N-CSRS 1 bgh_n-csrs.htm SEMI-ANNUAL CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT



UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM N-CSR

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT
INVESTMENT COMPANIES


Investment Company Act file number 811-22562



Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)



300 South Tryon Street, Suite 2500, Charlotte, NC 28202
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)



Janice M. Bishop
Secretary and Chief Legal Officer
c/o Barings LLC
Independence Wharf
470 Atlantic Avenue
Boston, MA 02210
(Name and address of agent for service)



704-805-7200
Registrant's telephone number, including area code



Date of fiscal year end: December 31, 2019

Date of reporting period:  June 30, 2019



Item 1. Reports to Stockholders.

 

 


 

 

 


 

  Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund 2019 Semi-Annual Report

 

OFFICERS OF THE FUND

 

Sean Feeley
President

 

Carlene Pollock
Chief Financial Officer

 

Lesley Mastandrea
Treasurer

 

Michael Freno
Vice President

 

Scott Roth
Vice President

 

Melissa LaGrant
Chief Compliance Officer

 

Janice Bishop
Secretary/Chief Legal Officer

 

Michele Manha
Assistant Secretary

 

Jill Dinerman
Assistant Secretary

 

 

Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund is a closed-end investment company, first offered to the public in 2012, whose shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE & POLICY

 

Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund (the “Fund”) was organized as a business trust under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as a diversified, closed-end management investment company with its own investment objective. The Fund’s common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “BGH”.

 

The Fund’s primary investment objective is to seek as high a level of current income as the Adviser (as defined herein) determines is consistent with capital preservation. The Fund seeks capital appreciation as a secondary investment objective when consistent with its primary investment objective. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objectives.

 

The Fund seeks to take advantage of inefficiencies between geographies, primarily the North American and Western European high yield bond and loan markets and within capital structures between bonds and loans. For example, the Fund seeks to take advantage of differences in pricing between bonds and loans of an issuer denominated in U.S. dollars and substantially similar bonds and loans of the same issuer denominated in Euros, potentially allowing the Fund to achieve a higher relative return for the same credit risk exposure.

 

 


1


  

Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund 2019 Semi-Annual Report (Unaudited)  

 

Dear Fellow Shareholders,

 

We are pleased to provide you with the 2019 Semi-Annual Report for the Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund (the “Fund”) to recap portfolio performance and positioning. We continue to believe our Global High Yield Investments Group is one of the largest teams in the market primarily focused on North American and Western European credits. Utilizing the Group’s expertise, deep resources, and time-tested process, we continue to believe we can provide investors an attractive level of current income by uncovering compelling opportunities across the global high yield market.

 

The Fund’s strategy focuses primarily on North American and Western European high yield companies, with the flexibility to dynamically shift the geographical weighting in order to capture, in our opinion, the best risk-adjusted investment opportunities. In addition, the strategy also focuses closely on limiting the duration of the Fund while maintaining what we consider a reasonable amount of leverage.

 

Market Review

 

The first half of 2019 saw a period of strong positive returns in the global yield bond market. While geopolitical headlines have caused brief periods of instability, the continued dovish sentiment from central banks, low inflationary environment, and stable corporate fundamentals has helped drive an unprecedented rebound from the softness in the fourth quarter of 2018. High yield bond default rates have remained range bound as recent earnings performance has displayed stable balance sheet trends and moderate leverage profiles.

 

Demand for U.S. high yield bonds remained robust amid the ongoing hunt for yield in a low interest rate environment during the first half of 2019. Investors became more cautious, however, as evidenced by the continued outperformance of double-Bs, which substantially outperformed lower-rated securities year-to-date. Returns were positive across industries led by the Retail sector which saw mid-double-digit gains, followed by the Services and Consumer Goods sectors. While still generating a strong positive return, the Transportation and Energy sectors saw more modest performance. U.S. high yield bond retail mutual funds recorded net inflows in the first half of the year totaling $12.0 billion compared to -$24.5 billion during the corresponding period in 2018. Gross U.S. high yield new issuance remained active as borrowers took advantage of an attractive lower rate backdrop. Specifically, $132.3 billion priced in the first six months of the year while issuance net of refinancing totaled $43.0 billion. The par-weighted U.S. high yield default rate has decreased since year-end 2018, ending June at 1.46% and remaining below historical averages.

 

The European high yield bond market also saw strong positive returns in the first half of 2019. During the period, all industry sectors were up, led by the Media and Real Estate sectors. While still generating a strong positive return, the Healthcare and Transportation sectors saw more modest performance. Triple-Cs outperformed the broader market, followed by double-Bs and single-Bs. European high yield bond funds reported net inflows of €4.1 billion year-to-date though still down €5.1 billion since the start of 2018. Gross European high yield new issuances rebounded in the second quarter, while remaining predominantly refinancing related. Year-to-date gross new issuance totaled €29.7 billion across 61 new bonds. Activity net of refinancing totaled €11.0 billion. The par-weighted European high yield bond default rate ended the period at 1.8%.

 

Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund Overview and Performance

 

The Fund ended June 2019 with a portfolio of 130 issuers, which is down from 157 issuers at the beginning of the year. A majority of the issuers are domiciled in the U.S. (71.7%), with the U.K. (11.9%) and Canada (4.1%) representing the next largest country exposures – see Country Composition chart. From a geographic standpoint, exposure to North American issuers was relatively in-line with year-end 2018. European issuers saw the largest increase in Fund exposure while issuers categorized as Rest of World were down. The Fund primary exposure continues to be in the U.S. market, where the fundamental and technical picture created a better backdrop for high yield issuers during the first half of the year.

 

As of June 30, 2019, the Fund remained well-positioned across the credit quality spectrum: 15.4% BB-rated and above, 60.2% B-rated, and 17.2% CCC-rated and below, with approximately 49% of the portfolio consisting of secured obligations. The credit quality of the Fund’s underlying holdings changed modestly since the beginning of the year with an increase in BB-rated and above credits as well as B-rated credits, with a modest reduction in CCC-rated and below credits. Non-publicly rated securities and cash and accrued interest represented 2.7% and 4.5%, respectively.

 


2


 

  Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund 2019 Semi-Annual Report (Unaudited)

 

The Fund paid six consecutive monthly dividend payments of $0.1482 per share in the first half of 2019, which we believe is still an attractive level of yield for a global short duration high yield bond fund. The Fund’s share price and net asset value (“NAV”) ended the reporting period at $17.68 and $18.57, respectively, or at a 4.79% discount to NAV. Based on the Fund’s share price and NAV on June 30, 2019, the Fund’s market price and NAV distribution rates using the most recent monthly dividend, on an annualized basis were 10.06% and 9.58%, respectively. Assets acquired through leverage, which represented 29.1% of the Fund’s total assets at the end of June, were accretive to net investment income and benefited shareholders.

 

On a year-to-date basis through June 30, 2019, the NAV total return was +6.50%, underperforming the global high yield bond market as measured by the Bank of America / Merrill Lynch Non-Financial Developed Markets High Yield Constrained Index (HNDC), which returned +9.87%. From a market value perspective, the total return year-to-date through June 30, 2019 was +16.40%.

 

In August, 2019, in order to provide greater flexibility, the Fund’s Board of Directors approved the removal of the Fund’s non-fundamental investment restriction limiting investment in securities rated triple-C and below. The Fund’s Board of Directors also approved the removal of the Fund’s non-fundamental investment restriction on maintaining a portfolio with a weighted average maturity of five years or less; however, the Fund will continue to maintain a weighted average portfolio duration, including the effects of leverage, of three years or less.

 

Market Outlook

 

In our view, corporate fundamentals for high yield borrowers overall remain relatively healthy. We are seeing stable growth in the high yield market and believe that most companies have capital structures in place that are well positioned to absorb a potential slowdown. As will always be the case, there continue to be individual companies or segments of the market that face headwinds. Having said that, the overall market does not appear to expect that there will be a material increase in corporate defaults in the near-term and we believe that the recent volatility and spread levels are compensating investors for a higher level of defaults than what corporate fundamentals suggest to us is likely. Additionally, while commentary and action by central banks can influence investor sentiment, we believe that the central banks may continue to be willing to take steps to support growth, which can be supportive for high yield borrowers and investors.

 

At Barings, we remain committed to focusing on corporate fundamentals as market sentiment can change quickly and unexpectedly. Our focused and disciplined approach emphasizes our fundamental bottom-up research with the goal of preserving investor capital while seeking to capture attractive capital appreciation opportunities that may exist through market and economic cycles. On behalf of the Barings team, we continue to take a long-term view of investing and look forward to helping you achieve your investment goals.

 

Sincerely,  
 
Sean Feeley  

 


1. Ratings are based on Moody’s, S&P and Fitch. If securities are rated differently by the rating agencies, the higher rating is applied and all ratings are converted to the equivalent Moody’s major rating category for purposes of the category shown. Credit ratings are based largely on the rating agency’s investment analysis at the time of rating and the rating assigned to any particular security is not necessarily a reflection of the issuer’s current financial condition. The rating assigned to a security by a rating agency does not necessarily reflect its assessment of the volatility of the security’s market value or of the liquidity of an investment in the security. Ratings of Baa3 or higher by Moody’s and BBB- or higher by S&P and Fitch are considered to be investment grade quality.

2. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. Current performance may be lower or higher. All performance is net of fees, which is inclusive of advisory fees, administrator fees and interest expenses.

 


3


 

Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund 2019 Semi-Annual Report (Unaudited)  

 


PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION (% OF ASSETS*)
 

 

 

COUNTRY COMPOSITION (% OF ASSETS*)
 

 

* The percentages shown above represent a percentage of the assets as of June 30, 2019.

 


4


 

Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund 2019 Semi-Annual Report

FINANCIAL REPORT

Statement of Assets and Liabilities
6
   
Statement of Operations
7
   
Statement of Cash Flows
8
   
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
9
   
Financial Highlights
10
   
Schedule of Investments
11-19
   
Notes to the Financial Statements
20-30
   
Fund Dividend Reinvestment Plan
31
   
Joint Privacy Notice
32


5

Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund 2019 Semi-Annual Report

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
(Unaudited)

   
JUNE 30, 2019
 
       
Assets
     
Investments, at fair value (cost $538,385,638)
 
$
510,488,595
 
Cash
   
15,768,296
 
Foreign currency, at fair value (cost $1,754,789)
   
1,754,789
 
Receivable for investments sold
   
21,874,600
 
Interest receivable
   
10,114,143
 
Prepaid expenses and other assets
   
13,626
 
Total assets
   
560,014,049
 
         
Liabilities
       
Note payable
   
155,200,000
 
Dividend payable
   
2,972,573
 
Payable for investments purchased
   
27,530,195
 
Payable to adviser
   
434,673
 
Unrealized depreciation on forward foreign exchange contracts
   
171,657
 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
   
1,215,465
 
Total liabilities
   
187,524,563
 
Total net assets
 
$
372,489,486
 
         
Net Assets:
       
Common shares, $0.00001 par value
 
$
201
 
Additional paid-in capital
   
468,758,610
 
Accumulated losses
   
(96,269,325
)
Total net assets
 
$
372,489,486
 
         
Common shares issued and outstanding (unlimited shares authorized)
   
20,057,849
 
         
Net asset value per share
 
$
18.57
 

See accompanying Notes to the Financial Statements.

