/22 2,594,800 (d)
2,195,000        5.50%, due 2/15/24 2,277,312 (d)
1,430,000 SLM Corp., 6.13%, due 3/25/24 1,467,537
Springleaf Finance Corp.
500,000        8.25%, due 12/15/20 563,750
725,000        7.75%, due 10/1/21 814,719
1,065,000        6.13%, due 5/15/22 1,123,575
       21,971,368
       
Discount Stores 0.4%
895,000 Dollar Tree, Inc., 5.75%, due 3/1/23 940,869
 
Electric - Generation 5.8%
Calpine Corp.
1,395,000        6.00%, due 1/15/22 1,440,337 (d)
3,170,000        5.38%, due 1/15/23 3,082,825

See Notes to Financial Statements 9



 
Schedule of Investments High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.
(cont’d)
   
PRINCIPAL AMOUNT VALUE
       
 
      Dynegy, Inc.      
$ 1,015,000        5.88%, due 6/1/23 $ 1,047,988
1,555,000        7.63%, due 11/1/24 1,698,837
350,000        8.00%, due 1/15/25 382,813 (d)
1,130,000        8.13%, due 1/30/26 1,254,300 (d)
NRG Energy, Inc.
610,000        6.25%, due 7/15/22 640,500
565,000        6.63%, due 3/15/23 584,775
2,000,000        7.25%, due 5/15/26 2,167,500
2,700,000        6.63%, due 1/15/27 2,875,500
15,175,375
 
Electric - Integrated 1.4%
2,100,000 PPL Energy Supply LLC, 4.60%, due 12/15/21 1,911,000
Talen Energy Supply LLC
1,050,000        9.50%, due 7/15/22 1,081,500 (d)
645,000        6.50%, due 6/1/25 559,537
3,552,037
 
Electronics 2.0%
1,460,000 Amkor Technology, Inc., 6.38%, due 10/1/22 1,505,625
425,000 Flex Ltd., 5.00%, due 2/15/23 461,342
Micron Technology, Inc.
620,000        5.25%, due 8/1/23 648,954 (d)
465,000        5.50%, due 2/1/25 494,062
385,000        5.63%, due 1/15/26 409,063 (d)
695,000 NXP BV/NXP Funding LLC, 4.13%, due 6/1/21 726,275 (d)
775,000 Sensata Technologies UK Financing Co. PLC, 6.25%, due 2/15/26 850,562 (d)
137,000 Zebra Technologies Corp., 7.25%, due 10/15/22 144,706
5,240,589
 
Energy - Exploration & Production 10.2%
Antero Resources Corp.
940,000        5.38%, due 11/1/21 964,675
1,125,000        5.13%, due 12/1/22 1,155,937
45,000        5.00%, due 3/1/25 45,675
1,000,000 Ascent Resources Utica Holdings LLC/ARU Finance Corp., 10.00%, due 4/1/22 1,085,000 (d)
920,000 Bill Barrett Corp., 8.75%, due 6/15/25 903,900
Chesapeake Energy Corp.
665,000        6.13%, due 2/15/21 669,988
585,000        5.38%, due 6/15/21 563,063
1,445,000        5.50%, due 9/15/26 1,279,728 (d)
1,230,000        8.00%, due 6/15/27 1,194,637 (d)
Continental Resources, Inc.
420,000        4.50%, due 4/15/23 425,250
975,000        3.80%, due 6/1/24 946,969
495,000        4.90%, due 6/1/44 460,969
EP Energy LLC/Everest Acquisition Finance, Inc.
3,356,000        9.38%, due 5/1/20 2,818,000
940,000        7.75%, due 9/1/22 578,100
2,760,000        6.38%, due 6/15/23 1,642,200
770,000 Extraction Oil & Gas Holdings LLC/Extraction Finance Corp., 7.88%, due 7/15/21 816,200 (d)
725,000 Newfield Exploration Co., 5.38%, due 1/1/26 770,312
Oasis Petroleum, Inc.
520,000        6.50%, due 11/1/21 529,100
890,000        6.88%, due 3/15/22 914,475
405,000 PDC Energy, Inc., 6.13%, due 9/15/24 422,719
Range Resources Corp.
305,000        5.00%, due 8/15/22 301,188
1,425,000        5.00%, due 3/15/23 1,410,721

See Notes to Financial Statements 10



 

Schedule of Investments High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.
(cont’d)

  
PRINCIPAL AMOUNT  VALUE
 
 
      Sanchez Energy Corp.      
$ 325,000        7.75%, due 6/15/21 $ 302,250
2,340,000        6.13%, due 1/15/23 1,953,900
SM Energy Co.
845,000        6.13%, due 11/15/22 849,225
550,000        5.00%, due 1/15/24 525,250
Whiting Petroleum Corp.
980,000        5.75%, due 3/15/21 987,350
1,055,000        6.25%, due 4/1/23 1,052,362
1,185,000 WPX Energy, Inc., 5.25%, due 9/15/24 1,189,444
26,758,587
 
Food & Drug Retail 1.2%
Albertsons Cos. LLC/Safeway, Inc./New Albertson’s, Inc./Albertson’s LLC
1,940,000        6.63%, due 6/15/24 1,823,600
1,570,000        5.75%, due 3/15/25 1,381,600
3,205,200
 
Food- Wholesale 0.8%
Post Holdings, Inc.
940,000        6.00%, due 12/15/22 984,650 (d)
540,000        5.50%, due 3/1/25 561,600 (d)
650,000        5.75%, due 3/1/27 675,188 (d)
2,221,438
 
Gaming 3.2%
Boyd Gaming Corp.
885,000        6.88%, due 5/15/23 950,269
1,005,000        6.38%, due 4/1/26 1,102,987
GLP Capital L.P./GLP Financing II, Inc.
1,660,000        4.88%, due 11/1/20 1,755,242
725,000        5.38%, due 11/1/23 788,438
550,000 Int’l Game Technology PLC, 5.63%, due 2/15/20 583,963 (d)
MGM Resorts Int’l
1,050,000        8.63%, due 2/1/19 1,124,812
400,000        6.63%, due 12/15/21 447,000
710,000 Scientific Games Int’l, Inc., 10.00%, due 12/1/22 784,550
800,000 Wynn Las Vegas LLC/Wynn Las Vegas Capital Corp., 5.50%, due 3/1/25 840,000 (d)
8,377,261
 
Gas Distribution 8.6%
860,000 Antero Midstream Partners L.P./Antero Midstream Finance Corp., 5.38%, due 9/15/24 896,550
Cheniere Corpus Christi Holdings LLC
860,000        5.88%, due 3/31/25 930,950
460,000        5.13%, due 6/30/27 474,375 (d)
1,810,000 Cheniere Energy Partners L.P., 5.25%, due 10/1/25 1,864,300 (d)
Crestwood Midstream Partners L.P./Crestwood Midstream Finance Corp.
465,000        6.25%, due 4/1/23 483,600
345,000        5.75%, due 4/1/25 354,056
DCP Midstream LLC
300,000        9.75%, due 3/15/19 327,000 (d)
935,000        6.75%, due 9/15/37 1,005,125 (d)
1,760,000        3 month USD LIBOR + 3.85%, (5.85%), due 5/21/43 1,674,200 (a)(d)
DCP Midstream Operating L.P.
485,000        2.50%, due 12/1/17 485,000
505,000        5.60%, due 4/1/44 482,275

See Notes to Financial Statements 11



 

Schedule of Investments High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.
(cont’d)


PRINCIPAL AMOUNT VALUE
 
 
      Duke Energy Corp.      
$ 270,000        8.13%, due 8/16/30 $ 318,600
505,000        6.45%, due 11/3/36 534,038 (d)
Energy Transfer Equity L.P.
710,000        7.50%, due 10/15/20 798,750
915,000        5.88%, due 1/15/24 992,775
250,000 Ferrellgas L.P./Ferrellgas Finance Corp., 6.75%, due 6/15/23 232,500
NuStar Logistics L.P.
555,000        4.80%, due 9/1/20 576,506
175,000        6.75%, due 2/1/21 189,875
190,000        4.75%, due 2/1/22 193,563
Rockies Express Pipeline LLC
700,000        5.63%, due 4/15/20 742,000 (d)
240,000        7.50%, due 7/15/38 277,200 (d)
245,000        6.88%, due 4/15/40 273,175 (d)
335,000 SemGroup Corp., 7.25%, due 3/15/26 343,375 (d)
1,755,000 SemGroup Corp./Rose Rock Finance Corp., 5.63%, due 11/15/23 1,715,512
1,405,000 Summit Midstream Holdings LLC/Summit Midstream Finance Corp., 5.75%, due 4/15/25 1,433,100
Targa Resources Partners L.P./Targa Resources Partners Finance Corp.
600,000        4.25%, due 11/15/23 597,000
890,000        6.75%, due 3/15/24 958,975
685,000        5.13%, due 2/1/25 705,550
195,000        5.38%, due 2/1/27 202,313
920,000        5.00%, due 1/15/28 925,750 (d)
180,000 Tesoro Logistics L.P./Tesoro Logistics Finance Corp., 6.13%, due 10/15/21 185,850
Williams Cos., Inc.
535,000 Ser. A, 7.50%, due 1/15/31 649,356
745,000        5.75%, due 6/24/44 789,700
22,612,894
 
