NexPoint Credit Strategies Fund Announces a 7% Increase in the Regular Monthly Dividend
NexPoint Credit Strategies Fund (NYSE: NHF) (“NHF” or the “Fund”) today
announced an increase to its regular monthly dividend on its common
stock. Effective for the May 2013 dividend, the dividend will increase
from $0.042 per share to $0.045 per share. The new
dividend will be payable on the last business day of May to shareholders
of record at the close of business May 28, 2013. As of April 30, 2013,
the Trust had estimated undistributed net investment income of
approximately $4.0 million (unaudited).
The Fund is a closed-end fund managed by NexPoint Advisors, L.P. (the
“Manager”), an affiliated adviser of Highland Capital Management, L.P.
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 in excess of the DJ Credit Suisse Hedge
Fund and the HFRX Global Hedge Fund indices in a transparent, registered
fund format.
Dividend Increase
The increase in the dividend is precipitated by a significant reduction
in interest costs and meaningful reduction in non-interest expenses.
5-year notes (the “Notes”) with an annual interest rate of Libor + 1.70%
with a 1.00% Libor floor (total interest expense of 2.70%), will be
replaced in May with a revolver and margin facility with annual interest
rates between one-month Libor + 0.65% and one-month Libor + 0.95%. At
the Fund’s historical rate of leverage, the blended total borrowing
costs are currently 2.03%, or $4.5 million per year. With the new
facilities, the anticipated blended total borrowing costs are expected
to be 1.02%, or $2.3 million per year. This represents a 50% reduction
in the Fund’s borrowing costs or a savings of $2.2 million per year.
Additionally, the Fund is beginning to realize the savings from
switching service providers for administration, custodial and transfer
agency services. With these lower expenses, the projected expense ratio
is expected to decrease to 1.70% from 2.26%, as reported in the Fund’s
annual report dated December 31, 2012. These savings will be paid to
shareholders through the increased dividend. Based on the Fund’s current
portfolio mix and investment income, coupled with the expense
reductions, the Fund believes it will be earning the dividend each month
with a cushion. The Manager will continue to monitor the Fund’s income
and expenses and recommend additional dividend increases to the Board as
appropriate.
Additional Information
Since Jim Dondero began supervising the portfolio manager function in
June 2012, the Manager has made a number of changes to the Fund:
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The portfolio was repositioned into higher earning assets
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Non-income generating assets have been reduced with the proceeds
redeployed into income generating assets
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Assets classified as Level 3 assets*, which tend to be less liquid and
may not pay current income, have been reduced from 25% of the
portfolio as of September 30, 2012 to 12% of the portfolio as of April
30, 2013
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The Fund’s stock price is up 34.2% as of April 30, 2013, including
reinvested dividends, and is currently trading at a 52-week high
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The Fund’s NAV is up 29.1% as of April 30, 2013, including reinvested
dividends
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The expense ratio has been reduced from 2.26% to 1.70% on a run rate
basis
-
The Fund began publishing its NAV daily in February 2013 versus weekly
Shareholder Loyalty Program
In July 2012, the Manager implemented a unique and creative shareholder
loyalty program (the “Program”). The purpose of the Program is to
promote shareholder loyalty. The Program is available to all existing
shareholders. Existing shareholders that purchase additional shares of
NHF through the Program are entitled to a 2% gross-up (the “Gross-up
Shares”). The Gross-up Shares are funded by the Manager and are 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 the shareholder’s brokerage account. Employees of the Manager,
affiliates and non-affiliated shareholders have purchased approximately
2.7 million shares between July 2012 and April 2013. As of April 30,
2013, the Program holds shares valued at $22 million representing
approximately 4.2% of the outstanding shares of the Fund.
*Level 3 assets are assets whose valuations are determined using one or
more significant inputs or significant value drivers that are
unobservable.
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Month-End Distribution Rates
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Annualized
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Payment Date
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Amount
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NAV
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Market Price
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Ordinary
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ST Cap Gain
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LT Cap Gain
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Total
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April 30, 2013
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$
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0.0420
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$
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—
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$
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—
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$
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0.0420
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5.97
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%
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6.46
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%
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March 31, 2013
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$
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0.0420
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$
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—
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$
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—
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$
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0.0420
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6.11
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%
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6.56
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%
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February 28, 2013
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$
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0.0350
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$
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—
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$
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—
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$
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0.0350
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5.26
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%
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5.75
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%
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January 31, 2013
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$
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0.0350
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$
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—
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$
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—
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$
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0.0350
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5.45
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%
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5.97
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%
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December 31, 2012
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$
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0.0350
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$
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—
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$
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—
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$
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0.0350
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|
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5.65
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%
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|
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6.33
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%
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November 30, 2012
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$
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0.0350
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$
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—
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$
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—
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$
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0.0350
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5.76
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%
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6.57
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%
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October 31, 2012
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$
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0.0350
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$
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—
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$
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—
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$
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0.0350
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5.72
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%
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6.33
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%
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September 30, 2012
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$
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0.0350
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$
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—
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|
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$
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—
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|
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$
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0.0350
|
|
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5.69
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%
|
|
|
6.08
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%
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August 31, 2012
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$
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0.0350
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$
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—
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$
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—
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$
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0.0350
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5.84
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%
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6.28
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%
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July 31, 2012
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$
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0.0350
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$
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—
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$
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—
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$
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0.0350
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6.03
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%
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6.69
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%
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June 30, 2012
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$
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0.0350
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$
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—
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$
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—
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$
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0.0350
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6.03
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%
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6.69
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%
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May 31, 2012
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$
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0.0350
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|
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$
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—
|
|
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$
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—
|
|
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$
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0.0350
|
|
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6.12
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%
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6.82
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%
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|
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The distribution rate is based on an estimation of investment income and
does not represent 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).
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Total Returns as of 3/31/13
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1-year
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3-year
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5-year
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Since Inception (6/29/06)
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NexPoint Credit Strategies Fund (NAV)
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22.44%
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10.68%
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-1.13%
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-2.39%
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NexPoint Credit Strategies Fund (Market Price)
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29.09%
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6.54%
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-0.41%
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-4.10%
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Total operating expenses as of the most recent fund prospectus are
2.26%. Performance data represents past performance, which does not
guarantee future results. Current performance may be higher or lower
than the figures shown. Investment return and principal value will
fluctuate with market conditions, and you may have a gain or loss when
you sell your shares. For most recent month-end performance
please visit www.nexpointadvisors.com
or call 866-351-4440.
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.