BKT BlackRock Income Trust Inc

Filed by the Registrant 

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant 

 

 

 

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 

 

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other than the Registrant)

 

June 5, 2024

Dear Shareholder:

A joint annual meeting of the shareholders of the BlackRock Funds listed in

The purpose of the meeting is to seek shareholder approval of the nominees named in the enclosed joint proxy statement to the Boards of Directors or Trustees (each, a “Board” and collectively, the “Boards,” the members of which are referred to as “Board Members”) of each Fund. Each Board has unanimously approved the nominees named in the enclosed joint proxy statement on behalf of its Fund (the “Board Nominees”), subject to approval by the Fund’s shareholders. The Boards have reviewed the qualifications and backgrounds of the Board Nominees and believe that they possess the requisite experience in overseeing investment companies and that their election is in your best interest.

You have received this joint proxy statement because you were a shareholder of record of at least one of the Funds listed in

We would like to assure you of our commitment to ensuring that the joint annual meeting provides shareholders with a meaningful opportunity to participate, including the ability to ask questions of the Boards and management. To support these efforts, we will:

 

 

 

If your shares in a Fund are registered in your name, you may attend and participate in the meeting at meetnow.global/MAXD4Y6 by entering the control number found in the shaded box on your proxy card on the date and time of the meeting. You may vote during the meeting by following the instructions that will be available on the meeting website during the meeting.

If you are a beneficial shareholder of a Fund (that is if you hold your shares of a Fund through a bank, broker, financial intermediary or other nominee) and want to attend the meeting you must register in advance of the meeting. To register, you must submit proof of your proxy power (legal proxy) reflecting your Fund holdings along with your name and email address to Georgeson LLC, the Funds’ tabulator. You may email an image of your legal proxy to shareholdermeetings@computershare.com. Requests for registration must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. (Eastern time) three business days prior to the meeting date. You will receive a confirmation email from Georgeson LLC (through Computershare) of your registration and a control number and security code that will allow you to vote at the meeting.

Even if you plan to attend the meeting, please promptly follow the enclosed instructions to submit your voting instructions by telephone or via the Internet. Alternatively, you may submit voting instructions by signing and dating each proxy card you receive, and if received by mail, returning it in the accompanying postage-paid return envelope.

We encourage you to carefully review the enclosed materials, which explain this proposal in more detail. As a shareholder, your vote is important, and we hope that you will respond today to ensure that your shares will be represented at the meeting. You may vote using one of the methods below by following the instructions on your proxy card or voting instruction form(s):

 

 

 

 

If you do not vote using one of these methods, you may be called by Georgeson LLC, the Funds’ proxy solicitor, to vote your shares.

If you have any questions about the proposal to be voted on or the virtual meeting, please call Georgeson LLC, the firm assisting us in the solicitation of proxies, toll free at

Sincerely,

Janey Ahn

Secretary of the Funds

50 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001

While we encourage you to read the full text of the enclosed joint proxy statement, for your convenience we have provided a brief overview of the matters to be voted on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 5, 2024

To the Shareholders:

A joint annual meeting of the shareholders of the BlackRock Funds identified below (each, a “Fund”) will be held on Friday, July 26, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern time), to consider and vote on the proposal, as more fully discussed in the accompanying joint proxy statement. The meeting will be held in a virtual meeting format only. Shareholders will not have to travel to attend the meeting but will be able to view the meeting live and cast their votes by accessing a web link.

 

 

The purpose of the meeting is to seek shareholder approval of the nominees named in the accompanying joint proxy statement to the Boards of Directors or Trustees (each, a “Board,” and collectively, the “Boards,” the members of which are referred to as “Board Members”) of each Fund. Each Board has unanimously approved the nominees on behalf of its Fund (the “Board Nominees”), subject to approval by the Fund’s shareholders. The Boards have reviewed the qualifications and backgrounds of the Board Nominees and believe that the Board Nominees possess the requisite experience in overseeing investment companies and that their election is in your best interest.

Shareholders of record of each Fund as of the close of business on May 28, 2024 (the “Record Date”) are entitled to vote at the meeting and at any adjournments, postponements or delays thereof. A list of each Fund’s shareholders as of the Record Date will be available electronically for inspection by any record shareholder of such Fund at the shareholder meeting. For each Delaware Trust, such list will be available for inspection beginning ten days prior to the date of the meeting. Fund shareholders interested in inspecting the list of shareholders for their respective Fund should contact Georgeson LLC at blackrockcef@georgeson.com for additional information.

If you owned shares of more than one Fund as of the Record Date, you may receive more than one proxy card or voting instruction form. Please be certain to vote by telephone or via the Internet with respect to each Fund in which you are a shareholder of record or sign, date and return each proxy card you receive from us.

If you have any questions about the proposal to be voted on or the virtual meeting, please call Georgeson LLC, the firm assisting us in the solicitation of proxies, toll free at

By Order of the Boards,

Janey Ahn

Secretary of the Funds

50 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This joint proxy statement (this “Proxy Statement”) is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Boards of Directors or Trustees (each, a “Board,” and collectively, the “Boards,” the members of which are referred to as “Board Members”) of each BlackRock Fund listed in of this Proxy Statement (each, a “Fund”). The proxies will be voted at the joint annual meeting (the “meeting”) of shareholders of the Funds and at any and all adjournments, postponements or delays thereof. The meeting will be held on Friday, July 26, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern time). The meeting will be held for the purposes set forth in the accompanying Notice of Joint Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be Held on July 26, 2024. The meeting will be held in a virtual meeting format only.

The Boards of the Funds have determined that the use of this Proxy Statement for the meeting is in the best interests of the Funds and their shareholders in light of the similar matters being considered and voted on by the shareholders of each Fund. Distribution to shareholders of this Proxy Statement and the accompanying materials, or the Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Joint Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be Held on July 26, 2024 (the “Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials”), will commence on or about June 5, 2024.

Each Fund listed in to this Proxy Statement is organized as a Maryland corporation (each, a “Maryland Corporation”), a Maryland statutory trust (a “Maryland Trust”) or a Delaware statutory trust (each, a “Delaware Trust”). The Maryland Corporations, the Maryland Trust and the Delaware Trusts are management investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”). A list identifying each Fund as a Maryland Corporation, a Maryland Trust or a Delaware Trust is set forth in .

