UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE
14A
(Rule
14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant ☐
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ☒
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Preliminary Proxy Statement
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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
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Definitive Proxy Statement
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Definitive Additional Materials
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Soliciting Material Under Rule 14a-12
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WESTERN ASSET HIGH INCOME FUND II INC.
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(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
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SABA CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, L.P.
SABA CAPITAL MASTER FUND, LTD.
SABA II AIV, L.P.
SABA CAPITAL CEF OPPORTUNITIES 1, LTD.
SABA CAPITAL CARRY NEUTRAL TAIL HEDGE MASTER
FUND, LTD.
SABA CAPITAL SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND, LTD.
BOAZ R. WEINSTEIN
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(Name of Persons(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)
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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
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(1)
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Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
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(2)
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Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
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(3)
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Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on
which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
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(4)
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Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials:
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box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting
fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the form or schedule and the date of
its filing.
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(1)
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Amount previously paid:
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Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS OF
WESTERN ASSET HIGH INCOME FUND II INC.
_________________________
PROXY STATEMENT
OF
Saba
Capital Management, L.P.
_________________________
Please vote the GOLD proxy card to vote AGAINST the proposals to approve new management and subadvisory agreements.
Please sign, date
and mail the enclosed GOLD proxy card today!
Saba Capital Management,
L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Saba Capital”), and certain of its affiliates further identified on Appendix
A, namely Saba Capital Master Fund, Ltd., Saba II AIV, L.P., Saba Capital CEF Opportunities 1, Ltd., Saba Capital Carry Neutral
Tail Hedge Master Fund, Ltd., and Saba Capital Special Opportunities Fund, Ltd. (collectively, the “Saba Entities,”
together with Saba Capital, “Saba,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) are significant shareholders
and beneficially own in the aggregate approximately 8.8% of the outstanding Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common
Stock”), of Western Asset High Income Fund II Inc. (“HIX” or the “Fund”), a Maryland corporation
and a closed-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. We are writing
to you in connection with our opposition to HIX’s proposals to approve new management and subadvisory agreements, to be
voted on at HIX’s special meeting of shareholders scheduled to be held at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time, on June 5, 2020 at the
offices of Legg Mason, Inc. (“Legg Mason”), at 620 Eighth Avenue, 49th Floor, New York, New York 10018, including
any adjournments or postponements thereof and any meeting which may be called in lieu thereof (the “Special Meeting”).
We are therefore
furnishing this proxy statement and the enclosed GOLD proxy card to seek your support at the Special Meeting to vote against
each of the following (each, a “Proposal” and, collectively, the “Proposals”):
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1.
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To approve a new management agreement with Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC;
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2-C.
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To approve a new subadvisory agreement with Western Asset Management Company, LLC;
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2-D.
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To approve a new subadvisory agreement with Western Asset Management Company Limited;
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2-F.
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To approve a new subadvisory agreement with Western Asset Management Company Pte. Ltd.; and
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3.
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To transact any other business that may properly come before the Special Meeting.
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If you have already
sent a proxy card furnished by HIX’s management to HIX, you have every right to change your vote by signing, dating and returning
the enclosed GOLD proxy card or by following the instructions for telephone or Internet voting detailed thereon. Only your latest
dated proxy card counts!
Please refer to
the Section below, Information Concerning the Special Meeting (which is incorporated herein by reference), and HIX’s
proxy materials for additional information concerning the Special Meeting, including voting and proxy procedures, votes required
for approval of the Proposals and the solicitation of proxies.
If you have any
questions or require any assistance with voting your shares, please contact our proxy solicitor, InvestorCom, toll free at (877)
972-0090 or collect at (203) 972-9300. This proxy statement (including the Appendices hereto, the “Proxy Statement”)
and the enclosed GOLD proxy card are first being furnished to shareholders on or about April 17, 2020.
This Proxy Statement and all other solicitation
materials in connection with this proxy solicitation will be available on the Internet, free of charge, at the SEC’s website
https://www.edgar.sec.gov. The Edgar file number for HIX is 811-08709.
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IMPORTANT
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT,
NO MATTER HOW MANY OR HOW FEW SHARES YOU OWN.
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If your shares are registered in your own name, you may vote such shares by signing, dating and
mailing the enclosed GOLD proxy card in the enclosed return envelope to Saba, c/o InvestorCom, Inc., in the enclosed postage-paid
envelope today.
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If your shares are held for you by a brokerage firm, bank, bank nominee or other institution on
the record date, only they can vote such shares and only upon receipt of your specific instructions. Accordingly, please instruct
your broker or bank to vote the GOLD proxy card on your behalf by following the instructions for Internet voting detailed
on the enclosed GOLD proxy card, by calling the toll-free number contained therein, or by signing, dating and mailing the
enclosed GOLD proxy card in the enclosed return envelope.
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REASONS FOR OUR SOLICITATION
As one of the largest shareholders
of Western Asset High Income Fund II Inc., Saba Capital does not believe it is in the best interest of shareholders to approve
a new management agreement with Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC or to approve new subadvisory agreements with each of Western
Asset Management Company, LLC, Western Asset Management Company Limited and Western Asset Management Company Pte. Ltd because HIX
currently trades at a significant discount to NAV. We believe in a situation such as this where HIX has and is trading at an excessive
discount to NAV, managers and subadvisors should not be automatically approved, and in fact we believe it could be beneficial to
consider alternatives.
HIX’s April
1, 2020 discount to NAV was –17.2% and it has traded at an average discount to NAV of –9.6% over the last three years.
In fact, HIX has not traded at or above NAV for more than five years. Further, HIX’s total return for 2020 is –27.3%,
as a result shareholders have made no gains owning this fund (including dividends and distributions), going all the way back
to the start of 2017.
As a shareholder,
a discount to NAV is problematic because if you sell shares you will not receive full value. When funds suffer from persistent
discounts, investors require: (1) a thoughtful and thorough explanation of management’s recent decisions, and (2) the board’s
plan going forward. Neither of these proactive steps have been offered by management or the Board, which is why we believe HIX
has suffered perpetually wide discounts.
