NPORT-EX 2 GAF.htm SCHEDULE F HTML
INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO (unaudited)     
As of June 30, 2020    Highland Global Allocation Fund

 

Shares

   Value ($)  
 

U.S. Equity — 38.3%

 
 

Communication Services26.9%

 
  169,531     

TerreStar Corporation (a)(b)(c)(d)(e)

     57,513,392  
     

 

 

 
 

Consumer Discretionary0.7%

 
  56,965     

K12, Inc. (e)(f)

     1,551,727  
     

 

 

 
 

Healthcare2.4%

 
  77,700     

Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (e)(g)

     1,146,852  
  61,625     

Brookdale Senior Living, Inc. (e)

     181,794  
  232,800     

Heron Therapeutics, Inc. (e)(f)

     3,424,488  
  17,200     

Patterson (f)(g)

     378,400  
  5,500     

Surgery Partners, Inc. (e)

     63,635  
     

 

 

 
        5,195,169  
     

 

 

 
 

Materials1.7%

 
  730,484     

MPM Holdings, Inc. (e)

     3,652,420  
     

 

 

 
 

Real Estate5.6%

 
  70,700     

City Office, REIT (f)

     711,242  
  300,100     

GAF REIT (c)(e)

     2,952,774  
  66,300     

Independence Realty Trust, Inc., REIT (f)

     761,787  
  101,918     

Jernigan Capital, Inc., REIT (f)

     1,394,238  
  121,123     

NexPoint Real Estate Finance (c)

     2,028,810  
  158,043     

NexPoint Residential Trust, REIT (c)(f)

     5,586,820  
  44,387     

RAIT Financial Trust, REIT (e)

     —    
  280,000     

United Development Funding IV, REIT

     462,000  
     

 

 

 
        13,897,671  
     

 

 

 
  

Total U.S. Equity (Cost $76,371,089)

     81,810,379  
  

 

 

 
 

Non-U.S. Equity — 26.7%

 
 

Communication Services1.7%

 
  77,866     

Grupo Clarin, Class B (e)(h)

     23,005  
  189,945     

Loral Space & Communications,
Inc. (f)(h)

     3,707,726  
     

 

 

 
        3,730,731  
     

 

 

 
 

Consumer Discretionary2.6%

 
  4,800     

MercadoLibre, Inc. (e)(f)(h)

     4,731,696  
  718     

Toys ‘R’ Us (e)(h)

     75,642  
  718     

Tru Kids, Inc. (e)(h)

     680,783  
     

 

 

 
        5,488,121  
     

 

 

 
 

Energy6.5%

 
  29,751     

NextDecade Corp. (e)(g)(h)

     64,262  
  53,200     

Plains GP Holdings, Class A (f)(h)

     473,480  
  131,600     

Targa Resources (f)(h)

     2,641,212  
  121     

Transocean (e)(h)

     221  
  566,995     

Williams Cos., Inc. (f)(h)

     10,784,245  
     

 

 

 
        13,963,420  
     

 

 

 
 

Financials0.3%

 
  188,858     

Grupo Supervielle SA ADR (g)(h)

     415,487  
  31,700     

Itau Unibanco Holding ADR (f)(h)

     148,673  
     

 

 

 
        564,160  
     

 

 

 

Shares

   Value ($)  
 

Non-U.S. Equity (continued)

 
 

Industrials0.7%

 
  38,549     

American Airlines Group, Inc. (g)(h)

     503,836  
  65,931     

GL Events (h)

     916,652  
     

 

 

 
        1,420,488  
     

 

 

 
 

Information Technology3.0%

 
  119,188     

Avaya Holdings Corp. (e)(f)(g)(h)

     1,473,164  
  124,700     

StoneCo, Class A (e)(g)(h)

     4,833,372  
     

 

 

 
        6,306,536  
     

 

 

 
 

Utilities11.9%

 
  202,250     

Central Puerto ADR (h)

     513,715  
  67,700     

Pampa Energia ADR (e)(f)(h)

     710,173  
  1,306,000     

Vistra Energy Corp. (f)(h)

     24,317,720  
     

 

 

 
        25,541,608  
     

 

 

 
  

Total Non-U.S. Equity (Cost $105,991,553)

     57,015,064  
  

 

 

 
 

U.S. Master Limited Partnerships — 9.8%

 
 

Energy9.8%

 
  65,168     

Crestwood Equity Partners

     854,353  
  1,558,690     

Energy Transfer LP (f)

     11,097,873  
  385,923     

MPLX LP (f)

     6,668,749  
  236,900     

Western Midstream Partners LP (f)

     2,378,476  
     

 

 

 
  

Total U.S. Master Limited Partnerships (Cost $51,602,682)

     20,999,451  
  

 

 

 

Principal Amount ($)

      
 

U.S. Senior Loans (j) — 9.2%

 
 

Communication Services7.2%

 
  15,573,365     

TerreStar Corporation,
Term Loan A, cash/0% PIK 02/25/22 (a)(b)(c)

     15,479,925  
     

 

 

 
 

Energy0.2%

 
  23,743,431     

Fieldwood Energy LLC, Closing Date Loan, 2nd Lien, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+7.250%, 04/11/23

     474,869  
     

 

 

 
 

Retail0.7%

 
  1,935,530     

Academy, Ltd., Initial Term Loan, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+4.000%, 07/01/22

     1,567,779  
     

 

 

 
 

Service1.0%

 
  2,500,000     

Advantage Sales & Marketing Inc., Term Loan, 2nd Lien, VAR LIBOR USD 3 Month+6.500%, 07/25/22

     2,086,825  
     

 

 

 
 


INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO (unaudited)(continued)     
As of June 30, 2020    Highland Global Allocation Fund

 

Principal Amount ($)

   Value ($)  
 

