DEF
14A
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14 (a)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the [_]
Registrant
Check the appropriate box:
[_] Preliminary Proxy
Statement
[_] Confidential, for Use
of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[X] Definitive Proxy
Statement
[_] Definitive Additional
Materials
[_] Soliciting Materials
under Rule 14a-12
BNY Mellon Municipal Income, Inc.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the
Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required.
[ ] Fee computed on table
below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
(1) Title of each class of
securities to which transaction applies:
(2) Aggregate number of
securities to which transaction applies:
(3) Per unit price or
other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange
Act Rule 0-11:
(4) Proposed maximum
aggregate value of transaction:
(5) Total Fee Paid:
[_]
Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
|
[_] |
Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by
Exchange Act Rule 0- 11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the
offsetting fee was paid previously. |
Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or
the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
(1) Amount Previously
Paid:
(2) Form, Schedule or
Registration Statement No.:
(3) Filing Party:
(4) Date Filed:
BNY MELLON MUNICIPAL INCOME, INC.
Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders
To the Stockholders of BNY Mellon Municipal Income, Inc.:
The Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Meeting") of BNY Mellon
Municipal Income, Inc. (the "Fund") will be held in a virtual
meeting format only on Thursday, June 16, 2022 at
10:30 a.m., Eastern time, for the following purposes:
1. To
elect three Class II Directors to serve for three-year terms and
until their respective successors are duly elected and
qualified.
2. To
transact such other business as may properly come before the
Meeting, or any adjournments or postponements thereof.
Due to the public health and safety concerns of COVID-19, and to
support the health and well-being of our stockholders and officers,
and other attendees, the Meeting will be held in a virtual meeting
format only. You will not be able to attend the Meeting in
person.
Stockholders of record at the close of business on April
13, 2022 will be entitled to receive notice of and to vote at
the Meeting. To participate in the Meeting, you must go to the
Meeting website at www.meetnow.global/MPRYJX4, and enter the
control number found on your proxy card.
If you hold your shares through an intermediary, such as a bank or
broker, you must register 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 Computershare Fund Services, the Fund's tabulator. You
may forward an email from your intermediary or attach an image of
your legal proxy to shareholdermeetings@computershare.com. Requests
for registration should be received no later than 5:00 p.m.,
Eastern Time, on Friday, June 10, 2022. You will
receive a confirmation email from Computershare of your
registration and a control number that will allow you to vote at
the Meeting. For requests received after 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time,
on Friday, June 10, 2022, Computershare will attempt
to register you, but may be unable to do so prior to the
Meeting.
Questions from stockholders to be considered at the Meeting must be
submitted to BNY Mellon Investment Management at 1-800-334-6899 or
instsales@bnymellon.com no later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on
Friday, June 10, 2022. Only questions that are
pertinent, as determined by the chairperson of the Meeting, will be
answered during the Meeting, subject to time constraints.
Whether or not you plan to attend the Meeting, we urge you to vote
and submit your proxy in advance of the Meeting by one of the
methods described in the proxy materials for the Meeting.
By
Order of the Board

James Bitetto
Secretary
New York, New York
May 2, 2022
WE NEED YOUR PROXY VOTE
A STOCKHOLDER MAY THINK ITS VOTE IS NOT IMPORTANT, BUT IT IS
VITAL.
BY LAW, THE ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF THE FUND WILL HAVE TO
BE ADJOURNED WITHOUT CONDUCTING ANY BUSINESS IF LESS THAN A QUORUM
IS REPRESENTED. IN THAT EVENT, THE FUND, AT STOCKHOLDERS' EXPENSE,
WOULD CONTINUE TO SOLICIT VOTES IN AN ATTEMPT TO ACHIEVE A QUORUM.
CLEARLY, YOUR VOTE COULD BE CRITICAL TO ENABLE THE FUND TO HOLD THE
MEETING AS SCHEDULED, SO PLEASE RETURN YOUR PROXY CARD OR OTHERWISE
VOTE PROMPTLY. YOU AND ALL OTHER STOCKHOLDERS WILL BENEFIT FROM
YOUR COOPERATION.
BNY MELLON MUNICIPAL INCOME, INC.
Annual Meeting of Stockholders
to be held on June 16, 2022
This proxy statement is furnished in connection with a solicitation
of proxies by the Board of Directors (the "Board") of BNY Mellon
Municipal Income, Inc. (the "Fund") to be used at the Annual
Meeting of Stockholders of the Fund (the "Meeting") to be held in a
virtual meeting format only on Thursday, June 16, 2022 at
10:30 a.m., Eastern time, and at any and all adjournments or
postponements thereof, for the purposes set forth in the
accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Stockholders
of record at the close of business on April 13, 2022 are
entitled to be present and to vote at the Meeting. Stockholders
will not be able to attend the Meeting in person.
Stockholders are entitled to one vote for each Fund share held and
fractional votes for each fractional Fund share held. Shares
represented by executed and unrevoked proxies will be voted in
accordance with the specifications made thereon. If the enclosed
form of proxy is executed and returned, or if you have voted by
telephone or through the Internet, your vote nevertheless may be
revoked after it is received by giving another proxy by mail, by
calling the toll-free telephone number on the proxy card or through
the Internet (including during the Meeting). To be effective, such
revocation must be received before your prior proxy is exercised at
the Meeting.
A quorum is constituted by the presence in person or by proxy of
the holders of one-third of the outstanding shares of the Fund
entitled to vote at the Meeting. Virtual attendance at the Meeting
shall constitute in person attendance for purposes of calculating a
quorum. If a quorum is not present at the Meeting, the stockholders
present in person or by proxy, by majority vote and without notice
other than by announcement at the Meeting, may adjourn the Meeting.
If a proposal is to be voted upon by only one class of the Fund's
shares, a quorum of that class of shares (the holders of one-third
of the outstanding shares of the class) must be present in person
or by proxy at the Meeting in order for the proposal to be
considered. The Fund has two classes of capital stock: Common
Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "Common Stock"), and Auction
Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, liquidation preference
$25,000 per share (the "APS"). The APS is further divided into
Series A and Series B.
As of April 13, 2022, the Fund had outstanding the following
number of shares:
|
|
Common Stock
Outstanding
|
APS
Outstanding
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20,757,267
|
1,209
|
It is estimated that proxy materials will be mailed to stockholders
of record on or about May 2, 2022. To reduce expenses, only
one copy of this proxy statement will be mailed to certain
addresses shared by two or more accounts. If you wish to revoke
this arrangement and receive individual copies, you may do so at
any time by writing to the address or calling the phone number set
forth below. The Fund will begin sending you individual copies
promptly after receiving your request. The principal executive
office of the Fund is located at 240 Greenwich Street,
18th Floor,
New York, New York 10286.
Copies of the Fund's most recent Annual Report to Stockholders are
available upon request, without charge, by writing to the Fund at
144 Glenn Curtiss Boulevard, Uniondale, New York
11556-0144, or by calling toll free 1-800-334-6899.
Important Notice Regarding Internet Availability of Proxy Materials
for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to Be Held on Thursday, June
16, 2022: This proxy statement and a copy of the Fund's most
recent Annual Report to Stockholders are available at
https://im.bnymellon.com/us/en/intermediary/products/closed-end-funds.jsp.
2
PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Board is divided into three classes with the term of office of
one class expiring each year. It is proposed that stockholders of
the Fund consider the election of three Class II Directors to serve
for three-year terms and until their respective successors are duly
elected and qualified. The individual nominees (the "Nominees")
proposed for election are Messrs. J. Charles Cardona and Nathan
Leventhal and Ms. Robin A. Melvin.
Each Nominee currently serves as a Director of the Fund and is a
board member of certain other funds in the BNY Mellon Family of
Funds. Each Nominee has previously been elected by the Fund's
stockholders. Each Nominee was nominated by the Fund's nominating
committee, has consented to being named in this proxy statement and
has agreed to continue to serve as a Director if elected.
Biographical information about each Nominee is set forth below.
Biographical information about the Fund's Directors who are not
standing for election at the Meeting but who will continue to be
Directors of the Fund after the Meeting (each, a "Continuing
Director"), information on each Nominee's and Continuing Director's
ownership of Fund shares and other relevant information is set
forth in Exhibit A to this proxy statement. None of the Nominees or
Continuing Directors are deemed to be "interested persons" (as
defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the
"1940 Act")) of the Fund ("Independent Directors").
Under the 1940 Act and the terms of the Fund's charter, holders of
APS voting as a single class are entitled, to the exclusion of
holders of Common Stock, to elect two Directors. Holders of Common
Stock and APS will vote together as a single class with respect to
the election of Ms. Melvin and Mr. Cardona; and APS holders will
vote separately, to the exclusion of holders of the Common Stock,
with respect to the election of Mr. Leventhal, one of the Fund's
two APS designees.
