UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-CSR
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Investment Company Act file number: 811-06414
Name of Fund: BlackRock MuniYield Fund, Inc. (MYD)
Fund Address: 100 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19809
Name and address of agent for service: John M. Perlowski, Chief Executive Officer, BlackRock MuniYield Fund,
Inc., 55 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10055
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (800) 882-0052, Option 4
Date of fiscal year end: 04/30/2021
Date of reporting period: 10/31/2020
Item 1 – Report to Stockholders
|
OCTOBER 31, 2020 |
| 2020 Semi-Annual Report (Unaudited) | ||
BlackRock MuniYield Fund, Inc. (MYD)
BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund, Inc. (MQY)
BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund II, Inc. (MQT)
Beginning on January 1, 2021, as permitted by regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, paper copies of each Fund’s shareholder reports will no longer be sent by mail, unless you specifically request paper copies of the reports from BlackRock or from your financial intermediary, such as a broker-dealer or bank. Instead, the reports will be made available on a website, and you will be notified by mail each time a report is posted and provided with a website link to access the report.
You may elect to receive all future reports in paper free of charge. If you hold accounts directly with BlackRock, you can call Computershare at (800) 699-1236 to request that you continue receiving paper copies of your shareholder reports. If you hold accounts through a financial intermediary, you can follow the instructions included with this disclosure, if applicable, or contact your financial intermediary to request that you continue to receive paper copies of your shareholder reports. Please note that not all financial intermediaries may offer this service. Your election to receive reports in paper will apply to all funds advised by BlackRock Advisors, LLC or its affiliates, or all funds held with your financial intermediary, as applicable.
If you already elected to receive shareholder reports electronically, you will not be affected by this change and you need not take any action. You may elect to receive electronic delivery of shareholder reports and other communications by contacting your financial intermediary, if you hold accounts through a financial intermediary. Please note that not all financial intermediaries may offer this service.
| Not FDIC Insured • May Lose Value • No Bank Guarantee |
| 2 | THIS PAGE IS NOT PART OF YOUR FUND REPORT |
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Municipal Market Overview For the Reporting Period Ended October 31, 2020
Municipal Market Conditions
Municipal bonds posted positive total returns during the period amid increased volatility. Initial strong performance was driven by a favorable technical backdrop. However, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic induced economic shutdown, the municipal market experienced volatility that was worse than during the height of the global financial crisis. Performance plummeted -10.87% during a two-week period in March, before rebounding on valuation-based buying. (For comparison, the -11.86% correction in 2008 spanned more than a month.) Strong performance returned alongside initial fiscal stimulus and the re-opening of the economy but later stalled amid U.S. election uncertainty and lack of additional federal aid.
| Similarly, strong technical support during most of the period temporarily waned as COVID-19 fears spurred risk-off sentiment and a streak of 60-consecutive weeks of inflows turned to record outflows. During the 12 months ended October 31, 2020, municipal bond funds experienced net inflows totaling $43 billion, drawn down by nearly $46 billion in outflows during the months of March and April (based on data from the Investment Company Institute). For the same 12-month period, new issuance was robust at $485 billion but slowed during the height of pandemic as market liquidity | S&P Municipal Bond Index | |
| Total Returns as of October 31, 2020 | ||
| 6 months: 4.87% | ||
| 12 months: 3.55% | ||
became constrained amid the flight to quality. Taxable municipal issuance was elevated as issuers increasingly advance refunded tax-exempt debt in the taxable municipal market for cost savings.
A Closer Look at Yields
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From October 31, 2019 to October 31, 2020, yields on AAA-rated 30-year municipal bonds decreased by 35 basis points (“bps”) from 2.06% to 1.71%, while ten-year rates decreased by 56 bps from 1.49% to 0.93% and five-year rates decreased by 85 bps from 1.15% to 0.30% (as measured by Thomson Municipal Market Data). As a result, the municipal yield curve bull steepened over the 12-month period with the spread between two- and 30-year maturities steepening by 55 bps, lagging the 83 bps of steepening experienced in the U.S. Treasury curve. |
| During the same period, tax-exempt municipal bonds significantly underperformed U.S. Treasuries across the yield curve. As a result, relative valuations reset to more attractive levels and spurred increased participation from crossover investors. |
Financial Conditions of Municipal Issuers
The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented shock to the system impacting nearly every sector in the municipal market. Fortunately, most states and municipalities were in excellent fiscal health before the crisis and the federal government provided an incredible amount of initial support. BlackRock expects ongoing stability in high-quality states as well as school districts and local governments given that property taxes have proven resilient. Essential public services such as power, water, and sewer remain protected segments. State housing authority bonds, flagship universities, and strong national and regional health systems have absorbed the impact of the economic shock. However, some segments are facing daunting financial challenges. Absent additional stimulus, issuers will make difficult choices such as drawing down reserves, raising user fees/taxes, slashing expenditures, and/or borrowing to meet financial obligations. Critical providers (safety net hospitals, mass transit systems, airports) with limited resources will require funding from the states and broader municipalities they serve. BlackRock anticipates that a small subset of the market, mainly non-rated stand-alone projects, will experience significant credit deterioration. Recent news of a potentially effective vaccine suggests that the onset of meaningful credit recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic could be months to a year away. However, the current coronavirus resurgence and its negative effects on economic activity could bring a number of defaults, primarily in non-rated credits, and the migration of the municipal market’s overall credit quality from AA- to a still-strong A+ rating. As a result, BlackRock advocates careful credit selection and anticipates increased credit dispersion as the market navigates near-term uncertainty.
The opinions expressed are those of BlackRock as of October 31, 2020 and are subject to change at any time due to changes in market or economic conditions. The comments should not be construed as a recommendation of any individual holdings or market sectors. Investing involves risk including loss of principal. Bond values fluctuate in price so the value of your investment can go down depending on market conditions. Fixed income risks include interest-rate and credit risk. Typically, when interest rates rise, there is a corresponding decline in bond values. Credit risk refers to the possibility that the bond issuer will not be able to make principal and interest payments. There may be less information on the financial condition of municipal issuers than for public corporations. The market for municipal bonds may be less liquid than for taxable bonds. Some investors may be subject to Alternative Minimum Tax (“AMT”). Capital gains distributions, if any, are taxable.
The S&P Municipal Bond Index, a broad, market value-weighted index, seeks to measure the performance of the U.S. municipal bond market. All bonds in the index are exempt from U.S. federal income taxes or subject to the AMT. Past performance is not an indication of future results. Index performance is shown for illustrative purposes only. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.
| 4 | 2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
The Benefits and Risks of Leveraging
The Funds may utilize leverage to seek to enhance the distribution rate on, and net asset value (“NAV”) of, their common shares (“Common Shares”). However, there is no guarantee that these objectives can be achieved in all interest rate environments.
In general, the concept of leveraging is based on the premise that the financing cost of leverage, which is based on short-term interest rates, is normally lower than the income earned by a Fund on its longer-term portfolio investments purchased with the proceeds from leverage. To the extent that the total assets of each Fund (including the assets obtained from leverage) are invested in higher-yielding portfolio investments, each Fund’s shareholders benefit from the incremental net income. The interest earned on securities purchased with the proceeds from leverage (after paying the leverage costs) is paid to shareholders in the form of dividends, and the value of these portfolio holdings (less the leverage liability) is reflected in the per share NAV.
To illustrate these concepts, assume a Fund’s Common Shares capitalization is $100 million and it utilizes leverage for an additional $30 million, creating a total value of $130 million available for investment in longer-term income securities. If prevailing short-term interest rates are 3% and longer-term interest rates are 6%, the yield curve has a strongly positive slope. In this case, a Fund’s financing costs on the $30 million of proceeds obtained from leverage are based on the lower short-term interest rates. At the same time, the securities purchased by a Fund with the proceeds from leverage earn income based on longer-term interest rates. In this case, a Fund’s financing cost of leverage is significantly lower than the income earned on a Fund’s longer-term investments acquired from such leverage proceeds, and therefore the holders of Common Shares (“Common Shareholders”) are the beneficiaries of the incremental net income.
However, in order to benefit Common Shareholders, the return on assets purchased with leverage proceeds must exceed the ongoing costs associated with the leverage. If interest and other costs of leverage exceed each Fund’s return on assets purchased with leverage proceeds, income to shareholders is lower than if the Fund had not used leverage. Furthermore, the value of each Fund’s portfolio investments generally varies inversely with the direction of long-term interest rates, although other factors can influence the value of portfolio investments. In contrast, the value of a Fund’s obligations under its respective leverage arrangement generally does not fluctuate in relation to interest rates. As a result, changes in interest rates can influence each Fund’s NAV positively or negatively. Changes in the future direction of interest rates are very difficult to predict accurately, and there is no assurance that each Fund’s intended leveraging strategy will be successful.
The use of leverage also generally causes greater changes in each Fund’s NAV, market price and dividend rates than comparable portfolios without leverage. In a declining market, leverage is likely to cause a greater decline in the NAV and market price of a Fund’s Common Shares than if the Fund were not leveraged. In addition, each Fund may be required to sell portfolio securities at inopportune times or at distressed values in order to comply with regulatory requirements applicable to the use of leverage or as required by the terms of leverage instruments, which may cause the Fund to incur losses. The use of leverage may limit a Fund’s ability to invest in certain types of securities or use certain types of hedging strategies. Each Fund incurs expenses in connection with the use of leverage, all of which are borne by Common Shareholders and may reduce income to the Common Shares. Moreover, to the extent the calculation of each Fund’s investment advisory fees includes assets purchased with the proceeds of leverage, the investment advisory fees payable to each Fund’s investment adviser will be higher than if the Funds did not use leverage.
To obtain leverage, each Fund has issued Variable Rate Demand Preferred Shares (“VRDP Shares”) or Variable Rate Muni Term Preferred Shares (“VMTP Shares”) (collectively, “Preferred Shares”) and/or leveraged its assets through the use of tender option bond trusts (“TOB Trusts”) as described in the Notes to Financial Statements.
Under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), each Fund is permitted to issue debt up to 33 1/3% of its total managed assets or equity securities (e.g., Preferred Shares) up to 50% of its total managed assets. A Fund may voluntarily elect to limit its leverage to less than the maximum amount permitted under the 1940 Act. In addition, a Fund may also be subject to certain asset coverage, leverage or portfolio composition requirements imposed by the Preferred Shares’ governing instruments or by agencies rating the Preferred Shares, which may be more stringent than those imposed by the 1940 Act.
If a Fund segregates or designates on its books and records cash or liquid assets having a value not less than the value of a Fund’s obligations under the TOB Trust (including accrued interest), then the TOB Trust is not considered a senior security and is not subject to the foregoing limitations and requirements imposed by the 1940 Act.
| THE BENEFITS AND RISKS OF LEVERAGING |
5 |
| Fund Summary as of October 31, 2020 | BlackRock MuniYield Fund, Inc. (MYD) |
Investment Objective
BlackRock MuniYield Fund, Inc.’s (MYD) (the “Fund”) investment objective is to provide shareholders with as high a level of current income exempt from U.S. federal income taxes as is consistent with its investment policies and prudent investment management. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing at least 80% of its assets in municipal bonds exempt from U.S. federal income taxes (except that the interest may be subject to the U.S. federal alternative minimum tax). The Fund invests, under normal market conditions, at least 75% of its assets in municipal bonds rated investment grade, or deemed to be of comparable quality by the investment adviser, at the time of investment and invests primarily in long-term municipal bonds with a maturity of more than ten years at the time of investment. The Fund may invest directly in such securities or synthetically through the use of derivatives.
No assurance can be given that the Fund’s investment objective will be achieved.
Fund Information
| Symbol on New York Stock Exchange |
MYD | |
| Initial Offering Date |
November 29, 1991 | |
| Yield on Closing Market Price as of October 31, 2020 ($13.24)(a) |
5.08% | |
| Tax Equivalent Yield(b) |
8.58% | |
| Current Monthly Distribution per Common Share(c) |
$0.0560 | |
| Current Annualized Distribution per Common Share(c) |
$0.6720 | |
| Leverage as of October 31, 2020(d) |
37% |
| (a) | Yield on closing market price is calculated by dividing the current annualized distribution per share by the closing market price. Past performance is not an indication of future results. |
| (b) | Tax equivalent yield assumes the maximum marginal U.S. federal tax rate of 40.8%, which includes the 3.8% Medicare tax. Actual tax rates will vary based on income, exemptions and deductions. Lower taxes will result in lower tax equivalent yields. |
| (c) | The distribution rate is not constant and is subject to change. |
| (d) | Represents VRDP Shares and TOB Trusts as a percentage of total managed assets, which is the total assets of the Fund, including any assets attributable to VRDP Shares and TOB Trusts, minus the sum of its accrued liabilities. Does not reflect derivatives or other instruments that may give rise to economic leverage. For a discussion of leveraging techniques utilized by the Fund, please see The Benefits and Risks of Leveraging. |
Market Price and Net Asset Value Per Share Summary
| 10/31/20 | 04/30/20 | Change | High | Low | ||||||||||||||||
| Market Price |
$ | 13.24 | $ | 12.29 | 7.73 | % | $ | 14.47 | $ | 12.21 | ||||||||||
| Net Asset Value |
14.52 | 13.38 | 8.52 | 15.11 | 13.38 | |||||||||||||||
Market Price and Net Asset Value History for the Past Five Years
| 6 | 2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
| Fund Summary as of October 31, 2020 (continued) | BlackRock MuniYield Fund, Inc. (MYD) |
Performance
Returns for the six months ended October 31, 2020 were as follows:
| Returns Based On | ||||||||
| Market Price | NAV | |||||||
| MYD(a)(b) |
10.40 | % | 11.20 | % | ||||
| Lipper General & Insured Municipal Debt Funds (Leveraged)(c) |
11.22 | 10.27 | ||||||
| (a) | All returns reflect reinvestment of dividends and/or distributions at actual reinvestment prices. Performance results reflect the Fund’s use of leverage. |
| (b) | The Fund’s discount to NAV widened during the period, which accounts for the difference between performance based on market price and performance based on NAV. |
| (c) | Average return. Returns reflect reinvestment of dividends and/or distributions at NAV on the ex-dividend date as calculated by Lipper. |
Performance results may include adjustments made for financial reporting purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Past performance is not an indication of future results.
More information about the Fund’s historical performance can be found in the “Closed End Funds” section of blackrock.com.
The following discussion relates to the Fund’s absolute performance based on NAV:
Municipal bonds delivered strong returns in the past six months. When the period began, municipal bonds were just beginning to recover from the broad-based sell-off caused by COVID-19 and governments’ efforts to mitigate the virus. The rally continued through the spring and summer, thanks to positive supply-and-demand trends, an improving economic outlook, and the Fed’s stated intent to maintain its near-zero interest rate policy indefinitely. Municipal bonds lost momentum late in the period due to elevated new-issue supply ahead of the election, as well as uncertainty surrounding the next phase of fiscal stimulus. Still, the broader market finished with a robust, double-digit return on the strength of its earlier gains.
The Fund’s positions in long-dated investment-grade bonds made the largest contribution to performance. At the sector level, positions in tax-backed, health care and transportation issues were key contributors. The Fund’s use of leverage also helped results by enhancing income and augmenting the effect of rising prices.
The Fund’s yield curve positioning detracted from performance, as did its positions in securities subject to early redemption by their issuers.
The views expressed reflect the opinions of BlackRock as of the date of this report and are subject to change based on changes in market, economic or other conditions. These views are not intended to be a forecast of future events and are no guarantee of future results.
| FUND SUMMARY |
7 |
| Fund Summary as of October 31, 2020 (continued) | BlackRock MuniYield Fund, Inc. (MYD) |
Overview of the Fund’s Total Investments
| 8 | 2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
| Fund Summary as of October 31, 2020 | BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund, Inc. (MQY) |
Investment Objective
BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund, Inc.’s (MQY) (the “Fund”) investment objective is to provide shareholders with as high a level of current income exempt from U.S. federal income taxes as is consistent with its investment policies and prudent investment management. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing at least 80% of its assets in municipal bonds exempt from U.S federal income taxes (except that the interest may be subject to the U.S. federal alternative minimum tax). The Fund invests in municipal bonds which are in the three highest quality rating categories (A or better), or which are deemed to be of comparable quality by the adviser, at the time of investment. The Fund invests primarily in long-term municipal bonds with maturities of more than ten years at the time of investment. The Fund may invest directly in such securities or synthetically through the use of derivatives.
On June 16, 2020, the Board of Directors or the Board of Trustees, as applicable, of BlackRock Maryland Municipal Bond Trust (BZM), BlackRock Massachusetts Tax-Exempt Trust (MHE), BlackRock MuniYield Arizona Fund, Inc. (MZA), BlackRock MuniYield Investment Fund (MYF), BlackRock MuniEnhanced Fund, Inc. (MEN) and the Board of Directors of MQY each approved the reorganizations of BZM, MHE, MZA, MYF and MEN into MQY. Subject to approvals by each Fund’s shareholders and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, the reorganizations are expected to occur during the first quarter of 2021.