U.S. Senior Loans (continued)

 
 

Utilities0.1%

 
  471,039,553     

Texas Competitive Electric Holdings Co., LLC, Extended Escrow Loan, (k)

     120,115  
     

 

 

 
  

Total U.S. Senior Loans (Cost $54,734,539)

     19,729,513  
  

 

 

 
 

Non-U.S. Non-U.S. Government Bond — 7.4%

 
 

Sovereign — 7.4%

 
  40,000,000     

Argentine Republic Government International Bond 3.75%, 12/31/38 (h)

     15,771,800  
     

 

 

 
  

Total Non-U.S. Government Bond
(Cost $20,739,965)

     15,771,800  
  

 

 

 

Shares

             
 

U.S. LLC Interest — 6.8%

 
 

Real Estate6.8%

 
  124,046     

NREF OP I, L.P., REIT (c)(e)

     2,077,771  
  6,773,494     

SFR WLIF I, LLC (a)(b)(c)

     5,591,452  
  4,437,497     

SFR WLIF II, LLC (a)(b)(c)

     3,685,208  
  3,789,008     

SFR WLIF III, LLC (a)(b)(c)

     3,280,182  
     

 

 

 
  

Total U.S. LLC Interest (Cost $17,480,920)

     14,634,613  
  

 

 

 

Principal Amount ($)

      
 

Non-U.S. Asset-Backed Securities — 4.3%

 
  4,000,000     

Acis CLO, Ltd., Series 2014-3A, Class E VAR ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month+4.750%, 5.44%, 2/1/2026 (h)(l)

     2,793,400  
  3,500,000     

Acis CLO, Ltd., Series 2014-5A, Class E1 VAR ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month+6.520%, 7.21%, 11/1/2026 (h)(l)

     2,730,000  
  2,500,000     

Acis CLO, Ltd., Series 2014-4A, Class E VAR ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month+4.800%, 5.49%, 5/1/2026 (h)(l)

     1,950,000  
  4,067,596     

Acis CLO, Ltd., Series 2014-4A, Class F VAR ICE LIBOR USD 3 Month+5.150%, 5.84%, 5/1/2026 (h)(l)

     1,667,714  
  311,866     

Pamco Cayman, Ltd., Series 1997-1A, Class B 7.91%, 8/6/2013 (a)(b)(h)(l)

     44,940  
     

 

 

 
  

Total Non-U.S. Asset-Backed Securities (Cost $13,024,327)

     9,186,054  
  

 

 

 

Units

   Value ($)  
 

U.S. Rights — 3.3%

 
 

Utilities3.3%

 
  7,905,143     

Texas Competitive Electric Holdings Co., LLC (e)

     7,114,629  
     

 

 

 
  

Total U.S. Rights
(Cost $22,029,102)

     7,114,629  
  

 

 

 

Shares

             
 

U.S. Preferred Stock — 3.1%

 
 

Energy0.3%

 
  105,351     

Crestwood Equity Partners (f)(m)

     576,270  
     

 

 

 
 

Financials1.0%

 
  127,751     

Federal Home Loan Mortgage (e)(g)(m)

     1,487,014  
  58,233     

Federal National Mortgage Association (e)(m)

     722,161  
     

 

 

 
        2,209,175  
     

 

 

 
 

Real Estate1.8%

 
  370,968     

Braemar Hotels & Resorts,
REIT (e)(f)(m)

     3,743,067  
     

 

 

 
  

Total U.S. Preferred Stock
(Cost $10,130,630)

     6,528,512  
  

 

 

 
 

Non-U.S. Master Limited Partnership — 0.5%

 
 

Energy0.5%

 
  64,631     

Enterprise Products Partners (f)(h)

     1,174,345  
     

 

 

 
  

Total Non-U.S. Master Limited Partnership
(Cost $1,816,777)

     1,174,345  
  

 

 

 

Principal Amount ($)

      
 

U.S. Corporate Bonds & Notes — 0.5%

 
 

Communication Services0.4%

 
  315,654     

iHeartCommunications, Inc.
6.38%, 05/01/26

     313,236  
  584,493     

8.38%, 05/01/27

     536,672  
     

 

 

 
        849,908  
     

 

 

 
 

Energy0.0%

 
  290     

Sable Permian Resources Land
7.38%, 11/01/21 (l)(n)

     22  
     

 

 

 
 

Real Estate0.1%

 
  400,000     

CBL & Associates
5.95%, 12/15/26

     116,162  
     

 

 

 
 


INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO (unaudited)(continued)     
As of June 30, 2020    Highland Global Allocation Fund

 

Principal Amount ($)

   Value ($)  
 

U.S. Corporate Bonds & Notes (continued)

 
 

Utilities0.0%

 
  3,000,000     

Texas Competitive Electric Holdings Co., LLC 11.50%, (k)(n)

     7,500  
     

 

 

 
  

Total U.S. Corporate Bonds & Notes
(Cost $3,176,737)

     973,592  
  

 

 

 
 

U.S. Agency Collateralized Mortgage Obligation — 0.5%

 
  1,000,000     

FREMF Mortgage Trust, Series K94, Class C 4.10%, 7/25/2052 (l)

     1,017,111  
     

 

 

 
  

Total U.S. Agency Collateralized Mortgage Obligation
(Cost $881,491)

     1,017,111  
  

 

 

 

Shares

             
 

U.S. Exchange-Traded Fund — 0.3%

 
  8,750     

Velocity Shares 3x Long Silver ETN Linked to the S&P GSCI Silver Index

     613,725  
     

 

 

 
  

Total U.S. Exchange-Traded Fund (Cost $824,777)

     613,725  
     

 

 

 
 

Purchased Put Options (e)(s) — 0.2%

 
  

Total Purchased Put Options
(Cost $481,141)

