2 Pioneer High Income Trust
| Annual Report
|
3/31/21
Since 1928, Amundi US’s investment
process has been built on a foundation of fundamental research and
active management, principles which have guided our investment
decisions for more than 90 years. We believe active management –
that is, making active investment decisions – can help mitigate the
risks during periods of market volatility. As 2020 has reminded us,
investment risk can arise from a number of factors in today’s
global economy, including slower or stagnating growth, changing
U.S. Federal Reserve policy, oil price shocks, political and
geopolitical factors and, unfortunately, major public health
concerns such as a viral pandemic.
At Amundi US, active management
begins with our own fundamental, bottom-up research process. Our
team of dedicated research analysts and portfolio managers analyzes
each security under consideration, communicating directly with the
management teams of the companies issuing the securities and
working together to identify those securities that best meet our
investment criteria for our family of funds. Our risk management
approach begins with each and every security, as we strive to
carefully understand the potential opportunity, while considering
any and all risk factors.
Today, as investors, we have many
options. It is our view that active management can serve
shareholders well, not only when markets are thriving, but also
during periods of market stress.
As you consider your long-term
investment goals, we encourage you to work with your financial
professional to develop an investment plan that paves the way for
you to pursue both your short-term and long-term goals.
We remain confident that the
current crisis, like others in human history, will pass, and we
greatly appreciate the trust you have placed in us and look forward
to continuing to serve you in the future.
Sincerely,
Lisa M. Jones
Head of the Americas, President and CEO of US
Amundi Asset Management US, Inc.
May 2021
Any information in this shareowner
report regarding market or economic trends or the factors
influencing the Trust’s historical or future performance are
statements of opinion as of the date of this report. Past
performance is no guarantee of future results.
Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
3
Portfolio Management Discussion |
3/31/21
Note to Shareholders: On April 21,
2021, Pioneer High Income Trust redomiciled from a Delaware
statutory trust to a Maryland corporation and was renamed Pioneer
High Income Fund, Inc. The redomiciling did not result in any
change to the investment adviser, investment objective and
strategies, portfolio management team, policies and procedures or
the members of the Board overseeing the Trust. Please see Note 10
–Subsequent Events, for more information regarding the
redomiciling.
In the
following interview, Andrew Feltus discusses the factors that
affected the performance of Pioneer High Income Trust during the
12-month period ended March 31, 2021. Mr. Feltus, Co-Director of
High Yield and a portfolio manager at Amundi Asset Management US,
Inc. (Amundi US), is responsible for the day-to-day management of
the Trust, along with Matthew Shulkin, a vice president and a
portfolio manager at Amundi US, and Kenneth Monaghan, Co-Director
of High Yield and a portfolio manager at Amundi US.
Q How did the Trust perform during the 12-month period ended March
31, 2021?
A Pioneer High Income Trust
returned 46.08% at net asset value (NAV) and 61.52% at market price
during the 12-month period ended March 31, 2021.During the same
12-month period, the Trust’s benchmark, the ICE Bank of America US
High Yield Index (the ICE BofA Index), returned 23.31%. The ICE
BofA Index is an unmanaged, commonly accepted measure of the
performance of high-yield securities. Unlike the Trust, the ICE
BofA Index does not use leverage. While the use of leverage
increases investment opportunity, it also increases investment
risk.
During the same
12-month period, the average return at NAV of the 46 closed end
funds in Morningstar’s High Yield Bond Closed End Funds category
(which may or may not be leveraged) was 31.23%, while the same
closed end fund Morningstar category’s average return at market
price was 42.72%.
The shares of
the Trust were selling at a 2.1% discount to NAV as of March 31,
2021. Comparatively, the shares of the Trust were selling at an
11.4% discount to NAV on March 31, 2020.
On March 31,
2021, the standardized 30-day SEC yield of the Trust’s shares was
6.40%*.
* The
30-day SEC yield is a standardized formula that is based on the
hypothetical annualized earning power (investment income only) of
the Trust’s portfolio securities during the period indicated.
4
Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual Report | 3/31/21
Q How would you describe the investment environment for high-yield
debt during the 12-month period ended March 31, 2021?
A March of 2020, just
before the onset of the 12-month period, had been a disaster for
investors in riskier assets, including high-yield debt, as attempts
by governments around the globe to rein-in the spread of the
COVID-19 virus accelerated and led to widespread economic shutdowns
as well as to falling prices in credit-sensitive debt markets, and
to liquidity concerns. The Trust’s benchmark, the ICE BofA Index,
sold off significantly at that time, losing 11.8%, and pushing
credit spreads to 877 basis points (bps) over US Treasuries as
fears about the state of the economy and of increased defaults
rose. (Credit spreads are commonly defined as the differences in
yield between Treasuries and other types of fixed-income securities
with similar maturities; a basis point is equal to 1/100th of a
percentage point.)
However, the
collapse in March of 2020 set-up the market for a strong rebound
entering the Trust’s fiscal year, which began on April 1, 2020, as
US authorities moved quickly to shore-up the domestic economy and
tried to boost investors’ confidence by implementing extraordinary
easing measures on both the fiscal and monetary policy fronts. The
US Federal Reserve System (Fed) lowered the target range of the
federal funds rate to zero and initiated multiple support programs
aimed at stabilizing the markets, including bond purchases.
Meanwhile, the US government passed two fiscal-stimulus bills
between March and June of 2020, which helped many businesses and
individuals weather the worst of the pandemic-related economic
slump.
Investors met
the unprecedented support from policy makers in the wake of the
pandemic with enthusiasm entering the second calendar quarter of
2020. Market participants sought to put money to work at the now
much-wider spreads, estimating that the compensation available was
more than sufficient for taking on increased default risk. As the
second quarter progressed, initial steps taken towards reopening
the economy increased optimism for something resembling a
“V-shaped” recovery (a sharp, quick rise). As a result, sentiment
for investments in riskier assets rebounded strongly and allowed
credit-sensitive areas of the bond market to recover much of their
earlier losses, even as rising numbers of COVID-19 cases in
multiple US states raised concerns.
Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
5
The market
rally continued strongly through the summer of 2020, pausing
temporarily in September as worries about economic growth returned
to the forefront. Macroeconomic uncertainty in the markets at that
time focused on heightened risks revolving around three key areas:
negotiations over further US fiscal stimulus legislation, the
ongoing COVID-19 situation, and the November US elections. A
partisan divide over when to appoint Supreme Court Justice
Ginsburg’s replacement further hardened both political parties’
negotiating positions and lowered the odds of passage of a broad
fiscal-support package in Washington prior to the November
election. At the same time, a notable uptick in European COVID-19
cases reignited fears that the US remained at risk for another wave
of infections and a corresponding round of renewed or expanded
economic lockdowns in response. Finally, investors’ concerns
mounted over the potential for a protracted dispute over the
presidential election results.
The market
experienced a small sell-off in September; however, the continued
effects of the government’s first two stimulus packages, in
addition to decreasing default risk, helped to reverse that minor
damage. The finalization of the election results further reduced
uncertainty. Then, in December, the US economic outlook received
two “shots in the arm,” as a pair of COVID-19 vaccines received
emergency-use authorization from the US Food and Drug
Administration (FDA), and lawmakers in Washington finally reached
agreement on a $900 billion fiscal assistance package, the third
US-government stimulus effort since the onset of the pandemic.
Market participants viewed the rollout of the vaccines as the
proverbial “light at the end of the tunnel” for the pandemic,
betting that distribution of the vaccines would help alleviate the
public-health uncertainty and bring forward the timing of a return
to what might be regarded as economic normalcy. The additional
stimulus measures from the government were viewed as offering much
needed support for many individuals and businesses.
As 2021 got
underway, investors elected to focus their attention on those
positive developments and looked beyond regional “surges” in
COVID-19 cases, as well as select data that suggested a slowing in
the rate of economic recovery. By late January, remaining political
uncertainty had been removed as a new administration and
Democrat-controlled House and Senate took office and almost
immediately began discussions about even more fiscal stimulus,
which resulted in passage of a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief
package soon after. Meanwhile, increased vaccine distributions and
a gradual decline in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations
6
Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual Report | 3/31/21
in the final
weeks of the 12-month period also boosted market sentiment. In
response, riskier assets rallied and Treasury yields moved higher
into the end of March.
Returns for
high-yield corporate bonds were well into double digits for the
12-month period, given the rebound in positive market sentiment for
riskier assets. A recovery in oil prices from historical lows
experienced in early 2020 – back up to the $60 per-barrel range –
also supported high-yield returns, as energy issuers have typically
represented a significant component within the benchmark ICE BofA
Index. In the high-yield market, lower-rated issues generally
outperformed higher-rated credits, with CCC-rated bonds
outperforming BBs for the 12-month period.
Q What factors affected the Trust’s performance relative to the
benchmark ICE BofA Index during the 12-month period ended March 31,
2021?
A In broad terms, the Trust
carried leveraged exposure to the high-yield market, which boosted
relative returns as high-yield securities posted strong performance
over the 12-month period. In addition, the portfolio’s holdings had
been weighted towards cyclical and consumer-oriented sectors.
(Cyclical sectors are comprised of companies and industries that
typically have had more exposure to the ebbs and flows of economic
cycles.)
While the
positioning within the Trust’s portfolio had had a negative effect
on returns in the immediate wake of the COVID-19 crisis, the
positioning began to benefit benchmark-relative performance as
riskier assets rebounded in the second quarter of 2020. The sectors
featuring the strongest returns, and that contributed positively to
the Trust’s relative results, were those that had suffered the most
severe setbacks in the immediate wake of the COVID-19 crisis,
particularly energy, retail, airlines, and other leisure-oriented
sectors, all of which experienced positive reversals of fortune
after the initial pandemic-induced market sell-off. More broadly,
our preference within energy for investments in the midstream
pipeline segment, and minimal portfolio exposure to exploration
& production companies that had been most directly affected by
short-term changes in the price of oil, proved additive for the
Trust’s relative returns over the full 12-month period. In fact,
during the first quarter of 2021, the Trust’s energy positioning
made the biggest positive contribution to benchmark-relative
performance, both at the sector and security selection levels, as
the price of crude oil rebounded above $60 (as we discussed
earlier), and access to financing improved for the energy issuers
whose debt we held in the portfolio.
Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
7
In terms of
individual holdings, the leading positive contributors to the
Trust’s benchmark-relative performance for the 12-month period
included a portfolio overweight to the debt of Scientific Games, a
provider of gambling and lottery products and services. While the
pandemic-related shutdowns weighed heavily on market sentiment with
respect to Scientific Games, the company’s bond prices recovered
strongly as gaming activity began to resume in May of 2020. Surgery
Center Holdings (SCH) was another strong performer for the Trust
during the period. The company’s debt had been downgraded in
late-March 2020 when the vast majority of elective surgical
procedures were put on hold as medical resources were reallocated
to help fight the COVID-19 outbreak. However, SCH, an ambulatory
(or “day”) surgery center operator, was able to shift some of its
centers to deal with COVID-19 patients, and was therefore well
positioned to benefit when discretionary surgical procedures were
allowed to resume. Arts & crafts retailer Michaels Stores was
another notable positive contributor to the Trust’s relative
returns for the period. While we have not had a positive view on
the retail segment in general, we believe Michaels’ relatively
sound capital structure and leading market position helped support
a rebound in the bond price as market sentiment for riskier assets
improved. Ultimately, the company agreed to be acquired, causing
the portfolio’s bond holdings to appreciate further.
On the negative
side, security selection within energy was a modest constraint on
the Trust’s benchmark-relative performance for the 12-month period,
despite the first-quarter 2021 outperformance we noted previously.
In particular, exposure to Chesapeake Energy weighed on the Trust’s
returns as the shale-based exploration & production firm filed
for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection from its creditors, against
the backdrop of plummeting demand for oil and gas. In addition, a
position in offshore drilling contractor Transocean detracted from
the Trust’s relative performance, given a pullback in capital
spending in the energy sector as oil prices faltered in early
2020.
Detractors
outside of energy included a portfolio position in Diamond Sports,
a regional sports network. Diamond saw the outlook for its debt
deteriorate with the absence of sports-related content for several
months during 2020, as live sporting events in general had been
canceled as part of the initial COVID-19 containment measures.
While helped by the resumption of professional sports leagues’
activities a few months into
8
Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual Report | 3/31/21
the pandemic,
Diamond’s owners have pushed for a bond swap in order to reduce the
company’s debt load, which has suppressed enthusiasm for the extant
bonds.
Q Did the Trust’s yield, or dividend distributions** to
shareholders change during the 12-month period ended March 31,
2021?
A The Trust’s dividend
increased from 6.75 cents per share to 7.25 cents per share in
November of 2020, based on management’s assessment of a sustainable
level of income-generation, which reflected both the lower cost of
funding and stronger book yields.
Q How did the level of leverage in the Trust change during the
12-month period ended March 31, 2021?
A The Trust employs
leverage through a credit agreement.
As of March 31,
2021, 30.5% of the Trust’s total managed assets were financed by
leverage, or borrowed funds, compared with 31.8% of the Trust’s
total managed assets financed by leverage at the start of the
12-month period on April 1, 2020. During the 12-month period, the
Trust increased the absolute amount of funds borrowed by a total of
$24 million, to $123 million as of March 31, 2021. The percentage
of the Trust’s total managed assets financed by leverage decreased
during the 12-month period due to an increase in the total managed
assets of the Trust.
Q Did the Trust have any exposure to derivative securities during
the 12-month period ended March 31, 2021? If so, did the
investments have a material effect on the Trust’s
performance?
A Yes, the Trust had
investments in forward foreign currency transactions during the
period, which had a slight positive impact on relative performance.
The Trust also had a position in CDX, an index-based credit default
swap contract, which rose in value in line with the high-yield
market during the 12-month period. The Trust also held currency
call and put options during the period.
Q What is your investment outlook?
A The Fed has continued to
message that it is willing to keep monetary policy accommodative
for an extended period of time. While “an extended period of time”
seems to be a purposefully vague duration,
** Dividends/distributions are not
guaranteed.
Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
9
public comments
from members of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) have
suggested that they could be thinking the “extended period” equals
at least one year. Since the Fed has indicated that it will ignore
this year’s expected rise in inflation as merely transitory, the
attention of both investors and policy makers could turn to 2022
inflation measures. If the FOMC, as suggested, waits for a full
year with Core PCE (personal consumption) inflation at more than 2%
before tightening monetary policy, rate hikes could be off the
table until 2023, in our opinion. That would be consistent with the
Fed’s own “dot” projections. (The Fed’s “dot” plot/projection is a
quarterly chart summarizing the outlook for the federal funds rate
for each of the FOMC’s members.)
Market pricing,
however, has reflected a somewhat faster pace for rate hikes, due
in part to the possibility that the markets may not “buy” the Fed’s
new operating framework. However, we feel it is important to
understand that actual market pricing has reflected a combination
of possible outcomes rather than single-point forecasts.
While we
believe inflation is likely to be lower in 2022 than in 2021, the
balance of inflation risks has been skewed to the upside, given
massive debt-financed US fiscal stimulus and the prospect of
government policies –such as a minimum wage hike, easier
unionization, and generous unemployment benefits – that could
potentially boost wage growth.
Given the
additional fiscal stimulus package and a more-rapid US economic
reopening, we have revised our 2021 US gross domestic product (GDP)
growth forecast upward. The demand-driven growth dynamic could be
positive for corporate fundamentals and consumer balance sheets. In
turn, solid issuer fundamentals and still-elevated investor cash
balances (earning close to 0% yield) may support further
spread-asset performance.
We believe
higher US Treasury yields present a risk to broad-market
performance, to the extent that tighter financial conditions could
start to weigh on economic activity. By our estimates, a 10-year US
Treasury yield in the 2.50% to 3.00% area may likely become
problematic for certain market segments and for economic growth. We
currently regard
10 Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
the risk of
such a move as remote; however, we have been monitoring the
situation closely, as strong monthly economic data further out on
the horizon may push yields marginally higher in the coming
months.
The medium-term
concern, in our view, is rising inflation, as we believe inflation
will rise due to “base effects” (reflecting the very weak economic
conditions seen last summer returning to normal, or at least closer
to normal). The issue is the extent to which inflation increases
might become sustained. If labor and commodities continue to be in
short supply, we could see accelerations in wages and prices, which
the Fed may ultimately feel compelled to address. As we noted
earlier, for the short term, the Fed has signaled a willingness to
“let the economy run hot.” This could be a positive for economic
growth (and for high-yield issuers), but if the Fed reverses course
at some point by raising the target range of the federal funds rate
in an attempt to slow down the pace of growth, that, in all
likelihood, would be a negative for the performance of riskier
assets such as high-yield securities.
All in all, we
believe we are currently seeing a very strong backdrop for
high-yield fundamentals. Strong growth and corporate profits have
led to falling default rates; markets have been reopening; and
companies have had good access to financing in both loan and bond
markets. Our main concern is valuations. High-yield spreads were in
the lower quartile of historical ranges as of period-end, but they
still look attractive, in our opinion, relative to other “spread
assets” such as investment-grade corporate bonds and
government-backed mortgage bonds.
Our base-case
scenario is that default losses will be low, but that the level of
valuations as well as rising Treasury yields could constrain total
returns, even if high-yield securities continue to outperform other
segments of the bond market.
Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
11
Please refer to
the Schedule of Investments on pages 17–39 for a full listing of
Trust securities.
All investments
are subject to risk, including the possible loss of principal. In
the past several years, financial markets have experienced
increased volatility and heightened uncertainty. The market prices
of securities may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or
unpredictably, due to general market conditions, such as real or
perceived adverse economic, political, or regulatory conditions,
recessions, inflation, changes in interest or currency rates, lack
of liquidity in the bond markets, the spread of infectious illness
or other public health issues or adverse investor sentiment. These
conditions may continue, recur, worsen or spread.
Investments in
high-yield or lower-rated securities are subject to
greater-than-average risk.
The Trust may
invest in securities of issuers that are in default or that are in
bankruptcy.
The Trust may
invest in insurance-linked securities. The return of principal and
the payment of interest and/or dividends on insurance linked
securities are contingent on the non-occurrence of a pre-defined
“trigger” event, such as a hurricane or an earthquake of a specific
magnitude.
Investing in
foreign and/or emerging markets securities involves risks relating
to interest rates, currency exchange rates, economic, and political
conditions.
When interest
rates rise, the prices of fixed-income securities held by the Trust
will generally fall. Conversely, when interest rates fall the
prices of fixed-income securities held by the Trust will generally
rise.
Investments in
the Trust are subject to possible loss due to the financial failure
of the issuers of the underlying securities and their inability to
meet their debt obligations.
The Trust may
invest up to 50% of its total assets in illiquid securities.
Illiquid securities may be difficult to dispose of at a price
reflective of their value at the times when the Trust believes it
is desirable to do so, and the market price of illiquid securities
is generally more volatile than that of more liquid securities.
Illiquid securities are also more difficult to value and investment
of the Trust’s assets in illiquid securities may restrict the
Trust’s ability to take advantage of market opportunities.
The Trust
employs leverage through a credit agreement. Leverage creates
significant risks, including the risk that the Trust’s incremental
income or capital appreciation for investments purchased with the
proceeds of leverage will not be sufficient to cover the cost of
leverage, which may adversely affect the return for
shareowners.
12 Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
The Trust is
required to meet certain regulatory and other asset coverage
requirements in connection with its use of leverage. In order to
maintain required asset coverage levels, the Trust may be required
to reduce the amount of leverage employed by the Trust, alter the
composition of its investment portfolio or take other actions at
what might be inopportune times in the market. Such actions could
reduce the net earnings or returns to shareowners over time, which
is likely to result in a decrease in the market value of the
Trust’s shares.
These risks may
increase share price volatility.
Any information
in this shareowner report regarding market or economic trends or
the factors influencing the Trust’s historical or future
performance are statements of opinion as of the date of this
report. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
13
Portfolio Summary
|
3/31/21
Portfolio
Diversification
(As a percentage of total
investments)*
†
Amount rounds to less than 0.1%.
10 Largest
Holdings
|
|
(As a percentage of total investments)*
|
|
1.
|
Hanover Insurance Group, Inc., 7.625%, 10/15/25
|
1.22%
|
2.
|
Liberty Mutual Group, Inc., 10.75% (3 Month USD LIBOR + 712
bps),
|
|
|
6/15/58 (144A)
|
1.11
|
3.
|
Alliance Data Systems Corp., 7.0%, 1/15/26 (144A)
|
1.10
|
4.
|
Prime Security Services Borrower LLC/Prime Finance,
Inc.,
|
|
|
6.25%, 1/15/28 (144A)
|
1.10
|
5.
|
Liberty Mutual Insurance Co., 7.697%, 10/15/97
(144A)
|
1.10
|
6.
|
Connecticut Avenue Securities Trust, Series 2019-HRP1, Class
B1, 9.359%
|
|
|
(1 Month USD LIBOR + 925 bps), 11/25/39 (144A)
|
1.04
|
7.
|
Hercules LLC, 6.5%, 6/30/29
|
1.02
|
8.
|
MDC Partners, Inc., 7.5%, 5/1/24 (144A)
|
1.01
|
9.
|
Uniti Group LP/Uniti Fiber Holdings, Inc./CSL Capital LLC,
7.875%, 2/15/25 (144A)
|
1.01
|
10.
|
Cardtronics, Inc./Cardtronics USA, Inc., 5.5%, 5/1/25
(144A)
|
1.00
|
*
Excludes temporary cash investments and all derivative contracts
except for options purchased. The Trust is actively managed, and
current holdings may be different. The holdings listed should not
be considered recommendations to buy or sell any
securities.
|
14 Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
Prices and Distributions |
3/31/21
Market Value
per Share^
|
|
|
|
|
|
3/31/21
|
|
3/31/20
|
|
Market Value
|
$
|
9.37
|
|
$
|
6.42
|
|
Discount
|
|
(2.1
|
)%
|
|
(11.4
|
)%
|
Net Asset Value
per Share^
|
|
|
|
3/31/21
|
3/31/20
|
Net Asset Value
|
$9.57
|
$7.25
|
Distributions
per Share*: 4/1/20 - 3/30/21
|
|
|
Net Investment
|
Short-Term
|
Long-Term
|
Income
|
Capital Gains
|
Capital Gains
|
$0.8350
|
$ —
|
$ —
|
Yields
|
|
|
|
3/31/21
|
3/31/20
|
30-Day SEC
Yield
|
6.40%
|
16.06%
|
The data shown above represents
past performance, which is no guarantee of future results.
^ Net asset value and market value are published in
Barron’s on Saturday,
The Wall Street Journal on
Monday and The New York
Times on Monday and Saturday. Net asset value and market
value are published daily on the Trust’s website at
www.amundi.com/us.
* The amount of distributions made to shareowners during the
period was in excess of the net investment income earned by the
Trust during the period.
Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
15
Performance Update |
3/31/21
Investment
Returns
The mountain chart on the right
shows the change in market value, including reinvestment of
dividends and distributions, of a $10,000 investment made in common
shares of Pioneer High Income Trust during the periods shown,
compared to that of the ICE BofA U.S. High Yield Index.
Average Annual Total
Returns
|
|
|
|
|
(As of March 31, 2021)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
|
|
|
|
|
|
ICE BofA
|
|
|
|
Asset
|
|
|
|
|
|
U.S. High
|
|
|
|
Value
|
|
|
Market
|
|
|
Yield
|
|
Period
|
|
(NAV)
|
|
|
Price
|
|
|
Index
|
|
10 years
|
|
|
5.99
|
%
|
|
|
4.25
|
%
|
|
|
6.31
|
%
|
5 years
|
|
|
10.03
|
|
|
|
8.00
|
|
|
|
7.94
|
|
1 year
|
|
|
46.08
|
|
|
|
61.52
|
|
|
|
23.31
|
|
Call
1-800-225-6292 or visit www.amundi.com/us for the most recent
month-end performance results. Current performance may be lower or
higher than the performance data quoted.
Performance
data shown represents past performance. Past performance is no
guarantee of future results. Investment return and market price
will fluctuate, and your shares may trade below NAV, due to such
factors as interest rate changes and the perceived credit quality
of borrowers.
Total investment return does not
reflect broker sales charges or commissions. All performance is for
common shares of the Trust.
Shares of closed-end funds, unlike
open-end funds, are not continuously offered. There is a one-time
public offering and, once issued, shares of closed-end funds are
bought and sold in the open market through a stock exchange and
frequently trade at prices lower than their NAV. NAV per common
share is total assets less total liabilities, which include
preferred shares or borrowings, as applicable, divided by the
number of common shares outstanding.
When NAV is lower than market
price, dividends are assumed to be reinvested at the greater of NAV
or 95% of the market price. When NAV is higher, dividends are
assumed to be reinvested at prices obtained through open-market
purchases under the Trust’s dividend reinvestment plan.
The performance table and graph do
not reflect the deduction of fees and taxes that a shareowner would
pay on Trust distributions or the sale of Trust shares. Had these
fees and taxes been reflected, performance would have been
lower.
The ICE Bank of America U.S. High
Yield Index is an unmanaged, commonly accepted measure of the
performance of high yield securities. Index returns are calculated
monthly, assume reinvestment of dividends and, unlike Trust
returns, do not reflect any fees, expenses or sales charges.
The Index does not employ
leverage. It is not possible to invest directly in the
Index.
16 Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
Schedule of Investments |
3/31/21
Shares
|
|
|
|
Value
|
|
|
|
UNAFFILIATED ISSUERS —
140.7%
|
|
|
|
COMMON STOCKS — 1.2% of Net
Assets
|
|
|
|
|
Automobiles & Components —
0.1%
|
|
|
827
|
|
Lear Corp.
|
$ 149,894
|
|
|
|
Total Automobiles &
Components
|
$
149,894
|
|
|
|
Energy Equipment & Services —
0.8%
|
|
|
89,191(a)
|
|
FTS International,
Inc.
|
$ 2,206,585
|
|
|
|
Total Energy Equipment &
Services
|
$
2,206,585
|
|
|
|
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels —
0.3%
|
|
|
21(a)
|
|
Amplify Energy Corp.
|
$ 58
|
|
802,650^+(a)
|
|
PetroQuest Energy,
Inc.
|
341,126
|
|
12,271
|
|
Summit Midstream Partners
LP
|
289,227
|
|
7,997^+(a)
|
|
Superior Energy Services,
Inc.
|
|
|
|
|
Total Oil, Gas &
Consumable Fuels
|
$ 888,314
|
|
|
|
Specialty Retail — 0.0%†
|
|
|
68,241^+(a)
|
|
Targus Cayman SubCo.,
Ltd.
|
$ 104,409
|
|
|
|
Total Specialty
Retail
|
$
104,409
|
|
|
|
TOTAL COMMON STOCKS
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $3,924,071)
|
$ 3,349,202
|
|
|
|
CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK —
0.8% of
|
|
|
|
|
Net Assets
|
|
|
|
|
Banks — 0.8%
|
|
|
1,600(b)
|
|
Wells Fargo & Co.,
7.5%
|
$ 2,267,856
|
|
|
|
Total
Banks
|
$
2,267,856
|
|
|
|
TOTAL CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED
STOCK
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $2,022,424)
|
$
2,267,856
|
|
|
|
PREFERRED STOCKS — 2.5% of
Net Assets
|
|
|
|
|
Banks — 1.2%
|
|
|
132,750(c)
|
|
GMAC Capital Trust I, 5.983% (3
Month USD LIBOR +
|
|
|
|
|
579 bps),
2/15/40
|
$ 3,382,470
|
|
|
|
Total
Banks
|
$
3,382,470
|
|
|
|
Diversified Financial Services —
1.2%
|
|
|
3,000(b)(c)
|
|
Compeer Financial ACA, 6.75% (USD
LIBOR +
|
|
|
|
|
458 bps) (144A)
|
$ 3,315,000
|
|
|
|
Total Diversified Financial
Services
|
$
3,315,000
|
|
|
|
Internet — 0.1%
|
|
|
129,055
|
|
MYT Holding LLC
|
$ 131,314
|
|
|
|
Total
Internet
|
$
131,314
|
|
|
|
TOTAL PREFERRED STOCKS
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $6,558,028)
|
$
6,828,784
|
The accompanying notes are an
integral part of these financial statements.
Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
17
Schedule of Investments | 3/31/21
(continued)
|
|
|
|
Principal
|
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
|
USD ($)
|
|
|
Value
|
|
|
COLLATERALIZED MORTGAGE
OBLIGATIONS —
|
|
|
|
2.0% of Net
Assets
|
|
4,100,000(d)
|
|
Connecticut Avenue Securities
Trust, Series 2019-HRP1,
|
|
|
|
Class B1, 9.359% (1 Month
USD LIBOR +
|
|
|
|
925 bps), 11/25/39
(144A)
|
$ 4,110,298
|
710,000(d)
|
|
Freddie Mac Stacr Trust, Series
2019-HQA1, Class B2,
|
|
|
|
12.359% (1 Month USD LIBOR
+
|
|
|
|
1,225 bps), 2/25/49
(144A)
|
818,907
|
530,000(d)
|
|
Freddie Mac Stacr Trust, Series
2019-HQA2, Class B2,
|
|
|
|
11.359% (1 Month USD LIBOR
+
|
|
|
|
1,125 bps), 4/25/49 (144A)
|
593,351
|
|
|
TOTAL COLLATERALIZED MORTGAGE
OBLIGATIONS
|
|
|
|
(Cost $5,340,000)
|
$
5,522,556
|
|
|
COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE-BACKED
|
|
|
|
SECURITIES — 2.8% of Net
Assets
|
|
500,000(d)
|
|
Capital Funding Mortgage Trust,
Series 2020-9, Class B,
|
|
|
|
15.9% (1 Month USD LIBOR
+
|
|
|
|
1,490 bps), 11/19/22
(144A)
|
$ 500,000
|
1,744,008(c)
|
|
FREMF Mortgage Trust, Series
2019-KJ24, Class B, 7.6%,
|
|
|
|
10/25/27 (144A)
|
1,498,464
|
1,500,000(d)
|
|
FREMF Mortgage Trust, Series
2019-KS12, Class C,
|
|
|
|
7.019% (1 Month USD LIBOR +
690 bps), 8/25/29
|
1,215,000
|
1,196,887(d)
|
|
FREMF Mortgage Trust, Series
2020-KF74, Class C, 6.349%
|
|
|
|
(1 Month USD LIBOR +
623 bps), 1/25/27 (144A)
|
1,182,091
|
1,500,000(d)
|
|
FREMF Mortgage Trust, Series
2020-KF83, Class C, 9.119%
|
|
|
|
(1 Month USD LIBOR +
900 bps), 7/25/30 (144A)
|
1,523,091
|
161,261
|
|
L1C 3/8L1 LLC, Series 2019-1,
Class B, 8.5%, 11/1/22
|
|
|
|
(144A)
|
161,480
|
2,500,000
|
|
Wells Fargo Commercial Mortgage
Trust, Series 2015-C28,
|
|
|
|
Class E, 3.0%, 5/15/48 (144A)
|
1,673,096
|
|
|
TOTAL COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE-BACKED
SECURITIES
|
|
|
|
(Cost $8,454,648)
|
$
7,753,222
|
|
|
CONVERTIBLE CORPORATE BONDS —
3.0% of
|
|
|
|
Net Assets
|
|
|
|
Banks — 0.0%†
|
|
IDR 1,422,679,000^
|
|
PT Bakrie & Brothers Tbk,
12/22/22
|
$ 9,795
|
|
|
Total
Banks
|
$
9,795
|
|
|
Chemicals — 1.4%
|
|
4,000,000(e)
|
|
Hercules LLC, 6.5%,
6/30/29
|
$ 4,015,000
|
|
|
Total
Chemicals
|
$
4,015,000
|
|
|
Entertainment — 0.5%
|
|
510,000(f)
|
|
DraftKings, Inc., 3/15/28
(144A)
|
$ 504,645
|
849,000
|
|
IMAX Corp., 0.5%, 4/1/26
(144A)
|
839,491
|
|
|
Total
Entertainment
|
$
1,344,136
|
The accompanying notes are an
integral part of these financial statements.
18 Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
Principal
|
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
|
USD ($)
|
|
|
Value
|
|
|
Leisure Time — 0.2%
|
|
490,000
|
|
Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd.,
4.25%, 6/15/23 (144A)
|
$ 688,695
|
|
|
Total Leisure
Time
|
$
688,695
|
|
|
Mining — 0.4%
|
|
1,050,000
|
|
Ivanhoe Mines Ltd., 2.5%, 4/15/26
(144A)
|
$ 1,076,092
|
|
|
Total
Mining
|
$
1,076,092
|
|
|
Pharmaceuticals — 0.2%
|
|
1,300,000
|
|
Tricida, Inc., 3.5%, 5/15/27
(144A)
|
$ 510,735
|
|
|
Total
Pharmaceuticals
|
$
510,735
|
|
|
REITs — 0.1%
|
|
235,000
|
|
Summit Hotel Properties, Inc.,
1.5%, 2/15/26
|
$ 258,941
|
|
|
Total
REITs
|
$
258,941
|
|
|
Software — 0.2%
|
|
675,000(f)
|
|
Everbridge, Inc., 3/15/26
(144A)
|
$ 658,125
|
|
|
Total
Software
|
$
658,125
|
|
|
TOTAL CONVERTIBLE CORPORATE
BONDS
|
|
|
|
(Cost $7,620,265)
|
$
8,561,519
|
|
|
CORPORATE BONDS — 122.4% of
Net Assets
|
|
|
|
Advertising — 1.8%
|
|
200,000
|
|
Clear Channel International BV,
6.625%, 8/1/25 (144A)
|
$ 209,000
|
900,000
|
|
Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings,
Inc., 7.75%,
|
|
|
|
4/15/28 (144A)
|
892,197
|
3,940,000(g)
|
|
MDC Partners, Inc., 7.5%, 5/1/24
(144A)
|
3,979,400
|
|
|
Total
Advertising
|
$
5,080,597
|
|
|
Aerospace & Defense —
0.9%
|
|
1,210,000
|
|
Howmet Aerospace, Inc., 6.875%,
5/1/25
|
$ 1,402,087
|
745,000
|
|
Kratos Defense & Security
Solutions, Inc., 6.5%,
|
|
|
|
11/30/25 (144A)
|
782,712
|
270,000
|
|
Triumph Group, Inc., 8.875%,
6/1/24 (144A)
|
303,804
|
|
|
Total Aerospace &
Defense
|
$
2,488,603
|
|
|
Airlines — 1.8%
|
|
1,455,000
|
|
Delta Air Lines, Inc., 3.75%,
10/28/29
|
$ 1,417,757
|
355,000
|
|
Delta Air Lines, Inc., 7.375%,
1/15/26
|
416,666
|
1,380,000
|
|
Mileage Plus Holdings LLC/Mileage
Plus Intellectual
|
|
|
|
Property Assets, Ltd., 6.5%,
6/20/27 (144A)
|
1,511,100
|
EUR 2,000,000
|
|
Transportes Aereos Portugueses
SA, 5.625%,
|
|
|
|
12/2/24 (144A)
|
1,814,039
|
|
|
Total
Airlines
|
$
5,159,562
|
|
|
Auto Manufacturers — 2.0%
|
|
1,650,000
|
|
Ford Motor Credit Co. LLC,
3.815%, 11/2/27
|
$ 1,668,563
|
1,399,000
|
|
General Motors Co., 6.125%,
10/1/25
|
1,644,470
|
The accompanying notes are an
integral part of these financial statements.
Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
19
Schedule of Investments | 3/31/21
(continued)
Principal
|
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
|
USD ($)
|
|
|
Value
|
|
|
Auto Manufacturers —
(continued)
|
|
2,260,000
|
|
JB Poindexter & Co., Inc., 7.125%, 4/15/26
(144A)
|
$ 2,387,125
|
|
|
Total Auto
Manufacturers
|
$
5,700,158
|
|
|
Auto Parts & Equipment —
1.9%
|
|
2,000,000
|
|
American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc., 6.5%,
4/1/27
|
$ 2,075,000
|
1,798,000
|
|
Dealer Tire LLC/DT Issuer LLC, 8.0%, 2/1/28 (144A)
|
1,899,587
|
1,195,000
|
|
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., 9.5%, 5/31/25
|
1,339,894
|
|
|
Total Auto Parts &
Equipment
|
$
5,314,481
|
|
|
Banks —
5.7%
|
|
825,000
|
|
Access Bank Plc, 10.5%, 10/19/21 (144A)
|
$ 853,479
|
600,000(b)(c)
|
|
Bank of America Corp., 6.5% (3 Month USD
|
|
|
|
LIBOR + 417 bps)
|
672,000
|
1,800,000(b)(c)
|
|
Barclays Plc, 7.75% (5 Year USD Swap Rate + 484
bps)
|
1,964,160
|
700,000(b)(c)
|
|
Credit Suisse Group AG, 7.5% (5 Year USD Swap Rate
+
|
|
|
|
460 bps) (144A)
|
757,630
|
1,931,000
|
|
Freedom Mortgage Corp., 8.125%, 11/15/24 (144A)
|
2,000,999
|
2,147,000
|
|
Freedom Mortgage Corp., 8.25%, 4/15/25 (144A)
|
2,235,564
|
675,000(b)(c)
|
|
Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A., 7.7% (5 Year USD Swap Rate
+
|
|
|
|
546 bps) (144A)
|
766,125
|
2,250,000(b)(c)
|
|
Natwest Group Plc, 8.625% (5 Year USD Swap
|
|
|
|
Rate + 760 bps)
|
2,303,437
|
3,415,000
|
|
Provident Funding Associates LP/PFG Finance Corp.,
|
|
|
|
6.375%, 6/15/25 (144A)
|
3,406,667
|
980,000(b)(c)
|
|
Societe Generale SA, 7.375% (5 Year USD Swap Rate
+
|
|
|
|
624 bps) (144A)
|
1,001,070
|
|
|
Total
Banks
|
$
15,961,131
|
|
|
Building Materials —
1.8%
|
|
1,333,000
|
|
Builders FirstSource, Inc., 6.75%, 6/1/27 (144A)
|
$ 1,429,642
|
470,000
|
|
Cornerstone Building Brands, Inc., 6.125%,
|
|
|
|
1/15/29 (144A)
|
500,550
|
745,000
|
|
CP Atlas Buyer, Inc., 7.0%, 12/1/28 (144A)
|
783,032
|
2,062,000
|
|
Patrick Industries, Inc., 7.5%, 10/15/27 (144A)
|
2,250,158
|
150,000
|
|
Summit Materials LLC/Summit Materials Finance
|
|
|
|
Corp., 5.25%, 1/15/29 (144A)
|
156,899
|
|
|
Total Building
Materials
|
$
5,120,281
|
|
|
Chemicals —
4.4%
|
|
78,000
|
|
Blue Cube Spinco LLC, 10.0%, 10/15/25
|
$ 82,290
|
1,455,000
|
|
Hexion, Inc., 7.875%, 7/15/27 (144A)
|
1,564,489
|
2,250,000
|
|
LYB Finance Co. BV, 8.1%, 3/15/27 (144A)
|
2,976,947
|
470,000
|
|
Olin Corp., 9.5%, 6/1/25 (144A)
|
579,863
|
2,316,000
|
|
Rain CII Carbon LLC/CII Carbon Corp., 7.25%,
|
|
|
|
4/1/25 (144A)
|
2,397,546
|
1,340,000
|
|
Trinseo Materials Operating SCA/Trinseo Materials
|
|
|
|
Finance, Inc., 5.125%, 4/1/29 (144A)
|
1,381,875
|
The accompanying notes are an
integral part of these financial statements.
20 Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
Principal
|
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
|
USD ($)
|
|
|
Value
|
|
|
Chemicals — (continued)
|
|
2,030,000
|
|
Tronox, Inc., 4.625%, 3/15/29
(144A)
|
$ 2,032,538
|
1,290,000
|
|
Tronox, Inc., 6.5%, 5/1/25
(144A)
|
1,383,525
|
|
|
Total
Chemicals
|
$
12,399,073
|
|
|
Coal — 0.9%
|
|
2,429,000
|
|
SunCoke Energy Partners
LP/SunCoke Energy Partners
|
|
|
|
Finance Corp., 7.5%, 6/15/25
(144A)
|
$ 2,523,124
|
|
|
Total Coal
|
$
2,523,124
|
|
|
Commercial Services — 7.4%
|
|
350,000
|
|
Allied Universal Holdco
LLC/Allied Universal Finance
|
|
|
|
Corp., 6.625%, 7/15/26
(144A)
|
$ 371,168
|
1,905,000
|
|
Allied Universal Holdco
LLC/Allied Universal Finance
|
|
|
|
Corp., 9.75%, 7/15/27
(144A)
|
2,090,166
|
950,000
|
|
APX Group, Inc., 6.75%, 2/15/27
(144A)
|
1,019,084
|
790,000
|
|
Atento Luxco 1 SA, 8.0%, 2/10/26
(144A)
|
827,887
|
3,850,000
|
|
Cardtronics, Inc./Cardtronics
USA, Inc., 5.5%,
|
|
|
|
5/1/25 (144A)
|
3,955,875
|
1,025,000
|
|
Carriage Services, Inc., 6.625%,
6/1/26 (144A)
|
1,076,250
|
3,226,000
|
|
Garda World Security Corp., 9.5%,
11/1/27 (144A)
|
3,570,763
|
319,000
|
|
Herc Holdings, Inc., 5.5%,
7/15/27 (144A)
|
339,480
|
915,000
|
|
NESCO Holdings II, Inc., 5.5%,
4/15/29 (144A)
|
938,333
|
4,155,000
|
|
Prime Security Services Borrower
LLC/Prime Finance,
|
|
|
|
Inc., 6.25%, 1/15/28
(144A)
|
4,325,313
|
1,093,000
|
|
Sotheby’s, 7.375%, 10/15/27
(144A)
|
1,181,926
|
862,000
|
|
Verscend Escrow Corp., 9.75%,
8/15/26 (144A)
|
924,254
|
|
|
Total Commercial
Services
|
$
20,620,499
|
|
|
Computers — 1.3%
|
|
555,000
|
|
Dell International LLC/EMC Corp., 7.125%, 6/15/24
(144A)
|
$ 571,303
|
1,810,000
|
|
Diebold Nixdorf, Inc., 8.5%,
4/15/24
|
1,848,915
|
175,000
|
|
Diebold Nixdorf, Inc., 9.375%,
7/15/25 (144A)
|
194,906
|
730,000
|
|
NCR Corp., 5.0%, 10/1/28
(144A)
|
737,300
|
155,000
|
|
NCR Corp., 8.125%, 4/15/25
(144A)
|
169,919
|
|
|
Total
Computers
|
$
3,522,343
|
|
|
Diversified Financial Services —
8.3%
|
|
4,055,000
|
|
Alliance Data Systems Corp.,
7.0%, 1/15/26 (144A)
|
$ 4,339,661
|
2,150,000
|
|
ASG Finance Designated Activity
Co., 7.875%,
|
|
|
|
12/3/24 (144A)
|
2,007,562
|
1,240,000(h)
|
|
Avation Capital SA, 8.25% (9.0%
PIK or 8.25% cash),
|
|
|
|
10/31/26 (144A)
|
998,200
|
340,000
|
|
Credito Real SAB de CV SOFOM ER,
8.0%, 1/21/28 (144A)
|
343,742
|
3,105,000
|
|
Credito Real SAB de CV SOFOM ER,
9.5%, 2/7/26 (144A)
|
3,294,405
|
EUR 480,000
|
|
Garfunkelux Holdco 3 SA, 6.75%,
11/1/25 (144A)
|
581,746
|
GBP 820,000
|
|
Garfunkelux Holdco 3 SA, 7.75%,
11/1/25 (144A)
|
1,167,511
|
The accompanying notes are an
integral part of these financial statements.
Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
21
Schedule of Investments | 3/31/21
(continued)
|
|
|
|
Principal
|
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
|
USD ($)
|
|
|
Value
|
|
|
Diversified Financial Services — (continued) |
|
2,147,628(h)
|
|
Global Aircraft Leasing Co., Ltd.,
6.5% (7.25% PIK or
|
|
|
|
6.50% cash), 9/15/24
(144A)
|
$ 2,059,575
|
1,020,000
|
|
Nationstar Mortgage Holdings,
Inc., 5.125%,
|
|
|
|
12/15/30 (144A)
|
1,002,364
|
845,000
|
|
Nationstar Mortgage Holdings, Inc., 6.0%, 1/15/27
(144A)
|
876,688
|
160,000
|
|
OneMain Finance Corp., 6.625%,
1/15/28
|
181,330
|
460,000
|
|
OneMain Finance Corp., 8.875%,
6/1/25
|
509,588
|
1,290,000
|
|
Oxford Finance LLC/Oxford Finance
Co-Issuer II, Inc.,
|
|
|
|
6.375%, 12/15/22
(144A)
|
1,309,092
|
755,000
|
|
PHH Mortgage Corp., 7.875%,
3/15/26 (144A)
|
773,875
|
1,225,000
|
|
United Wholesale Mortgage LLC,
5.5%, 4/15/29 (144A)
|
1,223,469
|
2,395,000
|
|
VistaJet Malta Finance Plc/XO
Management Holding,
|
|
|
|
Inc., 10.5%, 6/1/24
(144A)
|
2,610,550
|
|
|
Total Diversified Financial
Services
|
$
23,279,358
|
|
|
Electric — 3.3%
|
|
825,000
|
|
Cemig Geracao e Transmissao SA, 9.25%, 12/5/24
(144A)
|
$ 942,975
|
1,010,000(c)
|
|
Enel S.p.A., 8.75% (5 Year USD
Swap Rate +
|
|
|
|
588 bps), 9/24/73
(144A)
|
1,174,125
|
2,240,000
|
|
NRG Energy, Inc., 6.625%,
1/15/27
|
2,329,600
|
950,000
|
|
NRG Energy, Inc., 7.25%,
5/15/26
|
988,000
|
1,120,421
|
|
NSG Holdings LLC/NSG Holdings,
Inc., 7.75%,
|
|
|
|
12/15/25 (144A)
|
1,193,249
|
1,520,000
|
|
Talen Energy Supply LLC, 7.625%,
6/1/28 (144A)
|
1,539,000
|
1,100,000
|
|
Talen Energy Supply LLC, 10.5%,
1/15/26 (144A)
|
984,500
|
6,000
|
|
Vistra Operations Co. LLC, 5.625%,
2/15/27 (144A)
|
6,236
|
|
|
Total
Electric
|
$
9,157,685
|
|
|
Electrical Components & Equipment —
0.5%
|
|
750,000
|
|
WESCO Distribution, Inc., 7.125%,
6/15/25 (144A)
|
$ 820,125
|
520,000
|
|
WESCO Distribution, Inc., 7.25%,
6/15/28 (144A)
|
581,880
|
|
|
Total Electrical Components
& Equipment
|
$
1,402,005
|
|
|
Electronics — 0.1%
|
|
380,000
|
|
TTM Technologies, Inc., 4.0%,
3/1/29 (144A)
|
$ 374,775
|
|
|
Total
Electronics
|
$
374,775
|
|
|
Engineering & Construction —
1.5%
|
|
475,000
|
|
Brundage-Bone Concrete Pumping
Holdings, Inc.,
|
|
|
|
6.0%, 2/1/26 (144A)
|
$ 495,188
|
3,010,000
|
|
PowerTeam Services LLC, 9.033%,
12/4/25 (144A)
|
3,342,003
|
704,038(i)
|
|
Stoneway Capital Corp., 10.0%,
3/1/27 (144A)
|
260,494
|
|
|
Total Engineering &
Construction
|
$
4,097,685
|
|
|
Entertainment — 5.7%
|
|
768,000
|
|
AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc.,
10.5%, 4/24/26 (144A)
|
$ 812,160
|
2,135,980(h)
|
|
AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc.,
12.0% (12.0% PIK or
|
|
|
|
10.0% cash), 6/15/26
(144A)
|
1,736,552
|
The accompanying notes are an
integral part of these financial statements.
22 Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
Principal
|
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
|
USD ($)
|
|
|
Value
|
|
|
Entertainment — (continued)
|
|
1,085,000
|
|
Caesars Entertainment, Inc.,
8.125%, 7/1/27 (144A)
|
$ 1,196,972
|
EUR 1,025,000
|
|
Cirsa Finance International
S.a.r.l., 6.25%, 12/20/23 (144A)
|
1,218,757
|
854,000
|
|
Cirsa Finance International
S.a.r.l., 7.875%,
|
|
|
|
12/20/23 (144A)
|
863,650
|
1,040,000(h)
|
|
Codere Finance 2 Luxembourg SA,
11.625% (7.125% PIK
|
|
|
|
or 4.5% cash), 11/1/23
(144A)
|
565,760
|
380,000
|
|
International Game Technology Plc, 4.125%,
|
|
|
|
4/15/26 (144A)
|
390,480
|
395,000
|
|
International Game Technology Plc,
6.25%,
|
|
|
|
1/15/27 (144A)
|
437,638
|
656,000
|
|
International Game Technology Plc, 6.5%, 2/15/25
(144A)
|
718,320
|
1,265,000
|
|
Lions Gate Capital Holdings LLC,
5.5%, 4/15/29 (144A)
|
1,265,139
|
1,880,000
|
|
Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment, 8.0%, 2/1/26
(144A)
|
1,896,694
|
1,910,000
|
|
Scientific Games International,
Inc., 7.0%, 5/15/28 (144A)
|
2,041,045
|
1,910,000
|
|
Scientific Games International, Inc., 7.25%,
|
|
|
|
11/15/29 (144A)
|
2,072,350
|
571,000
|
|
Scientific Games International, Inc., 8.25%, 3/15/26
(144A)
|
612,398
|
230,000
|
|
SeaWorld Parks &
Entertainment, Inc., 9.5%, 8/1/25 (144A)
|
249,970
|
|
|
Total
Entertainment
|
$
16,077,885
|
|
|
Environmental Control —
1.4%
|
|
815,000
|
|
Covanta Holding Corp., 5.0%,
9/1/30
|
$ 823,150
|
1,691,000
|
|
Covanta Holding Corp., 6.0%,
1/1/27
|
1,764,981
|
1,280,000
|
|
Tervita Corp., 11.0%, 12/1/25
(144A)
|
1,452,800
|
|
|
Total Environmental
Control
|
$
4,040,931
|
|
|
Food — 1.5%
|
|
531,000
|
|
Albertsons Cos., Inc./Safeway,
Inc./New Albertsons
|
|
|
|
LP/Albertsons LLC, 7.5%, 3/15/26
(144A)
|
$ 586,551
|
1,412,000
|
|
FAGE International SA/FAGE USA
Dairy Industry, Inc.,
|
|
|
|
5.625%, 8/15/26 (144A)
|
1,457,890
|
775,000
|
|
JBS USA LUX SA/JBS USA Finance,
Inc., 6.75%,
|
|
|
|
2/15/28 (144A)
|
851,764
|
625,000
|
|
JBS USA LUX SA/JBS USA Food
Co./JBS USA Finance,
|
|
|
|
Inc., 6.5%, 4/15/29
(144A)
|
705,937
|
460,000
|
|
United Natural Foods, Inc., 6.75%,
10/15/28 (144A)
|
491,625
|
|
|
Total Food
|
$
4,093,767
|
|
|
Forest Products & Paper —
1.7%
|
|
1,655,000
|
|
Eldorado International Finance
GmbH, 8.625%,
|
|
|
|
6/16/21 (144A)
|
$ 1,651,690
|
2,035,000
|
|
Mercer International, Inc.,
5.125%, 2/1/29 (144A)
|
2,108,260
|
831,000
|
|
Schweitzer-Mauduit International,
Inc., 6.875%,
|
|
|
|
10/1/26 (144A)
|
880,860
|
|
|
Total Forest Products &
Paper
|
$
4,640,810
|
The accompanying notes are an
integral part of these financial statements.
Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
23
Schedule of Investments | 3/31/21
(continued)
|
|
|
|
Principal
|
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
|
USD ($)
|
|
|
Value
|
|
|
Healthcare-Products —
0.9%
|
|
2,235,000
|
|
Varex Imaging Corp., 7.875%, 10/15/27 (144A)
|
$ 2,486,438
|
|
|
Total
Healthcare-Products
|
$
2,486,438
|
|
|
Healthcare-Services —
4.8%
|
|
1,425,000
|
|
Auna SAA, 6.5%, 11/20/25 (144A)
|
$ 1,519,420
|
1,340,000
|
|
Centene Corp., 4.625%, 12/15/29
|
1,450,289
|
580,000
|
|
CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., 5.625%,
|
|
|
|
3/15/27 (144A)
|
610,044
|
265,000
|
|
CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., 6.0%,
|
|
|
|
1/15/29 (144A)
|
280,237
|
580,000
|
|
Legacy LifePoint Health LLC, 6.75%, 4/15/25 (144A)
|
616,250
|
385,000
|
|
Lifepoint Health, Inc., 5.375%, 1/15/29 (144A)
|
379,225
|
2,640,000
|
|
Prime Healthcare Services, Inc., 7.25%, 11/1/25
(144A)
|
2,818,200
|
2,396,000
|
|
Surgery Center Holdings, Inc., 10.0%, 4/15/27
(144A)
|
2,641,590
|
425,000
|
|
US Acute Care Solutions LLC, 6.375%, 3/1/26 (144A)
|
440,938
|
2,500,000
|
|
US Renal Care, Inc., 10.625%, 7/15/27 (144A)
|
2,750,000
|
|
|
Total
Healthcare-Services
|
$
13,506,193
|
|
|
Home Builders —
2.5%
|
|
475,000
|
|
Beazer Homes USA, Inc., 6.75%, 3/15/25
|
$ 489,250
|
1,155,000
|
|
Beazer Homes USA, Inc., 7.25%, 10/15/29
|
1,258,950
|
1,680,000
|
|
Brookfield Residential Properties, Inc./Brookfield
|
|
|
|
Residential US Corp., 4.875%, 2/15/30 (144A)
|
1,681,042
|
800,000
|
|
Brookfield Residential Properties, Inc./Brookfield
|
|
|
|
Residential US Corp., 6.375%, 5/15/25 (144A)
|
819,000
|
830,000
|
|
Empire Communities Corp., 7.0%, 12/15/25 (144A)
|
874,613
|
790,000
|
|
KB Home, 7.5%, 9/15/22
|
852,212
|
1,035,000
|
|
KB Home, 7.625%, 5/15/23
|
1,121,681
|
|
|
Total Home
Builders
|
$
7,096,748
|
|
|
Housewares —
0.1%
|
|
250,000
|
|
CD&R Smokey Buyer, Inc., 6.75%, 7/15/25 (144A)
|
$ 268,125
|
|
|
Total
Housewares
|
$
268,125
|
|
|
Insurance —
5.5%
|
|
3,800,000
|
|
Hanover Insurance Group, Inc., 7.625%, 10/15/25
|
$ 4,816,627
|
3,075,000(c)
|
|
Liberty Mutual Group, Inc., 10.75% (3 Month USD LIBOR
+
|
|
|
|
712 bps), 6/15/58 (144A)
|
4,355,431
|
3,000,000
|
|
Liberty Mutual Insurance Co., 7.697%, 10/15/97
(144A)
|
4,320,278
|
1,100,000
|
|
MetLife, Inc., 10.75%, 8/1/39
|
1,837,978
|
|
|
Total
Insurance
|
$
15,330,314
|
|
|
Internet —
0.1%
|
|
205,000
|
|
Expedia Group, Inc., 6.25%, 5/1/25 (144A)
|
$ 237,047
|
|
|
Total
Internet
|
$
237,047
|
The accompanying notes are an
integral part of these financial statements.