Saba believes that
the market has lost faith in the manager’s ability to add shareholder value due to what Saba views as HIX’s excessive
discount level. Toward that end, rather than proposing the approval of existing managers, the Board should consider authorizing
a self-tender offer for all outstanding shares of the Fund at or close to NAV. If a majority of the HIX’s outstanding shares
are tendered, that would demonstrate that there is insufficient shareholder support for continuing HIX as a closed-end fund. In
that case, the tender offer should be cancelled and HIX should be liquidated or converted into an open-end mutual fund. We believe
if the Proposals are approved the Board will fail to take the necessary actions to address the excessive discount to NAV and it
is necessary to send a clear message to the Board to address the excessive NAV discount.
HIX and Board are likely
to come up with a litany of arguments in support of the Proposals but, the simple fact is, the managers and the Board have not
been able to effectively manage HIX’s discount.
We urge you to vote against the Proposals by
voting on the GOLD proxy card today, which we believe will protect the best interest of shareholders.
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PROPOSAL 1
PROPOSAL TO APPROVE A NEW MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT WITH LEGG MASON PARTNERS FUND ADVISOR, LLC
At the Special Meeting,
HIX is seeking shareholder approval for a new management agreement (a “New Management Agreement”) between HIX and Legg
Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC (“LMPFA” or the “Manager”), HIX’s investment adviser. Shareholders
are being asked to approve a New Management Agreement for HIX because HIX’s current management agreement will terminate upon
the sale of Legg Mason to Franklin Templeton. The sale, which will result in a “change of control” of Legg Mason, is
described in more detail in HIX’s proxy statement for the Special Meeting.
The Investment Company
Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), requires that an advisory agreement of an investment company provide for
automatic termination of the agreement in the event of its “assignment” (as defined in the 1940 Act). A sale of a controlling
block of an investment adviser’s “voting securities” (as defined in the 1940 Act) generally is deemed to result
in an assignment of the investment adviser’s advisory agreements. The consummation of the transaction described below will
constitute a sale of a controlling block of voting securities of the Manager that will result in the automatic termination of the
current management agreement between each Fund and the Manager (a “Current Management Agreement”).
If shareholders of
HIX approve the New Management Agreement prior to the consummation of the transaction, it will be effective upon the consummation
of the transaction. In the event that the transaction is not consummated, the Manager will continue to serve as investment adviser
of HIX pursuant to the terms of the Current Management Agreement.
Saba does not believe
that the approval of a new management agreement with LMPFA is in the best interest of shareholders for the reasons stated above.
WE URGE YOU TO VOTE AGAINST THE PROPOSAL
TO APPROVE A NEW MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT WITH LEGG MASON PARTNERS FUND ADVISOR, LLC ON THE ENCLOSED GOLD PROXY CARD.
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PROPOSAL 2
PROPOSAL TO APPROVE A NEW SUBADVISORY
AGREEMENT
At the Special Meeting,
HIX is seeking shareholder approval of a new subadvisory agreement (each a “New Subadvisory Agreement”), with respect
to each of HIX’s subadvisors (each, a “Subadvisor,” and collectively, the “Subadvisors”). You are
entitled to vote on a New Subadvisory Agreement with each Subadvisor of HIX. Each New Subadvisory Agreement applicable to HIX will
be voted on at the Special Meeting in Proposal 2-C, Proposal 2-D and Proposal 2-F, as described below.
PROPOSAL 2-C
PROPOSAL TO APPROVE A NEW SUBADVISORY
AGREEMENT WITH WESTERN ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY, LLC
Saba does not believe
that the approval of a new subadvisory agreement with Western Asset Management Company, LLC is in the best interest of shareholders
for the reasons stated above. Accordingly, we recommend a vote against this Proposal 2-C at the Special Meeting.
WE RECOMMEND A VOTE
AGAINST PROPOSAL 2-C TO APPROVE A NEW SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT WITH WESTERN ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY, LLC ON THE ENCLOSED GOLD
PROXY CARD.
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PROPOSAL 2-D
PROPOSAL TO APPROVE A NEW SUBADVISORY
AGREEMENT WITH WESTERN ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY LIMITED
Saba does not believe
that the approval of a new subadvisory agreement with Western Asset Management Company Limited is in the best interest of shareholders
for the reasons stated above. Accordingly, we recommend a vote against this Proposal 2-D at the Special Meeting.
WE RECOMMEND A VOTE AGAINST
PROPOSAL 2-D TO APPROVE A NEW SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT WITH WESTERN ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY LIMITED ON THE ENCLOSED GOLD PROXY
CARD.
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PROPOSAL 2-F
PROPOSAL TO APPROVE A NEW SUBADVISORY
AGREEMENT WITH WESTERN ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY PTE. LTD.
Saba does not believe
that the approval of a new subadvisory agreement with Western Asset Management Company Pte. Ltd. is in the best interest of shareholders
for the reasons stated above. Accordingly, we recommend a vote against this Proposal 2-F at the Special Meeting.
WE RECOMMEND A VOTE
AGAINST PROPOSAL 2-F TO APPROVE A NEW SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT WITH WESTERN ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY PTE. LTD. ON THE ENCLOSED
GOLD PROXY CARD.
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INFORMATION CONCERNING
THE SPECIAL MEETING
VOTING AND PROXY PROCEDURES
HIX has set the
close of business on March 9, 2020 as the record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Special
Meeting (the “Record Date”). Shareholders of record at the close of business on the Record Date will be entitled to
vote at the Special Meeting. According to HIX, as of the Record Date, there were 85,156,216 total shares of Common Stock outstanding.
Shareholders, including
those who expect to attend the Special Meeting, are urged to vote their shares today by following the instructions for Internet
voting detailed on the enclosed GOLD proxy card, by calling the toll-free number contained therein, or by signing, dating
and mailing the enclosed GOLD proxy card in the enclosed return envelope to Saba Capital Management, L.P., c/o InvestorCom,
Inc., in the enclosed postage-paid envelope.
Authorized proxies
will be voted at the Special Meeting as marked and, in the absence of specific instructions, will be voted AGAINST each
of the Proposals, and in the discretion of the persons named as proxies on all other matters as may properly come before the Special
Meeting.
