UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.    )

 

 

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  Preliminary Proxy Statement
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CREDIT SUISSE HIGH YIELD BOND FUND

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

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CREDIT SUISSE HIGH YIELD BOND FUND

Eleven Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10010

(800) 293-1232

 

 

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

To Be Held on February 23, 2021

 

 

TO THE SHAREHOLDERS OF

CREDIT SUISSE HIGH YIELD BOND FUND:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Meeting”) of Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund (NYSE American: DHY) (the “Fund”) will be held only in virtual meeting format, on Tuesday, February 23, 2021, commencing at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. In light of public health concerns regarding COVID-19, the Meeting will be held only in virtual meeting format. You will not be able to attend the Annual Meeting in person.

The purpose of the Meeting is to consider and act upon the following proposal and to consider and act upon such other matters as may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournments thereof:

(1) To elect two (2) Trustees of the Fund.

This item is discussed in greater detail in the attached Proxy Statement.

The close of business on December 11, 2020 has been fixed as the record date for the determination of the shareholders of the Fund entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Meeting.

Due to the public health impact of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) and to support the health and well-being of the Fund’s shareholders, the Meeting will be held virtually on the Internet rather than in person. All shareholders are requested to vote by proxy by completing, dating, and signing the enclosed proxy card and returning it promptly. You also may vote at the virtual Meeting if you choose to attend.

If you owned shares as of the Record Date and wish to participate in the Meeting, you must email AST Fund Solutions, LLC (“AST”) at attendingameeting@astfinancial.com or call AST toll-free at 1-800-814-0439, in order to register to attend the Meeting, obtain the credentials to access the Meeting, and verify that you were a shareholder on the Record Date. If you are a record owner of shares, please have your 15-digit control number on your proxy card available when you call or include it in your email. If you choose to email, include your control number, full name and address, your intent to attend the Meeting and insert “Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund” in the Subject Line. If


you choose to call, please have your control number handy as well. You may vote during the Meeting by following the instructions that will be available on the Meeting website during the Meeting.

If you hold your shares through an intermediary, such as a bank or broker, as of the Record Date, you must provide a legal proxy from that institution in order to vote your shares at the Meeting. You may forward an email from your intermediary or attach an image of your legal proxy and transmit it via email to AST at attendingameeting@astfinancial.com and you should label the email “Legal Proxy” in the subject line. If you hold your shares through an intermediary as of the Record Date and wish to attend, but not vote at, the Meeting, you must verify to AST that you owned shares as of the Record Date through an account statement or some other similar means. Requests for registration must be received by AST no later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on Thursday, February 18, 2021. You will then receive a confirmation email from AST of your registration and a control number that will allow you to vote at the Meeting.

This notice and related proxy materials are first being mailed on or about December 28, 2020.

By Order of the Board of Trustees,

 

LOGO

JOHN G. POPP

Chief Executive Officer and President

WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOUR SHARES BE REPRESENTED AND VOTED AT THE MEETING. ACCORDINGLY, PLEASE DATE, SIGN AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD PROMPTLY. NO POSTAGE IS REQUIRED IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOUR PROXY CARD BE RETURNED PROMPTLY IN ORDER TO AVOID THE ADDITIONAL EXPENSE OF FURTHER SOLICITATION.

Dated: December 28, 2020

New York, New York


CREDIT SUISSE HIGH YIELD BOND FUND

Eleven Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10010

 

 

Proxy Statement for the

Annual Meeting of Shareholders

To Be Held on Tuesday, February 23, 2021

 

 

This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with a solicitation of proxies by the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund (the “Fund”) for use at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Fund to be held in virtual meeting format on Tuesday, February 23, 2021 (commencing at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) and at any adjournments thereof (the “Meeting”). A Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and a proxy card (the “Proxy”) accompany this Proxy Statement.

Proxy solicitations will be made primarily by mail, but solicitations may also be made by telephone or personal interviews conducted by officers or employees of the Fund; Credit Suisse Asset Management, LLC (“Credit Suisse”), the investment adviser to the Fund; State Street Bank and Trust Company, the administrator of the Fund (the “Administrator”); or AST, a professional proxy solicitation firm that has been retained by the Fund for a fee not to exceed $1,500 plus all reasonable out of pocket expenses (e.g., shareholder telephone calls) incurred on behalf of the Fund. All costs of solicitation, including (a) printing and mailing of this Proxy Statement and accompanying material, (b) the reimbursement of brokerage firms and others for their expenses in forwarding solicitation material to the beneficial owners of the Fund’s shares, (c) payment to AST for its services in soliciting Proxies and (d) supplementary solicitations to submit Proxies, will be borne by the Fund. This Proxy Statement and accompanying Proxy are expected to be mailed to shareholders on or about December 28, 2020.

The principal executive office of the Fund and Credit Suisse is Eleven Madison Avenue, 9th Floor, New York, New York 10010. The principal executive office of the Administrator is One Lincoln Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111.

The Fund’s Annual Report containing audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020 is being furnished to all shareholders of the Fund along with this Proxy Statement in a combined mailing. The Fund’s Annual Report is not to be regarded as proxy-soliciting material.

If the enclosed Proxy is properly executed and returned in time to be voted at the Meeting, the shares represented thereby will be voted in accordance with the instructions marked on the Proxy. Any shareholder giving a Proxy has the right to attend the Meeting to vote his or her shares (thereby revoking any prior Proxy) and also the right to revoke the Proxy at any time by written notice received by the

 

1


Fund prior to the time it is voted. Please note that merely virtually attending the Meeting without voting will not revoke a valid proxy.

The presence in person or by proxy of the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to be cast shall be necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. In the event that a quorum is not present at the Meeting, the holders of a majority of the shares present in person or by proxy will have the power to adjourn the Meeting, without notice other than an announcement at the Meeting, until the requisite number of shares entitled to vote at the Meeting is present. In the event that a quorum is present at the Meeting but sufficient votes to approve the proposal are not received, the persons named as proxies may propose one or more adjournments of the Meeting to permit further solicitation of Proxies. Any such adjournment will require the affirmative vote of a majority of those shares represented at the Meeting in person or by proxy, and the persons named as proxies will vote those Proxies that they are entitled to vote “FOR” any proposal in favor of such adjournment and will vote those Proxies required to be voted “AGAINST” any proposal against any such adjournment. Absent the establishment of a subsequent record date and the giving of notice to the holders of record thereon, the adjourned Meeting must take place not more than 130 days after the record date. At such adjourned Meeting, any business may be transacted which could have been transacted at the original Meeting.

A Proxy that is properly executed and returned accompanied by instructions to withhold authority to vote (an abstention) or that represents a broker “non-vote” (that is, a Proxy from a broker or nominee indicating that such person has not received instructions from the beneficial owner or other person entitled to vote shares on a particular matter with respect to which the broker or nominee does not have discretionary power) will be treated as shares that are present, but that have not voted, for the purpose of determining a quorum for the transacting of business. Under Delaware law, abstentions and broker non-votes do not constitute a vote “FOR” or “AGAINST” a matter. The election of a Trustee requires that the successful candidate receive a plurality of votes cast at the Meeting in person or by proxy; therefore, abstentions and broker non-votes will be disregarded.

Credit Suisse and its affiliates have advised the Fund that they intend to vote the shares over which they have voting power at the Meeting, including shares that are held directly or on behalf of employees, in the manner instructed by the customers or employees for which such shares are held.

The Fund has one class of shares of beneficial interest of capital stock (the “Shares”). On the record date, December 11, 2020, there were 103,507,402 Shares outstanding. Each Share is entitled to one vote at the Meeting, and fractional Shares are entitled to a proportionate share of one vote. In accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), the Fund is advising its shareholders of the availability on the Internet of the proxy materials relating to the Meeting. These rules allow companies to provide access to proxy materials in one of two ways. Because the Fund has elected to utilize the “full set delivery” option, the Fund is

 

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delivering to all shareholders paper copies of all of the proxy materials, as well as providing access to those proxy materials on a publicly accessible website.

In order that your Shares may be represented at the Meeting, you are requested to:

 

indicate your instructions on the Proxy;

 

date and sign the Proxy;

 

mail the Proxy promptly in the enclosed envelope; and

 

allow sufficient time for the Proxy to be received and processed on or before 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on February 23, 2021.

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Fund to Be Held on Tuesday, February 23, 2021. The Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders, Proxy Statement and the Fund’s most recent annual report are available on the Internet at www.credit-suisse.com/us. A copy of the Fund’s annual report for its fiscal year ended October 31, 2020 is being furnished to all shareholders of the Fund along with this Proxy Statement in a combined mailing. In addition, the Fund will furnish, without charge, a copy of the Fund’s annual report for its fiscal year ended October 31, 2020 to any Fund shareholder upon request. To request a copy, please write to the Fund c/o Credit Suisse Asset Management, LLC, Eleven Madison Avenue, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10010, or call 1-800-293-1232. You also may call for information on how to obtain directions to be able to attend the Meeting and vote.

PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF TRUSTEES

The only proposal to be submitted at the Meeting will be the election of two (2) Trustees of the Fund to hold office for the term set forth below and until his or her respective successor is elected and qualified. Trustees who are not “interested persons” (as that term is defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”)) of the Fund and the Fund’s investment adviser, Credit Suisse, are referred to in this Proxy Statement as “Non-Interested Trustees”.