24 Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
Principal
|
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
|
USD ($)
|
|
|
Value
|
|
|
Iron & Steel — 1.3%
|
|
1,840,000
|
|
Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc., 6.75%,
3/15/26 (144A)
|
$ 2,001,000
|
155,000
|
|
Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc., 9.875%,
10/17/25 (144A)
|
181,590
|
1,470,000
|
|
Commercial Metals Co., 5.375%,
7/15/27
|
1,543,500
|
|
|
Total Iron &
Steel
|
$
3,726,090
|
|
|
Leisure Time — 2.8%
|
|
215,000
|
|
Carnival Corp., 7.625%, 3/1/26
(144A)
|
$ 230,974
|
EUR
280,000
|
|
Carnival Corp., 7.625%, 3/1/26
(144A)
|
354,967
|
285,000
|
|
Carnival Corp., 10.5%, 2/1/26
(144A)
|
335,938
|
1,295,000
|
|
NCL Corp., Ltd., 5.875%, 3/15/26
(144A)
|
1,312,340
|
360,000
|
|
NCL Finance, Ltd., 6.125%,
3/15/28 (144A)
|
366,750
|
EUR
350,000
|
|
Pinnacle Bidco Plc, 5.5%, 2/15/25
(144A)
|
415,543
|
745,000
|
|
Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd.,
5.5%, 4/1/28 (144A)
|
749,284
|
270,000
|
|
Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd.,
9.125%, 6/15/23 (144A)
|
297,521
|
638,000
|
|
Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd.,
11.5%, 6/1/25 (144A)
|
744,067
|
2,790,000
|
|
Viking Cruises, Ltd., 6.25%,
5/15/25 (144A)
|
2,762,686
|
165,000
|
|
Viking Ocean Cruises Ship VII,
Ltd., 5.625%,
|
|
|
|
2/15/29 (144A)
|
166,700
|
|
|
Total Leisure
Time
|
$
7,736,770
|
|
|
Lodging — 2.6%
|
|
880,000
|
|
Boyd Gaming Corp., 8.625%, 6/1/25
(144A)
|
$ 978,560
|
950,000
|
|
Hilton Domestic Operating Co., Inc., 3.75%, 5/1/29
(144A)
|
940,500
|
910,000
|
|
Hilton Domestic Operating Co.,
Inc., 4.0%, 5/1/31 (144A)
|
910,000
|
815,000
|
|
Hyatt Hotels Corp., 5.375%,
4/23/25
|
913,572
|
390,000
|
|
Hyatt Hotels Corp., 5.75%,
4/23/30
|
455,240
|
325,000
|
|
Marriott International, Inc.,
5.75%, 5/1/25
|
372,805
|
1,700,000
|
|
MGM Resorts International, 6.0%,
3/15/23
|
1,821,125
|
725,000
|
|
Travel + Leisure Co., 6.625%,
7/31/26 (144A)
|
823,129
|
|
|
Total
Lodging
|
$
7,214,931
|
|
Machinery-Construction & Mining —
0.4%
|
955,000
|
|
Terex Corp., 5.0%, 5/15/29
(144A)
|
$ 988,616
|
|
|
Total Machinery-Construction
& Mining
|
$
988,616
|
|
|
Machinery-Diversified —
0.6%
|
|
1,517,000
|
|
Maxim Crane Works Holdings
Capital LLC, 10.125%,
|
|
|
|
8/1/24 (144A)
|
$ 1,587,161
|
|
|
Total
Machinery-Diversified
|
$
1,587,161
|
|
|
Media — 2.3%
|
|
1,053,000
|
|
Clear Channel Worldwide Holdings,
Inc., 9.25%, 2/15/24
|
$ 1,095,436
|
2,288,000
|
|
Diamond Sports Group LLC/Diamond
Sports Finance
|
|
|
|
Co., 6.625%, 8/15/27
(144A)
|
1,201,200
|
480,000
|
|
Entercom Media Corp., 6.75%,
3/31/29 (144A)
|
498,924
|
The accompanying notes are an
integral part of these financial statements.
Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
25
Schedule of Investments | 3/31/21
(continued)
Principal
|
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
|
USD ($)
|
|
|
Value
|
|
|
Media —
(continued)
|
|
303,000
|
|
Gray Television, Inc., 5.875%, 7/15/26 (144A)
|
$ 313,984
|
1,057,000
|
|
Gray Television, Inc., 7.0%, 5/15/27 (144A)
|
1,149,487
|
EUR 890,000
|
|
Virgin Media Finance Plc, 3.75%, 7/15/30 (144A)
|
1,044,559
|
GBP
890,000
|
|
Virgin Media Vendor Financing Notes III, DAC,
4.875%,
|
|
|
|
7/15/28 (144A)
|
1,261,609
|
|
|
Total
Media
|
$
6,565,199
|
|
|
Mining —
3.8%
|
|
940,000
|
|
Arconic Corp., 6.125%, 2/15/28 (144A)
|
$ 1,004,108
|
1,240,000
|
|
Coeur Mining, Inc., 5.125%, 2/15/29 (144A)
|
1,185,378
|
375,000
|
|
First Quantum Minerals, Ltd., 6.875%, 3/1/26
(144A)
|
388,125
|
705,000
|
|
First Quantum Minerals, Ltd., 6.875%, 10/15/27
(144A)
|
756,112
|
1,750,000
|
|
First Quantum Minerals, Ltd., 7.25%, 4/1/23 (144A)
|
1,780,625
|
180,000
|
|
Hudbay Minerals, Inc., 4.5%, 4/1/26 (144A)
|
187,076
|
692,000
|
|
Hudbay Minerals, Inc., 6.125%, 4/1/29 (144A)
|
738,710
|
3,276,000
|
|
Joseph T Ryerson & Son, Inc., 8.5%, 8/1/28
(144A)
|
3,669,120
|
1,000,000
|
|
Novelis Corp., 5.875%, 9/30/26 (144A)
|
1,046,800
|
|
|
Total
Mining
|
$
10,756,054
|
|
|
Miscellaneous Manufacturers —
0.2%
|
|
424,000
|
|
Koppers, Inc., 6.0%, 2/15/25 (144A)
|
$ 437,055
|
|
|
Total Miscellaneous
Manufacturers
|
$
437,055
|
|
|
Multi-National —
0.3%
|
|
IDR
10,330,000,000
|
|
Inter-American Development Bank, 7.875%, 3/14/23
|
$ 745,751
|
|
|
Total
Multi-National
|
$
745,751
|
|
|
Oil & Gas —
10.7%
|
|
2,430,000
|
|
Aethon United BR LP/Aethon United Finance Corp.,
|
|
|
|
8.25%, 2/15/26 (144A)
|
$ 2,515,050
|
199,000
|
|
Ascent Resources Utica Holdings LLC/ARU Finance
|
|
|
|
Corp., 10.0%, 4/1/22 (144A)
|
208,950
|
4,000,000
|
|
Baytex Energy Corp., 8.75%, 4/1/27 (144A)
|
3,635,000
|
1,400,000
|
|
Cenovus Energy, Inc., 5.375%, 7/15/25
|
1,572,784
|
1,402,000
|
|
Cenovus Energy, Inc., 6.75%, 11/15/39
|
1,745,194
|
2,085,000
|
|
Colgate Energy Partners III LLC, 7.75%, 2/15/26
(144A)
|
2,043,738
|
330,000
|
|
Endeavor Energy Resources LP/EER Finance, Inc.,
|
|
|
|
6.625%, 7/15/25 (144A)
|
352,684
|
830,000
|
|
Hilcorp Energy I LP/Hilcorp Finance Co., 6.0%,
|
|
|
|
2/1/31 (144A)
|
842,450
|
1,710,000
|
|
Indigo Natural Resources LLC, 5.375%, 2/1/29
(144A)
|
1,684,709
|
1,010,000
|
|
MEG Energy Corp., 5.875%, 2/1/29 (144A)
|
1,012,525
|
250,000
|
|
MEG Energy Corp., 6.5%, 1/15/25 (144A)
|
258,237
|
1,535,000
|
|
MEG Energy Corp., 7.125%, 2/1/27 (144A)
|
1,607,912
|
1,280,000
|
|
Murphy Oil Corp., 6.375%, 7/15/28
|
1,281,600
|
2,000,000
|
|
Neptune Energy Bondco Plc, 6.625%, 5/15/25 (144A)
|
2,007,500
|
The accompanying notes are an
integral part of these financial statements.
26 Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
|
|
|
|
Principal
|
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
|
USD ($)
|
|
|
Value
|
|
|
Oil & Gas—
(continued)
|
|
2,010,000
|
|
Occidental Petroleum Corp., 4.4%, 4/15/46
|
$ 1,703,475
|
1,965,000
|
|
PBF Holding Co. LLC/PBF Finance Corp., 6.0%,
2/15/28
|
1,451,644
|
1,145,000
|
|
PBF Holding Co. LLC/PBF Finance Corp., 9.25%,
|
|
|
|
5/15/25 (144A)
|
1,167,528
|
1,245,000
|
|
Petroleos Mexicanos, 6.875%, 10/16/25 (144A)
|
1,350,701
|
2,569,000
|
|
Shelf Drilling Holdings, Ltd., 8.25%, 2/15/25
(144A)
|
1,875,370
|
1,015,000
|
|
Shelf Drilling Holdings, Ltd., 8.875%, 11/15/24
(144A)
|
1,015,000
|
1,000,000
|
|
YPF SA, 6.95%, 7/21/27 (144A)
|
612,080
|
ARS 15,750,000
|
|
YPF SA, 16.5%, 5/9/22 (144A)
|
140,403
|
|
|
Total Oil &
Gas
|
$
30,084,534
|
|
|
Oil & Gas Services —
2.4%
|
|
385,000
|
|
Archrock Partners LP/Archrock Partners Finance
Corp.,
|
|
|
|
6.25%, 4/1/28 (144A)
|
$ 391,083
|
2,583,000
|
|
Archrock Partners LP/Archrock Partners Finance
Corp.,
|
|
|
|
6.875%, 4/1/27 (144A)
|
2,692,777
|
1,940,000
|
|
Exterran Energy Solutions LP/EES Finance Corp.,
|
|
|
|
8.125%, 5/1/25
|
1,784,800
|
1,175,000
|
|
TechnipFMC Plc, 6.5%, 2/1/26 (144A)
|
1,229,051
|
703,000
|
|
USA Compression Partners LP/USA Compression
|
|
|
|
Finance Corp., 6.875%, 9/1/27
|
724,090
|
|
|
Total Oil & Gas
Services
|
$
6,821,801
|
|
|
Oil, Gas & Consumable
Fuels — 1.3%
|
|
3,605,000
|
|
Vine Energy Holdings LLC, 6.75%, 4/15/29 (144A)
|
$ 3,605,000
|
|
|
Total Oil, Gas &
Consumable Fuels
|
$
3,605,000
|
|
|
Packaging & Containers —
1.0%
|
|
1,087,000
|
|
Ardagh Packaging Finance Plc/Ardagh Holdings USA,
|
|
|
|
Inc., 6.0%, 2/15/25 (144A)
|
$ 1,120,154
|
1,500,000
|
|
Greif, Inc., 6.5%, 3/1/27 (144A)
|
1,580,625
|
|
|
Total Packaging &
Containers
|
$
2,700,779
|
|
|
Pharmaceuticals —
3.6%
|
|
1,005,000
|
|
Bausch Health Americas, Inc., 8.5%, 1/31/27 (144A)
|
$ 1,114,922
|
828,000
|
|
Bausch Health Cos., Inc., 7.0%, 3/15/24 (144A)
|
847,044
|
535,000
|
|
Bausch Health Cos., Inc., 7.0%, 1/15/28 (144A)
|
580,769
|
535,000
|
|
Bausch Health Cos., Inc., 7.25%, 5/30/29 (144A)
|
597,194
|
1,970,000
|
|
Endo, DAC/Endo Finance LLC/Endo Finco, Inc., 6.0%,
|
|
|
|
6/30/28 (144A)
|
1,595,700
|
1,376,000
|
|
Endo, DAC/Endo Finance LLC/Endo Finco, Inc., 9.5%,
|
|
|
|
7/31/27 (144A)
|
1,494,680
|
965,000
|
|
P&L Development LLC/PLD Finance Corp., 7.75%,
|
|
|
|
11/15/25 (144A)
|
1,032,550
|
579,000
|
|
Par Pharmaceutical, Inc., 7.5%, 4/1/27 (144A)
|
615,593
|
The accompanying notes are an
integral part of these financial statements.
Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
27
Schedule of Investments | 3/31/21
(continued)
Principal
|
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
|
USD ($)
|
|
|
Value
|
|
|
Pharmaceuticals —
(continued)
|
|
2,080,000
|
|
Teva Pharmaceutical Finance Netherlands III BV,
|
|
|
|
2.8%, 7/21/23
|
$ 2,073,344
|
|
|
Total
Pharmaceuticals
|
$
9,951,796
|
|
|
Pipelines —
7.2%
|
|
910,000
|
|
DCP Midstream Operating LP, 5.6%, 4/1/44
|
$ 910,000
|
1,175,000(c)
|
|
DCP Midstream Operating LP, 5.85% (3 Month USD
|
|
|
|
LIBOR + 385 bps), 5/21/43 (144A)
|
1,046,232
|
1,210,000
|
|
Delek Logistics Partners LP/Delek Logistics
Finance
|
|
|
|
Corp., 6.75%, 5/15/25
|
1,210,000
|
1,524,000(d)
|
|
Energy Transfer Operating LP, 3.223% (3 Month USD
|
|
|
|
LIBOR + 302 bps), 11/1/66
|
1,059,180
|
1,965,000(b)(c)
|
|
Energy Transfer Operating LP, 7.125% (5 Year CMT
|
|
|
|
Index + 531 bps)
|
1,914,500
|
925,000
|
|
EnLink Midstream Partners LP, 4.15%, 6/1/25
|
904,382
|
248,000
|
|
EnLink Midstream Partners LP, 5.05%, 4/1/45
|
191,835
|
270,000
|
|
EnLink Midstream Partners LP, 5.45%, 6/1/47
|
217,787
|
717,000
|
|
EnLink Midstream Partners LP, 5.6%, 4/1/44
|
595,110
|
770,000
|
|
Genesis Energy LP/Genesis Energy Finance Corp.,
|
|
|
|
8.0%, 1/15/27
|
779,640
|
421,000
|
|
Global Partners LP/GLP Finance Corp., 7.0%, 8/1/27
|
444,155
|
1,760,000
|
|
Harvest Midstream I LP, 7.5%, 9/1/28 (144A)
|
1,891,472
|
1,240,000
|
|
Hess Midstream Operations LP, 5.625%, 2/15/26
(144A)
|
1,281,447
|
1,150,000
|
|
NuStar Logistics LP, 6.375%, 10/1/30
|
1,242,000
|
1,850,000
|
|
ONEOK, Inc., 6.875%, 9/30/28
|
2,267,861
|
1,885,000
|
|
PBF Logistics LP/PBF Logistics Finance Corp.,
|
|
|
|
6.875%, 5/15/23
|
1,885,415
|
1,801,000
|
|
Williams Cos., Inc., 5.75%, 6/24/44
|
2,204,157
|
|
|
Total
Pipelines
|
$
20,045,173
|
|
|
Real Estate —
0.2%
|
|
655,000
|
|
Realogy Group LLC/Realogy Co.-Issuer Corp., 5.75%,
|
|
|
|
1/15/29 (144A)
|
$ 645,994
|
|
|
Total Real
Estate
|
$
645,994
|
|
|
REITs —
1.9%
|
|
1,363,000
|
|
MPT Operating Partnership LP/MPT Finance Corp.,
|
|
|
|
4.625%, 8/1/29
|
$ 1,433,917
|
3,676,000
|
|
Uniti Group LP/Uniti Fiber Holdings, Inc./CSL
Capital
|
|
|
|
LLC, 7.875%, 2/15/25 (144A)
|
3,977,432
|
|
|
Total
REITs
|
$
5,411,349
|
|
|
Retail —
4.3%
|
|
1,240,000
|
|
AAG FH LP/AAG FH Finco, Inc., 9.75%, 7/15/24
(144A)
|
$ 1,202,800
|
589,000
|
|
Asbury Automotive Group, Inc., 4.75%, 3/1/30
|
606,670
|
425,000
|
|
Carvana Co., 5.5%, 4/15/27 (144A)
|
427,231
|
The accompanying notes are an
integral part of these financial statements.
28 Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
|
|
|
|
Principal
|
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
|
USD ($)
|
|
|
Value
|
|
|
Retail —
(continued)
|
|
1,045,000
|
|
Golden Nugget, Inc., 6.75%, 10/15/24 (144A)
|
$ 1,055,450
|
470,000
|
|
IRB Holding Corp., 7.0%, 6/15/25 (144A)
|
505,931
|
1,625,000
|
|
L Brands, Inc., 6.625%, 10/1/30 (144A)
|
1,841,328
|
615,000
|
|
Macy’s Retail Holdings LLC, 5.875%, 4/1/29 (144A)
|
630,655
|
2,859,000
|
|
Michaels Stores, Inc., 8.0%, 7/15/27 (144A)
|
3,159,195
|
405,000
|
|
Park River Holdings, Inc., 5.625%, 2/1/29 (144A)
|
392,344
|
880,000
|
|
Party City Holdings, Inc., 8.75%, 2/15/26 (144A)
|
906,400
|
475,000
|
|
PetSmart, Inc./PetSmart Finance Corp., 7.75%,
|
|
|
|
2/15/29 (144A)
|
516,135
|
798,000
|
|
Staples, Inc., 7.5%, 4/15/26 (144A)
|
841,890
|
|
|
Total
Retail
|
$
12,086,029
|
|
|
Software —
0.5%
|
|
1,350,000
|
|
Rackspace Technology Global, Inc., 5.375%,
|
|
|
|
12/1/28 (144A)
|
$ 1,372,714
|
|
|
Total
Software
|
$
1,372,714
|
|
|
Telecommunications —
5.1%
|
|
1,495,000
|
|
Altice France Holding SA, 6.0%, 2/15/28 (144A)
|
$ 1,473,009
|
1,169,000
|
|
Altice France Holding SA, 10.5%, 5/15/27 (144A)
|
1,316,236
|
270,000
|
|
Altice France SA, 5.125%, 1/15/29 (144A)
|
273,375
|
1,075,000
|
|
Cincinnati Bell, Inc., 8.0%, 10/15/25 (144A)
|
1,143,440
|
559,000
|
|
CommScope Technologies LLC, 6.0%, 6/15/25 (144A)
|
570,208
|
119,296
|
|
Digicel Holdings Bermuda, Ltd./Digicel
International
|
|
|
|
Finance, Ltd., 8.0%, 12/31/26 (144A)
|
115,121
|
298,833
|
|
Digicel Holdings Bermuda, Ltd./Digicel
International
|
|
|
|
Finance, Ltd., 8.75%, 5/25/24 (144A)
|
308,171
|
158,424(h)
|
|
Digicel Holdings Bermuda, Ltd./Digicel
International
|
|
|
|
Finance, Ltd.,
13.0% (7.0% PIK or 6.0% cash),
|
|
|
|
12/31/25 (144A)
|
159,216
|
1,050,000
|
|
LogMeIn, Inc., 5.5%, 9/1/27 (144A)
|
1,099,224
|
1,700,000
|
|
Lumen Technologies, Inc., 5.625%, 4/1/25
|
1,833,875
|
3,080,000
|
|
Sprint Corp., 7.125%, 6/15/24
|
3,545,850
|
41,000
|
|
Sprint Corp., 7.625%, 3/1/26
|
50,222
|
2,385,000
|
|
Windstream Escrow LLC/Windstream Escrow Finance
|
|
|
|
Corp., 7.75%, 8/15/28 (144A)
|
2,423,756
|
|
|
Total
Telecommunications
|
$
14,311,703
|
|
|
Transportation —
1.8%
|
|
1,375,000
|
|
Danaos Corp., 8.5%, 3/1/28 (144A)
|
$ 1,469,531
|
1,240,000
|
|
Watco Cos., LLC/Watco Finance Corp., 6.5%,
|
|
|
|
6/15/27 (144A)
|
1,306,960
|
2,055,000
|
|
Western Global Airlines LLC, 10.375%, 8/15/25
(144A)
|
2,311,875
|
|
|
Total
Transportation
|
$
5,088,366
|
The accompanying notes are an
integral part of these financial statements.
Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
29
Schedule of Investments | 3/31/21
(continued)
|
|
|
|
Principal
|
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
|
USD ($)
|
|
|
Value
|
|
|
Trucking & Leasing —
0.3%
|
|
690,000
|
|
Fortress Transportation &
Infrastructure Investors LLC,
|
|
|
|
9.75%, 8/1/27 (144A)
|
$ 785,738
|
|
|
Total Trucking &
Leasing
|
$
785,738
|
|
|
TOTAL CORPORATE BONDS
|
|
|
|
(Cost $320,160,697)
|
$342,648,221
|
|
|
FOREIGN GOVERNMENT BONDS —
1.3% of
|
|
|
|
Net Assets
|
|
|
|
Bahrain — 0.4%
|
|
1,055,000
|
|
Bahrain Government International
Bond, 5.625%,
|
|
|
|
9/30/31 (144A)
|
$ 1,040,536
|
|
|
Total
Bahrain
|
$
1,040,536
|
|
|
Mexico — 0.7%
|
|
MXN 38,420,700
|
|
Mexican Bonos, 8.0%,
12/7/23
|
$ 2,003,738
|
|
|
Total
Mexico
|
$
2,003,738
|
|
|
Russia — 0.2%
|
|
522,000(g)
|
|
Russian Government International
Bond, 7.5%, 3/31/30
|
$ 602,805
|
|
|
Total
Russia
|
$
602,805
|
|
|
TOTAL FOREIGN GOVERNMENT
BONDS
|
|
|
|
(Cost $3,489,153)
|
$
3,647,079
|
|
Face
|
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
|
USD ($)
|
|
|
|
|
|
INSURANCE-LINKED SECURITIES —
0.5% of
|
|
|
|
Net Assets#
|
|
|
|
Collateralized Reinsurance —
0.2%
|
|
|
|
Multiperil – U.S. — 0.0%†
|
|
500,000+(j)
|
|
Dingle Re 2019, 2/1/22
|
$ 10,263
|
|
|
Multiperil – Worldwide —
0.2%
|
|
500,000+(a)(j)
|
|
Cypress Re 2017,
1/31/22
|
$ 50
|
324,897+(a)(j)
|
|
Gloucester Re 2018,
2/28/22
|
57,182
|
54,000(a)(j)
|
|
Limestone Re, 3/1/23
(144A)
|
74,531
|
12,000+(j)
|
|
Limestone Re 2016-1,
8/31/21
|
999
|
12,000+(j)
|
|
Limestone Re 2016-1,
8/31/21
|
1,000
|
277,770+(a)(j)
|
|
Oyster Bay Re 2018,
1/31/22
|
252,104
|
400,000+(a)(j)
|
|
Resilience Re, 4/6/21
(144A)
|
40
|
|
|
|
$ 385,906
|
|
|
Total Collateralized
Reinsurance
|
$
396,169
|
|
|
Reinsurance Sidecars — 0.3%
|
|
|
|
Multiperil – U.S. — 0.0%†
|
|
1,000,000+(a)(j)
|
|
Carnoustie Re 2017,
11/30/21
|
$ 131,800
|
The accompanying notes are an
integral part of these financial statements.
30 Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
|
|
|
|
Face
|
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
|
USD ($)
|
|
|
Value
|
|
|
Multiperil – U.S. —
(continued)
|
|
500,000+(a)(k)
|
|
Harambee Re 2018,
12/31/21
|
$ 1,800
|
600,000+(k)
|
|
Harambee Re 2019,
12/31/22
|
5,040
|
|
|
|
$ 138,640
|
|
|
Multiperil – Worldwide —
0.3%
|
|
3,037+(k)
|
|
Alturas Re 2019-2,
3/10/22
|
$ 8,066
|
24,550+(k)
|
|
Alturas Re 2019-3,
9/12/23
|
34,125
|
162,311+(a)(j)
|
|
Alturas Re 2020-1A, 3/10/23
(144A)
|
74,306
|
29,558+(k)
|
|
Alturas Re 2020-2,
3/10/23
|
37,060
|
1,167,977+(a)(j)
|
|
Berwick Re 2018-1,
12/31/21
|
112,222
|
834,446+(a)(j)
|
|
Berwick Re 2019-1,
12/31/22
|
99,716
|
1,000+(j)
|
|
Limestone Re 2018,
3/1/22
|
–
|
500,000+(a)(k)
|
|
Lorenz Re 2018,
7/1/21
|
5,350
|
499,318+(a)(k)
|
|
Lorenz Re 2019,
6/30/22
|
23,468
|
500,000+(a)(j)
|
|
Merion Re 2018-2,
12/31/21
|
82,750
|
1,000,000+(j)
|
|
Pangaea Re 2016-2,
11/30/21
|
1,783
|
500,000+(a)(j)
|
|
Pangaea Re 2018-1,
12/31/21
|
10,527
|
1,000,000+(a)(j)
|
|
Pangaea Re 2018-3,
7/1/22
|
20,743
|
409,624+(a)(j)
|
|
Pangaea Re 2019-1,
2/1/23
|
8,536
|
735,313+(a)(j)
|
|
Pangaea Re 2019-3,
7/1/23
|
26,450
|
300,000+(a)(j)
|
|
Sector Re V, 12/1/23
(144A)
|
70,338
|
20,000+(a)(j)
|
|
Sector Re V, 12/1/24
(144A)
|
47,493
|
500,000+(a)(j)
|
|
St. Andrews Re 2017-1,
2/1/22
|
33,900
|
250,000+(j)
|
|
Sussex Re 2020-1,
12/31/22
|
16,650
|
500,000+(a)(j)
|
|
Versutus Re 2018,
12/31/21
|
1,650
|
441,274+(j)
|
|
Versutus Re 2019-A,
12/31/21
|
8,208
|
58,727+(j)
|
|
Versutus Re 2019-B,
12/31/21
|
1,092
|
253,645+(a)(j)
|
|
Woburn Re 2018,
12/31/21
|
18,618
|
244,914+(a)(j)
|
|
Woburn Re 2019,
12/31/22
|
72,421
|
|
|
|
$ 815,472
|
|
|
Total Reinsurance
Sidecars
|
$
954,112
|
|
|
TOTAL INSURANCE-LINKED
SECURITIES
|
|
|
|
(Cost $2,078,114)
|
$
1,350,281
|
|
Principal
|
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
|
USD ($)
|
|
|
|
|
|
SENIOR SECURED FLOATING RATE
LOAN
|
|
|
|
INTERESTS —
4.2% of Net Assets*(d) |
|
|
Aerospace & Defense —
0.6%
|
|
1,140,000
|
|
Grupo Aeroméxico, SAB De CV, DIP
Tranche 1 Term
|
|
|
|
Loan, 9.0% (LIBOR +
800 bps), 12/31/21
|
$ 1,161,375
|
The accompanying notes are an
integral part of these financial statements.
Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
31
Schedule of Investments | 3/31/21
(continued)
|
|
|
|
Principal
|
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
|
USD ($)
|
|
|
Value
|
|
|
Aerospace & Defense —
(continued)
|
|
499,309
|
|
Grupo Aeroméxico, SAB De CV, DIP Tranche 2 Term
|
|
|
|
Loan, 15.5% (LIBOR + 1,450 bps), 12/31/21
|
$ 512,416
|
|
|
Total Aerospace &
Defense
|
$
1,673,791
|
|
|
Airlines —
0.1%
|
|
375,000(l)
|
|
AAdvantage Loyality IP, Ltd., Initial Term Loan,
|
|
|
|
0.0%, 4/20/28
|
$ 384,208
|
|
|
Total
Airlines
|
$
384,208
|
|
|
Diversified & Conglomerate
Service — 0.9%
|
|
1,425,521
|
|
First Brands Group LLC, First Lien 2021 Term Loan,
6.0%
|
|
|
|
(LIBOR + 500 bps), 3/30/27
|
$ 1,427,303
|
1,077,964
|
|
Team Health Holdings, Inc., Initial Term Loan,
3.75%
|
|
|
|
(LIBOR + 275 bps), 2/6/24
|
1,005,971
|
|
|
Total Diversified &
Conglomerate Service
|
$
2,433,274
|
|
|
Entertainment & Leisure —
1.0%
|
|
2,715,000
|
|
Enterprise Development Authority, Term B Loan,
4.25%
|
|
|
|
(LIBOR + 425 bps), 2/18/28
|
$ 2,726,878
|
|
|
Total Entertainment &
Leisure
|
$
2,726,878
|
|
|
Healthcare, Education &
Childcare — 0.2%
|
|
509,850
|
|
Surgery Center Holdings, Inc., 2020 Incremental
Term
|
|
|
|
Loan, 9.0% (LIBOR + 800 bps), 9/3/24
|
$ 520,047
|
|
|
Total Healthcare, Education
& Childcare
|
$
520,047
|
|
|
Machinery —
0.1%
|
|
364,973
|
|
Blount International, Inc., New Refinancing Term
Loan,
|
|
|
|
4.75% (LIBOR + 375 bps), 4/12/23
|
$ 366,250
|
|
|
Total
Machinery
|
$
366,250
|
|
|
Securities & Trusts —
0.6%
|
|
1,381,300
|
|
Spectacle Gary Holdings LLC, Closing Date Term
Loan,
|
|
|
|
11.0% (LIBOR + 900 bps), 12/23/25
|
$ 1,507,920
|
100,100
|
|
Spectacle Gary Holdings LLC, Delayed Draw Term
Loan,
|
|
|
|
11.0% (LIBOR + 900 bps), 12/23/25
|
109,276
|
|
|
Total Securities &
Trusts
|
$
1,617,196
|
|
|
Telecommunications —
0.7%
|
|
1,970,000
|
|
Commscope, Inc., Initial Term Loan, 3.359% (LIBOR
+
|
|
|
|
325 bps), 4/6/26
|
$ 1,960,972
|
|
|
Total
Telecommunications
|
$
1,960,972
|
|
|
TOTAL SENIOR SECURED FLOATING RATE LOAN
INTERESTS
|
|
|
|
(Cost $11,271,072)
|
$
11,682,616
|
The accompanying notes are an
integral part of these financial statements.
32 Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Value
|
|
|
|
RIGHTS/WARRANTS — 0.0%† of
Net Assets
|
|
|
|
Health Care Providers & Services —
0.0%†
|
|
|
1,819,798(a)(m)
|
|
ANR, Inc., 3/31/23
|
|
|
|
$ 8,007
|
|
|
Total Health Care Providers
& Services
|
|
$
8,007
|
|
|
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels —
0.0%†
|
|
|
354(a)(n)
|
|
Alpha Metallurgical Resources,
Inc., 7/26/23
|
|
$ 814
|
|
|
Total Oil, Gas &
Consumable Fuels
|
|
|
$
814
|
|
|
Transportation — 0.0%
|
|
|
|
|
10,071^+
|
|
Syncreon Group,
10/01/24
|
|
|
$ —
|
|
|
Total
Transportation
|
|
|
|
$
—
|
|
|
TOTAL RIGHTS/WARRANTS
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Cost $308,610)
|
|
|
|
$
8,821
|
Number of
|
|
|
|
|
Strike
|
Expiration
|
|
Contracts
|
|
Description
|
Counterparty
|
Amount
|
Price
|
Date
|
Value
|
|
|
OVER THE COUNTER (OTC) CURRENCY
PUT
|
|
|
|
OPTIONS PURCHASED — 0.0%†
|
|
|
773,000
|
|
Put EUR
|
Bank of
|
EUR 12,793
|
EUR 1.11
|
6/4/21
|
$ 302
|
|
|
Call USD
|
America NA
|
|
|
|
|
2,400,000
|
|
Put EUR
|
JPMorgan
|
EUR 15,575
|
EUR 1.15
|
5/17/21
|
5,927
|
|
|
Call USD
|
Chase Bank NA
|
|
|
|
|
1,650,000
|
|
Put EUR
|
JPMorgan
|
EUR 23,405
|
EUR 1.17
|
2/4/22
|
32,682
|
|
|
Call USD
|
Chase Bank NA
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ 38,911
|
|
TOTAL OVER THE COUNTER (OTC)
CURRENCY PUT
|
|
|
|
|
OPTIONS
PURCHASED
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Premiums paid $51,773)
|
|
|
$
38,911
|
|
|
TOTAL INVESTMENTS IN
UNAFFILIATED ISSUERS — 140.7%
|
|
|
|
(Cost $371,278,855) (o)
|
|
|
$
393,659,068
|
|
|
OVER THE COUNTER (OTC)
CURRENCY CALL
|
|
|
|
OPTIONS WRITTEN —
(0.0)%†
|
|
|
|
(773,000)
|
|
Call EUR
|
Bank of
|
EUR 12,793
|
EUR 1.17
|
6/4/21
|
$ (9,835)
|
|
|
Put USD
|
America NA
|
|
|
|
|
(2,400,000)
|
|
Call EUR
|
JPMorgan
|
EUR 15,575
|
EUR 1.24
|
5/17/21
|
(220)
|
|
|
Put USD
|
Chase Bank NA
|
|
|
|
|
(1,650,000)
|
|
Call EUR
|
JPMorgan
|
EUR 23,405
|
EUR 1.25
|
2/4/22
|
(11,999)
|
|
|
Put USD
|
Chase Bank NA
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ (22,054)
|
|
|
TOTAL OVER THE COUNTER (OTC) CURRENCY
CALL
|
|
|
|
OPTIONS WRITTEN
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Premiums received $(51,773))
|
|
|
$
(22,054)
|
|
|
OTHER ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
— (40.7)%
|
|
$(113,771,866)
|
|
|
NET ASSETS —
100.0%
|
|
|
|
$
279,865,148
|
The accompanying notes are an
integral part of these financial statements.
Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
33
Schedule of Investments | 3/31/21
(continued)
bps
|
Basis Points.
|
CMT
|
Constant Maturity Treasury
Index.
|
FREMF
|
Freddie Mac Multifamily
Fixed-Rate Mortgage Loans.
|
LIBOR
|
London Interbank Offered
Rate.
|
REIT
|
Real Estate Investment
Trust.
|
(144A)
|
Security is exempt from
registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933.
Such
|
|
securities may be resold normally to qualified institutional
buyers in a transaction exempt
|
|
from registration. At
March 31, 2021, the value of these securities amounted to
|
|
$285,782,967, or 102.1% of net assets.
|
†
|
Amount rounds to less than
0.1%.
|
*
|
Senior secured floating rate loan
interests in which the Trust invests generally pay interest at
rates that are periodically redetermined by reference to a base
lending rate plus a premium. These base lending rates are generally
(i) the lending rate offered by one or more major European banks,
such as LIBOR, (ii) the prime rate offered by one or more major
United States banks, (iii) the rate of a certificate of deposit or
(iv) other base lending rates used by commercial lenders. The
interest rate shown is the rate accruing at March 31, 2021.
|
+
|
Security that used significant
unobservable inputs to determine its value.
|
^
|
Security is valued using fair
value methods (other than supplied by independent
pricing
|
|
services).
|
(a)
|
Non-income producing
security.
|
(b)
|
Security is perpetual in nature
and has no stated maturity date.
|
(c)
|
The interest rate is subject to
change periodically. The interest rate and/or reference
|
|
index and spread shown at March 31, 2021.
|
(d)
|
Floating rate note. Coupon rate,
reference index and spread shown at March 31, 2021.
|
(e)
|
Security is priced as a
unit.
|
(f)
|
Security issued with a zero
coupon. Income is recognized through accretion of
discount.
|
(g)
|
Debt obligation initially issued
at one coupon which converts to a higher coupon at a
|
|
specific date. The rate shown is the rate at March 31,
2021.
|
(h)
|
Payment-in-kind (PIK) security
which may pay interest in the form of additional
principal
|
|
amount.
|
(i)
|
Security is in
default.
|
(j)
|
Issued as participation
notes.
|
(k)
|
Issued as preference
shares.
|
(l)
|
This term loan will settle after
March 31, 2021, at which time the interest rate will be
|
|
determined.
|
(m)
|
ANR, Inc., 3/31/23 warrants are
exercisable into 1,819,798 shares.
|
(n)
|
Alpha Metallurgical Resources,
Inc., 7/26/23 warrants are exercisable into 354 shares.
|
The accompanying notes are an
integral part of these financial statements.
34 Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
|
|
|
(o)
|
Distributions of investments by
country of issue, as a percentage of long-term holdings based on
country of domicile, is as follows:
|
|
United States
|
73.8%
|
|
Canada
|
7.6
|
|
Luxembourg
|
3.0
|
|
United Kingdom
|
2.2
|
|
Mexico
|
1.8
|
|
Bermuda
|
1.5
|
|
Netherlands
|
1.3
|
|
Ireland
|
1.1
|
|
Other (individually less than 1%)
|
7.7
|
|
|
100.0%
|
|
#
|
Securities are restricted as to
resale.
|
|
Restricted
Securities
|
Acquisition date
|
Cost
|
Value
|
Alturas Re 2019-2
|
12/19/2018
|
$ 3,037
|
$ 8,066
|
Alturas Re 2019-3
|
6/26/2019
|
24,550
|
34,125
|
Alturas Re 2020-1A
|
12/27/2019
|
162,311
|
74,306
|
Alturas Re 2020-2
|
1/1/2020
|
29,558
|
37,060
|
Berwick Re 2018-1
|
1/10/2018
|
192,596
|
112,222
|
Berwick Re 2019-1
|
12/31/2018
|
99,709
|
99,716
|
Carnoustie Re 2017
|
1/3/2017
|
237,757
|
131,800
|
Cypress Re 2017
|
1/24/2017
|
1,681
|
50
|
Dingle Re 2019
|
3/4/2019
|
—
|
10,263
|
Gloucester Re 2018
|
1/2/2018
|
52,650
|
57,182
|
Harambee Re 2018
|
12/19/2017
|
25,427
|
1,800
|
Harambee Re 2019
|
12/20/2018
|
—
|
5,040
|
Limestone Re
|
6/20/2018
|
39,900
|
74,531
|
Limestone Re 2016-1
|
12/15/2016
|
990
|
1,000
|
Limestone Re 2016-1
|
12/15/2016
|
990
|
999
|
Limestone Re 2018
|
6/20/2018
|
1,000
|
—
|
Lorenz Re 2018
|
6/26/2018
|
113,445
|
5,350
|
Lorenz Re 2019
|
6/26/2019
|
159,215
|
23,468
|
Merion Re 2018-2
|
12/28/2017
|
20,576
|
82,750
|
Oyster Bay Re 2018
|
1/17/2018
|
247,922
|
252,104
|
Pangaea Re 2016-2
|
5/31/2016
|
—
|
1,783
|
Pangaea Re 2018-1
|
12/26/2017
|
71,503
|
10,527
|
Pangaea Re 2018-3
|
5/31/2018
|
240,861
|
20,743
|
Pangaea Re 2019-1
|
1/9/2019
|
4,301
|
8,536
|
Pangaea Re 2019-3
|
7/25/2019
|
22,059
|
26,450
|
Resilience Re
|
4/13/2017
|
1,307
|
40
|
Sector Re V
|
1/1/2020
|
20,000
|
47,493
|
Sector Re V
|
12/4/2018
|
114,025
|
70,338
|
St. Andrews Re 2017-1
|
1/5/2017
|
33,874
|
33,900
|
Sussex Re 2020-1
|
1/23/2020
|
—
|
16,650
|
Versutus Re 2018
|
1/31/2018
|
3,174
|
1,650
|
Versutus Re 2019-A
|
1/28/2019
|
—
|
8,208
|
Versutus Re 2019-B
|
12/24/2018
|
—
|
1,092
|
Woburn Re 2018
|
3/20/2018
|
89,763
|
18,618
|
Woburn Re 2019
|
1/30/2019
|
63,932
|
72,421
|
Total Restricted
Securities
|
|
|
$1,350,281
|
% of Net
assets
|
|
|
0.5%
|
The accompanying notes are an
integral part of these financial statements.
Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
35
Schedule of Investments | 3/31/21
(continued)
FORWARD FOREIGN
CURRENCY EXCHANGE CONTRACTS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unrealized
|
Currency
|
Exchange
|
Currency
|
|
|
|
Settlement
|
Appreciation
|
Purchased
|
for
|
Sold
|
Deliver
|
|
Counterparty
|
Date
|
(Depreciation)
|
EUR
|
1,125,000
|
USD
|
(1,350,858)
|
|
Bank of New York
4/28/21
|
$ (30,942)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mellon Corp.
|
|
|
|
EUR
|
3,530,000
|
USD
|
(4,305,996)
|
|
HSBC Bank
|
4/28/21
|
(164,394)
|
|
|
|
|
|
USA NA
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NOK
|
7,297,056
|
EUR
|
(695,708)
|
|
HSBC Bank
|
4/6/21
|
36,787
|
|
|
|
|
|
USA NA
|
|
|
|
EUR
|
1,850,000
|
USD
|
(2,193,517)
|
|
Morgan Stanley
|
6/25/21
|
(20,233)
|
|
EUR
|
1,350,000
|
USD
|
(1,635,225)
|
|
State Street
|
4/28/21
|
(51,326)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bank & Trust Co.
|
|
|
USD
|
1,419,270
|
EUR
|
(1,160,000)
|
|
State Street
|
5/24/21
|
57,520
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bank & Trust Co.
|
|
|
TOTAL
FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY EXCHANGE CONTRACTS
|
|
|
|
$(172,588)
|
Principal amounts are denominated
in U.S. dollars (“USD”) unless otherwise noted.
ARS — Argentine
Peso
EUR —
Euro
GBP — Great
British Pound
IDR —
Indonesian Rupiah
MXN — Mexican
Peso
NOK — Norwegian
Krone
Purchases and sales of securities
(excluding temporary cash investments) for the year ended March 31,
2021, aggregated $200,851,744 and $180,081,212, respectively.
The Trust is permitted to engage
in purchase and sale transactions (“cross trades”) with certain
funds and accounts for which Amundi Asset Management US, Inc. (the
“Adviser”) serves as the Trust’s investment adviser, as set forth
in Rule 17a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, pursuant to
procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees. Under these
procedures, cross trades are effected at current market prices.
During the year ended March 31, 2021, the Trust engaged in
purchases of $1,058,919 and sales of $1,431,403 pursuant to these
procedures, which resulted in a net realized gain/(loss) of
$16,325.
At March 31, 2021, the net
unrealized appreciation on investments based on cost for federal
tax purposes of $371,518,372 was as follows:
Aggregate gross unrealized appreciation for all investments in
which
|
|
there is an excess of value over
tax cost
|
$ 31,836,893
|
Aggregate gross unrealized depreciation for all investments in
which
|
|
there is an excess of tax cost
over value
|
(9,890,839)
|
Net unrealized appreciation
|
$ 21,946,054
|
Various inputs are used in
determining the value of the Trust’s investments. These inputs are
summarized in the three broad levels below.
Level 1 – unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for
identical securities.
|
|
Level 2 – other
significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar
securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risks, etc.).
See Notes to Financial Statements — Note 1A.
|
The accompanying notes are an
integral part of these financial statements.
36 Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs (including the
Trust’s own assumptions in determining fair
|
value of investments). See Notes
to Financial Statements — Note 1A.
|
The following is a summary of the
inputs used as of March 31, 2021, in valuing the Trust’s
investments:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Level 1
|
Level 2
|
Level 3
|
Total
|
Common Stocks
|
|
|
|
|
Oil, Gas &
Consumable
|
|
|
|
|
Fuels
|
$ 289,285
|
$ —
|
$ 599,029
|
$ 888,314
|
Specialty Retail
|
—
|
—
|
104,409
|
104,409
|
All Other Common Stocks
|
2,356,479
|
—
|
—
|
2,356,479
|
Convertible Preferred Stock
|
2,267,856
|
—
|
—
|
2,267,856
|
Preferred Stocks
|
|
|
|
|
Diversified Financial
|
|
|
|
|
Services
|
—
|
3,315,000
|
—
|
3,315,000
|
Internet
|
—
|
131,314
|
—
|
131,314
|
All Other Preferred
Stock
|
3,382,470
|
—
|
—
|
3,382,470
|
Collateralized Mortgage
|
|
|
|
|
Obligations
|
—
|
5,522,556
|
—
|
5,522,556
|
Commercial Mortgage-Backed
|
|
|
|
|
Securities
|
—
|
7,753,222
|
—
|
7,753,222
|
Convertible Corporate Bonds
|
—
|
8,561,519
|
—
|
8,561,519
|
Corporate Bonds
|
—
|
342,648,221
|
—
|
342,648,221
|
Foreign Government Bonds
|
—
|
3,647,079
|
—
|
3,647,079
|
Insurance-Linked Securities
|
|
|
|
|
Collateralized
Reinsurance
|
|
|
|
|
Multiperil - U.S.
|
—
|
—
|
10,263
|
10,263
|
Multiperil - Worldwide
|
—
|
—
|
385,906
|
385,906
|
Reinsurance Sidecars
|
|
|
|
|
Multiperil - U.S.
|
—
|
—
|
138,640
|
138,640
|
Multiperil - Worldwide
|
—
|
—
|
815,472
|
815,472
|
Senior Secured Floating Rate
|
|
|
|
|
Loan Interests
|
—
|
11,682,616
|
—
|
11,682,616
|
Rights/Warrants
|
|
|
|
|
Health Care Providers
&
|
|
|
|
|
Services
|
—
|
8,007
|
—
|
8,007
|
Transportation
|
—
|
—
|
—*
|
—*
|
Oil, Gas & Consumable
Fuels
|
—
|
814
|
—
|
814
|
Over The Counter (OTC)
|
|
|
|
|
Currency Put Option
|
|
|
|
|
Purchased
|
—
|
38,911
|
—
|
38,911
|
Total
Investments
|
|
|
|
|
In
Securities
|
$
8,296,090
|
$383,309,259
|
$
2,053,719
|
$393,659,068
|
* Security valued at $0.
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an
integral part of these financial statements.
Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
37
Schedule of Investments | 3/31/21
(continued)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Level 1
|
Level 2
|
Level 3
|
Total
|
Other Financial
Instruments
|
|
|
|
|
Credit agreement(a)
|
$ —
|
$ (123,000,000)
|
$ —
|
$ (123,000,000)
|
Over The Counter (OTC)
|
|
|
|
|
Currency Call
|
|
|
|
|
Option Written
|
—
|
(22,054)
|
—
|
(22,054)
|
Net unrealized
|
|
|
|
|
depreciation on
|
|
|
|
|
forward foreign
|
|
|
|
|
currency exchange
|
|
|
|
|
contracts
|
—
|
(172,588)
|
—
|
(172,588)
|
Total
Other
|
|
|
|
|
Financial Instruments
|
$
—
|
$(123,194,642)
|
$
—
|
$(123,194,642)
|
(a)
|
The Trust may hold
liabilities in which the fair value approximates the carrying
amount for financial statement purposes.
|
The accompanying notes are an
integral part of these financial statements.
38 Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Change in
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance
|
Realized
|
unrealized
|
|
|
Accrued
|
Transfers
|
Transfers
|
Balance
|
|
as of
|
gain
|
appreciation
|
|
|
discounts/
|
into
|
out of
|
as of
|
|
3/31/20
|
(loss)(1)
|
(depreciation)(2)
|
Purchases |
Sales
|
premiums
|
Level 3*
|
Level 3*
|
3/31/21
|
Common Stocks
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Oil, Gas &
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consumable
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fuels
|
$ 81,996
|
$ —
|
$(370,169)
|
$887,202
|
$ —
|
$ —
|
$ —
|
$ —
|
$ 599,029
|
Specialty Retail
|
81,207
|
—
|
23,202
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
104,409
|
Insurance-Linked
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Securities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Collateralized
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reinsurance
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Multiperil –
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
U.S.
|
510,263
|
—
|
(44,054)
|
—
|
(455,946)
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
10,263
|
Multiperil –
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
U.S. Regional
|
256,041
|
—
|
(19,156)
|
—
|
(236,885)
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
Multiperil –
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Worldwide
|
1,257,279
|
(32,920)
|
10,349
|
—
|
(848,802)
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
385,906
|
Reinsurance
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sidecars
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Multiperil –
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
U.S.
|
282,565
|
(67,457)
|
(4,111)
|
—
|
(72,357)
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
138,640
|
Multiperil –
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Worldwide
|
4,664,477
|
(135,503)
|
(71,708)
|
—
|
(3,641,794)
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
815,472
|
Total
|
$7,133,828
|
$(235,880)
|
$(475,647)
|
$887,202
|
$(5,255,784)
|
$
—
|
$
—
|
$
—
|
$2,053,719
|
(1)
|
Realized gain (loss) on these securities is included in the
realized gain (loss) from investments in unaffiliated issuers on
the Statement of Operations.
|
(2)
|
Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on these securities is
included in the change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)
from investments in unaffiliated issuers on the Statement of
Operations.
|
*
|
Transfers are calculated on the beginning of period value.
During the year ended March 31, 2021, there were no transfers in or
out of Level 3.
|
Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of Level
3 investments still held and considered
|
Level 3 at March 31, 2021:
|
$(623,934)
|
The accompanying notes are an
integral part of these financial statements.
Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
39
Statement of Assets and Liabilities |
3/31/21
ASSETS:
|
|
Investments in unaffiliated
issuers, at value (cost $371,278,855)
|
$ 393,659,068
|
Cash
|
13,721,537
|
Foreign currencies, at value (cost
$83,420)
|
83,595
|
Receivables —
|
|
Investment securities
sold
|
367,404
|
Interest
|
6,678,977
|
Other assets
|
4,805
|
Total assets
|
$
414,515,386
|
LIABILITIES:
|
|
Payables —
|
|
Credit agreement
|
$ 123,000,000
|
Investment securities
purchased
|
11,176,951
|
Interest expense
|
38
|
Trustees’ fees
|
117
|
Written options outstanding (net
premiums received $(51,773))
|
22,054
|
Net unrealized depreciation on
forward foreign currency exchange contracts
|
172,588
|
Due to affiliates
|
191,539
|
Accrued expenses
|
86,951
|
Total liabilities
|
$
134,650,238
|
NET
ASSETS:
|
|
Paid-in capital
|
$ 371,917,702
|
Distributable earnings
(loss)
|
(92,052,554)
|
Net assets
|
$
279,865,148
|
NET ASSET VALUE PER
SHARE:
|
|
No par value
|
|
Based on $279,865,148 /29,231,771
shares
|
$ 9.57
|
The accompanying notes are an
integral part of these financial statements.
40 Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
Statement
of Operations
FOR THE YEAR
ENDED 3/31/21
INVESTMENT
INCOME:
|
|
|
Interest from unaffiliated
issuers
|
$ 26,684,098
|
|
Dividends from unaffiliated
issuers
|
863,923
|
|
Total investment income
|
|
$
27,548,021
|
EXPENSES:
|
|
|
Management fees
|
$ 2,196,196
|
|
Administrative expense
|
64,969
|
|
Transfer agent fees
|
14,000
|
|
Shareowner communications
expense
|
31,241
|
|
Custodian fees
|
14,818
|
|
Professional fees
|
165,436
|
|
Printing expense
|
26,566
|
|
Pricing fees
|
18,121
|
|
Trustees’ fees
|
12,908
|
|
Insurance expense
|
2,247
|
|
Interest expense
|
1,367,636
|
|
Miscellaneous
|
208,615
|
|
Total expenses
|
|
$ 4,122,753
|
Net investment income
|
|
$
23,425,268
|
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN
(LOSS) ON INVESTMENTS:
|
|
Net realized gain (loss)
on:
|
|
|
Investments in unaffiliated
issuers
|
$(17,711,591)
|
|
Written options
|
147,396
|
|
Forward foreign currency exchange
contracts
|
222,169
|
|
Swap contracts
|
(1,307,858)
|
|
Other assets and liabilities
denominated in
|
|
|
foreign currencies
|
39,834
|
$(18,610,050)
|
Change in net unrealized
appreciation (depreciation) on:
|
|
|
Investments in unaffiliated
issuers
|
$ 86,538,868
|
|
Written options
|
(9,193)
|
|
Forward foreign currency exchange
contracts
|
(59,890)
|
|
Swap contracts
|
1,109,983
|
|
Unfunded loan
commitments
|
11,697
|
|
Other assets and liabilities
denominated in
|
|
|
foreign currencies
|
5,616
|
$ 87,597,081
|
Net realized and unrealized gain
(loss) on investments
|
|
$
68,987,031
|
Net increase in net assets
resulting from operations
|
|
$
92,412,299
|
The accompanying notes are an
integral part of these financial statements.
Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
41
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
|
Year
|
Year
|
|
Ended
|
Ended
|
|
3/31/21
|
3/31/20
|
FROM
OPERATIONS:
|
|
|
Net investment income (loss)
|
$
23,425,268
|
$
23,595,916
|
Net realized gain (loss) on investments
|
(18,610,050)
|
(9,406,642)
|
Change in net unrealized appreciation
(depreciation)
|
|
|
on investments
|
87,597,081
|
(68,206,549)
|
Net increase (decrease) in net
assets resulting
|
|
|
from operations
|
$
92,412,299
|
$
(54,017,275)
|
DISTRIBUTIONS TO
SHAREOWNERS:
|
|
|
($0.84 and $0.81 per share, respectively)
|
$ (24,408,529)
|
$ (23,677,735)
|
Total distributions to
shareowners
|
$ (24,408,529)
|
$ (23,677,735)
|
Net increase (decrease) in net
assets
|
$ 68,003,770
|
$ (77,695,010)
|
NET
ASSETS:
|
|
|
Beginning of year
|
$211,861,378
|
$289,556,388
|
End of year
|
$279,865,148
|
$211,861,378
|
The accompanying notes are an
integral part of these financial statements.