6

Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund 2019 Semi-Annual Report

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)

   
PERIOD FROM
JANUARY 1, 2019
THROUGH
JUNE 30, 2019
 
       
Investment Income
     
Interest income
 
$
24,525,712
 
Other income
   
107,772
 
Total investment income
   
24,633,484
 
         
Operating Expenses
       
Advisory fees
   
2,699,321
 
Interest expense
   
2,676,865
 
Administrator fees
   
256,547
 
Professional fees
   
86,800
 
Directors’ fees
   
59,466
 
Taxes Paid on Undistributed Income
   
46,123
 
Printing and mailing expense
   
37,135
 
Pricing expense
   
7,839
 
Other operating expenses
   
24,810
 
Total operating expenses
   
5,894,906
 
Net investment income
   
18,738,578
 
         
Realized and Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Investments
       
Net realized loss on investments
   
(9,732,704
)
Net realized gain on forward foreign exchange contracts
   
768,324
 
Net realized loss on foreign currency and translation
   
(9,993
)
Net realized loss on investments
   
(8,974,373
)
Net change in unrealized appreciation of investments
   
13,307,938
 
Net change in unrealized appreciation of forward foreign exchange contracts
   
558,539
 
Net change in unrealized appreciation of foreign currency and translation
   
2,866
 
Net change in unrealized appreciation on investments
   
13,869,343
 
Net realized and unrealized gain on investments
   
4,894,970
 
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations
 
$
23,633,548
 

See accompanying Notes to the Financial Statements.

7

Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund 2019 Semi-Annual Report

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)

   
PERIOD FROM
JANUARY 1, 2019
THROUGH
JUNE 30, 2019
 
       
Reconciliation of net increase in net assets resulting from operations to net cash provided by operating activities
     
Net increase in net assets applicable to common shareholders resulting from operations
 
$
23,633,548
 
Adjustments to reconcile net increase in net assets applicable to common shareholders resulting from operations to net cash provided by operating activities:
       
Purchases of long-term investments
   
(166,011,222
)
Proceeds from sales of long-term investments
   
171,985,704
 
Proceeds from sales of foreign currency, net
   
(1,726,277
)
Forward currency exchange contracts, net
   
(558,539
)
Net unrealized depreciation
   
(13,307,470
)
Net realized loss
   
9,732,704
 
Amortization and accretion
   
(1,027,399
)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
       
Increase in interest receivable
   
(730,318
)
Decrease in prepaid expenses and other assets
   
36,844
 
Increase in receivable for investments sold
   
(21,874,600
)
Increase in payable for investments purchased
   
27,530,195
 
Decrease in payable to Adviser
   
(26,527
)
Increase in accrued expenses and other liabilities
   
882,189
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
   
28,538,832
 
         
Cash flows from financing activities
       
Advances from credit facility
   
3,000,000
 
Repayments on credit facility
   
(5,000,000
)
Distributions paid to common shareholders
   
(17,835,439
)
Net cash used in financing activities
   
(19,835,439
)
Net change in cash
   
8,703,393
 
Cash beginning of period
   
7,064,903
 
Cash end of period
 
$
15,768,296
 
         
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
       
Income taxes paid
 
$
46,123
 
Interest paid
   
2,720,708
 

See accompanying Notes to the Financial Statements.

8

Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund 2019 Semi-Annual Report

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

   
PERIOD FROM
JANUARY 1, 2019
THROUGH
JUNE 30, 2019
   
YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31, 2018
 
   
(Unaudited)
       
Operations
           
Net investment income
 
$
18,738,578
   
$
38,194,759
 
Net realized loss on investments
   
(8,974,373
)
   
(28,627,365
)
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on investments
   
13,869,343
     
(25,128,726
)
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations
   
23,633,548
     
(15,561,332
)
                 
Dividends to Common Shareholders
               
From distributable earnings
   
(17,835,439
)
   
(35,670,878
)
Return of capital
   
     
 
Total dividends to common shareholders
   
(17,835,439
)
   
(35,670,878
)
Total increase (decrease) in net assets
   
5,798,109
     
(51,232,210
)
                 
Net Assets
               
Beginning of period
   
366,691,377
     
417,923,587
 
End of period
 
$
372,489,486
   
$
366,691,377
 

See accompanying Notes to the Financial Statements.

9

Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund 2019 Semi-Annual Report

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

   
PERIOD FROM
JANUARY 1,
2019
THROUGH
JUNE 30,
2019
(Unaudited)
   
YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31,
2018
   
YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31,
2017
   
YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31,
2016
   
YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31,
2015
   
YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31,
2014
 
Per Common Share Data (1)
                                   
Net asset value, beginning of period
 
$
18.28
   
$
20.84
   
$
20.87
   
$
18.47
   
$
22.00
   
$
25.24
 
Income from investment operations:
                                               
Net investment income
   
0.93
     
1.89
     
1.77
     
1.57
     
1.90
     
2.12
 
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments
   
0.25
     
(2.67
)
   
0.04
     
2.68
     
(3.23
)
   
(2.76
)
Total increase (decrease) from investment operations
   
1.18
     
(0.78
)
   
1.81
     
4.25
     
(1.33
)
   
(0.64
)
Less dividends to common stockholders:
                                               
Net investment income
   
(0.89
)
   
(1.78
)
   
(1.63
)
   
(1.60
)
   
(2.20
)
   
(2.56
)
Net realized gain
   
     
     
     
     
     
(0.04
)
Return of capital
   
     
     
(0.21
)
   
(0.25
)
   
     
 
Total dividends to common stockholders
   
(0.89
)
   
(1.78
)
   
(1.84
)
   
(1.85
)
   
(2.20
)
   
(2.60
)
Net asset value, end of period
 
$
18.57
   
$
18.28
   
$
20.84
   
$
20.87
   
$
18.47
   
$
22.00
 
Per common share market value, end of period
 
$
17.68
   
$
15.95
   
$
19.38
   
$
19.23
   
$
16.49
   
$
20.19
 
Total investment return based on net asset value (1)(2)
   
6.50
%
   
(3.42
)%
   
9.40
%
   
25.42
%
   
(5.57
)%
   
(2.25
)%
Total investment return based on market value (1)(2)
   
16.40
%
   
(9.38
)%
   
10.41
%
   
29.44
%
   
(8.13
)%
   
(2.06
)%
                                                 
Supplemental Data and Ratios
                                               
Net assets, end of period (000’s)
 
$
372,489
   
$
366,691
   
$
417,924
   
$
418,613
   
$
370,418
   
$
441,234
 
Ratio of expenses (before reductions and reimbursements) to average net assets
   
1.54
%(4)
   
2.93
%
   
2.33
%
   
2.05
%(3)
   
2.27
%
   
2.20
%
Ratio of expenses (after reductions and reimbursements) to average net assets
   
1.54
%(4)
   
2.93
%
   
2.33
%
   
1.78
%
   
2.27
%
   
2.20
%
Ratio of net investment income (before reductions and reimbursements) to average net assets
   
4.91
%(4)
   
9.34
%
   
9.20
%
   
10.68
%(3)
   
9.18
%
   
8.47
%
Ratio of net investment income (after reductions and reimbursements) to average net assets
   
4.91
%(4)
   
9.34
%
   
9.20
%
   
10.41
%
   
9.18
%
   
8.47
%
Portfolio turnover rate
   
31.69
%
   
48.92
%
   
36.59
%
   
44.81
%
   
38.13
%
   
63.66
%

(1)
Not annualized.
(2)
Total investment return calculation assumes reinvestment of dividends at actual prices pursuant to the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan. Total investment return does not reflect brokerage commissions.
(3)
The Adviser contractually waived a portion of its management and other fees equal to an annual rate of 0.275% of the Fund’s managed assets for a period of one year ended December 31, 2016.
(4)
Annualized for periods less than one full year.

See accompanying Notes to the Financial Statements.

10



Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund 2019 Semi-Annual Report

 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS


June 30, 2019 (Unaudited)

 

    SHARES   COST   FAIR
VALUE
Equities — 3.14%*:            
Common Stocks — 3.10%*:            
Boomerang Tube Holdings, Inc.¤   36,150   $3,510,832   $3,023,547
Fieldwood Energy LLC   167,574   4,057,567   5,027,220
Jupiter Resources Inc.+   1,171,624   5,662,542   3,075,513
Sabine Oil & Gas LLC   4,342   248,858   121,576
Templar Energy LLC¤   135,392   734,072   50,772
Templar Energy LLC¤   101,589   1,015,894   228,576
Total Common Stocks   1,616,671   15,229,765   11,527,204
             
Preferred Stocks — 0.03%*:            
Pinnacle Operating Corp.¤   1,368,352   643,125   123,152
Total Preferred Stocks   1,368,352   643,125   123,152
             
Warrants — 0.01%*:            
Appvion Holdings Corp.   12,892   137,280   6,446
Appvion Inc.   12,892     1,611
Sabine Oil & Gas LLC   13,521   60,669   40,563
Sabine Oil & Gas LLC   2,481   6,547   7,443
Total Warrants   41,786   204,496   56,063
             
Total Equities   3,026,809   16,077,386   11,706,419

 

    EFFECTIVE
INTEREST RATE ‡
  DUE DATE   PRINCIPAL   COST   FAIR
VALUE
Fixed Income — 133.91%*:                      
Asset-Backed Securities — 7.65%*:                      
CDO/CLO — 7.65%*:                      
Anchorage Capital CLO LTD 2015-6A, 3M                      
LIBOR + 6.350%^~   8.95 %   7/15/2030   600,000   $612,289   $579,073
Anchorage Capital CLO LTD 2016-9A ER, 3M                      
LIBOR + 6.410%^~   8.73     7/15/2032   1,500,000   1,455,000   1,454,777
Anchorage Capital CLO LTD 2016-9A, 3M                      
LIBOR + 7.250%^~   9.85     1/15/2029   1,500,000   1,538,895   1,499,895
BlueMountain CLO LTD 2018-23A, 3M                      
LIBOR + 5.650%^~   8.24     10/20/2031   1,000,000   1,000,000   933,976
Carbone CLO, LTD 2017-1A, 3M                      
LIBOR + 5.900%^~   8.49     1/20/2031   750,000   750,000   705,589
Carlyle Global Market Strategies 2013-3A, 3M                      
LIBOR + 7.750%^~   10.35     10/15/2030   1,000,000   1,000,000   880,221
Carlyle Global Market Strategies 2017-5A, 3M                      
LIBOR + 5.300%^~   7.89     1/20/2030   700,000   700,000   644,435
Cedar Funding LTD 2016-6A, 3M                      
LIBOR + 5.900%^~   8.49     10/20/2028   2,500,000   2,500,000   2,483,750

 

See accompanying Notes to the Financial Statements.