     410,165  
  

 

 

 

Units

             
 

U.S. Warrants — 0.1%

 
 

Healthcare0.1%

 
  42,032     

HLS Therapeutics, Inc., Expires 12/31/2049(a)(b)(e)

     236,640  
     

 

 

 
  

Total U.S. Warrants
(Cost $–)

     236,640  
  

 

 

 
 

Non-U.S. Warrants — 0.1%

 
 

Communication Services0.0%

 
  1,109     

iHeartCommunications, Inc., Expires 05/01/2039 (e)(h)

     10,120  
     

 

 

 
 

Industrials0.1%

 
  1,260,362     

American Airlines, Expires (e)(h)

     182,753  
     

 

 

 

Units

   Value ($)  
 

Non-U.S. Warrants (continued)

 
 

Information Technology0.0%

 
  38,742     

Avaya Holdings, Expires
12/18/2022 (e)(h)

     46,490  
     

 

 

 
  

Total Non-U.S. Warrants
(Cost $77,464)

     239,363  
  

 

 

 

Principal Amount ($)

      
 

Non-U.S. Corporate Bonds & Notes — 0.0%

 
 

Energy0.0%

 
  37,083,000     

Ocean Rig UDW, Inc. 7.25%, 04/01/19 (a)(b)(h)(l)(n)

     —    
     

 

 

 
  

Total Non-U.S. Corporate Bonds & Notes
(Cost $28,728,908)

     —    
  

 

 

 

Shares

             
 

Non-U.S. Registered Investment Companies — 8.6%

 
  10,000     

BB Votorantim Highland Infrastructure LLC (a)(b)(c)

     2,761,304  
  546,382     

Highland Merger Arbitrage Fund, Class Z (c)

     10,971,356  
  436,131     

NexPoint Strategic Opportunities Fund (c)(f)

     4,588,098  
     

 

 

 
  

Total Non-U.S. Registered Investment Companies
(Cost $23,881,932)

     18,320,758  
  

 

 

 
 

U.S. Cash Equivalents — 1.3%

 
 

Money Market Fund (o)1.3%

 
  2,893,031     

Dreyfus Treasury & Agency Cash Management, Institutional Class 0.100%

     2,893,031  
     

 

 

 
  

Total U.S. Cash Equivalents
(Cost $2,893,031)

     2,893,031  
  

 

 

 
 


INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO (unaudited)(continued)     
As of June 30, 2020    Highland Global Allocation Fund

 

Principal Amount ($)

   Value ($)  
 

Repurchase Agreements (p)(q) — 2.4%

 
  1,188,356     

Citigroup Global Markets

0.090%, dated 06/30/20, to be repurchased on 07/01/20, repurchase price $1,188,359 (collateralized by various U.S. Government Agency and U.S. Treasury Obligations, par value $1,919 - $226,867, 0.500% - 7.500%, 07/31/2021 – 05/20/2070, with a total market value of $1,212,123)

     1,188,356  
  1,188,356     

HSBC Securities

0.080%, dated 06/30/20, to be repurchased on 07/01/20, repurchase price $1,188,359 (collateralized by various U.S. Government Agency and U.S. Treasury Obligations, par value $1,660 - $504,352, 0.000% - 4.500%, 05/15/2044 – 03/20/2050, with a total market value of $1,212,123)

     1,188,356  
  352,281     

JPMorgan Securities

0.070%, dated 06/30/20, to be repurchased on 07/01/20, repurchase price $352,282 (collateralized by various U.S. Government Agency and U.S. Treasury Obligations, par value $1,312 - $297,027, 0.000% - 2.500%, 10/08/2020 – 04/30/2023, with a total market value of $359,327)

     352,281  
  1,188,356     

Nomura Securities

0.090%, dated 06/30/20, to be repurchased on 07/01/20, repurchase price $1,188,359 (collateralized by various U.S. Government Agency and U.S. Treasury Obligations, par value $6 - $1,184,719, 2.450% - 6.000%, 07/01/2027 – 10/20/2068, with a total market value of $1,212,123)

     1,188,356  

Principal Amount ($)

   Value ($)  
 

Repurchase Agreements (continued)

 
  1,188,356     

RBC Dominion Securities

0.090%, dated 06/30/20, to be repurchased on 07/01/20, repurchase price $1,188,359 (collateralized by various U.S. Government Agency and U.S. Treasury Obligations, par value $0 - $224,089, 0.000% - 7.000%, 07/31/2020 – 07/01/2050, with a total market value of $1,212,123)

     1,188,356  
     

 

 

 
  

Total Repurchase Agreements
(Cost $5,105,705)

     5,105,705  
  

 

 

 
 

Total Investments - 123.4%
(Cost $439,972,770)

     263,774,450  
     

 

 

 

 

Shares

      
 

Securities Sold Short — (10.8)%

 
 

U.S. Exchange-Traded Fund — (3.1)%

 
  (67,430  

ProShares UltraPro QQQ

     (6,584,540
    

 

 

 
 

Total U.S. Exchange-Traded Fund (Proceeds $3,995,890)

     (6,584,540
    

 

 

 
 

U.S. Equity — (7.7)%

 
 

Communication Services(6.0)%

 
  (28,400  

Netflix, Inc. (r)

     (12,923,136
    

 

 

 
 

Consumer Staples(1.0)%

 
  (10,500  

WD-40

     (2,082,150
    

 

 

 
 

Information Technology(0.7)%

 
  (5,500  

Coupa Software (i)(r)

     (1,523,720
    

 

 

 
 

Total U.S. Equity (Proceeds $5,724,418)

     (16,529,006)  
    

 

 

 
 

Total Securities Sold Short- (10.8)%
(Proceeds $9,720,308)

     (23,113,546)  
    

 

 

 
 

Other Assets & Liabilities, Net - (12.6)%

     (26,933,465
    

 

 

 
 

Net Assets - 100.0%

     213,727,439  
  

 

 

 

 

 


INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO (unaudited)(continued)     
As of June 30, 2020    Highland Global Allocation Fund

 

(a)

Securities with a total aggregate value of $88,593,043, or 41.5% of net assets, were classified as Level 3 within the three-tier fair value hierarchy. Please see Notes to Financial Statements for an explanation of this hierarchy, as well as a list of unobservable inputs used in the valuation of these instruments.

