SEC Form POS EX filed by Neuberger Berman High Yield Strategies Fund

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 21, 2024

1933 Act File No. 333-257996

1940 Act File No. 811-22396

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-2

Check appropriate box or boxes

and/or

Neuberger Berman High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.

(Registrant Exact Name of as Specified in Charter)

New York, New York 10104-0002

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code)

Chief Executive Officer and President

Neuberger Berman High Yield Strategies Fund Inc.

c/o Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC

1290 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10104-0002

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

With copies to:

Jennifer R. Gonzalez, Esq.

K&L Gates LLP

1601 K Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20006

It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box):

If appropriate, check the following box:

Check each box that appropriately characterizes the Registrant:

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 to the Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-257996 and 811-22396) of Neuberger Berman High Yield Strategies Fund Inc. (the “Registration Statement”) is being filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), solely for the purpose of filing exhibits to the Registration Statement. Accordingly, this Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 consists only of a facing page, this explanatory note and Part C of the Registration Statement on Form N-2 setting forth the exhibits to the Registration Statement. This Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 does not modify any other part of the Registration Statement. Pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, this Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 shall become effective immediately upon filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The contents of the Registration Statement are hereby incorporated by reference.

PART C: OTHER INFORMATION

Item 25.     Financial Statements and Exhibits

The agreements included or incorporated by reference as exhibits to this Registration Statement contain representations and warranties by each of the parties to the applicable agreement. These representations and warranties were made solely for the benefit of the other parties to the applicable agreement and (i) were not intended to be treated as categorical statements of fact, but rather as a way of allocating the risk to one of the parties if those statements prove to be inaccurate; (ii) may have been qualified in such agreement by disclosures that were made to the other party in connection with the negotiation of the applicable agreement; (iii) may apply contract standards of “materiality” that are different from “materiality” under the applicable securities laws; and (iv) were made only as of the date of the applicable agreement or such other date or dates as may be specified in the agreement.   The Registrant acknowledges that, notwithstanding the inclusion of the foregoing cautionary statements, it is responsible for considering whether additional specific disclosures of material information regarding material contractual provisions are required to make the statements in this Registration Statement not misleading.

Item 26.     Marketing Arrangements

The information contained under the heading “Plan of Distribution” in the Prospectus is incorporated by reference, and any information concerning any underwriters will be contained in the accompanying prospectus supplement, if any.

Item 27.     Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

Item 28.     Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control

None.

Item 29.     Number of Holders of Securities

Set forth below is the number of record holders as of February 2, 2024 of each class of outstanding securities of the Registrant:

Item 30.     Indemnification

Article Twelfth of the Registrant’s Articles of Incorporation and Article IX of the Registrant's Bylaws provide that the Fund shall indemnify its present and past directors, officers, employees and agents, and persons who are serving or have served at the Fund’s request in similar capacities for, other entities to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law (including Maryland law and the 1940 Act), provided, however, that a transfer agent is not entitled to such

indemnification unless specifically approved by the Fund's Board of Directors. Section 2-418(b) of the Maryland General Corporation Law (“Maryland Code”) permits the Registrant to indemnify its directors unless it is proved that the act or omission of the director was material to the cause of action adjudicated in the proceeding, and (a) the act or omission was committed in bad faith or was the result of active or deliberate dishonesty or (b) the director actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services or (c) in the case of a criminal proceeding, the director had reasonable cause to believe the act or omission was unlawful. Indemnification may be made against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses incurred in connection with a proceeding, in accordance with the Maryland Code. Pursuant to Section 2-418 of the Maryland Code, the Registrant is permitted to indemnify its officers, employees and agents to the same extent. The provisions set forth above apply insofar as consistent with Section 17(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“1940 Act”), which prohibits indemnification of any director or officer of the Registrant against any liability to the Registrant or its shareholders to which such director or officer otherwise would be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office.