11



Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund 2019 Semi-Annual Report

 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)


June 30, 2019 (Unaudited)

 

    EFFECTIVE
INTEREST RATE ‡
  DUE DATE   PRINCIPAL   COST   FAIR
VALUE
Fixed Income (Continued)                      
Asset-Backed Securities (Continued)                      
CDO/CLO (Continued)                      
Galaxy CLO Ltd 2017-24A, 3M                      
LIBOR + 5.500%^~   8.10 %   1/15/2031   1,000,000   $1,000,000   $924,704
GoldenTree Loan Management 2018-3A, 3M                      
LIBOR + 6.500%^~   9.09     4/22/2030   1,500,000   1,420,383   1,270,841
GoldenTree Loan Opportunities XI Ltd                      
2015-11A, 3M LIBOR + 5.400%^~   8.00     1/18/2031   500,000   500,000   463,716
KKR Financial CLO Ltd 2017-20, 3M                      
LIBOR + 5.500%^~   8.10     10/16/2030   1,500,000   1,500,000   1,387,138
LCM LTD 2019-30, 3M LIBOR + 6.950%^~   9.52     4/21/2031   1,100,000   1,100,000   1,100,718
Madison Park Funding Ltd 2015-19A, 3M                      
LIBOR + 4.350%^~   6.94     1/22/2028   1,000,000   1,000,000   945,027
Madison Park Funding Ltd 2016-22, 3M                      
LIBOR + 6.650%^~   9.23     10/25/2029   1,000,000   1,024,014   989,866
Madison Park Funding Ltd 2016-24, 3M                      
LIBOR + 7.150%^~   9.74     1/20/2028   1,000,000   1,032,355   1,000,388
Madison Park Funding Ltd 2018-29A, 3M                      
LIBOR + 7.570%#^~   10.17     10/18/2030   2,000,000   1,960,000   1,830,224
Magnetite CLO LTD 2016-18A, 3M                      
LIBOR + 7.600%^~   10.12     11/15/2028   1,400,000   1,386,000   1,299,451
OHA Credit Partners LTD 2015-11A, 3M                      
LIBOR + 7.900%^~   10.49     1/20/2032   2,000,000   1,970,323   1,826,888
OHA Loan Funding LTD 2013-1A, 3M                      
LIBOR + 7.900%^~   10.49     7/23/2031   1,500,000   1,477,500   1,382,061
Sound Point CLO LTD 2017-4A, 3M                      
LIBOR + 5.500%^~   8.09     1/21/2031   2,000,000   2,000,000   1,830,462
Steele Creek CLO Ltd 2017-1A, 3M                      
LIBOR + 6.200%^~   8.80     1/15/2030   800,000   800,000   765,801
Wellfleet CLO Ltd 2017-3A, 3M                      
LIBOR + 5.550%^~   8.14     1/17/2031   1,500,000   1,500,000   1,348,378
Wind River CLO Ltd 2017-4A, 3M                      
LIBOR + 5.800%^~   8.32     11/20/2030   1,000,000   1,000,000   947,647
Total CDO/CLO             30,350,000   30,226,759   28,495,026
                       
Total Asset-Backed Securities             30,350,000   30,226,759   28,495,026
Bank Loans§ — 16.58%*:                      
Broadcasting and Entertainment — 1.19%*:                
Endemol, 3M LIBOR + 5.750%+~   8.35     8/11/2021   4,479,335   4,354,327   4,440,141
Total Broadcasting and Entertainment             4,479,335   4,354,327   4,440,141
                       
Cargo Transport — 0.79%*:                      
PS Logistics, 1M LIBOR + 4.750%~   7.15     3/6/2025   2,977,500   3,001,531   2,942,157
Total Cargo Transport             2,977,500   3,001,531   2,942,157

 

See accompanying Notes to the Financial Statements.



12

 


Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund 2019 Semi-Annual Report

 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)


June 30, 2019 (Unaudited)

 

    EFFECTIVE
INTEREST RATE ‡
  DUE DATE   PRINCIPAL   COST   FAIR
VALUE
Fixed Income (Continued)                      
Bank Loans (Continued)                      
Chemicals, Plastics and Rubber — 0.43%*:                      
Colouroz Investment 2 LLC, 3M                      
LIBOR + 7.250%+~   9.83 %   9/7/2022   2,033,201   $2,025,452   $1,585,897
Total Chemicals, Plastics and Rubber             2,033,201   2,025,452   1,585,897
                       
Diversified/Conglomerate Manufacturing — 0.94%*:                
Averys, 3M LIBOR + 8.250%+~   8.25     8/7/2026   500,000   571,943   568,550
Commercial Vehicle Group Inc., 1M                      
LIBOR + 6.000%~   8.40     4/12/2023   584,886   575,957   581,962
SunSource, Inc., 1M LIBOR + 8.000%~   10.40     4/30/2026   2,500,000   2,520,718   2,341,675
Total Diversified/Conglomerate Manufacturing             3,584,886   3,668,618   3,492,187
                       
Diversified/Conglomerate Service — 3.62%*:                      
Misys (Finastra), 3M LIBOR + 7.250%+~   9.65     6/16/2025   13,630,136   13,627,412   13,496,697
Total Diversified/Conglomerate Service             13,630,136   13,627,412   13,496,697
                       
Electronics — 1.41%*:                      
PowerSchool, 3M LIBOR + 6.750%~   9.32     7/31/2026   3,500,000   3,465,000   3,451,875
Veritas US Inc., 3M LIBOR + 4.500%~   6.89     1/27/2023   1,989,822   1,853,759   1,807,017
Total Electronics             5,489,822   5,318,759   5,258,892
                       
Healthcare, Education and Childcare — 3.17%*:                      
Argon Medical Devices, 1M LIBOR + 8.000%~   10.40     1/23/2026   8,179,057   8,256,043   8,035,924
ADVANZ PHARMA Corp., 1M LIBOR + 5.500%+~   7.91     9/6/2024   3,940,000   3,868,971   3,777,475
Total Healthcare, Education and Childcare             12,119,057   12,125,014   11,813,399
                       
Home and Office Furnishings, Housewares, and Durable Consumer Products — 0.93%*:        
Serta Simmons Beddings LLC, 1M                      
LIBOR + 8.000%~   10.39     11/8/2024   7,933,333   7,152,886   3,474,800
Total Home and Office Furnishings, Housewares, and Durable Consumer Products             7,933,333   7,152,886   3,474,800
                       
Insurance — 0.82%*:                      
Asurion, 1M LIBOR + 6.500%~   8.90     8/4/2025   3,000,000   3,069,867   3,039,390
Total Insurance             3,000,000   3,069,867   3,039,390
                       
Mining, Steel, Iron and Non-Precious Metals — 0.68%*:                      
Boomerang Tube, LLC, 3M LIBOR + 6.500%¤~   7.40     10/31/2021   2,540,684   2,540,684   2,540,684
Total Mining, Steel, Iron and Non-Precious Metals             2,540,684   2,540,684   2,540,684

 

See accompanying Notes to the Financial Statements.



13

 


Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund 2019 Semi-Annual Report

 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)


June 30, 2019 (Unaudited)

 

    EFFECTIVE
INTEREST RATE ‡
  DUE DATE   PRINCIPAL   COST   FAIR
VALUE
Fixed Income (Continued)                      
Bank Loans (Continued)                      
Oil and Gas — 2.60%*:                      
Fieldwood Energy LLC, 1M LIBOR + 5.250%~   7.65 %   4/11/2022   3,751,171   $3,532,551   $3,466,307
Fieldwood Energy LLC, 1M LIBOR + 7.250%~   9.65     4/11/2023   7,481,592   2,417,253   6,209,721
Total Oil and Gas             11,232,763   5,949,804   9,676,028
                       
Total Bank Loans             69,020,717   62,834,354   61,760,272
                       
Corporate Bonds — 109.68%*:                      
Aerospace and Defense — 1.17%*:                      
TransDigm Group, Inc.#^   7.50     3/15/2027   3,000,000   2,977,500   3,131,250
Triumph Group, Inc.#   7.75     8/15/2025   1,289,000   1,289,000   1,247,108
Total Automotive             4,289,000   4,266,500   4,378,358
                       
Automotive — 2.85%*:                      
Garrett Motion+^   5.13     10/15/2026   1,250,000   1,275,989   1,366,652
Power Solutions#^   8.50     5/15/2027   8,965,000   9,074,331   9,233,950
Total Aerospace and Defense             10,215,000   10,350,320   10,600,602
                       
Beverage, Food and Tobacco — 2.39%*:                      
Boparan Finance plc+^   5.50     7/15/2021   800,000   1,025,548   558,625
JBS S.A.#^   6.75     2/15/2028   2,886,000   2,886,000   3,134,917
Manitowoc Foodservice#   9.50     2/15/2024   3,074,000   3,244,000   3,327,605
Refresco Group N.V.+^   6.50     5/15/2026   1,600,000   1,931,967   1,886,149
Total Beverage, Food and Tobacco             8,360,000   9,087,515   8,907,296
                       
Broadcasting and Entertainment — 5.59%*:                      
Arqiva Broadcast+^   6.75     9/30/2023   4,950,000   6,338,979   6,753,896
Clear Channel Worldwide Holdings Inc.^   9.25     2/15/2024   642,000   642,000   696,570
Dish DBS Corp.#   7.75     7/1/2026   7,094,000   6,867,492   6,881,180
Intelsat Jackson Holdings Ltd.#^   9.75     7/15/2025   4,609,000   4,830,019   4,701,180
Intelsat Jackson Holdings Ltd.#^   8.50     10/15/2024   1,801,000   1,801,000   1,782,990
Total Broadcasting and Entertainment             19,096,000   20,479,490   20,815,816
                       
Buildings and Real Estate — 1.36%*:                      
Realogy Group#^   9.38     4/1/2027   5,763,000   5,938,309   5,049,829
Total Buildings and Real Estate             5,763,000   5,938,309   5,049,829
                       
Cargo Transport — 2.42%*:                      
Kenan Advantage#^   7.88     7/31/2023   10,000,000   10,049,856   9,000,000
Total Cargo Transport             10,000,000   10,049,856   9,000,000
                       
Chemicals, Plastics and Rubber — 6.99%*:                      
Carlyle Group#^   8.75     6/1/2023   3,000,000   2,970,300   2,947,500
Consolidated Energy Finance S.A.#^   6.88     6/15/2025   1,779,000   1,770,105   1,821,981
CVR Partners LP#^   9.25     6/15/2023   6,213,000   6,148,948   6,496,934

 

See accompanying Notes to the Financial Statements.



