BLACKROCK DEBT STRATEGIES FUND, INC.

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-Q

QUARTERLY SCHEDULE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS OF REGISTERED

MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY

Investment Company Act file number 811-08603

Name of Fund: BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. (DSU)

Fund Address: 100 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19809

Name and address of agent for service: John M. Perlowski, Chief Executive Officer, BlackRock Debt

Strategies Fund, Inc., 55 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10055

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (800) 882-0052, Option 4

Date of fiscal year end: 02/28/2015

Date of reporting period: 05/31/2014


Item 1 – Schedule of Investments


Schedule of Investments May 31, 2014 (Unaudited)

  

BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. (DSU)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Common Stocks   

Shares

    Value  

Chemicals — 0.1%

      

GEO Specialty Chemicals, Inc. (a)

             481,806      $ 423,989   

Containers & Packaging — 0.1%

      

Smurfit Kappa Group PLC

             54,513        1,315,975   

Diversified Consumer Services — 0.2%

      

Cengage Thomson Learning (a)

             49,549        1,793,079   

Diversified Financial Services — 0.6%

      

Kcad Holdings I Ltd. (a)

             756,012,055        4,732,635   

Diversified Telecommunication Services — 0.0%

  

   

Broadview Networks Holdings, Inc. (a)

             5,037        12,593   

Electrical Equipment — 0.0%

      

Medis Technologies Ltd. (a)

             286,757        3   

Health Care Providers & Services — 0.0%

      

HealthSouth Corp.

             1,101        38,667   

Media — 0.0%

      

Adelphia Recovery Trust (a)

       396,568        3,966   

Adept Technology, Inc., Class A

       400,000        2,800   
      

 

 

 
                       6,766   

Paper & Forest Products — 0.7%

      

Ainsworth Lumber Co. Ltd. (a)

       803,254        2,101,291   

Ainsworth Lumber Co. Ltd. (a)(b)

       695,930        1,867,708   

NewPage Holdings, Inc.

       12,500        1,062,500   

Western Forest Products, Inc.

       211,149        447,886   
      

 

 

 
                       5,479,385   

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment — 0.0%

  

 

SunPower Corp. (a)

             1,707        56,911   

Software — 0.3%

      

HMH Holdings/EduMedia (a)

             147,998        2,696,524   
Total Common Stocks2.0%                      16,556,527   
      
                          
Asset-Backed Securities (b)(c)   

Par  

(000)

        

ACAS CLO Ltd., Series 2013-1A, Class D, 3.83%, 4/20/25

     USD        750        725,625   

ALM Loan Funding, Series 2013-7RA:

      

Class C, 3.68%, 4/24/24

       1,310        1,263,819   

Class D, 5.23%, 4/24/24

       1,150        1,098,563   

Atrium CDO Corp., Series 9A, Class D, 3.73%, 2/28/24

       1,300        1,251,667   

Carlyle Global Market Strategies CLO Ltd. :

      

Series 2012-4A, Class D, 4.73%, 1/20/25

       900        901,987   

Carlyle Global Market Strategies CLO Ltd. (concluded):

      

Series 2013-1A, Class C, 4.23%, 2/14/25

     USD        250      $ 246,432   

CFIP CLO Ltd., Series 2013-1A, Class D, 3.98%, 4/20/24

       1,500        1,432,299   

Fraser Sullivan CLO VII Ltd., Series 2012-7A, Class C, 4.23%, 4/20/23

       1,170        1,160,693   

Madison Park Funding XI Ltd., Series 2013-11A, Class D, 3.73%, 10/23/25

       555        533,297   

OZLM Funding Ltd., Series 2012-2A, Class C, 4.57%, 10/30/23

       500        501,379   

Regatta Funding LP, Series 2013-2A, Class C, 4.23%, 1/15/25

       750        737,320   

Symphony CLO Ltd., Series 2012-10A, Class D, 5.48%, 7/23/23

             650        651,748   
Total Asset-Backed Securities1.3%                      10,504,829   
      
                          
Corporate Bonds                      

Aerospace & Defense — 0.5%

      

DigitalGlobe, Inc., 5.25%, 2/01/21

       1,017        999,202   

Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc., 7.13%, 3/15/21

       1,150        1,256,375   

Meccanica Holdings USA, Inc., 6.25%, 7/15/19 (b)

       347        379,098   

Transdigm, Inc. (b)(d):

      

6.00%, 7/15/22

       895        901,713   

6.50%, 7/15/24

       850        862,750   
      

 

 

 
                       4,399,138   

Airlines — 1.4%

      

Air Canada Pass-Through Trust, Series 2013-1, Class C, 6.63%, 5/15/18 (b)

       712        739,269   

American Airlines Pass-Through Trust, Series 2013-2, Class C, 6.00%, 1/15/17 (b)

       3,195        3,338,775   

Continental Airlines Pass-Through Trust, Series 2012-3, Class C, 6.13%, 4/29/18

       2,390        2,545,350   

Delta Air Lines Pass-Through Trust, Series 2009-1, Class B, 9.75%, 6/17/18

       266        305,433   

United Continental Holdings, Inc., 6.00%, 12/01/20

       1,040        1,084,200   

 

                
   BLACKROCK DEBT STRATEGIES FUND, INC.    MAY 31, 2014    1


Schedule of Investments (continued)

  

BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. (DSU)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Corporate Bonds   

Par  

(000)

    Value  

Airlines (concluded)

      

US Airways Pass-Through Trust:

      

Series 2011-1, Class C, 10.88%, 10/22/14

     USD        95      $ 97,902   

Series 2013-1, Class B, 5.38%, 11/15/21

       2,325        2,383,125   

Virgin Australia Trust, Series 2013-1, Class C, 7.13%, 10/23/18 (b)

       1,295        1,337,242   
      

 

 

 
                       11,831,296   

Auto Components — 1.9%

      

Affinia Group, Inc., 7.75%, 5/01/21

       1,200        1,281,000   

Autodis SA, 6.50%, 2/01/19

     EUR        100        141,637   

Brighthouse Group PLC, 7.88%, 5/15/18

     GBP        100        177,048   

Chrysler Group LLC/CG Co-Issuer, Inc.:

      

8.00%, 6/15/19

     USD        1,341        1,465,042   

8.25%, 6/15/21

       1,440        1,641,600   

Dana Holding Corp., 6.75%, 2/15/21

       180        194,850   

Delphi Corp., 6.13%, 5/15/21

       380        423,225   

Grupo Antolin Dutch BV, 4.75%, 4/01/21

     EUR        208        288,313   

Icahn Enterprises LP/Icahn Enterprises Finance Corp.:

      

3.50%, 3/15/17

     USD        145        146,631   

4.88%, 3/15/19

       4,609        4,718,464   

Jaguar Land Rover Automotive PLC:

      

8.25%, 3/15/20

     GBP        569        1,073,320   

5.63%, 2/01/23 (b)

     USD        425        446,250   

Pittsburgh Glass Works LLC, 8.00%, 11/15/18 (b)

       470        513,475   

Rhino Bondco SpA, 7.25%, 11/15/20

     EUR        100        146,539   

Schaeffler Holding Finance BV:

      

2.75%, 5/15/19

       495        673,196   

6.88%, (6.88% Cash or 7.63% PIK), 8/15/18 (b)(e)

     USD        1,195        1,262,219   

6.88%, (6.88% Cash) 8/15/18 (e)

     EUR        385        554,333   

Titan International, Inc., 6.88%, 10/01/20 (b)

     USD        610        630,587   

Venture Holdings Co. LLC (a)(f):

      

12.00%, 7/01/49

       5,150        1   
Corporate Bonds   

Par  

(000)

    Value  

Auto Components (concluded)

      

Venture Holdings Co. LLC (a)(f) (concluded):

      

Series B, 9.50%, 7/01/05

     USD        5,125      $ 1   
      

 

 

 
                       15,777,731   

Auto Parts — 0.0%

      

PetroLogistics LP/PetroLogistics Finance Corp., 6.25%, 4/01/20

             327        353,978   

Automobiles — 0.4%

      

Ford Motor Co., 4.25%, 11/15/16 (g)

       478        914,474   

General Motors Co. (b):

      

4.88%, 10/02/23

       495        518,513   

6.25%, 10/02/43

       1,345        1,528,256   
      

 

 

 
                       2,961,243   

Beverages — 0.0%

      

Constellation Brands, Inc., 7.25%, 5/15/17

             87        100,050   

Building Products — 1.0%

      

American Builders & Contractors Supply Co., Inc., 5.63%, 4/15/21 (b)

       420        434,700   

BMBG Bond Finance SCA, 5.33%, 10/15/20 (c)

     EUR        245        336,476   

Builders FirstSource, Inc., 7.63%, 6/01/21 (b)

     USD        639        683,730   

Building Materials Corp. of America, 6.75%, 5/01/21 (b)

       1,230        1,328,400   

Cemex Finance LLC, 6.00%, 4/01/24 (b)

       1,290        1,323,862   

Cemex SAB de CV, 5.88%, 3/25/19 (b)

       260        270,400   

CPG Merger Sub LLC, 8.00%, 10/01/21 (b)

       740        782,550   

Ply Gem Industries, Inc., 6.50%, 2/01/22 (b)

       1,755        1,719,900   

USG Corp., 9.75%, 1/15/18

       980        1,174,775   
      

 

 

 
                       8,054,793   

Capital Markets — 0.4%

      

American Capital Ltd., 6.50%, 9/15/18 (b)

       1,070        1,144,900   

Blackstone CQP Holdco LP, 2.32%, 3/18/19

       861        867,786   

E*Trade Financial Corp. (g)(h):

      

0.00%, 8/31/19 (b)

       593        1,171,175   

Series A, 0.00%, 8/31/19

       100        197,500   
      

 

 

 
                       3,381,361   

Chemicals — 2.7%

      

Ashland, Inc., 3.88%, 4/15/18

       730        750,075   

 

 

                
2    BLACKROCK DEBT STRATEGIES FUND, INC.    MAY 31, 2014   


Schedule of Investments (continued)

  

BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. (DSU)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Corporate Bonds  

Par  

(000)

    Value  

Chemicals (concluded)

     

Axiall Corp., 4.88%, 5/15/23 (b)

    USD        39      $ 38,708   

Celanese US Holdings LLC, 5.88%, 6/15/21

      324        357,615   

Chemtura Corp., 5.75%, 7/15/21

      221        227,906   

GEO Specialty Chemicals, Inc., 7.50%, 3/31/15 (b)(g)

      6,039        13,890,643   

Huntsman International LLC:

     

4.88%, 11/15/20

      40        41,200   

8.63%, 3/15/21

      1,195        1,332,425   

5.13%, 4/15/21

    EUR        428        603,970   

INEOS Group Holdings SA:

     

6.13%, 8/15/18 (b)

    USD        740        765,900   

6.50%, 8/15/18

    EUR        224        319,850   

5.75%, 2/15/19

      470        661,983   

LSB Industries, Inc., 7.75%, 8/01/19 (b)

    USD        331        353,342   

Nexeo Solutions LLC/Nexeo Solutions Finance Corp., 8.38%, 3/01/18

      30        30,300   

NOVA Chemicals Corp., 8.63%, 11/01/19

      188        201,630   

Nufarm Australia Ltd., 6.38%, 10/15/19 (b)

      405        421,200   

Orion Engineered Carbons Bondco GmbH:

     

9.63%, 6/15/18 (b)

      1,066        1,148,615   

10.00%, 6/15/18

    EUR        87        128,079   

PolyOne Corp., 7.38%, 9/15/20

    USD        80        87,300   

Rockwood Specialties Group, Inc., 4.63%, 10/15/20

      374        383,817   

US Coatings Acquisition, Inc./Axalta Coating Systems Dutch Holding BV:

     

5.75%, 2/01/21

    EUR        100        146,198   

7.38%, 5/01/21 (b)

    USD        151        165,345   
     

 

 

 
                      22,056,101   

Commercial Banks — 0.7%

     

CIT Group, Inc.:

     

5.00%, 5/15/17

      950        1,015,313   

5.25%, 3/15/18

      1,434        1,539,757   

6.63%, 4/01/18 (b)

      295        329,663   

5.50%, 2/15/19 (b)

      3,099        3,346,920   

Lloyds Bank PLC, 11.88%, 12/16/21 (c)

    EUR        12        20,406   
     

 

 

 
                      6,252,059   

Commercial Services & Supplies — 1.8%

     

ACCO Brands Corp., 6.75%, 4/30/20

    USD        325        340,031   

ADS Waste Holdings, Inc., 8.25%, 10/01/20

      267        289,028   

The ADT Corp., 3.50%, 7/15/22

      75        68,813   
Corporate Bonds   

Par  

(000)

    Value  

Commercial Services & Supplies (concluded)

  

ARAMARK Corp., 5.75%, 3/15/20

     USD        1,599      $ 1,700,936   

Avis Budget Car Rental LLC/Avis Budget Finance, Inc., 2.99%, 12/01/17 (c)

       190        191,425   

Bilbao Luxembourg SA, 10.50%, (10.50% Cash or 11.25% PIK), 12/01/18 (e)

     EUR        100        143,131   

Brand Energy & Infrastructure Services, Inc., 8.50%, 12/01/21 (b)

     USD        498        527,880   

Catalent Pharma Solutions, Inc., 7.88%, 10/15/18

       450        457,875   

Covanta Holding Corp., 6.38%, 10/01/22

       1,305        1,404,506   

Mobile Mini, Inc., 7.88%, 12/01/20

       1,110        1,226,550   

United Rentals North America, Inc.:

      

5.75%, 7/15/18

       1,389        1,482,757   

7.38%, 5/15/20

       760        847,400   

8.25%, 2/01/21

       165        184,800   

7.63%, 4/15/22

       4,903        5,558,776   

West Corp., 8.63%, 10/01/18

       530        561,800   
      

 

 

 
                       14,985,708   

Communications Equipment — 0.9%

  

   

Alcatel-Lucent USA, Inc. (b):

      

4.63%, 7/01/17

       645        662,738   

6.75%, 11/15/20

       1,235        1,312,187   

Avaya, Inc., 7.00%, 4/01/19 (b)

       719        711,810   

Brocade Communications Systems, Inc., 6.88%, 1/15/20

       175        185,938   

CommScope, Inc. (b):

      

5.00%, 6/15/21

       265        266,325   

5.50%, 6/15/24

       272        273,360   

Zayo Group LLC/Zayo Capital, Inc.:

      

8.13%, 1/01/20

       2,688        2,936,640   

10.13%, 7/01/20

       1,206        1,392,930   
      

 

 

 
                       7,741,928   

Construction & Engineering — 0.1%

      

BlueLine Rental Finance Corp., 7.00%, 2/01/19 (b)

       205        219,350   

Safway Group Holding LLC/Safway Finance Corp., 7.00%, 5/15/18 (b)

       600        636,000   

Weekley Homes LLC/Weekley Finance Corp., 6.00%, 2/01/23

       350        350,875   
      

 

 

 
                       1,206,225   

Construction Materials — 1.4%

      

HD Supply, Inc.:

      

8.13%, 4/15/19

       6,505        7,171,762   

 

                
   BLACKROCK DEBT STRATEGIES FUND, INC.    MAY 31, 2014    3


Schedule of Investments (continued)

  

BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. (DSU)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

 

Corporate Bonds   

Par  

(000)

    Value  

Construction Materials (concluded)

      

HD Supply, Inc. (concluded):

      

11.00%, 4/15/20

     USD        786      $ 929,445   

7.50%, 7/15/20

       3,069        3,329,865   

Kerneos Tech Group SAS:

      

5.05%, 3/01/21 (c)

     EUR        100        137,167   

5.75%, 3/01/21

       104        145,312   
      

 

 

 
                       11,713,551   

Consumer Finance — 0.1%

      

IVS F. SpA, 7.13%, 4/01/20

       275        398,333   

Springleaf Finance Corp.:

      

7.75%, 10/01/21

     USD        37        41,347   

8.25%, 10/01/23

       68        76,840   
      

 

 

 
                       516,520   

Containers & Packaging — 0.4%

      

Ball Corp., 6.75%, 9/15/20

       635        677,862   

Berry Plastics Corp., 9.75%, 1/15/21

       210        242,025   

Beverage Packaging Holdings Luxembourg II SA, 6.00%, 6/15/17 (b)