No assurance can be given that the Fund’s investment objective will be achieved.
Fund Information
| Symbol on New York Stock Exchange |
MQY | |
| Initial Offering Date |
June 26, 1992 | |
| Yield on Closing Market Price as of October 31, 2020 ($15.73)(a) |
4.81% | |
| Tax Equivalent Yield(b) |
8.13% | |
| Current Monthly Distribution per Common Share(c) |
$0.0630 | |
| Current Annualized Distribution per Common Share(c) |
$0.7560 | |
| Leverage as of October 31, 2020(d) |
38% |
| (a) | Yield on closing market price is calculated by dividing the current annualized distribution per share by the closing market price. Past performance is not an indication of future results. |
| (b) | Tax equivalent yield assumes the maximum marginal U.S. federal tax rate of 40.8%, which includes the 3.8% Medicare tax. Actual tax rates will vary based on income, exemptions and deductions. Lower taxes will result in lower tax equivalent yields. |
| (c) | The distribution rate is not constant and is subject to change. |
| (d) | Represents VRDP Shares and TOB Trusts as a percentage of total managed assets, which is the total assets of the Fund, including any assets attributable to VRDP Shares and TOB Trusts, minus the sum of its accrued liabilities. Does not reflect derivatives or other instruments that may give rise to economic leverage. For a discussion of leveraging techniques utilized by the Fund, please see The Benefits and Risks of Leveraging. |
Market Price and Net Asset Value Per Share Summary
| 10/31/20 | 04/30/20 | Change | High | Low | ||||||||||||||||
| Market Price |
$ | 15.73 | $ | 13.88 | 13.33 | % | $ | 17.64 | $ | 13.85 | ||||||||||
| Net Asset Value |
16.04 | 14.79 | 8.45 | 16.65 | 14.79 | |||||||||||||||
Market Price and Net Asset Value History for the Past Five Years
| FUND SUMMARY |
9 |
| Fund Summary as of October 31, 2020 (continued) | BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund, Inc. (MQY) |
Performance
Returns for the six months ended October 31, 2020 were as follows:
| Returns Based On | ||||||||
| Market Price | NAV | |||||||
| MQY(a)(b) |
15.90 | % | 10.91 | % | ||||
| Lipper General & Insured Municipal Debt Funds (Leveraged)(c) |
11.22 | 10.27 | ||||||
| (a) | All returns reflect reinvestment of dividends and/or distributions at actual reinvestment prices. Performance results reflect the Fund’s use of leverage. |
| (b) | The Fund’s discount to NAV narrowed during the period, which accounts for the difference between performance based on market price and performance based on NAV. |
| (c) | Average return. Returns reflect reinvestment of dividends and/or distributions at NAV on the ex-dividend date as calculated by Lipper. |
Performance results may include adjustments made for financial reporting purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Past performance is not an indication of future results.
More information about the Fund’s historical performance can be found in the “Closed End Funds” section of blackrock.com.
The following discussion relates to the Fund’s absolute performance based on NAV:
Municipal bonds delivered strong returns in the past six months. When the period began, municipal bonds were just beginning to recover from the broad-based sell-off caused by COVID-19 and governments’ efforts to mitigate the virus. The rally continued through the spring and summer, thanks to positive supply-and-demand trends, an improving economic outlook, and the Fed’s stated intent to maintain its near-zero interest rate policy indefinitely. Municipal bonds lost momentum late in the period due to elevated new-issue supply ahead of the election, as well as uncertainty surrounding the next phase of fiscal stimulus. Still, the broader market finished with a robust, double-digit return on the strength of its earlier gains.
The Fund’s strong return reflects the combination of income, falling yields, and a compression in yield spreads. (Prices and yields move in opposite directions; falling yield spreads indicate outperformance relative to U.S. Treasuries.) The sectors that benefited the most were generally those that experienced the largest downturns in the sell-off that occurred in the first quarter of 2020, including health care, transportation and corporate-backed securities. This trend also contributed to outperformance for lower-rated debt. The Fund’s holdings in high-yield bonds, including tobacco and Puerto Rico issues, were significant beneficiaries. The Fund’s use of leverage also aided results by augmenting income and amplifying the effect of rising prices.
Conversely, the Fund’s positions in shorter-dated issues—including pre-refunded securities—underperformed. Holdings in higher-quality bonds, while posting positive absolute returns, also lagged somewhat in the rally.
The views expressed reflect the opinions of BlackRock as of the date of this report and are subject to change based on changes in market, economic or other conditions. These views are not intended to be a forecast of future events and are no guarantee of future results.
| 10 | 2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
| Fund Summary as of October 31, 2020 (continued) | BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund, Inc. (MQY) |
Overview of the Fund’s Total Investments
| FUND SUMMARY |
11 |
| Fund Summary as of October 31, 2020 | BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund II, Inc. (MQT) |
Investment Objective
BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund II, Inc.’s (MQT) (the “Fund”) investment objective is to provide shareholders with as high a level of current income exempt from U.S federal income taxes as is consistent with its investment policies and prudent investment management. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing at least 80% of its assets in municipal bonds exempt from U.S. federal income taxes (except that the interest may be subject to the U.S federal alternative minimum tax). The Fund invests in municipal bonds which are in the three highest quality rating categories (A or better), or are deemed to be of comparable quality by the investment adviser at the time of investment. The Fund invests primarily in long-term municipal bonds with maturities of more than ten years at the time of investment. The Fund may invest directly in such securities or synthetically through the use of derivatives.
No assurance can be given that the Fund’s investment objective will be achieved.
Fund Information
| Symbol on New York Stock Exchange |
MQT | |
| Initial Offering Date |
August 28, 1992 | |
| Yield on Closing Market Price as of October 31, 2020 ($13.04)(a) |
4.97% | |
| Tax Equivalent Yield(b) |
8.40% | |
| Current Monthly Distribution per Common Share(c) |
$0.0540 | |
| Current Annualized Distribution per Common Share(c) |
$0.6480 | |
| Leverage as of October 31, 2020(d) |
39% |
| (a) | Yield on closing market price is calculated by dividing the current annualized distribution per share by the closing market price. Past performance is not an indication of future results. |
| (b) | Tax equivalent yield assumes the maximum marginal U.S. federal tax rate of 40.8%, which includes the 3.8% Medicare tax. Actual tax rates will vary based on income, exemptions and deductions. Lower taxes will result in lower tax equivalent yields. |
| (c) | The distribution rate is not constant and is subject to change. |
| (d) | Represents VMTP Shares and TOB Trusts as a percentage of total managed assets, which is the total assets of the Fund, including any assets attributable to VMTP Shares and TOB Trusts, minus the sum of its accrued liabilities. Does not reflect derivatives or other instruments that may give rise to economic leverage. For a discussion of leveraging techniques utilized by the Fund, please see The Benefits and Risks of Leveraging. |
Market Price and Net Asset Value Per Share Summary
| 10/31/20 | 04/30/20 | Change | High | Low | ||||||||||||||||
| Market Price |
$ | 13.04 | $ | 11.99 | 8.76 | % | $ | 13.58 | $ | 11.85 | ||||||||||
| Net Asset Value |
14.10 | 13.02 | 8.29 | 14.58 | 13.02 | |||||||||||||||
Market Price and Net Asset Value History for the Past Five Years
| 12 | 2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
| Fund Summary as of October 31, 2020 (continued) | BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund II, Inc. (MQT) |
Performance
Returns for the six months ended October 31, 2020 were as follows:
| Returns Based On | ||||||||
| Market Price | NAV | |||||||
| MQT(a)(b) |
11.25 | % | 10.78 | % | ||||
| Lipper General & Insured Municipal Debt Funds (Leveraged)(c) |
11.22 | 10.27 | ||||||
| (a) | All returns reflect reinvestment of dividends and/or distributions at actual reinvestment prices. Performance results reflect the Fund’s use of leverage. |
| (b) | The Fund’s discount to NAV narrowed during the period, which accounts for the difference between performance based on market price and performance based on NAV. |
| (c) | Average return. Returns reflect reinvestment of dividends and/or distributions at NAV on the ex-dividend date as calculated by Lipper. |
Performance results may include adjustments made for financial reporting purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Past performance is not an indication of future results.
More information about the Fund’s historical performance can be found in the “Closed End Funds” section of blackrock.com.
The following discussion relates to the Fund’s absolute performance based on NAV:
Municipal bonds delivered strong returns in the past six months. When the period began, municipal bonds were just beginning to recover from the broad-based sell-off caused by COVID-19 and governments’ efforts to mitigate the virus. The rally continued through the spring and summer, thanks to positive supply-and-demand trends, an improving economic outlook, and the Fed’s stated intent to maintain its near-zero interest rate policy indefinitely. Municipal bonds lost momentum late in the period due to elevated new-issue supply ahead of the election, as well as uncertainty surrounding the next phase of fiscal stimulus. Still, the broader market finished with a robust, double-digit return on the strength of its earlier gains.
The Fund’s strong return reflects the combination of income, falling yields, and a compression in yield spreads. (Prices and yields move in opposite directions; falling yield spreads indicate outperformance relative to U.S. Treasuries.) The sectors that benefited the most were generally those that experienced the largest downturns in the sell-off that occurred in the first quarter of 2020, including health care, transportation and corporate-backed securities. This trend also contributed to outperformance for lower-rated debt. The Fund’s holdings in high-yield bonds, including tobacco and Puerto Rico issues, were significant beneficiaries. The Fund’s use of leverage also aided results by augmenting income and amplifying the effect of rising prices.
Conversely, the Fund’s positions in shorter-dated issues—including pre-refunded securities—underperformed. Holdings in higher-quality bonds, while posting positive absolute returns, also lagged somewhat in the rally.
The views expressed reflect the opinions of BlackRock as of the date of this report and are subject to change based on changes in market, economic or other conditions. These views are not intended to be a forecast of future events and are no guarantee of future results.
| FUND SUMMARY |
13 |
| Fund Summary as of October 31, 2020 (continued) | BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund II, Inc. (MQT) |
Overview of the Fund’s Total Investments
| 14 | 2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
| Schedule of Investments (unaudited) October 31, 2020 |
BlackRock MuniYield Fund, Inc. (MYD) (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS |
15 |
| Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued) October 31, 2020 |
BlackRock MuniYield Fund, Inc. (MYD) (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| 16 | 2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
| Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued) October 31, 2020 |
BlackRock MuniYield Fund, Inc. (MYD) (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS |
17 |
| Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued) October 31, 2020 |
BlackRock MuniYield Fund, Inc. (MYD) (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| 18 | 2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
| Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued) October 31, 2020 |
BlackRock MuniYield Fund, Inc. (MYD) (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS |
19 |
| Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued) October 31, 2020 |
BlackRock MuniYield Fund, Inc. (MYD) (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| 20 | 2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
| Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued) October 31, 2020 |
BlackRock MuniYield Fund, Inc. (MYD) |
Affiliates
Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the six-months ended October 31, 2020 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the 1940 Act, as amended, were as follows:
| Affiliated Issuer | Value at 04/30/20 |
Purchases at Cost |
Proceeds from Sales |
Net Realized Gain (Loss) |
Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
Value at 10/31/20 |
Shares Held at 10/31/20 |
Income | Capital Gain Distributions from Underlying Funds |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BlackRock Liquidity Funds, MuniCash, Institutional Class |
$ | 20,527,420 | $ | — | $ | (19,724,177 | )(a) | $ | 8,724 | $ | (7,163 | ) | $ | 804,804 | 804,724 | $ | 1,020 | $ | — | |||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) | Represents net amount purchased (sold). |
Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End
Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of financial instruments. For description of the input levels and information about the Fund’s policy regarding valuation of financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
The following table summarizes the Fund’s investments categorized in the disclosure hierarchy. The breakdown of the Fund’s investments into major categories is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments above.
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
| Assets |
| |||||||||||||||
| Investments |
| |||||||||||||||
| Long-Term Investments |
||||||||||||||||
| Municipal Bonds |
$ | — | $ | 828,967,516 | $ | — | $ | 828,967,516 | ||||||||
| Municipal Bonds Transferred to Tender Option Bond Trusts |
— | 245,331,701 | — | 245,331,701 | ||||||||||||
| Short-Term Securities |
||||||||||||||||
| Money Market Funds |
804,804 | — | — | 804,804 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 804,804 | $ | 1,074,299,217 | $ | — | $ | 1,075,104,021 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
The Fund may hold assets and/or liabilities in which the fair value approximates the carrying amount for financial statement purposes. As of period end, such assets and/or liabilities are categorized within the disclosure hierarchy as follows:
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
| Liabilities |
| |||||||||||||||
| TOB Trust Certificates |
$ | — | $ | (146,335,743 | ) | $ | — | $ | (146,335,743 | ) | ||||||
| VRDP Shares at Liquidation Value |
— | (251,400,000 | ) | — | (251,400,000 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | — | $ | (397,735,743 | ) | $ | — | $ | (397,735,743 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
See notes to financial statements.
| SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS |
21 |
| Schedule of Investments (unaudited) October 31, 2020 |
BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund, Inc. (MQY) (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| 22 | 2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
| Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued) October 31, 2020 |
BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund, Inc. (MQY) (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS |
23 |
| Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued) October 31, 2020 |
BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund, Inc. (MQY) (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| 24 | 2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
| Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued) October 31, 2020 |
BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund, Inc. (MQY) (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS |
25 |
| Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued) October 31, 2020 |
BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund, Inc. (MQY) (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| 26 | 2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
| Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued) October 31, 2020 |
BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund, Inc. (MQY) (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS |
27 |
| Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued) October 31, 2020 |
BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund, Inc. (MQY) (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| 28 | 2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
| Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued) October 31, 2020 |
BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund, Inc. (MQY) (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
Affiliates
Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the six-months ended October 31, 2020 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the 1940 Act, as amended, were as follows:
| Affiliated Issuer | Value at 04/30/20 |
Purchases at Cost |
Proceeds from Sales |
Net Realized Gain (Loss) |
Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
Value at 10/31/20 |
Shares Held at 10/31/20 |
Income | Capital Gain Distributions from Underlying Funds |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BlackRock Liquidity Funds, MuniCash, Institutional Class |
$ | 649,910 | $ | 541,963 | (a) | $ | — | $ | (35 | ) | $ | — | $ | 1,191,838 | 1,191,719 | $ | 50 | $ | — | |||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) | Represents net amount purchased (sold). |
| SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS |
29 |
| Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued) October 31, 2020 |
BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund, Inc. (MQY) |
Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End
Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of financial instruments. For description of the input levels and information about the Fund’s policy regarding valuation of financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
The following table summarizes the Fund’s investments categorized in the disclosure hierarchy. The breakdown of the Fund’s investments into major categories is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments above.
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
| Assets |
| |||||||||||||||
| Investments |
| |||||||||||||||
| Long-Term Investments |
||||||||||||||||
| Municipal Bonds |
$ | — | $ | 564,341,728 | $ | — | $ | 564,341,728 | ||||||||
| Municipal Bonds Transferred to Tender Option Bond Trusts. |
— | 225,950,686 | — | 225,950,686 | ||||||||||||
| Short-Term Securities |
||||||||||||||||
| Money Market Funds |
1,191,838 | — | — | 1,191,838 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 1,191,838 | $ | 790,292,414 | $ | — | $ | 791,484,252 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
The Fund may hold assets and/or liabilities in which the fair value approximates the carrying amount for financial statement purposes. As of period end, such assets and/or liabilities are categorized within the disclosure hierarchy as follows:
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
| Liabilities |
| |||||||||||||||
| TOB Trust Certificates. |
$ | — | $ | (126,879,803 | ) | $ | — | $ | (126,879,803 | ) | ||||||
| VRDP Shares at Liquidation Value |
— | (176,600,000 | ) | — | (176,600,000 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | — | $ | (303,479,803 | ) | $ | — | $ | (303,479,803 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
See notes to financial statements.
| 30 | 2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
| Schedule of Investments (unaudited) October 31, 2020 |
BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund II, Inc. (MQT) (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS |
31 |
| Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued) October 31, 2020 |
BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund II, Inc. (MQT) (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| 32 | 2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
| Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued) October 31, 2020 |
BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund II, Inc. (MQT) (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS |
33 |
| Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued) October 31, 2020 |
BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund II, Inc. (MQT) (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| 34 | 2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
| Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued) October 31, 2020 |
BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund II, Inc. (MQT) (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS |
35 |
| Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued) October 31, 2020 |
BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund II, Inc. (MQT) (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| 36 | 2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
| Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued) October 31, 2020 |
BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund II, Inc. (MQT) (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
| SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS |
37 |
| Schedule of Investments (unaudited) (continued) October 31, 2020 |
BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund II, Inc. (MQT) |
Affiliates
Investments in issuers considered to be affiliate(s) of the Fund during the six-months ended October 31, 2020 for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the 1940 Act, as amended, were as follows:
| Affiliated Issuer | Value at 04/30/20 |
Purchases at Cost |
Proceeds from Sales |
Net Realized Gain (Loss) |
Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) |
Value at 10/31/20 |
Shares Held at 10/31/20 |
Income | Capital Gain Distributions from Underlying Funds |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BlackRock Liquidity Funds, MuniCash, Institutional Class |
$ | 443,146 | $ | 122,817 | (a) | $ | — | $ | (53 | ) | $ | — | $ | 565,910 | 565,853 | $ | 85 | $ | — | |||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) | Represents net amount purchased (sold). |
Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End
Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of financial instruments. For description of the input levels and information about the Fund’s policy regarding valuation of financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
The following table summarizes the Fund’s investments categorized in the disclosure hierarchy. The breakdown of the Fund’s investments into major categories is disclosed in the Schedule of Investments above.