Pursuant to the Fund’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust, the Board is divided into three classes, with each class having a term of three years. Each year the term of one class will expire. Laura A. DeFelice and Steven N. Rappaport have each been nominated for election to the Board for the class and term as set forth opposite his or her name below:

 

Laura A. DeFelice

  

Class I

  

Three-year term to expire at the

Fund’s 2024 Annual Meeting or until her successor is duly elected and qualified.

Steven N. Rappaport

  

Class I

   Three-year term to expire at the Fund’s 2024 Annual Meeting or until his successor is duly elected and qualified

 

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Each of Ms. DeFelice and Mr. Rappaport currently serves as a Class I Trustee of the Fund. Mahendra R. Gupta and John G. Popp are Class II Trustees whose terms will expire at the Fund’s 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders or until their successors are duly elected and qualified. Jeffrey E. Garten is a Class III Trustee whose term will expire at the Fund’s 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders or until his successor is duly elected and qualified.

Each nominee has indicated an intention to continue to serve if elected and has consented to being named in this Proxy Statement.

The following tables set forth certain information regarding the nominees for election to the Board, Trustees whose terms of office continue beyond the Meeting, and the principal officers of the Fund. The current terms of office of the Fund’s officers will end at the Board’s meeting next following the Meeting, at which meeting it is anticipated that the Board will consider electing the Fund’s officers for an additional term.

TRUSTEES/NOMINEES

 

Name, Address, and

Year of Birth

 

Position(s)
Held With
Fund

 

Term of
Office* and
Length of
Time Served

 

Principal
Occupation(s)
During
Past 5 Years

  Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex**
Overseen

By Trustee
 

Other
Directorships
Held By Trustee
During Past
5 Years

Non-Interested Nominees for Trustee:

Laura A. DeFelice

c/o Credit Suisse Asset Management, LLC

Attn: General Counsel

Eleven Madison Avenue

New York,

New York 10010

Year of Birth: 1959

 

Trustee, Nominating Committee and Audit Committee Member

 

Trustee since 2019; current term ends at the 2021 annual meeting

  Partner of Acacia Properties LLC (multi-family and commercial real estate ownership and operation) from 2008 to present; Stonegate Advisors LLC (renewable energy and energy efficiency) from 2007 to present.   9   None.

 

4


Name, Address, and

Year of Birth

 

Position(s)
Held With
Fund

 

Term of
Office* and
Length of
Time Served

 

Principal
Occupation(s)
During
Past 5 Years

  Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex**
Overseen

By Trustee
 

Other
Directorships
Held By Trustee
During Past
5 Years

Steven N. Rappaport

c/o Credit Suisse Asset Management, LLC
Attn: General Counsel Eleven Madison Avenue New York,
New York 10010
Year of Birth: 1948

  Chairman of the Board of Trustees; Nominating Committee Chairman and Audit Committee Member   Chairman since 2012 and Trustee since 2005; current term ends at the 2021 annual meeting   Partner of Lehigh Court, LLC and RZ Capital (private investment firms) from July 2002 to present; Partner of Backstage Acquisition Holdings, LLC (publication job postings) from November 2013 to 2018.   9   Director of Aberdeen Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund, Inc. (a closed-end investment company); Director of Aberdeen Funds (23 open-end portfolios); Director of iCAD, Inc. (surgical & medical instruments & apparatus company) from 2006 to 2018.

Non-Interested Trustees:

Jeffrey E. Garten

c/o Credit Suisse Asset Management, LLC

Attn: General Counsel

Eleven Madison Avenue

New York,

New York 10010

Year of Birth: 1946

 

Trustee, Nominating Committee and Audit Committee Member

 

Trustee since 2019; current term ends at the 2023 annual meeting

  Dean Emeritus of Yale School of Management from July 2015 to present; The Juan Trippe Professor in the Practice of International Trade, Finance and Business, Yale School of Management, from July 2005 to July 2015; Partner and Chairman of Garten Rothkopf (consulting firm) from October 2005 to June 2017.   9   Director of Aetna, Inc. (insurance company) From January 1999 to January 2019; Director of CarMax Group (used car dealers) From 2002 to 2019; Director of Miller Buckfire & Co., LLC (financial restructuring) From January 2008 to 2019.

 

5


Name, Address, and

Year of Birth

 

Position(s)
Held With
Fund

 

Term of
Office* and
Length of
Time Served

 

Principal
Occupation(s)
During
Past 5 Years

  Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex**
Overseen

By Trustee
 

Other
Directorships
Held By Trustee
During Past
5 Years

Mahendra R. Gupta

c/o Credit Suisse Asset Management, LLC

Attn: General Counsel

Eleven Madison Avenue

New York,

New York 10010

Year of Birth: 1956

 

Trustee, Nominating Committee Member and Audit Committee Chairman

 

Trustee and Audit Committee Chairman since 2019; current term ends at 2022 annual meeting

  Professor, Washington University in St. Louis from July 1990 to present; Dean of Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis from July 2005 to July 2016; Partner, R.J. Mithaiwala (Food manufacturing and retail, India) from March 1977 to present; Partner, F.F.B. Corporation (Agriculture, India) from March 1977 to present; Partner, RPMG Research Corporation (Benchmark research) from July 2001 to present.   9   Director of Caleres Inc. (footwear) from May 2012 to present; Director of Koch Development Corporation (real estate development) from November 2017 to present; Director of Supernova (fin-tech) from June 2014 to September 2018.

 

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Name, Address, and

Year of Birth

 

Position(s)
Held With
Fund

 

Term of
Office* and
Length of
Time Served

 

Principal
Occupation(s)
During
Past 5 Years

  Number of
Portfolios
in Fund
Complex**
Overseen

By Trustee
   

Other
Directorships
Held By Trustee
During Past
5 Years

Interested Trustee:

     

John G. Popp***

Credit Suisse Asset Management, LLC

Eleven Madison Avenue

New York,

New York 10010

Year of Birth: 1956

  Trustee; Chief Executive Officer and President   Trustee since 2012; Chief Executive Officer and President since 2010; current term ends at the 2022 annual meeting   Managing Director of Credit Suisse; Global Head and Chief Investment Officer of the Credit Investment Group; Associated with Credit Suisse or its predecessor since 1997; Officer of other Credit Suisse Funds.     9     None.

 

 

*

Subject to the Fund’s retirement policy, no Trustee shall be presented to shareholders of the Fund for election at any meeting that is scheduled to occur after he/she has reached the age of 74 and a Trustee shall automatically be deemed to retire from the Board at the next annual shareholders’ meeting following the date that he/she reaches the age of 75 years even if his/her term of office has not expired on that date. The requirements of the retirement policy may be waived with respect to an individual Trustee.

**

The “Fund Complex” consists of Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund, Credit Suisse Asset Management Income Fund, Inc., Credit Suisse Commodity Strategy Funds (which currently consists of two portfolios), Credit Suisse Opportunity Funds (which currently consists of four portfolios) and Credit Suisse Trust (which currently consists of one portfolio).

***

Mr. Popp is an “interested person” of the Fund as defined in the 1940 Act by virtue of his current position as an officer of Credit Suisse.

 

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OFFICERS WHO ARE NOT TRUSTEES

 

Name, Address

and Year of Birth

 

Position(s) Held
With Fund

 

Length of
Time Served

 

Principal Occupation(s)
During Past 5 Years

Thomas Flannery

Credit Suisse Asset Management, LLC

Eleven Madison Avenue

New York,

New York 10010

Year of Birth: 1974

  Chief Investment Officer   Since 2010   Managing Director of Credit Suisse and Head of the Credit Suisse US High Yield Management Team; Associated with Credit Suisse Group AG since 1998; Officer of other Credit Suisse Funds.

Emidio Morizio

Credit Suisse Asset Management, LLC

Eleven Madison Avenue

New York,

New York 10010

Year of Birth: 1966

  Chief Compliance Officer   Since 2004   Managing Director and Global Head of Compliance of Credit Suisse since 2010; Associated with Credit Suisse since July 2000; Officer of other Credit Suisse Funds.

Lou Anne McInnis

Credit Suisse Asset Management, LLC

Eleven Madison Avenue

New York,

New York 10010

Year of Birth: 1959

  Chief Legal Officer   Since 2015   Director of Credit Suisse; Associated with Credit Suisse since April 2015; Counsel at DLA Piper US LLP from 2011 to April 2015; Associated with Morgan Stanley Investment Management from 1997 to 2010; Officer of other Credit Suisse Funds.

Karen Regan

Credit Suisse Asset Management, LLC

Eleven Madison Avenue

New York,

New York 10010

Year of Birth: 1963

  Senior Vice President and Secretary   Since 2010   Vice President of Credit Suisse; Associated with Credit Suisse since December 2004; Officer of other Credit Suisse Funds.

Omar Tariq

Credit Suisse Asset Management, LLC

Eleven Madison Avenue

New York,

New York 10010

Year of Birth: 1983

  Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer   Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer since 2019  

Director of Credit Suisse since March 2019; Senior Manager of PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP from September 2010 to March 2019; Officer of other Credit Suisse Funds.