Health Facilities 10.2%
CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.
353,000        8.00%, due 11/15/19 336,233
220,000        7.13%, due 7/15/20 190,850
1,130,000        6.88%, due 2/1/22 826,313
1,500,000 Columbia Healthcare Corp., 7.50%, due 12/15/23 1,725,000
Columbia/HCA Corp.
915,000        7.69%, due 6/15/25 1,038,525
2,160,000        7.05%, due 12/1/27 2,386,800
HCA, Inc.
545,000        6.50%, due 2/15/20 587,238
605,000        5.88%, due 3/15/22 662,475
1,300,000        4.75%, due 5/1/23 1,360,125
1,470,000        5.00%, due 3/15/24 1,546,719
410,000        5.38%, due 2/1/25 421,660
1,120,000        5.25%, due 4/15/25 1,192,800
555,000 LifePoint Health, Inc., 5.88%, due 12/1/23 570,374
MPT Operating Partnership L.P./MPT Finance Corp.
1,120,000        6.38%, due 3/1/24 1,211,000
1,535,000        5.50%, due 5/1/24 1,625,181
1,355,000        5.25%, due 8/1/26 1,410,799
1,645,000        5.00%, due 10/15/27 1,690,237
1,570,000 Sabra Health Care L.P./Sabra Capital Corp., 5.50%, due 2/1/21 1,619,062
Tenet Healthcare Corp.
1,175,000        7.50%, due 1/1/22 1,236,688 (d)
1,395,000        8.13%, due 4/1/22 1,396,744
1,590,000        6.75%, due 6/15/23 1,492,612
1,670,000        4.63%, due 7/15/24 1,642,862 (d)
295,000        6.88%, due 11/15/31 249,275
265,000 THC Escrow Corp., 7.00%, due 8/1/25 242,806 (d)
26,662,378

See Notes to Financial Statements 12



 

Schedule of Investments High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.
(cont’d)

    
PRINCIPAL AMOUNT VALUE
 
 
Health Services 2.0%      
      DaVita HealthCare Partners, Inc.
$ 1,390,000        5.13%, due 7/15/24 $ 1,393,475
700,000        5.00%, due 5/1/25 689,500
1,175,000 DaVita, Inc., 5.75%, due 8/15/22 1,211,719
Service Corp. Int’l
690,000        5.38%, due 1/15/22 708,975
1,185,000        5.38%, due 5/15/24 1,250,175
5,253,844
 
Hotels 0.7%
1,780,000 ESH Hospitality, Inc., 5.25%, due 5/1/25 1,840,075 (d)
 
Investments & Misc. Financial Services 1.5%
1,480,000 Icahn Enterprises L.P./Icahn Enterprises Finance Corp., 4.88%, due 3/15/19 1,487,400
MSCI, Inc.
1,015,000        5.25%, due 11/15/24 1,073,362 (d)
1,195,000        5.75%, due 8/15/25 1,290,600 (d)
3,851,362
 
Machinery 1.1%
CNH Industrial Capital LLC
405,000        3.38%, due 7/15/19 411,581
485,000        4.88%, due 4/1/21 516,525
645,000        4.38%, due 4/5/22 684,507
550,000 CNH Industrial NV, 4.50%, due 8/15/23 581,625
575,000 Manitowoc Foodservice, Inc., 9.50%, due 2/15/24 657,656
2,851,894
 
Managed Care 0.4%
360,000 Centene Corp., 4.75%, due 5/15/22 377,100
700,000 MPH Acquisition Holdings LLC, 7.13%, due 6/1/24 753,375 (d)
1,130,475
 
Media Content 4.2%
Gannett Co., Inc.
256,000        5.13%, due 10/15/19 259,840
845,000        5.13%, due 7/15/20 866,125
Gray Television, Inc.
670,000        5.13%, due 10/15/24 668,124 (d)
280,000        5.88%, due 7/15/26 287,000 (d)
Netflix, Inc.
940,000        5.50%, due 2/15/22 1,011,558
480,000        4.38%, due 11/15/26 470,400 (d)
335,000        4.88%, due 4/15/28 332,973 (d)
Sinclair Television Group, Inc.
365,000        5.38%, due 4/1/21 374,581
630,000        5.13%, due 2/15/27 599,288 (d)
Sirius XM Radio, Inc.
155,000        4.63%, due 5/15/23 158,875 (d)
1,165,000        6.00%, due 7/15/24 1,243,637 (d)
1,315,000        5.38%, due 7/15/26 1,385,681 (d)
995,000        5.00%, due 8/1/27 1,003,706 (d)
Univision Communications, Inc.
178,000        6.75%, due 9/15/22 184,453 (d)
2,030,000        5.13%, due 5/15/23 2,055,375 (d)
10,901,616

See Notes to Financial Statements 13



 

Schedule of Investments High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.
(cont’d)

  
PRINCIPAL AMOUNT VALUE
 
 
Medical Products 0.2%      
      Hologic, Inc.
$ 370,000        5.25%, due 7/15/22 $ 386,188 (d)
250,000        4.38%, due 10/15/25 254,000 (d)
640,188
 
Metals - Mining Excluding Steel 5.6%
285,000 Alcoa, Inc., 5.13%, due 10/1/24 305,871
First Quantum Minerals Ltd.
895,000        7.00%, due 2/15/21 928,563 (d)
1,135,000        7.25%, due 5/15/22 1,186,075 (d)
FMG Resources (August 2006) Pty Ltd.
1,475,000        9.75%, due 3/1/22 1,648,312 (d)
495,000        4.75%, due 5/15/22 505,519 (d)
315,000        5.13%, due 5/15/24 324,056 (d)
Freeport-McMoRan, Inc.
945,000        2.38%, due 3/15/18 945,000
270,000        4.00%, due 11/14/21 272,025
390,000        3.55%, due 3/1/22 386,100
1,550,000        3.88%, due 3/15/23 1,528,687
1,860,000        5.40%, due 11/14/34 1,813,500
1,180,000        5.45%, due 3/15/43 1,109,200
735,000 Hudbay Minerals, Inc., 7.63%, due 1/15/25 810,338 (d)
860,000 Novelis Corp., 5.88%, due 9/30/26 886,333 (d)
Teck Resources Ltd.
515,000        4.75%, due 1/15/22 543,325
1,390,000        6.25%, due 7/15/41 1,587,575
14,780,479
 
Oil Field Equipment & Services 0.8%
Precision Drilling Corp.
700,000        6.50%, due 12/15/21 707,000
1,375,000        5.25%, due 11/15/24 1,285,625
1,992,625
 
Packaging 3.1%
Ardagh Packaging Finance PLC/Ardagh Holdings USA, Inc.
400,000        4.25%, due 9/15/22 412,000 (d)
1,375,000        6.00%, due 2/15/25 1,459,219 (d)
Ball Corp.
550,000        4.38%, due 12/15/20 577,500
745,000        5.00%, due 3/15/22 804,600
855,000 Berry Plastics Corp., 5.13%, due 7/15/23 897,750
720,000 BWAY Holding Co., 5.50%, due 4/15/24 749,700 (d)
Reynolds Group Issuer, Inc.
705,000        5.75%, due 10/15/20 717,345
495,824        6.88%, due 2/15/21 508,839
1,410,000        5.13%, due 7/15/23 1,468,162 (d)
475,000 Sealed Air Corp., 5.50%, due 9/15/25 523,687 (d)
8,118,802
 