Shareholders of record of a Fund as of the close of business on May 28, 2024 (the “Record Date”) are entitled to notice of and to vote at that Fund’s annual meeting of shareholders and at any and all adjournments, postponements or delays thereof. Shareholders of the Funds are entitled to one vote for each share held, with no shares having cumulative voting rights. Holders of Preferred Shares (as defined below) will have equal voting rights with the holders of shares of common stock or common shares of beneficial interest (collectively, the “Common Shares”) of the Preferred Funds (as defined below). Holders of Preferred Shares will vote together with the holders of Common Shares as a single class on each nominee to the Board of each Preferred Fund in which they own Preferred Shares, except that holders of Preferred Shares are entitled to vote separately as a class to elect two Board Members for each Preferred Fund in which they own Preferred Shares. With respect to the Preferred Funds (as defined below), the Board Members representing holders of Preferred Shares are Class I and Class II Board Members and only Class II Board Members are standing for election this year. The quorum and voting requirements for each Fund are described in the section herein entitled “Vote Required and Manner of Voting Proxies.”

The Maryland Corporations have elected to be subject to the Maryland Control Share Acquisition Act (the “”) and the Delaware Trusts are subject to the control beneficial interest acquisition provisions of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act.

 

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On December 5, 2023, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York granted judgment in favor of a plaintiff’s claim for rescission of resolutions by sixteen funds that are Maryland corporations and statutory trusts, including certain BlackRock-sponsored funds domiciled in Maryland, that “opted in” to elect to be subject to the MCSAA. The district court declared that the funds’ elections violate Section 18(i) of the 1940 Act. The funds have appealed the district court’s decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. In light of the district court’s decision, the MCSAA will not apply to the funds’ upcoming and next year’s annual shareholder meetings.

As used herein, the “Preferred Shares” consist of the variable rate muni term preferred shares (collectively, the “VMTP Shares”) of each of the Funds identified in as having VMTP Shares outstanding (collectively, the “VMTP Funds”), the remarketable variable rate muni term preferred shares (collectively, the “RVMTP Shares”) of the Fund identified in as having RVMTP Shares outstanding (the “RVMTP Fund”), and the variable rate demand preferred shares (collectively, the “VRDP Shares”) of each of the Funds identified in as having VRDP Shares outstanding (collectively, the “VRDP Funds”). The “Preferred Funds” are collectively defined as the VMTP Funds, the RVMTP Fund and the VRDP Funds.

The number of shares outstanding of each Fund as of the close of business on the Record Date and the managed assets of each Fund on the Record Date are shown in . Except as set forth in , to the knowledge of each Fund, as of April 30, 2024, no person was the beneficial owner of more than five percent of a class of a Fund’s outstanding shares.

The Fund(s) in which you owned shares on the Record Date is named on the proxy card(s) or Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials. If you owned shares of more than one Fund on the Record Date, you may receive more than one proxy card or voting instruction form. Even if you plan to attend the meeting, please sign, date and return EACH proxy card you receive or, if you provide voting instructions by telephone or via the Internet, please vote on the proposal affecting EACH Fund you own. If you vote by telephone or via the Internet, you will be asked to enter a unique code that has been assigned to you, which is printed on your proxy card(s) or Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, as applicable. This code is designed to confirm your identity, provide access to the voting website and confirm that your voting instructions are properly recorded.

All properly executed proxies received prior to the meeting will be voted at the meeting and at any and all adjournments, postponements or delays thereof. On any matter coming before the meeting as to which a shareholder has specified a choice on that shareholder’s proxy, the shares will be voted accordingly. If a proxy card is properly executed and returned and no choice is specified with respect to the proposal, the shares will be voted “” the proposal. Shareholders who execute proxies or provide voting instructions by telephone or via the Internet may revoke them with respect to the proposal at any time before a vote is taken on the proposal by filing with the applicable Fund a written notice of revocation (addressed to the Secretary of the Fund at the principal executive offices of the Fund at the New York address provided herein), by delivering a duly executed proxy bearing a later date, or by attending the virtual meeting and voting at the meeting, in all cases prior to the exercise of the authority granted in the proxy card. Merely attending the meeting, however, will not revoke any previously executed proxy. If you hold shares through a bank, broker or other intermediary, please consult your bank, broker or intermediary regarding your ability to revoke voting instructions after such instructions have been provided.

Please be certain to vote by telephone or via the Internet with respect to each fund in which you are a shareholder of record or sign, date and return each proxy card you receive from us.

 

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Each Fund will furnish, without charge, a copy of its annual report and most recent semi-annual report succeeding the annual report, if any, to a shareholder upon request. Such requests should be directed to the applicable Fund at 50 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001, or by calling toll free at Copies of annual and semi-annual reports of each Fund are also available on the EDGAR Database on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at

BlackRock, Inc. (“BlackRock”) will update performance and certain other data for the Funds on a monthly basis on its website in the Funds” section of as well as certain other material information as necessary from time to time. Investors and others are advised to check the website for updated performance information and the release of other material information about the Funds. This reference to BlackRock’s website is intended to allow investors public access to information regarding the Funds and does not, and is not intended to, incorporate BlackRock’s website in this Proxy Statement.

Please note that only one annual or semi-annual report or this Proxy Statement or Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials may be delivered to two or more shareholders of a Fund who share an address, unless the Fund has received instructions to the contrary. To request a separate copy of an annual report or semi-annual report or this Proxy Statement or Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, or for instructions on how to request a separate copy of these documents or as to how to request a single copy if multiple copies of these documents are received, shareholders should contact the applicable Fund at the New York address and phone number provided above.

 

 

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The following table shows the Funds for which the Board Nominees are standing for election.

 

 

 

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The Board of each Fund consists of ten Board Members, eight of whom are not “interested persons” of the Funds (as defined in the 1940 Act) (the “Independent Board Members”). The Funds divide their Board Members into three classes: Class I, Class II and Class III, and generally only one class of Board Members stands for election each year.

Under this classified board structure, generally only those Board Members in a single class may be replaced in any one year. The Board believes that it is in the best interest of the Funds, as exchange traded investment companies subject to extensive regulation by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), to have a classified board structure. The Board believes that a classified board structure provides a Fund and its shareholders with important benefits. The Board believes that a classified board structure promotes continuity of experiences and an orderly succession of Board Members by ensuring that at any given time there are experienced board members serving on the Board who are familiar with such Fund, its business, operations and investment and compliance policies, and its relationships with its services providers. Specifically, the Board believes that a classified board structure: (a) creates a more experienced Board that is better able to identify and accomplish long-term objectives in supervising the management of the Funds; (b) enhances the independence of the Independent Board Members from management and from special interest groups by providing them with a three-year term of office, so they are better positioned to make decisions that are in the best long-term interest of the Funds and their shareholders; (c) strengthens the Funds’ ability to attract and retain qualified individuals who are willing to make multi-year commitments to the Funds and to develop a deep understanding of the Funds; (d) allows new Board Members an opportunity to gain knowledge from experienced Board Members; (e) helps prevent complete changes in control and corresponding changes in fund philosophy or strategies in any one year; and (f) protects against abrupt changes in a Fund based on the short-term objectives of shareholders who may seek to implement an agenda that is contrary to the long-term interest of Fund shareholders.

