SEC Form SC 13D filed by BNY Mellon Strategic Municipal Bond Fund Inc.

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 13D

 

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

(Amendment No. n/a)*

BNY MELLON STRATEGIC MUNICIPAL BOND FUND, INC.

(Name of Issuer)

 

VARIABLE RATE MUNIFUND TERM PREFERRED SHARES

(Title of Class of Securities)

 

09662E505

(CUSIP Number)

Bank of America Corporation

Bank of America Corporate Center

100 North Tryon Street

(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person

Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)

 

If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition which is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of Rule 13d-1(e), 13d-1(f) or 13d-1(g), check the following box ☐.

 

*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

 

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

 

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SCHEDULE 13D

 

CUSIP No. 09662E505

1	NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
	Bank of America Corporation 56-0906609
2	CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP			(a)	☐
				(b)	☒
3	SEC USE ONLY
4	SOURCE OF FUNDS (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
	WC
5	CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(D) OR 2(E)				☒
6	CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
	Delaware
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH		7	SOLE VOTING POWER
			0
		8	SHARED VOTING POWER
			1,972
		9	SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
			0
		10	SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
			1,972
11	AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
	1,972
12	CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)				☐
13	PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
	100%
14	TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
	HC

 

SCHEDULE 13D

CUSIP No. 09662E505

 

Item 1

Security and Issuer

 

This Statement on Schedule 13D (this “Statement”) relates to the purchase of 1,972 Variable Rate MuniFund Term Preferred Shares, Series 2023-1 (CUSIP No. 09662E505) (“VMTP Shares”) of BNY Mellon Strategic Municipal Bond Fund, Inc. (the “Issuer” or the “Company”).  This Statement is being filed by the Reporting Persons (as defined below) as a result of the sale of the VMTP Shares to BAPFC (as defined below).  The Issuer’s principal executive offices are located at 240 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10286.

 

Item 2

Identity and Background

 

This Statement is being filed on behalf of each of the following persons (collectively, the “Reporting Persons”):

 

 

 

This Statement relates to the VMTP Shares that were purchased for the account of BAPFC.

 

The address of the principal business office of BAC is:

 

Bank of America Corporate Center

100 North Tryon Street

Charlotte, North Carolina 28255

The address of the principal business office of BAPFC is:

 

214 North Tryon Street

Charlotte, North Carolina 28255

 

BAC and its subsidiaries provide diversified global financial services and products.  The principal business of BAPFC is to make investments and provide loans to clients.

 

Information concerning each executive officer, director and controlling person (the “Listed Persons”) of the Reporting Persons is listed on Schedule I attached hereto, and is incorporated by reference herein.  To the knowledge of the Reporting Persons, all of the Listed Persons are citizens of the United States, other than as otherwise specified on Schedule I hereto.

 

Other than as set forth on Schedule II, during the last five years, none of the Reporting Persons, and to the best knowledge of the Reporting Persons, none of the Listed Persons, have been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors) or was a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction as a result of which such person was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws, or finding any violation with respect to such laws.

 

Item 3

Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration

 

The aggregate amount of funds used by the Reporting Persons to purchase the securities reported herein was approximately $49,300,000.  The source of funds was the working capital of the Reporting Persons.

 

The Reporting Persons declare that neither the filing of this Statement nor anything herein shall be construed as an admission that such person is, for the purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act or any other purpose, (i) acting (or has agreed or is agreeing to act together with any other person) as a partnership, limited partnership, syndicate, or other group for the purpose of acquiring, holding or disposing of securities of the Company or otherwise with respect to the Company or any securities of the Company or (ii) a member of any group with respect to the Company or any securities of the Company.

 

Item 4

Purpose of the Transaction

 

BAPFC has purchased the VMTP Shares for investment purposes.  BAPFC acquired the VMTP Shares directly from the Company pursuant to the VMTP Purchase Agreement dated July 12, 2023, between the Company and BAPFC (the “Purchase Agreement”) on their initial issuance for a purchase price of $49,300,000.

 

The Reporting Persons have not acquired the subject securities with any purpose, or with the effect of, changing or influencing control of the issuer, or in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.

 

Item 5

Interest in Securities of the Issuer

 

(a) - (b) The responses of the Reporting Persons to Rows (7) through (11) of the cover pages of this Statement are incorporated herein by reference.

 

(c) The responses of the Reporting Persons in Item 3 and Item 4 are incorporated herein by reference.

 

(d) No other person is known by the Reporting Persons to have the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, VMTP Shares that may be deemed to be beneficially owned by the Reporting Persons.

 

(e) Not applicable.

 

 

The responses of the Reporting Persons to Item 4 are incorporated herein by reference.  With respect to the VMTP Shares owned by BAPFC, on July 12, 2023 BAPFC assigned certain preferred class voting rights on the VMTP Shares to a voting trust (the “Voting Trust”) created pursuant to the Voting Trust Agreement, dated July 12, 2023, among BAPFC, Lord Securities Corporation, as voting trustee (the “Voting Trustee”) and Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. as voting consultant (the “Voting Consultant”).  Voting and consent rights on the VMTP Shares not assigned to the Voting Trust have been retained by BAPFC.  The Voting Trust provides that with respect to voting or consent matters relating to the voting rights assigned to the Voting Trust, the Voting Consultant analyzes such voting or consent matters and makes a recommendation to the Voting Trustee on voting or consenting.  The Voting Trustee is obligated to follow any such recommendations of the Voting Consultant when providing a vote or consent. BAPFC has the right to cause the Company to register the VMTP Shares pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement, dated July 12, 2023 between the Company and BAPFC.

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

 

Date:   July 24, 2023

 

LIST OF EXHIBITS

 

The following sets forth the name and present principal occupation of each executive officer and director of Bank of America Corporation.  The business address of each of the executive officers and directors of Bank of America Corporation is Bank of America Corporate Center, 100 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, North Carolina 28255.

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¹ Mr. de Weck is a citizen of Switzerland.

² Mr. Woods is a citizen of Canada.

The following sets forth the name and present principal occupation of each executive officer and director of Banc of America Preferred Funding Corporation.  The business address of each of the executive officers and directors of Banc of America Preferred Funding Corporation is 214 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, North Carolina 28255.

 

 

Bank of America Corporation and certain of its affiliates, including BofA Securities, Inc. (“BofA Securities,” successor in interest to Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated) and Bank of America, N.A., have been involved in a number of civil proceedings and regulatory actions which concern matters arising in connection with the conduct of its business.  Certain of such proceedings have resulted in findings of violations of federal or state securities laws.  Such proceedings are reported and summarized in the BofA Securities Form BD as filed with the SEC, which descriptions are hereby incorporated by reference.

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