(b)

Represents fair value as determined by the Fund’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”), or its designee in good faith, pursuant to the policies and procedures approved by the Board. The Board considers fair valued securities to be securities for which market quotations are not readily available and these securities may be valued using a combination of observable and unobservable inputs. Securities with a total aggregate value of $88,593,043, or 41.5% of net assets, were fair valued under the Fund’s valuation procedures as of June 30, 2020. Please see Notes to Financial Statements.

(c)

Affiliated issuer. Assets with a total aggregate market value of $116,517,092, or 54.5% of net assets, were affiliated with the Fund as of June 30, 2020.

(d)

Restricted Securities. These securities are not registered and may not be sold to the public. There are legal and/or contractual restrictions on resale. The Fund does not have the right to demand that such securities be registered. The values of these securities are determined by valuations provided by pricing services, brokers, dealers, market makers, or in good faith under the procedures established by the Fund’s Board of Trustees. Additional Information regarding such securities follows:

 

Restricted

Security

  Security
Type
  Acquisition
Date
    Cost of
Security
    Market
Value at
Period

End
    Percent
of Net
Assets
 

TerreStar Corporation

  U.S. Equity     11/14/2014     $ 48,015,562     $ 57,513,392       26.9%  

 

(e)

Non-income producing security.

(f)

All or part of this security is pledged as collateral for short sales. The market value of the securities pledged as collateral was $92,328,386.

(g)

Securities (or a portion of securities) on loan. As of June 30, 2020, the market value of securities loaned was $7,197,402. The loaned securities were secured with cash and securities collateral of $7,355,535. Collateral is calculated based on prior day’s prices.

(h)

As described in the Fund’s prospectus, a company is considered to be a non-U.S. issuer if the company’s securities principally trade on a market outside of the United States, the company derives a majority of its revenues or profits outside of the United States, the company is not organized in the United States, or the company is significantly exposed to the economic fortunes and risks of regions outside the United States.

(i)

Underlying security for a written/purchased option.

(j)

Senior loans (also called bank loans, leveraged loans, or floating rate loans) in which the Fund invests generally pay interest at rates which are periodically determined by reference to a base lending rate plus a spread (unless otherwise identified, all senior loans carry a variable rate of interest). These base lending rates are generally (i) the Prime Rate offered by one or more major United States banks, (ii) the lending rate offered by one or more European banks such as the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) or (iii) the Certificate of Deposit rate. As of June 30, 2020, the LIBOR USD 1 Month and LIBOR USD 3 Month rates were 0.162% and 0.302%, respectively. Senior loans, while exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), contain certain restrictions on resale and cannot be sold publicly. Senior secured floating rate loans often require prepayments from excess cash flow or permit the borrower to repay at its election. The degree to which borrowers repay, whether as a contractual requirement or at their election, cannot be predicted with accuracy. As a result, the actual remaining maturity maybe substantially less than the stated maturity shown.

(k)

Represents value held in escrow pending future events. No interest is being accrued.

(l)

Securities exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the 1933 Act. These securities may only be resold in transaction exempt from registration to qualified institutional buyers. At June 30, 2020, these securities amounted to $10,203,187 or 4.8% of net assets.

(m)

Perpetual security with no stated maturity date.

(n)

The issuer is, or is in danger of being, in default of its payment obligation.

(o)

Rate shown is 7 day effective yield.

(p)

This security was purchased with cash collateral held from securities on loan. The total value of such securities as of June 30, 2020 was $5,105,705.

(q)

Tri-Party Repurchase Agreement.

(r)

No dividend payable on security sold short.

(s)

Refer to the table below for details on options contracts.

 

 

Purchased put option contracts outstanding as of June 30, 2020 were as follows:

 

Description

   Exercise price      Counterparty      Expiration Date      Number of
Contracts
     Notional Value      Premium      Value  

PURCHASED PUT OPTIONS:

                    

Proofpoint

   $ 120.00        Jefferies        August 2020        85      $ 981,920      $ 89,611      $ 109,650  

Proofpoint

     125.00        Jefferies        August 2020        37        427,424        44,744        61,790  

Gilead Sciences

     82.50        Jefferies        August 2020        240        1,558,320        229,869        177,600  

Coupa Software

     240.00        Jefferies        August 2020        75        2,077,800        116,917        61,125  
                 

 

 

    

 

 

 
                  $ 481,141      $ 410,165  
                 

 

 

    

 

 

 


INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO (unaudited)(concluded)     
As of June 30, 2020    Highland Global Allocation Fund

 

Written call option contracts outstanding as of June 30, 2020 were as follows:

 

Description

   Exercise price      Counterparty      Expiration Date      Number of
Contracts
    Notional Value      Premium      Value  

WRITTEN CALL OPTIONS:

                   

Coupa Software

   $ 260.00        Jefferies        August 2020        (55)     $ 1,523,720      $ 117,617      $ 167,200  

Written put option contracts outstanding as of June 30, 2020 were as follows:

 

Description

   Exercise price      Counterparty      Expiration Date      Number of
Contracts
    Notional Value      Premium      Value  

WRITTEN PUT OPTIONS:

                   

Gilead Sciences

   $ 70.00        Jefferies        August 2020        (240)     $ 1,558,320      $ 103,958      $ 33,840  


NOTES TO INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO (unaudited)     
As of June 30, 2020    Highland Global Allocation Fund

 

Organization

Highland Funds II (the “Trust”) is a Massachusetts business trust organized on August 10, 1992. The Trust is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company. It comprises five portfolios (collectively the “Funds”) that are currently being offered. This report covers information for the period ended June 30, 2020 for Highland Global Allocation Fund (the “Fund”). Highland Socially Responsible Equity Fund, Highland Small-Cap Equity Fund, Highland Total Return Fund, and Highland Fixed Income Fund are reported separately.

