Trustee election and audit update in Barings Global Short Duration (NYSE: BGH) 2026 proxy
Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund is holding its 2026 virtual annual shareholder meeting on August 4, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. Eastern. Shareholders are asked to vote on the election of one trustee, Thomas W. Okel, for a term expiring at the 2029 annual meeting.
The Board unanimously recommends a vote "FOR" his election. The proxy explains how record-date holders as of June 5, 2026 can vote by mail, internet, phone, or live webcast, and describes quorum rules, broker voting on this NYSE "routine" proposal, and procedures to adjourn if turnout is low.
The statement also outlines the Fund’s governance structure, board committees of independent trustees, trustee and officer biographies, codes of ethics and insider trading restrictions, trustee compensation, major shareholders, and the change of independent auditor from Deloitte to KPMG, including detailed audit and tax fee disclosures.
Positive
- None.
Negative
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Key Figures
Key Terms
Independent Trustees financial
Audit Committee Financial Expert financial
broker non-vote financial
householding financial
Rule 38a-1 Compliance Manual regulatory
Global Code of Ethics Policy regulatory
Compensation Summary
| Name | Title | Total Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Independent Trustees (each of Mark F. Mulhern, Thomas W. Okel, Jill E. Olmstead) |
- Election of one trustee, Thomas W. Okel, for a term expiring at the 2029 annual meeting
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
(RULE 14a-101)
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-12 |
Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund
(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
| ☒ | No Fee Required. |
| ☐ | Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
| ☐ | Fee computed on table in exhibit per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11. |

Detailed information about the proposal is contained in the enclosed materials. Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, your vote is important. Voting is quick and easy. Please either: (i) date, fill in, and sign the enclosed proxy card and mail in the enclosed return envelope which requires no postage if mailed in the United States or (ii) vote on the internet by following the instructions in the notice and proxy card. | ||

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1. | To elect Thomas W. Okel as Trustee of the Fund, to serve for a three-year term and until his successor has been duly elected and qualified. |
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1. | To elect Thomas W. Okel as Trustee of the Fund, to serve for a three-year term and until his successor has been duly elected and qualified. |
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Name (Age), Address | Position(s) With the Fund | Term and Length of Time Served | Principal Occupations During Past 5 Years | Portfolios Overseen in Fund Complex | Other Directorships Held by Trustee or Nominee for Trustee During Past 5 Years | ||||||||||
David M. Mihalick (53) 300 South Tryon Street Suite 2500 Charlotte, NC 28202 | Trustee | Term expires 2028; Trustee since 2020 | Co-Head of Global Investments (since 2025), Head of Private Assets (2021-2025), Head of U.S. Public Fixed Income and Member of Global Investment Grade Allocation Committee (2019-2021), Head of U.S. High Yield and Member of Global High Yield Allocation Committee (2017-2021), Barings (global asset manager). | 5 | Director (since 2020), BBDC; Director (since 2021), BCIC; Trustee (since 2022), MCI and MPV; Trustee (2020-2021), Barings Funds Trust (open-end investment company advised by Barings until 2021). | ||||||||||
Name (Age), Address | Position(s) With the Fund | Term and Length of Time Served | Principal Occupations During Past 5 Years | Portfolios Overseen in Fund Complex | Other Directorships Held by Trustee or Nominee for Trustee During Past 5 Years | ||||||||||
