NexPoint Credit Strategies Fund Announces a 20% Increase in the Regular Monthly Dividend
NexPoint Credit Strategies Fund (NYSE: NHF) today announced a 20%
increase to its regular monthly dividend on its common stock. Effective
for the March 2013 dividend, the dividend will increase from $0.035
per share to $0.042 per share. As of January 31, 2013, the Trust
had estimated undistributed net investment income of approximately $4.0
million (unaudited).
NexPoint Credit Strategies Fund (“NHF” or the “Fund”) is a closed-end
fund managed by NexPoint Advisors, L.P. (the “Manager”). The Fund
invests primarily in below investment grade debt and equity and has the
ability to hedge risk. The Manager attempts to deliver consistent
monthly dividends while attempting to exceed the return of the DJ Credit
Suisse Hedge Fund and the HFRX Global Hedge Fund indices in a
transparent, registered fund format.
Since Mr. Dondero began taking an active role with the portfolio
management team in June 2012, the following has been accomplished:
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The Fund’s NAV has increased from $6.86 to $7.99, or a 21.6% increase
including reinvested dividends as of February 22, 2013.
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Net income available for distribution has increased from an annual run
rate of $25.0 million to an annual run rate of $32.2 million as of
February 22, 2013.
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Administration, accounting, legal and other operational expenses have
been reduced from an annual rate of $2.5 million as of December 31,
2102, to an annual rate of $1.6 million as of February 22, 2013.
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Leverage costs have been reduced from an annual run rate of $4.6
million to an annual run rate of $4.4 million with additional savings
of $1.7 million anticipated in April 2013 with the refinancing of
long-term notes to a more cost effective short-term credit facility.
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Assets classified as Level 3 assets*, which tend to be less liquid and
may not pay current income, has been reduced from 37% of the portfolio
as of June 30, 2012 to 12% of the portfolio as of February 15, 2013.
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Beginning February 1, 2013, the Manager began publishing the Fund’s
NAV daily, creating greater transparency.
In July 2012, the Manager implemented a unique and creative Dividend
Reinvestment Plan (the “DRIP Program”). The purpose of the DRIP Program
is to promote shareholder loyalty. Existing shareholders that purchase
additional shares of NHF in the secondary market through a brokerage
account held with the DRIP Program’s administrator, AST Fund Solutions,
are entitled to a 2% gross-up. The gross-up is funded by the Manager and
is used to purchase shares of NHF to be held in escrow for 12 months. If
at the end of the 12 month period the shareholder continues to hold the
additional purchased shares, the gross-up shares are transferred out of
escrow and to their brokerage account. Employees of the Manager and
affiliates have purchased approximately 2.0 million shares between July
2012 and February 2013.
The distribution rate is based on an estimation of investment income and
may or may not include a return of capital. This press release is not
for tax reporting purposes but is being provided to announce the amount
of the Fund’s distributions that have been declared by the Board. In
early 2014, after definitive information is available, the Trust will
send shareholders a Form 1099-DIV specifying how the distributions paid
by the Fund during the calendar year should be characterized for
purposes of reporting the distributions on a shareholder’s tax return
(e.g., ordinary income, short-term capital gain, long-term capital gain
or return of capital).
About NexPoint Credit Strategies Fund
NexPoint Credit Strategies Fund is a closed-end fund managed by NexPoint
Advisors, L.P. The Fund is invested primarily in below investment grade
debt and equity securities and has the ability to hedge risk. The
manager attempts to exceed the return of Dow Jones Credit Suisse Hedge
Fund Index in a transparent, registered fund format with monthly
dividends. An investment in the Fund is not appropriate for all
investors. No assurance can be given that the Fund will achieve its
investment objectives.
Shares of closed-end investment companies frequently trade at a discount
to net asset value. The price of the Fund’s shares is determined by a
number of factors, several of which are beyond the control of the Fund.
Therefore, the Fund cannot predict whether its shares will trade at,
below or above net asset value.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
*Level 3 assets are assets whose valuations are determined using one or
more significant inputs or significant value drivers that are
unobservable.