Valuation of Investments

In computing the Fund’s net assets attributable to shares, securities with readily available market quotations on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation (NASDAQ) or other nationally recognized exchange, use the closing quotations on the respective exchange for valuation of those securities. Securities for which there are no readily available market quotations will be valued pursuant to policies adopted by the Fund’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”). Typically, such securities will be valued at the mean between the most recently quoted bid and ask prices provided by the principal market makers. If there is more than one such principal market maker, the value shall be the average of such means. Securities without a sale price or quotations from principal market makers on the valuation day may be priced by an independent pricing service. Generally, the Fund’s loan and bond positions are not traded on exchanges and consequently are valued based on a mean of the bid and ask price from the third-party pricing services or broker-dealer sources that the Investment Adviser has determined to have the capability which provide appropriate pricing services and which have been approved by the Board.

Securities for which market quotations are not readily available, or for which the Fund has determined that the price received from a pricing service or broker-dealer is “stale” or otherwise does not represent fair value (such as when events materially affecting the value of securities occur between the time when market price is determined and calculation of the Fund’s NAV) will be valued by the Fund at fair value, as determined by the Board or its designee in good faith in accordance with procedures approved by the Board, taking into account factors reasonably determined to be relevant including: (i) the fundamental analytical data relating to the investment; (ii) the nature and duration of restrictions on disposition of the securities; and (iii) an evaluation of the forces that influence the market in which these securities are purchased and sold. In these cases, the Fund’s NAV will reflect the affected portfolio securities’ fair value as determined in the judgment of the Board or its designee instead of being determined by the market. Using a fair value pricing methodology to value securities may result in a value that is different from a security’s most recent sale price and from the prices used by other investment companies to calculate their NAVs. Determination of fair value is uncertain because it involves subjective judgments and estimates.

There can be no assurance that the Fund’s valuation of a security will not differ from the amount that it realizes upon the sale of such security. Those differences could have a material impact to the Fund. The NAV shown in the Fund’s financial statements may vary from the NAV published by the Fund as of its period end because portfolio securities transactions are accounted for on the trade date (rather than the day following the trade date) for financial statement purposes.

Fair Value Measurements

The Fund has performed an analysis of all existing investments and derivative instruments to determine the significance and character of inputs to their fair value determination. The levels of fair value inputs used to measure the Fund’s investments are characterized into a fair value hierarchy. Where inputs for an asset or liability fall into more than one level in the fair value hierarchy, the investment is classified in its entirety based on the lowest level input that is significant to that investment’s valuation. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below:

 

Level 1 —   Quoted unadjusted prices for identical instruments in active markets to which the Fund has access at the date of measurement;


NOTES TO INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO (unaudited)     
As of June 30, 2020    Highland Global Allocation Fund

 

Level 2 —   Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, but are valued based on executed trades; broker quotations that constitute an executable price; and alternative pricing sources supported by observable inputs are classified within Level 2. Level 2 inputs are either directly or indirectly observable for the asset in connection with market data at the measurement date; and
Level 3 —   Model derived valuations in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable. In certain cases, investments classified within Level 3 may include securities for which the Fund has obtained indicative quotes from broker-dealers that do not necessarily represent prices the broker may be willing to trade on, as such quotes can be subject to material management judgment. Unobservable inputs are those inputs that reflect the Fund’s own assumptions that market participants would use to price the asset or liability based on the best available information.

The Investment Adviser has established policies and procedures, as described above and approved by the Board, to ensure that valuation methodologies for investments and financial instruments that are categorized within all levels of the fair value hierarchy are fair and consistent. A Pricing Committee has been established to provide oversight of the valuation policies, processes and procedures, and is comprised of personnel from the Investment Adviser and its affiliates. The Pricing Committee meets monthly to review the proposed valuations for investments and financial instruments and is responsible for evaluating the overall fairness and consistent application of established policies.

As of June 30, 2020, the Fund’s investments consisted of senior loans, asset-backed securities, bonds and notes, common stocks, master limited partnerships, registered investment companies, cash equivalents, exchange-traded funds, rights, warrants, securities sold short, and collateralized loan obligations. The fair value of the Fund’s loans, bonds and asset-backed securities are generally based on quotes received from brokers or independent pricing services. Loans, bonds and asset-backed securities with quotes that are based on actual trades with a sufficient level of activity on or near the measurement date are classified as Level 2 assets. Senior loans, bonds and asset-backed securities that are priced using quotes derived from implied values, indicative bids, or a limited number of actual trades are classified as Level 3 assets because the inputs used by the brokers and pricing services to derive the values are not readily observable.

The fair value of the Fund’s common stocks, exchange traded funds, rights and warrants that are not actively traded on national exchanges are generally priced using quotes derived from implied values, indicative bids, or a limited amount of actual trades and are classified as Level 3 assets because the inputs used by the brokers and pricing services to derive the values are not readily observable. Exchange-traded options are valued based on the last trade price on the primary exchange on which they trade. If an option does not trade, the mid-price, which is the mean of the bid and ask price, is utilized to value the option.

