N-CSRS 1 d787376dncsrs.htm FORM N-CSRS Form N-CSRS
Table of Contents

 

 

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: 811-21869

 

 

HIGHLAND INCOME FUND

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

 

300 Crescent Court

Suite 700

Dallas, Texas 75201

(Address of principal executive offices)(Zip code)

 

 

Highland Capital Management Fund Advisors, L.P.

200 Crescent Court

Suite 700

Dallas, Texas 75201

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

 

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (866) 351-4440

Date of fiscal year end: December 31

Date of reporting period: June 30, 2019

 

 

 


Table of Contents

Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.

A copy of the Semi-Annual Report transmitted to shareholders pursuant to Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), is attached herewith.


Table of Contents

LOGO

 

Highland Income Fund

(Formerly, Highland Floating Rate Opportunities Fund)

 

 

 

Semi-Annual Report

June 30, 2019

 

 

Beginning on January 1, 2021, as permitted by regulations adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, paper copies of the Funds’ annual and semi-annual shareholder reports will no longer be sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports. Instead, the reports will be made available on the Funds’ website (highlandfunds.com), and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website link to access the report.

If you already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and you need not take any action. You may elect to receive shareholder reports and other communications from a Fund electronically by contacting your financial intermediary (such as a broker-dealer or bank) or, if you are a direct investor, by contacting the Funds’ transfer agent at 1-800-357-9167.

Beginning on January 1, 2019, you may elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge. If you invest through a financial intermediary, you can contact your financial intermediary to request that you continue to receive paper copies of your shareholder reports. If you invest directly with a Fund, you can call 1-800-357-9167 to let the Fund know you wish to continue receiving paper copies of your shareholder reports. Your election to receive reports in paper will apply to all funds held in your account if you invest through your financial intermediary or all funds held with the fund complex if you invest directly with a Fund.


Table of Contents

Highland Income Fund

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Consolidated Fund Profile

     1  

Consolidated Financial Statements

  

Consolidated Investment Portfolio

     2  

Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities

     11  

Consolidated Statement of Operations

     12  

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Net Assets

     13  

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

     15  

Consolidated Financial Highlights

     16  

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

     18  

Additional Information

     33  

Important Information About This Report

     35  

Economic and market conditions change frequently.

There is no assurance that the trends described in this report will continue or commence.

 

 

A prospectus must precede or accompany this report. Please read the prospectus carefully before you invest.


Table of Contents

CONSOLIDATED FUND PROFILE (unaudited)

 

 

 

  Highland Income Fund

 

Objective

Highland Income Fund seeks to provide a high level of current income, consistent with preservation of capital.

 

Net Assets as of June 30, 2019

$1,037.3 million

 

Portfolio Data as of June 30, 2019

The information below provides a snapshot of Highland Income Fund at the end of the reporting period. Highland Income Fund is actively managed and the composition of its portfolio will change over time. Current and future holdings are subject to risk.

 

Quality Breakdown as of 6/30/2019(%)(1)(2)  

BBB

       0.9

BB

       16.5

B

       55.0

CCC

       7.4

NR

       20.2
Sectors as of 6/30/2019(%)(2)(3)  

Financial

       31.6  

Real Estate

       27.7  

Information Technology

       11.0  

Healthcare

       9.0  

Communication Services

       8.1  
 

 

Top 10 Holdings as of 6/30/2019(%)(2)(3)  

Creek Pine Holdings, LLC 10.25%, (Preferred Stock)

     19.1  

FREMF Mortgage Trust 8.43%, 2/25/2026 (Agency Collateralized Mortgage Obligations)

     5.8  

EDS Legacy Partners 8.25%, 12/14/2023 (U.S. Senior Loans)

     5.6  

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc. (Common Stocks)

     3.3  

NFRO REIT SUB, LLC (Common Stocks)

     2.8  

CCS Medical, Inc., Term Loan 12.50%, 5/31/2020 (U.S. Senior Loans)

     2.6  

Jernigan Capital, Inc. 7.00%, (Preferred Stock)

     2.5  

NexPoint Strategic Opportunities Fund, (Registered Investment Company)

     1.8  

Traverse Midstream Partners LLC, Term Loan 6.59%, 9/27/2024 (U.S. Senior Loans)

     1.6  

84 Lumber Company, Term Loan B-1 7.65%, 10/25/2023 (U.S. Senior Loans)

     1.4  

 

(1)  

Quality is calculated as a percentage of total credit instruments held by the portfolio. Sectors and holdings are calculated as a percentage of total net assets. The quality ratings reflected were issued by Standard & Poors, a nationally recognized statistical rating organization. Ratings are measured on a scale that generally ranges from AAA (highest) to D (lowest). Quality ratings reflect the credit quality of the underlying bonds in the Fund’s portfolio and not that of the Fund itself. Credit quality ratings assigned by a rating agency are subjective opinions, not statements of fact, and are subject to change, including daily. The ratings assigned by credit rating agencies are but one of the considerations that the Fund’s investment adviser incorporates into its credit analysis process, along with such other issuer specific factors as cash flows, capital structure and leverage ratios, ability to deleverage through free cash flow, quality of management, market positioning and access to capital, as well as such security-specific factors as the terms of the security (e.g., interest rate, and time to maturity) and the amount of any collateral.

 

(2) 

Sectors and holdings are calculated as a percentage of total net assets.

 

(3) 

Excludes the Fund’s investment in an investment company purchased with cash collateral from securities lending and cash equivalent investments.

 

Semi-Annual Report       1


Table of Contents

CONSOLIDATED INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO (unaudited)

 

 

 

As of June 30, 2019   Highland Income Fund

 

    Principal Amount ($)    

 

    Value ($)    

 
 

U.S. Senior Loans (a) - 60.0%

 
  COMMERCIAL SERVICES - 3.1%  
  10,127,695    

American Traffic Solutions, Inc., VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+3.750%, 02/21/25

    10,174,080  
  13,662,988    

EmployBridge LLC, 2018 Refinancing Term Loan, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+4.500%, 04/18/25

    13,660,119  
  8,564,662    

Fort Dearborn Holding Company, Inc., Initial Term Loan, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+4.000%, 10/19/23

    8,254,193  
   

 

 

 
      32,088,392  
   

 

 

 
  COMMUNICATION SERVICES - 1.4%  
  8,130,408    

iHeartCommunications (b)

    8,150,124  
  5,839,641    

TerreStar Corporation, Term Loan D, 11.000% PIK 02/27/20 (c)(d)

    5,833,801  
   

 

 

 
      13,983,925  
   

 

 

 
  CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY - 2.7%  
  13,615,217    

Truck Hero, Inc.,
Initial Term Loan, 1st Lien, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+3.750%, 04/22/24

    12,840,919  
  4,076,667    

Truck Hero, Inc.,
Initial Term Loan, 2nd Lien, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+8.250%, 04/21/25

    3,964,558  
  10,906,173    

USS Ultimate Holdings, Inc.,
Initial Term Loan, 1st Lien, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+3.750%, 08/09/24

    10,904,810  
   

 

 

 
      27,710,287  
   

 

 

 
  CONSUMER PRODUCTS - 1.6%  
  3,349,411    

Dayco Products, LLC,
Term Loan B, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+4.250%, 05/08/23

    3,261,489  
  14,068,966    

KIK Custom Products, Inc.,
Initial Term Loan, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+4.000%, 05/15/23

    13,303,965  
   

 

 

 
      16,565,454  
   

 

 

 
  ENERGY - 2.9%  
  15,904,030    

Fieldwood Energy LLC,
Closing Date Loan, 2nd Lien, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+7.250%, 04/11/23

    13,383,242  
  17,104,261    

Traverse Midstream Partners LLC,
Term Loan, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+4.000%, 09/27/24

    16,957,592  
   

 

 

 
      30,340,834  
   

 

 

 
  FINANCIAL - 3.7%  
  9,900,000    

BCP Renaissance Parent LLC,
Term Loan B, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+3.500%, 10/31/24

    9,890,298  
  5,970,000    

Edelman Financial Center (The),
Initial Term Loan, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+3.250%, 07/21/25

    5,959,344  

    Principal Amount ($)    

 

    Value ($)    

 
  FINANCIAL (continued)  
  9,447,348    

Edelman Financial Group (The),
Term Loan, 2nd Lien, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+6.750%, 06/26/26

    9,518,203  
  13,195,357    

Ocwen Loan Servicing, LLC,
Restatement Effective Date Term Loan, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+5.000%, 12/07/20

    13,170,617  
   

 

 

 
      38,538,462  
   

 

 

 
  GAMING/LEISURE (b)(c)(d) - 1.0%  
  22,925,890    

Ginn-LA CS Borrower LLC,
Tranche A Term Loan Credit-Linked Deposit, 1st Lien,

     
  49,138,954    

Ginn-LA CS Borrower LLC,
Tranche B Term Loan, 1st Lien,

     
  12,503,460    

LLV Holdco, LLC, Revolving Exit Loan, 03/03/20 (e)

    10,002,768  
   

 

 

 
      10,002,768  
   

 

 

 
  HEALTHCARE - 8.1%  
  2,708,543    

American Renal Holdings Inc.,
Term Loan B, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+3.250%, 06/21/24

    2,714,474  
  13,750,000    

BW NHHC Holdco Inc.,
Initial Term Loan, 1st Lien, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+5.000%, 05/15/25

    12,839,063  
  55,260,321    

CCS Medical, Inc.,
Term Loan, 05/31/20 (c)(d)(e)

    27,377,534  
  14,925,000    

Envision Healthcare Corporation,
Initial Term Loan, 1st Lien, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+3.750%, 10/10/25

    13,227,281  
  248,750    

First Eagle Holdings, Inc. (fka Arnhold and S. Bleichroeder Holdings, Inc.), Refinancing Term Loan, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+2.750%, 12/02/24

    248,563  
  10,210,332    

Radnet Management, Inc.,
Term Loan B-1, 1st Lien, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+3.750%, 06/30/23

    10,229,477  
  1,777,778    

Sound Inpatient Physicians Holdings LLC, 2nd Lien, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+6.750%, 06/19/26

    1,779,253  
  10,293,269    

Surgery Center Holdings, Inc.
Term Loan B, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+3.250%, 09/02/24

    9,967,281  
  5,816,298    

Vyaire Medical, Inc.,
Term Loan, 1st Lien, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+4.750%, 04/16/25

    5,263,750  
   

 

 

 
      83,646,676  
   

 

 

 
  HOUSING - 1.4%  
  14,879,062    

84 Lumber Company,
Term Loan B-1, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+5.250%, 10/25/23

    14,910,085  
   

 

 

 
  INDUSTRIALS - 3.6%  
  14,885,269    

Hayward Industries, Inc.,
Initial Term Loan, 1st Lien, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+3.500%, 08/05/24

    14,606,171  
 

 

2       See Glossary on page 10 for abbreviations along with accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


Table of Contents

CONSOLIDATED INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO (unaudited) (continued)

 

 

 

As of June 30, 2019   Highland Income Fund

 

    Principal Amount ($)    

 

    Value ($)    

 
 

U.S. Senior Loans (continued)

 
  INDUSTRIALS (continued)  
  8,975,420    

Omnimax International, Inc.,
Unsecured Term Loan, 14.000% PIK 02/06/21 (c)(d)

    8,877,601  
  3,260,188    

Pisces Midco, Inc.,
Initial Term Loan, 1st Lien, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+3.750%, 04/12/25

    3,177,331  
  4,000,000    

PSC Industrial Holdings Corp.,
Initial Term Loan, 2nd Lien, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+8.500%, 10/11/25

    3,860,000  
  6,961,131    

PSC Industrial Holdings Corp.,
Term Loan, 1st Lien, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+3.750%, 10/11/24

    6,947,000  
   

 

 

 
      37,468,103  
   

 

 

 
  INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY - 11.0%  
  15,191,197    

Avaya Inc.,
Tranche B Term Loan, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+4.250%, 12/15/24

    14,564,560  
  57,000,000    

EDS Legacy Partners,
VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+2.750%, 12/14/23 (c)(d)(e)

    58,596,000  
  9,950,000    

Intermedia Holdings, Inc.,
New Term Loan, 1st Lien, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+6.000%, 07/21/25

    9,974,875  
  4,800,000    

Kronos Incorporated,
Initial Term Loan, 2nd Lien, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+8.250%, 10/18/24

    4,977,024  
  11,439,430    

Neustar, Inc.,
Term Loan B4, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+3.500%, 08/08/24

    11,110,546  
  14,869,297    

Procera Networks, Inc.,
Initial Term Loan, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+4.500%, 10/30/25

    14,739,191  
   

 

 

 
      113,962,196  
   

 

 

 
  MANUFACTURING - 0.9%  
  6,577,431    

VC GB Holdings, Inc.,
Refinancing Term Loan,
1st Lien, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+3.250%, 02/28/24

    6,454,104  
  3,122,667    

VC GB Holdings, Inc.,
Term Loan, 2nd Lien, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+8.000%, 02/28/25

    3,107,053  
   

 

 

 
      9,561,157  
   

 

 

 
  OIL & GAS - 0.9%  
  9,285,714    

Lower Cadence Holdings LLC,
Initial Term Loan, 1st Lien, 05/08/26

    9,252,843  
   

 

 

 
  REAL ESTATE - 2.0%  
  9,184,615    

Forest City Enterprises, L.P.,
Initial Term Loan, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+4.000%, 12/08/25

    9,234,350  
  11,970,000    

Specialty Building Products Holdings, LLC, Initial Term Loan (2018), VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+5.750%, 09/25/25

    11,932,594  
   

 

 

 
      21,166,944  
   

 

 

 

    Principal Amount ($)    

 

    Value ($)    

 
  RETAIL - 5.5%  
  18,668,258    

Academy, Ltd.,
Initial Term Loan, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+4.000%, 07/01/22

    13,403,809  
  15,659,167    

Dealer Tire, LLC,
Initial Term Loan, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+5.500%, 12/04/25

    15,698,314  
  1,178,368    

General Nutrition Centers, Inc.,
FILO Term Loan, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+7.000%, 12/31/22

    1,194,205  
  9,900,316    

General Nutrition Centers, Inc.,
Tranche B-2 Term Loan, 1st Lien, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+8.750%, 03/04/21

    8,795,837  
  10,182,170    

Jo-Ann Stores, LLC,
Initial Loan, 1st Lien, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+5.000%, 10/20/23

    9,248,822  
  9,554,955    

Jo-Ann Stores, LLC,
Initial Loan, 2nd Lien, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+9.250%, 05/21/24

    8,456,135  
  845,658    

Neiman Marcus Group Ltd,
Other Term Loan, 1st Lien, 10/25/23

    726,564  
   

 

 

 
      57,523,686  
   

 

 

 
  SERVICE - 5.0%  
  6,685,593    

Advantage Sales & Marketing Inc.,
Initial Term Loan, 1st Lien, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+3.250%, 07/23/21

    6,135,703  
  2,183,465    

Advantage Sales & Marketing Inc.,
Term Loan B2, 1st Lien, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+3.250%, 07/23/21

    1,998,143  
  13,710,000    

Advantage Sales & Marketing Inc.,
Term Loan, 2nd Lien, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+6.500%, 07/25/22

    10,916,656  
  10,067,055    

CSC SW Holdco, Inc.
(fka CSC Serviceworks, Inc.), Term Loan B-1, 1st Lien, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+3.250%, 11/14/22

    9,884,590  
  5,990,336    

EnergySolutions, LLC (aka Envirocare of Utah, LLC), Initial Term Loan, 1st Lien, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+3.750%, 05/09/25