 

8


Qualification of Board of Trustees/Nominees

The Board believes that each Trustee’s and nominee’s experience, qualifications, attributes or skills on an individual basis and in combination with those of the other Trustees and nominees lead to the conclusion that each Trustee and nominee should serve as a Trustee. Among the attributes common to all Trustees and nominees are their ability to review critically, evaluate, question and discuss information provided to them, to interact effectively with the other Trustees, Credit Suisse, other service providers, counsel and the independent registered public accounting firm, and to exercise effective business judgment in the performance of their duties as Trustees. A Trustee’s or nominee’s ability to perform his or her duties effectively may have been attained through the Trustee’s or nominee’s business, consulting, public service and/or academic positions; experience from service as a board member of the Fund and the other funds in the Fund Complex, other investment funds, public companies, or non-profit entities or other organizations; educational background or professional training; and/or other life experiences. In addition to these shared characteristics, set forth below is a brief discussion of the specific experience, qualifications, attributes or skills of each Trustee and nominee that support the conclusion that each person should serve as a Trustee or nominee.

Non-Interested Trustees/Nominees

Laura A. DeFelice. Ms. DeFelice has been a Trustee since 2017 of all of the open-end Credit Suisse Funds in the Fund Complex. Ms. DeFelice is the founding principal of two companies, one focusing on multi-family and commercial real estate ownership, leasing and management, and the other focusing on renewable energy project development. She has over 25 years of business experience in the financial services industry, including as a law firm partner specializing in structured finance. Ms. DeFelice also serves on the board of directors of another closed-end fund in the Fund Complex.

Jeffrey E. Garten. Mr. Garten has been a Trustee since 1998 (except for part of 2000) of all of the open-end Credit Suisse Funds in the Fund Complex. In addition, he has over 40 years of executive, business and academic experience in the areas of international trade and finance and business management. Mr. Garten also serves on the board of directors of another closed-end fund in the Fund Complex.

Mahendra R. Gupta. Mr. Gupta has been a Trustee since 2017, and Chairman of the Audit Committee since 2017 of all of the open-end Credit Suisse Funds in the Fund Complex. Mr. Gupta is a Professor at Washington University in St. Louis. He has over 25 years of academic experience as a professor of accounting and management. Mr. Gupta also serves on the board of directors of another closed-end fund in the Fund Complex.

Steven N. Rappaport. Mr. Rappaport has been a Trustee since 2005, Chairman of the Board of Trustees since 2012 and Chairman of the Nominating Committee since 2012. In addition, he has over 30 years of business experience in the financial

 

9


services industry. Mr. Rappaport also serves on the boards of directors of other funds, including funds in the Fund Complex.

Interested Trustee

John G. Popp. Mr. Popp has been a Trustee since 2012. He is a Managing Director of Credit Suisse. He is the Global Head and Chief Investment Officer of the Credit Investments Group. Mr. Popp has been associated with Credit Suisse since 1997. He has over 30 years of business experience in the financial services industry. Mr. Popp has been a trustee since 2017 of all of the open-end funds in the Fund Complex and is a director of another closed-end fund in the Fund Complex. Mr. Popp also serves as Chief Executive Officer and President of all of the funds in the Fund Complex.

Specific details regarding each Trustee’s and nominee’s principal occupations during the past five years are included in the table above.

Set forth in the table below is the dollar range of equity securities in the Fund and the aggregate dollar range of equity securities in the Credit Suisse Family of Investment Companies (as defined below) beneficially owned by each Trustee or nominee.

 

Name of Trustee or Nominee

   Dollar Range
of Equity Securities
in the Fund*(1)(2)
     Aggregate Dollar Range of
Equity Securities in All
Funds Overseen by Trustee
or Nominee in Credit Suisse 
Family of Investment
Companies*(1)(3)
 

Non-Interested Nominees for Trustee:

     

Laura A. DeFelice

     A        D  

Steven N. Rappaport

     E        E  

Non-Interested Trustees:

     

Jeffrey E. Garten

     A        B  

Mahendra R. Gupta

     A        D  

Interested Trustee:

     

John G. Popp

     C        E  

 

*

Key to Dollar Ranges:

 

  A.

None

  B.

$1- $10,000

  C.

$10,001 - $50,000

  D.

$50,001 - $100,000

  E.

over $100,000

 

(1) 

This information has been furnished by each Trustee as of November 30, 2020. “Beneficial Ownership” is determined in accordance with Rule 16a-1(a)(2) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”).

 

(2) 

The Fund’s Trustees and officers, in the aggregate, own less than 1% of the Fund’s outstanding equity securities.

 

10


(3) 

“Credit Suisse Family of Investment Companies” means those registered investment companies that share Credit Suisse as their investment adviser and that hold themselves out to investors as related companies for purposes of investment and investor services.

As of November 30, 2020, none of the Non-Interested nominees for election to the Board, the other Non-Interested Trustees or their immediate family members owned beneficially or of record any class of securities in Credit Suisse or in a person (other than a registered investment company) directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with Credit Suisse.

During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020, each Non-Interested Trustee received an annual fee of $20,000 and $2,000 for each meeting of the Board attended by him or her and was reimbursed for expenses incurred in connection with his or her attendance at the Fund’s Board meetings. The total remuneration paid by the Fund during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020 to all such Non-Interested Trustees was $119,000. The Chairman of the Board receives an additional annual fee of $5,000 and the Audit Committee Chairman receives an additional annual fee of $2,000.

During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020, the Board convened seven times. Each Trustee attended at least seventy-five percent of the aggregate number of meetings of the Board and any committees on which he or she served during the period for which he or she was a Trustee.

Leadership Structure and Oversight Responsibilities

Overall responsibility for oversight of the Fund rests with the Board. The Fund has engaged Credit Suisse to manage the Fund on a day-to-day basis. The Board is responsible for overseeing Credit Suisse and other service providers in the operations of the Fund in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act, applicable provisions of state and other laws and the Fund’s charter. The Board is currently composed of five members, each of whom, other than Mr. Popp, is a Non-Interested Trustee. The Board meets in-person at regularly scheduled quarterly meetings each year. In addition, the Board may hold special in-person or telephonic meetings or informal conference calls to discuss specific matters that may arise or require action between regular meetings. As described below, the Board has established a Nominating Committee and an Audit Committee, and may establish ad hoc committees or working groups from time to time, to assist the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities. The Non-Interested Trustees have also engaged independent legal counsel to assist them in performing their oversight responsibilities.

The Board has appointed Steven Rappaport, a Non-Interested Trustee, to serve in the role of Chairman. The Chairman’s role is to preside at all meetings of the Board and to act as a liaison with Credit Suisse, counsel and other Trustees generally between meetings. The Chairman serves as a key point person for dealings between management and the Trustees. The Chairman may also perform such other functions as may be delegated by the Board from time to time. The Board

 

11


reviews matters related to its leadership structure annually. The Board has determined that the Board’s leadership structure is appropriate because it allows the Board to exercise informed and independent judgment over the matters under its purview and it allocates areas of responsibility among committees of Trustees and the full Board in a manner that enhances effective oversight.

The Fund is subject to a number of risks, including investment, compliance, operational and valuation risks, among others. Risk oversight forms part of the Board’s general oversight of the Fund and is addressed as part of various Board and committee activities. Day-to-day risk management functions are subsumed within the responsibilities of Credit Suisse and other service providers (depending on the nature of the risk), which carry out the Fund’s investment management and business affairs. Credit Suisse and other service providers employ a variety of processes, procedures and controls to identify various events or circumstances that give rise to risks, to lessen the probability of their occurrence and/or to mitigate the effects of such events or circumstances if they do occur. Each of Credit Suisse and other service providers has their own independent interest in risk management, and their policies and methods of risk management will depend on their functions and business models. The Board recognizes that it is not possible to identify all of the risks that may affect the Fund or to develop processes and controls to eliminate or mitigate their occurrence or effects. As part of its regular oversight of the Fund, the Board interacts with and reviews reports from, among others, Credit Suisse, the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer, the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm and counsel, as appropriate, regarding risks faced by the Fund and applicable risk controls. The Board may, at any time and in its discretion, change the manner in which it conducts risk oversight.

All of the Trustees, except for John Popp, constitute the Fund’s Audit Committee, which is composed of Trustees who are not interested persons of the Fund and who are independent (as such term is defined by the listing standards of the NYSE American, LLC, formerly known as NYSE MKT (the “NYSE American”)). The Audit Committee convened five times during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020. The Audit Committee advises the full Board with respect to accounting, auditing and financial matters affecting the Fund.

All of the Trustees, except for John Popp, constitute the Fund’s Nominating Committee, which is composed of Trustees who are not interested persons of the Fund and who are independent (as such term is defined by the listing standards of NYSE American). The Nominating Committee met three times during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020. At a meeting of the Nominating Committee held on November 16, 2020, the Nominating Committee (with the nominees abstaining from voting) nominated each of Laura A. DeFelice and Steven N. Rappaport for a three-year term. The Nominating Committee selects and nominates new Trustees. The Board has adopted a Nominating Committee Charter (a copy of which is included as Appendix A to this proxy statement). In nominating candidates, the Nominat

ing Committee will take into consideration such factors as it deems appropriate.

 

12


These factors may include judgment, skill, diversity, experience with investment companies and other organizations of comparable purpose, complexity, size and subject to similar legal restrictions and oversight, the interplay of the candidate’s experience with the experience of other Board members, and the extent to which the candidate would be a desirable addition to the Board and any committees thereof. With respect to diversity, the Nominating Committee considers whether a candidate’s background, experience and skills will contribute to the diversity of the Board.