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
| Assets |
||||||||||||||||
| Investments |
||||||||||||||||
| Long-Term Investments |
||||||||||||||||
| Municipal Bonds |
$ | — | $ | 365,120,295 | $ | — | $ | 365,120,295 | ||||||||
| Municipal Bonds Transferred to Tender Option Bond Trusts |
— | 148,394,665 | — | 148,394,665 | ||||||||||||
| Short-Term Securities |
||||||||||||||||
| Money Market Funds |
565,910 | — | — | 565,910 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | 565,910 | $ | 513,514,960 | $ | — | $ | 514,080,870 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
The Fund may hold assets and/or liabilities in which the fair value approximates the carrying amount for financial statement purposes. As of period end, such assets and/or liabilities are categorized within the disclosure hierarchy as follows:
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
| Liabilities |
||||||||||||||||
| TOB Trust Certificates |
$ | — | $ | (83,318,481 | ) | $ | — | $ | (83,318,481 | ) | ||||||
| VMTP Shares at Liquidation Value |
— | (116,500,000 | ) | — | (116,500,000 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| $ | — | $ | (199,818,481 | ) | $ | — | $ | (199,818,481 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
See notes to financial statements.
| 38 | 2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Statements of Assets and Liabilities (unaudited)
October 31, 2020
| MYD | MQY | MQT | ||||||||||
| ASSETS |
||||||||||||
| Investments at value — unaffiliated(a) |
$ | 1,074,299,217 | $ | 790,292,414 | $ | 513,514,960 | ||||||
| Investments at value — affiliated(b) |
804,804 | 1,191,838 | 565,910 | |||||||||
| Receivables: |
||||||||||||
| Investments sold |
14,229 | 350,475 | 228,087 | |||||||||
| Dividends — affiliated |
67 | 10 | 7 | |||||||||
| Interest — unaffiliated |
13,816,213 | 9,363,543 | 6,167,755 | |||||||||
| Prepaid expenses |
23,286 | 55,066 | 19,720 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Total assets |
1,088,957,816 | 801,253,346 | 520,496,439 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| ACCRUED LIABILITIES |
||||||||||||
| Bank overdraft |
445,225 | 328,027 | 211,653 | |||||||||
| Payables: |
||||||||||||
| Investments purchased |
6,174,526 | 1,883,607 | 869,616 | |||||||||
| Income dividend distributions — Common Shares |
2,627,503 | 1,935,725 | 1,218,132 | |||||||||
| Interest expense and fees |
70,094 | 71,580 | 48,581 | |||||||||
| Investment advisory fees |
457,519 | 339,036 | 220,256 | |||||||||
| Directors’ and Officer’s fees |
368,344 | 260,336 | 2,626 | |||||||||
| Other accrued expenses |
214,075 | 174,333 | 132,806 | |||||||||
| Reorganization costs |
— | 180,692 | — | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Total accrued liabilities |
10,357,286 | 5,173,336 | 2,703,670 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| OTHER LIABILITIES |
||||||||||||
| TOB Trust Certificates |
146,335,743 | 126,879,803 | 83,318,481 | |||||||||
| VRDP Shares, at liquidation value of $100,000 per share, net of deferred offering costs(c)(d)(e) |
251,072,134 | 176,389,597 | — | |||||||||
| VMTP Shares, at liquidation value of $100,000 per share(c)(d)(e) |
— | — | 116,500,000 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Total other liabilities |
397,407,877 | 303,269,400 | 199,818,481 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Total liabilities |
407,765,163 | 308,442,736 | 202,522,151 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| NET ASSETS APPLICABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS |
$ | 681,192,653 | $ | 492,810,610 | $ | 317,974,288 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| NET ASSETS APPLICABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS CONSIST OF |
||||||||||||
| Paid-in capital(f)(g)(h) |
$ | 626,524,385 | $ | 430,784,211 | $ | 279,476,648 | ||||||
| Accumulated earnings |
54,668,268 | 62,026,399 | 38,497,640 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| NET ASSETS APPLICABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS |
$ | 681,192,653 | $ | 492,810,610 | $ | 317,974,288 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Net asset value per Common Share |
$ | 14.52 | $ | 16.04 | $ | 14.10 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| (a) Investments at cost — unaffiliated |
$ | 1,003,803,685 | $ | 719,035,651 | $ | 467,889,589 | ||||||
| (b) Investments at cost — affiliated |
$ | 804,588 | $ | 1,191,838 | $ | 565,910 | ||||||
| (c) Preferred Shares outstanding |
2,514 | 1,766 | 1,165 | |||||||||
| (d) Preferred Shares authorized |
16,234 | 11,766 | 7,565 | |||||||||
| (e) Par value per Preferred Share |
$ | 0.10 | $ | 0.10 | $ | 0.10 | ||||||
| (f) Common Shares outstanding |
46,919,695 | 30,725,788 | 22,558,009 | |||||||||
| (g) Common Shares authorized |
199,983,766 | 199,988,234 | 199,992,435 | |||||||||
| (h) Par value per Common Share |
$ | 0.10 | $ | 0.10 | $ | 0.10 | ||||||
See notes to financial statements.
| FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
39 |
Statements of Operations (unaudited)
Six Months Ended October 31, 2020
| MYD | MQY | MQT | ||||||||||
| INVESTMENT INCOME |
||||||||||||
| Dividends — affiliated |
$ | 1,020 | $ | 50 | $ | 85 | ||||||
| Interest — unaffiliated |
21,458,536 | 15,351,218 | 9,758,033 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Total investment income |
21,459,556 | 15,351,268 | 9,758,118 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| EXPENSES |
||||||||||||
| Investment advisory |
2,715,063 | 2,011,918 | 1,301,487 | |||||||||
| Accounting services |
69,727 | 56,673 | 42,113 | |||||||||
| Professional |
54,801 | 55,116 | 42,513 | |||||||||
| Directors and Officer |
45,393 | 32,720 | 9,916 | |||||||||
| Transfer agent |
28,728 | 20,930 | 17,260 | |||||||||
| Rating agency |
24,809 | 24,809 | 24,809 | |||||||||
| Liquidity fees |
12,913 | 9,071 | — | |||||||||
| Remarketing fees on Preferred Shares |
12,673 | 8,903 | — | |||||||||
| Registration |
8,103 | 5,251 | 4,172 | |||||||||
| Custodian |
5,543 | 9,214 | 5,515 | |||||||||
| Printing and postage |
2,761 | 2,097 | 2,042 | |||||||||
| Reorganization |
— | 212,366 | — | |||||||||
| Miscellaneous |
7,688 | 7,431 | 5,942 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Total expenses excluding interest expense, fees and amortization of offering costs |
2,988,202 | 2,456,499 | 1,455,769 | |||||||||
| Interest expense, fees and amortization of offering costs(a) |
1,775,174 | 1,372,355 | 929,759 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Total expenses |
4,763,376 | 3,828,854 | 2,385,528 | |||||||||
| Less: |
||||||||||||
| Fees waived and/or reimbursed by the Manager |
(6,819 | ) | (31,915 | ) | (400 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed |
4,756,557 | 3,796,939 | 2,385,128 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Net investment income |
16,702,999 | 11,554,329 | 7,372,990 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS) |
||||||||||||
| Net realized gain (loss) from: |
||||||||||||
| Investments — unaffiliated |
1,574,713 | 528,838 | 109,800 | |||||||||
| Investments — affiliated |
8,724 | (35 | ) | (53 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| 1,583,437 | 528,803 | 109,747 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on: |
||||||||||||
| Investments — unaffiliated |
50,880,483 | 37,165,703 | 23,540,586 | |||||||||
| Investments — affiliated |
(7,163 | ) | — | — | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| 50,873,320 | 37,165,703 | 23,540,586 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Net realized and unrealized gain |
52,456,757 | 37,694,506 | 23,650,333 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| NET INCREASE IN NET ASSETS APPLICABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS RESULTING FROM OPERATIONS |
$ | 69,159,756 | $ | 49,248,835 | $ | 31,023,323 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| (a) | Related to TOB Trusts, VMTP Shares and/or VRDP Shares. |
See notes to financial statements.
| 40 | 2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets
| MYD | MQY | |||||||||||||||
| Six Months Ended 10/31/20 (unaudited) |
Year Ended 04/30/20 |
Six Months Ended 10/31/20 (unaudited) |
Year Ended 04/30/20 |
|||||||||||||
| INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS APPLICABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS |
||||||||||||||||
| OPERATIONS |
| |||||||||||||||
| Net investment income |
$ | 16,702,999 | $ | 31,095,198 | $ | 11,554,329 | $ | 20,433,261 | ||||||||
| Net realized gain (loss) |
1,583,437 | (10,046,492 | ) | 528,803 | (8,602,824 | ) | ||||||||||
| Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) |
50,873,320 | (44,697,443 | ) | 37,165,703 | (19,002,399 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| Net increase (decrease) in net assets applicable to Common Shareholders resulting from operations |
69,159,756 | (23,648,737 | ) | 49,248,835 | (7,171,962 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| DISTRIBUTIONS TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS(a) |
| |||||||||||||||
| Decrease in net assets resulting from distributions to Common Shareholders |
(15,765,017 | ) | (31,815,824 | ) | (10,934,788 | ) | (19,763,608 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS |
| |||||||||||||||
| Reinvestment of common distributions |
— | 430,322 | 220,325 | — | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| NET ASSETS APPLICABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS |
| |||||||||||||||
| Total increase (decrease) in net assets applicable to Common Shareholders |
53,394,739 | (55,034,239 | ) | 38,534,372 | (26,935,570 | ) | ||||||||||
| Beginning of period |
627,797,914 | 682,832,153 | 454,276,238 | 481,211,808 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| End of period |
$ | 681,192,653 | $ | 627,797,914 | $ | 492,810,610 | $ | 454,276,238 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
| (a) | Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations. |
See notes to financial statements.
| FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
41 |
Statements of Changes in Net Assets (continued)
| MQT | ||||||||
| Six Months Ended 10/31/20 (unaudited) |
Year Ended 04/30/20 |
|||||||
| INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS APPLICABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS |
||||||||
| OPERATIONS |
| |||||||
| Net investment income |
$ | 7,372,990 | $ | 12,846,839 | ||||
| Net realized gain (loss) |
109,747 | (6,526,638 | ) | |||||
| Net change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) |
23,540,586 | (11,166,868 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| Net increase (decrease) in net assets applicable to Common Shareholders resulting from operations |
31,023,323 | (4,846,667 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| DISTRIBUTIONS TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS(a) |
| |||||||
| Decrease in net assets resulting from distributions to Common Shareholders |
(6,722,287 | ) | (12,091,093 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| NET ASSETS APPLICABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS |
| |||||||
| Total increase (decrease) in net assets applicable to Common Shareholders |
24,301,036 | (16,937,760 | ) | |||||
| Beginning of period |
293,673,252 | 310,611,012 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| End of period |
$ | 317,974,288 | $ | 293,673,252 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
| (a) | Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations. |
See notes to financial statements.
| 42 | 2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited)
Six Months Ended October 31, 2020
| MYD | MQY | MQT | ||||||||||
| CASH PROVIDED BY (USED FOR) OPERATING ACTIVITIES |
||||||||||||
| Net increase in net assets resulting from operations |
$ | 69,159,756 | $ | 49,248,835 | $ | 31,023,323 | ||||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net increase in net assets resulting from operations to net cash provided by operating activities |
||||||||||||
| Proceeds from sales of long-term investments |
94,088,504 | 51,438,981 | 25,657,529 | |||||||||
| Purchases of long-term investments |
(114,587,179 | ) | (49,470,715 | ) | (26,789,046 | ) | ||||||
| Net proceeds from sales (purchases) of short-term securities |
19,724,177 | (541,963 | ) | (122,817 | ) | |||||||
| Amortization of premium and accretion of discount on investments and other fees |
1,201,050 | 332,416 | 250,744 | |||||||||
| Net realized gain on investments |
(1,583,437 | ) | (528,803 | ) | (109,747 | ) | ||||||
| Net unrealized appreciation on investments |
(50,873,320 | ) | (37,165,703 | ) | (23,540,586 | ) | ||||||
| (Increase) Decrease in Assets | ||||||||||||
| Receivables |
||||||||||||
| Dividends — affiliated |
(67 | ) | (10 | ) | 962 | |||||||
| Dividends — unaffiliated |
9,047 | 432 | — | |||||||||
| Interest — unaffiliated |
510,858 | (57,669 | ) | (93,203 | ) | |||||||
| Prepaid expenses |
(1,477 | ) | 1,645 | 4,076 | ||||||||
| Increase (Decrease) in Liabilities | ||||||||||||
| Payables |
||||||||||||
| Interest expense and fees |
(488,388 | ) | (477,420 | ) | (320,492 | ) | ||||||
| Investment advisory fees |
(418,433 | ) | (311,251 | ) | (201,582 | ) | ||||||
| Directors’ and Officer’s fees |
32,493 | 23,171 | 50 | |||||||||
| Other accrued expenses |
(12,500 | ) | (4,187 | ) | (8,382 | ) | ||||||
| Reorganization costs |
— | 180,692 | — | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities |
16,761,084 | 12,668,451 | 5,750,829 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| CASH PROVIDED BY (USED FOR) FINANCING ACTIVITIES |
||||||||||||
| Cash dividends paid to Common Shareholders |
(15,765,017 | ) | (10,406,487 | ) | (6,496,707 | ) | ||||||
| Repayments of TOB Trust Certificates |
(9,537,168 | ) | (5,115,477 | ) | (498,220 | ) | ||||||
| Repayments of Loan for TOB Trust Certificates |
(3,252,353 | ) | (2,375,000 | ) | (3,040,000 | ) | ||||||
| Proceeds from TOB Trust Certificates |
8,087,883 | 4,895,410 | 4,678,600 | |||||||||
| Proceeds from Loan for TOB Trust Certificates |
3,252,353 | — | — | |||||||||
| Increase (decrease) in bank overdraft |
445,225 | 328,027 | (394,502 | ) | ||||||||
| Amortization of deferred offering costs |
7,993 | 5,076 | — | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Net cash used for financing activities |
(16,761,084 | ) | (12,668,451 | ) | (5,750,829 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| CASH |
||||||||||||
| Net increase in restricted and unrestricted cash |
— | — | — | |||||||||
| Restricted and unrestricted cash at beginning of period |
— | — | — | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Restricted and unrestricted cash at end of period |
$ | — | $ | — | $ | — | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OFCASH FLOW INFORMATION |
||||||||||||
| Cash paid during the period for interest expense |
$ | 2,255,569 | $ | 1,844,699 | $ | 1,250,251 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| NON-CASH FINANCING ACTIVITIES |
||||||||||||
| Capital shares issued in reinvestment of distributions paid to Common Shareholders |
$ | — | $ | 220,325 | $ | — | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
See notes to financial statements.
| FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
43 |
(For a share outstanding throughout each period)
| MYD | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Six Months Ended (unaudited) |
Year Ended April 30, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net asset value, beginning of period |
$ | 13.38 | $ | 14.56 | $ | 14.38 | $ | 14.71 | $ | 15.61 | $ | 15.29 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
| Net investment income(a) |
0.36 | 0.66 | 0.73 | 0.79 | 0.84 | 0.90 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |
1.12 | (1.16 | ) | 0.17 | (0.30 | ) | (0.87 | ) | 0.35 | |||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
| Net increase (decrease) from investment operations |
1.48 | (0.50 | ) | 0.90 | 0.49 | (0.03 | ) | 1.25 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
| Distributions to Common Shareholders from net investment income(b) |
(0.34 | ) | (0.68 | ) | (0.72 | ) | (0.82 | ) | (0.87 | ) | (0.93 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
| Net asset value, end of period |
$ | 14.52 | $ | 13.38 | $ | 14.56 | $ | 14.38 | $ | 14.71 | $ | 15.61 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
| Market price, end of period |
$ | 13.24 | $ | 12.29 | $ | 14.15 | $ | 13.12 | $ | 14.75 | $ | 15.73 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
| Total Return Applicable to Common Shareholders(c) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Based on net asset value |
11.20 | %(d) | (3.66 | )% | 6.80 | % | 3.47 | % | (0.16 | )% | 8.81 | % | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
| Based on market price |
10.40 | %(d) | (8.94 | )% | 13.76 | % | (5.85 | )% | (0.65 | )% | 12.36 | % | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
| Ratios to Average Net Assets Applicable to Common Shareholders |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total expenses |
1.39 | %(e) | 2.07 | %(f) | 2.27 | % | 2.00 | % | 1.75 | % | 1.39 | % | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
| Total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed |
1.39 | %(e) | 2.07 | %(f) | 2.27 | % | 2.00 | % | 1.75 | % | 1.39 | % | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
| Total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed and excluding interest expense, fees, and amortization of offering costs(g)(h) |
0.87 | %(e) | 0.85 | %(f) | 0.88 | % | 0.89 | % | 0.89 | % | 0.88 | % | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
| Net investment income to Common Shareholders |
4.87 | %(e) | 4.49 | %(f) | 5.10 | % | 5.33 | % | 5.52 | % | 5.91 | % | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
| Supplemental Data |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net assets applicable to Common Shareholders, end of period (000) |
$ | 681,193 | $ | 627,798 | $ | 682,832 | $ | 674,077 | $ | 687,869 | $ | 728,621 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
| VRDP Shares outstanding at $100,000 liquidation value, end of period (000) |
$ | 251,400 | $ | 251,400 | $ | 251,400 | $ | 251,400 | $ | 251,400 | $ | 251,400 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
| Asset coverage per VRDP Shares at $100,000 liquidation value, end of period |
$ | 370,960 | $ | 349,719 | $ | 371,612 | $ | 368,129 | $ | 373,615 | $ | 389,825 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
| Borrowings outstanding, end of period (000) |
$ | 146,336 | $ | 147,785 | $ | 136,925 | $ | 167,150 | $ | 168,316 | $ | 173,776 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
| Portfolio turnover rate |
8 | % | 19 | % | 17 | % | 9 | % | 10 | % | 9 | % | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
| (a) | Based on average Common Shares outstanding. |
| (b) | Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations. |
| (c) | Total returns based on market price, which can be significantly greater or less than the net asset value, may result in substantially different returns. Where applicable, excludes the effects of any sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of distributions at actual reinvestment prices. |
| (d) | Aggregate total return. |
| (e) | Annualized. |
| (f) | Excludes expenses incurred indirectly as a result of investments in underlying funds of 0.01%. |
| (g) | Interest expense, fees and amortization of offering costs related to TOB Trusts and/or VRDP Shares. See Note 4 and Note 9 of the Notes to Financial Statements for details. |
| (h) | The total expense ratio after fees waived and/or reimbursed and excluding interest expense, fees, amortization of offering costs, liquidity and remarketing fees as follows: |
| Six Months Ended 10/31/20 |
Year Ended April 30, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Expense ratios |
0.87 | % | 0.85 | % | 0.88 | % | 0.88 | % | 0.89 | % | 0.88 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
See notes to financial statements.
| 44 | 2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Financial Highlights (continued)
(For a share outstanding throughout each period)
| MQY | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Six Months Ended (unaudited) |
Year Ended April 30, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net asset value, beginning of period |
$ | 14.79 | $ | 15.67 | $ | 15.22 | $ | 15.56 | $ | 16.47 | $ | 16.12 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
| Net investment income(a) |
0.38 | 0.67 | 0.69 | 0.77 | 0.85 | 0.90 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |
1.23 | (0.91 | ) | 0.47 | (0.29 | ) | (0.89 | ) | 0.40 | |||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
| Net increase (decrease) from investment operations |
1.61 | (0.24 | ) | 1.16 | 0.48 | (0.04 | ) | 1.30 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
| Distributions to Common Shareholders(b) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| From net investment income |
(0.36 | ) | (0.64 | ) | (0.69 | ) | (0.82 | ) | (0.87 | ) | (0.95 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
| From net realized gain |
— | — | (0.02 | ) | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
| Total distributions to Common Shareholders |
(0.36 | ) | (0.64 | ) | (0.71 | ) | (0.82 | ) | (0.87 | ) | (0.95 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
| Net asset value, end of period |
$ | 16.04 | $ | 14.79 | $ | 15.67 | $ | 15.22 | $ | 15.56 | $ | 16.47 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
| Market price, end of period |
$ | 15.73 | $ | 13.88 | $ | 13.99 | $ | 13.83 | $ | 15.14 | $ | 16.56 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
| Total Return Applicable to Common Shareholders(c) |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Based on net asset value |
10.91 | %(d) | (1.44 | )% | 8.42 | % | 3.28 | % | (0.12 | )% | 8.61 | % | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
| Based on market price |
15.90 | %(d) | 3.60 | % | 6.53 | % | (3.55 | )% | (3.34 | )% | 13.35 | % | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
| Ratios to Average Net Assets Applicable to Common Shareholders |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total expenses |
1.55 | %(e)(f) | 2.20 | % | 2.48 | % | 2.05 | % | 1.74 | % | 1.47 | % | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
| Total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed |
1.53 | %(e)(f) | 2.20 | % | 2.48 | % | 2.05 | % | 1.74 | % | 1.47 | % | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
| Total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed and excluding interest expense, fees, and amortization of offering costs(g)(h) |
0.98 | %(e)(f) | 0.90 | % | 0.93 | % | 0.91 | % | 0.89 | % | 1.09 | % | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
| Net investment income to Common Shareholders |
4.66 | %(f) | 4.15 | % | 4.55 | % | 4.91 | % | 5.28 | % | 5.62 | % | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
| Supplemental Data |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net assets applicable to Common Shareholders, end of period (000) |
$ | 492,811 | $ | 454,276 | $ | 481,212 | $ | 467,334 | $ | 477,758 | $ | 505,367 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
| VRDP Shares outstanding at $100,000 liquidation value, end of period (000) |
$ | 176,600 | $ | 176,600 | $ | 176,600 | $ | 176,600 | $ | 176,600 | $ | 176,600 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
| Asset coverage per VRDP Shares at $100,000 liquidation value, end of period |
$ | 379,055 | $ | 357,235 | $ | 372,487 | $ | 364,628 | $ | 370,531 | $ | 386,165 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
| Borrowings outstanding, end of period (000) |
$ | 126,880 | $ | 129,475 | $ | 134,198 | $ | 139,144 | $ | 119,144 | $ | 112,111 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
| Portfolio turnover rate |
6 | % | 18 | % | 21 | % | 20 | % | 13 | % | 10 | % | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
| (a) | Based on average Common Shares outstanding. |
| (b) | Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations. |
| (c) | Total returns based on market price, which can be significantly greater or less than the net asset value, may result in substantially different returns. Where applicable, excludes the effects of any sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of distributions at actual reinvestment prices. |
| (d) | Aggregate total return. |
| (e) | Includes non-recurring expenses of reorganization costs. Without these costs, total expenses, total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed and total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed and excluding interest expense, fees, and amortization of offering costs would have been 1.46%, 1.46% and 0.91%, respectively. |
| (f) | Annualized. |
| (g) | Interest expense, fees and amortization of offering costs related to TOB Trusts and/or VRDP Shares. See Note 4 and Note 9 of the Notes to Financial Statements for details. |
| (h) | The total expense ratio after fees waived and/or reimbursed and excluding interest expense, fees, amortization of offering costs, liquidity and remarketing fees as follows: |
| Six Months Ended (unaudited) |
Year Ended April 30, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Expense ratios |
0.98 | % | 0.90 | % | 0.93 | % | 0.91 | % | 0.89 | % | 0.92 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
See notes to financial statements.
| FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS |
45 |
Financial Highlights (continued)
(For a share outstanding throughout each period)
| MQT | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Six Months Ended (unaudited) |
Year Ended April 30, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net asset value, beginning of period |
$ | 13.02 | $ | 13.77 | $ | 13.37 | $ | 13.69 | $ | 14.45 | $ | 14.18 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
| Net investment income(a) |
0.33 | 0.57 | 0.60 | 0.66 | 0.73 | 0.79 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) |
1.05 | (0.78 | ) | 0.39 | (0.29 | ) | (0.74 | ) | 0.30 | |||||||||||||||||||
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|
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| Net increase (decrease) from investment operations |
1.38 | (0.21 | ) | 0.99 | 0.37 | (0.01 | ) | 1.09 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Distributions to Common Shareholders from net investment income(b) |
(0.30 | ) | (0.54 | ) | (0.59 | ) | (0.69 | ) | (0.75 | ) | (0.82 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
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| Net asset value, end of period |
$ | 14.10 | $ | 13.02 | $ | 13.77 | $ | 13.37 | $ | 13.69 | $ | 14.45 | ||||||||||||||||
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| Market price, end of period |
$ | 13.04 | $ | 11.99 | $ | 12.26 | $ | 11.98 | $ | 12.94 | $ | 14.33 | ||||||||||||||||
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| Total Return Applicable to Common Shareholders(c) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Based on net asset value |
10.78 | %(d) | (1.41 | )% | 8.21 | % | 3.01 | % | 0.12 | % | 8.48 | % | ||||||||||||||||
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| Based on market price |
11.25 | %(d) | 1.97 | % | 7.52 | % | (2.35 | )% | (4.57 | )% | 13.42 | % | ||||||||||||||||
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| Ratios to Average Net Assets Applicable to Common Shareholders |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total expenses |
1.49 | %(e) | 2.29 | % | 2.59 | % | 2.10 | % | 1.79 | % | 1.48 | % | ||||||||||||||||
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| Total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed |
1.49 | %(e) | 2.29 | % | 2.58 | % | 2.10 | % | 1.79 | % | 1.48 | % | ||||||||||||||||
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| Total expenses after fees waived and/or reimbursed and excluding interest expense, fees, and amortization of offering costs(f) |
0.91 | %(e) | 0.92 | % | 0.95 | % | 0.92 | % | 0.90 | % | 0.91 | % | ||||||||||||||||
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| Net investment income to Common Shareholders |
4.62 | %(e) | 4.04 | % | 4.47 | % | 4.75 | % | 5.13 | % | 5.60 | % | ||||||||||||||||
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| Supplemental Data |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net assets applicable to Common Shareholders, end of period (000) |
$ | 317,974 | $ | 293,673 | $ | 310,611 | $ | 301,697 | $ | 308,707 | $ | 326,072 | ||||||||||||||||
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| VMTP Shares outstanding at $100,000 liquidation value, end of period (000) |
$ | 116,500 | $ | 116,500 | $ | 116,500 | $ | 116,500 | $ | 116,500 | $ | 116,500 | ||||||||||||||||
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| Asset coverage per VMTP Shares at $100,000 liquidation value, end of period |
$ | 372,939 | $ | 352,080 | $ | 366,619 | $ | 358,967 | $ | 364,984 | $ | 379,890 | ||||||||||||||||
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| Borrowings outstanding, end of period (000) |
$ | 83,318 | $ | 82,178 | $ | 90,517 | $ | 87,513 | $ | 72,634 | $ | 75,273 | ||||||||||||||||
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| Portfolio turnover rate |
5 | % | 19 | % | 22 | % | 21 | % | 13 | % | 10 | % | ||||||||||||||||
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| (a) | Based on average Common Shares outstanding. |
| (b) | Distributions for annual periods determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations. |
| (c) | Total returns based on market price, which can be significantly greater or less than the net asset value, may result in substantially different returns. Where applicable, excludes the effects of any sales charges and assumes the reinvestment of distributions at actual reinvestment prices. |
| (d) | Aggregate total return. |
| (e) | Annualized. |
| (f) | Interest expense, fees and amortization of offering costs related to TOB Trusts and/or VMTP Shares. See Note 4 and Note 9 of the Notes to Financial Statements for details. |
See notes to financial statements.
| 46 | 2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited)
| 1. | ORGANIZATION |
The following are registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as closed-end management investment companies and are referred to herein collectively as the “Funds”, or individually as a “Fund”:
| Fund Name | Herein Referred To As | Organized | Diversification Classification |
|||||||||
| BlackRock MuniYield Fund, Inc. |
MYD | Maryland | Diversified | |||||||||
| BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund, Inc. |
MQY | Maryland | Diversified | |||||||||
| BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund II, Inc. |
MQT | Maryland | Diversified | |||||||||
The Boards of Directors of the Funds are collectively referred to throughout this report as the “Board,” and the directors thereof are collectively referred to throughout this report as “Directors”. The Funds determine and make available for publication the net asset values (“NAVs”) of their Common Shares on a daily basis.
On June 16, 2020, the Board of Directors or the Board of Trustees, as applicable, of BlackRock Maryland Municipal Bond Trust (BZM), BlackRock Massachusetts Tax-Exempt Trust (MHE), BlackRock MuniYield Arizona Fund, Inc. (MZA), BlackRock MuniYield Investment Fund (MYF), BlackRock MuniEnhanced Fund, Inc. (MEN) and the Board of Directors of MQY each approved the reorganizations of BZM, MHE, MZA, MYF and MEN into MQY. Subject to approvals by each Fund’s shareholders and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, the reorganizations are expected to occur during the first quarter of 2021. Reorganization costs incurred by MQY in connection with the reorganization were expensed by MQY. The Manager reimbursed MQY $31,674, which is included in fees waived and/or reimbursed by the Manager in the Statements of Operations.
The Funds, together with certain other registered investment companies advised by BlackRock Advisors, LLC (the “Manager”) or its affiliates, are included in a complex of non-index fixed-income mutual funds and all BlackRock-advised closed-end funds referred to as the BlackRock Fixed-Income Complex.
| 2. | SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES |
The financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”), which may require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the financial statements, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Each Fund is considered an investment company under U.S. GAAP and follows the accounting and reporting guidance applicable to investment companies. Below is a summary of significant accounting policies:
Investment Transactions and Income Recognition: For financial reporting purposes, investment transactions are recorded on the dates the transactions are executed. Realized gains and losses on investment transactions are determined using the specific identification method. Dividend income and capital gain distributions, if any, are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Non-cash dividends, if any, are recorded on the ex-dividend date at fair value. Interest income, including amortization and accretion of premiums and discounts on debt securities, is recognized daily on an accrual basis.
Segregation and Collateralization: In cases where a Fund enters into certain borrowings (e.g., TOB Trust transactions) that would be treated as “senior securities” for 1940 Act purposes, a Fund may segregate or designate on its books and records cash or liquid assets having a market value at least equal to the amount of its future obligations under such borrowings. Doing so allows the borrowings to be excluded from treatment as a “senior security.” Furthermore, if required by an exchange or counterparty agreement, the Funds may be required to deliver/deposit cash and/or securities to/with an exchange, or broker-dealer or custodian as collateral for certain investments or obligations.
Distributions: Distributions from net investment income are declared and paid monthly. Distributions of capital gains are recorded on the ex-dividend date and made at least annually. The character and timing of distributions are determined in accordance with U.S. federal income tax regulations, which may differ from U.S. GAAP.
Distributions to Preferred Shareholders are accrued and determined as described in Note 9.
Deferred Compensation Plan: Under the Deferred Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) approved by each Fund’s Board, the directors who are not “interested persons” of the Funds, as defined in the 1940 Act (“Independent Directors”), may defer a portion of their annual complex-wide compensation. Deferred amounts earn an approximate return as though equivalent dollar amounts had been invested in common shares of certain funds in the BlackRock Fixed-Income Complex selected by the Independent Directors. This has the same economic effect for the Independent Directors as if the Independent Directors had invested the deferred amounts directly in certain funds in the BlackRock Fixed-Income Complex.
The Plan is not funded and obligations thereunder represent general unsecured claims against the general assets of each Fund, as applicable. Deferred compensation liabilities, if any, are included in the Directors’ and Officer’s fees payable in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities and will remain as a liability of the Funds until such amounts are distributed in accordance with the Plan.
Indemnifications: In the normal course of business, a Fund enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations that provide general indemnification. A Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown because it involves future potential claims against a Fund, which cannot be predicted with any certainty.