The Board further believes that the considerations with respect to classified boards in the exchange traded investment company context are different than those for traditional operating companies, and in this regard notes that the classified board structure is expressly acknowledged by the 1940 Act, the principal regulatory regime governing the Funds and their operations. The role of a board of a exchange traded investment company is different in material respects to the role of a board of directors of a traditional operating company. For example, an investment company’s board has the primary responsibility for oversight of the fund’s service providers and management of conflicts of interest involving the fund, including oversight of the fund’s investment advisory arrangements. A traditional operating company does not have investment advisers and is not subject to the same types of conflicts of interests that an investment company’s board must oversee. Additionally, an investment company registered pursuant to the 1940 Act is subject to extensive regulation with respect to governance and operations that requires independence of its board members and makes them accountable to shareholders. The Board believes that a classified board structure is consistent with good corporate governance, which depends principally on active and independent board members who have extensive business experience and are knowledgeable about critical aspects of the Funds.

The Class II Board Members are standing for election this year. The Class II Board Nominees for HYT, DSU, CII, EGF, FRA and BMN are R. Glenn Hubbard, W. Carl Kester and John M. Perlowski. For each other Fund, the Class II Board Nominees are J. Phillip Holloman, Catherine A. Lynch and Arthur P. Steinmetz. Each Class II Board Member elected at the meeting will serve until the later of the date of the Fund’s 2027 annual meeting or until his or her successor is elected and qualifies, or until his or her earlier death, resignation, retirement or removal.

 

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With respect to the Preferred Funds, the owners of Preferred Shares are entitled to vote as a separate class to elect two of the Board Members (the “Preferred Shares Nominees”) for the Preferred Fund in which they own Preferred Shares. This means that owners of Common Shares are not entitled to vote in connection with the election of the Preferred Shares Nominees. However, the owners of Common Shares and the owners of Preferred Shares, voting together as a single class, are entitled to elect the remainder of the Board Nominees. Catherine A. Lynch and W. Carl Kester are currently the Board Members elected solely by the owners of Preferred Shares. Only Catherine A. Lynch is standing for election this year as a Preferred Shares Nominee. W. Carl Kester’s term as a Class I Board Member of the Preferred Funds is scheduled to expire in 2026; therefore, he is not standing for election this year as a Preferred Shares Nominee.

With respect to HYT, DSU, CII, EGF, FRA and BMN, the Board recommends a vote “” the election of R. Glenn Hubbard, W. Carl Kester and John M. Perlowski. With respect to all of the other Funds, the Board recommends a vote “” the election J. Phillip Holloman, Catherine A. Lynch and Arthur P. Steinmetz. The aforementioned nominees to the Board of each Fund are collectively referred to herein as the “Board Nominees.” To vote for the Board Nominees, please vote by telephone or via the Internet, as described in the proxy card, or date and sign the enclosed proxy card and return it promptly in the enclosed postage-paid envelope. Each of the Board Nominees has consented to being named in this Proxy Statement and to serve as a Board Member if elected.

Please refer to the below table which identifies the Board Nominees and any Preferred Shares Nominees for election to the Board of each Fund and sets forth certain biographical information about the Board Members, including the Board Nominees, for all of the Funds. Please note that only the Class II Board Members are standing for election this year. Each Board Nominee was reviewed by the Governance and Nominating Committee (the “Governance Committee”) of the Board of each respective Fund and nominated by the full Board. R. Glenn Hubbard was selected to serve as the Chair of each Board, and W. Carl Kester was selected to serve as the Vice Chair of each Board. All of the investment companies registered under the 1940 Act advised by BlackRock Advisors, LLC (the “Advisor”), including the Funds, are referred to collectively as the “BlackRock Funds.” The BlackRock Funds, together with certain other registered investment companies advised by the Advisor or its affiliates, are included in a complex of funds referred to as the BlackRock Fixed-Income Complex.

 

 

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The Independent Board Members have adopted a statement of policy that describes the experiences, qualifications, skills and attributes that are necessary and desirable for potential Independent Board Member candidates (the “Statement of Policy”). The Boards believe that each Independent Board Member satisfied, at the time he or she was initially elected or appointed as a Board Member, and continues to satisfy, the standards contemplated by the Statement of Policy as well as the standards set forth in each Fund’s Furthermore, in determining that a

 

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particular Board Member was and continues to be qualified to serve as a Board Member, the Boards have considered a variety of criteria, none of which, in isolation, was controlling. The Boards believe that, collectively, the Board Members/Nominees have balanced and diverse experiences, skills, attributes and qualifications, which allow the Boards to operate effectively in governing the Funds and protecting the interests of shareholders. Among the attributes common to all Board Members/Nominees is their ability to review critically, evaluate, question and discuss information provided to them, to interact effectively with the Funds’ investment adviser, other service providers, counsel and independent auditors, and to exercise effective business judgment in the performance of their duties as Board Members. Each Board Member’s/Nominee’s ability to perform his or her duties effectively is evidenced by his or her educational background or professional training; business, consulting, public service or academic positions; experience from service as a board member of the Funds or the other funds in the BlackRock fund complexes (and any predecessor funds), other investment funds, public companies, or entities or other organizations; ongoing commitment and participation in Board and committee meetings, as well as their leadership of standing and other committees throughout the years; or other relevant life experiences.

The table below discusses some of the experiences, qualifications and skills of the Board Members, including the Board Nominees, that support the conclusion that they should serve (or continue to serve) on the Boards.

 

 

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The Boards consist of ten Board Members, eight of whom are Independent Board Members. The registered investment companies advised by the Advisor or its affiliates (the “BlackRock-advised Funds”) are organized into the BlackRock Multi-Asset Complex, the BlackRock Fixed-Income Complex, and the iShares Complex (each, a “BlackRock Fund Complex”). The Funds are

 

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included in the BlackRock Fund Complex referred to as the BlackRock Fixed-Income Complex. The Board Members also oversee as board members the operations of the other and registered investment companies included in the BlackRock Fixed-Income Complex.

The Boards have overall responsibility for the oversight of the Funds. The Chair of the Boards and the Chief Executive Officer are different people. Not only is the Chair an Independent Board Member, but also the Chair of each Board committee (each, a “Committee”) is an Independent Board Member. The Boards have seven standing Committees: an Audit Committee, a Governance Committee, a Compliance Committee, a Performance Oversight Committee, a Securities Lending Committee, a Discount Committee and an Executive Committee.