       727        741,540   

Crown Americas LLC/Crown Americas Capital Corp. III, 6.25%, 2/01/21

       715        768,625   

Graphic Packaging International, Inc., 7.88%, 10/01/18

       135        142,763   

Sealed Air Corp. (b):

      

6.50%, 12/01/20

       120        133,800   

8.38%, 9/15/21

       60        68,700   

SGD Group SAS, 5.63%, 5/15/19

     EUR        100        139,739   

Signode Industrial Group Lux SA/Signode Industrial Group US, Inc., 6.38%, 5/01/22 (b)

     USD        329        332,290   

Smurfit Kappa Acquisitions, 4.88%, 9/15/18 (b)

       200        211,500   
      

 

 

 
                       3,458,844   

Distributors — 0.1%

      

VWR Funding, Inc., 7.25%, 9/15/17

             938        996,625   

Diversified Consumer Services — 0.2%

      

APX Group, Inc.:

      

6.38%, 12/01/19

       121        124,025   

8.75%, 12/01/20

       254        259,080   

Garda World Security Corp., 7.25%, 11/15/21 (b)

       199        209,199   

Laureate Education, Inc., 9.25%, 9/01/19 (b)

       715        750,750   
Corporate Bonds   

Par  

(000)

    Value  

Diversified Consumer Services (concluded)

      

Service Corp. International, 4.50%, 11/15/20

     USD        307      $ 300,860   
      

 

 

 
                       1,643,914   

Diversified Financial Services — 3.9%

      

Aircastle Ltd., 6.25%, 12/01/19

       571        618,108   

Ally Financial, Inc.:

      

8.30%, 2/12/15

       4,150        4,347,125   

6.25%, 12/01/17

       30        33,525   

8.00%, 3/15/20

       60        72,750   

7.50%, 9/15/20

       2,540        3,028,950   

8.00%, 11/01/31

       5,588        6,974,783   

Bank of America Corp.:

      

4.50%, 4/01/15

       375        387,021   

6.05%, 5/16/16

       325        354,904   

6.50%, 8/01/16

       410        456,451   

5.63%, 10/14/16

       100        110,175   

CE Energy AS, 7.00%, 2/01/21

     EUR        175        249,882   

Co-Operative Group Holdings, 6.88%, 7/08/20 (i)

     GBP        230        406,730   

General Motors Financial Co., Inc., 4.25%, 5/15/23

     USD        101        100,116   

Jefferies Finance LLC/JFIN Co-Issuer Corp. (b):

      

7.38%, 4/01/20

       825        866,250   

6.88%, 4/15/22

       716        721,370   

Reynolds Group Issuer, Inc.:

      

7.13%, 4/15/19

       3,290        3,454,500   

9.00%, 4/15/19

       195        206,700   

7.88%, 8/15/19

       180        196,650   

9.88%, 8/15/19

       1,799        1,981,149   

5.75%, 10/15/20

       6,198        6,445,920   

6.88%, 2/15/21

       1,040        1,120,600   

8.25%, 2/15/21

       169        179,774   
      

 

 

 
                       32,313,433   

Diversified Telecommunication Services — 1.9%

      

CenturyLink, Inc., Series V, 5.63%, 4/01/20

       1,393        1,473,097   

Level 3 Communications, Inc., 8.88%, 6/01/19

       670        733,650   

Level 3 Financing, Inc.:

      

3.82%, 1/15/18 (b)(c)

       646        655,690   

8.13%, 7/01/19

       6,980        7,625,650   

7.00%, 6/01/20

       524        567,230   

8.63%, 7/15/20

       188        211,030   

6.13%, 1/15/21 (b)

       1,217        1,286,978   

 

Telecom Italia SpA:

      

6.13%, 11/15/16 (g)

     EUR        300        506,069   

6.38%, 6/24/19

     GBP        200        365,561   

4.88%, 9/25/20

     EUR        235        346,226   

4.50%, 1/25/21

       330        476,366   

5.88%, 5/19/23

     GBP        300        525,279   

 

                
4    BLACKROCK DEBT STRATEGIES FUND, INC.    MAY 31, 2014   


Schedule of Investments (continued)

  

BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. (DSU)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Corporate Bonds  

Par  

(000)

    Value  

Diversified Telecommunication Services (concluded)

  

 

Telenet Finance V Luxembourg SCA:

     

6.25%, 8/15/22

    EUR        319      $ 469,102   

6.75%, 8/15/24

      322        483,925   

Windstream Corp.:

     

7.88%, 11/01/17

    USD        142        163,655   

7.75%, 10/15/20

      47        50,995   
     

 

 

 
                      15,940,503   

Electric Utilities — 0.3%

  

ContourGlobal Power Holdings SA, 7.13%, 6/01/19 (b)

      897        908,212   

Homer City Generation LP (e):

     

8.14%, (8.14% Cash or 8.64% PIK), 10/01/19

      250        266,250   

8.73%, (8.73% Cash or 9.23% PIK), 10/01/26

      488        521,550   

Mirant Mid Atlantic Pass-Through Trust, Series B, 9.13%, 6/30/17

      575        626,362   
     

 

 

 
                      2,322,374   

Energy Equipment & Services — 1.7%

  

Calfrac Holdings LP, 7.50%, 12/01/20 (b)

      2,281        2,434,967   

CGG SA:

     

7.75%, 5/15/17

      19        19,190   

6.50%, 6/01/21

      2,305        2,212,800   

Genesis Energy LP/Genesis Energy Finance Corp., 5.75%, 2/15/21

      18        18,630   

GrafTech International Ltd., 6.38%, 11/15/20

      150        153,375   

Gulfmark Offshore, Inc., 6.38%, 3/15/22

      200        208,000   

Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc., 5.88%, 4/01/20

      405        421,200   

MEG Energy Corp. (b):

     

6.50%, 3/15/21

      2,774        2,936,972   

7.00%, 3/31/24

      623        672,840   

Peabody Energy Corp.:

     

6.00%, 11/15/18

      1,821        1,898,393   

6.25%, 11/15/21

      1,809        1,809,000   

Precision Drilling Corp.:

     

6.63%, 11/15/20

      190        203,300   

5.25%, 11/15/24 (b)

      641        647,410   

Rain CII Carbon LLC/CII Carbon Corp., 8.25%, 1/15/21 (b)

      577        598,638   
     

 

 

 
                      14,234,715   

Food & Staples Retailing — 0.2%

  

Labeyrie Fine Foods SAS, 5.63%, 3/15/21

    EUR        105        147,246   
Corporate Bonds  

Par  

(000)

    Value  

Food & Staples Retailing (concluded)

  

 

Premier Foods Finance PLC:

     

5.52%, 3/15/20 (c)

    GBP        145      $ 244,386   

6.50%, 3/15/21

      100        173,084   

R&R Ice Cream PLC:

     

5.50%, 5/15/20

      110        181,616   

9.25%, (9.25% Cash), 5/15/18 (e)

    EUR        100        139,041   

Rite Aid Corp.:

     

9.25%, 3/15/20

    USD        435        495,900   

6.75%, 6/15/21

      72        77,940   
     

 

 

 
                      1,459,213   

Food Products — 0.3%

  

Barry Callebaut Services NV, 5.50%, 6/15/23 (b)

      200        210,126   

Findus Bondco SA:

     

9.13%, 7/01/18

    EUR        233        345,405   

9.50%, 7/01/18

    GBP        200        364,590   

Post Holdings, Inc., 6.75%, 12/01/21 (b)

    USD        340        360,400   

Smithfield Foods, Inc.:

     

5.88%, 8/01/21 (b)

      257        273,063   

6.63%, 8/15/22

      849        930,716   

Univeg Holding BV, 7.88%, 11/15/20

    EUR        200        278,088   
     

 

 

 
                      2,762,388   

Gas Utilities — 0.2%

  

Targa Resources Partners LP/Targa Resources Partners Finance Corp., 7.88%, 10/15/18

    USD        1,665        1,764,900   

Health Care Equipment & Supplies — 0.6%

  

3AB Optique Developpement SAS, 5.63%, 4/15/19

    EUR        215        285,018   

Biomet, Inc., 6.50%, 10/01/20

    USD        1,889        2,030,675   

DJO Finance LLC/DJO Finance Corp., 8.75%, 3/15/18

      480        516,000   

Fresenius US Finance II, Inc., 9.00%, 7/15/15 (b)

      410        442,800   

IDH Finance PLC, 6.00%, 12/01/18

    GBP        103        179,554   

Kinetic Concepts, Inc./KCI USA, Inc., 12.50%, 11/01/19

    USD        232        266,220   

Teleflex, Inc., 6.88%, 6/01/19

      830        884,988   
     

 

 

 
                      4,605,255   

Health Care Providers & Services — 2.6%

  

Aviv Healthcare Properties LP/Aviv Healthcare Capital Corp.:

     

7.75%, 2/15/19

      1,215        1,297,013   

 

                
   BLACKROCK DEBT STRATEGIES FUND, INC.    MAY 31, 2014    5


Schedule of Investments (continued)

  

BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. (DSU)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Corporate Bonds   

Par  

(000)

    Value  

Health Care Providers & Services (concluded)

  

Aviv Healthcare Properties LP/Aviv Healthcare Capital Corp. (concluded):

      

6.00%, 10/15/21

   USD     308      $ 324,940   

CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc.:

      

5.13%, 8/15/18

       776        815,770   

6.88%, 2/01/22 (b)

       2,379        2,503,897   

ConvaTec Healthcare E SA, 7.38%, 12/15/17 (b)

   EUR     200        288,164   

Crown Newco 3 PLC, 7.00%, 2/15/18

   GBP     194        342,905   

HCA Holdings, Inc., 7.75%, 5/15/21

   USD     431        474,639   

HCA, Inc.:

      

3.75%, 3/15/19

       1,498        1,524,215   

6.50%, 2/15/20

       2,254        2,561,107   

5.88%, 3/15/22

       248        270,010   

4.75%, 5/01/23

       447        447,000   

Hologic, Inc., 6.25%, 8/01/20

       1,933        2,053,813   

Kindred Healthcare, Inc., 6.38%, 4/15/22 (b)

       229        232,721   

Priory Group No. 3 PLC, 7.00%, 2/15/18 (b)

   GBP     308        544,406   

Symbion, Inc., 8.00%, 6/15/16

   USD     125        130,313   

Tenet Healthcare Corp.:

      

6.25%, 11/01/18

       1,412        1,556,730   

5.00%, 3/01/19 (b)

       431        439,620   

4.75%, 6/01/20

       1,190        1,204,875   

8.00%, 8/01/20

       759        827,310   

6.00%, 10/01/20

       673        723,475   

4.50%, 4/01/21

       100        99,250   

4.38%, 10/01/21

       1,386        1,361,745   

8.13%, 4/01/22

       1,262        1,435,525   
      

 

 

 
                   21,459,443   

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure — 2.3%

  

Caesars Entertainment Operating Co., Inc.:

      

8.50%, 2/15/20

       560        445,200   

9.00%, 2/15/20

       4,471        3,565,622   

Carlson Wagonlit BV, 6.88%, 6/15/19 (b)

       200        214,240   

Cirsa Funding Luxembourg SA, 8.75%, 5/15/18

   EUR     2,575        3,668,066   

Diamond Resorts Corp., 12.00%, 8/15/18

   USD     1,890        2,044,791   

Gamenet SpA, 7.25%, 8/01/18

   EUR     110        154,445   

GLP Capital LP/GLP Financing II, Inc., 4.38%, 11/01/18 (b)

   USD     391        405,662   

Greektown Holdings LLC/Greektown Mothership Corp., 8.88%, 3/15/19 (b)

       595        609,875   
Corporate Bonds   

Par  

(000)

    Value  

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (concluded)

  

Intralot Finance Luxembourg SA, 9.75%, 8/15/18

   EUR     495      $ 769,226   

Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc.:

      

7.75%, 3/15/19

   USD     75        79,875   

5.88%, 3/15/21

       321        325,815   

MCE Finance Ltd., 5.00%, 2/15/21 (b)

       352        351,120   

PNK Finance Corp., 6.38%, 8/01/21 (b)

       366        385,215   

Sabre, Inc., 8.50%, 5/15/19 (b)

       526        585,859   

Six Flags Entertainment Corp., 5.25%, 1/15/21 (b)

       842        858,840   

Snai SpA, 7.63%, 6/15/18

   EUR     245        359,521   

Station Casinos LLC, 7.50%, 3/01/21

   USD     1,618        1,755,530   

Travelport LLC/Travelport Holdings, Inc., 6.36%, 3/01/16 (b)(c)

       894        893,920   

Tropicana Entertainment LLC/Tropicana Finance Corp., 9.63%, 12/15/14 (a)(f)

       800          

The Unique Pub Finance Co. PLC, Series A3, 6.54%, 3/30/21

   GBP     379        670,325   

Vougeot Bidco PLC, 7.88%, 7/15/20

       103        187,539   

Wynn Macau Ltd., 5.25%, 10/15/21 (b)

   USD     516        530,190   
      

 

 

 
                   18,860,876   

Household Durables — 1.6%

  

Algeco Scotsman Global Finance PLC, 9.00%, 10/15/18

   EUR     280        412,217   

Ashton Woods USA LLC/Ashton Woods Finance Co., 6.88%, 2/15/21 (b)

   USD     556        560,170   

Beazer Homes USA, Inc.:

      

6.63%, 4/15/18

       1,125        1,203,750   

5.75%, 6/15/19 (b)

       646        642,770   

Brookfield Residential Properties, Inc., 6.50%, 12/15/20 (b)

       1,000        1,055,000   

Brookfield Residential Properties, Inc./Brookfield Residential US Corp., 6.13%, 7/01/22 (b)

       285        294,262   

K. Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc., 7.25%, 10/15/20 (b)

       2,300        2,484,000   

KB Home, 7.25%, 6/15/18

       965        1,080,800   

The Ryland Group, Inc., 6.63%, 5/01/20

       130        141,050   

Spie BondCo 3 SCA, 11.00%, 8/15/19

   EUR     353        545,450   

Standard Pacific Corp.:

      

10.75%, 9/15/16

   USD     565        675,175   

8.38%, 1/15/21

       3,005        3,575,950   

 

                
6    BLACKROCK DEBT STRATEGIES FUND, INC    MAY 31, 2014   


Schedule of Investments (continued)

  

BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. (DSU)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Corporate Bonds   

Par  

(000)

    Value  

Household Durables (concluded)

  

Taylor Morrison Communities, Inc./Monarch Communities, Inc., 5.25%, 4/15/21 (b)

   USD     749      $ 756,490   
      

 

 

 
                   13,427,084   

Household Products — 0.1%

  

Ontex IV SA, 9.00%, 4/15/19

   EUR     317        471,009   

Spectrum Brands, Inc.:

      

6.38%, 11/15/20

   USD     315        341,381   

6.63%, 11/15/22

       375        410,625   
      

 

 

 
                   1,223,015   

Independent Power Producers & Energy Traders — 0.8%

  

Baytex Energy Corp. (b)(d):

      

5.13%, 6/01/21

       210        212,625   

5.63%, 6/01/24

       173        174,081   

Calpine Corp. (b):

      

7.50%, 2/15/21

       165        179,438   

6.00%, 1/15/22

       256        274,560   

5.88%, 1/15/24

       531        556,222   

Energy Future Intermediate Holding Co. LLC/EFIH Finance, Inc., 11.75%, 3/01/22 (a)(b)(f)

       1,248        1,488,240   

NRG Energy, Inc.:

      

7.63%, 1/15/18

       2,308        2,634,005   

6.25%, 5/01/24 (b)

       661        684,135   

NRG REMA LLC:

      

Series B, 9.24%, 7/02/17

       93        96,192   

Series C, 9.68%, 7/02/26

       527        574,430   

QEP Resources, Inc., 5.38%, 10/01/22

       75        75,938   
      

 

 

 
                   6,949,866   

Insurance — 0.3%

  

A-S Co-Issuer Subsidiary, Inc./A-S Merger Sub LLC, 7.88%, 12/15/20 (b)

       747        789,952   

CNO Financial Group, Inc., 6.38%, 10/01/20 (b)

       329        356,965   

Hockey Merger Sub 2, Inc., 7.88%, 10/01/21 (b)

       184        197,340   

MPL 2 Acquisition Canco, Inc., 9.88%, 8/15/18 (b)

       725        783,000   

TMF Group Holding BV, 9.88%, 12/01/19

   EUR     300        451,455   
      

 

 

 
                   2,578,712   

Internet Software & Services — 0.2%

  