QUORUM
A quorum of shareholders
is required to take action at the Special Meeting. A quorum requires the presence, in person or by proxy, of a majority of the
shares of HIX entitled to vote. Votes cast by proxy or in person at the Special Meeting will be tabulated by the inspectors of
election appointed for the Special Meeting. The inspectors of election will determine whether or not a quorum is present at the
Special Meeting.
If your shares
are owned directly in your name with HIX’s transfer agent, you are considered a registered holder of those shares. If you
are the beneficial owner of shares held by a broker or other custodian, you hold those shares in “street name” and
are not a registered shareholder.
VOTES REQUIRED FOR APPROVAL
Each Proposal requires
the affirmative vote of the lesser of (a) 67% or more of the voting power of the voting securities of HIX that are present at the
Special Meeting or represented by proxy if holders of shares representing more than 50% of the voting power of the outstanding
voting securities of HIX are present or represented by proxy or (b) more than 50% of the voting power of the outstanding voting
securities of HIX. Approval of each Proposal will occur only if a sufficient number of votes at the Special Meeting are cast “FOR”
that Proposal.
Please note that
even if shareholders of HIX approve Proposal 1 and/or Proposal 2, it is possible that new management and subadvisory agreements
for HIX will not take effect. This is because the completion of the acquisition of Legg Mason by Franklin Templeton will not occur
unless certain conditions are met. One of these conditions is that advisory clients of Legg Mason investment affiliates, which
would include advisory clients that are not Funds, representing a specified percentage of Legg Mason revenue consent to the continuation
of their advisory relationships after completion of the sale. If this does not take place, new management and subadvisory agreements
will not take effect. On the other hand, the sale may take place even if shareholders of HIX do not approve Proposal 1 and/or Proposal
2. If this should happen, the Board of HIX would implement interim management or subadvisory agreements for a period of no more
than 150 days in order to determine appropriate action, which could include continuing to solicit approval of new management or
subadvisory agreements. The Board has approved interim management and subadvisory agreements to provide for maximum flexibility
for HIX’s future.
The information
set forth above regarding the vote required to approve each Proposal is based on information contained in HIX’s proxy statement
for the Special Meeting. The incorporation of this information in this Proxy Statement should not be construed as an admission
by us that such process and procedures are legal, valid or binding.
ABSTENTIONS; BROKER NON-VOTES
Abstentions will
be counted for the purpose of determining whether a quorum is present. Abstentions and broker non-votes are not considered “votes
cast” and, therefore, do not constitute a vote “FOR” the Proposals. Any abstentions or broker non-votes would
effectively be treated as votes “AGAINST” Proposal 1 and Proposal 2.
Broker-dealer firms
holding shares of HIX in “street name” for the benefit of their customers and clients will request the instructions
of such customers and clients on how to vote their shares on the Proposals before the Special Meeting. A broker-dealer that is
a member of the New York Stock Exchange and that has not received instructions from a customer or client prior to the date specified
in the broker-dealer firm’s request for voting instructions may not vote such customer’s or client’s shares with
respect to non-routine proposals, including Proposal 1 and Proposal 2. We urge you to instruct your broker or other nominee
to vote your shares AGAINST each Proposal on the GOLD proxy card so that your votes may be counted.
If you hold shares
of HIX through a broker-dealer, bank, insurance company or other intermediary (called a service agent) that has entered into a
service agreement with HIX or a distributor of HIX, the service agent may be the record holder of your shares. At the Special Meeting,
a service agent will vote shares for which it receives instructions from its customers in accordance with those instructions. A
signed proxy card or other authorization by a shareholder that does not specify how the shareholder’s shares should be voted
on a Proposal may be deemed to authorize a service provider to vote such shares in favor of the applicable Proposal. Depending
on its policies, applicable law or contractual or other restrictions, a service agent may be permitted to vote shares with respect
to which it has not received specific voting instructions from its customers. In those cases, the service agent may, but may not
be required to, vote such shares in the same proportion as those shares for which the service agent has received voting instructions.
Because of this practice, a small number of shareholders could determine how HIX votes, if other shareholders fail to vote.
Broker-dealers who
are not members of the NYSE may be subject to other rules, which may or may not permit them to vote your shares without instruction.
We urge you to provide instructions to your broker or nominee to vote your shares on the GOLD proxy card so that your votes may
be counted.
DISCRETIONARY VOTING
Shares held in “street
name” and held of record by banks, brokers or nominees may not be voted by such banks, brokers or nominees unless the beneficial
owners of such shares provide them with instructions on how to vote. If you beneficially own shares that are held in “street
name” through a broker-dealer or that are held of record by a service agent and you do not give specific voting instructions
for your shares, they may not be voted at all or, as described above, they may be voted in a manner that you may not intend. In
particular, failure to vote may not be an effective way to oppose the Proposals. Therefore, you are strongly encouraged to give
your broker-dealer, or service agent or participating insurance company specific instructions as to how you want your shares to
be voted.
REVOCATION OF PROXIES
Shareholders of
HIX may revoke their proxies at any time prior to exercise by attending the Special Meeting and voting in person (although attendance
at the Special Meeting will not in and of itself constitute revocation of a proxy), by delivering a later-dated proxy by Internet,
by telephone or by mail, or by delivering a written notice of revocation. The delivery of a later-dated proxy which is properly
completed will constitute a revocation of any earlier proxy. The revocation may be delivered either to Saba in care of InvestorCom,
Inc. (“InvestorCom”) at the address set forth on the back cover of the Proxy Statement or to HIX’s Secretary
c/o Legg Mason, 100 First Stamford Place, 6th Floor, Stamford, CT 06902, or to any other address provided by HIX. Although a revocation
is effective if delivered to HIX, Saba requests that either the original or photostatic copies of all revocations be mailed to
Saba Capital Management, L.P., c/o InvestorCom, 19 Old Kings Highway S., Suite 210, Darien, CT 06820, so that Saba will be aware
of all revocations and can more accurately determine if and when proxies have been received from the holders of record on the record
date of a majority of the outstanding shares. If you hold your shares in street name, please check your voting instruction card
or contact your bank, broker or nominee for instructions on how to change or revoke your vote. Additionally, InvestorCom may use
this information to contact shareholders who have revoked their proxies in order to solicit later-dated proxies against the approval
of the Proposals described herein.