14

 


Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund 2019 Semi-Annual Report

 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)


June 30, 2019 (Unaudited)

 

    EFFECTIVE
INTEREST RATE ‡
  DUE DATE   PRINCIPAL   COST   FAIR
VALUE
Fixed Income (Continued)                      
Corporate Bonds (Continued)                      
Chemicals, Plastics and Rubber (Continued)                      
Diversey^   5.63 %   8/15/2025   1,500,000   $1,607,896   $1,415,690
Nouryon#+^   8.00     10/1/2026   4,214,000   4,227,908   4,329,885
Pinnacle Operating Corp.#^   9.00     5/15/2023   1,993,613   1,993,613   657,892
TPC Group, Inc.#^   8.75     12/15/2020   8,398,000   8,402,771   8,366,507
Total Chemicals, Plastics and Rubber             27,097,613   27,121,541   26,036,389
                       
Diversified/Conglomerate Manufacturing — 3.95%*:                
Manitowoc Cranes#^   9.00     4/1/2026   8,538,000   8,566,867   8,538,000
Truck Hero Inc.#^   8.50     4/21/2024   6,118,000   6,148,000   6,163,885
Total Diversified/Conglomerate Manufacturing             14,656,000   14,714,867   14,701,885
                       
Diversified/Conglomerate Service — 3.57%*:                
Algeco Scotsman+^   6.50     2/15/2023   1,750,000   2,130,120   2,076,388
ADT Corp/Protection One#^   9.25     5/15/2023   4,959,000   5,226,065   5,207,942
Carlson Travel Holdings Inc.#^   9.50     12/15/2024   6,040,000   6,051,838   6,024,900
Total Diversified/Conglomerate Service             12,749,000   13,408,023   13,309,230
                       
Electronics — 6.91%*:                      
International Wire Group Inc.#^   10.75     8/1/2021   7,389,000   7,095,724   7,497,988
TIBCO Software, Inc.#^   11.38     12/1/2021   2,915,000   3,067,570   3,097,187
Veritas Bermuda Ltd.#^   10.50     2/1/2024   17,684,000   14,891,899   15,164,030
Total Electronics             27,988,000   25,055,193   25,759,205
                       
Finance — 3.18%*:                      
Galaxy Finco Ltd.#+^   7.88     11/15/2021   4,450,000   7,060,906   5,549,573
GFKL Financial Services#+^   8.50     11/1/2022   4,925,000   6,893,301   5,610,308
GFKL Financial Services#+^   11.00     11/1/2023   650,000   894,237   679,600
Total Finance             10,025,000   14,848,444   11,839,481
                       
Healthcare, Education and Childcare — 15.18%*:                
Advanz Pharma Corp.+   8.00     9/6/2024   500,000   480,033   483,750
Avantor Performance Materials Holdings, Inc.#^   9.00     10/1/2025   5,180,000   5,274,476   5,775,700
Bausch Health Companies Inc.#^   9.00     12/15/2025   12,922,000   13,176,855   14,437,751
Bausch Health Companies Inc.#^   9.25     4/1/2026   3,397,000   3,397,000   3,800,564
Bausch Health Companies Inc.#^   8.50     1/31/2027   317,000   317,000   348,548
Endo International^   6.00     2/1/2025   4,500,000   3,651,917   3,015,000
Endo International#^   7.50     4/1/2027   1,890,000   1,890,000   1,856,925
Envision Healthcare Corp.#^   8.75     10/15/2026   14,064,000   13,086,887   9,809,640
Horizon Pharma plc#^   8.75     11/1/2024   1,595,000   1,596,933   1,711,116
Regionalcare Hospital Partners, Inc.#^   8.25     5/1/2023   9,996,000   10,070,397   10,639,492
Synlab+^   8.25     7/1/2023   2,000,000   2,527,264   2,372,719

 

See accompanying Notes to the Financial Statements.



15

 


 

Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund 2019 Semi-Annual Report

 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)

June 30, 2019 (Unaudited)

 

    EFFECTIVE
INTEREST RATE ‡
  DUE DATE   PRINCIPAL   COST   FAIR
VALUE
Fixed Income (Continued)                      
Corporate Bonds (Continued)                      
Healthcare, Education and Childcare (Continued)                      
Tenet Healthcare Corporation#   8.13 %   4/1/2022   1,700,000   $1,684,618   $1,782,875
Teva Pharmaceutical#+   6.75     3/1/2028   578,000   578,000   531,399
Total Healthcare, Education and Childcare             58,639,000   57,731,380   56,565,479
                       
Home and Office Furnishings, Housewares, and Durable Consumer Products — 1.26%*:                      
Balta#+^   7.75     9/15/2022   4,171,500   4,849,206   4,713,103
Total Home and Office Furnishings, Housewares, and Durable Consumer Products             4,171,500   4,849,206   4,713,103
                       
Hotels, Motels, Inns and Gaming — 2.60%*:                      
Boyne USA, Inc.#^   7.25     5/1/2025   950,000   950,000   1,028,375
Golden Nugget Inc.^   8.75     10/1/2025   5,000,000   5,262,500   5,262,500
TVL Finance Plc+^   8.50     5/15/2023   2,560,000   3,616,968   3,394,976
Total Hotels, Motels, Inns and Gaming             8,510,000   9,829,468   9,685,851
                       
Insurance — 2.10%*:                      
Acrisure LLC#^   8.13     2/15/2024   4,564,000   4,707,627   4,712,330
Onex York Acquisition Corp.#^   8.50     10/1/2022   3,794,000   3,192,395   3,120,565
Total Insurance             8,358,000   7,900,022   7,832,895
                       
Leisure, Amusement, Motion Pictures and Entertainment — 2.14%*:                      
Perform Group+^   8.50     11/15/2020   2,600,000   3,442,947   3,341,503
Thomas Cook+^   3.88     7/15/2023   150,000   120,683   61,403
Thomas Cook+^   6.25     6/15/2022   1,200,000   1,122,238   512,323
Vue Cinemas+^   7.88     7/15/2020   3,100,000   4,075,431   3,937,015
Vue Cinemas+^~   4.94     7/15/2020   100,000   112,901   113,653
Total Leisure, Amusement, Motion Pictures and Entertainment             7,150,000   8,874,200   7,965,897
                       
Machinery (Non-Agriculture, Non-Construct, Non-Electronic) — 2.55%*:                      
Apex Tool Group LLC#^   9.00     2/15/2023   10,627,000   10,379,028   9,484,598
Total Machinery (Non-Agriculture, Non-Construct, Non-Electronic)             10,627,000   10,379,028   9,484,598
                       
Mining, Steel, Iron and Non-Precious Metals — 13.97%*:                      
Alliance Resources Partners, L.P.#^   7.50     5/1/2025   764,000   764,000   802,200
Big River Steel LLC#^   7.25     9/1/2025   1,547,000   1,547,000   1,625,201
Consol Energy Inc.#^   11.00     11/15/2025   10,316,000   10,768,165   11,167,070
First Quantum Minerals#+^   7.25     4/1/2023   2,000,000   1,914,098   1,947,500
First Quantum Minerals#+^   7.50     4/1/2025   6,775,000   6,612,544   6,453,187
Hecla Mining Company#   6.88     5/1/2021   5,888,000   5,788,300   5,620,084
Kissner Milling Company Limited#+^   8.38     12/1/2022   6,475,000   6,467,387   6,734,000
Northwest Acquisitions ULC#+^   7.13     11/1/2022   16,122,000   12,072,283   11,124,180

 

See accompanying Notes to the Financial Statements.

 


16


Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund 2019 Semi-Annual Report

 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)

June 30, 2019 (Unaudited)

 

    EFFECTIVE
INTEREST RATE ‡
  DUE DATE   PRINCIPAL   COST   FAIR
VALUE
Fixed Income (Continued)                      
Corporate Bonds (Continued)                      
Mining, Steel, Iron and Non-Precious Metals (Continued)                      
SunCoke Energy Inc.#^   7.50 %   6/15/2025   5,743,000   $5,726,398   $5,606,604
Warrior Met Coal Inc.#^   8.00     11/1/2024   914,000   914,000   952,845
Total Mining, Steel, Iron and Non-Precious Metals             56,544,000   52,574,175   52,032,871
                       
Oil and Gas — 16.80%*:                      
Calumet Specialty Products#   7.63     1/15/2022   4,176,000   3,900,882   4,040,280
CGG Holdings+^   7.88     5/1/2023   2,400,000   2,879,281   2,915,980
CITGO Holding Inc.#^   10.75     2/15/2020   11,363,000   11,397,625   11,760,705
Enven Energy Ventures#^   11.00     2/15/2023   3,572,000   3,572,000   3,911,340
Ferrellgas Partners LP#   8.63     6/15/2020   6,068,000   6,053,092   4,459,980
Ferrellgas Partners LP#   8.63     6/15/2020   1,254,000   1,238,473   921,690
Globe Luxembourg SA#+^   9.88     4/1/2022   3,103,000   3,172,541   2,288,462
Globe Luxembourg SA#+^   9.63     4/1/2023   4,238,000   4,291,328   3,083,145
Jonah Energy LLC#^   7.25     10/15/2025   5,714,000   4,987,653   2,728,435
Pbf Holding Company LLC#   7.00     11/15/2023   1,000,000   997,500   1,037,510
Topaz Marine SA#+^   9.13     7/26/2022   8,500,000   8,500,000   8,523,562
Vine Oil & Gas#^   9.75     4/15/2023   17,662,000   15,254,830   11,436,145
Welltec#+^   9.50     12/1/2022   5,713,000   5,690,378   5,455,915
Total Oil and Gas             74,763,000   71,935,583   62,563,149
                       
Personal and Non Durable Consumer Products — 0.08%*:                      
High Ridge Brands Co.^   8.88     3/15/2025   2,982,000   2,982,000   283,290
Total Personal and Non Durable Consumer Products             2,982,000   2,982,000   283,290
                       
Personal Transportation — 1.15%*:                      
Hertz Corporation#^   7.63     6/1/2022   3,678,000   3,673,842   3,820,522
Naviera Armas, 3M EURIBOR + 6.500%+^~   6.50     7/31/2023   525,000   609,590   456,688
Total Personal Transportation             4,203,000   4,283,432   4,277,210
                       
Printing and Publishing — 0.57%*:                      
Cimpress N.V.#^   7.00     6/15/2026   2,069,000   2,069,000   2,110,359
Total Printing and Publishing             2,069,000   2,069,000   2,110,359
                       
Retail Store — 2.60%*:                      
Douglas GMBH+^   6.25     7/15/2022   775,000   767,772   827,884
EG Global Finance PLC#+^   6.75     2/7/2025   2,439,000   2,439,000   2,419,976
Ken Garff Automotive#^   7.50     8/15/2023   1,034,000   1,034,000   1,072,775
Maxeda DIY+^   6.13     7/15/2022   750,000   855,530   844,723
Travelex#+^   8.00     5/15/2022   4,000,000   4,421,260   4,532,663
Total Retail Store             8,998,000   9,517,562   9,698,021

 

See accompanying Notes to the Financial Statements.

 


17


Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund 2019 Semi-Annual Report

 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)

June 30, 2019 (Unaudited)

 

    EFFECTIVE
INTEREST RATE ‡
  DUE DATE   PRINCIPAL   COST   FAIR
VALUE
Fixed Income (Continued)                      
Corporate Bonds (Continued)                      
Telecommunications — 6.16%*:                      
Altice S.A.#+^   9.00 %   6/15/2023   3,150,000   $4,080,983   $3,724,567
Commscope Inc.^   8.25     3/1/2027   9,673,000   9,798,899   9,865,009
Digicel Limited#+^   8.25     9/30/2020   2,500,000   2,479,186   1,815,650
Sprint Capital Corp.#   8.75     3/15/2032   6,500,000   6,845,240   7,523,750
Total Telecommunications             21,823,000   23,204,308   22,928,976
                       
Utilities — 2.14%*:                      
Nordex+^   6.50     2/1/2023   1,950,000   2,421,789   2,239,395
NRG Energy#   7.25     5/15/2026   1,385,000   1,390,107   1,525,231
Techem+^   6.00     7/30/2026   3,500,000   3,985,821   4,222,462
Total Utilities             6,835,000   7,797,717   7,987,088
Total Corporate Bonds             425,911,113   429,247,139   408,526,878
Total Fixed Income             525,281,830   522,308,252   498,782,176
Total Investments             528,308,639   538,385,638   510,488,595
                       
Other assets and liabilities — (37.05)%                     (137,999,109)
                       
Net Assets — 100%
                    $372,489,486

 


The effective interest rates are based on settled commitment amount.