42 Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
Statement
of Cash Flows
FOR THE YEAR
ENDED 3/31/21
Cash Flows From Operating
Activities:
|
|
Net increase in net assets
resulting from operations
|
$ 92,412,299
|
Adjustments to reconcile net
increase in net assets resulting from operations
|
|
to net cash, restricted cash and foreign
currencies from operating activities:
|
|
Purchases of investment
securities
|
$(198,606,331)
|
Proceeds from disposition and
maturity of investment securities
|
187,309,147
|
Net (accretion) and amortization
of discount/premium on investment securities
|
(382,048)
|
Change in unrealized appreciation
on investments in unaffiliated issuers
|
(86,538,868)
|
Change in unrealized appreciation
on unfunded loan commitments
|
(11,697)
|
Change in unrealized appreciation
on swap contracts
|
(1,109,983)
|
Change in unrealized depreciation
on forward foreign currency exchange contracts
|
59,890
|
Change in unrealized appreciation
on other assets and liabilities denominated
|
|
in foreign currencies
|
(175)
|
Change in unrealized depreciation
on written options
|
9,193
|
Net realized loss on
investments
|
17,711,591
|
Net premiums paid on swap
contracts
|
(155,224)
|
Swap collateral
received
|
1,146,203
|
Decrease in interest
receivable
|
257,338
|
Decrease in due to the
Adviser
|
1,900
|
Increase in other
assets
|
(4,613)
|
Increase in due to
affiliates
|
191,359
|
Decrease in trustees’ fees
payable
|
(592)
|
Increase in accrued expenses
payable
|
10,432
|
Proceeds from sale of written
options
|
71,157
|
Realized gains on written
options
|
(147,396)
|
Increase in cash due to
broker
|
176,836
|
Change in variation margin for
centrally cleared swap contracts
|
(2,401)
|
Net cash, restricted cash and
foreign currencies from operating activities
|
$ 12,398,017
|
Cash Flows Used in Financing
Activities:
|
|
Borrowings received
|
$ 25,000,000
|
Borrowing repaid
|
(1,000,000)
|
Distributions to
shareowners
|
(24,408,529)
|
Increase in interest expense
payable
|
38
|
Net cash, restricted cash and
foreign currencies used in financing activities
|
$ (408,491)
|
Effect of Foreign Exchange
Fluctuations on Cash:
|
|
Effect of foreign exchange
fluctuations on cash
|
$ 175
|
Cash, restricted cash and
foreign currencies:
|
|
Beginning of the year*
|
$ 1,815,431
|
End of the year*
|
$ 13,805,132
|
Cash Flow
Information:
|
|
Cash paid for interest
|
$ 367,598
|
|
* The following table provides a reconciliation of cash,
restricted cash and foreign currencies reported within the
Statement of Assets and Liabilities that sum to the total of the
same such amounts shown in the Statement of Cash Flows:
|
|
Year Ended
|
Year Ended
|
|
3/31/21
|
3/31/20
|
Cash
|
$13,721,537
|
$ 1,815,431
|
Foreign currencies, at value
|
83,595
|
—
|
Swaps collateral
|
—
|
1,146,203
|
Due from broker for swaps
|
—
|
176,836
|
Total cash, restricted cash
and foreign currencies
|
|
|
shown in the Statement of Cash
Flows
|
$13,805,132
|
$3,138,470
|
The accompanying notes are an
integral part of these financial statements.
Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
43
Financial
Highlights
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year
|
Year
|
Year
|
Year
|
Year
|
|
Ended
|
Ended
|
Ended
|
Ended
|
Ended
|
|
3/31/21
|
3/31/20
|
3/31/19
|
3/31/18
|
3/31/17*
|
Per Share Operating
Performance
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net asset value, beginning of period
|
$ 7.25
|
$ 9.91
|
$ 10.52
|
$ 10.70
|
$ 9.34
|
Increase (decrease) from investment operations:
(a)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income
|
$ 0.80
|
$
0.81
|
$ 0.80
|
$ 0.85
|
$ 0.95
|
Net realized and unrealized gain
(loss) on investments
|
2.36
|
(2.66)
|
(0.62)
|
(0.25)
|
1.38
|
Net increase (decrease) from
investment operations
|
$
3.16
|
$
(1.85)
|
$
0.18
|
$
0.60
|
$
2.33
|
Distributions to shareowners from:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net investment income and
previously undistributed net
|
|
|
|
|
|
investment income
|
$ (0.84)**
|
$ (0.81)
|
$ (0.79)
|
$ (0.78)
|
$ (0.97)**
|
Net increase (decrease) in
net asset value
|
$
2.32
|
$
(2.66)
|
$
(0.61)
|
$
(0.18)
|
$
1.36
|
Net asset value, end of period
|
$ 9.57
|
$ 7.25
|
$ 9.91
|
$ 10.52
|
$ 10.70
|
Market value, end of period
|
$ 9.37
|
$ 6.42
|
$ 8.95
|
$ 9.39
|
$ 9.87
|
Total return at net asset
value (b)
|
46.08%
|
(19.93)%
|
2.79%
|
6.38%
|
26.13%
|
Total return at market value
(b)
|
61.52%
|
(21.49)%
|
4.00%
|
2.94%
|
8.23%
|
Ratios to average net assets of shareowners:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total expenses plus interest
expense (c)
|
1.60%
|
2.35%
|
2.41%
|
2.14%
|
2.10%
|
Net investment income available to
shareowners
|
9.10%
|
8.17%
|
7.93%
|
7.88%
|
9.36%
|
Portfolio turnover rate
|
50%
|
36%
|
33%
|
29%
|
48%
|
Net assets, end of period (in thousands)
|
$279,865
|
$211,861
|
$289,556
|
$307,410
|
$312,757
|
The accompanying notes are an
integral part of these financial statements.
44 Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
|
|
Year
|
Year
|
Year
|
Year
|
Year
|
|
|
Ended
|
Ended
|
Ended
|
Ended
|
Ended
|
|
|
3/31/21
|
3/31/20
|
3/31/19
|
3/31/18
|
3/31/17*
|
Total amount of debt outstanding (in thousands)
|
$123,000
|
$
99,000
|
$125,000
|
$125,000
|
$125,000
|
Asset coverage per $1,000 of indebtedness
|
$ 3,275
|
$ 3,140
|
$ 3,316
|
$ 3,459
|
$ 3,502
|
*
|
The Trust was audited by an independent registered public
accounting firm other than Ernst & Young LLP.
|
**
|
The amount of distributions made
to shareowners during the period was in excess of the net
investment income earned by the Trust during the period. The Trust
has accumulated undistributed net investment income which is part
of the Trust’s NAV. A portion of this accumulated net investment
income was distributed to shareowners during the period. A decrease
in distributions may have a negative effect on the market value of
the Trust’s shares.
|
(a)
|
The per-share data presented above is based upon the average
common shares outstanding for the periods presented.
|
(b)
|
Total investment return is
calculated assuming a purchase of common shares at the current net
asset value or market value on the first day and a sale at the
current net asset value or market value on the last day of the
periods reported. Dividends and distributions, if any, are assumed
for purposes of this calculation to be reinvested at prices
obtained under the Trust’s dividend reinvestment plan. Total
investment return does not reflect brokerage commissions. Past
performance is not a guarantee of future results.
|
(c)
|
Includes interest expense of 0.53%, 1.37%, 1.42%, 1.05%, and
1.11%, respectively.
|
The accompanying notes are an
integral part of these financial statements.
Pioneer
High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21 45
Notes to Financial Statements |
3/31/21
1. Organization
and Significant Accounting Policies
Pioneer High Income Trust (the
“Trust”) was organized as a Delaware statutory trust on January 30,
2002. Prior to commencing operations on April 26, 2002, the Trust
had no operations other than matters relating to its organization
and registration as a closed-end management investment company
under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The
investment objective of the Trust is to provide a high level of
current income and the Trust may, as a secondary objective, also
seek capital appreciation to the extent that it is consistent with
its investment objective.
Amundi Asset Management US, Inc.,
an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Amundi and Amundi’s wholly
owned subsidiary, Amundi USA, Inc., serves as the Trust’s
investment adviser (the “Adviser”). Prior to January 1, 2021, the
Adviser was named Amundi Pioneer Asset Management, Inc.
In August 2018, the Financial
Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards
Update 2018-13 “Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure
Requirements for Fair Value Measurement” (“ASU 2018-13”) which
modifies disclosure requirements for fair value measurements,
principally for Level 3 securities and transfers between levels of
the fair value hierarchy. ASU 2018-13 is effective for fiscal years
beginning after December 15, 2019 and for interim periods within
those fiscal years. The Trust has adopted ASU 2018-13 for the year
ended March 31, 2021. The impact to the Trust’s adoption was
limited to changes in the Trust’s disclosures regarding fair value,
primarily those disclosures related to transfers between levels of
the fair value hierarchy and disclosure of the range and weighted
average used to develop significant unobservable inputs for Level 3
fair value investments, when applicable.
In March 2020, FASB issued an
Accounting Standard Update, ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform
(Topic 848) — Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform
on Financial Reporting (“ASU 2020-04”), which provides optional,
temporary relief with respect to the financial reporting of
contracts subject to certain types of modifications due to the
planned discontinuation of the London Interbank Offered Rate
(“LIBOR”) and other LIBOR-based reference rates at the end of 2021.
The temporary relief provided by ASU 2020-04 is effective for
certain reference rate-related contract modifications that occur
during the period from March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022.
Management is evaluating the impact of ASU 2020-04 on the Trust’s
investments, derivatives, debt and other contracts, if applicable,
that will undergo reference rate-related modifications as a result
of the reference rate reform.
46 Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
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The Trust is an investment company
and follows investment company accounting and reporting guidance
under U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“U.S. GAAP”).
U.S. GAAP requires the management of the Trust to make estimates
and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and
liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at
the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of
income, expenses and gain or loss on investments during the
reporting period. Actual results could differ from those
estimates.
The following is a summary of
significant accounting policies followed by the Trust in the
preparation of its financial statements:
A. Security
Valuation
The net asset
value of the Trust is computed once daily, on each day the New York
Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open, as of the close of regular trading
on the NYSE.
Fixed-income
securities are valued by using prices supplied by independent
pricing services, which consider such factors as market prices,
market events, quotations from one or more brokers, Treasury
spreads, yields, maturities and ratings, or may use a pricing
matrix or other fair value methods or techniques to provide an
estimated value of the security or instrument. A pricing matrix is
a means of valuing a debt security on the basis of current market
prices for other debt securities, historical trading patterns in
the market for fixed-income securities and/or other factors.
Non-U.S. debt securities that are listed on an exchange will be
valued at the bid price obtained from an independent third party
pricing service. When independent third party pricing services are
unable to supply prices, or when prices or market quotations are
considered to be unreliable, the value of that security may be
determined using quotations from one or more broker-dealers.
Loan interests
are valued in accordance with guidelines established by the Board
of Trustees at the mean between the last available bid and asked
prices from one or more brokers or dealers as obtained from Loan
Pricing Corporation, an independent third party pricing service. If
price information is not available from Loan Pricing Corporation,
or if the price information is deemed to be unreliable, price
information will be obtained from an alternative pricing service.
If no reliable price quotes are available from either the primary
or alternative pricing service, broker quotes will be
solicited.
Event-linked
bonds are valued at the bid price obtained from an independent
third party pricing service. Other insurance-linked securities
(including reinsurance sidecars, collateralized reinsurance and
industry loss warranties) may be valued at the bid price obtained
from an independent
Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
47
pricing
service, or through a third party using a pricing matrix, insurance
industry valuation models, or other fair value methods or
techniques to provide an estimated value of the instrument.
Equity
securities that have traded on an exchange are valued by using the
last sale price on the principal exchange where they are traded.
Equity securities that have not traded on the date of valuation, or
securities for which sale prices are not available, generally are
valued using the mean between the last bid and asked prices or, if
both last bid and asked prices are not available, at the last
quoted bid price. Last sale and bid and asked prices are provided
by independent third party pricing services. In the case of equity
securities not traded on an exchange, prices are typically
determined by independent third party pricing services using a
variety of techniques and methods.
The value of
foreign securities is translated into U.S. dollars based on foreign
currency exchange rate quotations supplied by a third party pricing
source. Trading in non-U.S. equity securities is substantially
completed each day at various times prior to the close of the NYSE.
The values of such securities used in computing the net asset value
of the Trust’s shares are determined as of such times. The Trust
may use a fair value model developed by an independent pricing
service to value non-U.S. equity securities.
Options
contracts are generally valued at the mean between the last bid and
ask prices on the principal exchange where they are traded.
Over-the-counter (“OTC”) options and options on swaps (“swaptions”)
are valued using prices supplied by independent pricing services,
which consider such factors as market prices, market events,
quotations from one or more brokers, Treasury spreads, yields,
maturities and ratings, or may use a pricing matrix or other fair
value methods or techniques to provide an estimated value of the
security or instrument.
Forward foreign
currency exchange contracts are valued daily using the foreign
exchange rate or, for longer term forward contract positions, the
spot currency rate and the forward points on a daily basis, in each
case provided by a third party pricing service. Contracts whose
forward settlement date falls between two quoted days are valued by
interpolation.
Swap contracts,
including interest rate swaps, caps and floors (other than
centrally cleared swap contracts), are valued at the dealer
quotations obtained from reputable International Swap Dealers
Association members. Centrally cleared swaps are valued at the
daily settlement price provided by the central clearing
counterparty.
48 Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
Securities or
loan interests for which independent pricing services or
broker-dealers are unable to supply prices or for which market
prices and/or quotations are not readily available or are
considered to be unreliable are valued by a fair valuation team
comprised of certain personnel of the Adviser pursuant to
procedures adopted by the Trust’s Board of Trustees. The Adviser’s
fair valuation team uses fair value methods approved by the
Valuation Committee of the Board of Trustees. The Adviser’s fair
valuation team is responsible for monitoring developments that may
impact fair valued securities and for discussing and assessing fair
values on an ongoing basis, and at least quarterly, with the
Valuation Committee of the Board of Trustees.
Inputs used
when applying fair value methods to value a security may include
credit ratings, the financial condition of the company, current
market conditions and comparable securities. The Trust may use fair
value methods if it is determined that a significant event has
occurred after the close of the exchange or market on which the
security trades and prior to the determination of the Trust’s net
asset value. Examples of a significant event might include
political or economic news, corporate restructurings, natural
disasters, terrorist activity or trading halts. Thus, the valuation
of the Trust’s securities may differ significantly from exchange
prices, and such differences could be material.
At March 31,
2021, five securities were valued using fair value methods (in
addition to securities valued using prices supplied by independent
pricing services, broker-dealers or using a third party insurance
pricing model) representing 0.25% of net assets. The value of these
fair valued securities was $709,234.
B. Investment
Income and Transactions
Dividend income
is recorded on the ex-dividend date, except that certain dividends
from foreign securities where the ex-dividend date may have passed
are recorded as soon as the Trust becomes aware of the ex-dividend
data in the exercise of reasonable diligence.
Interest
income, including interest on income-bearing cash accounts, is
recorded on the accrual basis. Dividend and interest income are
reported net of unrecoverable foreign taxes withheld at the
applicable country rates and net of income accrued on defaulted
securities.
Interest and
dividend income payable by delivery of additional shares is
reclassified as PIK (payment-in-kind) income upon receipt and is
included in interest and dividend income, respectively.
Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
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49
Principal
amounts of mortgage-backed securities are adjusted for monthly
paydowns. Premiums and discounts related to certain mortgage-backed
securities are amortized or accreted in proportion to the monthly
paydowns. All discounts/premiums on purchase prices of debt
securities are accreted/amortized for financial reporting purposes
over the life of the respective securities, and such
accretion/amortization is included in interest income.
Security
transactions are recorded as of trade date. Gains and losses on
sales of investments are calculated on the identified cost method
for both financial reporting and federal income tax purposes.
C. Foreign
Currency Translation
The books and
records of the Trust are maintained in U.S. dollars. Amounts
denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars
using current exchange rates.
Net realized
gains and losses on foreign currency transactions, if any,
represent, among other things, the net realized gains and losses on
foreign currency exchange contracts, disposition of foreign
currencies and the difference between the amount of income accrued
and the U.S. dollars actually received. Further, the effects of
changes in foreign currency exchange rates on investments are not
segregated on the Statement of Operations from the effects of
changes in the market prices of those securities, but are included
with the net realized and unrealized gain or loss on
investments.
D. Federal
Income Taxes
It is the
Trust’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal
Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to
distribute all of its net taxable income and net realized capital
gains, if any, to its shareowners. Therefore, no provision for
federal income taxes is required. As of March 31, 2021, the Trust
did not accrue any interest or penalties with respect to uncertain
tax positions, which, if applicable, would be recorded as an income
tax expense on the Statement of Operations. Tax returns filed
within the prior three years remain subject to examination by
federal and state tax authorities.
The amount and
character of income and capital gain distributions to shareowners
are determined in accordance with federal income tax rules, which
may differ from U.S. GAAP. Distributions in excess of net
investment income or net realized gains are temporary over
distributions for financial statement purposes resulting from
differences in the recognition or classification of income or
distributions for financial statement and tax
50 Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
purposes.
Capital accounts within the financial statements are adjusted for
permanent book/tax differences to reflect tax character, but are
not adjusted for temporary differences.
At March 31,
2021, the Trust was permitted to carry forward indefinitely
$13,801,111 of short-term losses and $102,085,011 of long-term
losses under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of
2010 without limitation.
The tax
character of distributions paid during the years ended March 31,
2021 and March 31, 2020, were as follows:
|
2021
|
2020
|
Distributions paid
from:
|
|
|
Ordinary income
|
$24,408,529
|
$23,677,735
|
Total
|
$24,408,529
|
$23,677,735
|
The following
shows the components of distributable earnings (losses) on a
federal income tax basis at March 31, 2021:
|
2021
|
Distributable
earnings/(losses):
|
|
Undistributed ordinary income
|
$ 1,891,197
|
Capital loss carryforward
|
(115,886,122)
|
Unrealized appreciation
|
21,942,371
|
Total
|
$
(92,052,554)
|
The difference
between book basis and tax basis unrealized depreciation is
primarily attributable to the realization for tax purposes of
unrealized gains on investments in passive foreign investment
companies, the book/tax differences in the accrual of income on
securities in default, the difference between book and tax
amortization methods and discounts on fixed income
securities.
E. Risks
The value of
securities held by the Trust may go up or down, sometimes rapidly
or unpredictably, due to general market conditions, such as real or
perceived adverse economic, political or regulatory conditions,
recessions, the spread of infectious illness or other public health
issues, inflation, changes in interest rates, lack of liquidity in
the bond markets or adverse investor sentiment. In the past several
years, financial markets have experienced increased volatility,
depressed valuations, decreased liquidity and heightened
uncertainty. These conditions may continue, recur, worsen or
spread. A general rise in interest rates could adversely affect the
price and liquidity of fixed-income securities.
Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
51
At times, the
Trust’s investments may represent industries or industry sectors
that are interrelated or have common risks, making the Trust more
susceptible to any economic, political, or regulatory developments
or other risks affecting those industries and sectors. The Trust’s
investments in foreign markets and countries with limited
developing markets may subject the Trust to a greater degree of
risk than investments in a developed market. These risks include
disruptive political or economic conditions and the imposition of
adverse governmental laws or currency exchange restrictions.
The Trust
invests in below-investment-grade (high-yield) debt securities and
preferred stocks. Some of these high-yield securities may be
convertible into equity securities of the issuer. Debt securities
rated below-investment-grade are commonly referred to as “junk
bonds” and are considered speculative. These securities involve
greater risk of loss, are subject to greater price volatility, and
are less liquid, especially during periods of economic uncertainty
or change, than higher rated debt securities.
Certain
securities in which the Trust invests, including floating rate
loans, once sold, may not settle for an extended period (for
example, several weeks or even longer). The Trust will not receive
its sale proceeds until that time, which may constrain the Trust’s
ability to meet its obligations. The Trust may invest in securities
of issuers that are in default or that are in bankruptcy. The value
of collateral, if any, securing a floating rate loan can decline or
may be insufficient to meet the issuer’s obligations or may be
difficult to liquidate. No active trading market may exist for many
floating rate loans, and many loans are subject to restrictions on
resale. Any secondary market may be subject to irregular trading
activity and extended settlement periods. The Trust’s investments
in certain foreign markets or countries with limited developing
markets may subject the Trust to a greater degree of risk than in a
developed market. These risks include disruptive political or
economic conditions and the possible imposition of adverse
governmental laws or currency exchange restrictions.
The Fund’s
investments, payment obligations and financing terms may be based
on floating rates, such as LIBOR (London Interbank Offered Rate).
Plans are underway to phase out the use of LIBOR. The UK Financial
Conduct Authority (“FCA”) and LIBOR’s administrator, ICE Benchmark
Administration (“IBA”), have announced that most LIBOR rates will
no longer be published after the end of 2021 and a majority of U.S.
dollar LIBOR rates will no longer be published after June 30, 2023.
It is possible that the FCA may compel the IBA to publish a subset
of LIBOR settings after these dates on a “synthetic” basis, but any
such publications would
52 Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
be considered
non-representative of the underlying markets. There remains
uncertainty regarding the nature of any replacement rate and the
impact of the transition from LIBOR on the fund, issuers of
instruments in which the fund invests, and financial markets
generally.
The Trust may
invest up to 50% of its total assets in illiquid securities.
Illiquid securities are securities that the Trust reasonably
expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions
in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition
significantly changing the market value of the securities.
With the
increased use of technologies such as the Internet to conduct
business, the Trust is susceptible to operational, information
security and related risks. While the Trust’s Adviser has
established business continuity plans in the event of, and risk
management systems to prevent, limit or mitigate, such
cyber-attacks, there are inherent limitations in such plans and
systems, including the possibility that certain risks have not been
identified. Furthermore, the Trust cannot control the cybersecurity
plans and systems put in place by service providers to the Trust
such as Brown Brothers Harriman & Co., the Trust’s custodian
and accounting agent, and American Stock Transfer & Trust
Company, the Trust’s transfer agent. In addition, many beneficial
owners of Trust shares hold them through accounts at
broker-dealers, retirement platforms and other financial market
participants over which neither the Trust nor the Adviser exercises
control. Each of these may in turn rely on service providers to
them, which are also subject to the risk of cyber-attacks.
Cybersecurity failures or breaches at the Adviser or the Trust’s
service providers or intermediaries have the ability to cause
disruptions and impact business operations, potentially resulting
in financial losses, interference with the Trust’s ability to
calculate its net asset value, impediments to trading, the
inability of Trust shareowners to effect share purchases, or sales
or receive distributions, loss of or unauthorized access to private
shareowner information and violations of applicable privacy and
other laws, regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, or
additional compliance costs. Such costs and losses may not be
covered under any insurance. In addition, maintaining vigilance
against cyber-attacks may involve substantial costs over time, and
system enhancements may themselves be subject to
cyber-attacks.
COVID-19
The respiratory
illness COVID-19 caused by a novel coronavirus has resulted in a
global pandemic and major disruption to economies and markets
around the world, including the United States. Global financial
markets have experienced extreme volatility and severe losses, and
trading in many instruments has been disrupted. Liquidity for many
instruments has been
Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
53
greatly reduced
for periods of time. Some interest rates are very low and in some
cases yields are negative. Some sectors of the economy and
individual issuers have experienced particularly large losses.
These circumstances may continue for an extended period of time,
and may continue to affect adversely the value and liquidity of the
Trust’s investments. The ultimate economic fallout from the
pandemic, and the long-term impact on economies, markets,
industries and individual issuers, are not known. Governments and
central banks, including the Federal Reserve in the U.S., have
taken extraordinary and unprecedented actions to support local and
global economies and the financial markets. These actions have
resulted in significant expansion of public debt, including in the
U.S. The impact of these measures, and whether they will be
effective to mitigate the economic and market disruption, will not
be known for some time. The consequences of high public debt,
including its future impact on the economy and securities markets,
likewise may not be known for some time.
F. Restricted
Securities
Restricted
Securities are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on
resale. Restricted securities generally are resold in transactions
exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933. Private
placement securities are generally considered to be restricted
except for those securities traded between qualified institutional
investors under the provisions of Rule 144A of the Securities Act
of 1933.
Disposal of
restricted investments may involve negotiations and expenses, and
prompt sale at an acceptable price may be difficult to achieve.
Restricted investments held by the Trust at March 31, 2021 are
listed in the Schedule of Investments.
G.Insurance-Linked Securities (“ILS”)
The Trust
invests in ILS. The Trust could lose a portion or all of the
principal it has invested in an ILS, and the right to additional
interest or dividend payments with respect to the security, upon
the occurrence of one or more trigger events, as defined within the
terms of an insurance-linked security. Trigger events, generally,
are hurricanes, earthquakes, or other natural events of a specific
size or magnitude that occur in a designated geographic region
during a specified time period, and/or that involve losses or other
metrics that exceed a specific amount. There is no way to
accurately predict whether a trigger event will occur, and
accordingly, ILS carry significant risk. The Trust is entitled to
receive principal, and interest and/or dividend payments so long as
no trigger event occurs of the description and magnitude specified
by the instrument. In addition to the
54 Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
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specified
trigger events, ILS may expose the Trust to other risks, including
but not limited to issuer (credit) default, adverse regulatory or
jurisdictional interpretations and adverse tax consequences.
The Trust’s
investments in ILS may include event-linked bonds. ILS also may
include special purpose vehicles (“SPVs”) or similar instruments
structured to comprise a portion of a reinsurer’s
catastrophe-oriented business, known as quota share instruments
(sometimes referred to as reinsurance sidecars), or to provide
reinsurance relating to specific risks to insurance or reinsurance
companies through a collateralized instrument, known as
collateralized reinsurance. Structured reinsurance investments also
may include industry loss warranties (“ILWs”). A traditional ILW
takes the form of a bilateral reinsurance contract, but there are
also products that take the form of derivatives, collateralized
structures, or exchange-traded instruments.
Where the ILS
are based on the performance of underlying reinsurance contracts,
the Trust has limited transparency into the individual underlying
contracts, and therefore must rely upon the risk assessment and
sound underwriting practices of the issuer. Accordingly, it may be
more difficult for the Adviser to fully evaluate the underlying
risk profile of the Trust’s structured reinsurance investments, and
therefore the Trust’s assets are placed at greater risk of loss
than if the Adviser had more complete information. Structured
reinsurance instruments generally will be considered illiquid
securities by the Trust. These securities may be difficult to
purchase, sell or unwind. Illiquid securities also may be difficult
to value. If the Trust is forced to sell an illiquid asset, the
Trust may be forced to sell at a loss.
H. Purchased
Options
The Trust may
purchase put and call options to seek to increase total return.
Purchased call and put options entitle the Trust to buy and sell a
specified number of shares or units of a particular security,
currency or index at a specified price at a specific date or within
a specific period of time. Upon the purchase of a call or put
option, the premium paid by the Trust is included on the Statement
of Assets and Liabilities as an investment. All premiums are
marked-to-market daily, and any unrealized appreciation or
depreciation is recorded on the Trust’s Statement of Operations. As
the purchaser of an index option, the Trust has the right to
receive a cash payment equal to any depreciation in the value of
the index below the strike price of the option (in the case of a
put) or equal to any appreciation in the value of the index over
the strike price of the option (in the case of a call) as of the
valuation date of the option. Premiums paid for purchased call and
put options which have expired are treated as realized losses on
investments on the Statement of Operations. Upon the exercise
or
Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
55
closing of a
purchased put option, the premium is offset against the proceeds on
the sale of the underlying security or financial instrument in
order to determine the realized gain or loss on investments. Upon
the exercise or closing of a purchased call option, the premium is
added to the cost of the security or financial instrument. The risk
associated with purchasing options is limited to the premium
originally paid.
The average
market value of purchased options contracts open during the year
ended March 31, 2021, was $49,295. Open purchased options at March
31, 2021, are listed in the Schedule of Investments.