The Boards currently oversee the Funds’ usage of leverage, including the Funds’ incurrence, refinancing and maintenance of leverage and, to the extent necessary or appropriate, authorize or approve the execution of documentation in respect thereto. The Executive Committee of each Fund has authority to make any such authorizations or approvals that are required between regular meetings of the Boards.

The Funds do not have a compensation committee because their executive officers, other than the Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”), do not receive any direct compensation from the Funds and the CCO’s compensation is comprehensively reviewed by the Boards. The role of the Chair of the Boards is to preside over all meetings of the Boards and to act as a liaison with service providers, officers, attorneys, and other Board Members between meetings. The Chair of each Committee performs a similar role with respect to such Committee. The Chair of the Boards or Chair of a Committee may also perform such other functions as may be delegated by the Boards or the Committees from time to time. The Independent Board Members meet regularly outside the presence of the Funds’ management, in executive sessions or with other service providers to the Funds. The Boards have regular meetings five times a year, including a meeting to consider the approval of the Funds’ investment management agreements and, if necessary, may hold special meetings before their next regular meeting. The Audit Committee, the Governance Committee, the Compliance Committee, the Performance Oversight Committee and the Securities Lending Committee each meets regularly and the Executive Committee and the Discount Committee each meets on an ad hoc basis to conduct the oversight functions delegated to that Committee by the Boards and reports its findings to the Boards. The Boards and each standing Committee conduct annual assessments of their oversight function and structure. The Boards have determined that the Boards’ leadership structure is appropriate because it allows the Boards to exercise independent judgment over management and to allocate areas of responsibility among Committees and the Boards to enhance oversight.

The Boards decided to separate the roles of Chief Executive Officer from the Chair because they believe that having an independent Chair:

 

 

 

 

The Boards have engaged the Advisor to manage the Funds on a basis. Each Board is responsible for overseeing the Advisor, other service providers, the operations of each Fund and

 

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associated risks in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act, state law, other applicable laws, each Fund’s charter, and each Fund’s investment objective(s) and strategies. The Boards review, on an ongoing basis, the Funds’ performance, operations, and investment strategies and techniques. The Boards also conduct reviews of the Advisor and its role in running the operations of the Funds.

risk management with respect to the Funds is the responsibility of the Advisor or other service providers (depending on the nature of the risk), subject to the supervision of the Advisor. The Funds are subject to a number of risks, including investment, compliance, operational and valuation risks, among others. While there are a number of risk management functions performed by the Advisor or other service providers, as applicable, it is not possible to eliminate all of the risks applicable to the Funds. Risk oversight is part of the Boards’ general oversight of the Funds and is addressed as part of various Board and Committee activities. The Boards, directly or through Committees, also review reports from, among others, management, the independent registered public accounting firm for the Funds, the Advisor, and internal auditors for the Advisor or its affiliates, as appropriate, regarding risks faced by the Funds and management’s or the service providers’ risk functions. The Committee system facilitates the timely and efficient consideration of matters by the Board Members and facilitates effective oversight of compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and of the Funds’ activities and associated risks. The Boards have approved the appointment of a Chief Compliance Officer, who oversees the implementation and testing of the Funds’ compliance program and reports regularly to the Boards regarding compliance matters for the Funds and their service providers. The Independent Board Members have engaged independent legal counsel to assist them in performing their oversight responsibilities.

Information relating to compensation paid to the Board Members for each Fund’s most recent fiscal year is set forth in .

Information relating to the amount of equity securities owned by Board Members/Nominees in the Funds that they oversee as of March 31, 2024 is set forth in .

It is the policy of all the Funds to encourage Board Members to attend the annual shareholders’ meeting. All but three of the Board Members of each Fund in office at the time attended last year’s annual shareholders’ meeting.

During the calendar year 2023, the Board of each Fund met nine times. Information relating to the number of times that the Boards met during each Fund’s most recent full fiscal year is set forth in . No incumbent Board Member attended less than 75% of the aggregate number of meetings of each Board and of each Committee on which the Board Member served during each Fund’s most recently completed full fiscal year.

Information relating to the various standing Committees of the Boards is set forth in .

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) and the rules thereunder require the Funds’ Board Members, executive officers, persons who own, either directly or indirectly, more than ten percent of a registered class of a Fund’s equity securities, the Advisor and certain officers of the Advisor (the “Section 16 insiders”), including in some cases former Section 16 insiders for a period of up to 6 months, to file reports on holdings of, and transactions in, Fund shares with the SEC. Based solely on a review of copies of

 

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such reports furnished to the relevant Funds during the relevant Funds’ most recent fiscal year and representations from these Section 16 insiders, or former Section 16 insiders, as applicable, with respect to the relevant Funds’ most recent fiscal year, each Fund believes that its Section 16 insiders met all such applicable SEC filing requirements for the Fund’s most recently concluded fiscal year, except for any late filings disclosed in previous proxy statements and certain inadvertent late filings. For BMN, there was one inadvertent late Form 4 filed in July 2023 for Peter Hayes, an officer of the Advisor. For BLE, there was one inadvertent late Form 4 filed in April 2024 for Walter O’Connor, a portfolio manager for the Fund.

Information about the executive officers of each Fund, including their year of birth and their principal occupations during the past five years, is set forth in .

A quorum of shareholders is required to take action at the meeting. For BlackRock Investment Quality Municipal Trust, Inc. (BKN), BlackRock Income Trust, Inc. (BKT), BlackRock Enhanced Capital and Income Fund, Inc. (CII), BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. (DSU), BlackRock Enhanced Government Fund, Inc. (EGF), BlackRock Floating Rate Income Strategies Fund, Inc. (FRA), BlackRock Corporate High Yield Fund, Inc. (HYT), BlackRock MuniAssets Fund, Inc. (MUA), BlackRock MuniHoldings California Quality Fund, Inc. (MUC), BlackRock MuniHoldings Fund, Inc. (MHD), BlackRock MuniHoldings New Jersey Quality Fund, Inc. (MUJ), BlackRock MuniHoldings Quality Fund II, Inc. (MUE), BlackRock MuniVest Fund II, Inc. (MVT), BlackRock MuniVest Fund, Inc. (MVF), BlackRock MuniYield Fund, Inc. (MYD), BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund, Inc. (MIY), BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund II, Inc. (MQT), BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund III, Inc. (MYI) and BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund, Inc. (MQY), the holders of of the shares entitled to vote on any matter at a shareholder meeting, either present in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for purposes of conducting business on such matter. For the remainder of the Funds, the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote on any matter at a shareholder meeting present in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum for purposes of conducting business on such matter. The affirmative vote of a plurality of the votes cast with respect to a Board Nominee at a meeting at which a quorum is present is necessary to elect each of the respective Board Nominees under Proposal 1 for each respective Fund. Because each Fund requires the affirmative vote of a plurality of votes to elect each of the Board Nominees, withheld votes and broker if any, will not have an effect on the outcome of Proposal 1. A “plurality” vote means that the Board Nominees who receive the largest number of votes cast (even if they receive less than a majority) will be elected as Board Members. Since the Board Nominees are running unopposed, each Board Nominee only needs one vote to be elected if there is a quorum present at the meeting.