The persons named as proxies on the accompanying proxy card(s)
intend to vote each proxy for the election of the Nominees, unless
stockholders specifically indicate on their proxies the desire to
withhold authority to vote for elections to office. It is not
contemplated that any Nominee will be unable to serve as a Director
for any reason, but, if that should occur prior to the Meeting, the
proxyholders reserve the right to substitute another person or
persons of their choice as nominee or nominees.
Board's Oversight Role in Management.
The Board's role in management of the Fund is oversight. As is the
case with virtually all investment companies (as distinguished from
operating companies), service providers to the Fund, primarily BNY
Mellon Investment Adviser, Inc., the Fund's investment adviser
("Investment Adviser"), Insight North America LLC, the Fund's
sub-adviser and an affiliate of the Investment Adviser (the
"Sub-adviser"), and their affiliates have responsibility for the
day-to-day management of the Fund, which includes responsibility
for risk management (including management of investment risk,
valuation risk, issuer and counterparty credit risk, compliance
risk and operational risk). As part of its
3
oversight, the Board, acting at its scheduled meetings, or the
Chairman, acting between Board meetings, regularly interacts with
and receives reports from senior personnel of service providers,
including senior personnel of the Investment Adviser, the
Sub-adviser and their affiliates, the Fund's and the Investment
Adviser's Chief Compliance Officer and portfolio management
personnel. The Board's Audit Committee (which consists of all
Independent Directors) meets during its regularly scheduled and
special meetings, and between meetings the Audit Committee chair is
available to the Fund's independent registered public accounting
firm and the Fund's Chief Financial Officer. The Board also
receives periodic presentations from senior personnel of the
Investment Adviser, the Sub-adviser or their affiliates regarding
risk management generally, as well as periodic presentations
regarding specific operational, compliance or investment areas,
such as cybersecurity, business continuity, personal trading,
valuation, credit and investment research. As warranted, the Board
also receives informational reports from counsel to the Fund and
the Board's independent legal counsel regarding regulatory
compliance and governance matters. The Board has adopted policies
and procedures designed to address certain risks to the Fund. In
addition, the Investment Adviser, the Sub-adviser and other service
providers to the Fund have adopted a variety of policies,
procedures and controls designed to address particular risks to the
Fund. Different processes, procedures and controls are employed
with respect to different types of risks. However, it is not
possible to eliminate all of the risks applicable to the Fund, and
the Board's risk management oversight is subject to inherent
limitations.
Board Composition and Leadership Structure.
The 1940 Act requires that at least 40% of the Fund's Directors be
Independent Directors and as such are not affiliated with the
Investment Adviser. To rely on certain exemptive rules under the
1940 Act, a majority of the Fund's Directors must be Independent
Directors, and for certain important matters, such as the approval
of the Fund's investment advisory agreement or transactions with
affiliates, the 1940 Act or the rules thereunder require the
approval of a majority of the Independent Directors. Currently, all
of the Fund's Directors, including the Chairman of the Board, are
Independent Directors. The Board has determined that its leadership
structure, in which the Chairman of the Board is not affiliated
with the Investment Adviser, is appropriate in light of the
specific characteristics and circumstances of the Fund, including,
but not limited to: (i) the services that the Investment Adviser,
the Sub-adviser and their affiliates provide to the Fund and
potential conflicts of interest that could arise from these
relationships; (ii) the extent to which the day-to-day operations
of the Fund are conducted by Fund officers and employees of the
Investment Adviser, the Sub-adviser and their affiliates; and (iii)
the Board's oversight role in management of the Fund.
Information About Each Nominee's and Continuing Director's
Experience, Qualifications, Attributes or Skills.
Nominees for Director of the Fund, together with information as to
their positions with the Fund, principal occupations and other
board memberships for the past five years, are shown below. The
address of
4
each Nominee is 240 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10286.
Specific information about the Continuing Directors of the Fund,
information on each Nominee's and Continuing Director's ownership
of Fund shares and other relevant information is set forth in
Exhibit A.
Nominees for Class II Directors with Terms Expiring in 2025
|
|
|
Name (Age) of Nominee
Position with Fund
(Since)
|
Principal Occupation
During Past 5 Years
|
Other Public Company
Board Memberships
During Past 5 Years
|
J. CHARLES CARDONA
(66)
Class II Director
(2014)
|
President and Director of the Investment Adviser (2008 – 2016)
Chief Executive Officer of Dreyfus Cash Investment Strategies, a
division of the Investment Adviser (2009 – 2016)
Chairman of BNY Mellon Securities Corporation (2013 – 2016)
|
BNY Mellon ETF Trust,
Chairman and Trustee
(2020 – Present)
BNY Mellon Liquidity Funds,
Director
(2004 – Present) and
Chairman
(2019 – 2021)
|
NATHAN LEVENTHAL
(79)
APS Designee
Class II Director
(2013)
|
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts,
President Emeritus
(2001 – Present)
Palm Beach Opera,
President
(2016 – Present)
|
Movado Group, Inc., a public company that designs, sources, markets
and distributes watches,
Director
(2003 – 2020)
|
5
|
|
|
ROBIN A. MELVIN
(58)
Class II Director
(2014)
|
Westover School, a private girls' boarding school in Middlebury,
Connecticut,
Trustee
(2019 – Present)
Mentor Illinois, a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing
the quantity and quality of mentoring services in Illinois
Co-Chair
(2014 – 2020);
Board Member
(2013 – 2020)
JDRF, a non-profit juvenile diabetes research foundation,
Board Member
(June 2021 – Present)
|
HPS Corporate Lending Fund, a closed-end management investment
company regulated as a business development company,
Trustee
(August 2021 – Present)
|
Each Nominee, except Mr. Cardona, has been a BNY Mellon Family of
Funds board member for over 20 years. Mr. Cardona was an employee
of The Dreyfus Corporation, the predecessor of the Investment
Adviser, for over 30 years prior to his retirement in 2016.
Additional information about each Nominee follows (supplementing
the information provided in the table above) that describes some of
the specific experiences, qualifications, attributes or skills that
each Nominee possesses which the Board believes has prepared them
to be effective Directors (this information for the Continuing
Directors is set forth in Exhibit A). The Board believes that the
significance of each Director's experience, qualifications,
attributes or skills is an individual matter (meaning that
experience that is important for one Director may not have the same
value for another) and that these factors are best evaluated at the
Board level, with no single Director, or particular factor, being
indicative of Board effectiveness. However, the Board believes that
Directors need to have the ability to critically review, evaluate,
question and discuss information provided to them, and to interact
effectively with Fund management, service providers and counsel, in
order to exercise effective business judgment in the performance of
their duties; the Board believes that its members satisfy this
standard. Experience relevant to having this ability may be
achieved through a Director's educational background; business,
professional training or practice (e.g., medicine, accounting or
law), public service or academic positions; experience from service
as a board member (including the Board of the Fund) or as an
executive of investment funds, public companies or significant
private or not-for-profit entities or other organizations; and/or
other life experiences. The charter for the Board's nominating
committee contains certain other factors considered by the
committee
6
in identifying and evaluating potential Director nominees. To
assist them in evaluating matters under federal and state law, the
Directors are counseled by their independent legal counsel, who
participates in Board meetings and interacts with the Investment
Adviser and also may benefit from information provided by the
Investment Adviser's counsel; counsel to the Fund and to the Board
has significant experience advising funds and fund board members.
The Board and its committees have the ability to engage other
experts as appropriate. The Board evaluates its performance on an
annual basis.
Director Nominees
J. Charles Cardona
– Mr. Cardona has served as the Chairman of the Board for the
funds in the BNY Mellon ETF Trust since 2020. Mr. Cardona
was the President and a Director of The Dreyfus Corporation, the
predecessor of the Investment Adviser, and the Chief Executive
Officer of Dreyfus Cash Investment Strategies, a division of the
Investment Adviser, until he retired in 2016. From 2013 to 2016,
Mr. Cardona served as Chairman of BNY Mellon Securities
Corporation (BNYMSC), and he previously served as an Executive Vice
President, from 1997 to 2013. He also served as President of the
Institutional Services Division of BNYMSC. He joined the
Institutional Services Division in 1985 with management
responsibility for all Institutional Operations and Client Service
units. Prior to joining the Institutional Services Division, he
served as Assistant Director of Sales and Services in the Retail
Division of BNYMSC, which he joined in 1981.