* Calculated as a percentage of net assets applicable to common shareholders.

¤ Value determined using significant unobservable inputs, security is categorized as Level 3.

+ Foreign security.

^ Security exempt from registration under Rule 144a of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may only be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers.

~ Variable rate security. The interest rate shown is the rate in effect at June 30, 2019.

# All or a portion of the security is segregated as collateral for the credit facility.

§ Bank loans are exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, but contain certain restrictions on resale and cannot be sold publicly. These loans pay interest at rates which adjust periodically. The interest rates shown for bank loans are the current interest rates at June 30, 2019. Bank loans are also subject to mandatory and/or optional prepayment which cannot be predicted. As a result, the remaining maturity may be substantially less than the stated maturity shown.

 

See accompanying Notes to the Financial Statements.

 


18


Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund 2019 Semi-Annual Report

 

SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)


June 30, 2019 (Unaudited)

 

Distributions of investments by country of risk. Percentage of assets are expressed by market value excluding cash and accrued income as of June 30, 2019.

 

United States   71.6%
United Kingdom   11.9%
Canada   4.1%
Netherlands   2.3%
Germany   2.2%
Azerbaijan   1.7%
Zambia   1.6%
France   1.1%
Denmark   1.1%
(Individually less than 1%)   2.4%
    100.0%

 

A summary of outstanding derivatives at June 30, 2019 is as follows:

 

Schedule of Open Forward Currency Contracts

 

June 30, 2019 (Unaudited)

 

                FORWARD UNREALIZED
CURRENCY TO BE     CURRENCY TO BE       COUNTERPARTY OF   SETTLEMENT APPRECIATION/
RECEIVED     DELIVERED(1)       CONTRACT   DATE (DEPRECIATION)
38,345,362   USD (38,499,576)   EUR   JP MORGAN CHASE SECURITIES INC.   7/15/2019    $ (154,214 )
30,155,140   USD (30,172,584)   GBP   JP MORGAN CHASE SECURITIES INC.   7/15/2019     (17,443 )
                       $ (171,657 )

 

(1)

Values are listed in U.S. dollars.

 

See accompanying Notes to the Financial Statements.

 


19


 

Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund 2019 Semi-Annual Report

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
June 30, 2019 (Unaudited)

1.
Organization

Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund (the “Fund”) was organized as a business trust under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on May 20, 2011, and commenced operations on October 26, 2012. The Fund is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as a diversified, closed-end management investment company.

Barings LLC (the “Adviser”), a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, is a registered investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and serves as investment adviser to the Fund.

Baring International Investment Limited (the “Sub-Adviser”), an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Adviser, serves as sub-adviser with respect to the Fund’s European investments.

The Fund’s primary investment objective is to seek as high a level of current income as the Adviser determines is consistent with capital preservation. The Fund seeks capital appreciation as a secondary investment objective when consistent with its primary investment objective. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objectives. The Fund seeks to take advantage of inefficiencies between geographies, primarily the North American and Western European high yield bond and loan markets and within capital structures between bonds and loans. Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its Managed Assets in bonds, loans and other income-producing instruments that are, at the time of purchase, rated below investment grade (below Baa3 by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or below BBB- by either Standard & Poor’s Rating Services, a division of the McGraw-Hill Company, Inc. (“S&P”) or Fitch, Inc. (“Fitch”), or unrated but judged by the Adviser or Sub-Adviser to be of comparable quality).

2.
Significant Accounting Policies

The Fund is an investment company and follows accounting and reporting guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed consistently by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”).

A. Valuation of Investments

The Fund’s investments in fixed income securities are generally valued using the prices provided directly by independent third party services or provided directly from one or more broker dealers or market makers, each in accordance with the valuation policies and procedures approved by the Fund’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”).

The pricing services may use valuation models or matrix pricing, which consider yield or prices with respect to comparable bond quotations from bond dealers or by reference to other securities that are considered comparable in such characteristics as credit rating, interest rates and maturity date, to determine the current value. The closing prices of domestic or foreign securities may not reflect their market values at the time the Fund calculates its NAV if an event that materially affects the value of those securities has occurred since the closing prices were established on the domestic or foreign exchange market, but before the Fund’s NAV calculation. Under certain conditions, the Board has approved an independent pricing service to fair value foreign securities. This is generally accomplished by adjusting the closing price for movements in correlated indices, securities or derivatives. Fair value pricing may cause the value of the security on the books of the Fund to be different from the closing value on the non-U.S. exchange and may affect the calculation of the Fund’s NAV. The Fund may fair value securities in other situations, for example, when a particular foreign market is closed but the Fund is pricing their shares.

The Fund’s investments in bank loans are normally valued at the bid quotation obtained from dealers in loans by an independent pricing service in accordance with the Fund’s valuation policies and procedures approved by the Board.

Forward foreign exchange contracts are normally valued on the basis of independent pricing service providers. A Valuation Committee, made up of officers of the Fund and employees of the Adviser, is responsible for determining, in accordance with the Fund’s valuation policies and procedures approved by the Board: (1) whether market quotations are readily available for investments held by the Fund; and (2) the fair value of investments held by the Fund for which market quotations are not readily available or are deemed not reliable by the Adviser. In certain cases, authorized pricing service vendors may not provide prices for a security held by the Fund, or the price provided by such


20

Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund 2019 Semi-Annual Report

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
June 30, 2019 (Unaudited)

pricing service vendor is deemed unreliable by the Adviser. In such cases, the Fund may use market maker quotations provided by an established market maker for that security (i.e. broker quotes) to value the security if the Adviser has experience obtaining quotations from the market maker and the Adviser determines that quotations obtained from the market maker in the past have generally been reliable (or, if the Adviser has no such experience with respect to a market maker, it determines based on other information available to it that quotations obtained by it from the market maker are reasonably likely to be reliable). In any such case, the Adviser will review any market quotations so obtained in light of other information in its possession for their general reliability.

Bank loans in which the Fund may invest have similar risks to lower-rated fixed income securities. Changes in the financial condition of the borrower or economic conditions or other circumstances may reduce the capacity of the borrower to make principal and interest payments on such instruments and may lead to defaults. Senior secured bank loans are supported by collateral; however, the value of the collateral may be insufficient to cover the amount owed to the Fund. By relying on a third party to administer a loan, the Fund is subject to the risk that the third party will fail to perform it obligations. The loans in which the Fund will invest are largely floating rate instruments; therefore, the interest rate risk generally is lower than for fixed-rate debt obligations. However, from the perspective of the borrower, an increase in interest rates may adversely affect the borrower’s financial condition. Due to the unique and customized nature of loan agreements evidencing loans and the private syndication thereof, loans are not as easily purchased or sold as publicly traded securities. Although the range of investors in loans has broadened in recent years, there can be no assurance that future levels of supply and demand in loan trading will provide the degree of liquidity which currently exists in the market. In addition, the terms of the loans may restrict their transferability without borrower consent. These factors may have an adverse effect on the market price and the Fund’s ability to dispose of particular portfolio investments. A less liquid secondary market also may make it more difficult for the Fund to obtain precise valuations of the high yield loans in its portfolio.

The Fund may invest in collateralized debt obligations (“CDOs”), which include collateralized bond obligations (“CBOs”) and collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”).

CBOs and CLOs are types of asset-backed securities. A CDO is an entity that is backed by a diversified pool of debt securities (CBOs) or syndicated bank loans (CLOs). The cash flows of the CDO can be split into multiple segments, called “tranches,” which will vary in risk profile and yield. The riskiest segment is the subordinated or “equity” tranche. This tranche bears the greatest risk of defaults from the underlying assets in the CDO and serves to protect the other, more senior, tranches from default in all but the most severe circumstances. Since it is shielded from defaults by the more junior tranches, a “senior” tranche will typically have higher credit ratings and lower yields than their underlying securities, and often receive investment grade ratings from one or more of the nationally recognized rating agencies. Despite the protection from the more junior tranches, senior tranches can experience substantial losses due to actual defaults, increased sensitivity to future defaults and the disappearance of one or more protecting tranches as a result of changes in the credit profile of the underlying pool of assets.

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. A three-tier hierarchy is utilized to maximize the use of observable market data and minimize the use of unobservable inputs and to establish classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. Inputs refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk. For example, market participants would consider the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value, such as a pricing model, and/or the risk inherent in the inputs to the valuation technique. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs are inputs that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability and are developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability and are developed based on the best information available in the circumstances. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized in the three broad levels listed below.

Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical securities


21

Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund 2019 Semi-Annual Report

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
June 30, 2019 (Unaudited)

Level 2 – other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)

Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The availability of observable inputs can vary from security to security and is affected by a wide variety of factors, including, for example, the type of security, whether the security is new and not yet established in the marketplace, the liquidity of markets, and other characteristics particular to the security. To the extent that valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgment. Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3.

The inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement falls in its entirety is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.

The following is a summary of the inputs used as of June 30, 2019 in valuing the Fund’s investments:

DESCRIPTION
 
LEVEL 1
   
LEVEL 2
   
LEVEL 3
 
TOTAL INVESTMENTS
                         
Assets:
                       
Equities:
                       
Common Stocks
 
$
   
$
8,224,309
   
$
3,302,895
   
$
11,527,204
 
Preferred Stocks
   
     
     
123,152
     
123,152
 
Warrants
   
     
56,063
     
     
56,063
 
Total Equities:
 
$
   
$
8,280,372
   
$
3,426,047
   
$
11,706,419
 
                                 
Fixed Income:
                               
Asset-Backed Securities
 
$
   
$
28,495,026
   
$
   
$
28,495,026
 
Bank Loans
   
     
59,219,588
     
2,540,684
     
61,760,272
 
Corporate Bonds
   
     
408,526,878
     
     
408,526,878
 
Total Fixed Income
 
$
   
$
496,241,492
   
$
2,540,684
   
$
498,782,176
 
Total Assets
 
$
   
$
504,521,864
   
$
5,966,731
   
$
510,488,595
 
                                 
Liabilities:
                               
Foreign Exchange Contracts
 
$
   
$
171,657
   
$
   
$
171,657
 
Total Liabilities:
 
$
   
$
171,657
   
$
   
$
171,657
 


22

Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund 2019 Semi-Annual Report

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
June 30, 2019 (Unaudited)

The following table is a summary of quantitative information about significant unobservable valuation inputs for Level 3 fair value measurement for investments held as of June 30, 2019:

TYPE OF ASSETS
 
FAIR VALUE AS OF
JUNE 30, 2019
 
VALUATION
TECHNIQUE(S)
UNOBSERVABLE INPUT
                  
Equities
               
Boomerang Tube Holdings, Inc.
   