    5,750,722  
  10,053,440    

Parexel International,
Term Loan B, 1st Lien, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+2.750%, 09/27/24

    9,654,922  
  7,562,027    

USI, Inc. (fka Compass Investors Inc.), 2017 New Term Loan, 1st Lien, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+3.000%, 05/16/24

    7,385,794  
   

 

 

 
      51,726,530  
   

 

 

 
  TRANSPORTATION - 1.3%  
  2,182,139    

Capital Automotive LP,
Term Loan, 2nd Lien, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+6.000%, 03/21/25

    2,195,101  
  11,730,143    

Gruden Acquisition, Inc.,
Incremental Term Loan, 1st Lien, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+5.500%, 08/18/22

    11,671,493  
   

 

 

 
      13,866,594  
   

 

 

 
 

 

See Glossary on page 10 for abbreviations along with accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.       3


Table of Contents

CONSOLIDATED INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO (unaudited) (continued)

 

 

 

As of June 30, 2019   Highland Income Fund

 

    Principal Amount ($)/Shares    

 

    Value ($)    

 
 

U.S. Senior Loans (continued)

 
  UTILITIES - 3.9%  
  1,403,411    

Eastern Power, LLC (Eastern Covert Midco, LLC), Term Loan, 10/02/21

    1,403,993  
  10,228,622    

VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+3.750%, 10/02/23

    10,232,867  
  2,319,304    

Granite Acquisition, Inc.,
Term Loan B, 2nd Lien, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+7.250%, 12/19/22

    2,325,473  
  11,780,034    

Lightstone Holdco LLC,
Refinancing Term Loan B, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+3.750%, 01/30/24

    11,648,274  
  664,412    

Lightstone Holdco LLC,
Refinancing Term Loan C, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+3.750%, 01/30/24

    656,981  
  2,998,595    

Pacific Gas and Electric,
Initial Term Loan, 04/27/22

    2,933,946  
  11,262,121    

Pike Corporation,
Initial Term Loan, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+3.500%, 03/23/25

    11,291,290  
  59,127,210    

Texas Competitive Electric Holdings Co., LLC, Extended Escrow Loan, (f)

    59,127  
   

 

 

 
      40,551,951  
   

 

 

 
 

Total U.S. Senior Loans
(Cost $740,878,591)

    622,866,887  
   

 

 

 
 

Foreign Denominated or Domiciled Senior Loans (a) - 2.3%

 
  CANADA - 0.9%  
  8,704,232    

Bausch Health Companies Inc. (fka Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc.),
Initial Term Loan, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+3.000%, 06/02/25

    8,710,586  
   

 

 

 
  LUXEMBOURG - 1.4%  
  15,000,000    

Intelsat Jackson Holdings S.A.,
Tranche B-3 Term Loan, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+3.750%, 11/27/23

    14,866,425  
   

 

 

 
 

Total Foreign Denominated or Domiciled Senior Loans
(Cost $23,630,283)

    23,577,011  
   

 

 

 
 

Preferred Stock - 25.6%

 
  FINANCIAL (g) - 2.8%  
  997,315    

Federal Home Loan Mortgage

    16,986,186  
  545,289    

Federal National Mortgage Association

    12,295,842  
   

 

 

 
      29,282,028  
   

 

 

 
  REAL ESTATE - 22.8%  
  645,161    

Braemar Hotels & Resorts, Inc., REIT 5.50% (i)

    11,987,091  
  180,008    

Creek Pine Holdings, LLC, REIT 10.25% (c)(d)

    198,207,176  
  23,266    

Jernigan Capital, Inc., REIT 7.00% (c)(d)

    25,609,915  
   

 

 

 
      235,804,182  
   

 

 

 
 

Total Preferred Stock
(Cost $244,331,107)

    265,086,210  
 

 

 

 

    Principal Amount ($)    

 

    Value ($)    

 
 

Collateralized Loan Obligations (k) - 19.4%

 
  1,000,000    

Acis CLO, Ltd.,
Series 2015-6A, Class D VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+3.770%, 6.35%, 5/1/2027 (j)(l)

    968,750  
  7,500,000    

Acis CLO, Ltd.,
Series 2015-6A, Class E VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+5.490%, 8.07%, 5/1/2027 (j)(l)

    6,887,500  
  750,000    

Acis CLO, Ltd.,
Series 2014-4A, Class D VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+3.100%, 5.68%, 5/1/2026 (l)

    723,075  
  7,000,000    

Acis CLO, Ltd.,
Series 2014-5A, Class D VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+4.340%, 6.92%, 11/1/2026 (j)(l)

    6,820,100  
  14,750,000    

Acis CLO, Ltd.,
Series 2014-4A, Class E VAR ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month+4.800%, 7.38%, 5/1/2026 (j)(l)

    13,090,625  
  4,000,000    

Acis CLO, Ltd.,
Series 2014-3A, Class E VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+4.750%, 7.33%, 2/1/2026 (j)(l)

    3,636,800  
  6,500,000    

BlueMountain CLO, Ltd.,
Series 2018-3A, Class ER VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+8.080%, 10.67%, 4/20/2031 (l)

    5,732,350  
  3,500,000    

California Street CLO IX,
Series 2019-9A, Class FR2 VAR ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month+8.520%, 0.00%, 7/16/2032 (l)

    3,342,500  
  1,750,000    

Carlyle Global Market Strategies CLO,
Series 2018-5A, Class FRR VAR ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month+7.770%, 10.37%, 7/15/2031 (l)

    1,566,250  
  5,375,000    

Carlyle Global Market Strategies CLO,
Series 2018-1A, Class ER VAR ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month+5.400%, 7.99%, 4/17/2031 (l)

    4,837,500  
  2,250,000    

Catamaran CLO, Ltd.,
Series 2015-1A, Class E VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+5.150%, 7.74%, 4/22/2027 (l)

    2,137,500  
  3,000,000    

Catamaran CLO, Ltd.,
Series 2014-2A, Class D VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+4.850%, 7.45%, 10/18/2026 (j)(l)

    2,966,700  
  1,250,000    

Cathedral Lake CLO, Ltd.,
Series 2013-1A, Class DR 9.85%, 10/15/2029 (d)(l)

    1,216,375  
  1,825,000    

CFIP CLO, Ltd.,
Series 2017-1A, Class ER VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+6.600%, 9.20%, 7/13/2029 (l)

    1,760,943  
  5,000,000    

CIFC Funding,
Series 2018-3A, Class FR2 VAR ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month+8.250%, 10.84%, 10/22/2031 (l)

    4,475,000  
 

 

4       See Glossary on page 10 for abbreviations along with accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


Table of Contents

CONSOLIDATED INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO (unaudited) (continued)

 

 

 

As of June 30, 2019   Highland Income Fund

 

    Principal Amount ($)    

 

    Value ($)    

 
 

Collateralized Loan Obligations (continued)

 
  1,000,000    

CIFC Funding, Ltd.,
Series 2018-1A, Class ER2
VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+5.850%, 8.45%, 1/18/2031 (l)

    920,000  
  4,000,000    

Covenant Credit Partners CLO III, Series 2017-1A, Class F
VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+7.950%, 10.55%, 10/15/2029 (l)

    3,580,000  
  4,000,000    

CVP Cascade CLO, Ltd.,
Series 2014-2A, Class D VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+4.800%, 7.40%, 7/18/2026 (l)

    3,440,000  
  4,600,000    

Denali Capital CLO XI,
Series 2018-1A, Class ER VAR ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month+8.250%, 10.84%, 10/20/2028 (l)

    4,331,268  
  1,000,000    

Dryden 42 Senior Loan Fund, Series 2018-42A, Class FR
VAR ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month+7.200%, 9.80%, 7/15/2030 (l)

    905,000  
  3,500,000    

Dryden 64 CLO,
Series 2018-64A, Class F
VAR ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month+7.150%, 9.75%, 4/18/2031 (l)

    3,045,000  
  8,000,000    

Eaton Vance CLO 2019-1,
Series 2019-1A, Class F
VAR ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month+8.250%, 10.75%, 4/15/2031 (l)

    7,640,000  
  6,000,000    

ECP CLO, Ltd.,
Series 2018-7A, Class DR
VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+5.900%, 8.49%, 4/22/2030 (l)

    5,151,000  
  1,500,000    

Galaxy XXI CLO,
Series 2018-21A, Class ER
VAR ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month+5.250%, 7.84%, 4/20/2031 (l)

    1,344,465  
  5,450,000    

Galaxy XXVI CLO, Ltd.,
Series 2018-26A, Class F
VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+8.000%, 10.52%, 11/22/2031 (l)

    4,823,250  
  3,000,000    

Goldentree Loan Management US CLO 3, Series 2018-3A, Class F VAR ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month+6.500%, 9.09%, 4/20/2030 (l)

    2,623,800  
  3,500,000    

Goldentree Loan Management US CLO 4, Series 2019-4A, Class F
VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+6.400%, 9.01%, 4/24/2031 (l)

    3,115,000  
  3,500,000    

GoldenTree Loan Opportunities IX, Ltd., Series 2018-9A, Class FR2
VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+7.640%, 10.22%, 10/29/2029 (l)

    3,272,500  
  6,000,000    

Jay Park CLO, Ltd.,
Series 2018-1A, Class ER VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+7.350%, 9.94%, 10/20/2027 (l)

    5,595,000  
  3,000,000    

JFIN CLO, Ltd.,
Series 2013-1I, Class E VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+6.000%, 8.59%, 1/20/2025

    2,670,000  

    Principal Amount ($)    

 

    Value ($)    

 
  1,500,000    

KKR CLO 21,
Series 2018-21, Class F VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+7.250%, 9.85%, 4/15/2031 (l)

    1,335,000  
  3,000,000    

LCM XIII,
Series 2016-13A, Class ER VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+7.300%, 9.89%, 7/19/2027 (l)

    3,015,000  
  3,000,000    

LCM XIV, Ltd.,
Series 2018-14A, Class FR VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+7.610%, 10.20%, 7/20/2031 (l)

    2,655,000  
  1,000,000    

LCM XXIII, Ltd.,
Series 2016-23A, Class D VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+7.050%, 9.64%, 10/20/2029 (l)

    990,000  
  490,000    

Magnetite VII, Ltd.,
Series 2018-7A, Class ER2 VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+6.500%, 9.10%, 1/15/2028 (l)

    443,450  
  500,000    

Mountain View Clo XIV,
Series 2019-1A, Class F VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+8.700%, 11.32%, 4/15/2029 (l)

    468,750  
  11,500,000    

Mountain View CLO, Ltd.,
Series 2014-1A, Class E VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+5.330%, 7.93%, 10/15/2026 (l)

    10,350,000  
  5,800,000    

MP CLO VII,
Series 2018-1A, Class FRR VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+7.910%, 10.51%, 10/18/2028 (l)

    5,304,873  
  1,575,000    

Nassau, Ltd.,
Series 2017-IA, Class D VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+6.180%, 8.78%, 10/15/2029 (l)

    1,476,562  
  3,000,000    

Neuberger Berman CLO XX, Ltd., Series 2017-20A, Class FR VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+7.450%, 10.05%, 1/15/2028 (l)

    2,887,500  
  4,000,000    

Northwoods Capital XII-B, Ltd., Series 2018-12BA, Class F VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+8.170%, 10.58%, 6/15/2031 (l)

    3,520,000  
  3,110,000    

OZLM XXII, Ltd.,
Series 2018-22A, Class E VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+7.390%, 9.98%, 1/17/2031 (l)

    2,721,250  
  3,750,000    

Palmer Square CLO,
Series 2019-1A, Class DR2 VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+6.250%, 8.77%, 5/21/2029 (l)

    3,749,625  
  3,150,000    

Saranac CLO III, Ltd.,
Series 2018-3A, Class ER VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+7.500%, 9.84%, 6/22/2030 (l)

    3,023,055  
  5,000,000    

Saranac CLO VI, Ltd.,
Series 2018-6A, Class E VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+6.400%, 8.85%, 8/13/2031 (l)

    4,675,000  
 

 

See Glossary on page 10 for abbreviations along with accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.       5


Table of Contents

CONSOLIDATED INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO (unaudited) (continued)

 

 

 

As of June 30, 2019   Highland Income Fund

 

    Principal Amount ($)    

 

    Value ($)    

 
 

Collateralized Loan Obligations (continued)

 
  1,500,000    

Shackleton 2016-IX CLO,
Series 2016-9A, Class E VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+6.760%, 9.35%, 10/20/2028 (l)

    1,491,000  
  500,000    

Steele Creek CLO,
Series 2018-1A, Class FR VAR ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month+6.900%, 9.31%, 6/15/2031 (l)

    435,000  
  1,500,000    

Symphony CLO XXI,
Series 2019-21A, Class E VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+6.750%, 9.11%, 7/15/2032 (l)

    1,499,700  
  1,000,000    

TCW CLO,
Series 2019-1A, Class F VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+8.670%, 11.35%, 2/15/2029 (l)

    980,000  
  2,200,000    

TICP CLO I-2,
Series 2018-IA, Class E VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+8.000%, 10.59%, 4/26/2028 (l)

    2,112,000  
  4,150,000    

TICP CLO III-2, Ltd.,
Series 2018-3R, Class F VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+7.980%, 10.57%, 4/20/2028 (l)

    3,783,970  
  2,000,000    

Trinitas CLO III, Ltd.,
Series 2015-3A, Class E VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+5.250%, 7.85%, 7/15/2027 (l)

    1,720,000  
  9,000,000    

Trinitas CLO X,
Series 2019-10A, Class F VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+7.785%, 10.40%, 4/15/2032 (l)

    8,325,000  
  575,000    

Venture XIII CLO, Ltd.,
Series 2017-13A, Class ER VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+6.750%, 9.20%, 9/10/2029 (l)

    534,750  
  3,200,000    

Voya CLO, Ltd., Series 2018-4A, Class ER VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+9.050%, 11.65%, 7/14/2031 (l)

    3,117,440  
  3,950,000    

Wellfleet CLO, Ltd.,
Series 2018-2A, Class DR VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+5.500%, 8.09%, 10/20/2028 (l)

    3,814,318  
  7,250,000    

Z Capital Credit Partners CLO, Ltd.,
Series 2015-1A, Class E VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+5.970%, 8.57%, 7/16/2027 (j)(l)

    7,032,500  
  3,000,000    

Zais CLO 3, Ltd.,
Series 2018-3A, Class DR VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+6.910%, 9.51%, 7/15/2031 (l)

    2,737,500  
  1,250,000    

Zais CLO 7, Ltd.,
Series 2017-2A, Class E VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+7.150%, 9.75%, 4/15/2030 (l)

    1,185,833  
  3,300,000    

Zais CLO 8, Ltd.,
Series 2018-1A, Class E VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+5.250%, 7.85%, 4/15/2029 (l)

    2,953,500  
   

 

 

 
 

Total Collateralized Loan Obligations
(Cost $209,462,283)

    200,955,827  
   

 

 

 

    Principal Amount ($)/Shares    

 

    Value ($)    

 
 

Common Stocks - 9.3%

 
  CHEMICALS (h) - 0.1%  
  299,032    

MPM Holdings, Inc.

    1,495,160  
   

 

 

 
  COMMUNICATION SERVICES - 4.8%  
  714,204    

Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc., Class A (h)

    3,371,043  
  339,558    

iHeartMedia (h)

    5,110,348  
  502,161    

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc. (m)

    33,895,868  
  27,134    

TerreStar Corporation (c)(d)(m)

    7,837,927  
   

 

 

 
      50,215,186  
   

 

 

 
  CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY (h) - 0.7%  
  1,450    

Toys ‘R’ Us

    1,713,013  
  1,450    

Tru Kids, Inc.