Votes cast by proxy or in person at each meeting will be tabulated by the inspectors of election appointed for that meeting. The inspectors of election will determine whether or not a quorum is present at the meeting. The inspectors of election will treat withheld votes and “broker if any, as present for purposes of determining a quorum. Broker occur when shares are held by brokers or nominees, typically in “street name,” for which proxies have been returned but (a) voting instructions have not been received from the beneficial owners or persons entitled to vote, (b) the broker or nominee does not have discretionary voting power or elects not to exercise discretion on a particular matter and (c) the shares are present at the meeting.

 

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If you hold your shares directly (not through a broker-dealer, bank or other financial institution) and if you return a signed and dated proxy card that does not specify how you wish to vote on a proposal, your shares will be voted “” the Board Nominees in Proposal 1.

Broker-dealer firms holding shares of a Fund in “street name” for the benefit of their customers and clients will request the instructions of such customers and clients on how to vote their shares on Proposal 1 before the meeting. The Funds understand that, under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange, such broker-dealer firms may for certain “routine” matters, without instructions from their customers and clients, grant discretionary authority to the proxies designated by the Board to vote if no instructions have been received prior to the date specified in the broker-dealer firm’s request for voting instructions. Proposal 1 is a “routine” matter and beneficial owners who do not provide proxy instructions or who do not return a proxy card may have their shares voted by broker-dealer firms in favor of Proposal 1. A properly executed proxy card or other authorization by a beneficial owner of Fund shares that does not specify how the beneficial owner’s shares should be voted on Proposal 1 may be deemed an instruction to vote such shares in favor of Proposal 1.

If you hold shares of a Fund through a bank, broker, other financial institution or intermediary (called a service agent), the service agent may be the record holder of your shares. At the meeting, a service agent will vote shares for which it receives instructions from its customers in accordance with those instructions. A properly executed proxy card or other authorization by a shareholder that does not specify how the shareholder’s shares should be voted on a proposal may be deemed to authorize a service provider to vote such shares in favor of the proposal. Depending on its policies, applicable law or contractual or other restrictions, a service agent may be permitted to vote shares with respect to which it has not received specific voting instructions from its customers. In those cases, the service agent may, but is not required to, vote such shares in the same proportion as those shares for which the service agent has received voting instructions. This practice is commonly referred to as “echo voting.”

If you beneficially own shares that are held in “street name” through a broker-dealer or that are held of record by a service agent, and if you do not give specific voting instructions for your shares, they may not be voted at all or, as described above, they may be voted in a manner that you may not intend. Therefore, you are strongly encouraged to give your broker-dealer or service agent specific instructions as to how you want your shares to be voted.

The Board Members, including a majority of the Independent Board Members, of each Fund have selected Deloitte & Touche LLP (“D&T”) as the independent registered public accounting firm for the Funds.

A representative of D&T is expected to be present at the meeting. The representative of D&T will have the opportunity to make a statement at the meeting if he or she desires to do so and is expected to be available to respond to appropriate questions.

Each Fund’s Audit Committee has discussed with D&T the matters required to be discussed by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) and the SEC.

Each Fund’s Audit Committee has received from D&T the written disclosures and the letter required by PCAOB Ethics and Independence Rule 3526, Communication with Audit Committees

 

20

Concerning Independence, has discussed D&T’s independence with D&T, and has considered the compatibility of services with the independence of the independent registered public accounting firm.

Each Fund’s Audit Committee also reviews and discusses the Fund’s financial statements with Fund management and the independent registered public accounting firm. If any material concerns arise during the course of the audit and the preparation of the audited financial statements mailed to shareholders and included in the Fund’s annual report to shareholders, the Audit Committee would be notified by Fund management or the independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committees received no such notifications for any Fund during its most recently completed fiscal year. Following each Fund’s Audit Committee’s review and discussion with the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, pursuant to authority delegated by its respective Board, each Fund’s Audit Committee approved the respective Fund’s audited financial statements for the Fund’s most recently completed fiscal year (each Fund’s fiscal year end is set forth in ) for inclusion in the Fund’s annual report to shareholders.

(a) Audit Fees—fees related to the audit and review of the financial statements included in annual reports and registration statements, and other services that are normally provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements, including expenses.

(b) Audit-Related Fees—fees related to assurance and related services that are reasonably associated with the performance of the audit or review of financial statements, but not reported under “Audit Fees,” including accounting consultations, agreed-upon procedure reports, attestation reports, comfort letters and internal control reviews not required by regulators.

(c) Tax Fees—fees associated with tax compliance and/or tax preparation, as applicable. Tax compliance and preparation include services such as the filing or amendment of federal, state or local income tax returns, and services relating to regulated investment company qualification reviews, taxable income and tax distribution calculations. All of the fees included under “Tax Fees” in relate solely to services provided for tax compliance and/or tax preparation, and none of such fees relate to tax advice, tax planning or tax consulting.

(d) All Other Fees—fees for products and services provided to the Fund other than those reported under “Audit Fees,” “Audit-Related Fees” and “Tax Fees.”

(e) Aggregate Fees for Services Provided to Each Fund and its Affiliated Service Providers by the Audit Committee—the sum of the fees shown under “Audit-Related Fees,” “Tax Fees,” and “All Other Fees,” and fees paid by each Fund’s Affiliated Service Providers to the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm.

Each Fund’s Audit Committee is required to approve all audit engagement fees and terms for the Fund. Each Fund’s Audit Committee also is required to consider and approve (i) the provision by the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm of any services to the Fund, and (ii) the provision by the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm of services to BlackRock and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with BlackRock that provides ongoing services to the Fund (“Affiliated Service Providers”) to the extent

 

21

that such approval (in the case of this clause (ii)) is required under applicable regulations of the SEC. See to this Proxy Statement for information about the fees paid by the Funds, their investment advisers, and Affiliated Service Providers to each Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm.