 

However, under Maryland law, a Maryland corporation may not indemnify for an adverse judgment in a suit by or in the right of the corporation or for a judgment of liability on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received, unless in either case a court orders indemnification and then only for expenses. In addition, Maryland law permits a corporation to advance reasonable expenses to a director or officer upon the corporation’s receipt of (a) a written affirmation by the director or officer of his good faith belief that he has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the corporation and (b) a written undertaking by him or on his behalf to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by the corporation if it is ultimately determined that the standard of conduct was not met.

 

Sections 9.1 and 9.2 of the Management Agreement between Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC (“NBIA”) and the Registrant provide that neither NBIA nor any director, officer or employee of NBIA performing services for the Registrant at the direction or request of NBIA in connection with NBIA’s discharge of its obligations under the Management Agreement shall be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Registrant in connection with any matter to which the Management Agreement relates; provided, that nothing herein contained shall be construed (i) to protect NBIA against any liability to the Registrant or its Stockholders to which NBIA would otherwise be subject by reason of NBIA’s misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of NBIA’s duties, or by reason of NBIA’s reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under the Management Agreement (“disabling conduct”), or (ii) to protect any director, officer or employee of NBIA who is or was a Director or officer of the Registrant against any liability to the Registrant or its Stockholders to which such person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such person’s office with the Registrant. The Registrant will indemnify NBIA against, and hold it harmless from, any and all expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) incurred investigating or defending against claims for losses or liabilities described above not resulting from negligence, disregard of its obligations and duties under the Management Agreement or disabling conduct by NBIA. Indemnification shall be made only following: (i) a final decision on the merits by a court

or other body before whom the proceeding was brought that NBIA was not liable by reason of negligence, disregard of its obligations and duties under the Management Agreement or disabling conduct or (ii) in the absence of such a decision, a reasonable determination, based upon a review of the facts, that NBIA was not liable by reason of negligence, disregard of its obligations and duties under the Management Agreement or disabling conduct by (a) the vote of a majority of a quorum of directors of the Registrant who are neither “interested persons” of the Registrant nor parties to the proceeding (“disinterested non-party directors”) or (b) an independent legal counsel in a written opinion. NBIA shall be entitled to advances from the Registrant for payment of the reasonable expenses incurred by it in connection with the matter as to which it is seeking indemnification under the Management Agreement in the manner and to the fullest extent permissible under the Maryland General Corporation Law. NBIA shall provide to the Registrant a written affirmation of its good faith belief that the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the Registrant has been met and a written undertaking to repay any such advance if it should ultimately be determined that the standard of conduct has not been met. In addition, at least one of the following additional conditions shall be met: (a) NBIA shall provide security in form and amount acceptable to the Registrant for its undertaking; (b) the Registrant is insured against losses arising by reason of the advance; or (c) a majority of a quorum of the full Board of Directors of the Registrant, the members of which majority are disinterested non-party directors, or independent legal counsel, in a written opinion, shall have determined, based on a review of facts readily available to the Registrant at the time the advance is proposed to be made, that there is reason to believe that NBIA will ultimately be found to be entitled to indemnification under the Management Agreement.

  

Sections 11.1 and 11.2 of the Administration Agreement between the Registrant and NBIA provide that neither NBIA nor any director, officer or employee of NBIA performing services for the Registrant at the direction or request of NBIA in connection with NBIA’s discharge of its obligations under the Administration Agreement shall be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Registrant in connection with any matter to which the Administration Agreement relates; provided, that nothing herein contained shall be construed (i) to protect NBIA against any liability to the Registrant or its Stockholders to which NBIA would otherwise be subject by reason of NBIA’s misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of NBIA’s duties, or by reason of NBIA’s reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under the Administration Agreement (“disabling conduct”), or (ii) to protect any director, officer or employee of NBIA who is or was a Director or officer of the Registrant against any liability to the Registrant or its Stockholders to which such person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of such person’s office with the Registrant. The Registrant will indemnify NBIA against, and hold it harmless from, any and all expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) incurred investigating or defending against claims for losses or liabilities described above not resulting from negligence, disregard of its obligations and duties under the Administration Agreement or disabling conduct by NBIA. Indemnification shall be made only following: (i) a final decision on the merits by a court or other body before whom the proceeding was brought that NBIA was not liable by reason of negligence, disregard of its obligations and duties under the Administration Agreement or disabling conduct or (ii) in the absence of such a decision, a reasonable determination, based upon a review of the facts, that NBIA was not liable by reason of negligence, disregard of its obligations and duties under the