Personal & Household Products 0.8%
1,285,000 Energizer Holdings, Inc., 4.70%, due 5/24/22 1,365,312
475,000 Kronos Acquisition Holdings, Inc., 9.00%, due 8/15/23 457,663 (d)
390,000 Spectrum Brands, Inc., 5.75%, due 7/15/25 414,250
2,237,225

See Notes to Financial Statements 14



 

Schedule of Investments High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.
(cont’d)

 
PRINCIPAL AMOUNT VALUE
 
 
Pharmaceuticals 2.9%      
$ 1,490,000       Endo Finance LLC & Endo Finco, Inc., 5.38%, due 1/15/23 $ 1,199,450 (d)
Endo Ltd./Endo Finance LLC/Endo Finco, Inc.
475,000        6.00%, due 7/15/23 384,750 (d)
185,000        6.00%, due 2/1/25 147,075 (d)
630,000 Jaguar Holding Co. II/Pharmaceutical Product Development LLC, 6.38%, due 8/1/23 657,563 (d)
430,000 Mallinckrodt Int'l Finance SA/Mallinckrodt CB LLC, 5.50%, due 4/15/25 385,925 (d)
Valeant Pharmaceuticals Int’l, Inc.
2,010,000        5.50%, due 3/1/23 1,688,400 (d)
3,250,000        5.88%, due 5/15/23 2,742,187 (d)
440,000        5.50%, due 11/1/25 449,350 (d)
7,654,700
 
Printing & Publishing 2.0%
975,000 Harland Clarke Holdings Corp., 8.38%, due 8/15/22 1,027,406 (d)
R.R. Donnelley & Sons Co.
1,181,000        7.63%, due 6/15/20 1,285,814
1,665,000        7.88%, due 3/15/21 1,756,575
628,000        6.50%, due 11/15/23 602,880
692,000        6.00%, due 4/1/24 645,290
5,317,965
 
Real Estate Dev. & Mgt. 0.2%
520,000 Realogy Group LLC/Realogy Co-Issuer Corp., 4.50%, due 4/15/19 531,700 (d)
 
Recreation & Travel 0.6%
260,000 Cedar Fair L.P./Canada’s Wonderland Co./Magnum Management Corp., 5.38%, due 4/15/27 274,625 (d)
1,175,000 NCL Corp. Ltd., 4.75%, due 12/15/21 1,219,063 (d)
1,493,688
 
Restaurants 1.2%
1011778 BC ULC/New Red Finance, Inc.
500,000        4.63%, due 1/15/22 511,650 (d)
795,000        4.25%, due 5/15/24 800,724 (d)
560,000        5.00%, due 10/15/25 568,400 (d)
1,185,000 KFC Holding Co./Pizza Hut Holdings LLC/Taco Bell of America LLC, 5.25%, due 6/1/26 1,259,240 (d)
3,140,014
 
Software - Services 3.8%
First Data Corp.
1,015,000        7.00%, due 12/1/23 1,086,070 (d)
1,415,000        5.00%, due 1/15/24 1,469,831 (d)
1,142,000 Infor Software Parent LLC/Infor Software Parent, Inc., 7.13% Cash/7.88% PIK, due 5/1/21 1,173,405 (d)(e)
725,000 j2 Cloud Services LLC/j2 Global Co-Obligor, Inc., 6.00%, due 7/15/25 763,062 (d)
Nuance Communications, Inc.
374,000        5.38%, due 8/15/20 379,049 (d)
1,395,000        6.00%, due 7/1/24 1,505,275
1,245,000 Open Text Corp., 5.88%, due 6/1/26 1,349,269 (d)
1,390,000 Rackspace Hosting, Inc., 8.63%, due 11/15/24 1,463,844 (d)
640,000 Symantec Corp., 5.00%, due 4/15/25 668,800 (d)
9,858,605

See Notes to Financial Statements 15



 

Schedule of Investments High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.
(cont’d)

  
PRINCIPAL AMOUNT VALUE
 
 
Specialty Retail 0.8%      
$ 410,000       Hanesbrands, Inc., 4.88%, due 5/15/26 $ 422,300 (d)
700,000 Liberty Media Corp., 8.50%, due 7/15/29 780,500
575,000 PetSmart, Inc., 5.88%, due 6/1/25 500,250 (d)
455,000 QVC, Inc., 5.45%, due 8/15/34 452,850
2,155,900
 
Steel Producers - Products 0.2%
449,000 Big River Steel LLC/BRS Finance Corp., 7.25%, due 9/1/25 481,553 (d)
 
Support - Services 5.7%
1,230,000 ADT Corp., 4.88%, due 7/15/32 1,163,887 (d)
2,700,000 Anna Merger Sub, Inc., 7.75%, due 10/1/22 1,879,875 (d)
950,000 Aramark Services, Inc., 5.13%, due 1/15/24 1,004,625
505,000 Avis Budget Car Rental LLC/Avis Budget Finance, Inc., 5.25%, due 3/15/25 493,638 (d)
Hertz Corp.
180,000        6.75%, due 4/15/19 180,450
195,000        5.88%, due 10/15/20 193,733
190,000        7.63%, due 6/1/22 198,113 (d)
2,815,000        5.50%, due 10/15/24 2,533,500 (d)
1,833,000 IHS Markit Ltd., 5.00%, due 11/1/22 1,970,475 (d)
280,000 Iron Mountain U.S. Holdings, Inc., 5.38%, due 6/1/26 292,600 (d)
Iron Mountain, Inc.
1,385,000        6.00%, due 8/15/23 1,457,712
1,516,000        5.75%, due 8/15/24 1,553,900
1,225,000 Olympus Merger Sub, Inc., 8.50%, due 10/15/25 1,198,203 (d)
United Rental N.A., Inc.
185,000        4.63%, due 7/15/23 193,441
610,000        5.75%, due 11/15/24 646,600
14,960,752
 
Technology Hardware & Equipment 3.3%
CDW LLC/CDW Finance Corp.
750,000        5.00%, due 9/1/23 782,813
400,000        5.00%, due 9/1/25 418,500
865,000 CommScope Technologies LLC, 6.00%, due 6/15/25 912,575 (d)
Diamond 1 Finance Corp./Diamond 2 Finance Corp.
1,360,000        5.88%, due 6/15/21 1,424,262 (d)
1,420,000        6.02%, due 6/15/26 1,585,141 (d)
920,000 EMC Corp., 1.88%, due 6/1/18 917,647
700,000 Project Homestake Merger Corp., 8.88%, due 3/1/23 626,500 (d)
1,765,000 Western Digital Corp., 10.50%, due 4/1/24 2,071,227
8,738,665
 
Telecom - Satellite 1.0%
559,000 Hughes Satellite Systems Corp., 6.50%, due 6/15/19 593,169
Intelsat Jackson Holdings SA
200,000        7.50%, due 4/1/21 189,500
1,570,000        5.50%, due 8/1/23 1,340,387
627,000 Intelsat Luxembourg SA, 8.13%, due 6/1/23 382,470
2,505,526
 
Telecom - Wireless 5.3%
Sprint Corp.
2,255,000        7.88%, due 9/15/23 2,519,962
3,360,000        7.13%, due 6/15/24 3,631,958

See Notes to Financial Statements 16



 

Schedule of Investments High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.
(cont’d)

  
PRINCIPAL AMOUNT VALUE
 
 
      Sprint Nextel Corp.           
$ 590,000       9.00%, due 11/15/18 $ 625,400 (d)
605,000       6.00%, due 11/15/22 635,250
T-Mobile USA, Inc.
475,000       6.13%, due 1/15/22 494,000
1,965,000       6.00%, due 3/1/23 2,070,619
Wind Acquisition Finance SA
1,325,000       4.75%, due 7/15/20 1,340,768 (d)
980,000       7.38%, due 4/23/21 1,018,024 (d)
1,495,000 Wind Tre SpA, 5.00%, due 1/20/26 1,504,700 (d)(h)
13,840,681
 