SOLICITATION OF PROXIES
The solicitation
of proxies pursuant to the Proxy Statement is being made by Saba. Proxies may be solicited by mail, facsimile, telephone, Internet,
in person and by advertisements.
Saba has entered
into an agreement with InvestorCom for solicitation and advisory services in connection with this solicitation, for which InvestorCom
will receive a fee not to exceed $25,000, together with reimbursement for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, and will be indemnified
against certain liabilities and expenses, including certain liabilities under the federal securities laws. InvestorCom will solicit
proxies from individuals, brokers, banks, bank nominees and other institutional holders. Saba has requested banks, brokerage houses
and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to forward all solicitation materials to the beneficial owners of the shares they
hold of record. It is anticipated that InvestorCom will employ up to 25 persons to solicit HIX’s shareholders for the Special
Meeting.
The entire expense
of soliciting proxies is being borne by Saba. Because Saba believes that HIX’s shareholders will benefit from this solicitation,
Saba intends to seek reimbursement from HIX, to the fullest extent permitted by law, of all expenses it incurs in connection with
this solicitation. Saba does not intend to submit the question of such reimbursement to a vote of security holders of HIX unless
otherwise required by law. Costs of this solicitation of proxies are currently estimated to be approximately $50,000. We estimate
that through the date hereof, its expenses in connection with this solicitation are approximately $25,000.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
All proposals by
stockholders of HIX that are intended to be presented at the 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders must be received by HIX for inclusion
in HIX’s proxy statement and proxy relating to that meeting no later than May 12, 2020. Any stockholder who desires to bring
a proposal at the 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders without including such proposal in HIX’s proxy statement must deliver
written notice thereof to the Secretary of HIX (addressed to Legg Mason, 100 First Stamford Place, 6th Floor, Stamford, CT 06902)
during the period from July 30, 2020 to August 29, 2020. However, if HIX’s 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is held earlier
than September 28, 2020 or later than December 27, 2020, such written notice must be delivered to the Secretary of HIX no earlier
than 90 days before the date of the 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and no later than the later of 60 days prior to the date
of the 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or 10 days following the public announcement of the date of the 2020 Annual Meeting
of Stockholders. Stockholder proposals are subject to certain regulations under the federal securities laws.
The information
set forth above regarding the procedures for submitting shareholder nominations and proposals for consideration at the 2020 Annual
Meeting is based on information contained in HIX’s proxy statement for the Special Meeting. The incorporation of this information
in the Proxy Statement should not be construed as an admission by us that such procedures are legal, valid or binding.
______________________
OTHER MATTERS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Saba is unaware
of any other matters to be considered at the Special Meeting. However, should other matters, which Saba is not aware of a reasonable
time before this solicitation, be brought before the Special Meeting, the persons named as proxies on the enclosed GOLD
proxy card will vote on such matters in their discretion.
We are asking you
to vote AGAINST each of the Proposals.
Saba has omitted
from this proxy statement certain disclosure required by applicable law that is already included in HIX’s proxy statement.
This disclosure includes, among other things, biographical information on HIX’s directors and executive officers, the dollar
range of shares owned by directors of HIX and information on committees of the Board. Shareholders should refer to HIX’s
proxy statement in order to review this disclosure.
According to HIX’s
proxy statement, HIX’s investment adviser is Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC (“LMPFA”), a registered investment
adviser and wholly owned subsidiary of Legg Mason. LMPFA, with offices at 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, New York 10018, provides
investment management and/or administrative and certain oversight services to HIX. As of December 31, 2019, LMPFA’s total
assets under management were approximately $202.1 billion. Western Asset Management Company, LLC (“Western Asset”),
established in 1971, has offices at 385 East Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena, California 91101 and 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, New
York 10018. Western Asset Management Company Limited (“Western Asset London”) was founded in 1984 and has offices
at 10 Exchange Square, Primrose Street, London EC2A 2EN. Western Asset Management Company Ltd (“Western Asset Japan”)
was founded in 1991 and has offices at 36F Shin-Marunouchi Building, 5-1 Marunouchi 1-Chome Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo 100-6536, Japan.
Western Asset Management Company Pte. Ltd. (“Western Asset Singapore”) was established in 2000 and has offices at
1 George Street #23-01, Singapore 049145. Western Asset, Western Asset London, Western Asset Japan and Western Asset Singapore
act as investment advisers to institutional accounts, such as corporate pension plans, mutual funds and endowment funds. As of
December 31, 2019, the total assets under management of Western Asset and its supervised affiliates, including Western Asset London,
Western Asset Japan and Western Asset Singapore, were approximately $456.3 billion.
The information
concerning HIX contained in this Proxy Statement and the appendices attached hereto has been taken from, or is based upon, publicly
available information.
SABA CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, L.P.
SABA CAPITAL MASTER FUND, LTD.
SABA II AIV, L.P.
SABA CAPITAL CEF OPPORTUNITIES 1, LTD.
SABA CAPITAL CARRY NEUTRAL TAIL HEDGE MASTER FUND, LTD.
SABA CAPITAL SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND, LTD.
BOAZ R. WEINSTEIN
April 17, 2020
THIS SOLICITATION IS BEING MADE BY SABA
AND NOT ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OR MANAGEMENT OF HIX. SABA IS NOT AWARE OF ANY OTHER MATTERS TO BE BROUGHT BEFORE THE
SPECIAL MEETING. SHOULD OTHER MATTERS, WHICH SABA IS NOT AWARE OF WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME BEFORE THIS SOLICITATION, BE BROUGHT
BEFORE THE SPECIAL MEETING, THE PERSONS NAMED AS PROXIES IN THE ENCLOSED GOLD PROXY CARD WILL VOTE ON SUCH MATTERS IN THEIR
DISCRETION. SABA URGES YOU TO VOTE AGAINST EACH OF THE PROPOSALS, EITHER BY TELEPHONE OR BY INTERNET AS DESCRIBED IN THE ENCLOSED
GOLD PROXY CARD OR BY SIGNING, DATING AND RETURNING THE ENCLOSED GOLD PROXY CARD TODAY.