    5,139,040  
   

 

 

 
      6,852,053  
   

 

 

 
  ENERGY - 0.5%  
  167,419    

Fieldwood Energy LLC

    5,284,162  
  1,118,286    

Value Creation, Inc. (c)(d)

    1  
   

 

 

 
      5,284,163  
   

 

 

 
  GAMING/LEISURE (c)(d)(e) - 0.0%  
  44    

LLV Holdco LLC - Litigation Trust Units

     
  34,512    

LLV Holdco LLC - Series A, Membership Interest

     
  436    

LLV Holdco LLC - Series B, Membership Interest

     
   

 

 

 
       
   

 

 

 
  HEALTHCARE (c)(d)(e) - 0.0%  
  207,031    

CCS Medical Inc.

     
   

 

 

 
  HOUSING (c)(d) - 0.0%  
  1,648,350    

Westgate Investments LLC

     
   

 

 

 
  INDUSTRIALS - 0.2%  
  35,569    

American Airlines Group, Inc.

    1,159,905  
  250,627    

Remington Outdoor Co., Inc. (h)

    360,276  
   

 

 

 
      1,520,181  
   

 

 

 
  INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (h) - 0.0%  
  117    

Avaya Holdings Corp.

    1,394  
   

 

 

 
  MATERIALS (c)(d)(h) - 0.1%  
  14,621    

Omnimax International, Inc.

    1,022,575  
   

 

 

 
  REAL ESTATE - 2.9%  
  1,342,109    

Allenby (c)(d)(e)

    2  
  9,028,507    

Claymore (c)(d)(e)

    9  
  31,232    

Jernigan Capital, Inc. , REIT

    640,256  
  1,332,591    

NFRO REIT SUB, LLC (c)(d)(e)

    29,059,014  
   

 

 

 
      29,699,281  
   

 

 

 
 

Total Common Stocks
(Cost $382,611,260)

    96,089,993  
   

 

 

 
 

 

6       See Glossary on page 10 for abbreviations along with accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


Table of Contents

CONSOLIDATED INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO (unaudited) (continued)

 

 

 

As of June 30, 2019   Highland Income Fund

 

    Principal Amount ($)/Shares    

 

    Value ($)    

 
 

Agency Collateralized Mortgage Obligation - 5.8%

 
  60,650,376    

FREMF Mortgage Trust,
Series 2019-KF60, Class C VAR LIBOR USD 1 Month+6.000%, 8.43%, 2/25/2026 (j)(l)

    60,536,354  
   

 

 

 
 

Total Agency Collateralized Mortgage Obligations
(Cost $60,554,957)

    60,536,354  
   

 

 

 
 

Corporate Bonds & Notes - 3.8%

 
  COMMUNICATION SERVICES - 0.5%  
 

iHeartCommunications, Inc.

 
  1,853,727    

6.38%, 05/01/26

    1,976,537  
  3,368,312    

8.38%, 05/01/27

    3,545,216  
   

 

 

 
      5,521,753  
   

 

 

 
  CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY - 0.3%  
  3,000,000    

PetSmart
8.88%, 06/01/25 (l)

    2,895,000  
   

 

 

 
  ENERGY (b) - 0.1%  
  15,600,000    

Ocean Rig UDW, Inc.
7.25%, 04/01/19 (c)(d)(l)

    1,076,400  
  5,000,000    

Rex Energy Corp.
8.00%, 10/03/19

    81,250  
   

 

 

 
      1,157,650  
   

 

 

 
  INDUSTRIALS - 0.0%  
  7,500,000    

American Airlines

    164,400  
   

 

 

 
  INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (b)(c)(d) - 0.0%  
  4,571,000    

Avaya, Inc.

     
   

 

 

 
  UTILITIES (b) — 2.9%  
  13,753,863    

Bruce Mansfield Unit 1 2007 Pass- Through Trust

    12,833,872  
 

Pacific Gas & Electric

 
  1,500,000    

5.80%, 03/01/37

    1,646,250  
  4,500,000    

6.05%, 03/01/34

    5,040,000  
  4,000,000    

6.25%, 03/01/39

    4,540,000  
  5,000,000    

6.35%, 02/15/38

    5,700,000  
  20,000,000    

Texas Competitive Electric Holdings Co., LLC (f)

    102,000  
  8,000,000    

Texas Competitive Electric Holdings Co., LLC (f)

    36,000  
   

 

 

 
      29,898,122  
   

 

 

 
 

Total Corporate Bonds & Notes
(Cost $51,000,227)

    39,636,925  
   

 

 

 
 

Registered Investment Company - 1.8%

 
  989,143    

NexPoint Strategic Opportunities Fund (e)(i)

    18,714,586  
   

 

 

 
 

Total Registered Investment Company
(Cost $19,675,393)

    18,714,586  
   

 

 

 
 

Loan - 0.8%

 
  7,950,000    

NFRO Loan

    7,950,000  
   

 

 

 
 

Total Loans
(Cost $7,950,000)

    7,950,000  
   

 

 

 

    Principal Amount ($)/Shares/Units    

 

    Value ($)    

 
 

Rights - 0.1%

 
  UTILITIES (h) - 0.1%  
  1,117,866    

Texas Competitive Electric Holdings Co., LLC

    885,350  
   

 

 

 
 

Total Rights
(Cost $3,882,778)

    885,350  
   

 

 

 
 

Warrants - 0.0%

 
  ENERGY (h) - 0.0%  
  5,801    

Arch Coal, Inc., Expires 10/08/2023

    278,448  
   

 

 

 
  GAMING/LEISURE (c)(d)(e)(h) - 0.0%  
  1,834    

LLV Holdco LLC - Series C, Membership Interest

     
  2,522    

LLV Holdco LLC - Series D, Membership Interest

     
  2,819    

LLV Holdco LLC - Series E, Membership Interest

     
  3,172    

LLV Holdco LLC - Series F, Membership Interest

     
  3,594    

LLV Holdco LLC - Series G, Membership Interest

     
   

 

 

 
       
   

 

 

 
  INDUSTRIALS (c)(d)(h) - 0.0%  
  453    

Omnimax Holdings, Inc., Expires 12/31/2049

    31,652  
  178,140    

Remington Outdoor Co., Inc.

     
   

 

 

 
      31,652  
   

 

 

 
  INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (b)(h) - 0.0%  
  18,641    

Avaya, Inc., Expires 12/15/2022

    18,641  
   

 

 

 
 

Total Warrants
(Cost $290,959)

    328,741  
   

 

 

 
 

Claims (n) - 0.0%

 
  COMMUNICATION SERVICES (b)(c)(d)(h) - 0.0%  
  3,791,858    

Lehman Brothers Commercial Paper LCPI Claim Facility

    52,138  
   

 

 

 
 

Total Claims
(Cost $1,814,883)

    52,138  
   

 

 

 
 

Purchased Call Options (h) - 0.0%

 
 

Total Purchased Call Options
(Cost $168,789)

    40,000  
 

 

 

 
 

Cash Equivalents - 0.0%

 
  MONEY MARKET FUND (o) - 0.0%  
  73,970    

Dreyfus Treasury & Agency Cash Management, Institutional Class, Class A 2.100%

    73,970  
   

 

 

 
 

Total Cash Equivalents
(Cost $73,970)

    73,970  
   

 

 

 
 

Total Investments - 128.9%

    1,336,793,992  
   

 

 

 
 

(Cost $1,746,325,480)

 
 

Other Assets & Liabilities, Net - (28.9)%

    (299,468,433
 

 

 

 
 

Net Assets - 100.0%

    1,037,325,559  
 

 

 

 
 

 

See Glossary on page 10 for abbreviations along with accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.       7


Table of Contents

CONSOLIDATED INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO (unaudited) (continued)

 

 

 

As of June 30, 2019   Highland Income Fund

 

 

 

(a)

Senior loans (also called bank loans, leveraged loans, or floating rate loans) in which the Fund invests generally pay interest at rates which are periodically determined by reference to a base lending rate plus a spread (unless otherwise identified, all senior loans carry a variable rate of interest). These base lending rates are generally (i) the Prime Rate offered by one or more major United States banks, (ii) the lending rate offered by one or more European banks such as the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) or (iii) the Certificate of Deposit rate. As of June 30, 2019, the LIBOR USD 1 Month and LIBOR USD 3 Month rates were 2.49% and 2.60%, respectively. Senior loans, while exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), contain certain restrictions on resale and cannot be sold publicly. Senior secured floating rate loans often require prepayments from excess cash flow or permit the borrower to repay at its election. The degree to which borrowers repay, whether as a contractual requirement or at their election, cannot be predicted with accuracy. As a result, the actual remaining maturity maybe substantially less than the stated maturity shown.

(b)

The issuer is, or is in danger of being, in default of its payment obligation.

(c)

Securities with a total aggregate value of $373,584,513, or 36.0% of net assets, were classified as Level 3 within the three-tier fair value hierarchy. Please see Notes to Investment Portfolio for an explanation of this hierarchy, as well as a list of unobservable inputs used in the valuation of these instruments.

(d)

Represents fair value as determined by the Fund’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”), or its designee in good faith, pursuant to the policies and procedures approved by the Board. The Board considers fair valued securities to be securities for which market quotations are not readily available and these securities may be valued using a combination of observable and unobservable inputs. Securities with a total aggregate value of $374,800,888, or 36.1% of net assets, were fair valued under the Fund’s valuation procedures as of June 30, 2019. Please see Notes to Investment Portfolio.

(e)

Affiliated issuer. Assets with a total aggregate market value of $143,749,913, or 13.9% of net assets, were affiliated with the Fund as of June 30, 2019.

(f)

Represents value held in escrow pending future events. No interest is being accrued.

(g)

Perpetual maturity. Maturity date presented represents the next call date.

(h)

Non-income producing security.

(i)

All or part of this security is pledged as collateral for short sales. The market value of the securities pledged as collateral was $14,098,367.

(j)

As of June 30, 2019, investments with a total aggregate value of $101,939,329 were fully or partially segregated with broker(s)/custodian as collateral for reverse repurchase agreements.

(k)

Variable or floating rate security. The base lending rates are generally the lending rate offered by one or more European banks such as the LIBOR. The interest rate shown reflects the rate in effect June 30, 2019. LIBOR, otherwise known as London Interbank Offered Rate, is the benchmark interest rate that banks charge each other for short-term loans. Current LIBOR rates include 1 month which is equal to 2.49% and 3 months equal to 2.60%.

(l)

Securities exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the 1933 Act. These securities may only be resold in transaction exempt from registration to qualified institutional buyers. At June 30, 2019, these securities amounted to $262,793,581 or 25.3% of net assets.

 

 

(m)

Restricted Securities. These securities are not registered and may not be sold to the public. There are legal and/or contractual restrictions on resale. The Fund does not have the right to demand that such securities be registered. The values of these securities are determined by valuations provided by pricing services, brokers, dealers, market makers, or in good faith under the procedures established by the Fund’s Board of Trustees. Additional Information regarding such securities follows:

 

Restricted
Security

  Security
Type
    Acquisition
Date
    Cost of
Security
    Market Value
at Period
End
    Percent
of Net
Assets
 

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc.

    Common
Stocks
      12/20/2010     $ 21,845,688     $ 33,895,868       3.3

TerreStar Corporation

     Common
Stocks
      3/16/2018     $ 3,093,276     $ 7,837,927       0.8

 

(n)

These positions represent claims that have been filed with the United States Bankruptcy Court Southern District of New York against Lehman Commercial Paper, Inc. UKBranch.

(o)

Rate shown is 7 day effective yield.

 

Foreign Domiciled Senior Loans
Industry Concentration Table:
(% of Net Assets)
 

Communication Services

    1.4

Healthcare

    0.9
 

 

 

 
    2.3
 

 

 

 
 

 

8       See Glossary on page 10 for abbreviations along with accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


Table of Contents

CONSOLIDATED INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO (unaudited) (concluded)

 

 

 

As of June 30, 2019   Highland Income Fund

 

Purchased options contracts outstanding as of June 30, 2019 were as follows:

 

Description    Exercise
price
     Counterparty      Expiration
Date
     Number of
Contracts
     Notional
Value
     Premium      Value  

PURCHASED CALL OPTIONS:

                    

July 19 Calls on VIX

   $ 21.00        Societe Generale        July 2019        1,000        1,046,000      $ 168,789      $ 40,000  

The average amount of borrowing by the Fund on reverse repurchase agreements outstanding during the period ended June 30, 2019 was $56,802,771 at a weighted average interest rate of 4.06%.

Reverse Repurchase Agreements outstanding as of June 30, 2019 were as follows:

 

Counterparty    Collateral Pledged    Interest
Rate
     Trade
Date
     Maturity
Date
     Repurchase
Amount
     Principal
Amount
    Value  

BNP

   Acis CLO, Ltd., Series 2014-3A, Class E, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+4.750%, 7.33%, 2/1/2026      4.131        4/24/2019        7/23/2019      $ 2,817,601      $ (4,000,000   $ (2,788,800

BNP

   Acis CLO, Ltd., Series 2014-4A, Class E, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+4.800%, 7.38%, 5/1/2026      4.131        4/24/2019        7/23/2019        10,288,569        (14,750,000     (10,183,400

BNP

   Acis CLO, Ltd., Series 2014-5A, Class D, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+4.340%, 6.92%, 11/1/2026      3.581        4/24/2019        7/23/2019        5,696,041        (7,000,000     (5,645,500

BNP

   Acis CLO, Ltd., Series 2015-6A, Class D, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+3.770%, 6.35%, 5/1/2027      3.581        4/24/2019        7/23/2019        808,575        (1,000,000     (801,400

BNP

   Acis CLO, Ltd., Series 2015-6A, Class E, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+5.490%, 8.07%, 5/1/2027      4.131        4/24/2019        7/23/2019        5,413,335        (7,500,000     (5,358,000

BNP

   Ballyrock CLO, Ltd., Series 2019-1A, Class ER, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+6.950%, 9.55%, 10/15/2028      4.017        5/7/2019        7/1/2019        3,776,183        (5,000,000     (3,753,150

BNP

   Catamaran CLO, Ltd., Series 2014-2A, Class D, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+4.850%, 7.45%, 10/18/2026      4.142        4/18/2019        7/17/2019        2,217,224        (3,000,000     (2,194,500

Mizuho

   FREMF Mortgage Trust, Series 2019-KF60, Class C, VAR LIBOR USD 1 Month+6.0900%, 8.43%, 2/25/2026      3.880        4/30/2019        7/30/2019        45,870,144        (60,663,233     (45,424,629

BNP

   Z Capital Credit Partners CLO, Ltd., Series 2015-1A, Class E, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+5.970%, 8.57%, 7/16/2027      4.131        4/24/2019        7/23/2019        2,958,643        (4,000,000     (2,928,400
                 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Reverse Repurchase Agreements

               $ (106,913,233   $ (79,077,779
                 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

See Glossary on page 10 for abbreviations along with accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.       9


Table of Contents

GLOSSARY: (abbreviations that may be used in the preceding statements)(unaudited)

 

 

 

Other Abbreviations:
CLO   Collateralized Loan Obligation
FREMF   Freddie Mac Multi-Family
LIBOR   London Interbank Offered Rate
PIK   Payment-in-Kind
VAR   Variable
VIX   Chicago Board Options Exchange Market Volatility Index
 

 

10       Semi-Annual Report


Table of Contents

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

 

 

 

As of June 30, 2019   Highland Income Fund

 

      ($)  

Assets

  

Investments from unaffiliated issuers, at value

     1,192,970,109  

Affiliated investments, at value (Note 10)

     143,749,913  
  

 

 

 

Total Investments, at value

     1,336,720,022  

Cash equivalents (Note 2)

     73,970  

Cash

     91,245,821  

Restricted Cash (Note 2)

     2,454,591  

Receivable for:

  

Investments sold and principal paydowns

     34,724,966  

Dividends and interest

     9,598,911  

Fund shares sold

     90,735  

Due from broker

     2,182,598  

Prepaid expenses and other assets

     1,211,368  
  

 

 

 

Total assets

     1,478,302,982  
  

 

 

 

Liabilities:

  

Notes payable

     350,000,000  

Reverse repurchase agreements (Note 3)

     79,077,779  

Payable for:

  

Investments purchased

     9,331,073  

Interest expense and commitment fee payable (Note 6)

     1,237,729  

Investment advisory and administration fees (Note 7)

     1,130,021  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

     200,821  
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     440,977,423  
  

 

 

 

Commitments and Contingencies (Note 8)

  
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

     1,037,325,559  
  

 

 

 

Net Assets Consist of:

  

Paid-in capital

     1,629,078,623  

Total distributable loss

     (591,753,064
  

 

 

 

Net Assets

     1,037,325,559  
  

 

 

 

Investments, at cost

     1,290,560,273  

Affiliated investments, at cost (Note 10)

     455,691,237  

Cash equivalents, at cost (Note 2)

     73,970  

Common Shares

  

Shares outstanding ($0.001 par value; unlimited authorization)

     71,914,765  

Net asset value per share (Net assets/shares outstanding)

     14.42  

 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.       11


Table of Contents

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

 

 

 

For the Period Ended June 30, 2019   Highland Income Fund

 

      ($)  

Investment Income

  

Income:

  

Dividends from unaffiliated issuers

     1,965,277  

Dividends from affiliated issuers (Note 10).