Telecom - Wireline Integrated & Services 10.0%
420,000 CenturyLink, Inc., Ser. W, 6.75%, due 12/1/23 436,905
3,079,000 Citizens Communications Co., 9.00%, due 8/15/31 2,401,620
Communications Sales & Leasing, Inc./CSL Capital LLC
585,000       6.00%, due 4/15/23 585,731 (d)
635,000       8.25%, due 10/15/23 609,600
740,000       7.13%, due 12/15/24 682,650 (d)
4,070,000 Embarq Corp., 8.00%, due 6/1/36 4,105,612
675,000 Equinix, Inc., 5.88%, due 1/15/26 731,531
Frontier Communications Corp.
360,000       8.13%, due 10/1/18 366,660
290,000       6.25%, due 9/15/21 239,250
270,000       7.13%, due 1/15/23 207,309
610,000       7.63%, due 4/15/24 466,650
6,245,000       11.00%, due 9/15/25 5,284,831
Level 3 Financing, Inc.
1,700,000       5.38%, due 8/15/22 1,751,476
965,000       5.13%, due 5/1/23 987,919
455,000       5.38%, due 1/15/24 472,631
1,115,000 SoftBank Group Corp., 4.50%, due 4/15/20 1,151,572 (d)
1,070,000 Telecom Italia Capital SA, 6.00%, due 9/30/34 1,198,753
2,111,000 U.S. West Communications Group, 6.88%, due 9/15/33 2,072,497
Zayo Group LLC/Zayo Capital, Inc.
390,000       6.00%, due 4/1/23 409,988
305,000       6.38%, due 5/15/25 328,290
1,775,000       5.75%, due 1/15/27 1,870,406 (d)
26,361,881
 
Theaters & Entertainment 1.6%
AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc.
1,230,000       5.75%, due 6/15/25 1,196,175
1,745,000       6.13%, due 5/15/27 1,727,550
1,257,000 Regal Entertainment Group, 5.75%, due 3/15/22 1,300,995
4,224,720
Total Corporate Bonds (Cost $347,315,737) 351,754,400

See Notes to Financial Statements 17



 

Schedule of Investments High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.
(cont’d)

NUMBER OF SHARES VALUE
       
Short-Term Investment 4.1%
Investment Company 4.1%
10,697,771 State Street Institutional U.S. Government Money Market Fund Premier Class, 0.96%
(Cost $10,697,771) $ 10,697,771 (i)(j)
         Total Investments 147.1% (Cost $381,670,442) 386,208,502
         Liabilities Less Other Assets (33.8)% (88,713,844 )(k)
         Liquidation Value of Mandatory Redeemable Preferred Shares (13.3)% (35,000,000 )
         Net Assets Applicable to Common Shareholders 100.0% $ 262,494,658

(a)

Variable or floating rate security. The interest rate shown was the current rate as of October 31, 2017 and changes periodically.

 

(b)

Value determined using significant unobservable inputs.

 

(c)

Illiquid security.

 

(d)

     

Securities were purchased under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), or are otherwise restricted and, unless registered under the 1933 Act or exempted from registration, may only be sold to qualified institutional investors or may have other restrictions on resale. At October 31, 2017, these securities amounted to $146,376,159, which represents 55.8% of net assets applicable to common stockholders of the Fund. Securities denoted with (d) but without (c) have been deemed by the investment manager to be liquid.

 

(e)

Payment-in-kind (PIK) security.

 

(f)

Defaulted Security.

 

(g)

Security fair valued as of October 31, 2017 in accordance with procedures approved by the Board of Directors. Total value of all such securities at October 31, 2017 amounted to approximately $45, which represents 0.0% of net assets applicable to common stockholders of the Fund.

 

(h)

When-issued security. Total value of all such securities at October 31, 2017 amounted to $1,504,700, which represents 0.6% of net assets applicable to common stockholders of the Fund.

 

(i)

All or a portion of this security is segregated in connection with obligations for when-issued securities and/or swap contracts with a total value of approximately $10,697,771.

 

(j)

Represents 7-day effective yield as of October 31, 2017.

 

(k)

Includes the impact of the Fund’s open positions in derivatives at October 31, 2017.


See Notes to Financial Statements 18



 

Schedule of Investments High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.
(cont’d)

Derivative Instruments

Interest rate swap contracts (“interest rate swaps”)

At October 31, 2017, the Fund had outstanding centrally cleared interest rate swaps as follows:

Accrued
Fund Pays/ Unrealized Net Interest
Notional Receives Floating Rate Annual Maturity Appreciation/ Receivable/
Clearinghouse       Amount       Floating Rate       Index       Fixed-rate       Date        (Depreciation)       (Payable)       Value
CME Group, Inc. $25,000,000 Receive 3-month LIBOR(a) 1.37%(b) 5/12/2018 $18,187 $(90,928 ) $(72,741 )
CME Group, Inc. 20,000,000 Receive 3-month LIBOR(a) 1.29%(b) 4/17/2019 126,306 1,229 127,535
CME Group, Inc. 25,000,000 Receive 3-month LIBOR(a) 1.14%(b) 6/17/2021 746,616 (56,758 ) 689,858
CME Group, Inc. 20,000,000 Receive 3-month LIBOR(a) 0.99%(b) 6/29/2021 705,505 (43,489 ) 662,016
Total $1,596,614    $(189,946 ) $1,406,668

(a)

Payment frequency-quarterly.

     

(b)

Payment frequency-semi-annually.

For the year ended October 31, 2017, the average notional value of interest rate swaps was $91,199,648 when the Fund paid the fixed rate.

At October 31, 2017, the Fund received cash collateral of $471,088 for interest rate swaps.

The following is a summary, categorized by Level (see Note A of Notes to Financial Statements), of inputs used to value the Fund’s investments as of October 31, 2017:

Asset Valuation Inputs         Level 1       Level 2       Level 3(b)       Total
Investments:
Loan Assignments
       Health Care $— $ 1,256,484 $ 1,149,032 $ 2,405,516
       Leisure Goods – Activities – Movies 483,290 492,939 976,229
       Lodging & Casinos 1,522,964 2,844,800 4,367,764
       Other Loan Assignments(a) 16,006,822 16,006,822
Total Loan Assignments 19,269,560 4,486,771 23,756,331
Corporate Bonds
       Chemicals 5,812,595 45 5,812,640
       Other Corporate Bonds(a) 345,941,760 345,941,760
Total Corporate Bonds 351,754,355 45 351,754,400
Short-Term Investment 10,697,771 10,697,771
Total Investments $— $ 381,721,686 $ 4,486,816 $ 386,208,502

(a)

     

The Schedule of Investments provides information on the industry or sector categorization for the portfolio.


See Notes to Financial Statements 19



 

Schedule of Investments High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.
(cont’d)

(b)

     

The following is a reconciliation between the beginning and ending balances of investments in which unobservable inputs (Level 3) were used in determining value:


Net change in
unrealized
appreciation/
(depreciation)
Beginning Change in from
balance, Accrued unrealized Transfers Transfers Balance investments
as of discounts/ Realized appreciation/ into out of as of still held as
   11/1/2016    (premiums)    gain/(loss)    (depreciation)    Purchases    Sales    Level 3    Level 3    10/31/2017    of 10/31/2017
Investments in
       Securities:
Loan Assignments(c)    
       Health Care $— $262 $29 $(7,459 ) $1,161,962 $(5,762 ) $— $— $1,149,032 $(7,459 )
       Leisure
       Goods –
       Activities –
       Movies 225 11,343 481,371 492,939 11,343
       Lodging &
       Casinos (10,099 ) 121,234 1,631,265 1,102,400 2,844,800 121,234
       Radio &
       Television 308,427 (308,427 )
Corporate
       Bonds(d)
       Chemicals 3 42 45 3
Total $308,427       $(9,612 ) $29        $125,121 $3,274,598   $(5,762)   $1,102,442   $(308,427 ) $4,486,816        $125,121

(c)

 

Securities categorized as Level 3 were valued using a single quotation obtained from a dealer. The Fund does not have access to unobservable inputs and therefore cannot disclose such inputs used in formulating such quotation.

     

(d)

Securities categorized as Level 3 were valued using methods the Board has approved in the good-faith belief that the resulting valuation will reflect the fair value of these securities.

As of the year ended October 31, 2017, certain securities were transferred from one level (as of October 31, 2016) to another. Based on beginning of period market values as of November 1, 2016, approximately $308,427 was transferred from Level 3 to Level 2. Also, approximately $1,102,442 was transferred from Level 2 to Level 3. Transfers of loan assignments and corporate bonds into or out of Level 3 were primarily due to the pricing methodology using methods the Board has approved in the good-faith belief that the resulting valuation will reflect the fair value of these securities (Level 3) or a single observable input (Level 3) by the independent pricing service. As of the year ended October 31, 2017, the Fund had no transfers between Levels 1 and 2.