Nathan Leventhal
– Mr. Leventhal was previously a Commissioner of the New York
City Planning Commission. Previously, Mr. Leventhal served in
a number of senior positions in New York City Government, including
Fiscal Director of the Human Resources Administration and
Chief of Staff to Mayor John V. Lindsay, Deputy Mayor to Mayor
Ed Koch, and Transition Chairman for both Mayors
David Dinkins and Michael Bloomberg. Mr. Leventhal
is a former partner in the law firm Poletti Freidin Prashker
Feldman & Gartner. In the not-for-profit sector,
Mr. Leventhal serves as President of the Palm Beach Opera and
served as President of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and
Chairman of the Avery Fisher Artist Program; he is now President
Emeritus of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.
Robin A. Melvin
– From 2014 to 2020, Ms. Melvin served as Co-Chair of
Mentor Illinois, a non-profit organization dedicated to
increasing the quantity and quality of mentoring services in
Illinois, and served as a Board member from 2013 to 2020.
Ms. Melvin served as Director of the Boisi Family Foundation,
a private family foundation that supports organizations serving the
needs of youth from disadvantaged circumstances, from 1995 to 2012.
In that role she also managed the Boisi Family Office, providing
the primary interface with all investment managers, legal advisors
and other service providers to the family. She has also served in
various roles with MENTOR, a national non-profit youth mentoring
advocacy organization, including Executive Director of the New York
City affiliate, Vice President of the national affiliate network,
Vice President of Development, and, immediately prior to her
departure, Senior Vice President in charge of strategy.
7
Prior to that, Ms. Melvin was an investment banker with Goldman
Sachs Group, Inc. She serves as a Trustee of Westover School, a
private girls boarding school in Middlebury, Connecticut (2019 to
present) and a Board member of JDRF, a non-profit juvenile diabetes
research foundation (June 2021 to present), and a Trustee of HPS
Corporate Lending Fund, a closed-end management investment company
regulated as a business development company (August 2021 to
present).
Fund Board Committees.
The Fund has standing Audit, Nominating, Compensation and
Litigation Committees, each comprised of its Independent Directors,
except that Mr. DiMartino does not serve on the Compensation
Committee.
The function of the Audit Committee is (1) to oversee the Fund's
accounting and financial reporting processes and the audits of the
Fund's financial statements and (2) to assist in the Board's
oversight of the integrity of the Fund's financial statements, the
Fund's compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and the
qualifications, independence and performance of the Fund's
independent registered public accounting firm. A copy of the Fund's
Audit Committee Charter, which describes the Audit Committee's
purposes, duties and responsibilities, is available at
www.im.bnymellon.com in the "BNY Mellon Audit Committee Charter"
section under "Investments – Closed End Funds".
The Fund's Nominating Committee is responsible for selecting and
nominating persons as members of the Board for election or
appointment by the Board and for election by stockholders. In
evaluating potential nominees, including any nominees recommended
by stockholders, the Committee takes into consideration the factors
listed in the Fund's Nominating Committee Charter and Procedures
(the "Nominating Committee Charter"), including character,
integrity, and business and professional experience. The Nominating
Committee may consider whether a potential nominee's professional
experience, education, skills and other individual qualities and
attributes, including gender, race or national origin, would
provide beneficial diversity of skills, experience or perspective
to the Board's membership and collective attributes. Such
considerations will vary based on the Board's existing membership
and other factors, such as the strength of a potential nominee's
overall qualifications relative to diversity considerations. The
Committee will consider recommendations for nominees from
stockholders submitted to the Secretary of the Fund, c/o BNY Mellon
Legal Department, 240 Greenwich Street, 18th Floor,
New York, New York 10286, and including information regarding the
recommended nominee as specified in the Nominating Committee
Charter. The Nominating Committee Charter is attached as Exhibit B
to this proxy statement.
The function of the Compensation Committee is to establish the
appropriate compensation for serving on the Board.
The Litigation Committee seeks to address any potential conflicts
of interest between the Fund and the Investment Adviser in
connection with any potential or
8
existing litigation or other legal proceeding related to securities
held by the Fund and held or otherwise deemed to have a beneficial
interest held by the Investment Adviser or its affiliate.
The Fund also has a standing Pricing Committee comprised of any one
Independent Director. The function of the Pricing Committee is to
assist in valuing the Fund's investments.
Compensation.
Each Nominee also serves as a board member of certain other funds
in the BNY Mellon Family of Funds. Annual retainer fees and meeting
attendance fees are allocated among the Fund and those other funds
on the basis of net assets, with the Chairman of the Board, Mr.
DiMartino, receiving an additional 25% of such compensation. The
Fund reimburses Directors for travel and out-of-pocket expenses in
connection with attending Board or committee meetings. The Fund
does not have a bonus, pension, profit-sharing or retirement
plan.
The amount of compensation paid to each Nominee by the Fund for the
fiscal year ended September 30, 2021, and the aggregate amount of
compensation paid to each Nominee by all funds in the fund complex
(which comprises registered investment companies for which the
Investment Adviser or an affiliate of the Investment Adviser serves
as investment adviser) for which the Nominee was a board member
during 2021, was as follows*:
9
|
|
|
Name of Nominee
|
Compensation from
the Fund
|
Aggregate Compensation from
the Fund and Fund Complex
Paid to Nominee (**)
|
J. Charles Cardona
|
$8,321
|
$333,625 (43)
|
Nathan Leventhal
|
$8,321
|
$397,500 (44)
|
Robin A. Melvin
|
$8,340
|
$764,967 (87)
|
_______________
* Amounts shown do not include expenses reimbursed to Nominees for
attending Board meetings.
** Represents the number of separate portfolios comprising the
investment companies in the fund complex, including the Fund, for
which the Nominees served as board members in 2021.
For the Fund's most recent fiscal year, the number of Board and
committee meetings held and the amount of compensation paid by the
Fund to the Continuing Directors and the aggregate amount of
compensation paid by all funds in the fund complex (which comprises
registered investment companies for which the Investment Adviser or
an affiliate of the Investment Adviser serves as investment
adviser) for which each such person was a board member in 2021 are
set forth in Exhibit A. Certain other information concerning the
Fund's Directors and officers also is set forth in Exhibit A.
Required Vote
Provided a quorum is present, the election of each Nominee requires
the affirmative vote of a plurality of votes cast at the Meeting
for the election of Directors.
10
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Selection of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The 1940 Act requires that the Fund's independent registered public
accounting firm (the "independent auditors" or "auditors") be
selected by a majority of the Independent Directors. The Audit
Committee has direct responsibility for the appointment,
compensation, retention and oversight of the Fund's independent
auditors. At a meeting held on August 3, 2021, the Fund's Audit
Committee approved and the Fund's Board, including a majority of
the Independent Directors, ratified and approved the selection of
Ernst & Young LLP ("EY") as the independent auditors for the
Fund's fiscal year ending September 30, 2022. EY, a major
international accounting firm, has acted as independent auditors of
the Fund since the Fund's organization. The Audit Committee's
report relating to the Fund's financial statements for the fiscal
year ended September 30, 2021 is attached as Exhibit C to this
proxy statement.
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Fees and Services
The following chart reflects fees billed by EY in the Fund's last
two fiscal years. For Service Affiliates (i.e., the Investment
Adviser and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common
control with the Investment Adviser that provides ongoing services
to the Fund), such fees represent only those fees that required
pre-approval of the Audit Committee, except the Aggregate Non-Audit
Fees amounts, which include all non-audit fees billed by EY to the
Fund and Service Affiliates. All services provided by EY were
pre-approved, as required.
|
|
|
|
Fund1
|
Service Affiliates1
|
Audit Fees
|
$36,686/$36,686
|
$0/$0
|
Audit-Related Fees2
|
$30,605/$33,558
|
$0/$0
|
Tax Fees3
|
$2,610/$3,342
|
$0/$0
|
All Other Fees
|
$0/$0
|
$0/$0
|
Aggregate Non-Audit Fees4
|
N/A
|
$726,833/$2,846,056
|
_______________
1. Fiscal
years ended September 30, 2020/September 30, 2021
2. Services
to the Fund consisted of one or more of the following: (i) agreed
upon procedures related to compliance with Internal Revenue Code
section 817(h), (ii) security counts required by Rule 17f-2 under
the 1940 Act, (iii) advisory services as to the accounting or
disclosure treatment of Fund transactions or events, (iv) advisory
services as to the accounting or disclosure treatment of the actual
or potential impact to the Fund of final or proposed rules,
standards or interpretations by the SEC, the Financial Accounting
Standards Boards or other regulatory or standard-setting bodies and
(v) agreed upon procedures in evaluating compliance by the Fund
with provisions of the Fund's articles supplementary creating the
series of APS.