Mark F. Mulhern (66) 300 South Tryon Street Suite 2500 Charlotte, NC 28202 | Trustee | Term expires 2027; Trustee since 2021 | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (2014-2022), Highwood Properties, Inc. (publicly traded real estate investment trust). | 4 | Director (since 2015), McKim and Creed (engineering service firm); Director (since 2020), Intercontinental Exchange (financial services company (NYSE: ICE)); Director (since 2020), ICE Mortgage Technology; Director (since 2016 (Triangle Capital)), BBDC; Director (since 2020), BCIC; Director (since 2021), BPCC; Trustee (2022-2024), Barings Private Equity Opportunities and Commitments Fund (a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company advised by Barings until February 2024). | ||||||||||
Thomas W. Okel (63) 300 South Tryon Street Suite 2500 Charlotte, NC 28202 | Trustee; Nominee | If elected, term will expire in 2029; Trustee since 2012 | Retired. | 4 | Trustee / Board Chair (since 2015), Horizon Funds (mutual fund complex); Director (since 2018), BBDC; Director (since 2020), BCIC; Director (since 2021), BPCC; Trustee (2013-2021), Barings Funds Trust (open-end investment company advised by Barings until 2021); Trustee (2022-2024), Barings Private Equity Opportunities and Commitments Fund (a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company advised by Barings until February 2024). | ||||||||||
Jill E. Olmstead (62) 300 South Tryon Street Suite 2500 Charlotte, NC 28202 | Trustee | Term expires 2027; Trustee since 2021 | Chief Human Resources Officer (2018-2026), LendingTree, Inc. (online lending and realty services exchange). | 4 | Director (since 2018), BBDC; Director (since 2020), BCIC; Director (since 2021), BPCC; Trustee (2022-2024), Barings Private Equity Opportunities and Commitments Fund (a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company advised by Barings until February 2024). | ||||||||||
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Name (Age), Address | Position(s) With the Fund | Term* and Length of Time Served | Principal Occupation(s) During Past 5 Years | ||||||
Sean Feeley (59) 300 South Tryon Street Suite 2500 Charlotte, NC 28202 | President | Since 2017 | Vice President (2012-2017), of the Fund; Managing Director (since 2003), Barings; Vice President (since 2011), MCI and MPV; Vice President (since 2011), CI Subsidiary Trust and PI Subsidiary Trust. | ||||||
Andrea Nitzan (58) 300 South Tryon Street Suite 2500 Charlotte, NC 28202 | Treasurer | Since 2023 | Managing Director and Chief Accounting Officer (since 2020), Barings; Principal Accounting Officer (since 2023), MCI and MPV; Principal Accounting Officer (since 2023), CI Subsidiary Trust and PI Subsidiary Trust. | ||||||
Christopher Hanscom (43) 300 South Tryon Street Suite 2500 Charlotte, NC 28202 | Chief Financial Officer | Since 2023 | Treasurer (2021-2023), of the Fund; Senior Director (since 2023), Director (2018-2023), Associate Director (2015-2018), Analyst (2005-2015), Barings; Chief Financial Officer (since 2022) and Treasurer (since 2017), MCI and MPV; Trustee and Chief Financial Officer (since 2022), Assistant Controller (2020-2022), CI Subsidiary Trust and PI Subsidiary Trust. | ||||||
Itzbell Branca (49) 300 South Tryon Street Suite 2500 Charlotte, NC 28202 | Chief Compliance Officer | Since 2024 | Senior Director (since September 2024), Director (August 2019-September 2024), Barings; Chief Compliance Officer (since September 2024), MCI and MPV; Chief Compliance Officer (since September 2024), BBDC; Chief Compliance Officer (since September 2024), BCIC; Chief Compliance Officer (since September 2024), BPCC. | ||||||
Ashlee Steinnerd (44) 300 South Tryon Street Suite 2500 Charlotte, NC 28202 | Chief Legal Officer | Since 2023 | Secretary (2021-2023), of the Fund; Managing Director (since 2022), Head of Regulatory (since 2021), Director (2019-2022), Barings; Chief Legal Officer (since 2023), Secretary (2020-2023), MCI and MPV; Chief Legal Officer (since 2023), Secretary (2020-2023), CI Subsidiary Trust and PI Subsidiary Trust; Chief Legal Officer (since 2023), Secretary (2020-2023), BBDC; Chief Legal Officer (since 2023), Secretary (2020-2023), BCIC; Chief Legal Officer (since 2023), Secretary (2021-2023), BPCC; Chief Legal Officer (2023-2024), Secretary (2022-2023), Barings Private Equity Opportunities and Commitments Fund (a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company advised by Barings until February 2024); Senior Counsel (2011-2019), Securities and Exchange Commission. | ||||||