The following is a summary, categorized by Level (see Note A of Notes to Financial Statements), of inputs used to value the Fund’s derivatives as of October 31, 2017:

Other Financial Instruments       Level 1       Level 2       Level 3       Total
Swap contracts
       Assets $— 1,406,668 $— 1,406,668
Total $— 1,406,668 $— 1,406,668

See Notes to Financial Statements 20



 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

Neuberger Berman

HIGH YIELD
STRATEGIES
      FUND INC.
October 31, 2017
Assets
Investments in securities, at value* (Note A)—see Schedule of Investments:
Unaffiliated issuers $386,208,502
Cash 113,735
Interest receivable 5,823,268
Receivable for securities sold 1,122,690
Receivable for variation margin on centrally cleared interest rate swap contracts (Note A) 998,102
Prepaid expenses and other assets 17,233
Total Assets 394,283,530
       
Liabilities
Notes payable (net of unamortized deferred issuance costs of $133,104) (Note A) 89,866,896
Mandatory Redeemable Preferred Shares, Series B ($25,000 liquidation value per share; 1,400 shares issued
and outstanding) (Note A)
35,000,000
Distributions payable—preferred shares 119,761
Distributions payable—common stock 23,273
Cash collateral segregated for swap contracts due to broker (Note A) 471,088
Payable to investment manager (Note B) 197,600
Payable for securities purchased 5,676,027
Payable to administrator (Note B) 16,467
Payable to directors 2,372
Interest payable (Note A) 208,956
Accrued expenses and other payables 206,432
Total Liabilities 131,788,872
Net Assets applicable to Common Stockholders $262,494,658
Net Assets applicable to Common Stockholders consist of:
Paid-in capital—common stock $274,965,780
Undistributed net investment income (loss) 47,202
Accumulated net realized gains (losses) on investments (18,463,052 )
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) in value of investments 5,944,728
Net Assets applicable to Common Stockholders $262,494,658
Shares of Common Stock Outstanding ($0.0001 par value; 999,999,997,100 shares authorized) 19,540,585
Net Asset Value Per Share of Common Stock Outstanding $13.43
* Cost of Investments $381,670,442

See Notes to Financial Statements 21



 

Statement of Operations

Neuberger Berman

HIGH YIELD
STRATEGIES
      FUND INC.
For the Year Ended
October 31, 2017
Investment Income:
Income (Note A):
Interest income-unaffiliated issuers $23,454,260
       
Expenses:
Investment management fees (Note B) 2,311,635
Administration fees (Note B) 192,636
Audit fees 64,470
Basic maintenance expense (Note A) 40,000
Custodian and accounting fees 181,879
Insurance expense 13,120
Legal fees 80,999
Stockholder reports 64,656
Stock exchange listing fees 8,372
Stock transfer agent fees 27,832
Distributions to mandatory redeemable preferred shareholders (Note A) 1,246,791
Directors’ fees and expenses 47,300
Interest expense (Note A) 2,133,368
Miscellaneous 27,265
Total expenses 6,440,323
Custodian out-of-pocket expenses refunded (Note E) (51,210 )
Total net expenses 6,389,113
Net investment income (loss) $17,065,147
       
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments (Note A):
       
Net realized gain (loss) on:
Transactions in investment securities of unaffiliated issuers 8,612,573
Expiration or closing of swap contracts (145,062 )
       
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) in value of:
Investment securities of unaffiliated issuers (3,050,336 )
Swap contracts 1,391,227
Net gain (loss) on investments 6,808,402
Net increase (decrease) in net assets applicable to Common Stockholders resulting from operations $23,873,549

See Notes to Financial Statements 22



 

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

Neuberger Berman

HIGH YIELD
STRATEGIES FUND INC.
Year Ended Year Ended
      October 31, 2017       October 31, 2016
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Applicable to Common Stockholders:
             
From Operations (Note A):
Net investment income (loss) $17,065,147 $18,074,545
Net realized gain (loss) on investments 8,467,511 (16,375,650 )
Net increase from payments by affiliates (Note B) 2,435
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments (1,659,109 ) 25,655,891
Net increase (decrease) in net assets applicable to Common Stockholders resulting
from operations
23,873,549 27,357,221
 
Distributions to Common Stockholders From (Note A):
Net investment income (17,014,615 ) (17,647,876 )
Tax return of capital (718,466 ) (1,111,086 )
 
Net Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets Applicable to Common Stockholders 6,140,468 8,598,259
 
Net Assets Applicable to Common Stockholders:
Beginning of year 256,354,190 247,755,931
End of year $262,494,658 $256,354,190
Undistributed net investment income (loss) at end of year $47,202 $120,590

See Notes to Financial Statements 23



 

Statement of Cash Flows

Neuberger Berman

HIGH YIELD
STRATEGIES
      FUND INC.
For the Year Ended
October 31, 2017
Increase (decrease) in cash:
       
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net increase in net assets applicable to Common Stockholders resulting from operations $23,873,549
Adjustments to reconcile net increase in net assets applicable to Common Stockholders resulting from
operations to net cash provided by operating activities:
       Changes in assets and liabilities:
       Purchase of investment securities (251,688,597 )
       Proceeds from disposition of investment securities 252,530,533
       Purchase/sale of short-term investment securities, net (4,686,963 )
       Increase in receivable (payable) for variation margin on centrally cleared interest rate swaps (493,019 )
       Unrealized appreciation of centrally cleared interest rate swaps 1,331,685
       Decrease in interest receivable 332,840
       Decrease in deferred offering costs 22,335
       Amortization of deferred offering costs (1,048 )
       Increase in receivable for securities sold (115,185 )
       Decrease in cash collateral segregated for interest rate swaps 1,310,041
       Increase in accumulated unpaid dividends on preferred shares 19,033
       Increase in payable for securities purchased 1,710,105
       Increase in interest payable 45,940
       Net amortization of premium (discount) on investments (411,386 )
       Increase in accrued expenses and other payables 36,128
       Unrealized depreciation on securities 3,050,336
       Unrealized appreciation on interest rate swaps (1,391,227 )
       Net realized gain from investments (8,612,573 )
       Net realized loss from interest rate swaps 145,062
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities $17,007,589
       
Cash flows from financing activities:
Cash distributions paid on common stock (17,737,255 )
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (17,737,255 )
Net increase (decrease) in cash (729,666 )
       
Cash:
Beginning balance 843,401
Ending balance $113,735
Supplemental disclosure
Cash paid for interest $2,087,428

See Notes to Financial Statements 24



 
Notes to Financial Statements High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.

Note A—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies:

1

General:Neuberger Berman High Yield Strategies Fund Inc. (the “Fund”) was organized as a Maryland corporation on March 18, 2010, and registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company. Under the 1940 Act, the status of a fund that was registered as non-diversified may, under certain circumstances, change to that of a diversified fund. The Fund is currently a diversified fund. The Fund’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) may classify or re-classify any unissued shares of capital stock into one or more classes of preferred stock without the approval of stockholders.

The Fund is an investment company and accordingly follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standard Codification Topic 946 “Financial Services—Investment Companies.”

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“Management” or “NBIA”) to make estimates and assumptions at the date of the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

          
2

Portfolio valuation:In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 820 “Fair Value Measurement” (“ASC 820”), all investments held by the Fund are carried at the value that Management believes the Fund would receive upon selling an investment in an orderly transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market for the investment under current market conditions. Various inputs, including the volume and level of activity for the asset or liability in the market, are considered in valuing the Fund’s investments, some of which are discussed below. Significant Management judgment may be necessary to value investments in accordance with ASC 820.

ASC 820 established a three-tier hierarchy of inputs to create a classification of value measurements for disclosure purposes. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized in the three broad Levels listed below.


Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

Level 2 – other observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar investments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, amortized cost, etc.)

Level 3 – unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)


          

The inputs or methodology used for valuing an investment are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

The value of the Fund’s investments in debt securities is determined by Management primarily by obtaining valuations from independent pricing services based on readily available bid or offer quotations, respectively, or if quotations are not available, by methods which include various considerations based on security type (generally Level 2 inputs). In addition to the consideration of yields or prices of securities of comparable quality, coupon, maturity and type, indications as to values from dealers, and general market conditions, the following is a description of other Level 2 inputs and related valuation techniques used by independent pricing services to value certain types of debt securities held by the Fund:

Corporate Bonds. Inputs used to value corporate debt securities generally include relative credit information, observed market movements, sector news, U.S. Treasury yield curve or relevant benchmark curve, and other market information, which may include benchmark yields, reported trades, broker-dealer quotes, issuer spreads, benchmark securities, bids, offers, and reference data, such as market research publications, when available (“Other Market Information”).