The Audit Committee of each Fund complies with applicable laws and regulations with regard to the of services. Audit, audit-related and tax compliance services provided to a Fund on an annual basis require specific by the Fund’s Audit Committee. As noted above, each Fund’s Audit Committee must also approve other services provided by the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm to the Fund and to the Fund’s Affiliated Service Providers that relate directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Fund. Each Fund’s Audit Committee has implemented policies and procedures by which such services may be approved other than by the full Audit Committee. Subject to such policies and procedures, including applicable dollar limitations, each Fund’s Audit Committee may without consideration on a specific basis (“general certain permissible services that the Audit Committee believes are (a) consistent with the SEC’s auditor independence rules and (b) routine and recurring services that will not impair the independence of the independent registered public accounting firm. Each service approved subject to general is presented to each Fund’s Audit Committee for ratification at the next regularly scheduled Board meeting.

For each Fund’s two most recently completed fiscal years, there were no services rendered by D&T to the Funds for which the general requirement was waived.

Fees for services provided to each Fund’s Affiliated Service Providers for which by such Fund’s Audit Committee was required for the calendar years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022 were $2,154,000 and $2,098,000, respectively. These fees were paid in their entirety by BlackRock in connection with services provided to the Affiliated Service Providers of each Fund and of other BlackRock and funds primarily for a service organization controls review and secondarily, a subscription to the Deloitte Accounting Research Tool. These amounts represent the aggregate fees paid by BlackRock and were not specifically allocated on a per fund basis.

Each Fund’s Audit Committee has considered the provision of services that were rendered by D&T to the Fund’s Affiliated Service Providers that were not (and did not require in connection with determining such auditor’s independence. All services provided by D&T to each Fund and each Fund’s Affiliated Service Providers that required were during the Fund’s most recently completed fiscal year.

The Audit Committee of each Fund consists of the following Board Members:

Catherine A. Lynch (Chair);

Arthur P. Steinmetz;

Lorenzo A. Flores; and

J. Phillip Holloman.

 

22

As of April 30, 2024, to the best of the Funds’ knowledge, the persons listed in beneficially owned more than 5% of the outstanding shares of the class of the Fund(s) indicated.

The Advisor provides investment advisory and administrative services to the Funds. The Advisor is responsible for the management of the Funds’ portfolios and provides the necessary personnel, facilities, equipment and certain other services necessary to the operation of the Funds. The Advisor, located at 50 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001, is a wholly owned subsidiary of BlackRock.

BlackRock International Limited (“BIL”), an affiliate of the Advisor, acts as the for BlackRock Core Bond Trust (BHK), BlackRock Corporate High Yield Fund, Inc. (HYT), BlackRock Credit Allocation Income Trust (BTZ), BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. (DSU), BlackRock Energy and Resources Trust (BGR), BlackRock Enhanced Global Dividend Trust (BOE), BlackRock Enhanced International Dividend Trust (BGY), BlackRock Floating Rate Income Strategies Fund, Inc. (FRA), BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust (BGT), BlackRock Income Trust, Inc. (BKT), BlackRock Limited Duration Income Trust (BLW), BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT), BlackRock Utilities, Infrastructure & Power Opportunities Trust (BUI) and BlackRock Resources & Commodities Strategy Trust (BCX). BIL is a wholly owned subsidiary of BlackRock.

BlackRock (Singapore) Limited (“BSL”), an affiliate of the Advisor, acts as the for BlackRock Credit Allocation Income Trust (BTZ), BlackRock Core Bond Trust (BHK), BlackRock Limited Duration Income Trust (BLW) and BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT). BSL is a wholly owned subsidiary of BlackRock.

BlackRock Investments, LLC serves as the placement agent for the common shares of BlackRock Core Bond Trust (BHK), BlackRock Corporate High Yield Fund, Inc. (HYT), BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. (DSU), BlackRock Enhanced Equity Dividend Trust (BDJ), BlackRock Floating Rate Income Trust (BGT), BlackRock Health Sciences Trust (BME), BlackRock Income Trust, Inc. (BKT), BlackRock Investment Quality Municipal Trust, Inc. (BKN), BlackRock Limited Duration Income Trust (BLW), BlackRock Multi-Sector Income Trust (BIT), BlackRock MuniAssets Fund, Inc. (MUA), BlackRock Municipal Income Trust (BFK), BlackRock Municipal Income Trust II (BLE), BlackRock Science and Technology Trust (BST) and BlackRock Utilities, Infrastructure & Power Opportunities Trust (BUI) through various specified transactions, including offerings pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, subject to various conditions. BlackRock Investments, LLC is located at 50 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001.

A shareholder proposal intended to be presented at a future meeting of shareholders of a Fund must be received at the offices of the Fund, 50 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001, in accordance with the timing requirements set forth below. Timely submission of a proposal does not guarantee that such proposal will be included in a proxy statement.

 

23

If a Fund shareholder intends to present a proposal at the 2025 annual meeting of the Fund’s shareholders and desires to have the proposal included in such Fund’s proxy statement and form of proxy for that meeting pursuant to Rule under the Exchange Act, the shareholder must deliver the proposal to the offices of the Fund by Wednesday, February 5, 2025. In the event a Fund moves the date of its 2025 annual shareholder meeting by more than 30 days from the anniversary of its 2024 annual shareholder meeting, shareholder submissions of proposals for inclusion in such Fund’s proxy statement and proxy card for the 2025 annual shareholder meeting pursuant to Rule under the Exchange Act must be delivered to the Fund at a reasonable time before the Fund begins to print and send its proxy materials in connection with the 2025 annual shareholder meeting.

Shareholders who do not wish to submit a proposal for inclusion in a Fund’s proxy statement and form of proxy for the 2025 annual shareholder meeting in accordance with Rule under the Exchange Act may submit a proposal for consideration at the 2025 annual shareholder meeting in accordance with the of the Fund. The for each Fund require that advance notice be given to the Fund in the event a shareholder desires to transact any business, including business from the floor, at an annual meeting of shareholders, including the nomination of Board Members. Notice of any such business or nomination for consideration at the 2025 annual shareholder meeting must be in writing, comply with the requirements of the Fund’s and, assuming that the 2025 annual shareholder meeting is held within 25 days of July 26, 2025, must be received by the Fund between Wednesday, February 26, 2025 and Friday, March 28, 2025

In order for a shareholder proposal made outside of Rule under the Exchange Act to be considered “timely” within the meaning of Rule under the Exchange Act, such proposal must be received at the Fund’s principal executive offices by Friday, March 28, 2025. In the event a Fund moves the date of its 2025 annual shareholder meeting by more than 25 days from the anniversary of its 2024 annual shareholder meeting, shareholders who wish to submit a proposal or nomination for consideration at the 2025 annual shareholder meeting in accordance with the advance notice provisions of the of a Fund must deliver such proposal or nomination not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which the notice of the date of the meeting was mailed or such public disclosure of the meeting date was made, whichever comes first. If such proposals are not “timely” within the meaning of Rule then proxies solicited by the Board for the 2025 annual shareholder meeting may confer discretionary authority to the Board to vote on such proposals.