The Nominating Committee will consider candidates submitted by shareholders or from other sources it deems appropriate. Any recommendation should be submitted to the Secretary of the Fund, c/o Credit Suisse Asset Management, LLC, Eleven Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010. Shareholders or shareholder groups submitting proposed candidates must substantiate compliance with the requirements in the Fund’s By-laws at the time of submitting their proposed candidate. Any submission should include, at a minimum, the following information: As to each individual proposed for election or re-election as trustee, the name, age, business address, residence address and principal occupation or employment of such individual, the class, series and number of shares of stock of the Fund that are beneficially owned by such individual, the date such shares were acquired and the investment intent of such acquisition, whether such stockholder believes such individual is, or is not, an “interested person” of the Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act), and information regarding such individual that is sufficient, in the discretion of the Nominating Committee, to make such determination, and all other information relating to such individual that is required to be disclosed in solicitation of proxies for election of directors in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved) or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A (or any successor provision) under the 1934 Act, and the rules thereunder (including such individual’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a trustee (if elected)). To be considered for inclusion in the Fund’s proxy statement, the submission must be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Fund not later than 120 days, nor earlier than 150 days, before the first anniversary of the date on which the Fund first mailed its proxy materials for the annual meeting held in the prior year; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced or delayed by more than 30 days from the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, notice by such stockholder to be timely must be so received not earlier than 150 days prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which notice or public announcement of the date of such meeting was given or made. Any such submission must also be submitted by such date and contain such information as may be specified in the Fund’s By-laws, or as required by any relevant stock exchange listing standards.

The Fund does not have a Compensation Committee.

 

13


OTHER BOARD-RELATED MATTERS

Shareholders who wish to send communications to the Board should send them to the address of the Fund and to the attention of the Board c/o the Secretary of the Fund. All such communications will be directed to the Board’s attention.

The Fund does not have a formal policy regarding Board member attendance at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

REPORT OF AUDIT COMMITTEE

Pursuant to the Audit Committee Charter adopted by the Board (a copy of which is included as Appendix B to this proxy statement), the Audit Committee is responsible for conferring with the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, reviewing annual financial statements, approving the selection of the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm and overseeing the Fund’s internal controls. The Fund’s Audit Committee Charter also contains provisions relating to the pre-approval by the Audit Committee of certain non-audit services to be provided by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) to the Fund and to Credit Suisse and certain of its affiliates. The Audit Committee advises the full Board with respect to accounting, auditing and financial matters affecting the Fund. The independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for planning and carrying out audits in accordance with standards established by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).

The Audit Committee has met with the Fund’s management to discuss, among other things, the Fund’s audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020. The Audit Committee has also met with the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, PwC, and discussed with them certain matters required by Statement of Auditing Standards No. 114, The Auditor’s Communication with those Charged with Governance, as currently modified or supplemented, including, but not limited to, the scope of the Fund’s audit, the Fund’s financial statements and the Fund’s accounting controls. The Audit Committee has received from PwC the letter required by the SEC’s independence rules describing any relationships between it and the Fund, Credit Suisse and its affiliates that may be thought to bear upon the independence of the independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee has discussed with PwC its independence and has considered whether the provision of services by PwC to the Fund, Credit Suisse and its affiliates was compatible with maintaining PwC’s independence.

The members of the Audit Committee are not professionally engaged in the practice of auditing or accounting and are not employed by the Fund for accounting, financial management or internal control. Moreover, the Audit Committee relies on and makes no independent verification of the facts presented to it or representations made by management or the independent registered public accounting firm. Accordingly, the Audit Committee’s oversight does not provide an independent basis to determine that management has maintained appropriate

 

14


accounting and financial reporting principles and policies, or internal controls and procedures, designed to assure compliance with accounting standards and applicable laws and regulations. Furthermore, the Audit Committee’s considerations and discussions referred to above do not provide assurance that the audit of the Fund’s financial statements has been carried out in accordance with generally accepted accounting standards or that the financial statements are presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

Based upon these reviews and discussions, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the Fund’s audited financial statements be included in the Fund’s 2020 Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020 and be mailed to shareholders and filed with the SEC.

Submitted by the Audit Committee of the Fund’s Board of Trustees

Laura A. DeFelice

Jeffrey E. Garten

Mahendra R. Gupta

Steven N. Rappaport

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

On June 25, 2020, the Board approved the dismissal of KPMG LLP (“KPMG”) as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund. The Board’s decision to approve the dismissal of KPMG was recommended by the Audit Committee of the Board. The reports of KPMG on the Fund’s financial statements as of and for the two most recent fiscal years (ended October 31, 2019 and October 31, 2018) did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainties, audit scope or accounting principles. During the Fund’s two most recent fiscal years (ended October 31, 2019 and October 31, 2018) and during the period from the end of the most recently completed fiscal year through June 25, 2020, there were no disagreements between the Fund and KPMG on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedures, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of KPMG, would have caused them to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in its report on the financial statements of the Fund for such periods. During the Fund’s two most recent fiscal years (ended October 31, 2019 and October 31, 2018) and during the period from the end the most recently completed fiscal year through June 25, 2020, there were no “reportable events” (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K under the 1934 Act). The Fund previously provided KPMG with a copy of the foregoing disclosure and requested that KPMG furnish the Fund with a letter addressed to the SEC stating whether or not it agreed with the statements made above. A copy of KPMG’s letter dated June 26, 2020 was filed as Exhibit 16.1 to the Fund’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 29, 2020 with the SEC.

 

15


On June 25, 2020, upon the recommendation of the Audit Committee, the Board approved the engagement of PwC as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2020. It is anticipated that PwC will provide the same level of service to the Fund as was provided by KPMG. PwC has advised the Fund that, to the best of its knowledge and belief, as of the record date, no PwC professional had any direct or material indirect ownership interest in the Fund inconsistent with independent professional standards pertaining to accountants. It is expected that representatives of KPMG and PwC will be available by telephone at the Meeting and will have the opportunity to make a statement, if the representatives so desire, and will be available to answer any questions that may arise.

During the Fund’s fiscal year ended October 31, 2019 and during the period from the end of fiscal year ended October 31, 2019 through June 25, 2020, neither the Fund, nor anyone on its behalf consulted with PwC, on behalf of the Fund, regarding the application of accounting principles to a specified transaction (either completed or proposed), the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Fund’s financial statements, or any matter that was either the subject of a “disagreement,” as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K under the 1934 Act and the instructions thereto, or a “reportable event,” as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K under the 1934 Act.

The information in the table below provides for services, all approved by the Audit Committee, rendered to the Fund by KPMG for its fiscal year ended October 31, 2019 and by PwC for its fiscal year ended October 31, 2020.

 

      

2019

      

2020

 

Audit Fees

     $ 39,000        $ 37,700  

Audit-Related Fees(1)

     $ 7,465        $ 0  

Tax Fees(2)

     $ 3,420        $ 4,996  

All Other Fees

     $ —          $ —    

Total

     $ 49,885        $ 42,696  

 

(1) 

Services include agreed-upon procedures in connection with the Fund’s semi-annual financial statements ($7,465 in 2019 to KPMG and $0 in 2020 to PwC).

 

(2) 

Tax services in connection with the Fund’s excise tax calculations and review of the Fund’s applicable tax returns.

The Audit Committee is responsible for pre-approving (i) all audit and permissible non-audit services to be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm to the Fund and (ii) all permissible non-audit services to be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm to Credit Suisse and any service provider to the Fund controlling, controlled by or under common control with Credit Suisse that provided ongoing services to the Fund (“Covered Services Provider”), if the engagement relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Fund. The Audit Committee may delegate its responsibility to

 

16


pre-approve any such audit and permissible non-audit services to the Chairperson of the Audit Committee, and the Chairperson shall report to the Audit Committee, at its next regularly scheduled meeting after the Chairperson’s pre-approval of such services, his or her decision(s). The Audit Committee may also establish detailed pre-approval policies and procedures for pre-approval of such services in accordance with applicable laws, including the delegation of some or all of the Audit Committee’s pre-approval responsibilities to other persons (other than Credit Suisse or the Fund’s officers). Pre-approval by the Audit Committee of any permissible non-audit services shall not be required so long as: (i) the aggregate amount of all such permissible non-audit services provided to the Fund, Credit Suisse and any Covered Services Provider constitutes not more than 5% of the total amount of revenues paid by the Fund to its independent registered public accounting firm during the fiscal year in which the permissible non-audit services are provided; (ii) the permissible non-audit services were not recognized by the Fund at the time of the engagement to be non-audit services; and (iii) such services are promptly brought to the attention of the Audit Committee and approved by the Audit Committee (or its delegate(s)) prior to the completion of the audit.

The aggregate fees billed by KPMG for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2019 and by PwC for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020 for non-audit services rendered to the Fund, Credit Suisse or Covered Service Providers for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2019 and October 31, 2020 were $0 and $0, respectively.

All of the services described above were pre-approved by the Audit Committee.

COMPENSATION

The following table shows certain compensation information for the Trustees for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020. All officers of the Fund are employees of and are compensated by Credit Suisse. None of the Fund’s executive officers or Trustees who are also officers or directors of Credit Suisse received any compensation from the Fund for such period. The Fund has no bonus, profit sharing, pension or retirement plans.