3. Services
to the Fund consisted of (i) review or preparation of U.S. federal,
state, local and excise tax returns; (ii) U.S. federal, state and
local tax planning, advice and assistance regarding statutory,
regulatory or administrative developments; and (iii) tax advice
regarding tax qualification matters and/or treatment of various
financial instruments held or proposed to be acquired or
held.
4. Aggregate
non-audit fees billed by EY to the Fund and Service Affiliates are
shown under the Service Affiliates column.
11
Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures.
The Fund's Audit Committee has established policies and procedures
(the "Policy") for pre-approval (within specified fee limits) of
EY's engagement for audit and non-audit services to the Fund and
non-audit services to Service Affiliates without specific
case-by-case consideration. The pre-approved services in the Policy
can include pre-approved audit services, pre-approved audit-related
services, pre-approved tax services and pre-approved all other
services. Pre-approval considerations include whether the proposed
services are compatible with maintaining EY's independence.
Pre-approvals pursuant to the Policy are considered annually. In
addition, proposed services requiring pre-approval but not covered
by the Policy are considered from time to time as
necessary.
Auditor Independence.
The Fund's Audit Committee has considered whether the provision of
non-audit services that were rendered to Service Affiliates that
did not require pre-approval is compatible with maintaining EY's
independence.
A representative of EY will be available to join the Meeting, will
have the opportunity to make a statement and will be available to
respond to appropriate questions.
Service Providers
BNY Mellon Investment Adviser, Inc., located at 240 Greenwich
Street, New York, New York 10286, serves as the Fund's investment
adviser.
Insight North America LLC, an affiliate of the Investment Adviser,
located at 200 Park Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, New York 10166,
serves as the Fund's sub-adviser.
The Bank of New York Mellon, an affiliate of the Investment
Adviser, located at 240 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10286,
acts as Custodian for the assets of the Fund.
Computershare Inc., located at 480 Washington Boulevard, Jersey
City, New Jersey 07310, acts as the Fund's Transfer Agent,
Dividend-Paying Agent and Registrar.
Voting Information
To vote, you may use any of the following methods:
· By
Mail.
Please complete, date and sign the enclosed proxy card and mail it
in the enclosed, postage-paid envelope.
· By
Internet.
Have your proxy card available. Go to the website listed on the
proxy card. Enter your control number from your proxy card. Follow
the instructions on the website.
· By
Telephone.
Have your proxy card available. Call the toll-free number listed on
the proxy card. Enter your control number from your proxy card.
Follow the recorded instructions.
12
· At
the Meeting.
Any stockholder who attends the Meeting virtually may provide
voting instructions by Internet (see above) during the
Meeting.
Shares represented by executed and unrevoked proxies will be voted
in accordance with the specifications made thereon, and, if no
voting instructions are given, shares will be voted "for" a
proposal.
If a proxy is properly executed and returned accompanied by
instructions to withhold authority to vote or represents a broker
"non-vote" (that is, a proxy from a broker or nominee indicating
that such person has not received instructions from the beneficial
owner or other person entitled to vote shares of the Fund on a
particular matter with respect to which the broker or nominee does
not have discretionary power), the Fund's shares represented
thereby will be considered to be present at the Meeting for
purposes of determining the existence of a quorum for the
transaction of business, but will not constitute a vote "for" a
proposal and will have no effect on the result of the vote.
The Fund will bear the cost of soliciting proxies. In addition to
the use of the mail, proxies may be solicited by telephone.
Authorizations to execute proxies may be obtained by electronic
transmission or by telephonic instructions in accordance with
procedures designed to authenticate the stockholder's identity. In
all cases where a telephonic proxy is solicited (as opposed to
where the stockholder calls the toll-free telephone number directly
to vote), the stockholder will be asked to provide or confirm
certain identifiable information and to confirm that the
stockholder has received the Fund's proxy statement and proxy card
in the mail. Within 72 hours of receiving a stockholder's solicited
telephonic voting instructions, a confirmation will be sent to the
stockholder to ensure that the vote has been taken in accordance
with the stockholder's instructions and to provide a telephone
number to call immediately if the stockholder's instructions are
not correctly reflected in the confirmation.
13
OTHER MATTERS
The Fund's Board is not aware of any other matter which may come
before the Meeting. However, should any such matter properly come
before the Meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the
accompanying form of proxy to vote the proxy in accordance with
their judgment on such matter.
Any proposals of stockholders that are intended to be presented at
the Fund's 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders in accordance with
Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the "Exchange Act"), must be received by the Secretary of the Fund
at the Fund's principal executive offices no later than
January 2, 2023, and must comply with all other legal
requirements in order to be included in the Fund's proxy statement
and forms of proxy for that meeting. For other stockholder
proposals to be presented at the 2023 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders (but not included in the Fund's proxy statement), a
stockholder's notice must be delivered to the Secretary of the Fund
at the Fund's principal executive offices no later than 5:00 p.m.,
Eastern time on March 17, 2023.
Stockholders who wish to communicate with Directors should send
communications to the attention of the Secretary of the Fund, c/o
BNY Mellon Investment Adviser, Inc. Legal Department, 240 Greenwich
Street, 18th
Floor, New York, New York 10286, and communications will be
directed to the Director or Directors indicated in the
communication or, if no Director or Directors are indicated, to the
Chairman of the Board.
14
NOTICE TO BANKS, BROKER/DEALERS AND
VOTING TRUSTEES AND THEIR NOMINEES
Please advise the Fund, in care of Computershare Inc., Proxy
Department, 480 Washington Blvd., 27th Floor,
Jersey City, New Jersey 07310, whether other persons are the
beneficial owners of the shares for which proxies are being
solicited and, if so, the number of copies of the proxy statement
and other soliciting material you wish to receive in order to
supply copies to the beneficial owners of shares. The Fund may pay
persons holding shares of the Fund in their names or those of their
nominees for their expenses in sending soliciting materials to
their principals.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT PROXIES BE RETURNED PROMPTLY. THEREFORE,
STOCKHOLDERS WHO DO NOT EXPECT TO ATTEND THE MEETING ARE URGED TO
COMPLETE, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD IN THE
ENCLOSED STAMPED ENVELOPE OR OTHERWISE VOTE PROMPTLY.
Dated: May 2, 2022
15
EXHIBIT A
PART I
Part I sets forth information regarding the Continuing Directors,
Board and committee meetings and share ownership.
Information About the Continuing Directors' Experience,
Qualifications, Attributes or Skills.
The Continuing Directors of the Fund, together with information as
to their positions with the Fund, principal occupations and other
board memberships for the past five years, are shown below. The
address of the Continuing Directors is 240 Greenwich Street, New
York, New York 10286.
Continuing Class I Directors with Terms Expiring in 2024
|
|
|
Name (Age) of Continuing Director
Position with Fund
(Since)
|
Principal Occupation
During Past 5 Years
|
Other Public Company
Board Memberships
During Past 5 Years
|
FRANCINE J. BOVICH
(70)
Class I Director
(2015)
|
The Bradley Trusts, private trust funds,
Trustee
(2011 – Present)
|
Annaly Capital Management, Inc., a real estate investment
trust,
Director
(2014 – Present)
|
ROSLYN M. WATSON
(72)
Class I Director
(2014)
|
Watson Ventures, Inc., a real estate investment company,
Principal
(1993 – Present)
|
American Express Bank, FSB,
Director
(1993 – 2018)
|
A-1
Continuing Class III Directors with Terms Expiring in
2023
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name (Age) of Continuing Director
Position with Fund
(Since)
|
Principal Occupation
During Past 5 Years
|
Other Public Company
Board Memberships
During Past 5 Years
|
JOSEPH S. DIMARTINO (78)
Chairman of the Board
Class III Director
(1995)
|
Director or Trustee of the funds in the BNY Mellon Family of Funds
and certain other entities (as listed herein)
|
CBIZ, Inc., a public company providing professional business
services, products and solutions,
Director
(1997 – Present)
|
ANDREW J. DONOHUE (71)
Class III Director
(2019)
|
Attorney, Solo Law Practice (2019 – Present)
Shearman & Sterling LLP, a law firm, Of Counsel (2017 –
2019)
Chief of Staff to the Chair of the SEC (2015 –2017)
|
OppenheimerFunds (58 funds),
Director
(2017 – 2019)
|
A-2
Continuing Class III Directors with Terms Expiring in
2023
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name (Age) of Continuing Director
Position with Fund
(Since)
|
Principal Occupation
During Past 5 Years
|
Other Public Company
Board Memberships
During Past 5 Years
|
ISABEL DUNST (75) Class III Director
(2014)
|
Hogan Lovells LLP, a law firm, Retired (2019 – Present); Senior
Counsel (2018 – 2019); Of Counsel (2015 – 2018); Partner (1990 –
2014)
Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion, Member of the
Board of Governors (2015 – Present)
Bend the ARC, a civil rights organization, Board Member (2016 –
Present)
|
N/A
|
BENAREE PRATT WILEY
(75)
APS Designee
Class III Director
(2009)
|
The Wiley Group, a firm specializing in strategy and business
development,
Principal
(2005 – Present)
|
CBIZ, Inc., a public company providing professional business
services, products and solutions,
Director
(2008 – Present)
Blue Cross – Blue Shield of Massachusetts,
Director
(2004 – 2020)
|
Each Continuing Director, except Ms. Bovich and Mr. Donohue, has
been a BNY Mellon Family of Funds board member for over 20 years.