     694,374  

Interest from unaffiliated issuers

     37,924,799  

Interest paid in kind from unaffiliated issuers

     988,049  

Interest paid in kind from affiliated issuers (Note 10)

     3,260,012  

Other income

     4,795,307  
  

 

 

 

Total income

     49,627,818  
  

 

 

 

Expenses:

  

Investment advisory (Note 7)

     4,729,497  

Administration fees (Note 7)

     1,525,959  

Interest expense, commitment fees, and financing costs (Note 6)

     8,446,844  

Accounting services fees

     412,301  

Custodian/wire agent fees

     303,706  

Audit fees

     155,005  

Legal fees

     153,483  

Trustees fees (Note 6)

     119,391  

Reports to shareholders

     90,202  

Insurance

     75,785  

Transfer agent fees

     48,022  

Other

     838,041  

Total operating expenses

     16,898,236  
  

 

 

 

Net investment income

     32,729,582  
  

 

 

 

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments

  

Realized gain (loss) on:

  

Investments from unaffiliated issuers

     (17,299,018

Investments in affiliated issuers

     (1,743,503

Written options contracts (Note 3)

     350,021  

Foreign currency related transactions

     34  

Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on:

  

Investments

     19,717,538  

Investments in affiliated issuers

     9,915,008  

Foreign currency related translations

     124  
  

 

 

 

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     10,940,204  
  

 

 

 

Total increase in net assets resulting from operations

     43,669,786  
  

 

 

 

 

12       See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


Table of Contents

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

 

 

 

       Highland Income Fund

 

     Period Ended
June 30, 2019

(unaudited)
($)
     Period Ended
December 31, 2018
($)‡
     Year Ended
June 30, 2018
($)
 

Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets

        

Operations:

        

Net investment income

     32,729,582        29,883,997        50,700,522  

Net realized loss on investments, written options and foreign currency transactions

     (18,692,466      (388,852      (28,313,816

Net increase (decrease) in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments and foreign currency transactions

     29,632,670        (56,562,382      41,408,816  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) from operations

     43,669,786        (27,067,237      63,795,522  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Distributions

        

Class A

                   (3,380,302

Class C

                   (2,697,014

Class Z

                   (6,360,145

Shares of closed-end fund

     (33,213,674      (32,468,254      (37,207,965

Return of capital:

        

Shares of closed-end fund

            (720,948      (6,936,337
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total distributions

     (33,213,674      (33,189,202      (56,581,763
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in net assets from operations and distributions

     10,456,112        (60,256,439      7,213,759  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Share transactions*:

        

Proceeds from sale of shares

        

Class A

                   75,507,963  

Class C

                   49,282,371  

Class Z

                   252,257,435  

Value of distributions reinvested

        

Class A

                   3,008,894  

Class C

                   2,470,570  

Class Z

                   5,841,184  

Shares of closed-end fund

     457,929        1,121,049        1,244,740  

Cost of shares redeemed

        

Class A

                   (61,916,334

Class C

                   (26,700,962

Class Z

                   (109,971,065

Net increase from shares transactions

     457,929        1,121,049        191,024,796  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total increase (decrease) in net assets

     10,914,041        (59,135,390      198,238,555  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Assets

        

Beginning of period

     1,026,411,518        1,085,546,908        887,308,353  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

End of period

     1,037,325,559        1,026,411,518        1,085,546,908  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

For the six month period ended December 31, 2018. Effective April 11, 2019, the Fund had a fiscal year change from June 30 to December 31 (Note 1).

*

Capital stock activity prior to November 3, 2017 has been adjusted to give effect to an approximately 2 to 1 reverse stock split as part of the conversion to a closed-end fund. (Note 1) Distribution activity related to the A, C, and Z share classes relates to the period from July 1, 2017 through November 3, 2017.

 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.       13


Table of Contents

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS (continued)

 

 

 

       Highland Income Fund

 

     Period Ended
June 30, 2019
(unaudited)
     Period Ended
December 31, 2018‡
     Year Ended
June 30, 2018
 

CAPITAL STOCK ACTIVITY - SHARES*

        

Class A:

        

Shares sold

                   5,028,824  

Issued for distribution reinvested

                   200,393  

Shares redeemed

                   (4,126,129

Shares converted in conversion (Note 1)

                   (19,014,516
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net decrease in fund shares

                   (17,911,428
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Class C:

        

Shares sold

                   3,282,455  

Issued for distribution reinvested

                   164,623  

Shares redeemed

                   (1,779,278

Shares converted in conversion (Note 1)

                   (16,925,308
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net decrease in fund shares

                   (15,257,508
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Class Z:

        

Shares sold

                   16,798,932  

Issued for distribution reinvested

                   389,052  

Shares redeemed

                   (7,323,136

Shares converted in conversion (Note 1)

                   (35,789,642
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net decrease in fund shares

                   (25,924,794
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Shares of closed-end fund:

        

Shares sold

                    

Shares converted in conversion

                   71,729,466  

Issued for distribution reinvested

     42,181        75,364        67,754  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net increase in fund shares

     42,181        75,364        71,797,220  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

For the six month period ended December 31, 2018. Effective April 11, 2019, the Fund had a fiscal year change from June 30 to December 31 (Note 1).

 

14       See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


Table of Contents

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

 

 

 

For the Period Ended June 30, 2019   Highland Income Fund

 

      ($)  

Cash Flows Used in Operating Activities:

  

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations

     43,669,786  

Adjustments to Reconcile Net Investment Gain to Net Cash Used in Operating Activities Operating Activities:

  

Purchases of investment securities from unaffiliated issuers

     (523,643,039

Purchases of investment securities from affiliated issuers

     (21,791,559

Interest paid in kind from unaffiliated issuers

     (988,049

Interest paid in kind from affiliated issuers

     (3,260,012

Proceeds from disposition of investment securities from unaffiliated issuers

     671,744,704  

Proceeds from disposition of investment securities from affiliated issuers

     7,856,551  

Proceeds from sale of short-term portfolio investments, net

     17,231,130  

Paydowns at cost

     44,437,484  

Net accretion of discount

     (1,148,062

Net realized loss on Investments from unaffiliated issuers

     17,299,018  

Net realized loss on Investments from affiliated issuers

     1,743,503  

Net realized gain on securities sold short, written options contracts and foreign currency transactions

     (350,055

Net change in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on investments, securities sold short, and foreign currency related transactions

     (29,632,670

Decrease in receivable for investments sold and principal paydowns

     (24,649,457

Increase in receivable for dividends and interest

     (2,821,095

Increase in restricted cash

     (2,454,591

Decrease due from broker

     5,215,266  

Increase in prepaid expenses and other assets

     (1,045,434

Decrease in payable for investments purchased

     (6,730,388

Increase in payables to investment advisory

     (98,429

Decrease in payable for commitment fees

     (592,953

Increase in accrued expenses and other liabilities

     (624,979
  

 

 

 

Net cash flow provided by operating activities

     189,366,670  
  

 

 

 

Cash Flows Used In Financing Activities:

  

Distributions paid in cash, net of payable

     (32,659,592

Decrease in notes payable

     (100,000,000

Proceeds from reverse repurchase agreements, net

     32,936,679  
  

 

 

 

Net cash flow used by financing activities

     (99,722,913
  

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

     158  
  

 

 

 

Net Increase in Cash

     89,643,915  
  

 

 

 

Cash and Foreign Currency/Due to Custodian:

  

Beginning of period

     1,601,906  
  

 

 

 

End of period

     91,245,821  
  

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

  

Reinvestment of distributions

     457,929  
  

 

 

 

Cash paid during the period for interest expense and commitment fees

     7,209,115  
  

 

 

 

 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.       15


Table of Contents

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

 

 

  Highland Income Fund

 

Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period is as follows:

 

    For the
Period Ended
June 30, 2019
(unaudited)
    For the
Period Ended
December 31,
2018**
    For the Years Ended June 30,  
  2018*‡     2017*‡     2016*‡     2015*‡     2014*‡  

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period

  $ 14.28     $ 15.12     $ 15.01     $ 14.33     $ 16.17     $ 16.91     $ 15.98  

Income from Investment Operations:

             

Net investment income(a)

    0.46       0.42       0.75       0.68       0.89       0.74       0.74  

Redemption fees added to paid-in capital

                                        (b)  

Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)

    0.14       (0.80     0.18       0.74       (1.84     (0.74     0.93  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total from Investment Operations

    0.60       (0.38     0.93       1.42       (0.95     (b)       1.67  

Less Distributions Declared to shareholders:

             

From net investment income

    (0.46     (0.45     (0.72     (0.74     (0.89     (0.74     (0.72

From return of capital

          (0.01     (0.10                       (0.02
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total distributions declared to shareholders

    (0.46     (0.46     (0.82     (0.74     (0.89     (0.74     (0.74

Net Asset Value, End of period(c)

  $ 14.42     $ 14.28     $ 15.12     $ 15.01     $ 14.33     $ 16.17     $ 16.91  

Market Value, End of Period

  $ 13.84     $ 12.80     $ 15.62     $     $     $     $  

Total Return(d)

    11.82 %(j)      (15.44 )%(j)      9.77     10.05     (5.77 )%      0.11     10.68

Ratios to Average Net Assets / Supplemental Data:(e)(f)

 

Net Assets, End of Period (000’s)

  $ 1,037,326     $ 1,026,412     $ 1,085,547     $ 389,278     $ 241,197     $ 283,673     $ 340,089  

Gross operating expenses(g)(h)

    3.26     3.10     1.79     1.20 %(i)      1.38     1.03     1.25

Net investment income(h)

    6.31     5.48     4.98     4.61     5.65     4.55     4.49

Portfolio turnover rate

    12     27 %(j)      177     63     53     55     69

Average commission rate paid(l)

  $ 0.23022     $ 0.0243     $ 0.0300          

 

*

Per share data prior to November 3, 2017 has been adjusted to give effect to an approximately 2 to 1 reverse stock split as part of the conversion to a closed-end fund. (Note 1)

**

For the six month period ended December 31, 2018. Effective April 11, 2019, the Fund had a fiscal year change from June 30 to December 31 (Note 1).

Reflects the financial highlights of Class Z of the open-end fund prior to the conversion.

(a)

Per share data was calculated using average shares outstanding during the period.

(b)

Represents less than $0.005 per share.

(c)

The Net Asset Value per share and total return have been calculated based on net assets which include adjustments made in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles required at period end for financial reporting purposes. These figures do not necessarily reflect the Net Asset Value per share or total return experienced by the shareholder at period end

(d)

Total return is based on market value per share for periods after November 3, 2017. Distributions are assumed for purposes of this calculation to be reinvested at prices obtained under the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan. Prior to November 3, 2017, total return is at net asset value assuming all distributions are reinvested. For periods with waivers/reimbursements, had the Fund’s investment adviser not waived or reimbursed a portion of expenses, total return would have been lower.

(e)

All ratios for the period have been annualized, unless otherwise indicated.

(f)

Supplemental expense ratios are shown below.

(g)

Includes dividends and fees on securities sold short.

(h)

Excludes 12b-1 fees from partial period operating as an open-end fund. Following the conversion on November 3, 2017, the Fund is no longer subject to 12b-1 fees.

(i)

Refer to Note 7 in the Notes to the Financial Statements for discussion of prior period custodian out-of-pocket expenses that were communicated to the Fund in the current period. The amount of the reimbursement was immaterial on a per share basis and did not impact the total return of the Fund. The Ratios of Gross Operating Expenses and Net Operating Expenses to Average Net Assets would be unchanged as the reimbursement of custodian fees was offset against current period expense waivers/ reimbursements with no impact to net expenses or net investment income.

(j)

Not annualized.

 

16       See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


Table of Contents

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (continued)

 

 

 

  Highland Income Fund

 

 

     For the
Period Ended
June 30, 2019
(unaudited)
     For the
Period Ended
December 31,
2018**
    For the Years Ended June 30,  
  2018     2017      2016      2015      2014  

Net operating expenses (net of waiver/reimbursement, if applicable, but gross of all other operating expenses)

     3.26      3.10     1.79     1.12      1.11      1.04      0.99

Interest expense and commitment fees

     1.63      1.63     0.49     0.01      0.15      0.04      0.08

Dividends and fees on securities sold short

          %(k)      %(k)      0.01      0.01      0.05      0.04

 

(k)

Represents less than 0.005%.

(l)

Represents the total dollar amount of commissions paid on portfolio transactions divided by total number of portfolio shares purchased and sold for which commissions were charged. The period prior to the Conversion Date is not presented.

 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.       17


Table of Contents

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

 

 

 

June 30, 2019   Highland Income Fund

 

Note 1. Organization

Highland Income Fund (the “Fund”) is organized as an unincorporated business trust under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Fund is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company. On September 25, 2017, the Fund acquired the assets of Highland Floating Rate Opportunities Fund (the “Predecessor Fund”), a series of Highland Funds I, a Delaware statutory trust. The Fund is the successor to the accounting and performance information of the Predecessor Fund. Effective April 11, 2019, the Fund changed its fiscal year end to December 31. The previous fiscal year end was June 30.

On May 20, 2019, the Fund changed its name to Highland Income Fund.

On November 3, 2017, shareholders of the Fund approved a proposal authorizing the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of the Fund to convert the fund from an open-end fund to a closed-end fund at a special meeting of shareholders. The Board took action to convert the Fund to a closed-end fund effective shortly after 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on November 3, 2017 (the “Conversion Date”). The Fund also effected an approximately 1-for-2 reverse stock split of the Fund’s issued and outstanding shares on November 3, 2017, thereby reducing the number of shares outstanding. Shareholders were paid cash for any fractional shares resulting from the reverse stock split. The Fund began listing its shares for trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) on November 6, 2017 under the ticker symbol “HFRO”. The Fund may issue an unlimited number of common shares, par value $0.001 per share (“Common Shares”). Prior to the Conversion Date, the Fund issued Class A, Class C, and Class Z shares. The Fund incurred $1,076,274 in Conversion costs related to the fund conversion to a closed-end fund.