______________________
APPENDIX A
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE PARTICIPANTS
This proxy solicitation
is being made by (i) Saba Capital Management, L.P. (“Saba Capital”); (ii) Saba Capital Master Fund, Ltd. (“SCMF”);
(iii) Saba II AIV, L.P., (“AIV”); (iv) Saba Capital CEF Opportunities 1, Ltd. (“CEF 1”); (v) Saba Capital
Carry Neutral Tail Hedge Master Fund, Ltd. (“CNTH”); (vi) Saba Capital Special Opportunities Fund, Ltd. (“SSOF”);
(vii) certain separately managed accounts managed by Saba Capital (together with SCMF, AIV, CEF 1, CNTH and SSOF, the “Saba
Entities”); and (viii) Boaz R. Weinstein, principal of Saba Capital (“Mr. Weinstein,” and together with Saba
Capital and the Saba Entities, “Saba”). The entities and individuals listed in this paragraph may each be deemed a
“Participant” and, collectively, the “Participants.”
As of the close of business
on April 16, 2020, the Participants may be deemed to “beneficially own” (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 or Rule 16a-1
under the Exchange Act for the purposes of this Appendix A), in the aggregate, 7,506,929 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.001
per share, of HIX (the “Common Stock”), representing approximately 8.8% of HIX’s outstanding Common Stock. The
percentages used herein are based upon 85,156,216 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of the Record Date for the Special Meeting.
Saba Capital may be deemed to beneficially own 7,506,929 shares of Common Stock.
The Participants entered
into a Joint Filing and Solicitation Agreement (the “Joint Filing and Solicitation Agreement”) in which, among other
things, (i) the Participants agree to the joint filing on behalf of each of them of statements on Schedule 13D, and any amendments
thereto, with respect to the Common Stock, and (ii) the Participants agree to solicit proxies or written consents against the Proposals
at the Special Meeting.
Other than as stated
herein, there are no arrangements or understandings among members of Saba and any other person or persons pursuant to which the
Proposals described herein is to be made. None of the Participants is a party adverse to HIX, or any of its subsidiaries, or has
a material interest adverse to HIX, or any of its subsidiaries, in any material pending legal proceeding.
The principal business
of Mr. Weinstein is investment management and serving as the Managing Member of Saba Capital Management GP, LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company by virtue of its status as the general partner to Saba Capital. The principal business of Saba Capital is to
serve as investment manager to various funds that directly hold the Common Stock reported in the aggregate herein. The principal
business of the Saba Entities is to invest in securities.
The principal business
address of each of Mr. Weinstein and Saba Capital is 405 Lexington Avenue, 58th Floor, New York, New York 10174.
Unless otherwise noted
as shares held in record name by the Saba Entities, the Common Stock held by the Saba Entities are held in commingled margin accounts,
which may extend margin credit to such parties from time to time, subject to applicable federal margin regulations, stock exchange
rules and credit policies. In such instances, the positions held in the margin account are pledged as collateral security for the
repayment of debit balances in the account. The margin accounts bear interest at a rate based upon the broker’s call rate
from time to time in effect. Because other securities are held in the margin accounts, it is not possible to determine the amounts,
if any, of margin used to purchase the Common Stock reported herein since margin may have been attributed to such other securities
and since margin used is not disclosed on an individual per-security basis.
Except as set forth in
this Proxy Statement (including the Appendices hereto), (i) during the past 10 years, no Participant in this solicitation has been
convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors); (ii) no Participant and no associate
or “Immediate Family Member” (as defined in Item 22 of Schedule 14A under the Exchange Act (“Item 22”))
of any Participant, is a record owner or direct or indirect beneficial owner of any securities of HIX, any parent or subsidiary
of HIX, any investment adviser, principal underwriter, or “Sponsoring Insurance Company” (as defined in Item 22) of
HIX, or in any registered investment companies overseen or to be overseen by the Participant within the same “Family of Investment
Companies” (as defined in Item 22) that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by or is under common control with
an investment adviser, principal underwriter, or Sponsoring Insurance, or affiliated person of HIX; (iii) no Participant in this
solicitation owns any securities of HIX which are owned of record but not beneficially; (iv) no Participant in this solicitation
has purchased or sold any securities of HIX or HIX’s investment adviser during the past two years, nor from either entity’s
“Parents” or “Subsidiaries” (as defined in Item 22); (v) no Participant has any “family relationship”
for the purposes of Item 22 whereby a family member is an “Officer” (as defined in Item 22 ), director (or person nominated
to become an Officer or director), employee, partner, or copartner of HIX, HIX’s investment adviser and/or a principal underwriter
of any of the foregoing, or any Subsidiary or other potential affiliate of any of the foregoing; (vi) no part of the purchase price
or market value of the securities of HIX owned by any Participant in this solicitation is represented by funds borrowed or otherwise
obtained for the purpose of acquiring or holding such securities; (vii) no Participant in this solicitation is, or within the past
year was, a party to any contract, arrangements or understandings with any person with respect to any securities of HIX, including,
but not limited to, joint ventures, loan or option arrangements, puts or calls, guarantees against loss or guarantees of profit,
division of losses or profits, or the giving or withholding of proxies; (viii) no associate of any Participant in this solicitation
owns beneficially, directly or indirectly, any securities of HIX; (ix) no Participant in this solicitation owns beneficially, directly
or indirectly, any securities of any parent or subsidiary of HIX; (x) during the last five years, no Participant has had any arrangement
or understanding with any other person pursuant to which he or it has undertaken this solicitation; (xi) no Participant and no
Immediate Family Member of any Participant in this solicitation or any of his or its associates was a party to, or had a direct
or indirect material relationship in, any transaction or series of similar transactions since the beginning of HIX’s last
two completed fiscal years, or is a party to any currently proposed transaction, or series of similar transactions in which the
amount involved exceeds $120,000 and for which any of the following was or is a party: HIX or any of its subsidiaries, an Officer
of HIX, an investment company, or a person that would be an investment company but for the exclusions provided by sections 3(c)(1)
and 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act, having the same investment adviser, principal underwriter, or Sponsoring Insurance Company as HIX
or having an investment adviser, principal underwriter, or Sponsoring Insurance Company that directly or indirectly controls, is
controlled by or is under common control with an investment adviser, principal underwriter, or Sponsoring Insurance Company of
HIX (an investment adviser, principal underwriter, Sponsoring Insurance Company, or affiliated person of HIX, or any Officer or
any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with any investment adviser, principal underwriter,
Sponsoring Insurance Company, or affiliated person of HIX; an Officer of an investment adviser, principal underwriter, or Sponsoring
Insurance Company of HIX; or an Officer of a person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control
with an investment adviser, principal underwriter, or Sponsoring Insurance Company of HIX; (xii) during the last five years, no
Participant and no Immediate Family Member of any Participant has had a position or office with: (a) HIX; (b) an investment company,
or a person that would be an investment company but for the exclusions provided by Sections 3(c)(1) and 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act,
having the same investment adviser, principal underwriter, or Sponsoring Insurance Company as HIX or having an investment adviser,
principal underwriter, or Sponsoring Insurance Company that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common
control with an investment adviser, principal underwriter, or Sponsoring Insurance Company of HIX; (c) an investment adviser, principal
underwriter, Sponsoring Insurance Company, or affiliated person (xiii) no Participant in this solicitation or any of his or its
associates has any arrangement or understanding with any person with respect to any future employment by HIX or its affiliates,
or with respect to any future transactions to which HIX or any of its affiliates will or may be a party; (xiv) no Participant in
this solicitation has a substantial interest, direct or indirect, by securities holdings or otherwise, in any matter to be acted
on at the Special Meeting; (xv) there are no material pending legal proceedings to which any Participant or any of his or its associates