$
3,023,547
   
Model Price
Average Enterprise Valuation Multiple: 5 year projection, 5.5x; EBITDA: $42.0 million, 15% discount rate.
Pinnacle Operating Corp.
   
$
123,152
   
Broker Quote
$0.10; Broker Quote depth of 1.
Templar Energy LLC
   
$
50,772
   
Broker Quote
$0.48; Broker Quote depth of 1.
Templar Energy LLC
   
$
228,576
   
Broker Quote
$2.38; Broker Quote depth of 1.
Second Lien Term Loans
                 
Boomerang Tube, LLC
   
$
2,540,684
   
Model Price
Average Enterprise Valuation Multiple: 5 year projection, 5.5x; EBITDA: $42.0 million, 15% discount rate.

Boomerang Tube, LLC restructured its debt securities on November 1, 2018. The Fund subsequently received new debt and equity securities, all of which are considered Level 3.

Although the Fund believes the valuation methods described above are appropriate, the use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine fair value could result in different estimates of fair value at the reporting date.

The Fund discloses transfers between levels based on valuations at the end of the reporting period. The following is a reconciliation of Level 3 investments based upon the inputs used to determine fair value:

 
BALANCE
AT
DECEMBER 31,
2018
TRANSFERS
INTO
LEVEL 3
TRANSFERS
OUT OF
LEVEL 3
PURCHASES
SALES
ACCRETION
OF
DISCOUNT
 
REALIZED
GAIN /
(LOSS)
CHANGE
IN
UNREALIZED
BALANCE
AT
JUNE 30,
2019
CHANGE IN
UNREALIZED
APPRECIATION /
(DEPRECIATION)
FROM
INVESTMENTS
HELD AS OF
JUNE 30,
2019
                     
Equities
                                                           
Common Stocks
 
$
4,000,008
   
$
0
   
(187,528
)
 
$
150,190
   
$
0
   
$
0
   
$
0
   
(659,775
)
 
$
3,302,895
   
(659,775
)
Preferred Stocks
 
$
136,835
   
$
0
   
$
0
   
$
0
   
$
0
   
$
0
   
$
0
   
(13,683
)
 
$
123,152
   
(13,683
)
Warrants
 
$
20,268
   
$
0
   
(20,268
)
 
$
0
   
$
0
   
$
0
   
$
0
   
$
0
   
$
0
   
$
0
 
Total Equities
 
$
4,157,111
   
$
0
   
(207,796
)
 
$
150,190
   
$
0
   
$
0
   
$
0
   
(673,458
)
 
$
3,426,047
   
(673,458
)
Fixed Income Bank Loans
 
$
2,540,684
   
$
0
   
$
0
   
$
0
   
$
0
   
$
0
   
$
0
   
$
0
   
$
2,540,684
   
$
0
 
Total Fixed Income
 
$
2,540,684
   
$
0
   
$
0
   
$
0
   
$
0
   
$
0
   
$
0
   
$
0
   
$
2,540,684
   
$
0
 
Total
 
$
6,697,795
   
$
0
   
(207,796
)
 
$
150,190
   
$
0
   
$
0
   
$
0
   
(673,458
)
 
$
5,966,731
   
(673,458
)


23

Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund 2019 Semi-Annual Report

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
June 30, 2019 (Unaudited)


B. 
Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents consist principally of short term investments that are readily convertible into cash and have original maturities of three months or less. At June 30, 2019, all cash and cash equivalents are held by U.S. Bank, N.A.


C. 
Investment Transactions, Related Investment Income and Expenses

Investment transactions are accounted for on a trade-date basis. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis, including the amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts on bonds held using the yield-to-maturity method.

Interest income from securitized investments in which the Fund has a beneficial interest, such as the “equity” security class of a CLO vehicle (typically in the form of income or subordinated notes), is recorded upon receipt. The accrual of interest income related to these types of securities is periodically reviewed and adjustments are made as necessary.

Realized gains and losses on investment transactions and unrealized appreciation and depreciation of investments are reported for financial statement and Federal income tax purposes on the identified cost method.

Expenses are recorded on the accrual basis as incurred.


D. 
Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.


E. 
Federal Income Taxation

The Fund has elected to be taxed as a Regulated Investment Company (“RIC”) under sub-chapter M of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and intends to maintain this qualification and to distribute substantially all of its net taxable income to its shareholders.


F.
Dividends and Distributions

The Fund declares and pays dividends monthly from net investment income. To the extent that these distributions exceed net investment income, they may be classified as return of capital. The Fund also pays a distribution at least annually from its net realized capital gains, if any. Dividends and distributions are recorded on the ex-dividend date. All common shares have equal dividend and other distribution rights. A notice disclosing the source(s) of a distribution will be provided if payment is made from any source other than net investment income. Any such notice would be provided only for informational purposes in order to comply with the requirements of Section 19(a) of the 1940 Act and not for tax reporting purposes. The tax composition of the Fund’s distributions for each calendar year is reported on Internal Revenue Service Form 1099-DIV.

Dividends from net investment income and distributions from realized gains from investment transactions have been determined in accordance with Federal income tax regulations and may differ from net investment income and realized gains recorded by the Fund for financial reporting purposes. These differences, which could be temporary or permanent in nature may result in reclassification of distributions; however, net investment income, net realized gains and losses, and net assets are not affected.


G. 
Derivative Instruments

The following is a description of the derivative instruments that the Fund utilizes as part of its investment strategy, including the primary underlying risk exposures related to the instrument.

Forward Foreign Exchange Contracts – The Fund is subject to foreign currency exchange rate risk in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives. The Fund transacted in and currently holds forward foreign exchange contracts to hedge against changes in the value of foreign currencies. The Fund entered into forward foreign exchange contracts obligating the Fund to deliver or receive a currency at a specified future date. Forward foreign exchange contracts are valued daily and unrealized appreciation or depreciation is recorded daily as the difference between the contract exchange rate and the closing forward rate applied to the face amount of the contract. A realized gain or loss is recorded at the time the forward contract expires. Credit risk may arise as a result of the failure of the counterparty to comply with the terms of the contract. The Fund considers the creditworthiness of each counterparty to a contract in evaluating potential credit risk quarterly. The Fund is also subject to credit risk with respect to the counterparties to


24

Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund 2019 Semi-Annual Report

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
June 30, 2019 (Unaudited)

the derivative contracts which are not cleared through a central counterparty but instead are traded over-the-counter between two counterparties. If a counterparty to an over-the-counter derivative becomes bankrupt or otherwise fails to perform its obligations under a derivative contract due to financial difficulties, the Fund may experience significant delays in obtaining any recovery under the derivative contract in a bankruptcy or other reorganization proceeding. The Fund may obtain only a limited recovery or may obtain no recovery in such circumstances. The counterparty risk for cleared derivatives is generally lower than for uncleared over-the-counter derivative transactions since generally a clearing organization becomes substituted for each counterparty to a cleared derivative contract and, in effect, guarantees the parties’ performance under the contract as each party to a trade looks only to the clearing house for performance of financial obligations. However, there can be no assurance that the clearing house, or its members, will satisfy its obligations to the Fund. In addition, in the event of a bankruptcy of a clearing house, the Fund could experience a loss of the funds deposited with such clearing house as margin and any profits on its open positions. The counterparty risk to the Fund is limited to the net unrealized gain, if any, on the contract.

The use of forward foreign exchange contracts does not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the Fund’s investment securities; however, it does establish a rate of exchange that can be achieved in the future. The use of forward foreign exchange contracts involves the risk that anticipated currency movements will not be accurately predicted. A forward foreign exchange contract would limit the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of a particular currency; however, it would also limit any potential gain that might result should the value of the currency increase instead of decrease. These contracts may involve market risk in excess of the amount of receivable or payable reflected on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

The Fund recognized a liability on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as a result of forward foreign exchange contracts with J.P. Morgan, The Bank of New York Mellon, and Morgan Stanley. The Fund’s policy is to recognize an asset equal to the net value of all forward foreign exchange contracts with an unrealized gain and a liability equal to the net value of all forward foreign exchange contracts with an unrealized loss. The Fund has recognized a liability of $730,196 in net unrealized depreciation on forward foreign exchange contracts. Outstanding forward foreign exchange contracts as of June 30, 2019 are indicative of the volume of activity during the period.

For the six months ended June 30, 2019, the Fund’s direct investment in derivatives consisted of forward foreign exchange contracts.

The following is a summary of the fair value of derivative instruments held directly by the Fund as of June 30, 2019. These derivatives are presented in the Schedule of Investments.

Fair values of derivative instruments on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as of June 30, 2019:

DERIVATIVES
STATEMENT OF ASSETS
AND LIABILITIES
LOCATION
 
FAIR
VALUE
 
Liability Derivatives
       
Forward Foreign
       
Exchange
       
Contracts
Unrealized Depreciation
 
$
171,657
 
Total Liability
         
Derivatives
   
$
171,657
 

The effect of derivative instruments on the Statement of Operations for the year ended June 30, 2019:

Amount of Realized Gain/(Loss) on Derivatives

 
FORWARD FOREIGN
EXCHANGE CONTRACTS
Derivatives
     
Forward Foreign Exchange
     
Contracts
 
$
768,324
 
Total
 
$
768,324
 

Change in Unrealized Appreciation/(Depreciation) on Derivatives

 
FORWARD FOREIGN
EXCHANGE CONTRACTS
Derivatives
     
Forward Foreign Exchange
     
Contracts
 
$
558,539
 
Total
 
$
558,539
 


25

Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund 2019 Semi-Annual Report

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
June 30, 2019 (Unaudited)


H. 
Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities

The following is a summary by counterparty of the fair value of derivative investments subject to Master Netting Agreements and collateral pledged (received), if any, as of June 30, 2019.

 
J.P. MORGAN
Liabilities:
     
Forward foreign exchange contracts
 
$
171,657
 
Total Liabilities
 
$
171,657
 
Net Exposure
 
$
(171,657
)

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2011-11 “Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities” (“ASU 2011-11”). These disclosure requirements are intended to help better assess the effect or potential effect of offsetting arrangements on a Fund’s financial position. In addition, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2013-01 “Clarifying the Scope of Offsetting Assets and Liabilities” (“ASU 2013-01”), specifying which transactions are subject to disclosures about offsetting. In order to better define its contractual rights and to secure rights that will help the Fund mitigate its counterparty risk, the Fund may enter into an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreement (“ISDA Master Agreement”) or similar agreement with its counterparties. An ISDA Master Agreement is a bilateral agreement between the Fund and a counterparty that governs certain OTC derivatives and typically contains, among other things, collateral posting terms and netting provisions in the event of a default and/or termination event. Under an ISDA Master Agreement, the Fund may, under certain circumstances, offset with the counterparty certain derivative financial instruments’ payables and/or receivables with collateral held and/or posted and create one single net payment. The provisions of the ISDA Master Agreement typically permit a single net payment in the event of default including the bankruptcy or insolvency of the counterparty. Bankruptcy or insolvency laws of a particular jurisdiction may restrict or prohibit the right of offset in bankruptcy, insolvency or other events. In addition, certain ISDA Master Agreements allow counterparties to terminate derivative contracts prior to maturity in the event the Fund’s net assets decline by a stated percentage or the Fund fails to meet the terms of its ISDA Master Agreements. The result would cause the Fund to accelerate payment of any net liability owed to the counterparty.