25



 
High Yield Securities.Inputs used to value high yield securities generally include a number of observations of equity and credit default swap curves related to the issuer and Other Market Information.
          
 

The value of loan assignments is determined by Management primarily by obtaining valuations from independent pricing services based on broker quotes (generally Level 2 or Level 3 inputs depending on the number of quotes available).

The value of interest rate swaps is determined by Management primarily by obtaining valuations from independent pricing services based on references to the underlying rates including the local overnight index swap rate and the respective interbank offered forward rate to produce the daily price. The present value is calculated based off of expected cash flows based on swap parameters along with reference to the underlying yield curve and reference rate (generally Level 2 inputs).

Management has developed a process to periodically review information provided by independent pricing services for all types of securities.

Investments in non-exchange traded investment companies are valued using the respective fund’s daily calculated net asset value per share (Level 2 inputs).

If a valuation is not available from an independent pricing service, or if Management has reason to believe that the valuation received does not represent the amount the Fund might reasonably expect to receive on a current sale in an orderly transaction, Management seeks to obtain quotations from brokers or dealers (generally considered Level 2 or Level 3 inputs depending on the number of quotes available). If such quotations are not readily available, the security is valued using methods the Fund’s Board has approved in the good-faith belief that the resulting valuation will reflect the fair value of the security. Numerous factors may be considered when determining the fair value of a security based on Level 2 or Level 3 inputs, including available analyst, media or other reports, securities within the same industry with recent highly correlated performance, trading in futures or American Depositary Receipts and whether the issuer of the security being fair valued has other securities outstanding.

Fair value prices are necessarily estimates, and there is no assurance that such a price will be at or close to the price at which the security is next quoted or next trades.

            
3

Securities transactions and investment income:Securities transactions are recorded on trade date for financial reporting purposes. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Interest income, including amortization of premium, where applicable, and accretion of discount on securities (adjusted for original issue discount, where applicable) is recorded on the accrual basis. Realized gains and losses from security transactions are recorded on the basis of identified cost and stated separately in the Statement of Operations. Included in net realized gain/(loss) on investments are proceeds from the settlements of class action litigation in which the Fund participated as a class member. The amount of such proceeds for the year ended October 31, 2017 was $1,920.

 
4

Income tax information: It is the policy of the Fund to continue to qualify for treatment as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) by complying with the requirements of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code applicable to RICs and to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and net realized capital gains to its stockholders. To the extent the Fund distributes substantially all of its net investment income and net realized capital gains to stockholders, no federal income or excise tax provision is required.

The Fund has adopted the provisions of ASC 740 “Income Taxes” (“ASC 740”). ASC 740 sets forth a minimum threshold for financial statement recognition of a tax position taken, or expected to be taken, in a tax return. The Fund recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax positions as an income tax expense in the Statement of Operations. The Fund is subject to examination by U.S. federal and state tax authorities for returns filed for the tax years for which the applicable statutes of limitations have not yet expired. As of October 31, 2017, the Fund did not have any unrecognized tax positions.

26



 
           At October 31, 2017, the cost for all long security positions and derivative instruments (if any) for U.S. federal income tax basis was $381,693,125. Gross unrealized appreciation of long security positions was $12,603,902 and gross unrealized depreciation of long security positions was $6,491,911 resulting in net unrealized appreciation of $6,111,991 based on cost for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Income distributions and capital gain distributions are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from GAAP. These differences are primarily due to differing treatments of income and gains on various investment securities held by the Fund, timing differences and differing characterization of distributions made by the Fund.

As determined on October 31, 2017, permanent differences resulting primarily from different book and tax accounting were reclassified at year end. Such differences may be attributed to the tax treatment of one or more of the following: gains and losses on interest rate swaps, expiration of capital loss carryforwards and non-deductible restructuring costs. These reclassifications had no effect on net income, net asset value (“NAV”) applicable to common stockholders or NAV per share of common stock of the Fund. For the year ended October 31, 2017, the Fund recorded the following permanent reclassifications:


Accumulated Net
Undistributed Realized Gains
Net Investment (Losses) on
Paid-in Capital       Income (Loss)       Investments
$(4,111,942) $(123,920) $4,235,862

The tax character of distributions paid during the years ended October 31, 2017 and October 31, 2016 was as follows:

Distributions Paid From:
Ordinary Income Long-Term Capital Gains Tax Return of Capital Total
2017       2016       2017       2016       2017       2016       2017       2016
$18,261,406 $18,712,931 $— $— $718,466 $1,111,086 $18,979,872 $19,824,017

As of October 31, 2017, the components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a U.S. federal income tax basis were as follows:

Undistributed Undistributed Unrealized Loss Other
Ordinary Long-Term Appreciation/ Carryforwards Temporary
Income       Capital Gain       (Depreciation)       and Deferrals       Differences       Total
$—       $— $6,111,991 $(18,440,079) $(143,034) $(12,471,122)

The temporary differences between book basis and tax basis distributable earnings are primarily due to: losses disallowed and recognized on wash sales, distribution payments, mark to market on certain swap contract transactions, delayed settlement compensation on bank loans and capital loss carryforwards.

To the extent the Fund’s net realized capital gains, if any, can be offset by capital loss carryforwards, it is the policy of the Fund not to distribute such gains. The Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 made changes to the capital loss carryforward rules allowing for RICs to carry forward capital losses indefinitely and to retain the character of capital loss carryforwards as short-term or long-term (“Post- Enactment”). Rules in effect previously limited the carryforward period to eight years and all carryforwards were considered short-term in character (“Pre-Enactment”). As determined at October 31, 2017, the Fund had unused capital loss carryforwards available for federal income tax purposes to offset net realized capital gains, if any, as follows:

Post-Enactment (No Expiration Date)
Long-Term       Short-Term
$18,260,163 $179,916

During the year ended October 31, 2017, the Fund utilized capital loss carryforwards of $8,580,655.

During the year ended October 31, 2017, the Fund had capital loss carryforwards expire of $4,089,608.

27



 
5

Foreign taxes:Foreign taxes withheld, if any, represent amounts withheld by foreign tax authorities, net of refunds recoverable.

          
6

Distributions to common stockholders:The Fund earns income, net of expenses, daily on its investments. It is the policy of the Fund to declare and pay monthly distributions to common stockholders. The Fund has adopted a policy to pay common stockholders a stable monthly distribution. The Fund’s ability to satisfy its policy will depend on a number of factors, including the stability of income received from its investments, the availability of capital gains, distributions paid on any preferred shares, interest paid on any notes and the level of Fund expenses. In an effort to maintain a stable monthly distribution amount, the Fund may pay distributions consisting of net investment income, net realized gains and paid-in capital. There is no assurance that the Fund will always be able to pay distributions of a particular size, or that distributions will consist solely of net investment income and net realized capital gains. The composition of the Fund’s distributions for the calendar year 2017 will be reported to Fund stockholders on IRS Form 1099-DIV. The Fund may pay distributions in excess of those required by its stable distribution policy to avoid excise tax or to satisfy the requirements of Subchapter M of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. Distributions to common stockholders are recorded on the ex-date. Net realized capital gains, if any, will be offset to the extent of any available capital loss carryforwards. Any such offset will not reduce the level of the stable distribution paid by the Fund. Distributions to preferred stockholders are accrued and determined as described in Note A-8.

On October 31, 2017, the Fund declared a monthly distribution to common stockholders in the amount of $0.0725 per share, payable on November 30, 2017 to stockholders of record on November 15, 2017, with an ex-date of November 14, 2017. Subsequent to October 31, 2017, the Fund declared a monthly distribution to common stockholders in the amount of $0.0725 per share, payable on December 29, 2017 to stockholders of record on December 15, 2017, with an ex-date of December 14, 2017.

 
7

Expense allocation:Certain expenses are applicable to multiple funds within the complex of related investment companies, which includes open-end and closed-end investment companies for which Management serves as investment manager. Expenses directly attributable to the Fund are charged to the Fund. Expenses borne by the complex of related investment companies that are not directly attributable to a particular investment company (e.g., the Fund) are allocated among the Fund and the other investment companies or series thereof in the complex on the basis of relative net assets, except where a more appropriate allocation of expenses to each of the investment companies or series thereof in the complex can otherwise be made fairly.