Copies of the of each Fund are available on the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s website at . Each Fund will also furnish, without charge, a copy of its to a shareholder upon request. Such requests should be directed to the appropriate Fund at 100 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19809, or by calling toll free at For further information, please see —Committees of the Boards—Governance Committee.

For all Funds, written proposals (including nominations of Board Members) and notices should be sent to the Secretary of the Fund, 50 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001.

Shareholders who want to communicate with the Boards or any individual Board Member should write to the attention of the Secretary of their Fund, 50 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001. Shareholders may communicate with the Boards electronically by sending an to . The communication should indicate that you are a Fund shareholder. If the communication is intended for a specific Board Member and so indicates, it will be sent only to that Board Member. If a communication does not indicate a specific Board Member, it will be sent to the Chair of the Governance Committee and the outside counsel to the Independent Board Members for further distribution as deemed appropriate by such persons.

 

24

Additionally, shareholders with complaints or concerns regarding accounting matters may address letters to the CCO, 50 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001. Shareholders who are uncomfortable submitting complaints to the CCO may address letters directly to the Chair of the Audit Committee of the Board that oversees the Fund. Such letters may be submitted on an anonymous basis.

The cost of preparing, printing and mailing the enclosed proxy, accompanying notice and this Proxy Statement, and costs in connection with the solicitation of proxies and hosting the virtual meeting will be borne by the Funds. Additional costs, such as legal expenses and auditor fees, incurred in connection with the preparation of this Proxy Statement, also will be borne by the Funds. Costs that are borne by the Funds collectively will be allocated among the Funds on the basis of a combination of their respective net assets and number of shareholder accounts, except when direct costs can reasonably be attributed to one or more specific Fund(s).

Solicitation may be made by mail, telephone, fax, or the Internet by officers or employees of the Advisor, or by dealers and their representatives. Brokerage houses, banks and other fiduciaries may be requested to forward proxy solicitation material to their principals to obtain authorization for the execution of proxies. The Funds will reimburse brokerage firms, custodians, banks and fiduciaries for their expenses in forwarding this Proxy Statement and proxy materials to the beneficial owners of each Fund’s shares. The Funds and BlackRock have retained Georgeson, 1290 Avenue of the Americas, 9 Floor, New York, NY 10104, a proxy solicitation firm, to assist in the distribution of proxy materials, the solicitation and tabulation of proxies and the hosting of the virtual meeting. It is anticipated that Georgeson will be paid approximately $159,352 for such services (including reimbursements of expenses). Georgeson may solicit proxies personally and by mail, telephone, fax, or the Internet. Each Fund’s portion of the foregoing expenses is not subject to any cap or voluntary agreement to waive fees and/or reimburse expenses that may otherwise apply to that Fund.

On May 3, 2024, each of BlackRock Energy and Resources Trust (BGR), BlackRock Enhanced Capital and Income Fund, Inc. (CII), BlackRock Enhanced Equity Dividend Trust (BDJ), BlackRock Enhanced Global Dividend Trust (BOE), BlackRock Enhanced International Dividend Trust (BGY), BlackRock Health Sciences Trust (BME), BlackRock MuniVest Fund, Inc. (MVF), BlackRock Resources & Commodities Strategy Trust (BCX), BlackRock Science and Technology Trust (BST) and BlackRock Utilities, Infrastructure & Power Opportunities Trust (BUI) (each, a “DMP Fund”) and the Advisor separately entered into a standstill agreement (each, a “DMP Fund Agreement”) with Karpus Management, Inc. (“Karpus”), pursuant to which each DMP Fund agreed to adopt a discount management program (the “Program”). Under the terms of the Program, each DMP Fund intends to commence tender offers to repurchase 2.5% of its outstanding Common Shares, at a price per share equal to 98% of such Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”) per share, if such DMP Fund’s Common Shares trade at an average daily discount to NAV greater than 7.50% during a measurement period (each, a “Conditional Tender Offer”). Each measurement period will have a three calendar month term, commencing April 1, 2024 and continuing for a period of 18 months for BlackRock MuniVest Fund, Inc. (MVF) and 12 months for each DMP Fund other than MVF. During the effective period of each DMP Fund Agreement, Karpus, each DMP Fund and the Advisor agreed to be bound by the terms of the applicable DMP Fund Agreement, which include an agreement by Karpus to (1) abide by certain standstill covenants, and (2) vote its Common Shares in accordance

 

25

with the recommendation of the applicable DMP Fund’s Board on all proposals submitted to shareholders, including proposals submitted at the applicable DMP Fund’s 2024 annual meeting of shareholders. The DMP Fund Agreement of each DMP Fund will remain in effect until the earlier of (A) May 3, 2027, (B) 10 days prior to the record date for the applicable DMP Fund’s 2027 annual meeting of shareholders, (C) if the applicable DMP Fund has not commenced a Conditional Tender Offer within 15 business days of the applicable calendar quarter end if required to be commenced pursuant to the terms of the applicable DMP Fund Agreement, the date that is 16 business days after the applicable calendar quarter end, and (D) such date that the applicable DMP Fund determines not to conduct a Conditional Tender Offer if required to be conducted pursuant to the terms of the DMP Fund Agreement, unless the DMP Fund Agreement is terminated earlier by the parties.

On May 3, 2024, each Fund other than the DMP Funds and the Advisor separately entered into a standstill agreement with Karpus. During the effective period of each such standstill agreement, Karpus, each such Fund and the Advisor agreed to be bound by the terms of such agreement, which include an agreement by Karpus to (1) abide by certain standstill covenants, and (2) vote its Common Shares in accordance with the recommendation of such Fund’s Board on all proposals submitted to shareholders, including proposals submitted at such Fund’s 2024 annual meeting of shareholders. Each such standstill agreement will remain in effect until the earlier of (A) May 3, 2027 and (B) 10 days prior to the record date for the applicable Fund’s 2027 annual meeting of shareholders, unless the agreement is terminated earlier by the parties.

