Western Asset High Yield Defined Opportunity Fund, Inc. (NYSE: HYI) is a diversified closed-end management investment company that seeks to provide shareholders with a high level of current income and the potential for capital appreciation. Organized under the Investment Company Act of 1940, the fund pursues its objective by investing primarily in below-investment-grade fixed income securities, including high yield corporate debt, convertible bonds and other credit instruments. Its portfolio may also include unrated debt securities that the adviser deems to be of comparable quality.
Under normal market conditions, the fund allocates at least 80% of its managed assets to high yield securities issued by U.S. and foreign issuers. Portfolio managers employ a research-driven, value-oriented approach, seeking opportunities across industry sectors and the capital structure. The fund may use leverage, including borrowings and preferred stock, to enhance income, while maintaining risk controls through diversified holdings and credit analysis. It also has the flexibility to hedge interest rate and currency exposures.
The investment adviser to HYI is Western Asset Management Company, LLC, a global fixed income specialist with over four decades of history managing credit portfolios on behalf of institutions and retail clients. Western Asset is part of Franklin Templeton, one of the world’s largest independent, global investment management organizations. The fund’s board of directors oversees management and compliance, ensuring alignment with shareholder interests. While the bulk of investments are in U.S. dollar-denominated securities, HYI may allocate a portion of assets to international markets to enhance yield or capture relative value opportunities.
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