is a party adverse to HIX or, to the best of Saba’s knowledge after reasonable investigation, any affiliated person of HIX,
nor does any Participant have a material interest in such proceedings that is adverse to HIX or, to the best of the Saba’s
knowledge after reasonable investigation, any affiliated person of HIX; (xvi) since the beginning of the last two completed fiscal
years, no Participant (and no Immediate Family Member of a Participant) has served on the board of directors or trustees of a company
or trust where an Officer of an investment adviser, principal underwriter, or Sponsoring Insurance Company of HIX, or any person
directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with any of those, serves on the board of directors
or trustees; and (xvii) no Participant has withheld information that is required to be disclosed under the following Items under
Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act: Item 401(f) with respect to involvement in certain legal proceedings, Item 401(g) with respect
to promoters and control persons, and Item 405 with respect to beneficial ownership and required filings.
______________________
APPENDIX B
TRANSACTIONS IN SECURITIES OF HIX
DURING THE PAST TWO YEARS
Nature of the Transaction
|
Amount of Securities
Purchased/(Sold)
|
Date of
Purchase/Sale
|
Saba
Purchase of Common Stock
|
13,503
|
04/18/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
15,784
|
04/26/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
80,000
|
04/27/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
147,246
|
04/30/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
69,288
|
05/01/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
12,074
|
05/02/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
296,200
|
05/03/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
100,000
|
05/07/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
26,120
|
05/08/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
40,000
|
05/09/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
28,490
|
05/14/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
67,982
|
05/15/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
73,219
|
05/16/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
74,480
|
05/17/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
16,971
|
05/18/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
71,984
|
05/21/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
40,000
|
05/22/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
20,000
|
05/24/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
25,000
|
05/25/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
50,000
|
05/29/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
115,806
|
05/30/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
116,715
|
05/31/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
67,465
|
06/01/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
35,306
|
06/04/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
8,200
|
06/06/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
22,656
|
06/07/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
46,688
|
06/08/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
68,929
|
06/11/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
74,500
|
06/12/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
10,252
|
06/13/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
101,676
|
06/14/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
120,000
|
06/15/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
131,021
|
06/18/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
10,848
|
06/19/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
184,818
|
06/20/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
60,172
|
06/22/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
36,024
|
06/26/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
49,845
|
06/27/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
16,100
|
06/28/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
62,869
|
06/29/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
60,000
|
07/02/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
25,968
|
07/05/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
77,552
|
07/06/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
39,225
|
07/09/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
5,838
|
07/10/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
50,000
|
07/13/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
20,100
|
07/16/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
20,000
|
07/17/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
14,845
|
07/18/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
11,256
|
07/19/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
19,697
|
07/20/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
9,098
|
07/23/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
16,581
|
07/24/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
300
|
07/25/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
13,934
|
07/26/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
42,187
|
07/27/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
14,772
|
07/30/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
39,133
|
07/31/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
17,339
|
08/01/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
14,665
|
08/06/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
45,209
|
08/09/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
50,000
|
08/10/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
1,004
|
08/13/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
29,516
|
08/16/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
40,635
|
08/20/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
22,889
|
08/21/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
17,253
|
09/05/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
26,001
|
09/06/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
64,382
|
09/07/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
114,969
|
09/10/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
49,478
|
09/11/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
27,315
|
09/12/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
18,500
|
09/19/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
10,624
|
09/21/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
64,100
|
09/24/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
18,278
|
09/26/2018
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(41,380)
|
09/27/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
100,000
|
10/03/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
52,166
|
10/05/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
69,264
|
10/08/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
6,951
|
10/09/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
73,833
|
10/10/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
6,085
|
10/11/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
26,974
|
10/12/2018
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(45,148)
|
10/17/2018
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(85,871)
|
10/18/2018
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(5,929)
|
10/19/2018
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(20,151)
|
10/22/2018
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(6,429)
|
10/23/2018
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(143,862)
|
10/24/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
17,618
|
10/25/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
89,500
|
10/26/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
155,035
|
10/29/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
342,567
|
10/30/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
256,852
|
10/31/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
8,786
|
11/01/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
11,285
|
11/02/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
10,557
|
11/05/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
16,235
|
11/06/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
22,942
|
11/07/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
26,800
|
11/12/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
1,270
|
11/13/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
7,049
|
11/14/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
53,842
|
11/19/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
112,088
|
11/20/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
28,341
|
11/21/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
345,432
|
11/26/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
166,410
|
11/27/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
100,000
|
11/28/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
50,000
|
11/29/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
31,247
|
11/30/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
10,000
|
12/03/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
9,575
|
12/04/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
102,445
|
12/06/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
40,000
|
12/11/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
40,000
|
12/12/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
37,747
|
12/17/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
180,936
|
12/24/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
76,372
|
12/26/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
253,658
|
12/27/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