Administration Agreement or disabling conduct by (a) the vote of a majority of a quorum of directors of the Registrant who are neither “interested persons” of the Registrant nor parties to the proceeding (“disinterested non-party directors”) or (b) an independent legal counsel in a written opinion. NBIA shall be entitled to advances from the Registrant for payment of the reasonable expenses incurred by it in connection with the matter as to which it is seeking indemnification under the Administration Agreement in the manner and to the fullest extent permissible under the Maryland General Corporation Law. NBIA shall provide to the Registrant a written affirmation of its good faith belief that the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the Registrant has been met and a written undertaking to repay any such advance if it should ultimately be determined that the standard of conduct has not been met. In addition, at least one of the following additional conditions shall be met: (a) NBIA shall provide security in form and amount acceptable to the Registrant for its undertaking; (b) the Registrant is insured against losses arising by reason of the advance; or (c) a majority of a quorum of the full Board of Directors of the Registrant, the members of which majority are disinterested non-party directors, or independent legal counsel, in a written opinion, shall have determined, based on a review of facts readily available to the Registrant at the time the advance is proposed to be made, that there is reason to believe that NBIA will ultimately be found to be entitled to indemnification under the Administration Agreement.

 

Additionally, the Registrant and the other funds in the Neuberger Berman Fund Complex jointly maintain, at their own expense, E&O/D&O insurance policies for the benefit of their Directors, officers and certain affiliated persons. The Registrant will pay a pro rata portion of the premium on such insurance policies.

Insofar as indemnification for liability arising under the Securities Act, may be permitted to trustees, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a trustee, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such trustee, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

Item 31.     Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser

The principal address of NBIA and each of the investment companies referred to above is 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10104-0002.

Item 32.     Location of Accounts and Records

Item 33.     Management Services

Not applicable.
Item 34.     Undertakings

1. The Registrant undertakes to suspend offering of Common Stock until the prospectus is amended if (1) subsequent to the effective date of this Registration Statement, the net asset value declines more than 10 percent from its net asset value as of the effective date of this Registration Statement or (2) the net asset value increases to an amount greater than its net proceeds as stated in the prospectus.

2. Not applicable.

3. The Registrant undertakes:

a. to file, during a period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

(1) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

(2) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post- effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement;

(3) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement.

b. that for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities

offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof;

c. to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering;

d. that, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:

(1) if the Registrant is subject to Rule 430B:

(A) Each prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

(B) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (x), or (xi) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date; or

(2) if the Registrant is subject to Rule 430C: each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.

e. that for the purpose of determining liability of the Registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of securities:

The undersigned Registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned Registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned Registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to the purchaser:

(1) any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned Registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act;

(2) free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned Registrant;

(3) the portion of any other free writing prospectus or advertisement pursuant to Rule 482 under the Securities Act relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned Registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant; and

(4) any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned Registrant to the purchaser.

4. The Registrant undertakes that:

a. For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in the form of prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of the Registration Statement as of the time it was declared effective; and

b. For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

5. Not applicable.

6. Not applicable.

7.  The Registrant undertakes to send by first class mail or other means designed to ensure equally prompt delivery, within two business days of receipt of a written or oral request, any prospectus or Statement of Additional Information.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Post-Effective No. 5 to its Registration Statement on Form N-2 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York and State of New York, on the 21st day of February, 2024.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Post-Effective Amendment No. 5 to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

*Signatures affixed by Jennifer Gonzalez on February 21, 2024, pursuant to a power of attorney filed with Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-2, File No. 333-257996, on April 19, 2022.

**Signatures affixed by Jennifer Gonzalez on February 21, 2024, pursuant to a power of attorney filed herewith.

INDEX TO EXHIBITS