Note 2. Significant Accounting Policies

The following summarizes the significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements.

Use of Estimates

The Fund is an investment company that applies the accounting and reporting guidance of Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946 applicable to investment companies. The Fund’s consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), which require the Investment Adviser to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at

the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Changes in the economic environment, financial markets and any other parameters used in determining these estimates could cause actual results to differ materially.

Basis of Consolidation

The Fund consolidates HFRO Sub, LLC (“HFRO Sub”), a Delaware wholly owned subsidiary, for financial reporting, and the holdings of HFRO Sub, LLC are included within the Consolidated Financial Statements for the Fund. HFRO Sub is a bankruptcy remote financing vehicle used to obtain leverage with the portfolio of bank loans serving as collateral. All inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in the consolidation.

Fund Valuation

The net asset value (“NAV”) of the Fund’s common shares is calculated daily on each day that the NYSE is open for business as of the close of the regular trading session on the NYSE, usually 4:00 PM, Eastern Time. The NAV is calculated by dividing the value of the Fund’s net assets attributable to common shares by the numbers of common shares outstanding.

Valuation of Investments

In computing the Fund’s net assets attributable to shares, securities with readily available market quotations on the NYSE, National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation (“NASDAQ”) or other nationally recognized exchange, use the closing quotations on the respective exchange for valuation of those securities. Securities for which there are no readily available market quotations will be valued pursuant to policies adopted by the Fund’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”). Typically, such securities will be valued at the mean between the most recently quoted bid and ask prices provided by the principal market makers. If there is more than one such principal market maker, the value shall be the average of such means. Securities without a sale price or quotations from principal market makers on the valuation day may be priced by an independent pricing service. Generally, the Fund’s loan and bond positions are not traded on exchanges and consequently are valued based on a mean of the bid and ask price from the third-party pricing services or broker-dealer sources that the Investment Adviser has determined to have the capability to provide appropriate pricing services which have been approved by the Board.

Securities for which market quotations are not readily available, or for which the Fund has determined that the price received from a pricing service or broker-dealer is “stale” or otherwise does not represent fair value (such as when

 

 

18       Semi-Annual Report


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (continued)

 

 

 

June 30, 2019   Highland Income Fund

 

events materially affecting the value of securities occur between the time when market price is determined and calculation of the Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”), will be valued by the Fund at fair value, as determined by the Board or its designee in good faith in accordance with procedures approved by the Board, taking into account factors reasonably determined to be relevant, including, but not limited to: (i) the fundamental analytical data relating to the investment; (ii) the nature and duration of restrictions on disposition of the securities; and (iii) an evaluation of the forces that influence the market in which these securities are purchased and sold. In these cases, the Fund’s NAV will reflect the affected portfolio securities’ fair value as determined in the judgment of the Board or its designee instead of being determined by the market. Using a fair value pricing methodology to value securities may result in a value that is different from a security’s most recent sale price and from the prices used by other investment companies to calculate their NAVs. Determination of fair value is uncertain because it involves subjective judgments and estimates.

There can be no assurance that the Fund’s valuation of a security will not differ from the amount that it realizes upon the sale of such security. Those differences could have a material impact to the Fund. The NAV shown in the Fund’s consolidated financial statements may vary from the NAV published by the Fund as of its period end because portfolio securities transactions are accounted for on the trade date (rather than the day following the trade date) for financial statement purposes

Fair Value Measurements

The Fund has performed an analysis of all existing investments and derivative instruments to determine the significance and character of inputs to their fair value determination. The levels of fair value inputs used to measure the Fund’s investments are characterized into a fair value hierarchy. Where inputs for an asset or liability fall into more than one level in the fair value hierarchy, the investment is classified in its entirety based on the lowest level input that is significant to that investment’s valuation. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below:

 

Level 1 

Quoted unadjusted prices for identical instruments in active markets to which the Fund has access at the date of measurement;

 

Level 2 —

Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, but are valued based on executed trades; broker quotations that constitute an executable price; and alternative pricing sources supported by observable inputs are classified within Level 2. Level 2 inputs are either directly or indirectly

  observable for the asset in connection with market data at the measurement date; and

 

Level 3 —

Model derived valuations in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable. In certain cases, investments classified within Level 3 may include securities for which the Fund has obtained indicative quotes from broker-dealers that do not necessarily represent prices the broker may be willing to trade on, as such quotes can be subject to material management judgment. Unobservable inputs are those inputs that reflect the Fund’s own assumptions that market participants would use to price the asset or liability based on the best available information.

The Investment Adviser has established policies and procedures, as described above and approved by the Board, to ensure that valuation methodologies for investments and financial instruments that are categorized within all levels of the fair value hierarchy are fair and consistent. A Pricing Committee has been established to provide oversight of the valuation policies, processes and procedures, and is comprised of personnel from the Investment Adviser and its affiliates. The Pricing Committee meets monthly to review the proposed valuations for investments and financial instruments and is responsible for evaluating the overall fairness and consistent application of established policies.

As of June 30, 2019, the Fund’s investments consisted of senior loans, foreign denominated or domiciled senior loans, collateralized loan obligations, corporate bonds and notes, U.S. asset-backed securities, non-U.S. asset-backed securities, claims, common stocks, registered investment companies, cash equivalents, rights and warrants. The fair value of the Fund’s senior loans and bonds are generally based on quotes received from brokers or independent pricing services. Loans, bonds and asset-backed securities with quotes that are based on actual trades with a sufficient level of activity on or near the measurement date are classified as Level 2 assets. Loans and bonds that are priced using quotes derived from implied values, indicative bids, or a limited number of actual trades are classified as Level 3 assets because the inputs used by the brokers and pricing services to derive the values are not readily observable.

The fair value of the Fund’s common stocks, registered investment companies, rights and warrants that are not actively traded on national exchanges are generally priced using quotes derived from implied values, indicative bids, or a limited amount of actual trades and are classified as Level 3 assets because the inputs used by the brokers and pricing services to derive the values are not readily observable. Exchange-traded options are valued based on

 

 

Semi-Annual Report       19


Table of Contents

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (continued)

 

 

 

June 30, 2019   Highland Income Fund

 

the last trade price on the primary exchange on which they trade. If an option does not trade, the mid-price, which is the mean of the bid and ask price, is utilized to value the option.

At the end of each calendar quarter, the Investment Adviser evaluates the Level 2 and 3 assets and liabilities for changes in liquidity, including but not limited to: whether a broker is willing to execute at the quoted price, the depth and consistency of prices from third party services, and the existence of contemporaneous, observable trades in the market. Additionally, the Investment Adviser evaluates the Level 1 and 2 assets and liabilities on a quarterly basis for changes in listings or delistings on national exchanges.

Due to the inherent uncertainty of determining the fair value of investments that do not have a readily available market value, the fair value of the Fund’s investments may fluctuate from period to period. Additionally, the fair value of investments may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had a ready market existed for such investments and may differ materially from the values the Fund may ultimately realize. Further, such investments may be subject to legal and other restrictions on resale or otherwise less liquid than publicly traded securities.

 

 

The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. Transfers in and out of the levels are recognized at the value at the end of the period. A summary of the inputs used to value the Fund’s assets as of June 30, 2019 is as follows:

 

        Total value at
June 30, 2019
       Level 1
Quoted
Price
       Level 2
Significant
Observable
Inputs
       Level 3
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
 

Income Fund

 

U.S. Senior Loans

                   

Commercial Services

     $ 32,088,392        $        $ 32,088,392        $  

Communication Services

       13,983,925                   8,150,124          5,833,801  

Consumer Discretionary

       27,710,287                   27,710,287           

Consumer Products

       16,565,454                   16,565,454           

Energy

       30,340,834                   30,340,834           

Financial

       38,538,462                   38,538,462           

Gaming/Leisure

       10,002,768                            10,002,768  

Healthcare

       83,646,676                   56,269,142          27,377,534  

Housing

       14,910,085                   14,910,085           

Industrials

       37,468,103                   28,590,502          8,877,601  

Information Technology

       113,962,196                   55,366,196          58,596,000  

Manufacturing

       9,561,157                   9,561,157           

Oil & Gas

       9,252,843                   9,252,843           

Real Estate

       21,166,944                   21,166,944           

Retail

       57,523,686                   57,523,686           

Service

       51,726,530                   51,726,530           

Transportation

       13,866,594                   13,866,594           

Utilities

       40,551,951          59,127          40,492,824           

Foreign Denominated or Domiciled Senior Loans

                   

Canada

       8,710,586                   8,710,586           

Luxembourg

       14,866,425                   14,866,425           

Preferred Stock

                   

Financial

       29,282,028          3,300,600          25,981,428           

Real Estate

       235,804,182                   11,987,091          223,817,091  

Collateralized Loan Obligations

       200,955,827                   200,955,827           

 

20       Semi-Annual Report


Table of Contents

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (continued)

 

 

 

June 30, 2019   Highland Income Fund

 

        Total value at
June 30, 2019
       Level 1
Quoted
Price
       Level 2
Significant
Observable
Inputs
       Level 3
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
 

Common Stocks

                   

Chemicals

     $ 1,495,160        $        $ 1,495,160        $  

Communication Services

       50,215,186          8,481,391          33,895,868          7,837,927  

Consumer Discretionary

       6,852,053                   6,852,053           

Energy

       5,284,163                   5,284,162          1  

Gaming/Leisure

                                  (1) 

Healthcare

                                  (1) 

Housing

                                  (1) 

Industrials

       1,520,181          1,159,905          360,276           

Information Technology

       1,394          1,394                    

Materials

       1,022,575                            1,022,575  

Real Estate

       29,699,281          640,256                   29,059,025  

Agency Collateralized Mortgage Obligations

       60,536,354                   60,536,354           

Corporate Bonds & Notes

                   

Communication Services

       5,521,753                   5,521,753           

Consumer Discretionary

       2,895,000                   2,895,000           

Energy

       1,157,650                   81,250          1,076,400  

Industrials

       164,400                   164,400           

Information Technology

                                  (1) 

Utilities

       29,898,122                   29,898,122           

Registered Investment Company

       18,714,586          18,714,586                    

Loan

       7,950,000                   7,950,000           

Rights

                   

Utilities

       885,350          885,350                    

Warrants

                   

Energy

       278,448                   278,448           

Gaming/Leisure

                                  (1) 

Industrials

       31,652                            31,652  

Information Technology

       18,641                   18,641           

Claims

       52,138                            52,138  

Purchased Call Options

       40,000          40,000                    

Cash Equivalents

       73,970          73,970                    
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total

     $ 1,336,793,992        $ 33,356,579        $ 929,852,900        $ 373,584,513  
    

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

(1)  

This category includes securities with a value of zero.

 

Semi-Annual Report       21


Table of Contents

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (continued)

 

 

 

June 30, 2019   Highland Income Fund

 

The table below sets forth a summary of changes in the Fund’s assets measured at fair value using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) for the six-month period ended June 30, 2019.

 

     Balance
as of
December 31,
2018
    Transfers
into
Level 3
    Transfers
Out
of Level 3
    Net
Amortization
(Accretion)
of Premium/
(Discount)
    Net
Realized
Gains/
(Losses)
    Net
Unrealized
Gains/
(Losses)
    Net
Purchase
    Net
(Sales)
    Balance
as of
June 30,
2019
   

Change in

Unrealized

Appreciation

(Depreciation)

from

Investments
at June 30,
2019

 

U.S. Senior Loans

                   

Communication Services

  $ 5,472,828     $     $     $     $     $ 377     $ 360,596     $     $ 5,833,801     $ 377  

Gaming/Leisure

    10,002,768                                                 10,002,768        

Healthcare

    24,398,513                               (258,884     3,237,905             27,377,534       (258,884

Industrials

    8,269,728                   179,121             135,499       293,253             8,877,601       135,499  

Information Technology

    57,000,000                               1,596,000                   58,596,000       1,596,000  

Real Estate

    1,228,016                   (6,343           42,159             (1,263,832            

Preferred Stock

                   

Real Estate

    214,305,563                               8,745,528       766,000             223,817,091       8,745,528  

Common Stocks

                   

Communication Services

    7,566,587                               271,340                   7,837,927       271,340  

Energy

    1                                                 1        

Materials

    2,844,759                               (1,822,184                 1,022,575       (1,822,184

Media

    1,258,086                               6,598,465             (7,856,551            

Real Estate

    17,207,035                               21,475       11,830,515             29,059,025       21,475  

Corporate Bonds & Notes

                   

Energy

    1,076,400                                                 1,076,400        

Warrants

                   

Industrials

    88,054                               (56,402                 31,652       (56,402

Information Technology

    51,729             (18,641                 (33,088                        

Claims

    52,138                                                 52,138        
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $ 350,822,205     $     —     $ (18,641   $ 172,778     $     —     $ 15,240,285     $ 16,488,269     $ (9,120,383   $ 373,584,513     $ 8,632,749  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Investments designated as Level 3 may include assets valued using quotes or indications furnished by brokers which are based on models or estimates and may not be executable prices. In light of the developing market conditions, the Investment Adviser continues to search for observable data points and evaluate broker quotes and indications received

for portfolio investments. As a result, for the six-month period ended June 30, 2019, a net amount of $18,641 of the Fund’s portfolio investments were transferred from Level 3 to Level 2. Determination of fair values is uncertain because it involves subjective judgments and estimates that are unobservable.

 

 

22       Semi-Annual Report


Table of Contents

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (continued)

 

 

 

June 30, 2019   Highland Income Fund

 

The following is a summary of significant unobservable inputs used in the fair valuations of assets and liabilities categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy:

 

Category   Market
Value at
6/30/2019
    Valuation Technique   Unobservable Inputs   Input Value(s)  

Preferred Stock

  $ 223,817,090     Net Asset Value   N/A     N/A  
    Discounted Cash Flow   Discount Rate     8.5%  
      Internal Rate of Return     14.0%  

U.S. Senior Loans

    110,687,705     Adjusted Appraisal   Liquidity Discount     10%  
      Asset Specific Discount     10%  
    Multiples Analysis   Multiple of EBITDA     2.5x - 4.0x  
      Multiple of EBITDA less CAPEX     6.0x - 11.0x  
    Transaction Analysis   Multiple of EBITDA     3.5x - 4.5x  
    Transaction Indication of Value   % of Par     30.0% - 35.0%  
    Black-Scholes Model   Volatility Assumption     25.0%  
    Discounted Cash Flow   Discount Rate     8.9% - 16.75%  
      Spread Adjustment     0.0% - 0.1%  

Common Stocks

    37,919,528     Multiples Analysis   Multiple of EBITDA less CAPEX     6.0x - 11.0x  
      Multiple of EBITDA     2.50x - 8.75x  
      Unadjusted Price/MHz-PoP     $0.12 - $0.95  
      Risk Discount     42.0% - 45.5%  
    Discounted Cash Flow   Discount Rate     11.0% - 15.5%  
      Terminal Multiple     7.0x  
    Transaction Analysis   Multiple of EBITDA     3.5x - 8.5x  
    Transaction Indication of Value   % of Par     30.0% - 35.0%  
    Black-Scholes Model   Volatility Assumption     25.0%  
    Net Asset Value   N/A     N/A  

Corporate Bonds & Notes

    1,076,400     Liquidation Analysis   Claim Amount: Percent of Par     6.9%  

Warrants

    31,652     Discounted Cash Flow   Discount Rate     11.0% - 13.0%  
      Terminal Multiple     7.0x  
    Multiples Analysis   Multiple of EBITDA     7.0x - 8.75x  
    Transaction Analysis   Multiple of EBITDA     8.0x - 8.5x  

Claims

    52,138     N/A   N/A     N/A  
 

 

 

       

Total

  $ 373,584,513        

 

The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of the Fund’s bank loan securities are: liquidity discount, asset specific discount, multiple of revenue, multiple of EBITDA, discount rate and spread adjustment. Significant increases (decreases) in any of those inputs in isolation could result in a significantly lower (higher) fair value measurement.