 
8

Financial leverage:In 2010, the Fund issued 1,087 privately placed perpetual preferred shares (“PPS”) with an aggregate liquidation preference of $27,175,000 and privately placed notes (“PNs”) with an aggregate principal value of $82,610,000. In September 2013, the Fund issued privately placed notes (“New PNs”) with an aggregate principal value of $90,000,000 and Mandatory Redeemable Preferred Shares, Series B (“MRPS” and, together with the New PNs, “Private Securities”) with an aggregate liquidation preference of $35,000,000 to holders of the PNs and PPS and used the proceeds to redeem and prepay their PNs and PPS and increase the Fund’s leverage.

The New PNs and MRPS have a maturity date of September 18, 2023. The interest on the New PNs is accrued daily and paid quarterly. The MRPS have a liquidation preference of $25,000 per share plus any accumulated unpaid distributions, whether or not earned or declared by the Fund, but excluding interest thereon (“Liquidation Value”). Distributions on the MRPS are accrued daily and paid quarterly. The PNs and PPS had these same terms. For financial reporting purposes only, the liquidation preference of the MRPS is recognized as a liability in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

For the year ended October 31, 2017, the distribution rates on the MRPS ranged from 3.24% to 3.73% and the interest rates on the New PNs ranged from 2.04% to 2.53%.

28



 
           The table below sets forth key terms of the MPRS.

      Mandatory                   Aggregate
Redemption Interest Shares Liquidation
Series Date Rate Outstanding Preference
Series B 9/18/23 3.5468%* 1,400 $35,000,000

* Floating rate effective for the year ended October 31, 2017.

The Fund has paid up front offering and organizational expenses which are being amortized over the life of the New PNs and MRPS. The expenses are included in the interest expense that is reflected in the Statement of Operations.

The Fund may redeem MRPS or prepay the New PNs, in whole or in part, at its option after giving a minimum amount of notice to the relevant holders of the Private Securities but will incur additional expenses if it chooses to so redeem or prepay. The Fund is also subject to certain restrictions relating to the Private Securities. Failure to comply with these restrictions could preclude the Fund from declaring any distributions to common stockholders or repurchasing shares of common stock and/or could trigger the mandatory redemption of MRPS at Liquidation Value and certain expenses and/or mandatory prepayment of New PNs at par plus accrued but unpaid interest and certain expenses. The holders of MRPS are entitled to one vote per share and will vote with holders of shares of common stock as a single class, except that the holders of MRPS will vote separately as a class on certain matters, as required by law or the Fund’s organizational documents. The holders of MRPS, voting as a separate class, are entitled at all times to elect two Directors of the Fund, and to elect a majority of the Directors of the Fund if the Fund fails to pay distributions on MRPS for two consecutive years.

          
9

Concentration of credit risk: The Fund will normally invest at least 80% of its total assets in high yield debt securities of U.S. and foreign issuers, which include securities that are rated below investment grade by a rating agency or are unrated debt securities determined to be of comparable quality by the Fund’s investment manager.

Due to the likelihood of volatility and potential illiquidity of the high yield securities in which the Fund invests and the real or perceived difficulty of issuers of those high yield securities to meet their payment obligations during economic downturns or because of negative business developments relating to the issuer or its industry in general, the value and/or price of the Fund’s shares of common stock may fluctuate more than would be the case if the Fund did not concentrate in high yield securities.

 
10

Derivative instruments:The Fund’s use of derivatives during the year ended October 31, 2017, is described below. Please see the Schedule of Investments for the Fund’s open positions in derivatives, at October 31, 2017. The Fund has adopted the provisions of ASC 815 “Derivatives and Hedging” (“ASC 815”). The disclosure requirements of ASC 815 distinguish between derivatives that qualify for hedge accounting and those that do not. Because investment companies value their derivatives at fair value and recognize changes in fair value through the Statement of Operations, they do not qualify for hedge accounting. Accordingly, even though the Fund’s investments in derivatives may represent economic hedges, they are considered non-hedge transactions for purposes of this disclosure.

Interest rate swaps: During the year ended October 31, 2017 the Fund used interest rate swap contracts to reduce the risk that an increase in short-term interest rates could reduce common share net earnings as a result of leverage. Under the terms of the interest rate swaps, the Fund agrees to pay the swap counterparty a fixed-rate payment in exchange for the counterparty’s paying the Fund a variable-rate payment that is intended to approximate all or a portion of the Fund’s variable-rate payment obligations on the Fund’s Private Securities. The fixed-rate and variable-rate payment flows are netted against each other, with the difference being paid by one party to the other on a monthly basis. The Fund segregates cash or liquid securities having a value at least equal to the Fund’s net payment obligations under any interest rate swap transaction, marked to market daily. There is no guarantee that these interest rate swap transactions will be successful in reducing or limiting risk.

29



 
           Risks may arise if the counterparty to a swap contract fails to comply with the terms of its contract. The loss incurred by the failure of a counterparty is generally limited to the net interest payment to be received by the Fund and/or the termination value at the end of the contract. Additionally, risks may arise if there is no liquid market for these agreements or from movements in interest rates unanticipated by Management.

Periodic expected interim net interest payments or receipts on the swaps are recorded as an adjustment to unrealized gains/losses, along with the fair value of the future periodic payment or receivable streams on the swaps. The unrealized gains/losses associated with the periodic interim net interest payments or receipts are reclassified to realized gains/ losses in conjunction with the actual net receipt or payment of such amounts. The reclassifications do not impact the Fund’s total net assets applicable to common stockholders or its total net increase (decrease) in net assets applicable to common stockholders resulting from operations.

Certain clearinghouses currently offer clearing for limited types of derivative transactions. In a cleared derivative transaction, a fund typically enters into the transaction with a financial institution counterparty that is then cleared through a central clearinghouse. Upon acceptance of a swap by a central clearinghouse, the original swap is extinguished and replaced with a swap with the clearinghouse, thereby reducing or eliminating the fund’s exposure to the credit risk of the original counterparty. A fund typically will be required to post specified levels of both initial and variation margin with the clearinghouse or at the instruction of the clearinghouse. The daily change in valuation is recorded as a receivable or payable for variation margin and settled in cash with the centrally clearing party. For financial reporting purposes, unamortized upfront payments, if any, are netted with unrealized appreciation or depreciation and net interest received or paid on swap contracts to determine the fair value of swaps.

For financial reporting purposes unamortized upfront payments, if any, are netted with unrealized appreciation or (depreciation) on swap contracts to determine the market value of swaps as presented in the table below.

At October 31, 2017, the Fund had the following derivatives (which did not qualify for hedge accounting under ASC 815), grouped by primary risk exposure:


Asset Derivatives       Interest Rate Risk       Statement of Assets and Liabilities Location
Centrally Cleared Interest Rate Swaps $1,406,668 Receivable/Payable for variation margin on centrally cleared interest
rate swaps(a)
 
Total Value - Assets $1,406,668

(a) “Centrally Cleared Interest Rate Swaps” reflects cumulative unrealized appreciation or (depreciation). Only the current day’s variation margin on open centrally cleared interest rate swaps is reported within the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as “Receivable for variation margin on centrally cleared swap contracts (Note A).”

The impact of the use of these derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations during the year ended October 31, 2017, was as follows:

Realized Gain/(Loss)            
Interest Rate Risk Statement of Operations Location
Interest Rate Swaps $(145,062) Net realized gain (loss)
Total Realized Gain/(Loss) $(145,062) on: expiration or closing of swap contracts
   
Change in Appreciation/(Depreciation)  
Interest Rate Risk Statement of Operations Location
Interest Rate Swaps $1,391,227 Change in net unrealized appreciation/
Total Change in Appreciation/(Depreciation) $1,391,227 (depreciation) in value of: swap contracts

30



 
11

Indemnifications:Like many other companies, the Fund’s organizational documents provide that its officers (“Officers”) and directors (“Directors”) are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the Fund. In addition, both in some of its principal service contracts and in the normal course of its business, the Fund enters into contracts that provide indemnifications to other parties for certain types of losses or liabilities. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this could involve future claims against the Fund.

            
12

Arrangements with certain non-affiliated service providers:In order to satisfy rating agency requirements and the terms of the Private Securities, the Fund is required to provide the rating agency and holders of Private Securities a report on a monthly basis verifying that the Fund is maintaining eligible assets having a discounted value equal to or greater than the basic maintenance amount, which is the minimum level set by the rating agency as one of the conditions to maintain the AAA rating on the New PNs and the AA rating on the MRPS. “Discounted value” refers to the fact that the rating agency requires the Fund, in performing this calculation, to discount portfolio securities below their face value, at rates determined by the rating agency. The Fund pays State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”) for the preparation of this report, which is reflected in the Statement of Operations under the caption “Basic maintenance expense (Note A).”

