Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund Inc. Announces Annual Meeting of Stockholders

TL;DR

<b>Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund Inc. will hold its Annual Meeting of Stockholders on April 12, 2024, to elect directors and ratify auditors.</b>

AI Summary

WESTERN ASSET HIGH INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND INC. (HIO) filed a Proxy Statement (DEF 14A) with the SEC on March 6, 2024. Annual Meeting of Stockholders scheduled for April 12, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. in New York. Key proposals include the election of two Class II Directors. The selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) as independent registered public accountants for FY2024 will be ratified. The meeting will also address any other business properly brought before it. The Fund's address is 620 Eighth Avenue, 47th Floor, New York, NY 10018.

Why It Matters

For investors and stakeholders tracking WESTERN ASSET HIGH INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND INC., this filing contains several important signals. Stockholders will vote on the election of directors, which directly impacts the governance and strategic direction of the fund. The ratification of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as auditors is crucial for maintaining financial transparency and investor confidence.

Risk Assessment

Risk Level: low — WESTERN ASSET HIGH INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND INC. shows low risk based on this filing. The filing is a routine proxy statement for an annual meeting and does not contain significant new financial information or strategic shifts, indicating a low level of immediate risk.

Analyst Insight

Stockholders should review the proposals regarding director elections and auditor ratification to make informed voting decisions.

Key Numbers

• 2 — Class II Directors (Number of directors to be elected)
• 2024 — Fiscal Year (Fiscal year for which PwC is proposed as auditor)

Key Players & Entities

• WESTERN ASSET HIGH INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND INC. (company) — Registrant and Fund name
• April 12, 2024 (date) — Date of Annual Meeting
• PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (company) — Proposed independent registered public accountants
• September 30, 2024 (date) — Fiscal year end for auditor selection
• 620 Eighth Avenue, 47th Floor, New York, New York 10018 (address) — Fund's business and mailing address
• HIO (ticker) — Stock ticker symbol

FAQ

Risk Factors

• Compliance with SEC Regulations [low — regulatory]: The Fund must comply with all applicable rules and regulations set forth by the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding proxy solicitations and annual meetings.
• Meeting Logistics and Attendance [low — operational]: The Fund needs to ensure the smooth execution of the annual meeting, including providing timely updates on any changes to the date, location, or format.

Industry Context

Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund Inc. is a closed-end investment fund. Such funds typically hold annual meetings to allow stockholders to vote on important corporate matters.

Regulatory Implications

The filing is made under Schedule 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which governs the solicitation of proxies from shareholders.

What Investors Should Do

1. Review the proxy statement for details on director nominees.
2. Evaluate the rationale for ratifying PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the independent auditor.
3. Note the official meeting date and location, and check for any updates on the fund's website or SEC filings.

Key Dates

• 2024-04-12: Annual Meeting of Stockholders — To elect directors and ratify auditors.
• 2024-03-06: Filing Date — Date the Definitive Proxy Statement was filed.

Year-Over-Year Comparison

This is a DEF 14A filing, a routine proxy statement for an annual meeting, and does not represent a change from previous filings in terms of its core purpose.

Key Financial Figures

• $0.001 — of Common Stock outstanding, par value $0.001 per share, the only authorized share cl

Filing Documents

• d784767ddef14a.htm (DEF 14A) — 188KB
• g784767g0305032847195.jpg (GRAPHIC) — 3KB
• g784767snap2.jpg (GRAPHIC) — 2KB
• g784767snap3.jpg (GRAPHIC) — 2KB
• g784767snap4.jpg (GRAPHIC) — 2KB
• 0001193125-24-060382.txt (&nbsp;) — 201KB

From the Filing

DEF 14A 1 d784767ddef14a.htm WESTERN ASSET HIGH INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND INC WESTERN ASSET HIGH INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND INC SCHEDULE 14A (Rule 14a-101) INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Filed by the Registrant Filed by a Party other than the Registrant Check the appropriate box: Preliminary Proxy Statement Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) Definitive Proxy Statement Definitive Additional Materials Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-11(c) or Section 240.14a-12 WESTERN ASSET HIGH INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND INC. (Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter) Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box): No fee required. Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by the registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. W ESTERN A SSET H IGH I NCOME O PPORTUNITY F UND I NC . 620 Eighth Avenue, 47th Floor, New York, New York 10018 (NYSE: HIO) NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS March 6, 2024 To the Stockholders: The Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the Meeting) of Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund Inc. (the Fund) will be held at 280 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017 on Friday, April 12, 2024 at 10:00 a.m., New York time. The Meeting is being held for the following purposes: A proposal to elect two Class II Directors to the Funds Board of Directors (the Board) ( Proposal No. 1 ); To ratify the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) as independent registered public accountants of the Fund for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024 ( Proposal No. 2 ); and The transaction of such other business as may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof. If it is determined that the Meeting will be held at a different time or in a different location or format (i.e., a virtual or hybrid meeting), an announcement of any such updates will be provided by means of a press release, which will be posted on our website (www.franklintempleton.com/investments/options/closed-end-funds). We encourage you to check the website prior to the Meeting if you plan to attend the Meeting. An announcement of any change will also be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission via its EDGAR system. You do not need to attend the Meeting if you submit your votes on the proposals by proxy promptly. The Board has fixed the close of business on February 7, 2024 as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof. By Order of the Board, Marc A. De Oliveira Secretary March 6, 2024 IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOUR SHARES BE REPRESENTED AT THE MEETING IN PERSON OR BY PROXY; IF YOU DO NOT EXPECT TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD (which will be made available to you separately) OR PROVIDE VOTING INSTRUCTIONS BY TELEPHONE OR VIA THE INTERNET. Instructions for Signing Proxy Cards The following general rules for signing proxy cards may be of assistance to you and avoid the time and expense to the Fund invalidating your vote if you fail to sign your proxy card properly. 1. Individual Accounts: Sign your name exactly as it appears in the registration on the proxy card. 2. Joint Accounts: Either party may sign, but the name of the party signing should conform exactly to a name shown in the registration. 3. All Other Accounts: The capacity of the individual signing the proxy card should be indicated unless it is reflected in the form of registration. For example: Registration Valid Signature Corporate Accounts (1) ABC Corp ABC Corp. (by John Doe, Treasurer) (2) ABC Corp John Doe, Treasurer (3) ABC Corp., c/o John Doe, Treasurer John Doe (4) ABC Corp. Profit Sharing Plan John Doe, Trustee Trust Accounts (1) ABC Trust Jane B. Doe, Trustee (2) Jane B. Doe, Trustee, u/t/d 12/28/78 Jane B. Doe Custodial or Estate Accounts (1) John B. Smith, Cust., f/b/o John B. Smith, Jr. UGMA John B. Smith (2) John B. Smith John B. Smith, Jr., Executor Instructions for Telephone/Internet Voting Various brokerage firms may offer the convenience of providing you with voting instructions via telephone or the Internet for shares held through such firms. Instructions for Internet and telephonic voting are included with the proxy card or voting instruction form. W ESTERN A SSET H IGH I NCOME O PPORTUNITY F UND I NC . 620 Eighth Avenue, 47th Floor, New York, New York 10018 (NYSE: HIO) PROXY S

View Full Filing

View this DEF 14A filing on SEC EDGAR