Ms. Bovich has been in the asset management business, and Mr.
Donohue has been in the investment funds industry, for over 40
years. Additional information about the Continuing Directors
follows (supplementing the information provided in the table above)
that describes some of the specific experiences, qualifications,
attributes or skills that
A-3
the Continuing Directors possess which the Board believes has
prepared them to be effective Directors.
Continuing Directors
Francine J. Bovich
– Ms. Bovich currently also serves as a Trustee for The
Bradley Trusts, private trust funds, and as a Director of Annaly
Capital Management, Inc. She is an Emeritus Trustee of
Connecticut College, and served as a Trustee from 1986 to
1997. She currently serves as a member of the Investment
Committee (formerly, the Investment Sub Committee) for Connecticut
College's endowment fund and served as Chair of the Investment
Sub Committee until June 2020. From April 1993 to
September 2010, Ms. Bovich was a Managing Director at Morgan
Stanley Investment Management, holding various positions including
Co-Head of Global Tactical Asset Allocation Group, Operations
Officer, and Head of the U.S. Institutional Equity Group.
Prior to joining Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Ms. Bovich
was Principal, Executive Vice President and Senior Portfolio
Manager at Westwood Management Corporation, where she worked from
1986 until 1993. From 1980 to 1986, she worked at CitiCorp
Investment Management, Inc. as Managing Director and Senior
Portfolio Manager. From 1973 to 1980, Ms. Bovich was an
Assistant Vice President and Equity Portfolio Manager at Bankers
Trust Company. From 1991 to 2005, she served as U.S.
Representative to the United Nations Investments Committee,
advising a global portfolio of approximately
$30 billion.
Joseph S. DiMartino
– Mr. DiMartino has been the Chairman of the Board of the
funds in the BNY Mellon Family of Funds for over 25 years. From
1971 through 1994, Mr. DiMartino served in various roles as an
employee of The Dreyfus Corporation (prior to its acquisition
by a predecessor of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation in
August 1994 and related management changes), including portfolio
manager, President, Chief Operating Officer and a director. He
ceased being an employee or director of The Dreyfus
Corporation by the end of 1994. From July 1995 to November 1997,
Mr. DiMartino served as Chairman of the Board of The Noel
Group, a public buyout firm; in that capacity, he helped manage,
acquire, take public and liquidate a number of operating companies.
From 1986 to 2010, Mr. DiMartino served as a Director of the
Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Andrew J. (Buddy) Donohue
– Mr. Donohue, who has worked as a solo law practitioner since
2019, has over 40 years of experience in the investment funds
industry, in both senior government and private sector roles.
Mr. Donohue served as Chief of Staff to the Chair of the SEC,
from 2015 to 2017, and previously served as the Director of the
SEC's Division of Investment Management, from 2006 to 2010, where
he was effectively the most senior regulator for the U.S.
investment funds industry. Mr. Donohue was Global General
Counsel of Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, from 2003 to 2006,
Executive Vice President and General Counsel of OppenheimerFunds,
Inc., from 1991 to 2001, and Investment
A-4
Company General Counsel of Goldman Sachs, from 2012 to 2015. Most
recently, Mr. Donohue was an independent Director of the
OppenheimerFunds, from 2017 to 2019, and Of Counsel at the law
firm of Shearman & Sterling LLP, from September 2017 to July
2019. Mr. Donohue has been an officer, director and counsel
for numerous investment advisers, broker-dealers, commodity trading
advisers, transfer agents and insurance companies, and has served
on the boards of business development companies, registered
open-end funds, closed-end funds, exchange-traded funds and
off-shore investment funds. He has also served as chairman of the
American Bar Association's Investment Companies and Investment
Advisers Subcommittee, editor of the ABA Fund Director's Guidebook
and, since 2018, director of the Mutual Fund Directors Forum, a
leading funds industry organization. Mr. Donohue also is an
adjunct professor teaching investment management law at Brooklyn
Law School.
Isabel P. Dunst
– Ms. Dunst practiced law for over 40 years. Half of her
career was spent at the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, where she had major legal and management responsibilities
for the operation of the General Counsel's Office of the Agency,
including serving as its Deputy General Counsel, the senior career
legal position. Ms. Dunst most recently was Senior Counsel to
Hogan Lovells LLP, a Washington based international law firm, which
she joined in 1990. Ms. Dunst was a partner of the firm for
approximately 25 years. Ms. Dunst currently serves on the
Board of Trustees of the Union for Reform Judaism and on the Board
of Governors of Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of
Religion.
Roslyn M. Watson
– Ms. Watson has been a business entrepreneur in commercial
and residential real estate for over 15 years. Ms. Watson
currently serves as President and Founder of Watson Ventures, Inc.,
a real estate development investment firm, and her board
memberships include American Express Bank, FSB (until 2018), The
Hyams Foundation, Inc. (emeritus), Pathfinder International and
Simmons College. Previously, she held various positions in the
public and private sectors, including General Manager for the
Massachusetts Port Authority. She has received numerous awards,
including the Woman of Achievement award from the Boston Big Sister
Association and the Working Woman of the Year Award from Working
Woman Magazine.
Benaree Pratt Wiley
– Ms. Wiley is a corporate director and trustee. For fifteen
years, Ms. Wiley was the President and Chief Executive Officer
of The Partnership, Inc., an organization that
strengthened Greater Boston's capacity to attract, retain and
develop talented professionals of color. Ms. Wiley served on
the board of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts from 2004
until 2020, and currently serves on the board of CBIZ (NYSE: CBZ).
She has served as the Chair of PepsiCo's African American Advisory
Board, and formerly served on the board of First Albany (NASDAQ:
FACT). Her civic activities include serving on the boards of Dress
for Success Boston, Partners Continuing Care and
Spaulding
A-5
Hospital, the Black Philanthropy Fund and Howard University where
she served as Vice Chair until June 2021.
Advisory Board Members
Tamara Belinfanti
–
Ms. Belinfanti currently serves as the Lester Martin Professor
of Law at New York Law School, where her scholarship focuses on
corporate governance system design and the relationship between
corporations and communities. In 2013, Ms. Belinfanti was
named an Aspen Ideas Scholar for her work on the roles
and rights of corporations in the broader societal sphere. She has
written on corporate governance in the context of the proxy
advisory industry, corporate purpose, executive compensation, and
most recently shareholder rights and stewardship. In 2019, she
co-authored the book
Citizen Capitalism: How a Universal Fund Can Provide Influence and
Income to All.
From 2000 to 2008, Ms. Belinfanti was a corporate attorney at
the law firm of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, where she
counseled domestic and international clients on general corporate
and U.S. securities regulation matters, and was co-editor of the
securities law treatise,
U.S. Regulation of the International Securities and Derivatives
Market.
In 2015, Ms. Belinfanti co-founded the Ethical Shareholder
Initiative, a nonprofit that seeks to revolutionize share voting to
create a more sustainable corporate system. She also serves as a
Board Trustee of the Brooklyn Museum and
St. Ann's School, and she has served on various
professional committees such as the New York City Bar Securities
Regulation Committee.
Gordon J. Davis –
Mr. Davis is a partner in the law firm of Venable LLP
where his practice focuses on complex real estate, land use
development and related environmental matters; state and municipal
authorities and financings; and cultural and not-for-profit
organizations. Prior to joining the firm in 2012, Mr. Davis
served as a partner in the law firm of Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP from
1994 until 2012. Mr. Davis also served as a Commissioner and
member of the New York City Planning Commission, and as
Commissioner of Parks and Recreation for the City of New York.
Mr. Davis was a co-founder of the Central Park Conservancy and
the founding Chairman of Jazz at the Lincoln Center for the
Performing Arts in New York City. He has also served as
President of Lincoln Center. Mr. Davis also served on the
board of The Dreyfus Corporation (prior to its acquisition by a
predecessor of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation in August
1994 and related management changes). He served as a Board member
of the Fund until August 2021, and as an emeritus Board member
until October 25, 2021. He also served as a Director of
Consolidated Edison, Inc., a utility company, and
The Phoenix Companies, Inc., a life insurance
company.