 

Name of Trustee or Nominee

   Aggregate Compensation
From the Fund
     Total Compensation From Fund
and Fund Complex Paid to
Trustee or Nominee*
 

Non-Interested Trustees:

     

Laura A. DeFelice

   $ 28,500      $ 144,500  

Jeffrey E. Garten

   $ 26,500      $ 140,500  

Mahendra R. Gupta

   $ 30,500      $ 156,000  

Steven N. Rappaport

   $ 33,500      $ 179,500  

 

*

9 funds comprise the Fund Complex and each Trustee serves on each fund in the Fund Complex.

THE FUND’S BOARD OF TRUSTEES, INCLUDING THE NON-INTERESTED TRUSTEES, RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE FUND’S NOMINEES FOR TRUSTEE.

 

17


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Beneficial Owners

Based upon the Fund’s review of filings made pursuant to Section 13 of the 1934 Act, as of December 11, 2020, to the Fund’s knowledge the following shareholder beneficially owned over 5% of the Fund’s shares:

 

Name and Address

   Number of Shares
Beneficially Owned
     Percent
of
Share
Class
 

First Trust Advisors L.P.

120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400

Wheaton, Illinois 60187

     15,076,549      15.09

 

    *

As stated in Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 10, 2020.

Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports

Section 16(a) of the 1934 Act and Section 30(h) of the 1940 Act require the Fund’s officers and trustees, certain officers and directors of the investment adviser, affiliated persons of the investment adviser, and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of the Fund’s shares to file reports of ownership with the SEC and the Fund.

Based solely upon its review of the copies of such forms and amendments thereto filed electronically with the SEC during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020 and written representations received by it, the Fund believes that, for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2020, such forms were filed on a timely basis.

SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

Notice is hereby given that for a shareholder proposal to be considered for inclusion in the Fund’s proxy material relating to its 2022 annual meeting of shareholders, the shareholder proposal must be received by the Fund no earlier than July 31, 2021 and no later than August 30, 2021. The shareholder proposal, including any accompanying supporting statement, may not exceed 500 words. A shareholder desiring to submit a proposal must be a record or beneficial owner of Shares with a market value of at least $2,000 and must have held such Shares for at least one year. Further, the shareholder must continue to hold such Shares through the date on which the meeting is held. Documentary support regarding the foregoing must be provided along with the proposal. There are additional requirements regarding proposals of shareholders, and a shareholder contemplating submission of a proposal is referred to Rule 14a-8 promulgated under the 1934 Act. The timely submission of a proposal does not guarantee its inclusion in the Fund’s proxy materials.

Pursuant to the By-laws of the Fund, at any annual meeting of the shareholders, only such business will be conducted as has been properly brought before the annual meeting. To be properly brought before the annual meeting, the business

 

18


must be (i) specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board, (ii) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board, or (iii) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a shareholder in compliance with the requirements in the Fund’s By-laws.

For business to be properly brought before the annual meeting by a shareholder, the shareholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Fund. To be timely, any such notice must be delivered to, or mailed (by certified mail being recommended) to and received by, Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund c/o Credit Suisse Asset Management, LLC, Eleven Madison Avenue, 9th Floor, New York, New York 10010 not later than 120 days, nor earlier than 150 days, before the first anniversary of the date on which the Fund first mailed its proxy materials for the annual meeting held in the prior year; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced or delayed by more than 30 days from the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, notice by such shareholder to be timely must be so received not earlier than 150 days prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which notice or public announcement of the date of such meeting was given or made. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment of an annual meeting commence a new time period for the giving of a shareholder’s notice as described above.

Any such notice by a shareholder shall set forth:

 

    

(i)    as to any business that the shareholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting, the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration), the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting and any material interest in such business of such shareholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; and

 

    

(ii)    as to the shareholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made:

(1)    the name and address of such shareholder, as they appear on the Fund’s books, and of such beneficial owner,

 

19


(2)    the class and number of shares which are owned beneficially and of record by such shareholder and such beneficial owner and any Person1 who has a Disclosable Relationship2 with such shareholder or beneficial owner (“Shareholder Associate”),

(3)    the name of each nominee holder of shares owned beneficially but not of record by such shareholder and such beneficial owner and their respective Shareholder Associates, and the number of such shares held by each such nominee holder,

(4)     a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether written or oral) with respect to the proposal between or among such shareholder and such beneficial owner, any of their respective Shareholder Associates, and any other Person or Persons (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business and any material interest of such Person or any Shareholder Associate of such Person, in such business, including any anticipated benefit therefrom to such Person, or any Shareholder Associate of such Person,

(5)    a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, whether written or oral (including any derivative or short positions, profit interests, options, warrants, stock appreciation or similar rights, hedging transactions, and borrowed or loaned shares), that has been entered into as of the date of the shareholder’s notice by, or on behalf of, such shareholder and such beneficial owners or their respective

 

 

1    “Person” means an individual, a corporation, a partnership, a limited liability company, an association, a trust or any other entity or organization, including a series or portfolio of any of the foregoing, or a government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof.

2    “Disclosable Relationship” with respect to another Person means (A) the existence at any time during the current calendar year or at any time within the two most recently completed calendar years of any agreement, arrangement, understanding (whether written or oral) or practice, including sharing of information, decisions or actions, of a Person with such other Person with respect to the Fund or shares of the Fund, (B) the beneficial ownership of securities of any Person known by such Person to beneficially own shares of the Fund and of which such Person knows such other Person also beneficially owns any securities, (C) sharing beneficial ownership of any securities with such other Person, (D) being an immediate family member of such other Person, (E) the existence at any time during the current calendar year or at any time within the two most recently completed calendar years of a material business or professional relationship with such other Person or with any Person of which such other Person is a holder of 5% or more of the outstanding voting securities, officer, director, general partner, managing member or employee or (F) controlling, being controlled by or being under common control with such other Person.

 

20


Shareholder Associates, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, manage the risk of or benefit from Fund share price changes, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such shareholder or such beneficial owner or their respective Shareholder Associates, with respect to shares of the Fund,

(6)    a description of all commercial and professional relationships and transactions between or among such shareholder and such beneficial owners or their respective Shareholder Associates, and any other Person or Persons known to such shareholder and such beneficial owners or their respective Shareholder Associates to have a material interest in the matter that is the subject of such notice,

(7)    the investment strategy or objective, if any, of such shareholder and such beneficial owners and their respective Shareholder Associates that are not individuals, and a copy of the most recent prospectus, offering memorandum or similar document, if any, provided to investors or potential investors in such shareholder, beneficial owner and each such Shareholder Associate,

(8)    a representation that the shareholder is a holder of record of shares of the Fund entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such business,

(9)    a representation whether the shareholder or the beneficial owner, if any, intends or is part of a group which intends (a) to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Fund’s outstanding shares required to approve or adopt the proposal and/or (b) otherwise to solicit proxies from shareholders in support of such proposal, and

(10)    any other information relating to such shareholder and such beneficial owner that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with the solicitation of proxies by such shareholder or beneficial owner with respect to the proposed business to be brought by such Shareholder or beneficial owner before the meeting pursuant to Section 14 of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, whether or not the shareholder submitting the notice intends to deliver a proxy statement or solicit proxies.

 

    

(iii)    A shareholder providing notice of any business proposed to be brought before a meeting of shareholders shall further update and supplement such notice, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice shall be true and correct as of the record date for determining the shareholders entitled to receive notice of the meeting of shareholders and such update and supplement shall be received by the Secretary of the Fund at the principal executive offices of the Fund not later

 

21


  than 5 business days after the record date for determining the shareholders entitled to receive notice of the meeting of shareholders.

The foregoing notice requirements shall be deemed satisfied by a shareholder if the shareholder has notified the Fund of his, her or its intention to present a proposal at a meeting in compliance with Rule 14a-8 promulgated under the 1934 Act and such shareholder’s proposal has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the Fund to solicit proxies for such meeting.

The Fund may exercise discretionary voting authority with respect to any shareholder proposals for the 2022 annual meeting of shareholders not included in the proxy statement and form of proxy that are not submitted to the Fund within the time-frame indicated above. Even if timely notice is received, the Fund may exercise discretionary voting authority in certain other circumstances. Discretionary voting authority is the ability to vote proxies that shareholders have executed and returned to the Fund on matters not specifically reflected on the form of proxy.

SHAREHOLDERS WHO DO NOT EXPECT TO BE PRESENT AT THE ANNUAL MEETING AND WHO WISH TO HAVE THEIR SHARES VOTED ARE REQUESTED TO DATE AND SIGN THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AND RETURN IT IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. NO POSTAGE IS REQUIRED IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES.

Delivery of Proxy

Only one copy of this Proxy Statement may be mailed to households, even if more than one person in a household is a shareholder of record. If a shareholder needs an additional copy of this Proxy Statement, please contact the Fund at (800) 293-1232. If any shareholder does not want the mailing of this Proxy Statement to be combined with those for other members of your household, please contact the Fund in writing at: Eleven Madison Avenue, 9th Floor, New York, New York 10010 or call the Fund at (800) 293-1232.

Other Business

Management knows of no business to be presented at the Meeting, other than the matters set forth in this Proxy Statement, but should any other matter requiring the vote of shareholders arise, the proxies will vote thereon according to their best judgment in the interests of the Fund.