The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of the Fund’s common equity securities are: multiple of revenue, multiple of EBITDA, price/MHz-PoP multiple, risk discount, scenario probabilities, illiquidity discount, discount rate and terminal multiple. Significant increases (decreases) in any of those inputs in isolation could result in a significantly lower (higher) fair value measurement. Generally, a change in the assumption used for the risk discount is accompanied by a directionally opposite change in the assumption for the price/MHz-PoP multiple.

Security Transactions

Security transactions are accounted for on the trade date. Realized gains/(losses) on investments sold are recorded on the basis of the specific identification method for both financial statement and U.S. federal income tax purposes taking into account any foreign taxes withheld.

Income Recognition

Corporate actions (including cash dividends) are recorded on the ex-dividend date, net of applicable withholding taxes, except for certain foreign corporate actions, which are recorded as soon after ex-dividend date as such information becomes available and is verified. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis.

Accretion of discount on taxable bonds and loans is computed to the call date, while amortization of premium on taxable bonds and loans is computed to the call or maturity

 

 

Semi-Annual Report       23


Table of Contents

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (continued)

 

 

 

June 30, 2019   Highland Income Fund

 

date, whichever is shorter, both using the effective yield method. Withholding taxes on foreign dividends have been provided for in accordance with the Fund’s understanding of the applicable country’s tax rules and rates.

U.S. Federal Income Tax Status

The Fund is treated as a separate taxpayer for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The Fund intends to qualify each year as a “regulated investment company” under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and will distribute substantially all of its taxable income and gains, if any, for the tax year, and as such will not be subject to U.S. federal income taxes. In addition, the Fund intends to distribute, in each calendar year, all of its net investment income, capital gains and certain other amounts, if any, such that the Fund should not be subject to U.S. federal excise tax. Therefore, no U.S. federal income or excise tax provisions are recorded.

The Investment Adviser has analyzed the Fund’s tax positions taken on U.S. federal income tax returns for all open tax years (current and prior three tax years), and has concluded that no provision for U.S. federal income tax is required in the Fund’s consolidated financial statements. The Fund’s U.S. federal and state income and U.S. federal excise tax returns for tax years for which the applicable statutes of limitations have not expired are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state departments of revenue. Furthermore, the Investment Adviser of the Fund is also not aware of any tax positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change in the next 12 months.

Distributions to Shareholders

The Fund plans to pay distributions from net investment income monthly and net realized capital gains annually to common shareholders. To permit the Fund to maintain more stable monthly distributions and annual distributions, the Fund may from time to time distribute less than the entire amount of income and gains earned in the relevant month or year, respectively. The undistributed income and gains would be available to supplement future distributions. In certain years, this practice may result in the Fund distributing, during a particular taxable year, amounts in excess of the amount of income and gains earned therein. Such distributions would result in a portion of each distribution occurring in that year to be treated as a return of capital to shareholders. Shareholders of the Fund will automatically have all distributions reinvested in Common Shares of the Fund issued by the Fund in accordance with the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the “Plan”) unless an election is made to receive cash. The number of newly issued Common Shares to be credited to each participant’s account will be

determined by dividing the dollar amount of the dividend by the lesser of (i) the NAV per Common Share determined on the Declaration Date and (ii) the market price per Common Share as of the close of regular trading on the NYSE on the Declaration Date. Participants in the Plan requesting a sale of securities through the plan agent of the Plan are subject to a sales fee and a brokerage commission.

Statement of Cash Flows

Information on financial transactions which have been settled through the receipt or disbursement of cash is presented in the Statement of Cash Flows. The cash amount shown in the Statement of Cash Flows is the amount included within the Fund’s Statement of Assets and Liabilities and includes cash on hand at its custodian bank and/or sub-custodian bank(s), and does not include investments in money market funds deemed to be cash equivalents and cash posted as collateral in a segregated account or with broker-dealers.

Cash & Cash Equivalents

The Fund considers liquid assets deposited with a bank and certain short-term debt instruments of sufficient credit quality with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. These investments represent amounts held with financial institutions that are readily accessible to pay Fund expenses or purchase investments. Cash and cash equivalents are valued at cost plus accrued interest, which approximates market value. The value of cash equivalents denominated in foreign currencies is determined by converting to U.S. dollars on the date of the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

Foreign Currency

Accounting records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Foreign currencies, investments and other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars at exchange rates using the current 4:00 PM London Time Spot Rate. Fluctuations in the value of the foreign currencies and other assets and liabilities resulting from changes in exchange rates, between trade and settlement dates on securities transactions and between the accrual and payment dates on dividends, interest income and foreign withholding taxes, are recorded as unrealized foreign currency gains/(losses). Realized gains/(losses) and unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) on investment securities and income and expenses are translated on the respective dates of such transactions. The effects of changes in foreign currency exchange rates on investments in securities are not segregated in the Consolidated Statement of Operations from the effects of changes in market prices of those securities, but are included with the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on investment securities.

 

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (continued)

 

 

 

June 30, 2019   Highland Income Fund

 

Securities Sold Short

The Fund may sell securities short. A security sold short is a transaction in which the Fund sells a security it does not own in anticipation that the market price of that security will decline. When the Fund sells a security short, it must borrow the security sold short from a broker-dealer and deliver it to the buyer upon conclusion of the transaction. The Fund may have to pay a fee to borrow particular securities and is obligated to pay over any dividends or other payments received on such borrowed securities. In some circumstances, the Fund may be allowed by its prime broker to utilize proceeds from securities sold short to purchase additional investments, resulting in leverage. Cash held as collateral for securities sold short is classified as restricted cash on the Consolidated Statement of Assets and Liabilities, as applicable. Securities valued at $14,098,367 were posted in the Fund’s segregated account as collateral.

Other Fee Income

Fee income may consist of origination/closing fees, amendment fees, administrative agent fees, transaction break-up fees and other miscellaneous fees. Origination fees, amendment fees, and other similar fees are non-recurring fee sources. Such fees are received on a transaction by transaction basis and do not constitute a regular stream of income and are recognized when incurred.

Note 3. Derivative Transactions

The Fund is subject to equity securities risk, interest rate risk and currency risk in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives. The Fund enters into derivative transactions for the purpose of hedging against the effects of changes in the value of portfolio securities due to anticipated changes in market conditions, to gain market exposure for residual and accumulating cash positions and for managing the duration of fixed income investments.

Options

The Fund may utilize options on securities or indices to varying degrees as part of their principal investment strategy. An option on a security is a contract that gives the holder of the option, in return for a premium, the right to buy from (in the case of a call) or sell to (in the case of a put) the writer of the option the security underlying the option at a specified exercise or “strike” price. The writer of an option on a security has the obligation upon exercise of the option to deliver the underlying security upon payment of the exercise price or to pay the exercise price upon delivery of the underlying security. The Fund may hold options, write option contracts, or both.

If an option written by the Fund expires unexercised, the Fund realizes on the expiration date a capital gain equal to

the premium received by the Fund at the time the option was written. If an option purchased by the Fund expires unexercised, the Fund realizes a capital loss equal to the premium paid. Prior to the earlier of exercise or expiration, an exchange-traded option may be closed out by an offsetting purchase or sale of an option of the same series (type, underlying security, exercise price and expiration). There can be no assurance, however, that a closing purchase or sale transaction can be effected when the Fund desires. The Fund will realize a capital gain from a closing purchase transaction if the cost of the closing option is less than the premium received from writing the option, or, if the cost of the closing option is more than the premium received from writing the option, a capital loss. The Fund will realize a capital gain from a closing sale transaction if the premium received from the sale is more than the original premium paid when the option position was opened, or a capital loss, if the premium received from a sale is less than the original premium paid.

For the period ended June 30, 2019, the Fund had written options to provide leveraged short exposure, and purchased options to provide leveraged long exposure, to the underlying equity, which is consistent with the investment strategies of the Fund.

Reverse Repurchase Agreements

The Fund engages in reverse repurchase agreement transactions with respect to instruments that are consistent with the Fund’s investment objective or policies. This creates leverage for the Fund because the cash received can be used to purchase other securities. See Note 6 for additional information on the Fund’s reverse repurchase agreement.

Additional Derivative Information

The Fund follows adopted amendments to authoritative guidance on disclosures about derivative instruments and hedging activities which require that the Fund disclose; a) how and why an entity uses derivative instruments; b) how derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for; c) how derivative instruments and related hedged items affect an entity’s financial position, financial performance and cash flows; and d) how the netting of derivatives subject to master netting arrangements (if applicable) affects the net exposure of the Fund related to the derivatives.

The average monthly volume of derivative activity for the period ended June 30, 2019 is as follows:

 

Income Fund   Units/
Contracts
    Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 

Purchased Options Contracts

    3,391     $     —  

Written Options Contracts

    1,667        
 

 

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June 30, 2019   Highland Income Fund

 

Note 4. Securities Lending

The Fund may seek additional income by making secured loans of its portfolio securities through its custodian, State Street Bank and Trust Company (“State Street”). Such loans will be in an amount not greater than one-third of the value of the Fund’s total assets. State Street will charge a Fund fees based on a percentage of the securities lending income.

The Fund will receive collateral consisting of cash (U.S. and foreign currency), securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities, sovereign debt, convertible bonds, irrevocable bank letters of credit or such other collateral as may be agreed on by the parties to a securities lending arrangement, initially with a value of 102% or 105% of the market value of the loaned securities and thereafter maintained at a value of 100% of the market value of the loaned securities. If the collateral consists of non-cash collateral, the borrower will pay the Fund a loan premium fee. If the collateral consists of cash, State Street will reinvest the cash. Although voting rights, or rights to consent, with respect to the loaned securities pass to the borrower, the Fund will recall the loaned securities upon reasonable notice in order that the securities may be voted by the Fund if the holders of such securities are asked to vote upon or consent to matters materially affecting the investment. The Fund also may call such loans in order to sell the securities involved.

Securities lending transactions are entered into pursuant to Securities Loan Agreements (“SLA”), which provide the right, in the event of default (including bankruptcy or insolvency) for the non-defaulting party to liquidate the collateral and calculate a net exposure to the defaulting party or request additional collateral. In the event that a borrower defaults, the Funds, as lenders, would offset the market value of the collateral received against the market value of the securities loaned. The value of the collateral is typically greater than that of the market value of the securities loaned, leaving the lender with a net amount payable to the defaulting party. However, bankruptcy or insolvency laws of a particular jurisdiction may impose restrictions on or prohibitions against such a right of offset in the event of a SLA counterparty’s bankruptcy or insolvency. Under the SLA, the Funds can reinvest cash collateral, or, upon an event of default, resell or repledge the collateral, and the borrower can resell or repledge the loaned securities. The risks of securities lending also include the risk that the borrower may not provide additional collateral when required or may not return the securities when due. To mitigate this risk, each Fund benefits from a borrower default indemnity provided by State Street State Street. State Street’s indemnity generally provides for replacement of securities lent or the approximate value thereof.

Note 5. U.S. Federal Income Tax Information

The character of income and gains to be distributed is determined in accordance with income tax regulations which may differ from U.S. GAAP. These differences include (but are not limited to) investments organized as partnerships for tax purposes, tax treatment of organizational start-up costs, losses deferred due to wash sale transactions, and tax attributes from Fund reorganizations. Reclassifications are made to the Funds’ capital accounts to reflect income and gains available for distribution (or available capital loss carryovers) under income tax regulations. These reclassifications have no impact on net investment income, realized gains or losses, or NAV of the Funds. The calculation of net investment income per share in the Financial Highlights table excludes these adjustments.

For the period ended December 31, 2018, permanent differences chiefly resulting from partnership basis adjustments, return of capital distributions paid by the fund, differences in premium amortization methods for book and tax, foreign currency gains and losses, reorganization expenses, and paydown reclasses were identified and reclassified among the components of the Fund’s net assets as follows:

 

Distributable

Earnings

  Paid-in-
Capital
 
$1,079,222   $ (1,079,222

At December 31, 2018, the Fund’s most recent tax year end, components of distributable earnings on a tax basis is as follows:

 

Undistributed
Income
  Accumulated
Capital and
Other Losses
    Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
(2)
 
$—   $ (145,952,337   $ (456,256,839

 

(1) 

Any differences between book-basis and tax-basis net unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) are primarily due to non-taxable dividends, partnerships and difference in premium amortization methods for book and tax.

As of December 31, 2018, the Fund has capital loss carryovers as indicated below. The capital loss carryovers are available to offset future realized capital gains to the extent provided in the Code and regulations promulgated thereunder. To the extent that these carryover losses are used to offset future capital gains, the gains offset will not be distributed to shareholders.

 

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (continued)

 

 

 

June 30, 2019   Highland Income Fund

 

 

No
Expiration
Short-
Term
(1)
  No
Expiration
Long-
Term
(1)
    Total  
$—   $ 145,952,337     $ 145,952,337  

 

(1)  

On December 22, 2010, the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010 (the “Modernization Act”) was signed into law. The Modernization Act modifies several of the Federal income and excise tax provisions related to RICs. Under the Modernization Act, new capital losses may now be carried forward indefinitely, and retain the character of the original loss as compared with pre-enactment law where capital losses could be carried forward for eight years, and carried forward as short-term capital losses, irrespective of the character of the original loss.

During the period ended December 31, 2018, the Fund utilized capital carryforwards in the amount of $868,792.

The tax character of distributions paid during the period ended December 31, 2018 and the years ended June 30, 2018 and June 30, 2017 is as follows:

 

     Ordinary
Income
(1)
    Long-term
Capital Gains
   

Return

of Capital

 

2018

  $ 32,468,254     $     $ 720,948  

2018*

    49,645,426             6,936,337  

2017*

    31,812,190             2,014,621  

 

(1)  

For tax purposes, short-term capital gains distributions, if any, are considered ordinary income distributions.

*

Year ended June 30.

Unrealized appreciation and depreciation at June 30, 2019, based on cost of investments for U.S. federal income tax purposes was:

 

Gross
Appreciation
  Gross
Depreciation
    Net
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
    Cost  
$52,159,000   $ (461,690,488   $ (409,531,488   $ 1,746,325,480  

Qualified Late Year Ordinary and Post October Losses

Under current laws, certain capital losses and specified losses realized after October 31 may be deferred and treated as occurring on the first day of the following fiscal year. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, the Fund did not elect to defer net realized losses incurred from November 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018.

Note 6. Credit Agreement and Reverse Repurchase Agreement

On February 2, 2018, HFRO Sub, LLC a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Fund entered into a financing arrangement (the “Financing Arrangement”) with Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Bank of America, N.A. The Fund is in compliance with the Financing Arrangement.

Pursuant to the terms of the Financing Arrangement, and subject to certain customary conditions, HFRO Sub, LLC may

borrow on a revolving basis a maximum of $500 million, with a maturity date of February 2, 2020. In connection with the Financing Arrangement, HFRO Sub, LLC and the Fund have made representations and warranties regarding the loans and underlying collateral and are required to comply with various covenants, reporting requirements and other customary requirements. The Facility also limits the recourse of the lender to the assets of HFRO Sub, LLC and includes usual and customary events of default for senior secured revolving facilities of this nature. At June 30, 2019, current outstanding and fair value amounts were $350,000,000 and $354,190,976, respectively, and would be categorized as Level 3 within the fair value hierarchy. The Fund’s average daily balance was $425,000,000 at a weighted average interest rate of 3.83% for the days outstanding.