Other: Expenses directly related to a Fund are charged to that Fund. Other operating expenses shared by several funds, including other funds managed by the Manager, are prorated among those funds on the basis of relative net assets or other appropriate methods.
| NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
47 |
Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)
| 3. | INVESTMENT VALUATION AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS |
Investment Valuation Policies: The Funds’ investments are valued at fair value (also referred to as “market value” within the financial statements) each day that the Fund is open for business and, for financial reporting purposes, as of the report date. U.S. GAAP defines fair value as the price the Funds would receive to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The Funds determine the fair values of their financial instruments using various independent dealers or pricing services under policies approved by the Board. If a security’s market price is not readily available or does not otherwise accurately represent the fair value of the security, the security will be valued in accordance with a policy approved by the Board as reflecting fair value. The BlackRock Global Valuation Methodologies Committee (the “Global Valuation Committee”) is the committee formed by management to develop global pricing policies and procedures and to oversee the pricing function for all financial instruments.
Fair Value Inputs and Methodologies: The following methods and inputs are used to establish the fair value of each Fund’s assets and liabilities:
| • | Fixed-income investments for which market quotations are readily available are generally valued using the last available bid prices or current market quotations provided by independent dealers or third party pricing services. Floating rate loan interests are valued at the mean of the bid prices from one or more independent brokers or dealers as obtained from a third party pricing service. Pricing services generally value fixed-income securities assuming orderly transactions of an institutional round lot size, but a fund may hold or transact in such securities in smaller, odd lot sizes. Odd lots may trade at lower prices than institutional round lots. The pricing services may use matrix pricing or valuation models that utilize certain inputs and assumptions to derive values, including transaction data (e.g., recent representative bids and offers), market data, credit quality information, perceived market movements, news, and other relevant information. Certain fixed-income securities, including asset-backed and mortgage related securities may be valued based on valuation models that consider the estimated cash flows of each tranche of the entity, establish a benchmark yield and develop an estimated tranche specific spread to the benchmark yield based on the unique attributes of the tranche. The amortized cost method of valuation may be used with respect to debt obligations with sixty days or less remaining to maturity. |
| • | Investments in open-end U.S. mutual funds (including money market funds) are valued at that day’s published NAV. |
If events (e.g., a market closure, market volatility, company announcement or a natural disaster) occur that are expected to materially affect the value of such investment, or in the event that the application of these methods of valuation results in a price for an investment that is deemed not to be representative of the market value of such investment, or if a price is not available, the investment will be valued by the Global Valuation Committee, or its delegate, in accordance with a policy approved by the Board as reflecting fair value (“Fair Valued Investments”). The fair valuation approaches that may be used by the Global Valuation Committee will include market approach, income approach and cost approach. Valuation techniques such as discounted cash flow, use of market comparables and matrix pricing are types of valuation approaches and are typically used in determining fair value. When determining the price for Fair Valued Investments, the Global Valuation Committee, or its delegate, seeks to determine the price that each Fund might reasonably expect to receive or pay from the current sale or purchase of that asset or liability in an arm’s-length transaction. Fair value determinations shall be based upon all available factors that the Global Valuation Committee, or its delegate, deems relevant and consistent with the principles of fair value measurement. The pricing of all Fair Valued Investments is subsequently reported to the Board or a committee thereof on a quarterly basis.
Fair Value Hierarchy: Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of financial instruments. These inputs to valuation techniques are categorized into a fair value hierarchy consisting of three broad levels for financial reporting purposes as follows:
| • | Level 1 – Unadjusted price quotations in active markets/exchanges for identical assets or liabilities that each Fund has the ability to access |
| • | Level 2 – Other observable inputs (including, but not limited to, quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in markets that are active, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the assets or liabilities (such as interest rates, yield curves, volatilities, prepayment speeds, loss severities, credit risks and default rates) or other market–corroborated inputs) |
| • | Level 3 – Unobservable inputs based on the best information available in the circumstances, to the extent observable inputs are not available (including the Global Valuation Committee’s assumptions used in determining the fair value of financial instruments) |
The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3. The inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, for disclosure purposes, the fair value hierarchy classification is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. Investments classified within Level 3 have significant unobservable inputs used by the Global Valuation Committee in determining the price for Fair Valued Investments. Level 3 investments include equity or debt issued by privately held companies or funds that may not have a secondary market and/or may have a limited number of investors. The categorization of a value determined for financial instruments is based on the pricing transparency of the financial instruments and is not necessarily an indication of the risks associated with investing in those securities.
| 4. | SECURITIES AND OTHER INVESTMENTS |
Zero-Coupon Bonds: Zero-coupon bonds are normally issued at a significant discount from face value and do not provide for periodic interest payments. These bonds may experience greater volatility in market value than other debt obligations of similar maturity which provide for regular interest payments.
Forward Commitments, When-Issued and Delayed Delivery Securities: Certain Funds may purchase securities on a when-issued basis and may purchase or sell securities on a forward commitment basis. Settlement of such transactions normally occurs within a month or more after the purchase or sale commitment is made. A Fund may purchase securities under such conditions with the intention of actually acquiring them, but may enter into a separate agreement to sell the securities before the settlement date. Since the value of securities purchased may fluctuate prior to settlement, a Fund may be required to pay more at settlement than the security is worth. In addition, a Fund
| 48 | 2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)
is not entitled to any of the interest earned prior to settlement. When purchasing a security on a delayed delivery basis, a Fund assumes the rights and risks of ownership of the security, including the risk of price and yield fluctuations. In the event of default by the counterparty, a Funds’ maximum amount of loss is the unrealized appreciation of unsettled when-issued transactions.
Municipal Bonds Transferred to TOB Trusts: Certain Funds leverage their assets through the use of “TOB Trust” transactions. The funds transfer municipal bonds into a special purpose trust (a “TOB Trust”). A TOB Trust issues two classes of beneficial interests: short-term floating rate interests (“TOB Trust Certificates”), which are sold to third party investors, and residual inverse floating rate interests (“TOB Residuals”), which are issued to the participating funds that contributed the municipal bonds to the TOB Trust. The TOB Trust Certificates have interest rates that reset weekly and their holders have the option to tender such certificates to the TOB Trust for redemption at par and any accrued interest at each reset date. The TOB Residuals held by a fund provide the fund with the right to cause the holders of a proportional share of the TOB Trust Certificates to tender their certificates to the TOB Trust at par plus accrued interest. The funds may withdraw a corresponding share of the municipal bonds from the TOB Trust. Other funds managed by the investment adviser may also contribute municipal bonds to a TOB Trust into which a fund has contributed bonds. If multiple BlackRock-advised funds participate in the same TOB Trust, the economic rights and obligations under the TOB Residuals will be shared among the funds ratably in proportion to their participation in the TOB Trust.
TOB Trusts are supported by a liquidity facility provided by a third party bank or other financial institution (the “Liquidity Provider”) that allows the holders of the TOB Trust Certificates to tender their certificates in exchange for payment of par plus accrued interest on any business day. The tendered TOB Trust Certificates are remarketed by a Remarketing Agent. In the event of a failed remarketing, the TOB Trust may draw upon a loan from the Liquidity Provider to purchase the tendered TOB Trust Certificates. Any loans made by the Liquidity Provider will be secured by the purchased TOB Trust Certificates held by the TOB Trust and will be subject to an increased interest rate based on number of days the loan is outstanding.
The TOB Trust may be collapsed without the consent of a fund, upon the occurrence of a termination event as defined in the TOB Trust agreement. Upon the occurrence of a termination event, a TOB Trust would be liquidated with the proceeds applied first to any accrued fees owed to the trustee of the TOB Trust, the Remarketing Agent and the Liquidity Provider. Upon certain termination events, TOB Trust Certificates holders will be paid before the TOB Residuals holders (i.e., the Funds) whereas in other termination events, TOB Trust Certificates holders and TOB Residuals holders will be paid pro rata.
While a fund’s investment policies and restrictions expressly permit investments in inverse floating rate securities, such as TOB Residuals, they restrict the ability of a fund to borrow money for purposes of making investments. The Funds’ management believes that a Fund’s restrictions on borrowings do not apply to the Funds’ TOB Trust transactions. Each fund’s transfer of the municipal bonds to a TOB Trust is considered a secured borrowing for financial reporting purposes. The cash received by the TOB Trust from the sale of the TOB Trust Certificates, less certain transaction expenses, is paid to a fund. A fund typically invests the cash received in additional municipal bonds.
Accounting for TOB Trusts: The municipal bonds deposited into a TOB Trust are presented in a fund’s Schedule of Investments and the TOB Trust Certificates are shown in Other Liabilities in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. Any loans drawn by the TOB Trust pursuant to the liquidity facility to purchase tendered TOB Trust Certificates are shown as Loan for TOB Trust Certificates. The carrying amount of a fund’s payable to the holder of the TOB Trust Certificates, as reported in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities as TOB Trust Certificates, approximates its fair value.
Interest income, including amortization and accretion of premiums and discounts, from the underlying municipal bonds is recorded by a fund on an accrual basis. Interest expense incurred on the TOB Trust transaction and other expenses related to remarketing, administration, trustee, liquidity and other services to a TOB Trust are shown as interest expense, fees and amortization of offering costs in the Statements of Operations. Fees paid upon creation of the TOB Trust are recorded as debt issuance costs and are amortized to interest expense, fees and amortization of offering costs in the Statements of Operations to the expected maturity of the TOB Trust. In connection with the restructurings of the TOB Trusts to non-bank sponsored TOB Trusts, a fund incurred non-recurring, legal and restructuring fees, which are recorded as interest expense, fees and amortization of offering costs in the Statements of Operations.
| Fund Name | Interest Expense | Liquidity Fees | Other Expenses | Total | ||||||||||||
| MYD |
$ | 137,646 | $ | 299,406 | $ | 98,405 | $ | 535,457 | ||||||||
| MQY |
131,543 | 271,427 | 99,066 | 502,036 | ||||||||||||
| MQT |
88,238 | 175,740 | 61,369 | 325,347 | ||||||||||||
For the six months ended October 31, 2020, the following table is a summary of each Fund’s TOB Trusts:
| Fund Name | Underlying Municipal Bonds Transferred to TOB Trusts(a) |
Liability for TOB Trust Certificates(b) |
Range of Interest Rates on TOB Trust Certificates at Period End |
Average TOB Trust Certificates Outstanding |
Daily Weighted Average Rate of Interest and Other Expenses on TOB Trusts |
|||||||||||||||
| MYD |
$ | 245,331,701 | $ | 146,335,743 | 0.13% — 0.40% | $ | 145,126,749 | 0.73 | % | |||||||||||
| MQY |
225,950,686 | 126,879,803 | 0.13 — 0.52 | 129,570,768 | 0.76 | |||||||||||||||
| MQT |
148,394,665 | 83,318,481 | 0.13 — 0.52 | 82,246,006 | 0.77 | |||||||||||||||
| (a) | The municipal bonds transferred to a TOB Trust are generally high grade municipal bonds. In certain cases, when municipal bonds transferred are lower grade municipal bonds, the TOB Trust transaction may include a credit enhancement feature that provides for the timely payment of principal and interest on the bonds to the TOB Trust by a credit enhancement provider in the event of default of the municipal bond. The TOB Trust would be responsible for the payment of the credit enhancement fee and the funds, as TOB Residuals holders, would be responsible for reimbursement of any payments of principal and interest made by the credit enhancement provider. The maximum potential amounts owed by the funds, for such reimbursements, as applicable, are included in the maximum potential amounts disclosed for recourse TOB Trusts. |
| NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
49 |
Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)
| (b) | TOB Trusts may be structured on a non-recourse or recourse basis. When a Fund invests in TOB Trusts on a non-recourse basis, the Liquidity Provider may be required to make a payment under the liquidity facility to allow the TOB Trust to repurchase TOB Trust Certificates. The Liquidity Provider will be reimbursed from the liquidation of bonds held in the TOB Trust. If a fund invests in a TOB Trust on a recourse basis, a fund enters into a reimbursement agreement with the Liquidity Provider where a fund is required to reimburse the Liquidity Provider for any shortfall between the amount paid by the Liquidity Provider and proceeds received from liquidation of municipal bonds held in the TOB Trust (the “Liquidation Shortfall”). As a result, if a fund invests in a recourse TOB Trust, a fund will bear the risk of loss with respect to any Liquidation Shortfall. If multiple funds participate in any such TOB Trust, these losses will be shared ratably, including the maximum potential amounts owed by a fund at October 31, 2020, in proportion to their participation in the TOB Trust. The recourse TOB Trusts are identified in the Schedules of Investments including the maximum potential amounts owed by a fund at October 31, 2020. |
For the six months ended October 31, 2020, the following table is a summary of each Fund’s Loan for TOB Trust Certificates:
| Fund Name | Loans Outstanding at Period End |
Range of Interest Rates on Loans at Period End |
Average Loans Outstanding |
Daily Weighted Average Rate of Interest and Other Expenses on Loans |
||||||||||||
| MYD |
$ | — | — | % | $ | 477,247 | 0.71 | % | ||||||||
| MQY |
— | — | 425,951 | 0.71 | ||||||||||||
| MQT |
— | — | 732,717 | 0.77 | ||||||||||||
| 5. | INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENT AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES |
Investment Advisory: Each Fund entered into an Investment Advisory Agreement with the Manager, the Funds’ investment adviser and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of BlackRock, Inc. (“BlackRock”), to provide investment advisory and administrative services. The Manager is responsible for the management of each Fund’s portfolio and provides the personnel, facilities, equipment and certain other services necessary to the operations of each Fund.
For such services, each Fund pays the Manager a monthly fee at an annual rate equal to 0.50% of the average daily value of each Fund’s net assets.
For purposes of calculating these fees, “net assets” mean the total assets of the Fund minus the sum of its accrued liabilities (which does not include liabilities represented by TOB Trusts and the liquidation preference of any outstanding preferred shares). It is understood that the liquidation preference of any outstanding preferred stock (other than accumulated dividends) and TOB Trusts is not considered a liability in determining a Fund’s NAV.
Waivers: With respect to each Fund, the Manager contractually agreed to waive its investment advisory fees by the amount of investment advisory fees each Fund pays to the Manager indirectly through its investment in affiliated money market funds (the “affiliated money market fund waiver”) through June 30, 2022. The contractual agreement may be terminated upon 90 days’ notice by a majority of the Independent Directors, or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of a Fund. These amounts are included in fees waived and/or reimbursed by the Manager in the Statements of Operations. For the six months ended October 31, 2020, the amounts waived were as follows:
| Fund Name | Amounts Waived | |||
| MYD |
$ | 6,819 | ||
| MQY |
241 | |||
| MQT |
400 | |||
The Manager contractually agreed to waive its investment advisory fee with respect to any portion of each Fund’s assets invested in affiliated equity and fixed-income mutual funds and affiliated exchange-traded funds that have a contractual management fee through June 30, 2022. The agreement can be renewed for annual periods thereafter, and may be terminated on 90 days’ notice, each subject to approval by a majority of the Funds’ Independent Directors. For the six months ended October 31, 2020, there were no fees waived by the Manager pursuant to this arrangement.
Directors and Officers: Certain directors and/or officers of the Fund are directors and/or officers of BlackRock or its affiliates. The Funds reimburse the Manager for a portion of the compensation paid to the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer, which is included in Directors and Officer in the Statements of Operations.
| 6. | PURCHASES AND SALES |
For the six months ended October 31, 2020, purchases and sales of investments, excluding short-term investments, were as follows:
| Fund Name | Purchases | Sales | ||||||
| MYD |
$ | 117,847,367 | $ | 88,670,316 | ||||
| MQY |
50,326,376 | 51,402,939 | ||||||
| MQT |
26,992,328 | 25,028,476 | ||||||
| 7. | INCOME TAX INFORMATION |
It is each Fund’s policy to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, applicable to regulated investment companies, and to distribute substantially all of its taxable income to its shareholders. Therefore, no U.S. federal income tax provision is required.
| 50 | 2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)
Each Fund files U.S. federal and various state and local tax returns. No income tax returns are currently under examination. The statute of limitations on each Fund’s U.S. federal tax returns generally remains open for a period of three fiscal years after they are filed. The statutes of limitations on each Fund’s state and local tax returns may remain open for an additional year depending upon the jurisdiction.
Management has analyzed tax laws and regulations and their application to the Funds as of October 31, 2020, inclusive of the open tax return years, and does not believe that there are any uncertain tax positions that require recognition of a tax liability in the Funds’ financial statements.
