DEF: Blackstone Funds Announce Joint Annual Meeting of Shareholders to Elect Trustees

Sentiment:

Proxy Statement


Blackstone Senior Floating Rate 2027 Term Fund, Blackstone Long-Short Credit Income Fund, and Blackstone Strategic Credit 2027 Term Fund will hold a Joint Annual Meeting of Shareholders on April 23, 2025, to elect trustees.

Summary

  • Blackstone Senior Floating Rate 2027 Term Fund (BSL), Blackstone Long-Short Credit Income Fund (BGX), and Blackstone Strategic Credit 2027 Term Fund (BGB) are holding a Joint Annual Meeting of Shareholders on April 23, 2025.
  • The primary purpose of the meeting is to elect one trustee for each fund.
  • Shareholders of record as of February 12, 2025, are entitled to vote.
  • The proxy statement and accompanying materials were mailed to shareholders on or about March 7, 2025.
  • The Board of Trustees recommends that shareholders vote for the election of the nominee, Daniel Leiter, for each fund.
  • As of the record date, there were 13,010,746 BSL Common Shares, 12,708,275 BGX Common Shares, 44,664,382 BGB Common Shares and 45,000 BGB Preferred Shares outstanding.

Sentiment

Score: 7

Explanation: The document is a routine proxy statement, indicating a neutral to slightly positive sentiment due to the standard corporate governance processes being followed.

Positives

  • The Boards of Trustees are actively engaged in risk oversight, receiving reports and making inquiries regarding significant fund risks.
  • The Audit Committee is composed of independent trustees and oversees the Funds' accounting and financial reporting policies and practices.
  • The Nominating and Governance Committee is responsible for selecting and nominating candidates for election as Trustees.
  • Shareholders have the ability to communicate with the Board of Trustees.

Risks

  • The Control Share Statute limits the ability of holders of control beneficial interests to vote their shares of a fund above various threshold levels that start at 10% unless the other shareholders of such fund vote to reinstate those rights.
  • The Board of Trustees acknowledges that not all risks can be identified or mitigated, and risk management oversight is subject to limitations.

Future Outlook

The document outlines the process for future shareholder proposals for the 2026 annual meeting.

Management Comments

  • Each Board of Trustees has determined that its leadership structure is appropriate in light of the relevant Funds circumstances and provides for the informed and independent exercise of its responsibilities.
  • Each Board of Trustees believes that not all risks that may affect the Funds can be identified, that it may not be practical or cost-effective to eliminate or mitigate certain risks, that it may be necessary to bear certain risks (such as investment-related risks) to achieve the Funds goals, and that the processes, procedures and controls employed to address certain risks may be limited in their effectiveness.

Industry Context

This announcement is a standard part of corporate governance for registered investment companies, ensuring shareholders have a voice in the election of trustees who oversee the funds' operations.

Comparison to Industry Standards

  • The structure of the Board of Trustees, with independent members and committees, aligns with industry best practices for closed-end funds.
  • The disclosure of trustee compensation and potential conflicts of interest is consistent with regulatory requirements and promotes transparency.
  • The process for shareholder nominations and communications with the board is in line with standard corporate governance procedures.

Management Changes

RolePrevious PersonNew PersonEffective DateReason
Trustee, Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive OfficerRobert ZableDaniel LeiterNovember 15, 2024Robert Zable resigned
Chief Legal Officer and SecretaryMarisa BeeneyKevin MichelNovember 15, 2024Marisa Beeney resigned
TrusteeEdward H. D'AlelioNAFebruary 21, 2025Edward H. D'Alelio resigned

Stakeholder Impact

  • Shareholders have the opportunity to vote on the election of trustees, influencing the governance of the funds.
  • The disclosure of information regarding trustees and officers promotes transparency and accountability.

Next Steps

  • Shareholders are urged to vote on the proposals.
  • The Joint Annual Meeting will be held on April 23, 2025.
  • The voting results will be reported in the Funds' Semi-Annual Report dated June 30, 2025.

Key Dates

DateDescription
August 1, 2022Each Fund became automatically subject to the control share acquisition provisions contained in Subchapter III of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act.
November 5, 2024Deadline for shareholder proposals to be considered for inclusion in the Funds' proxy statement for the 2025 annual meeting.
December 31, 2024Date for beneficial ownership of equity securities held in the Fund Complex by each Trustee/Nominee.
December 31, 2024Date for Trustees and Executive Officers ownership of Shares of each Fund.
February 12, 2025Record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting.
February 21, 2025Audit Committee reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements of each Fund as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024.
March 7, 2025Proxy Statement and accompanying materials were mailed to shareholders on or about this date.
April 23, 2025Joint Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
June 30, 2025Shareholders of each Fund will be informed of the voting results of the Meeting in the Funds' Semi-Annual Report.
November 7, 2025Deadline to submit a shareholder proposal for a Funds' 2026 annual meeting for inclusion in the Funds' proxy statement.
December 24, 2025Earliest date for shareholders to give notice of proposals they intend to present at the 2026 annual meeting without including such proposal in the Funds' proxy statement.
January 23, 2026Latest date for shareholders to give notice of proposals they intend to present at the 2026 annual meeting without including such proposal in the Funds' proxy statement.

Disclaimer:The information provided here is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, recommendation, or endorsement of any kind. It may contain errors or omissions. You should not rely on this information to make financial decisions. Always seek the advice of a qualified financial professional before making any investment or financial decisions. Use of this information is at your own risk.