Alexandra Pacini (33) 300 South Tryon Street Suite 2500 Charlotte, NC 28202 | Secretary | Since 2023 | Assistant Secretary (2020-2023), of the Fund; Director (since 2023), Associate Director (2021-2023), Analyst (2017-2021), Barings; Secretary (since 2023), Assistant Secretary (2020-2023), MCI and MPV; Secretary (since 2023), Assistant Secretary (2020-2023), CI Subsidiary Trust and PI Subsidiary Trust; Secretary (since 2023), Assistant Secretary (2020-2023), BBDC; Secretary (since 2023), Assistant Secretary (2021-2023), BCIC; Secretary (since 2023), Assistant Secretary (2021-2023), BPCC; Secretary (2023-2024), Assistant Secretary (2022-2023), Barings Private Equity Opportunities and Commitments Fund (a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company advised by Barings until February 2024); Assistant Secretary (2020-2021), Barings Funds Trust (open-end investment company advised by Barings until 2021). | ||||||
Matthew Curtis (55) 300 South Tryon Street Suite 2500 Charlotte, NC 28202 | Chief Tax Officer | Since 2022 | Managing Director and Global Head of Tax (since 2017), Barings; Chief Tax Officer (since 2022), MCI and MPV; Chief Tax Officer (since 2022), CI Subsidiary Trust and PI Subsidiary Trust; Chief Tax Officer (since 2022), BBDC; Chief Tax Officer (since 2022), BCIC; Chief Tax Officer (since 2022), BPCC; Tax Officer (2022-2024), Barings Private Equity Opportunities and Commitments Fund (a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company advised by Barings until February 2024). | ||||||
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Name of Nominee/ Trustee | Dollar Range of Shares in Fund | Dollar Range of Shares in Fund Complex | ||||
D. Mihalick | $10,001-$50,000 | Over $100,000 | ||||
M. Mulhern | None | Over $100,000 | ||||
T. Okel | $50,001-$100,000 | Over $100,000 | ||||
J. Olmstead | None | $10,001-$50,000 | ||||
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Name of Trustee | Aggregate Compensation from the Fund | Total Compensation from Fund Complex | ||||
David M. Mihalick | None** | None** | ||||
Mark F. Mulhern | $50,000 | $370,000* | ||||
Thomas W. Okel | $50,000 | $370,000* | ||||
Jill E. Olmstead | $50,000 | $350,000* | ||||
Total | $150,000 | $1,090,000 | ||||
• | Reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 with Management and KPMG LLP (“KPMG”), the Fund’s independent registered public accountants; |
• | Discussed with KPMG those matters required to be discussed by Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Auditing Standard 16 (Communications with Audit Committees); and |
• | Received the written disclosure and the letter from KPMG required by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Rule 3526 (Communications with Audit Committee Concerning Independence) and has discussed with KPMG its independence. |
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FYE 12/31/2025 | FYE 12/31/2024 | |||||
(a) Audit Fees | $135,000 | $129,000 | ||||
(b) Audit-Related Fees | 0 | 0 | ||||
(c) Tax Fees | 15,875 | 15,450 | ||||
(d) All Other Fees | 0 | 0 | ||||
FYE 12/31/2025 | FYE 12/31/2024 | |||||
(a) Audit-Related Fees | $2,409,000 | $2,229,000 | ||||
(b) Tax Fees | 22,492,000 | 22,385,000 | ||||
(c) All Other Fees | 190,000 | 126,000 | ||||
FYE 12/31/2024 | |||
(a) Audit Fees | $0 | ||
(b) Audit-Related Fees | 0 | ||
(c) Tax Fees | 16,745 | ||
(d) All Other Fees | 0 | ||
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FYE 12/31/2024 | |||
(a) Audit-Related Fees | $4,975,909 | ||
(b) Tax Fees | 2,497,367 | ||
(c) All Other Fees | 257,731 | ||
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Name and Address of Shareholder | Number of Shares Beneficially Owned | Percentage Owned | ||||
Interested Trustees | ||||||
David M. Mihalick | 3,500 | 0.02% | ||||
Independent Trustees | ||||||
Mark F. Mulhern | 0 | N/A | ||||
Thomas W. Okel | 4,000 | 0.02% | ||||
Jill E. Olmstead | 0 | N/A | ||||
Executive Officers | ||||||
Sean Feeley | 8,492 | 0.04% | ||||
Andrea Nitzan | 0 | N/A | ||||
Christopher Hanscom | 0 | N/A | ||||
Ashlee Steinnerd | 0 | N/A | ||||
Itzbell Branca | 0 | N/A | ||||
Trustees and Officers as a Group 5% Holders | 15,992 | 0.08% | ||||
First Trust Portfolios L.P. First Trust Advisors L.P. The Charger Corporation 120 East Liberty Drive Suite 400 Wheaton, Illinois 60187 | 4,438,433* | 22.12% | ||||
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