As of April 30, 2020, the Funds had non-expiring capital loss carryforwards available to offset future realized capital gains as follows:
| MYD | MQY | MQT | ||||||||||
| $ | 17,013,652 | $ | 11,376,577 | $ | 7,930,445 | |||||||
As of October 31, 2020, gross unrealized appreciation and depreciation based on cost of investments (including short positions and derivatives, if any) for U.S. federal income tax purposes were as follows:
| MYD | MQY | MQT | ||||||||||
| Tax cost |
$ | 857,888,020 | $ | 593,400,023 | $ | 385,865,807 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Gross unrealized appreciation |
$ | 77,075,873 | $ | 72,785,152 | $ | 46,496,884 | ||||||
| Gross unrealized depreciation |
(6,195,615 | ) | (1,580,726 | ) | (1,600,302 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) |
$ | 70,880,258 | $ | 71,204,426 | $ | 44,896,582 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
| 8. | PRINCIPAL RISKS |
In the normal course of business, certain Funds invest in securities or other instruments and may enter into certain transactions, and such activities subject each Fund to various risks, including among others, fluctuations in the market (market risk) or failure of an issuer to meet all of its obligations. The value of securities or other instruments may also be affected by various factors, including, without limitation: (i) the general economy; (ii) the overall market as well as local, regional or global political and/or social instability; (iii) regulation, taxation or international tax treaties between various countries; or (iv) currency, interest rate and price fluctuations. Local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, the spread of infectious illness or other public health issues, recessions, or other events could have a significant impact on the Funds and their investments.
The Funds may hold a significant amount of bonds subject to calls by the issuers at defined dates and prices. When bonds are called by issuers and the Funds reinvest the proceeds received, such investments may be in securities with lower yields than the bonds originally held, and correspondingly, could adversely impact the yield and total return performance of a Fund.
A Fund structures and “sponsors” the TOB Trusts in which it holds TOB Residuals and has certain duties and responsibilities, which may give rise to certain additional risks including, but not limited to, compliance, securities law and operational risks.
Should short-term interest rates rise, the Funds’ investments in the TOB Trusts may adversely affect the Funds’ net investment income and dividends to Common Shareholders. Also, fluctuations in the market value of municipal bonds deposited into the TOB Trust may adversely affect the Funds’ NAVs per share.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and various federal banking and housing agencies have adopted credit risk retention rules for securitizations (the “Risk Retention Rules”). The Risk Retention Rules would require the sponsor of a TOB Trust to retain at least 5% of the credit risk of the underlying assets supporting the TOB Trust’s municipal bonds. The Risk Retention Rules may adversely affect the Funds’ ability to engage in TOB Trust transactions or increase the costs of such transactions in certain circumstances.
TOB Trusts constitute an important component of the municipal bond market. Any modifications or changes to rules governing TOB Trusts may adversely impact the municipal market and the Funds, including through reduced demand for and liquidity of municipal bonds and increased financing costs for municipal issuers. The ultimate impact of any potential modifications on the TOB Trust market and the overall municipal market is not yet certain.
Each Fund may invest without limitation in illiquid or less liquid investments or investments in which no secondary market is readily available or which are otherwise illiquid, including private placement securities. A Fund may not be able to readily dispose of such investments at prices that approximate those at which a Fund could sell such investments if they were more widely traded and, as a result of such illiquidity, a Fund may have to sell other investments or engage in borrowing transactions if necessary to raise funds to meet its obligations. Limited liquidity can also affect the market price of investments, thereby adversely affecting a Fund’s net asset value and ability to make dividend distributions. Privately issued debt securities are often of below investment grade quality, frequently are unrated and present many of the same risks as investing in below investment grade public debt securities.
Market Risk: Each Fund may be exposed to prepayment risk, which is the risk that borrowers may exercise their option to prepay principal earlier than scheduled during periods of declining interest rates, which would force each Fund to reinvest in lower yielding securities. Each Fund may also be exposed to reinvestment risk, which is the risk that income from each Fund’s portfolio will decline if each Fund invests the proceeds from matured, traded or called fixed-income securities at market interest rates that are below each Fund portfolio’s current earnings rate.
Municipal securities are subject to the risk that litigation, legislation or other political events, local business or economic conditions, credit rating downgrades, or the bankruptcy of the issuer could have a significant effect on an issuer’s ability to make payments of principal and/or interest or otherwise affect the value of such securities. Municipal securities can be significantly affected by political or economic changes, including changes made in the law after issuance of the securities, as well as uncertainties in the
| NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
51 |
Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)
municipal market related to, taxation, legislative changes or the rights of municipal security holders, including in connection with an issuer insolvency. Municipal securities backed by current or anticipated revenues from a specific project or specific assets can be negatively affected by the discontinuance of the tax benefits supporting the project or assets or the inability to collect revenues for the project or from the assets. Municipal securities may be less liquid than taxable bonds, and there may be less publicly available information on the financial condition of municipal security issuers than for issuers of other securities.
An outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus has developed into a global pandemic and has resulted in closing borders, quarantines, disruptions to supply chains and customer activity, as well as general concern and uncertainty. The impact of this pandemic, and other global health crises that may arise in the future, could affect the economies of many nations, individual companies and the market in general in ways that cannot necessarily be foreseen at the present time. This pandemic may result in substantial market volatility and may adversely impact the prices and liquidity of a fund’s investments. The duration of this pandemic and its effects cannot be determined with certainty.
Counterparty Credit Risk: The Funds may be exposed to counterparty credit risk, or the risk that an entity may fail to or be unable to perform on its commitments related to unsettled or open transactions, including making timely interest and/or principal payments or otherwise honoring its obligations. The Funds manage counterparty credit risk by entering into transactions only with counterparties that the Manager believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by monitoring the financial stability of those counterparties. Financial assets, which potentially expose the Funds to market, issuer and counterparty credit risks, consist principally of financial instruments and receivables due from counterparties. The extent of the Funds’ exposure to market, issuer and counterparty credit risks with respect to these financial assets is approximately their value recorded in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, less any collateral held by the Funds.
Concentration Risk: A diversified portfolio, where this is appropriate and consistent with a fund’s objectives, minimizes the risk that a price change of a particular investment will have a material impact on the NAV of a fund. The investment concentrations within certain Fund’s portfolio are disclosed in its Schedule of Investments.
Certain Funds invest a significant portion of their assets in securities within a single or limited number of market sectors. When a Fund concentrates its investments in this manner, it assumes the risk that economic, regulatory, political and social conditions affecting such sectors may have a significant impact on the Fund and could affect the income from, or the value or liquidity of, the Fund’s portfolio. Investment percentages in specific sectors are presented in the Schedules of Investments.
Certain Funds invest a significant portion of their assets in fixed-income securities and/or use derivatives tied to the fixed-income markets. Changes in market interest rates or economic conditions may affect the value and/or liquidity of such investments. Interest rate risk is the risk that prices of bonds and other fixed-income securities will increase as interest rates fall and decrease as interest rates rise. The Funds may be subject to a greater risk of rising interest rates due to the current period of historically low rates.
LIBOR Transition Risk: The United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority announced a phase out of the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) by the end of 2021, and it is expected that LIBOR will cease to be published after that time. The Funds may be exposed to financial instruments tied to LIBOR to determine payment obligations, financing terms, hedging strategies or investment value. The transition process away from LIBOR might lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets for, and reduce the effectiveness of new hedges placed against, instruments whose terms currently include LIBOR. The ultimate effect of the LIBOR transition process on the Funds is uncertain.
| 9. | CAPITAL SHARE TRANSACTIONS |
Each Fund is authorized to issue 200 million shares, all of which were initially classified as Common Shares. The par value for each Fund’s Common Shares is $0.10. The par value for each Fund’s Preferred Shares outstanding is $0.10. Each Board is authorized, however, to reclassify any unissued Common Shares to Preferred Shares without the approval of Common Shareholders.
Common Shares
For the periods shown, shares issued and outstanding increased by the following amounts as a result of dividend reinvestment:
| Fund Name | Six Months Ended 10/31/20 |
Year Ended 04/30/20 |
||||||
| MYD |
— | 28,844 | ||||||
| MQY |
13,540 | — | ||||||
For the six months ended October 31, 2020 and the year ended April 30, 2020, shares issued and outstanding remained constant for MQT.
The Funds participate in an open market share repurchase program (the “Repurchase Program”). From December 1, 2019 through November 30, 2020, each Fund may repurchase up to 5% of its outstanding common shares under the Repurchase Program, based on common shares outstanding as of the close of business on November 30, 2019, subject to certain conditions. For the six months ended October 31, 2020, the Funds did not repurchase any shares.
On September 28, 2020, each Fund announced a continuation of its open market share repurchase program. Commencing on December 1, 2020, each Fund may repurchase through November 30, 2021, up to 5% of its common shares outstanding as of the close of business on November 30, 2020, subject to certain conditions. There is no assurance that the Funds will purchase shares in any particular amounts.
Preferred Shares
A Fund’s Preferred Shares rank prior to its Common Shares as to the payment of dividends by the Fund and distribution of assets upon dissolution or liquidation of the Fund. The 1940 Act prohibits the declaration of any dividend on Common Shares or the repurchase of Common Shares if the Fund fails to maintain asset coverage of at least 200% of the liquidation preference of the Fund’s outstanding Preferred Shares. In addition, pursuant to the Preferred Shares’ governing instruments, a Fund is restricted from declaring and paying dividends on classes of shares ranking junior to or on parity with its Preferred Shares or repurchasing such shares if the Fund fails to declare and pay
| 52 | 2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)
dividends on the Preferred Shares, redeem any Preferred Shares required to be redeemed under the Preferred Shares’ governing instruments or comply with the basic maintenance amount requirement of the ratings agencies rating the Preferred Shares.
Holders of Preferred Shares have voting rights equal to the voting rights of holders of Common Shares (one vote per share) and vote together with holders of Common Shares (one vote per share) as a single class on certain matters. Holders of Preferred Shares, voting as a separate class, are also entitled to (i) elect two members of the Board, (ii) elect the full Board if dividends on the Preferred Shares are not paid for a period of two years and (iii) a separate class vote to amend the Preferred Share governing documents. In addition, the 1940 Act requires the approval of the holders of a majority of any outstanding Preferred Shares, voting as a separate class, to (a) adopt any plan of reorganization that would adversely affect the Preferred Shares, (b) change a Fund’s sub-classification as a closed-end investment company or change its fundamental investment restrictions or (c) change its business so as to cease to be an investment company.
VRDP Shares
MYD and MQY (for purposes of this section, a “VRDP Fund”) have issued Series W-7 VRDP Shares, $100,000 liquidation preference per share, in one or more privately negotiated offerings to qualified institutional buyers as defined pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The VRDP Shares include a liquidity feature and may be subject to a special rate period. As of period end, the VRDP Shares outstanding were as follows:
| Fund Name | Issue Date |
Shares Issued |
Aggregate Principal |
Maturity Date |
||||||||||||
| MYD |
06/30/11 | 2,514 | $ | 251,400,000 | 07/01/41 | |||||||||||
| MQY |
09/15/11 | 1,766 | 176,600,000 | 10/01/41 | ||||||||||||
RedemptionTerms: A VRDP Fund is required to redeem its VRDP Shares on the maturity date, unless earlier redeemed or repurchased. Six months prior to the maturity date, a VRDP Fund is required to begin to segregate liquid assets with the Fund’s custodian to fund the redemption. In addition, a VRDP Fund is required to redeem certain of its outstanding VRDP Shares if it fails to comply with certain asset coverage, basic maintenance amount or leverage requirements.
Subject to certain conditions, the VRDP Shares may also be redeemed, in whole or in part, at any time at the option of a VRDP Fund. The redemption price per VRDP Share is equal to the liquidation preference per share plus any outstanding unpaid dividends.
Liquidity Feature: VRDP Shares are subject to a fee agreement between the VRDP Fund and the liquidity provider that requires a per annum liquidity fee and, in some cases, an upfront or initial commitment fee, payable to the liquidity provider. These fees, if applicable, are shown as liquidity fees in the Statements of Operations. As of period end, the fee agreement is set to expire, unless renewed or terminated in advance, as follows:
| MYD | MQY | |||||||
| Expiration date |
04/30/21 | 04/30/21 | ||||||
The VRDP Shares are also subject to a purchase agreement in connection with the liquidity feature. In the event a purchase agreement is not renewed or is terminated in advance, and the VRDP Shares do not become subject to a purchase agreement with an alternate liquidity provider, the VRDP Shares will be subject to mandatory purchase by the liquidity provider prior to the termination of the purchase agreement. In the event of such mandatory purchase, a VRDP Fund is required to redeem the VRDP Shares six months after the purchase date. Immediately after such mandatory purchase, the VRDP Fund is required to begin to segregate liquid assets with its custodian to fund the redemption. There is no assurance that a VRDP Fund will replace such redeemed VRDP Shares with any other preferred shares or other form of leverage.
Remarketing: A VRDP Fund may incur remarketing fees on the aggregate principal amount of all its VRDP Shares, which, if any, are included in remarketing fees on Preferred Shares in the Statements of Operations. During any special rate period (as described below), a VRDP Fund may incur nominal or no remarketing fees.
Ratings: As of period end, the VRDP Shares were assigned the following ratings:
| Fund Name | Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. Long-Term Ratings |
Fitch Ratings, Inc. Long-Term Ratings |
||||||
| MYD |
Aa1 | AAA | ||||||
| MQY |
Aa1 | AAA | ||||||
Any short-term ratings on VRDP Shares are directly related to the short-term ratings of the liquidity provider for such VRDP Shares. Changes in the credit quality of the liquidity provider could cause a change in the short-term credit ratings of the VRDP Shares as rated by Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”) and Fitch. The liquidity provider may be terminated prior to the scheduled termination date if the liquidity provider fails to maintain short-term debt ratings in one of the two highest rating categories.
Special Rate Period: A VRDP Fund has commenced a “special rate period” with respect to its VRDP Shares, during which the VRDP Shares will not be subject to any remarketing and the dividend rate will be based on a predetermined methodology. During a special rate period, short-term ratings on VRDP Shares are withdrawn. As of period end, the following VRDP Funds have commenced or are set to commence a special rate period:
| Fund Name | Commencement Date |
Expiration Date as of Period Ended 10/31/20 |
||||||
| MYD |
04/17/14 | 04/15/21 | ||||||
| MQY |
10/22/15 | 04/15/21 | ||||||
| NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
53 |
Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)
Prior to the expiration date, the VRDP Fund and the VRDP Shares holder may mutually agree to extend the special rate period. If a special rate period is not extended, the VRDP Shares will revert to remarketable securities upon the termination of the special rate period and will be remarketed and available for purchase by qualified institutional investors.
During the special rate period: (i) the liquidity and fee agreements remain in effect, (ii) VRDP Shares remain subject to mandatory redemption by the VRDP Fund on the maturity date, (iii) VRDP Shares will not be remarketed or subject to optional or mandatory tender events, (iv) the VRDP Fund is required to comply with the same asset coverage, basic maintenance amount and leverage requirements for the VRDP Shares as is required when the VRDP Shares are not in a special rate period, (v) the VRDP Fund will pay dividends monthly based on the sum of an agreed upon reference rate and a percentage per annum based on the long-term ratings assigned to the VRDP Shares and (vi) the VRDP Fund will pay nominal or no fees to the liquidity provider and remarketing agent.
Dividends: Except during the Special Rate Period as described above, dividends on the VRDP Shares are payable monthly at a variable rate set weekly by the remarketing agent. Such dividend rates are generally based upon a spread over a base rate and cannot exceed a maximum rate. A change in the short-term credit rating of the liquidity provider or the VRDP Shares may adversely affect the dividend rate paid on such shares, although the dividend rate paid on the VRDP Shares is not directly based upon either short-term rating. In the event of a failed remarketing, the dividend rate of the VRDP Shares will be reset to a maximum rate. The maximum rate is determined based on, among other things, the long-term preferred share rating assigned to the VRDP Shares and the length of time that the VRDP Shares fail to be remarketed.
For the six months ended October 31, 2020, the annualized dividend rate for the VRDP Shares were as follows:
| MYD | MQY | |||||||
| Dividend rates |
0.98 | % | 0.98 | % | ||||
For the six months ended October 31, 2020, VRDP Shares issued and outstanding of each VRDP Fund remained constant.
VMTP Shares
MQT (for purposes of this section, a “VMTP Fund”) has issued Series W-7 VMTP Shares, $100,000 liquidation preference per share, in one or more privately negotiated offerings to qualified institutional buyers as defined pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act. The VMTP Shares are subject to certain restrictions on transfer, and a VMTP Fund may also be required to register its VMTP Shares for sale under the Securities Act under certain circumstances. As of period end, the VMTP Shares outstanding and assigned long-term ratings were as follows:
| Fund Name | Issue Date |
Shares Issued |
Aggregate Principal |
Term Redemption Date |
Moody’s Rating |
Fitch Rating |
||||||||||||||||||
| MQT |
12/16/11 | 1,165 | $ | 116,500,000 | 07/02/21 | Aa1 | AAA | |||||||||||||||||
Redemption Terms: A VMTP Fund is required to redeem its VMTP Shares on the term redemption date, unless earlier redeemed or repurchased or unless extended. There is no assurance that a term will be extended further or that any VMTP Shares will be replaced with any other preferred shares or other form of leverage upon the redemption or repurchase of the VMTP Shares. Six months prior to the term redemption date, a VMTP Fund is required to begin to segregate liquid assets with its custodian to fund the redemption. In addition, a VMTP Fund is required to redeem certain of its outstanding VMTP Shares if it fails to comply with certain asset coverage, basic maintenance amount or leverage requirements.