 

22


APPENDIX A

NOMINATING COMMITTEE CHARTER

This document serves as the Charter for the Nominating Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors/Trustees (the “Board”) of each fund (the “Fund” and collectively the “Funds”) advised by Credit Suisse Asset Management, LLC (“Credit Suisse”) listed on Appendix A hereto (each such Charter being a separate Charter).

 

 

 

SECTION 1.    PURPOSE & SCOPE

The purpose of the Nominating Committee is to assist the Board in its selection and evaluation of members with the competencies needed to oversee the Funds so that the interests of shareholders in the Funds are well-served.

In pursuit of this purpose, the scope of the Committee’s responsibilities shall include:

—the nomination of new Directors.

—the valuation of the Board and its committee structure.

SECTION 2.    MEMBERSHIP

 

  (a)

The Committee for each Fund shall consist of at least three of the Directors who are not “interested persons” of the Fund, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and, if applicable, “independent” as such term is defined by the listing standards of the principal national securities exchange upon which the Fund’s shares are listed, if any.

 

  (b)

The Committee shall appoint its Chairperson by a majority vote of its members.

 

  (c)

The compensation, if any, of the Committee members shall be as determined by the Board.

SECTION 3.    NOMINATION POLICY AND RESPONSIBILITIES

 

  (a)

In nominating candidates, the Committee will search for those highly qualified candidates who can bring to the Board the skills, experience and judgment necessary to address the issues directors of investment companies, and of the Fund in particular, may confront in fulfilling their duties to fund shareholders. The Committee may, in its discretion, establish specific, minimum qualifications (including skills) that must be met by Committee-nominated or shareholder-nominated candidates. The Committee is also responsible for the analyses of the appropriateness of establishing minimum shareholding levels for Directors.

 

A-1


  (b)

The Committee will consider candidates submitted by shareholders or from other sources it deems appropriate. In order for the Committee to consider shareholder submissions, the following requirements must be satisfied regarding the candidate:

 

   

The candidate must satisfy all qualifications provided under this Charter and in the Fund’s organizational documents, including qualification as a “non-interested” Board member.

 

   

The candidate may not be the nominating shareholder or a member of the nominating shareholder group (as defined below).

 

   

A member of the nominating shareholder group refers to any person who: (A) at any time during the current calendar year or at any time within the two most recently completed calendar years had any agreement, arrangement, understanding (whether written or oral) or practice, including the sharing of information, decisions or actions, with the nominating shareholder with respect to the Fund or other investment companies or shares of the Fund or other investment companies, (B) has beneficial ownership of securities of the nominating shareholder, (C) shares beneficial ownership of any securities with the nominating shareholder, (D) is an immediate family member of the nominating shareholder, (E) at any time during the current calendar year or at any time within the two most recently completed calendar years had a material business or professional relationship with the nominating shareholder or with any person of which the nominating shareholder is a holder of 5% or more of the outstanding voting securities, officer, director, general partner, managing member or employee or (F) controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the nominating shareholder.

 

   

Neither the candidate nor any member of the candidate’s immediate family may be currently employed or employed within the last year by any nominating shareholder entity or entity in a nominating shareholder group.

 

   

Neither the candidate nor any immediate family member of the candidate is permitted to have accepted directly or indirectly, during the year of the election for which the candidate’s name was submitted, during the immediately preceding calendar year, or during the year when the candidate’s name was submitted, any consulting, advisory, or other compensatory fee from the nominating shareholder or any member of a nominating shareholder group.

 

   

The candidate may not be an executive officer, director/trustee (or person fulfilling similar functions) of the nominating shareholder

 

A-2


 

or any member of the nominating shareholder group, or of an affiliate of the nominating shareholder or any such member of the nominating shareholder group.

 

   

The candidate may not control (as that term is defined under the 1940 Act) the nominating shareholder or any member of the nominating shareholder group (or, in the case of a holder or member that is a fund, an interested person of such holder or member as defined by Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act).

 

   

A shareholder or shareholder group may not submit for consideration a candidate who has previously been considered by the Committee.

Any recommendation should be submitted to the Secretary of the relevant Fund, c/o Credit Suisse Asset Management, LLC, Eleven Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010. Shareholders or shareholder groups submitting proposed candidates must substantiate compliance with the above requirements at the time of submitting their proposed candidate. Any submission should include, at a minimum, the following information: As to each individual proposed for election or re-election as director, the name, age, business address, residence address and principal occupation or employment of such individual, the class, series and number of shares of stock of the Fund that are beneficially owned by such individual, the date such shares were acquired and the investment intent of such acquisition, whether such stockholder believes such individual is, or is not, an “interested person” of the Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act), and information regarding such individual that is sufficient, in the discretion of the Committee, to make such determination, and all other information relating to such individual that is required to be disclosed in solicitation of proxies for election of directors in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved) or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A (or any successor provision) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules thereunder (including such individual’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director (if elected)). In the case of a Fund holding an annual meeting of shareholders, any such submission in order to be considered for inclusion in the Fund’s proxy statement must be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than 120 days, nor earlier than 150 days, before the first anniversary of the date on which the Corporation first mailed its proxy materials for the annual meeting held in the prior year; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced or delayed by more than 30 days from the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, notice by such Stockholder to be timely must be so

 

A-3


received not earlier than 150 days prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which notice or public announcement of the date of such meeting was given or made. Any such submission must also be submitted by such date and contain such information as may be specified in the Fund’s By-laws, or as required by any relevant stock exchange listing standards.

SECTION 4.    ADDITIONAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

 

  (a)

The Committee shall review, as it deems necessary, and make recommendations with regard to the tenure of the directors, including any term limits, limits on the number of boards (or committees) on which a director may sit and normal retirement age.

 

  (b)

The Committee may retain and terminate a search firm to identify director nominees, subject to the Board’s sole authority to approve the search firm’s fees and other retention terms.

 

  (c)

The Committee shall be responsible for annually evaluating the Board and its committee structure to determine whether the Board and its committee structure is functioning effectively. The Committee shall determine the nature of the evaluation, supervise the conduct of the evaluation and prepare an assessment of the performance of the Board and its committees, to be discussed with the Board.

 

  (d)

The Committee shall have the authority to delegate all or a portion of its duties and responsibilities to a subcommittee of the Committee.

 

  (e)

The Committee shall have any other duties or responsibilities expressly delegated to the Committee by the Board from time to time relating to the nomination of the Board members or any Committee members.

SECTION 5.    PROCEDURAL MATTERS

 

  (a)

The Committee shall meet at least once a year.

 

  (b)

The Committee shall keep written minutes of its meetings, which minutes shall be maintained with the books and records of the Fund, and the Committee shall report to the Board on its meetings.

 

  (c)

The Committee shall, from time to time (but not less frequently than annually) as it deems appropriate, review and reassess the adequacy of this Charter and recommend any proposed changes to the Board for approval. The Charter shall be posted on the Fund’s website.

 

  (d)

The Board has granted to the Committee access to the resources and authority to make reasonable expenditures, including expenditures to retain any experts and counsel related to the aforementioned duties and tasks, that will be reimbursed by the Fund.

May 19, 2020

 

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APPENDIX A

Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund

Credit Suisse Asset Management Income Fund

 

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APPENDIX B

AUDIT COMMITTEE CHARTER

This document serves as the Charter for the Audit Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors/Trustees (the “Board”) of each fund (the “Fund”) advised by Credit Suisse Asset Management, LLC (“Credit Suisse”) listed on Appendix A hereto (each such Charter being a separate Charter).

Purpose

The primary purposes of the Committee are to:

•     assist Board oversight of

 

  1.

the integrity of the Fund’s financial statements

 

  2.

the independent auditor’s qualifications and independence

 

  3.

the performance of the Fund’s independent auditors

 

  4.

the Fund’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements

•     prepare an audit committee report, if required by the SEC, to be included in the Fund’s annual proxy statement, if any;

•     oversee the scope of the annual audit of the Fund’s financial statements, the quality and objectivity of the Fund’s financial statements, the Fund’s accounting and financial reporting policies and practices and its internal controls relating thereto;

•     determine the selection, appointment, retention and termination of the Fund’s independent auditors, as well as approving the compensation of the auditors;

•     pre-approve all audit and non-audit services provided to the Fund and certain other persons (as described in 2(b) below) by such independent auditors; and

•     act as a liaison between the Fund’s independent auditors and the Board.

The Fund’s independent auditors shall report directly to the Committee.

The primary function of the Committee is oversight. The Fund’s management is responsible for (i) the preparation, presentation and integrity of the Fund’s financial statements, (ii) the maintenance of appropriate accounting and financial reporting principles and policies and (iii) the maintenance of internal controls and procedures designed to assure compliance with accounting standards and applicable laws and regulations.

The independent auditors are responsible for planning and carrying out proper audits and reviews in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards.

 

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In fulfilling their responsibilities hereunder, it is recognized that members of the Committee are not full-time employees of the Fund. As such, it is not the duty or responsibility of the Committee or its members to conduct “field work” or other types of auditing or accounting reviews or procedures or to set auditor independence standards. Each member of the Committee shall be entitled to rely on (i) the integrity of those persons and organizations within and outside the Fund from which it receives information, (ii) the accuracy of the financial and other information provided to the Committee by such persons and organizations absent actual knowledge to the contrary (which shall be promptly reported to the Fund’s Board) and (iii) statements made by the officers and employees of the Fund, Credit Suisse or other third parties as to any information technology, internal audit and other non-audit services provided by the independent auditors to the Fund. In addition, the evaluation of the Fund’s financial statements by the Committee is not of the same scope as, and does not involve the extent of detail as, audits performed by the independent auditors, nor does the Committee’s evaluation substitute for the responsibilities of the Fund’s management for preparing, or the independent auditors for auditing, the financial statements.