IAC/InterActiveCorp, 4.88%, 11/30/18

   USD     700        733,250   
Corporate Bonds   

Par  

(000)

    Value  

Internet Software & Services (concluded)

  

Interactive Data Corp., 5.88%, 4/15/19 (b)

   USD     910      $ 916,825   
      

 

 

 
                   1,650,075   

IT Services — 1.9%

  

Ceridian Corp., 8.88%, 7/15/19 (b)

       3,410        3,844,775   

Ceridian HCM Holding, Inc., 11.00%, 3/15/21 (b)

       835        962,338   

Ceridian LLC/Comdata, Inc., 8.13%, 11/15/17 (b)(d)

       805        813,050   

Epicor Software Corp., 8.63%, 5/01/19

       720        782,100   

First Data Corp.:

      

7.38%, 6/15/19 (b)

       3,123        3,349,417   

8.88%, 8/15/20 (b)

       195        216,450   

6.75%, 11/01/20 (b)

       2,011        2,159,311   

11.75%, 8/15/21

       420        466,200   

SunGard Data Systems, Inc.:

      

7.38%, 11/15/18

       280        296,450   

6.63%, 11/01/19

       1,845        1,951,088   

WEX, Inc., 4.75%, 2/01/23 (b)

       601        582,219   
      

 

 

 
                   15,423,398   

Machinery — 0.1%

  

Allegion US Holding Co., Inc., 5.75%, 10/01/21 (b)

       117        123,728   

Amsted Industries, Inc., 5.00%, 3/15/22 (b)

       372        372,930   

Galapagos Holding SA, 7.00%, 6/15/22

   EUR     110        151,641   

Galapagos SA, 5.38%, 6/15/21

       100        137,678   

SPX Corp., 6.88%, 9/01/17

   USD     65        73,450   

Trinseo Materials Operating SCA/Trinseo Materials Finance, Inc., 8.75%, 2/01/19

       182        194,057   
      

 

 

 
                   1,053,484   

Media — 5.3%

  

Adria Bidco BV, 7.88%, 11/15/20

   EUR     100        147,220   

Altice Financing SA, 6.50%, 1/15/22 (b)

   USD     840        886,200   

Altice SA:

      

7.25%, 5/15/22

   EUR     490        702,576   

7.75%, 5/15/22 (b)

   USD     1,295        1,361,369   

AMC Networks, Inc.:

      

7.75%, 7/15/21

       1,005        1,123,087   

4.75%, 12/15/22

       86        85,785   

CBS Outdoor Americas Capital LLC/CBS Outdoor Americas Capital Corp. (b):

      

5.25%, 2/15/22

       130        133,250   

5.63%, 2/15/24

       105        107,888   

 

                
   BLACKROCK DEBT STRATEGIES FUND, INC    MAY 31, 2014    7


Schedule of Investments (continued)

  

BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. (DSU)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Corporate Bonds   

Par  

(000)

    Value  

Media (continued)

  

CCO Holdings LLC/CCO Holdings Capital Corp.:

      

6.50%, 4/30/21

   USD     320      $ 341,600   

5.25%, 9/30/22

       218        221,815   

5.13%, 2/15/23

       50        50,375   

Cengage Learning Acquisitions, Inc., 11.50%, 4/15/20 (a)(f)

       669          

Cinemark USA, Inc., 5.13%, 12/15/22

       44        44,605   

Clear Channel Communications, Inc.:

      

9.00%, 12/15/19

       450        479,250   

9.00%, 3/01/21

       906        967,155   

Clear Channel Worldwide Holdings, Inc.:

      

7.63%, 3/15/20

       1,364        1,466,300   

6.50%, 11/15/22

       5,061        5,407,701   

Columbus International, Inc., 7.38%, 3/30/21 (b)

       1,695        1,794,581   

DISH DBS Corp., 4.25%, 4/01/18

       1,460        1,525,700   

DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc., 6.88%, 8/15/20 (b)

       333        359,640   

Gannett Co., Inc. (b):

      

5.13%, 10/15/19

       215        224,138   

5.13%, 7/15/20

       237        245,295   

6.38%, 10/15/23

       330        352,275   

Gray Television, Inc., 7.50%, 10/01/20

       557        597,383   

Inmarsat Finance PLC, 4.88%, 5/15/22 (b)(d)

       1,000        1,010,000   

Intelsat Jackson Holdings SA:

      

7.25%, 10/15/20

       2,544        2,747,520   

5.50%, 8/01/23 (b)

       1,282        1,275,590   

Intelsat Luxembourg SA, 6.75%, 6/01/18

       575        610,219   

Lamar Media Corp., 5.38%, 1/15/24 (b)

       297        308,138   

Live Nation Entertainment, Inc., 7.00%, 9/01/20 (b)

       232        253,460   

The McClatchy Co., 9.00%, 12/15/22

       350        400,313   

MDC Partners, Inc., 6.75%, 4/01/20 (b)

       836        884,070   

Midcontinent Communications & Midcontinent Finance Corp., 6.25%, 8/01/21 (b)

       265        274,275   

NAI Entertainment Holdings/NAI Entertainment Holdings Finance Corp., 5.00%, 8/01/18 (b)

       538        559,520   

The New York Times Co., 6.63%, 12/15/16

       500        555,000   

Nielsen Finance LLC/Nielsen Finance Co., 7.75%, 10/15/18

       555        587,606   
Corporate Bonds   

Par  

(000)

    Value  

Media (concluded)

  

Numericable Group SA:

      

4.88%, 5/15/19 (b)

   USD     2,180      $ 2,223,600   

5.38%, 5/15/22

   EUR     135        194,147   

6.00%, 5/15/22 (b)

   USD     1,885        1,955,687   

5.63%, 5/15/24

   EUR     295        424,970   

6.25%, 5/15/24 (b)

   USD     630        659,137   

ProQuest LLC/ProQuest Notes Co., 9.00%, 10/15/18 (b)

       261        274,703   

RCN Telecom Services LLC/RCN Capital Corp., 8.50%, 8/15/20 (b)

       420        448,350   

Sirius XM Holdings, Inc. (b):

      

4.25%, 5/15/20

       141        138,885   

5.75%, 8/01/21

       464        488,360   

Sterling Entertainment Corp., 10.00%, 12/15/19

       1,300        1,326,000   

Townsquare Radio LLC/Townsquare Radio, Inc., 9.00%, 4/01/19 (b)

       865        957,987   

Unitymedia Hessen GmbH & Co. KG/Unitymedia NRW GmbH:

      

7.50%, 3/15/19

       1,917        2,186,814   

5.50%, 1/15/23 (b)

       1,270        1,301,750   

Unitymedia KabelBW GmbH, 9.50%, 3/15/21

   EUR     150        235,143   

Univision Communications, Inc. (b):

      

8.50%, 5/15/21

   USD     1,820        1,997,450   

6.75%, 9/15/22

                

5.13%, 5/15/23

       85        87,338   

VTR Finance BV, 6.88%, 1/15/24 (b)

       1,036        1,098,163   

Ziggo Bond Co. BV, 8.00%, 5/15/18 (b)

   EUR     219        326,890   
      

 

 

 
                   44,416,273   

Metals & Mining — 2.0%

  

ArcelorMittal, 6.13%, 6/01/18

   USD     857        939,486   

Commercial Metals Co., 4.88%, 5/15/23

       1,135        1,093,856   

Constellium NV:

      

4.63%, 5/15/21

   EUR     235        328,749   

5.75%, 5/15/24 (b)

   USD     439        452,719   

Eco-Bat Finance PLC, 7.75%, 2/15/17

   EUR     405        572,779   

FMG Resources August 2006 Property Ltd., 6.00%, 4/01/17 (b)

   USD     117        121,095   

Global Brass & Copper, Inc., 9.50%, 6/01/19

       740        845,450   

Kaiser Aluminum Corp., 8.25%, 6/01/20

       550        621,500   

 

                
8    BLACKROCK DEBT STRATEGIES FUND, INC.    MAY 31, 2014   


Schedule of Investments (continued)

  

BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. (DSU)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

 

Corporate Bonds    Par
(000)
    Value  

Metals & Mining (concluded)

      

New Gold, Inc., 6.25%, 11/15/22 (b)

     USD        845      $ 872,463   

Novelis, Inc., 8.75%, 12/15/20

       4,248        4,720,590   

Officine MaccaFerri SpA, 5.75%, 6/01/21 (d)

     EUR        180        250,201   

Perstorp Holding AB, 8.75%, 5/15/17 (b)

     USD        410        440,750   

Steel Dynamics, Inc., 6.38%, 8/15/22

       595        647,806   

Taseko Mines Ltd., 7.75%, 4/15/19

       150        152,625   

ThyssenKrupp AG, 3.13%, 10/25/19

     EUR        495        693,670   

Vedanta Resources PLC, 8.25%, 6/07/21 (b)

     USD        200        223,760   

Wise Metals Group LLC/Wise Alloys Finance Corp., 8.75%, 12/15/18 (b)

       3,437        3,660,405   
      

 

 

 
                       16,637,904   

Multiline Retail — 0.1%

      

The Neiman Marcus Group Ltd. (b):

      

8.00%, 10/15/21

       750        825,000   

8.75%, (8.75% Cash or 9.50% PIK), 10/15/21 (e)

       150        165,375   
      

 

 

 
                       990,375   

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels — 6.5%

      

Access Midstream Partners LP/ACMP Finance Corp.:

      

6.13%, 7/15/22

       100        109,000   

4.88%, 5/15/23

       1,615        1,687,675   

4.88%, 3/15/24

       262        274,445   

Antero Resources Finance Corp., 5.38%, 11/01/21

       888        924,630   

Athlon Holdings LP/Athlon Finance Corp. (b):

      

7.38%, 4/15/21

       224        243,040   

6.00%, 5/01/22

       327        334,358   

Bonanza Creek Energy, Inc., 6.75%, 4/15/21

       200        213,500   

Carrizo Oil & Gas, Inc., 7.50%, 9/15/20

       100        109,500   

Chaparral Energy, Inc., 7.63%, 11/15/22

       330        351,450   

Chesapeake Energy Corp.:

      

6.63%, 8/15/20

       909        1,047,622   

6.88%, 11/15/20

       451        524,288   

6.13%, 2/15/21

       104        116,870   

5.75%, 3/15/23

       160        178,400   

Cimarex Energy Co., 4.38%, 6/01/24 (d)

       254        258,445   
Corporate Bonds    Par
(000)
    Value  

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (continued)

      

Concho Resources, Inc.:

      

7.00%, 1/15/21

     USD        40      $ 44,300   

5.50%, 4/01/23

       2,390        2,557,300   

CONSOL Energy, Inc.:

      

8.25%, 4/01/20

       3,485        3,789,937   

5.88%, 4/15/22 (b)

       1,712        1,776,200   

Continental Resources, Inc., 4.50%, 4/15/23

       29        31,035   

Crestwood Midstream Partners LP/Crestwood Midstream Finance Corp., 6.13%, 3/01/22 (b)

       57        59,708   

CrownRock LP/CrownRock Finance, Inc., 7.13%, 4/15/21 (b)

       625        656,250   

Denbury Resources, Inc., 4.63%, 7/15/23

       2,117        2,037,612   

El Paso LLC, 7.80%, 8/01/31

       143        154,798   

Energy Transfer Equity LP, 5.88%, 1/15/24 (b)

       1,075        1,112,625   

Energy XXI Gulf Coast, Inc.:

      

9.25%, 12/15/17

       120        129,150   

7.75%, 6/15/19

       1,537        1,656,117   

6.88%, 3/15/24 (b)

       343        345,573   

EnQuest PLC, 7.00%, 4/15/22 (b)

       528        546,480   

Enterprise Products Operating LLC, 3.70%, 6/01/15

       500        515,464   

EP Energy LLC/Everest Acquisition Finance, Inc., 6.88%, 5/01/19

       735        786,450   

EV Energy Partners LP/EV Energy Finance Corp., 8.00%, 4/15/19

       55        57,475   

Halcon Resources Corp., 8.88%, 5/15/21

       1,017        1,083,105   

Hilcorp Energy I LP/Hilcorp Finance Co., 7.63%, 4/15/21 (b)

       1,274        1,393,437   

Kinder Morgan, Inc., 5.63%, 11/15/23 (b)

       542        546,571   

Kodiak Oil & Gas Corp.:

      

8.13%, 12/01/19

       1,023        1,135,530   

5.50%, 2/01/22

       27        27,608   

Laredo Petroleum, Inc., 7.38%, 5/01/22

       595        658,962   

Lightstream Resources Ltd., 8.63%, 2/01/20 (b)

       266        276,640   

Linn Energy LLC/Linn Energy Finance Corp.:

      

6.50%, 5/15/19

       16        16,840   

7.25%, 11/01/19 (b)

       100        105,000   

8.63%, 4/15/20

       2,688        2,913,120   

7.75%, 2/01/21

       490        528,587   

 

                
   BLACKROCK DEBT STRATEGIES FUND, INC.    MAY 31, 2014    9


Schedule of Investments (continued)

  

BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. (DSU)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Corporate Bonds   

Par  

(000)

    Value  

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (continued)

      

MarkWest Energy Partners LP/MarkWest Energy Finance Corp.:

      

6.25%, 6/15/22

     USD        34      $ 36,720   

4.50%, 7/15/23

       10        9,825   

Memorial Production Partners LP/Memorial Production Finance Corp., 7.63%, 5/01/21

       430        445,050   

Northern Oil and Gas, Inc., 8.00%, 6/01/20

       678        720,375   

Oasis Petroleum, Inc.:

      

7.25%, 2/01/19

       495        527,175   

6.50%, 11/01/21

       555        593,850   

Pacific Drilling SA, 5.38%, 6/01/20 (b)

       748        733,040   

PBF Holding Co. LLC/PBF Finance Corp., 8.25%, 2/15/20

       231        252,945   

PDC Energy, Inc., 7.75%, 10/15/22

       510        563,550   

Petrobras International Finance Co., 6.88%, 1/20/40

       25        26,250   

Petroleum Geo-Services ASA, 7.38%, 12/15/18 (b)

       210        224,700   

Range Resources Corp.:

      

6.75%, 8/01/20

       874        946,105   

5.75%, 6/01/21

       277        299,853   

5.00%, 8/15/22

       10        10,500   

5.00%, 3/15/23

       23        24,150   

Regency Energy Partners LP/Regency Energy Finance Corp., 4.50%, 11/01/23

       63        60,008   

RKI Exploration & Production LLC/RKI Finance Corp., 8.50%, 8/01/21 (b)

       198        214,830   

Rosetta Resources, Inc., 5.63%, 5/01/21

       479        492,173   

Sabine Pass Liquefaction LLC:

      

6.25%, 3/15/22 (b)

       104        111,670   

5.63%, 4/15/23

       938        963,795   

5.63%, 4/15/23 (b)

       3,024        3,107,160   

5.75%, 5/15/24 (b)

       1,737        1,784,767   

Sabine Pass LNG LP, 7.50%, 11/30/16

       4,940        5,471,050   

SandRidge Energy, Inc.:

      

8.75%, 1/15/20

       111        119,880   

7.50%, 3/15/21

       250        266,250   

7.50%, 2/15/23

       1,082        1,152,330   

SM Energy Co., 6.63%, 2/15/19

       109        115,676   

Summit Midstream Holdings LLC/Summit Midstream Finance Corp., 7.50%, 7/01/21

       798        865,830   
Corporate Bonds   

Par  

(000)

    Value  

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels (concluded)

      

Tesoro Logistics LP/Tesoro Logistics Finance Corp., 5.88%, 10/01/20

     USD        191      $ 199,595   

Ultra Petroleum Corp., 5.75%, 12/15/18 (b)

       525        553,875   

Whiting Petroleum Corp., 5.00%, 3/15/19

       1,786        1,881,997   
      

 

 

 
                       54,090,071   

Paper & Forest Products — 0.2%

      

Ainsworth Lumber Co. Ltd., 7.50%, 12/15/17 (b)

       783        824,107   

Clearwater Paper Corp., 7.13%, 11/01/18

       215        226,556   

International Paper Co.:

      

7.95%, 6/15/18

       220        270,856   

7.30%, 11/15/39

       5        6,878   

NewPage Corp., 11.38%, 12/31/14 (a)(f)

       2,882          

Sappi Papier Holding GmbH (b):

      

8.38%, 6/15/19

       400        442,000   

6.63%, 4/15/21

       50        52,500   
      

 