A-6
Nominees' and Continuing Directors' Ownership of Fund
Shares.
The table below indicates the dollar range of the Nominees' and the
Continuing Directors' ownership of shares of the Fund's Common
Stock and shares of other funds in the BNY Mellon Family of Funds,
in each case as of December 31, 2021.
|
|
|
Name of Continuing
Director or Nominee
|
Fund
Common Stock
|
Aggregate Holdings of
Funds in the
BNY Mellon Family of
Funds
|
Francine J. Bovich
|
None
|
$50,001 – $100,000
|
J. Charles Cardona*
|
None
|
Over $100,000
|
Joseph S. DiMartino
|
None
|
Over $100,000
|
Andrew J. Donohue
|
None
|
Over $100,000
|
Isabel P. Dunst
|
None
|
Over $100,000
|
Nathan Leventhal*
|
None
|
Over $100,000
|
Robin A. Melvin*
|
None
|
$50,001 – $100,000
|
Roslyn M. Watson
|
None
|
$10,001 – $50,000
|
Benaree Pratt Wiley
|
None
|
$50,001 – $100,000
|
_________________
*
Nominee.
As of December 31, 2021, none of the Nominees or the Continuing
Directors or their immediate family members owned securities of the
Investment Adviser or any person (other than a registered
investment company) directly or indirectly controlling, controlled
by or under common control with the Investment Adviser.
A-7
PERTAINING TO THE BOARD
· The
Fund held five Board meetings, six Audit Committee meetings, three
Nominating Committee meetings and one Compensation Committee
meeting during the last fiscal year. The Litigation Committee and
Pricing Committee did not meet during the last fiscal
year.
· The
Fund does not have a formal policy regarding Directors' attendance
at annual meetings of stockholders. Directors did not attend last
year's annual meeting of stockholders.
· All
Continuing Directors and Nominees attended at least 75% of the
meetings of the Board and committees of which they were a member
held in the last fiscal year.
Compensation Table.
The amount of compensation paid by the Fund to each Continuing
Director, advisory Board member and emeritus Board member for the
fiscal year ended September 30, 2021, and the aggregate amount of
compensation paid to each Continuing Director, advisory Board
member and emeritus Board member by all funds in the fund complex
(which comprises registered investment companies for which the
Investment Adviser or an affiliate of the Investment Adviser serves
as investment adviser) for which such person was a Board member,
advisory board member or emeritus Board member during 2021, was as
follows:*
|
|
|
Name of Director
|
Compensation
from the Fund
|
Aggregate Compensation
from the Fund and
Fund Complex Paid
to Director(**)
|
Continuing Directors
|
|
|
|
|
Francine J. Bovich
|
$8,361
|
$650,620 (66)
|
Joseph S. DiMartino
|
$9,521
|
$1,850,000 (109)
|
Andrew J. Donohue
|
$8,361
|
$489,967(52)
|
Isabel P. Dunst
|
$8,321
|
$257,500 (30)
|
Roslyn M. Watson
|
$8,300
|
$427,500 (52)
|
Benaree Pratt Wiley
|
$8,361
|
$668,261 (70)
|
Advisory Board Members
|
|
|
Tamara Belinfanti
|
$160
|
$93,522 (30)
|
Gordon J. Davis***
|
$4,747
|
$377,924 (48)
|
Emeritus Board Members
|
|
|
Clifford L. Alexander
|
$749
|
$165,000 (44)
|
A-8
|
|
|
Whitney I. Gerard
|
$674
|
$82,500 (30)
|
George L. Perry
|
$749
|
$90,000 (30)
|
____________________
* Amounts shown do not include expenses reimbursed to Directors for
attending Board meetings. They also do not include the costs of
office space and related parking, office supplies and secretarial
services, which also are paid by the Fund (allocated among the
funds in the BNY Mellon Family of Funds based on net assets). In
2021, the amount paid by the Fund was approximately $160. Each
emeritus Board member is entitled to receive an annual retainer of
one-half the amount paid as a retainer at the time the Director
became emeritus and a per meeting attended fee of one-half the
amount paid to Directors. In addition, each advisory Board member
is entitled to receive compensation for attending Board meetings in
an advisory role. The Fund's emeritus program was discontinued for
current Directors in November 2021.
** Represents the number of separate portfolios comprising the
investment companies in the fund complex, including the Fund, for
which such persons served as Board members, advisory Board members
or emeritus Board members in 2021.
*** Mr. Davis became an advisory Board member on October 26, 2021.
From August 7, 2021 to October 25, 2021, Mr. Davis was an emeritus
Board member. Prior to August 7, 2021, Mr. Davis served as a Class
I Director of the Fund. The amounts shown reflect compensation
received by Mr. Davis during the fiscal year ended September 30,
2021.
A-9
PART II
Part II sets forth information regarding the officers of the Fund.
Each officer of the Fund holds office for an indefinite term until
the officer's successor is elected and has qualified.
|
|
|
Name and Position
with Fund (Since)
|
Age
|
Principal Occupation and
Business Experience For
Past Five Years
|
DAVID DIPETRILLO
President (2019)1
|
44
|
Vice President and Director of the Investment Adviser since
February 2021; Head of North America Product, BNY Mellon Investment
Management since January 2018; and Director of Product Strategy,
BNY Mellon Investment Management from January 2016 to December
2017. He is an officer of 56 investment companies (comprised of 109
portfolios) managed by the Investment Adviser.
|
JAMES WINDELS
Treasurer (2012)
|
64
|
Vice President of the Investment Adviser since September 2020; and
Director – BNY Mellon Fund Administration. He is an officer of 57
investment companies (comprised of 130 portfolio) managed by the
Investment Adviser or an affiliate of the Investment Adviser.
|
A-10
|
|
|
Name and Position
with Fund (Since)
|
Age
|
Principal Occupation and
Business Experience For
Past Five Years
|
PETER M. SULLIVAN
Chief Legal Officer, Vice President and
Assistant Secretary (2019)2
|
54
|
Chief Legal Officer of the Investment Adviser and Associate General
Counsel of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation since July 2021;
Senior Managing Counsel of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation
from December 2020 to July 2021; and Managing Counsel of The Bank
of New York Mellon Corporation from March 2009 to December 2020. He
is an officer of 57 investment companies (comprised of 130
portfolios) managed by the Investment Adviser or an affiliate of
the Investment Adviser.
|
JAMES BITETTO
Vice President and Secretary (2012)3
|
56
|
Senior Managing Counsel of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation
since December 2019; Managing Counsel of The Bank of New York
Mellon Corporation from April 2014 to December 2019; and Secretary
of the Investment Adviser. He is an officer of 57 investment
companies (comprised of 130 portfolios) managed by the Investment
Adviser or an affiliate of the Investment Adviser.
|
A-11
|
|
|
Name and Position
with Fund (Since)
|
Age
|
Principal Occupation and
Business Experience For
Past Five Years
|
DEIRDRE CUNNANE
Vice President and Assistant Secretary (2019)
|
31
|
Managing Counsel of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation since
December 2021; Counsel of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation
from August 2018 to December 2021; and Senior Regulatory Specialist
at BNY Mellon Investment Management Services from February 2016 to
August 2018. She is an officer of 57 investment companies
(comprised of 130 portfolios) managed by the Investment Adviser or
an affiliate of the Investment Adviser.
|
SARAH S. KELLEHER
Vice President and Assistant Secretary (2014)
|
47
|
Vice President of BNY Mellon ETF Investment Adviser, LLC since
February 2020; Senior Managing Counsel of The Bank of New York
Mellon Corporation since September 2021; Managing Counsel from
December 2017 to September 2021; and Senior Counsel of The Bank of
New York Mellon Corporation from March 2013 to December 2017. She
is an officer of 57 investment companies (comprised of 130
portfolio) managed by the Investment Adviser or an affiliate of the
Investment Adviser.
|
A-12
|
|
|
Name and Position
with Fund (Since)
|
Age
|
Principal Occupation and
Business Experience For
Past Five Years
|
JEFF S. PRUSNOFSKY
Vice President and Assistant Secretary (2012)
|
57
|
Senior Managing Counsel of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation.