Subject to certain conditions, VMTP Shares may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at any time at the option of the VMTP Fund. The redemption price per VMTP Share is equal to the liquidation preference per share plus any outstanding unpaid dividends.
Dividends: Dividends on the VMTP Shares are declared daily and payable monthly at a variable rate set weekly at a fixed rate spread to the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (“SIFMA”) Municipal Swap Index or to a percentage of the one-month LIBOR rate, as set forth in the VMTP Shares governing instrument. The fixed spread is determined based on the long- term preferred share rating assigned to the VMTP Shares by the ratings agencies then rating the VMTP Shares.
The dividend rate on VMTP Shares is subject to a step-up spread if the VMTP Fund fails to comply with certain provisions, including, among other things, the timely payment of dividends, redemptions or gross-up payments, and complying with certain asset coverage and leverage requirements.
For the six months ended October 31, 2020, the average annualized dividend rate for the VMTP Shares was 1.04%.
For the six months ended October 31, 2020, VMTP Shares issued and outstanding of MQT remained constant.
Offering Costs: The Funds incurred costs in connection with the issuance of VRDP and VMTP Shares, which were recorded as a direct deduction from the carrying value of the related debt liability and will be amortized over the life of the VRDP and VMTP Shares with the exception of any upfront fees paid by a VRDP Fund to the liquidity provider which, if any, were amortized over the life of the liquidity agreement. Amortization of these costs is included in interest expense, fees and amortization of offering costs in the Statements of Operations.
Financial Reporting: The VRDP and VMTP Shares are considered debt of the issuer; therefore, the liquidation preference, which approximates fair value of the VRDP and VMTP Shares, is recorded as a liability in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities net of deferred offering costs. Unpaid dividends are included in interest expense and fees payable in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, and the dividends accrued and paid on the VRDP and VMTP Shares are included as a component of interest expense, fees and amortization of offering costs in the Statements of Operations. The VRDP and VMTP Shares are treated as equity for tax purposes. Dividends paid to holders of the VRDP
| 54 | 2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Notes to Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)
and VMTP Shares are generally classified as tax-exempt income for tax-reporting purposes. Dividends and amortization of deferred offering costs on VRDP and VMTP Shares are included in interest expense, fees and amortization of offering costs in the Statements of Operations:
| Fund Name | Dividends Accrued |
Deferred Offering Costs Amortization |
||||||
| MYD |
$ | 1,231,724 | $ | 7,993 | ||||
| MQY |
865,243 | 5,076 | ||||||
| MQT |
604,412 | — | ||||||
10. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
Management’s evaluation of the impact of all subsequent events on the Funds’ financial statements was completed through the date the financial statements were issued and the following items were noted:
The Funds declared and paid distributions to Common Shareholders and Preferred Shareholders as follows:
| Dividend Per Common Share | Preferred Shares(a) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fund Name | Paid(b) | Declared(c) | Declared(d) | Shares | Series | Declared | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| MYD |
$ | 0.056000 | $ | 0.056000 | $ | — | VRDP | W-7 | $ | 189,443 | ||||||||||||||||||
| MQY |
0.063000 | 0.063000 | 0.000450 | VRDP | W-7 | 133,077 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| MQT |
0.054000 | 0.054000 | 0.000910 | VMTP | W-7 | 96,171 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) | Dividends declared for period November 1, 2020 to November 30, 2020. |
| (b) | Net investment income dividend paid on December 1, 2020 to Common Shareholders of record on November 16, 2020. |
| (c) | Net investment income dividend declared on December 4, 2020, payable to Common Shareholders of record on December 15, 2020. |
| (d) | Net investment income special dividend declared on December 4, 2020, payable to Common Shareholders of record on December 15, 2020. |
| NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
55 |
Disclosure of Investment Advisory Agreements
The Boards of Directors (collectively, the “Board,” the members of which are referred to as “Board Members”) of BlackRock MuniYield Fund, Inc. (“MYD”), BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund, Inc. (“MQY”), and BlackRock MuniYield Fund II, Inc. (“MQT” and together with MYD and MQY, the “Funds” and each, a “Fund”) met on April 16, 2020 (the “April Meeting”) and May 20-21, 2020 (the “May Meeting”) to consider the approval of the investment advisory agreements (the “Advisory Agreements” or the “Agreements”) between each Fund and BlackRock Advisors, LLC (the “Manager” or “BlackRock”), each Fund’s investment advisor.
Activities and Composition of the Board
On the date of the May Meeting, the Board consisted of ten individuals, eight of whom were not “interested persons” of each Fund as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) (the “Independent Board Members”). The Board Members are responsible for the oversight of the operations of each Fund and perform the various duties imposed on the directors of investment companies by the 1940 Act. The Independent Board Members have retained independent legal counsel to assist them in connection with their duties. The Co-Chairs of the Board are Independent Board Members. The Board has established five standing committees: an Audit Committee, a Governance and Nominating Committee, a Compliance Committee, a Performance Oversight Committee and an Executive Committee, each of which is chaired by an Independent Board Member and composed of Independent Board Members (except for the Executive Committee, which also has one interested Board Member).
The Agreements
Consistent with the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Board considers the continuation of the Agreements on an annual basis. The Board has four quarterly meetings per year, each typically extending for two days, and additional in-person and telephonic meetings throughout the year, as needed. While the Board also has a fifth one-day meeting to consider specific information surrounding the renewal of the Agreements, the Board’s consideration entails a year-long deliberative process whereby the Board and its committees assess BlackRock’s services to each Fund. In particular, the Board assessed, among other things, the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to each Fund by BlackRock, BlackRock’s personnel and affiliates, including (as applicable): investment management services; accounting oversight; administrative and shareholder services; oversight of each Fund’s service providers; risk management and oversight; and legal, regulatory and compliance services. Throughout the year, including during the contract renewal process, the Independent Board Members were advised by independent legal counsel, and met with independent legal counsel in various executive sessions outside of the presence of BlackRock’s management.
During the year, the Board, acting directly and through its committees, considers information that is relevant to its annual consideration of the renewal of the Agreements, including the services and support provided by BlackRock to each Fund and its shareholders. BlackRock also furnished additional information to the Board in response to specific questions from the Board. This additional information is discussed further in the section titled “Board Considerations in Approving the Agreements.” Among the matters the Board considered were: (a) investment performance for one-year, three-year, five-year, and/or since inception periods, as applicable, against peer funds, applicable benchmarks, and other performance metrics, as applicable, as well as BlackRock senior management’s and portfolio managers’ analyses of the reasons for any outperformance or underperformance relative to its peers, benchmarks, and other performance metrics, as applicable; (b) leverage management, as applicable; (c) fees, including advisory, administration, if applicable, and other amounts paid to BlackRock and its affiliates by each Fund for services; (d) Fund operating expenses and how BlackRock allocates expenses to each Fund; (e) the resources devoted to risk oversight of, and compliance reports relating to, implementation of each Fund’s investment objective, policies and restrictions, and meeting regulatory requirements; (f) BlackRock’s and each Fund’s adherence to applicable compliance policies and procedures; (g) the nature, character and scope of non-investment management services provided by BlackRock and its affiliates and the estimated cost of such services; (h) BlackRock’s and other service providers’ internal controls and risk and compliance oversight mechanisms; (i) BlackRock’s implementation of the proxy voting policies approved by the Board; (j) execution quality of portfolio transactions; (k) BlackRock’s implementation of each Fund’s valuation and liquidity procedures; (l) an analysis of management fees for products with similar investment mandates across the open-end fund, closed-end fund, sub-advised mutual fund, collective investment trust and institutional separate account product channels, as applicable, and the similarities and differences between these products and the services provided as compared to each Fund; (m) BlackRock’s compensation methodology for its investment professionals and the incentives and accountability it creates, along with investment professionals’ investments in the fund(s) they manage; (n) periodic updates on BlackRock’s business; and (o) each Fund’s market discount/premium compared to peer funds.
Board Considerations in Approving the Agreements
The Approval Process: Prior to the April Meeting, the Board requested and received materials specifically relating to the Agreements. The Independent Board Members are continuously engaged in a process with their independent legal counsel and BlackRock to review the nature and scope of the information provided to the Board to better assist its deliberations. The materials provided in connection with the April Meeting included, among other things: (a) information independently compiled and prepared by Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (“Broadridge”), based on Lipper classifications, regarding each Fund’s fees and expenses as compared with a peer group of funds as determined by Broadridge (“Expense Peers”) and the investment performance of each Fund as compared with a peer group of funds (“Performance Peers”); (b) information on the composition of the Expense Peers and Performance Peers and a description of Broadridge’s methodology; (c) information on the estimated profits realized by BlackRock and its affiliates pursuant to the Agreements and a discussion of fall-out benefits to BlackRock and its affiliates; (d) a general analysis provided by BlackRock concerning investment management fees received in connection with other types of investment products, such as institutional accounts, sub-advised mutual funds, closed-end funds, and open-end funds, under similar investment mandates, as applicable; (e) a review of non-management fees; (f) the existence, impact and sharing of potential economies of scale, if any, with each Fund; (g) a summary of aggregate amounts paid by each Fund to BlackRock; and (h) various additional information requested by the Board as appropriate regarding BlackRock’s and each Fund’s operations.
At the April Meeting, the Board reviewed materials relating to its consideration of the Agreements. As a result of the discussions that occurred during the April Meeting, and as a culmination of the Board’s year-long deliberative process, the Board presented BlackRock with questions and requests for additional information. BlackRock responded to these questions and requests with additional written information in advance of the May Meeting. Topics covered included: (a) the methodology for measuring estimated fund profitability; (b) fund expenses and potential fee waivers; (c) differences in services provided and management fees between closed-end funds and other product channels; and (d) BlackRock’s option overwrite strategy.
At the May Meeting, the Board concluded its assessment of, among other things: (a) the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by BlackRock; (b) the investment performance of each Fund as compared to its Performance Peers and to other metrics, as applicable; (c) the advisory fee and the estimated cost of the services and estimated
| 56 | 2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Disclosure of Investment Advisory Agreements (continued)
profits realized by BlackRock and its affiliates from their relationship with each Fund; (d) each Fund’s fees and expenses compared to its Expense Peers; (e) the existence and sharing of potential economies of scale; (f) any fall-out benefits to BlackRock and its affiliates as a result of BlackRock’s relationship with each Fund; and (g) other factors deemed relevant by the Board Members.
The Board also considered other matters it deemed important to the approval process, such as other payments made to BlackRock or its affiliates relating to securities lending and cash management, and BlackRock’s services related to the valuation and pricing of Fund portfolio holdings. The Board noted the willingness of BlackRock’s personnel to engage in open, candid discussions with the Board. The Board did not identify any particular information as determinative, and each Board Member may have attributed different weights to the various items considered.
A. Nature, Extent and Quality of the Services Provided by BlackRock
The Board, including the Independent Board Members, reviewed the nature, extent and quality of services provided by BlackRock, including the investment advisory services, and the resulting performance of each Fund. Throughout the year, the Board compared Fund performance to the performance of a comparable group of closed-end funds, relevant benchmarks, and performance metrics, as applicable. The Board met with BlackRock’s senior management personnel responsible for investment activities, including the senior investment officers. The Board also reviewed the materials provided by each Fund’s portfolio management team discussing each Fund’s performance, investment strategies and outlook.
The Board considered, among other factors, with respect to BlackRock: the number, education and experience of investment personnel generally and each Fund’s portfolio management team; research capabilities; investments by portfolio managers in the funds they manage; portfolio trading capabilities; use of technology; commitment to compliance; credit analysis capabilities; risk analysis and oversight capabilities; and the approach to training and retaining portfolio managers and other research, advisory and management personnel. The Board also considered BlackRock’s overall risk management program, including the continued efforts of BlackRock and its affiliates to address cybersecurity risks and the role of BlackRock’s Risk & Quantitative Analysis Group. The Board engaged in a review of BlackRock’s compensation structure with respect to each Fund’s portfolio management team and BlackRock’s ability to attract and retain high-quality talent and create performance incentives.
In addition to investment advisory services, the Board considered the nature and quality of the administrative and other non-investment advisory services provided to each Fund. BlackRock and its affiliates provide each Fund with certain administrative, shareholder and other services (in addition to any such services provided to each Fund by third-parties) and officers and other personnel as are necessary for the operations of each Fund. In particular, BlackRock and its affiliates provide each Fund with administrative services including, among others: (i) responsibility for disclosure documents, such as the prospectus and the statement of additional information in connection with the initial public offering and periodic shareholder reports; (ii) preparing communications with analysts to support secondary market trading of each Fund; (iii) oversight of daily accounting and pricing; (iv) responsibility for periodic filings with regulators and stock exchanges; (v) overseeing and coordinating the activities of third-party service providers including, among others, each Fund’s custodian, fund accountant, transfer agent, and auditor; (vi) organizing Board meetings and preparing the materials for such Board meetings; (vii) providing legal and compliance support; (viii) furnishing analytical and other support to assist the Board in its consideration of strategic issues such as the merger, consolidation or repurposing of certain closed-end funds; and (ix) performing or managing administrative functions necessary for the operation of each Fund, such as tax reporting, expense management, fulfilling regulatory filing requirements, and shareholder call center and other services. The Board reviewed the structure and duties of BlackRock’s fund administration, shareholder services, and legal & compliance departments and considered BlackRock’s policies and procedures for assuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
B. The Investment Performance of each Fund and BlackRock
The Board, including the Independent Board Members, also reviewed and considered the performance history of each Fund. In preparation for the April Meeting, the Board was provided with reports independently prepared by Broadridge, which included an analysis of each Fund’s performance as of December 31, 2019, as compared to its Performance Peers. The performance information is based on net asset value (NAV), and utilizes Lipper data. Lipper’s methodology calculates a fund’s total return assuming distributions are reinvested on the ex-date at a fund’s ex-date NAV. Broadridge ranks funds in quartiles, ranging from first to fourth, where first is the most desirable quartile position and fourth is the least desirable. In connection with its review, the Board received and reviewed information regarding the investment performance of each Fund as compared to its Performance Peers and a custom peer group of funds as defined by BlackRock (“Customized Peer Group”) and a composite measuring a blend of total return and yield (“Composite”). The Board and its Performance Oversight Committee regularly review and meet with Fund management to discuss the performance of each Fund throughout the year.
In evaluating performance, the Board focused particular attention on funds with less favorable performance records. The Board also noted that while it found the data provided by Broadridge generally useful, it recognized the limitations of such data, including in particular, that notable differences may exist between a fund and its Performance Peers (for example, the investment objectives and strategies). Further, the Board recognized that the performance data reflects a snapshot of a period as of a particular date and that selecting a different performance period could produce significantly different results. The Board also acknowledged that long-term performance could be impacted by even one period of significant outperformance or underperformance, and that a single investment theme could have the ability to disproportionately affect long-term performance.
The Board noted that for each of the one-, three- and five-year periods reported, MYD ranked in the first quartile against its Customized Peer Group Composite. The Board noted that BlackRock believes that the Customized Peer Group Composite is an appropriate performance metric for MYD, and that BlackRock has explained its rationale for this belief to the Board.
The Board noted that for each of the one-, three- and five-year periods reported, MQY ranked in the first quartile against its Customized Peer Group Composite. The Board noted that BlackRock believes that the Customized Peer Group Composite is an appropriate performance metric for MQY, and that BlackRock has explained its rationale for this belief to the Board.
|
DISCLOSURE OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENTS |
57 |
Disclosure of Investment Advisory Agreements (continued)
The Board noted that for the one-, three- and five-year periods reported, MQT ranked in the third, second and second quartiles, respectively, against its Customized Peer Group Composite. The Board noted that BlackRock believes that the Customized Peer Group Composite is an appropriate performance metric for MQT, and that BlackRock has explained its rationale for this belief to the Board. The Board and BlackRock reviewed MQT’s underperformance relative to its Customized Peer Group Composite during the applicable period.
C. Consideration of the Advisory/Management Fees and the Estimated Cost of the Services and Estimated Profits Realized by BlackRock and its Affiliates from their Relationship with each Fund
The Board, including the Independent Board Members, reviewed each Fund’s contractual management fee rate compared with those of its Expense Peers. The contractual management fee rate represents a combination of the advisory fee and any administrative fees, before taking into account any reimbursements or fee waivers. The Board also compared each Fund’s total expense ratio, as well as its actual management fee rate as a percentage of managed assets, which is the total assets of each Fund (including any assets attributable to money borrowed for investment purposes) minus the sum of each Fund’s accrued liabilities (other than money borrowed for investment purposes) to those of its Expense Peers. The total expense ratio represents a fund’s total net operating expenses, excluding any investment related expenses. The total expense ratio gives effect to any expense reimbursements or fee waivers, and the actual management fee rate gives effect to any management fee reimbursements or waivers. The Board considered the services provided and the fees charged by BlackRock and its affiliates to other types of clients with similar investment mandates, as applicable, including institutional accounts and sub-advised mutual funds (including mutual funds sponsored by third parties).