I. Option
Writing
The Trust may
write put and covered call options to seek to increase total
return. When an option is written, the Trust receives a premium and
becomes obligated to purchase or sell the underlying security at a
fixed price, upon the exercise of the option. When the Trust writes
an option, an amount equal to the premium received by the Trust is
recorded as “Written options outstanding” on the Statement of
Assets and Liabilities and is subsequently adjusted to the current
value of the option written. Premiums received from writing options
that expire unexercised are treated by the Trust on the expiration
date as realized gains from investments on the Statement of
Operations. The difference between the premium and the amount paid
on effecting a closing purchase transaction, including brokerage
commissions, is also treated as a realized gain on the Statement of
Operations, or, if the premium is less than the amount paid for the
closing purchase transaction, as a realized loss on the Statement
of Operations. If a call option is exercised, the premium is added
to the proceeds from the sale of the underlying security in
determining whether the Trust has realized a gain or loss. The
Trust as writer of an option bears the market risk of an
unfavorable change in the price of the security underlying the
written option.
The average
market value of written options for the year ended March 31, 2021,
was $(104,860). Open written options contracts at March 31, 2021,
are listed in the Schedule of Investments.
J. Forward
Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts
The Trust may
enter into forward foreign currency exchange contracts
(“contracts”) for the purchase or sale of a specific foreign
currency at a fixed price on a future date. All contracts are
marked-to-market daily at the applicable exchange rates, and any
resulting unrealized appreciation or depreciation is recorded in
the Trust’s financial statements. The Trust records realized gains
and losses at the time a contract is offset by entry into a closing
transaction or extinguished by delivery of the currency. Risks may
arise upon entering into these contracts from the potential
inability of
56 Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
counterparties
to meet the terms of the contract and from unanticipated movements
in the value of foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar (see
Note 5).
During the year
ended March 31, 2021, the Trust had entered into various forward
foreign currency exchange contracts that obligated the Trust to
deliver or take delivery of currencies at specified future maturity
dates. Alternatively, prior to the settlement date of a forward
foreign currency exchange contract, the Trust may close out such
contract by entering into an offsetting contract.
The average
market value of forward foreign currency exchange contracts open
during the year ended March 31, 2021, was $4,937,422. Open forward
foreign currency exchange contracts outstanding at March 31, 2021,
are listed in the Schedule of Investments.
K. Credit
Default Swap Contracts
A credit
default swap is a contract between a buyer of protection and a
seller of protection against a pre-defined credit event or an
underlying reference obligation, which may be a single security or
a basket or index of securities. The Trust may buy or sell credit
default swap contracts to seek to increase the Trust’s income, or
to attempt to hedge the risk of default on portfolio securities. A
credit default swap index is used to hedge risk or take a position
on a basket of credit entities or indices.
As a seller of
protection, the Trust would be required to pay the notional (or
other agreed-upon) value of the referenced debt obligation to the
counterparty in the event of a default by a U.S. or foreign
corporate issuer of a debt obligation, which would likely result in
a loss to the Trust. In return, the Trust would receive from the
counterparty a periodic stream of payments during the term of the
contract, provided that no event of default occurred. The maximum
exposure of loss to the seller would be the notional value of the
credit default swaps outstanding. If no default occurs, the Trust
would keep the stream of payments and would have no payment
obligation. The Trust may also buy credit default swap contracts in
order to hedge against the risk of default of debt securities, in
which case the Trust would function as the counterparty referenced
above.
As a buyer of
protection, the Trust makes an upfront or periodic payment to the
protection seller in exchange for the right to receive a contingent
payment. An upfront payment made by the Trust, as the protection
buyer, is recorded within the “Swap contracts, at value” line item
on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Periodic payments
received or paid by the Trust are recorded as realized gains or
losses on the Statement of Operations.
Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
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57
Credit default
swap contracts are marked-to-market daily using valuations supplied
by independent sources, and the change in value, if any, is
recorded within the “Swap contracts, at value” line item on the
Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Payments received or made as a
result of a credit event or upon termination of the contract are
recognized, net of the appropriate amount of the upfront payment,
as realized gains or losses on the Statement of Operations.
Credit default
swap contracts involving the sale of protection may involve greater
risks than if the Trust had invested in the referenced debt
instrument directly. Credit default swap contracts are subject to
general market risk, liquidity risk, counterparty risk and credit
risk. If the Trust is a protection buyer and no credit event
occurs, it will lose its investment. If the Trust is a protection
seller and a credit event occurs, the value of the referenced debt
instrument received by the Trust, together with the periodic
payments received, may be less than the amount the Trust pays to
the protection buyer, resulting in a loss to the Trust. In
addition, obligations under sell protection credit default swaps
may be partially offset by net amounts received from settlement of
buy protection credit default swaps entered into by the Trust for
the same reference obligation with the same counterparty.
Certain swap
contracts that are cleared through a central clearinghouse are
referred to as centrally cleared swaps. All payments made or
received by the Trust are pursuant to a centrally cleared swap
contract with the central clearing party rather than the original
counterparty. Upon entering into a centrally cleared swap contract,
the Trust is required to make an initial margin deposit, either in
cash or in securities. The daily change in value on open centrally
cleared contracts is recorded as “Variation margin for centrally
cleared swap contracts” on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
Cash received from or paid to the broker related to previous margin
movement is held in a segregated account at the broker and is
recorded as either “Due from broker for swaps” or “Due to broker
for swaps” on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. The amount
of cash deposited with a broker as collateral at March 31, 2021, is
recorded as “Swaps collateral” on the Statement of Assets and
Liabilities.
The average
market value of credit default swap contracts open during the year
ended March 31, 2021, was $(465,222). There were no open credit
default swap contracts at March 31, 2021.
L. Interest
Rate Swap Contracts
The Trust may
enter into interest rate swaps to attempt to hedge against interest
rate fluctuations or to enhance its income. Pursuant to the
interest rate swap contract, the Trust negotiates with a
counterparty to exchange a
58 Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
periodic stream
of payments based on a benchmark interest rate. One cash flow
stream will typically be a floating rate payment based upon the
specified floating benchmark interest rate while the other is
typically a fixed interest rate. Payment flows are usually netted
against each other, with the difference being paid by one party to
the other on a monthly basis.
Periodic
payments received or paid by the Trust are recorded as realized
gains or losses on the Statement of Operations. Interest rate swap
contracts are marked-to-market daily using valuations supplied by
independent sources and the change in value, if any, is recorded
within “Swap contracts, at value” line item on the Statement of
Assets and Liabilities. Interest rate swap contracts are subject to
counterparty risk and movements in interest rates. Certain swap
contracts that are cleared through a central clearinghouse are
referred to as centrally cleared swaps. All payments made or
received by the Trust are pursuant to centrally cleared swap
contracts with the central clearing party rather than the original
counterparty. Upon entering into a centrally cleared swap contract,
the Trust is required to make an initial margin deposit, either in
cash or in securities. The daily change in value on open centrally
cleared swap contracts is recorded as variation margin for
centrally cleared swaps on the Statement of Assets and
Liabilities.
The average
market value of interest swap contracts open during year ended
March 31, 2021, was $(49,006). There were no open interest rate
swap contracts at March 31, 2021.
M. Automatic
Dividend Reinvestment Plan
All shareowners
whose shares are registered in their own names automatically
participate in the Automatic Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the
“Plan”), under which participants receive all dividends and capital
gain distributions (collectively, dividends) in full and fractional
shares of the Trust in lieu of cash. Shareowners may elect not to
participate in the Plan. Shareowners not participating in the Plan
receive all dividends and capital gain distributions in cash.
Participation in the Plan is completely voluntary and may be
terminated or resumed at any time without penalty by notifying
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, the agent for
shareowners in administering the Plan (the “Plan Agent”), in
writing prior to any dividend record date; otherwise such
termination or resumption will be effective with respect to any
subsequently declared dividend or other distribution.
If a
shareowner’s shares are held in the name of a brokerage firm, bank
or other nominee, the shareowner can ask the firm or nominee to
participate in the Plan on the shareowner’s behalf. If the firm or
nominee does not
Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
59
offer the Plan,
dividends will be paid in cash to the shareowner of record. A firm
or nominee may reinvest a shareowner’s cash dividends in shares of
the Trust on terms that differ from the terms of the Plan.
Whenever the
Trust declares a dividend on shares payable in cash, participants
in the Plan will receive the equivalent in shares acquired by the
Plan Agent either (i) through receipt of additional unissued but
authorized shares from the Trust or (ii) by purchase of outstanding
shares on the New York Stock Exchange or elsewhere. If, on the
payment date for any dividend, the net asset value per share is
equal to or less than the market price per share plus estimated
brokerage trading fees (market premium), the Plan Agent will invest
the dividend amount in newly issued shares. The number of newly
issued shares to be credited to each account will be determined by
dividing the dollar amount of the dividend by the net asset value
per share on the date the shares are issued, provided that the
maximum discount from the then current market price per share on
the date of issuance does not exceed 5%. If, on the payment date
for any dividend, the net asset value per share is greater than the
market value (market discount), the Plan Agent will invest the
dividend amount in shares acquired in open-market purchases. There
are no brokerage charges with respect to newly issued shares.
However, each participant will pay a pro rata share of brokerage
trading fees incurred with respect to the Plan Agent’s open-market
purchases. Participating in the Plan does not relieve shareowners
from any federal, state or local taxes which may be due on
dividends paid in any taxable year. Shareowners holding Plan shares
in a brokerage account may be able to transfer the shares to
another broker and continue to participate in the Plan.
N. Statement of
Cash Flows
Information on
financial transactions which have been settled through the receipt
or disbursement of cash or restricted cash is presented in the
Statement of Cash Flows. Cash as presented in the Trust’s Statement
of Assets and Liabilities includes cash on hand at the Trust’s
custodian bank and does not include any short-term investments. As
of and for the year ended March 31, 2021, the Trust had no
restricted cash presented on the Statement of Assets and
Liabilities.
2. Management
Agreement
The Adviser manages the Trust’s
portfolio. Management fees are calculated daily and paid monthly
under the Trust’s Advisory Agreement with the Adviser and are
calculated daily at the annual rate of 0.60% of the Trust’s average
daily managed assets. “Managed assets” means (a) the total assets
of the Trust, including any form of investment leverage, minus (b)
all accrued liabilities incurred in the normal course of
operations, which shall
60 Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
not include any liabilities or
obligations attributable to investment leverage obtained through
(i) indebtedness of any type (including, without limitation,
borrowing through a credit facility or the issuance of debt
securities), (ii) the issuance of preferred stock or other similar
preference securities, and/or (iii) any other means. For the
year ended March 31, 2021, the net management fee was 0.60% of the
Trust’s average daily managed assets, which was equivalent to 0.85%
of the Trust’s average daily net assets.
In addition, under the management
and administration agreements, certain other services and costs,
including accounting, regulatory reporting and insurance premiums,
are paid by the Trust as administrative reimbursements. Included in
“Due to affiliates” reflected on the Statement of Assets and
Liabilities is $191,539 in management fees, administrative costs
and certain other reimbursements payable to the Adviser at March
31, 2021.
3. Compensation
of Trustees and Officers
The Trust pays an annual fee to
its Trustees. The Adviser reimburses the Trust for fees paid to the
Interested Trustees. The Trust does not pay any salary or other
compensation to its officers. For the year ended March 31, 2021,
the Trust paid $12,908 in Trustees’ compensation, which is
reflected on the Statement of Operations as Trustees’ fees. At
March 31, 2021, the Trust had a payable for Trustees’ fees on its
Statement of Assets and Liabilities of $117.
4. Transfer
Agent
American Stock Transfer &
Trust Company (“AST”) serves as the transfer agent with respect to
the Trust’s shares. The Trust pays AST an annual fee, as is agreed
to from time to time by the Trust and AST, for providing such
services.
In addition, the Trust reimbursed
the transfer agent for out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the
transfer agent related to shareowner communications activities such
as proxy and statement mailings, and outgoing phone calls.
5. Master
Netting Agreements
The Trust has entered into an
International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master
Agreement (“ISDA Master Agreement”) or similar agreement with
substantially all its derivative counterparties. An ISDA Master
Agreement is a bilateral agreement between the Trust and a
counterparty that governs the trading of certain Over the Counter
(“OTC”) derivatives and typically contains, among other things,
close-out and set-off provisions which apply upon the occurrence of
an event of default and/or a termination event as defined under the
relevant ISDA Master
Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
61
Agreement. The ISDA Master
Agreement may also give a party the right to terminate all
transactions traded under such agreement if, among other things,
there is deterioration in the credit quality of the other
party.
Upon an event of default or a
termination of the ISDA Master Agreement, the non-defaulting party
has the right to close-out all transactions under such agreement
and to net amounts owed under each transaction to determine one net
amount payable by one party to the other. The right to close out
and net payments across all transactions under the ISDA Master
Agreement could result in a reduction of the Trust’s credit risk to
its counterparty equal to any amounts payable by the Trust under
the applicable transactions, if any. However, the Trust’s right to
set-off may be restricted or prohibited by the bankruptcy or
insolvency laws of the particular jurisdiction to which each
specific ISDA Master Agreement of each counterparty is
subject.
The collateral requirements for
derivatives transactions under an ISDA Master Agreement are
governed by a credit support annex to the ISDA Master Agreement.
Collateral requirements are generally determined at the close of
business each day and are typically based on changes in market
values for each transaction under an ISDA Master Agreement and
netted into one amount for such agreement. Generally, the amount of
collateral due from or to a counterparty is subject to threshold (a
“minimum transfer amount”) before a transfer is required, which may
vary by counterparty. Collateral pledged for the benefit of the
Trust and/or counterparty is held in segregated accounts by the
Trust’s custodian and cannot be sold, re-pledged, assigned or
otherwise used while pledged. Cash that has been segregated to
cover the Trust’s collateral obligations, if any, will be reported
separately on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as “Swaps
collateral”. Securities pledged by the Trust as collateral, if any,
are identified as such in the Schedule of Investments.
Financial instruments subject to
an enforceable master netting agreement, such as an ISDA Master
Agreement, have been offset on the Statement of Assets and
Liabilities. The following charts show gross assets and liabilities
of the Trust as of March 31, 2021.
62 Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
|
Derivative
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subject to
|
Derivatives
|
Non-Cash
|
Cash
|
Net Amount
|
|
Master
Netting
|
Available
|
Collateral
|
Collateral
|
of
Derivative
|
Counterparty
|
Agreement
|
for Offset
|
Received (a)
|
Received (a)
|
Assets (b)
|
Bank of America NA
|
$ 302
|
$ (302)
|
$ —
|
$ —
|
$ —
|
Bank of New York
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mellon Corp.
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
HSBC Bank USA NA
|
36,787
|
(36,787)
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.
|
38,609
|
(12,219)
|
—
|
—
|
26,390
|
Morgan Stanley & Co.
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
State Street Bank &
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trust Co.
|
57,520
|
(51,326)
|
—
|
—
|
6,194
|
Total
|
$133,218
|
$(100,634)
|
$
—
|
$
—
|
$
32,584
|
|
|
Derivative
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subject to
|
Derivatives
|
Non-Cash
|
Cash Net
|
Amount
|
|
Master
Netting
|
Available
|
Collateral
|
Collateral
|
of Derivative
|
Counterparty
|
Agreement
|
for Offset
|
Pledged
(a)
|
Pledged
(a)
|
Liabilities
(c)
|
Bank of America NA
|
$ 9,835
|
$ (302)
|
$ —
|
$ —
|
$ 9,533
|
Bank of New York
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mellon Corp.
|
30,942
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
30,942
|
HSBC Bank USA NA
|
164,394
|
(36,787)
|
—
|
—
|
127,607
|
JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.
|
12,219
|
(12,219)
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
Morgan Stanley & Co.
|
20,233
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
20,233
|
State Street Bank &
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trust Co.
|
51,326
|
(51,326)
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
Total
|
$288,949
|
$(100,634)
|
$
—
|
$
—
|
$188,315
|
(a)
|
The amount presented
here may be less than the total amount of collateral
received/pledged as the net amount of derivative assets and
liabilities cannot be less than $0.
|
(b) |
Represents the net
amount due from the counterparty in the event of
default.
|
(c) |
Represents the net
amount payable to the counterparty in the event of
default.
|
6. Additional
Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging
Activities
The Trust’s use of derivatives may
enhance or mitigate the Trust’s exposure to the following
risks:
Interest rate risk relates to the
fluctuations in the value of interest-bearing securities due to
changes in the prevailing levels of market interest rates.
Credit risk relates to the ability
of the issuer of a financial instrument to make further principal
or interest payments on an obligation or commitment that it has to
the Trust.
Foreign exchange rate risk relates
to fluctuations in the value of an asset or liability due to
changes in currency exchange rates.
Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
63
Equity risk relates to the
fluctuations in the value of financial instruments as a result of
changes in market prices (other than those arising from interest
rate risk or foreign exchange rate risk), whether caused by factors
specific to an individual investment, its issuer, or all factors
affecting all instruments traded in a market or market
segment.
Commodity risk relates to the risk
that the value of a commodity or commodity index will fluctuate
based on increases or decreases in the commodities market and
factors specific to a particular industry or commodity.
The fair value of open derivative
instruments (not considered to be hedging instruments for
accounting disclosure purposes) by risk exposure at March 31, 2021,
was as follows:
Statement
of
|
|
|
Foreign
|
|
|
Assets and
|
Interest
|
Credit
|
Exchange
|
Equity
|
Commodity
|
Liabilities
|
Rate Risk
|
Risk
|
Rate Risk
|
Risk
|
Risk
|
Assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options purchased*
|
$ —
|
$ —
|
$ 38,911
|
$ —
|
$ —
|
Total Value
|
$
—
|
$
—
|
$
38,911
|
$
—
|
$
—
|
|
Liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Written options
|
|
|
|
|
|
outstanding
|
$ —
|
$ —
|
$ 22,054
|
$ —
|
$ —
|
Net unrealized
|
|
|
|
|
|
depreciation on
|
|
|
|
|
|
forward foreign
|
|
|
|
|
|
currency exchange
|
|
|
|
|
|
contracts
|
—
|
—
|
172,588
|
—
|
—
|
Total Value
|
$
—
|
$
—
|
$194,642
|
$
—
|
$
—
|
*
|
Reflects the market
value of purchased option contracts (see Note 1H). These amounts
are included in Investment in unaffiliated issuers, at value, on
the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
|
64 Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
The effect of derivative
instruments (not considered to be hedging instruments for
accounting disclosure purposes) on the Statement of Operations by
risk exposure at March 31, 2021, was as follows:
|
|
|
Foreign
|
|
|
Statement
of
|
Interest
|
Credit
|
Exchange
|
Equity
|
Commodity
|
Operations
|
Rate Risk
|
Risk
|
Rate Risk
|
Risk
|
Risk
|
Net realized
gain
|
|
|
|
|
|
(loss) on:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options purchased*
|
$ —
|
$ —
|
$(147,396)
|
$ —
|
$ —
|
Written options
|
—
|
—
|
147,396
|
—
|
—
|
Forward foreign
|
|
|
|
|
|
currency exchange
|
|
|
|
|
|
contracts
|
—
|
—
|
222,169
|
—
|
—
|
Swap contracts
|
(219,415)
|
(1,088,443)
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
Total
Value
|
$(219,415)
|
$(1,088,443)
|
$
222,169
|
$
—
|
$
—
|
Change in
net
|
|
|
|
|
|
unrealized
|
|
|
|
|
|
appreciation
|
|
|
|
|
|
(depreciation) on:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options purchased**
|
$ —
|
$ —
|
$ (10,101)
|
$ —
|
$ —
|
Written options
|
—
|
—
|
(9,193)
|
—
|
—
|
Forward foreign
|
|
|
|
|
|
currency exchange
|
|
|
|
|
|
contracts
|
—
|
—
|
(59,890)
|
—
|
—
|
Swap contracts
|
185,305
|
924,678
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
Total
Value
|
$185,305
|
$
924,678
|
$
(79,184)
|
$
—
|
$
—
|
*
|
Reflects the net realized gain (loss) on purchased option
contracts (see Note 1H). These amounts are included in Net realized
gain (loss) on investments in unaffiliated issuers, on the
Statement of Operations.
|
**
|
Reflects the change in net unrealized appreciation
(depreciation) on purchased option contracts (see Note 1H). These
amounts are included in change in net unrealized appreciation
(depreciation) on Investments in unaffiliated issuers, on the
Statement of Operations.
|
7. Trust
Shares
There are an unlimited number of
shares of beneficial interest authorized.
Transactions in shares of
beneficial interest for the year ended March 31, 2021 and the year
ended March 31, 2020 were as follows:
|
3/31/21
|
3/31/20
|
Shares outstanding at beginning of period
|
29,231,771
|
29,231,771
|
Shares outstanding at end of period
|
29,231,771
|
29,231,771
|
8. Unfunded
Loan Commitments
The Trust may enter into unfunded
loan commitments. Unfunded loan commitments may be partially or
wholly unfunded. During the contractual period, the Trust is
obliged to provide funding to the borrower upon demand. A fee is
earned by the Trust on the unfunded commitment and is
Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
65
recorded as interest income on the
Statement of Operations. Unfunded loan commitments are fair valued
in accordance with the valuation policy described in Footnote 1A
and unrealized appreciation or depreciation, if any, is recorded on
the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
9. Credit
Agreement
The Trust has entered into a
Revolving Credit Facility (the “Credit Agreement”) agreement with
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation. Loan under the credit
agreement are offered at a daily rate equal to the U.S. one month
LIBOR rate plus 1.10%. There is no fixed borrowing limit.
At March 31, 2021, the Trust had a
borrowing outstanding under the credit agreement totaling
$123,000,000. The interest rate charged at March 31, 2021 was
1.13%. During the year ended March 31, 2021, the average daily
balance was $108,836,565 at an average interest rate of 1.30%.
Interest expense of $1,367,636 in connection with the credit
agreement is included in the Statement of Operations.
The Trust is required to fully
collateralize its outstanding loan balance as determined by
Sumitomo Mitsui. Pledged assets are held in a segregated account
and are denoted on the Schedule of Investments.
The Trust is required to maintain
300% asset coverage with respect to amounts outstanding under the
Credit Agreement. Asset coverage is calculated by subtracting the
Trust’s total liabilities not including any bank loans and senior
securities, from the Trust’s total assets and dividing such amount
by the principal amount of the borrowing outstanding.
10. Subsequent
Events
A monthly dividend was declared on
April 6, 2021 from undistributed and accumulated net investment
income of $0.0725 per share payable April 30, 2021, to shareowners
of record on April 19, 2021.
Redomiciling
On April 21, 2021, Pioneer High
Income Trust redomiciled from a Delaware statutory trust to a
Maryland corporation and was renamed Pioneer High Income Fund, Inc.
The Fund, previously organized as a Delaware statutory trust,
redomiciled to a Maryland corporation (the “redomiciling”). The
redomiciling was effected through a statutory merger of the
predecessor Delaware statutory trust (the “Predecessor Entity”)
with and into a newly-established Maryland corporation formed for
the purpose of effecting the redomiciling (the “Successor Entity”)
pursuant to the terms of an Agreement and Plan of Merger entered
into by and between the Predecessor Entity and the Successor Entity
(the “Merger”). Upon effectiveness of the Merger, (i) the Successor
Entity became the successor in interest to the
66 Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
Fund, (ii) each outstanding share
of common stock of the Predecessor Entity was automatically
converted into one share of common stock of the Successor Entity,
and (iii) the shareholders of the Predecessor Entity became
stockholders of the Successor Entity. Neither the Fund nor its
stockholders realized gain (loss) as a direct result of the Merger.
Accordingly, the Merger had no effect on the Fund’s
operations.
In connection with the
redomiciling, the Fund’s name changed from Pioneer High Income
Trust to Pioneer High Income Fund, Inc. The Fund’s ticker symbol on
the New York Stock Exchange did not change.
The redomiciling did not result in
any change to the investment adviser, investment objective and
strategies, portfolio management team, policies and procedures or
the members of the Board overseeing the Fund.
Following the Fund’s redomiciling,
the rights of shareholders are governed by Maryland General
Corporation Law and the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the
Successor Entity. In addition, the Fund is subject to the Maryland
Control Share Acquisition Act (the “Control Share Act”) following
the redomiciling.
The Control Share Act generally
provides that any holder of “control shares” acquired in a “control
share acquisition” may not exercise voting rights with respect to
the “control shares,” except to the extent approved by a vote of
two-thirds of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter.
Generally, “control shares” are shares that, when aggregated with
shares already owned by an acquiring person, would entitle the
acquiring person to exercise 10% or more, 33 1/3% or more, or a
majority of the total voting power of shares entitled to vote in
the election of directors. The Control Share Act provides that a
“control share acquisition” does not include the acquisition of
shares in a merger, consolidation or share exchange. Therefore, a
shareholder of the Fund that acquired shares of the Successor
Entity as a result of the Merger will be able to exercise voting
rights as to those shares even if the number of such shares
acquired by the shareholder in the Merger exceeds one or more of
the thresholds of the Control Share Act.
The above description of the
Control Share Act is only a high-level summary and does not purport
to be complete. Investors should refer to the actual provisions of
the Control Share Act and the Fund’s Bylaws for more information,
including definitions of key terms, various exclusions and
exemptions from the statute’s scope, and the procedures by which
stockholders may approve the reinstatement of voting rights to
holders of “control shares.”
Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
67
Report of
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of
Trustees and the Shareholders of Pioneer High Income Trust:
Opinion on the
Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying
statement of assets and liabilities of Pioneer High Income Trust
(the “Trust”), including the schedule of investments, as of March
31, 2021, and the related statements of operations and cash flows
for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets
for each of the two years in the period then ended, the financial
highlights for each of the four years in the period then ended and
the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial
statements”). The financial highlights for the period ended March
31, 2017 were audited by another independent registered public
accounting firm whose report, dated May 26, 2017, expressed an
unqualified opinion on those financial highlights. In our opinion,
the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects,
the financial position of Pioneer High Income Trust at March 31,
2021, the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year
then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years
in the period then ended, and its financial highlights for each of
the four years in the period then ended in conformity with U.S.
generally accepted accounting principles.
Basis for
Opinion
These financial statements are the
responsibility of the Trust’s management. Our responsibility is to
express an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements based on our
audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public
Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and
are required to be independent with respect to the Trust in
accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable
rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and
the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in
accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require
that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance
about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Trust is not
required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of the
Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. As part of our
audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal
control over financial reporting, but not for the purpose of
expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Trust’s internal
control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such
opinion.
68 Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
Report | 3/31/21
Our audits included performing
procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the
financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing
procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included
examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and
disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included
confirmation of securities owned as of March 31, 2021, by
correspondence with the custodian and brokers or by other
appropriate auditing procedures where replies from brokers were not
received. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting
principles used and significant estimates made by management, as
well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial
statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis
for our opinion.
We have served as the auditor of
one or more Amundi Pioneer investment companies since 2017.
Boston, Massachusetts
May 27, 2021
Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
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69
Additional Information
(unaudited)
Notice is hereby given in
accordance with Section 23(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
that the Trust may purchase, from time to time, its shares in the
open market.
The percentages of the Trust’s ordinary income distributions
that are exempt from nonresident alien (NRA) tax withholding
resulting from qualified interest income was 64.95%.
70 Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
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INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES
, PRINCIPAL
INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND PRINCIPAL RISKS
CHANGES
OCCURRING DURING MOST RECENT FISCAL YEAR
The following information in this
annual report is a summary of certain changes during the most
recent fiscal year. This information may not reflect all of the
changes that have occurred since you purchased shares of the Trust.