 

 
                       1,822,897   

Pharmaceuticals — 0.9%

      

Capsugel Finance Co. SCA, 9.88%, 8/01/19 (b)

     EUR        100        148,413   

Capsugel SA, 7.00%, (7.00% Cash or 7.75% PIK) 5/15/19 (b)(e)

     USD        171        175,703   

Endo Finance LLC/Endo Finco, Inc., 7.25%, 1/15/22 (b)

       145        158,050   

Forest Laboratories, Inc. (b):

      

4.38%, 2/01/19

       722        781,565   

4.88%, 2/15/21

       255        278,269   

5.00%, 12/15/21

       650        711,750   

Grifols Worldwide Operations, Ltd., 5.25%, 4/01/22 (b)

       937        969,795   

Jaguar Holding Co. II/Jaguar Merger Sub, Inc., 9.50%, 12/01/19 (b)

       125        137,500   

Salix Pharmaceuticals Ltd., 6.00%, 1/15/21 (b)

       173        185,542   

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. (b):

      

6.75%, 8/15/18

       1,221        1,318,680   

6.38%, 10/15/20

       760        813,200   

5.63%, 12/01/21

       661        685,787   

 

                
10    BLACKROCK DEBT STRATEGIES FUND, INC.    MAY 31, 2014   


Schedule of Investments (continued)

  

BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. (DSU)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

 

Corporate Bonds   

Par  

(000)

    Value  

Pharmaceuticals (concluded)

      

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. (b) (concluded):

      

7.25%, 7/15/22

     USD        1,010      $ 1,093,325   
      

 

 

 
                       7,457,579   

Professional Services — 0.1%

      

Truven Health Analytics, Inc., 10.63%, 6/01/20

             380        421,800   

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) — 0.5%

      

Cantor Commercial Real Estate Co. LP/CCRE Finance Corp., 7.75%, 2/15/18 (b)

       691        742,825   

Felcor Lodging LP:

      

6.75%, 6/01/19

       1,703        1,813,695   

5.63%, 3/01/23

       377        388,781   

iStar Financial, Inc., 4.88%, 7/01/18

       493        504,093   

Rayonier AM Products, Inc., 5.50%, 6/01/24 (b)

       430        435,375   
      

 

 

 
                       3,884,769   

Real Estate Management & Development — 1.1%

      

CBRE Services, Inc., 6.63%, 10/15/20

       90        95,400   

Lennar Corp., 4.75%, 11/15/22

       110        108,213   

Realogy Corp. (b):

      

7.63%, 1/15/20

       2,745        3,053,812   

9.00%, 1/15/20

       214        244,495   

Realogy Group LLC/Realogy Co-Issuer Corp., 4.50%, 4/15/19 (b)

       937        939,343   

The Realogy Group LLC/Sunshine Group Florida Ltd., 3.38%, 5/01/16 (b)

       701        712,391   

Rialto Holdings LLC/Rialto Corp., 7.00%, 12/01/18 (b)

       245        256,025   

RPG Byty Sro, 6.75%, 5/01/20

     EUR        260        370,368   

Shea Homes LP/Shea Homes Funding Corp., 8.63%, 5/15/19

     USD        2,730        2,982,525   
      

 

 

 
                       8,762,572   

Road & Rail — 0.9%

      

Florida East Coast Holdings Corp., 6.75%, 5/01/19 (b)

       1,440        1,499,400   

The Hertz Corp.:

      

7.50%, 10/15/18

       1,555        1,642,469   

7.38%, 1/15/21

       3,507        3,848,932   
Corporate Bonds   

Par  

(000)

    Value  

Road & Rail (concluded)

      

Watco Cos. LLC/Watco Finance Corp., 6.38%, 4/01/23 (b)

     USD        350      $ 357,000   
      

 

 

 
                       7,347,801   

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment — 0.3%

      

NXP BV/NXP Funding LLC (b):

      

3.75%, 6/01/18

       1,040        1,045,200   

5.75%, 2/15/21

       1,020        1,090,125   
      

 

 

 
                       2,135,325   

Software — 1.0%

      

Infor Software Parent LLC/Infor Software Parent, Inc., 7.13%, (7.13% Cash or 7.88% PIK) 5/01/21 (b)(e)

       918        936,360   

Infor US, Inc., 9.38%, 4/01/19

       4,345        4,860,969   

Nuance Communications, Inc., 5.38%, 8/15/20 (b)

       2,270        2,309,725   
      

 

 

 
                       8,107,054   

Specialty Retail — 0.5%

      

Asbury Automotive Group, Inc., 8.38%, 11/15/20

       130        144,950   

Guitar Center, Inc., 9.63%, 4/15/20 (b)

       375        339,375   

House of Fraser Funding PLC:

      

8.88%, 8/15/18 (b)

     GBP        100        179,913   

8.88%, 8/15/18

       125        224,891   

L Brands, Inc., 8.50%, 6/15/19

     USD        320        386,400   

Magnolia BC SA, 9.00%, 8/01/20

     EUR        220        313,418   

Michaels Stores, Inc., 7.75%, 11/01/18

     USD        223        235,823   

New Academy Finance Co. LLC/New Academy Finance Corp., 8.00%, (8.00% Cash or 8.75% PIK) 6/15/18 (b)(e)

       214        218,815   

New Look Bondco I PLC, 8.75%, 5/14/18

     GBP        100        180,610   

Party City Holdings, Inc., 8.88%, 8/01/20

     USD        410        455,100   

PC Nextco Holdings LLC/PC Nextco Finance, Inc., 8.75%, (8.75% Cash or 9.50% PIK) 8/15/19 (b)(e)

       184        189,520   

QVC, Inc. (b):

      

7.50%, 10/01/19

       135        142,520   

7.38%, 10/15/20

       95        102,318   

Sally Holdings LLC/Sally Capital, Inc.:

      

5.75%, 6/01/22

       146        155,855   

5.50%, 11/01/23

       559        572,975   

 

                
   BLACKROCK DEBT STRATEGIES FUND, INC.    MAY 31, 2014    11


Schedule of Investments (continued)

  

BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. (DSU)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Corporate Bonds    Par  
(000)
    Value  

Specialty Retail (concluded)

    

Sonic Automotive, Inc., 5.00%, 5/15/23

   USD  146      $ 144,175   
    

 

 

 
               3,986,658   

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods — 0.2%

  

Levi Strauss & Co., 6.88%, 5/01/22

     405        448,538   

PVH Corp., 4.50%, 12/15/22

     122        120,170   

SIWF Merger Sub, Inc., 6.25%, 6/01/21 (b)

     801        809,010   

The William Carter Co., 5.25%, 8/15/21 (b)

     469        488,932   
    

 

 

 
               1,866,650   

Tobacco — 0.0%

  

Altria Group, Inc., 9.95%, 11/10/38

     17        28,053   

Trading Companies & Distributors — 0.2%

  

Air Lease Corp., 4.50%, 1/15/16

     257        270,171   

Ashtead Capital, Inc., 6.50%, 7/15/22 (b)

     1,304        1,421,360   
    

 

 

 
               1,691,531   

Transportation Infrastructure — 0.1%

  

Aguila 3 SA, 7.88%, 1/31/18 (b)

     929        985,316   

Wireless Telecommunication Services — 3.7%

  

Crown Castle International Corp., 5.25%, 1/15/23

     115        119,600   

Crown Castle Towers LLC, 6.11%, 1/15/40 (b)

     375        435,091   

Digicel Group Ltd., 8.25%, 9/30/20 (b)

     1,215        1,309,163   

Digicel Ltd., 6.00%, 4/15/21 (b)

     1,898        1,935,960   

The Geo Group, Inc., 5.88%, 1/15/22

     370        382,950   

Phones4u Finance PLC:

    

9.50%, 4/01/18

   GBP  307        537,106   

9.50%, 4/01/18 (b)

     100        174,953   

SBA Tower Trust, 4.25%, 4/15/40 (b)

   USD  325        331,509   

Sprint Communications, Inc. (b):

    

9.00%, 11/15/18

     7,557        9,181,755   

7.00%, 3/01/20

     4,711        5,429,427   

Sprint Corp. (b):

    

7.88%, 9/15/23

     3,794        4,287,220   

7.13%, 6/15/24

     1,020        1,099,050   

T-Mobile USA, Inc.:

    

6.63%, 4/28/21

     2,205        2,375,888   

6.13%, 1/15/22

     81        85,860   

6.73%, 4/28/22

     2,120        2,289,600   

6.84%, 4/28/23

     85        92,225   
Corporate Bonds    Par  
(000)
    Value  

Wireless Telecommunication Services (concluded)

                

T-Mobile USA, Inc. (concluded):

    

6.50%, 1/15/24

   USD  584      $ 620,500   
       30,687,857   
    

 

 

 
Total Corporate Bonds56.6%              470,780,284   
    
   
Floating Rate Loan Interests (c)               

Aerospace & Defense — 1.2%

    

DigitalGlobe, Inc., Term Loan B, 3.75%, 1/31/20

     1,401        1,402,601   

TASC, Inc., 2nd Lien Term Loan, 12.00%, 5/30/21

     1,675        1,650,930   

Transdigm, Inc.:

    

Term Loan C, 3.75%, 2/28/20

     711        706,300   

Term Loan D, 3.75%, 5/31/21

     850        844,382   

TransUnion LLC, Term Loan, 4.00%, 3/17/21

     5,705        5,684,804   
    

 

 

 
               10,289,017   

Air Freight & Logistics — 0.5%

    

CEVA Group PLC, Synthetic LC, 6.50%, 3/19/21

     1,058        1,035,000   

CEVA Intercompany BV, Dutch Term Loan, 6.50%, 3/19/21

     1,116        1,091,453   

CEVA Logisitics U.S. Holdings, Inc., Term Loan, 6.50%, 3/19/21

     1,539        1,505,453   

CEVA Logistics Canada ULC, Canadian Term Loan, 6.50%, 3/19/21

     192        188,182   
    

 

 

 
               3,820,088   

Airlines — 0.6%

    

Delta Air Lines, Inc., 2018 Term Loan B1, 3.50%, 10/18/18

     2,975        2,966,378   

Northwest Airlines, Inc., Term Loan:

    

2.18%, 3/10/17

     494        477,300   

1.56%, 9/10/18

     678        643,678   

US Airways Group, Inc., Term Loan B1, 3.50%, 5/23/19

     1,277        1,273,639   
    

 

 

 
               5,360,995   

Auto Components — 1.6%

    

Affinia Group Intermediate Holdings, Inc., Term Loan B2, 4.75%, 4/27/20

     881        882,733   

Autoparts Holdings Ltd.:

    

1st Lien Term Loan, 6.50%, 7/28/17

     2,181        2,180,507   

2nd Lien Term Loan, 10.50%, 1/29/18

     2,700        2,565,000   

 

                
12    BLACKROCK DEBT STRATEGIES FUND, INC.    MAY 31, 2014   


Schedule of Investments (continued)

  

BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. (DSU)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Floating Rate Loan Interests (c)    Par  
(000)
    Value  

Auto Components (concluded)

  

Dayco Products LLC, Term Loan B, 5.25%, 12/12/19

   USD  1,242      $ 1,244,992   

FPC Holdings, Inc., 1st Lien Term Loan, 5.25%, 11/19/19

     1,501        1,481,287   

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., 2nd Lien Term Loan, 4.75%, 4/30/19

     3,280        3,291,480   

Transtar Holding Co., 1st Lien Term Loan, 5.75%, 10/09/18

     1,350        1,345,378   

UCI International, Inc., Term Loan B, 5.50%, 7/26/17

     283        283,053   
    

 

 

 
               13,274,430   

Automobiles — 0.2%

  

Chrysler Group LLC, Term Loan B:

    

2018, 3.25%, 12/31/18

     535        531,656   

3.50%, 5/24/17

     825        825,000   
    

 

 

 
               1,356,656   

Building Products — 1.6%

  

Continental Building Products LLC, 1st Lien Term Loan, 4.25%, 8/28/20

     2,178        2,176,275   

CPG International, Inc., Term Loan, 4.75%, 9/30/20

     3,200        3,199,083   

GYP Holdings III Corp., 1st Lien Term Loan, 4.75%, 4/01/21

     1,560        1,544,400   

Interline Brands, Inc., Term Loan, 4.00%, 3/17/21

     1,220        1,212,375   

Momentive Performance Materials, Inc., DIP Term Loan B, 4.00%, 4/30/15

     650        650,539   

Ply Gem Industries, Inc., Term Loan, 4.00%, 2/01/21

     785        776,169   

Quikrete Holdings, Inc., 1st Lien Term Loan, 4.00%, 9/28/20

     1,260        1,258,198   

Wilsonart LLC:

    

Incremental Term Loan B2, 4.00%, 10/31/19

     414        409,566   

Term Loan B, 4.00%, 10/31/19

     2,301        2,276,441   
    

 

 

 
               13,503,046   

Capital Markets — 0.3%

  

Affinion Group, Inc.:

    

2nd Lien Term Loan, 8.50%, 10/12/18

     960        962,679   

Term Loan B, 6.75%, 4/30/18

     997        998,672   
Floating Rate Loan Interests (c)    Par  
(000)
    Value  

Capital Markets (concluded)

  

American Capital Holdings, Inc., 2017 Term Loan, 3.50%, 8/22/17

   USD  664      $ 663,548   
    

 

 

 
               2,624,899   

Chemicals — 2.5%

  

Allnex (Luxembourg) & Cy S.C.A., Term Loan B1, 4.50%, 10/03/19

     242        241,979   

Allnex USA, Inc., Term Loan B2, 4.50%, 10/03/19

     125        125,551   

Axalta Coating Systems US Holdings, Inc., Term Loan, 4.00%, 2/01/20

     3,107        3,103,356   

CeramTec Acquisition Corp., Term Loan B2, 4.25%, 8/28/20

     74        73,692   

Chromaflo Technologies Corp.:

    

1st Lien Term Loan, 4.50%, 12/02/19

     723        722,284   

2nd Lien Term Loan, 8.25%, 5/30/20

     405        407,025   

Evergreen Acqco 1 LP, Term Loan, 5.00%, 7/09/19

     1,590        1,593,347   

Ineos U.S. Finance LLC, 6 Year Term Loan, 3.75%, 5/04/18

     1,232        1,223,568   

MacDermid, Inc., 1st Lien Term Loan, 4.00%, 6/07/20

     973        971,677   

Minerals Technology, Inc., Term Loan B, 4.00%, 5/09/21

     3,225        3,233,062   

Nexeo Solutions LLC, Term Loan B, 5.00%, 9/08/17

     2,572        2,564,830   

OXEA Finance LLC:

    

2nd Lien Term Loan, 8.25%, 7/15/20

     1,155        1,165,591   

Term Loan B2, 4.25%, 1/15/20

     1,488        1,487,525   

Royal Adhesives and Sealants LLC, 1st Lien Term Loan, 5.50%, 7/31/18

     861        864,946   

Tata Chemicals North America, Inc., Term Loan B, 3.75%, 8/07/20

     729        725,840   

Tronox Pigments (Netherlands) BV, Term Loan, 4.00%, 3/19/20

     1,409        1,409,793   

Univar, Inc., Term Loan B, 5.00%, 6/30/17

     710        710,750   
    

 

 

 
               20,624,816   

Commercial Banks — 0.1%

  

Redtop Acquisitions Ltd.:

    

1st Lien Term Loan, 4.50%, 12/03/20

     603        605,751   

 

                
   BLACKROCK DEBT STRATEGIES FUND, INC.    MAY 31, 2014    13


Schedule of Investments (continued)

  

BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. (DSU)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Floating Rate Loan Interests (c)   

Par  

(000)

    Value  

Commercial Banks (concluded)

      

Redtop Acquisitions Ltd. (concluded):

      

2nd Lien Term Loan, 8.25%, 6/03/21

     USD        384      $ 393,638   
      

 

 

 
                       999,389   

Commercial Services & Supplies — 3.5%

      

ADS Waste Holdings, Inc., Term Loan, 3.75%, 10/09/19

       2,639        2,623,096   

ARAMARK Corp., Term Loan E, 3.25%, 9/07/19

       2,100        2,085,573   

AWAS Finance Luxembourg 2012 S.A., Term Loan, 3.50%, 7/16/18

       544        543,668   

Brand Energy & Infrastructure Services, Inc., Term Loan B, 4.75%, 11/26/20

       2,498        2,504,359   

Catalent Pharma Solutions, Inc., Term Loan:

      

6.50%, 12/29/17

       720        725,400   

B, 4.50%, 9/15/21

       2,550        2,559,563   

Connolly LLC:

      

1st Lien Term Loan, 5.00%, 1/29/21

       2,875        2,898,374   

2nd Lien Term Loan, 8.00%, 4/23/22

       2,125        2,143,594   

KAR Auction Services, Inc., Term Loan B2, 3.50%, 3/11/21

       1,169        1,163,085   

Koosharem LLC, Exit Term Loan, 8.75%, 4/29/20

       2,875        2,896,562   

Livingston International, Inc.:

      

1st Lien Term Loan, 5.00%, 4/16/19

       854        853,550   

2nd Lien Term Loan, 9.00%, 4/20/20

       254        255,710   

Protection One, Inc., Term Loan, 4.25%, 3/21/19

       1,441        1,438,825   

Spin Holdco, Inc., Term Loan B, 4.25%, 11/14/19

       3,578        3,571,589   

US Ecology, Inc., Term Loan, 3.75%, 5/15/21

       775        778,875   

West Corp., Term Loan B10, 3.25%, 6/30/18

       1,875        1,853,668   
      

 

 

 
                       28,895,491   

Communications Equipment — 2.0%

      

Alcatel-Lucent USA, Inc., Term Loan C, 4.50%, 1/30/19

       5,990        5,998,629   

Applied Systems, Inc.:

      

1st Lien Term Loan, 4.25%, 1/25/21

       608        609,619   

2nd Lien Term Loan, 7.50%, 1/23/22

       540        548,910   
Floating Rate Loan Interests (c)   

Par  

(000)

    Value  

Communications Equipment (concluded)

      

Avaya, Inc., Extended Term Loan B3, 4.73%, 10/26/17

     USD        1,966      $ 1,900,413   

CommScope, Inc., Term Loan B3, 2.73%, 1/21/17

       813        814,842   

Telesat Canada, Term Loan A, 4.37%, 3/24/17

     CAD        2,433        2,232,395   

Zayo Group LLC, Term Loan B, 4.00%, 7/02/19

     USD        4,898        4,887,375   
      

 

 

 
                       16,992,183   

Construction & Engineering — 0.5%

      

BakerCorp International, Inc., Term Loan, 4.25%, 2/14/20

       1,551        1,528,999   

Centaur Acquisition LLC:

      

1st Lien Term Loan, 5.25%, 2/20/19

       1,345        1,345,306   

2nd Lien Term Loan, 8.75%, 2/15/20

       510        515,100   

USIC Holdings, Inc., 1st Lien Term Loan, 4.00%, 7/10/20

       725        716,374   
      

 

 

 
                       4,105,779   

Construction Materials — 1.0%

      

Filtration Group Corp.:

      

1st Lien Term Loan, 4.50%, 11/21/20

       603        607,006   

2nd Lien Term Loan, 8.25%, 11/21/21

       655        666,462   

HD Supply, Inc., Term Loan B, 4.00%, 6/28/18

       6,672        6,666,544   

McJunkin Red Man Corp., Term Loan, 5.00%, 11/08/19

       413        414,647   
      

 

 

 
                       8,354,659   

Containers & Packaging — 0.7%

      

Ardagh Holdings USA, Inc.:

      

Incremental Term Loan, 4.00%, 12/17/19

       945        943,422   

Term Loan B, 4.25%, 12/17/19

       733        733,852   

Berry Plastics Holding Corp., Term Loan E, 3.75%, 1/06/21

       2,162        2,151,303   

Rexam PLC, 2nd Lien Term Loan, 8.00%, 3/21/22

       385        384,519   

Tekni-Plex, Inc., Term Loan B, 4.75%, 8/25/19

       1,419        1,415,095   
      

 

 

 
                       5,628,191   

Distributors — 0.5%

      

ABC Supply Co., Inc., Term Loan, 3.50%, 4/16/20

       3,274        3,260,096   

 

                
14    BLACKROCK DEBT STRATEGIES FUND, INC.    MAY 31, 2014   


Schedule of Investments (continued)

  

BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. (DSU)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Floating Rate Loan Interests (c)   

Par  

(000)

    Value  

Distributors (concluded)

      

American Tire Distributors Holdings, Inc., Term Loan B, 5.75%, 6/01/18

     USD        285      $ 285,712   

VWR Funding, Inc., Term Loan, 3.40%, 4/03/17

       755        755,409   
      

 

 

 
                       4,301,217   

Diversified Consumer Services — 1.2%

      

Allied Security Holdings LLC:

      

1st Lien Term Loan, 4.25%, 2/12/21

       2,084        2,074,154   

2nd Lien Term Loan, 8.00%, 8/13/21

       599        599,560   

Bright Horizons Family Solutions, Inc., Term Loan B, 3.75%, 1/30/20

       1,550        1,549,212   

Garda World Security Corp.:

      

Delayed Draw Term Loan, 4.00%, 11/06/20

       289        288,005   

Term Loan B, 4.00%, 11/06/20

       1,131        1,125,839   

ROC Finance LLC, Term Loan, 5.00%, 6/20/19

       677        664,759   

ServiceMaster Co., Term Loan, 4.25%, 1/31/17

       2,086        2,084,984   

Weight Watchers International, Inc., Term Loan B2, 4.00%, 4/02/20

       2,109        1,665,675   
      

 

 

 
                       10,052,188   

Diversified Financial Services — 1.1%

      

AssuredPartners Capital, Inc.:

      

1st Lien Term Loan, 4.50%, 3/31/21

       1,350        1,349,433   

2nd Lien Term Loan, 7.75%, 4/04/22

       675        674,156   

Reynolds Group Holdings, Inc., Dollar Term Loan, 4.00%, 12/01/18

       3,301        3,301,549   

RPI Finance Trust, Term Loan B3, 3.25%, 11/09/18

       477        477,374   

SAM Finance Luxembourg Sarl, Term Loan, 4.25%, 12/17/20

       1,616        1,622,010   

WMG Acquisition Corp., Term Loan, 3.75%, 7/01/20

       1,739        1,708,178   
      

 

 

 
                       9,132,700   

Diversified Telecommunication Services — 2.3%

      

Consolidated Communications, Inc., Term Loan B, 4.25%, 12/23/20

       2,421        2,430,690   
Floating Rate Loan Interests (c)   

Par  

(000)

    Value  

Diversified Telecommunication Services (concluded)

      

Hawaiian Telcom Communications, Inc., Term Loan B, 5.00%, 6/06/19

     USD        2,852      $ 2,860,993   

Integra Telecom, Inc.:

      

2nd Lien Term Loan, 9.75%, 2/22/20

       1,555        1,582,861   

Term Loan B, 5.25%, 2/22/19

       1,267        1,271,052   

Level 3 Financing, Inc., 2019 Term Loan:

      

4.00%, 8/01/19

       110        110,110   

B, 4.00%, 1/15/20

       7,525        7,536,287   

US Telepacific Corp., Term Loan B, 5.75%, 2/23/17

       3,719        3,725,593   
      

 

 

 
                       19,517,586   

Electric Utilities — 0.4%

      

American Energy - Utica LLC:

      

2nd Lien Term Loan, 5.50%, 9/30/18

       462        493,979   

Incremental Term Loan, 11.00%, 9/30/18

       1,545        1,629,975   

Sandy Creek Energy Associates LP, Term Loan B, 5.00%, 11/06/20

       1,431        1,437,768   
      

 

 

 
                       3,561,722   

Electrical Equipment — 1.0%

      

Texas Competitive Electric Holdings Co. LLC:

      

DIP Term Loan, 3.75%, 5/05/16

       782        784,550   

Extended Term Loan, 4.74%, 10/10/17

       9,460        7,566,675   
      

 

 

 
                       8,351,225   

Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components — 0.4%

      

CDW LLC, Term Loan, 3.25%, 4/29/20

             2,952        2,911,090   

Energy Equipment & Services — 0.4%

      

Dynegy Holdings, Inc., Term Loan B2, 4.00%, 4/23/20

       1,310        1,311,266   

MEG Energy Corp., Refinancing Term Loan, 3.75%, 3/31/20

       1,869        1,872,877   
      

 

 

 
                       3,184,143   

Food & Staples Retailing — 0.7%

      

Alliance Boots Holdings Ltd., Term Loan B1, 3.46%, 7/09/15

     GBP        2,241        3,750,550   

Rite Aid Corp., 2nd Lien Term Loan, 5.75%, 8/21/20

     USD        695        708,754   

 

                
   BLACKROCK DEBT STRATEGIES FUND, INC.    MAY 31, 2014    15


Schedule of Investments (continued)

  

BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. (DSU)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

 

Floating Rate Loan Interests (c)   

Par  

(000)

    Value  

Food & Staples Retailing (concluded)

      

Supervalu, Inc., Refinancing Term Loan B, 4.50%, 3/21/19

     USD        1,404      $ 1,402,570   
      

 

 

 
                       5,861,874   

Food Products — 2.1%

  

   

AdvancePierre Foods, Inc., Term Loan, 5.75%, 7/10/17

  

    1,251        1,248,104   

CTI Foods Holding Co. LLC, 1st Lien Term Loan, 4.50%, 6/29/20

       816        814,880   

Del Monte Foods, Inc., 1st Lien Term Loan, 4.25%, 2/18/21

       928        925,551   

Diamond Foods, Inc., Term Loan, 4.25%, 8/20/18

       2,883        2,879,796   

Dole Food Co., Inc., Term Loan B, 4.50%, 11/01/18

       1,666        1,665,458   

GFA Brands, Inc., Term Loan B, 5.00%, 7/09/20

       610        611,913   

Hearthside Food Solutions LLC, Term Loan, 4.50%, 4/07/21

       1,175        1,178,913   

Performance Food Group Co., 2nd Lien Term Loan, 6.25%, 11/14/19

       2,313        2,335,650   

Pinnacle Foods Finance LLC, Term Loan G, 3.25%, 4/29/20

       2,114        2,101,201   

Reddy Ice Corp.:

  

   

1st Lien Term Loan, 6.75%, 5/01/19

       3,029        2,968,812   

2nd Lien Term Loan, 10.75%, 11/01/19

       995        915,400   
      

 

 

 
                       17,645,678   

Health Care Equipment & Supplies — 3.8%

  

 

Arysta LifeScience Corp.:

      

1st Lien Term Loan, 4.50%, 5/29/20

       3,858        3,861,108   

2nd Lien Term Loan, 8.25%, 11/30/20

       700        707,000   

Biomet, Inc., Term Loan B2, 3.65%, 7/25/17

       2,218        2,220,544   

Capsugel Holdings US, Inc., Term Loan B, 3.50%, 8/01/18

       1,447        1,442,361   

DJO Finance LLC, 2017 Term Loan, 4.25%, 9/15/17

       3,678        3,684,074   

Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA, Incremental Term Loan B, 2.57%, 6/30/19

     EUR        439        596,043   

The Hologic, Inc., Term Loan B, 3.25%, 8/01/19

     USD        2,515        2,508,257   

Iasis Healthcare LLC, Term Loan B2, 4.50%, 5/03/18

       98        97,630   

Immucor, Inc., Refinancing Term Loan B2, 5.00%, 8/17/18

       2,438        2,435,545   
Floating Rate Loan Interests (c)   

Par  

(000)

    Value  

Health Care Equipment & Supplies (concluded)

  

 

Leonardo Acquisition Corp., Term Loan, 4.25%, 1/31/21

     USD        1,250      $ 1,246,875   

LHP Hospital Group, Inc., Term Loan, 9.00%, 7/03/18

       738        708,630   

Millennium Laboratories, Inc., Term Loan B, 5.25%, 4/16/21

       3,775        3,796,253   

National Vision, Inc.:

      

1st Lien Term Loan, 4.00%, 3/12/21

       1,755        1,730,405   

2nd Lien Term Loan, 6.75%, 3/07/22

       755        752,169   

Onex Carestream Finance LP:

      

1st Lien Term Loan, 5.00%, 6/07/19

       840        840,362   

2nd Lien Term Loan, 9.50%, 12/07/19

       963        979,768   

Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, Inc., Term Loan B, 4.75%, 5/07/21

       4,200        4,216,296   
      

 

 

 
                       31,823,320   

Health Care Providers & Services — 3.2%

      

American Renal Holdings, Inc., 1st Lien Term Loan, 4.50%, 9/20/19

       1,619        1,616,627   

Ardent Medical Services, Inc., Term Loan, 6.75%, 7/02/18

       770        771,213   

CHS/Community Health Systems, Inc., Term Loan D, 4.25%, 1/27/21

       7,396        7,435,738   

Convatec, Inc., Term Loan, 4.00%, 12/22/16

       2,633        2,634,795   

DaVita, Inc.:

      

Term Loan B, 4.50%, 10/20/16

       2,999        2,999,220   

Term Loan B2, 4.00%, 11/01/19

       1,684        1,687,055   

Envision Acquisition Co. LLC, 1st Lien Term Loan, 5.75%, 11/04/20

       1,298        1,301,721   

Genesis HealthCare Corp., Term Loan B, 10.00%, 9/25/17

       1,372        1,395,681   

Ikaria, Inc.:

      

1st Lien Term Loan, 5.00%, 2/12/21

       1,120        1,123,506   

2nd Lien Term Loan, 8.75%, 2/14/22

       450        455,998   

inVentiv Health, Inc.:

      

Combined Term Loan, 7.50%, 8/04/16

       825        826,661   

Incremental Term Loan B3, 7.75%, 5/15/18

       879        875,900   

MPH Acquisition Holdings LLC, Term Loan, 4.00%, 3/31/21

       1,685        1,672,619   

 

                
16    BLACKROCK DEBT STRATEGIES FUND, INC.    MAY 31, 2014   


Schedule of Investments (continued)

  

BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. (DSU)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Floating Rate Loan Interests (c)   

Par  

(000)

    Value  

Health Care Providers & Services (concluded)

  

National Mentor Holdings, Inc., Term Loan B, 4.75%, 1/31/21

   USD     710      $ 712,662   

Surgical Care Affiliates, Inc., Class C Incremental Term Loan, 4.00%, 6/29/18

       1,181        1,175,170   
      

 

 

 
                   26,684,566   

Health Care Technology — 0.3%

  

IMS Health, Inc., Term Loan, 3.50%, 3/17/21

         2,615        2,597,166   

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure — 7.4%

  

Bally Technologies, Inc., Term Loan B, 4.25%, 11/25/20

       933        935,284   

Belmond Interfin Ltd., Term Loan B, 4.00%, 3/21/21

       1,200        1,202,256   

Bronco Midstream Funding LLC, Term Loan B, 5.00%, 8/17/20

       1,937        1,937,258   

Caesars Entertainment Operating Co., Term Loan B7, 9.75%, 3/01/17

       3,949        3,905,995   

Caesars Entertainment Resort Properties LLC, Term Loan B, 7.00%, 10/12/20

       7,738        7,700,953   

Caesars Growth Properties Holdings LLC, Term Loan B, 6.25%, 5/08/21

       4,100        4,074,908   

Diamond Resorts Corp., Term Loan, 5.50%, 4/23/21

       3,375        3,396,094   

Four Seasons Holdings, Inc., 2nd Lien Term Loan, 6.25%, 12/28/20

       895        906,187   

Hilton Worldwide Finance LLC, Term Loan B2, 3.50%, 10/26/20

       8,365        8,330,156   

Intrawest ULC, Term Loan, 5.50%, 11/26/20

       1,012        1,028,915   

La Quinta Intermediate Holdings LLC, Term Loan B, 4.00%, 4/14/21

       8,045        8,047,011   

Las Vegas Sands LLC, Term Loan B, 3.25%, 12/19/20

       3,416        3,409,878   

Marina District Finance Co., Inc., Term Loan B, 6.75%, 8/15/18

       1,265        1,282,714   

MGM Resorts International, Term Loan B, 3.50%, 12/20/19

       2,186        2,178,608   

Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc., Term Loan B2, 3.75%, 8/13/20

       1,227        1,226,121   

Playa Resorts Holding BV, Term Loan B, 4.00%, 8/06/19

       1,109        1,110,812   

Sabre, Inc.:

      

Incremental Term Loan, 4.50%, 2/19/19

       642        642,982   
Floating Rate Loan Interests (c)   

Par  

(000)

    Value  

Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure (concluded)

      

Sabre, Inc. (concluded):

  