On March 21, 2017, the Fund entered into a leverage facility agreement (the “BNP Agreement”) with BNP Paribas Prime Brokerage International, Ltd., BNP Prime Brokerage, Inc., acting through its New York Branch, and BNP Paribas (together, the “BNPP Entities”). Under the BNP Agreement, the BNPP Entities may make margin loans to Fund at a rate of one-month LIBOR + 0.50%. The BNP Agreement may be terminated by either the Fund or the BNPP Entities with 30 days’ notice.

At June 30, 2019, the Fund did not have an outstanding balance on the BNP Agreement. The Fund’s average daily balance was $238 at a weighted average interest rate of 2.97% for the days outstanding.

On February 9, 2018, the Fund entered into an agreement with BNP Paribas Securities Corporation (“BNP Securities”) under which it may from time to time enter into reverse repurchase transactions pursuant to the terms of a master repurchase agreement and related annexes (collectively the “Repurchase Agreement”). A reverse repurchase transaction is a repurchase transaction in which the Fund is the seller of securities or other assets and agrees to repurchase them at a date certain or on demand. Pursuant to the Repurchase Agreement, the Fund may agree to sell securities or other assets to BNP Securities for an agreed upon price (the “Purchase Price”), with a simultaneous agreement to repurchase such securities or other assets from BNP Securities for the Purchase Price plus a price differential that is economically similar to interest. The price differential is negotiated for each transaction. This creates leverage for the Fund because the cash received can be used to purchase other securities.

At June 30, 2019, the Fund’s outstanding balance on the BNP Securities was $79,077,779. The Fund’s average daily balance was $52,175,642 at a weighted average interest rate of 3.99% for the days outstanding.

 

 

Semi-Annual Report       27


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (continued)

 

 

 

June 30, 2019   Highland Income Fund

 

Note 7. Investment Advisory, Administration and Trustee Fees

For its investment advisory services, the Fund pays the Investment Adviser a monthly fee, computed and accrued daily, based on an annual rate of the Fund’s Average Daily Managed Assets. Average Daily Managed Assets of a Fund means the average daily value of the total assets of a Fund less all accrued liabilities of a Fund (other than the aggregate amount of any outstanding borrowings constituting financial leverage).

The table below shows the Fund’s contractual advisory fee with the Investment Adviser for the period ended June 30, 2019:

 

Annual Fee

Rate to the

Investment Advisor

  > 1 Billion     > 2 Billion  
0.65%     0.60     0.55

Administration Fee

The Investment Adviser provides administrative services to the Fund. For its services, the Investment Adviser receives an annual fee, payable monthly, in an amount equal to 0.20% of the average weekly value of the Fund’s Managed Assets. Under a separate sub-administration agreement, the Investment Adviser delegates certain administrative functions and pays the sub-administrator directly for these sub-administration services. Effective October 1, 2018, the Investment Adviser entered into an administrative services agreement with SEI Investments Global Funds Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of SEI Investments Company. Prior to October 1, 2018, State Street Bank and Trust Company served as sub-administrator to the Fund.

Expense Limits and Fee Reimbursements

The Investment Adviser had contractually agreed to limit the total annual operating expenses (exclusive of fees paid by the Fund pursuant to its Plan, taxes, dividend expenses on short sales, interest payments, brokerage commissions and other transaction costs, acquired fund fees and expenses, and extraordinary expenses) of the Fund to 0.95% of average daily net assets of the Fund (the “FRO Expense Cap”). The FRO Expense Cap expired on October 31, 2016. Under the expense limitation agreement, the Investment Adviser may recoup waived and/or reimbursed amounts with respect to the Fund within thirty-six months of the date such amounts were waived or reimbursed, provided the Fund’s total annual operating expenses, including such recoupment, do not exceed the FRO Expense Cap in effect at the time of such waiver/reimbursement.

There can be no assurance that these fee reductions will be sufficient to avoid any loss. On June 30, 2019, the amounts

subject to possible future recoupment under the Funds’ expense limitations were as follows:

 

Fiscal Years Ended June 30

 
2019   2020  
$751,520   $ 169,993  

During the period ended June 30, 2019, the Investment Adviser did not recoup any amounts previously waived or reimbursed.

Fees Paid to Officers and Trustees

Each Trustee who is not an “interested person” of the Fund as defined in the 1940 Act (the “Independent Trustees”) receives an annual retainer of $150,000 payable in quarterly installments and allocated among each portfolio in the Highland Fund Complex overseen by such Trustee based on relative net assets. The “Highland Fund Complex” consists of all of the registered investment companies advised by the Investment Adviser or its affiliated advisers and NexPoint Capital, Inc., a closed-end management investment company that has elected to be treated as a business development company under the 1940 Act as of the date of this report.

The Fund pays no compensation to its officers, all of whom are employees of the Investment Adviser or one of its affiliates.

Indemnification

Under the Fund’s organizational documents, the officers and Trustees have been granted certain indemnification rights against certain liabilities that may arise out of performance of their duties to the Fund. Additionally, in the normal course of business, the Fund may enter into contracts with service providers that contain a variety of indemnification clauses. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is dependent on future claims that may be made against the Fund and, therefore, cannot be estimated.

Note 8. Disclosure of Significant Risks and Contingencies

The primary risks of investing in the Fund are described below in alphabetical order:

Counterparty Risk

Counterparty risk is the potential loss the Fund may incur as a result of the failure of a counterparty or an issuer to make payments according to the terms of a contract. Counterparty risk is measured as the loss the Fund would record if its counterparties failed to perform pursuant to the terms of their obligations to the Fund. Because the Fund may enter into over-the-counter forwards, options, swaps and other derivative financial instruments, the Fund may be exposed to the credit risk of its counterparties. To limit the counterparty

 

 

28       Semi-Annual Report


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (continued)

 

 

 

June 30, 2019   Highland Income Fund

 

risk associated with such transactions, the Fund conducts business only with financial institutions judged by the Investment Adviser to present acceptable credit risk.

Credit Risk

Investments rated below investment grade are commonly referred to as high-yield, high risk or “junk debt.” They are regarded as predominantly speculative with respect to the issuing company’s continuing ability to meet principal and/ or interest payments. Investments in high yield debt and high yield Senior Loans may result in greater NAV fluctuation than if the Fund did not make such investments.

Corporate debt obligations, including Senior Loans, are subject to the risk of non-payment of scheduled interest and/or principal. Non-payment would result in a reduction of income to the Fund, a reduction in the value of the corporate debt obligation experiencing non-payment and a potential decrease in the NAV of the Fund.

Currency Risk

A portion of the Fund’s assets may be quoted or denominated in non-U.S. currencies. These securities may be adversely affected by fluctuations in relative currency exchange rates and by exchange control regulations. The Fund’s investment performance may be negatively affected by a devaluation of a currency in which the Fund’s investments are quoted or denominated. Further, the Fund’s investment performance may be significantly affected, either positively or negatively, by currency exchange rates because the U.S. dollar value of securities quoted or denominated in another currency will increase or decrease in response to changes in the value of such currency in relation to the U.S. dollar.

Derivatives Risk

Derivatives risk is a combination of several risks, including the risks that: (1) an investment in a derivative instrument may not correlate well with the performance of the securities or asset class to which the Fund seeks exposure, (2) derivative contracts, including options, may expire worthless and the use of derivatives may result in losses to the Fund, (3) a derivative instrument entailing leverage may result in a loss greater than the principal amount invested, (4) derivatives not traded on an exchange may be subject to credit risk, for example, if the counterparty does not meet its obligations (see also “Counterparty Risk”), and (5) derivatives not traded on an exchange may be subject to liquidity risk and the related risk that the instrument is difficult or impossible to value accurately. As a general matter, when the Fund establishes certain derivative instrument positions, such as certain futures, options and forward contract positions, it will segregate liquid assets (such as cash, U.S. Treasury bonds or commercial paper) equivalent to the Fund’s

outstanding obligations under the contract or in connection with the position. In addition, changes in laws or regulations may make the use of derivatives more costly, may limit the availability of derivatives, or may otherwise adversely affect the use, value or performance of derivatives. A Fund’s ability to pursue its investment strategy, including its strategy of investing in certain derivative instruments, may be limited to or adversely affected by the Fund’s intention to qualify as a regulated investment company, and its strategy may bear adversely on its ability to so qualify.

Distressed and Defaulted Securities Risk

The Fund may invest in companies that are troubled, in distress or bankrupt. As such, they are subject to a multitude of legal, industry, market, environmental and governmental forces that make analysis of these companies inherently difficult. Further, the Investment Adviser relies on company management, outside experts, market participants and personal experience to analyze potential investments for the Fund. There can be no assurance that any of these sources will prove credible, or that the resulting analysis will produce accurate conclusions.

Hedging Risk

The Fund may engage in “hedging,” the practice of attempting to offset a potential loss in one position by establishing an opposite position in another investment. Hedging strategies in general are usually intended to limit or reduce investment risk, but can also be expected to limit or reduce the potential for profit. For example, if the Fund has taken a defensive posture by hedging its portfolio, and stock prices advance, the return to investors will be lower than if the portfolio had not been hedged. No assurance can be given that any particular hedging strategy will be successful, or that the Investment Adviser will elect to use a hedging strategy at a time when it is advisable.

Illiquid and Restricted Securities Risk

Certain investments made by the Fund are, and others may be, illiquid, and consequently the Fund may not be able to sell such investments at prices that reflect the Investment Adviser’s assessment of their value or the amount originally paid for such investments by the Fund. Illiquidity may result from the absence of an established market for the investments as well as legal, contractual or other restrictions on their resale and other factors. Furthermore, the nature of the Fund’s investments, especially those in financially distressed companies, may require a long holding period prior to profitability.

Restricted securities (i.e., securities acquired in private placement transactions) and illiquid securities may offer higher yields than comparable publicly traded securities. The Fund, however, may not be able to sell these securities when

 

 

Semi-Annual Report       29


Table of Contents

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (continued)

 

 

 

June 30, 2019   Highland Income Fund

 

the Investment Adviser considers it desirable to do so or, to the extent they are sold privately, may have to sell them at less than the price of otherwise comparable securities. Restricted securities are subject to limitations on resale which can have an adverse effect on the price obtainable for such securities. Also, if in order to permit resale the securities are registered under the Securities Act at a Fund’s expense, the Fund’s expenses would be increased. A high percentage of illiquid securities in a Fund creates a risk that such a Fund may not be able to redeem its shares without causing significant dilution to remaining shareholders.

Leverage Risk

The Fund may use leverage in its investment program, including the use of borrowed funds and investments in certain types of options, such as puts, calls and warrants, which may be purchased for a fraction of the price of the underlying securities. While such strategies and techniques increase the opportunity to achieve higher returns on the amounts invested, they also increase the risk of loss. To the extent the Fund purchases securities with borrowed funds, its net assets will tend to increase or decrease at a greater rate than if borrowed funds are not used. If the interest expense on borrowings were to exceed the net return on the portfolio securities purchased with borrowed funds, the Fund’s use of leverage would result in a lower rate of return than if the Fund were not leveraged.

Non-U.S. Securities Risk

The Fund may invest in non-U.S. securities. Investing in non-U.S. securities involves certain risks not involved in domestic investments, including, but not limited to: fluctuations in foreign exchange rates; future foreign economic, financial, political and social developments; different legal systems; the possible imposition of exchange controls or other foreign governmental laws or restrictions; lower trading volume; much greater price volatility and illiquidity of certain non-U.S. securities markets; different trading and settlement practices; less governmental supervision; changes in currency exchange rates; high and volatile rates of inflation; fluctuating interest rates; less publicly available information; and different accounting, auditing and financial recordkeeping standards and requirements.

Options Risk

There are several risks associated with transactions in options on securities. For example, there are significant differences between the securities and options markets that could result in an imperfect correlation between these markets, causing a given transaction not to achieve its objectives. A transaction in options or securities may be unsuccessful to some degree because of market behavior or unexpected events.

When the Fund writes a covered call option, the Fund forgoes, during the option’s life, the opportunity to profit from increases in the market value of the security covering the call option above the sum of the premium and the strike price of the call, but retains the risk of loss should the price of the underlying security decline. The writer of an option has no control over the time when it may be required to fulfill its obligation and once an option writer has received an exercise notice, it must deliver the underlying security in exchange for the strike price.

When the Fund writes a covered put option, the Fund bears the risk of loss if the value of the underlying stock declines below the exercise price minus the put premium. If the option is exercised, the Fund could incur a loss if it is required to purchase the stock underlying the put option at a price greater than the market price of the stock at the time of exercise plus the put premium the Fund received when it wrote the option. While the Fund’s potential gain in writing a covered put option is limited to distributions earned on the liquid assets securing the put option plus the premium received from the purchaser of the put option, the Fund risks a loss equal to the entire exercise price of the option minus the put premium.

REIT-Specific Risk

Real estate investments are subject to various risk factors. Generally, real estate investments could be adversely affected by a recession or general economic downturn where the properties are located. Real estate investment performance is also subject to the success that a particular property manager has in managing the property.

Senior Loans Risk

The risk that the issuer of a senior may fail to pay interest or principal when due, and changes in market interest rates may reduce the value of the senior loan or reduce the Fund’s returns. The risks associated with senior loans are similar to the risks of high yield debt securities. Senior loans and other debt securities are also subject to the risk of price declines and to increases in interest rates, particularly long-term rates. Senior loans are also subject to the risk that, as interest rates rise, the cost of borrowing increases, which may increase the risk of default. In addition, the interest rates of floating rate loans typically only adjust to changes in short-term interest rates; long-term interest rates can vary dramatically from short-term interest rates. Therefore, senior loans may not mitigate price declines in a long-term interest rate environment. The Fund’s investments in senior loans are typically below investment grade and are considered speculative because of the credit risk of their issuers.

 

 

30       Semi-Annual Report


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (continued)

 

 

 

June 30, 2019   Highland Income Fund

 

 

Short Sales Risk

Short sales by the Fund that are not made where there is an offsetting long position in the asset that it is being sold short theoretically involve unlimited loss potential since the market price of securities sold short may continuously increase. Short selling allows the Fund to profit from declines in market prices to the extent such decline exceeds the transaction costs and costs of borrowing the securities. However, since the borrowed securities must be replaced by purchases at market prices in order to close out the short position, any appreciation in the price of the borrowed securities would result in a loss. Purchasing securities to close out the short position can itself cause the price of securities to rise further, thereby exacerbating the loss. The Fund may mitigate such losses by replacing the securities sold short before the market price has increased significantly. Under adverse market conditions, the Fund might have difficulty purchasing securities to meet margin calls on its short sale delivery obligations, and might have to sell portfolio securities to raise the capital necessary to meet its short sale obligations at a time when fundamental investment considerations would not favor such sales.

Valuation Risk

Certain of the Fund’s assets are fair valued, including the Fund’s primary illiquid asset, TerreStar. TerreStar is a non-operating company that does not currently generate revenue and which primarily derives its value from two spectrum frequencies, the license with respect to one of which was terminated by the FCC and is being contested by TerreStar on technical and public policy grounds. TerreStar cur-

rently anticipates such contest may take between 12 to 30 months and expects deployment of its other spectrum asset to require a similar period of time. If TerreStar is ultimately unsuccessful in its efforts, the terminated license would not be reinstated and the value of the TerreStar equity would likely be materially negatively impacted. The fair valuation of TerreStar involves uncertainty as it is materially dependent on these estimates. With regard to the likelihood of TerreStar regaining the terminated license, the Investment Adviser assigned a high probability of success, based in part in consultation with outside experts.