He is an officer of 57 investment companies (comprised of 130
portfolios) managed by the Investment Adviser or an affiliate of
the Investment Adviser.
|
AMANDA QUINN
Vice President and Assistant Secretary (2020)
|
37
|
Counsel of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation since June 2019;
Regulatory Administration Manager at BNY Mellon Investment
Management Services from September 2018 to May 2019; and Senior
Regulatory Specialist at BNY Mellon Investment Management Services
from April 2015 to August 2018. She is an officer of 57 investment
companies (comprised of 130 portfolios) managed by the Adviser or
an affiliate of the Investment Adviser.
|
A-13
|
|
|
Name and Position
with Fund (Since)
|
Age
|
Principal Occupation and
Business Experience For
Past Five Years
|
NATALYA ZELENSKY
Vice President and Assistant Secretary (2017)
|
37
|
Chief Compliance Officer since August 2021 and Vice President since
February 2020 of BNY Mellon ETF Investment Adviser, LLC; Chief
Compliance Officer since August 2021 and Vice President and
Assistant Secretary since February 2020 of BNY Mellon ETF Trust;
Managing Counsel of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation from
December 2019 to August 2021; Counsel of The Bank of New York
Mellon Corporation from May 2016 to December 2019; and Assistant
Secretary of the Investment Adviser from April 2018 to August 2021.
She is an officer of 57 investment companies (comprised of 130
portfolios) managed by the Investment Adviser or an affiliate of
the Investment Adviser.
|
DANIEL GOLDSTEIN
Vice President (2022)
|
53
|
Head of Product Development of North America Product, BNY Mellon
Investment Management since January 2018; Co-Head of Product
Management, Development & Oversight of North America Product,
BNY Mellon Investment Management from January 2010 to January 2018;
and Senior Vice President, Development & Oversight of North
America Product, BNY Mellon Investment Management since 2010.
|
A-14
|
|
|
Name and Position
with Fund (Since)
|
Age
|
Principal Occupation and
Business Experience For
Past Five Years
|
JOSEPH MARTELLA
Vice President (2022)
|
46
|
Head of Product Management of North America Product, BNY Mellon
Investment Management since January 2018; Director of Product
Research and Analytics of North America Product, BNY Mellon
Investment Management from January 2010 to January 2018; and Senior
Vice President of North America Product, BNY Mellon Investment
Management since 2010.
|
GAVIN C. REILLY
Assistant Treasurer (2012)
|
54
|
Tax Manager – BNY Mellon Fund Administration. He is an officer of
57 investment companies (comprised of 130 portfolios) managed by
the Investment Adviser or an affiliate of the Investment
Adviser.
|
ROBERT SALVIOLO
Assistant Treasurer (2012)
|
55
|
Senior Accounting Manager – BNY Mellon Fund Administration. He is
an officer of 57 investment companies (comprised of 130 portfolios)
managed by the Investment Adviser or an affiliate of the Investment
Adviser.
|
ROBERT SVAGNA
Assistant Treasurer (2012)
|
55
|
Senior Accounting Manager – BNY Mellon Fund Administration. He is
an officer of 57 investment companies (comprised of 130 portfolios)
managed by the Investment Adviser or an affiliate of the Investment
Adviser.
|
A-15
|
|
|
Name and Position
with Fund (Since)
|
Age
|
Principal Occupation and
Business Experience For
Past Five Years
|
JOSEPH W. CONNOLLY
Chief Compliance Officer (2012)
|
65
|
Chief Compliance Officer of the BNY Mellon Family of Funds and BNY
Mellon Funds Trust since 2004; and Chief Compliance Officer of the
Investment Adviser from 2004 until June 2021. He is an officer of
56 investment companies (comprised of 117 portfolios) managed by
the Investment Adviser.
|
____________________
1
President since 2021; previously, Vice President.
2
Chief Legal Officer since July 2021.
3
Vice President and Secretary since 2018; previously, Vice President
and Assistant Secretary.
The address of each officer of the Fund is 240 Greenwich Street,
New York, New York 10286.
A-16
PART III
Part III sets forth information for the Fund regarding the
beneficial ownership of its shares as of April 13, 2022 by the
Nominees, Continuing Directors and officers of the Fund owning
shares on such date and by any stockholders owning 5% or more of a
class of the Fund's outstanding shares.
As of April 13, 2022, the Nominees, Continuing Directors and
officers of the Fund, as a group, beneficially owned less than 1%
of the Fund's Common Stock or APS.
To the Fund's knowledge, based on filings made pursuant to Section
13 of the Exchange Act, as of April 13, 2022, the following
information with respect to beneficial ownership of more than 5% of
the outstanding shares of Common Stock and/or outstanding shares of
APS has been reported.
|
|
|
|
Title of Class
|
Name and Address of
Beneficial Owner
|
Number of Shares
Owned
|
Percent of
Class
|
Common Stock
|
First Trust Portfolios L.P.*
First Trust Advisors L.P.*
The Charger Corporation*
120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400
Wheaton, IL 60187
|
2,969,102
|
14.30%
|
APS
|
UBS Group AG
Bahnhofstrasse 45
PO Box CH-8021
Zurich, Switzerland
|
825
|
68.24%
|
APS
|
Bank of America Corporation**
Bank of America Corporate Center
100 North Tryon Street
Charlotte, NC 28255
|
195
|
16.13%
|
* These entities share voting and dispositive power with respect to
the share amount and percentage shown.
** Bank of America Corporation beneficially owns and has shared
voting and dispositive power with respect to 195 shares through one
of its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Bank of America N.A.
As of April 13, 2022, Cede & Co., P.O. Box 20, Bowling
Green Station, New York, NY 10274, held of record 97.57% of
the outstanding shares of Common Stock and 100% of the outstanding
shares of APS.
A-17
Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports
Under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act and Section 30(h) of the
1940 Act, and the rules thereunder, the Fund's officers and
Directors, persons owning more than 10% of the Fund's Common Stock
or APS, and certain additional persons are required to report their
transactions in the Fund's Common Stock or APS to the SEC and the
Fund. Based solely on written representations of such persons and
on copies of reports that have been filed with the SEC, the Fund
believes that, during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021, all
filing requirements applicable to such persons were complied with
except that Form 3s were not filed on a timely basis for Tamara
Belinfanti, who became an Advisory Board Member of the Fund on
September 16, 2021, and for the Investment Adviser and Sub-adviser.
Form 3s were filed on September 28, 2021, October 12, 2021 and
January 24, 2022 reflecting that Ms. Belinfanti, the Investment
Adviser and the Sub-adviser, respectively, did not own any Common
Stock or APS.
A-18
EXHIBIT B
THE BNY MELLON FAMILY OF FUNDS
BNY MELLON FUNDS TRUST
Nominating Committee Charter and Procedures
ORGANIZATION
The Nominating Committee (the "Committee") of each fund in the BNY
Mellon Family of Funds (each, the "Fund") shall be composed solely
of Directors/Trustees ("Directors") who are not "interested
persons" (as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company
Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act")) of the Fund ("Independent
Directors"). The Board of Directors of the Fund (the "Board") shall
select the members of the Committee and shall designate the
Chairperson of the Committee.
RESPONSIBILITIES
The Committee shall select and nominate persons for election or
appointment by the Board as Directors of the Fund and as Advisory
Board Members (as defined below) of the Fund.
EVALUATION OF POTENTIAL NOMINEES
The Board believes that Directors need to have the ability to
critically review, evaluate, question and discuss information
provided to them, and to interact effectively with Fund management,
service providers and counsel, in order to exercise effective
business judgment in the performance of their duties. In evaluating
potential Director nominees (including any nominees recommended by
shareholders as provided below) in light of this standard, and to
address certain legal and other requirements and considerations
associated with composition of the Board, the Committee shall
consider, among other factors it may deem relevant:
· the
character and integrity of the person;
· whether
or not the person is qualified under applicable laws and
regulations to serve as a Director of the Fund;
· whether
or not the person has any relationships that might impair his or
her service on the Board;
· whether
nomination of the person would be consistent with Fund policy and
applicable laws and regulations regarding the number and percentage
of Independent Directors on the Board;
· whether
or not the person serves on boards of, or is otherwise affiliated
with, competing financial service organizations or their related
fund complexes;
B-1
· whether
or not the person is willing to serve and is willing and able to
commit the time necessary for the performance of the duties and
responsibilities of a Director of the Fund; and
· the
educational background; business, professional training or practice
(e.g.,
medicine, accounting or law), public service or academic positions;
experience from service as a board member (including the Board) or
as an executive of investment funds, public companies or
significant private or not-for-profit entities or other
organizations; and/or other life experiences.
In addition, the Committee may consider whether a potential
nominee's professional experience, education, skills and other
individual qualities and attributes, including gender, race or
national origin, would provide beneficial diversity of skills,
experience or perspective to the Board's membership and collective
attributes. Such considerations will vary based on the Board's
existing membership and other factors, such as the strength of a
potential nominee's overall qualifications relative to diversity
considerations.