The following principal risk disclosure has been added with respect
to the Trust:
Recent events. The respiratory illness
COVID-19 caused by a novel coronavirus has resulted in a global
pandemic and major disruption to economies and markets around the
world, including the United States. Global financial markets have
experienced extreme volatility and severe losses, and trading in
many instruments has been disrupted. Liquidity for many instruments
has been greatly reduced for periods of time. Some interest rates
are very low and in some cases yields are negative. Some sectors of
the economy and individual issuers have experienced particularly
large losses. These circumstances may continue for an extended
period of time, and may continue to affect adversely the value and
liquidity of the Trust’s investments. The ultimate economic fallout
from the pandemic, and the long-term impact on economies, markets,
industries and individual issuers, are not known. Governments and
central banks, including the Federal Reserve in the U.S., have
taken extraordinary and unprecedented actions to support local and
global economies and the financial markets. These actions have
resulted in significant expansion of public debt, including in the
U.S. The impact of these measures, and whether they will be
effective to mitigate the economic and market disruption, may not
be known for some time. The consequences of high public debt,
including its future impact on the economy and securities markets,
likewise may not be known for some time.
LIBOR risk. LIBOR (London Interbank
Offered Rate) is used extensively in the U.S. and globally as a
“benchmark” or “reference rate” for various commercial and
financial contracts, including corporate and municipal bonds, bank
loans, asset-backed and mortgage-related securities, and interest
rate swaps and other derivatives. In 2017, the head of the UK
Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) announced a desire to phase out
the use of LIBOR by the end of 2021. The FCA and LIBOR’s
administrator, ICE Benchmark Administration (“IBA”), have announced
that most LIBOR rates will no longer be published after the end of
2021 and a majority of U.S. dollar LIBOR rates will no longer by
published after June 30, 2023. It is
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71
possible that the FCA may compel
the IBA to publish a subset of LIBOR settings after these dates on
a “synthetic” basis, but any such publications would be considered
non-representative of the underlying market. Actions by regulators
have resulted in the establishment of alternative reference rates
to LIBOR in most major currencies. Based on the recommendations of
the New York Federal Reserve’s Alternative Reference Rate Committee
(comprised of major derivative market participants and their
regulators), the U.S. Federal Reserve began publishing a Secured
Overnight Funding Rate (“SOFR”) that is intended to replace U.S.
Dollar LIBOR. Proposals for alternative reference rates for other
currencies have also been announced or have already begun
publication, such as SONIA in the United Kingdom. Markets are
slowly developing in response to these new rates, and transition
planning is at a relatively early stage. Neither the effect of the
transition process nor its ultimate success is known. The
transition process may lead to increased volatility and illiquidity
in markets that currently rely on LIBOR to determine interest
rates. The effect of any changes to —or discontinuation of—LIBOR on
the portfolio will vary depending on, among other things,
provisions in individual contracts and whether, how, and when
industry participants develop and adopt new reference rates and
alternative reference rates for both legacy and new products and
instruments. Because the usefulness of LIBOR as a benchmark may
deteriorate during the transition period, these effects could
materialize prior to the end of 2021.
Anti-takeover provisions. The Fund’s
Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws include provisions that could
limit the ability of other entities or persons to acquire control
of the Fund or convert the Fund to open-end status. The Fund’s
Bylaws also contain a provision providing that the Board of
Directors has adopted a resolution to opt in the Fund to the
provisions of the Maryland Control Share Acquisition Act (“MCSAA”).
Such a provision may discourage third parties from seeking to
obtain control of the Fund, which could have an adverse impact on
the market price of the Fund’s shares. There can be no assurance,
however, that such a provision will be sufficient to deter activist
investors that seek to cause the Fund to take actions that may not
be aligned with the interests of long-term shareholders.
INVESTMENT
OBJECTIVES
The Trust’s investment objective
is a high level of current income. The Trust may, as a secondary
objective, also seek capital appreciation to the extent consistent
with its investment objective. The Trust’s investment objective is
a fundamental policy and may not be changed without the approval of
a majority of the outstanding voting securities (as defined in the
1940 Act) of the Trust. The Trust makes no assurance that it will
realize its objective.
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PRINCIPAL
INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
Under normal market conditions,
the Trust invests at least 80% of its assets (net assets plus
borrowing for investment purposes) in below investment grade (“high
yield”) debt securities, loans and preferred stocks. This is a
non-fundamental policy and may be changed by the Board of Directors
of the Trust provided that shareholders are provided with at least
60 days prior written notice of any change as required by the rules
under the 1940 Act.
The Trust may invest in
insurance-linked securities.
The Trust may invest in securities
and other obligations of any credit quality, including those that
are rated below investment grade, or are unrated but are determined
by the Adviser to be of equivalent credit quality.
The Trust may invest in securities
of issuers that are in default or that are in bankruptcy.
The Adviser considers both broad
economic and issuer specific factors in selecting a portfolio
designed to achieve the Trust’s investment objective. In assessing
the appropriate maturity, rating, sector and country weightings of
the Trust’s portfolio, the Adviser considers a variety of factors
that are expected to influence economic activity and interest
rates. These factors include fundamental economic indicators, such
as the rates of economic growth and inflation, Federal Reserve
monetary policy and the relative value of the U.S. dollar compared
to other currencies. Once the Adviser determines the preferable
portfolio characteristics, the Adviser selects individual
securities based upon the terms of the securities (such as yields
compared to U.S. Treasuries or comparable issues), liquidity and
rating, sector and issuer diversification. the Adviser also employs
due diligence and fundamental research to assess an issuer’s credit
quality, taking into account financial condition and profitability,
future capital needs, potential for change in rating, industry
outlook, the competitive environment and management ability.
The Adviser’s analysis of issuers
may include, among other things, historic and current financial
conditions, current and anticipated cash flow and borrowing
requirements, value of assets in relation to historical costs,
strength of management, responsiveness to business conditions,
credit standing, and current and anticipated results of operations.
While the Adviser considers as one factor in its credit analysis
the ratings assigned by the rating services, the Adviser performs
its own independent credit analysis of issuers and, consequently,
the Trust may invest, without limit, in unrated securities. As a
result, the Trust’s ability to achieve its
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73
investment objective may depend to
a greater extent on the Adviser’s own credit analysis than
investment companies which invest in higher rated securities.
In making these portfolio
decisions, the Adviser relies on the knowledge, experience and
judgment of its staff who have access to a wide variety of
research. The Trust may continue to hold securities that are
downgraded after the Trust purchases them and will sell such
securities only if, in the adviser’s judgment, it is advantageous
to sell such securities.
High Yield Securities. The high yield
securities in which the Trust invests are rated Ba or lower by
Moody’s or BB or lower by Standard & Poor’s or are unrated but
determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality. Debt
securities rated below investment grade are commonly referred to as
“junk bonds” and are considered speculative with respect to the
issuer’s capacity to pay interest and repay principal. Below
investment grade debt securities involve greater risk of loss, are
subject to greater price volatility and are less liquid, especially
during periods of economic uncertainty or change, than higher rated
debt securities. An investment in the Trust may be speculative in
that it involves a high degree of risk and should not constitute a
complete investment program. For purposes of the Trust’s credit
quality policies, if a security receives different ratings from
nationally recognized securities rating organizations, the Trust
will use the rating chosen by the portfolio manager as most
representative of the security’s credit quality. The Trust’s high
yield securities may have fixed or variable principal payments and
all types of interest rate and dividend payment and reset terms,
including fixed rate, adjustable rate, zero coupon, contingent,
deferred, payment in kind and auction rate features. The Trust
invests in high yield securities with a broad range of
maturities.
Convertible Securities. The Trust’s
investment in fixed income securities may include bonds and
preferred stocks that are convertible into the equity securities of
the issuer or a related company. The Trust will not invest more
that 50% of its total in convertible securities. Depending upon the
relationship of the conversion price to the market value of the
underlying securities, convertible securities may trade more like
equity securities than debt instruments. Consistent with its
objective and other investment policies, the Trust may also invest
a portion of its assets in equity securities, including common
stocks, depositary receipts, warrants, rights and other equity
interests.
Loans. The Trust may invest a portion
of its assets in loan participations and other direct claims
against a borrower. The Trust considers corporate loans to be high
yield debt instruments if the issuer has outstanding debt
securities rated below investment grade or has no rated securities,
and
74 Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
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includes corporate loans in
determining whether at least 80% of its assets are invested in high
yield debt instruments. The corporate loans in which the Trust
invests primarily consist of direct obligations of a borrower and
may include debtor in possession financings pursuant to Chapter 11
of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, obligations of a borrower issued in
connection with a restructuring pursuant to Chapter 11 of the U.S.
Bankruptcy Code, leveraged buy-out loans, leveraged
recapitalization loans, receivables purchase facilities, and
privately placed notes. The Trust may invest in a corporate loan at
origination as a co-lender or by acquiring in the secondary market
participations in, assignments of or novations of a corporate loan.
By purchasing a participation, the Trust acquires some or all of
the interest of a bank or other lending institution in a loan to a
corporate or government borrower. The participations typically will
result in the Trust having a contractual relationship only with the
lender, not the borrower. The Trust will have the right to receive
payments of principal, interest and any fees to which it is
entitled only from the lender selling the participation and only
upon receipt by the lender of the payments from the borrower. Many
such loans are secured, although some may be unsecured. Such loans
may be in default at the time of purchase. Loans that are fully
secured offer the Trust more protection than an unsecured loan in
the event of non-payment of scheduled interest or principal.
However, there is no assurance that the liquidation of collateral
from a secured loan would satisfy the corporate borrower’s
obligation, or that the collateral can be liquidated. Direct debt
instruments may involve a risk of loss in case of default or
insolvency of the borrower and may offer less legal protection to
the Trust in the event of fraud or misrepresentation. In addition,
loan participations involve a risk of insolvency of the lending
bank or other financial intermediary. The markets in loans are not
regulated by federal securities laws or the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC).
As in the case of other high yield
investments, such corporate loans may be rated in the lower rating
categories of the established rating services (Ba or lower by
Moody’s or BB or lower by Standard & Poor’s), or may be unrated
investments considered by the Adviser to be of comparable quality.
As in the case of other high yield investments, such corporate
loans can be expected to provide higher yields than lower yielding,
higher rated fixed income securities, but may be subject to greater
risk of loss of principal and income. There are, however, some
significant differences between corporate loans and high yield
bonds. Corporate loan obligations are frequently secured by pledges
of liens and security interests in the assets of the borrower, and
the holders of corporate loans are frequently the beneficiaries of
debt service subordination provisions imposed on the borrower’s
bondholders. These arrangements are designed to give corporate loan
investors preferential treatment over high yield investors in the
event of a
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75
deterioration in the credit
quality of the issuer. Even when these arrangements exist, however,
there can be no assurance that the borrowers of the corporate loans
will repay principal and/or pay interest in full. Corporate loans
generally bear interest at rates set at a margin above a generally
recognized base lending rate that may fluctuate on a day-to-day
basis, in the case of the prime rate of a U.S. bank, or which may
be adjusted on set dates, typically 30 days but generally not more
than one year, in the case of the London Interbank Offered Rate
(LIBOR). Consequently, the value of corporate loans held by the
Trust may be expected to fluctuate significantly less than the
value of other fixed rate high yield instruments as a result of
changes in the interest rate environment. On the other hand, the
secondary dealer market for certain corporate loans may not be as
well developed as the secondary dealer market for high yield bonds
and, therefore, presents increased market risk relating to
liquidity and pricing concerns.
Distressed Securities. The Trust may
invest up to 10% of its total assets in distressed securities,
including corporate loans, which are the subject of bankruptcy
proceedings or otherwise in default as to the repayment of
principal and/or payment of interest at the time of acquisition by
the Trust or are rated in the lower rating categories (Ca or lower
by Moody’s or CC or lower by Standard & Poor’s) or which are
unrated investments considered by the Adviser to be of comparable
quality. Investment in distressed securities is speculative and
involves significant risk. Distressed securities frequently do not
produce income while they are outstanding and may require the Trust
to bear certain extraordinary expenses in order to protect and
recover its investment. Therefore, to the extent the Trust seeks
capital appreciation through investment in distressed securities,
the Trust’s ability to achieve current income for its shareholders
may be diminished. The Trust also will be subject to significant
uncertainty as to when and in what manner and for what value the
obligations evidenced by the distressed securities will eventually
be satisfied (e.g., through a liquidation of the obligor’s assets,
an exchange offer or plan of reorganization involving the
distressed securities or a payment of some amount in satisfaction
of the obligation). In addition, even if an exchange offer is made
or a plan of reorganization is adopted with respect to distressed
securities held by the Trust, there can be no assurance that the
securities or other assets received by the Trust in connection with
such exchange offer or plan of reorganization will not have a lower
value or income potential than may have been anticipated when the
investment was made. Moreover, any securities received by the Trust
upon completion of an exchange offer or plan of reorganization may
be restricted as to resale. As a result of the
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Trust’s participation in
negotiations with respect to any exchange offer or plan of
reorganization with respect to an issuer of distressed securities,
the Trust may be restricted from disposing of such
securities.
Preferred Shares. The Trust may invest
in preferred shares. Preferred shares are equity securities, but
they have many characteristics of fixed income securities, such as
a fixed dividend payment rate and/or a liquidity preference over
the issuer’s common shares. However, because preferred shares are
equity securities, they may be more susceptible to risks
traditionally associated with equity investments than the Trust’s
fixed income securities.
Non-U.S. Investments. While the Trust
primarily invests in securities of U.S. issuers, the Trust may
invest up to 25% of its total assets in securities of corporate and
governmental issuers located outside the United States, including
debt and equity securities of corporate issuers and debt securities
of government issuers in developed and emerging markets. Non-U.S.
securities may be issued by non-U.S. governments, banks or
corporations, or private issuers, and certain supranational
organizations, such as the World Bank and the European Union. The
Trust considers emerging market issuers to include issuers
organized under the laws of an emerging market country, issuers
with a principal office in an emerging market country, issuers that
derive at least 50% of their gross revenues or profits from goods
or services produced in emerging market countries or sales made in
emerging market countries, or issuers that have at least 50% of
their assets in emerging market countries and emerging market
governmental issuers. Emerging markets generally will include, but
not be limited to, countries included in the Morgan Stanley Capital
International (MSCI) Emerging + Frontier Markets Index.
Illiquid Securities. The Trust may
invest in bonds, corporate loans, convertible securities, preferred
stocks and other securities that lack a secondary trading market or
are otherwise considered illiquid. Liquidity of a security relates
to the ability to easily dispose of the security and the price to
be obtained upon disposition of the security, which may be less
than would be obtained for a comparable more liquid security. The
Trust may invest up to 50% of its total assets in investments that
are not readily marketable, and it may also invest in securities
that are subject to contractual restrictions on resale. Such
investments may affect the Trust’s ability to realize the net asset
value in the event of a voluntary or involuntary liquidation of its
assets.
Structured Securities. The Trust may
invest in structured securities. The value of the principal and/or
interest on such securities is determined by reference to changes
in the value of specific currencies, interest rates,
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commodities, indices or other
financial indicators (Reference) or the relative change in two or
more References. The interest rate or the principal amount payable
upon maturity or redemption may be increased or decreased depending
upon changes in the Reference. The terms of the structured
securities may provide in certain circumstances that no principal
is due at maturity and, therefore, may result in a loss of the
Trust’s investment. Changes in the interest rate or principal
payable at maturity may be a multiple of the changes in the value
of the Reference. Consequently, structured securities may entail a
greater degree of market risk than other types of fixed income
securities.
Mortgage-Backed Securities. The Trust
may invest in mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities.
Mortgage-backed securities may be issued by private issuers, by
government-sponsored entities such as the Federal National Mortgage
Association (“FNMA”) or Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation
(“FHLMC”) or by agencies to the U.S. government such as the
Government National Mortgage Corporation (“GNMA”). Mortgage-backed
securities represent direct or indirect participation in, or are
collateralized by and payable from, mortgage loans secured by real
property. The Trust’s investments in mortgage-related securities
may include mortgage derivatives and structured securities.
The Trust may invest in mortgage
pass-through certificates and multiple-class pass-through
securities, and mortgage derivative securities such as real estate
mortgage investment conduits (REMIC) pass-through certificates,
collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs) and stripped
mortgage-backed securities (SMBS), interest only mortgage-backed
securities and principal only mortgage-backed securities and other
types of mortgage-backed securities that may be available in the
future. A mortgage-backed security is an obligation of the issuer
backed by a mortgage or pool of mortgages or a direct interest in
an underlying pool of mortgages. Some mortgage-backed securities,
such as CMOs, make payments of both principal and interest at a
variety of intervals; others make semiannual interest payments at a
predetermined rate and repay principal at maturity (like a typical
bond). Mortgage-backed securities are based on different types of
mortgages including those on commercial real estate or residential
properties. Mortgage-backed securities often have stated maturities
of up to thirty years when they are issued, depending upon the
length of the mortgages underlying the securities. In practice,
however, unscheduled or early payments of principal and interest on
the underlying mortgages may make the securities’ effective
maturity shorter than this, and the prevailing interest rates may
be higher or lower than the current yield of the Trust’s portfolio
at the time the Trust receives the payments for reinvestment.
Mortgage-backed securities may have less potential for capital
appreciation
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than comparable fixed income
securities, due to the likelihood of increased prepayments of
mortgages as interest rates decline. If the Trust buys
mortgage-backed securities at a premium, mortgage foreclosures and
prepayments of principal by mortgagors (which may be made at any
time without penalty) may result in some loss of the Trust’s
principal investment to the extent of the premium paid. The value
of mortgage-backed securities may also change due to shifts in the
market’s perception of issuers. In addition, regulatory or tax
changes may adversely affect the mortgage securities markets as a
whole. Non-governmental mortgage-backed securities may offer higher
yields than those issued by government entities but also may be
subject to greater price changes than governmental issues.
Asset-Backed Securities. The Trust may
invest in asset-backed securities. Asset-backed securities
represent participations in, or are secured by and payable from,
assets such as installment sales or loan contracts, leases, credit
card receivables and other categories of receivables. The Trust’s
investments in asset-backed securities may include derivative and
structured securities. The Trust may invest in asset-backed
securities issued by special entities, such as trusts, that are
backed by a pool of financial assets. The Trust may invest in
collateralized debt obligations (CDOs), which include
collateralized bond obligations (CBOs), collateralized loan
obligations (CLOs) and other similarly structured securities. A CDO
is a trust backed by a pool of fixed income securities. The trust
typically is split into two or more portions, called tranches,
which vary in credit quality, yield, credit support and right to
repayment of principal and interest. Lower tranches pay higher
interest rates but represent lower degrees of credit quality and
are more sensitive to the rate of defaults in the pool of
obligations. Certain CDOs may use derivatives, such as credit
default swaps, to create synthetic exposure to assets rather than
holding such assets directly.
REITs. REITs primarily invest in income
producing real estate or real estate related loans or interests.
REITs are generally classified as equity REITs, mortgage REITs or a
combination of equity and mortgage REITs. Equity REITs invest the
majority of their assets directly in real property and derive
income primarily from the collection of rents. Equity REITs can
also realize capital gains by selling properties that have
appreciated in value. Mortgage REITs invest the majority of their
assets in real estate mortgages and derive income from the
collection of interest payments. REITs are not taxed on income
distributed to shareholders provided they comply with the
applicable requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the Internal Revenue Code). The Trust will in some cases
indirectly bear its proportionate share of any management and other
expenses paid by REITs
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in which it invests in addition to
the expenses paid by the Trust. Debt securities issued by REITs
are, for the most part, general and unsecured obligations and are
subject to risks associated with REITs.
U.S. Government Securities. U.S.
government securities in which the Trust invests include debt
obligations of varying maturities issued by the U.S. Treasury or
issued or guaranteed by an agency or instrumentality of the U.S.
government, including the Federal Housing Administration, Federal
Financing Bank, Farmers Home Administration, Export-Import Bank of
the United States, Small Business Administration, Government
National Mortgage Association (GNMA), General Services
Administration, Central Bank for Cooperatives, Federal Farm Credit
Banks, Federal Home Loan Banks, Federal Home Loan Mortgage
Corporation (FHLMC), Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA),
Maritime Administration, Tennessee Valley Authority, District of
Columbia Armory Board, Student Loan Marketing Association,
Resolution Trust Corporation and various institutions that
previously were or currently are part of the Farm Credit System
(which has been undergoing reorganization since 1987). Some U.S.
government securities, such as U.S. Treasury bills, Treasury notes
and Treasury bonds, which differ only in their interest rates,
maturities and times of issuance, are supported by the full faith
and credit of the United States. Others are supported by: (i) the
right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury, such as
securities of the Federal Home Loan Banks; (ii) the discretionary
authority of the U.S. government to purchase the agency’s
obligations, such as securities of the FNMA; or (iii) only the
credit of the issuer. No assurance can be given that the U.S.
government will provide financial support in the future to U.S.
government agencies, authorities or instrumentalities that are not
supported by the full faith and credit of the United States.
Securities guaranteed as to principal and interest by the U.S.
government, its agencies, authorities or instrumentalities include:
(i) securities for which the payment of principal and interest is
backed by an irrevocable letter of credit issued by the U.S.
government or any of its agencies, authorities or
instrumentalities; and (ii) participations in loans made to
non-U.S. governments or other entities that are so guaranteed. The
secondary market for certain of these participations is limited
and, therefore, may be regarded as illiquid.
Zero Coupon Securities. The Trust may
invest in zero coupon securities. Zero coupon securities are debt
instruments that do not pay interest during the life of the
security but are issued at a discount from the amount the investor
will receive when the issuer repays the amount borrowed (the face
value). The discount approximates the total amount of interest that
would be paid at an assumed interest rate.
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Investments in Equity Securities.
Consistent with its objective, the Trust may invest in equity
securities. Equity securities, such as common stock, generally
represent an ownership interest in a company. While equity
securities have historically generated higher average returns than
fixed income securities, equity securities have also experienced
significantly more volatility in those returns. An adverse event,
such as an unfavorable earnings report, may depress the value of a
particular equity security held by the Trust. Also, the price of
equity securities, particularly common stocks, are sensitive to
general movements in the stock market. A drop in the stock market
may depress the price of equity securities held by the Trust.
Other Investment Companies. The Trust
may invest in the securities of other investment companies to the
extent that such investments are consistent with the Trust’s
investment objectives and principal investment strategies and
permissible under the 1940 Act. Subject to the limitations on
investment in other investment companies, the Trust may invest in
“ETFs.”
Other Investments. Normally, the Trust
will invest substantially all of its assets to meet its investment
objectives. The Trust may invest the remainder of its assets in
securities with remaining maturities of less than one year or cash
equivalents, or it may hold cash. For temporary defensive purposes,
the Trust may depart from its principal investment strategies and
invest part or all of its assets in securities with remaining
maturities of less than one year or cash equivalents, or it may
hold cash. During such periods, the Trust may not be able to
achieve its investment objectives.
Derivatives. The Trust may, but is not
required to, use futures and options on securities, indices and
currencies, forward foreign currency exchange contracts, swaps,
credit-linked notes and other derivatives. The Trust also may enter
into credit default swaps, which can be used to acquire or to
transfer the credit risk of a security or index of securities
without buying or selling the security or securities comprising the
relevant index. A derivative is a security or instrument whose
value is determined by reference to the value or the change in
value of one or more securities, currencies, indices or other
financial instruments. The Trust may use derivatives for a variety
of purposes, including:
•
|
In an attempt to hedge against adverse changes in the market
prices of securities, interest rates or currency exchange
rates
|
|
•
|
As a substitute for purchasing or selling
securities
|
|
•
|
To attempt to increase the Trust’s return as a non-hedging
strategy that may be considered speculative
|
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•
|
To manage portfolio characteristics (for example, the duration
or credit quality of the Trust’s portfolio)
|
|
•
|
As a cash flow management technique
|
The Trust may choose not to make
use of derivatives for a variety of reasons, and any use may be
limited by applicable law and regulations.
Mortgage Dollar Rolls. The Trust may
enter into mortgage dollar roll transactions to earn additional
income. In these transactions, the Trust sells a U.S. agency
mortgage-backed security and simultaneously agrees to repurchase at
a future date another U.S. agency mortgage-backed security with the
same interest rate and maturity date, but generally backed by a
different pool of mortgages. The Trust loses the right to receive
interest and principal payments on the security it sold. However,
the Trust benefits from the interest earned on investing the
proceeds of the sale and may receive a fee or a lower repurchase
price. The benefits from these transactions depend upon the
Adviser’s ability to forecast mortgage prepayment patterns on
different mortgage pools. The Trust may lose money if, during the
period between the time it agrees to the forward purchase of the
mortgage securities and the settlement date, these securities
decline in value due to market conditions or prepayments on the
underlying mortgages.
Insurance-Linked Securities. The Trust
may invest in insurance-linked securities (ILS). The Trust could
lose a portion or all of the principal it has invested in an ILS,
and the right to additional interest or dividend payments with
respect to the security, upon the occurrence of one or more trigger
events, as defined within the terms of an insurance-linked
security. Trigger events, generally, are hurricanes, earthquakes,
or other natural events of a specific size or magnitude that occur
in a designated geographic region during a specified time period,
and/or that involve losses or other metrics that exceed a specific
amount. There is no way to accurately predict whether a trigger
event will occur, and accordingly, ILS carry significant risk. The
Trust is entitled to receive principal and interest and/or dividend
payments so long as no trigger event occurs of the description and
magnitude specified by the instrument. In addition to the specified
trigger events, ILS may expose the Trust to other risks, including
but not limited to issuer (credit) default, adverse regulatory or
jurisdictional interpretations and adverse tax consequences.
The Trust’s investments in ILS may
include event-linked bonds. ILS also may include securities issued
by special purpose vehicles (“SPVs”) or similar instruments
structured to comprise a portion of a reinsurer’s
catastrophe-oriented business, known as quota share instruments
(sometimes referred to as reinsurance sidecars), or to provide
reinsurance relating to specific risks
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to insurance or reinsurance
companies through a collateralized instrument, known as
collateralized reinsurance. Structured reinsurance investments also
may include industry loss warranties (“ILWs”). A traditional ILW
takes the form of a bilateral reinsurance contract, but there are
also products that take the form of derivatives, collateralized
structures, or exchange-traded instruments. The Trust may invest in
interests in pooled entities that invest primarily in ILS.
Where the ILS are based on the
performance of underlying reinsurance contracts, the Trust has
limited transparency into the individual underlying contracts, and
therefore must rely upon the risk assessment and sound underwriting
practices of the issuer. Accordingly, it may be more difficult for
the Adviser to fully evaluate the underlying risk profile of the
Trust’s structured reinsurance investments, and therefore the
Trust’s assets are placed at greater risk of loss than if the
Adviser had more complete information. Structured reinsurance
instruments generally will be considered illiquid securities by the
Trust.
Other Debt Securities. The Trust may
invest in other debt securities. Other debt securities in which the
Trust may invest include: securities issued or guaranteed by the
U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities and custodial
receipts therefor; securities issued or guaranteed by a foreign
government or any of its political subdivisions, authorities,
agencies or instrumentalities or by international or supranational
entities; corporate debt securities, including notes, bonds and
debentures; certificates of deposit and bankers’ acceptances issued
or guaranteed by, or time deposits maintained at, banks (including
U.S. or foreign branches of U.S. banks or U.S. or foreign branches
of foreign banks) having total assets of more than $1 billion;
commercial paper; and mortgage related securities. These securities
may be of any maturity. The value of debt securities can be
expected to vary inversely with interest rates.
