DEF: Blackstone Funds to Hold Joint Annual Meeting, 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 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) will hold a Joint Annual Meeting of Shareholders on April 23, 2025.
  • Shareholders will vote to elect one trustee for each fund.
  • Daniel Leiter has been nominated for election as trustee for each of the three funds.
  • The record date for determining shareholders eligible to vote is February 12, 2025.
  • 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.
  • The Boards of Trustees unanimously recommend that shareholders vote for the election of the nominee.

Sentiment

Score: 7

Explanation: The document is a standard proxy statement, indicating a neutral to slightly positive sentiment due to the routine nature of the meeting and the unanimous recommendation of the board.

Positives

  • The Boards of Trustees unanimously recommend that shareholders vote for the election of the nominee, Daniel Leiter.

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.

Future Outlook

The document outlines the process for the upcoming Joint Annual Meeting and provides information for shareholders regarding voting and submitting proposals for future meetings.

Management Comments

  • Daniel Leiter's appointment as Chairman reflects each Board of Trustees belief that his experience, familiarity with the relevant Funds day-to-day operations and access to individuals with responsibility for the relevant Funds management and operations provides each Board of Trustees with insight into the relevant Funds business and activities and, with his access to appropriate administrative support, facilitates the efficient development of meeting agendas that address the relevant Funds business, legal and other needs and the orderly conduct of board meetings.

Industry Context

This is a standard proxy statement for a registered investment company, outlining the election of trustees, which is a routine governance procedure.

Comparison to Industry Standards

  • The trustee compensation structure is typical for closed-end funds, with retainer fees paid to independent trustees and additional fees for committee chairs and lead independent trustees.
  • The audit and nominating and governance committee structures are standard for registered investment companies, ensuring independent oversight of financial reporting and governance matters.
  • The disclosure of beneficial ownership by trustees and executive officers is a standard requirement under SEC regulations.

Management Changes

RolePrevious PersonNew PersonEffective DateReason
Trustee and Chairman of the Board and as President and Chief Executive OfficerRobert ZableDaniel LeiterNovember 15, 2024Resignation
Chief Legal Officer and SecretaryMarisa BeeneyKevin MichelNovember 15, 2024Resignation

Corporate Governance

Change TypeDescriptionEffective DateImpact Assessment
Review of Audit Committee CharterThe Audit Committee charter was most recently reviewed by each Funds Board of Trustees.December 18, 2024Ensures the Audit Committee operates under current best practices and regulatory requirements.

Stakeholder Impact

  • Shareholders have the opportunity to vote on the election of the trustee, influencing the governance of the funds.
  • The outcome of the vote will determine the composition of the Board of Trustees, which oversees the management and operations of the funds.

Next Steps

  • Shareholders should review the proxy statement and vote on the election of the trustee.
  • The Joint Annual Meeting of Shareholders will be held on April 23, 2025.
  • Shareholders will be informed of the voting results 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 2025 proxy statement.
November 15, 2024Robert Zable resigned as Trustee, Chairman of the Board, President, and CEO; Marisa Beeney resigned as Chief Legal Officer and Secretary; Daniel Leiter appointed as Trustee, Chairman of the Board, President, and CEO; Kevin Michel appointed as Chief Legal Officer and Secretary.
December 18, 2024The Audit Committee charter was most recently reviewed by each Funds Board of Trustees.
December 31, 2024Date for beneficial ownership of equity securities held in the Fund Complex by each Trustee/Nominee.
December 31, 2024Date for Trustee Transactions with Fund Affiliates.
December 31, 2024Date for Trustee Compensation.
February 12, 2025Record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Meeting.
February 12, 2025Date for 5% or Greater Shareholders.
February 21, 2025Edward H. D'Alelio resigned from his position as Trustee.
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 to be held at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
June 30, 2025Shareholders of each Fund will be informed of the voting results of the Meeting in the Funds Semi-Annual Report.
November 7, 2025To submit a shareholder proposal for a Funds 2026 annual meeting for inclusion in the Funds proxy statement and form of proxy, a shareholder is required to send a Fund a notice of, and specified information with respect to any proposals pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the 1934 Act by this date.
December 24, 2025Earliest date for shareholders to give notice of proposals for the 2026 annual meeting without including such proposal in the Funds proxy statement and form of proxy.
January 23, 2026Latest date for shareholders to give notice of proposals for the 2026 annual meeting without including such proposal in the Funds proxy statement and form of proxy.
2028 Annual MeetingExpiration of term if elected for Daniel Leiter as Class II Trustee for BSL, Class I Trustee for BGX, and Class III Trustee for BGB.

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.