At the end of each calendar quarter, the Investment Adviser evaluates the Level 2 and 3 assets and liabilities for changes in liquidity, including but not limited to: whether a broker is willing to execute at the quoted price, the depth and consistency of prices from third party services, and the existence of contemporaneous, observable trades in the market. Additionally, the Investment Adviser evaluates the Level 1 and 2 assets and liabilities on a quarterly basis for changes in listings or delistings on national exchanges. Due to the inherent uncertainty of determining the fair value of investments that do not have a readily available market value, the fair value of the Fund’s investments may fluctuate from period to period. Additionally, the fair value of investments may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had a ready market existed for such investments and may differ materially from the values the Fund may ultimately realize. Further, such investments may be subject to legal and other restrictions on resale or otherwise less liquid than publicly traded securities.


NOTES TO INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO (unaudited)     
As of June 30, 2020    Highland Global Allocation Fund

 

The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. Transfers in and out of the levels are recognized at the value at the end of the period. A summary of the inputs used to value the Fund’s assets as of June 30, 2020 is as follows

 

     Total value at
June 30, 2020
     Level 1 Quoted
Price
     Level 2 Significant
Observable Inputs
     Level 3 Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
 

Highland Global Allocation Fund

 

Assets

           

U.S. Equity

           

Communication Services

   $ 57,513,392      $ —        $ —        $ 57,513,392  

Consumer Discretionary

     1,551,727        1,551,727        —          —    

Healthcare

     5,195,169        5,195,169        —          —    

Materials

     3,652,420        —          3,652,420        —    

Real Estate

     13,897,671        13,897,671        —          —    

Non-U.S. Equity

           

Communication Services

     3,730,731        3,730,731        —          —    

Consumer Discretionary

     5,488,121        4,731,696        756,425        —    

Energy

     13,963,420        13,963,420        —          —    

Financials

     564,160        564,160        —          —    

Industrials

     1,420,488        1,420,488        —          —    

Information Technology

     6,306,536        6,306,536        —          —    

Utilities

     25,541,608        25,541,608        —          —    

U.S. Master Limited Partnerships

           

Energy

     20,999,451        20,999,451        —          —    

U.S. Senior Loans

           

Communication Services

     15,479,925        —          —          15,479,925  

Energy

     474,869        —          474,869        —    

Retail

     1,567,779        —          1,567,779        —    

Service

     2,086,825        —          2,086,825        —    

Utilities

     120,115        —          120,115        —    

Non-U.S. Registered Investment Companies

     18,320,758        15,559,454        —          2,761,304  

Non-U.S. Government Bonds

           

Sovereign

     15,771,800        —          15,771,800        —    

U.S. LLC Interest

     14,634,613        —          2,077,771        12,556,842  

Non-U.S. Asset-Backed Securities

     9,186,054        —          9,141,114        44,940  

U.S. Rights

           

Utilities

     7,114,629        —          7,114,629        —    

U.S. Preferred Stock

           

Energy

     576,270        576,270        —          —    

Financials

     2,209,175        —          2,209,175        —    

Real Estate

     3,743,067        —          3,743,067        —    

Non-U.S. Master Limited Partnerships

           

Energy

     1,174,345        1,174,345        —          —    

U.S. Agency Collateralized Mortgage Obligations

     1,017,111        —          1,017,111        —    

U.S. Corporate Bonds & Notes

           

Communication Services

     849,908        —          849,908        —    

Energy

     22        —          22        —    

Real Estate

     116,162        —          116,162        —    

Utilities

     7,500        —          7,500        —    

U.S. Exchange-Traded Fund

     613,725        613,725        —          —    

U.S. Purchased Put Options

     410,165        410,165        —          —    

Non-U.S. Warrants

           

Communication Services

     10,120        —          10,120        —    

Industrials

     182,753        —          182,753        —    


NOTES TO INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO (unaudited)     
As of June 30, 2020    Highland Global Allocation Fund

 

     Total value at
June 30, 2020
    Level 1 Quoted
Price
    Level 2 Significant
Observable Inputs
     Level 3 Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
 

Information Technology

   $ 46,490     $ —       $ 46,490      $ —    

U.S. Warrants

         

Healthcare

     236,640       —         —          236,640  

Non-U.S. Corporate Bonds & Notes

         

Energy(1)

     —         —         —          —    

U.S. Cash Equivalents

     2,893,031       2,893,031       —          —    

Repurchase Agreements

     5,105,705       —         5,105,705        —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Assets

     263,774,450       119,129,647       56,051,760        88,593,043  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities

         

Securities Sold Short

         

Common Stocks

         

Communication Services

     (12,923,136     (12,923,136     —          —    

Consumer Staples

     (2,082,150     (2,082,150     —          —    

Information Technology

     (1,523,720     (1,523,720     —          —    

Exchange-Traded Fund

     (6,584,540     (6,584,540     —          —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

     (23,113,546     (23,113,546     —          —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 240,660,904     $ 96,016,101     $ 56,051,760      $ 88,593,043  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) 

This Category includes securities with a value of zero.

The tables below set forth a summary of changes in the Fund’s assets measured at fair value using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) for the period ended June 30, 2020.