While the Committee is solely responsible for the selection and
nomination of Directors and Advisory Board Members, the Committee
may consider nominees for Independent Director recommended by Fund
shareholders. The Committee will consider recommendations for
nominees from shareholders sent to the Secretary of the Fund, c/o
BNY Mellon Investment Adviser, Inc. Legal Department, 240 Greenwich
Street, 18th
Floor, New York, New York 10286. A nomination submission must
include all information relating to the recommended nominee that is
required to be disclosed in solicitations or proxy statements for
the election of Directors, as well as information sufficient to
evaluate the factors listed above. Nomination submissions must be
accompanied by a written consent of the individual to stand for
election if nominated by the Board and to serve if elected by the
shareholders, and such additional information must be provided
regarding the recommended nominee as reasonably requested by the
Committee.
The Committee shall have the authority to retain and terminate any
search firm or other consultant to be used to identify and/or
conduct a background check with respect to Independent Director
and/or Advisory Board Member candidates, including the authority to
approve its fees and other retention terms. The Committee is
empowered to cause the Fund to pay the compensation of any search
firm or other consultant engaged by the Committee.
NOMINATION OF DIRECTORS
After a determination by the Committee that a person should be
selected and nominated as a Director of the Fund, the Committee
shall present its recommendation to the full Board for its
consideration.
B-2
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS
The Committee may from time to time propose nominations of one or
more individuals to serve as members of an "advisory board," as
such term is defined in Section 2(a)(1) of the 1940 Act ("Advisory
Board Members"). An individual shall be eligible to serve as an
Advisory Board Member only if that individual meets the
requirements to be an Independent Director (subject to the
Committee's evaluation of the factors set forth above for
consideration of potential Director nominees) and does not
otherwise serve the Fund in any other capacity. An Advisory Board
Member shall not have voting rights with respect to matters
pertaining to the Fund. Any Advisory Board Member shall serve at
the pleasure of the Board and may be removed, at any time, with or
without cause, by the Board. An Advisory Board Member subsequently
may be appointed as an Independent Director, or nominated and
elected as an Independent Director, at which time he or she shall
cease to be an Advisory Board Member. Any Advisory Board Member may
resign at any time.
REVIEW OF CHARTER AND PROCEDURES
The Committee shall review the charter and procedures from time to
time, as it considers appropriate.
B-3
EXHIBIT C
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
BNY Mellon Municipal Income, Inc.
November 22, 2021
The Audit Committee oversees the Fund's financial reporting process
on behalf of the Board of Directors. Management has the primary
responsibility for the financial statements and the reporting
process including the systems of internal controls. In fulfilling
its oversight responsibilities, the Committee reviewed and
discussed the audited financial statements in the Annual Report
with management, including a discussion of the quality, not just
the acceptability, of the accounting principles, the reasonableness
of significant judgments, and the clarity of disclosures in the
financial statement.
The Committee reviewed with the Fund's independent registered
public accounting firm (the "independent auditors" or "auditors"),
who are responsible for expressing an opinion on the conformity of
those audited financial statements with generally accepted
accounting principles, their judgment as to the quality, not just
the acceptability, of the Fund's accounting principles and such
other matters as are required to be discussed with the committee
under the applicable standards of the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board (United States) ("PCAOB") and Securities and
Exchange Commission. In addition, the Committee discussed with the
independent auditors the auditors' independence from management and
the Fund, including the auditors' letter and the matters in the
written disclosures required by the PCAOB, and considered the
compatibility of non-audit services with the auditors'
independence.
The Committee met with the independent auditors, with and without
management present, to discuss the results of their examinations,
their evaluations of the Fund's internal controls, and the overall
quality of the Fund's financial reporting.
Based on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the
Committee recommended to the Board of Directors (and the Board
approved) that the audited financial statements for the Fund be
included in the Fund's Annual Report to Stockholders for the year
ended September 30, 2021.
Francine J. Bovich, Audit Committee Chair
J. Charles Cardona, Audit Committee Member
Joseph S. DiMartino, Audit Committee Member
Andrew J. Donohue, Audit Committee Member
Isabel P. Dunst, Audit Committee Member
Nathan Leventhal, Audit Committee Member
Robin A. Melvin, Audit Committee Member
Roslyn M. Watson, Audit Committee Member
Benaree Pratt Wiley, Audit Committee Member
C-1
0424-PROXY-22
Please detach at perforation before mailing.
BNY MELLON MUNICIPAL INCOME, INC.
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON JUNE 16, 2022
COMMON STOCK
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF
OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. The undersigned stockholder of BNY Mellon
Municipal Income, Inc. (the “Fund”) hereby appoints James Bitetto
and Deirdre Cunnane, and each of them, the attorneys and proxies of
the undersigned, with full power of substitution, to vote, as
indicated herein, all shares of the Fund standing in the name of
the undersigned at the close of business on April 13, 2022, at the
Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Fund to be virtually held at
the following Website: www.meetnow.global/MPRYJX4,
on Thursday, June 16, 2022, at 10:30 a.m., Eastern time, and at any
and all adjournments thereof (the “Meeting”), with all of the
powers the undersigned would possess if then and there personally
present and especially (but without limiting the general
authorization and power hereby given) to vote as indicated on the
proposal, as more fully described in the Proxy Statement for the
Meeting. To participate in the Virtual Meeting enter the 14-digit
control number from the shaded box on this card. The undersigned
hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice of the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders of the Fund and of the accompanying Proxy Statement,
the terms of each of which are incorporated by reference, and
revokes any proxy heretofore given with respect to such
meeting.
THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER
DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED STOCKHOLDER. IF THIS PROXY IS
PROPERLY EXECUTED BUT NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE
VOTED FOR THE NOMINEES PRINTED ON THE REVERSE SIDE OF THIS
CARD AND IN THE DISCRETION OF THE PROXY HOLDERS ON ANY OTHER MATTER
PROPERLY BROUGHT BEFORE THE MEETING.
EVERY STOCKHOLDER’S VOTE IS IMPORTANT
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials
for the
Annual Stockholder Meeting to be held virtually on June 16,
2022.
The Proxy Statement, a copy of the Fund's most recent Annual Report
to Stockholders and
Proxy Card for this meeting are available at:
https://im.bnymellon.com/us/en/intermediary/products/closed-end-funds.jsp
IF YOU VOTE BY TELEPHONE OR INTERNET,
PLEASE DO NOT MAIL YOUR CARD
Please detach at perforation before mailing.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx BNY 32691 xxxxxxxx
Please detach at perforation before mailing.
BNY
MELLON MUNICIPAL INCOME, INC.
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON JUNE 16, 2022
AUCTION PREFERRED STOCK
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF
OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. The undersigned stockholder of BNY Mellon
Municipal Income, Inc. (the “Fund”) hereby appoints James Bitetto
and Deirdre Cunnane, and each of them, the attorneys and proxies of
the undersigned, with full power of substitution, to vote, as
indicated herein, all shares of the Fund standing in the name of
the undersigned at the close of business on April 13, 2022, at the
Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Fund to be virtually held at
the following Website: www.meetnow.global/MPRYJX4,
on Thursday, June 16, 2022, at 10:30 a.m., Eastern time, and at any
and all adjournments thereof (the “Meeting”), with all of the
powers the undersigned would possess if then and there personally
present and especially (but without limiting the general
authorization and power hereby given) to vote as indicated on the
proposal, as more fully described in the Proxy Statement for the
Meeting. To participate in the Virtual Meeting enter the 14-digit
control number from the shaded box on this card. The undersigned
hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice of the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders of the Fund and of the accompanying Proxy Statement,
the terms of each of which are incorporated by reference, and
revokes any proxy heretofore given with respect to such
meeting.
THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER
DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED STOCKHOLDER. IF THIS PROXY IS
PROPERLY EXECUTED BUT NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE
VOTED FOR THE NOMINEES PRINTED ON THE REVERSE SIDE OF THIS
CARD AND IN THE DISCRETION OF THE PROXY HOLDERS ON ANY OTHER MATTER
PROPERLY BROUGHT BEFORE THE MEETING.
EVERY STOCKHOLDER’S VOTE IS IMPORTANT
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials
for the
Annual Stockholder Meeting to be held virtually on June 16,
2022.
The Proxy Statement, a copy of the Fund's most recent Annual Report
to Stockholders and
Proxy Card for this meeting are available at:
https://im.bnymellon.com/us/en/intermediary/products/closed-end-funds.jsp
IF YOU VOTE BY TELEPHONE OR INTERNET,
PLEASE DO NOT MAIL YOUR CARD
Please detach at perforation before mailing.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx BNY2 32691 xxxxxxxx
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