13,636
|
12/28/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
207,931
|
12/31/2018
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
2,200
|
01/02/2019
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
52,500
|
01/03/2019
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
28,637
|
01/04/2019
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
30,007
|
01/07/2019
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
50,367
|
01/08/2019
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
123,299
|
01/09/2019
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
61,366
|
01/10/2019
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
97,619
|
01/11/2019
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
105,842
|
01/14/2019
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
127,708
|
01/15/2019
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
120,716
|
01/16/2019
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
128,964
|
01/17/2019
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
21,610
|
01/18/2019
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
41,456
|
01/23/2019
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
191,350
|
01/24/2019
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
9,100
|
01/28/2019
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
100,000
|
01/29/2019
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
11,876
|
02/07/2019
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
6
|
02/15/2019
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
20,000
|
04/04/2019
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
14,509
|
04/09/2019
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
58,174
|
04/10/2019
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
22,332
|
04/12/2019
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
33,024
|
04/15/2019
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
11,866
|
04/16/2019
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
21,487
|
04/17/2019
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
53,187
|
04/18/2019
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
22,151
|
04/22/2019
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
93,213
|
04/23/2019
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
23,698
|
04/24/2019
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
1,500
|
04/25/2019
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
43,939
|
04/26/2019
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
2,465
|
05/23/2019
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
16,400
|
05/24/2019
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
1,411
|
05/30/2019
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(37,839)
|
12/09/2019
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(142,985)
|
12/10/2019
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(111,700)
|
12/11/2019
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(38,478)
|
12/12/2019
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(22,417)
|
12/13/2019
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(102,736)
|
12/16/2019
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(56,139)
|
12/17/2019
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(60,261)
|
12/18/2019
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(81,965)
|
12/19/2019
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(58,368)
|
12/20/2019
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(463,005)
|
12/23/2019
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(39,257)
|
12/24/2019
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(56,209)
|
12/26/2019
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(69,651)
|
12/27/2019
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(119,527)
|
12/30/2019
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(176,805)
|
12/31/2019
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(151,229)
|
01/06/2020
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(190,642)
|
01/07/2020
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(150,000)
|
01/08/2020
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(111,100)
|
01/09/2020
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(78,821)
|
01/10/2020
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(134,003)
|
01/13/2020
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(298,209)
|
01/14/2020
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(160,260)
|
01/15/2020
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(210,500)
|
01/16/2020
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(80,706)
|
01/17/2020
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(191,996)
|
01/21/2020
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(206,490)
|
01/22/2020
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(8,031)
|
01/23/2020
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(23,058)
|
02/05/2020
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(147,797)
|
02/07/2020
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(85,824)
|
02/10/2020
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(73,507)
|
02/11/2020
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(75,363)
|
02/12/2020
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(101,911)
|
02/13/2020
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(163,667)
|
02/14/2020
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(62,719)
|
02/19/2020
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(71,263)
|
02/20/2020
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(50,323)
|
02/21/2020
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(37,844)
|
02/24/2020
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(13,650)
|
02/25/2020
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
212,872
|
02/28/2020
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
88,312
|
03/04/2020
|
Sale of Common Stock
|
(41,683)
|
03/05/2020
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
229,218
|
03/12/2020
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
46,316
|
03/13/2020
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
68,386
|
03/16/2020
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
185,342
|
03/17/2020
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
427,669
|
03/18/2020
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
250,293
|
03/19/2020
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
4,592
|
03/20/2020
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
213,408
|
03/23/2020
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
310,937
|
03/24/2020
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
20,000
|
04/07/2020
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
23,458
|
04/13/2020
|
Purchase of Common Stock
|
9,410
|
04/16/2020
|
______________________
APPENDIX C
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL
OWNERS
The following
table is reprinted from HIX’s Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 16, 2020.
5% Share Ownership
As of March 9, 2020 the
persons listed in Appendix I owned of record the amounts indicated of the shares of the class of Funds indicated in Appendix
I.
Security Ownership of
Management
As of March 9, 2020 the
Board members and officers of each Fund owned, in the aggregate, less than 1% of each Fund’s outstanding shares.
Delinquent Section 16(a)
Reports
Section 30(h) of the 1940
Act and Section 16(a) of the 1934 Act, subject to the rules thereunder and applicable guidance from the Securities and Exchange
Commission and its staff, require Board Members and officers, the investment adviser, affiliated persons of the investment adviser
and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of a registered closed-end investment company’s equity securities
to, in respect of such person’s transactions in any securities of such company (other than short-term paper), file forms
reporting their affiliation with that closed-end investment company and reports of ownership and changes in ownership of that closed-end
investment company’s shares with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These persons and entities are required by Securities
and Exchange Commission regulations to furnish the closed-end investment company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.
Based on a review of these
forms filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for each Fund, each Fund believes that its Section 16(a) reporting persons
have complied with all applicable Section 16(a) filing requirements during its last fiscal year, except with respect to ClearBridge
MLP and Midstream Fund Inc., a late Form 4 filing was made with respect to Harry D. Cohen, Co-Chief Investment Officer of ClearBridge.
To the knowledge
of management of the Funds, no shareholder of a Fund owns more than 10% of a registered class of the Fund’s equity securities,
except as set forth in Appendix I.
Appendix I
5% Share Ownership
At March 9, 2020,
to the knowledge of management, the registered stockholders owned of record or owned beneficially more than 5% of each Fund’s
capital stock outstanding is noted in the tables below. This information is based solely upon the information obtained from Schedule
13Gs and/or Schedule 13Ds filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Western Asset High Income Fund II Inc. (HIX)
As of the close
of business on March 9, 2020, Cede & Co., a nominee for participants in the Depository Trust Company, held of record 84,929,306
shares, equal to approximately 99.734% of the Fund’s outstanding shares, including the shares shown below.