For derivatives traded under an ISDA Master Agreement, the collateral requirements are typically calculated by netting the mark to market amount for each transaction under such agreement and comparing that amount to the value of any collateral currently pledged by the Fund and the counterparty.

Cash collateral that has been pledged to cover obligations of the Fund and cash collateral received from the counterparty, if any, is reported separately on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as cash collateral held at broker or cash collateral due to broker, respectively. Non-cash collateral pledged by or received by the Fund, if any, is noted in the Schedule of Investments. Generally, the amount of collateral due from or to a party has to exceed a minimum transfer amount threshold before a transfer is required, which is determined each day at the close of business of the Fund, typically based on changes in market values for each transaction under an ISDA Master Agreement and netted into one amount for such agreement and any additional required collateral is delivered to/pledged by the Fund on the next business day. Typically, the Fund and counterparties are not permitted to sell, re-pledge or use the collateral they receive. To the extent amounts due to the Fund from its counterparties are not fully collateralized, contractually or otherwise, the Fund bears the risk of loss from counterparty non-performance. The Fund attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties that they believe have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties.


I.
Foreign Securities

Investing in securities of foreign companies and foreign governments involves special risks and considerations not typically associated with investing in U.S. companies and the U.S. government. These risks include valuation of currencies and adverse political and economic developments. Moreover, securities of many foreign companies, foreign governments, and their markets may be less liquid and their prices more volatile than those of securities of comparable U.S. companies and the U.S. government.


J.
Foreign Currency Translation

The books and records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Foreign currency transactions are translated into U.S. dollars on the following basis: (i) market value of investment securities, assets and liabilities at the daily


26

Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund 2019 Semi-Annual Report

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
June 30, 2019 (Unaudited)

rates of exchange, and (ii) purchases and sales of investment securities, dividend and interest income and certain expenses at the rates of exchange prevailing on the respective dates of such transactions. For financial reporting purposes, the Fund does not isolate changes in the exchange rate of investment securities from the fluctuations arising from changes in the market prices of securities. However, for Federal income tax purposes, the Fund does isolate and treat as ordinary income the effect of changes in foreign exchange rates on realized gain or loss from the sale of investment securities and payables and receivables arising from trade-date and settlement-date differences.


K. 
Counterparty Risk

The Fund seeks to manage counterparty credit risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties the Adviser believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations. The Adviser monitors the financial stability of the Fund’s counterparties.


L. 
Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities

The FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2011-11 “Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities” (“ASU 2011-11”). These disclosure requirements are intended to help better assess the effect or potential effect of offsetting arrangements on a Fund’s financial position. In addition, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2013-01 “Clarifying the Scope of Offsetting Assets and Liabilities” (“ASU 2013-01”), specifying which transactions are subject to disclosures about offsetting. In order to better define its contractual rights and to secure rights that will help the Fund mitigate its counterparty risk, the Fund may enter into an International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. Master Agreement (“ISDA Master Agreement”) or similar agreement with its counterparties. An ISDA Master Agreement is a bilateral agreement between the Fund and a counterparty that governs certain OTC derivatives and typically contains, among other things, collateral posting terms and netting provisions in the event of a default and/or termination event. Under an ISDA Master Agreement, the Fund may, under certain circumstances, offset with the counterparty certain derivative financial instruments’ payables and/or receivables with collateral held and/or posted and create one single net payment. The provisions of the ISDA Master Agreement typically permit a single net payment in the event of default including the bankruptcy or insolvency of the counterparty. Bankruptcy or insolvency laws of a particular jurisdiction may restrict or prohibit the right of offset in bankruptcy, insolvency or other events. In addition, certain ISDA Master Agreements allow counterparties to terminate derivative contracts prior to maturity in the event the Fund’s net assets decline by a stated percentage or the Fund fails to meet the terms of its ISDA Master Agreements. The result would cause the Fund to accelerate payment of any net liability owed to the counterparty.

For derivatives traded under an ISDA Master Agreement, the collateral requirements are typically calculated by netting the mark to market amount for each transaction under such agreement and comparing that amount to the value of any collateral currently pledged by the Fund and the counterparty.

Cash collateral that has been pledged to cover obligations of the Fund and cash collateral received from the counterparty, if any, is reported separately on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities as cash collateral held at broker or cash collateral due to broker, respectively. Non-cash collateral pledged by or received by the Fund, if any, is noted in the Schedule of Investments. Generally, the amount of collateral due from or to a party has to exceed a minimum transfer amount threshold before a transfer is required, which is determined each day at the close of business of the Fund, typically based on changes in market values for each transaction under an ISDA Master Agreement and netted into one amount for such agreement and any additional required collateral is delivered to/pledged by the Fund on the next business day. Typically, the Fund and counterparties are not permitted to sell, re-pledge or use the collateral they receive. To the extent amounts due to the Fund from its counterparties are not fully collateralized, contractually or otherwise, the Fund bears the risk of loss from counterparty non-performance. The Fund attempts to mitigate counterparty risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties that they believe have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties.


M. 
New Accounting Pronouncements

As of November 5, 2018, pursuant to the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Release #33-10532 “Disclosure Update and Simplification”, the Fund has adopted the amendments pertinent to Regulation S-X in this report. The amendments impacted certain disclosure presentation on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities, Statements of Changes in Nett Assets and Notes to the Financial Statements.


27

Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund 2019 Semi-Annual Report

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
June 30, 2019 (Unaudited)

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, “Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820: Disclosure Framework –Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement”. ASU 2018-13 eliminates the requirement to disclose the amount of and reasons for transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, the timing of transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy and the valuation processes for Level 3 fair value measurements. ASU 2018-13 will require the need to disclose the range and weighted average used to develop significant unobservable inputs for Level 3 fair value measurements and the changes in unrealized gains and losses for recurring Level 3 fair value measurements. ASU 2018-13 will also require that information is provided about the measurement uncertainty of Level 3 fair value measurements as of the reporting date. The guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019 and allows for early adoption of either the entire standard or only the provisions that eliminate or modify the requirements. The Fund has elected to early adopt the provisions that eliminate disclosure requirements. Management is still currently evaluating the impact of applying the rest of the guidance to the Fund.

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-08, Receivables – Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs (Subtopic 310-20): Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities, which amends the amortization period for certain purchased callable debt securities. Under ASU 2017-08, the premium amortization of purchased callable debt securities that have explicit, non-contingent call features and are callable at fixed prices will be amortized to the earliest call date. ASU 2017-08 will be applied on a modified retrospective basis and is effective for fiscal years, and their interim periods, beginning after December 15, 2018. Management is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance to the Fund.

3.
Advisory Fee

The Fund has entered into an Investment Management Agreement (the “Agreement”) with the Adviser, a related party. Pursuant to the Agreement, the Fund has agreed to pay the Adviser a fee payable at the end of each calendar month, at an annual rate of 1.00% of the Fund’s average daily managed assets during such month. Managed assets are the total assets of the Fund, which include any assets attributable to leverage such as assets attributable to reverse repurchase agreements, or bank loans, minus the sum of the Fund’s accrued liabilities (other than liabilities incurred for the purpose of leverage).

Subject to the supervision of the Adviser and the Board, the Sub-Adviser manages the investment and reinvestment of a portion of the assets of the Fund, as allocated from time to time. As compensation for its services, the Adviser (not the Fund) pays the Sub-Adviser a portion of the investment management fee it receives from the Fund, in an amount in U.S. dollars equal to 35% of such investment management fee (“Sub-Advisory Fee”).

4.
Administrator Fee

The Fund has engaged U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, d/b/a U.S. Bank Global Fund Services (“Fund Services”) to serve as the Fund’s administrator, fund accountant, and transfer agent. The Fund has engaged U.S. Bank, N.A. to serve as the Fund’s custodian. The Fund has agreed to pay Fund Services a fee payable at the end of each calendar month, at an annual rate of 0.075% of the Fund’s average daily managed assets.

5.
Income Taxes

It is the Fund’s intention to qualify as a RIC under sub-chapter M of the Internal Revenue Code and distribute all of its taxable income. Accordingly, no provision for federal income taxes is required in the financial statements.

The tax character of dividends paid to shareholders during the tax years ended in 2018 and 2017, as noted below, was as follows:

   
2018
   
2017
 
Ordinary Income
 
$
35,670,878
   
$
32,762,778
 
Net Long Term Capital Gains
   
     
 
Return of Capital
   
     
4,159,710
 
Total Distributions Paid
 
$
35,670,878
   
$
36,922,488
 

The amount and character of income and capital gain distributions to be paid, if any, are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP.


28

Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund 2019 Semi-Annual Report

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
June 30, 2019 (Unaudited)

The following information is provided on a tax basis as of December 31, 2018:

Cost of investments
 
$
552,363,741
 
Unrealized appreciation
   
9,151,103
 
Unrealized depreciation
   
(50,355,616
)
Net unrealized appreciation/ (depreciation)
   
(41,204,513
)
Undistributed ordinary income
   
2,101,443
 
Undistributed long term gains
   
 
Distributable earnings
   
2,101,443
 
Other accumulated gain/(loss)
   
(62,964,364
)
Total accumulated gain/(loss)
   
(102,067,434
)

The capital loss carryforward is available to offset future taxable income. The Fund has the following capital loss amounts:

EXPIRING DECEMBER 31,

2018
 
2019
   
2020
   
UNLIMITED –
SHORT TERM
   
UNLIMITED –
LONG TERM
 
$

 
$
   
$
   
$
12,613,356
   
$
50,350,829
 

The Fund recognizes the tax benefits of uncertain tax positions only where the position is “more likely than not” to be sustained assuming examination by tax authorities. Management has analyzed the Fund’s tax positions, and has concluded that no liability for unrecognized tax benefits should be recorded related to uncertain tax positions taken on U.S. tax returns and state tax returns filed since inception of the Fund. No income tax returns are currently under examination. All tax years since commencement of operations remain subject to examination by the tax authorities in the U.S. Due to the nature of the Fund’s investments, the Fund may be required to file income tax returns in several states. The Fund is not aware of any tax positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will change materially in the next 12 months.

6.
Investment Transactions

For the six months ended June 30, 2019, the Fund purchased (at cost) and sold securities in the amount of $166,653,265 and $171,985,704 (excluding short-term debt securities), respectively.

7.
Credit Facility

On November 8, 2012, the Fund entered into a $200,000,000 credit facility with BNP Paribas Prime Brokerage International, Ltd (“BNP”). On January 6, 2014, the Fund entered into an amended agreement with a variable annual interest rate of three-month LIBOR plus 0.80 percent. Unused portions of the credit facility will accrue a commitment fee equal to an annual rate of 0.65 percent.