 

    Balance as of
September 30,
2019

$
    Transfers Into
Level 3

$
    Transfers Out of
Level 3

$
    Accrued
Discounts
(Premiums)
$
    Realized
Gain (Loss)
$
    Net Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
$
    Net Purchases
$
    Net Sales
$
    Balance as of
June 30, 2020
$
    Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
from
Investments held
at June 30, 2020
$
 

U.S. Equity

                   

Chemicals

    731,871       —         —         —         480,567       —         —         (1,212,438     —         —    

Communication Services

    47,134,704       —         —         —         —         10,378,688       —         —         57,513,392       10,378,688  

U.S. Senior Loans

                   

Chemicals

    1,088,107       —         —         (66,185     (46,461     —         —         (975,461     —         —    

Communication Services

    14,336,849       —         —         (17     —         1,143,093       —         —         15,479,925       1,143,098  

Non-U.S. Registered Investment

                   

Companies

    3,483,081       —         —         —         —         (721,777     —         —         2,761,304       (721,777

U.S. LLC Interest

    15,207,664       —         —         —         —         (2,650,822     —         —         12,556,842       (2,650,822

Non-U.S. Asset-Backed Securities

    136,722       —         —         —         —         (91,782     —         —         44,940       (91,782

Non-U.S. Corporate Bonds & Notes

                   

Energy

    2,558,727       —         —         —         —         (2,558,727     —         —         —         (2,558,727

U.S. Warrants

                   

Healthcare

    187,883       —         —         —         —         48,757       —         —         236,640       48,757  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

    84,865,608       —         —         (66,202     434,106       5,547,430       —         (2,187,899     88,593,043       5,547,435  

Investments designated as Level 3 may include assets valued using quotes or indications furnished by brokers which are based on models or estimates and may not be executable prices. In light of the developing market conditions, the Investment Adviser continues to search for observable data points and evaluate broker quotes and indications received for portfolio investments.

The Fund uses end of period market value in the determination of the amount associated with any transfers between levels.

The following is a summary of significant unobservable inputs used in the fair valuations of assets and liabilities categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy:

 

Category

   Market Value at
6/30/2020
$
    

Valuation
Technique

  

Unobservable
Inputs

  

Input Value(s)

U.S. Equity

     57,513,392      Multiples Analysis    Unadjusted Price/MHz-PoP    $0.10 - $0.95
      Discounted Cash Flow    Discount Rate    15.5%
      Transaction Indication of Value    Enterprise Value ($mm)    $771
      Net Asset Value    N/A    N/A

U.S. Senior Loans

     15,479,925      Discounted Cash Flow    Discount Rate    11.35%
         Spread Adjustment    0.35%

Non-U.S. Registered Investment Companies

     2,761,304      Net Asset Value    N/A    N/A

U.S. LLC Interest

     12,556,842      Discounted Cash Flow    Discount Rate    1.30% - 6.93%

Non-U.S. Asset-Backed Securities

     44,940      Discounted Cash Flow    Discount Rate    20.9%

U.S. Warrants

     236,640      Black-Sholes Model    Annualized Volatility    77.0%
  

 

 

          

Total

     88,593,043           


NOTES TO INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO (unaudited)     
As of June 30, 2020    Highland Global Allocation Fund

 

The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of the Fund’s bank loan securities are: discount rate and spread adjustment. Significant increases (decreases) in any of those inputs in isolation could result in a significantly lower (higher) fair value measurement. The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of the Fund’s common equity securities are: price/MHz-PoP multiple, transaction indication of value, and discount rate. Significant increases (decreases) in any of those inputs in isolation could result in a significantly lower (higher) fair value measurement. The significant unobservable input used in the fair value measurement of the Fund’s LLC interests is the discount rate. Significant increases (decreases) in any of those inputs in isolation could result in a significantly lower (higher) fair value measurement.

In addition to the unobservable inputs utilized for various valuation methodologies, the Fund frequently uses a combination of two or more valuation methodologies to determine fair value for a single holding. In such instances, the Fund assesses the methodologies and ascribes weightings to each methodology. The weightings ascribed to any individual methodology ranged from as low as 5% to as high as 95% as of June 30, 2020. The selection of weightings is an inherently subjective process, dependent on professional judgement. These selections may have a material impact to the concluded fair value for such holdings.

Security Transactions

Security transactions are accounted for on the trade date. Realized gains/(losses) on investments sold are recorded on the basis of the specific identification method for both financial statement and U.S. federal income tax purposes taking into account any foreign taxes withheld.

Cash & Cash Equivalents

The Fund considers liquid assets deposited with a bank and certain short-term debt instruments of sufficient credit quality with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The Fund also considers money market instruments that invest in cash equivalents to be cash equivalents. These investments represent amounts held with financial institutions that are readily accessible to pay Fund expenses or purchase investments. Cash and cash equivalents are valued at cost plus accrued interest, which approximates market value. The value of cash equivalents denominated in foreign currencies is determined by converting to U.S. dollars on the date of the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.

Securities Sold Short

The Fund may sell securities short. A security sold short is a transaction in which the Fund sells a security it does not own in anticipation that the market price of that security will decline. When the Fund sells a security short, it must borrow the security sold short from a broker-dealer and deliver it to the buyer upon conclusion of the transaction. A Fund may have to pay a fee to borrow particular securities and is often obligated to pay over any dividends or other payments received on such borrowed securities. In some circumstances, a Fund may be allowed by its prime broker to utilize proceeds from securities sold short to purchase additional investments, resulting in leverage. Securities and cash held as collateral for securities sold short are shown on the Investments Portfolios. Cash held as collateral for securities sold short is classified as restricted cash on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities, as applicable. Restricted cash in the amount of $(38,268,353) was due to the broker for the Fund.

Derivative Transactions

The Fund is subject to equity securities risk, interest rate risk and currency risk in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives. The Fund enters into derivative transactions for the purpose of hedging against the effects of changes in the value of portfolio securities due to anticipated changes in market conditions, to gain market exposure for residual and accumulating cash positions and for managing the duration of fixed income investments.