Composition and Qualifications

(a)     The Committee shall consist of at least three Board members none of whom is an “interested person,” as that term is defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Independent Board Members”), each of whom shall be financially literate and able to read and understand fundamental financial statements, including the Fund’s balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement, and at least one of whom shall have accounting or related financial management expertise as determined by the Fund’s Board in its business judgment. Each member of the Committee must also meet the New York Stock Exchange’s independence requirements for audit committee members of listed companies and the independence requirements applicable to investment companies set forth in Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”). If one or more members of the Committee qualify as an “audit committee financial expert” (“ACFE”), within the meaning of the rules adopted and implemented under Section 407 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, at least one such member shall be designated as the Committee’s ACFE. The Committee shall elect a chairperson, who shall preside over Committee meetings (the “Chairperson”). The Chairperson shall serve as such until his successor is selected by the Committee.

The designation of a person as an ACFE shall not impose any greater responsibility or liability on that person than the responsibility and liability imposed on such person as a member of the Committee, nor does it decrease the duties and obligations of other Committee members or the Board.

 

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(b)     With respect to any subsequent changes to the composition of the Committee, and otherwise approximately once each year, the Board of Directors shall determine:

(i)     that each member of the Audit Committee is “independent” pursuant to the governance standards of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) or applicable law or, in the case of a Fund whose securities are listed on the NYSE American (formerly known as (“NYSE MKT”), pursuant to the governance standards of the NYSE American;

(ii)     that each Audit Committee member is financially literate and able to read and understand fundamental financial statements, including the Fund’s balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement;

(iii)     that at least one of the Committee members has accounting or related financial management expertise and, for a Fund whose securities are listed on the NYSE American, is “financially sophisticated” pursuant to NYSE American rules; and

(iv)     the adequacy of the Charter.

Duties and Powers

1.     To carry out its purposes, the Committee shall have the following duties and powers to be exercised at such times and in such manner as the Committee shall deem necessary or appropriate: (a) to determine, and recommend to the Independent Board Members for their ratification and approval, the selection, appointment, compensation, retention and termination of the Fund’s independent auditors (or any other public accounting firm engaged for the purposes of performing other audit, review or attest services for the Fund);

(b)     to resolve any disagreements between management and the independent auditors regarding financial reporting and to evaluate and accept the determination of independence made by the independent auditors;

(c)     to pre-approve (i) all audit and permissible non-audit services1 to be provided by the independent auditors to the Fund, and (ii) all permissible non-audit

 

 

1     The Committee is responsible for pre-approving (i) all audit and permissible non-audit services to be provided by the independent auditors to the Fund and (ii) all permissible non-audit services to be provided by the independent auditors to Credit Suisse and any service provider to the Fund controlling, controlled by or under common control with Credit Suisse that provided ongoing services to the Fund (“Covered Services Provider”) if the engagement relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of the registrant. The Committee may delegate its responsibility to pre-approve any such audit and permissible non-audit services to the Chairperson of the Committee, and the Chairperson shall report to the Committee, at its next regularly scheduled meeting after the Chairperson’s pre-approval of such services, his or her decision(s). The Committee may also establish detailed

 

B-3


services to be provided by the independent auditors to Credit Suisse and any service provider to the Fund controlling, controlled by or under common control with Credit Suisse that provides ongoing services to the Fund (“Covered Services Provider”), if the engagement relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Fund. The Committee may delegate its responsibility to pre-approve any such audit and permissible non-audit services to the Chairperson of the Committee, and the Chairperson shall report to the Committee, at its next regularly scheduled meeting after the Chairperson’s pre-approval of such services, his or her decision(s). The Committee may also establish detailed pre-approval policies and procedures for pre-approval of such services in accordance with applicable laws, including the delegation of some or all of the Committee’s pre-approval responsibilities to other persons (other than Credit Suisse or the Fund’s officers);

(d)     to meet with the Fund’s independent auditors, including meetings apart from management, on a regular basis: (i) to review the arrangements for and scope of the proposed annual audit and any special audits; (ii) to review the scope of and approve non-audit services being provided and proposed to be provided; (iii) to discuss any matters of importance relating to the Fund’s financial statements, including any adjustments to such statements recommended by the independent auditors, or other results of said audits; (iv) to consider the independent auditor’s comments communicated to the Committee with respect to the Fund’s financial policies, procedures and internal accounting controls and management’s responses thereto; (v) to obtain annually in writing from the independent auditors their letter as to the adequacy of such controls as required by Form N-CSR; (vi) to review the form of report the independent auditors propose to render to the Board and shareholders; (vii) to discuss with the independent auditors any disclosed relationships or services that may diminish the objectivity and independence of the independent auditors, and (viii) receive reports at least annually from the independent auditors regarding their independence (including receiving the independent auditors’ specific representations as to independence consistent with current statements of the Independence Standards Board), and discuss such reports with the independent

 

 

pre-approval policies and procedures for pre-approval of such services in accordance with applicable laws, including the delegation of some or all of the Committee’s pre-approval responsibilities to other persons (other than Credit Suisse or the Fund’s officers). Pre-approval by the Committee of any permissible non-audit services shall not be required so long as: (i) the aggregate amount of all such permissible non-audit services provided to the Fund, Credit Suisse and any Covered Services Provider constitutes not more than 5% of the total amount of revenues paid by the registrant to its independent auditors during the fiscal year in which the permissible non-audit services are provided; (ii) the permissible non-audit services were not recognized by the Fund at the time of the engagement to be non-audit services; and (iii) such services are promptly brought to the attention of the Committee and approved by the Committee (or its delegate(s)) prior to the completion of the audit.

 

B-4


auditors, and, if so determined by the Committee, recommend that the Board take appropriate action to ensure the independence of the independent auditors;

(e)     to review with the Fund’s management and independent auditors: (i) critical accounting policies and practices applied by the Fund and communicated to the Committee by the independent auditors and/or management in preparing its financial statements; (ii) alternative treatments within generally accepted accounting principles for policies and practices related to material items that have been discussed with management communicated to the Committee; (iii) other material written communications between the independent auditors and the Fund, including any management letter, report on observations and recommendations on internal controls, report on any unadjusted differences (including a listing of adjustments and reclassifications not recorded, if any) communicated to the Committee, engagement letter and independence letter; and (iv) any audit problems or difficulties and management’s response, including any restrictions on the scope of the auditor’s activities or on access to requested information, and any significant disagreements with management;

(f)     to consider and evaluate the effect upon the Fund of significant changes in accounting principles, practices, controls or procedures proposed or contemplated by management or the independent auditors;

(g)     to review with management in a general manner, but not assume responsibility for, the Fund’s processes with respect to risk assessment and risk management, and the steps taken to monitor and control such risks and exposures;

(h)     to discuss generally the types of information to be disclosed in press releases concerning dividends, as well as financial information provided to analysts and rating agencies, and the type of presentation to be made;

(i)     to establish procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters, including procedures for the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of the Fund and its service providers (as and to the extent required with respect to service providers by applicable rules, regulations or listing requirements or otherwise deemed advisable) of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters pertaining to the Fund;

(j)     to establish policies governing the hiring by entities within the Fund’s investment company complex of employees or former employees of the independent auditors consistent with government regulations;

(k)     at least annually, to obtain and review a report by the Fund’s independent auditors describing: (1) the audit firm’s internal quality-control procedures; (2) any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality-control review, or peer review, of the firm, or by any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities, within the preceding five years, respecting one or more independent audits carried out by the audit firm, and any steps taken to

 

B-5


deal with any such issues; and (3) for the purpose of assessing the auditor’s independence, all relationships between the independent auditors and the Fund, as well as Credit Suisse and any Covered Services Provider;

(l)     to review and evaluate the qualifications, performance and independence of the lead audit partner of the independent auditors on the Fund’s engagement;

(m)     to oversee the regular rotation of such lead audit partner and the reviewing partner, and to consider whether there should be a regular rotation of the audit firm itself;

(n)     to review and discuss the Fund’s audited and unaudited financial statements with management and, in the case of the audited financials, the independent auditor, including the Fund’s disclosure of management’s discussion of Fund performance, and to recommend to the Board, as appropriate, the inclusion of the Fund’s audited financial statements in the Fund’s annual report;

(o)     to report regularly to the full Board any issues that arise with respect to: (1) the quality or integrity of the Fund’s financial statements, (2) the Fund’s compliance with legal or regulatory requirements and (3) the performance and independence of the Fund’s independent auditors, and make such recommendations with respect to the matters within the scope of its authority and other matters, as the Committee may deem necessary or appropriate; and

(p)     to meet periodically with Fund management on all relevant matters, apart from the Fund’s independent auditors.

2.     The Committee shall meet as frequently as necessary to carry out its obligations, but not less frequently than twice a year, and shall hold special meetings as circumstances require. A majority of the total number of members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum of the Committee. A majority of the members of the Committee present shall be empowered to act on behalf of the Committee. The Committee shall regularly meet (typically, on the same day as regular Committee meetings), in separate executive sessions, with representatives of the Fund’s management, the Fund’s independent auditors and the Fund’s other service providers as the members of the Committee deem necessary. Members of the Committee may participate in a meeting of the Committee in person or by means of a conference call or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other.