 

Note B—Investment Management Fees, Administration Fees, and Other Transactions with Affiliates:

 

The Fund retains Management as its investment manager under a Management Agreement. For such investment management services, the Fund pays Management a fee computed at an annual rate of 0.60% of the Fund’s average daily Managed Assets. Managed Assets equal the total assets of the Fund, less liabilities other than the aggregate indebtedness entered into for purposes of leverage. For purposes of calculating Managed Assets, the Liquidation Value of any MRPS (PPS prior to September 2013) outstanding and borrowings under the New PNs (PNs prior to September 2013) are not considered liabilities.

The Fund retains Management as its administrator under an Administration Agreement. The Fund pays Management an administration fee at the annual rate of 0.05% of its average daily Managed Assets under this agreement. Additionally, Management retains State Street as its sub-administrator under a Sub-Administration Agreement. Management pays State Street a fee for all services received under the Sub-Administration Agreement.

Prior to January 1, 2016, Neuberger Berman Fixed Income LLC was the sub-adviser to the Fund, retained by Management pursuant to a Sub-Advisory Agreement to be responsible for developing, implementing and supervising the Fund’s investment program and providing certain administrative services to the Fund, and received a monthly fee paid by Management.

Several individuals who are Officers and/or Directors of the Fund are also employees of Management.

In April 2016, the Fund recorded a capital contribution from a portfolio manager in the amount of $2,435. This amount was paid in accordance with Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Note C—Securities Transactions:

 

During the year ended October 31, 2017, there were purchases and sales of long-term securities (excluding interest rate swap contracts) of $244,519,169 and $242,394,416, respectively.

31



 
Note D—Legal Matters:

On June 1, 2015, the Fund was served with a lawsuit filed in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, entitled Motors Liquidation Company Avoidance Action Trust vs. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. et al. and numbered Adv. No. 09-00504 (MG). In addition to the Fund, the lawsuit also names over five hundred other institutional investors as defendants. The lawsuit does not allege any misconduct by the defendants, but seeks to recover payments made by General Motors Corporation (n/k/a Motors Liquidation Company) and its affiliates (collectively, “GM”) to the defendants shortly prior to and after GM’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing on June 1, 2009 (the “Petition Date”). The complaint alleges that GM made the payments to the defendants under a certain term loan agreement, dated as of November 29, 2006, as amended by that first amendment dated as of March 4, 2009 (the “Term Loan Agreement”); that the payments occurred both during the ninety (90) days prior to the Petition Date (the “Prepetition Transfer”) and after the Petition Date when all amounts due under the Term Loan Agreement were paid in full in connection with GM’s postpetition financing (the “Postpetition Transfer”); that the lien purportedly securing the Term Loan Agreement was not perfected as of the Petition Date; and that the lenders under the Term Loan Agreement should therefore have been treated as unsecured creditors rather than paid in full as secured creditors. The plaintiff seeks avoidance of the lien securing the Term Loan Agreement as unperfected under Section 544(a) of the Bankruptcy Code; disgorgement of all amounts paid to the defendants as Postpetition Transfer (plus interest) under Section 549 of the Bankruptcy Code; and disallowance of any bankruptcy claims of the defendants against GM until they repay all such amounts under Section 502(d) of the Bankruptcy Code. On November 17, 2016, all claims against the Fund relating to the Prepetition Transfer were dismissed from the action. On May 5, 2017, the Bankruptcy Court concluded the evidentiary portion of a trial on certain legal issues with respect to the defendants’ right to the Postpetition Transfer. On September 26, 2017, the Bankruptcy Court issued its decision with respect to (a) the final list of fixtures that still secure the term loan; and (b) the valuation of those fixtures. The Bankruptcy Court held that 33 of the 40 assets at issue were fixtures and that the majority of the assets should be valued on a going concern basis. The Motors Liquidation Company Avoidance Action Trust sought leave to appeal portions of the decision on October 10, 2017. The parties have agreed to attend a mediation in December 2017 in an attempt to resolve the dispute. During 2009, the Fund received pay downs from GM in connection with the term loan totaling approximately $3.0 million. The Fund cannot predict the outcome of the lawsuit. If the lawsuit were to be decided or settled in a manner adverse to the Fund, the payment of such judgment or settlement could have an adverse effect on the Fund’s net asset value. However, no liability for litigation relating to this matter has been accrued in the financial statements as neither the likelihood nor the amount of any liability can reasonably be determined at this time. The Fund will incur legal expenses associated with the defense of the lawsuit.

Note E—Custodian Out-of-Pocket Expenses Refunded:

In May 2016, the Fund’s custodian, State Street, announced that it had identified inconsistencies in the way in which the Fund was invoiced for categories of expenses, particularly those deemed “out-of-pocket” costs, from 1998 through November 2015. The amounts in the table below represent the refunded expenses and interest determined to be payable to the Fund for the period in question. These amounts were refunded to the Fund by State Street during the year ended October 31, 2017.

Expenses       Interest Paid to
Refunded the Fund
$51,210 $3,677

32



 
Note F—Recent Accounting Pronouncements:

In December 2016, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-19, “Technical Corrections and Improvements” (“ASU 2016-19”). The guidance includes an amendment to Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement, which clarifies the difference between a valuation approach and a valuation technique. The amendments also require an entity to disclose when it has changed either a valuation approach and/or a valuation technique. The guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Management is currently evaluating the impact, if any, of applying this guidance.

On August 26, 2016, FASB issued a new ASU No. 2016-15, “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230), Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments, a consensus of the FASB’s Emerging Issues Task Force” (“ASU 2016-15”). ASU 2016-15 is intended to reduce diversity in practice in how certain transactions are classified in the statement of cash flows. The types of transactions addressed in ASU 2016-15 are debt prepayment or debt extinguishment costs, settlement of zero-coupon debt instruments, contingent consideration payments made after a business combination, proceeds from the settlement of insurance claims, proceeds from the settlement of corporate-owned life insurance, distributions received from equity method investees, and beneficial interests in securitization transactions. The amendments also clarify how the predominance principle should be applied. ASU 2016-15 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Management is currently evaluating the impact, if any, of applying this provision.

In November 2016, FASB issued a new ASU No. 2016-18, “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230), Restricted Cash” (“ASU 2016-18”). ASU 2016-18 requires that a statement of cash flows show the changes during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents. ASU 2016-18 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Management is currently evaluating the impact, if any, of applying this guidance.

33



 
Financial Highlights

High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.

The following table includes selected data for a share of common stock outstanding throughout each year and other performance information derived from the Financial Statements. Amounts that do not round to $0.01 or $(0.01) per share are presented as $0.00 or $(0.00), respectively. Ratios that do not round to 0.01% or (0.01)% are presented as 0.00% or (0.00)%, respectively. A “-” indicates that the line item was not applicable in the corresponding period.

  Year Ended October 31,
       2017      2016      2015      2014      2013
Common Stock Net Asset Value,
Beginning of Year $ 13.12 $ 12.68 $ 14.42 $ 14.67 $ 14.03
Income From Investment Operations
Applicable to Common Stockholders:
Net Investment Income (Loss)@ 0.87 0.92 1.02 1.10 1.15
Net Gains or Losses on Securities
(both realized and unrealized) 0.35 0.48 (1.75 ) (0.27 ) 0.61
Common Stock Equivalent of Distributions
to MRPS Preferred Stockholders From:
     Net Investment Income@ (0.04 )
Total From Investment Operations
Applicable to Common Stockholders 1.22 1.40 (0.73 ) 0.83 1.72
 
Less Distributions to Common
Stockholders From:
     Net Investment Income (0.87 ) (0.90 ) (0.94 ) (1.08 ) (1.08 )
     Tax Return of Capital (0.04 ) (0.06 ) (0.07 )
Total Distributions to
Common Stockholders (0.91 ) (0.96 ) (1.01 ) (1.08 ) (1.08 )
Voluntary Contribution
from Management 0.00 0.00
Common Stock Net Asset Value,
End of Year $ 13.43 $ 13.12 $ 12.68 $ 14.42 $ 14.67
Common Stock Market Value,
End of Year $ 12.13 $ 11.61 $ 10.69 $ 13.16 $ 13.56
Total Return, Common Stock
Net Asset Value 10.41 %ab 13.08 %ac