Term Loan B, 4.25%, 2/19/19

   USD     879      $ 878,875   

Station Casinos LLC, Term Loan B, 4.25%, 3/02/20

       4,947        4,953,632   

Travelport LLC:

      

2nd Lien Term Loan 1, 9.50%, 1/29/16

       1,040        1,069,345   

Refinancing Term Loan, 6.25%, 6/26/19

       1,727        1,763,285   

Twin River Management Group, Inc., Term Loan B, 5.25%, 11/09/18

       1,557        1,550,063   
      

 

 

 
                   61,531,332   

Household Products — 0.6%

  

Bass Pro Group LLC, Term Loan, 3.75%, 11/20/19

       2,007        2,001,762   

Prestige Brands, Inc., Term Loan, 3.75%, 1/31/19

       673        670,770   

Spectrum Brands, Inc., Term Loan C, 3.50%, 9/04/19

       2,595        2,588,676   
      

 

 

 
                   5,261,208   

Independent Power Producers & Energy Traders — 0.5%

  

The AES Corp., Refinancing Term Loan B, 3.75%, 6/01/18

       77        77,329   

Calpine Construction Finance Co., L.P., Term Loan B1, 3.00%, 5/03/20

       815        799,887   

Calpine Corp., Term Loan B1, 4.00%, 4/01/18

       1,144        1,146,140   

La Frontera Generation LLC, Term Loan, 4.50%, 9/30/20

       2,014        2,015,784   
      

 

 

 
                   4,039,140   

Industrial Conglomerates — 0.5%

  

Sequa Corp., Term Loan B, 5.25%, 6/19/17

         4,047        4,000,850   

Insurance — 1.3%

  

Alliant Holdings I, Inc., Term Loan B, 4.25%, 12/20/19

       1,249        1,251,058   

Asurion LLC:

      

2nd Lien Term Loan, 8.50%, 3/03/21

       970        995,463   

Term Loan B1, 5.00%, 5/24/19

       1,617        1,621,868   

CNO Financial Group, Inc.:

      

Term Loan B1, 3.00%, 9/28/16

       791        790,510   

Term Loan B2, 3.75%, 9/20/18

       1,419        1,417,436   

 

                
   BLACKROCK DEBT STRATEGIES FUND, INC.    MAY 31, 2014    17


Schedule of Investments (continued)

  

BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. (DSU)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

 

Floating Rate Loan Interests (c)   

Par  

(000)

    Value  

Insurance (concluded)

      

Cooper Gay Swett & Crawford Ltd.:

      

1st Lien Term Loan, 5.00%, 4/16/20

     USD        1,161      $ 1,120,582   

2nd Lien Term Loan, 8.25%, 10/16/20

       360        347,400   

Sedgwick, Inc.:

      

1st Lien Term Loan, 3.75%, 3/01/21

       1,670        1,641,476   

2nd Lien Term Loan, 6.75%, 2/28/22

       1,650        1,642,344   
      

 

 

 
                       10,828,137   

Internet Software & Services — 1.1%

      

Dealertrack Technologies, Inc., Term Loan B, 3.50%, 2/28/21

       1,650        1,647,228   

Go Daddy Operating Co. LLC, Term Loan B, 4.75%, 5/13/21

       2,450        2,458,746   

Interactive Data Corp., Term Loan B, 4.75%, 4/30/21

       2,850        2,869,608   

W3 Co.:

      

1st Lien Term Loan, 5.75%, 3/13/20

       1,119        1,101,920   

2nd Lien Term Loan, 9.25%, 9/11/20

       289        289,275   

Web.com Group, Inc., Term Loan B, 4.50%, 10/27/17

       857        860,255   
      

 

 

 
                       9,227,032   

IT Services — 2.1%

      

Ceridian Corp., Term Loan B, 4.40%, 5/09/17

       2,538        2,540,641   

First Data Corp., 2018 Term Loan:

      

4.15%, 9/24/18

       1,860        1,861,730   

Extended B, 4.15%, 3/24/18

       10,497        10,494,773   

InfoGroup, Inc., Term Loan, 7.50%, 5/25/18

       942        834,866   

Sungard Availability Services Capital, Inc., Term Loan B, 6.00%, 3/25/19

       1,300        1,291,875   

SunGard Data Systems, Inc., Term Loan E, 4.00%, 3/08/20

       414        414,670   
      

 

 

 
                       17,438,555   

Leisure Equipment & Products — 0.2%

      

Bauer Performance Sports Ltd., Term Loan B, 4.50%, 4/15/21

       1,000        1,000,000   
Floating Rate Loan Interests (c)   

Par  

(000)

    Value  

Leisure Equipment & Products (concluded)

      

FGI Operating Co. LLC, Term Loan, 5.50%, 4/19/19

     USD        815      $ 821,046   
      

 

 

 
                       1,821,046   

Machinery — 1.9%

      

Alliance Laundry Systems LLC:

      

2nd Lien Term Loan, 9.50%, 12/10/19

       442        447,341   

Refinancing Term Loan, 4.50%, 12/10/18

       1,564        1,562,402   

Faenza Acquisition GmbH:

      

Term Loan B1, 4.25%, 8/31/20

       744        743,579   

Term Loan B3, 4.25%, 8/28/20

       225        225,403   

Gardner Denver, Inc.:

      

4.25%, 7/30/20

       2,066        2,063,218   

4.75%, 7/30/20

     EUR        224        307,508   

Intelligrated, Inc., 1st Lien Term Loan, 4.50%, 7/30/18

     USD        1,182        1,178,322   

Mirror Bidco Corp., Term Loan, 4.25%, 12/28/19

       1,541        1,536,688   

Navistar International Corp., Term Loan B, 5.75%, 8/17/17

       1,785        1,814,498   

Rexnord LLC, 1st Lien Term Loan B, 4.00%, 8/21/20

       1,517        1,512,616   

Silver II US Holdings LLC, Term Loan, 4.00%, 12/13/19

       1,494        1,490,783   

Terex Corp., Term Loan, 4.00%, 4/28/17

     EUR        124        168,242   

Wabash National Corp., Term Loan B, 4.50%, 5/08/19

     USD        2,319        2,313,080   
      

 

 

 
                       15,363,680   

Media — 6.7%

      

Activision Blizzard, Inc., Term Loan B, 3.25%, 10/12/20

       1,606        1,605,836   

Advanstar Communications, Inc., 2nd Lien Term Loan, 9.50%, 6/06/20

       470        477,050   

Cengage Learning Acquisitions, Inc.:

      

4.75%, 7/03/14 (f)

       2,596          

1st Lien Term Loan, 7.00%, 3/31/20

       7,525        7,619,062   

1st Lien Term Loan, 11.50%, 4/15/20 (f)

       669          

Charter Communications Operating LLC, Term Loan E, 3.00%, 7/01/20

       1,164        1,147,148   

 

                
18    BLACKROCK DEBT STRATEGIES FUND, INC.    MAY 31, 2014   


Schedule of Investments (continued)

  

BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. (DSU)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

 

Floating Rate Loan Interests (c)   

Par  

(000)

    Value  

Media (continued)

      

Clear Channel Communications, Inc.:

      

Term Loan B, 3.80%, 1/29/16

     USD        292      $ 288,648   

Term Loan C, 3.80%, 1/29/16

       152        149,454   

Term Loan D, 6.90%, 1/30/19

       4,467        4,412,255   

CSC Holdings LLC, Term Loan B, 2.65%, 4/17/20

       1,509        1,491,432   

Cumulus Media Holdings, Inc., 2013 Term Loan, 4.25%, 12/23/20

       2,404        2,408,947   

Getty Images, Inc., Term Loan B, 4.75%, 10/18/19

       307        295,686   

Hemisphere Media Group, Inc., Term Loan, 6.25%, 7/30/20

       1,370        1,373,074   

Hubbard Radio LLC, Term Loan B, 4.50%, 4/29/19

       1,293        1,292,941   

IMG Worldwide, Inc.:

      

1st Lien Term Loan, 5.25%, 5/06/21

       1,640        1,646,970   

2nd Lien Term Loan, 8.25%, 5/01/22

       1,310        1,323,925   

Intelsat Jackson Holdings SA, Term Loan B2, 3.75%, 6/30/19

       6,021        6,025,073   

Lions Gate Entertainment Corp., 2nd Lien Term Loan, 5.00%, 7/17/20

       610        618,387   

Live Nation Entertainment, Inc., Term Loan B1, 3.50%, 8/17/20

       622        619,282   

Media General, Inc., Delayed Draw Term Loan B, 4.25%, 7/31/20

       1,076        1,080,148   

Mediacom Communications Corp., Term Loan F, 2.63%, 1/31/18

       795        786,716   

NEP/NCP Holdco, Inc.:

      

2nd Lien Term Loan, 9.50%, 7/22/20

       246        252,471   

Incremental Term Loan, 4.25%, 1/22/20

       2,792        2,786,815   

Numericable U.S. LLC:

      

Term Loan B1, 4.50%, 5/21/20

       1,689        1,691,638   

Term Loan B2, 4.50%, 5/21/20

       1,461        1,463,497   

Salem Communications Corp., Term Loan B, 4.50%, 3/13/20

       1,089        1,087,206   

SBA Senior Finance II LLC, Term Loan B1, 3.25%, 3/24/21

       1,555        1,543,337   

Sinclair Television Group, Inc., Term Loan B, 3.00%, 4/09/20

       584        578,265   

Tribune Co., Term Loan, 4.00%, 12/27/20

       2,805        2,803,311   
Floating Rate Loan Interests (c)   

Par  

(000)

    Value  

Media (concluded)

      

Univision Communications, Inc., Term Loan C4, 4.00%, 3/01/20

     USD        2,963      $ 2,954,242   

UPC Financing Partnership:

      

Term Loan AG, 4.02%, 3/31/21

     EUR        396        542,793   

Term Loan AH, 3.25%, 6/30/21

     USD        680        674,608   

Virgin Media Investment Holdings Ltd., Term Loan B, 3.50%, 6/05/20

       1,020        1,011,503   

WideOpenWest Finance LLC, Term Loan B, 4.75%, 4/01/19

       983        987,282   

Ziggo BV:

      

Term Loan B1A, 3.25%, 1/15/22

       1,110        1,093,200   

Term Loan B2A, 3.25%, 1/15/22

       715        704,479   

Term Loan B3, 3.50%, 1/15/22

       1,176        1,158,616   
      

 

 

 
                       55,995,297   

Metals & Mining — 1.2%

      

Ameriforge Group, Inc.:

      

1st Lien Term Loan, 5.00%, 12/19/19

       1,450        1,451,764   

2nd Lien Term Loan, 8.75%, 12/19/20

       980        989,800   

FMG Resources (August 2006) Property Ltd., Term Loan B, 3.75%, 6/30/19

       1,720        1,717,472   

Novelis, Inc., Term Loan, 3.75%, 3/10/17

       4,113        4,111,640   

Windsor Financing LLC, Term Loan B, 6.25%, 12/05/17

       1,635        1,670,049   
      

 

 

 
                       9,940,725   

Multiline Retail — 1.6%

      

99 ¢ Only Stores, Term Loan, 4.50%, 1/11/19

       1,969        1,977,909   

Apex Tool Group LLC, Term Loan B, 4.50%, 1/31/20

       287        278,887   

BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc.:

      

1st Lien Term Loan, 4.50%, 9/26/19

       1,480        1,479,390   

2nd Lien Term Loan, 8.50%, 3/26/20

       785        807,569   

HEMA Holding BV:

      

Extended 2nd Lien Term Loan, 6.01%, 1/05/18

     EUR        2,900        3,643,486   

Extended Term Loan B, 4.63%, 12/06/17

       346        463,732   

Extended Term Loan C, 4.63%, 12/06/17

       317        424,684   

 

                
   BLACKROCK DEBT STRATEGIES FUND, INC.    MAY 31, 2014    19


Schedule of Investments (continued)

  

BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. (DSU)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

 

Floating Rate Loan Interests (c)   

Par  

(000)

    Value  

Multiline Retail (concluded)

      

Hudson’s Bay Co., 1st Lien Term Loan, 4.75%, 11/04/20

     USD        1,179      $ 1,189,400   

The Neiman Marcus Group, Inc., Term Loan, 4.25%, 10/26/20

       2,903        2,893,793   
      

 

 

 
                       13,158,850   

Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels — 2.1%

      

Arch Coal, Inc., Term Loan B, 6.25%, 5/16/18

       2,682        2,637,301   

Drillships Financing Holding, Inc., Term Loan B1, 6.00%, 3/31/21

       749        750,558   

EP Energy LLC, Term Loan B3, 3.50%, 5/24/18

       1,223        1,221,046   

Fieldwood Energy LLC:

      

1st Lien Term Loan, 3.88%, 9/28/18

       866        865,488   

2nd Lien Term Loan, 8.38%, 9/30/20

       840        863,848   

Moxie Patriot LLC, Term Loan B1, 6.75%, 12/18/20

       2,050        2,091,000   

Obsidian Natural Gas Trust, Term Loan, 7.00%, 11/02/15

       1,461        1,475,837   

Offshore Group Investment Ltd. Term Loan B:

      

5.00%, 10/25/17

       939        933,893   

5.75%, 3/28/19

       946        939,150   

Panda Temple II Power LLC, Term Loan B, 7.25%, 4/03/19

       980        999,600   

Power Buyer LLC:

      

1st Lien Term Loan, 4.25%, 5/06/20

       414        408,506   

2nd Lien Term Loan, 8.25%, 11/06/20

       200        198,250   

Delayed Draw Term Loan, 4.25%, 5/06/20

       22        21,865   

Raven Power Finance LLC, Term Loan, 5.25%, 12/19/20

       651        661,200   

Western Refining, Inc., Term Loan B, 4.25%, 11/12/20

       1,825        1,828,473   

WTG Holdings III Corp.:

      

1st Lien Term Loan, 4.75%, 1/15/21

       1,212        1,211,962   

2nd Lien Term Loan, 8.50%, 1/15/22

       200        200,500   
      

 

 

 
                       17,308,477   

Pharmaceuticals — 2.6%

      

Akorn, Inc., Term Loan B, 4.50%, 4/16/21

       1,140        1,141,425   

Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC, Term Loan, 5.75%, 11/01/19

       886        888,871   

Endo Luxembourg Finance Co. I Sarl, Term Loan B, 3.25%, 2/28/21

       650        644,586   

 

Floating Rate Loan Interests (c)   

Par  

(000)

    Value  

Pharmaceuticals (concluded)

      

Grifols Worldwide Operations USA, Inc., Term Loan B, 3.15%, 2/27/21

     USD        3,780      $ 3,761,402   

JLL/Delta Dutch Newco BV, 2021 Term Loan, 4.25%, 3/11/21

       1,140        1,126,970   

Mallinckrodt International Finance SA, Term Loan B, 3.50%, 3/19/21

       1,670        1,659,562   

Par Pharmaceutical Cos, Inc., Term Loan B2, 4.00%, 9/30/19

       3,252        3,238,285   

Pharmaceutical Product Development LLC, Term Loan B, 4.00%, 12/05/18

       3,450        3,450,892   

Quintiles Transnational Corp., Term Loan B3, 3.75%, 6/08/18

       1,440        1,437,507   

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. Term Loan B:

      

Series C2, 3.75%, 12/11/19

       1,197        1,192,538   

Series D2, 3.75%, 2/13/19

       1,757        1,752,908   

Series E, 3.75%, 8/05/20

       915        912,914   
      

 

 

 
                       21,207,860   

Professional Services — 1.1%

      

Emdeon Business Services LLC, Term Loan B2, 3.75%, 11/02/18

       3,506        3,504,890   

Intertrust Group Holding BV, 2nd Lien Term Loan, 8.00%, 2/28/22

       1,675        1,675,000   

SIRVA Worldwide, Inc., Term Loan, 7.50%, 3/27/19

       1,158        1,178,570   

TriNet Group, Inc., Term Loan B2, 5.00%, 8/14/20

       881        885,532   

Truven Health Analytics, Inc., Term Loan B, 4.50%, 6/06/19

       1,724        1,705,744   
      

 

 

 
                       8,949,736   

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) — 0.4%

      

IStar Financial, Inc., Term Loan, 4.50%, 10/16/17

       3,183        3,187,819   

Starwood Property Trust, Inc., Term Loan B, 3.50%, 4/17/20

       368        365,748   
      

 

 

 
                       3,553,567   

Real Estate Management & Development — 0.9%

      