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|
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Class of Shares Owned
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Percentage
of Shares
Owned
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Shares Held
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Name
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Address
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Common Stock
|
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7.8
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%
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6,636,571
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Saba Capital Management, L.P.
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405 Lexington Avenue, 58th Floor,
New York, NY 10174
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Common Stock
|
|
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5.50
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%
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4,681,830
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First Trust Advisors L.P. and affiliates
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120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400,
Wheaton, IL 60187
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______________________
IMPORTANT
Tell your Board
what you think! Your vote is important. No matter how many shares you own, please give Saba your proxy AGAINST the Proposals
by voting your shares by telephone or Internet as described in the enclosed GOLD proxy card or by signing and dating the
enclosed GOLD proxy card, and returning it in the postage-paid envelope provided.
If any of your shares
are held in the name of a brokerage firm, bank, bank nominee or other institution, only it can vote such shares and only upon receipt
of your specific instructions. Accordingly, please contact the person responsible for your account and instruct that person to
execute the GOLD proxy card. In addition, if you hold your shares in a brokerage or bank account, your broker or bank may
allow you to provide your voting instructions by telephone or Internet. Please consult the materials you receive from your broker
or bank prior to authorizing a proxy by telephone or Internet. Saba urges you to confirm in writing your instructions to Saba in
care of InvestorCom, Inc. at the address provided below so that Saba will be aware of all instructions given and can attempt to
ensure that such instructions are followed.
If you have any
questions or require any additional information concerning this Proxy Statement, please contact InvestorCom at the address and
telephone numbers set forth below:
If you have any questions, require assistance
in voting your GOLD proxy card,
or need additional copies of Saba’s
proxy materials,
please contact InvestorCom at the phone numbers
listed below.
19 Old Kings Highway S.
Suite 210
Darien, CT 06820
Shareholders call toll free at (877) 972-0090
Banks and Brokers may call collect at (203)
972-9300
You may also contact Saba via email at
SabaProxy@sabacapital.com
WESTERN
ASSET HIGH INCOME FUND II INC.
special Meeting OF SHAREHOLDERS
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF
OF SABA CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, L.P. AND THE OTHER PARTICIPANTS NAMED IN THIS PROXY SOLICITATION (COLLECTIVELY, “SABA”)
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF WESTERN ASSET HIGH INCOME FUND II INC.
IS NOT SOLICITING THIS PROXY
P R O X Y
The undersigned
appoints Michael D’Angelo, Paul Kazarian, Pierre Weinstein, Adam Finerman and John Grau and each of them, attorneys and agents
with full power of substitution to vote all Common Stock of Western Asset High Income Fund II Inc. (“HIX”), a Maryland
corporation and a closed-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, that
the undersigned would be entitled to vote at the special meeting of shareholders of HIX scheduled to be held at the offices of
Legg Mason, Inc. at 620 Eighth Avenue, 49th Floor, New York, New York 10018, on June 5, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. including at any adjournments
or postponements thereof, with all powers that the undersigned would possess if personally present, upon and in respect of the
instructions indicated herein, with discretionary authority as to any and all other matters that may properly come before the meeting
or any adjournment, postponement, or substitution thereof that are unknown to us a reasonable time before this solicitation.
The undersigned
hereby revokes any other proxy or proxies heretofore given to vote or act with respect to the shares of HIX held by the undersigned,
and hereby ratifies and confirms all action the herein named attorney and proxy, his substitutes, or any of them may lawfully take
by virtue hereof. If properly executed, this Proxy will be voted as directed on the reverse and in the discretion of the herein
named attorney and proxy or his substitutes with respect to any other matters as may properly come before the Special Meeting that
are unknown to Saba at a reasonable time before this solicitation.
IF NO DIRECTION
IS INDICATED WITH RESPECT TO THE PROPOSALS ON THE REVERSE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED “AGAINST” PROPOSAL 1 AND “AGAINST”
PROPOSALS 2-C, 2-D and 2-F.
This Proxy will
be valid until the completion of the Special Meeting. This Proxy will only be valid in connection with Saba’s solicitation
of proxies for the Special Meeting.
IMPORTANT: PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND MAIL
THIS PROXY CARD PROMPTLY!
CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED ON REVERSE
SIDE
[X] Please mark vote as in this example
SABA STRONGLY RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS
VOTE “AGAINST” PROPOSAL 1 AND “AGAINST”
PROPOSALS 2-C, 2-D and 2-F.
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1.
|
Proposal to approve a new management agreement with Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC.
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☐ FOR
|
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☐ AGAINST
|
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☐ ABSTAIN
|
Saba intends to
use this proxy to vote “against” Proposal 1.
_______________________________________
|
2-C.
|
Proposal approve a new subadvisory agreement with Western Asset Management Company, LLC.
|
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☐ FOR
|
|
☐ AGAINST
|
|
☐ ABSTAIN
|
Saba intends to
use this proxy to vote “against” Proposal 2-C.
|
2-D.
|
Proposal approve a new subadvisory agreement with Western Asset Management Company Limited.
|
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☐ FOR
|
|
☐ AGAINST
|
|
☐ ABSTAIN
|
Saba intends to
use this proxy to vote “against” Proposal 2-D.
|
2-F.
|
Proposal approve a new subadvisory agreement with Western Asset Management Company Pte. Ltd.
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☐ FOR
|
|
☐ AGAINST
|
|
☐ ABSTAIN
|
Saba intends to
use this proxy to vote “against” Proposal 2-F.
DATED:
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(Signature)
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(Signature, if held jointly)
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(Title)
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WHEN SHARES ARE HELD JOINTLY, JOINT
OWNERS SHOULD EACH SIGN. EXECUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS, TRUSTEES, ETC., SHOULD INDICATE THE CAPACITY IN WHICH SIGNING. PLEASE SIGN
EXACTLY AS NAME APPEARS ON THIS PROXY.
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