Gain Contingency

Claymore Holdings, LLC, a partially-owned affiliate of the Fund, is engaged in ongoing litigation that could result in a possible gain contingency to the Fund. The probability, timing, and potential amount of recovery, if any, are unknown.

Note 9. Investment Transactions

Purchases & Sales of Securities

The cost of purchases and the proceeds from sales of investments, other than short-term securities and short-term options, for the period ended June 30, 2019, were as follows:

 

U.S Government
Securities

   

Other Securities

 
Purchases   Sales     Purchases     Sales  
$—   $     $ 287,416,089     $ 182,043,536  

 

(1)  

The Fund did not have any purchases or sales of U.S. Government Securities for the year ended June 30, 2019.

 

 

Note 10. Affiliated Issuers

Under Section 2 (a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, a portfolio company is defined as “affiliated” if a fund owns five percent or more of its outstanding voting securities or if the portfolio company is under common control. The table below shows affiliated issuers of the Fund as of June 30, 2019:

 

Income Fund

 

 

Issuer

 

Shares at
December 31,

2018

    Beginning
Value as of
December 31,
2018
    Purchases
at Cost
    Proceeds
from Sales
   

Net
Realized
Gain/(Loss)
on Sales of
Affiliated

Issuers

    Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation/
Depreciation
   

Ending Value
as of June 30,

2019

   

Shares at
June 30,

2019

    Affiliated
Income
 

Majority Owned, Not Consolidated

                 

Allenby (Common Stocks)

    1,291,881     $ 1$66,496     $ 50,228     $     $     $ (50,227   $ 2       1,342,109     $  

Claymore (Common Stocks)

    8,698,220       9       330,287                   (330,287     9       9,028,507        

Other Affiliates

                 

CCS Medical, Inc. (U.S. Senior Loans & Common Stocks)

    52,229,448       24,398,513       3,237,905                   (258,884     27,377,534       55,260,321       3,279,908  

EDS Legacy Partners (U.S. Senior Loans)

    57,000,000       57,000,000                         1,596,000       58,596,000       57,000,000        

Gambier Bay LLC (Common Stocks)

    10,939,879       1,258,086             (7,856,551           6,598,465                    

 

Semi-Annual Report       31


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited) (concluded)

 

 

 

June 30, 2019   Highland Income Fund

 

Income Fund

 

 

Issuer

 

Shares at
December 31,

2018

    Beginning
Value as of
December 31,
2018
    Purchases
at Cost
    Proceeds
from Sales
   

Net
Realized
Gain/(Loss)
on Sales of
Affiliated

Issuers

    Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation/
Depreciation
   

Ending Value
as of June 30,

2019

   

Shares at
June 30,

2019

    Affiliated
Income
 

LLV Holdco LLC (U.S. Senior Loans, Common Stocks and Warrants)

    12,552,393     $ 10,002,768     $     $     $     $     $ 10,002,768       12,503,460     $  

Nevada Land Group LLC (U.S. Senior Loans)

    1,743,503                         (1,743,503     1,743,503                   49,304  

NexPoint Strategic Opportunities Fund (Registered Investment Company)

    427,345       8,516,986       9,983,151                   214,449       18,714,586       989,143       625,174  

NFRO REIT SUB, LLC (Common Stocks)

    802,563       17,207,025       11,450,000                   401,989       29,059,014       1,332,591        
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

    145,685,232     $ 118,383,388     $ 25,051,571     $ (7,856,551   $ (1,743,503   $ 9,915,008     $ 143,749,913       137,456,131     $ 3,954,386  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Note 11. Regulatory Matters

On August 17, 2018, the SEC adopted amendments to Regulation S-X. These changes are effective for periods after November 5, 2018. The updates to Registered Investment Companies were mainly focused on simplifying the presentation of distributable earnings by eliminating the need to present the components of distributable earnings on a book basis in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. The update also impacted the presentation of undistributed net investment income and distribution to shareholders on the Statements of Changes in Net Assets. The amounts presented in the current Statements of Changes in Net Assets represent the aggregated total distributions of net investment income and realized capital gains, except for distributions classified as return of capital which are still presented separately. The disaggregated amounts from the prior fiscal year are broken out below if there were both distributions from net investment income and realized capital gains. Otherwise, the amount on the current Statement of Changes for the prior fiscal year end represents distributions of net investment income.

Note 12. New Accounting Pronouncements

In August 2018, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820). The new guidance includes additions and modifications to disclosures requirements for fair value measurements. For public entities, the amendments are effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those fiscal years. At this time, management is currently evaluating the impact of this new guidance on the financial statements and disclosures.

Note 13. Asset Coverage

The Fund is required to maintain 300% asset coverage with respect to amounts outstanding (excluding short-term

borrowings) under its various leverage facilities. Asset coverage is calculated by subtracting the Fund’s total liabilities, not including any amount representing bank borrowings and senior securities, from the Fund’s total assets and dividing the result by the principal amount of the borrowings outstanding. As of the dates indicated below, the Fund’s debt outstanding and asset coverage was as follows:

 

Date    Total
Amount
Outstanding
     % of Asset
Coverage of
Indebtedness
 

6/30/2019

     429,077,779        341.05

12/31/2018*

     496,141,100        306.80 %

6/30/2018

     498,563,423        317.70 %

6/30/2017

     N/A        N/A  

6/30/2016

     N/A        N/A  

6/30/2015

     51,500,000      1641.40 %

6/30/2014

     60,000,000      1577.60 %

6/30/2013

     N/A        N/A  

6/30/2012

     89,000,000      718.40 %

6/30/2011

     135,000,000        659.90 %

6/30/2010

     115,000,000        606.00 %

6/30/2009

     181,000,000        465.80 %

6/30/2008

     511,000,000        409.30 %

 

*

For the six month period ended December 31, 2018. Effective April 11, 2019, the Fund had a fiscal year change from June 30 to December 31 (Note 1).

Note 14. Subsequent Events

The Investment Adviser has evaluated the impact of all subsequent events on the Fund through the date the consolidated financial statements were issued, and has determined that there were no such subsequent events to report which have not already been recorded or disclosed in these financial statements and accompanying notes.

 

 

32       Semi-Annual Report


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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (unaudited)

 

 

 

June 30, 2019   Highland Income Fund

 

Additional Portfolio Information

The Investment Adviser and its affiliates manage other accounts, including registered and private funds and individual accounts. Although investment decisions for the Fund are made independently from those of such other accounts, the Investment Adviser may, consistent with applicable law, make investment recommendations to other clients or accounts that may be the same or different from those made to the Fund, including investments in different levels of the capital structure of a company, such as equity versus senior loans, or that involve taking contradictory positions in multiple levels of the capital structure. The Investment Adviser has adopted policies and procedures that address the allocation of investment opportunities, execution of portfolio transactions, personal trading by employees and other potential conflicts of interest that are designed to ensure that all client accounts are treated equitably over time. Nevertheless, this may create situations where a client could be disadvantaged because of the investment activities conducted by the Investment Adviser for other client accounts. When the Fund and one or more of such other accounts is prepared to invest in, or desire to dispose of, the same security, available investments or opportunities for each will be allocated in a manner believed by the Investment Adviser to be equitable to the Fund and such other accounts. The Investment Adviser also may aggregate orders to purchase and sell securities for the Fund and such other accounts. Although the Investment Adviser believes that, over time, the potential benefits of participating in volume transactions and negotiating lower transaction costs should benefit all accounts including the Fund, in some cases these activities may adversely affect the price paid or received by the Fund or the size of the position obtained or disposed of by the Fund.

Dividend Reinvestment Plan

Unless the registered owner of Common Shares elects to receive cash by contacting American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC (“AST” or the “Plan Agent”), as agent for shareholders in administering the Plan, a registered owner will receive newly issued Common Shares for all dividends declared for Common Shares of the Fund. If a registered owner of Common Shares elects not to participate in the Plan, they will receive all dividends in cash paid by check mailed directly to them (or, if the shares are held in street or other nominee name, then to such nominee) by AST, as dividend disbursing agent. Shareholders may elect not to participate in the Plan and to receive all dividends in cash by sending written instructions or by contacting AST, as dividend disbursing agent, at the address set forth below.

Participation in the Plan is completely voluntary and may be terminated or resumed at any time without penalty by contacting the Plan Agent before the dividend record date;

otherwise such termination or resumption will be effective with respect to any subsequently declared dividend. Some brokers may automatically elect to receive cash on the shareholders’ behalf and may reinvest that cash in additional Common Shares of the Fund for them. The Plan Agent will open an account for each shareholder under the Plan in the same name in which such shareholder’s Common Shares are registered.

Whenever the Fund declares a dividend payable in cash, non-participants in the Plan will receive cash and participants in the Plan will receive the equivalent in Common Shares. The Common Shares will be acquired by the Plan Agent through receipt of additional unissued but authorized Common Shares from the Fund (“newly issued Common Shares”). The number of newly issued Common Shares to be credited to each participant’s account will be determined by dividing the dollar amount of the dividend by the lesser of (i) the net asset value per Common Share determined on the Declaration Date and (ii) the market price per Common Share as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) on the Declaration Date. The Plan Agent maintains all shareholders’ accounts in the Plan and furnishes written confirmation of all transactions in the accounts, including information needed by shareholders for tax records. Common Shares in the account of each Plan participant will be held by the Plan Agent on behalf of the Plan participant, and each shareholder proxy will include those shares purchased or received pursuant to the Plan. The Plan Agent will forward all proxy solicitation materials to participants and vote proxies for shares held under the Plan in accordance with the instructions of the participants. In the case of shareholders such as banks, brokers or nominees which hold shares for others who are the beneficial owners, the Plan Agent will administer the Plan on the basis of the number of Common Shares certified from time to time by the record shareholder’s name and held for the account of beneficial owners who participate in the Plan. There will be no brokerage charges with respect to Common Shares issued directly by the Fund.

The automatic reinvestment of dividends will not relieve participants of any federal, state or local income tax that may be payable (or required to be withheld) on such dividends. Accordingly, any taxable dividend received by a participant that is reinvested in additional Common Shares will be subject to federal (and possibly state and local) income tax even though such participant will not receive a corresponding amount of cash with which to pay such taxes. Participants who request a sale of shares through the Plan Agent are subject to a $2.50 sales fee and pay a brokerage commission of $0.05 per share sold. The Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan. There is no direct service charge to participants in the Plan; however, the Fund

 

 

Semi-Annual Report       33


Table of Contents

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (unaudited) (concluded)

 

 

 

June 30, 2019   Highland Income Fund

 

reserves the right to amend the Plan to include a service charge payable by the participants. All correspondence concerning the Plan should be directed to the Plan Agent at American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC 6201 15th Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11219; telephone (718) 921-8200.

 

 

34       Semi-Annual Report


Table of Contents

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THIS REPORT

 

 

 

Investment Adviser

Highland Capital Management Fund Advisors, L.P.

200 Crescent Court, Suite 700

Dallas, TX 75201

Transfer Agent

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC

6201 15th Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11219

Underwriter

Highland Capital Funds Distributor, Inc.

200 Crescent Court, Suite 700

Dallas, TX 75201

Custodian

State Street Bank and Trust Company

One Lincoln Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02111

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

2121 N. Pearl Street, Suite 2000

Dallas, TX 75201

Fund Counsel

K&L Gates LLP

1 Lincoln Street

Boston, MA 02111

This report has been prepared for shareholders of Highland Income Fund (the “Fund”). The Fund mails one shareholder report to each shareholder address. If you would like more than one report, please call shareholder services at 1-800-357-9167 to request that additional reports be sent to you.

A description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to their portfolio securities, and the Fund’s proxy voting records for the most recent 12-month period ended June 30, are available (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-357-9167 and (ii) on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

The Fund file its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. The Fund’s Form N-Q are available on the Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov and also may be reviewed and copied at the Commission’s Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. Information on the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330. Shareholders may also obtain the Form N-Q by visiting the Fund’s website at www.highlandfunds.com.

The Statement of Additional Information includes additional information about the Fund’s Trustees and is available upon request without charge by calling 1-800-357-9167.

 

 

Semi-Annual Report       35


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LOGO

Highland Funds

c/o American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC

6201 15th Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11219

 

Highland Income Fund    Semi-Annual Report, June 30, 2019

 

www.highlandfunds.com    FRO-SAR-06/19


Table of Contents

Item 2. Code of Ethics.

Not applicable.

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.

Not applicable.

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

Not applicable.

Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.

Not applicable.

Item 6. Investments.

 

(a)

Schedule of Investments in securities of unaffiliated issuers as of the close of the reporting period is included as part of the Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders filed under Item 1 of this form.

 

(b)

Not applicable.

Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

Not applicable.

Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

There has been no change, as of the date of this filing, in any of the portfolio managers identified in response to paragraph (a)(1) of this Item in Highland Income Fund’s (the “Registrant”) most recently filed annual report on Form N-CSR.

Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers.

No such purchases were made by or on behalf of the Registrant or any “affiliated purchaser” during the period covered by this report.

Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

There have been no material changes to the procedures by which the shareholders may recommend nominees to the Registrant’s Board.


Table of Contents

Item 11. Controls and Procedures.

 

(a)

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The Registrant maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Registrant’s filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the periods specified in the rules and forms of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such information is accumulated and communicated to the Registrant’s management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Registrant’s management, including the principal executive officer and principal financial officer, recognizes that any set of controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives.

Remediation of Material Weakness in Internal Control over Financial Reporting. As of June 30, 2019, management remediated the material weakness previously identified as of December 31, 2018 relating to the application of ASC 820 and the reasonableness and reliability of assumptions used in the fair value model which is monitored by the Valuation Committee through the operation of a review control (the “Material Weakness”). This control was not designed at an appropriate level of precision to ensure the accurate valuation of Level 3 securities. The Material Weakness resulted in material pricing errors related to a hard-to-value security held by the Registrant over a period of time.

The steps management took to remediate this Material Weakness included: i) enhancing a separate review control by adding control activities designed to operate at a level of precision which will enable such errors to be detected and by adding an additional member to the Valuation Sub-Committee to conduct such control activities, ii) providing additional training to members of its Valuation Sub-Committee and Valuation Committee with respect to the application of ASC 820 and the usage of subject matter expert inputs as inputs to fair value determinations, and iii) creating and implementing a guide for use of the Valuation Sub-Committee and the Valuation Committee for the application of ASC 820 to fair value models.

As a result of the remediation activities, management has determined that its controls were designed appropriately and at a sufficient level of precision, and have been operating effectively for a sufficient period of time, such that the Material Weakness previously identified as of December 31, 2018 has been remediated as of June 30, 2019.

 

(b)

Changes in Internal Controls. Other than the completed enhancements to controls noted above, there have been no changes in the Registrant’s internal controls or in other factors that could materially affect the internal controls over financial reporting subsequent to the date of their evaluation in connection with the preparation of this Shareholder Report on Form N-CSRS.

Item 12. Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

(a) Not applicable.

(b) Not applicable.

Item 13. Exhibits.

(a)(1)   Not applicable.
(a)(2)   Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(a) under the 1940 Act and Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached hereto.
(a)(3)   Not applicable.
(a)(4)   Not applicable.
(b)   Certifications pursuant to Rule 30a-2(b) under the 1940 Act and Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 are attached hereto.

 


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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

HIGHLAND INCOME FUND
By (Signature and Title):  

/s/ Frank Waterhouse

  Frank Waterhouse
  Treasurer, Principal Accounting Officer and Principal Financial Officer

Date: September 9, 2019

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

By (Signature and Title):  

/s/ Frank Waterhouse

  Frank Waterhouse
  Treasurer, Principal Accounting Officer and Principal Financial Officer

Date: September 9, 2019