CityCenter Holdings LLC, Term Loan B, 5.00%, 10/16/20

       1,581        1,591,251   

Realogy Corp.:

      

Extended Letter of Credit, 4.40%, 10/10/16

       1,362        1,358,820   

 

                
20    BLACKROCK DEBT STRATEGIES FUND, INC.    MAY 31, 2014   


Schedule of Investments (continued)

  

BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. (DSU)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

 

Floating Rate Loan Interests (c)   

Par  

(000)

    Value  

Real Estate Management & Development (concluded)

      

Realogy Corp. (concluded):

      

Term Loan B, 3.75%, 3/05/20

     USD        4,388      $ 4,387,897   
      

 

 

 
                       7,337,968   

Road & Rail — 0.3%

      

Genesee & Wyoming, Inc., Term Loan A, 1.90%, 9/29/17

       49        48,904   

Road Infrastructure Investment LLC:

      

1st Lien Term Loan, 4.25%, 3/31/21

       1,245        1,238,775   

2nd Lien Term Loan, 7.75%, 9/21/21

       1,175        1,167,163   
      

 

 

 
                       2,454,842   

Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment — 1.0%

      

Avago Technologies Cayman Ltd., Term Loan B, 3.75%, 5/06/21

       5,275        5,288,188   

Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.:

      

Term Loan B4, 4.25%, 2/28/20

       2,747        2,749,445   

Term Loan B5, 5.00%, 1/15/21

       408        409,561   
      

 

 

 
                       8,447,194   

Software — 2.5%

      

BMC Software Finance, Inc., Term Loan, 5.00%, 9/10/20

       2,356        2,361,063   

Evertec Group LLC, Term Loan B, 3.50%, 4/17/20

       675        662,246   

GCA Services Group, Inc.:

      

2nd Lien Term Loan, 9.25%, 10/22/20

       624        627,120   

Term Loan B, 4.25%, 11/01/19

       1,188        1,186,151   

Infor US, Inc., Term Loan B5, 3.75%, 6/03/20

       4,697        4,657,894   

IQOR US, Inc., Term Loan B, 6.00%, 4/01/21

       1,268        1,206,578   

Kronos Worldwide, Inc., Term Loan, 4.75%, 2/18/20

       435        439,080   

Kronos, Inc., 2nd Lien Term Loan, 9.75%, 4/30/20

       1,952        2,020,181   

Mitchell International, Inc.:

      

1st Lien Term Loan, 4.50%, 10/12/20

       1,862        1,867,087   

2nd Lien Term Loan, 8.50%, 10/11/21

       1,250        1,275,000   

RP Crown Parent LLC, Term Loan, 6.00%, 12/21/18

       1,312        1,308,705   

Shield Finance Co. Sarl, Term Loan, 5.00%, 1/27/21

       565        567,119   

 

Floating Rate Loan Interests (c)   

Par  

(000)

    Value  

Software (concluded)

      

Sophia LP, Term Loan B, 4.00%, 7/19/18

     USD        1,713      $ 1,714,322   

Websense, Inc., 2nd Lien Term Loan, 8.25%, 12/24/20

       605        607,456   
      

 

 

 
                       20,500,002   

Specialty Retail — 2.3%

      

Academy Ltd., Term Loan, 4.50%, 8/03/18

       2,747        2,751,839   

Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corp., Term Loan B2, 4.25%, 2/23/17

       773        777,384   

The Gymboree Corp., Initial Term Loan, 5.00%, 2/23/18

       195        158,169   

Harbor Freight Tools USA, Inc., 1st Lien Term Loan, 4.75%, 7/26/19

       1,931        1,940,298   

Jo-Ann Stores, Inc., Term Loan, 4.00%, 3/16/18

       1,140        1,135,100   

Leslie’s Poolmart, Inc., Term Loan, 4.25%, 10/16/19

       1,933        1,927,507   

Michaels Stores, Inc., Term Loan, 3.75%, 1/28/20

       1,631        1,630,472   

Party City Holdings, Inc., Term Loan, 4.00%, 7/27/19

       2,805        2,786,045   

Petco Animal Supplies, Inc., Term Loan, 4.00%, 11/24/17

       2,820        2,825,820   

Things Remembered, Inc., Term Loan B, 8.00%, 5/24/18

       2,198        2,186,933   

Toys ‘R’ Us-Delaware, Inc.:

      

Incremental Term Loan B2, 5.25%, 5/25/18

       802        619,670   

Term Loan B3, 5.25%, 5/25/18

       140        108,064   
      

 

 

 
                       18,847,301   

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods — 1.0%

      

Ascend Performance Materials LLC, Term Loan B, 6.75%, 4/10/18

       2,882        2,853,227   

J. Crew Group, Inc., Term Loan B, 4.00%, 3/05/21

       1,775        1,763,462   

Kate Spade & Co., Term Loan B, 4.00%, 4/09/21

       1,580        1,579,605   

Nine West Holdings, Inc.:

      

Guarantee Term Loan, 6.25%, 3/05/19

       1,165        1,167,913   

 

                
   BLACKROCK DEBT STRATEGIES FUND, INC.    MAY 31, 2014    21


Schedule of Investments (continued)

  

BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. (DSU)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Floating Rate Loan Interests (c)    Par  
(000)
    Value  

Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods (concluded)

    

Nine West Holdings, Inc. (concluded):

    

Term Loan B, 4.75%, 10/08/19

   USD  815      $ 817,551   
    

 

 

 
               8,181,758   

Thrifts & Mortgage Finance — 0.2%

    

IG Investment Holdings LLC, 1st Lien Term Loan, 5.25%, 10/31/19

     1,529        1,530,691   

Wireless Telecommunication Services — 0.2%

    

LTS Buyer LLC, 1st Lien Term Loan, 4.00%, 4/13/20

     1,697        1,689,538   

Total Floating Rate Loan Interests73.4%

             610,068,900   
    
                  
Non-Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities               

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations — 0.2%

    

Hilton USA Trust, Series 2013-HLT, Class EFX, 4.45%, 11/05/30 (b)(c)

     1,668        1,727,047   
    
                  
Other Interests (j)   

Beneficial
Interest

(000)

        

Auto Components — 0.0%

    

Intermet Liquidating Trust, Class A (a)

     1,154        12   

Diversified Financial Services — 0.1%

    

J.G. Wentworth LLC Preferred Equity Interests (Acquired 11/18/13, cost $1,604,600) (a)

     23        247,952   
Other Interests (j)   

Beneficial
Interest

(000)

    Value  

Diversified Financial Services (concluded)

    

J.G. Wentworth LLC Preferred Equity Interests (Acquired 11/18/13, cost $1,604,600) (a)

   USD  23      $ 247,952   
    

 

 

 
               495,904   

Household Durables — 0.4%

    

Stanley Martin, Class B Membership Units

     2        3,294,000   

Media — 0.0%

    

Adelphia Escrow (a)

     7,500        75   

Adelphia Preferred Escrow (a)

     8          

Adelphia Recovery Trust (a)

     9,406        4,703   

Adelphia Recovery Trust, Series ACC-6B INT (a)

     750        22,500   
    

 

 

 
       27,278   
    

 

 

 

Total Other Interests0.5%

             3,817,194   
    
                  
Preferred Stock    Shares         

Capital Markets — 0.0%

    

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Series J, 5.50% (c)(k)

     13,550        325,471   
    
                  
Trust Preferreds               

Diversified Financial Services — 0.2%

    

GMAC Capital Trust I, Series 2, 8.13% (c)

     69,669        1,882,741   

Total Preferred Securities0.2%

             2,208,212   
    
                  
Warrants (l)               

Chemicals — 0.1%

    

GEO Specialty Chemicals, Inc., (Expires 3/31/15)

     557,488        485,015   

 

                
22    BLACKROCK DEBT STRATEGIES FUND, INC.    MAY 31, 2014   


Schedule of Investments (continued)

  

BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. (DSU)

(Percentages shown are based on Net Assets)

 

Warrants (l)    Shares     Value  

Media — 0.2%

    

Charter Communications Inc, (Issued/exercisable 11/30/09, 1 Share for 1 Warrant, Expires 11/30/14,
Strike Price $51.28)

     19,523      $ 1,823,253   

Software — 0.0%

    

HMH Holdings/EduMedia (Issued/exercisable 3/09/10, 19 Shares for 1 Warrant, Expires 6/22/19,
Strike Price $42.27)

     3,049        12,588   
Total Warrants0.3%        2,320,856   
Total Long-Term Investments
(Cost — $1,109,961,064) — 134.5%
        1,117,983,849   
    
Short-Term Securities               
    
                  

BlackRock Liquidity Funds, TempFund, Institutional Class, 0.03% (m)(n)

     3,764,594      $ 3,764,594   
           Value  
Total Short-Term Securities
(Cost — $3,764,594) — 0.4%
       $ 3,764,594   
Options Purchased
(Cost — $30,817) — 0.0%
         13,514   
Total Investments
(Cost — $1,113,756,475*) — 134.9%
       1,121,761,957   

Liabilities in Excess of Other Assets(34.9)%

       (290,324,352
    

 

 

 
Net Assets100.0%        $ 831,437,605   

 

*   As of May 31, 2014, gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation based on cost for federal income tax purposes were as follows:

 

Tax cost

  $ 1,118,349,545     
 

 

 

   

 

Gross unrealized appreciation

  $ 47,279,760     

Gross unrealized depreciation

    (43,867,348  
 

 

 

   

 

Net unrealized appreciation

  $ 3,412,412     
 

 

 

   

 

 

Notes to Schedule of Investments

 

(a)   Non-income producing security.

 

(b)   Security exempt from registration pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration to qualified institutional investors.

 

(c)   Variable rate security. Rate shown is as of report date.

 

(d)   When-issued security. Unsettled when-issued transactions were as follows:

 

Counterparty      Value        Unrealized
Appreciation
 

Barclays Capital, Inc.

     $ 386,706         $ 3,706   

Credit Suisse Securities (Europe) Ltd.

     $ 250,201         $ 5,356   

Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc.

     $ 813,050         $ 10,062   

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

     $ 1,764,463         $ 19,462   

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

     $ 1,268,445         $ 22,535   

 

(e)   Represents a payment-in-kind security which may pay interest/dividends in additional par/shares and/or in cash. Rates shown are the current rate and possible payment rates.

 

(f)   Issuer filed for bankruptcy and/or is in default of principal and/or interest payments.

 

(g)   Convertible security.

 

(h)   Zero-coupon bond.

 

(i)   Represents a step-up bond that pays an initial coupon rate for the first period and then a higher coupon rate for the following periods. Rate shown is as of report date.

 

(j)   Other interests represent beneficial interests in liquidation trusts and other reorganization or private entities.

 

(k)   Security is perpetual in nature and has no stated maturity date.

 

(l)   Warrants entitle the Fund to purchase a predetermined number of shares of common stock and are non-income producing. The purchase price and number of shares are subject to adjustment under certain conditions until the expiration date, if any.

 

                
   BLACKROCK DEBT STRATEGIES FUND, INC.    MAY 31, 2014    23


Schedule of Investments (continued)

  

BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. (DSU)

    

 

 

(m)   Investments in issuers considered to be an affiliate of the Fund during the period ended May 31, 2014, for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows:

 

Affiliate     

Shares

Held at
February 28, 2014

    

Net

Activity

      

Shares

Held at

May 31, 2014

     Income  

BlackRock Liquidity Funds, TempFund, Institutional Class

     4,698,789        (934,195      3,764,594      $ 193   

 

(n)   Represents the current yield as of report date.

 

Portfolio Abbreviations

 

ADS

  American Depositary Shares

CAD

  Canadian Dollar

CLO

  Collateralized Loan Obligation

DIP

  Debtor-In-Possession

EBITDA

  Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization

EUR

  Euro

GBP

  British Pound

OTC

  Over-the-Counter

PIK

  Payment-In-Kind.

SGD

  Singapore Dollar

USD

  U.S. Dollar

 

Ÿ  

Financial futures contracts outstanding as of May 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Contracts
Sold
  Issue     Exchange     Expiration    

Notional

Value

   

Unrealized

Appreciation

 
(48)     10-Year U.S. Treasury Note        Chicago Board of Trade        September 2014      $ 6,024,750      $ 6,323   

 

Ÿ  

Forward foreign currency exchange contracts outstanding as of May 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Currency

Purchased

      

Currency

Sold

    Counterparty  

Settlement

Date

       Unrealized
Appreciation/
(Depreciation)
 
EUR        1,283,000         USD        1,779,871      BNP Paribas S.A.     7/23/14         $ (31,020
EUR        1,010,000         USD        1,398,510      Deutche Bank AG     7/23/14           (21,784
GBP        560,000         USD        941,840      Bank of America N.A.     7/23/14           (3,528
GBP        540,000         USD        906,948      Deutche Bank AG     7/23/14           (2,148
USD        1,998,684         CAD        2,199,000      Deutche Bank AG     7/23/14           (26,873
USD        30,848,762         EUR        22,320,000      Barclays Bank PLC     7/23/14           424,482   
USD        660,168         EUR        480,000      Barclays Bank PLC     7/23/14           5,883   
USD        133,960         EUR        97,000      Goldman Sachs Bank USA     7/23/14           1,740   
USD        436,641         EUR        321,000      Westpac Banking Corp.     7/23/14           (913
USD        11,444,044         GBP        6,812,000      Barclays Bank PLC     7/23/14           30,156   
USD        173,453         GBP        103,000      Goldman Sachs Bank USA     7/23/14           871   
Total                       $ 376,866   
                       

 

 

 

 

                
24    BLACKROCK DEBT STRATEGIES FUND, INC.    MAY 31, 2014   


Schedule of Investments (continued)

   BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. (DSU)

 

 

Ÿ  

OTC interest rate swaptions purchased as of May 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Description    Counterparty    Put/
Call
     Exercise
Rate
     Pay/Receive
Exercise
Rate
   Floating Rate
Index
     Expiration
Date
     Notional
Amount
(000)
     Market
Value
 

30-Year Interest Rate Swap

   Royal Bank of Scotland PLC      Call         USD         3.25       Pay      3-month LIBOR         7/11/14         USD         500       $ 5,880   

30-Year Interest Rate Swap

   Barclays Bank PLC      Call         USD         3.25       Pay      3-month LIBOR         8/01/14         USD         500         7,634   

Total

                              $ 13,514   
                             

 

 

 

 

Ÿ  

OTC options purchased as of May 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Description    Counterparty      Put/
Call
     Strike
Price
     Expiration
Date
       Contracts        Market
Value
 

Marsico Parent Superholdco LLC

   Goldman Sachs & Co.      Call      USD     942.86        12/14/19           6             

 

Ÿ  

OTC credit default swaps – buy protection outstanding as of May 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Issuer  

Pay

Fixed Rate

    Counterparty   Expiration
Date
  Notional
Amount
(000)
    Market
Value
    Premiums
Paid
    Unrealized
Depreciation
 

The New York Times Co.

    1.00   Barclays Bank PLC   12/20/16     USD        500      $ (6,601   $ 17,851      $ (24,452

 

Ÿ  

OTC credit default swaps – sold protection outstanding as of May 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

Issuer/Index   Receive
Fixed Rate
    Counterparty   Expiration
Date
  Credit
Rating1
 

Notional

Amount
(000)2

    Market
Value
    Premiums Paid
(Received)
    Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 

MetLife, Inc.

    5.00   Deutsche Bank AG   6/20/15   A-     USD        150      $ 7,808      $ 2,261      $ 5,547   

MetLife, Inc.

    1.00   UBS AG   9/20/15   A-     USD        175        1,976        (3,309     5,285   

Caesars Entertainment Operating Co., Inc.

    5.00   Citibank N.A.   12/20/15   C     USD        56        (14,088     (9,747     (4,341

Caesars Entertainment Operating Co., Inc.

    5.00   Citibank N.A.   12/20/15   C     USD        27        (6,775     (4,200     (2,575

Caesars Entertainment Operating Co., Inc.

    5.00   UBS AG   12/20/15   C     USD        130        (32,621     (19,008     (13,613

Caesars Entertainment Operating Co., Inc.

    5.00   Goldman Sachs Bank USA   12/20/15   C     USD        62        (15,480     (5,949     (9,531

Caesars Entertainment Operating Co., Inc.