Futures Contracts

A futures contract represents a commitment for the future purchase or sale of an asset at a specified price on a specified date. The Fund may invest in interest rate, financial and stock or bond index futures contracts subject to


NOTES TO INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO (unaudited)     
As of June 30, 2020    Highland Global Allocation Fund

 

certain limitations. The Fund invests in futures contracts to manage its exposure to the stock and bond markets and fluctuations in currency values. Buying futures tends to increase the Fund’s exposure to the underlying instrument while selling futures tends to decrease the Fund’s exposure to the underlying instrument, or economically hedge other Fund investments. With futures contracts, there is minimal counterparty credit risk to the Fund since futures contracts are exchange-traded and the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all traded futures, guarantees the futures against default. A Fund’s risks in using these contracts include changes in the value of the underlying instruments, non-performance of the counterparties under the contracts’ terms and changes in the liquidity of the secondary market for the contracts. Futures contracts are valued at the settlement price established each day by the board of trade or exchange on which they principally trade.

Upon entering into a financial futures contract, the Fund is required to pledge to the broker an amount of cash and/or other assets equal to a certain percentage of the contract amount, known as initial margin deposit. Subsequent payments, known as variation margins, are made or can be received by the Fund each day, depending on the daily fluctuation in the fair value of the underlying security. The Fund records an unrealized gain/(loss) equal to the daily variation margin. Should market conditions move unexpectedly, the Fund may not achieve the anticipated benefits of the futures contracts and may incur a loss. The Fund recognizes a realized gain/(loss) on the expiration or closing of a futures contract.

At June 30, 2020, the Fund did not hold futures contracts.

Options

The Fund may utilize options on securities or indices to varying degrees as part of its principal investment strategy. An option on a security is a contract that gives the holder of the option, in return for a premium, the right to buy from (in the case of a call) or sell to (in the case of a put) the writer of the option the security underlying the option at a specified exercise or “strike” price. The writer of an option on a security has the obligation upon exercise of the option to deliver the underlying security upon payment of the exercise price or to pay the exercise price upon delivery of the underlying security. The Fund may hold options, write option contracts, or both. If an option written by the Fund expires unexercised, the Fund realizes on the expiration date a capital gain equal to the premium received by the Fund at the time the option was written.

If an option purchased by the Fund expires unexercised, the Fund realizes a capital loss equal to the premium paid. Prior to the earlier of exercise or expiration, an exchange-traded option may be closed out by an offsetting purchase or sale of an option of the same series (type, underlying security, exercise price and expiration). There can be no assurance, however, that a closing purchase or sale transaction can be effected when the Fund desires. The Fund will realize a capital gain from a closing purchase transaction if the cost of the closing option is less than the premium received from writing the option, or a capital loss if the cost of the closing option is more than the premium received from writing the option. A Fund will realize a capital gain from a closing sale transaction if the premium received from the sale is more than the original premium paid when the option position was opened or a capital loss if the premium received from a sale is less than the original premium paid. The Fund had transactions in written options for the period ended June 30, 2020.

Affiliated Issuers

Under Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, a portfolio company is defined as “affiliated” if a fund owns five percent or more of its outstanding voting securities or if the portfolio company is under common control. The table below shows affiliated issuers of each Fund as of June 30, 2020:


NOTES TO INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO (unaudited)

    
As of June 30, 2020    Highland Global Allocation Fund

 

Issuer

  Shares at
September 30,
2019
    Beginning
Value as of
September 30,
2019

$
    Purchases at
Cost

$
    Proceeds
from Sales $
    Net
Amortization
(Accretion)
of Premium/
(Discount)

$
    Net Realized
Gain/(Loss)
on Sales of
Affiliated
Issuers

$
    Change in
Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)

$
    Ending Value
as of June 30,
2020

$
    Shares at
June 30,
2020
    Affiliated
Income

$
 

Other Affiliates

 

           

Terrestar Corporation (U.S. Equity)

    169,531       47,134,704       —         —         —         —         10,378,688       57,513,392       169,531       —    

GAF REIT (U.S. Equity)

    100       1,000       3,000,000       —         —         —         (48,226     2,952,774       300,100       —    

NexPoint Real Estate Finance (U.S. Equity)

    —         —         1,245,188       —         —         —         783,622       2,028,810       121,123       152,554  

NexPoint Residential Trust (U.S. Equity)

    61,912       2,895,005       2,119,174       (68,724     —         —         641,365       5,586,820       158,043       18,234  

Terrestar Corporation (U.S. Senior Loan)

    14,336,849       14,336,849       1,236,516       —         —         —         (93,440     15,479,925       15,573,365       1,252,229  

NREF OP I, L.P. (U.S. LLC Interest)

    —         —         2,480,920       —         —         —         (403,149     2,077,771       124,046       —    

SFR WLIF I, LLC (U.S. LLC Interest)

    6,773,494       6,918,447       —         —         —         —         (1,326,995     5,591,452       6,773,494       693,912  

SFR WLIF II, LLC (U.S. LLC Interest)

    4,437,497       4,537,341       —         —         —         —         (852,133     3,685,208       4,437,497       429,158  

SFR WLIF III, LLC (U.S. LLC Interest)

    3,789,008       3,751,876       —         —         —         —         (471,694     3,280,182       3,789,008       222,519  

Highland Energy MLP Fund (Non-U.S. Master Limited Partnership)

    5,166,913       14,415,686       409,406       (15,071,708     —         27,746,886       —         —         —      

BB Votorantim Highland Infrastructure LLC (Non-U.S. Registered Investment Company)

    10,000       3,483,081       —         —         —         —         (721,777     2,761,304       10,000       —    

Highland Merger Arbitrage Fund (Non-U.S. Registered Investment Company)

    544,599       10,445,409       34,631       —         —         —         491,316       10,971,356       546,382       34,631  

NexPoint Strategic Opportunities Fund (Non-U.S. Registered Investment Company)

    436,131       7,819,829       —         (822,505     —         —         (2,409,226     4,588,098       436,131       —    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

    35,726,034       115,739,227       10,525,835       (15,962,937     —         (27,500,270     33,715,237       116,517,092       32,438,720       2,803,237