Money Market Instruments. Money market
instruments include short-term U.S. government securities, U.S.
dollar-denominated, high quality commercial paper (unsecured
promissory notes issued by corporations to finance their short-term
credit needs), certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances and
repurchase agreements relating to any of the foregoing. U.S.
government securities include Treasury notes, bonds and bills,
which are direct obligations of the U.S. government backed by the
full faith and credit of the United States and securities issued by
agencies and instrumentalities of the U.S. government, which may be
guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury, may be supported by the issuer’s
right to borrow from the U.S. Treasury or may be backed only by the
credit of the federal agency or instrumentality itself.
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Repurchase Agreements. In a repurchase
agreement, the Trust purchases securities from a broker/dealer or a
bank, called the counterparty, upon the agreement of the
counterparty to repurchase the securities from the Trust at a later
date, and at a specified price, which is typically higher than the
purchase price paid by the Trust. The securities purchased serve as
the Trust’s collateral for the obligation of the counterparty to
repurchase the securities. If the counterparty does not repurchase
the securities, the Trust is entitled to sell the securities, but
the Trust may not be able to sell them for the price at which they
were purchased, thus causing a loss. Additionally, if the
counterparty becomes insolvent, there is some risk that the Trust
will not have a right to the securities, or the immediate right to
sell the securities.
PRINCIPAL
RISKS
General. The Trust is a closed-end
management investment company designed primarily as a long-term
investment and not as a trading tool. The Trust is not a complete
investment program and should be considered only as an addition to
an investor’s existing portfolio of investments. Because the Trust
may invest substantially in high yield debt securities, an
investment in the Trust’s shares is speculative in that it involves
a high degree of risk. Due to uncertainty inherent in all
investments, there can be no assurance that the Trust will achieve
its investment objective. Instruments in which the Trust invests
may only have limited liquidity, or may be illiquid.
Market risk. The market prices of
securities held by the Trust may go up or down, sometimes rapidly
or unpredictably, due to general market conditions, such as real or
perceived adverse economic, political, or regulatory conditions,
recessions, inflation, changes in interest or currency rates, lack
of liquidity in the bond markets, the spread of infectious illness
or other public health issues, or adverse investor sentiment. In
the past decade, financial markets throughout the world have
experienced increased volatility, depressed valuations, decreased
liquidity and heightened uncertainty. Governmental and
non-governmental issuers have defaulted on, or been forced to
restructure, their debts. These conditions may continue, recur,
worsen or spread. Events that have contributed to these market
conditions include, but are not limited to, major cybersecurity
events; geopolitical events (including wars and terror attacks);
measures to address budget deficits; downgrading of sovereign debt;
changes in oil and commodity prices; dramatic changes in currency
exchange rates; global pandemics; and public sentiment. U.S. and
non-U.S. governments and central banks have provided significant
support to financial markets, including by keeping interest rates
at historically low levels. U.S. Federal
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Reserve or other U.S. or non-U.S.
governmental or central bank actions, including interest rate
increases or decreases, or contrary actions by different
governments, could negatively affect financial markets generally,
increase market volatility and reduce the value and liquidity of
securities in which the Trust invests. Policy and legislative
changes in the U.S. and in other countries are affecting many
aspects of financial regulation, and these and other events
affecting global markets, such as the United Kingdom’s exit from
the European Union (or Brexit), may in some instances contribute to
decreased liquidity and increased volatility in the financial
markets. The impact of these changes on the markets, and the
practical implications for market participants, may not be fully
known for some time. Economies and financial markets throughout the
world are increasingly interconnected. Economic, financial or
political events, trading and tariff arrangements, terrorism,
natural disasters, infectious illness or public health issues, and
other circumstances in one country or region could have profound
impacts on global economies or markets. As a result, whether or not
the Trust invests in securities of issuers located in or with
significant exposure to the countries directly affected, the value
and liquidity of the Trust’s investments may be negatively
affected. The Trust may experience a substantial or complete loss
on any individual security or derivative position.
Recent events. The respiratory illness
COVID-19 caused by a novel coronavirus has resulted in a global
pandemic and major disruption to economies and markets around the
world, including the United States. Global financial markets have
experienced extreme volatility and severe losses, and trading in
many instruments has been disrupted. Liquidity for many instruments
has been greatly reduced for periods of time. Some interest rates
are very low and in some cases yields are negative. Some sectors of
the economy and individual issuers have experienced particularly
large losses. These circumstances may continue for an extended
period of time, and may continue to affect adversely the value and
liquidity of the Trust’s investments. The ultimate economic fallout
from the pandemic, and the long-term impact on economies, markets,
industries and individual issuers, are not known. Governments and
central banks, including the Federal Reserve in the U.S., have
taken extraordinary and unprecedented actions to support local and
global economies and the financial markets. These actions have
resulted in significant expansion of public debt, including in the
U.S. The impact of these measures, and whether they will be
effective to mitigate the economic and market disruption, may not
be known for some time. The consequences of high public debt,
including its future impact on the economy and securities markets,
likewise may not be known for some time.
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LIBOR risk. LIBOR (London Interbank
Offered Rate) is used extensively in the U.S. and globally as a
“benchmark” or “reference rate” for various commercial and
financial contracts, including corporate and municipal bonds, bank
loans, asset-backed and mortgage-related securities, and interest
rate swaps and other derivatives. In 2017, the head of the UK
Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) announced a desire to phase out
the use of LIBOR by the end of 2021. The FCA and LIBOR’s
administrator, ICE Benchmark Administration (“IBA”), have announced
that most LIBOR rates will no longer be published after the end of
2021 and a majority of U.S. dollar LIBOR rates will no longer by
published after June 30, 2023. It is possible that the FCA may
compel the IBA to publish a subset of LIBOR settings after these
dates on a “synthetic” basis, but any such publications would be
considered non-representative of the underlying market. Actions by
regulators have resulted in the establishment of alternative
reference rates to LIBOR in most major currencies. Based on the
recommendations of the New York Federal Reserve’s Alternative
Reference Rate Committee (comprised of major derivative market
participants and their regulators), the U.S. Federal Reserve began
publishing a Secured Overnight Funding Rate (“SOFR”) that is
intended to replace U.S. Dollar LIBOR. Proposals for alternative
reference rates for other currencies have also been announced or
have already begun publication, such as SONIA in the United
Kingdom. Markets are slowly developing in response to these new
rates, and transition planning is at a relatively early stage.
Neither the effect of the transition process nor its ultimate
success is known. The transition process may lead to increased
volatility and illiquidity in markets that currently rely on LIBOR
to determine interest rates. The effect of any changes to —or
discontinuation of—LIBOR on the portfolio will vary depending on,
among other things, provisions in individual contracts and whether,
how, and when industry participants develop and adopt new reference
rates and alternative reference rates for both legacy and new
products and instruments. Because the usefulness of LIBOR as a
benchmark may deteriorate during the transition period, these
effects could materialize prior to the end of 2021.
High yield or “junk” bond risk. Debt
securities that are below investment grade, called “junk bonds,”
are speculative, have a higher risk of default or are already in
default, tend to be less liquid and are more difficult to value
than higher grade securities. Junk bonds tend to be volatile and
more susceptible to adverse events and negative sentiments. These
risks are more pronounced for securities that are already in
default.
Interest rate risk. Interest rates may
go up, causing the value of the Trust’s investments to decline
(this risk generally will be greater for securities with longer
maturities or durations). For example, if interest rates increase
by 1%, the value of a Trust’s portfolio with a portfolio duration
of ten years
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would be expected to decrease by
10%, all other things being equal. The maturity of a security may
be significantly longer than its effective duration. A security’s
maturity and other features may be more relevant than its effective
duration in determining the security’s sensitivity to other factors
affecting the issuer or markets generally, such as changes in
credit quality or in the yield premium that the market may
establish for certain types of securities.
Rising interest rates can lead to
increased default rates, as issuers of floating rate securities
find themselves faced with higher payments. Unlike fixed rate
securities, floating rate securities generally will not increase in
value if interest rates decline. Changes in interest rates also
will affect the amount of interest income the Trust earns on its
floating rate investments
Credit risk. If an issuer or guarantor
of a security held by the Trust or a counterparty to a financial
contract with the Trust defaults on its obligation to pay principal
and/or interest, has its credit rating downgraded or is perceived
to be less creditworthy, or the credit quality or value of any
underlying assets declines, the value of your investment will
typically decline.
Prepayment or call risk. Many issuers
have a right to prepay their securities. If interest rates fall, an
issuer may exercise this right. If this happens, the Trust will not
benefit from the rise in market price that normally accompanies a
decline in interest rates, and will be forced to reinvest
prepayment proceeds at a time when yields on securities available
in the market are lower than the yield on the prepaid security. The
Trust also may lose any premium it paid on the security.
Extension risk. During periods of
rising interest rates, the average life of certain types of
securities may be extended because of slower than expected
principal payments. This may lock in a below market interest rate,
increase the security’s duration and reduce the value of the
security.
Risk of illiquid investments. Certain
securities and derivatives held by the Trust may be impossible or
difficult to purchase, sell or unwind. Illiquid securities and
derivatives also may be difficult to value. Liquidity risk may be
magnified in a rising interest rate environment. If the Trust is
forced to sell an illiquid asset or unwind a derivatives position,
the Trust may suffer a substantial loss or may not be able to sell
at all.
Portfolio selection risk. The adviser’s
judgment about the quality, relative yield, relative value or
market trends affecting a particular sector or region, market
segment, security or about interest rates generally may prove to be
incorrect, or there may be imperfections, errors or limitations in
the models, tools and information used by the adviser.
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Reinvestment risk. Income from the
Trust’s portfolio will decline if the Trust invests the proceeds,
repayment or sale of loans or other obligations into lower yielding
instruments with a lower spread over the base lending rate. A
decline in income could affect the common shares’ distribution rate
and their overall return.
Risks of investing in floating rate
loans. Floating rate loans and similar investments may be
illiquid or less liquid than other investments and difficult to
value. Market quotations for these securities may be volatile
and/or subject to large spreads between bid and ask prices. No
active trading market may exist for many floating rate loans, and
many loans are subject to restrictions on resale. Any secondary
market may be subject to irregular trading activity and extended
trade settlement periods. An economic downturn generally leads to a
higher non-payment rate, and a loan may lose significant value
before a default occurs.
When the Trust invests in a loan
participation, the Trust does not have a direct claim against the
borrower and must rely upon an intermediate participant to enforce
any rights against the borrower. As a result, the Trust is subject
to the risk that an intermediate participant between the Trust and
the borrower will fail to meet its obligations to the Trust, in
addition to the risk that the issuer of the loan will default on
its obligations. Also the Trust may be regarded as the creditor of
the agent lender (rather than the borrower), subjecting the Trust
to the creditworthiness of the lender as well as the
borrower.
There is less readily available,
reliable information about most senior loans than is the case for
many other types of securities. Although the features of senior
loans, including being secured by collateral and having priority
over other obligations of the issuer, reduce some of the risks of
investment in below investment grade securities, the loans are
subject to significant risks. the Adviser believes, based on its
experience, that senior floating rate loans generally have more
favorable loss recovery rates than most other types of below
investment grade obligations. However, there can be no assurance
that the Trust’s actual loss recovery experience will be consistent
with the Adviser’s prior experience or that the senior loans in
which the Trust invests will achieve any specific loss recovery
rate.
Some of the loans in which the
Trust may invest may be “covenant lite.” Covenant lite loans
contain fewer maintenance covenants, or no maintenance covenants at
all, than traditional loans and may not include terms that allow
the lender to monitor the financial performance of the borrower and
declare a default if certain criteria are breached. This may expose
the Trust to greater credit risk associated with the borrower
and
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reduce the Trust’s ability to
restructure a problematic loan and mitigate potential loss. As a
result the Trust’s exposure to losses on such investments may be
increased, especially during a downturn in the credit cycle.
Second lien loans generally are
subject to similar risks as those associated with senior loans.
Because second lien loans are subordinated or unsecured and thus
lower in priority on payment to senior loans, they are subject to
the additional risk that the cash flow of the borrower and property
securing the loan or debt, if any, may be insufficient to meet
scheduled payments after giving effect to the senior secured
obligations of the borrower. This risk is generally higher for
subordinated unsecured loans or debt, which are not backed by a
security interest in any specific collateral. Second lien loans
generally have greater price volatility than senior loans and may
be less liquid.
Certain floating rate loans and
other corporate debt securities involve refinancings,
recapitalizations, mergers and acquisitions, and other financings
for general corporate purposes. Other loans are incurred in
restructuring or “work-out” scenarios, including
debtor-in-possession facilities in bankruptcy. Loans in
restructuring or similar scenarios may be especially vulnerable to
the inherent uncertainties in restructuring processes. In addition,
the highly leveraged capital structure of the borrowers in any of
these transactions, whether acquisition financing or restructuring,
may make the loans especially vulnerable to adverse economic or
market conditions and the risk of default.
Because affiliates of the Adviser
may participate in the primary and secondary market for senior
loans, limitations under applicable law may restrict the Trust’s
ability to participate in a restructuring of a senior loan or to
acquire some senior loans, or affect the timing or price of such
acquisition. Loans may not be considered “securities,” and
purchasers, such as the Trust, therefore may not be entitled to
rely on the anti-fraud protections afforded by federal securities
laws.
Collateral risk. The value of
collateral, if any, securing a floating rate loan can decline, and
may be insufficient to meet the issuer’s obligations or may be
difficult to liquidate. In addition, the Trust’s access to
collateral may be limited by bankruptcy or other insolvency laws.
These laws may be less developed and more cumbersome with respect
to the Trust’s non-U.S. floating rate investments. Floating rate
loans may not be fully collateralized or may be uncollateralized.
Uncollateralized loans involve a greater risk of loss. In the event
of a default, the Trust may have difficulty collecting on any
collateral and would not have the ability to collect on any
collateral for an uncollateralized loan. In addition, the lender’s
security interest or their enforcement of their security interest
under the loan agreement may be
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found by a court to be invalid or
the collateral may be used to pay other outstanding obligations of
the borrower. Further, the Trust’s access to collateral, if any,
may be limited by bankruptcy law. To the extent that a loan is
collateralized by stock of the borrower or its affiliates, this
stock may lose all or substantially all of its value in the event
of bankruptcy of the borrower. Loans that are obligations of a
holding company are subject to the risk that, in a bankruptcy of a
subsidiary operating company, creditors of the subsidiary may
recover from the subsidiary’s assets before the lenders to the
holding company would receive any amount on account of the holding
company’s interest in the subsidiary.
Risk of disadvantaged access to confidential
information. The issuer of a floating rate loan may offer to
provide material, non-public information about the issuer to
investors, such as the Trust. Normally, the Adviser will seek to
avoid receiving this type of information about the issuer of a loan
either held by, or considered for investment by, the Trust. the
Adviser’s decision not to receive the information may place it at a
disadvantage, relative to other loan investors, in assessing a loan
or the loan’s issuer. For example, in instances where holders of
floating rate loans are asked to grant amendments, waivers or
consents, the Adviser’s inability to assess the impact of these
actions may adversely affect the value of the portfolio. For this
and other reasons, it is possible that the Adviser’s decision not
to receive material, non-public information under normal
circumstances could adversely affect the Trust’s investment
performance.
Risks of subordinated securities. A
holder of securities that are subordinated or “junior” to more
senior securities of an issuer is entitled to payment after holders
of more senior securities of the issuer. Subordinated securities
are more likely to suffer a credit loss than non-subordinated
securities of the same issuer, any loss incurred by the
subordinated securities is likely to be proportionately greater,
and any recovery of interest or principal may take more time. As a
result, even a perceived decline in creditworthiness of the issuer
is likely to have a greater impact on subordinated securities than
more senior securities.
Issuer risk. The value of corporate
income-producing securities may decline for a number of reasons
which directly relate to the issuer, such as management
performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer’s
goods and services.
U.S. Treasury obligations risk. The
market value of direct obligations of the U.S. Treasury may vary
due to changes in interest rates. In addition, changes to the
financial condition or credit rating of the U.S. government may
cause the value of the Trust’s investments in obligations issued by
the U.S. Treasury to decline.
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U.S. government agency obligations
risk. The Trust invests in obligations issued by agencies
and instrumentalities of the U.S. government. Government-sponsored
entities such as FNMA, FHLMC and the FHLBs, although chartered or
sponsored by Congress, are not funded by congressional
appropriations and the debt and mortgage-backed securities issued
by them are neither guaranteed nor issued by the U.S. government.
The maximum potential liability of the issuers of some U.S.
government obligations may greatly exceed their current resources,
including any legal right to support from the U.S. government. Such
debt and mortgage-backed securities are subject to the risk of
default on the payment of interest and/or principal, similar to
debt of private issuers. Although the U.S. government has provided
financial support to FNMA and FHLMC in the past, there can be no
assurance that it will support these or other government-sponsored
entities in the future.
Mortgage-related and asset-backed securities
risk. The value of mortgage-related and asset-backed
securities will be influenced by factors affecting the assets
underlying such securities. As a result, during periods of
declining asset value, difficult or frozen credit markets, swings
in interest rates, or deteriorating economic conditions,
mortgage-related and asset-backed securities may decline in value,
face valuation difficulties, become more volatile and/or become
illiquid. Mortgage-backed securities tend to be more sensitive to
changes in interest rate than other types of debt securities. These
securities are also subject to prepayment and extension risks. Some
of these securities may receive little or no collateral protection
from the underlying assets and are thus subject to the risk of
default. The risk of such defaults is generally higher in the case
of mortgage-backed investments offered by non-governmental issuers
and those that include so-called “sub-prime” mortgages. The
structure of some of these securities may be complex and there may
be less available information than for other types of debt
securities. Upon the occurrence of certain triggering events or
defaults, the Trust may become the holder of underlying assets at a
time when those assets may be difficult to sell or may be sold only
at a loss.
Risks of investing in collateralized debt
obligations. Investment in a collateralized debt obligation
(CDO) is subject to the credit, subordination, interest rate,
valuation, prepayment, extension and other risks of the obligations
underlying the CDO and the tranche of the CDO in which the Trust
invests. CDOs are subject to liquidity risk. Synthetic CDOs are
also subject to the risks of investing in derivatives, such as
credit default swaps, and leverage risk.
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Risks of instruments that allow for balloon
payments or negative amortization payments. Certain debt
instruments allow for balloon payments or negative amortization
payments. Such instruments permit the borrower to avoid paying
currently a portion of the interest accruing on the instrument.
While these features make the debt instrument more affordable to
the borrower in the near term, they increase the risk that the
borrower will be unable to make the resulting higher payment or
payments that become due at the maturity of the loan.
Risks of investing in insurance-linked
securities. The Trust could lose a portion or all of the
principal it has invested in an insurance-linked security, and the
right to additional interest and/or dividend payments with respect
to the security, upon the occurrence of one or more trigger events,
as defined within the terms of an insurance-linked security.
Trigger events may include natural or other perils of a specific
size or magnitude that occur in a designated geographic region
during a specified time period, and/or that involve losses or other
metrics that exceed a specific amount. There is no way to
accurately predict whether a trigger event will occur and,
accordingly, insurance-linked securities carry significant risk. In
addition to the specified trigger events, insurance-linked
securities may expose the Trust to other risks, including but not
limited to issuer (credit) default, adverse regulatory or
jurisdictional interpretations and adverse tax consequences.
Certain insurance-linked securities may have limited liquidity, or
may be illiquid. The Trust has limited transparency into the
individual contracts underlying certain insurance-linked
securities, which may make the risk assessment of such securities
more difficult. Certain insurance-linked securities may be
difficult to value.
Risks of investments in real estate related
securities. Investments in real estate securities are
affected by economic conditions, interest rates, governmental
actions and other factors. In addition, investing in REITs involves
unique risks. They are significantly affected by the market for
real estate and are dependent upon management skills and cash flow.
REITs may have lower trading volumes and may be subject to more
abrupt or erratic price movements than the overall securities
markets. Mortgage REITs are particularly subject to interest rate
and credit risks. In addition to its own expenses, the trust will
indirectly bear its proportionate share of any management and other
expenses paid by REITs in which it invests. Many real estate
companies, including REITs, utilize leverage.
Risks of zero coupon bonds, payment in kind,
deferred and contingent payment securities. These securities
may be more speculative and may fluctuate more in value than
securities which pay income periodically and in cash. In addition,
although the Trust receives no periodic cash payments on
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such securities, the Trust is
deemed for tax purposes to receive income from such securities,
which applicable tax rules require the Trust to distribute to
shareholders. Such distributions may be taxable when distributed to
shareholders
Risks of non-U.S. investments.
Investing in non-U.S. issuers, or in U.S. issuers that have
significant exposure to foreign markets, may involve unique risks
compared to investing in securities of U.S. issuers. These risks
are more pronounced for issuers in emerging markets or to the
extent that the Trust invests significantly in one region or
country. These risks may include different financial reporting
practices and regulatory standards, less liquid trading markets,
extreme price volatility, currency risks, changes in economic,
political, regulatory and social conditions, terrorism, sustained
economic downturns, financial instability, reduction of government
or central bank support, inadequate accounting standards, tariffs,
tax disputes or other tax burdens, and investment and repatriation
restrictions. Lack of information and less market regulation also
may affect the value of these securities. Withholding and other
non-U.S. taxes may decrease the Trust’s return. Non-U.S. issuers
may be located in parts of the world that have historically been
prone to natural disasters. Emerging market economies tend to be
less diversified than those of more developed countries. They
typically have fewer medical and economic resources than more
developed countries and thus they may be less able to control or
mitigate the effects of a pandemic. Investing in depositary
receipts is subject to many of the same risks as investing directly
in non-U.S. issuers. Depositary receipts may involve higher
expenses and may trade at a discount (or premium) to the underlying
security. A number of countries in the European Union (EU) have
experienced, and may continue to experience, severe economic and
financial difficulties. In addition, the United Kingdom has
withdrawn from the EU (commonly known as “Brexit”). Other countries
may seek to withdraw from the EU and/or abandon the euro, the
common currency of the EU. The range and potential implications of
possible political, regulatory, economic, and market outcomes of
Brexit cannot be fully known but could be significant, potentially
resulting in increased volatility, illiquidity and potentially
lower economic growth in the affected markets, which will adversely
affect the Trust’s investments. If one or more stockholders of a
supranational entity such as the World Bank fail to make necessary
additional capital contributions, the entity may be unable to pay
interest or repay principal on its debt securities.
Currency risk. The Trust could
experience losses based on changes in the exchange rate between
non-U.S. currencies and the U.S. dollar or as a result of currency
conversion costs. Currency exchange rates can be volatile,
and
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are affected by factors such as
general economic conditions, the actions of the U.S. and foreign
governments or central banks, the imposition of currency controls
and speculation.
Risks of convertible securities. The
market values of convertible securities tend to decline as interest
rates increase and, conversely, to increase as interest rates
decline. A downturn in equity markets may cause the price of
convertible securities to decrease relative to other fixed income
securities.
Preferred stocks risk. Preferred stocks
may pay fixed or adjustable rates of return. Preferred stocks are
subject to issuer-specific and market risks applicable generally to
equity securities. In addition, a company’s preferred stocks
generally pay dividends only after the company makes required
payments to holders of its bonds and other debt. Thus, the value of
preferred stocks will usually react more strongly than bonds and
other debt to actual or perceived changes in the company’s
financial condition or prospects. The market value of preferred
stocks generally decreases when interest rates rise. Preferred
stocks of smaller companies may be more vulnerable to adverse
developments than preferred stocks of larger companies.
Risks of investment in other funds.
Investing in other investment companies, including exchange-traded
funds (ETFs) and closed-end funds, subjects the Trust to the risks
of investing in the underlying securities or assets held by those
funds. When investing in another fund, the Trust will bear a pro
rata portion of the underlying fund’s expenses, including
management fees, in addition to its own expenses. ETFs and
closed-end funds are bought and sold based on market prices and can
trade at a premium or a discount to the ETF’s or closed-end fund’s
net asset value.
Derivatives risk. Using swaps, forward
foreign currency exchange contracts, bond and interest rate futures
and other derivatives can increase Trust losses and reduce
opportunities for gains when market prices, interest rates or the
derivative instruments themselves behave in a way not anticipated
by the Trust. Using derivatives may increase the volatility of the
Trust’s net asset value and may not provide the result intended.
Derivatives may have a leveraging effect on the Trust. Some
derivatives have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of
the size of the Trust’s initial investment. Derivatives are
generally subject to the risks applicable to the assets, rates,
indices or other indicators underlying the derivative. Changes in a
derivative’s value may not correlate well with the referenced asset
or metric. The Trust also may have to sell assets at inopportune
times to satisfy its obligations. Derivatives may be difficult to
sell, unwind or value, and the counterparty may default on its
obligations to the Trust. Use of derivatives may have different tax
consequences for the Trust than an investment in the underlying
security, and such differences may affect the
94 Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
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amount, timing and character of
income distributed to shareholders. The U.S. government and foreign
governments are in the process of adopting and implementing
regulations governing derivatives markets, including mandatory
clearing of certain derivatives, margin and reporting requirements.
The ultimate impact of the regulations remains unclear. Additional
regulation of derivatives may make them more costly, limit their
availability or utility, otherwise adversely affect their
performance or disrupt markets.
Credit default swap risk. Credit
default swap contracts, a type of derivative instrument, involve
special risks and may result in losses to the Trust. Credit default
swaps may in some cases be illiquid, and they increase credit risk
since the Trust has exposure to the issuer of the referenced
obligation and either the counterparty to the credit default swap
or, if it is a cleared transaction, the brokerage firm through
which the trade was cleared and the clearing organization that is
the counterparty to that trade.
Structured securities risk. Structured
securities may behave in ways not anticipated by the Trust, or they
may not receive the tax, accounting or regulatory treatment
anticipated by the Trust.
Forward foreign currency transactions
risk. The Trust may not fully benefit from or may lose money
on forward foreign currency transactions if changes in currency
rates do not occur as anticipated or do not correspond accurately
to changes in the value of the Trust’s holdings, or if the
counterparty defaults. Such transactions may also prevent the Trust
from realizing profits on favorable movements in exchange rates.
Risk of counterparty default is greater for counterparties located
in emerging markets.
Leveraging risk. The value of your
investment may be more volatile and other risks tend to be
compounded if the Trust borrows or uses derivatives or other
investments, such as ETFs, that have embedded leverage. Leverage
generally magnifies the effect of any increase or decrease in the
value of the Trust’s underlying assets and creates a risk of loss
of value on a larger pool of assets than the Trust would otherwise
have, potentially resulting in the loss of all assets. Engaging in
such transactions may cause the Trust to liquidate positions when
it may not be advantageous to do so to satisfy its obligations or
meet segregation requirements.
The Trust may use financial
leverage on an ongoing basis for investment purposes by borrowing
from banks through a revolving credit facility. The fees and
expenses attributed to leverage, including any increase in the
management fees, will be borne by holders of common shares. Since
the
Pioneer High Income Trust | Annual
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95
Adviser’s fee is based on a
percentage of the Trust’s managed assets, its fee will be higher if
the Trust is leveraged, and the Adviser will thus have an incentive
to leverage the Trust.
Repurchase agreement risk. In the event
that the other party to a repurchase agreement defaults on its
obligations, the Trust may encounter delay and incur costs before
being able to sell the security. Such a delay may involve loss of
interest or a decline in price of the security. In addition, if the
Trust is characterized by a court as an unsecured creditor, it
would be at risk of losing some or all of the principal and
interest involved in the transaction.
Market segment risk. To the extent the
Trust emphasizes, from time to time, investments in a market
segment, the Trust will be subject to a greater degree to the risks
particular to that segment, and may experience greater market
fluctuation than a fund without the same focus.
Industries in the financial
segment, such as banks, insurance companies and broker-dealers, may
be sensitive to changes in interest rates and general economic
activity and are generally subject to extensive government
regulation.