Anthony Grillo
About Anthony Grillo
Independent, non‑interested director of HIX since November 15, 2024; member of the Nominating, Audit, Compensation, and Pricing & Valuation Committees. Background includes founding and leading American Securities Opportunity Funds (private equity/credit) and senior roles at Evercore Partners, Joseph Littlejohn & Levy, and The Blackstone Group; oversees 21 portfolios in the Franklin Templeton fund complex. Birth year: 1955. Security ownership in HIX is “A” (None) and aggregate holdings across the fund family are “A” (None) as of December 31, 2024 .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Securities Opportunity Funds | Founder, Managing Director & Partner | 2006–2018 | Private equity and credit experience |
| Evercore Partners Inc. | Senior Managing Director | 2001–2004 | Investment banking leadership |
| Joseph Littlejohn & Levy, Inc. | Senior Managing Director | 1999–2001 | Private equity leadership |
| The Blackstone Group L.P. | Senior Managing Director | 1991–1999 | Private equity/credit experience |
External Roles
| Company/Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Littelfuse, Inc. | Director | Since 1991 | Electronics manufacturing board service |
| Oaktree Acquisition Corp. II | Director | 2020–2022 | SPAC oversight |
| Oaktree Acquisition Corp. | Director | 2019–2021 | SPAC oversight |
Board Governance
- Independence: Non‑interested director; committees composed entirely of Independent Directors under NYSE listing standards and the 1940 Act .
- Board attendance and engagement: In FY ended April 30, 2025, the Board held 4 regular and 3 special meetings; each director attended at least 75% of Board and committee meetings for which they were eligible. No director attended the 2024 Annual Meeting (no formal policy on annual meeting attendance) .
- Leadership: Board Chair is Eileen A. Kamerick (Independent); Independent Directors meet in executive session and are advised by independent legal counsel .
- Committee assignments and activity:
- Audit: Member; 6 meetings in FY 2025; Chair: Nisha Kumar; Audit Committee report signed June 18, 2025 .
- Nominating: Member; 6 meetings in FY 2025; Chair: Hillary A. Sale .
- Pricing & Valuation: Member; 4 meetings in FY 2025; Chair: Carol L. Colman .
- Compensation: Member; 2 meetings in FY 2025; Chair: Peter Mason .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Amount (USD) | Period | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aggregate Compensation from HIX | $10,426 | Fiscal year ended 04/30/2025 | Cash compensation for Board/committee service; no pension/retirement benefits provided . |
| Total Compensation from Fund and Fund Complex | $32,989 | Calendar year ended 12/31/2024 | Reflects service across 21 investment company directorships in the fund complex . |
The proxy does not disclose retainer rates, meeting fees, or committee chair premia by component for HIX directors; amounts presented are totals .
Performance Compensation
- No equity awards, stock options, PSUs/RSUs, or performance‑linked incentives are disclosed for Independent Directors; Compensation Committee’s remit is to recommend appropriate compensation for Independent Directors .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Overlap/Interlock Consideration | Risk Note |
|---|---|---|
| Littelfuse, Inc. | Industrial electronics issuer; no disclosed related‑party ties to HIX adviser/sub‑advisers | No disclosed conflicts with Franklin Templeton/FTFA as of Dec 31, 2024 . |
| Oaktree Acquisition Corp. / II | Prior SPAC roles | Historical; no current conflict disclosed . |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Private equity and credit investing; investment banking senior leadership; multi‑fund board oversight (21 portfolios) .
- Board attributes cited by HIX include experience as managing director in private equity/credit and investment banking; references are disclosure‑driven and not representations of “special expertise” .
Equity Ownership
| Holder | HIX Fund Ownership Range | Aggregate Range Across Fund Family | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anthony Grillo | “A” = None | “A” = None | As of 12/31/2024 . |
- Group ownership: Directors, nominees, and officers as a group owned less than 1% of HIX common stock at July 31, 2025 .
- Dollar range definitions: A=None; B=$1–$10,000; C=$10,001–$50,000; D=$50,001–$100,000; E=Over $100,000 .
Governance Assessment
- Strengths: Broad transaction and capital markets background; service across all key oversight committees; active committee cadence (Audit 6x; Nominating 6x; P&V 4x; Compensation 2x); Board is majority independent with an Independent Chair and regular executive sessions .
- Alignment concerns (RED FLAGS): Zero share ownership in HIX and across the fund family as of 12/31/2024 may signal limited economic alignment for an Independent Director; no director attended the 2024 Annual Meeting (the Fund has no formal policy) .
- Conflicts: Proxy states no non‑interested director (nor immediate family) had interests in the adviser or affiliates as of 12/31/2024; no related‑party transactions disclosed involving Grillo .
- Capacity/commitment: Oversees 21 portfolios in the fund complex; while common in fund complexes, high board load warrants ongoing monitoring of meeting attendance and committee participation; Grillo met at least the 75% attendance threshold in FY 2025 .
- Compensation structure: Cash‑only disclosure with modest HIX‑level pay ($10,426 for FY 2025) and broader complex compensation ($32,989 for CY 2024); absence of equity or performance linkage reduces alignment but is typical for closed‑end fund directors .