    5.00   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.   12/20/15   C     USD        541        (135,676     (105,185     (30,491

 

                
   BLACKROCK DEBT STRATEGIES FUND, INC.    MAY 31, 2014    25


Schedule of Investments (continued)

  

BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. (DSU)

 

 

Ÿ  

OTC credit default swaps — sold protection outstanding as of May 31, 2014 were as follows (continued):

 

Issuer/Index   Receive
Fixed Rate
    Counterparty   Expiration
Date
  Credit
Rating1
 

Notional

Amount
(000)2

    Market
Value
    Premiums Paid
(Received)
    Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 

Caesars Entertainment Operating Co., Inc.

    5.00   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.   12/20/15   C     USD        145      $ (36,494   $ (24,526   $ (11,968

Caesars Entertainment Operating Co., Inc.

    5.00   Goldman Sachs International   12/20/15   C     USD        278        (69,660     (26,770     (42,890

Caesars Entertainment Operating Co., Inc.

    5.00   Goldman Sachs Bank USA   3/20/16   C     USD        39        (11,018     (6,548     (4,470

Caesars Entertainment Operating Co., Inc.

    5.00   Goldman Sachs Bank USA   3/20/16   C     USD        39        (11,018     (6,548     (4,470

Caesars Entertainment Operating Co., Inc.

    5.00   Goldman Sachs Bank USA   3/20/16   C     USD        121        (34,405     (19,487     (14,918

Caesars Entertainment Operating Co., Inc.

    5.00   Goldman Sachs Bank USA   3/20/16   C     USD        30        (8,414     (4,532     (3,882

Caesars Entertainment Operating Co., Inc.

    5.00   Barclays Bank PLC   3/20/16   C     USD        13        (3,800     (2,008     (1,792

Caesars Entertainment Operating Co., Inc.

    5.00   Barclays Bank PLC   3/20/16   C     USD        13        (3,789     (1,777     (2,012

Caesars Entertainment Operating Co., Inc.

    5.00   Citibank N.A.   3/20/16   C     USD        14        (4,122     (1,976     (2,146

Caesars Entertainment Operating Co., Inc.

    5.00   Goldman Sachs Bank USA   3/20/16   C     USD        36        (10,331     (4,493     (5,838

Caesars Entertainment Operating Co., Inc.

    5.00   Citibank N.A.   3/20/16   C     USD        22        (6,222     (2,748     (3,474

Caesars Entertainment Operating Co., Inc.

    5.00   Goldman Sachs International   3/20/16   C     USD        176        (50,191     (29,826     (20,365

Caesars Entertainment Operating Co., Inc.

    5.00   Goldman Sachs International   3/20/16   C     USD        176        (50,191     (29,826     (20,365

 

                
26    BLACKROCK DEBT STRATEGIES FUND, INC.    MAY 31, 2014   


Schedule of Investments (continued)

  

BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. (DSU)

 

 

Ÿ  

OTC credit default swaps — sold protection outstanding as of May 31, 2014 were as follows (continued):

 

Issuer/Index   Receive
Fixed Rate
    Counterparty   Expiration
Date
  Credit
Rating1
 

Notional

Amount
(000)2

    Market
Value
    Premiums Paid
(Received)
    Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 

Caesars Entertainment Operating Co., Inc.

    5.00   Goldman Sachs International   3/20/16   C     USD        528      $ (150,522   $ (85,256   $ (65,266

Caesars Entertainment Operating Co., Inc.

    5.00   Goldman Sachs International   3/20/16   C     USD        118        (33,655     (18,125     (15,530

Caesars Entertainment Operating Co., Inc.

    5.00   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.   3/20/16   C     USD        83        (23,633     (12,019     (11,614

Caesars Entertainment Operating Co., Inc.

    5.00   Goldman Sachs International   3/20/16   C     USD        270        (77,042     (33,506     (43,536

Caesars Entertainment Operating Co., Inc.

    5.00   Goldman Sachs Bank USA   6/20/16   C     USD        77        (24,754     (14,234     (10,520

Caesars Entertainment Operating Co., Inc.

    5.00   Goldman Sachs Bank USA   6/20/16   C     USD        150        (48,000     (26,730     (21,270

Caesars Entertainment Operating Co., Inc.

    5.00   Barclays Bank PLC   6/20/16   C     USD        70        (22,400     (9,884     (12,516

Caesars Entertainment Operating Co., Inc.

    5.00   Goldman Sachs International   6/20/16   C     USD        359        (114,768     (65,994     (48,774

Caesars Entertainment Operating Co., Inc.

    5.00   Goldman Sachs International   6/20/16   C     USD        690        (220,799     (122,956     (97,843

Caesars Entertainment Operating Co., Inc.

    5.00   JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.   6/20/16   C     USD        357        (114,160     (53,181     (60,979

Caesars Entertainment Operating Co., Inc.

    5.00   Goldman Sachs Bank USA   9/20/16   C     USD        402        (143,210     (69,332     (73,878

Caesars Entertainment Operating Co., Inc.

    5.00   Goldman Sachs International   9/20/16   C     USD        784        (279,259     (135,197     (144,062

Caesars Entertainment Operating Co., Inc.

    5.00   Barclays Bank PLC   3/20/17   C     USD        13        (5,696     (3,045     (2,651

 

                
   BLACKROCK DEBT STRATEGIES FUND, INC.    MAY 31, 2014    27


Schedule of Investments (continued)

  

BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. (DSU)

 

 

 

Ÿ  

OTC credit default swaps — sold protection outstanding as of May 31, 2014 were as follows (concluded):

 

Issuer/Index   Receive
Fixed Rate
    Counterparty   Expiration
Date
  Credit
Rating1
 

Notional

Amount
(000)2

    Market
Value
    Premiums Paid
(Received)
    Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
 

Caesars Entertainment Operating Co., Inc.

    5.00   Goldman Sachs Bank USA   3/20/17   C     USD        27      $ (11,598   $ (6,292   $ (5,306

Caesars Entertainment Operating Co., Inc.

    5.00   Goldman Sachs International   3/20/17   C     USD        325        (139,118     (70,958     (68,160

Caesars Entertainment Operating Co., Inc.

    5.00   Goldman Sachs International   3/20/17   C     USD        226        (96,802     (52,515     (44,287

Caesars Entertainment Operating Co., Inc.

    5.00   Deutsche Bank AG   6/20/17   C     USD        423        (197,309     (100,320     (96,989

Total

              $ (2,197,236   $ (1,185,746   $ (1,011,490
             

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

1   

Using Standard & Poor’s rating of the issuer.

 

2   

The maximum potential amount may pay should a negative credit event take place as defined under the terms of the agreement.

 

Ÿ  

Fair Value Measurements — Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of investments and derivative financial instruments. These inputs to valuation techniques are categorized into a disclosure hierarchy consisting of three broad levels for financial reporting purposes as follows:

 

  Ÿ  

Level 1 — unadjusted price quotations in active markets/exchanges for identical assets or liabilities that the Fund has the ability to access

 

  Ÿ  

Level 2 — other observable inputs (including, but not limited to, quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in markets that are active, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the assets or liabilities (such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks and default rates) or other market-corroborated inputs)

 

  Ÿ  

Level 3 — unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are not available (including the Fund’s own assumptions used in determining the fair value of investments and derivative financial instruments)

The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3. The inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the fair value hierarchy classification is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.

Changes in valuation techniques may result in transfers into or out of an assigned level within the disclosure hierarchy. In accordance with the Fund’s policy, transfers between different levels of the fair value disclosure hierarchy are deemed to have occurred as of the beginning of the reporting period. The categorization of a value determined for investments and derivative financial instruments is based on the pricing transparency of the investment and derivative financial instrument and is not necessarily an indication of the risks associated with investing in those securities. For information about the Fund’s policy regarding valuation of investments and derivative financial instruments, please refer to the Fund’s most recent financial statements as contained in its annual report.

The following tables summarize the Fund’s investments and derivative financial instruments categorized in the disclosure hierarchy as of May 31, 2014:

 

 

                
28    BLACKROCK DEBT STRATEGIES FUND, INC.    MAY 31, 2014   


Schedule of Investments (continued)

  

BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. (DSU)

 

     Level 1        Level 2        Level 3        Total  

Assets:

                
Investments:                 
Long-Term Investments:                 

Asset-Backed Securities

            $ 9,779,204         $ 725,625         $ 10,504,829   

Common Stocks

  $ 2,644,755           7,692,645           6,219,127           16,556,527   

Corporate Bonds

              455,563,639           15,216,645           470,780,284   

Floating Rate Loan Interests

              552,503,244           57,565,656           610,068,900   

Non-Agency Mortgage-Backed Securities

              1,727,047                     1,727,047   

Other Interests

    495,904           27,203           3,294,087           3,817,194   

Preferred Securities

    2,208,212                               2,208,212   

Warrants

    1,823,253           12,588           485,015           2,320,856   

Short-Term Securities

    3,764,594                               3,764,594   

Options Purchased

                

Interest Rate Contracts

              13,514                     13,514   

Unfunded Loan Commitments

              14,827                     14,827   

Liabilities:

                

Unfunded Loan Commitments

              (5,341                  (5,341
 

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total

  $ 10,936,718         $ 1,027,328,570         $ 83,506,155         $ 1,121,771,443   
 

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 
                
     Level 1        Level 2        Level 3        Total  
Derivative Financial Instruments1                 

Assets:

                

Credit contracts

            $ 10,832                   $ 10,832   

Foreign currency exchange contracts

              463,132                     463,132   

Interest rate contracts

  $ 6,323                          6,323   

Liabilities:

                

Credit contracts

              (1,046,774                  (1,046,774

Foreign currency exchange contracts

              (86,266                  (86,266
 

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total

  $ 6,323         $ (659,076                $ (652,753
 

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

1   Derivative financial instruments are swaps, financial futures contracts, forward foreign currency exchange contracts and options written. Swaps, financial futures contracts and forward foreign currency exchange contracts are valued at the unrealized appreciation/depreciation on the instrument and options written are shown at value.

       

 

                
   BLACKROCK DEBT STRATEGIES FUND, INC.    MAY 31, 2014    29


Schedule of Investments (continued)

   BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. (DSU)

 

The Fund may hold assets and/or liabilities in which the fair value approximates the carrying amount for financial reporting purposes. As of May 31, 2014, such assets and/or liabilities are categorized within the disclosure hierarchy as follows:

 

     Level 1        Level 2        Level 3        Total  

Assets:

                

Cash

  $ 2,503,599                             $ 2,503,599   

Cash pledged for financial futures contracts

    89,000                               89,000   

Cash received as collateral for OTC derivatives

    760,000                               760,000   

Foreign currency at value

    241,067                               241,067   

Liabilities:

                

Bank borrowings payable

            $ (279,000,000                  (279,000,000
 

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

Total

  $ 3,593,666         $ (279,000,000                $ (275,406,334
 

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

      

 

 

 

There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 during the period ended May 31, 2014.

A reconciliation of Level 3 investments is presented when the Fund had a significant amount of Level 3 investments at the beginning and/or end of the period in relation to net assets. The following table is a reconciliation of Level 3 investments for which significant unobservable inputs were used in determining fair value:

 

     Common
Stocks
    Asset-Backed
Securities
   

Corporate

Bonds

   

Floating Rate
Loan

Interests

   

Other

Interests

    Warrants     Total  

Assets:

             

Opening balance, as of February 28, 2014

  $ 4,390,667      $ 1,662,820      $ 14,491,919      $ 52,786,443      $ 3,658,586      $ 462,715      $ 77,453,150   

Transfers into Level 31

                         18,197,463                      18,197,463   

Transfers out of Level 32

                         (11,206,690                   (11,206,690

Accrued discounts/premiums

           1,001        75,332        30,445                      106,778   

Net realized gain (loss)

  

    27,648        (16,775,061     79,128                 (16,668,285

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation3

    1,828,460        (28,669     17,424,455        (314,305     (109,903     22,300        18,822,338   

Purchases

                         7,127,432                      7,127,432   

Sales

           (937,175            (9,134,260     (254,596            (10,326,031
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Closing balance, as of May 31, 2014

  $ 6,219,127      $ 725,625      $ 15,216,645      $ 57,565,656      $ 3,294,087      $ 485,015      $ 83,506,155   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments still held as of May 31, 20142

  $ 1,828,460      $ (5,933   $ 649,397      $ (197,856   $ (109,903   $ 22,300      $ 2,186,465   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

1   

As of February 28, 2014, the Fund used significant unobservable inputs in determining the value of certain investments. As of May 31, 2014, the Fund used observable inputs in determining the value of the same investments. As a result, investments with a beginning of period value of $18,197,463 transferred from Level 2 to Level 3 in the disclosure hierarchy.

 

2   

As of February 28, 2014, the Fund used significant unobservable inputs in determining the value of certain investments. As of May 31, 2014, the Fund used observable inputs in determining the value of the same investments. As a result, investments with a beginning of period value of $11,206,690 transferred from Level 3 to Level 2 in the disclosure hierarchy.

 

3   

Any difference between Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation and Net change in unrealized appreciation/depreciation on investments still held as of May 31, 2014 is generally due to investments no longer held or categorized as Level 3 at period end.

 

                
30    BLACKROCK DEBT STRATEGIES FUND, INC.    MAY 31, 2014   


Schedule of Investments (concluded)

  

BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. (DSU)

 

The following table summarizes the valuation techniques used and unobservable inputs utilized by the BlackRock Global Valuation Methodologies Committee (the “Global Valuation Committee”) to determine the value of certain of the Fund’s Level 3 investments as of May 31, 2014. The table does not include Level 3 investments with values based upon unadjusted third party pricing information in the amount of $57,166,940. A significant change in such third party pricing information could result in a significantly lower or higher value of such Level 3 investments.

 

     Value        Valuation Techniques      Unobservable Inputs      Range of
Unobservable
Inputs Utilized

Assets:

                
Common Stocks   $ 423,989         Market Comparable Companies      Last 12 Months EBITDA Multiple1      6.50x
            Illiquidity Discount2      17.50%
    4,732,635         Market Comparable Companies      Offshore Last 12 Months EBITDA Multiple1      6.75x
            Offshore Current Fiscal Year EBITDA Mulitple1      6.88x
            Onshore Last 12 Months EBITDA Mulitple1      5.13x
            Onshore Current Fiscal Year EBITDA Multiple1      4.75x
Corporate Bonds3     1,326,000        

Discounted Cash Flow

     Internal Rate of Return2      10.00%
    13,890,643         Market Comparable Companies      Last 12 Months EBITDA Multiple1      6.50x
            Illiquidity Discount2      17.50%
Floating Rate Loan Interests     2,186,933         Market Comparable Yield Analysis      Yield2      8.13%
Other Interests4     3,294,000         Market Comparable Companies      Tangible Book Value Multiple1      1.35x
Warrants     485,015         Market Comparable Companies      Last 12 Months EBITDA Multiple1      6.50x
            Illiquidity Discount2      17.50%
 

 

 

                

Total

  $ 26,339,215                  
 

 

 

                

1   Increase in unobservable input may result in a significant increase to value, while a decrease in the unobservable input may result in a significant decrease to value.

2   Decrease in unobservable input may result in a significant increase to value, while an increase in the unobservable input may result in a significant decrease to value.

3   For the period ended May 31, 2014, the valuation technique for certain investments classified as corporate bonds changed to utilizing an income approach. Market information previously utilized to determine fair value under the market approach no longer applied to these investments; therefore, the income approach is considered to be a more relevant measure of fair value for these investments.

4  For the period ended May 31, 2014, the valuation technique for an investment classified as other interests changed to a market approach. The investment was previously valued utilizing an income approach. Market information became available for this investment which is considered to be a more relevant measure of fair value for this investment.

 

                
   BLACKROCK DEBT STRATEGIES FUND, INC.    MAY 31, 2014    31


Item 2 – Controls and Procedures

 

2(a) –   The registrant’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, have concluded that the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”)) are effective as of a date within 90 days of the filing of this report based on the evaluation of these controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the 1940 Act and Rule 13a-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
2(b) –   There were no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the 1940 Act) that occurred during the registrant’s last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Item 3 – Exhibits

Certifications – Attached hereto


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc.

By:

 

/s/ John M. Perlowski

 

John M. Perlowski

 

Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) of

 

BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc.

Date:

 

July 23, 2014

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

By:

 

/s/ John M. Perlowski

 

John M. Perlowski

 

Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) of

 

BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc.

Date:

 

July 23, 2014

By:

 

/s/ Neal J. Andrews

 

Neal J. Andrews

 

Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer) of

 

BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc.

Date:

 

July 23, 2014