Attendance at the annual meeting will be limited to each Fund’s shareholders as of the Record Date. If your shares in a Fund are registered in your name, you may attend and participate in the meeting at meetnow.global/MAXD4Y6 by entering the control number found in the shaded box on your proxy card on the date and time of the meeting. You may vote during the meeting by following the instructions that will be available on the meeting website during the meeting. If you are a beneficial shareholder of a Fund, you will not be able to vote at the virtual meeting unless you have registered in advance to attend the meeting. To register, you must submit proof of your proxy power (legal proxy) reflecting your Fund holdings along with your name and email address to Georgeson, the Funds’ tabulator. You may email an image of your legal proxy to shareholdermeetings@computershare.com. Requests for registration must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. (Eastern time) three business days prior to the meeting date. You will receive a confirmation email from Georgeson (through Computershare) of your registration and a control number and security code that will allow you to vote at the meeting.

The Funds are committed to maintaining the privacy of their current and former shareholders and to safeguarding their personal information. The following information is provided to help you understand what personal information the Funds collect, how the Funds protect that information and why, in certain cases, the Funds may share such information with select parties.

If you are located in a jurisdiction where specific laws, rules or regulations require a Fund to provide you with additional or different privacy-related rights beyond what is set forth above, then the Fund will comply with those specific laws, rules or regulations.

The Funds obtain or verify personal information from and about you from different sources, including the following: (i) information the Funds receive from you or, if applicable, your

 

26

financial intermediary, on applications, forms or other documents; (ii) information about your transactions with the Funds, their affiliates or others; (iii) information the Funds receive from a consumer reporting agency; and (iv) information the Funds receive from visits to the Funds’ or their affiliates’ websites.

The Funds do not sell or disclose to third parties any personal information about their current and former shareholders, except as permitted by law or as is necessary to respond to regulatory requests or to service shareholder accounts. These third parties are required to protect the confidentiality and security of this information and to use it only for its intended purpose.

The Funds may share information with their affiliates to service your account or to provide you with information about other BlackRock products or services that may be of interest to you. In addition, the Funds restrict access to personal information about their current and former shareholders to those BlackRock employees with a legitimate business need for the information. The Funds maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards that are designed to protect the personal information of their current and former shareholders, including procedures relating to the proper storage and disposal of such information.

Management does not intend to present and does not have reason to believe that any other items of business will be presented at the 2024 annual shareholder meeting. However, if other matters are properly presented to the meeting for a vote, the proxies will be voted by the persons named in the enclosed proxy upon such matters in accordance with their judgment of what is in the best interests of the Funds.

A list of each Fund’s shareholders as of the Record Date will be available electronically for inspection by any record shareholder of such Fund at the shareholder meeting. For each Delaware Trust, such list will be available for inspection beginning ten days prior to the date of the meeting. Fund shareholders interested in inspecting the list of shareholders for their respective Fund should contact Georgeson LLC at blackrockcef@georgeson.com for additional information.

Failure of a quorum to be present at any meeting may necessitate adjournment. The Board of each Fund, prior to any shareholder meeting being convened, may postpone such meeting from time to time to a date not more than and twenty (120) days after the original record date. The chair of any shareholder meeting may also adjourn such meeting from time to time to reconvene at the same or some other place, and notice of any such adjourned meeting need not be given if the time and place by which shareholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. The chair of any shareholder meeting may adjourn such meeting under various circumstances, including to permit further solicitation of proxies with respect to a proposal if the chair determines that adjournment is reasonable and in the best interests of shareholders. At the adjourned shareholder meeting, the Fund may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. Any adjourned shareholder meeting may be held as adjourned one or more times without further notice not later than one hundred and twenty (120) days after the original record date.

 

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By Order of the Boards,

Janey Ahn

Secretary of the Funds

June 5, 2024

 

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The following table lists, with respect to each Fund, the total number of shares outstanding and the managed assets of the Fund on May 28, 2024, the record date for voting at the annual meeting.

 

 

A-1

 

 

 

A-2

Each Independent Board Member is paid an annual retainer of $370,000 per year for his or her services as a Board Member of the BlackRock-advised funds, including the Funds, together with expenses in accordance with a Board policy on travel and other business expenses relating to attendance at meetings. In addition, the Chair of the Boards and the Vice Chair of the Boards are paid an additional annual retainer of $140,000 and $84,000, respectively. The Chairs of the Audit Committee, Performance Oversight Committee, Compliance Committee, Governance Committee, Discount Committee and Securities Lending Committee are each paid an additional annual retainer of $55,000, $42,500, $50,000, $42,500, $25,000 and $20,000, respectively. Each of the other members of the Audit Committee, Compliance Committee, Governance Committee, Discount Committee and Securities Lending Committee is paid an additional annual retainer of $30,000, $25,000, $25,000, $20,000 and $15,000, respectively, for his or her service on such committee. An Independent Board Member may receive additional compensation for his or her service as a member or Chair, as applicable, of one or more ad hoc committees of the Board. The Funds will pay a portion quarterly (based on relative net assets) of the foregoing Board Member fees paid by the funds in the BlackRock Fixed-Income Complex.

The Independent Board Members have agreed that a maximum of 50% of each Independent Board Member’s total compensation paid by funds in the BlackRock Fixed-Income Complex may be deferred pursuant to the BlackRock Fixed-Income Complex’s deferred compensation plan. Under the deferred compensation plan, deferred amounts earn a return for the Independent Board Members as though equivalent dollar amounts had been invested in shares of certain funds in the BlackRock Fixed-Income Complex selected by the Independent Board Members. This has approximately the same economic effect for the Independent Board Members as if they had invested the deferred amounts in such funds in the BlackRock Fixed-Income Complex. The deferred compensation plan is not funded and obligations thereunder represent general unsecured claims against the general assets of a fund and are recorded as a liability for accounting purposes.

Prior to January 1, 2024, the Chair of the Boards and the Vice Chair of the Boards were paid an additional annual retainer of $100,000 and $60,000, respectively. The Chairs of the Audit Committee, Performance Oversight Committee, Compliance Committee, and Governance Committee were paid an additional annual retainer of $45,000, $37,500, $45,000 and $37,500, respectively.

The following table sets forth the aggregate compensation, including deferred compensation amounts, paid to each Independent Board Member by each Fund during its most recently completed fiscal year and by all BlackRock-advised funds for the most recently completed calendar year. For the number of BlackRock-advised Funds from which each Independent Board Member receives compensation, see the Biographical Information Chart in the discussion of Proposal 1. Messrs. Perlowski and Fairbairn serve without compensation from the Funds because of their affiliation with BlackRock, Inc. and the Advisor.

 

B-1

 

B-2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

B-3

The following table shows the amount of equity securities owned by the Board Members and Board Nominees in the Funds that they are nominated to oversee as of March 31, 2024, except as otherwise indicated. No Board Member or Board Nominee owns Preferred Shares.