The average principal balance and interest rate for the period during which the credit facility was utilized for the six months ended June 30, 2019 was approximately $158,000,000 and 3.40 percent, respectively. At June 30, 2019, the principal balance outstanding was $155,200,000 at an interest rate of 3.12 percent.

If measured at fair value, borrowings under the credit facility would have been considered as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy (see Note 2A) at June 30, 2019.

8.
Securities Lending

Through an agreement with the Fund, BNP may lend out securities the Fund has pledged as collateral on the note payable. In return, the Fund receives additional income that is netted against the interest charged on the outstanding credit facility balance. As of June 30, 2019, the total amount of income netted against the interest expense is $41,805.

9.
Common Stock

The Fund has unlimited shares authorized and 20,057,849 shares outstanding at December 31, 2018 and June 30, 2019.

10. 
Aggregate Remuneration Paid to Officers, Trustees and Their Affiliated Persons

For the six months ended June 30, 2019, the Fund paid its Trustees aggregate remuneration of $40,307. During the period, the Fund did not pay any compensation to any of its Trustees who are “interested persons” (as defined by the 1940 Act) of the Fund. The Fund classifies Mr. Finke as an interested person of the Fund.

All of the Fund’s officers are employees of the Adviser. Pursuant to the Agreement, the Fund does not compensate its officers who are employees of the Adviser (except for the Chief Compliance Officer of the Fund unless assumed by the Adviser). For the six months ended June 30, 2019, the Adviser paid the compensation of the Chief Compliance Officer of the Fund.


29

Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund 2019 Semi-Annual Report

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
June 30, 2019 (Unaudited)

The Fund did not make any payments to the Adviser for the six months ended June 30, 2019, other than the amounts payable to the Adviser pursuant to the Agreement.

11. 
Subsequent Events

Prior to August 8, 2019, the Fund was subject to a non-fundamental investment restriction limiting the Fund’s investment in high yield investments rated in lower rated categories (Caa1 or lower by Moody’s, and CCC+ or lower by S&P and Fitch) to 10% of its Managed Assets, but on that date, the Fund’s Board of Trustees voted to remove that non-fundamental restriction. While the Adviser believes that the elimination of this restriction is in the best interests of Fund shareholders, to the extent this flexibility is utilized it will result in the Fund being subject to greater credit risk. The Board of Trustees also approved removing the Fund’s non-fundamental investment restriction of maintaining a portfolio with a weighted average maturity of five years or less; however, the Fund will continue to maintain a weighted average portfolio duration, including the effects of leverage, of three years or less.


30


 


Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund 2019 Semi-Annual Report

 

FUND DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN

 

INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES
Rodney J. Dillman
Chairman, Trustee

 

Dr. Bernard A. Harris, Jr.
Trustee

 

Thomas W. Okel
Trustee

 

Cynthia R. Plouché
Trustee

 

Martin A. Sumichrast
Trustee

 

OFFICERS
Sean Feeley
President

 

Carlene Pollock
Chief Financial Officer

 

Lesley Mastandrea
Treasurer

 

Michael Freno
Vice President

 

Scott Roth
Vice President

 

Melissa LaGrant
Chief Compliance Officer

 

Janice Bishop
Secretary/Chief Legal Officer

 

Michele Manha
Assistant Secretary

 

Jill Dinerman
Assistant Secretary

 

The Fund offers a Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the “Plan”). The Plan provides a simple way for shareholders to add to their holdings in the Fund through the reinvestment of dividends in additional common shares of the Fund. Shareholders will have all dividends, including any capital gain dividends, reinvested automatically in additional shares of the Fund by U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC, as Plan Agent, unless a shareholder elects to receive cash instead. An election to receive cash may be revoked or reinstated at the option of the shareholder. All distributions to investors who elect not to participate in the Plan (or whose broker or nominee elects not to participate on the investor’s behalf) will receive dividends and distributions in cash.


Whenever the Fund declares a dividend payable in cash or shares, the Plan Agent, acting on behalf of each participating shareholder, will take the dividend in shares only if the net asset value per Fund share is equal to or less than the market price per Fund share plus estimated brokerage commissions as of the payment date for the dividend.

 

When the dividend is to be taken in shares, the number of shares to be received is determined by dividing the dollar amount of the cash dividend by the net asset value per Fund share as of the dividend payment date or, if greater than the net asset value per Fund share, 95% of the closing share price on the payment date. Generally, if the net asset value per Fund share is greater than the market price per Fund share plus estimated brokerage commissions as of the dividend payment date, the Plan Agent will endeavor to buy shares on the open market at current prices promptly after the dividend payment date.

 

The reinvestment of dividends does not, in any way, relieve participating shareholders of any Federal, state or local tax. For Federal income tax purposes, the amount reportable in respect of a dividend received in shares of the Fund will be the fair market value of the shares received, which will be reportable as ordinary income and/or capital gains. Investors should consult with their own tax advisors for further information about the tax consequences of dividend reinvestment.

 

There is no brokerage charge for the reinvestment of dividends in additional Fund shares; however, all participants pay a pro rata share of brokerage commissions incurred by the Plan Agent when it makes open market purchases. There is no direct service charge to participants in the Plan, though the Fund reserves the right to amend the Plan to include a service charge payable by participants.

 

Additional information about the Plan may be obtained from, and any questions regarding the Plan should be addressed to, U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, Plan Agent for Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan, P.O. Box 701, Milwaukee, WI 52301.

 

 


31


 

Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund 2019 Semi-Annual Report

 

JOINT PRIVACY NOTICE OF BARINGS MANAGEMENT LLC AND
BARINGS GLOBAL SHORT DURATION HIGH YIELD FUND

 

This privacy notice is being provided on behalf of Barings LLC and its affiliates: Barings Securities LLC; Barings Australia Pty Ltd; Barings Advisers (Japan) KK; Barings Investment Advisers (Hong Kong) Limited; Barings Funds Trust; Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund; Barings Corporate Investors and Barings Participation Investors (together, for purposes of this privacy notice, “Barings”).

 

When you use Barings you entrust us not only with your hard-earned assets but also with your personal and financial data. We consider your data to be private and confidential, and protecting its confidentiality is important to us. Our policies and procedures regarding your personal information are summarized below.

 

We may collect non-public personal information about you from:

 

  Applications or other forms, interviews, or by other means;
     
  Consumer or other reporting agencies, government agencies, employers or others;
     
  Your transactions with us, our affiliates, or others; and
     
  Our Internet website.

 

We may share the financial information we collect with our financial service affiliates, such as insurance companies, investment companies and securities broker-dealers. Additionally, so that we may continue to offer you products and services that best meet your investment needs and to effect transactions that you request or authorize, we may disclose the information we collect, as described above, to companies that perform administrative or marketing services on our behalf, such as transfer agents, custodian banks, service providers or printers and mailers that assist us in the distribution of investor materials or that provide operational support to Barings. These companies are required to protect this information and will use this information only for the services for which we hire them, and are not permitted to use or share this information for any other purpose. Some of these companies may perform such services in jurisdictions other than the United States. We may share some or all of the information we collect with other financial institutions with whom we jointly market products. This may be done only if it is permitted by the state in which you live. Some disclosures may be limited to your name, contact and transaction information with us or our affiliates.

 

Any disclosures will be only to the extent permitted by federal and state law. Certain disclosures may require us to get an “opt-in” or “opt-out” from you. If this is required, we will do so before information is shared. Otherwise, we do not share any personal information about our customers or former customers unless authorized by the customer or as permitted by law.

 

We restrict access to personal information about you to those employees who need to know that information to provide products and services to you. We maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards that comply with legal standards to guard your personal information. As an added measure, we do not include personal or account information in non-secure e-mails that we send you via the Internet without your prior consent. We advise you not to send such information to us in non-secure e-mails.

 

This joint notice describes the privacy policies of Barings, the Funds and Barings Securities LLC. It applies to all Barings and the Funds accounts you presently have, or may open in the future, using your social security number or federal taxpayer identification number – whether or not you remain a shareholder of our Funds or as an advisory client of Barings. As mandated by rules issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission, we will be sending you this notice annually, as long as you own shares in the Funds or have an account with Barings.

 

Barings Securities LLC is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). Investors may obtain information about SIPC including the SIPC brochure by contacting SIPC online at www.sipc.org or calling (202)-371-8300. Investors may obtain information about FINRA including the FINRA Investor Brochure by contacting FINRA online at www.finra.org or by calling (800) 289-9999.

 




32




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Item 2. Code of Ethics.

Not applicable for semi-annual reports.

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.

Not applicable for semi-annual reports.

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

Not applicable for semi-annual reports.

Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.

Not applicable for semi-annual reports.

Item 6. Investments.

(a)
Schedule of Investments is included as part of the report to shareholders filed under Item 1 of this Form.
(b)
Not applicable.
 
Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.

Not applicable for semi-annual reports.

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

Not applicable for semi-annual reports.

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

Not applicable.

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

Not Applicable.


Item 11. Controls and Procedures.

(a)
The Registrant’s President and Chief Financial Officer have reviewed the Registrant's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Act”)) as of a date within 90 days of the filing of this report, as required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the Act and Rules 13a-15(b) or 15d‑15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  Based on their review, such officers have concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures are effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed in this report is appropriately recorded, processed, summarized and reported and made known to them by others within the Registrant and by the Registrant’s service provider.

(b)
There were no changes in the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Act) that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

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

The registrant did not engage in securities lending activities during the fiscal period reported on this Form N-CSR.

Item 13. Exhibits.

(a)
(1) ANY CODE OF ETHICS, OR AMENDMENTS THERETO, THAT IS THE SUBJECT OF DISCLOSURE REQUIRED BY ITEM 2, TO THE EXTENT THAT THE REGISTRANT INTENDS TO SATISFY THE ITEM 2 REQUIREMENTS THROUGH THE FILING OF AN EXHIBIT.

The Registrant has posted its Code of Ethics on its website at https://www.barings.com/assets/user/media/Closed-End-Fund-Code-of-Ethics.pdf
 
(a)
(2) A SEPARATE CERTIFICATION FOR EACH PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER OF THE REGISTRANT AS REQUIRED BY RULE 30a-2 UNDER THE ACT.

Filed herewith for President.
Filed herewith for Chief Financial Officer.

(a)
(3) ANY WRITTEN SOLICITATION TO PURCHASE SECURITIES UNDER RULE 23c-1 UNDER THE ACT (17 CFR 270.23c-1) SENT OR GIVEN DURING THE PERIOD COVERED BY THE REPORT BY OR ON BEHALF OF THE REGISTRANT TO 10 OR MORE PERSONS.

Not applicable for this filing.

      (b)   CERTIFICATIONS PURSUANT TO RULE 30a-2(b) UNDER THE ACT.

Filed herewith.

SIGNATURES

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


(Registrant)  Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund       


By (Signature and Title)  /s/ Sean Feeley                                         
                                         Sean Feeley, President

Date  September 9, 2019                                                                  


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


By (Signature and Title)  /s/ Sean Feeley                                         
                                         Sean Feeley, President

Date  September 9, 2019                                                                  


By (Signature and Title)  /s/ Carlene Pollock                                   
                                         Carlene Pollock, Chief Financial Officer

Date  September 9, 2019