The Board received and reviewed statements relating to BlackRock’s financial condition. The Board reviewed BlackRock’s profitability methodology and was also provided with an estimated profitability analysis that detailed the revenues earned and the expenses incurred by BlackRock for services provided to each Fund. The Board reviewed BlackRock’s estimated profitability with respect to each Fund and other funds the Board currently oversees for the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to available aggregate estimated profitability data provided for the prior two years. The Board reviewed BlackRock’s estimated profitability with respect to certain other U.S. fund complexes managed by the Manager and/or its affiliates. The Board reviewed BlackRock’s assumptions and methodology of allocating expenses in the estimated profitability analysis, noting the inherent limitations in allocating costs among various advisory products. The Board recognized that profitability may be affected by numerous factors including, among other things, fee waivers and expense reimbursements by the Manager, the types of funds managed, precision of expense allocations and business mix. The Board thus recognized that calculating and comparing profitability at the individual fund level is difficult.
The Board noted that, in general, individual fund or product line profitability of other advisors is not publicly available. The Board reviewed BlackRock’s overall operating margin, in general, compared to that of certain other publicly traded asset management firms. The Board considered the differences between BlackRock and these other firms, including the contribution of technology at BlackRock, BlackRock’s expense management, and the relative product mix.
The Board considered whether BlackRock has the financial resources necessary to attract and retain high quality investment management personnel to perform its obligations under the Agreements and to continue to provide the high quality of services that is expected by the Board. The Board further considered factors including but not limited to BlackRock’s commitment of time, assumption of risk, and liability profile in servicing each Fund, including in contrast to what is required of BlackRock with respect to other products with similar investment mandates across the open-end fund, closed-end fund, sub-advised mutual fund, collective investment trust, and institutional separate account product channels, as applicable.
The Board noted that MYD’s contractual management fee rate ranked in the first quartile, and that the actual management fee rate and total expense ratio each ranked in the first quartile, relative to the Expense Peers.
The Board noted that MQY’s contractual management fee rate ranked in the first quartile, and that the actual management fee rate and total expense ratio ranked in the first and second quartiles, respectively, relative to the Expense Peers.
The Board noted that MQT’s contractual management fee rate ranked in the first quartile, and that the actual management fee rate and total expense ratio ranked in the first and second quartiles, respectively, relative to the Expense Peers.
D. Economies of Scale
The Board, including the Independent Board Members, considered the extent to which economies of scale might be realized as the assets of each Fund increase. The Board also considered the extent to which each Fund benefits from such economies of scale in a variety of ways, and whether there should be changes in the advisory fee rate or breakpoint structure in order to enable each Fund to more fully participate in these economies of scale. The Board considered each Fund’s asset levels and whether the current fee was appropriate.
Based on the Board’s review and consideration of the issue, the Board concluded that most closed-end funds do not have fund level breakpoints because closed-end funds generally do not experience substantial growth after the initial public offering. Closed-end funds are typically priced at scale at a fund’s inception.
E. Other Factors Deemed Relevant by the Board Members
The Board, including the Independent Board Members, also took into account other ancillary or “fall-out” benefits that BlackRock or its affiliates may derive from BlackRock’s respective relationships with each Fund, both tangible and intangible, such as BlackRock’s ability to leverage its investment professionals who manage other portfolios and its risk management personnel, an increase in BlackRock’s profile in the investment advisory community, and the engagement of BlackRock’s affiliates as service providers to each Fund, including for administrative, securities lending and cash management services. The Board also considered BlackRock’s overall operations and its efforts to expand the scale of, and improve the quality of, its operations. The Board also noted that, subject to applicable law, BlackRock may use and benefit from third-party research obtained by soft dollars generated by certain registered fund transactions to assist in managing all or a number of its other client accounts.
In connection with its consideration of the Agreements, the Board also received information regarding BlackRock’s brokerage and soft dollar practices. The Board received reports from BlackRock which included information on brokerage commissions and trade execution practices throughout the year.
| 58 | 2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Disclosure of Investment Advisory Agreements (continued)
The Board noted the competitive nature of the closed-end fund marketplace, and that shareholders are able to sell their Fund shares in the secondary market if they believe that each Fund’s fees and expenses are too high or if they are dissatisfied with the performance of each Fund.
The Board also considered the various notable initiatives and projects BlackRock performed in connection with its closed-end fund product line. These initiatives included developing equity shelf programs; efforts to eliminate product overlap with fund mergers; ongoing services to manage leverage that has become increasingly complex; periodic evaluation of share repurchases and other support initiatives for certain BlackRock funds; and continued communication efforts with shareholders, fund analysts and financial advisers. With respect to the latter, the Independent Board Members noted BlackRock’s continued commitment to supporting the secondary market for the common shares of its closed-end funds through a comprehensive secondary market communication program designed to raise investor and analyst awareness and understanding of closed-end funds. BlackRock’s support services included, among other things: sponsoring and participating in conferences; communicating with closed-end fund analysts covering the BlackRock funds throughout the year; providing marketing and product updates for the closed-end funds; and maintaining and enhancing its closed-end fund website.
Conclusion
The Board, including the Independent Board Members, unanimously approved the continuation of the Advisory Agreements between the Manager and each Fund for a one-year term ending June 30, 2021. Based upon its evaluation of all of the aforementioned factors in their totality, as well as other information, the Board, including the Independent Board Members, was satisfied that the terms of the Agreements were fair and reasonable and in the best interest of each Fund and its shareholders. In arriving at its decision to approve the Agreements, the Board did not identify any single factor or group of factors as all-important or controlling, but considered all factors together, and different Board Members may have attributed different weights to the various factors considered. The Independent Board Members were also assisted by the advice of independent legal counsel in making this determination.
|
DISCLOSURE OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY AGREEMENTS |
59 |
Proxy Results
The Annual Meeting of Shareholders was held on July 27, 2020, for shareholders of record on May 29, 2020, to elect director nominees for each Fund. There were no broker non-votes with regard to any of the Funds.
Shareholders elected the Directors as follows:
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Michael J. Castellano | Richard E. Cavanagh | Cynthia L. Egan | Robert Fairbairn | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fund Name | Votes For | Votes Withheld | Votes For | Votes Withheld | Votes For | Votes Withheld | Votes For | Votes Withheld | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MYD |
41,844,023 | 1,321,917 | 41,801,384 | 1,364,556 | 42,144,261 | 1,021,679 | 42,141,098 | 1,024,842 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MQY |
26,830,704 | 1,501,032 | 27,220,627 | 1,111,109 | 27,259,873 | 1,071,863 | 27,711,143 | 620,593 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MQT |
17,282,622 | 3,650,864 | 18,062,326 | 2,871,160 | 18,230,918 | 2,702,568 | 18,522,935 | 2,410,551 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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R. Glenn Hubbard | Catherine A. Lynch | John M. Perlowski | Karen P. Robards | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fund Name | Votes For | Votes Withheld | Votes For | Votes Withheld | Votes For | Votes Withheld | Votes For | Votes Withheld | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MYD |
41,865,665 | 1,300,275 | 42,146,828 | 1,019,112 | 41,881,522 | 1,284,418 | 42,130,970 | 1,034,970 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MQY |
27,233,568 | 1,098,168 | 27,157,437 | 1,174,299 | 27,732,707 | 599,029 | 27,086,999 | 1,244,737 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MQT |
18,074,000 | 2,859,486 | 17,866,207 | 3,067,279 | 18,524,348 | 2,409,138 | 17,865,265 | 3,068,221 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Frank J. Fabozzi(a) | W. Carl Kester(a) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fund Name | Votes For | Votes Withheld | Votes For | Votes Withheld | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MYD |
|
2,514 | 0 | 2,514 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MQY |
|
1,766 | 0 | 1,766 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MQT |
|
1,165 | 0 | 1,165 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) | Voted on by holders of Preferred Shares only. |
Fund Certification
The Funds are listed for trading on the NYSE and have filed with the NYSE their annual chief executive officer certification regarding compliance with the NYSE’s listing standards. The Funds filed with the SEC the certification of its chief executive officer and chief financial officer required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
Dividend Policy
Each Fund’s dividend policy is to distribute all or a portion of its net investment income to its shareholders on a monthly basis. In order to provide shareholders with a more stable level of distributions, the Funds may at times pay out less than the entire amount of net investment income earned in any particular month and may at times in any particular month pay out such accumulated but undistributed income in addition to net investment income earned in that month. As a result, the distributions paid by the Funds for any particular month may be more or less than the amount of net investment income earned by the Funds during such month. The Funds’ current accumulated but undistributed net investment income, if any, is disclosed as accumulated earnings (loss) in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities, which comprises part of the financial information included in this report.
General Information
The Funds do not make available copies of their Statements of Additional Information because the Funds’ shares are not continuously offered, which means that the Statement of Additional Information of each Fund has not been updated after completion of the respective Fund’s offerings and the information contained in each Fund’s Statement of Additional Information may have become outdated.
The following information is a summary of certain changes since April 30, 2020. This information may not reflect all of the changes that have occurred since you purchased the relevant Funds.
Effective October 19, 2020, each of MYD and MQT has elected to be subject to the Maryland Control Share Acquisition Act (the “MCSAA”). In general, the MCSAA limits the ability of holders of “control shares” to vote those shares above various threshold levels that start at 10% unless the other stockholders of MYD or MQT, as applicable, reinstate those voting rights at a meeting of stockholders as provided in the MCSAA. “Control shares” are generally defined in the MCSAA as shares of stock that, if aggregated with all other shares of stock that are either (i) owned by a person or (ii) as to which that person is entitled to exercise or direct the exercise of voting power, except solely by virtue of a revocable proxy, would entitle that person to exercise voting power in electing directors above various thresholds of voting power starting at 10%. Each of MYD’s and MQT’s Bylaws also provide that the provisions of the MCSAA shall not apply to the voting rights of the holders of any shares of preferred stock of such Fund (but only with respect to such preferred stock).
| 60 | 2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Additional Information (continued)
Except if noted otherwise herein, there were no changes to the Funds’ charters or by-laws that would delay or prevent a change of control of the Funds that were not approved by the shareholders. Except if noted otherwise herein, there have been no changes in the persons who are primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Funds’ portfolios.
In accordance with Section 23(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, each Fund may from time to time purchase shares of its common stock in the open market or in private transactions.
Quarterly performance, semi-annual and annual reports, current net asset value and other information regarding the Funds may be found on BlackRock’s website, which can be accessed at blackrock.com. Any reference to BlackRock’s website in this report 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 report.
Electronic Delivery
Shareholders can sign up for e-mail notifications of quarterly statements, annual and semi-annual shareholder reports by enrolling in the electronic delivery program. Electronic copies of shareholder reports are available on BlackRock’s website.
To enroll in electronic delivery:
Shareholders Who Hold Accounts with Investment Advisers, Banks or Brokerages:
Please contact your financial adviser. Please note that not all investment advisers, banks or brokerages may offer this service.
Householding
The Funds will mail only one copy of shareholder documents, annual and semi-annual reports and proxy statements, to shareholders with multiple accounts at the same address. This practice is commonly called “householding” and is intended to reduce expenses and eliminate duplicate mailings of shareholder documents. Mailings of your shareholder documents may be householded indefinitely unless you instruct us otherwise. If you do not want the mailing of these documents to be combined with those for other members of your household, please call the Funds at (800) 882-0052.
Availability of Quarterly Schedule of Investments
The Funds file their complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year as an exhibit to their reports on Form N-PORT. The Funds’ Forms N-PORT are available on the SEC’s website at sec.gov.
Availability of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures
A description of the policies and procedures that the Funds use to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available upon request and without charge (1) by calling (800) 882-0052; (2) at blackrock.com; and (3) on the SEC’s website at sec.gov.
Availability of Proxy Voting Record
Information about how the Funds voted proxies relating to securities held in the Funds’ portfolios during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 is available upon request and without charge (1) at blackrock.com; or by calling (800) 882-0052 and (2) on the SEC’s website at sec.gov.
Availability of Fund Updates
BlackRock will update performance and certain other data for the Funds on a monthly basis on its website in the “Closed-end Funds” section of blackrock.com 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 report.
BlackRock Privacy Principles
BlackRock is committed to maintaining the privacy of its current and former fund investors and individual clients (collectively, “Clients”) and to safeguarding their non-public personal information. The following information is provided to help you understand what personal information BlackRock collects, how we protect that information and why in certain cases we share such information with select parties.
If you are located in a jurisdiction where specific laws, rules or regulations require BlackRock to provide you with additional or different privacy-related rights beyond what is set forth below, then BlackRock will comply with those specific laws, rules or regulations.
BlackRock obtains or verifies personal non-public information from and about you from different sources, including the following: (i) information we receive from you or, if applicable, your financial intermediary, on applications, forms or other documents; (ii) information about your transactions with us, our affiliates, or others; (iii) information we receive from a consumer reporting agency; and (iv) from visits to our websites.
| ADDITIONAL INFORMATION |
61 |
Additional Information (continued)
BlackRock does not sell or disclose to non-affiliated third parties any non-public personal information about its Clients, except as permitted by law or as is necessary to respond to regulatory requests or to service Client accounts. These non-affiliated third parties are required to protect the confidentiality and security of this information and to use it only for its intended purpose.
We may share information with our 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, BlackRock restricts access to non-public personal information about its Clients to those BlackRock employees with a legitimate business need for the information. BlackRock maintains physical, electronic and procedural safeguards that are designed to protect the non-public personal information of its Clients, including procedures relating to the proper storage and disposal of such information.
Fund and Service Providers
| 62 | 2020 BLACKROCK SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS |
Glossary of Terms Used in this Report
| GLOSSARY OF TERMS USED IN THIS REPORT |
63 |
Want to know more?
blackrock.com | 800-882-0052
This report is intended for current holders. It is not a prospectus. Past performance results shown in this report should not be considered a representation of future performance. The Funds have leveraged their Common Shares, which creates risks for Common Shareholders, including the likelihood of greater volatility of net asset value and market price of the Common Shares, and the risk that fluctuations in short-term interest rates may reduce the Common Shares’ yield. Statements and other information herein are as dated and are subject to change.
MYQII-10/20-SAR
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| Item 2 | – | Code of Ethics – Not Applicable to this semi-annual report | ||
| Item 3 | – | Audit Committee Financial Expert – Not Applicable to this semi-annual report | ||
| Item 4 | – | Principal Accountant Fees and Services – Not Applicable to this semi-annual report | ||
| Item 5 | – | Audit Committee of Listed Registrant – Not Applicable to this semi-annual report | ||
| Item 6 | – | Investments | ||
| (a) The registrant’s Schedule of Investments is included as part of the Report to Stockholders filed under Item 1 of this Form.
(b) Not Applicable due to no such divestments during the semi-annual period covered since the previous Form N-CSR filing. | ||||
| Item 7 | – | Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies – Not Applicable to this semi-annual report | ||
| Item 8 | – | Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies | ||
| (a) Not Applicable to this semi-annual report
(b) As of the date of this filing, there have been no changes in any of the portfolio managers identified in the most recent annual report on Form N-CSR. | ||||
| Item 9 | – | Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company and Affiliated Purchasers – Not Applicable due to no such purchases during the period covered by this report. | ||
| Item 10 | – | Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders – There have been no material changes to these procedures. | ||
| Item 11 | – | Controls and Procedures | ||
|
(a) The registrant’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, have concluded that the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”)) are effective as of a date within 90 days of the filing of this report based on the evaluation of these controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the 1940 Act and Rule 13a-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(b) There were no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the 1940 Act) that occurred during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting. | ||||
| Item 12 | – | Disclosure of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies – Not Applicable | ||
2
| Item 13 | – | Exhibits attached hereto | ||
| (a)(1) Code of Ethics – Not Applicable to this semi-annual report
(a)(2) Section 302 Certifications are attached
(a)(3) Not Applicable
(a)(4) Not Applicable
| ||||
3
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| BlackRock MuniYield Fund, Inc. | ||
| By: | /s/ John M. Perlowski | |
| John M. Perlowski | ||
| Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) of | ||
| BlackRock MuniYield Fund, Inc. | ||
| Date: December 31, 2020 | ||
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| By: | /s/ John M. Perlowski | |
| John M. Perlowski | ||
| Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) of | ||
| BlackRock MuniYield Fund, Inc. | ||
| Date: December 31, 2020 | ||
| By: | /s/ Neal J. Andrews | |
| Neal J. Andrews | ||
| Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer) of | ||
| BlackRock MuniYield Fund, Inc. | ||
| Date: December 31, 2020 | ||
4