3.     The Committee shall have the resources and authority appropriate to discharge its responsibilities, including the authority to retain, as it deems necessary to carry out its duties, special counsel and other experts or consultants at the expense of the Fund. The Fund shall provide appropriate funding for the Committee to carry out its duties and its responsibilities, including appropriate funding, as determined by the Committee (a) for payment of compensation to the Fund’s independent auditors or other public accounting firm providing audit, review or attest services for the Fund, (b) for payment of compensation to any advisors

 

B-6


employed by the Committee and (c) for the ordinary administrative expenses of the Committee that are necessary or appropriate in carrying out its duties. In performing its duties, the Committee shall consult as it deems appropriate with the members of the Board, officers and employees of the Fund, Credit Suisse, the Fund’s sub-advisor(s), if any, the Fund’s counsel and the Fund’s other service providers.

4.     The Committee shall evaluate its performance under this Charter annually.

5.     The Committee shall review the adequacy of this Charter at least annually and recommend any changes to the full Board. The Board also shall review and approve this Charter at least annually.

6.     This Charter may be altered, amended or repealed, or a new Charter may be adopted, by the Board by the affirmative vote of a majority of all of the members of the Board, including a majority of the “non-interested” Board members (within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended).

7.     The Chief Executive Officer (the “CEO”) and the Chief Financial Officer of each Fund shall certify to the Audit Committee of each Fund annually that he is not aware of any violation by the Fund of any corporate governance standards or policies to which the Fund is subject. In addition, the CEO of the Fund must promptly notify the relevant Audit Committee in writing after any executive officer of the Fund becomes aware of any material non-compliance with any applicable corporate governance listing standard or policy.

8.     FOR CLOSED-END FUNDS ONLY. (a) Each Fund whose securities are listed on the NYSE shall provide the NYSE, with respect to any subsequent changes to the composition of the Audit Committee or otherwise approximately once each year, written confirmation of the determinations required by Section 1(b) above insofar as Section 1(b) relates to NYSE requirements.

(b)     The CEO of each Fund whose securities are listed on the NYSE shall certify to the NYSE annually that he is not aware of any violation by the Fund of the NYSE corporate governance listing standards and such certification shall be included in the Fund’s annual report to shareholders. If the CEO of any such Fund provides notice to the NYSE upon receipt of a report by any executive officer of any material non-compliance with any applicable provisions of the NYSE corporate governance listing standards, copies of any such certification or notice shall be provided to the Audit Committee of the relevant Fund.

(c)     If a Fund whose securities are listed on the NYSE American provides the NYSE American notice upon receipt of a report by an executive officer of any material non-compliance with the requirements of Rule 10A-3 under the 1934 Act relating to audit committees, copies of any such notice shall be provided to the Audit Committee of the relevant Fund.

Adopted: Effective May 19, 2020

 

B-7


Meeting

     

Audit Committee Action

     

Full Board Action

1st Quarter meeting (covering 4th Quarter results)      

•  12/31 year end Funds: discuss results of audit [1(e)]

 

•  12/31 year end Funds: review financial statements and recommend to full boards that they be included in each respective annual report to shareholders [1(n)]

 

•  12/31 year end Funds: Obtain auditor letter as to adequacy of internal controls [1(d)]

     

•  All closed-end Funds: determine ability of Audit Committee Members to serve on multiple Audit Committees

 

•  All Funds: Audit Committee Members, determine independence and financial literacy of all, and financial expertise of at least one. [Composition and Qualifications (b)]

 

•  12/31 year end Funds: review financial statements and approve inclusion in each respective annual report to shareholders [1(n)]

 

Meeting

     

Audit Committee Action

     

Full Board Action

2nd Quarter meeting (covering 1st Quarter results)      

•  All Funds: undertake annual review of the adequacy of the Audit Committee Charter [5]

     

•  All Funds: review adequacy of Audit Committee Charter and approve any changes to Audit Committee Charter recommended by Audit Committees [Composition and Qualifications (b)]

 

Meeting

     

Audit Committee Action

     

Full Board Action

3nd Quarter meeting (covering 2nd Quarter results)      

•  No action required

     

•  No action required

 

B-8


Meeting

     

Audit Committee Action

     

Full Board Action

4th Quarter meeting (covering 3rd Quarter results)    

•  All Funds: presentation of proposed scope of audit [1(d)]

 

•  All Funds: discuss audit fees, non-audit services and engagement letters [1(c)]

 

•  All Funds: approve independent auditors

 

•  All Funds: Review auditor report on audit firm’s internal quality-control procedures, material issues, performance and independence [1(k)]

 

•  All Funds: Audit Committee self-evaluation [4]

     
     

Special Telephonic

Meeting

     

•  10/31 year end Funds: discuss results of audit [1(e)]

 

•  10/31 year end Funds: review financial statements and recommend to full board that they be included in the annual report to shareholders [1(n)]

 

•  10/31 year end Funds: Obtain auditor letter as to adequacy of internal controls [1(d)]

     

•  10/31 year end Funds: review financial statements and approve inclusion in the respective annual report to shareholders [1(n)]

 

B-9


APPENDIX A

Open-End Funds:

Credit Suisse Commodity Strategy Funds

Credit Suisse Commodity Return Strategy Fund

Credit Suisse Gold and Income Strategy Fund

Credit Suisse Opportunity Funds

Credit Suisse Floating Rate High Income Fund

Credit Suisse Managed Futures Strategy Fund

Credit Suisse Multialternative Strategy Fund

Credit Suisse Strategic Income Fund

Credit Suisse Trust

Commodity Return Strategy Portfolio

Closed-End Funds:

Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund

Credit Suisse Asset Management Income Fund

 

B-10


 

CREDIT SUISSE

HIGH YIELD BOND FUND

February 23, 2021

002CS-12817


LOGO    ANNUAL MEETING PROXY CARD

Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund

Eleven Madison Avenue

New York, NY 10010

THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF CREDIT SUISSE HIGH YIELD BOND FUND

The undersigned hereby appoints Omar Tariq and Karen Regan, each with the full power of substitution, and hereby authorizes them to represent and vote, as designated below and in accordance with their judgment on such other matters as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments thereof, all shares of Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund (the “Fund”) that the undersigned is entitled to vote at the annual meeting of shareholders of the Fund. Due to the public health impact of the coronavirus pandemic (“COVID-19”) and to support the health and well-being of the Fund’s shareholders, the Meeting will be held virtually on the internet rather than in person. All shareholders are requested to vote by proxy by completing, dating and signing the enclosed proxy card and returning it promptly. You also may vote at the virtual Meeting if you choose to attend, on February 23, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

If you owned shares as of the Record Date and wish to participate in the Meeting, you must email AST Fund Solutions, LLC (“AST”) at attendingmeeting@astfinancial.com or call AST at (800) 814-0439, in order to register to attend the Meeting, obtain the credentials to access the Meeting, and verify that you were a shareholder on the Record Date. If you are a record owner of shares, please have your 15-digit control number on your proxy card available when you call or include it in your email. If you choose to email, include your control number, full name and address, your intent to attend the Meeting and insert “Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund” in the Subject Line. If you choose to call, please have your control number handy as well. You may vote during the Meeting by following the instructions that will be available on the Meeting website during the Meeting.

If you hold your shares through an intermediary, such as bank or broker, as of the Record Date, you must provide a legal proxy from that institution in order to vote your shares at the Meeting. You may forward an email from your intermediary or attach an image of your legal proxy and transmit it via email to AST at attendingmeeting@astfinancial.com and you should label the email “Legal Proxy” in the subject line. If you hold your shares through an intermediary as of the Record Date and wish to attend, but not vote at, the Meeting, you must verify to AST that you owned shares as of the Record Date through an account statement or some other similar means. Requests for registration must be received by AST no later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on Thursday, February 18, 2021. You will then receive a confirmation email from AST of your registration and a control number that will allow you to vote at the Meeting.

This proxy when properly executed will be voted in the manner directed therein by the undersigned shareholder. If no direction is made, this proxy will be voted as recommended by the Board of Trustees in favor of the Board’s nominees for Trustee named below.

In their discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly be presented to the meeting or any adjournments, postponements, continuations, or reschedulings thereof.

 

      YOUR SIGNATURE IS REQUIRED FOR YOUR VOTE TO BE COUNTED. Please sign this proxy exactly as your name or names appear hereon. Each joint owner should sign. Trustees and other fiduciaries should indicate the capacity in which they sign. If a corporation, partnership or other entity, this signature should be that of a duly authorized individual who should state his or her title.
     

                                                                                                  

Signature                                                                  Date

     

                                                                                                  

Signature (if held jointly)                                       Date

     

                                                                                  

Title if a corporation, partnership or other entity

           

p  PLEASE FOLD HERE  p

PLEASE VOTE, DATE AND SIGN BELOW AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.

TO VOTE, MARK ONE BOX IN BLUE OR BLACK INK. Example: ⬛

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR ALL THE NOMINEES LISTED.

 

     For    Withhold     

Laura A. DeFelice

        

Steven N. Rappaport

        

Laura A. DeFelice and Steven N. Rappaport are each being nominated to serve a three-year term.

 

MAILID:

   “Scanner Bar Code”    CUSIP: 22544F103
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